Hi, my dear readers,

Yeah, my beta and I managed to make the next chapter ready to publish very much faster than the last ones. I'm sorry that the distance between the installments grew so much, but sometimes time is even a bigger enemy than those within my story are for Jim, Khan and the others.

I really hope that the lack of comments for the last chapter has the same reason (shortage of time), and not in some dislike for it. I know everyone waits for 'The Talk', but Bones and Spock would never – under any circumstances – put Jim under stress when he suffers from injuries. Therefore he has to heal a little bit more, before they can ask those questions which almost suffocate them.

But do not fear, 'The Talk' has its harbinger in this chapter and it will happen in the next one. Yet I do hope you're going to like the new update. Scotty will learn of 'Sunrise's' true identity and Diego will be back.

So, enjoy,

Yours Starflight

Chapter 37 – We're amigos, you and I

The night went by without any interruptions and morning announced itself with the arrival of a certain CMO, who seemed to be in a worse mood than the evening before.

"Lights, one hundred percent!" was the morning greeting, followed by bang and rattle of dishes as a tray was placed firmly on the small table.

Khan was awake in a second, while Jim mumbled something unintelligible against the Augment's throat, pressing himself closer to Nien.

"Good morning, Doctor," the former dictator said coolly; he met the McCoy's irritated glare. His voice was back to its usual deep rich baritone. The hoarse voice due to smoke inhalation had vanished completely.

"Morning!" Leonard replied flatly and stared at the pair on the bed. "Would it be too much to ask if you two could at least eat in separate beds, or do you want to feed each other?"

Something like, "I-m-not-a-child-anymore," was heard from the lump beneath the blankets, and Leonard snorted mockingly. "Really? I couldn't tell!" He stood with his hands on his hips. "Well?" he demanded, glaring a challenge at the former dictator. "Are you ready to get back to your bed and get breakfast, or not? I don't have all day."

"We don't want to steal too much of your precious time, Doctor. As soon as Jim is awake, I'll serve us breakfast." Before McCoy could protest, Khan added with smoothness in his voice, "This would not be the first time. Who do you think took care of Jim's needs as he recovered from the events on Turkana?"

"Ungh – I don't want to know what 'needs' you're talking about!" Bones growled and left without another word.

Kirk's tousled shock of hair appeared, and a pair of groggy, sky-blue eyes glanced at the closed door. "Something crawled up his ass!"

"Yes, this 'something' is knowledge!" Nien nodded; he gave Jim a peck on the lips and slipped out of bed to fetch the tray.

An hour later, both men had eaten, managed a decent shower with real water in the hygiene stall beside the restrooms, shaved, and were back in their beds resting – as much as the two men could. Being left alone gave them the chance to talk about the events on Aldebaran and the space station. Khan told him just how he found Diego in Dock 12 as it burned. At that moment, the doors opened, and Spock stepped in.

"Good morning, Captain," he greeted, "Mr. Singh," he added neutrally.

Kirk smiled at him. "Morning, Spock! Sleep well?"

Confused, the Vulcan lifted a brow. The question was not one Jim usually asked at the beginning of a shift. "Thank you, the night was quiet. Yours?"

"The same," Jim sighed. "But if I don't leave this damn bed soon, I'll go crazy!"

"You complained about exactly the same thing in the cottage; a good thing that I insisted on your rest," Khan commented wryly.

Kirk rolled his eyes and looked at his Vulcan friend again. "What's up, Spock? This isn't just a sick bed visit. You've got that special gleam in your eye that tells me you want to talk."

The first officer did not show his surprise at how well his human friend knew him. "Dr. McCoy informed me that you want a full report of the ship's status." He offered Kirk a PADD. "I recorded everything for you including an interim report from Mr. Scott. The equipment and parts from Mr. de la Vega-Martinez's shipyard will be delivered midday ship's time. Once they are installed, we will leave for Starbase 6-S."

Jim had begun to read the reports and pressed his lips in a thin line, before he murmured, "Two blasts hit where she is most vulnerable. Even with the shields functioning suffered severe damage."

"As Mr. Scott pointed it out, it could have been worse. I agree with him. The Enterprise was in charge of the strike group until the Lexington arrived. Several times, the Klingons targeted the ship in well-planned attacks. It seems her destruction was the goal – a logical strategy since she is the newest and strongest ship of the fleet. The Klingons would have gained a tactical advantage had the attack been successful."

Jim nodded grimly. "I knew that those bastards would have her weak spots analyzed before we even left the dock. Spock, continue, please…" He shook his head. "You and the others were in the middle of the action?"

"From the beginning of the engagement until your rescue," the Vulcan affirmed and Kirk cocked his head.

"Considering that you were in the middle of the fray, I suppose we could have had it much worse."

The first officer crossed his arms behind him; his face showed a hint of hostility. "We did not make an easy target thanks to Mr. Singh's device. It not only blocks the aggressor's sensors, but it also confuses the target lock."

Jim instantly made the right conclusion. "So, by not being able to scan the Enterprise, the enemy couldn't take aim. They were shooting blind?"

"Exactly," Spock nodded, and Jim beamed at Khan. "Your device kills two birds with one stone. They can only fire manually decreasing their accuracy because…"

"…Because the automatic target lock is dependent on the input to the sensors, which deliver nonsense because of the sensor-disturbing device," the Augment finished Jim's thought. "A nice addition."

"But the device's function wavered when our shields dropped to thirty-two percent," Spock stated neutrally.

"Of course. The SDD is linked to the shields," Khan replied calmly. He caught the two confused stares and added, "As Commodore Wesley and you pointed out, Jim, I should apply a patent for my development. I can give it an acronym if I so choose."

"SDD – sensor-disturbing device," Jim grinned. "I like it!" He saw amusement sparkle in his beloved's eyes; then the former dictator turned serious again as he addressed Spock in a businesslike manner.

"So, the SDD's function faltered when the shields destabilized during the battle. To prevent this from happening again, the SDD should have an independent power source."

Fixing the super-human with an expressionless stare, the Vulcan replied carefully, "To link it to…" He didn't get further because suddenly the lights went out. Light returned quickly though, and the alert sounded. The first officer pulled out his communicator since the storeroom didn't have an intercom. "Spock to Engineering. Mr. Scott, what happened?"

