I'm finally back. A big Thank You to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed this story. I am humbled that after not posting anything new in months that people are still interested. As we all know life must go on even if all you want to do is write. Just a little side note most of this chapter was written while on a plane to and from New Zealand, I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance.

The characters and worlds belong to their creators and owners. I do own Charlie Archer.

Please Read and Review, it gives me encouragement to write faster.

Previously on:

Charlie was double checking 'Harrison's' bonds when she felt someone watching her. She calmly finished checking the last lock and slowly raised her eyes to find a pair of piercing blue eyes staring back at her only inches from her face.

Khan POV

Khan stared down at the top of the head of the only woman who had managed to incapacitate him twice. He should have known that she would slip her leash to come hunt him down. She gave a final tug on his restraints before looking up. When she found him staring back at her, she simply raised an elegant eyebrow seeming undisturbed by the fact that he was invading her personal space. She slowly stood and then moved off to secure herself in the jump seat next to the shuttle door as if she hadn't just been in a war zone.

He studied her face and body language trying to get a sense of her mind set. He believed without a doubt the Commander Charlotte Archer was the closet humanity had come to producing one such as himself without artificial means. She could be dangerous and was brilliant in her own right, a potential threat to any and all of his plans.

Khan remembered the first time he had seen the petite female human, he knew from there first meeting there was something different about her.

Flashback

He had been in the gym for over ten hours due to the fact that Marcus and his pack of blood sucking scientists had wanted to test his endurance, speed, and power. They had just finished the last test and he had been looking forward to returning to his heavily guarded room and getting away from the idiocy that seemed to hang in the air around the humans, when she walked into the gym.

He watched her scan her surroundings looking for threats and weaknesses of those in the room.

She locked eyes with Marcus and he saw the brief flash of distrust and something else cross her face before it was gone. Finally, her eyes settled on him and he felt his instincts kick in as if they had recognized a potential threat. He eyed her evaluating the level of danger she posed to him. Short, petite but he could see the toned muscles flex under her tight fitting workout gear.

She seemed to freeze slightly, he watched as her eyes travelled up and down his body obviously doing her own evaluation. She finally gave him the tiniest nod in acknowledgement of one predator to another. He felt himself return the nod, not fully understanding why he would acknowledge a lesser being. With that he was moved back to his room and left to think.

He was aware that Marcus had taken an interest in their interaction but he didn't really care. He was still trying to analyze the mysterious woman.

He wouldn't see her again until two days later. This time he was in the lab that Marcus had so generously provided for him. He was ignoring everyone else in the room, meaning the two security guards meant to protect the two scientists Marcus had insisted teach him the technology and science that he had missed in his 300 years of dreamless cryosleep. Within the first two minutes of the lecture Khan had already determined the two 'supposed' brilliant minds were a waste of space and time. Twenty four hours later he had devoured the material and had already begun designing superior warp engines to those which had been in use.

It was taking most of his concentration to design and ignore the droning on of the two dancing monkeys Marcus had left him with. He was so focused that he almost missed her entrance into the room.

The monkeys paused in their song and dance unsure of her presence; he suppressed a sigh of relief at the silence he had been granted in hours.

"Is there something we can help you with Commander?" The lead scientist asked.

He watched as she surveyed the room before nodding and replying, "Yes, you can get out."

"Excuse me?"

"You are somewhat intelligent men, surely five simple words couldn't have possibly confused you."

Khan had watched in amusement as the lead scientist, a short bald little man, work himself into a fit and his face turn what could only be described as a deep shade of purple.

"Now see here Commander, we are here at the request of Admiral Marcus to educate this cave man."

He was cut short by the Commander's snort.

The man huffed, "Is there something funny about what I said Commander?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact there is, this cave man as you call him is at least twice as intelligent as you on a bad day and could snap you neck with a small twitch of his fingers. Oh and one more thing, he was the tyrannical leader of the world before his exile. So let's not insult the superior human in the room shall we."

He watched the color drain out of the scientists' faces as they finally seemed to comprehend that they had been treating him like a old dumb dog when they should have been afraid that the cunning wolf would get bored with his prey and finally put them out of their misery.

