Important, twisty, dramatic chapter. It took me a bit of time because I wanted it just right, so I hope this turns out great for you guys to read!

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They were headed into their fifth day of the trial. Somewhere between all of the recesses and testimonies, the council had finally decided it was the augment's turn for them to each speak. The past few days had been spent with individual cross-examinations where not everyone was invited back into the chamber. While most of the Enterprise crew had been questioned privately about their kidnapping on the Enterprise, Nina, Bones and Carol had been left out of any more time with the council. Either their testimonies had been enough for no further questions needed, or the council had come to a decision about their fate. Jim had told them not to worry, but that was a difficult task to achieve. Since they couldn't leave the base with the monitoring bracelets, Bones kept them occupied during the time with testing the effects of the antidote on Nina's blood. His results had shown improvement in her condition, but the final diagnosis wasn't what she had been hoping to hear.

"Bones, did it work?" Nina asked him for the second time. She didn't particularly favor the perplexed look drawn on his face as he studied her blood sample, nor did Carol as she turned to Nina with a small frown.

"Your condition is stable." He started to explain, but the grim look didn't leave his face, "Your condition is difficult. The cells have stabilized and any attack sites on your primary organs seems to have stopped because your levels have returned to normal…augmented normal that is."

"Okay, so why am I sensing a 'but' in there." She continued to prod, wanting the full answer.

"But." He agreed with a wry frown, "The antidote wasn't designed to scrub away the serum from your body, and it's physically impossible to reverse genetic alterations once they've been introduced. You can only continue to genetically alter an organism further, not rewind the process completely. I'm diagnosing your condition as in remission."

"Remission?"

"In the twenty-first century you'll remember from Academy, cancer treatments almost always sent the patient into remission. With the way your body has been genetically altered with the imperfect serum, the situation is similar." He explained.

"So there's a good chance that I'll start deteriorating again in the future."

His face fell into hard despair and regret for having failed with the antidote, "I am more than certain it will, which means you'll always need more of this antidote when such a time arises. Your body will gradually adapt to its effects overtime, so I'll have to strengthen the dose with each injection."

"How long before this will happen again?" She was filled with dread to hear the answer, but his expression lightened, which gave her hope.

"A few years. We can conclude that the serum is permanently scaring to you, but taking into consideration the strength and purpose of the injection, you are lucky Nina that it isn't anything more severe. You'll carried this impairment with you, but you are also augmented, and in remarkably great health otherwise."

"Everything is fine then?" Nina asked, discreetly hinting at her other ailment seeing as Carol was still in the room.

"Perfectly healthy, but I'm going to remain alert that you keep track of your check-ups." His stern words were colored with care as he gave a grouchy smile.

With a hand placed gently on her stomach she smiled, "I'm sure you will."

The initial gravity of the news had been disheartening to say the least, but she was growing comfortable with the idea, still aware that she would be able to live a relatively normal life despite the fact that she was no longer just human. There was still the issue of informing her parents of everything, but that would have to wait for later, at least until they were able to meet in person. Her crew would eventually have to learn of her pregnancy too, or her rapidly gaining weight in the next few months would start to look suspicious. How would they handle that on top of everything else? After her turn at the stand, she had felt a vibe growing around the people she called friends. No one had been outright rude or accused her of anything, but they looked at her differently, and because of her relationship with Khan. Maybe they weren't as surprised as they would've liked to have been. The secrecy had vanished the moment she had been brought aboard the Enterprise after collapsing on Kronos, Khan being the obvious one to have carried her to Sickbay. Word probably had spread about her receiving his blood for her condition as well, and now the rest of the blanks had been filled in by the council.

With Jim being called to the trial every day throughout the week, neither her nor Bones had been given the chance to update him on the results of the antidote, which also meant the augments didn't know because she had been keeping away from them, even Lykel, until now. She sat in the pews of the chamber, everyone from the Enterprise present as Khan and his two crew mates were called to speak together to address the council. The deciding moment that would bring about the conclusion to the conflict between the augments and humans.

