Chapter Text
As a cadet, they ask you this: "Could you kill someone?"
Yes. To defend myself and my planet. Yes. I've stuck to that from my bleak cadet days to my years as a Captain. After the Khan incident, though, things have changed for me. I now go to work knowing a whole family of people are frozen and stored on our grounds.
It bothers me. Yes, they're strong. Yes, they're determined. Yes, one of them tried to kill us. They love one another, though. They're human. You can't just ignore that.
As a Captain, I've decided to escort them to a new planet under Star Fleet's permission. They stressed I was not to engage in affairs with the life forms, though. I was also to wait a few years or so until Star Fleet finds a suitable planet.
It seems the super-humans' blood is of great worth, as well. The Doctors have taken generous samples from each sleeping icicle. It disturbs me. I once took medical classes. One of the first rules you learn is that you never start a procedure without consent from the patient. Let us not forget these are unconscious people, and they are having they're blood practically stolen. The situation is unquestionably wrong. I knew I wouldn't be able to wait that long until I could ship them out. I was curious. What kind of personalities did they have? What did they look like? Khan had been rather normal, save his stiff, bulging muscles. He had also been rather good looking...God, what was I thinking?! He killed many...but it was all for his family.
As much as I hate to say it, he wasn't all that bad...He was a clever man. He helped us, even though it was almost to his advantage. He tried saving his kind. At the end of the day, he was human. Capable of emotions. Keeping all of them frozen was as good as killing them all. I decided they shouldn't have to live like vegetables...And I couldn't wait to just free one of them.
• • •
It was surprisingly easy to get in to the warehouse that contained all those cryogenic pods. Perhaps it was because I knew how to effectively damage technology and security systems. Actually finding those containers was the hard part. The warehouse was long, dim lit, and packed with rows of shelves. I stumbled about the building as quietly as possible, wearing a pair of borrowed night vision goggles. I didn't want to risk taking a flashlight.
I breathed shallowly if at all. Ten minutes in to my search, I nearly tripped over a capsule. I put a hand to it carefully. Cold. That was it. I removed the goggles to take a closer look. There was a glass window at the top. As I looked through it, I smirked. I had found them. I moved away, searching for a particular face.
One with high cheekbones and Cupid bow lips. I peeked in to each capsule. By at least the 50th, I felt like giving up. I summoned my willpower, pressing on. I finally approached the last one. I sighed, peering in. It was him. A smile bloomed on my face.
I looked at the sides of the capsule, looking for the correct button. I had to do this. I had to explain to him what we would do. We couldn't just drop them all off in the middle of space so they can rouse to confusion.
I found the button I wanted, pressing it tentatively. A soft hiss echoed throughout the room. I felt cold, smoky air blow out gently from the metal container. I grasped the side of the capsule, heaving it's door open. I grimaced as I heard it's hinges screech. His crystal eyes snapped open, his chest rising dramatically as he inhaled a deep breath. As the door opened as far as possible, my grip still on it, he looked at me. I stared back. His eyes really were something unique. What did they call that? Heterochromia? They were like frozen lakes, blue with green peeking out in some areas.The observant, paralyzing look left his face, and his lips twitched in to a smirk. He sat up slowly, eyes locked with mine. My arms fell to my sides, my body keeping itself at attention.
"You're foolish. Giving in to curiosity." He declared after a swift look around the room.
He stood, and I didn't budge away. Our bodies were barely an inch apart.
"...Or risking your life to help us. Or you've been given orders." He finished.
We held our eye contact.
"Maybe all of the above." I answered.
He let out a snort. His hands grasped my arms, thrusting me to a metal beam holding up the warehouse ceiling. I flinched, but didn't struggle.
"Why should I believe that? You're probably here to execute us!" He spat.
"Because I'm not yelling for help. I haven't got a phone on me to call for help, either." I stated simply.
His grip loosened on one arm.
"If you're lying, I will hurt you. Badly. Crush you so hard you will scream for mercy. And I won't stop."
I swallowed, looking down.
"I promise I'm not lying."
"Show me. Turn your pockets out."
One of his hands slipped away. I freely moved my hand to my slacks' pockets. I turned all four pockets outwards. A couple of coins fell out and hit the ground. The tinkling sound echoed among the warehouse.He watched intently. It was flustering, seeing such a handsome man look at you so closely. Not to mention he had me cornered... Satisfied to let me go completely, he backed off. His gaze never left.
"Why would you help me?" He asked, his tone cold.
"Because I care...you and your family are all breathing, somewhat emotional people. It hurts to think that my workplace has a family confined to sleep for an eternity. So I asked if I could take all of you to another planet with my ship. The Starfleet finally said yes, but they won't let me do it without their input of choices."
"Then why release me now? I could get up to so much thanks to you." He smirked, chuckling lowly.
"Because I didn't think it was right to just drop you all off somewhere without explaining it to one of you."
Khan nodded slowly after giving me a look over.
"You're coming with me, though." He growled, grabbing my hand.
"You will stay for at least a month. If the planet proves to be unsuitable, you will relocate us."
"Fair enough." I stated firmly.
His grip on my hand didn't loosen.
"We need to go back to the Klingon planet."
"Why?" My brows furrowed.
Klingons hated humans. We almost went to war because Admiral Marcus was so bent on the idea. Going back now was asking to be killed. I watched him pick up a transporting device from the shelf next to the pods. We had confiscated that from him before.
"I've left a few things there." He answered, beginning to tug me away towards the exit.
"You do realize the danger of going there, right? You better be pretty damn stealthy." I hissed, "I'm already risking my life for you and your crew. Don't screw this up, or none of this will be worth it."
He gave me a wry smirk.
"You're not implying that I should protect you, are you? Aren't you a captain? I should have known how weak you Starfleet members can be...take Captain Kirk for example. He thinks the best way to settle things is to punch his enemy over and over."
"It would be appreciated if we protected each other and cooperated during the visit." I replied cooly.
"Very well." He chuckled, pulling me outside, "Is that your car?"
"Yes, get in."
He glanced around, noticing all the broken security cameras. Khan slowly got in to my car. I hurriedly got in on the driver's side.
"We need to go back to my place before doing anything. You need a disguise." I explained.
"Fine. Then we must teleport back to the Klingon planet."
"We will, calm down." I assured him, beginning to nonchalantly drive away.