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Chapter 13 – Precipice

Khan had been brought into the medbay by the time Madelyn returned. She veered quickly away from him to avoid his gaze and headed for McCoy, hoping he hadn't seen the glint of metal clutched in her hand, proof that she was pregnant. She touched McCoy on the shoulder to get his attention, but didn't get a chance to talk when the ship's intercom system came on and began to broadcast a conversation apparently taking place between Captain Kirk and Admiral Marcus. It stole away everyone's attention.

Watching the Admiral on a nearby monitor, Madelyn couldn't help but notice how dark the bridge behind him was, and wondered what sort of ship he commanded. Kirk certainly sounded impressed, but then he was also doing his best to sound calm and optimistic, despite Khan's previous warnings that Marcus would turn up. Madelyn was second-guessing how truthful Khan had actually been, and chalked it up to his desire to get his crew back. He would be dangerous as long as that was his goal.

"I wasn't expecting to get word that you'd taken Harrison into custody in violation of your orders," said the Admiral. Madelyn thought it was strange Marcus still referred to him as Harrison.

"Well, we uh… we had to improvise when our warp core unexpectedly malfunctioned," Kirk said carefully. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Marcus' brow crinkled. "I don't take your meaning."

"That's why you're here, isn't it? To assist with our repairs? Why else would the head of Starfleet personally come to the edge of the neutral zone?"

"Captain, they're scanning our ship," said a third voice in the background.

"Is there something I can help you find, sir?" asked Kirk.

Marcus shifted in his seat. "Where is your prisoner?"

Kirk kept his voice steady and answered carefully. "Per Starfleet regulation, I'm planning on returning Khan to Earth to stand trial."

In the brief pause that followed, Madelyn slid her pregnancy test across the table so McCoy could see. She met his gaze with a hard look, and he took it from her and discreetly dropped it into a nearby waste disposal unit. Khan's back was turned to them, but she knew that the last thing she wanted was for him to know.

"Well, shit. You talked to him. That was exactly what I was hoping to spare you from."

Madelyn turned back to the monitor as Marcus rubbed his forehead in consternation.

"I took a tactical risk and I woke that bastard up, believing a superior intelligence could help us protect ourselves from whatever came at us next." Marcus leaned towards them in his captain's chair, his gaze hardening. "But I made a mistake and now the blood of everybody he's killed is on my hands. So I'm asking you, give him to me so that I can end what I started."

"And what exactly would you like me to do with the rest of his crew, sir?" said Kirk. "Fire them at the Klingons, end seventy-two lives? Start a war in the process?"

"He put those people in those torpedoes," Marcus said, raising his voice. "I simply didn't want to burden you with knowing what was inside of them. You saw what this man can do all by himself. Can you imagine what would happen if we woke up the rest of his crew?"

Madelyn didn't want to, but she also couldn't help but think that these were still people they were talking about. No matter that they were probably all just as strong and intelligent and dangerous as Khan, not to mention criminals who deserved to stand trial for their actions in the past. They were still people. Marcus' intentions may have been noble, but the means he'd chosen to go about getting what he wanted wasn't sitting well with her. She could see on McCoy's face that he looked just as unsure.

"What else did he tell you, that he's a peacekeeper?" Marcus continued. "He's playing you, son, don't you see that? Khan and his crew were condemned to death as war criminals, and now it's our duty to carry out that sentence before anybody else dies because of him." He paused to compose himself. "Now I'm gonna ask you again, one last time, son. Lower your shields. Tell me where he is."

Would Marcus really have Khan killed just like that? No trial, just sweep him under the rug? Madelyn waited nervously for Kirk to respond.

"He's in engineering, sir, but I'll have him moved to the transporter room right away."

She straightened. If Kirk was going to lie about this, then he obviously didn't trust Marcus anymore.

Marcus nodded. "I'll take it from here."

The feed cut out.

Madelyn didn't know what to think. She didn't want Khan to stay onboard the Enterprise as long as she was there, but she also didn't want Marcus to get his way. She didn't appreciate that Marcus' solution for cleaning up his own mess would only result in the deaths of more people, and could potentially lead to war if he continued. The worst part was she knew he wanted that war, and apparently he was willing to do anything to get it.

"We need to talk," McCoy said quietly, rising from the table. Madelyn nodded and followed him into a closed off corner of the medbay where Khan wouldn't be able to hear them if they spoke quietly. She knew she was going to have to make a decision quickly. McCoy echoed her thoughts.

"You need to decide what you wanna do about this," he said.

