Sitting aboard the bridge, Alhana watched as the ship was guided into orbit around Cestus III. The planet was under the flag of the Federation so the cloaking device was engaged and making an awful noise. She wasn't keen on using it but being captured by Star Fleet again was an even less attractive alternative. "We've got the upper hand here," Tig said as he looked up from his console, "They'll be expecting that Vulcan instead. If we go in, disruptors firing, we stand to make the money we need."
"We could use the Vulcan as bait," Kang said turning in his seat, "Lure them out and take our revenge that way."
"Or we can do both," Khan said. The crew turned to look at him. He was leaning against the doorframe listening in to what they were discussing, arms folded over his broad chest. "We stand to gain something for returning the Vulcan to his parents as well remember? We should send him in first, keep our weapons on him. Let him lure his associates out into the open; then we can deal with them, recapture him and take him home."
"How do we know he won't tell them?" Tig said.
"Count on that he will," Khan said, "He'll inform them, they won't know where you are, you start firing – a few well placed shots should be enough to get the job done."
Tig nodded, "Alright, I'll inform our guest the plan and ensure his co-operation." He arose and strode away.
"Our role will be to assist," Khan said. It was more a statement than a question.
"Is that wise?" Maeill said. "There will be Star Fleet agents down there."
"The co-ordinates are away from the built up areas of the planet, we'll be fine," Alhana said.
"They will not capture us again." Khan said. "I will not let that happen." Alhana liked the way he was so sure of that. Being in a Federation building was not something she ever wanted to experience again. Tavana exchanged a glance with her and she gave a slight shrug.
"Let's go."
The location was as remote as they thought; the middle of the jungle to be exact. It provided the best cover for their plan. Large leaves and dense undergrowth covered the ground while tall trees formed a thick canopy that the bright sun barely penetrated through. The small beams of light gave enough to see by but it was pale in comparison to the clearing they had surrounded.
A communication had been sent to the recipients of the crates. Tig had forced the young Vulcan, none too gently, to send the message, deluding their targets into thinking the plan had gone as they thought. Khan and Tig were on one side of the clearing, Alhana and Kang on the other. Somewhere in the area Maglin and Akhil were scouting for look outs and anyone else who might ruin their plot.
The cramp in Alhana's thigh told her they'd been there for far too long; she shifted her weight and checked her watch. Three minutes and they'd know for sure. Kang next to her stretched his leg out and checked the disrupter in his hand for the seventh time that minute. The smile on his face meant it was ready for use. His knife on his hip was free in the sheath and he looked every bit ready for a fight. She checked her own weapons; ready as they ever would be. Humming filled the air and a bright light drew her attention. Moments later, T'Kir was standing in the clearing, he had one of the crates with him and he was alone as per the instructions of the targets.
A few seconds later, the clearing lit up again and seven burly figures appeared. One was a Gorn, two were Romulan, and the rest were human. All of them looked as though they were ready for a fight. Good, a fight was welcome. Keeping a close eye on the conversation was easy, keeping her hand from drawing and firing was not. Khan had said that waiting for the right moment was key and she not going to be the one to mess things up. She forced her hand back down to her side, wiped the sweat from her palm and watched the hastily exchanged words. T'Kir looked around the clearing; the gaze of his accomplices followed his. Kang tensed beside her; she held her breath. Everything became clear, all background noise ceased. Her focus extended. This was it.
Kang drew and fired at the same time she did. Two shots fired from the opposite side of the clearing. Four of the seven fell to the ground unmoving. The remaining three, the Gorn, a Romulan and a human ducked behind whatever cover they could find. T'Kir dropped to the ground, his hands covering his head. Now the shooting began in earnest. Alhana fired her disrupter at the Gorn but he'd placed himself in such a way that a clear shot was impossible. She kept hitting the huge tree instead. Kang, who was next to her, grunted in frustration before moving on and finding a different target. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to aim for the Romulan instead. She could see his foot poking out from the shrub he was using as cover. It took a few shots but he got him, as he howled out from behind the bush, a shot from the other side dealt with him.
A shout from behind her turned her attention; Kang took a couple of quick shots, saving her from the rage of a Romulan scout. She nodded a thank you before continuing to fire into the clearing. "Akhil, try and sneak around the back while we have them occupied." A malevolent grin spread on her face and she crept off back into the jungle. She resumed firing on the remaining foes; a trickle of sweat ran down her forehead and into her eyes. She blinked it away, ignoring the stinging sensation that spread. Another disadvantage of not having cranial ridges, they channelled the sweat away from the eyes.
Come on, come on, Akhil should be there by now. Her disrupter was getting hot in her hand, it was an old model; maybe it was time to get a new one. Still, she continued to fire. Shots echoed back at her, the metallic zing of phaser blasts zipped past her ear, too close that time.
An abrupt scream which ended too soon caused her to stop firing. She peeked out from the tree she'd been using as cover. Akhil was there, her hands around the throat of the Romulan; the Gorn was dead. The sound of disrupter fire ceased. Alhana holstered her weapon and stepped into the clearing. Kang followed. Tig and Khan joined them after a moment. T'Kir got to his feet but remained silent. Alhana inspected the bodies lying on the ground, "This one isn't dead!" she said kicking the human onto his back
"You've no idea what you've started!" he said. His voice was husky, barely above a whisper, "Our boss will come for you."
"Don't make me laugh. You're inferior leader will soon fall." Khan said striding over. There was a cut on his temple which dribbled blood but he hadn't noticed. He placed a booted foot on the man's chest, "Shall I kill him?" he asked. Alhana nodded. A quick gesture followed by a wet squash ensured the deed was done.
"Let's search them and get going, I don't want to be here longer than we have to be." Alhana said. The crew nodded agreement and began searching for anything of value.