"Starfleet acknowledges that we can no longer remain silent on the augment issue. It was thought that having your crew remain in cryo sleep would be beneficial, not only for ourselves, but for your people as well. Because of the actions of Doctor Vance and others of his mind, it is conclusive that this is no longer the correct action to be taken, and we must act accordingly for the safety of everyone."

They all felt anxious. Jim had prepped and helped the augments along as best he could during the duration of the trial, but he could no longer paint over some of the darker acts that Khan had committed when he first acted alone against Admiral Marcus. There was no denying his history, black as it was, and the council would see to confronting that when the time came.

"We would like the opportunity to start with you, Adraich." The head of council commanded.

Adraich grinned coyly at his name being called, all matter of unpleasant and devious thoughts coursing through that demented head. Everyone could agree that they hadn't heard much sound—be it shout or whisper—come from his mouth, his lips no longer flapping haphazardly to chide little comments about one thing or another. He appeared disconnected from his other two counterparts, even as the feud between Lykel and Khan still lingered. "It would be my honour to start."

"Understand that today you are making a case for your freedom, as well as that of your crew in cryostasis. Should we feel your actions were and are to strive for the purpose of peace with our society; the council will deliberate on giving you the proper sentence. While the fate of the other seventy of your crew depends on the testimonies we receive today, you three shall receive separate sentences. Whether you will share in their fate or not remains to be seen."

"I prefer it this way." He said offhandedly.

The council exchanged confused glances with one another, while Lykel shot Khan a concerned look. They didn't know what was happening with Adraich either, "You prefer to be tried separate from your two comrades? It is our understanding that your augmented race shares a strong bond despite there being no kinship between you. Why now do you choose to sequester yourself from them?"

"I treat myself as a singular entity because I no longer wish to stay with my people." The bewilderment furthered as he dropped that piece of information into the laps of the council members as well as everyone else in the chamber, "I will fight for the freedom of the rest of my crew left slumbering, but I plead that your sentencing for me, be it cryo, death or freedom, results with my isolation from Khan Noonien Singh."

"Council acknowledges your request and will take it under advisement." Came the dubious reply, "We will start with the events following your awakening from cryo. What was your role in the staged kidnapping of the Enterprise crew from Starbase One?"

"I along with my female comrade, assisted in procuring the ship. An easy task for the minds of only three augments to complete."

"But you also had a conversation with Nurse Richardson in the med bay before the Enterprise left from the dock on an unauthorized launch. While we have heard the recount of this conversation from Ms. Richardson, your input on this matter is crucial towards our decision for your sentence."

"Then before I can tell you about that, I think it is important you know that Ms. Richardson wasn't the only one to break into Vance's office as Doctor McCoy previously stated in his testimony." Adraich didn't bother with formalities as he spoke, and his nefarious grin was unsettling for everyone. He wasn't behaving like a man placed in trial to determine his future. He was being himself, a most deadly weapon to their cause that they had been working towards all week, "I stole the nine vials of Vance's serum that she left behind. Couldn't have them falling into the wrong hands after everything else."

"Handing those vials over to Starfleet before we have to send a team in to confiscate them would bode well for your case." It was the same Admiral speaking who had suggested to Nina that she search through her family history back to the Eugenics Wars. Not that anyone wanted to get ahead of themselves, but there was a good chance he was on their side. He had frequently passed on guidance all week to different individuals as the trial had continued.

"And I'll gladly do so, but you'll notice one is missing."

Jim paled in his seat as he turned to Nina. Adraich wouldn't say anything now, would he? Her heart rate had elevated as the topic was broached, but it seemed to be a silent agreement between everyone to not say anything about her condition; human and augment alike, "Do you trust him?" She whispered into Jim's ear beside her.

"No." Jim confirmed her wariness with the blunt truth. He had spent more time with the enigmatic augment throughout the week which had been enough time to give him some semblance of suspicion of the man's character and priorities. He had found there wasn't much there to hold in high-esteem.

"You can confirm that at one time there had been ten vials produced by Doctor Vance?" The council persisted while Adraich responded with a nod of his head, "Where is this missing vial now?"

The bastard. He even had the audacity to tack on a wily smirk. "Coursing through Ms. Richardson's veins. I injected her with the serum under orders from my Prince." The answer was cold, said with every ounce of self-control over his emotions.

