I do not own nor profit from Star Trek or Gene Roddenberrys ideas and creations
The court was silent as the Admiral was led to the defense stand in restraints. He looked haggard and worn out.
"Admiral Alexander Marcus." The lead judge spoke. "You are hereby charged with high treason, murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to create war..." His list of charges were read off. Safiya sat, her legs crossed in her general attire. She wore a pinstripe pencil skirt and a white blouse, something professional, presentable, and appropriate.
The trial had began, as evidence was presented. Documents, recordings, even things that Safiya had no knowledge of, glimpses of the Admirals personal conversations. He was exposed, naked and disgraced before the federation that he once stood for. He was stoic as they presented each article.
"He doesn't even care." Akkare leaned over to her, while he looked over his own information.
"I know." She shook her head. "But what can you do?" She took a deep breath, listening to the argument.
"Once they are done charging him, they will begin Khans trial. The outcome here will definitely effect what happens on his own trial. Unfortunately, with his history, I don't think the heads are going to be very lenient. I did my best to persuade them of what you told me, but, I can only hope they took it into consideration." He sighed.
"It's okay, Akkare. Whatever happens, it will be alright." She took his hand, and squeezed it in support, though it was she who needed the support.
It was a long day, watching everything, listening to the questions, hearing the empty answers.
"Tomorrow, we will be calling witnesses, but for today, we will adjourn." The panel of judges stood and exited the courtroom. The admiral was led away, catching his daughters eyes, giving a knowing smile as he passed.
Safiya thought of her mother, that she would need to see her soon. After Khans trial, she would return home. It was high time she had a vacation away from the fleet. Akkare knew this as well, with every intent on sending her back to Abydos so she may recover from her mind and her heart.
She walked down the street to her home, surprised that their trials were being held in London, especially the Admirals. But since 31 was mostly based in London, they deemed it proper he be held there. It was all confusing to her, but then again legal was never her field. It was frustrating, having to wait for results and answers, and verdicts. But what does it matter? She wasn't the one on trial. No matter what sentence they handed down, she should go on to her next assignment, and they would either rot in prison, or endure whatever fate they were granted.
Her nights were quiet now, lonely, and left her tormented by her own thoughts. The long process of accepting her decision to love Khan, and the longer process of accepting her loss plagued her at every turn. Sipping coffee in her oversized chair, her eyes often fell on the empty spot where he used to sit. The broken vase her mother had given to her long ago that sat in two pieces on the shelf. How it had once been full of flowers she would get from the market when they would go. The smell of him still lingering on her jacket that hung in the front closet. It was maddening. It was like listening to her heart break over and over, a broken record. Everytime she thought of cold and callous words, that it was all a mistake, she heard the universe explode in her chest, followed by an equally deafening silence. A silence that said 'I can not feel any more than I just have, and I mean not to ever again.'
Her uneasy sleep was broken by her com beeping madly at her. Her hand groped in the dark until it came into contact with the cool object.
"Kesi." She answered groggily, not having gotten very good sleep since the last time she laid in Khans arms.
"Safiya, it's Akkare."
"Akkare, sir, whats going on? What time is it?" She squinted trying to clear her blurry eyes to make out the time on the wall clock
"It's about 130 in the morning. I need you to come down to the Fleet detention center." Akkare's voice was heavy.
"Yeah, I'll be down there shortly." She hung up. Her heart began to pound, as she quickly got ready. A light shirt, a thin short tailored leather jacket, and jeans was the first thing she could find that wouldn't make her boil in the warm summer night.
The taxi dropped her off, as she watched Akkare sitting on the front step, smoking a cigarette thoughtfully.
"Akkare, I came as fast as I could. Whats wrong?" She breathed, bounding up the steps.
"Safiya, your father hung himself." He released a breath of smoke, watching as it curled around his cheek. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. Akkare felt guilty, feeling he had put her through enough on this assignment. He didn't think this all went as deep as it had. He certainly never thought his old friend would have been involved in something so vile.
"They are requesting you go and see him. Carol will be here soon I imagine." He flicked his spent cigarette down the steps.
"You shouldn't litter you know." She looked at her older counterpart. They had always been able to talk freely with one another, and perhaps because they share home, he allowed it.
