Chapter Two: Officers and Khan's Men
A canopy of vines obstructed the view of the equally monochrome sky. The plain in front of him was exactly that; indistinct and expansive. Rocks and pillars of wilted vegetation covered the ground. Kirk stood on top of a mound of gray sand, taking in the scenery with the same lack of amazement it inspired. He activated his communicator and spoke into it.
"Captain's log, stardate 2260.122. The crew has located a previously uncharted satellite in the outer arm of the alpha quadrant. It appears to be in orbit of a fellow planet. Ensign Chekov and I have beamed down to investigate. We have yet to encounter intelligent life. We have, however, found what looks like a large apple wearing a porcupine."
Kirk's eyes shifted below. A large, brown sphere covered in coarse spikes sat on the ground. Gray leaves attached the sphere to the base of a vine, making it look like some kind of plant. Kirk kicked at the object, rolling it over. Its spikes sank slowly into the damp ground. He grabbed it by the stem and dangled it overhead.
"Have you scanned this thing yet?" Kirk shouted across the bay.
Chekov poked his head around a vine a few vines away, glancing back at Kirk. "Yes, sir. The biological patterns say it's a seed."
Right back to being bored, Kirk let the stem slip from his grasp and lowered himself to the ground. He stared at the surface of one of the boulders, specifically a lump of fungus growing from it. Forcefully oblivious to this, Chekov continued to type into his tricorder.
"I've logged the topography as well, captain."
"Anything I should know?"
"The sensors detect movement beneath the soil. Vibration patterns match for bugs or water."
Kirk raised his finger an inch above the fungus, considering whether or not to touch it. "You know what kind of bug?"
As Kirk was finishing his sentence, a flicker of movement crossed through the corner of his eye. He snapped his head to his left, searching for the source. A pudgy, arm-long critter with tan fur was wriggling its way out of the sand.
"…I'd guess it's this kind," Kirk muttered.
The instant the creature saw Kirk, it stopped in place. Two fuzz-covered flaps emerged from each side of its head, each one containing an eyelid. It opened its unnaturally wide, white eyes and stared back at Kirk. A visible quiver ran through it.
Kirk held his ground and his breath as much as possible. It was the first sign of life they'd seen all day, and he wasn't going to be responsible for scaring that off. He inhaled through his nose and spoke as softly but clearly as possible. "Hey, Chekov. Come over. I need you to scan this thing."
"Coming, coming. Scanner at ready." Chekov began to step around the vine, towards Kirk's side.
The moment Chekov stepped forward, the critter's side flaps opened wider. It began to slide backward, scurrying away. Kirk reflexively reached out to grab the creature. The sudden movement caused it to stop mid-motion. Kirk wrapped both of his hands around its torso, gently holding it in place.
"Can you go any quicker with that?"
Kirk lifted his head just enough to see Chekov approaching his side. Chekov pointed the scanner at the creature's head, away from Kirk's grasp. The tricorder beeped with confirmation. "Sensors read it's a synapsid mammalian creature, species undocumented," Chekov read off the screen.
"Guess it was just bug-like."
Kirk placed one hand firmly over the creature's head while he glanced back up at his surroundings. At least five other similar creatures were also wiggling across the ground in a slow circle. "Pull the tranquilizer from the side compartment. The bio team will want to take a look on base."
"Yes sir," Chekov nodded. He opened a compartment at the back of the tricorder, taking out a small syringe.
Chekov clutched the needle firmly in hand and leaned closer to the creature. He raised the needle towards its back. As the needle drew closer, the creature began to writhe dramatically, shaking Kirk's arm along with it.
"Can you move your hand, captain? I have to aim away from you."
"And let go of the tribble worm, sure," Kirk said sarcastically.
A fifth opening on the worm's back flipped open directly above Kirk's hand. The flap snapped shut, closing Kirk's hand beneath it. Kirk flinched, gritting his teeth. He stood up and snapped his hand away. The creature opened its mouth, releasing Kirk from its grasp. The thin piece of fluff dangled in mid-air, pulled upright by an even narrower gray cord. The cord shook beneath the ground, swirling the surface below into an invisible funnel. Three claws with calloused gray skin rose from the sand.
