She remembered the first mission she had. She remembered the first scar she had gotten from phaser fire. She remembered the first time she killed someone. She remembered the light leave the man's eyes. She remembered...She especially remembered how much she enjoyed it.
5 Years after
She strode through the white halls that lit up with every step she took. Her uniform was ink black with one blue strip that cinched her collar strap closed. Her hair was free and flowing;while her eyes were cold but they still contained that warm light that she so cherished when looking in the mirror.
She held her communicator and PADD in her hand "Agent Sterling, Admiral Marcus requests you presence in his office" Her opal eyes barely drifted to her communicator as she almost knew that she was being given another mission "I'll be there in two." She murmured as she quickened her stride. Her heart beating the same even after running the way to Admiral Marcus's office.
When she arrived at the steel silver door; in just a moment, the warmth that stayed in her eyes faded, her emotions hidden from the naked eye. She stepped forward and the door automatically opened; revealing the Admiral and another man whom she quickly recogonized as Captain Pike or now Admiral Pike as it has been five years since she last saw him...and Kirk..Bones..even Scotty.
"Agent Sterling" I nod in greeting to them both. But I could see the tension in the room; my mind calculated the reasons as "Admiral Marcus, Admiral Pike." I greeted with a small nod to them.
Admiral Marcus was dressed in the same uniform as I but his contained the four stars on each shoulder marking him as a Admiral. "Admiral Pike here was telling me about your request to be transferred to the U.S.S Enterprise" I remained calm and collected as I could hear the agitation in the Admiral's tone.
I knew that my first request had been denied and deleted from the network as Admiral Marcus didn't want to lose me to a exploration ship but I made sure that my second request was hidden and encrypted and personally handed to Admiral Pike by a friend.
"Yes Sir, I thought my transfer would be benefical." I replied with my posture straight and proper as I watched Admiral Marcus from my observant eyes. Admiral Pike on the other hand was watching us as a silent message was sent between us. "Well I would like to inform you that the request has been accepted." He said stiffly as he looked at me closely.
My emotionless face almost slipped but I caught myself "Thank you Sir." I said warmly as Admiral Pike spoke "The Enterprise is docking at the station for repairs and reloading of supplies. You'll take a shuttle to San Francisco and then recieve orders and then from there to the station." I nod with a hidden excited gleam in my opal eyes.
Admiral Pike smiled as he knew of me from Kirk's stories. As he took hold of his cane and began to leave "Stay Agent Sterling" Admiral marcus said just as I moved to to follow Admiral Pike. He looked over me briefly as I stood at attention "You've developed the portable teleportation device correct?" He asked as he stood.
"Yes Sir, I have developed many devices and techniques for Area 31" He nodded as he came to stand in front of me. "2XB" I slightly stiffened when I heard my experiment numbering. I haven't heard that in over 4 years. "I will allow this transgression but the time and expertience placed in you will not be wasted on a exploration ship." His words cut into me; I stayed still and calm as I could've just squished him like a bug but I needed for him to be alive.
I would be terminated if anything happened to Admiral Marcus; he made it an insurance policy to have this done to me as I am a national secret that he can't have blabbing. "Each time I require your assistance on a mission..You will use the portable teleportation to arrive at said location and complete the mission." His eyes stared me down as I answered "Yes Sir." He almost grinned meanly but he just shooed me out.
"Leave 2XB. Go meet that shuttle that will take you to San Fransico." I didn't say anything; all that was left in my vocal cords was harsh words and curses in klingon and such. But I steeled my shoulders as I left the room; as I made my way through the halls I didn't look at anyone.
But I did glance to the labs where I saw someone new; he stood tall and straight as he overlooked through some screens that were lit up with ship plans, just with a glance I could see that this ship was built for war and speed. The man didn't look towards me as I continued to observe him; he was dressed in the same uniform as I. He was very handsome and what was the word that Carol used..Bangable, yes that word Bangable..His dark hair was swept back select for a piece that seemed to dangle in his eyes when he bent down. I saw his eye color briefly; it was a deep blue that seemed to stare right at me..
He was staring at me directly; I tilted my head at him before I entered the labs one last time "Excuse me..Agent Asteria Sterling well not agent anymore." I introduced myself as he continued to silently observe me. My eyes did the same; I knew he held himself above others, his lean yet muscular form was from training and physical tasks.
