Jim Kirk was frustrated. They'd been here for ten minutes, and were clearly being given the runaround while Marcus worked on hiding his stuff. He was just about to lose his temper when he heard a massive hollow boom off to his right. "We're investigating that," he said, "right now."

Spock and the red shirts followed at a run. "Wait!" yelped their escort, running to catch up. "What's going on?"

Spock and Kirk turned a corner, and almost ran smack into a group of men surrounding a blown-in door. As they skidded to a stop, Kirk recognised the ranking officer. They'd found Admiral Marcus.

"Oh hell," said Marcus. "I told you to keep them out of here! Shoot them."

Kirk brought his phaser up. "Admiral Marcus, you're under arrest!" he shouted. "Admiral Pike's orders, under protocol 101E."

"Ignore that, Pike's gone rogue!" yelled Marcus. One of Marcus' men took a potshot at Kirk and hit the redshirt behind him. The man screamed, the scent of burnt flesh met Kirk's nose and his eyes widened. That was no stun setting!

From beyond the broken door, a phaser blast whined, taking out one of Marcus' followers. Oh lovely, thought Kirk, a three-way firefight. "Take cover in the doorways and at the corner," said Kirk, suiting actions to words. At least Marcus couldn't take cover in that room with Khan shooting at him.

"Admiral, we've got Marcus cornered and fighting, and I think we've found Khan – someone's shooting at Marcus and it looks like Marcus has been trying to blow that person up with grenades. Can you get the shielding down and some reinforcements in?"

"Will try." The com crackled as Pike issued semi-audible orders to his men on the ship.

"Rush them, you idiots!" yelled Admiral Marcus. Kirk braced for attack only to realize Marcus had meant rush Khan.

Kirk ducked out of cover and took a shot at Marcus. He missed. Kirk blinked. He didn't usually miss at that range. A shot singed his hair as he ducked back in. That was too flaming close. His com chirped. "Kirk, did you tell Marcus' men what's going on? We're working to broadcast, but they're jamming our signal. We should have the shields down shortly, so you'll have reinforcements soon."

"You know Admiral Marcus has gone and woken up the Augments, don't you?" yelled Kirk.

"Khan Noonien Singh, from the Eugenics Wars," added Spock. "We covered that period in first year train…"

"You're lying." Yelled one of Marcus red shirts.

"He's the other guy shooting at you, you dimwits!" yelled Kirk.

"Then why aren't you helping us, you –" Marcus went silent.

"Have Marcus," said a smooth, british-accented voice. "You want - trial?"

"Khan, don't!" said a woman's voice.

When the grenade went off Khan was thrown to his hands and knees, almost hitting his head on the opened cryocapsule, vision blackened and head ringing. Hiroko was knocked flying. Khan fired his phaser at the blast location, hoping to give anyone trying to come through reason to hesitate.

His vision cleared to patches and he saw a shot coming from behind him – Carol, probably – at the part of a man visible through the now-empty doorway. Khan fired again.

Dimly he heard "Rush them, you idiots!"

Khan took cover behind Hiroko's empty capsule. When Marcus' people rushed the door, he was shooting, Carol was shooting, and Hiroko was throwing shrapnel and Dr. Marin's shoes at them. The door was now mostly blocked by the unconscious forms of three of Marcus' men. Hopefully, he couldn't have too many left…

Carol and Hiroko Sen opened three more cryocapsules. They were now joined by Evan Tenzing, Maria Ramirez, and Sara Ling. Not the best for fighting, unfortunately, but they would have to do.

Khan blinked suddenly, realizing that phaser fire was still happening outside the room! Pike must have arrived. A cold feeling settled in his gut. They might have been saved from Marcus, but he had no intention of exposing his crew to the tender mercies of any Starfleet officer if he could possibly help it. They needed more leverage, and they needed it now. Not to mention better weaponry. His phaser didn't have much charge left.

Khan snuck close to the doorway, and grabbed the phaser lying on the floor near one of the men's hand. "Catch," he said, and threw the phaser to Hiroko, who caught it neatly.

He risked a quick glimpse outside, but ducked back as a phaser blast nearly hit. Even with Pike's people attacking them, Marcus obviously hadn't forgotten the Augments. The two groups were arguing as well as shooting. Perhaps if he did nothing for a few more seconds… He met Hiroko's questioning glance, and shook his head. Hiroko nodded, then exchanged glances with Carol.

Marcus' group was clustered around the destroyed door, with Marcus not four feet away, arguing with Pike's men. Khan lunged, grabbed Marcus by one arm and spun him back towards the shelter of the door. A couple of glancing phaser burns caught Khan's right arm, but his left was now securely locked around Marcus' neck at such an angle that any shot that brought down Khan would break Marcus' neck.

Marcus struggled weakly, then stopped as it did him no good, gasping for breath. Khan loosened his grip very slightly.

"Have Marcus," said Khan. "You want - trial?"

"Khan, don't!" cried Carol.