"Your father just dies, and all you can do is lecture me on littering." He chuckled, standing up. Akkare placed a hand on Safiya's shoulder and led her inside.
On the table, her father lay. He was pale, cyanotic, is face slightly puffy with ligature marks on his neck.
"So, he took the easy way." She sighed, looking at him. Her fingers began to run through his hair, smoothing where it had been roughed up by the sheet.
"Dad, you were never there. You never showed me love in the way a child should be shown. You nearly destroyed me, and yet here. Here I am, still unable to completely sweep you from my heart." Her tears began to well up. "Momma always said I got my spirit from you. I believe her. I also believe I am just as conflicted, and in my heart, troubled. Whatever madness took you, I hope you are free of it now." She leaned down, kissing his forehead. Yes she had hate for him, but in the same breath, she couldn't deny that she still had some care. That was a trait she got from her mother. To see beauty where it is least obvious. 'Appreciate the beauty where there is little, for there it will be appreciated the most.'
Perhaps thats what drew the Admiral to her mother. He wasn't the greatest man, but because she could see past his defects, and allow that kernel of beauty bloom, the admiral fell for her. Perhaps that is why she was attracted to Khan, because she believed that under his defects, was something beautiful.
Safiya stepped out of the room, walking arm in arm with Akkare. Carol had run in, tears down, talking to the man behind the front desk. He pointed towards where Safiya and Akkare stood, as Carol began a quick pace towards them.
"So, you heard?" Carol choked out, tears still falling freely.
"Yes, I heard. I'll let you and your mother handle arrangements as you knew him best." She responded softly. Akkare continued to lead her towards the door.
Carol turned around. "Safiya. I- um. I'll let you know when the service is. I'd like you there, since you were his as well and all." She drew out in one breath. It was, if anything, an attempt at amends, and perhaps even an amicable peace between the sisters. Safiya nodded over her shoulder, and left.
Akkare took her back to her home, but Safiya couldn't sleep now. She tried, tossing and turning, forcing her eyes closed, but all she could see was Khan, or the Admiral. She couldn't get that smell of death and antiseptic out of her nose. By 430, she was up, with a cup of coffee in one hand, a comm in the other, sitting on the roof of her building watching the sunrise. The air was crisp and slightly cool, as a breeze crossed her cheeks. She watched the yellow, green corals and blues fade together in the distant sky. She sighed, and looked down, dialing in a number.
RING RING
RING RING
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mom."
"Safiya, I haven't heard from you since the last time you came here with that nice young man. How are you?"
"I'm not that good momma. Not good at all."
She proceeded to explain everything that she could, without giving away everything. Her mother listened to her with supportive injections of knowledge. Her mother seemed to know everything to say to make her feel better. Even when she told her of her fathers death, all she could say was 'He wasn't going to last forever, but at least he can say he lived, really lived.'
Their conversation turned to other things, including Safiya's plans after the trials. Well, singular trial now. Khan's trial. Her mother really liked Khan, and offered to come to London for support, but she knew her mother would not have been happy or comfortable there, and so declined. "But I will call you momma, everyday. I promise." She sighed. "For now, I have to get ready. I will call you tonight or tomorrow." She smiled as she hung up with her mother.
"In light of last nights events, the heads have no other choice but to drop the charges leveled against Admiral Alexander Marcus. For those of this court who are unaware, The admiral took his life last night." The judge in the center looked out somberly over the court, as he read his statement. "Subsequently, we will be moving forward from here with the case of Khan Noonien Singh."
After a thirty minute wait, Khan was led in. His list of charges were read to him, and he stood, tall and proud, accepting each and every one, keeping focused on the judges. Safiya sat near to him, trying not to focus on his strong shoulders. Shoulders that she had gripped many times, bitten many times in the throes of passion. She couldn't help her mind going back to him in those ways.
Once agian, it was listening to the arguments presented, the evidence, opening statements. Everything she had to sit through boringly at her fathers trial.
Day three of Khans hearing and trial. Safiya had finally been called to the stand, and her stomach flipped in knots under Khans heavy gaze. The heads began to question her.
"What was your relation with Khan.?"
