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Chapter Fourteen: Touch the Sky

Charlie had thought she would see her life flash before her eyes. Isn't that what everyone with near-death experiences said happened? Those early, childhood days of freedom and innocence, when the only care on the world was coming home when the streetlights came on and hoping Brussels sprouts weren't on the dinner table. Of adventures by the lake, camping next to a fire, or the travels around the world. Charlie expected to see Kate and Philippa's smiling faces one more time, or maybe her siblings before the world around dissolved into black. She hoped that next would come a beautiful paradise with Jim next her, and only that thought kept the fear from crushing her down. She was as prepared as she thought she was ever going to be.

Instead, none of that happened. As the seconds ticked by, only the feeling of thick arms squeezing her until it was painful and the anxious beating of her heart still wanting to thrive occupied her consciousness.

"Their weapons are powered down, Sir," Sulu announced, his amazement palpable. Charlie raised her head from where she had crushed it to Jim's sternum, her dark, confused eyes catching those of the helmsman. Charlie considered she might have entered that heavenly place beyond the world of the living, it was too improbable to dream that luck was on their side.

"What do you mean they powered down?" she exclaimed, unwilling to embrace false hope. She didn't think Marcus was a cruel, sadistic man, but he'd do anything for the 'protection' of the Federation.

Then a voice that was like music to Charlie's ears blasted across the speakers as she and Jim broke apart.

"Enterprise! Can ya hear me?"

Both Jim and Charlie spun towards the view screen, too surprised to do anything but shout, "SCOTTY!"

"Guess what I found behind Jupiter?" the Scotsman whispered, unable to hide the gleefulness from his tone.

"You're on that ship!" Jim exclaimed.

"Thank the Lord there's a Scotsman onboard!" Charlie added with a laugh as Scotty explained, "I snuck on it, and seeing as I've just committed an act of treason against a Starfleet Admiral, I'd really like to get off this bloody ship! Now beam me out!"

"You're miracle worker!" Jim laughed, his eyes twinkling as he wink at Charlie, her smile wide and toothy and her eyes shining just as bright. There was hope for them after all! "We're . . . we're a little low on power right now! Just standby! Standby!"

"What do you mean 'low on power'?" Scotty snapped and Charlie could picture the look of confusion of his face. "What happened to the Enterprise?" Before Jim had a chance to answer, Scotty said in a rush, "I'll call you back," before his transmission ended with a snap.

"Scotty!" Jim shouted. When there was no reply, Jim nodded to Charlie before he hurried towards the back of the bridge, calling out, "Spock, our ship, how is she?"

"Our options are limited, Captain," the Vulcan answered as she followed Jim onto the platform. "We cannot fire and we cannot flee."

"Is there any power for the transporter, or can we escape in the shuttles?" she tried. They could abandon ship, and as much as the thought sent a rolling wave of nausea through her, their lives were more important.

"We don't have enough power for the transporter and the shuttles would make an easy target for Marcus," Jim said as he flicked his eyes around, thinking. Charlie noticed the moment a light bulb went off in Jim's head, his confident stare snapping to Spock. "There is one option. Uhura, when you get Scotty back, patch him through."

"Yes, sir," Uhura answered, rushing to her station.

"Mr. Spock, you have the conn."

The captain moved across the bridge and into a turbolift, both Charlie and Spock flanking his sides, sharing furtive glances toward each other.

"Why do I have a feeling what's going on in your head is probably a really bad idea?" Charlie pointed out as soon as the doors shut.

"That is because, Ensign, it usually is," Spock agreed.

Jim rolled his eyes. "Works though, doesn't it?"

"Captain, I strongly object," Spock frowned.

"To what? I haven't said anything yet," Jim responded evasively. Charlie knew that tone. She could see the way Jim refused to meet her or Spock's eyes. Whatever plan was going on in that genius head of his, she knew she was not going to like it. Not one little bit.

"Since we cannot take the ship from the outside, the only way we can take it is from within," Spock reasoned, his gaze flicking to Charlie's once in a while to try to pull her into the argument, logically using their relationship to his advantage. "And as a large boarding party would be detected, it is optimum for you take as fewer members of the crew as possible," the doors hissed opened onto a chaotic conglomerate of personnel, Jim speed walking down the corridor with Spock and Charlie trying to keep up. "You will meet resistance, requiring personnel with advanced combat abilities and innate knowledge of that ship. This indicates that you plan to align with Khan, the very man we were sent here to destroy."

