The ship has been travelling at full impulse for about a week. The Botany crew wasn't set to reach their destination for another month so there's no rush to get them there immediately, other than a growing consensus from the Enterprise crew to part ways as soon as possible. The ship is trekking along steadily until suddenly the engines cut out.
"Captain," says Sulu with alarm. "I've lost helm control." He quickly taps buttons, looking for any kind of response. Nothing. "We're dead in the water." The navigator nods in agreement, getting zero response from her controls as well.
Roberts moves over to secondary, only to face the same grim circumstances.
Spock presses the comm. button for engineering but the switches are dead. He looks to Uhura who begins to work the problem from her station. A quick diagnostic reveals nothing, but engineering is unresponsive.
"My station is completely down," she confirms. The rest of the bridge crew silently confirms the diagnosis as Spock looks to each station for some good news.
"It appears engineering control and comms have been rerouted to the cargo bay," says Roberts, trying everything to regain some control. Tensions are rising as a controlled panic sets in.
"Captain Spock," sounds over the ship wide comm. The owner of the voice needs no introduction as a chill settles over the ship. "My crew and I have taken control of you ship."
"That is apparent. What do you want Mr Harrison?" demands Spock.
"Please, call me Khan," insists Harrison. "And what I want is for you to surrender the bridge."
"I cannot do that," says Spock, firmly. He will not allow a terrorist complete control of the Enterprise.
"Resisting will only result in loss of life. It will not keep me from my objective."
"And just what is your objective?" asks Spock as Roberts and the bridge crew work to try and reclaim control.
"To finish what we started three hundred years ago. The creation of everlasting perfection," he says with fondness.
The statement unleashes a sense of unease amongst the bridge crew. "And how do you plan to achieve such a goal?" History is filled with examples among many species that have tried to achieve this feet. It always ends in needless bloodshed and failure.
Jim halts in his crawl through the tube system and listens as Harrison goes on his long suspicion confirming monologue.
"By creating a world where the weak are subjugated and the strong rule," Khan practically sings. "I'm not unreasonable. Join us and a specimen like yourself may find a place amongst us. Surrender now and I will even show your crew mercy."
Jim would seriously get 'I told you so' tattooed to his forehead if what he was right about didn't involve a psychopath taking over the ship his husband and friends serve on. Maybe after they arrest Harrison, he'll get mugs made and hand them out at Christmas.
"You know I cannot," reiterates Spock.
Jim rolls his eyes. Harrison has to know Spock's not going to just willingly hand over a Federation starship.
"Not even to save the life of your doctor?" presses Khan with all the confidence of someone dealt a winning hand.
That gets Jim's attention in a bad way. His breath is stolen from his body like his husband apparently has been. He freezes up, his brain short-circuiting as it waits for Leonard's voice to come over the comms as he starts bitching about the inconvenience of being a hostage but it doesn't come.
Only silence from Leonard.
"I have a phaser pointed at your Dr McCoy. Either you surrender the ship to my people or McCoy will be the first body on the floor."
Jim's blood runs cold. Leonard's a doctor, this isn't his fight. He doesn't deserve this, not after everything he's been through.
The bridge crew all look to Spock to see if he'll fold or call Khan's bluff in this high stakes poker game. They're looking to him to set the tone and standard in which they will weather this storm.
"Lock down the bridge," orders Spock to his people. "Keep Khan from gaining any more control of this ship." Everyone frantically sets to work, their ears still pealed for Spock's answer to Khan's question.
"I will not surrender this ship under any circumstances," insists Spock. He only has one answer to give.
Khan jabs the phaser in Leonard's direction prompting him to speak. Leonard doesn't relish the opportunity. "McCoy here, Captain. He has the means to take the ship," confirms Leonard.
Like a chess game, every piece has its part to play. Leonard just wishes the pawns didn't have to sacrifice in game played between the bigger pieces. Both sides know the other won't stand down and blood will hit the floor today. Probably his, judging by the way Khan is gripping that phaser.
"Surely you can see your efforts to keep this ship from me are in vain?"
"It is the duty of every Starfleet officer…"
An evil smile spreads across Khan's face. "He doesn't value you McCoy," he whispers.
Leonard just sneers. It's not a point to argue, just an attempt by Khan to rattle him. Leonard's value to this ship is not measured against the safety of the universe.
"Starfleet can't protect you out here," declares Khan. "Please Captain Spock, let's avoid the part where I start counting down from an arbitrary number," sighs Khan looking board.
Jim waits with bated breath. Leonard's life is in the hands of someone else. There's nothing Jim wouldn't give to make sure Leonard was safe but he's not the captain; the responsibility for what happens after here isn't on his shoulders.
"How do I know you won't harm the crew if I do surrender?"
Khan smiles, and Leonard's really starting to hate that particular smile. "You don't."