"We were expected to work together on a project at Admiral Marcus' behest."
"What was the project?"
"Recreating the technology from his ship, the SS Botanny Bay, to properly interface with the technology that Star Fleet uses, and for the USS Vengeance, the Admirals brain child."
"Was it not your job to in fact spy on Khan?"
"No, it was not my initial order."
"What was your initial order?"
"To spy on Admiral Marcus."
"But would he not have known? As Fleet Admiral he has access to these sorts of things, does he not?"
"No, Admiral Marcus does not. No Admiral knows the goings on of each sector. They may simply be aware of their existance, but no more. It is a security measure, that no admiral or officer for that matter, has intimate knowledge of other sections unless specifically assigned to that section."
The heads nodded.
"And, during this, did you two become close?"
Safiya swallowed. "Yes. We did."
"Elaborate, please."
Talk about embaressing. She blushed, looking up at Khan, who sat with a smile, enjoying watching her clam up and squirm. "Khan and I were... Intimate with one another, many times over the course of our working relationship." She finally sighed.
There were murmurs that rolled through the pews and onlookers.
"And when you say intimate, you of course are referring to sex?"
"Yes. I am referring to sex." She swallowed.
"Can you tell me what occurred before the massacre of multiple Star Fleet officials?"
"Before? I am not aware. The last time I saw him was in February. He told me he was going to 31, and left. I am guessing he went to check on his crew. I am not sure, but that was the last time I saw him. A few weeks later, I was taken to the Io Facility to begin installing and testing the computer functions that we had been recreating from the SS Botany Bay. It was after attack, that I was contacted again by Admiral Marcus to join the USS Enterprise and her crew in the recovery of Khan." She folded her hands in her lap, looking forward.
"His crew are still missing, is that not correct?"
"They are still missing, yes. That is a secret that Admiral Marcus took with him to the grave." She looked sadly at Khan who began to fume, a terrible pain coming over his heart.
"You know, Admiral Akkare gave a riveting speech about the humanity of Khan Noonien Singh. As you seem to have known him best, how would you consider him?" The heads all stared at her, ready to write down notes, waiting for her answer.
"Khan is... A man. Like all men, he has emotions. I don't believe he is any more dangerous, than a normal human in duress. He had a chance to kill Admiral Marcus there on the Vengeance, and yet he stayed his hand. He did not have to do that. I do not believe he is so much interested in destruction now, as he is concerned about his crew being safely returned to him. The unwavering loyalty he has for his crew, his family, is a trait Star Fleet seldom sees." She shook her head, and continued.
"Star Fleet Regulation 3, paragraph 12 states, that In the event of imminent destruction, a Starfleet Captain is authorized to preserve the lives of his crew by any justifiable means.' Khan is the captain of his crew. I feel he did what he felt was going to save his crew. By trying to destroy the one who could, and was threatening to pull the trigger, killing each and every one of them. He had reason to believe they were in iminent danger. This is a Star Fleet regulation, I understand, but we should not afford only ourselves this luxury of choice, and deny other captains, for captain and crew are one and the same no matter the race or world they hail from. However, Khan was enlisted in Star Fleet as a commander, and so just as covered by this regulation as any other in Star Fleet."
Heads nervously bobbed in agreeance throughout the room, and Khan still stared at her, analyzing her, trying to figure her out. Here he was trying to hurt her, push her away, and yet she was defending him? Defending his actions?
"That will be all for now. Thank you Ms. Kesi."
It was nervewracking to sit and wait for the trial to be over. She listened to the testimony of Carol, Jim and Spock. It was only damning, though there were few redeeming qualities they had mentioned. Finally, after two days of testimony, the heads were ready to deliberate and hand down their verdict. Akkare grabbed Safiya's hand, squeezing it supportively, as she bit her lip.
"In the case of Khan Noonien Singh," The chief judge opened an envelope, and unfolded it. He put his glasses on and scrolled down the page.
Safiya could hear her heart pounding in her chest, squeezing Akkare's hand harder than she had realized. Time was stopped, and all she could do was stare at Khan, who had looked over his shoulder to meet her gaze. The verdict resounded around the room like a haunting echo as she stifled a cry.
"Guilty."