"Fusion at 70%...83%...90%...99%...fusion complete! Project Ryke is good to go!"
Iris felt like she was trapped in a cage. Her senses were different, she could feel how many people there are in the room by their shuffling and their breathing. Stranger still, instead of the normal warmth her body felt like it had just been out of a freezer.
"Dr Ryke, are you sure that the fusion was successful? She doesn't seem to be moving." The familiar voice of Admiral Marcus sounded exceptionally loud.
Around 15 metres away, her brain supplied for her. She frowned inwardly, how the hell do I know that?
"Captain Kirk can you hear me?"
Suddenly her vision began to clear and she pushed herself effortlessly off the bed that she had been lying on. There were many science and medical officers about the room with some security officers littered about, all staring at her in unnerving fascination. Iris glanced down to inspect herself and shrieked, making everyone jump.
There was a hole in her chest that was quickly healing up at an unnatural speed but she caught sight of something else wrong with her. In the place where her heart used to be was a tiny metal device that worked at pulsing the blood in and out.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" She screamed at the admiral.
"I saved you. Using Khan's augment cells we were able to regenerate the damaged limbs and organs though it was surprising that you were still alive. But you were shot again by one of the Klingons to ensure your death. In the state you were in you would only survive for hours before you began to deteriorate so we tested a device that had been invented by Dr Ryke here."
"Device?" Her voice was deceivingly soft.
The admiral gestured at Dr Ryke to explain and the timid doctor's voice shook slightly as he began to speak.
"The device is pulse generator and it acts like a heart but sends out pulses of blood instead of the normal contraction and expansion of the human heart. It can also be used as a peace-keeper sending signals for the heart to keep beating. And it can be inserted in any place near the bloodstream."
The doctor paused for a second, glancing at Admiral Marcus for permission to continue and when the admiral nodded his voice began to sound more animated as he talked about Project Ryke.
"We had to do a raw fusion of blood on you as the harm done to you was far greater than we thought. At first you immunity system rejected the blood but then it began to accept it. It is truly remarkable as no one as of yet has been able to fully accept the raw transfusion of an Augment's blood. Then we realised that your heart was not regenerating because of the phaser blast so we tested my invention in our effort to revive you. There was also damage to your chest but nothing artificial skin and augment blood can't heal." The doctor finished looking at Iris to gouge her reaction but her face, although a few shades paler remained stoic.
"You now have the enhancements of an Augment making you the perfect soldier. I have use for people like you. People who excel at everything they've been given and are able to do whatever is necessary when necessary, a trait which seems to run in your family. Perhaps we should start with your brother next."
"Don't you dare drag my brother into this!"
"Or what, what will you do? You see there is nothing you can do to stop me." Marcus mocked her.
Iris kept silent, knowing when to hold her tongue. Marcus took it as a sign of submission and signalled to the guards. They cautiously approached her with their blasters drawn. One of them cuffed her before escorting her back to the brig. She tried to sneak a peek at the mysterious man in the cell next to hers but the guard just shoved her into her cell. When the guards finally left she heard the familiar voice of the occupant next door.
"What did they do?" Khan asked, worried about what Marcus would have done.
"They made me...oh god…" The prisoner's voice shook slightly. "Don't, just don't ask. Just…tell me more about yourself."
"I am an Augment, genetically enhanced both physically and mentally to help humans find peace at a time of war, my crew of 72 Augments were the last of our kind who escaped abroad the SS Botany Bay centuries ago as war criminals, even after our efforts to stop it. We entered cryogenically induced sleep, wishing for peace that was impossible to achieve at that time but we held on hope that one day when we were awoken that tranquillity would finally come." Khan could feel his rage bubbling in his chest.
"So who woke you up?"
"Marcus," Khan spat the name, "he wants to wage a war with the Klingons and he is using my people as leverage against me to force my compliance."
"You're not the only one." The girl sighed. "He threatened my brother, my only family left. Looks like Marcus got the two of us right where he wants us."
"Not for long." Khan's voice held a promise of violence.
"So what's your favourite fruit?" The girl asked deciding to change the subject.
"Apples." Khan answered.
The girl behind the glass giggled causing him to smile a little as well.
"Well if I ever find a planet that grows apples I'll send you and your people there. It's a promise."
"Promise me something else." Khan said, looking at the shadow of the girl on the other side.
"What?"
"Live. Do not give up your life for nothing, it would be meaningless. If you should die then at least you can say that you have truly lived and had not given up until the very end."
Tears blurred Iris' vision as she tried to keep the swarm of emotions in-check. This man which she had only spoken to twice had said the words that had moved her. She sensed movement from the other side of the glass and saw Khan's shadow placing a hand on the glass. She stood as well mirroring him and placing her hand where his was.
"I promise." She whispered, leaning her head on the glass and letting the tears fall silently.
Iris didn't know when she fell asleep until she was swept into the world of nightmares. She was back in Qo'noS again, the smell of smoke and sight of burning bodies lying around her made her head spin and bile rise. From the far corner of her vision she saw a Klingon ship land onto the abandoned place. Thunder boomed from above and lightning struck illuminating the faces of the approaching Klingons. But suddenly their faces disappeared and all Iris could see was an unnatural glowing beam of a phaser. She felt the pain radiating from her chest racing up and down her nerves until they all went numb. She heard her parents' last conversation together. She remembered how her father's voice shook as he made Iris, who was only six at the time, promise to look after her family. Then there was her mother's voice on her death bed making Iris promise yet again to look after the last of her family, James 'Jim' Kirk.