Star Trek: From Ashes and Darkness

Chapter 15: Split Ends

Year 2259

"NO!"

Jim winced, and Carol and Scotty both physically flinched at the raw agony in the two Aguments' voices, their joint screams ringing loud and clear even over the Vengeance's shrill alarms.

Asha appeared to have gone into momentary shock, staring at the screen where her whole family had just been blown up before her very eyes. Khan, however, reacted more violently.

"Target Enterprise!" Khan snarled viciously, and Jim's jaw dropped.

"Weapons compromised." The computer replied, but Khan snapped: "Target Enterprise!"

"Khan, wait!" Jim shouted in alarm, while Scotty said hastily: "Now, wait just a minute-"

"Khan, Asha, please-" Jim went on, but Khan didn't even budge and Asha...

Jim's blood ran cold when the redhead turned to face him; and for the first time since he'd met her, Jim Kirk realized that Asha Sanders was without a doubt an Augment. He'd found she could be kind, warm, and even charming; but now, he could see all too clearly the formidable warrior she must have been once.

Asha's green eyes were filled with a bright and burning fire, her expression filled with grief but also a terrifying anger. It almost matched the expression on Khan's face; but while the male Augment's face was contorted with fury the female's face was drawn tight and clenched.

And the instant Jim saw her face, he knew. Hers was not the face of a girlfriend, or even family member; it was the face of a soldier awaiting the signal from her commanding officer. There was no negotiating with this person.

"Khan, please, it wasn't us! You know it couldn't be us!" Jim cried, glancing between the enraged Augment and the Vengeance's screen where they could see the damaged controls working to point the Vengeance's weapons at the crippled Enterprise.

"No, it wasn't you; it was the former head of your Starfleet." Khan snarled, his eyes narrowed into slits. "For one whole year, your Starfleet kept me under a leash by using my family as hostage; and now, they are dead. So let me respond in kind."

Khan stood at his full height, the anger and grief almost radiating off of his impressive person as he declared: "I will rip every single one of you and Marcus's precious Starfleet into pieces!"

"Khan, no-!" Jim begged, while Asha stepped up stoically behind her lover and leader, taking his second-in-command position as she stared at Jim without sympathy.

"Wait-!" Scotty added, raising his hands in alarm, when Spock's voice called urgently across the comms as he managed to regain their connection after the explosions: "Captain! Jim, is everything all right? Is anyone hurt?"

"Spock, the torpedoes were shot and now Khan's about to blow up the Enterprise!" Jim yelled back warningly, and Asha's eyes flashed with anger while Khan took a menacing step towards the blonde man.

"Targeting Enterprise. Confirm order." The computer announced, and Jim yelled: "NO!"

But neither Khan nor Asha were moved, as Khan began: "Confir-"

"Khan, if you want what is best for your crew, I would recommend you desist from such action immediately." Spock's voice called.

Jim and Scotty shot the comms incredulous looks at Spock's terrible timing, while Khan bared his teeth in utter fury.

"Say goodbye, Mr. Spock." Khan spat, his voice actually trembling with anger while Jim's eyes went wide in alarm.

Asha however had paused, a frown appearing on her face. Even in her anger, she wasn't immune to the knowledge that - while Spock was, apparently often, insensitive - he was far from illogical. So why had he said...?