A/N: Sorry about the delay. I know you all probably hate me by now, promising you a new chapter and not updating for over a month. With this return I bring good news! Instead of procrastinating and not uploading this chapter, I was working on the sequel to this story. Where this story continues from here on out is important to the sequel, so I had to start writing the sequel before I started writing this chapter. I'm super excited about the sequel, but even more excited to finish this story!

Warning: I know that I am not wonderful at writing character's original personalities. Please, please, please, let me know if they come off as too OOC. Let's continue, shall we?

"In the moment when I truly understand my enemy,

understand him well enough to defeat him

then in that very moment, I also love him."

-Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)

Bones stood dumbfounded at the tracking screen on the bridge. Less than five minutes ago, the probability of Khan and Kirk successfully entering the Vengeance seemed impossible. Yet, here he stood, looking at a screen that no longer warned them of impending doom.

Bones glanced around the room. The tension had decreased immensely, and many crew members were leaning back in their chairs. Bones eyes searched the room until he found the person he was looking for. Spock was still sitting in the Captain's chair, blankly looking at a spot on the wall.

I need to tell him. I have to. This has gone on for far too long; I really shouldn't have put this conversation off for such a long period of time. Khan has been so much help. He's provided valuable information about Admiral Marcus, sparing us more damage to the Enterprise. Getting it through Spock's head is going to be a nightmare though. He won't be able to see my point of view. I just can't not tell him. I owe it to Khan. He needs everyone to know the real him, not just the hard exterior he possesses and shows.

"Spock, can I have a word?"

Bones had made his way over to Spock without even realizing he had done so. Guess that is what people mean when they say they are 'lost in their thoughts'.

"Certainly, Doctor." Spock replied, breaking his gaze from the wall and facing Bones.

"I was hoping we could do so in a more private area." Bones said, lowering his voice into a whisper.

Spock nodded without speaking a word. Both Bones and Spock moved out of the bridge into the empty corridor.

"What can I help you with Doctor?" Spock questioned in his normal tone.

Bones rolled his eyes. Here we go. "It's about Khan."

Spock barely raised his eyebrows. "What about him?"

Just tell him. No funny business; no extra things added into it. Just tell him straight up. "I believe that Khan deserves to be treated as one of the Enterprise crew members and that he is innocent!" Bones blurted out. He almost slapped a hand to his mouth in disgust. Did I seriously just word it like that? What the hell was I thinking? I just lost the argument.

Spock pondered for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.

"And what makes you think that, may I ask?"

Well, that's a better response that I thought I would get. "Spock, I know this will be hard to believe, based on Khan's past actions. I know that he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is soft on the inside and hard on the inside. He's not soft on the inside, but he's not the man that every one thinks he is."

Spock's eyebrows disappeared further up into his hairline.

"Spock, I promise you I'm not making this up."

"I do not doubt you, Doctor. However, I am wondering what made you believe these things about Khan, however true or untrue they may be."

"When I was in medical bay with Khan, something happened. It wasn't anything big, but something just seemed to click. Khan told me the story of his past. The story of his upbringing. At first, I acted like you: what should I believe? You've murdered innocent people. You've done countless other things that are too horrible to put into words. Why should I believe him?"

"And why did you believe him, Doctor?" Spock's voice hissed.

"Spock, I know what you are feeling; I felt it too, but please, just give him a chance. The background he's come from, isn't what you'd expect. His parents were executed in front of him and his sister and not long after that, he lost his sister as well. He's been alone for his entire life. The world isn't kind to those who walk alone.

The worst part is...he didn't choose to be alone. There are people who want to walk alone, want to face the world alone, be independent and have their individual glory. He didn't want to be alone. This sick and twisted universe chose to make him alone. Maybe there's some meaning behind why his life got turned upside down, but it hasn't shown itself yet. Maybe it never will because maybe we don't deserve to know.

My point is that this entire time we've been treating Khan as an adversary to our crew, which has only been making this problem worse. In reality, Khan has been looking for a friend. Look into his eyes. Past the shield he has raised. Past your assumptions. Look into his soul. In that soul, you will find a man that has suffered. A man that has been changed. A man that believes taking out his anger and making others suffer will bring back his family or at least a fraction of the happiness he had before. A man that believes this is the way to avenge his lost family. Deep down inside, I know that's not the only thing he's looking for. He's looking for a friend, Spock. Someone to give him the feeling of family. Something to fill the empty hole in his heart that has consumed him.

All I'm asking of you Spock is to give him a chance. I promise you, this isn't who he is. He just needs someone. Please." Bones pleaded, his eyes displaying so many different emotions that it was hard for Spock to read his face.