Everyone on this ship knows Khan has no intention of keeping his word. He'll always find an excuse to hurt the crew. Nero was exceptionally good at convincing his hostages that he only hurt them because they made him do it. The same thing will happen here and Leonard has no desire to see that happen to these people.
"Don't give him what he wants on account of me!" yells McCoy, before Khan silences him with a forceful backhand.
Jim flinches at the sound of some part of Harrison, most likely a fist, connects with Leonard's flesh. He waits and prays to hear that this is some sick joke being played on him or for Leonard to pull him back from the edge he's obviously tumbled off of.
He waits.
Every moment forms a lead weight of truth he isn't strong enough to bear. There's no waking up from this nightmare. Evil has found them again and dug its fangs into Leonard's neck.
"I will not surrender this ship," responds Spock firmly, his mind turning over scenario after scenario to try and find an option in which he can protect his crew.
"Very well. Ten."
The bridge collectively gasps as an imaginary clock begins counting against one of their own.
"Nine."
"No! No," screams Jim frantically into the silence of the Jefferies tube.
Jim can feel his chest tightening, his very soul being crushed between crippling fear and impending loss. The inevitable is closing in and no matter how hard he tries, there's nothing he can do. He is a silent witness to his husband's fate.
"Eight."
He's too far away to make it to the cargo bay, too far by seven decks and four sections. He can't access transporters, even with Leonard's access codes which he committed to memory like they were his own.
It's getting hard to breathe; each strangled gasp further failing to sate his deprived lungs. There's not enough air and not enough time. It's supposed to be Jim who goes out in a blaze of glory, not Leonard and not at the hands of a man like Harrison.
"Seven."
Spock can feel all eyes on him, the inevitable question of what if it was one of them in Dr McCoy's place turning in their brains. Would their captain let them die? Is he really going to let the doctor perish? No loss is acceptable but Spock is burdened with being responsible for more than just this ship.
He has a duty, as does everyone that puts on the uniform, including McCoy.
"Six."
He turns every scenario over in his head, calculating outcomes in search of one with an agreeable conclusion. There are none. This is his very own Kobayashi Maru and he'll see it through, as distasteful as it is.
"Five," says Khan in his slow steady rhythm. The doctor doesn't flinch or even divert his eyes. It's rather impressive. He's seen far greater men snivel and beg in this position only to have a doctor who by trade is a bleeding heart and weaker in spirit hold his ground in the face of his own demise. It's more than he expected from a product of such a weak system.
A shame really, McCoy would make both an interesting study and potential specimen worthy of inclusion in the coming new world.
Still, an example must be set. He adjusts his grip on the phaser. "Four."
"No. No, no, no, no," stammers Jim. The walls are closing in. He feels like he's on a treadmill, each step gaining him nothing. He has nothing to barter with, the ship isn't his and his life is useless to Harrison.
He promised Leonard wasn't going to die at the hands of that lunatic Nero. He had no idea there would be another mad man Leonard needs protection from even more.
Jim doesn't have a plan for when he gets to the cargo bay, he just has to get there. That horseshoe he was born with can't fail him now. He'd trade everything he ever had or ever was, just to get there in time.
"Three."
The bridge holds its collective breath in anticipation of a miracle, knowing one isn't likely to materialize. They're going to be witnesses to an execution.
The only one Spock can make eye contact with is Uhura. Leonard is his crewman, but her friend. If they survive this engagement with Khan, after Jim, it's her forgiveness he will have to seek.
It's all there in her eyes: fear, grief, sorrow, even pity. He looks but can't find an ounce of condemnation for what he is about to do.
It is preferable to say yes but that surrender ultimately won't save the doctor or the crew.
There's an eternity between heart beats, one in which Leonard lives every life imaginable with Jim. He can see it, a time where they might have been able to wake up late on a Sunday morning and try to make breakfast with a bunch of blond blue-eyed under foot while Joanna practices her violin. Or another time where they might have been able to bring each other home for the holidays from the academy to celebrate with their families and finally get married after graduation. He sees a world where Nero never happened and Jim's captaining his own ship.
It brings a sense of calm over Leonard. Nothing more than flights of fancy and withering hope but god he can't get enough of Jim and if in the end all he has is sweet dreams of what might have been, he'll take it. He can't set the terms of his end but won't go out in terror. With a little guilt maybe. The last thing he shared with Jim was mistrust and now he can't set that right. He just wishes he could tell Jim he loves him, one more time.
"Two. What is your answer?" asks Khan.
"I will not provide you with a ship," says Spock simply, knowing what it means.
"As you wish, Captain Spock. We will take the ship by force. One," says Khan. Khan is never a wealth of emotion but he looks a little disappointed as he gives McCoy his full attention. "Forgive me, Doctor," he apologises before pulling the trigger.
The sound of a phaser discharging sounds over the comms echoing through every inch of the ship and Leonard knows no more.