He had to wait for an answer; then the Scotsman's voice called, "We'd an energy short in the warp drive like yesterday evenin' and durin' the night, sir. Ye know the reason for it."

"What's the actual status, Scotty?" Jim raised his voice and waited with quick beating heart.

"Capt'n, is that ye?" the chief engineer asked and Kirk had to smile.

"Yeah, Scotty, it's me."

A loud sigh was heard through the communicator, "I'm glad ter hear yer voice, Jim. How are ye?"

"Could be better, could be worse – but I'll live either way," Kirk replied, touched by the obvious relief and joy in the Scotsman's voice.

"In other words, Ye're carryin' yer head beneath the arm, but ye're up for work. Typical!" He chuckled to himself. "Well, regardin' the status, I sent Mr. Spock a report. Ye probably have it by now. But we've new problems with the shields. We had to cut off the sensor disturbing device. We'll re-mount it as soon as the deflectors are workin' again. It'll take a day or so, but I really dunna want ta race through space without deflectors and this little wonder that Sunrise gave us. If we could put it to work separately, then…"

"If you link the device to an independent power source, it will work regardless of the state of the deflector shields are down," Khan threw in, not caring that he would compromise his presence to the engineer. It was only a matter of time before Scott would learn it anyway. "Can you connect it to the auxiliary power, for example?"

There was a short hesitation; then Montgomery's baffled tone came back. "I know that voice!"

"Yeah, you know the voice, Scotty," Jim sighed. "Please, just answer the question."

Again there was no reply; then Scott shouted, "Don't tell me that Sunrise is…" He interrupted himself. "I'm on my way!" Then the link was cut off.

Spock closed the communicator. "It seems you will be getting another sick-bed visit, Captain," he commented dryly. Jim groaned before he looked at a smirking Augment.

"You love to shock my crew, don't you?"

"Your Mr. Scott is a hot-tempered man. I admire him. And I admired his mind long before this. I'm sorry, Jim, but I couldn't resist."

"And here I thought I was the only one with a devil on my shoulder," the young captain grumbled.

Khan 'comforted' him. "Mine is bigger."

"I believe you!" Jim snorted, rolling his eyes again.

A minute later the doors opened, revealing a breathless Montgomery Scott; he stepped in and stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes widened; his jaw dropped when he caught sight of the man in the bed. "Oh, holy moly…" His gaze snapped to Jim. "What the hell is he doin' here aboard? Why isn't he in the brig?" the engineer blurted out.

'A very good question,' Spock thought.

"You wanted to meet the engineer who developed the sensor-disturbing device?" Jim smiled at Montgomery. "Well, here he is." He gestured between the two men. "Sunrise – Scotty; Scotty – Sunrise!"

Scott opened his mouth again, but nothing came out; He just looked like a fish out of water. Khan couldn't help it but chuckled at the memory of Jim's first introduction of the two men in the hanger of the Vengeance. Giving the engineer one of his lazy, arrogant smiles, he greeted Scott just as Scotty did him one year ago. "Hello."

Montgomery had stared at him, then at Kirk, before he looked back at the Augment. "Holy shit! Ye're Dryth…?" He interrupted himself and slapped his forehead. "I'm an idiot!" he moaned not noticing Khan's smile grow into a full smirk. "I even translated yer name and didn't get the hint! Drythen is king, and king in Asia is…" He shook his head.

"Maybe your beloved scotch clouded your thoughts," the super-human suggested with an echo of mockery.

"I'd like to address my captain," Scotty growled through gritted teeth and looked at Kirk. "Ye're off duty?"

"Yes."

"So I can speak freely without fearin' trouble?"

Jim already knew what would come, and so he sighed, "Scotty, it never stopped you before. Go ahead."

"Right." Scott had taken a deep breath before becoming – loud. And red. "Have ye lost yer bloody mind, Jim? Or is this one of those jokes a simple Scotsman like me doesn't get? This man…"

"… Saved our all lives – including yours, Scotty," Kirk cut in and the engineer looked with before working himself up into a frenzy again.

"If ye speak of him pullin' yer reckless neck out of a Klingon noose, Jim, ye're right. If ye're talkin' about him givin' us this device that got us out of Orion territory, ye're right there too. If ye refer to his warnin' concerning Tammeron, ye're more than right. But perhaps there is the possibility that ye forgot he shot at the Enterprise last year?" He stared furiously at Khan. "Engineerin' – this ship was a graveyard and…"

"It's not now and it might have been without him!" Jim threw in. "I read in the report; you have a lot to do before the Enterprise is back to herself. You'd have a lot more if not for him."

"That was the Klingons' fault!" Scott snarled, before he pointed at Khan again. "He fired at us. He killed you!"

"Marcus fired at us, Scotty," Kirk stated calmly. "He sabotaged and shot our ship to pieces. Nien only…"

"'Nien'?" Montgomery blinked several times, before turning around to a fascinated Spock, who watched Jim as if he was observing a rare species. "Has McCoy checked his head?" Scotty asked, flipping a thump at Kirk.

"Hey, just because I changed my opinion of the man after gathering all the facts, doesn't mean you have to get vicious," Jim protested. "You don't know one-tenth of what I know."

"Enlighten me! We're friends, aren't we? You can do that much, can't you?" the engineer said harshly, turning back to Kirk adding quickly, "Sir!"

Jim rubbed his face. "Scotty, it's a long story and not for right now."

"He fired at the Enterprise!" Scott groused outraged.

"Nien had…"

"And I saw ye die behind a bloody door, Jim! It killed me that I couldn't stop ye from enterin' the damn warp core, and I couldn't follow you in there! I tried to calm down a sobbin' Uhura and saw Spock lose his treasured control because of him." Montgomery yelled indignantly; he didn't see the Vulcan wince at the mention of what he regarded as one of his biggest failures. "And now…"

"And now I know what really happened. I know why it happened, and I'm asking you to trust me, Scotty." Jim cut into Scott's tirade softly. "And to trust Khan."

"'To trust Khan'?" Montgomery echoed disbelieving. He blinked and asked himself again if his friend and captain had been hit over the head during his last mission. That was the only explanation for such an insane requirement. "No!" He said sternly; he planted his fists firmly on his hips and glared darkly at Jim – only to feel his resolve melting as he saw the gentle, pleading expression in those blue, puppy dog eyes. Biting his lip, he growled again, "No!"