Nina felt her skin peel away from her body, exposing her to the power of the council. At the front, Lykel, as prudently as she could move her body, grabbed a hold on Khan's wrist before he took the opportunity to severely wound, or possibly kill his crew mate. Jim cursed beside her while Nina hardly felt anything at all. They should have foreseen him turning against them. His allegiance had always been to himself and what was left of his crew. He held no love for Khan, or for the humans they had bonded themselves to. Nina presumed that he hadn't thought much of her either. Merely a painful doppelganger to someone he had once loved and lost long before her time, and because of his leader who had never made amends for the death.

"Doctor McCoy was correct about the serum being a failure, but that was known to me long before I carried through with my orders of the injection. Vance had written reports in his office, information I had read before destroying the documents. That serum will claim Ms. Richardson's life. Maybe not right away because of the medical advancements and research of your time, but there isn't a cure for genetically altered beings. Her body is overcompensating to try and eliminate the serum that has accelerated through her system because of the high dosage. Human error."

"And Ms. Richardson is aware of her condition?" The council asked, slightly disturbed by what they saw before them in Adraich.

"Everyone in this room knows of that dirty little secret. No doubt her doctor can give you her full medical profile." He remarked, effectively putting the final nail in the proverbial coffin.

The council seemed as baffled as everyone felt at Adraich's turn against them. It caused ease as some of the Admiral's casted their eyes out to the pews, simply gazing at Nina for a moment as well as that of her friends, like they weren't quite sure what they were looking at anymore, "We need reasons Adraich. Yours for following an order, knowing it would harm Ms. Richardson, and why Khan wanted her injected."

Adraich's face was one of indifference as he thought about his answer. Nina had felt his regret when he had attacked her in her quarters on the Enterprise, but perhaps he had been struggling with something entirely different that she hadn't been able to comprehend. Regret because he still saw Magdalena in her, and carried that with him in his heart. She didn't believe he had wanted her dead then, and she wouldn't believe it now, "I was simply following orders."

"Orders that you understood would harm Ms. Richardson?"

He frowned at the accusation, "I wasn't in the habit of committing insubordination. My Prince was interested in the Nurse, it was his mistake to put the serum in my hands, but then I suppose it would be him up here answering these questions instead of me. I see this crime as my escape from his leadership. I no longer wish to follow him, not since my awakening into your society. From my part, humans have changed since the wars to which we were the cause three hundred years earlier. I would like a chance to live amongst you, so long as my people are spared from humiliation and torture under your scientists."

It seemed odd for there to be a pregnant pause during a trial, but the council truly was speechless from Adraich's testimony. He had fed them his case in one large spoonful, with them struggling to chew and swallow the information as they choked it down, "The Council must hear the last two testimonies before a formal decision will be made, but we will deliberate over your terms. It also must be taken into consideration, your actions against a member of Starfleet. Should we find Ms. Richardson's condition not up to our standard, you will face a harsher sentencing."

"I am prepared to accept whatever fate you bestow upon me." His smile was dead as he took a step back from the stand, his head turning sideways to share in a killing look with Khan. The spell was broken and they were brothers no more.

"Nina, they may want to do a full exam on you." Bones whispered in her ear, "I don't think I have to tell you what that means."

Her anger overcame any feelings of sadness, crashing through barriers like water on cliffs. Not only was her condition exposed, but the chance of the council discovering her hidden pregnancy had suddenly increased, unless magic would happen from the last few testimonies. Khan and Lykel stood together to face the stand, even if their sentencing's would be separate. Such strange misdeeds as betrayal showed up at the worst of times, and brought the two comrades back together before their end.

Adraich was moved to a bench beside the bailiff, halfway between everyone in the chamber. He was not permitted to join the Enterprise crew back in the pews which was probably for the better. Jim's face was carved into a permanent scowl of hatred for the augment. More than anyone, Jim had fought to assist them in their battle for freedom, and all of that seemed for not because of Adraich. In some ways, Jim probably felt he had failed Nina too, but she wanted to reassure her Captain that she felt no animosity or blame towards him. No one had thought of the worst to happen.

