Wendy sat down at the cafeteria table between Nyoa and Chekhov. They exchanged greetings and went back to eating. But Uhura took a second glace at her friend.
"You look like you haven't slept in days," she said.
"I've been trying to help Leo," Wendy admitted.
"The prisoner?" Spock corrected.
"Yes, the prisoner," Wendy rolled her eyes. "She needs some help getting her affairs in order."
"Getting her affairs in order? What does that mean?" Nyoa asked.
Wendy found herself back-peddling. She didn't want to just casually mention Leo's predicament over lunch. Once she had all of the legal stuff ironed out–and worked up her courage–she'd go tell the captain in private.
"I just meant . . . getting the cryo pod ready and everything," she explained.
"I'm confused, lieutenant," Spock interrupted. "The phrase 'to get one's affairs in order,' is usually used to indicate that someone is dying."
"Yea, well, same thing isn't it?" Wendy shot back.
Nyoa reached out and put her hand on top of her friend's.
"You've got a big heart, Wendy," she said. "I understand why you want to help Leo, but . . ."
"But she is a criminal," Spock finished when Uhura couldn't find the right way to say it.
"Not the best way to put it, Spock," his girlfriend muttered.
"My apologies," the Vulcan replied, although it was obvious he had no idea what he'd done wrong.
"It's fine," Wendy replied. "But if we treat her badly and deny her rights, just because of what she and her people have done, aren't we no better than them?"
"A wery good point," Chekhov said approvingly. Several others nodded in agreement
It was several more days before Wendy could present her case to the captain. Leo didn't push the issue. In fact, she hadn't really said anything about waking Khan since the lieutenant had agreed to help. She seemed very patient and understanding; telling Wendy to take as much time as she needed to come up with a solid argument.
Finally, Wendy felt like she had a solid enough argument to present to the captain. Who would, hopefully, in turn present it to Starfleet Command.
"Captain, permission to come on the bridge?" she asked as the elevator doors opened.
"Of course," Kirk replied. "I should give you standing permission to come on the bridge. Can I do that, Spock?"
"It is not wise to give preferential treatment to any one member of the crew," the first officer replied.
"Sorry," Kirk said to Wendy.
"That's alright. I'm rarely here anyway," she shrugged.
"So, how can I help you, Dr. Cole?" Kirk leaned on the arm of the captain's chair.
"I want to talk to you about Leo."
"Ok," Kirk was a little confused. There hadn't been any problems with the prisoner for quite some time. Not since Wendy had been visiting her on a daily basis.
"Well," Wendy took a deep breath. "In talking with Leo, I've come to realize that returning her to her cryo pod once it's complete is kind of like a death sentence."
"Except people in cryo sleep can still be woken up," the captain countered.
"We both know that Starfeet and the Federation have no intention of ever letting those people wake up again," she said. "And if that's the case –which it is– that means that Leo–"
"Needs to get her affairs in order," Spock interrupted. "That is what you mentioned at lunch, isn't it?"
"How do you already know about this?" Kirk asked.
"At lunch, Lieutenant Uhura noted that Dr. Cole looked tired, and when asked about it, Dr. Cole mentioned that she was trying to get Leo's affairs in order," Spock replied.
"Alright, let's assume that going back into cryo sleep is like dying. What does that mean, exactly?" Kirk asked.
"Well, Leo's not going back into cryo sleep of her own free will. It's been mandated by Starfleet. Essentially, Leo's going to be executed," Wendy explained.
"The logic is sound," Spock admitted.
"So what does that mean for us?" Kirk pressed.
"Federation law requires that we fulfill any and all last requests submitted by the person facing execution," the first officer explained.
"And I take it our prisoner has already made a request?" Kirk asked Wendy.
"She has, sir."
"And that would be . . . ?"
"She wants to spend her last months with Khan."
"Absolutely not," Kirk replied before she was even finished saying Khan's name.
"We're required by law to fulfill that request!" Wendy countered.
"Not if it poses a threat to people's safety."
"Actually, Captain," Spock cut in. "We are required to make every effort to grant a last request. And I believe it might be possible."
"You're taking her side?" Kirk asked, a bit hurt.
"There are no 'sides' in this, Jim," Spock lowered his voice to lend a little bit of privacy to the discussion. "It's about doing what is right under the law."
"What about doing what's morally right?" Kirk countered.
"Granting this woman's last request is morally right," Wendy replied.
"Ok, I get that. I do," the captain said. "I get all that about honoring a dying person's wishes, and that she was this big civil rights activist back in the day, and that whatever terrible things she's done–allegedly. Don't look at me like that–whatever she may have done doesn't mean we should deny her any kindness. But she's asking us to revive a dangerous criminal. He killed hundreds of people last time around, and who knows what he'll do this time."
