Since I took so long to update, I decided to give you guys another chapter tonight. Hope this makes up for it some.
I've also I may have decided a few chapters ago (and maybe you've noticed….) to make this thing into an "enemies to lovers" thing without the smut. Sorry, not my thing. :(
I'll try to add in the Enterprise crew soon. Why not? I love Spock and Kirk's friendship and their relationship to Khan. It's definitely be fun to play with. :) *evil laugh*
Chapter 9
She looks different when she sleeps.
She looks calm.
Content.
Beautiful.
The pale red firelight strokes her cheeks and gently touches her long eyelashes. She sleeps curls into a ball shivering slightly from cold. Khan slowly slips out of his coat and puts it on top of her like a blanket, all the while resisting the urge to touch her cheek.
She was so…different from what he had expected. She was quiet and intelligent and had a temper that could rival his own. Like him, she cared deeply for her family and would stop at nothing—nothing—to protect it.
Unlike him, she had a heart.
And a conscious.
There were certain barriers she would not break, certain lines in which she refused to cross. Yet, that was no problem for him. He had no problem killing for what he desired; the crew of the Enterprise would attest to that. Where she faltered, he thrived.
Yes, he smiles coldly, they were quite the pair.
She shifts in her sleep and moves her arm under her head to serve as a pillow. Khan watches the movement intently before leaning against the trunk of a tree and surveying the area. All was quiet and peaceful. An owl hooted a few branches above him and bats swooped in close to snap up the bugs that were attracted to the light of the flames. The grass sways slightly in the cold breeze and Khan watches the field carefully for any sign of danger. Nothing presents itself. He sighs in disappointment before looking at Meira. His mouth curls into a warm smile and he quickly wipes it away.
What was wrong with him?
…
Before heading out, they eat a meager meal of berries of jerky. Warily, they size the other up and Khan waits for her to bolt away from him and race towards a freedom he will never allow her to attain.
But she doesn't.
She keeps her distance and watches him carefully but makes no move to run. Warm satisfaction replaces the blood in Khan's veins and he bites back a smile. Already, she was learning to tolerate him.
"Ready?" She asks him finally.
"Are you?" He purrs and then he walks past her stiffly and doesn't spare her a second glance. A sharp pinecone slaps the back of his head. He spins swiftly on his heels and glares at her. And she was just beginning to make progress.
"Resorting to childish pranks?" he growls, careful to make most of the rage burning his innards inside.
"Hm?" She gives him an innocent look. "What's your problem?"
He inhales deeply and slowly exhales, his fists slowly relaxing at his sides.
"Nothing," He growls and then turns around to presume walking away once more. He hears her footsteps crunch after him and then a slight hesitation. "I am not above breaking bones," He warns and her footsteps increase in speed.
Nothing else is thrown at him.
Progress, indeed.
…
"So, where's your family?" She yawns as they board their train and the doors swish closed behind her. Khan moves carefully ahead and finds them an empty carridge. He sits near the door allowing her to sit by the window.
"They are sleeping indefinitely. I hope to locate them and awaken them from their frozen slumber."
"What?" She gives him a weird look and he shrugs.
"Cryogenics," He answers simply. "It's long story." He looks out at the other passengers, keeping a keen eye for an enemies who may emerge.
"We're going to be on this thing for a few hours. Start talking, pops."
He frowns coldly. 'Pops'. How old did she think he was? Sixty? "And how old are you, exactly?" He fought to make his voice was level and calm.
"Twenty five. You?" She spares him a glance and then focuses her attention to the blurring landscape outside.
"Thirty."
"So, the story?" She raises an eyebrow at him…and he tells her.