Charlie balked at the thought. In no universe would Jim associate with murderer of Pike, not one.

"I'm not aligning with him," Jim growled. "I'm using him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"An Arabic proverb attributed to a prince who was betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects," Spock derided.

"Still, it's a hell of a quote."

"Captain, you can't be serious," Charlie tried, increasing her speed to walk more at Jim's side as they slid around the corner, Jim's intention the sickbay where Khan was still under security's watchful care.

"I will go with you, Captain," Spock announced.

"You won't have to, Spock," Charlie interjected, her hand raised in front of the commander. "I will go."

"No, you won't, Charlie," Jim ordered.

"If you're about to take a leap of faith, seems fitting I go with you," she argued.

"I cannot allow you to do this," Spock tried again, his glare shooting between herself and Jim as he grabbed Jim's shoulder. "Either of you. It is my function aboard this ship to advise you on making the wisest decisions possible, something I firmly believe you are incapable of doing in this moment."

Charlie raised her brows in surprise, having never heard Spock call out Jim in such a fashion before. It seemed to have finally gained the captain's attention because the man stopped and spun on his heel, coming right into Spock's face and forcing Charlie to stumble back against the wall before she was crushed between the two males.

"You're right!" Jim barked, his eyes hardened to blue steel against the Vuclan's argument. "What I'm about to do, it doesn't make any sense, it's not logical, it is a gut feeling!" Jim paused, his stare moving between Charlie and Spock's concern. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I only know what I can do. The Enterprise and her crew needs someone in that chair who knows what he's doing." Jim landed his attention onto the Vulcan, his vulnerability surprising Charlie. "And it's not me. It's you, Spock."

Before either Charlie or Commander Spock could form a coherent thought after the bombshell Jim had laid at their feet, he had stomped away, turning the corner before either of the pair moved.

"I know it's not my place, Commander, but I think it's time you call up the big guns for this," Charlie said, turning to the Vulcan, her mind already contemplating the disaster Jim was walking into. This went beyond her and while she would not compromise her secret, she could at least point Spock in the right direction. They were all still young, without the benefit of years in space the same way the original crew had. Even though the suggestion tasted like sawdust in her mouth, Charlie was backed into a corner.

"I am unsure by what you mean, Ensign," Spock frowned.

"What I'm saying is that there is someone out there who may have had contact with Khan before Marcus," Charlie confided, giving Spock a very poignant stare. "Someone who may be able to answer the questions I know are swirling in your head. You and I both know not to trust Khan, but I think he can give you the reasons I can't."

His head tilted to the side, a subconscious move Charlie attributed to processing all the scenarios she had just given him. "You say 'can't' as if you are unwilling to share."

"I say can't because it's the truth, Commander," Charlie stressed. "I've already gone past what I swore I wouldn't do since I arrived on this ship because you need the help. If this ship and the crew on it are going to survive, you need to talk to him. I can't tell you more because I'm protecting you, the Captain, and the rest of the crew. You're gonna have to have faith in me. That's all I can tell you."

Spock only spent a few more lingering seconds staring into Charlie's pleading dark eyes before he stood taller, clasping his hands behind his back. "Very well, Ensign," he nodded. "I will trust your judgment on this. I had considered contacting New Vulcan, and I believe now may be a more opportune time."

Charlie relaxed. "I know you will find your answers, Spock. You're one hell of a Starfleet officer; I think that's why Jim trusts you as much as he does."

His gaze flicked above her head in the direction Jim had disappeared. With a small nod, Spock brought his dark gaze back to Charlie before he reversed course to head back to the bridge. He hesitated a moment, however, turning back as Charlie moved to follow the captain.

"Ensign," he called, gaining her attention.

"Yes, Sir?"

"We will discuss this further. I understand your hesitation, but it may be prudent you divulge what information you know."

"You may ask whatever you like," Charlie shrugged. "Doesn't mean I will always answer."

Spock considered the thought before dipping his head in response. "We shall see, Ensign." With brisk steps, Spock proceeded to the turbolift for the bridge.

With one problem relatively solved, Charlie spun and chased after Jim, slowing to a strong walk when the movement jarred her injured wrist. She knew Spock was going to have questions. She had a feeling a lot of the crew would once they pieced together her tyraid on the bridge, and she decided that she could give Spock at least a few pieces of her story without the whole pie. Just enough that would satisfy his curiosity without giving much away. She was becoming rather adept at it.

Rounding the corner, Charlie spotted Jim just about to walk through sickbay's doors.