The two men scrambled to gather their things stumbling over each other as they rushed out the door without some much as a goodbye.

Khan continued to focus on his work but couldn't keep a small smirk off his face when he heard the Commander mutter under her breath, "rude... idiots."

She didn't approach him right away but instead walked around the room observing everything. She studied the scribbles the scientists had been working on and to his surprise corrected several of the equations. Only when he had finished and set aside the complex equation and design he had been focused on did the Commander come and introduce herself.

"Commander Charlie Archer," the confident human stared him straight in the eyes as she held out her hand in formal greeting.

He almost ignored her but something in the way she had presented herself respectfully and waited until he was done with his work forced him to acknowledge her presence. He simply gave her a nod and went onto the next task.

"Admiral Marcus has assigned me to be the liaison between you and well... everyone else."

"And why would I want or need a liaison?"

The Commander didn't seem to be put off by his behavior or the sharpness of his question; in fact she seemed to relax under his scrutiny. She gently moved aside some rough designs and a pile of PADDs from a chair and sat facing him as if it was just a friendly chat between acquaintances.

"Well, personally I think you scare the shit out of everyone including Marcus, but we'll just keep that little tidbit between ourselves. Officially, I would be the next smartest in the room if we were comparing genius levels, so Marcus thought it would be a good idea to have someone supervise you and actually know what you are doing. Also no one else could be ordered, bribed, threatened, or blackmailed into being within ten feet of you for some reason."

Khan blinked having not anticipated her rather blunt answer but found her honesty refreshing.

"And do I as you so eloquently put it 'scare the shit out of you'?"

"Yes."

Again Khan was surprised at her level of honest, he come tell that even though she appeared to be relaxed she was still on alert, scanning the room and watching his every movement.

"You were born genetically superior to any human alive 300 years ago and that hasn't changed. You could kill me and be out the door faster than those monitoring us could alert security to the problem. You, Mr. Singh, are a superior being at almost everything."

Khan was intrigued, "And what do I fail at doing?"

Again the Commander looked him straight in the eyes, "Being human."

That was the beginning of the interesting relationship between Khan and his new found shadow and keeper.

Charlie POV

Khan didn't move or blink as Charlie put some space between them. He seemed to study her and her reaction. His stillness had always unsettled her slightly. She was trained to be silent and still, but Khan was at a whole new level when he could sit and stare at the same point for hours.

Charlie cleared her throat which was sore and achy from her tangle with the massive Klingon commander. This seemed to break Khan's concentration and he finally blinked.

"I didn't think Marcus would let one his favorite pets slip its leash."

Charlie just grinned; she knew he was trying to get a rise out of her by suggesting she was under Marcus' thumb. But they both knew Marcus didn't hold leverage over her like he did Khan. Instead of rising to the bait she just shrugged her shoulders and responded, "Well, I just followed your example and you know how persuasive I can be."

Khan's lips twitched no doubt remembering the incident where she managed to manipulate Marcus into agreeing to her plans before he realized to late what he had agreed too. By the time in dawned on Marcus what Archer had done the project was too far along to terminate without substantial fallout and humiliation to him.

Uhura called out from the cockpit, "We're two minutes out."

It had been smooth sailing once they had left the battle site but Charlie wouldn't relax until her prisoner was safely locked in the brig and the Enterprise was moving under its own power in the opposite direction of Kronos.

Charlie was the first one out of her seat when the shuttle had landed, she quickly released the chains holding Khan's binds and let him stand. She indicated he should disembark first and followed him out of the shuttle and into the waiting arms of six well armed security personnel.

"Take him to the brig."

The security surrounded Khan and began the journey through the bowels of the ship. Charlie went to follow but was stopped by Kirk.

"Archer have Bones look at that head, you look like you took a beating."

Charlie knew that arguing would very little good and the faster she saw the doc the faster she could question Khan.

"Oh and Archer tell Bones we need him in the Brig when he is done patching you up."

Charlie just gave a wave of acknowledgement over her shoulder as she made her way to a transporter.

"What the hell happened to you Commander? You look like shit."

Charlie just rolled her eyes at the first words out of the good doctor's mouth.

"Well let's see, there was the space battle between us and the Klingons, then the hand to hand combat with said Klingons, and finally dragging an unconscious prisoner back to the shuttle. Yup, I think that covers everything."