Madelyn pursed her lips. This was probably going to be her only chance to talk to a doctor who understood her situation, but it was also the first time she'd ever had the opportunity to have a child, and she wasn't sure she could give it up just because it was Khan's. The thought that she was even considering keeping it seemed strange, until she realized she might never have another chance.

"I don't… I don't think I could end it," she said slowly.

McCoy raised his eyebrows. "You sure about that?"

"This is unexpected, but I'm not sure I'll ever have another chance to… I've always wanted—" She stopped, worrying on her lower lip, eyes darting around the room. "He can't know," she muttered. Licking her lips she forced herself to look up at the doctor. "Whatever you do, do not let him know. I think we both know what he's capable of, and I don't want to know what he'd do if he found out that I'm pregnant with his—"

She couldn't finish the sentence out loud and covered her mouth with her hand. How had that bastard known he could get her pregnant? How had he known what she was?

"This is all happening way too fast." She knew her voice was shaking.

"Alright, you need to stay calm so you don't give yourself away." McCoy put his hands on her shoulders and focused his gaze on her. "Take a deep breath and let it out slow."

She did as he asked and shut her eyes for a moment. She needed to stay focused. She needed to know how to keep this a secret. "When will I start showing?" she breathed.

McCoy dropped his hands. "Well, you're at least one month along now, but since this is your first, it could be as long as five months. But then, your situation is unique. Could be sooner."

"So basically you have no idea."

"I've never dealt with a situation like yours before. By all accounts, this shouldn't have been possible."

And yet here I am, she thought. She nodded. At least for now she wouldn't have to worry about Khan noticing anything. She just needed to compose herself when she was around him and it would be fine.

"Madelyn, you should talk to Kirk. You need someone on your side who can help you."

"I don't want to talk to anyone. Besides, I've got you."

"I'm just a doctor. He can do a lot more for you like keep Khan out of the way. He'll understand."

"Do you understand?" she snapped. "Do you realize what's happening here? Khan is a superhuman homicidal egomaniac! He used to rule half the Earth and I've been sleeping with him since Christmas! And now I'm—" She stopped, only because she knew she was being too loud and Khan could probably hear her and she couldn't say it out loud.

"Madelyn, calm down."

Owen had warned her. Marcus had warned her. But how could she have known who Khan was, that he would try and succeed in getting her pregnant? And why hadn't anyone told her what she was? How could she have known any of this when no one would tell her anything? It was such a big mess and it all boiled down to Khan's lies.

She ran both hands through her scalp and forced herself to breathe deeply like before. She knew she couldn't afford to let herself panic when he was sitting just around the corner.

McCoy eyed her. "Look, I have work to do. Go to the bridge, talk to Jim. And as long as Khan is here, stay out of the medbay."

She knew he was right. As captain of this ship, Kirk could probably do more for her than McCoy. Taking another deep breath, she composed herself and walked back around the corner, grimacing when she realized she'd have to walk right past Khan to get to the medbay doors. His back was still turned though, and if she hurried maybe he wouldn't pay attention.

As Madelyn neared him, he turned his head so she could see his profile. She couldn't shake his gaze when he raised it and met hers, his expression cool and keen. She kept walking until she could tear her eyes away to the corridor ahead, but the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she knew Khan was watching her until the medbay doors hissed shut between them.

She couldn't believe he was the same man she'd known in London. He'd lied and manipulated his way into her life and there was no way in hell she would ever let him in again. Especially not if she was going to keep his child. When she got off this ship, she was going to put as much distance as she could between her and wherever Khan ended up.

"Carol!"

Her friend brushed past her down the corridor but barely paused to acknowledge her. "Maddy, I'm sorry. There's no time."

Madelyn picked up her pace to catch up, following her directly to the bridge. Her attention was momentarily distracted by the enormous viewscreen, which gave a sweeping perspective of just how fast the ship was moving while at warp. Carol's panicked voice brought her back to the present.

"He's going to catch up with us and when he does the only thing that's going to stop him from destroying this ship is me, so you have to let me talk to him—"

"Carol, we're at warp," said Kirk. "He can't catch up with us."

"Yes, he can. He's been developing a ship that has advanced warp capabilities and I—"

"Captain," one of the crew turned. "I'm getting a reading I don't understand."

Madelyn had forgotten why she'd come to the bridge in the first place, until Carol turned and put a hand on her arm. "Maddy, I'm so sorry." She gave her a knowing look that Madelyn barely had time to register before they were thrown to the floor.

The bridge shook and groaned, and control panels exploded in showers of light and sparks. Madelyn felt her head collide with the cold floor, but managed to pull herself up on a nearby console, catching a glimpse of Kirk with his arm around Carol. Suddenly she only felt very in the way as the crew struggled to bring things back under control. The viewscreen showed that they'd just fallen out of warp and Madelyn could see Earth's moon in the distance.