Jim's smile became even softer and more endearing; it could have melted stone.

"No!" Scott persisted defiantly.

These ever-so-blue eyes implored him now and spoke to the deep trust the Scotsman felt for his captain.

"No, for God's sake!" Scotty snapped and crossed his arms in front of his chest returning Jim's gaze for several seconds before he let his arms sink in submission. "Oh… For the love of… Do ye know how often ye manage to sway me with that look?"

Jim laughed quietly; the relief was written all over his face. "No, but I know that I can count on you, Scotty!"

The engineer snorted. "Aye, of course! One little-boy-look and ye've me wrapped around yer finger! Ye know that isn't fair?!"

"I know, what you mean," Khan commented and as Scott glanced irritated at him, he added, "Your captain can win even the hardest of men."

"Aye, he can – and the worst is he knows it and uses the skill without remorse!" the engineer confirmed heartily, forgetting for a moment his anger for the Augment.

Jim didn't mind that he was the target of the ribbing because it meant that Scotty got along with Khan if only for a few seconds. More moments like these would come; Kirk was sure of it. Both were technicians, both loved challenges, both were fiercely loyal to those closest to them. Those things they shared would lead to an understanding. Kirk knew it.

In the same moment, the lights wavered again, and Scott went rigid. "By Nessie's giant flippers, what's happenin' now?" He looked around at the walls and frowned. "Is here no intercom?"

"Please feel free to use my communicator, Mr. Scott," Spock said; he offered Montgomery his device.

"Thanks!" Scotty grumbled and called the Engineering. "Ye had ter switch off the main power to re-start it? And ye don't think it wise ter call me first?" he groused to Allistor.

"I made a ship-wide hail for you, but you didn't answer, Gomery," Allistor replied irritated.

"Aye – there's no intercom in here; I couldn't hear ye," the engineer grumbled. "Right, keep at it, Scott out!" He glanced at Spock. "Why is there no intercom in here?"

"Because it's a storeroom, Mr. Scott," the Vulcan answered calmly.

"A storeroom?" Montgomery looked at Kirk. "McCoy put ye in a storeroom? What have ye done to piss him off?"

"I would tell you if I knew," Jim sighed before he gestured towards the communicator. "What's going on, Scotty? And please don't sugarcoat it. I can handle bad news."

The Scotsman sighed. "One of the hits damaged our warp-drive and draggin' the space station overloaded the warp core. We'll be able to reach warp 3 as soon as we have the new parts, but until the shipyard owner brings them, we are going to have some energy fluctuations. We could use the auxiliary power but that's keeping the life support workin'. The med bay and the impulse drive are also takin' up much of the usable power."

"No chance to stabilize the warp core?" Jim wanted to know, and the chief engineer shrugged.

"The fluctuations are from a small slit in the dilithium crystal and a malfunction in one of the transformers. Both happened when the main-drive was overloaded. I tried to mitigate the damage by reducin' the energy production of the damaged crystal, but the failin' transformer still can't keep up with the ship's power needs. So, I have to shut down and re-start the system from time to time."

"Don't we have two or three new dilithium crystals stored aboard?" Jim asked baffled. "I signed the delivery documents for them myself."

"We HAD – that is until one of the damn Klingons hit the section and we lost the equipment and the three dilithium crystals to space. Thank the Lord, this section was secured by safety bulkheads, otherwise we'd a lost crew members along with those crystals." He rubbed through his already tousled hair. "Ten of my men are busy closin' the leakage, but it's more improvisin' than a real repair. That can only be done at the starbase."

Jim moaned and rubbed his face. "Dammit!" He looked up again. "Does Diego have dilithium crystals to replace the damaged one?"

Scott shook his head. "Yes and no. The ones that he has are too small. I already contacted Starbase 6-S. They have the dilithium crystals for Starfleet's ships, but until we get there, we'll have to hobble through space."

"Can't you override the power loss from the transformer by modifying the energy output from the other ones?" Khan cut in; his eyes shone with interest as the engineer in him awoke.

Scotty frowned and looked at him. "Are ye wantin' to do me job too, Mister?"

Instantly, Jim tensed, ready to intervene, but Khan remained surprisingly relaxed. "Of course not, but there is not harm exchanging ideas for the good of the ship. She has a problem that may grow worse on the way to Starbase 6-S. Sometimes an outside eye is needed to find a solution."

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Scotty glared at him. "We tried to adjust the transformers so that we could shut down the damaged one completely, but they overloaded. Besides that, the damaged crystal makes it impossible achieve a constant energy level even if we didn't have the load problem." He bounced on the balls of his feet. "Any suggestions?" he challenged.

Pursing his lips, the Augment cocked his head. "If you let the other transformers take on most of the work and drop most of the load from the damaged one – only giving it the minimum amount of load that allows it to function at a consistent level, the others shouldn't overload unless the damaged one completely shuts down."

Scrutinizing the former dictator, Montgomery pondered the man's proposal. He was an enemy just a few minutes ago – what was he to make of the suggestion? "Are ye really an engineer or is your device just somethin' out of yer super brain?"

Jim nerves were frayed from the conversation. It was awkward listening to Scotty talk to Nien in such a manner, but the super-human remained perfectly composed. No longer was he like an angry, defensive caged animal ready to strike at a moment's provocation. He was easy, deferent even – ready to concede ground to win this man over. Jim smiled despite himself, happy for him.

"I am an engineer, Mr. Scott. It was I who developed the transwarp drive for the Vengeance and the long-range torpedoes that Marcus wanted to use to start a war with the Klingons."

Impressed, Scotty looked him up and down, then he nodded. "That was a fine work ye did," he said slowly before he came back to the topic. "So, how would ye modify the other transformers, or rather their generators?"

"By increasing their input and, in turn, their output," Khan answered immediately.

"Ye would modify the input?" Montgomery thought about this for a moment. "Right, increase the input and the level of the output is reduced that same amount in the generator of the damaged transformer. But that would lead to an overloadin' of the linked systems."

"Is the generator of the damaged transformer failing, too or is the problem elsewhere?" Nien asked. Scotty shook his head.

"No. When the dilithium crystal was overloaded and cracked it backfired and took out the input unit of the transformer. The generator would run perfectly if we could get those levels stabilized."

