I do not own nor profit from Star Trek or Gene Roddenberrys creations
The holding center was cold as Safiya walked down the long hallway. The fluorescent overhead lights drowned out any color that may have existed in the long corridor. She wore her long jacket that brushed her heels, and hugged her waist. Khans scent would still waft from it from time to time making her sigh. She looked now much like she had on Kronos as she waited at a window.
"What prisoner are you here to see?" The large security man behind the window asked, not bothering to look up at her.
"Khan Noonien Singh." She spoke.
"Ah, the dead man. I guess he deserves some company before tomorrow." He chuckled, rolled his eyes and buzzed her in. She bit her tongue, for she knew she could tear his throat out for his remark. On the other side of the door, another equally large security guard led her down a hall of doors. The heavy door shut with a heavy, damning clank. The hall was just as long and lifeless as the one before it. On either side, thick metal doors with small windows and thin meal slots stood ominously. This was where they had held her mom once upon a time ago. She was in no real danger of being imprisoned for a long time, but the effects of these surroundings would have negative impacts, even on a mind as strong as her mothers. Halfway down, he stopped at a door and opened the window covering.
"May I have some privacy?" She turned to the guard. "As his last night, he can at least have a conversation to himself." She eyed the man evilly. He gave no argument as he walked away, clearly not interested in staying there and listening to them anyways. She saw him walk through the door, and she was alone again. The hall was empty, lonely. Looking back through the window, she was startled seeing Khan right in front of her. The harsh light did little to his features, washing him out. He looked tired, but his eyes were on fire as he looked into hers.
"Khan, I had to see you one last time." She bit her lip.
"You shouldn't have come." He drew slowly. "It will only make things worse."
"No, I needed to, Khan." She pulled her hair to the side, playing with it. "I have had so much to tell you, but I never knew where to start." She breathed.
"And now, as I face my demise, you find it appropriate?" He sighed. He was having a hard time keeping himself hard and angry at her, as she stood there, looking at him with such sorrow in her eyes. Her eyes began to shine, and he knew what was coming. Tears.
"Khan, I-I never chose my father. Please, don't judge me by his actions." She chewed her lip, trying to keep her tears back.
"Safiya, you took my crew, I am judging you by your own actions, NOT your fathers." He spat.
"I sent them there, Khan. Where we went that night, on the portable transport device. They are safe there Khan. If they went back to the hands of the fleet, they would have been locked away until the next violence minded superior decided to exploit yet another one of your crew." She hissed just as angrily. "Now, if you want to hold that against me, then fine but you need to hear me." She looked down, trying to clear her mind.
Looking into Khans eyes made it so much harder to talk to him, knowing how angry he had been at her. She took a deep breath. "Khan, I love you. I've loved you for, quite a while. But, I, I don't want you to die without me ever telling you this. I want to say thank you for everything. No matter how it turns out, I will always the glad to have met you. That you were my first, and Khan, you will probably be my only. I can't imagine anyone comparing to you. The way you held me, and kissed me. I knew you couldn't be all bad, the night you took care of me, treated me so tenderly." She sniffled, shaking her head.
Khan died inside. It didn't matter now what happened tomorrow, because he was already dead. A tear slid down his cheek, the first time he had cried before Safiya. But to see her so broken, broken over him, was too much for him to contain behind a hard expression. He couldn't pretend he didn't care. "I'm sorry, my sweet Kesi." He whispered. "I never meant for this to happen. If I had to do this over again, I would. Everything, even dying tomorrow, as long as it meant I had you in my life, if even for a day." He stroked the glass, trying to pet her face. "I love you Safiya, I love you. I need you. Please, will you be there tomorrow?" He choked, the gravity of tomorrow finally weighing on him. He would never see her beautiful face again, hold her, feel her. The nicest thing he had known since waking up, and he was losing it.
She had loved him unconditionally. The worst man to ever live in modern history, and she still loved him. "I will find a way back to you." He whispered, resting his head against the glass. "I know you will. Don't worry my love. I'm sure we will see one another soon." She smiled, and kissed the glass. He returned the gesture, before watching her walk back down the hall. He had never felt so lonely. Even stuck under the cruel thumb of the admiral, before he met Safiya, he had never felt so truly alone. He let out a cry filled of torment that could have broken the soul of even the strongest of men. He fell to his knees, and let his pain fall down his face.
