Jane waited for the firing to come. But when a minute passed and nothing came, she frowned. "What's going on over there?"

"Zeir veapons suddenly powered down," said Chekov.

"Like someone just reset the entire ship," Sulu added, taking his seat again.

"Enterprise, can you hear me?"

That's…that's Scotty! The elder Jane's voice rang loud and clear.

Jane, eyes wide, turned back to the screen. His face didn't appear, but it didn't matter. "Scotty?! Where are you?"

"Guess what I found behind Jupiter!"

Jane wanted to jump up and down in utter joy. "You're on that ship!"

That man's a miracle worker. The elder Jane was smiling.

"I snuck on, and it seems I've committed an act of treason against a Starfleet Admiral, so I'd really like to get off this bloody ship! Have Kyle beam me out!"

"I have to agree with my counterpart; you're a miracle worker." Jane smiled. "Listen, we're a little low on power, but stand by!"

"What do you mean 'low on power'? What happened to the Enterprise?" There was a thud in the background. "Call you back!" The comm cut off.

"Scotty?" Jane turned. "Spock, our ship, how is she?"

"Our options are limited, Captain; we cannot call Earth for help, we cannot fire and we cannot flee."

I can't think of any alternative, unless you can find a way to get aboard that other ship.

Jane tried to think. But to do that, we would need… She had an idea. "There is one other option. We're taking the ship."

Jane… No! Jane, I heard that plan! Don't even think about it!

But Jane ignored her. "Uhura, when you get Scotty back, patch him through. Spock, you have the conn. Bones, with me." She hurried over to the turbo-lift with McCoy and leapt inside, but right before the doors closed, Spock followed her in. "Spock, I said you-"

"Captain, I strongly object!"

Jane resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow; now wasn't the time. "To what? I haven't said anything."

"Since we cannot take that ship from the outside, the only way we can take it is from within." The turbo-lift doors opened and Jane walked out with McCoy, Spock still following. "And as a large boarding party will be detected, you will need to take as few members of the crew as possible. You will need someone with advanced combat abilities and knowledge of that ship. This indicates that you plan to align with Khan; the very man we were sent here to destroy."

"I'm not aligning with him; I'm using him," said Jane. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"An Arabic proverb attributed to a Prince who was later betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects."

Jane resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Spock's difficulty. "Still, it's a hell of a quote."

"I will go with you, Captain."

"While I appreciate it, Spock, I need you on the bridge."

But he placed a firm hand upon her shoulder, turning her as they both paused in the hallway. "I cannot allow you to do this!"

Jane sighed. "Bones, go on ahead. I'll meet you in sickbay in a moment." McCoy nodded wordlessly and carried on.

Spock continued, "It is my function aboard this ship to advice you on making the wisest decisions possible; something I firmly believe you are incapable of doing in this moment!"

"You're right!" she snapped. "Everyone's right! Pike, the Admirals, you; I'm not ready for this! What I'm about to do… it doesn't make any sense, it's not logical – it's a gut feeling! Almost all the time I've been on this ship, I've been listening to a voice in my head – and voice that's not even supposed to be there – and she's the only reason we've gotten out of all those situations alive! But now she hasn't got a clue, leaving me to do…something, and this…this plan…it's all I've got. I can see now that when it comes to being Captain, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I only know what I can do. The Enterprise and her crew need someone in that chair who knows what they're doing. And that's not me; it's you, Spock."

Jane was able to see the emotion in his eyes – the confusion, the sympathy, the regret – before she turned and continued on to medical, and she felt him watching her until she turned a corner. It was only then that she allowed a tear to fall – the second that day, and she had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.

Jane…Jane, listen to me for a moment.

Jane paused and lent against the wall, taking in deep breaths as she gathered herself. What? Do you have a better plan? Because I'm willing to go with anything right now.

You really bring yourself down. You're a good Captain.

Jane rolled her eyes. For the past year, I've been going by what you tell me to do! I haven't made any decisions for myself!

You came up with the plan to rescue the Galileo, you gave the Romulans the talking to they needed and got them on peaceful terms with the Federation, and you saved Spock from that flower-

I'll give myself credit for the Galileo, but the Romulan plan was Spock's; I just got angry at them. And saving Spock from that flower did more harm than good! Every other incident was solved either by you or Spock! I'm useless! She hit her hand against the wall.

You're not useless!

How do you know?