"Where are we?" said Kirk.

"We're two hundred thirty-seven thousand kilometers from Earth!"

Reports flooded in of major damage, failed weapons, a breached hull, and then the ship shuddered again. It sounded like it was tearing apart. Madelyn couldn't believe Marcus actually intended to go through with this. He was acting no better than Khan would.

"You okay?"

She glanced over at Kirk and nodded, before the ship was blasted again.

"Evasive maneuvers!" he screamed. "Get us to Earth right now!"

"Captain, stop!"

Madelyn saw Carol get up in his face.

"Everyone on this ship is going to die if you don't let me speak to him!"

It only took Kirk a moment, but he ordered Uhura to hail Marcus, and Carol turned towards the viewscreen. Then Kirk pulled Madelyn over. "What are you doing?"

"I needed to talk to you, but obviously it can wait," she replied.

Kirk eyed her, then they both turned their attention to the viewscreen as Admiral Marcus' shocked face appeared. Noticeably the blasts had diminished and finally stopped. Madelyn let out a breath.

"What are you doing on that ship?"

Carol took a moment to collect herself. "I heard what you said, that you made a mistake and now you're doing everything you can to fix it. But dad, I…" she paused, stuttering, trying to find the right words. "I don't believe that the man who raised me is capable of destroying a ship full of innocent people. And if I'm wrong about that, then you're going to have to do it with me onboard."

Madelyn could hear the tears in her voice. How had it come to this?

"Actually Carol," said the Admiral. "I won't."

Pinpricks of white light materialized around Carol. She raised her arms, staring in shock as the light thickened and swirled around her until she was completely enveloped.

"Jim!"

"Can you intercept the signal?" Kirk shouted.

Carol ran for the door of the bridge, as though that could stop the transporter signal from taking her, letting out a pained scream that dwindled as she completely disappeared. Madelyn whirled around to face the viewscreen, rage bubbling just below the surface.

"Admiral Marcus!"

She felt Kirk's hand on her arm and shrugged him off.

"Sir, what you're doing is unconscionable and makes you no better than the man you claimed was John Harrison. There are good people on this ship!"

"Madelyn McGivers, I'd forgotten you were onboard." He glanced to the side. "I need her too."

Madelyn backed away, watching as her hands were encircled with white light. She turned wide-eyed to Kirk, as though he could help her, and caught the helpless look in his eye moments before she was blinded. She tried to scream when her skin felt as though it was peeling away, and then she felt nothing, just cold. When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the dark.

"Maddy?"

Carol's confused voice made her turn, but she barely had time to register what was happening when two security officers grabbed her arms, and a faint jab in her neck made her wince.

"What are you doing?" she heard Carol scream. "Stop it!"

Her hearing dulled. Carol was yelling in the distance. Madelyn's eyes were starting to adjust to the room's darkness, but now everything was getting blurry. She vaguely recalled being dragged across a cold floor. Panic swept over her but she felt too fatigued to move. Everything was hazy. Everything was far away and cold and dark, and then a warm blanket of sleep enveloped her.

When Kirk entered the medbay and quietly informed Dr. McCoy that Admiral Marcus had taken his "patient," Khan had to force himself to remain cool and composed. Any sign of emotional instability could alert any of the officers around him that he posed a threat, though he suspected that most of them were intelligent enough to recognize that fact already; otherwise they wouldn't have slapped him in heavy-duty cuffs again, nor would they be guarding him with large phaser rifles.

As he walked beside Captain Kirk through the corridors of the Enterprise, Khan's face was a picture of calm, but his mind was a raging whirlwind. He vocalized the necessary information for the Scotsman who'd somehow gotten himself onboard the Vengeance undetected, while mentally going through every potential scenario that might present itself. His plan would depend largely on last minute instincts, but there was an end in sight and he was confident he'd make it.

They were about to undertake a mission that even he considered to be brashly suicidal. There was no other option left to any of them. Kirk wanted to save his own crew from Marcus, and Khan knew that if he played along for a while, this could be his ticket to reclaiming his people.

Madelyn was on the Vengeance, and if Khan knew Marcus, then she was probably being studied by one of his doctors. It was the only possibility he could think of for Marcus wanting to take her. She wasn't his priority, but Khan would never abandon her to any of the perverts Marcus hired, especially not if she was carrying his child. He had no way of confirming it, but if her behavior earlier had been any indication, Dr. McCoy had most likely discovered it and informed her. His augmented hearing was better than she'd given him credit for, and he had overheard most of their conversation in the back of the medbay. It made sense that she wouldn't have even considered the possibility of pregnancy. She'd only just been made aware of what she was, and of who he was, within the last few hours. When he had her in his grasp again, he'd be able to confirm his suspicions. For now, though, he needed to focus on what would bring him to that point.

