Wow, quite the response! I'm very pleased and honored with the influx of readers lately. I decided to take a break from essays and studying to post this week, mostly out of gratitude. Plus, it's super long.
For those of you who are Sherlock fans, or have previously read my piece Silhouettes, I announced over the weekend that I would be soon publishing a companion piece based around series three, starting on the second episode. It's just in the beginning stages, but you should see a chapter posted within the next month. It won't be too long, less than 10 chapters. I'm very excited for it.
Also coming up, I'll be soon posting a new piece, my first LOTR story, featuring Thranduil or Legolas. I've actually got two in the works, it's just a matter of selecting one to focus on.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
-XXX-
Everything is blackness, occasionally punctuated by a shaft of light and color. A hand runs though my hair every so often, as if to calm me. It only serves to wake me up. I mumble incoherently at the touch, shifting. The hand stills me again.
This is a pattern that continues for what seems like hours until I finally wake properly.
Struggling to sit up, I blink back the white light of an overhead lamp. I'm lying on a bunk in what appears to be the living bay of a small shuttle, the kind used for trips that are out of distance of a transporter or for those who simply don't like being beamed. There are a few bunks, like the kind on old trains, along with a replicator, small table.
The last thing I can remember is coming home with the groceries. It was nice to be back in London, back at the shops I've grown fond of, in the apartment I loved. Far from Starfleet HQ….
"I had unlocked the door, put the bags on the breakfast bar, slipped off my flats and –"
The door at the front of the shuttle slides open. Khan steps through, holding a PADD. I watch him cross through to a panel with flashing lights.
"What the hell am I doing here?" I ask, rubbing my forehead.
"Ah, you're awake," he replies without looking up.
"And you're not a popsicle. Unless this is some kind of dream. Where are we?"
"In the Archadian quadrant."
My memory of space maps is not particularly good, but I can vaguely recall that it's pretty far from Terra. Close enough that the idea of traveling in a shuttle isn't entirely ridiculous. It's relatively uninhabited, with only a few planets that are occupied.
"Why are we in the Archadian quadrant, exactly?"
"I should think that would be obvious." He looks back at me briefly before returning to the panel. "We're leaving the Federation."
I shake my head, sliding my legs off the bunk to better sit up. "Yes, yes, I kind of got that, but I'm a little fuzzy as to why I am here?"
Khan answers evenly. "I wanted you to come with me. Funny, I was under the impression you would be at least a little pleased that I wasn't dead."
"I am indeed," I agree. "Except that's been just a little overshadowed by the fact you've kidnapped me and taken me off-planet. So, overall, I'd say I'm not pleased, you magnificent ass."
He tsks, still not looking up from the panel. "I would not except such low language from a doctor."
I stand, moving to peer over his shoulder. However, I can't read the PADD over the broadness of his shoulder. So I poke the offending shoulder. The muscle beneath feels like granite. It's as though I've never touched him.
"Khan," I say softly. "Seriously. Why am I here?"
Somehow, the softness hits him harder that I'd anticipated, more so than the sarcasm and jabs by far. He rounds on me, PADD discarded to the shuttle's floor as a hand flies up to catch my wrist, yanking my forward until I hit his chest. Blinking up, I am surprised to see a cold-eye Khan gazing down on me.
"Because I wish it," is all he intones before all but tossing me away. I stumble backwards before steadying myself against what might be a very old comm unit. His back to me again, Khan retrieves the PADD.
For a time, I watch him. Between fiddling with the panel and the PADD, I would guess that he's monitoring something. To see his fingers running so easily across the screen catches my throat.
"I taught you how to read that," I say aloud. "Do you remember? On the Union, just a few days after you woke up…I thought you might get bored, so we got you a few books on them. Now I bet you could build one on your own. If you wanted."
His hand pauses on the screen, mid-way through punching in something-or-other code.
"I guess it's just funny," I continue. "How you've picked up everything perfectly. You have adapted so well. I would have never guessed, you know, two years ago when I was sitting across from you in that glorified cell. There are a lot of things I wouldn'tve predicted, actually…."
At this, Khan turns back to me. With some hesitation, he crosses over to me.
"I pride myself on being unpredictable."
"I wasn't just referring to you," I whisper back. "Khan, why did you bring me with you?"
The PADD is set down upon a nearby counter, hands run down from the tops of my shoulders to my hands. "I told you. I wanted you with me." He's entirely serious.
Standing on tiptoe, I make a point to make total eye contact. "You don't have some kind of dastardly scheme? Using me as a bargaining chip, bait for Starfleet, a slave to help you populate whatever planet you decide to crash us upon?"
His lips quirk. "No," he assures me quietly. "None of that."