Khan nodded slowly; an idea formed in his mind. "So, why not transfer directly the increased input of the other transformers to the working generator of the damaged one? It could do its work without the involvement of the damaged input unit. The output would be consistent – stable."

"Transferring the energy from the other transformers to the generator of the damaged unit holds the risk of overloading them all," Spock threw in. "The ship would be without its main power supply."

"If we run some simulations first, they should reduce the risk and we'll have an idea of what to expect," Scotty mused, not seeing the icy glare Khan gave the Vulcan. "And if we first…" He went over the details – half in his mind and half out loud. Khan had turned his attention back to the Scotsman following his train of though. Within minutes, the two men were discussing different solutions for the transformer problem, using words Kirk hadn't heard since the academy – and he sure didn't remember what they were. Thanks God for Scotty.

Jim leaned back into the pillows, smiling happily from ear to ear. Sure, he was concerned about the problems in Engineering, but he knew that Scotty and Nien would find a way together. Seeing Khan and the Scotsman talking as if they'd known each other for years was a relief for the young captain. He heard the engineer's voice go from tense to easy as he lost himself in the technical discussion, clearly glad to be able to exchange knowledge with someone on his level and with his passion; the Augment sounded likewise. Even Spock lost a bit of his frosty layer as he joined the discussion, adding his own welcomed advice and opinions.

Not able to follow most of the conversation, Jim turned his attention to the PADD and read reports submitted.

Scotty's, "Rrright!" distracted him.

"This could be the solution to the problem," Montgomery said excitedly. "I'll run some simulations in the computer. Perhaps ye could work out an independent energy supply for the SDD, Mr. Singh? It would save us some time so that we can leave for Starbase 6-S a wee bit earlier than we thought we could have. We're already late with regard to the original schedule."

Jim grinned as he realized that Scotty was using the name Khan had given his development. He was even casual, now, with the Augment – polite even.

The super-human nodded at the Scotsman. "No problem." He glanced at Kirk. "With your permission, Jim."

"Permission granted," the captain beamed, realizing that Khan was about to work hand-in-hand with one of his friends – his crew.

Returning Kirk's shining smile with a softer one of his own, the former dictator addressed the chief engineer again. "I need a layout of the system and…"

"No problem!" Scott stepped to Kirk, "Excuse me, Jim!" He took the PADD from the surprised captain and checked its files. "Nope, that won't do," he murmured and pushed the PADD back into Kirk's hands before heading for the door. "Back in a minute!"

"Thanks for let me keeping the reports," Jim called after him, but Scotty's answer was cut off by the closing door. "Crazy Scot," Kirk chuckled before he looked at Khan. "It seems you won him."

"He is a very skilled technician and highly intelligent. It's refreshing to speak with someone whose mental abilities on the subject meet my own," Nien answered with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm glad," Jim replied; a soft shimmer lit his gaze.

Spock watched Khan carefully. The Augment's willingness to help them may be a result of his obvious affection for Jim Kirk; it could also be part of a larger plan to deceive them all. Of the latter, the Vulcan was convinced. But before he could voice his concern, Scott returned with McCoy on his heels.

"You gonna tell me why you need my spare PADD and usurped my terminal for data you could get from your own se…" Bones stopped as Scotty offered Khan the little device.

"Here, I copied the needed layouts to this PADD from our data banks as well as the layouts of our auxiliary energy network because the SDD should be linked ter them too."

"I agree," Nien nodded. He switched on the PADD and checked the files.

In the background, an astonished CMO asked Spock in a hushed tone, "What the hell is going on?"

"Very good, I can work with this," Khan said, ignorant of the conversation in the background, and Montgomery grinned at him; having completely forgotten his grudge against the Augment for the time being.

"Right. And as soon as our good doctor lets ye out of his clutches, ye should have a look at the transformer problem and the new mounting for the SDD. I'll ask ye ter come ter Engineering." He ignored Spock's imminent protest and glanced at Kirk. "Would that be all right, Jim?"

The young captain had nodded, positively gleeful before he turned towards the Augment. "That is, if you want to."

"To see my development in action, and tinker with it? You know, I have not yet had the pleasure?" The blue-green eyes began to shine. "And so, I would – yes."

"Then it's settled."

McCoy frowned, and Spock lifted a brow. "Captain, I must protest. Mr. Singh is not a member of this crew and allowing a civilian to experiment with our engines, could…"

"He's the inventor of the SDD and I need his help to make it as effective as possible for our safety. So I really don't care if he is a civilian or not," Scott argued.

"Maybe you should remember that Mr. Singh is not only a civilian but also a wanted man, who is free only due to the commodore's actions. To allow someone…"

"Spock," Jim was all captain here and immediately Spock knew the tone brokered no argument, "the Enterprise has a problem in Engineering and this SDD is needed to keep us out of view of the Klingons. Your opinion is noted." The Vulcan reluctantly nodded, and Kirk continued, "If Nien can help us to solve the problem and Scotty is requesting his assistance, then I will accept his support. He has just as much interest in not getting captured by the Klingons as the rest of us."

"Aye!" the chief engineer nodded before he stopped within the movement and gave Khan a very stern glare while he pointed a finger at him like a father lecturing his son. "But if ye ever shoot at my girl again, ye'll learn what kind of hell a Scotsman can bring down on ye!"

Nien's lips twitched in amusement. "The fierce temper of your people is well-known, Mr. Scott. But that's not why I endeavor now to protect this ship and its captain."

'And that's probably the only thing I'll believe, you seducing son-of-a-bitch! You'd rather share Jim's bed instead of atomizing it!' McCoy thought indignantly.

Spock's face held an expression of barely hidden consternation while he stared at the former dictator. Again something prickled in the depths of his subconscious he couldn't grasp.

"Okay," Bones said firmly. "If you all think Scottish temperament is fierce I suggest you refrain from trying a Southerner." He caught the confused gazes of the other four men and pointed at the door. "Spock, Scotty, time to go – Now! It'll be a while longer before I consider discharging these troublemakers." He waited. When both officers didn't react, he tapped impatiently his right foot. "Well, what are you waiting for? You have nothing better to do than loiter in my sickbay, gentlemen?"