Bones just opened and closed his mouth a few times as if he didn't know what to say. Finally he just pointed to one of the beds. Charlie noticed a clean Starfleet uniform folded neatly at the end of the bed as she jumped up. Bones noticed her distraction as he picked up a scanner.

"Uhura called and mentioned something about you needing a change of clothes, now I can see why. Wasn't sure which uniform you would wear so the black will have to do."

It was only when Bones mentioned her clothes that Charlie realized the state she was in. Her hair had come free from its tight bun at the back of her head and falling in her face, the pants were ripped at the knees, the jacket had singe marks, and she was covered head to toe in dirt.

"A change of clothes might be a good idea." Charlie moved to get off the bed and hopefully quickly shower and change but a firm hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Good god woman, don't you know how to duck?"

Bones had finally finished his scan

"You see the other guy."

Charlie winced as Bones poked and prodded at her injures, finally ending the torture by shining a light into her eyes, no doubt checking for a concussion. Bones just sighed and muttered something Charlie didn't quite catch under his breath.

"There all patched up, I would like to keep you under observation but I have a feeling I should just save myself some stress and misery and just release you," Bones just rolled his eyes and Charlie got the impression that he had learned the hard way by dealing with a certain starship Captain, "I know this will go in one ear and right out the other, but please try not to get into any life or death situations within the next 36 hours."

If it had been any other doctor Charlie would have told him to shove it. But she could tell that Bones, under the rough and sarcastic exterior, really did care about her and her well being. Charlie hopped off the bio-bed, "I'll try my best, Doc, but no promises."

Charlie made her way to the exit not wanting to spend any more time than necessary in torture room better known as sickbay. She was half way out the door when remembered Kirk's order.

"Hey Doc?"

Bones looked up from his task and raised one eyebrow, strongly reminding Charlie of a half-Vulcan Commander.

"You up for a field trip?"

Bones sighed and started collecting the equipment he thought he would need.

Charlie followed Bones as he seamlessly navigated his way through the never ending maze of look-a-like corridors. As the pair rounded the final corner they found Kirk and Spock waiting for them.

"Bones, glad you could join us."

"Jesus Jim, the Commander has been on board less then 24 hours and she already looks worst than you after that incident with the twins and ..."

Kirk quickly cut off the doctor, "Ah, come on Bones she's tough, managed to take out a Klingon three times her size with just her bare hands."

Charlie kept her face blank as all three men turned to look at her, Bones with a look of disbelief, Spock with his usual raised eyebrow, and Kirk looking expectantly for an explanation. She had really hoped that everyone else had been occupied with fighting for their lives and hadn't seen her level of skill. Having your enemy or even your allies underestimate you is sometimes what saves you by the skin of your teeth.

Charlie just shrugged, "He wasn't as tough as he looked."

Bones' eyebrows seemed to disappear into his hair, Spock's face didn't change and Charlie wondered if a his face had ever gotten stuck that way, and Kirk's face told her that he didn't believe anything she just said but he seemed to let it go and started moving down the hall toward the brig.

"Why did he surrender?" Bones asked as he moved to keep up with Kirk. It was the questioned that had weighed on Charlie's mind since they had left Kronos.

Kirk answered, "I don't know, but he took out an entire squad of Klingons single handedly and I want to know how."

"Sounds like we have a Superman on board."

Kirk quickly glanced at Bones, "You tell me."

'If you only knew how close you were to the truth, Bones.' Charlie thought as the group entered the control room of the brig. There were three cells but only one was occupied. The black uniform the prisoner had changed into stood out against the harsh white light of the walls. Charlie had purposely remained at the back of the little group so she could observe the interactions.

The three men walked confidently up to the clear wall that made up one side of the cell. Kirk and Spock stood back as Bones opened a portal.

"Put your arm through the hole, I'm gonna take a blood sample."

Khan didn't moved except for a subtle shift to stare at Charlie over the doctor's shoulder. Charlie knew he was testing them, trying to figure out how the interactions and relationships worked and how to manipulate them to his advantage. So she stared straight back at the caged predator and didn't give anything away. The less he knew about the group dynamic and her role in all this the better chance she had of getting everyone out alive including Khan himself.