"We would like to continue in the wake of the news of the injection done upon Ms. Richardson. Please state clearly why you ordered a human nurse of Starfleet to be genetically enhanced by this serum, Mr. Singh. What use did you see in her humanity to spark the decision to make her one of your own?"

"You already know of my personal relationship with her, so I believe the reasons to be obvious to you." His tone was condescending, not that the council appeared to expect anything less from him, "I was confident I would succeed in liberating my crew that was stolen from me, and I wished for Ms. Richardson to be a part of my family. It is her sympathy for life. She showed remarkable maternal instincts. Devotion and sheltering, emotions I confess are lacking in my family."

"And what were your plans for the rest of the crew of the Enterprise? If it had only been Ms. Richardson you were interested in, you would not have proceeded to transport the rest of her ship mates with her."

As if that wasn't already apparent to everyone. "There are still seventy cryo tubes, each one containing a living member of my crew. I only brought with me the very people who also knew, besides myself, how to use the outdated technology that my crew are placed in. Medical staff and a Bridge staff was enough to ensure the success of my mission. We were to settle on a planet outside of Federation space at a time that I felt I would no longer need the Enterprise or its crew. The Bridge crew would be more than capable to pilot the Enterprise back to Earth. My only interest was keeping Ms. Richardson as a permanent member of my family."

"You were unsuccessful in your plans to escape, taking you passed the neutral zone and straight into Klingon space were you proceeded down to Kronos. You are an intelligent man Mr. Singh, so I know I don't have to explain to you what that means for the Federation. The Klingons will be aware that members of Starfleet had been down to their planet, and they need reasons less than that to consider it an act of war unless we can find common ground with them again. A lot of hassle and sacrifice has been made on our part because of you are your crew. Thousands of lives were changed the day the Vengeance was brought down upon San Francisco by you, on course for this base."

"I was left with the impression that my crew had been taken from me, a lie brought about by your Commander Spock." Khan couldn't contain the hate as he said the name. Everyone heard it.

"Information we had obtained from Commander Spock's report six months ago." The head of the council replied, "However, such devastating actions can only give us cause for concern where your kind is involved. We have no way of knowing you will not one day turn against us, imposing genocide against humans once again. The word of an augment means little and not to just this council. Protests have already begun in the knowledge that your very presence is on this base. You are a hated man Mr. Singh, and peace with you is a fleeting dream."

"Then follow through on what Commander Spock suggested. If Earth and its people wish us gone, let us colonize peacefully under the eyes of the Federation." Lykel interrupted.

"You are speaking out of turn, Miss." The female Admiral snapped sharply.

"Please." Lykel begged as she insisted on having the floor, brushing Khan's arm lightly with her hand as she stepped forward, "You will only continue to point out his and our history, something that is obviously known to everyone in this chamber. The point of this trial was to reach an alliance between our two races, and I believe bringing up old arguments is counterproductive to that goal."

The council sat back, contemplating her proposition, "Would you agree you have had the most positive contact with the Enterprise crew? Their testimonies have made it appear that way."

"Yes. I have attempted to pursue bonds of friendship with selected members in hopes that you would be more inclined to listen to me, as well as any members of the Enterprise that have trusted me enough to discuss terms. I trusted your Commander Spock, taking a leap of faith as I gave him and his Captain the permission to transport the cryo tubes to the Reliant, at the cost of my comrade's trust in me."

A few of the Admiral's seemed impressed by her statement, "You are quite a mediator, and we respect your need to protect your family. During his private cross-examination, Commander Spock did inform us of a location you both agreed would be suitable for your people to colonize should an alliance be reached. We cannot disclose his testimony as it goes against regulation of the practice of court, however, should the council agree with this decision in our verdict, it will be made known."

"I understand." She complied.

"It should be known that Ms. Richardson is still considered to be a Starfleet official, and we will treat her sentencing as such, regardless of her medical reports. We would request now to have that information from Doctor McCoy before we present a final decision. With your permission, we will need to access your patient's information, Doctor."