The engineer sighed. "He's as bad as I am when it comes to his territory." Waving at no one particular, he left the room followed by Spock, who gave McCoy one of his infamous stares before the doors swished closed behind him.

Bones sighed. "Finally!" His attention returned to his two patients who looked back at him with interest.

"The good doctor is very determined, isn't he?" Nien asked quietly, and Jim took a deep breath.

"He's always like that."

"Really? How did you put up with him?"

"I wouldn't want him any other way. I don't have patience for wishy-washy and indecision. He's the best doctor in the sky, and despite his foul moods, he's a damn good friend," Jim stated softly, smiling carefully at McCoy.

"Yes, I suppose that explains it," Khan commented with a hint of wistfulness in his voice; then he concentrated on the PADD; excited to address the challenge in front of him.

ST***ST***ST

Bob Wesley hadn't slept well. Not one bit. His mind roiled with more questions than answers and wouldn't let him rest. The war. The state of Starfleet's squadrons. Kirk and the Augment.

The Commodore was no fool. He knew the risk he took on himself when he put Khan Noonien Singh under his protection and made the decision to keep quiet about the guest on the Enterprise for the good of its captain and crew. If Jim was right and Section 31 was still in the game, then the risk to Khan was doubly increased. Its members would stop at nothing to silence the Augment and the crew of the Enterprise. Bob knew now that they would deem Kirk as knowing too much and thus a danger to the Section. And now he knew what Kirk knew. Which painted a target on Bob, too. Luckily, the Council and Command were still in the dark. If word got back to them about the Augment and James Kirk – well, the Klingons would be the least of their problems. The danger was from within now.

Pondering the different options on getting Kirk, his officers, Khan and himself out of the mess they all were in, Wesley finally drifted off to sleep. He woke late. That never happened! Shocked, Bob stared at the chronometer at his nightstand. It was 1000 ship time; his shift started two hours ago. Apparently, someone had switched off the alert to grant him some rest – a touching gesture. Still, Wesley was irritated as he raced minutes later to the bridge.

He found a mixture of well-controlled chaos and the determined work of his crew they enacted the necessary repairs on the bridge; none of his officers noticed his arrival until he raised his voice. "Whoever switched off the alarm on my chronometer this morning – I appreciate the sentiment. But do it again and there will be consequences. Understood?"

Several sheepish smiles were aimed in his direction accompanied by nods and yes sirs.

"Right," he grumbled. "Status report!" he addressed his first officer.

"Repairs are thirty-two percent complete. Warp drive will be ready in approximately seven hours. Leakage repair are sixty percent complete with med bay being among the first completed. The governor of Aldebaran wants to honor Captain Kirk and the two men with him. I let him know that you will contact him. The Chi-Zo is on her way to Starbase 132; the Enterprise will leave as soon as she receives her final equipment delivery. Oh, and that police officer – desk jockey – O'Donner, insists on getting the results of your research concerning the bar-fight in New Aberdeen."

Wesley groaned and cursed quietly. "Tell him that the fight was, indeed, between the Klingon spies and Captain Kirk. Starfleet will pay for the damages. He can send the documents to Capricio." He glanced at his subordinate. "And if that wanna-be-soldier still insists on a traffic ticket for Jim then I will inform the governor that O'Donner can't tell the difference between moving violation and a military action that saved his ass!" He let himself sink into his captain's chair. "And now someone could make me really happy by bringing me some tea and a sandwich."

ST***ST***ST

Five hours later, Jim didn't know if he should hug Bones or limp away as quickly as possible when McCoy discharged him and Khan – not without stern orders on how to behave few the next days. Then he provided the pair with clothes and pointedly accompanied Kirk to his quarters. That could mean one thing. 'The talk'

Handing Jim a walker, McCoy led his two most troublesome patients out of their 'private' room. The crew members they passed moved to the side for their captain, but stared wide-eyed at him and his companion. He was dressed in the casual black Starfleet clothing and hobbled between the med-beds and bio-beds. He greeted and was greeted by the crewmen and woman who weren't agape. One injured redshirt gasped when he recognized Khan. Kirk told him kindly that everything was all right, that there was very good reason why this man was aboard and NOT in handcuffs and that he would explain everything later.

Jim sighed in relief when he finally made it out of med bay. He walked between Bones and Khan along Deck 5 where med bay, the transporter room, some briefing rooms and the impulse drive were located as well as crew quarters. His crew greeted him with joy and stepped aside, asked how he was doing, and smiled at Khan. It was an open secret that Kirk had been recovered by a man belonging to The Shadow. This stranger (and he was to most of them) had to be the man that freed their captain from the Klingons and fought at his side during the Aldebaran crisis.

After all of the well-wishes, they finally made it to the captain's quarters. Before the Enterprise's retrofitting, the captain's quarters was on Deck 12, but Jim had used the opportunity last year to take a space nearer to the bridge located on Deck 1.

Spock strode towards them. "Captain, it is good to see you up," he greeted his T'hy'la, before he and Khan exchanged an icy glance.

"Yeah, I feel like new – a hurt new, but it sure beats how I have been," Jim sighed, happy to be out of bed even if is hip was giving him hell. But the talk with Bones was at the back of his mind and he wasn't looking forward to that.

"You can say that again! What you've been through would have sent others to their maker - twice over." McCoy grumbled. "So don't overdo it right out of the gate."

Jim grimaced and muttered something about a mother-hen beneath his breath; then he turned back to the Vulcan. "When is the last equipment delivery? And how far has Scotty gotten with the busted transformer?"

"Mr. Scott is still busy programming the main computer to run the simulations. Mr. de la Vega-Martinez came onboard an hour ago and remains in Engineering." The first officer fell into slow step beside Jim, ignoring Khan's glare. "He asks if he could visit you, Captain – and you too, Mr. Singh," Spock added with another quick look at the super-human. "He said he brought your 'stuff'. He carried two duffels with him when he beamed aboard. Security cleared the bags."

Jim grinned and glanced over his shoulder at Nien. "I think he cleaned out the cottage." His eyes widened. "Dammit, the red wine spot on the floor… We didn't have chance to clean it."

"I'm certain he will be all right with the souvenir," Khan retorted dryly.

Spock addressed Kirk again. "So you agree to the visit, Captain?"