Because you're me! I'm you! Jane could almost feel her counterpart resting her hands on her shoulder. When I first became Captain, I felt the same way as you do now. I didn't know if I could do it. But then I realized…that not only were my crew counting on me, but they believed in me. You're young, you're inexperienced, and that's OK; that's how all Captains start out. But if you're anything like me – and I know you are – you'll become the greatest Captain in the Federation.

Jane found herself calming down at her counterpart's words. Her crew were counting on her… She couldn't let them down now. So, the plan…?

I don't like it, but I understand that it's all we've got. Just keep an eye on him.

Jane nodded and continued on to medical. She was able to compose herself, and when she arrived she sent Khan a glare which told him she meant business. "Tell me everything you know about that ship."

"Dreadnought class," he said.

Jane blinked. "There was one before it?"

"A prototype; long gone," he replied. "Two times the size, three times the speed, advanced weaponry and modified for a minimal crew. Unlike most Federation vessels, it's built sorely for combat. And it has advanced warp capabilities."

"Yeah, thanks for the heads up about that, by the way." She tried not to roll her eyes; this was serious business. "Listen closely; I will do everything I can to make you answer for what you did. But right now I need your help."

"In exchange for what?"

His crew; he'll do anything for his crew.

I know. "You said you'd do anything for your crew. I can guarantee their safety."

"Captain… You can't even guarantee the safety of your own crew."

Jane almost snapped back…but a sight behind Khan caught her attention. "Bones, what the hell are you doing with that Tribble?"

McCoy was sat down at his desk, the creature in front of him. "It's the dead one I kept from that…incident two months ago," he explained. "I'm injecting Khan's blood into its tissue. His cells regenerate like nothing I've ever seen, and I wanna know why."

Leaving him to it, Jane turned back to Khan. "Look, I know you want revenge for what Marcus did; I saw the aftermath myself. So I know you'll help me get over to that ship anyway you can. Not to mention that unless you help me, Marcus will fire on us and then we're all gonna die – including your crew. So I suggest you wipe the smug off your face, shut your mouth and get your regenerating ass into gear."

Khan suddenly rose from the bed he was sat upon, and the security officers around them moved in closer. But he did nothing but stare at her…looking almost impressed.

"In this time, I have never met anyone with courage," he said. "Not even Marcus; he only had ignorance. But you…you are the first. No one has ever talked to me in such a way before, ordering me to do something… I admire a man – or woman, in your case – with that kind of courage."

Jane heard her counterpart sigh in relief. He's on our side, for now.

"You want to do what?!"

Jane had to admit that the plan sounded stupid and risky, but they didn't have a choice. With the security officers around them, she walked down the Enterprise's halls with Khan by her side. "We're coming over there, Scotty, as soon as Sulu manoeuvres the Enterprise into position."

"But how are you getting here, Cap'n?"

Jane held her communicator to Khan. "There's a cargo door, hanger 7, access port 101A. Find the manual override to open that airlock."

"Are you crazy…whoever you are?"

"Just listen to him, Scotty. It's gonna be alright," Jane assured him.

"It's not gonna be alright; you want me to open an airlock into Space, whereupon I will freeze, die and explode!"

"In that order?" Jane raised an amused eyebrow.

After the officers escorted them to the airlock – whereupon she and Khan changed into Space suits – the two then lowered themselves down into the lock. Khan went down first, followed by Jane, and she signalled to Lemli and Leslie above. They signalled back before closing the hatch. Did you ever do this before?

Nothing this drastic; you get to have all the fun.

Jane rolled her eyes, gaining a confused look from Khan. "It's, uh… You heard my transmission to Marcus, right? I have a little voice in my head telling me what to do. It's a long story."

"Your counterpart."

She wasn't surprised. "You catch on fast." She didn't bother to tell him the rest; if he didn't betray them, she supposed she could tell him her life story later. "Scotty, how you doing over there?"

"Cap'n, I wish I had better news. They've locked out access to the ship's computer. It won't be long before their weapons are online again, and next time I won't be able to stop them from destroying the Enterprise. Stand by."

"Copy." Jane shifted in her suit. Man, I feel nervous.

You'll be fine.

But you said you've never done this before!

You've done it, remember? At least that's what you told me.

I know. And frankly I can't decide which situation is worse.

Spock patched through. "Captain, the ships are aligned."

"Good. Scotty, update."

