Chapter 25

After many minutes, it was obvious the hatch wasn't going to open. Beth wasn't going to suffocate in space; she would probably suffocate in this airlock instead. She curled up in the corner of the dark and freezing chamber, wrapping her arms tightly around her knees. Her feet were braced against a box of safety flares bolted to the wall. She considered lighting one, just for warmth.

There was a loud crack – she ducked her head, covering it with her hands. The airlock doors shuddered violently as the air seal broke, and they slid open. She heard footsteps approach and then stop beside her. Beth didn't know who she was more afraid of in that moment – the erupting Vulcan or the arctic Augment. She knew it was not the doctor beside her – not with Khan released from containment – and she tried to find solace in that.

"Come, now." Khan's voice was almost gentle. She looked up at him. He had changed clothes – put on a shirt and heavy boots. He extended a hand to her. What game was he playing now?

"No," she said, tucking her head back under her arms. He bent down to pick her up and Beth pushed him away. "Get away from me!" She'd had enough of him carrying her around, putting her wherever he pleased.

His voice was still measured, just a trace of irritation. "You can't stay here."

There were sounds behind him, shadows shuffling in the low light.

"I told you to wait," Khan said, turning his head toward the sound. The footsteps stopped, seemed to back away.

"Who is it?" Beth asked, trying to look around him.

"Close your eyes and take my hand," Khan told her. "You don't need to see this."

Yes, she did. She pushed against the wall, her muscles aching as she stood.

"Beth," Khan started, but she held up a hand and he went quiet. She walked around him, her eyes straining to see just beyond the doors.

"What happened to the lights?" she asked, stepping forwards.

Khan put a hand out to stop her. "Not too close."

Then she heard rasping, halting breaths thick with fear and pain. Spock stepped forward, something bent and broken in his arms. It took a long time before Beth realized it was Dr. Neel.

"Oh!" she cried, closing her eyes, but it was too late. The silver hair ripped out in places and darkened by blood, the grey eyes unfocused as they rolled in her direction, the two unbroken fingers clinging to Spock's hand in abject terror - she would never be able to unsee them.

Spock's vacant and bewildered face was also spattered in blood. It ran down his neck and arms and it was too dark for Beth to see the color, but she knew it wasn't green. She turned away from him, reaching blindly for Khan, letting him circle an arm around her.

"That's right, commander," Khan was saying, "Put him down in the middle. Carefully, now."

A gurgling moan rose from the floor, followed by a limp squelch and a thud. Beth cringed and Khan steered her away, out of the airlock. He paused, keeping her against him. "You, too, Spock."

Beth peered over her shoulder as Spock approached. She caught a glimpse of the doctor on the floor behind him. He was folded in half like a playing card, his arms and legs at unnatural angles.

"Close the door," Khan commanded in the same pleasant voice. "Lock the seal."

Spock's spirit was just as broken as Dr. Neel's body. He reacted slowly, staring at the panel beside the door, clumsily pushing the buttons.

"You did this to him," Beth realized, looking up at Khan. There wasn't a speck of blood on him.

Khan didn't deny it. "I could not have stopped him if I'd wanted to." He turned back to the commander. "Open the hatch."

Spock raised his hand to the panel.

"No!" Beth said, trying to push herself away from Khan. He easily held her in place with one hand. She turned back to him, looking into his imperturbable eyes. "I want to do it."

Khan raised his chin slightly, his only indication of surprise, and released her.

Beth nodded, taking a deep breath. She turned back to Spock and put her hands on his shoulders. He flinched but she was able to steer him to the side. "Thank you," she whispered, hoping he could hear her. She would probably never know the details of what he had done to the doctor – she didn't want to know – but she knew he was not himself. If he ever came back to himself, she wanted to rescue him from this memory just as he'd rescued her during the mind meld. "Thank you for hurting him."

Telling herself it was a kindness to an evil man who deserved much worse, Beth lifted the safety guard on the hatch release and pushed the red button. The inner doors quaked as a vacuum filled the airlock, but they held, and Beth could feel heat leeching out of her body, through the doors and into empty space.

And then there were three! A shorter chapter so I could keep the next section together, but I hope you liked it :)