He tells her of how Marcus had discovered the Botany Bay awakening him in order to create a war with the Klingons…and how his family had been unknowing hostiges. He tells her of his part in bombing the archives and then the attack on the higher ranking officers in Star Fleet...and then his capture by Captain Kirk and Commander Spock. He tells her how they attempted and failed to infiltrate the USS Vengeance and how they had barely managed to escape with their lives. By the time Khan goes on to describe his trial, Meira is giving him her full attention. With regret and rage burning his throat, he tells her how Marcus had escaped punishment for his crimes, remained in charge of Star Fleet, and still had control of his family.
"How did you escape? From Section 31?" Her green eyes watch him intently and Khan blinks, not allowing himself to be pulled into their depths.
"A man helped me. He gave me food when they starved me, medicine when I was injured…"
He remembered the night well. They had starved him for weeks on end and taken gallons of blood from him every day…but the man had helped when he could. He snuck Khan bread and water and talked to him as if he were a human being rather than an animal. A worm. Khan's blood curdles at the memory and he tastes bile at the back of his throat.
He had opened to the door to Khan's cell and quickly stepped into the room. Fear flew off of him in suffocating waves but the human refused to hesitate. Gently, he helped Khan to sit up. He took Khan's arm and put it over his shoulders and then grabbed the Augment lightly around the waist. Carefully, he stood and started to help Khan out of the cell and into the hallway.
"Where are we going?" Khan groans weakly. "Another test…? More torture…?" His mind spins wildly and he fights the urge to vomit.
"How does freedom sound, buddy? I'm getting you out of here. Come out. We need to move faster. I know you don't feel well, but we have to move. That's it…come on." He urges.
"Why?" Khan gasps. "If this is a trick…" He doesn't have the strength to finish the sentence.
"And what good would it do to trick you if you can't even stand, hm?" The man smirks ruefully. "It's what my people do. Help people. If you want to stay here, I can take you back but…you know. It probably wouldn't end well for you, you know?"
"My family…" White hot pain flashes up Khan's side and he freezes to catch his breath. Usually he recovered faster from his trips to the agony booth. It must be the lack of nourishment, his mind supplies.
"I know. I hid them in your torpedos. Remember? The ones you designed? They're safe—for now. I'm still working on them but I think I can get them out tomorrow. This is as far as I can go. Just keep going forward, you'll see an open pod. It's already set on autopilot. Just get in, eat, and get some rest, okay? I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you, but it was the best I could do."
"You name?" Khan pants and leans weakly against the wall. His head is still spinning…but it seems to be slowing down some. "What is your name?" He narrows his eyes to better look at the man: tall, white skin, green eyes, some face stubble.
"David Stone. Now go."
"And you?" Khan asks.
The man shrugs and gives him a sad smile: "why ask a question when you already know its answer, Mr. Singh?"
A deep sadness fills the Augment at that moment. They would find out that Mr. Stone had been the one to save him from this nightmare and they would end his life just as easily as blowing out a candle. Chances are, the fallout may even spill out to the man's family…his wife…any children they may have together. Marcus was nothing if not cruel and savage. He would seek to make an example out of Mr. Stone to discourage such bouts of bravery and kindness in the future.
"Thank you." Khan whispers and then he's pulling the man close, a single tear escaping his eye. He turns slowly and then leaves.
"Good luck," The man whispers after him and Khan can feel him watching him even as he disappears from sight. He collapses into the pod and manages to crawl into the cot. The pod lifts itself outside the base just as the alarms go off and phaser blasts fly through the air.
They had already caught his deliverer.
Good luck. The words follow him into his dreams as he's rocked to sleep by the pods gentle swaying.
Good luck…
…
"Hello?" Meira snaps her fingers, bringing him back to the present.
"Excuse me?"
"I was asking how you escaped."
"Inside help." Khan answers simply before looking back outside the carridge to analyze the other passengers…and avoid her gaze. "I am a man with connections…"
He had never found out what had happened to David Stone…at least, until he had seen the picture of Meira and her family. David Stone had been her father. Her family had been destroyed in order to protect Khan's. He hides his sorrow. Now, more than ever, he was determined to save Meira's little sister.