"I've reached the hanger. Give me a minute." She heard him begin to pant. "I'm running. Stand by." This was followed by a tired groan. And then… "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, Cap'n! This door is very wee. I mean, you know, it's small. It's four square metres tops. It's gonna be like…jumping out of a moving car, off a bridge, into your shot glass!"

Jane once again recalled the jump onto the drill a year ago. "It's OK, I've done it before." When she noticed Khan giving her a surprised look, she explained, "On Vulcan, there was this vertical drill…we had to jump down onto this…platform… It doesn't matter. I led a very interesting life!"

Khan turned away, and Jane swore that he rolled his eyes as he did. "Did you find the manual override?"

"Not yet! Not yet!" He was running again. "Bloody hell, I'm gonna lose a pound after this!"

"You can think about your weight later, Scotty."

"Captain, you should be aware that there is a debris field between the two ships," said Spock.

"Noted. Scotty, you good?"

"It's not easy, OK! Just give me two seconds, you crazy lass!" While they waited Khan knelt down ready, and after hesitating, Jane did the same. "OK, I'm set to open the door."

Jane nodded and turned to Khan. "You ready?"

"Are you?"

The display compass appeared on the helmet before her. "Spock, pull the trigger."

She could almost feel him hesitating. "Yes, Captain. Launching activation sequence on three…two…one."

The door opened, and the two shot out.

Jane felt like she had travelled back through time to a year before; she even swore she saw the drill before her, shooting down into Vulcan, creating a hole to the planet's core, part of a plan that would destroy it for good…

She shook her head. That was then. This is now. Focus.

"Captain, there is debris directly ahead!"

"Copy that!" Jane activated the thrusters in her suit and swerved to the side, avoiding the debris.

"Whoa! Jane! You're way off course!" came McCoy's voice.

Jane wondered briefly what he was doing there. What happened to his Tribble? "I know, I know, I can see that!" She used the thrusters and the display compass to try and get back to Khan. "Scotty, you're gonna be ready with that door, right?" There was no response. "Scotty, where are you?"

"Captain, he can't seem to hear you," said Uhura. "I'm working on getting his signal back. Stand by."

Something hit her helmet, and Jane cursed under her breath. "Dammit!"

"Captain?" There was slight panic in Spock's voice.

"My helmet was hit," she explained. "Uhura, tell me you have Mr. Scott back!"

"I'm still trying to get a signal. His communicator's working, but I don't understand why he's not responding."

He better not have a bottle of scotch with him.

Still don't wanna know. Jane looked to her left to try and find Khan. "Was Khan hit?"

"We are trying to find him now," said Spock.

"Captain," Sulu spoke up, "you need to adjust your target destination."

"I know! I know!" But the crack on her screen was getting larger, affecting her display compass, and the debris she had to keep avoiding certainly wasn't helping. And then the compass failed. Why does this always happen to me? "Spock, my display compass is gone; I'm flying blind!"

"Captain, without your display compass, hitting your target destination is mathematically impossible."

"Spock, if I get back, we really need to talk about your bedside manner."

I was never able to solve Spock's bedside manner problem.

Instead of commentating, you could help?

How, exactly?

But before Jane could resort, she heard a surprisingly welcome voice. "My display is still functioning," said Khan. "I see you, Kirk; you're two hundred metres ahead of me at my one o'clock. Cut to your left a few degrees and follow me."

Jane looked over before nodding, doing as he said. "Scotty, we're getting close! We need a warm welcome. Do you copy?" There was still no response. "Do you copy, Scotty?"

"If you can hear us, Mr. Scott," said Spock, "open the door in ten, nine…"

"Scotty!" Jane became more frantic as Spock continued to count down. But then, just at the last moment, the airlock opened and Jane and Khan flew in. Jane saw someone fly past and thought at first it was Scotty, to her horror…but the person was too large, and she could see Scotty hanging on to the control panel at the far end.

Well, that's why he didn't respond.

But he needs to close the airlock!

The airlock closed, and both Jane and Khan fell to the floor, sliding along the hanger. They both attempted to turn and ended up rolling the rest of the way, only being able to stop right in front of Scotty.

"Welcome aboard."

Jane sighed in frustration. "Scotty, remind me to hit you when this is over." She picked herself up, straining from the bruises she knew were going to be all over her in the morning.

"Who's that?" Scotty nodded at Khan, who had risen and was looking around.

"Khan, Scotty. Scotty, Khan."

"Hello!"

But Khan didn't even look at him. "They'll know we're here. I know the best way to the bridge."