Not much of a response on that last one, but that won't keep me from updating!
Finals week is fast approaching, but I have the next chapter completed, and the epilogue shouldn't take too long!
Thank you for reading!
-XXX-
My parents cry again when we leave. Holding one another, they stand in the doorway, tears pouring down their face. I hold their hands, crying myself.
"I don't know if we can ever do this again," I tell them. "I don't know if it would be safe. I'm sorry. I'm so…."
"This isn't your fault," my mother whispers.
Behind me, Khan squeezes my shoulder. I lean into him. "I'll be okay. It was kind of Khan to let me come back for…for now."
"And we cannot even call you?"
"No." I squeeze their hands. "I'm sorry."
"If there is ever a time," Khan says quietly. "When it might be safe, I will bring her back to you. It pains me to see her pain. I know the distance is not insurmountable."
Surprised, I look up at him. "Really?"
He kissed the top of my head. A few more moments, kisses, then we go mount the motorbike. On the sidewalk, my mother turns her face into my father's chest, shoulders shaking. Khan pulls me onto the bike. We start driving.
"Don't look back," he advises.
I squeeze his waist. For once, I comply.
-XXX-
We pick up chickens and a handful of goats in a village in Kenya before setting off again. I'm quiet for most of the ride. Khan, thankfully, is his usual self, and just as silent. It's a relief, really, not being forced into talking about the swirling mix of emotions sitting in the pit of my stomach. For most of the ride, I sleep curled up in one of the chairs.
About an hour out from landing, I wake up from my third nap over the two days. "How close are we?"
"Just over an hour," he says, not looking up from the console.
"The chickens?"
He smiles into the computer's screen. "Are still being loud. I think one of the may have laid a full brood, if the cackling is any indication."
I laugh. "We're off to a good start, then." I stretch to rise. Pacing the bridge, I test each muscle, rotating my joints. In my previous life, my days were spent surrounded by books. I was not nearly so mobile as I am now. On Cylfax I am nearly always moving – there is always something to be done. Being sedentary for even two days has hurt my joints.
Coming up behind him, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing behind his left ear as I stand on tip-toe. "Thank you," I say softly. " I don't think I expressed it well enough. I know this was a big risk for you to take. And it was selfish of me to ask you, especially when it could have ruined everything – "
He turns, "shhh-ing" me firmly. "But it didn't. We are fine. And, I think, even."
"Even?"
"Yes," he says. "Even."
"For you kidnapping me?"
"Yes."
I consider this, resting my chin on his shoulder. Unsurprisingly, it strains my neck. "Alright. Fair enough."
My arms wrap around his waist as I hum. The Augment doesn't quite ignore me, but rather, places focus on his navigation. I bury my face in the spot between his shoulder blades, imagining all that I would do once I was home – on Cylfax, that is. There's a chicken coop to be built, not to mention a pen for the goats…perhaps we should have gotten a dog, while we were selecting animals? One to protect the birds? We've yet to encounter much besides birds and fish, but stil….
Beneath me, Khan suddenly stiffens. All muscles tense. Eyes focused on the computer, his hands hover, frozen, above the glassy display. "Impossible," he says softly.
"Hm?"
He pulls away, pushing me back with one arm. I stumble, catching myself on the captain's chair. Moving briskly, Khan pulls up a new screen on a second computer, scanning the information swiftly. Under his breath he curses.
"What's going on?" I demand, returning to him, hand on his elbow. "What is it?"
"Starfleet," he spits venomously. "They're in the quadrant. There's just above exosphere. Waiting."
He points to the display. Sure enough, a small, blinking icon indicated Starfleet presence. And, if the numbers were any indication, not just any Starfleet vessel…
"Enterprise," Khan breathes.
I can see the heat rising within him. Motions are much less measured, less controlled. He's on-edge. Not merely angry – terrified. I step back.
"Maybe it's just a routine check," I say weakly. "They do that, sometimes."
"No. They've found us." Hands go to massage his brow. Sinking in the captain's chair, Khan focuses on the floor. "They've well and truly found us, Alya."
He freezes abruptly. Turning slowly, he looks up at me. "Your parents…."
It only takes me a moment to catch his drift. Furious, I fling myself from where I stand leaning against a console. "Knew nothing. And would say nothing."
His expression is not softened. If anything, it is nastier. "And what of the shuttle you so conveniently left in their hands two months ago?"
I gape. For a beat, I scramble to remember. "No – no!" I say triumphantly. "I erased everything before they took me off the ship. There is no way –"
"Even the ships's warp memory?"
My heart sinks. "Oh. I…I don't know."
Hands go to cover his eyes. "We're done," he says quietly, seemingly to himself. "We are…finished."
"What?"
He looks up at me sharply, eyes glittering. "We're not going back into those tubes to be frozen for eternity, Alya. We intended to fight, should it ever come to this. Until the last person stands – be they Starfleet or Augment. We're not going back."
