When Lara awoke, she was lying in bed, an arm draped across her middle. She leaned back into the comforting warmth at her back. This felt right to her, but she couldn't remember how she got in bed. In a flash it all came back to her, Khan had injected her with something! She tried to bolt out of bed, but that arm held her down. "Sleep, you need rest." Khan's voice was groggy behind her; her form stiffened.
"I have to pee." It was a lie, but she had to get away from him. For a moment Khan did nothing. His arm slowly lifted and Lara sprang away from him and dashed into the bathroom. Lara took a deep breath and tried to figure out her body's reaction to Khan. Her mind screamed at her to flee, her body demanded she stay. She was still leaning against the counter, trying to work this out, when Khan walked in, his face set in a scowl.
"You've been in here almost an hour."
"I needed a moment away from you."
"You've had your moment." Khan's voice grew hard. Lara stood fully and looked him in the eye.
"What makes me so special? Hmm? Why did you choose to take me?" although she tried, Lara couldn't keep the waver out of her voice.
"I've already told you, you are superior." Khan's voice and expression soften as he moved closer to her.
"Bullshit."
"Your mind is well beyond anything human, the way you program is proof enough of that. You have grace, when you move, that is also superior. But the thing that truly gained my noticed was your voice. I have heard nothing like it, either augment or human. It is the voice of a goddess." Khan brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Great you picked me because you like the way I sing. You don't care about who I was, do you?" Lara stepped back away from Khan. She frowned up at him, trying to keep her tears from falling. Khan's eyebrow rose at her.
"You are mine now."
"Only because you liked my voice, and you changed the rest of me to suit your views! The fact that you refuse to answer is proof enough. Had I refuse to sing, you never would have taken me from the enterprise."
"Wrong. I've already told you, your voice first drew my attention. But it was not the only thing that drew me to you." Khan grabbed Lara's shoulders and glared down at her.
"LET ME GO!"
"Never. Hmm. Our conversations seem to keep running in circles. Perhaps I should record my answers for you."
"You are such a bastard!" Lara's eyes flashed from her anger. Khan couldn't believe how beautiful she looked in that moment.
"Sing for me."
"Wait… What?" Lara looked stunned for a moment. Her anger melted into confusion.
"Lara, I want you to sing." Khan spoke gently as if he was talking to a child.
"Not in here."
"Lara."
"No."
"You try my patients."
"Go to hell." Khan growled and pulled Lara out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. He tossed her to the bed. He stood above her and waited, his arms crossed. Lara thought for a moment. When it was apparent Khan would not leave her alone until she sang, Lara sighed and opened her mouth.
I try to make it through my life
In my way
There's you
I try to make it through these lies
That's all I do
Just don't deny it
Just don't deny it
And deal with it
Yeah deal with it
You try to break me
You wanna break me bit by bit
That's just part of it
If you were dead or still alive
I don't care
I don't care
And all the things you left behind
I don't care
I don't care
I try to make you see my side
Always trying to stay in line
But your eyes see right through
That's all they do
I'm getting tired of this shit
I've got no room when it's like this
What you want of me, just deal with it
So…
If you were dead or still alive
I don't care
I don't care
And all the thing you left behind
I don't care
I don't care
Nothing can care about
I'm taking care of it
You won't be there for me
You won't be there for me
If you were dead or still alive
I don't care
I don't care
And all the thing you left behind
I don't care
I don't care
If you were dead or still alive
I don't care, nothing can care about
I don't care I'm taking care of it
And all the things you left behind
I don't care you won't be there for me
I don't care at all
~OOO~
She didn't care about him? Khan didn't believe it; he toward over her as she sat on the bed. It seemed like an eternity while they stared at each other. Slowly Khan leaned down to Lara and pulled her into another heated kiss. Khan could feel her responding to him, trying to deny her own body's reaction to him. He smirked into the kiss.
"I hate you." she whispered up at him.
"Your body disagrees." Khan caught a small whiff of arousal coming from her.
"My mind is in charge, not my body."