He was so close, he could practically taste it. Once he had control of the Vengeance, he would kill Marcus and reclaim his crew from the Enterprise using whatever he had at his disposal. Then he would destroy the Enterprise, destroy Starfleet Headquarters from space, and escape at warp before the Federation even realized what had happened. All of this would be easy enough to accomplish once he was onboard the Vengeance. It was the act of getting onboard that would require every ounce of intensive concentration he possessed. He hoped Kirk was up to this task. He was depending on the young captain's naivety and guts, and he couldn't make his move until the Vengeance's bridge was secure and Marcus held at the end of a phaser.

He respected Kirk solely on the basis of his ability to come up with such a ridiculous plan and follow through on it. They were going to be shot out of one of the Enterprise's waste exhaust vents and use their momentum to fly to the Vengeance through a massive debris field, aiming for a small airlock which Kirk's man, Scotty would open for them at the right time. Kirk claimed to have done something like this before, but Khan didn't have the time or patience to hear his explanation and was anxious to get going. If they were going to do this they needed to do it quickly, and before Marcus got the Vengeance's power back online. His crew was still on the Enterprise and he couldn't afford to lose them when he'd already come this far.

Madelyn felt like she'd been asleep for a week. She blinked several times to get her eyes adjusted to the blinding lights around her. Was she still being transported? No, the lights were in the ceiling above her. She turned her head carefully. Her neck was stiff and her skull felt heavy. She was laying down on a cold metal table. There was a voice nearby, murmuring in a strange language she didn't recognize. Some Scandinavian language, but she couldn't be sure.

She blinked again, her vision still hazy, and turned her head to try and make out the figure. Average height, longish blond hair swept back from his face, blue doctor's uniform. She reached up to rub her eyes so she could see him more clearly but was stopped by a cord running from her arm. It pulled at her skin and stung so she stopped and lifted her head instead to look. Red was running through the cord.

Madelyn lurched up, tearing the needle from her arm. It stung a little, but she hardly noticed. The blond doctor snagged her arm in his hand and pinned her back to the bed. He was strong, but she knew instantly that she was stronger.

She rolled off the table and slammed her boot into his shin. He instantly doubled over, a syringe flying from his fingers and clattering to the floor. Her fingers latched around his neck and she backed him up against the wall, ignoring the vertigo that swept over her. She wanted to squeeze until he gave up, then she knew she couldn't kill him as the present moment overwhelmed her.

She wasn't sure why she'd just done that, but no one had asked her if she wanted her blood taken again. She remembered she was on Marcus' ship, transported there against her will. Marcus had been threatening the Enterprise. Oh god, was the Enterprise gone? How long had she been out? She loosened her grip on the doctor, her anger abetting, her gaze flitting around the room. She appeared to be in a medbay, but everything was darker, save for the glaring lights hanging directly above the table she'd been laying on

"That wasn't very nice of you," the doctor muttered, English laced with a Scandinavian lilt. He adjusted his clothing and smoothed his hair. "Would you mind laying back down so I can finish?"

Madelyn's gaze snapped back to him. "Who the hell are you? Why are you taking my blood?"

"I'm Dr. Hans Madsen. I'm checking your blood for abnormalities. You're perfectly alright here."

"I didn't give anyone permission to do this," she said, her fingers sliding across the spot on the inside of her wrist where she'd ripped out the iv. There was barely a mark, one tiny spot of blood that she smeared away.

"Admiral Marcus made a last minute decision, which unfortunately required your immediate presence on this ship."

"What about the Enterprise?"

"As luck would have it, your friends on the Enterprise are just fine. We lost main system power about an hour ago, and Marcus is still trying to bring things back online. Now please do me a favor and lay back down. I only need to finish taking one more sample."

Madelyn stared at the doctor, then at the device behind him that appeared to contain several vials of red liquid. "I think you have more than enough."

"Oh, pity. I should've liked to run a few extra tests." Madsen smiled at her. "Your case is quite fascinating. At least you were cooperative while you were asleep."

She felt her heartbeat quickening. "Who ordered you to do this?"