Spock let his own thoughts wander for a moment. He had lost his own mother. He knew what it felt like to lose family from having lost part of his family. He didn't feel such a strong desire to kill. He channeled his energy into his work, avoiding constant thoughts of his mother. To lose one's entire family would be quite the loss; it hurt his brain to even think of losing his father. I just can't trust Khan yet. What Bones has said could be accurate, but I haven't seen an ounce of kindness from Khan since I first learned of his existence.

These thoughts continued for well over five minutes. Minutes of complete silence, punctuated by a small hiss from the Enterprise or the distant clack of shoes.

"Alright." Spock's voice filled the corridor that was so devoid of noise.

"...What?" Bones sputtered, disbelief entering his brain. I certainly didn't expect this.

"I am going to trust you, Doctor. I'll give Khan a chance."

Bones nearly jumped into the air. Desperately trying to keep his cool, he gave Spock a half-smile. "Thank you, Commander."

"Only one chance, Doctor. Anything more and Khan won't receive a 'family-like' treatment."

Bones nodded solemnly. It's better than nothing. I just hope to God Khan won't blow this. "Of course."

With that, Spock turned on his heel and returned to the bridge. Bones leaned against the wall of the corridor. One chance. One chance. One chance. Those two words repeated themselves in his head as he followed Spock back onto the bridge.

Kirk, Scotty and Khan surrounded the case of phasers.

"It's locked to stun." Kirk informed Khan, as well as Scotty.

Khan activated his phaser simultaneously with Scotty and Kirk. "Theirs won't be." He muttered.

"Try not to get shot." Kirk replied. Kirk nodded to Scotty, before both followed Khan towards the nearest door.

"Commander, I have the transmission as you requested." Uhura told Spock.

Spock turned towards Uhura, internally thanking her for being able to do as he requested. "On screen, please."

"Standby."

After a few seconds of fuzzy feeds, Spock Prime appeared on the screen.

The entire crew on the bridge turned towards the screen, fascinated by the alternate universe that had been created.

"Mr. Spock." Spock Prime acknowledged.

"Mr. Spock."

The doors to the bridge of the Vengeance opened with a soft clang. Carol Marcus was forced across the floor, being unwillingly dragged to her father.

"Admiral."

Admiral Marcus turned towards the officer as he was alerted to his daughter's presence.

"I'll deal with you in a minute." The Admiral said, disgust dripping from his voice.

With lightening speed, Carol slapped her father across the face as soon as he finished his sentence. The Admiral seemed to know Carol would do so, and he quickly locked her arm in a firm grasp.

"I am ashamed to be your daughter." Carol softly snarled.

The Admiral let go of Carol's arm, sighing in the process. He felt like putting his head in his hands. How unbelievable his daughter was. She would be the end of him.

"Sir, we just had a hangar door opened on deck thirteen." An officer spoke from the opposite end of the bridge.

The Admiral didn't need to think twice. "Khan."

"They're going to have full power and we're walking?!" Scotty whined as they made their way through the maze of halls.

"The turbo lifts are easy traps and Marcus would have us in a cage." Khan answered, walking quickly towards another control board. "This path runs adjacent to the engine room. They know they won't be able to use their weapons here, because it could damage the warp core, which gives us the advantage." He rattled off before speeding into the next room.

"Where did you find this guy?" Scotty asked Kirk, overwhelmed by the speed at which Khan created a plan.

"It's a long story."

"I will be brief." Spock began. "In your travels, did you ever encounter a man named Khan?"
Spock Prime looked down, fighting for what to tell Spock. "As you know...I have made a vow never to give you information that could potentially alter your destiny. Your path is yours to walk and yours alone."

Spock let out a sigh of disappointment.

"That being said...Khan Noonien Singh is the most dangerous adversary the Enterprise ever faced. He is brilliant, ruthless, and he will not hesitate to kill every single one of you."

Spock turned full circle to face Bones. He raised one eyebrow and gave him a slight glare. Bones knew that could only mean one thing; Spock didn't believe him in the slightest.

Spock turned back to Spock Prime. "Did you defeat him?"
"At great cost...yes."

Bones looked at Spock Prime in shock. Khan was defeated? Bones tried to sort out his own thoughts. That couldn't be right. Khan wasn't who people thought he was! Why can't people see that?

Bones squared his shoulders towards Spock and took a deep breath.

I'll just have to change that myself.

A/N: I promise you'll get more Khan in the next few chapters. This chapter was mostly about Bones and Spock, with a side helping of Kirk, Khan and Scotty. But never fear! Khan will be a major part in upcoming chapters. :) Please review! It means so much to me and they keep me motivated to write and not discontinue stories. Pretty please with extra cheese?