Kirk and Chekov rushed out of the growing chasm, just far enough to reach stable ground. Chekov stumbled to maintain his ground. Kirk drew his phaser from his belt.
All six of the supposed creatures lifted up against the sky, suspended by the swaying gray tails of a substantially larger torso still emerging from the ground. The full body of the mammal had the proportions of kangaroo, the texture of an elephant, three legs and no obvious head. Its tails swerved in a serpentine pattern overhead, encircling Kirk and Chekov.
"боже мой," Chekov murmured in shock.
"Hello, friendly." Kirk aimed his phaser at the creature, bracing to strike.
"Have you located anything of interest, captain?" Spock's voice sounded through the communicator.
"That depends. How interested are you in a hydra with its head on its ass?"
"If you have encountered intelligent life, federation protocol would be to attempt contact—"
In a single swoop, all six of the faux-heads descended in opposite directions. The attached tails pulled around Kirk and Chekov, trying to ensnare them in a knot.
"I don't think it's that intelligent!"
Kirk fired a shot at the nearest head to him, trying to stun it. The head froze for about two seconds before snapping at him once more.
Chekov wrapped one arm around the tricorder to shield it. He swiped at the creature with the syringe, barely knocking one head back. Two other heads swooped towards Chekov's back. Kirk turned around and fired one shot at each head, stunning them temporarily.
"Run!"
Chekov moved his head so slightly it could barely count as a nod. He sprinted forward.
One of the other heads swooped on Kirk's back, biting him in the neck. He swiped at it with the back of his phaser, knocking the head away from him.
Chekov grabbed Kirk by the arm, pulling him forward. "This way."
Kirk sprang after Chekov, falling into an equal pace. He kept his phaser pointed over his shoulder, shooting as they ran. The creature lifted its front leg and began to gallop after them. The ground shook under its weight, sending waves through the sand as it lumbered forward one leg at a time. Its tails outstretched as far as possible, reaching towards the two.
The road ahead was covered in brush, branches and what appeared to be plants. Amongst the vines, a large rock stood to their left. Chekov veered left towards the boulder. He waved his hand, beckoning Kirk to follow him seconds before he ducked behind the boulder. He flattened himself against the ground. Kirk slid into place beside Chekov. He propped the barrel of his phaser against the base of the rock and continued to fire with astonishing precision. Every single shot was making contact. In spite of that, the creature didn't even flinch as it kept moving towards them and the rock.
Kirk curled one knee closer to his chest, bracing to move for it. He slid his phaser across the rock, pushing it to Chekov. "You shoot."
"But, captain..."
Before Chekov could argue, Kirk had already started running away from the rock. Four of the creature's six heads pointed in Kirk's direction. The creature altered its course, running towards Kirk. Chekov wrapped his hand around the phaser. He attempted to shoot at the back of the creature's heads, struggling to keep it at bay. He braced himself to move if necessary.
Kirk wrapped his arm around a vine, forcing himself to a sudden stop. He reached for a root and yanked up, pulling out one of the spiked seeds. He twisted the seed off of its stem and held it as steadily as his ground. His feet sank into the sand with each approaching stomp.
As all six heads prepared to descend on him, Kirk threw the seed away from himself. The seed soared through the air and into the horizon. The creatures' heads pointed away from him. It galloped towards the seed, away from them.
Kirk held his breath and his position, completely still until the creature had left. He raised his foot out of the ground. A stream of sand poured from his shoe. Kirk grabbed a second seed off of the same vine, tucked it under his arm and reached for his communicator once more. "Scotty, beam us up. We're done here," he commanded.
As the creature ran into the distance, Chekov rose back to his feet. His hands and his stare were both on the verge of shaking. "How'd you know that would work, captain?"
"I didn't. I meant to hit its face."