Finally, Khan stepped down and rolled up his sleeve, placing his arm through the hole. He didn't even flinch when Bones applied the needle. Not Charlie expected him to after all the medical tests Marcus had forced him to go through, she wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even feel the slight sting anymore.

"Why aren't we moving Captain?"

Charlie silently cursed at Khan's need to antagonize his captures.

"An unexpected malfunction, perhaps in your warp core. Conveniently stranding you on the edge of Klingon space."

Charlie watched as Bones' shoulders went tense and hoped he wouldn't fall for Khan's attempts to gain information.

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Bones." Kirk's quiet reprimand was enough for the doctor to remember who he was talking to, but the damage was already done. Khan had all the conformation he needed. Charlie watched as Khan quickly flicked his eyes over to her, showing her he had won this round of their little game.

"I think you'll find my insight valuable, Captain."

Kirk ignored Khan and focused on Bones and the blood sample.

"We good?"

At Bones' nod, the three men moved away from the cell. "Let me know what you find."

"Ignore me and you will get everyone on this ship killed."

Charlie had turned to follow the men and watched a Kirk froze in the middle of the control room, she just hoped he wouldn't take the bait. Spock seemed to know what Kirk's reaction would be and was trying to logically explain why Kirk needed to ignore the prisoner.

"Captain, I believe he will only attempt to manipulate you. I would not recommend engaging the prisoner further..."

Charlie watched as Kirk's temper got the best of him and moved closer to prevent him from doing something stupid.

"Give me a minute."

Spock hesitated for a split second before obeying his Captain's wishes and moving off to stand on the other side of the room. Kirk took a breath to calm himself and turned to confront the man who murdered countless innocents and most importantly his friend and mentor. Charlie gave the stoic half-Vulcan a subtle nod and followed Kirk stopping a few feet behind him, after all Kirk had only ordered Spock to give him space.

Kirk surprised Charlie at how calm his reaction was but it also put her on edge, ready to jump in before he would do or say something he would regret later or before Khan could provoke him any more.

"Let me explain what's happening here, you are a criminal. I watched you murder innocent men and women. I was authorized to end you, and the only reason why you are still alive, is because I am allowing it. So shut your mouth."

Khan almost seemed bored after Kirk's outburst, "Captain, are you going to punch me again, over and over, until your arm weakens. Clearly you want to, so tell me, why did you allow me to live? "

Charlie watched as the two alpha males went head to head and fought the urge to roll her eyes, if the situation wasn't so dangerous and Khan not superhuman she would have let them duke it out just to get rid of the testosterone in the air.

"We all make mistakes."

"No, I surrendered to you because despite your attempt to convince me otherwise, you seem to have a conscience, Mr. Kirk. If you did not then it would be impossible for me to convince you of the truth…"

Khan glanced quickly at Charlie before continuing, the subtle look not lost on Kirk or Spock.

" 2, 3, 1, 7, 4, 6, 1, 1… coordinates not far from Earth. If you want to know why I did what I did, go and take a look."

If Kirk could have seen Charlie from where he stood, he would have seen her freeze, not moving, not blinking or not even breathing after Harrison gave him the coordinates. Charlie went into lock down mode, wiping everything from her face and reassessing the situation, adding the new clues into her ever evolving theory of how Marcus planned to destroy the universe.

She knew what Marcus was doing at those coordinates, she herself had helped Khan design it, but Marcus was still months away from finishing construction according to the last reports she had seen.

"Give me one reason why I should listen to you."

"I can give you 72 and their on board your ship Captain. They have been all along. I suggest you open one up."

The two men stared each other down for a full minute before Khan broke eye contact. He gave Charlie a nod and went back to staring at the walls. Kirk turned and moved over to where Spock was waiting for him.

Charlie did not move still trying to figure out Marcus' plan and how in the hell Khan knew about it. She hadn't planned following her commanding officers but Kirk's near bark of, "Commander Archer," forced her to follow them.

The three officers barely made it out of the brig before Kirk spun around forcing Charlie to skid to a halt else she run into his chest. Kirk eyed her up and down before demanding, "What the hell was that?"

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