And then, as if wishing to give me more reassurance, he leans down to kiss me. Caught off guard I fall from the balance my toes have maintained. He catches me without missing a beat, holding me aloft so that our lips still meet. I sigh into the kiss, giving him the chance to coax open my mouth with his tongue. When it seems as though I'm melting as a result of jelly legs – it's been a long time indeed since anyone has kissed me like this – I am swept up and placed on the nearby counter. Khan pushes aside the PADD and various tools that litter its surface, then positions himself between my open knees. I draw him in closer by locking my legs 'round his waist. The lips tease along my jaw before turning back fervently to my mouth. Hands seem to surround me – running up and down my spine, the length of my sides, tracing my thighs, slipping beneath the hem of my skirt to spread across my stomach, skimming the curve of my breasts, twisting in to my hair. He is utterly intoxicating. I want to sink into him, feel him in my very bones, moving into every inch of me.
These feelings swell into me with such swiftness I am nearly breathless - though that might simply be a result of the kissing.
My hands have planted themselves on either side of his face, framing his cheeks, and move softly up and down of their own accord. One goes to tangle in his dark hair, mussing him up deliciously. When my fingers trail down his neck, hitting a sensitive area, the Augment releases a nearly feral sound from the back of his throat before he bites my lower lips.
At some point our energy fades, causing our kisses to linger until we're simply left holding one another, breathing matched. Finally, Khan pulls away, though one hand remains against my cheek.
"We'll be descending soon. I suggest you prepare yourself for a more rugged terrain." He nods to trunk beneath the bunk I'd woken up on. "We'll be going onto the surface of Cylfax VI soon. It's a deciduous forest in high summer."
At the moment I am in the military-style green coat I usually wore in the autumn, a grey woolen scarf, a pair of brown leggings, flat slippers, socks, and a loose silken blouse under which I wear a camisole. Hardly attire appropriate for a planet in a summer season.
In the trunk I find boots – men's, a hair too big – and a blue medic's tunic. I belt the tunic with a bit of cord I find also in the trunk, cord I also use to tie back my hair.
As I lace up the boots, I note Khan's feet at the edge of my vision. He waits patiently for me to finish tying. When I straighten, he offers a small object. A small, sheathed knife. I pull it out to examine it. Nearly a dagger, with it's double-sided blade and viciously diamond point. The blade is engraved with flowers and vines, the handle wrapped with worn leather. At the base is a rounded nob, set with a polished green stone. I accept it, confused.
"What's this for?"
"Protection," he says shortly. "Keep it with you. It won't do much against a phaser –" He indicates the weapon on his belt. " – but it could do you some good. Wouldn't hurt, either, for you to be a little less than defenseless."
It is doubtful that he found it in the shuttle's small weapon supply. Tracing the engravings, I ask, "Where did you get it?"
Khan's hand closes around mine, replacing the dagger back in its sheath. "It is mine. A gift, from one of the cities we occupied."
I am overwhelmed. It must be quite old. Thanking him, I attach it to my belt.
"Are you ready?"
"No." I think.
-XXX-
Once we've landed, I pack the remainders of my clothes in the pack Khan hands me, not knowing if I should need them again, nor how far we are traveling. Outside of the shuttle, all is quiet. The forest clearing we have landed in is surrounded by high trees. Between the tall trunks, I can see mountains, with rocky bluffs below. Khan points. "We're going there."
"Why not stay in the shuttle?" I suggest. "It would save us the time it would take to find a shelter."
"Because the shuttle's power will not last us forever, even with solar panels."
"Forever?" The thought sinks in my stomach.
He ignores me. "We would be better off establishing a camp now. Besides, while I have removed all tracking devices from the craft, I would prefer that we are some distances from it. Just in case. Come. My scan of the planet has told me that the base of the mountain would be a fine place to build a prosperous society."
Setting off, we exit the clearing, descending down into a valley. The forest floor bears a thick carpet of leaves, making our walk plenty loud. Khan has assured me that the planet is uninhabited, but nevertheless I nervously (or perhaps hopefully) scan the trees around us. We encounter no one over the two hours it takes us to travel from the clearing to the bluff.
The highlight of the journey was the river. While not too deep, it was wide and fast, and the biggest obstacle between ourselves and the destination. I hung back as Khan observed the water.
"The bags are waterproof," he informs me. "The supplies will be fine."
"Goody," I murmur under my breath. His lips twitch.
"Walk slowly, with caution. The current is swift. You could easily be swept downstream."
His warning does little to inspire any sense of security in me.
"I'll do my best," I say wearily. "Shall we?"
Khan goes first, leading the way. The water goes halfway up his chest at the deepest point and just below my shoulders on me. Icy cold, it is only a brief relief from the heat of the day – until my limbs begin to freeze. Unsteady, I forded slowly while trying to balance on the slippery rocks below that make up the bed. My numb appendages do not aid in this task, and before we're halfway across I have stumbled several times. The fourth time is the charm and a fall below the water.