"Of course. Nien and I didn't have a chance to say adios on the space station. We owe him that and then some more. Please send him up when he finishes in Engineering." They passed a few turns when the Vulcan stopped in front of a door. "Mr. Singh, this is your room," he said neutrally. Jim smiled.

"You put Nien in officer's quarters?" He looked with barely hidden joy at his beloved. "Mine is only four doors down!" he said, pointing ahead.

'Jesus, they'll be sneaking down the hall like horny teenagers,' McCoy groused to himself. He pictured his friend creeping down the hallway and vanishing into the Augment's quarters – or the other way around.

Khan's face showed no emotion – just a simple 'thank you', he replied. Then his glance found Jim's enthusiastic one and his features softened; he nodded at his beloved and stepped in range of the door sensors.

Despite McCoy's protest, Jim followed Nien and looked around. A sideboard parted the sleeping area from the small living room that held a desk with a terminal, a sofa and table, and an arm chair. On the other side, a door led to the hygiene cell. The furniture was functional – cozy even. The carpets and a holophoto showed a beautiful alien landscape gave the room a homey atmosphere.

"Is this standard on board your ship?" Khan asked, a bit surprised, and Kirk grinned at him.

"Yes – at least for the officers." He pointed at the device built into the wall beside the door that led to the bathroom. "The replicator is over there; the terminal is connected to a computer bank that stores – whatever for food, I don't really know how it works – it just does. And there's an entertainment program from the recreation deck. If you link the PADD Scotty gave you…"

"My spare PADD," Bones grumbled but was ignored.

"… to the terminal you can download literature. We have quite a selection of books from Earth from of the time periods, but also some from other planets, as well as records from the Federation's members. So feel free to read them."

Khan looked at him. Marcus voiced a similar sentiment after he had woken him from cryosleep. But trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool. And Marcus wielded that tool fiercely. Khan was no innocent to this time any more, but Jim proved himself no liar. For a second, Khan allowed himself to wish this was the face he first woke to.

"Thank you, Pyāra," he said quietly; warmth shone in his blue-green eyes. "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome, hon… Nien!" Jim replied, catching himself quickly. He knew that Bones and Spock stood behind him with far too keen ears, and he wasn't ready to out their relationship before 'the talk'. Well, if Khan was right, and he normally was, Leonard already knew. But Jim didn't want to give Spock a shock in front of Nien. "'kay. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the quiet. After Scotty gets a hold of you, you'll be busy for a while."

"That's quite a warning," Nien chuckled. "But I'm looking forward to the task. This sitting idle is maddening."

"Who're you telling," the young captain sighed and grimaced as McCoy cleared his throat. "Yeah, I know, Bones. Rest!" He shook his head; his attention lay still on Khan. "You'll come to my quarters for dinner? I would visit you, but…"

"Dr. McCoy is right, Jim, you still have to rest your leg. Call me and I will come to you. Four doors, you said?"

"Yes, 3F 121 on the left." He waved at Khan. "Bye. See you later." He hobbled away, Leonard at his side, while Spock gave the Augment one last warning glance before he left, too.

Khan brushed his hair back from his forehead. He knew that the next hours would be anything but easy for his mate. Jim's two closest friends would demand answers, the nature of which would be very delicate.

ST***ST

Jim limped down the hallway between McCoy and Spock and sighed as he reached his quarters. Entering his room, he looked around. Everything was familiar – but somehow strange. He had been away approximately ten days but with everything that happened in that time, it was too much to ask of him – to feel at home again.

With a groan, he sank onto his the sofa in the living area. The room was similar to that of Spock's and Uhura's quarters albeit a bit smaller since they were in quarters designed for two.

"Tired?" McCoy asked; Jim smiled sheepishly.

"Not tired like in 'tired', but relieved to sit down." He rubbed his hip carefully. "Dammit, it still hurts even with all the hypos you pumped into me."

Leonard nodded. "Yeah, back in Khan's time, you'd be out of commission for six to eight weeks."

Jim sighed and looked up at his two friends who stood side-by-side like angels heralding Judgment. "So…," he began slowly. The intercom sounded. Grace from judgment – for now.

"Bridge to Mr. Spock!"

The Vulcan went to Kirk's desk and activated the terminal. "Spock here, Lieutenant."

Uhura's face appeared on the screen – professional as always. "Sir, Mr. Scott requests you meet him in Engineering."

Spock lifted a brow. "Has Mr. Scott told you why he requests my presence in the Engineering?"

Nyota suppressed a smile. "No, he only stated that he – maybe – needs equipment for the solution that's been worked out to address the ship's power supply."

Sighing inwardly, the Vulcan nodded. "I'm on my way." He closed the link and straightened himself. "Captain, Doctor, please excuse me. I'll be back as soon as I can." He nodded shortly to the two humans and left.

Jim watched him go and then looked back to Bones. So it was just them now. But Kirk knew one less man would make this no easier. And more than likely, the opposite. Spock, he could parry with – his brother. But Bones... He didn't want to disappoint him – didn't want the doctor to think less of him.

ST***ST

Khan made himself comfortable on the sofa as Kirk suggested, took the PADD and began to work at the different problems presented to him by the Engineering chief. Well, he tried to apply himself to the problems presented, but his usually impeccable concentration wavered. There was an unrest in him like something was scratching – shifting uncomfortably at the edge of his subconscious.

Finally giving up, he let the PADD sink to his lap; he closed his eyes and tried to analyze what distracted him. There was an echo in his mind, but the echo wasn't his; the echo was outside of him – sorrow, fear, frustration. But there was more there – a lightness like a private smile felt, yet it was uncertain.

And then it hit him: He sensed his mate's inner turmoil. The discussion with McCoy and Spock proved more difficult than they'd thought, and the protective instincts of the Augment flared up like a jet of flames. But there was that private smile in his mind – he felt the things that gave Jim a sense of ease.

But it did nothing to dull the urge to go to Jim's aid; it would do more harm than good, though. Firstly, his Pyāra could capably defend himself – fight his own battles and win. He had long before Khan – and he beat even him once upon a time. Perhaps twice. Secondly, it was important to Jim that he made his friend understand the situation presented to him. Khan was neither blind nor arrogant – he understood the perception that surrounded him, the enemy. He was responsible for it. Finally, he would not make Jim choose between him and his friends. That's what would happen if he interfered. His beloved must fight this battle alone even if every fiber of the super-human pulled him toward the door.