A wave of warm light began to envelop both Kirk and Chekov, freezing them in place. The familiar walls of the transporter room appeared around them as the opposite also occurred. In the moment before Kirk regained the ability to move, he noticed both Scotty and Spock were waiting on the other side, each one expectant for a presumably different reason.
"I was starting to think you'd never call," Scotty joked.
"At the risk of being redundant, that was a blatant disregard of protocol," Spock stated.
When Kirk regained the ability to move his face, he smiled at Spock. "Hello to you, too."
Kirk strode casually off of the transporter pad and into the control room. Chekov followed a few steps behind him, still in a daze. Kirk leaned against the control panel without touching anything and turned towards Scotty.
"You up for a drink, Scotty?" Kirk asked, tentatively optimistic.
"As soon as we dock this ship, count me in. I haven't had a glass since Wednesday."
Kirk dropped the over-sized seed on the floor and nudged it under the desk. He turned his head again, this time towards Chekov. "Chekov, get cleaned up. Set a course for Argelius II. We need a break, and by break I mean whiskey. A lot of it."
Chekov figuratively pulled himself back to attention. "Yessir, immediately." He placed Kirk's phaser against an open spot on the desk and left the room.
"I doubt that becoming intoxicated is conductive to your emotional recovery," Spock remarked.
Kirk took his phaser off of the desk. He adjusted the settings as he set it into his back pocket. He walked past Spock as he headed towards the door. "Doesn't stop it from being fun. I'll assume you don't mind being the designated officer?"
"Under the conditions of your proposed behavior, it is vastly preferable from the alternative."
"Great. It's settled."
Scotty stood up from his seat. He placed one hand on top of the unidentified spiky seed and tried to push it. The key word in that statement was tried. No matter how hard he kicked the seed, it still wouldn't budge. Scotty looked back at Kirk's neck with mild exasperation. "Ey, tall, dark and demanding, can you move your freakish giant crabapple off my floor?"
By the time Scotty had finished asking, Kirk had already left. The door sealed behind him.
A muted burning sensation covered his entire body as blood rushed through him. The fact that he could realize this proved something to Khan. He was awake again.
"Pulse at thirty beats per minute. Stability gaining," a familiar, moderately high-pitched voice sounded overhead. The words were muffled by the whirs of machinery and the thick walls of the cryotube, but even in darkness, he could hear her.
"Blanket and hot jelly ready for dispatch," a different voice said.
"Aren't you in charge of treatment?"
"Yes, but my cocoa didn't keep well."
Khan pushed against his eyelids, forcing them open. His eyes dilated instantly. The gray walls of the interior, muted by the frost-covered cryotube door, seemed to be moving in on him the longer he watched it. He fought off his body's resistance and turned his neck towards the noise. "Israfil, Azrael," he called.
Israfil sprinted over to the cryotube. She clasped both hands around the handle and yanked the door open. A cloud of cold air rose into the laboratory. She folded her arm over her chest and bowed deeply in respect.
Azrael stood on the opposite side of the cryotube, stirring a mug of blue liquid with a spoon. He stopped the movement mid-stir when he heard Khan speak. "Holy hell, it is you."
"May glory follow you in all its forms," she spoke towards the floor.
"As to you. Please, rise," Khan commanded.
Still uncomfortable, Israfil rose to her feet. She placed one hand along the cryotube's edge and stared at him in astonishment. "You've been awake before this?" she questioned, sounding worried.
Khan sat up inside of the tube. He reached for the IV, removing it from his arm. "Yes, I have. It is a relief to have your company."
Azrael tucked the spoon behind his ear. He clutched the mug in both hands as he walked to the cryotube. He extended the mug to Khan. "So who pulled a Michael Jackson on you?"
Israfil's eyes narrowed at Azrael's neck, silently exasperated. "You can't honestly be giving him that."
"I'm not dishonestly giving it to him. It's non-caffeinated sugar, it'll quell hypothermia."
"You had it in your pocket for three hundred years."