"John Harrison." He spoke formally as he held out his hand for me to shake; "Nice to meet you, your designs are quite advanced.." I shook his hand firmly; a flicker of surprise in his eyes but he returned the favor. He was also stronger than most men also; I shook his hand quite tightly as it was a test. Something was up with this man.
He looked to his designs as I had also looked over them, I had noticed someting with his design "Your warp core isn't large enough." I pointed out as I looked at the designs a little bit more closely. The ship would be too large for the warp core that he had etched into the designs; the ship wouldn't be as fast if it wasn't for a larger warp core. He glanced to his designs "Explain." His voice was stern and commanding as he stared me down.
My opal eyes stared him down as I motioned to the equations on the left screen; "The size of the ship will be too large for the warp core that you have entered in the equation. It won't be able to catch up to others in warp drive if you don't fix this." I stated quite clearly and simply as I moved over to the equation on the see-through screen.
I grabbed a PADD's pencil to quickly write a new equation; the math was quite complex and tedious but since my mind had been gentically engineered, it was easy as pie. I could feel Harrison's eyes on the back of my head as I continued writing the equation down. The warp core would need more space in the diameter and the reactor would need a taller tower as the coils would need to loop down.
"There.." I smiled to him as I stepped back from the board; his eyes were slightly narrowed and cold but they raced over my handwritten equation till he stiffly nodded to me "You are correct." I could tell by his tone that I had somewhat offended him. "I'm sorry." I murmured as he looked to me with a tilted head as his eyes swept over me once more; as if he thought I would attack.
"Elaborate." He said with that similar commanding tone; my eyes met his "About barging in here and taking up your time." I motioned with a shy smile as I knew whatever warmth that was in my eyes would be returning as I had a break from the missions that Admiral Marcus sent me on.
He just stood there; his eyes cold and calculating before he nodded once "What you just did was fix the problem that I have been working on for about ten minutes. No need to apologize." He smiled once and it was a unique smile that didn't quite hit his eyes but it was good enough for me.
I checked the clock from across the lab; my eyes adjusting in a moment "I've got to go, it was a pleasure to meet John Harrison" I smiled warmly as I could feel the warmth that I usually held in my eyes return with my grin. "May I ask why are you no longer an agent Ms. Sterling." I chuckled as he watched me.
"I finally got the transfer that I've wanted..and next time call me Asteria or Ash; everyone does." I said as I fixed the collar strap of my uniform; he continued to watch my precise and deft movements as he answered "Transfer? Wy would you transfer?" He was walking towards me as I stepped back.
I tilted my head at his sudden fire of questions but I would quench his curiousity "A.." I though of the phrase to use "Conflict of interests." He nodded as he seemed to understand what I was saying. But a part of me knew that I would never be truly out of the Admiral's grasp for as long as I lived...which was a very long time.
"I must be going now; my shuttle will be leaving soon." I said offhandely as I moved away from him but his cold yet strong tone of voice drew me back "I hope to see you again." I smiled as i waved goodbye before I left the labs in a deft sprint to the loading bays.
Khan watched as the woman named Asteria ran from the labs; her posture while running was of one that professionally ran and was built for it. But he noticed that during his conversation with her; that she never seemed to stop moving; whether it her feet or arms or even her eyes, they always seemed to observe the area around her.
As for her grip; that was quite surprising, when he had met other agents their handshakes were weak and flimsy compared to his own. But her's was strong and firm; and he could tell she knew something was up with him. His eyes narrowed at the screen that stood in front of him; she had fixed his own equation..
She herself seemed advanced yet she didn't flaunt it, must be to hide from the public; as he could see that she had been holding back when she met him. Was she an augment? She wasn't one of his crew..He would've remembered her smile as it was bright and warm, much different than some of his crew. Plus her almond shaped eyes revealed an Asian descent that none of the Augments that he knew of had.
HIs confounded curiousity got the best of him as he growled in frustration before saving her equations then implementing them on his designs then flicking his hand sideways where a new search came up on screen. "Search Asteria Sterling." He stated in his smooth strong voice.
The database quickly found her file but a large red screen popped up; he watched as a message scrolled past his eyes 'CLASSIFIED. LEVEL 8 CLEARANCE NEEDED.' HE almost broke his PADD in half as Admiral Marcus...he nearly spat that name in his mind had only given him clearance 6 as if Admiral Marcus knew of Khan's inherent curiosity.