To distract himself from his own (and Jim's) uneasy mind, he decided to try the terminal at the desk. He switched it on, checked a few links. The access allowed surprised him – the entire ship's library, the Augment couldn't resist roaming through it.

The distraction was short-lived. His thoughts drifted. He felt him. He and Jim shared a bond that seemed to enable him to sense Jim's deeper emotions, and he wondered if it went both ways. He remembered once, a long time ago, the feeling as something for Joaquin was about to go wrong. And that niggling at the edge of his mind proved to be correct. His 'little brother' had maneuvered himself into deep water – literally. Joaquin was caught with some Augments and a handful of villagers outside of town in the middle of a monsoon. It was only at the last minute that Khan, Rodriguez, and Kabir had been able to save Joaquin and the others. It was Khan's first real taste of the bond between him and his people.

And so it was too, with Jim Kirk – as impossible as it seemed. True, the captain's body was altered, right down to his cells. Still his beloved was only human. But the bond, the impression of his lover so far away, was as strong as any he felt with his kin.

And then it would surpass the bonds of his family when Jim finally marked him as his own. Of that he was sure. If one mark did this, then two would...He shivered with the thought in anticipation.

The door buzzer interrupted the super-human's musings, snapping him back to the present. "Enter!" he called and the door slipped open, revealing a large, familiar shadow and an almost equally tall one, but more slender.

"Please, Mr. de la Vega-Martinez, Mr. 'Sunrise's' quarters," the Vulcan's deep voice sounded. "Mr. Scott will inform you as soon as your companion beams over the last of the requisition. I am told it will be one half hour."

"Gracias, Commander," Diego answered and stepped in; Spock was gone before the doors closed.

In the guest quarters, the Chilean turned around to its current occupier and smiled. "I brought yours and Jim's belongings," he said and let the two sea bags he carried over his right shoulder slide to the ground.

The former dictator rose to meet his friend. "Thank you, Diego," he replied as calm as ever, but the voice did not match the tense body. The Chilean knew who he was, and it did not sit well with Khan – not yet. "Please, have a seat," he said, pointing at the living room group.

"Gracias," Diego replied and sat down, watching the super-human. Khan stepped to the replicator and ordered two glasses of red wine.

"Mr. Scott said you and Kirk ended up with capillary damage and some bruising from being trapped in the room where the bird-of-prey took its shots; you were exposed to open space." The large man shook his head. "You're damn lucky to be alive – almost healed too. You skin should be covered spider-webs, but you're white as marble. I suppose it's not a surprise."

Khan returned with the two glasses and placed one on the table for the Chilean. "I beg your pardon?"

"You're an Augment, aren't you? That explains a lot," Diego murmured; blue-green eyes looked cautiously at him.

"Jim confirmed Korax's and McFurthon's statement," Nien said flatly; he took a seat and confirmed the statement. "Yes, I'm an Augment."

Diego frowned. "How…?"

"Oh please!" Khan sneered. "You must have heard of genetic engineering at some point in your life."

"I'm not talking about – how, Drythen," the Chilean interrupted him softly, feeling the anger's first spark light the Augment. Obviously the super-human did not like to speak about his circumstance. "I meant, how is that anyone messed with you in the first place? Jim told me you were born like this. That means genetic engineering was going on thirty years ago, except, it wasn't. Genetic experimentation is illegal."

"I am very much older, Diego," the former dictator answered quickly, sounding suddenly tired; he placed his own glass on the table.

And Khan did indeed feel tired – tired of explaining his heritage, its circumstances – how he was here at all. But it seemed explanation was once again inevitable. "I – I come from the time of the first Augments." He watched the nearly black eyes of the South American widen in disbelief. "I was 'born' 1964 in a lab in New Delhi," he continued. "I am one of eighty-five Augments who tried to bring peace to the world. There were more – others who looked on the human race with loathing, regarded them as unworthy of existence. You must have learned how it ended some time in your schooling."

Diego stared at him in shock. "The Eugenic Wars," he whispered. "You're from…?" He shook his head. "How is that possible?" He didn't doubt 'Drythen's' words for one moment. The words rather explained riddles that surrounded the strange man – they cleared the cobwebs.

"Cryosleep," Khan deadpanned. "I am an engineer and developed the equipment needed to enable my family to leave our world – go far away and live. It saved them – my family and me."

Diego cocked his head. "I heard sometime in school about a legend – a sleeper ship with Augments that fled Earth."

Khan looked him straight in the eye. "The legend is true," he said slowly. "Those Augments are my family – brother, sisters, friends… Some a bit older than I; most are younger – one practically a child." He took a deep breath.

Diego examined the other male; his bowed lips were drawn tight, and those normally bright, expressive eyes were so far away now. But everything about this man was different – stronger, expressive, outstanding, even beautiful – beautiful in a strange way, but all the more remarkable for it. "So, you're not thirty but three hundred years old? Congratulations! You're certainly the most youthful looking old Terran in the whole galaxy." He smiled teasingly. "At least I don't have to worry about fangs or a thirst for blood. I prefer the reality of Augments to vampires. You had me worried for a bit."

Khan stared at him thunderstruck; then he saw the humor light the other man's face. "You're okay with it," he stated and Diego shrugged.

"Hey, I'm living in a universe full of people who would have driven the most religious to panic just three hundred years ago. So your abilities aren't the results of environment or adaptations. We're in the twenty-third century now, multiculturalism isn't a pipedream; it's reality. And I think Augments have their own strengths and weaknesses just like any other race in the universe. The galaxy is full of people who are far stranger than you and your family. A few of you overdid back then, but this goes for the whole history of mankind – the ancient Egyptians, Babylonian, Greeks and Romans, Napoleon and Hitler. Not that I'm saying you're them – sorry." He pursed his lips shortly. "You're not after the presidency, are you?"

Khan couldn't help himself: He had to laugh. "Certainly not! I doubt I could name all of the alien races that I've met thus far, and I have no desire to rule." He felt a wave of relief when Diego laughed with him and allowed himself to smirk at the Chilean. "I must admit, you surprised me. I was certain you would turn away or worse yet, fear me."