"This is madness," I whisper. "There has to be another way – a better way. We could talk to them, make them see you're no longer a threat. You only want peace. If they could just see that you have no sinister intentions, that you only seek a peaceful, isolated existence -"
"We are past the point of talking."
Shaking my head, I sink to the floor before him, taking up his hands to clutch them against my chest. "There is never time to abandon diplomatic negotiations. Something could be arranged, I know it. Please, give this a chance. For you family."
"For me."
A hand rises to cup my cheek, tilting my face upwards. For a solid moment, Khan gazes upon me, flickering over every inch, eyes liquid. Then, he sighs.
"There's an emergency escape shuttle on the third level. It should fit a dozen. We have five more on this vessel, along with a transporter back at camp. Get everyone off as soon as possible. I don't care where you go – just make it far."
"What?"
He strokes my brow. "I'm given you a chance to save them. Get them off planet or us to face our fate."
"No," I say, still floored. "No, that's not what I wanted, Khan –"
"Either you lead them away, Alya, or leave them to fight with me," he says with great finality, jaw locking into place.
"And if I left? What of you?" I demand.
"Oh, you are leaving either way," Khan assures me. "Just as I am to perish, regardless."
"Do not say that," I protest. "And I will not leave you."
"You will. Even if I have to drag you to the pod myself," he warns, half-rising, hands locking around my wrists. I struggle, but I am only pulled closer. Desperation in his eye, the Augment presses his forehead to mine. "Alya, please. Please, do not make this anymore difficult than it has to be. If I cannot save them…then please, let me go knowing that I at least managed to save you."
"I won't leave you."
"You must," he insists. "I brought you here. I did this. If I had not brought you out here –"
Wrenching my hands from his grasp, I wrap my arms around his neck. "It's a little stupid owning up to it now. Khan, I can't leave you like this. You couldn't die knowing I fell with you? I couldn't live knowing I'd left you to fall alone. I'm staying."
He looks at me as though I'm mad, but the fervent kiss I receive tells me he's not too fearful of my sanity. "Foolish girl," he murmurs against my lips.
A loud chime interrupts us. Khan pulls away, moving to the console. Brows furrowed, he reads the alert. I follow, leaning over his shoulder to read. The Enterprise is hailing is. My fingers ball up into fists. The Augment wears an expression of utter contempt as he answers the call. The bridge of Starfleet's pride and joy flickers onto the view screen.
Just as before, when Khan took me from medbay, it seems as though the bridge is packed with people. Spock. Leonard. Uhura. Sulu. Luta, to my surprise, stands in the background. So many people….It makes me feel very small, even standing next to Khan. Grim faces, all around. I cannot imagine we look any happier.
"Kirk," Khan hisses lightly.
"Mr. Singh." The captain is cool. "We finally caught up with you."
"So I can see." He inclines his head.
Bones, just to the right of Kirk, is staring straight at me, pure horror glazing his face. Uhura is eyeing me as well. I give them a full gaze in return, back straightening, expression icy. No one speaks for a long moment.
"We have orders," Kirk begins. "To retrieve Dr. Nejem, as well as yourself and your crew."
Khan's hand shoots out in front of me, pushing me half-behind him as though intending to take a bullet in my stead. "She has done nothing," he says sharply. "And neither has my crew."
"Dr. Nejem will not be placed in a cryogenic coma," Spock says, stepping up. It's hardly a reassuring statement, especially coming from a monotone Vulcan. "As for your crew, we are under orders to return you all to your tubes immediately. It is not a question of personal guilt."
"They've done nothing wrong," I say over Khan's shoulder. His grip tightens. Kirk focuses on me now, bright eyes keen. "Please, they just want to live in peace."
"Acts of terror do not foster feeling of peace," he responds coolly. "We've been told –"
"That was nothing they did. Take me." Khan shifts forward, still blocking me. "Take me, and leave them. You'll have no trouble from this colony. As Alya has said, they only wish for peace."
"I am afraid that is not an option," the Vulcan says stiffly.
"Why not?" I push gently past Khan. "What would it hurt to give them a chance? If they were supervised, if someone were to act as a go-between, things could work out. It's not out of the realm of possibility, you're just not willing to listen to reason! Kirk," I say, turning to the captain, pleading. "Are you really going to send seventy-three people to an eternity of frozen sleep? Think of what they could accomplish, if fostered in the proper setting, with the right guidance. You're not only throwing away lives, but an opportunity!"
"No one is dying today," he insists.
"Take me," Khan insists again. "Leave Alya and my crew. Put me under again, leave them be. We've established a colony here – a peaceful colony. All we want is a fresh start. If you need to punish someone, let it be me. They did none of it."
Kirk is considering. Looking between the two, I can see the clear desperation in Khan's posture. His arms are out, hands open. On the screen, Kirk's eyes are distant – he's thinking. A few others in the group also have uncertain expression. We're swaying them – though, not exactly in the direction we need.
