Chapter 25

I don't know how or why but somehow during the night, Cassie and squished Khan into the far corner of our cell. I'm leaning into his shoulder, my eyes closed. Khan snores quietly and I crack and eye open to see his outstretched legs in front of me and Cassie using his crossed ankles as a pillow.

Yawning, I sit up and look around. I'm not really sure how…this happened. One minute, we had all been laughing as though this were some strange slumber party of whatever. When did we fall asleep?

Footsteps echo outside the door as someone strolls past and my fingers fly to knife handle…only to find—once again—that it is missing. They better not break my knife; I love that thing.

"Trouble sleeping?" Cassie blinks wearily at me and sits up. Khan shifts in his sleep but doesn't awaken.

"I guess." I yawn and she smiles at me.

"When do you think the cavalry will arrive?" She asks me.

'When'? Why don't ask me if I think help will come and then we go from there? The others are probably light-years away from us by now. Chances are, we're on our own. And it's my fault. I should have had a better plan. I should have seen this coming! How can I be so stupid?

"Soon." In the darkness, she can't see me swallow back the guilt of dishonesty. I hate lying but what would be the use of telling her how I really feel? She'd lose the only thing keeping her alive: her hope.

"Go back to sleep or I'll strangle you both." Khan threatens suddenly.

"You'd have to catch us first." I remind him.

"Hardly a difficult task." He yawns.

"For those who can walk." I smirk and he smacks me lightly in the arm.

"Stop talking."

I sigh. Fine, whatever.

"I can feel you glaring." Khan complains and I internally smack my forehead in frustration. Jeez, who knew Augments could be so demanding?

And then something explodes outside the cell. Screams pierce the air and smoke creeps under the door. The flicker of fire can be seen in the cracks in the walls and I wince as the floor rumbles violently once more: another explosion. Khan's eyes shoot open and he turns to glare at me as if this were somehow a plan I had conceived to rob him of his sleep.

The door handle squeaks and we all turn to watch as it turns. It inches open and a beam of red-orange light floods the room and a thick pillar of smoke follows after. Khan and I instantly leap to our feet and Cassie cowers behind us as we mentally prepare ourselves for the blood-filled battle that is sure to come.

Sector 31 must have grown tired of us. They're destroying the compound along with whoever they deem unfit to live. A bomb would be the easiest way to destroy this place: all that would be left are ashes and bones. No one would ever know what happened or care enough to investigate. Star Fleet could simply pass it off as a Klingon Attack, and Admiral Marcus could have the war he's always wanted. Sometimes, I really hate that guy.

"Get behind me," Khan growls at me, but I don't even glance at him.

"Why? So you can collapse to the ground unobstructed? You can barely stand; maybe you should get behind me." I shoot back quietly.

"And then you'll do what exactly? Smother them with long winded tales of justice? Regale them the horrors of your past? This is a job for a warrior." Khan persuades but I'm not hearing it.

"A warrior who can't walk is a warrior who can't fight." I say and he clenches his teeth in frustration. Sometimes, I knew, he really didn't like me. This was one of those times. "Here: we'll bash their heads in together. Now, shut up. You've giving me a headache."

"I'm giving you a headache? Where was your desire for silence ten minutes ago when I was trying to sleep?"

"Get over it!"

"Our you'll what? Trip me?" He sneers.

"I'm seriously considering it."

The door flies open and a bright white beam of light cuts painfully into my eyes. I bring up my forearm to shield my eyes and Khan stiffens beside me. The light suddenly cuts off.

"Hey! I've found them!" I flinch at the voice but it sounds…familiar somehow.

Weird.

"Captain," Khan growls and I sigh. Really? You have to do this now? "What a pleasure it is to see you again," He says sarcastically before sneering.

"I'm going to hurt you both in about three seconds." I threaten and Khan rolls his eyes. "So, are you here to save us or shoot us? Because I vote for saving."

Kirk laughs. "Yeah, come on. We need to move fast," Cassie and I both look instantly at Khan who's still wobbly on his feet. "Alright, let's go!" Kirk runs down the hallway.

Oh…you want us to go fast you say, huh? Well, this is just wonderful; we are all going to die. We rush out of the cell and I pause to wait on Khan. He glares at me as he passes.

"What? You can't get rid of me that easily, old man." I quip. "So, how was your day?"

"Do you ever stop talking?"

"For you? No. No, I don't."

"Please, someone just shoot me now." He staggers faster and we start to catch up with the others. Spock flies around a corner and gives us some cover as we rush onto a huge Star Ship.

"Never thought I'd be here again." Khan comments as he looks around.

"And where is 'here'?"

"The USS Enterprise. What other ship would Kirk command?"

"Why would I care? Knowing what ship he commands would imply that I care, and I don't."

"Alright. All of you report to the medbay." Bones walks up and glares at all of us in turn.

Khan rolls his eyes at the doctor but moves to follow his orders. I walk next the Augment, ready to grab should he fall. He narrows his icy blue eyes at me and a cold chill runs down my spine, but I refuse to back away. He's injured and probably not thinking all that clearly. The faster he gets checked out, the better.

"I am not child. I will not be requiring your assistance." Khan growls but I shrug at him.

"If you don't fall, I won't assist you."