Khan took the cup by the handle on each side. He raised it to his mouth and took a sip. Azrael tossed the blanket around Khan's shoulders as Khan paused to speak. "I was surgically altered by a man by the name of Marcus to conceal my identity from his superiors. The implanted substance was self-designed to avoid deterioration," he paused to breathe, then continued, "how long have you been awake?"
"Twenty five days, three hours and counting, sir. The year is 2260. I believe the Gregorian calendar would state it's May," Israfil answered.
"Where are the others?"
Israfil paused, hesitant. "We have yet to determine that, sir."
"They're in the custody of the UN for planets, basically. Some place called star fleet," Azrael started to say. Before he could finish his thought, the door slid open. Any contentment or relief dissipated instantly with the sound of four footsteps and seven words.
"Would your leader like to recuperate before our discussion?" Osullo asked as he strode confidently through the doorway. His appearance was the same as when he had first awoken Israfil. A pale man with violet eyes, black hair and thin, banded ears the length of his head paced a few steps behind. Both men paused just inside the confines of the room, keeping their distance from their guests.
The sight of the strangers' faces sent an immediate distrust through Khan. He masked his suspicions through a calm, focused stare. "I cannot recall having agreed to any discussion regardless of my present state."
Osullo held both of his hands behind his back. His composure remained unchanged. It was the same demeanor Khan would've expected of a bureaucrat or a con man. "The United Federation is a menace. My people seek to destroy it. Should you succeed, we will grant you and your subjects any planet but our own. Do you still not wish to speak with me?" Osullo asked through a knowing, gentle smile just seamless enough to be ambiguous.
This moment felt disconcertingly familiar.
"Who are you and where have you taken us?" Khan demanded.
"A small planet in the leftmost quadrant of our galaxy, far beyond Starfleet's present knowledge. My name is Osullo," he took a step forward. "It's an honor to finally make your acquaintance, Khan Singh. Your subjects have spoken quite highly of you."
Osullo pulled one hand away from his back, thrust it outright and held it in mid-air, fingers spread and waiting to be shaken. Khan stayed still.
"Then thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Osullo. Where is the rest of my crew?"
Osullo lowered his hand back to his side. His expression remained unchanged. "At this point, we don't know. I assure you, our intel is listening for any word of where they're being held. If you'd like to continue speaking, my assistant compiled a briefing for us in the conference room," he offered. The man beside the door nodded to him.
"You have proven yourself capable of answering a question. Here will do," Khan dismissed.
Khan set the almost empty mug on the ground. He stood up inside the cryotube and stepped down, first to the table and then to the floor. As soon as he was standing firmly, he spoke ahead. "Who are the people of which you speak and why do they seek our help?"
Yet again, Osullo responded with a gentle smile. "We have seen the Federation first-hand through their tampering. Wormholes containing Federation ships have begun to materialize around our borders. One such wormhole has destroyed the atmospheric pressure of this planet. The land outside of this base is uninhabitable to us now. Our probes have relayed data indicating that the atmospheric composition of Earth bears some resemblance to our own. We intend to take it. "
There was plenty of emotion in Osullo's words, but the calm consistency with which they were said felt false to Khan. "To do so would be a declaration of war against dozens of planets," Khan stated critically.
"Preemptively. Prior history indicates it's only a matter of time until the Federation learns of and attempts to subjugate us. We refuse to be absorbed in a bureaucracy of incompetence," Osullo's smile grew a little broader with confidence. "Transmissions we've intercepted indicate that you have an intricate understanding of the Federation's technology. They fear you. We've hoped that you can review our technology; alter our arsenal to exploit their weaknesses."
"There would be little benefit to assisting in your national suicide."
Osullo's masking smile started to subside, but the thoughtful glint in his eyes remained. "If I recall, the reports claimed you ran a terroristic strike with moderate success. The Dominion has a force of thousands, genetically engineered quite similarly to yourself. We will stand. Will you do so with us?"
"I assume you are well aware of my past outcomes with such arrangements. Your promises alone mean nothing."
Osullo took another step towards Khan, leaning in towards his personal space. Khan stood his ground. "I assure you, perhaps in vain, but assure you nonetheless, the founders are fully empathetic to your plight. We don't expect faith from you, only cooperation in a common venture."