There was only one thing left to do; get rid of T'Kir. The young Vulcan had said nothing to them when they dragged him back to the ship. His silence continued when they threw him back in the brig and as far as Alhana knew, he was still silent now. She'd ordered the ship to Vulcan, a risky location but one she was willing to take. The cloak had held while they were in orbit on Cestus III and there was no reason for it to fail now. There would be a lot of Star Fleet ships in the area so it would have to be a quick exchange made by the crew. The Vulcan population would be aware of both her and Khan so doing it herself would be out of the question.
Then it would be finding the parts to repair the plasma coil and getting to a suitable location so it could be fixed. Maybe it was time to scan the star charts to find somewhere. Alhana stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. It always felt good to be clean after a mission. She left the shower unit just as Khan was about to enter. She gave him a knowing smile, "Nothing beats it after a fight."
"I couldn't agree more," he said as the left corner of his mouth twitched upwards.
"When you're done, I'd like your assistance with the star charts," she said. It would be the best opportunity to show him how the ship displayed them and to help familiarise him with this section of the galaxy.
"Of course."
Khan met her in the rec-room, about half an hour later, where the main access for the chart system was. The console was a back up for the one on the bridge and although it wasn't the most modern of systems, it worked well. "Has Tig or Mindor shown you how this works yet?" she asked as she logged into the system.
"No."
"OK, you can see the course plotted out already here," she said indicating a red line between two planets. Their ship was represented by a flashing red dot. There were initials next to the line which told her Tig had programmed the course. "Can you read Klingon?"
"No," Khan replied, "But I will learn it."
"You'll find it useful."
"I have a few words already that I have picked up from engineering. I will put effort into learning it from now on," he said.
"I've no doubt you'll pick it up quickly."
"Continue," he said pointing at the screen.
"If you tap this button here, it will bring up all the stars in the current area, you can zoom in and out here," Khan leaned over her as she spoke focusing entirely on the screen. Was he unaware of how close he was to her? She could feel the warmth radiating from him through the fabric of her clothes. She swallowed before continuing, "If you want to find a specific planet, you can do a look up search here." She demonstrated by typing in Vulcan. Moments later, the target planet appeared.
"I see." His breath brushed passed her ear; she shivered despite herself.
"From here you can plot in a course to the target planet. Of course, if you wanted to go to any particular co-ordinates, all you need to do is enter them here and the ship will go there." Alhana explained
"It's rather simple then."
"Yes, we're only Klingons, best to keep things on the simple side," Alhana laughed.
"But you're half human," Khan said picking up a strand of her hair and moving it out of his face.
"So I'm doubly disadvantaged."
"I wouldn't say that," Khan said. The half smile on his face made her raise an eyebrow but she remained silent, turning her attention back to the console.
"What we need to do is find somewhere we can orbit the ship for the duration of the repairs. Somewhere we won't be noticed or disturbed. We can purchase the parts from Orion easily enough. I'll send Tig to pick up the parts, along with Vrenn; they both know what they're looking for." Alhana said.
"Where would be the best place?"
"Somewhere quiet, maybe on the fringes of the Klingon Empire, we won't be out of place when we're uncloaked and Star Fleet won't go there," she said.
"How about there?" Khan said pointing to a red star system.
"Boreth IV is heavily patrolled by the Klingon Defence Force. It's a significant mining colony." Alhana said.
"There is this one then." Khan pointed to another star system not too far from the first one.
"That's Kayvok, a likely possibility in all honesty. It's far enough away from anywhere so we won't be noticed and not too far it'll take a while to get there," Alhana said with a nod. "Any other suggestions?"
Khan leaned forward some more, forcing Alhana to bend a little. She could feel his heart beating as his chest pressed against her spine. Her knees began to tremble; it took a deep breath to get them to be still once more. "Here."
"Bortas, it's also another possibility, although a little further than the first."
"Why do we not examine the first one and if it proves unworthy then go on to the second." Khan said. Alhana nodded.
"Yes." She said. "We could plot that in as soon as we're done on Vulcan."
"I'll be able to read it by then." Khan said straightening up, "I appreciate the lesson." She couldn't help feel a little shiver as he withdrew his warmth from her. She shut the console down.
"I've got some books that will help you if you want to use them," she said.
"That would be most useful."
She motioned for Khan to follow her. Moments later they were back at her quarters. Alhana reached under her bed and pulled out a box, "These things belonged to my mother," she said as she lifted it onto the bed. She pulled the lid off, it was full of books. Khan sat down on the other end of the bed to her and looked inside. His eyes had widened a fraction and his breath the sight and she chuckled. "I took them before I fled."
"These are wonderful," he said.
"You like reading?"
"I did a lot of it before I was frozen."
"Then you can help yourself whenever you want. I'll find somewhere safe to put them so you can get them whenever." Khan picked one of the bound books up and turned the page as though it could break at any time. The characters were in Klingon yet he scanned the page as though he was reading it. "There are some in English and I think Spanish."
"I speak those." Khan said replacing the book.
"Take a few with you," Alhana said.
Khan looked up with a genuine smile on his face, his pale blue eyes danced as he met her dark ones. "Thank you," he said. It was heart felt and she smiled back.
"You're welcome."
He looked through the box some more, he picked out a large tome and inhaled sharply. "Paradise Lost!" he exclaimed.
"There is a copy in Klingon too; it's what my mother used to learn to read."
"I shall follow the example of your mother then. She is a wise woman to pick such a tale." He said.
"Here," she said handing him the Klingon copy. He took it from her with a smile and turned away.
"I will see you later," he said before leaving, the pages already open as he walked off. Alhana found that her room felt strangely large without his presence in it.