"Why? You were a friend of my friend. You are an engineer, as I am. And then I came to know that you are a loyal man – a man who thinks nothing of using his strength for the protection of those in need. You risked your life for your man, and the men and women of New Aberdeen. Hell, Galven told me about your stunt to buy time for Starfleet during the Tammeron crisis. I think right now, this universe would be in a much darker place if you weren't in it. So long as I am on your side, and you won me over a long time ago, I have nothing to fear."

"People always feared us," Khan threw in and the Chilean shrugged again.

"People were afraid of thunder, so-called witches and wizards, the Northern Lights, lunar eclipses… Humans always fear what they don't understand, but I like to think we've made a little progress in the last two hundred years. Our eyes and our minds cracked open just a little more after the first contact with aliens – Vulcans, to be precise. And then we met more and more people from other planets. We had two choices really – tolerance and charity or hide away in fear. We rightly chose the first path."

"Obviously!" Khan replied dryly; then he felt another hue of Jim's distress. 'Tolerance is something his friends should show him' he thought before he returned his attention back to Diego. "To tolerance, charity, and the progress of humankind," he toasted and raised his glass while Diego did the same.

"To tolerance and charity!" Their glasses clinked against each other; then both men took a deep sip.

"Ah, a Chilean one. So you liked the wine I left for you?"

"Yes, it was an excellent wine," the former dictator nodded. "Jim and I have to apologize for the wine stain on your carpet. It was an accident. We wanted to take care of it and intended to when we returned from New Aberdeen, but then…"

"Then some Klingons showed up; all hell broke loose," Diego grinned. "Santa Maria, that was a hell of a ride the day before yesterday. I certainly will never forget my encounter with Starfleet's newest hero and you, Dryth…" He hesitated. "What is your real name? Somehow I doubt that it is 'Drythen'."

'Clever!' the Augment thought before he sighed. "Drythen is my true name – only in another language. Translated in my mother tongue it is Khan. And Hádgere Léo is old English for Noonien Singh."

Diego bit his lips. "I think... I've heard that name; I've heard of you."

"Certainly," Khan nodded, before he carefully added, "I was not unimportant in Asia where I ruled. I tried to help my people forge a life worth living – the humans and my brothers and sisters, together." He snorted bitterly. "It wasn't meant to be."

"Good intentions are for naught if people refuse to see the good in the intention," the Chilean murmured, and took another sip of his wine. "Jim asked me if my opinion of you would change now that I know what you are. My answer was and is 'no'; it changes nothing! You've proven yourself a loyal and honorable friend over and over again." He bent forwards and offered Khan, his hand. "We're amigos, you and I."

What would his family think of him now – the great Khan Noonien Singh, grateful – modest even. But the former dictator knew the darkness – had been through dark times alone. And if he were honest with himself (and he was) he had no desire face it alone again. He wasn't scared of the dark, but now he truly knew the comfort of friends – brave friends who would face anything by his side and a lover to light his every step. And he would fight for every one of them, and to keep every one of them as they had fought for him.

"Gracias," he said quietly and accepted the offered hand. "I only have one request."

"To stay silent about your true identity?" de la Vega-Martinez guessed. "No problem. I think I know now why you've avoided Starfleet. You had already a run-in with them and…" He went rigid. "You said, your family accompanied you to space – and you also told Galven you had to avoid the authorities because they took your family from you. Does this mean that your brothers and sisters are… held hostage somewhere?"

Khan's jaw tensed. "Yes."

"By Starfleet?"

"They're locked away at a high-security facility so far as I can surmise. Few know the location. They are still in cryosleep, and if the admirals have anything to say about, they will remain so indefinitely – until their tubes…" He shook his head, and Diego cursed.

"Dammit – to escape the hellfires of war with your dear ones only to be separated is cruel, not to mention that those damn uniform-wearers are intentionally drawing out the decision to wake them; it could kill them and they know it!" He frowned. "And now you're aboard Starfleet's flagship. Galven said you safe here, still…"

"Commodore Wesley learned much about me that has been kept secret. He has vowed to keep me safe here – not to notify Starfleet. He, Jim and I came up with an idea on how to proceed legally for my and my people's freedom. We will beat our opponents with their own laws in their own arena."

Diego nodded slowly before he straightened his up and fixed the other man. "If you ever need help, you or your family, let me know. You are not only my friend but I also owe you my life. If there is anything I can do, just tell me."

A warm wave affection for the big man filled Nien. This was the second time in two days that someone had offered to help him despite who he was – an Augment – a deposed ruler. Times had changed! If he had ever doubted it, he could look to Jim, Wesley, and Diego. "Thank you, Diego!" he said truthfully. "If I ever need your help, I will let you know."

"All right!"

"And one thing more," Khan continued. "Caviw found out about me. She heard the story of the Augments and then hacked into some library databases." He snorted. "I underestimated the pussy cat." He heard Diego chuckling and added, "She, Galven, Ritek and Jeff know about me, so you are free to speak around them, but only them."

"No problem," the Chilean answered. "I knew they had it figured out when they came to see me in the hospital; we were worried about you when we heard you were on a Starfleet ship. They didn't tell me your name, though." He cocked his head. "They're okay with it – you, as I am."

"Yes, they are," the super-human murmured. "I never thought I would have this – friends. Even Jim was a surprise. And when we became – more... I thought perhaps I was lucky enough to have one friend. I am thankful for you all."

"Well, friends don't judge the man, but the deeds of the man. Yours are laudable. You're a fine man, Noonien Singh. I don't give a shit what anyone else says. Wait, I do give a shit – and if they say anything against you, they say it me – to all of us. And they'll be sorry they did." He lifted his glass again. "To friendship."

"To friendship," Khan replied, grateful to have found another ally. He hoped that would not come that he really would need Diego's and The Shadow's help.

Fate would have other ideas…

TBC…

Yes, times really have changed – at least for those who have open eyes and an even more open heart when it comes to tolerance and respect concerning strange and even alien people. Diego is a good example for it. Yet Khan and Jim are going to face a storm that resembles a monsoon.

I don't have to tell you much about the next upcoming chapter. 'The Talk' will happen – and I promise a rollercoaster of emotions.

Hopefully you like the new update and I'm really looking forward to get some reviews (battering my eye-lashes).

Have a nice rest of the week,

Yours Starflight