THANK YOU so much for all the love and support you are showing me and the story! Your reviews and reads really mean a lot to me and I am so glad you are all enjoying it! Sorry for such a late update, been busy with my final exam but I shall endeavour to keep updating as regularly as I can! Much love to you all and enjoy the next chapter! :-)
The Enterprise heaved suddenly to the right and began to feel as if it was falling, which was impossible.
Uhura hit the floor of the bridge with a thud. As she scrambled back into her seat, a hailing frequency reached them and overtook her systems, automatically opening up a communications channel and displaying onto the view screen.
With only three other personnel currently on the bridge with her, she found herself in charge and face to face with Admiral Marcus.
Unable to tear her eyes away from the screen, she instinctively reached for the comm switch,
"Captain," she spoke out as confidently as she could, "You need to get to the bridge, now."
"Already on my way." He replied, and she flicked the switch off again.
She stepped forward to the centre of the bridge, catching her balance as the ship lurched again.
"What are you doing to the Enterprise?" She growled angrily as she straightened up next to the Captains chair.
"That is not any of your concern." The Admiral replied dismissively.
Kirk ran onto the bridge and over to her, briefly placing his hand on her shoulder to check if she was alright. She nodded and stepped back slightly, scowling at Marcus.
Soon, other personnel had gathered. McCoy and Spock had followed in after the Captain and were stood near to him, staring at the man on the screen; Spock hadn't noticed her yet.
Khan strode into the room from the turbo-lift on her right. He watched Marcus before immediately looking around and catching Uhura's eye. His expression was his normal, unreadable one, yet his eyes swam troublesomely.
She looked at him worriedly. The Admirals temper had been triggered by Khan and his actions, and only further fuelled by Kirks heroic conscience.
She studied his face, wondering if it was going to be the last time she saw it, as she remembered how Carol Marcus had been so easily taken from their craft. Her chest tightened at the thought of this being their last encounter, because she knew that given the chance, Marcus would have him killed on the spot.
She caught her breath as it hitched in her throat.
Spock looked over to her hearing the sound. Concern flashed through him when he noticed Uhura looking at Khan.
She broke her gaze with Khan as Spock moved toward her, his eyes now fixed on the fugitive-turned-ally.
She watched as he stood protectively beside her. It made her feel small, so with a glance, she walked away from him and over to her station, leaving him to eye Khan.
"I demand to know what you are doing to my ship, Admiral." Kirk ordered, clear irritation in his voice.
"Nothing!" Marcus assured him, "Merely assessing the repairs you have been making." He spoke with a hint of bitterness.
"He has us in some sort of tractor-beam, Sir." Sulu informed the Captain. Kirk stuttered,
"A tractor-beam?" He addressed Marcus, awaiting an explanation.
"It's just to make sure you stay put." He said mock-assuringly.
"Shields up." Kirk ordered. The ship bleeped negatively in response to the action.
"We can't." Sulu told him, confused.
"Captain, I think they are directly jamming our signals," Uhura said, "I'm locked out of everything and this channel wasn't opened by me." She pointed between the comm and the screen.
"I believe it to be partly caused by ze tractor-beam, Sir!" Chekov provided some evidence for her.
"What a sharp-minded crew you have there," Marcus patronised, "It'll be such a shame to lose all that intelligence." He smiled wickedly and sat back in his chair.
Kirk clenched his fists, trying to control himself,
"If you harm my crew..." He began, fury rising in his voice and knuckles turning white.
"Well if you hand over the fugitive..." The Admiral retorted,
"How can I be sure you won't blast us anyway?" Kirk snapped back,
"You can't!" Marcus said, "But taking the chance is better than not complying and facing the certainty, isn't it?" He gave him the choice.
Kirk breathed harshly and looked over at their criminal. Khan shook his head in silent reply. He thought for a moment,
"I will only hand over the criminal if you promise to leave us, and give Khan a fair trial." The Captain stated his conditions, "He has the right to that and my crew have the right to safety; they have done nothing wrong."
"That man has the right to nothing!" Marcus yelled, "And as for you and your crew," he shook his head, "By not following orders you are on the same page as he is!" He paused, "You interfere Kirk, and its about time you learnt what the consequences are."
"I interfere when I know something is wrong!" Kirk fought back.
"D'you know why that man was woken up?" The Admiral asked, "To be a weapon! Nothing more!"
The crew looked to Khan anxiously who was now slowly pacing toward the screen, stare fixed on Marcus.
"I kept my half of our bargain." Khan growled "But if you want war with the Klingons, and everyone else, you will have to start it yourself because I will not be your minion." He spat furiously.
The Admiral winced at his declaration.
"Fine." He began, "I've had enough of this-"
He was suddenly cut off, and the Enterprise's controls flickered back to life.
"Sir, we're being hailed by a minor vessel." Uhura stated, opening the channel.
"Captain!" A bubbly Scottish voice filled the room,
"Mr. Scott!" Kirk exclaimed.
"We don't have much time. I've temporarily disabled this bad boy,"
"Wh-" The Captain was puzzled, "You're aboard the Vengeance?"
"Yes! Now you've probably got the best part of twenty-minutes before they get back online!"
"That's more than enough time," Kirk thought quickly, "Get to an airlock!" He ordered,
"Uhura; keep a channel with Scotty. Khan; suit up, we're gonna space-jump. Bones and Spock come with me."
It was suddenly all systems go. The Captain, Spock and McCoy headed off the bridge and Khan walked back to the lift.
Heart racing, Uhura set the channel and quickly followed after Khan, entering the lift.
The doors closed and she looked at him. Unable to think and unsure of why she even followed him, but something in her was screaming for her to be near him.
She didn't know what to feel. She was scared for his life yet couldn't understand why this bothered her so much. His seemingly cool exterior angered her. She desperately needed to see his human side, to disprove Admiral Marcus' accusatory remarks; to prove that his sole purpose for being alive was not just to wreak havoc.
She stood close to him as she resolutely searched his eyes, her expression wavering.
Without hesitation, Khan kissed her, calming the rage of doubts that flooded Uhura's mind.
His kiss was passionate with a sense of urgency behind it, as his hands found their way onto her body and held her tightly.
Breaking away, she held his face in her hands and committed his touch to memory, running out of time.
His expression was open to her now, and he reflected her concern.
"Come back." She breathed, "I jus-, Please." She whispered, overwhelmed.
He clenched his jaw and nodded earnestly.
The lift opened and he unwillingly released her, stepping out into the corridor and walking away without looking back.