Bones stood from his seat, turning to look over his shoulder at Nina as he did, "You got lucky kid." He said in the knowledge that she wouldn't have to go through a medical exam.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. They still have to hand out their sentencing." She muttered in a hushed tone.

He grumbled under his breath in acknowledgment before heading down to the front of the chamber to grant his permission to the council. The trial was slowly beginning to wrap up, and the council would have their decision before this day was over. Nina wasn't fond of goodbyes, so she hoped she wouldn't be separated from the Enterprise, or the augments. She realized she couldn't have both, but it was a fool's hope that kept her going. Beside her, Jim was speaking to Spock to the left of him, wondering what location he had come up with in private with Lykel. The Vulcan remained adamant on not answering, his compromise with Lykel kept silent. Khan was speaking to Lykel at the front, mouth to ear, and it was clear he was curious about the same thing Jim was. Where would the augments colonize if Starfleet allowed it; what had she decided with Spock behind his back?

All the way across the room, Nina caught Adraich's gaze on her. It was blank, lifeless. No anger or apology to be found after his confession to knowing the serum was a failure. She didn't want to believe he was right, that the serum would shorten her life. She put her trust in her friends, and Bones would remain vigilant over her condition to the point that she'd have to beat him back with a stick. Still, she wanted to confront the augment. Talk to him, just to know the why of his actions. His answer of 'simply following orders' wouldn't be enough to pacify her.

"The council requests to call one last recess as we deliberate over the final sentencing. A public announcement will also be made upon the final decision of the augment problem before Starfleet can officially call a close to this trial. We ask that at this time you no longer discuss the business of this trial until we have called your return for the reading of the verdict. Dismissed."

The council had barely left the room before the upheaval started and Lykel was holding back Khan from getting to Adraich. She wasn't strong enough to hold him off, not with the amount of rage that was pouring off of him into the room, but already Jim was sprinting his way down from the pews to help her, and Nina followed after him, knowing they'd need her strength and presence. Others followed too, Scotty and Bones coming up alongside Jim to help as well. Spock was wise, and knew not to intervene with the augment in any circumstance, so he stayed at Uhura's side with the others.

"You son of a bitch." Jim cursed at Adraich even as he held Khan back with the others.

"Jim, stop!" Nina flared, "All of you, this isn't helping."

She stepped between the two male augments, putting her hand on the center of Khan's chest, giving him a stern look of 'no'. He didn't appear pleased to have to yield in his attack, even for her, but his muscles stilled, everyone retracting their grasp on him, but not moving a step back in case he started up again. Adraich wasn't coaxed into any fit of fury, his emotions had all but left him up on that stand. Even if he was granted freedom, he was pretty much dead already.

"Why, Adraich?" She asked gently, taking a step towards him.

"A conversation for another time, Nina."

"I'm pregnant, I don't have any more time to spend on you." People grew frazzled by her confession, Bones muttering 'Jesus' into the room from her bluntness.

"That's a shame for you than, isn't it. Or perhaps the child?" The taunt didn't have as much bite as before, and she could tell he was as surprised by the news as anyone. An augmented child, really, how could anyone of his kind not stop to marvel at the idea? "Seek me out at a later time, and I'll be more willing to answer you."

He strode past her, and everyone else towards the exit of the chamber. Their bodies unappealing to him, their existence going ignored by his gaze. He kept his eyes reserved for only one. The Prince he had betrayed, crowning him as victor in their game that had started long before the Trial, Admiral Marcus, the Enterprise and cryo sleep. Nina couldn't help but feel that if Magdalena were alive, she'd be weeping for the one who loved her, and the one she loved, for she had undoubtedly caused their demise.

Just the verdict left for the trial, though the story doesn't end next chapter. Maybe 7 left yet. If you go back and read chapter 17 again when Adraich injected Nina, it has a bit more meaning now than before, though we haven't heard the last of him yet before the end. He started out as a villain, quietly so, and I wanted him to finish off that way, even if you can still sympathize with him. Also, the pregnancy came out last minute, so I'll have to reflect more on that later with Nina's friends, but for now, we will prepare for the sentencing and maybe a few goodbyes? (I won't commit myself to answer that) Always darkest before the dawn and all of that ;)