"Captain!" she called as she rushed towards him, Jim spinning in surprise by Charlie's shout.

"Charlie? I thought you had returned to the bridge with Spock," he said, stepping back into the hallway.

"I need to talk to you," she responded.

Jim rolled his eyes. "Not right now, Charlie. I don't have time for this."

"Then make time," she growled, grabbing onto his arm as he turned away from her. "I don't know what your problem with me has been lately, but it's really getting annoying. Whether or not you agree, I'm trying to help you, and all I'm getting is a goddamn brush off. You told me to be open with you, remember? Yet when I do, you're shooting me down as if I don't understand what I'm talking about. I know we are in a hell of a predicament, but this isn't your fault so stop acting like it is."

"Isn't it?" Jim retorted, his brows low and his arms crossing across his broad chest. "I'm the captain and I can't keep my crew safe. I just about had everyone killed, you included, and if I don't get Khan to help me, we all could still die."

"We aren't going to die, Jim. We can't," she affirmed. She knew she was grasping at straws, but her gut told her that they were not going to go down, not yet.

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" Jim challenged. "You said you've been trying to help me, but you've causing more problems than you've fixed. You won't listen to me, you won't obey my orders, and I'm trying to figure out why you're here right now. Did Marcus plant you like those torpedoes?"

Charlie gaped at the captain, taking a purposeful step backwards. "How could you think that? How could you even contemplate the very notion that I would work for a man I despise almost as much as Khan? I'm may be new to this role of Starfleet; I was raised with a different type of military mentality, but that doesn't mean I would align myself with that . . . that . . . man."

Jim stood his ground, his hands moving to his hips, but she watched as a definitive slump came to his shoulders, his elbows sagging and the muscle in his jaw relaxing. "Okay, you're right, that's a stupid accusation and I'm sorry. But I let you come with us because you understand combat better than anyone else on this ship. We're explorers, we were trained for defense strategy, not offensive, but your blatant disregard to my authority will not hold, Charlie. It won't. I will have McCoy sedate you and send you to the brig if you force me too, understand?"

Charlie reeled from his threat, the firm, unforgiving tone and the hard packed glare showed no room for negotiation. With a sudden, paralyzing fear, Khan's words echoed, shinning Jim in a new and terrible light. The hardness he exuded was erringly similar to another man trying to destroy them all.

"I will apologize for disobeying you," she admitted, shaking the thought away. She wouldn't believe it was possible. Not yet. "But I think you will understand asking for forgiveness instead of permission. I did what I felt needed to be done to relieve some pressure off you, and answer a few questions of my own. You are partly right; I did what I did because of Marcus. I knew something was up from his questioning when I was on Earth. The debriefings were not what you told me to expect, and that raised my suspicions. Add in Khan to the mix and well—"

"You needed to stop whatever was happening," Jim said, realization dawning on his face.

"Yes," Charlie nodded. "Cor unum, Jim. I needed to stop Khan before he hurt more of the people I loved. I didn't know about the connection with Marcus until this mission, and it makes the potential so much more terrifying. I'm scared, Jim, and I don't have all the answers, but I do know we can't trust Khan. He's using you to get at Marcus. Who's to say he won't turn on you when given the opportunity?"

"Well maybe it's time we manipulate him for a change."

"Going over there is suicide."

"I know, but what choice do we have?" Jim barked his frustration and anger back to the forefront. "I don't trust him either, but unless you can pull another escape plan out of that military head of yours, we. Have. No. Choice."

Charlie shook her head, her jaw clenching as she grounded her teeth in frustration. There had to be a plan, another idea than what Jim proposed, but every military strategy she could think of involved the ability to move, something the Enterprise could not do.

"Jim, please, I –"

"Drop it, Charlie," he snapped, his hand raised between them. "I'm going with him and that's final."

"I was going to say I want you to be careful," Charlie growled. "Watch your back."

Jim stared at her a moment and turned, ready to enter sickbay when he paused and spun back towards Charlie. "What did you mean by having a bit of foresight?"

Charlie's gaze snapped up, her eyes going wide. "Uhhh when?"

"On the bridge." Jim's brows drew low over his eyes as he took a step closer to her, his head tilting as if seeing Charlie in a new light. "When you said that it wasn't time for us to die because you had foresight of it. How did you?"

"That was just the heat of the moment," she defended, taking a subtle step backwards. She knew she shouldn't have said anything, but in that moment she couldn't stop herself. An icy lace of fear rushed through Charlie's blood at the skeptical glare Jim gave her.

