Chapter Eleven-
We landed underwater, fully submerging the Vengeance into an underwater landing dock. Then, a tube was suctioned to the door of the ship, and we all exited into a submerged building. The walls were made of glass, which was several feet thick, I was told, to protect us from the water pressure.
The thing about Aquarius Seven's water was that it was crystal clear, like you would find in a swimming pool. You could see for miles in all directions, and various aquatic life swimming around.
A woman, or at least I presumed she was a woman, walked up to us. Her skin was a teal - color, her eyes large and inky black, and dressed in long, white, billowing robes. I noticed she had gills on either side of her neck.
"Welcome to Aquarius Seven," She said, her voice smooth and her accent clipped. "My name is Ayala. I will be your hostess during your stay."
"Thank you," Khan said smoothly. "There is a very injured man aboard our ship. I hope that your medical facilities will be able to accommodate him."
"Of course," Ayala said. "If you will allow us to enter your ship to retrieve him..."
"That is not necessary," Khan replied, firmly but still polite. "I will instruct members of my crew to bring him down."
"Fine," Ayala smiled. "Allow me to direct you to your living arrangements for your stay here."
Later that day, I went to visit McCoy in the hospital, a massive building that was, like everything else, completely underwater. McCoy's room had an entire wall made of glass, looking out into the massive ocean around us.
He had tubes through his nose and a massive plaster cast around his one arm. He was conscious however, and watching the view of the ocean from his place in bed.
"How are you feeling?" I asked gently, and he looked up.
"It hurts when I breathe, but they've given me drugs for the pain," He gave a grim smile. "Sit down, please."
"I can't stay long," I lied. "I have work to do on the ship." McCoy's face fell slightly, and I felt guilty. But I knew leading him on wouldn't help anyone. I had to strike the iron while it was hot, and extinguish every part of me that wanted to be with him.
"Of course," He nodded.
"I - I just wanted to see how you were doing," I felt the need to explain. "But you're doing well, and that's all that matters." I sounded like an idiot...
"Well thanks," He gave a closed smile. "Ah, I understand you're pressed for time, but how is Khan?"
"He's fine," I furrowed my eyebrows, unsure of what he was getting at.
"I just wanted to make sure he wasn't...you know," McCoy looked uncomfortable for a second. "Hurting you."
"He would never," I retorted without skipping a beat. That thought had never occurred to me. "Khan loves me. He'd never hurt me."
"Right," He swallowed. "Well, thanks for coming, Bryn. It, ah, means a lot..."
"Sure," I smiled at him. "I'll check up on you later," I promised, and exited the room. Instead of feeling better, I felt worse, guilty even. It was like our easy-going banter was forever gone now. I wandered the halls, exploring the massive underground amounts of passages and pathways, lost in my thoughts.
When suddenly, the entire building shook. The glass gave a strange jolt, bringing me to my knees, and vibrating the hall. My eyes panicked, and I got to my feet, running towards the nearest resident.
"What was that?!" I cried, alarmed.
"I don't know," A deep voice greeted me. "This has never happened before..." Another jolt rocked the room, and we both went flying.
"Khan!" I screamed, needing to find him. Something told me that this was not a natural occurrence. I began to sprint down the halls, towards his quarters, screaming his name.
I nearly collided with him when I passed my room. He grabbed me by both arms and held me out at arms length. "Bryn, you have to get back to the ship. This is an attack, and it's because I'm here."
"They've found us!" I cried, my stomach sinking. "Oh God..."
"Get back to the Vengeance," He said, his voice stern. "I'll be right behind you."
"I have to get McCoy," I breathed, then kissed his cheek. "I'll be right there."
I took off down the hall, towards the medical wing, desperate to find him. I burst into his room, and seized his bed, pulling it out of the room. The wheels squeaked on the linoleum floor. "What's happening?!" McCoy cried.
"We're being attacked," I said, breathing hard. "They've found Khan. We have to get out of here."
