The lights were dimmer then the Enterprise. That was the first thought Khan had when his cryogenic pod finally opened. He wasn't sure when they'd put him back. He sat up slowly, skin still chewed as his eyes scanned his surroundings. He seemed to be in an enclosed...
"Smuggler's cache."
The words were offered by a female voice he didn't know. He turned calmly and spotted her. Young, perhaps a teenager, sitting at the edge of the pod. It seemed she had been the one to open it, judging by the fact that she was still tapping the control pad. He was wary, unsure of where he was or who she was at this moment. Perhaps a quick solution was in process. If he could reach her, a knock out would be easy enough. If she struggled he could easily crush her head, she seemed frail...
"I'll stop you before you get within a foot if you come at me with violent intent." The dark haired girl spoke it calmly. "I only wanted to help. I would have let the others loose but I don't think the ship can handle 73 additionally crew members. We can barely handle the few we have sometimes. I just...I've been in cryogenic sleep. It's terrifying. All you know is cold and darkness. And then you wake up, no idea where you are, only that it's so cold. You're lucky. I was naked when I came to. If my brother hadn't been nearby I probably would have hurt someone in my fear too."
"I am not afraid." Khan stated, frowning.
"Not for yourself. Now that you're out and not on a Federation ship you're positive you'll be fine. But you're worried about your crew. Your family. The other seventy-two." She sighed. "I...believe I can help you. And them. But you aren't allowed to take this ship. This ship is filled with my family." Her eyes fell on him and the girl spoke calmly. "I'll know every action you take before you do. And if I think you are going to hurt one of my family I will stop you. Are we clear?"
Kahn could hardly believe how arrogant this girl was. Yet she did seem off. Somehow she'd know his thoughts several times without his speaking them. New voices joined the scene and took his thoughts off her.
"River, get away from there!"
"Jayne, get Vera ready, Kirk said one of these is considerably more dangerous then the other, and the odds are 72-1 that's the one River opened. When you count in the River factor, the odds are not in our favor!"
A dark haired man in a vest. Clearly not a combat type. He was calling out to the girl. There was a man in a long brown jacket with brown hair. He'd been talking to the brute with the woman's name, and had cited Kirk. Kahn frowned, quickly assessing the situation. A pregnant black woman was approaching, armed with a shot gun. None of these guns were modern. The one Jayne held was the most dangerous. The others had old guns. Jayne was the one to target.
He was planning it calmly, quickly, more rapidly then a human could keep up with. One swift move to Jayne, a punch to his low back. The gun would be his. The captain would have to go next. He didn't believe the man in the vest would pose a threat. He didn't take particular pleasure in the idea of hurting a pregnant woman, but if she got in his way (and after he took out the first two she likely would) it had to be done. The plan complete, he swung his feet out of the pod and moved toward position.
He'd completely forgotten about River until she swung a kick into his gut. He fell back, surprised, and moved to punch her. She dodged it with ease, side stepping with time to spare, and spun so she was behind him. Her arms were thin, frail, but when she jumped on his back she knew how to sling one over his neck to subdue him. He growled, backing toward the wall to crush her against it, but she was up. She was virtually standing on his shoulder upside down with one hand, the other looped and cutting off air. Kahn couldn't understand how this simple girl had felled him, but she released the grip once he began to slump.
"I'm not simple." She stated calmly as his consciousness faded. He could hear the man in charge in the brown coat talking to the girl.
"Gwai-gwai long duh dong, River?" And then the darkness. At least it wasn't cold this time...