Chapter 11: Consequences

A/N: Warning, this chapter contains dark themes, as well as deaths of minor characters. Let's just say that Admiral Marcus abandoned basic ethics a long time ago, and the main character and his family are at his mercy. There will be a short summary of this chapter at the beginning of the next.

Khan woke up in bed. After a few moments of confusion he realized he was in restraints. In a sickbay somewhere. And he didn't have his sunglasses. Not the most promising beginning, that.

Thinking back, he remembered the fight, the landing at Starfleet Academy and a Vulcan face leaning over him. Beyond that, he dimly remembered waking up in hospital somewhere once or twice. He breathed in deeply. No pain. That was good. But where was he? He couldn't tell.

At least not until he heard footsteps and saw Dr. Marin enter the room. Khan squeezed his eyes shut, feeling himself overwhelmed by horror. He was back in Admiral Marcus' hands. And his people - bar Jo - had never left at all.

"Now, there's no need for that Khan, or I suppose I should call you John shouldn't I? How are you doing today? You should be more or less functional again."

"If let me out restraints, I might know," said Khan.

"You're speaking much better than the last time I saw you, that is for certain. But I'll be keeping the restraints on, I believe. Admiral Marcus will be along shortly, and he wants a word with you." Dr. Marin ran a tricorder over him and hmmed thoughtfully at the output. "Well, you'll need to take it easy the next couple of days, but you're otherwise fine. No getting into battles with the security staff, now."

Khan sighed but said nothing. The doctor's sense of humor left much to be desired. The fool thought himself so clever... he reminded Khan a bit too much of some of the people who had created superhumans to do their dirty work and then assumed they would be able to control them. They'd been fools too.

"Oh, and you lost your glasses. I'll stick a pair here." Marin rummaged around in a desk and brought out a rather tatty-looking pair. "These aren't as good as your previous ones but they should still help. I'd imagine your visual issues have improved somewhat since you were last in my care?"

"Yes, but still need them."

Dr. Marin nodded and wrote something in his file before wandering out of the room.

It wasn't long before Admiral Marcus arrived, accompanied by six guards. He was furious, and made that obvious right from the beginning. "Hello John," he said, looming over Khan. "You will show how me how to remove the cryotubes from the torpedoes NOW."

"Yes, Sir." said Khan. Resistance would be futile right now. It would only anger Marcus more, and the fate of him and his people was on a knife edge as it was. The guards undid the restraints, and then snapped a metal collar around his neck. Khan frowned as he peered down, trying and failing to get a good look at it.

"That is to make sure you don't try anything stupid," said Admiral Marcus. "It will send a high dose of electricity through your body if triggered. A very high dose. It'd kill a normal person. With you, not sure. It will certainly take you down and keep you down. Might even cause more brain damage. Don't make me use it."

Khan nodded. A slave collar. In some ways, he'd been surprised Marcus hadn't taken a leaf out of Kim's book and stuck one on him on the first day. Not that he wanted one, but while their lack of precautions had made escape more possible - even if he'd still managed to mess it up! - it had also been a bit insulting.

He'd have to find a way to turn it off before he could do try again.

They walked to one of Marcus' classified storage rooms where the torpedoes and their precious passengers were being held. Khan felt numb, aware of stares from the people they passed, a few of whom had called him at least acquaintance, if not precisely friend.

At last they stood in the plain grey storage room, where three technicians waited for them. Khan told them how to open and safely remove the cryotubes from the torpedoes, then demonstrated. He noted that the capsule contained Joaquim Weiss, Joachim's father. He stepped back, letting the technicians open the others. The technicians opened the torpedoes and left.

All the while, Admiral Marcus stood watching silently. Now he spoke. "Well, Khan, what do you think I should do with you?"

Khan looked at him through narrowed eyes. It was probably a bad idea, but... "I would not done this if not fear for their lives in face your lies."

Marcus punched him in the face. Khan saw it coming and forced himself not to duck or return the blow with his bound hands. Marcus would look so much better if his features were rearranged... but he was in Marcus' power for now, however much that fact grated. The punch snapped his head back and stung, but otherwise didn't do much. Marcus shook his hand, visibly collecting himself before snarling instead:

"You dare blame me for your disobedience after getting some of my people killed trying to stop you? You arrogant bastard!"

"You may think yourself superior, but you are nothing here, nothing but my tool. You breathe only as long as you are useful. And as for your sleeping friends, I think you need an attitude adjustment if you want them to stay alive."

Marcus walked up to the cryotube containing Joaquim Weiss, holding one of the controls for Khan's collar casually in one hand.

"No!" cried Khan, taking a step forward.

Two of the guards pointed phasers at him, while Marcus and another guard had their fingers poised on the controls for his collar. Everyone froze.

"If you going punish me, punish me." said Khan, carefully not moving.

"Aren't I?" said Marcus. He pressed the button on the cryotube. The lights on the cryotube went out. Khan swayed, a red mist clouding his vision as his imagination depicted Marcus in small pieces. He dared not give in to his instincts now or they'd all die...

"You really do care for them," said Marcus, more softly. "Let's see how much." He moved on to the next cryotube.

"No," said Khan. "Use... collar." His hands were shaking.

"So you'd rather bear lots of physical pain yourself? Sorry, no dice." He pressed the button, killing Suzette.

"No... stop?"

"You killed 5 of my people Khan, in your little escape attempt. You'll have to come up with something better than that if you don't want me to kill at least that many of yours. And don't even think about attacking me. You kill me and both you and ALL of them will die."

Frantically Khan tried to figure out what Admiral Marcus could want from him other than to show him how helpless he was and humiliate him utterly. Suddenly Khan moved... and knelt. He lowered his eyes to the floor, waiting to see what came next. If the fool wanted him obedient and submissive, he'd show him that... right up until he killed him. Marcus had gone far beyond what he could ever forgive.

Admiral Marcus laughed. "You learn fast, don't you?" Khan dared look up.

"Not so fast, there. I'm going to be old-fashioned even by your times' standards and demand an oath. And you will address me as master."

Khan's eyes flashed. Since the Augments had overthrown those who created them they had called no merely-human 'master'. If those who followed him ever knew of this they would rip him apart. But if he did not there would be no Augments. He lowered his eyes. "Yes, master," said Khan slowly.

"Excellent," said Marcus. "Now repeat after me: I, Khan Noonian Singh do solemnly swear by that which I hold most dear..."

Khan carefully repeated his words. He didn't have any choice about refusing said oath. That didn't mean he'd keep it, for all that he normally valued his word.

"...to obey Admiral Alexander Marcus and those he appoints in authority over me. I will not attempt to rescue my people, family, comrades or whatever the hell I want to call them. I will not attempt to escape. So swear I, Khan Noonien Singh."

Khan remained kneeling and silent, looking at the floor until Admiral Marcus told him he could rise. Numbly, Khan rose and followed him.

The guards ushered him back to the cell he'd been kept in when he was an experimental subject. Khan sat down on the bed. What would happen now? He didn't know, but he did know that he had failed his people and himself. He needed to think, to plan, but for once he could think of nothing at all.