"One which relegates me to an unfamiliar territory and at your boundless mercy."
Osullo stopped approaching. He lowered his head in false subservience. "To my understanding, Khan Singh, we're offering you an opportunity for everything you want. Why would you say no?"
"We have to distrust each other. It is our only defense against betrayal."
Khan paused, weighing the few options he had. They were promising too much to only want a consultation. He could kill this Osullo, but he had no way of knowing where they were or how to escape. He could try to refuse, but Osullo could easily leverage their location against them. He could take them at their word, but that would be naïve. "Tell me your plan," he decided.
Osullo shifted his eyes towards his assistant without moving his head. "Brynlon, can you fetch the packets?" he asked cheerfully.
"You know your own intentions. State them yourself."
Osullo's grin twisted his features with what looked like nervous humility. "I may omit a detail or two."
"Which we shall point out for you."
Osullo sighed beneath his breath. "If you're insistent." He closed his eyes, remembering.
"First, we shall create a diversion through the abduction of an enemy ship. I believe there is a race called the Klingons with which we may blame for this. You will keep our prisoners here. Do with them what you wish. As Starfleet mobilizes to outside territory, we'll infiltrate the planet and detonate a terraformer. Once Earth is suitable, we'll position our defensive forces and claim the planet. You may keep this one."
As Osullo spoke, Azrael raised his hand with a rapid flick. "If you, how—"
Israfil leaned into Azrael's shoulder and shushed into his ear, stopping him mid-sentence. Azrael snapped his head towards her, glancing back as if to ask a question without words.
"Go ahead, Azrael," Khan told him.
Still unsteady and uneasy, Azrael turned to face Osullo. "If you'll have to alter the climate either way, why not fix what you have?"
"Our population can't be sustained by our current space for much longer. If we must terraform and face the Federation regardless, we may as well address all three at once," Osullo explained. Azrael lowered his hand and swayed away, seemingly satisfied or at least indifferent.
"Have you selected a target?" Khan asked.
"We have ideas. Do you have a suggestion?"
"The USS Enterprise."
Osullo bobbed his head once. His smile curled with satisfaction. "Then we have."
Once again, Osullo extended his hand to Khan. Khan raised his hand close to himself, at least a foot away from shaking Osullo's.
"I will need full access to your starships' schematics, a basic translation key in your native tongue, a telescope, a map, your full disclosure on all developments regardless of how deeply they seem to concern me or not, and one condition more," Khan stated in a single breath. He paused long enough to infer what he said had been processed before he spoke again. "You do not attach my name to your cause until the rest of my people are by my side. Fail and I will personally solve your overpopulation problem, beginning with you."
Khan watched closely for any signs of hesitance or contemplation. He suspected the other should've paused to think about the conditions. Instead, Osullo had immediately taken Khan's hand into his own and shook it firmly. "I'm glad we've come to an understanding."
Osullo released Khan's grip from his own. He turned his back to the group to face the doorway. "My assistant Brynlon shall stay with you. He'll attend to any requests you may have in my absence. I'd suggest you rest as much as possible. We'll have guests tomorrow."
Without waiting a second longer, Osullo strolled to the door. He whispered to his assistant as he passed by and exited the room.
Khan continued to face forward, watching Osullo's back in cautious scrutiny. Israfil and Azrael both began to approach him. Khan could hear their footsteps, but didn't give them much mind. He was pulled from his thoughts by an unfamiliar voice.
"Is there anything I may find or locate for you, Khan Singh?" the violet-eyed alien asked methodically.
Khan shifted his focus to Brynlon with equal professionalism. "Compile a basic arsenal in the nearest work room. I would prefer to start as soon as possible."
Azrael stepped to the right, leaning away from Khan's back to see Brynlon. He raised his hand. "Oh, and tea with some kind of fruit in it. Pomegranate, maybe. Tea is still a thing, right?"
"I shall leave them at your work stations within the quarter hour. Will that be all?"