Safiya rolled out of bed, unable to sleep well. A knot had formed in her stomach that she was unable to get rid of. Her eyes were not as swollen as they had been from crying the night before, but the evidence of her sorrow was still there. She had decided to sleep that night in Khans old flat. It had remained untouched since the last time she had been there, and in some twisted way, it was a comfort. She lamented the memories that they had made there, the love made in the bed they shared. The many kisses stolen, taken, given. It was like digging a knife into a wound, making it hurt worse, to know there was surely a pain worse than what she had been feeling before. She stood under the warm water, letting it cascade down her form as she remembered the many times they had taken one another in that very spot.
Her dress hung up on the back of the door as she took a seat at the vanity Khan had gotten her. Since she had been staying with him, he found it fit for her to stop cluttering the bathroom with her womanly things by putting it all on her vanity. She painted her eyes a light purple, offset with a flesh colored shadow. She drew on her eyeliner, pulling it out into the cat eye that she always loved. Her lips were just a few shades darker pink than her natural lips, and her hair was pulled up into an intricate bun. She left her bangs down, pulling them to one side, partially framing her face. She spritzed herself with perfume, her signature scent, and dressed. Her black heels clicked along the tile as she grabbed her jacket and umbrella before leaving for Khans execution.
The sky was thick with clouds, and a light fog settled. Moisture was heavy on the air, stifling, as she hailed a cab. The ride was silent as she looked out of the window. Her mind was still racing, and yet felt so empty at once. Her thoughts were so jumbled, in these final moments to herself. Her thoughts, or nonthoughts, were broken as the cab came to a stop. Outside, many people were amassed. They floated around, black umbrellas bobbed. She hadn't even realized that a gentle rain had began to come down, softly tapping against the window she had been staring out of.
The many people in attendance of Khans execution was shocking. Surviving victims, deceased victims families, friends, media, people that were just interested in seeing this terrible Augment finally put to death. The cabbie got out, opening the door for her. She slipped him money from her polished fingers, and walked past him, opening her umbrella in the process. A murmer went out through those nearest to her, and people parted to watch Khans lover walk up the steps and into the building. Everything was hushed, save the light patter of rain bouncing off of the many umbrellas, and the clicking of the medias cameras that took pictures of a dignified woman ascending the steps to the last moments of her loves life. She offered no emotion on her face, no clue as to what she was thinking.
Akkare saw her approaching the building. He quickly unlocked the door, and opened it for her, closing and locking it just as fast behind her.
"It is a busy crowd this morning. Many people want to see him dead." Akkare let out an exasperated sigh.
"I can see. Everybody wants justice." She responded. Her voice was solid and cold, just as she felt.
"They already have him in the chair. Would you like a last moment?" Akkare offered. He couldn't remove her pain, he couldn't free Khan, but he could at least allow her a moment. She simply nodded.
They walked down the hall, and through the door. In the vestibule, an attendant took her jacket and umbrella, hanging them up for her. She turned to Akkare.
"Are we the only ones then?" She asked, staring at the door that harbored her life.
"For now, it is just us, a magistrate, and a doctor. So, what will happen is, they will allow in a certain amount of people for his execution. The magistrate will read off his sentence, he gets his last words, and then the doctor will administer a lethal dose of drugs. When the doctor pronounces him dead, that will be it." Akkare responded, going over the procedure with her, preparing her for what to expect. "There is a spot in the front for you. You are the closest thing we had to family, friend or next of kin, and with it, comes those rights." He held her gaze, and nodded. "Right then, this way." He opened the door opposite the one they entered.
Khan looked up, hearing a gentle creaking. His Safiya was there. She walked proudly down the aisle, wearing a long black dress, with a high slit, a flowing skirt, and long sleeves. She looked like the angel of death in his eyes. So beautiful. So tragic. He began to lightly pull at his restraints, wanting to get up, hold her close.
"Don't even think about it there, ya bastard." The doctor growled. Safiya remembered him as the doctor on board the Enterprise. No doubt he volunteered for this execution, a way to satisfy his revenge, his personal vendetta against this man.
Khan growled, feeling desperate for her touch, angry at this paltry doctor. The doctor prepared his hyposprays, drawing up proper doses, no doubt being heavy handed, wanting to make sure this man was dead. "Khan, sweetheart, it's okay." Safiya whispered as she approached him.