"Come Lara we have work to do."
"I won't help you take over an unsuspecting world."
"Then find a world that we can not only survive on but also thrive." Khan was surprised once he realized what he'd said. He had not planned to colonize an uninhabited world. What had the girl done to him, for him to even suggest such a thing?
"And if I do, you'll go there? You won't take over a world?" There was hope in her eyes, and khan couldn't bring himself to crush her hope. He sighed heavily.
"If you are able to find such a place, then that is where we will colonize. You have my word as leader of the augments. But if you unable to find such a world, will you agree not to interfere when we take over a world?" Khan looked down into Lara's eyes. Lara chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and turned from his gaze. Khan wanted to growl at her and force her gaze back. Just as his arm twitched to grab her face, Lara turned back to him.
"What about sharing a world, instead of taking it over?"
"I do not share." Khan's gaze hardened and Lara resumed nibbling on her lip.
"I agree." Lara's voice was soft, barley more than a whisper. If khan didn't have superhuman hearing he would have missed the comment.
"Let's get to work." Khan held his hand out to Lara. She started at it a moment before taking it, her hand shaking in his larger one. "Do not fear me." Lara stiffened at his words.
"I don't fear you; I fear what you'll do to innocent people."
"No one is truly innocent."
~OOO~
"I found a world with a prehistoric type people. They haven't even explored 3/4s of the continent their on, let alone the three others across the seas. This would give you three continents to control and you could leave the fourth to these people."
"Lara. I do NOT share. It's all or nothing."
"But khan this planet is easily bigger than Jupiter. What could you possible need the entire planet for?"
"Lara, do no test me."
"So it's testing you to ask a question?"
"Lara!"
"Answer me. Either I'm allowed to ask a question and voice my opinions or I'm not and I'm little more than a slave."
"Must you be so difficult?"
"Must you be such an asshole?" Kahn sighed and turned to Lara.
"Eventually, in a generation, possible two, my people will have created their own society. That would mean slave labor to any indigenous people."
"What help could these people be as slaves? They don't even have the wheel, or fire yet."
"Slaves only need to know how to do their job; they do not need to know any more than that. A people without the wheel, has little to no hope of ever being free from us."
"They won't be smart enough to obey anything you say. It will be useless."
"They will learn obedience through pain."
"Khan how can you be so cruel?" Khan turned and sneered at Lara's question.
"We are superior, we are better. How can you not see we are meant to rule over those less than superior?"
"Maybe because I listened to stories my grandfather told me about being a Jew in German during the holocaust. And maybe because what you're talking about doing is not too different than what was done them." Lara's voice was soft. Khan studied her face. For a long time neither spoke.
"Computer, display way to the mess hall. Lara, go get something to eat." Khan voice was soft as he turned back to his consul. Lara got up and left without a word. Once the doors swished shut Khan slammed his fists down on the consul. Once a very long time ago, someone had referred to the treatment of the augments in much the same way. He began to reevaluate his plan before growling. What was this girl doing to him? If you were not superior, you were nothing.
"Vessel approaching" a computerized voice called.
"Computer, identify vessel."
"Starfleet vessel, USS Bradbury."
"Computer, lock all weapons on that ship, prepare to fire."
"Weapons locked."
"Destroy that ship."
~OOO~
Kirk re-read the note the enterprise had received and sighed.
Enterprise. This is Lara. I'm safe. Not sure where we are. You're too far away to hail. I will try to fudge up the systems enough so you can track us. Khan's planning on taking over a planet. I'll do what I can to stop him.
Kirk had relayed the note to Starfleet command; they had been order to dock for repairs in Earth's orbit. Repairs were coming along nicely thanks to Scotty.
"Captain, we're receiving a distress call form the Bradbury. They're taking heavy fire from an unknown start ship… it sounds like it's the vengeance. Starfleet is ordering everyone to stay away and advising the Bradbury to retreat if possible." Uhura called.
"Sulu, get us outta here and to that ship. Maximum warp."
"Yes captain."