My body screams from cold. A loud rushing enters my ears. I open my mouth to scream, only to find it quickly flooded with bitter river water. All of me is pushed back, back, back -
Until a rough hand yanks me from the water's depth. I am hauled up, lifted, pressed against my kidnapper's chest, and carried the remainder of the way before I am dumped unceremoniously on the muddy shore. I scramble for the grassy patches nearby, falling to my knees, crouched with my hands flat to the ground. For several moments I hack out my lungs, producing slimy mouthfuls of river water.
When I am recovered enough to sit back, Khan is beside me, observing with a curl of disgust on his lips.
"I told you to go slowly."
For a beat I stare, breathing heavily. Then, I burst. "Yes, but you didn't add that the water was going to be deep and freezing and the bottom slippery and that we'd have to walk several miles in the heat or that you were going to take me from my home just because you wanted company on your little escape! You didn't tell me any of those things, Khan!"
Calmly, he regards me. "You would have protested. And frankly, I did not care."
"Of course I would have protested! What the hell were you thinking? Why are we here? Why am I here?" I rise, pushing on his chest with both hands. He doesn't budge. Figures. "You can't just do this! You've got absolutely no right –"
"Ah, but I did. The sooner you come to terms with your situation, the better off we'll both be," he cuts off harshly, turning away. Storming forward, he snatches up both of our packs and charges into the woods. I follow on quick feet, catching up easily and keeping pace. Rage is a surprisingly great motivator when it comes to physical challenges for me. "Accepting your fate will make things easier for everyone."
"I don't plan on doing that anytime soon," I answer coldly. "If anything, I'll be fighting you every damn step of the way."
He throws his head back, laughing. "And what would that accomplish?"
By now we're reached a large clearly. With the river at our back, most of the area is caged in by trees, though the Northern side is a rise of stone, creating an overhang. Khan crosses the field for the shelter with me hot on his heels.
"Eventually you're going to slip up. At some point I'll have an opportunity."
"To do what, Alya? Finish drowning yourself in the river? Fall off one of these bluffs? Accomplish dying in some dramatic and stupid manner?" He's still amused, smirking at me. I wish to slap the expression off of his face.
"Starfleet is looking for me," I say quickly. "Or they will be soon. My parents will notice I'm missing. Lots of people will. And they'll tell Starfleet. And Starfleet will connect the dots –"
"Don't be so sure," he interjects flatly.
"—and they'll come for us."
"And if they don't?" He's turned away again, disinterestly unpacking the bags.
Fiercely, I back away. "I'm getting out of here. Somehow. Even if I have to hail down passing freight ships from the top of one of those bloody mountains. An opportunity will arise."
"Will it? And what shall you do when the chance comes to you?" Khan now faces me, looming. "You would go? Betray me?"
"I could leave," I counter boldly. "I could go, run. I will."
"Do you not think there is a place I could not find you?" he utters lowly, a hiss colouring is tone. The Augment surges forward, pushing me against the stone wall behind me. His face is inches from mine. "Do you think I would not search until you were found? There is nowhere in this galaxy or the next you could hide, Alya. And if you even attempted to do so, any person standing between me and finding you would be obliterated for the mere association. Is that blood you would care to see on your hands?"
I shudder away from him, but my wrists are grasped, and I am only pulled closer. Hands go to either side of my head, iron grip forcing me to look up. Long fingers sink into my hair, pressing harshly into my scalp.
"I would hunt you," he promises. "I would hunt you out, destroying everything in my path until you had not choice but to run to me. The world would burn around us until you revealed where you hid, because I know your heart, Alya Nejem. And I know that to see any suffering for your account would tear you apart inside."
"Because I am compassionate," I whisper. His eyes are crystals, impassive, solid.
"Because you are weak," he replies. "And so very human." With that, he turns swiftly and disappears into the brushy overgrowth of the forest, leaving me alone for the first time since he had taken me.
-XXX-
In response, I run to the river we'd crossed on our way here, running out my frustration until hit the water's edge. Once at the shore, I sink to my knees and cry my heart out. I cry until I am exhausted, then I pull my legs up to my chest. Falling into a half-doze, I sit for nearly an hour before I rouse, leaning forward to peer at myself in the murky water.
The water isn't exactly clean, nor is it clear, but I can make out my reflection well enough. My puffy red eyes stand out nicely against my pale face. I wince. The only thing that looks normal, beautiful, is my hair – long, thick, dark. I run my fingers through it, combing out the tangles it had amassed over the last two days - assuming it has truly been two days – a familiar, comforting motion.
Something about the way I look strikes me. Not any egocentric notions, but rather, a harder feeling. The memory of Khan's fingers, twined in my hair. How, when I had been fearful of him I allowed it to fall before my face, The way the collection of long, wavy strands fell as a veil around me….I hide in my hair.