His eyes sharpened as he began to pace "Clear screen." His voice was darker and sharper as the screen turned blank; and only he could see his reflection now. His eyes watched his own movements as he thought of his crew; Marcus had requested a new type of torpedo to be constructed, a wild idea moced into the recesses of his mind as he began to come up with a new plan to allow him and his crew to leave and gain their freedom.
Asteria's POV
My breathing smooth and calm as I ran past the other agents that seemed to be coming and going. I entered the main transporter just as the clear doors closed. My heart rate never fluated as I entered in my Agent's pass code.
5479 I thought of as I entered those numbers in; the transporter immediately begins to move up; the lab areas and everything else was down below while the archives were up above. It was a clever hiding spot from the civilians and lower level star fleet personel.
My eyes watched as the walls turned to stone then a granite hall way appeared as the transporter stopped; I didn't even look back as I left the archive building. The advancements in the buildings never ceased to amaze me but I always enjoyed walking through the streets of lower London.
I grabbed my PADD; checked my messages. I had two from Jim and three from Bones as I knew then that Admiral Pike must have informed Jim about my transfer then Jim told Bones. A warm smile apppeared on my face as I read their messages.
From Captain James Kirk-
Hey Ash! Just heard from a little birdy that you're transferring to the Enterprise in about a day. I chuckled at his usage of little birdy which described Admiral Pike. Get ready to hear an earful out of Bones, plus you're getting one of those dreaded physical exams too when you arrive on board so get ready. Plus my first officer Spock or I'd like to call him goody-goody as he never breaks the rules will want to recieve your transfer report and other files..I'm not too sure I blanked him out after awhile.
I couldn't stop my light laughter from escaping as I entered a shuttle; the other people that rode the shuttle gave me wierd look but I didn't mind that as I couldn't stop the feeling of happiness that I was finally going to be reunited with my dear friends. I looked back to the message; I hope you'll bring some nubian drinks along with you when you get on my ship Ash, see you soon.
I laughed once more before looking back to the message Bones sent me.
From Chief Medical Officer Leonard Mccoy-
Hello Darlin! Just typing this out before we dock at the station; So Jim tells me that you've finally got that transfer, thank goodness! Maybe now..He'll come to the routine physicals other than to come to flirt with my nurses. Sheesh, I hear about him all the time in the med. bay. Anyway, I'll need you in the med. bay when you arrive for a routine physical so don't pull a Jim and skip out on me or else I'll find you when you report for duty. Another laugh bubbles out of me when I visulized Bones typing this message out. His face twisting into obscene expressions when he wrote about Jim and I was sure most of his nurses would talk about Jim. I drifted to my own thoughts as I checked my PADD for the time.
It read 14:30 which meant that I had about an hour more on this shuttle then I would go to Headquarters to recieve my orders and then my new medical uniform; I hoped that I would be in between Engineering and Med. Bay but a part of me hoped that I would be somewhere that Admiral Marcus would know that I was too busy to perform his little missions on the side.
The portable teleporter was still hanging somewhat on my belt; it was small and compact. I had designed it for when agents needed a get-away plan on a dangerous mission. The first couple times, they had exploded upon use but after that fourth try..the trimble did not die and I was able to use it on multiple missions. A cough from a nearby woman distracted me once more.
My eyes had wandered during the shuttle ride; I was very easily bored. Dr. Lance had warned me about that when he finished my routine physical. His exact words were "Asteria, your mind is on overdrive. It's filling everything away for later use and application to the real world. You won't be able to stand still. I believe they called it ADHD in the past centuries. I believe it will fade with time but you must be careful in class and on missions."
I knew it was one side-effect from the genetic engineering that they had performed while I was just a fetus and still mentally developing. I hadn't spent the same amount of time as other people did for learning. I learned what I needed to in a matter of months. I watched as a nearby mother cradled her child close; I couldn't deny the rush of emotion that filled me as I watched her coo and smile at the baby in her arms. I looked away from the mother and child to look around the shuttle.
The shuttle was newly made, the seats were row by row and mose of them were empty except for me and several other people. The operator of the shuttle was shut away from the rest of us while a nearby voice disturbitor spoke 'Five minutes from arrival.'
I looked out the port window to see the large tall silvery buildings pass by as we soon entered San Fransico.
A/N- Hi everyone! This was sorta rushed as my laptop almost died on me. The chapter will be edited later on if need be.
Anyway..What did you think of her brief meeting with John Harrison/Khan? Review and tell me what you think. :)