Chapter 7: The Loss of a Friend:

Kahn sat in stunned and looked up at the weary man before him, Chekov had been the one to come and tell him. Kirk was dead, he had died saving the Enterprise B and was now dead for it. Kahn felt for his old friend, for friend Kirk was. How things could have gone differently if he had woke up first. He would not have these fifty worlds for his people to live on for starters. He probably would be dead as well and his people gone.

They had disagreements to be sure, Kahn hated transporters and replication technology. Kirk thought they benefited everyone. Half of Kahn's people used it and did not seem worse for wear. Still Kahn believed people should work for their food, he did, he tended the machines that made it. Now he would never have a chance to talk with his old friend ever again in this life. He knew that Kirk would go to heaven, where else would a good man like him go?

"He was only sixty, my dear old friend." Kahn said, "what was the energy field?"

"We do not know" Chekov said sadly, "but the Admiral saved everyone, I am retiring."

"You are still in the prime of life." Kahn said, "I give permission for you to date one of my granddaughters."

"I think I will take you up on that." Chekov replied smiling.

Kahn smiled, at least things would work out this way for him. He was getting old himself, he had not been young when he was put on the sleeper ship, he was already in his forties. He doubted he would make it to one hundred years of age. He liked his life, his freedom and the freedom of his people. They looked up to him and cared for him and it seemed always would.

"There is news sir, I can share it with you. "Chekov said, "the Dominion have been found, you know what a wormhole is?"

"I do." Kahn said.

"There is a race of beings called the Bajoran, this wormhole is near their system, as in right outside the system."

"Do they know if it?" Kahn asked.

"Yes, and your people are closest, if you would, if you could offer them protection in return to use the wormhole?"

"Ah, that would be good, yes, we can do just that." Kahn replied.

Kirk was gone to his eternal reward but Kahn had one last thing to do. He contacted the Bajoran people who did not see the need for security at first. They were peaceful, who would want to attack them after all? In the end they accepted and allowed a large powerful space station be built right by the wormhole, which did not seem very active at the time. Still the station was huge, well armed and nearly completely self sustaining. It was interesting what each group, the Khan republic (and Kahn was touched at how his people named the republic after him) and the Bajoran people agreed on a name. Deep Space Nine, the name had deep meaning to both groups, and suited the area well.

"This is a good space station." Khan said at the end of the five years it took to build the massive structure.

"That it is." Admiral Sulu said smiling, "it will serve it's purpose well."

"I can't help but be thankful how everything turned out." Kahn said, "I am blessed."

"I do agree with you there," Sulu said with a smile, "and I am sure Jim would agree too, he now knows there is a heaven."

"I still believe he lives out there." Spock said, "his light still burns."

"Well no matter, we shall see him again." Uhura replied, and as they rounded a corner, "Kahn that is very kind of you."

"Damn looks like him too." McCoy replied.

"Aye, very like when I first met him." Scott added.

There standing tall was a bronze statute of James T. Kirk looking as Khan had first met him. Young and full of life in his first five year mission looking out to the stars. A plaque below showed his life achievements and the peace he had helped broker with the Klingon Empire, whose people were not as bad as Kahn had thought. He had misjudged an ancient and honorable race who could be steered carefully to do what was right.

This was the last major act of Kahn in his life, he went home to his house and there in the early hours of a warm spring day he died. He was mourned and would be missed greatly and his actions would help the galaxy out far more than anything else and bring a friendly power in alliance with the Federation. His funeral was large and weeks long. At the end he was buried with his dear wife in a simple ceremony. Chekov was there with his wife and his children to mourn the loss of a father and grandfather.

How things could have turned out so differently. Yet they had turned out for the better and the silent figure watching smiled, this would save the galaxy that one small nudge would save countless millions of lives. The Romulans would continue on and the Borg would fully loose due to these simple actions. The figure vanished from that time and looked at the time stream back on track where it should be.

The End