((Author's Note: Well, I'd say feedback is love. But I've gotten feedback, and you're all beautiful people and I just want to smoosh your little faces. I do apologize for the delay in updates; I kind of came down with severe tendonitis in the middle of the semester, and so I got buried by make up work. I also got to do a reading of one of my original short stories, so I've been more than a little busy then that. I plan to work on an original novel over the summer, but I'm hoping not to let this story fall on the wayside. River would never forgive me. Anyway, carrying on. This one is short, but already working on the next one))

"Scottie, I don't care if we have to face a thousand space zombies. I don't believe in god damnn Reavers, but every minute we keep Kahn conscious and on board he is a risk to all of our lives! You will take us to Miranda straight away, and you will do it yesterday!"

Kirk was in a very foul mood when he came upon his engineer in the engine room. Bones was on his heels, probably worried if he didn't come that Kirk might kill the other man. Scottie gulped when he turned to face Kirk, holding up his hands.
"Captain, ah know things seem bad-"
"Khan could have killed us because you refused to activate Warp Speed! I'm not making excuses for you, I will not risk my entire crew again! Not like this, not because of him!" Kirk growled. "Take us too Miranda!"
"Captain, it's a bit more complicated than that!" Scotty groaned, "We can't warp to Miranda right now!"

"Scotty, if this about your stupid crush-" Kirk growled, "Get her number."
"It's got nothing to do with Kaylee, and it's not stupid!" Scotty snapped, "The warp core is missing."

His exclamation caught Kirk off guard. The young captain blinked as Bones cut in.
"Our warp core is missing? Like someone accidentally ejected it?" The doctor cried out.
"No, like someone crawled in and removed all the components that make a warp core! Shouldn't be possible to do that, but the core is gone. Or at least, the parts of the core that aren't random junk connecting it to the ship. Just the bits that make it work." Scotty sighed.
"So what, you weren't going to tell us?" Kirk snapped, "I think we need to work on getting it back together!"

"She said she'd give it back as soon as we got to Miranda, but she needed the extra time to work with the man! You noted yourself, the man's a lunatic! Some nonsense about rehabilitating him and how I'll never find all the bloody parts on my own anyhow!"

"She?" Bones raised a brow and Kirk froze. Between gritted teeth he let out a growl.

"River."

"You know, you really should stop underestimating me."

Khan awoke to River addressing him.
"We're back on the Serenity."
"Very observant." River answered. He glanced over, identifying they were in crew quarters. She was sitting on the side of the bed cross legged. She was in a different outfit than before: a yellow shirt, black leggings, and barefoot again
"Blood on your dress?" He inquired.
"Drenched. In a washing contraption on the Enterprise." She waved her hand and sighed. "Or heading for one. I had to make sure you got back to the Serenity before you woke up."
"And you had time to pick out new clothing and bring me to a holding cell?"
"You're no more a prisoner then before. This is my room, and where I needed to find clean clothing. I figured you'd recover from the head wound I gave you given your biology." River shrugged.

Khan contemplating as he looked around the room. It was oddly dust covered, clearly the girl didn't spend much time in it. It was a place she kept her things; no more, no less.
"Where do you normally sleep?" He inquired.
"Elsewhere. Always somewhere else on the ship. Corners, crannies. Wherever I can fit."
"Perfectly suitable bed. You choose corners. Why?"
"I feel safer there."
"It would be harder for someone to snatch you from a corner."

River sighed and he knew he'd hit a nerve. She gaved him and odd look, moving so she was sitting above his head and looking down at him, upside down.
"You're odd. I'm acting as your ally, you know."
"You're odder. You keep shielding me from the Federation. Why?"
"I have my reasons." River sighed. "...Tell you what. For every week you go without trying to strike someone, I'll answer one question you have about me."
"Why would I make that deal with you?" Khan scoffed.
"Because I'm a mystery. You keep underestimating me because you don't have all the answers. You don't know what I am entirely, only that I read minds and I an extremely efficient fighter. It's not enough for you to outsmart me," River laughed, "I on the other hand know everything about you."
"You can't. The Federation Files are incomplete." Khan countered.
"I didn't read it from the files," River sighed and tapped his forehead, "I read it there."

Khan moved to grab her wrist but she'd already retracted it with a laugh.
"Too slow." She teased with a smile.
"Why aren't you afraid of me?" Khan inquired.
"Because I'm not." River answered simply. He opened his mouth to speak but she had rather suddenly lifted her head. "Khan. Whatever happens next. Do not leave the Serenity. You'll be safe in her. Kirk has no authority here. Simon will keep an eye on you."
"What are you saying?" Khan raised a brow, "You keep an eye on me."
"Unfortunately Kirk found out I've been naughty," River sighed, "So he's coming to arrest me."

As she said it, Khan realized he could faintly hear Simon shouting at someone outside.

"You can't just come in here! Hey, that's her room! What are you doing? You can't just-" His words fell on deaf ears because the doors opened and Kirk was standing there with several of his men.

"River Tam," Kirk announced, "You are under arrest for tampering with Federation property-the S.S. Enterprise…" Simon fainted outside and River turned her head back to Khan.
"Do not. Leave. The Serenity." She repeated before turning back to Kirk. "I'm handing myself in. But my brother is right. You had no right to barge onto this ship. Because you came after me, perhaps it can be overlooked. But you would do well to take me and go."

"I'm not leaving him unattended." Kirk growled.
"You are," River replied, "Because otherwise you'll be here when the rest of the crew gets back. And I dare say Captain Reynolds will be inclined to shoot you, and he and the others will remove you and your men from the ship. He doesn't care much about fancy organizations like the federation. Then, as he and I have previously discussed if a situation arises, we will depart with Khan and his crew and leave for Miranda on our own. It is not our first choice as we are not as well armed as the Enterprise, but I doubt it is your first choice either because you will never know for sure if we made it or if at some point Khan commandeered the ship."

"...You're bluffing." Kirk proclaimed, staring her down.
"Are you a gambling man, Captain Kirk? Do you want to wager your ability to sleep at night on the possibility I am bluffing?" River replied, "Or do you wish to take me away for questioning and allow Kahn to take my brother to the infirmary to see what caused him to faint and make sure he does not have a concussion?"

"...Take her. Let's go." Kirk groaned audibly.

"...How do you know I won't dump your brother and steal the ship?" Khan called out after them. River's only answer was a laugh that echoed as they led her away. He frowned, glancing down at her unconscious brother.

"...She got all the brains in the family." He concluded before, for no reason he could come up with, began to drag the man to the Serenity's small medical bay.