"No one ordered me," Madsen said as he turned to examine the device that Madelyn suspected held copious amounts of her blood. Maybe that was why she felt so lightheaded. "It was my idea, but it wouldn't have been possible without Admiral Marcus. He would've been happy to let you go down with the Enterprise. Fortunately for you, when I see an opportunity, I reach out and take it." He turned back around to face her. The look in his eyes made her uncomfortable. "It seems this time I got more than I bargained for. I'll be looking forward to studying the both of you."

"Both of—"

"Yes, I believe my first test revealed you have significantly high levels of estrogen and HCG, which can only mean that you're pregnant. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Anger enveloped her confusion. How did he know she was pregnant? She'd only just found out herself. She backed away, bumping into the table, too disgusted by this doctor to stay near him for long. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, don't worry, I won't harm you. I'd never dream of it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A chance for science to finally break some ground in a field that was banned for unfortunately ignorant reasons."

Is that what she was now? An opportunity?

"I want to speak with the Admiral," she said, continuing to keep distance between herself and the doctor.

"I'm fairly certain he doesn't want to see you—"

"I'm not cooperating with you until I've talked to him." She crossed her arms and glared at Madsen. "In person." She added the last bit in hopes that she could get away from this guy, whose eyes were flitting over her in a fashion that made her feel violated.

Madsen tilted his head slightly in thought. Then he sighed and shrugged and pulled a communicator from his pocket.

"Ms. McGivers wants to see the Admiral," he said.

Moments later, the medbay doors slid open and two security officers walked in. They took her by her arms and started to pull her away. She pulled back, incensed that these people thought this was necessary.

"I wouldn't try to fight them," said Madsen sheepishly. "They're private security. They're not afraid of hurting a pregnant woman."

Gritting her teeth, Madelyn acquiesced and let the men guide her out of the medbay. At least she didn't have to steel herself in front of that doctor now. She hadn't liked the way he looked at her at all.

Walking swiftly through the ship's unusually dark corridors, Madelyn could only think of how much she wanted to introduce Marcus to her fist. She knew she probably couldn't bring herself to actually hitting him, but he definitely needed to explain himself. He needed to tell her why he'd kidnapped her and given her to a doctor who wanted to "study" her, and then he needed to explain everything else: his need to start a war with the Klingons, his attempt to destroy the Enterprise, his lies about Khan's identity. Everything was wrong with this. She thought she'd known him better, but maybe her grandfather's outbursts hadn't been without reason. Had Marcus known what she was the whole time, and only now decided she could be "useful" to his scientists?

When they stepped onto the bridge, the first thing Madelyn saw was Carol's hand connecting with her father's face before he caught it in his fist.

"I am ashamed to be your daughter," she declared before she was yanked away by a security officer. Madelyn felt strangely satisfied by Marcus' indignant expression and hoped his cheek still stung.

"Sir, we just had a hangar door open on deck thirteen."

Marcus' frown deepened, and Madelyn swore she heard him mutter "Khan." She didn't have time to process why when he crossed the room and made straight for her.

"What are you doing here?" he muttered.

She pressed her face as close to him as she dared. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm doing what's best for Starfleet, for all of us," he replied, glaring down at her. "Your involvement with Khan created a potential risk I couldn't afford to ignore."

"That doesn't give you the right to hold me like your prisoner—"

"You and people like you are the reason the Federation banned genetic engineering centuries ago. There's a war coming and I wasn't just gonna sit around and wait for it to happen. I got what I needed from Khan, and now it's time I finished this. You were just one more risk."

Madelyn's stomach churned. "What about my grandfather? He paid for this ship! Was he just another risk?"

"I didn't have anything to do with his death, Ms. McGivers. If anything, I'd blame Khan. I don't think it was a coincidence he met you the same day William died. Sure seemed to win you over to the idea of letting him into your bed."

Madelyn's rage was boiling over now. She struggled against the hands holding her back, wanting to do anything to make Marcus pay for that accusation. Khan might have been a homicidal egomaniac, but he would never kill one of his own. She couldn't believe that.

Marcus turned away from her and settled into the captain's seat as his crew announced that the ship's power had come back online. "Retarget the Enterprise now," he ordered.

Panic overcame her. He was really going to do this. Marcus was really going to kill them. Her escort dragged her backwards to join Carol, who was hopelessly watching everything from the side. Madelyn brushed her elbow against her friend's arm.

"I'm sorry, Carol," she murmured.

Carol squeezed her arm. "So am I."

Then the door of the bridge hissed open and the room exploded in blasts of light.

Ugh, so I feel like a lot of this chapter was just filler, but I guess it was necessary filler. I just don't particularly enjoy writing scenes straight from the film.

Please review! I love hearing from you guys as always! Thanks for reading xoxo