"Starfleet wouldn't directly attack a civilization, not like this," McCoy said, seizing his com link. "McCoy to Enterprise. Are you attacking Aquarius Seven? What the hell is going on?"
I reached the main lobby and found Khan there. He had a pair of wetsuits slung over his shoulder. "Put this on," He handed one to me, and I didn't hesitate, taking off my clothes in front of everyone and changing into it. I helped McCoy into his, which was difficult because of his cast.
"What is this for?" I asked.
"You'll have to do some swimming," Khan replied, grabbing McCoy's bed and wheeling it towards the landing bay. "The explosions have knocked the Vengeance from her landing position. There are already crew members aboard. When they see you, they'll let you in."
"Where's your wetsuit, Khan?" I asked, a sick feeling growing in my stomach. "You're coming too, aren't you."
"I have to round up the rest of my crew, but I swear, I'll be right behind you, Bryn," He said, his voice tight. "I love you, Bryn. Always know that."
"I love you too," We kissed, and I had to tell myself that this wasn't goodbye. I wheeled McCoy to the exit gate, and took the oxygen tank that was handed to me and fixed it over McCoy's mouth. I then adjusted mine, and lifted him out of his bed, with a bit of help.
"Let's do this," I muttered, taking a deep breath and pushing open the door.
The water was thick and heavy, but McCoy was heavier, and unable to propel himself much through the see. A flash of red light streamed down the ocean and struck the side of the dome. I saw cracks spread through the surface, like a spider's web.
I kicked, pushing through the water with one hand, my other wrapped around McCoy's chest. The Vengeance was about two hundred yards away, and slowly drifting away from me.
My heart was pacing, and I realized adrenaline was the only thing that was keeping me going. I wished I were bigger, stronger, faster. I wished I were like Khan.
We were about a hundred yards away.
My limbs began to ache, but I made myself ignore the pain. I knew McCoy was in a great deal. There were multiple flashes of light from lasers, and a look behind me told me that the dome was shattering, water pouring in from all sides. Please let Khan be out of there...Please let him be alive...
We were seventy five yards away.
I felt McCoy shake my arm, and I saw him pointing, terrified at his oxygen tank. The tube pushing oxygen into his mouth had ripped, and he couldn't breathe. "No!" I screamed angrily, flailing about faster.
We were fifty yards away.
McCoy's face was turning blue, his cheeks swollen with air he was trying hard to hold onto. I had to get to the ship. The door was steadily drawing nearer...
We were twenty-five yards away.
McCoy had stopped fighting for air, now unconscious. I knew he'd drown if I wasn't fast enough but he was so heavy... I nearly burst into tears, I was so desperate. I had to get to the ship, or all would be lost. McCoy was close to death again, and I was responsible.
Five yards away, and the doors opened, washing us in with a flood of water, and then shut. I ripped off my oxygen mask and turned McCoy onto his back, beginning chest compressions. I had to put away his broken rib. His heart was what I needed.
"One...Two...Three..." I counted, exhausted. Tears of frustration shot down my face. "Wake up! You can't die!" I opened his mouth and gave two life breaths, and began again, chanting loudly, over and over. I did this for ages, it seemed, until finally McCoy's eyes snapped open, taking in a sharp breath of air before vomiting on the ground beside him.
I fell back in exhaustion, as crew members surrounded me. "Where is Khan?" I breathed. "Bring him to me."
"Captain Khan never boarded," A man said. "He instructed us to leave the planet as soon as you were on board."
I froze, not believing my ears. Khan wouldn't dare leave me... "No..."
"He must have stayed behind," The man continued. "And since you are first officer, you're the captain now."
Just wanted to thank you all again for your continued support and all the kind reviews! Your support means everything to me, so thank you.
Also (and I don't know why I previously forgot this), to whomever wrote the review about the potato for Marcus's head, I laughed for a good five minutes at that; that was hilarious!
