If there was one thing Khan knew, it was that asking for things never got him anywhere. His 'superiors' did not respect him. The truth that shrouded his real identity marked him as untrustworthy, and the security surrounding his very existence made him a watched target. He resented every second of it. Every rejected idea and failure to be taken seriously boiled under his skin. They would never see him for who he was, his value, or understand why he did the things he did.

It was the early hours. Dawn was breaking over the city, bathing the streets in a deep violet, tinting the early wisps of fog overhead as Khan walked down the quiet path under the street lamps. He flicked his coat collar up to protect against the morning chill, the seasons were getting colder now.

Out past the old London museum lay a small shipyard. It was one of the first shipyards to be built in London, yet now it was overshadowed by a newer, larger shipyard near the edge of the city. This yard was still in service, but took on private and specialist projects. Fixing and upgrading personal crafts, a place for tinkerers to come and work on their own inventions, and traders to haggle for old Starfleet crafts.

There were numerous people already around, but no one bat at an eyelid at Khan's presence. Visitors were welcome, especially if they were going to buy something. He walked among the crafts, studying them. He brushed his hand down the side of an older Starfleet craft, gunmetal coloured, her numbers faded and nose panels light damaged, she had a few dents here and there, but her name still visibly held along the side.

'Opulence'

"She's a beaut is she." A voice disturbed him. Khan turned to see an old gentleman in oil stained overalls approaching him, piece of ragged cloth in hand as he cleaned a small engine part. He gave him a crooked smile, wrinkles forming by his eyes. It was strangely welcoming.

"She was dumped here seven years ago by some Starfleet young'uns." He told him. "And people just walk by her every day. Seven years an nobody's seen the value in her."

A lopsided grin formed on Khan's face as he looked back up at the craft.

"I know how she feels." He said quietly.

"You obviously recognise quality, you got an eye for somethin' particular?"

"What are her faults?" Khan asked.

"Nothing now. You could only accuse her o' being a bit rusty!" The man laughed, leading him to cough for a moment. "I fixed her myself when she first came in. Just needs a good run now if you ask me."

"Onboard facilities?"

"Four-man cockpit, base level loading bay with room for gofer craft, two bunk rooms with relevant facilities." The man told him. "Not made for long haul explorin', but it's a good over-nighter."

"How much?"

"For you, two-thousand sterling."

"What about rental?"

"Planin' to bring her back, are you?" The man wheezed a laugh. "Then two-thousand-five-hundred sterling to cover possible damages."

Khan sighed. "I'll give you seventeen-hundred and a promise you'll never see her again." Khan approached him. "She'll have a life among the stars."

There was a twinkle in the mans eye as he looked past Khan at Opulence. She was special to him, almost like a granddaughter, he wanted the best for her, for her to experience the galaxy and not be cooped up in this old dusty yard any longer. Khan knew he could persuade him.

"Alright, deal." He held an oily hand out to shake Khan's.

"Excellent. I'll transfer the money now."

"I'll make sure she's fuelled up."

"Also," Khan asked, stopping the man in his tracks. "Any chance you can keep this sale off the books?"

"Ah, wanting to be incognito are you?" The man grinned. "For giving my Opulence new life, gladly."

Khan smiled. "Thank you."

xxxx

The black goo was growing. It looked like something the size of a cushion had gotten stuck in an oil-slick. Black and green, streaks of dirty blue bubbled through it as the parasite feast on one of the deceased pilots.

Nyota could barely watch. She knew the man who was now lunch, but she needed to keep her eye on how big the thing was growing. Khan had cut communication with her what seemed like a life time ago to go and find a ship. As she watched the parasite, its audible slurping noise filling the room, she prayed he found something soon.

Her lower lip began to tremble, and tears formed in her eyes. She couldn't stop herself from crying. Periodically, her eyes would just spill water down her cheeks. Trauma, she guessed. Cold. Hunger. Loneliness. Fear. Oblivion… These things would take their toll on the best of people.

She clutched her phaser, thinking about what it would feel like to be eaten alive by that thing, when Khan's voice from the comm startled her.

"Uhura, do you copy?" Khan's military tone filled the room.

"Yeah," She sniffed, "I'm here."

"Are you alright?" He asked more softly, noticing she was audibly upset.

"I-… Just have some good news for me."

"I do. I have a craft." He told her. She blew out a sigh of relief. "Im getting it fitted with a gofer now, and I'll be on my way. Hold tight, don't worry."

Nyota closed her eyes, the last of her tears spilling out.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"You are welcome, Uhura."

"Nyota." She said. "My first name is Nyota."

She wiped her cheeks with her palms and sniffed again.

"Nyota… meaning star. Looks like you really do belong among them."

A tired laugh escaped her, yet she smiled. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"I'll talk to you again soon."

"Okay. Good luck."

The line went dead, and the sound of parasite slurping filled the room again. Nyota turned in her chair, hugging her knees to her chest to see the thing had almost doubled in size since she turned around. She took a deep breath, focusing herself. She would not be eaten by this parasite.

xxxx

Opulence was now re-fitted with a gofer craft. An option Khan had deemed necessary in order to get to Nyota. He already knew he would not be able to transport her out of there, so he would have to get aboard the craft and help her out himself. The gofer would safely get them from Enlightenment to Opulence, and should by chance any parasite get aboard the gofer, he would be able to dump the craft before it spread to his rescue ship.

The sun had almost fully risen as Khan began his take off from the little ship yard. Opulence rose up into the sky, the low yellow sun almost too bright for the polarised view screen. Taking control of the craft, it would not be long before she saw the blackness of space again.