"Something might be arranged," Kirk allows slowly.
Khan looks are me briefly, something flickering in his gaze. For a long moment, he seems to be considering something, before he turns back to Kirk, swallowing. "Alya can return home. She wants it. I took her without her consent. Leave my crew, take her home, and take me. That's as much as I am willing to offer, Captain." Staring straight ahead, he states firmly. "We find an arrangement or this encounter becomes significantly more dangerous for everyone. The Enterprise will feel my wrath again, if necessary."
Both the Captain and Spock open their mouths, undoubtedly ready to offer an incensed rebuke, eyes flashing.
"No," I say, cutting in. Everyone pauses. "I mean, I want something to be worked out. But taking Khan and leaving the others isn't just going to make this problem disappear."
Both the Enterprise's crew and Khan stare at me incredulous. I hastily add, "It's more than Khan. You've got an entire new species here, one that people back on Terra know about – that trial was, after all, televised. People are going to be in uproar over this if you simple freeze them all again. They're here now, peacefully attempting to build a new life. It makes more sense to leave them being, set them up with a liaison, maybe establish a Starfleet station nearby, monitor them."
"It's risky," Kirk says, eyes narrowing, grip tightening on the arm of his chair. Beside him, Spock is listening intently. The rest of the bridge is shifting uneasily. "Suppose we are a little lax on the leash and they act out –"
"Then increase your tension," I say shortly. "But they'll be fine. You'll see. They simply want to live their lives."
He looks to Khan, nodding. "And your noble leader?"
Khan is looking at me. His eyes are frozen. I note the barest hint of terror flickering through those icy orbs when I turn back to him. Out of the eye of the Enterprise, I take up his hand.
"Leave him. They trust him. If you took him, they'd rebel. And to think, Captain…do you really want to deal with over seventy Khans?"
He doesn't flinch. "This is a lot of trouble for what it is, Dr. Nejem. Why should we be convinced that we don't be dealing with another round of terror attacks on Terra a few months from now?"
"This is your best option," I say calmly. "People will see the reason in this decision, the mercy. You'll have another colony connected to Starfleet, not to mention access to some of the brightest minds. Besides, capturing them all….wouldn't that just be so…violent?"
There is a barely-veiled implication behind that last question. Kirk's brows rise briefly, and he exchanges a glance with Spock.
"Think of it as exile, if it pleases you," Khan adds lazily. He's gained back some of his posed cockiness. Yet, holding his hand, I note the slightest tremor of rage. "Supervised exile."
"I can work as a liaison. I'll send reports, mediate meetings, whatever is required," I say quickly. "If things are not going according to whatever standards we work out with the Federation, we shall accept the consequences."
The officers appear conflicted, the captain and commander most of all. Well, Spock appears as emotionally affected as he can ever be. There is a few seconds of murmuring exchanged between him and Kirk. As we wait, I squeeze Khan's hand, though I do not dare look at him. Both of our gazes are solidly affixed to the bridge of the Enterprise. I don't know about my partner, but I fear that should I present anything less than a serious front, we might have this slim chance of an opportunity snatched from us.
To be honest, I'm the only thing going for us. Despite our connection. I've never done anything outside of regulation – aside from not reporting Khan when he came to me after the bombings, but that's relatively minor in the grand scope of circumstances. I am respectable, with a solid reputation in the academic community as well within Starfleet. They had no cause not to trust me. I just pray that Kirk stays true to his character in offering mercy to those who are innocent.
After nearly ten minutes, Kirk turns back to us. His eyes are steely. "We acknowledge that there are several parties in this affair that is, for now, entirely innocent, Dr. Nejem among them. Weighing our options, we have decided to propose a supervised exile to the Federation. There is will likely be a few diplomats that will review the situation and visit your colony. For now, you may return to the surface and to your colony. We shall be monitoring you from above, and we will be sending a crew to evaluate your people sometime within the next twenty-four hours. While we cannot ourselves judge what should be done with your people, we have full confidence that the Federation shall determine what is just in this situation." Kirk takes a deep breath. "We will be in touch."
Khan remains impassive. Bowing his head, he says, "Those are acceptable terms. We look forward to collaborating with you in the near future."
Quickly, I add, "We appreciate your compassion, Captain. I will personally ensure that your crew are hosted with the greatest amount of respect. Thank you."
"Dr. Nejem," Spock says suddenly before the comm link is broken. "This is not any promise of safety. Should any member of your group fail to comply with our standards, we will not hesitate in coming onto the surface of Cylfrax and issuing out the appropriate retribution."
I blink. "Any retribution you give would be far from appropriate, Commander," I reply coldly before the screen fades to black.
-XXX-
Okay, there are definitely a few tech-y things I've made up here that I fully admit to, such as "warp memory."
Tense little chapter, eh? Took quite a turn there. What are your thoughts?
Reviews, comments, concerns, critiques, questions, I take (and eventually answer) them all!