"For now," Khan dismissed.
"Your sleeping quarters are in the east-right corridor. Your companions should know the way. Please be as comfortable as possible, Khan Singh." Brynlon gave a single, deep nod of his head which closely resembled a bow. He turned his back to the trio and also left the room.
The instant the door had sealed behind Brynlon, Khan turned his head over his shoulder to face his team. Israfil was standing directly behind him, while Azrael was beside the cryotube, picking his mug off of the floor.
"Do not trust a word they say," Khan told them both.
Israfil bowed back. "Understood, sir."
"You should rest. You look exhausted."
She lowered her head in a distinctly doubtful way. "If you're certain you're alright, sir."
As Israfil continued her bow and Khan considered when he should order her to stop, he was interrupted by the slam of the cryotube door.
"Oi, Shere. I need to talk to you about those Wheel of Time books. Those kept coming out, right?" Azrael called across the room, his eyes widened and eyebrows raised with childish eagerness.
Alert but not alarmed, Khan turned towards Azrael. Israfil raised her head as well, disapproval emanating from her every cell. "Our lord may need to recover, Azrael. This may not be the time."
"Every time is book time," he answered innocently, as if completely unaware that could be a problem.
Khan turned his attention from Azrael to Israfil. "I am perfectly stable, Israfil. You may go."
Israfil sent an inquisitive, doubtful stare back at Khan, silently asking him if he wanted to torture himself. Khan returned her gaze, unflinching. A little bit baffled, Israfil turned her back to the others and left the room as well. The door sealed shut behind her.
Azrael nudged at the bottom of his glasses, pushing the frame up the bridge of his nose in an effort to suppress his growing nerves. It was failing.
"What is wrong that you would not tell me in her presence?" Khan asked.
The mere sound of Khan's voice was enough to make Azrael visibly uncomfortable. He raked his fingers through his hair, ruffling it as he struggled to think.
"It's not really incorrect wrong, but I, uh. I installed dual honing devices in the tubes and the Botany Bay as a sort of contingency thing. If the cryotubes were dislocated from port, the ship and the tubes were supposed to start emitting radio waves. The sound frequency's inaudible to human ears. The waves should transmit for about forty seven kilometers or so, rounding down. Reception'd be strongest on the ship itself, but a hand radio'd do fine enough," Azrael spoke so quickly it was a miracle he hadn't suffocated on his own sentence.
Khan maintained an impenetrable calm while he listened along. "Why was I not told of this?"
"Conserving detail. I meant it as some loopy paranoid thing. I never thought it'd actually happen."
"Do the cryotubes receive outside signals as well?"
"Just the frequency of the ship. It can transmit stuff, but—"
Before Azrael could finish his rambling, Khan gave him a look that caused Azrael to cut himself off mid-sentence. "Recreate the signals if you can. I will demand access to our hosts' resources on your behalf," Khan stated confidently.
"Thank you," Azrael replied politely, each of his words saturated with guilt. Even after Khan had finished speaking, Azrael stood still with his head lowered solemnly.
"My Khan?"
"Yes, Azrael?"
"I've heard of the twelve. I'm sorry for my failure." He gritted his teeth at the end of the sentence, blocking tears he had no right to shed.
Khan should've asked what Azrael was referring to, but he was positive he knew. Eighty four cryotubes had left their prison. Only seventy two of them were functional when the Botany Bay had been found. It was a loss Khan hadn't had time to mourn, and he doubted he would for quite some time.
Khan set one hand firmly on Azrael's shoulder, pulling his attention forward. "We have failed our people many times, Doctor Serra. We must persist to change the average back."
Azrael chuckled glumly beneath his breath. "Pretty inspirational quote to make in a blanket."
Khan removed the blanket Azrael had placed on him earlier from around his shoulders. He tossed the blanket directly at Azrael's torso. The approaching movement forced Azrael to look up. He snatched the blanket from mid-air and clutched it to his chest.
Khan paused before the exit. He glimpsed over his shoulder for just long enough to speak.
"Shall we begin?"