"What are you hiding?"

Charlie thought about dodging around him and going into sickbay. She did need McCoy to look at her swollen wrist, and Jim needed to get moving since they only had one plan going, but she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid him forever. Jim had a stubborn streak, and once he got something in his head, he wouldn't forget it.

Rising her gaze to meet his, Charlie answered, "I'm not hiding anything. I don't know what's going to happen. If I did, do you think we'd be in this situation?"

"No, I suppose not," Jim consented with a sigh, although he continued to shoot suspicious glances toward her. Shaking his head, Jim stood taller, his shoulders arching back as he muttered, "alright, let's get this over with."

Stepping into the medical facility, their eyes were drawn to the stoic man on the biobed. Jim glimpsed at Charlie, a warning in his blue eyes before they headed over to Khan. Jim stepped in front of his eye line, giving Khan no choice but to focus on the captain.

"Tell me everything you know about that ship," Jim ordered. Charlie stepped up to Jim's side, her wrist still cradled against her chest, but all of her attention rested on the augment.

"Dreadnought Class, two times the size, three times the speed. Advanced weaponry, modified for minimal crew. Unlike most Federation vessels, it's built solely for combat." Charlie felt her breath catch in her throat by the sheer magnitude of their opponent. Those spects alone made it an adversary of the Enterprise-D, let alone their little ship.

"I will do everything I can to make you answer for what you did." Jim paused, allowing his threat to permeate the air. With a subtle peek to Charlie, who glared at Khan, he added. "But right now I need your help."

"In exchange for what?" Khan prompted.

"How about I don't send a screwdriver through your skull?" Charlie quipped.

"Ensign," Jim warned, holding his hand up to prevent Charlie's tirade. She snapped her mouth closed, but continued to scowl with all the force in her being. "You said you'd do anything for your crew. I can guarantee their safety."

"Captain," Khan purred, dismissing the idea the minute Jim said it. "You can't even guarantee the safety of your own crew." Khan smirked, his stare shifting to Charlie who, with the maturity of a four-year-old, stuck out her tongue.

"Bones, what are you doing with that tribble?" Jim barked just as movement from her periphery caught Charlie's eye, and she watched as Doctor McCoy held a sample of bright red blood and a puffball.

"The tribble's dead," McCoy answered matter-of-factly, shoving the needle of his syringe into the flesh of the creature in front of him. "I'm injecting Khan's platelets into the deceased tissue of a necrotic host. Khan's cells regenerate like nothing I've ever seen and I wanna know why."

Jim stepped closer to the augment, challenging the man to turn him down. "You coming with me or not?"

"I must say, Kirk," Khan remarked, shifting his gaze from the captain to Charlie. "You can be pretty . . . persuasive."

"Good, then suit up," Jim ordered, turning to the security to have them escort him and the prisoner down to one of airlocks.

"Captain." Charlie grabbed Jim's arm and pulled him away from the augment who had risen from the biobed, straightening his shirt and pants as he waited. "Watch your back, alright? We may have no choice, but remember he'll be using you just like you're using him."

Jim nodded, reaching up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. "Don't worry, I have this under control. Just make sure Spock doesn't break my ship before I get back."

Charlie tried to smile, but the intensity of the situation, and magnitude if Jim should fail kept all humor from her. When they made it to the other side, when both Marcus and Khan would pay for what they did, then Charlie could relax. Until that moment, however, she was faced with anxiety and uncertainty, and no amount of Jim's false bravado could change that.

Releasing her, Jim and Khan exited sickbay, both facing forward as if readying themselves for the fight they were going to face. Before the doors shut, Khan glanced back over his shoulder as they turned, his eye catching Charlie. He dipped his head towards her and was gone, a feeling of uneasiness washing over her like an icy wave from the ocean. She tensed, her hands clenching until pain radiated from her wrist, reminding her part of the reason why she was down there.

"Hey, Doc," she called, gaining McCoy's attention from his stiff and fluffy paperweight. "Think you could do something about this wrist?" She held up the swollen appendage, McCoy shaking his head as he stood and grabbed a tricorder.

"Can't go a day without injuring yourself, can you?"

"I should have a shirt that says I do my own stunts," she joked as he scanned her wrist, applying gentle pressure to different swollen spots. She hissed and tried to jerk her hand away when he hit a particularly tender place.