Without doing so of my own thoughtful volition, my hand goes to the dagger on my belt, fingertips caressing the green stone inset in the hilt thoughtfully. That is, until I decide that an action such as the one I am considering requires no thought. I unsheathe the blade, hold the front lock I'd been unconsciously twisting taut, then slice though the strands.
I hold the resulting lock aloft, marveling at it. Overall, it's a quite messy job. A little uneven, jagged, but I feel satisfied.
The brown-black curl falls to the mud below. Then another. And another. And many more, until the hair left on my head reaches just at my ear lobes, flipping outward, almost spiky in its appearance. I stare into the water with wide eyes, soaking in my new appearance. The new me.
I collect the strands, tying them back with a length of the cord I'd attached to my belt. The hair is tucked into the space in my shirt between the tunic and my camisole. Feeling a little lighter, I walk back to camp.
-XXX-
By the time Khan returns to our camp, it is twilight. He appears from the darkness of the surrounding wood, opposite of where I sit. Through the flames of the camp fire I'd built just two hours ago, the Augment appears very imposing: eyes cast in deep shadows, lips pursed, cheeks sharp. He says nothing about my hair. Indeed, it's almost as though Khan doesn't even notice. I'd be offended, if I cared. Passing me silently, he goes to the packs just to my right.
"Where were you?"
"I went back to the shuttle. I needed to make a few repairs to the transporter."
Confused, I tilt my head. "Are we leaving…soon?"
"No. We are not. I am."
"Wait, what? You're going? You're leaving me here alone?" If I wasn't already sitting I'd be reaching for a seat.
"You'll be alright," he answers without looking back. He's rummaging around, removing certain items and replacing them with things from his belt, examining his PADD in the firelight.
"And what if I'm not?" I challenge. "Where are you going, anyways? Why are you going?"
"Terra. To find my family."
Fury rises in my throat for what feels like the umpteenth time today. "Why didn't you get them out in the first place? You got be, you should've gone after them! They'll be watching for you now!"
He scoffs (which does nothing positive to my mood). "Hardly. They know I left the quadrant, and I highly doubt they'll be expecting me to come within viewing distance of Earth. I took you because you were equally unexpected to them. I need to come here first to guarantee we're outside of their scope, and that the land would be hospitable."
"It's dangerous to make multiple trips."
"Mayhaps." He's removing several coils of cord from the bag, setting them nearly on the floor of our shelter.
"And why can't I go with you?"
"I should think that would be obvious." Khan finally turns to me, lips upturned. "You're far too liable to get hurt, and you would slow me down in general."
I'd debate my usefulness if I thought it'd make any impact. But I don't want him thinking I am too eager to help.
" I know someplace where I would not slow you down – back in my apartment. Why don't you drop me by there on your way back?"
Khan snorts. "Nice idea, but I don't fancy it. No, you'll stay here."
If I didn't know the answer, I would have probably snapped, but instead, I simply sigh. "Well, when are you going?"
"Within the hour."
"But – you only just got here."
He casts me "and-your-point-is?" face. Now abandoning the pack, he crosses the fire to be in full view of me.
"You should rest," I tell him. "You've been going all day. And then some."
"I have better stamina then you. And are you giving advice to your captor?" He smirks. "Expressing concern for the one who has been so cruel as to put you in this predicament?"
"I'm compassionate, remember?" I murmur, leaning forward, hunching my shoulders. Though it was hot during the day, night has brought on a slightly chill. There's a blanket beside me just waiting to be wrapped around me. "It's one of my great weaknesses."
"More of a virtue," he replies softly. One hand goes to my skull, carefully stroking the shorn locks. "Why did you cut it?"
I cannot answer for a period to time, looking into the flames, emotion welling in my throat. I swallow it back. "It was getting in my way."
He is quiet. Then – "What of the rest of it?"
I pull the bundle from the front of my shirt, presenting him with the remains of my once-glorious hair. For several minutes he turns it in his hands. Then, he removes a lock for himself, inserting it in one of his interior pockets. The bundle is returned to me. Again, light fingers go to my head, exploring the new length before pulling away.
He crouches beside me. "I shall return soon. Keep here. Stay safe. There are enough provisions to last you a month, though I should not be gone nearly so long."
My hands find his, squeezing with all of my might. "Please, be careful," I plead. "I cannot stand the thought –"
Khan brushes his lips to mine briefly, holding me by the nape of my neck, pressing his forehead against mine after completing the kiss. "Stay safe," he repeats. "I will come back for you as soon as I am able."
Disentangling himself, he stands, crosses the clearing, and disappears into the night.
-XXX-
A lot going on in this chapter! Passion, anger, haircuts…Reviews would be lovely! What are your thoughts on my upcoming projects? As always, questions, comments, concerns, I take 'em all.