"But Captain . . ." Wendy pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but that's my decision." Kirk said. "Get her a lobster dinner or something."
"Yes, sir," Wendy heaved a sigh and hung her head. Kirk gave her an apologetic look before she turned on her heel and left the bridge.
"Did I make the right decision, Spock?" he asked once the sliding doors closed behind her.
"I am not sure," the first officer admitted. "It might be prudent to give this matter a little more thought."
Kirk did give Wendy's request some more thought. He really did want to do what he could for Leo. Because, despite the time she threw a temper tantrum, she had been a very docile prisoner. But he couldn't really justify waking one of the most dangerous enemies Starfleet had ever faced. Even if it was just to keep someone company.
"Please don't look at me like that," Kirk sighed as he sat at the cafeteria table for dinner.
"Like what?" Wendy asked innocently.
"You're giving me the puppy eyes."
"What? No I'm not."
"I can tell when a woman's giving me puppy eyes, Wendy. Sorry, I mean Lieutenant." the last sentence was directed to Spock, who gave the captain a disapproving look for addressing Wendy by her first name while they were still on duty.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Wendy replied innocently.
"You've been looking at me like that every chance you get for the last three days. I wish I could help, Wendy. I really do. But I can't justify bringing Khan out of cryosleep. He's too dangerous."
"He's said before that he would do anything for the people he cares about. If it's to help Leo, I think he'd do anything. Agree to anything."
"If I say I'll think about it, will you leave me alone?" Kirk sighed.
"Will you actually think about it?" Wendy countered, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
Kirk sighed again, knowing he'd been trapped. "Yes, I'll actually think about it."
Wendy beamed and Kirk couldn't help but smile back. Her smile seemed like a good enough reward for agreeing, not to mention it wiped away any annoyance Kirk might have thought he felt about her repeated nagging.
"If you're still having trouble deciding," she added. "You can always talk to Leo."
Leo had stopped pacing her cell. In fact, Wendy hadn't seen her leave bunk for the past three days. She was eating less and less each day, too. The science officer had an idea that Leo was, in part, pouting. It had been almost a week and Kirk still hadn't come around. Leo had quickly gone from constantly pacing her cell, to reclining on the bunk with her leg hanging off the side.
It had been difficult to keep the Augment entertained, or at least out of trouble. She had already read through the ship's entire library twice and was limited to any art supplies or games that couldn't be turned into weapons. And just about anything could be turned into a weapon if you were dealing with an Augment. But now Leo just lay there and stared at the ceiling.
"Stop pouting," Wendy chastised as she pulled a chair up to the glass and sat down.
"I'm not pouting," Leo replied.
Wendy rolled her eyes, "Yes you are. You're pouting because the captain hasn't agreed to revive Khan."
"Well you told me that you could get him to say yes."
"I can."
"He keeps saying no."
"I'm working on it," Wendy assured her friend. "He'll come around. I know he will."
Leo frowned, but didn't say any more on the subject.
"I need to get your vitals," Wendy changed the subject, jotting down some notes on her tablet.
"My vitals are fine," Leo replied. "Just like they always are."
"Doesn't matter, I still have to take them."
"What's the point if you already know what the readings will say?"
"Just to annoy you. Now give me your arm."
It was Leo's turn to roll her eyes as she sat up, rolled up her sleeve, and put her arm through the portal Wendy had opened. It only took a few seconds for the med scanner to bring up Leo's current vitals. Which were, of course, perfectly normal.
"I told you they were normal," the Augment said.
"And I told you it was just to annoy you," the science officer quipped back.
"How are you ladies today?" Kirk asked as he entered the brig.
"Just recorded her vital, Captain," Wendy replied. "She's perfectly healthy."
"Well we knew that. What's for lunch?" he asked, pointing to the still untouched plate sitting on the bunk.
Leo shrugged. ""Food."
"You know, sometimes I wish Khan was here so I could ask him if you're always like this," Kirk said.
"You could always wake him up," Leo replied.
"That's what I came to talk to you about," Kirk put his hands behind his back, losing his familiarity and becoming wholly the captain of the ship.
Leo raised an eyebrow, her face betraying no emotion.
The captain of the Enterprise took a deep breath and said, "I want to make a deal."
Phew! It's finally up! Between life, writers' block, not having internet for three or four days, and, you know, life, I really didn't have time to do any writing.
Thank you to the lovely TheWooze19 who's helped with so much of this story. It's half your baby.
Thanks again for reading, and please don't forget to review!