"Whoa there ma'am, you can't be getting so damn close." Leonard stepped towards her, grabbing her shoulder, stopping her. Khan pulled at his restraints, infuriated, no man touched his sweet Kesi.
"Remove your hand from me, doctor, lest you find one of those hyposprays in your own neck." Safiya snarled, letting the doctor step back, because she sure as hell wasn't about to give ground, not to this man, if that is what she could call him. Khan smirked behind the doctors back, enjoying her display of dominance. Leonard stepped away, angry, but not interested in calling her bluff. He went back to his tray, his hands shaking, unable to contain his anger, or excitement.
She walked up the steps, lifting her skirt, so as not to trip. She stood before him, and would have been imposing to any man who did not know her as intimately as he did. "You are here." Khan whispered. She nodded, leaning down and grabbing his hands. They were hot from desire, an electricity buzzing between their skin.
"I said I would." She smiled. Her thumbs stroked the tops of his hands. He sighed, reveling in her touch. "I can't allow you to do this alone." She spoke in little more than a moan.
"I just needed to see you one last time." He choked. "Safiya, I have to admit, I am a little scared." He chuckled nervously, having severe doubts about his fate.
"My heart, I wish I could take away your fear, but I cannot. Just know that life hurts a lot more than death." She sighed, bringing her hand up to stroke his cheek. Khan turned his head to nuzzle his cheek further into his hand. It was unlike him to be afraid, or to feel so weak, but before her, he could show this rare side of his existence. What does it matter anyways? In less than an hour he would be dead. He relished her soft touch, kissing her fingers and palms, wanting to taste her very essence. Safiya leaned forward and took his lips into hers. It was a simple kiss, sweet, but full of everything she had ever wanted to say to him, every emotion she could convey to him in that moment. A loud cough broke them apart, as people started filing in.
As he had done during the trial, Akkare sat beside Safiya, as she took a seat in the front row. She crossed her leg, her ankle peeking out from the slit in her dress. Khans lips tingled as he thought about his time on the Enterprise, gently kissing her ankles, up her calves and thighs. Even in his final hour, he could not stop his body from reacting to her. Their eyes were locked on one another, as the room began to grow louder as the attendance grew. Khan only broke his concentration on her, as he met brown eyes in the back of the room.
The room quieted down as a man approached the head of the room, standing next to Khan, facing the room. Leonard stood beside his tray, at parade rest.
"Khan Noonien Singh. You are hereby sentenced to death for your crimes, by a lethal injection to be administered by a licensed doctor of Star Fleet." The magistrate read off of a PADD. "You have been tried formally, and found guilty by a panel of magistrates in good standing." He looked to the restrained man. "Have you any last words?"
Khan just looked back to the green eyes that captivated him. "Safiya." Was all that came out in a whisper.
"Then we begin." The magistrate spoke, and left the platform on this the chair was placed so the room may see his demise. Leonard approached Khan with a silver tube in his hand. He brought it up, and released its contents with a sinister hiss into the prisoners neck. Khan winced ever so slightly as he maintained his gaze on Safiya. A second, third, and finally a fourth hypospray was administered. She knew the doctor was intentionally overdosing him, but the only benefit was that it would kill him faster.
It was the hardest thing, for Safiya to watch as the drugs took effect. Khans eyes became heavier, his head began to fall as he tried his hardest to keep looking upon the one he adored. Eventually, he couldn't hold it anymore, and his head fell. His breathing slowed down, and getting shallower with each passing minute. Safiya dabbed her eyes with her black lace lined handkerchief, praying that Khan was not in pain. She chewed her lip, trying not to lose her composure, but her resolve was breaking.
Khans head snapped up as he let out an agonizing scream. His heart was stopping, and the pain was profound. It still wasn't as bad as the pain he felt of losing Safiya, but it was a close second. He pulled at his restraints, writhing in agony. His screams were deafening. Akkare held his arm around Safiya, supporting her as she shivered at the sound. When the room fell silent, she looked up. Khan was still trying to fight the drugs. his hands twitched, but he was fading. His eyes were locked on Safiya, but they saw no longer.
A tear fell down his cheek from the corner of his eye as he became still. A few minutes passed before the doctor took his vitals. He gave the magistrate a nod, and stepped back. The magistrate stepped forward, addressing the audience.
"Khan Noonien Singh, is dead."