Hello everyone, thank you to all those who favored, followed, and read. I am encouraged to see that so many want to know what happens next.
I am trying a new point of view in this chapter, let me know what you think... I may or may not continue alternating POVs.
As always the characters and worlds belong to the creators and owners. I only own Commander Charlie Archer.
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KIRK POV
Kirk fell into step behind his newly reinstated first officer and the female Commander who had just bullied her way onto his ship. He remembered her from the previous night, though the blood and soot was gone. She was a mystery, he had never heard of her and he certainly would have remembered meeting her. Kirk glanced her over: petite, about 5'5" with blond hair tied into a bun at the back of her head. She was a classic beauty with blue eyes, full lips, and an hour glass figure. She walked with confidence, having no trouble keeping up with Spock's longer stride. Oh yes, Jim Kirk would definitely remember if he had ever met the little spit fire.
Kirk had not missed the interaction between the Admiral and the Commander. It was like watching to alpha wolves fighting for dominance, circling each other to see who would show weakness first. The Commander had obviously won the little power struggle, if the near devious smirk that had been on her face was anything to go by. He just wasn't sure what her goal was other than to piss Marcus off and that made him uneasy. He knew little about her or her background, she could prove to be truthful and be an asset in capturing Harrison or she could prove to be a distraction and spy for Marcus, he wouldn't put it past the Admiral, or she could even be working with Harrison.
"What exactly makes you an expert on John Harrison, Commander?"
The Commander slowed down to allow Kirk to catch up with them before she answered.
"I worked with him on various projects and was his partner on several missions. I am probably the closest person you will find that Harrison doesn't consider just an acquaintance or an enemy."
Kirk could tell the Commander was being truthful but she seemed to leave a lot unsaid.
"And which one would he consider Admiral Marcus to be?"
"Enemy."
The Commander didn't even pause to think on the answer, and that both confirmed Kirk's own theory and worried him even more. He knew he had just placed himself and his crew between two men who would tear apart the universe to reach their goal, whatever the means and whatever the cost.
"What is your assessment of Harrison, having worked so closely with him?"
The group came to a stop as the Commander turned to face Kirk, several emotions flashed across her face, before her face went blank.
"John Harrison is probably to most dangerous, intelligent, and ruthless man you'll ever meet and should not under any circumstances be underestimated. Whatever his goal is, he will do anything, destroy anything to achieve it. Captain, you have just painted a bulls-eye on your ship, whether we succeed or fail someone will be coming for us."
Kirk heard and understood the Commander's unspoken warning, never trust you enemy but never trust a man who just ordered you on a potential suicide mission, with a smile on his face. Obviously the Commander thought that Admiral Marcus was just as much of a threat as Harrison. Kirk agreed with the Commander that he didn't trust Marcus but he wouldn't go so far as to believe that Marcus would deliberately sabotage that mission that would bring an enemy of Starfleet to justice.
The Commander had remained silent after her statement, as if she was evaluating Kirk and his reaction. She finally nodded and Kirk got the feeling that he had just passed some test, what the test was he wasn't sure.
The group separated, each officer had duties to tend to before the Enterprise left on its mission.
Kirk paused to watch as the Commander slipped into the crowd and seemed to disappear. He would have to watch her closely, whether she proved to an ally or enemy was unclear only time would tell.
Charlie POV
"What's up Doc?"
Charlie grinned to herself when she heard the Doctor muttering on the other end of the communicator. She shouldn't tease him but after the day she had so far she needed some levity.
"Nothing is up, Charlie. But our patient is currently stable and beginning the recovery process."
Charlie sighed in relief, there had been at least three times the night before where she thought they had lost Pike for good. His heart had stopped twice and he had had a massive seizure, to hear that he had remained stable and was beginning the process of healing was the best news she had heard all day.
"Has he regained consciousness?"
"No, but I wouldn't expect him to between the massive blood loss, his heart stopping, and the drugs, his body has been through hell and has shut down to let itself recover. More good news, I was able to repair some of the damage to his spinal tissue and nerves. Should he make a full recovery he may thank you before court marshaling you for violating the Pri…"
"Yeah, I got it Doc, but he would be alive and kicking, that's the important part."
Charlie could practically hear the Doctor's scowl coming through the communicator. He seeming decided to drop the topic of her looming court marshal and asked for an update of his own.
"Anything new on where Harrison slipped off to?"
The Doctor knew that Harrison was Khan but Charlie was extremely thankful that he knew not to use Khan's real name when they were conversing in public. Especially as she was in a packed transport on her way to her apartment to gather what she would need for the trip.
"Qo'nos." (Kronos)
"Qo'nos? As in the Klingon home world?"
"Yup."
"And how exactly did he manage to get himself there? I've been monitoring the warp signatures coming and going from Earth, there is nothing around the time of the attack."
"He had a portable beaming transmitter. You should have seen that look on Marcus' face when Kirk told him where Harrison was and how he got away."
Charlie chuckled at the memory; Marcus' face would have made her day if it hadn't been the fact she was trying to prevent Kirk and Spock from accepting a suicide mission.
"Beaming device, I didn't think the prototypes were anywhere near ready for trials"
"Yeah, well Harrison must have built a separate one in secret and concealed it from Marcus."
The and me part of the sentence Charlie left unsaid. She knew she had screwed up; she had been meticulous at making sure she knew what Khan was working on and how far it was from completion. She had even sabotaged some of the projects to force delays and setbacks to prevent Marcus from getting his hands of the destructive creations Khan's mind managed to conjure. Khan knew she watched him closely, she hoped he assumed it was at Marcus's bidding not her own mission to trying to prevent Starfleet from gaining technology and weapons that it was not ready for. Khan's creations were meant for war and Charlie did and would do anything in her power to prevent it.
Charlie waited to see how long it would take the Doctor to catch the name she had dropped. She wasn't disappointed as the next words out of the Doctor's mouth were what she expected.
"Charlie what are you planning?"
She grinned; he knew her all too well and was probably imagining the craziest plans and worst possible outcomes. Even if it was a likely suicide mission especially with Marcus looming in the background, Charlie knew she couldn't leave Kirk and the Enterprise to fend for themselves.
"Marcus reassigned me to the Enterprise, to help Kirk track down Harrison."
She could hear a muffled snort come from the Doctor.
"There is no way in hell, Marcus actually willingly reassigned you."
Oh yes, the Doctor knew her very well indeed.
"I may have persuaded him, I am the foremost expert in Harrison after all."
"You just wanted to piss him off."
Charlie had to smother a giggle; she could practically hear the Doctor rolling his eyes at her antics.
"Well that too. It's a win/win situation. Hunt down and stop Harrison, piss off and ruin any and all of Marcus's plans. I say that's all in a day's work."
"Charlie just be careful, whatever Harrison and Marcus have planned for each other, means nothing good the ones caught in the middle."
Charlie let the mirth slip away becoming serious and focused on the mission that lay before her, the chances of actually succeeding were remote. Even if they managed to destroy or even capture Khan, Marcus was still planning something.
"I will Doctor, but I can't let Kirk take the Enterprise on a suicide mission when I can help tip the scales in their favor. This crew is up against two men hell bent on revenge, destruction, and war. They don't even know the true danger they are putting themselves in going after Harrison or trusting Marcus. Both have to be stopped and our best chance is with Kirk and the Enterprise on our side to help."
"Do what you feel you must, but Charlie remember your oaths, you can only do so much before you too become what you are trying so hard to stop."
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