"Relax," McCoy growled, replacing his tricorder for a handheld device that looked like a wand with a wide tip at the end. "You popped a ligament in your wrist. I'm just going to reset it and strengthen it." The wand made a buzzing sound when he turned it on, a dim light shining from the end. Running the tip up and down her arm, Charlie felt a something deep inside began to move, the feeling not painful but unpleasant. Just when it got to the point of pain, heat surged into her wrist, soothing the sensation away.

"All done," McCoy remarked, placing the wand back into its holder. "See that wasn't so bad, but I'm going to have you wear this," he held up a brace, "it'll help bring the swelling down and keep it in place until the ligament sets."

"Thanks," Charlie said, sliding the brace on and wincing as an intense cooling sensation penetrated her arm.

"Doctor McCoy and Ensign Noland to the Bridge."

"Well, guess that's us, Spitfire," McCoy remarked as he removed his blue gloves and silver overcoat, throwing on his, science shirt and hiking towards the doorway. "Wonder what that green-blooded hob-goblin wants. You comin'?"

Charlie nodded, following the doctor through the ship and onto the bridge. She stumbled as the ship shifted, grabbing onto McCoy for stability. He smirked as he helped her right herself. "Might want to speed up production on that shirt, huh?"

"Bite me," she snapped as McCoy laughed.

As they passed through the double doors, Spock sent an acknowledging dip of his head in their direction. McCoy took up position on the railed, his large hands gripping the bannister in a white knuckle grip while Charlie headed over to Uhura.

"Hey," Charlie greeted. "What's the status right now?"

"They just aligned the ship so that Kirk and Khan have a direct line to the access port," Uhura answered as she fiddled with the controls of her station, her hand moving to push her personal speaker into her ear before adjusting other controls. "Hey, hit that switch right there," she pointed. Charlie stood and flicked a red lever before taking her seat next to the woman. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Charlie responded, only remotely hearing the conversation between Scotty and the captain.

"Ensign Noland," Spock called, spinning his chair toward her.

"Got to go, duty calls," Charlie said rising, Uhura waving distractedly with her attention on the console. "Yes, Commander?"

"Check the field between us and the enemy ship," he ordered, indicating an empty console. "I need to understand what type of hazards the captain may need to navigate through."

"Yes, sir," she nodded, jogging down to the computer. Her fingers were becoming more adept to the movements as she used the scanners across the no-man's-land between the Enterprise and the Vengeance. The picture that began to emerge was rather bleak and Charlie shook her head as she tried to isolate a path. "It's not good, Commander," she called. "I'm reading hundreds of pieces of debris between us and Marcus. Some are minor, but there are few rather large chucks floating out there." She stopped; her hands paused above the screen. She turned to Spock concerned, her lip between her teeth. "It's like a maze, Sir. They're gonna have a hell of a time."

"Great," Charlie heard McCoy sigh.

"Thank you, Ensign. Send the data to Mr. Sulu so he can create a path."

Charlie nodded, and with a few deft finger strokes, Sulu had pulled up the information and was already designing a flight plan. Charlie pushed away from the computer and headed up the step, standing behind Spock and crossing her arms as she considered the monumental task of just getting to the other ship, let alone what has to be done once he's there.

"Captain," Spock said, hitting a button on the hand console on the chair. "Before you launch you should be aware, there is a considerable debris field between our ships."

"Spock, not now," Jim barked. "Scotty, are you good?"

"Well at least it's not just me," charlie remarked dryly.

"It's not easy! Just give me two seconds, alright, ya mad bastard!"

Charlie snorted, quickly covering her mouth as Spock sent her an unamused glare across his shoulder. She was still trying to reign in her amusement, Scotty always being a source of entertainment when McCoy brushed past her and knelt next to the captain's chair.

"Tell me this gonna work," he mumbled.

"I have neither the information nor the confidence to do so, Doctor," Spock replied

McCoy's glare at the Vulcan was almost as amusing as Scotty's earlier comment. "Boy, you're a real comfort," the doctor growled with a light shake of his head as he stood..

"Spock, pull the trigger," ordered Jim, his voice holding a trace of uncertainty. Charlie didn't know if she was able to recognize the slight waver because she was so close with him, but a glance at McCoy's scowling face told her that at least she wasn't alone.

"Yes, Captain." Spock paused a moment, and Charlie could see the first traces of reluctance as his hand stilled above the lock. The hesitation only lasted a moment before the commander said, "Launching activation sequence on three . . . two . . . one."

Then both Kirk and Khan were hurled into space.