Star Trek

The Prince of Fire

Prologue

"Are you prepared to take my offer?" The man questioned in front of me as I knelt with numerous corpses riddled with bullets. I stared numbly in seeing people who I had protected and who were my literal family despite the hell we lived in. War constantly refused to die down as tears hotly ran freely in which I looked up at a person who'd seemed almost at ease. A man who I'd damn myself to humor weeks ago when he'd appeared.

I held my surrogate sister who died gagging on a bloodied end due to several bullets lodged in her chest. I just turned eight years old, we'd all been pickpockets trying to get pieces of credit for food and maybe we'd get lucky. But today it all came to an end. And it all started with this man who tossed aside a spent assault rifle. His eyes were literally ice yet a impeccable grin visibly formed when I yelled out angrily, "What do you want from me?"

Smoke clogged the entire air obscuring destroyed buildings which were crumbling distantly. Tremors racked the very earth which we'd been born years ago and left as every other orphan who'd been gunned down. We were expendables from invaders who were intent on converting us to some devil they called a god. I couldn't help it but to hate them, I hated them all and I'd never be able to live with this crushing despair. I was all alone for once and I'd been praying to God whose very faithful were being slaughter by foreigners.

"Want?" The man questioned amused to step forward with a cloak and cape flapping from strong winds alone. His eyes gazed to numerous children who'd fought pitifully despite having crude shanks, or anything despite being slaughtered. Inhaling slightly to smell fire, ash and blood did his eyes lock onto my broken legs, "Such an interesting demand instead of giving into your desires of vengeance to right these terrible wrongs, boy."

I bared my teeth screaming shrilly in return to make him raise an eyebrow, "Fuck you!" I clutched my dead friend showing those vacant eyes that had wanted to leave! We all wanted to find a place to live and to play safely. I'd ignored it because of the armies invading our cities again, "You brought them here! They were hunting you!"

Those accusations alone caused a subtle smile to uplift itself on this man's reply, "Indeed." He looked upwards to see burning buildings once majestic to fires razing floor by floor. Pieces of ember, ash and stone occasionally broke off to fall aimlessly down around us. I felt tears pouring so strongly that I gave in to finally cry and hug another person taken in this hellish earth. I wanted to go with them, I wanted to die and be free of this madness to live. I wanted it all to end!

"War in an age of savagery does not spare the old, sick or young." He commented idly to look down at my broken form. Distant gunfire erupted in which prompted him to walk forward to stand over myself speaking calmly, "And yet in the fires of battle do men arise to take hold a mantle to end all violence. A fallacy which brought your nation to the brink of extinction, boy." I stared upward hatefully knowing what he meant due to the fact it was no secret we'd been neutral, or so what was said on the newsreels before this hell came upon us.

"I hate them." I said breathing heavily trying to stem off this cold feeling. I hated the people who were in charge which made us beg for scraps of food, to ignore this city's suffering and everyone who'd been forced to sell each other to feed themselves. Those words caused a man with icy eyes to smile in agreement, "Hate alone is but a mere tool meant for those who are capable to achieve ambition. I have need of such individuals who are fueled by these capabilities."

He knelt down to routinely inspect my friends still warm corpse in order to just gently close her eyes. I couldn't have tried to stop him because I'd seen him break another man, or several into pieces by sheer force alone. My chest hurt so badly I coughed up blood due to numerous abuses I'd been enduring until he arrived minutes ago. We'd have been raped like many others, sold into slavery or worse if I understood what these fuckers wanted of our country. I hated them so much that I'd give anything to make him wish hell were real.

"What do you want from me?" I asked tiredly losing all strength to merely slump forward burying my tear stained face into a corpse's hair. There was no hope in this hell I'd call a life. No hope of a future, nothing could be done and I'd die with a pair of broken legs on some random ass street in the middle of a war zone. What kind of life did I have for a man who'd been breaking other men like rag dolls could ask of me?

There was a brief silence forcing me to look up at this man face to face. I stared right into those eyes of a man who stared intently. What do you want from me? To fight? I mentally questioned finding it all so utterly damned pointless I'd end up as another list on a wall. It wasn't going to be worth it, I'd rather die in this street and let the world deal with itself. What else mattered more at this point?

"I have been observing you, boy." He admitted with a cold approval to which I glared angrily, "You possess a quality of leadership among your...peers. But that alone is not what made me invest my time in approaching you today." I bared my teeth again to hiss back, "Then let me die in this place! I kept my friends safe, I never wanted to decide what to do and I never fucking wanted them to follow me into this hell hole!"

He chuckled deeply finding that defiance I so refused to fade away admirable, "And yet their blood is on your hands for all your efforts." This man made me wish I had something to cut his throat for daring to think I'd intentionally get them killed. His eyes noticed a hand which fell away to a makeshift knife I kept as a gift from another friend I lost months ago, "Your ancestry lives up despite falling into mediocrity at best, boy. But despite all your efforts that resulted in failure, I see potential which is exactly what I have of need to invest into."

I refused to believe anything of what this man was saying due to one simple fact. I harshly spat back, "You could have stopped them from killing my family." His expression hardly changed yet a smile remained in place, "Perhaps." My heart pounded furiously when I clutched the knife underneath a corpse righteously furious, "But why would I invest my efforts if you could not harden yourself to kill another man? Would you have been prepared to take another life to survive, or maybe you're going to try to slit my throat?"

Knuckles slightly popped due to how tight I'd been gripping a crude handle as I remained quiet. At first glance he looked utterly exposed yet I knew better after what I'd just witnessed. No way in hell did I doubt he hadn't noticed. The man's smile widened slightly speaking in a praiseworthy tone, "And now we come to the root of our meeting. Do you desire strength capable of what I did to your would be killers? I can give you this strength."

Immediately I retorted scathingly finding it all too good to be true, "At what cost?" I questioned making him hum approvingly by speaking truthfully, "Everything." I refused to even feel a tingling humor to break more of these bastards apart and if this man could grant me that kind of power over these invaders? But what does he want from me? No way in hell he's doing this out of the kindness in that heart of his, right?

He spoke clearly impressed that I hadn't agreed in which an explanation laid it all out. I listened mainly out of reluctance, "You will be better in everything. No man on this world will be able to touch you, or rule over you with this opportunity I give to you." He began listing off aspects of what would be better yet I stared hard uncompromisingly to see a smile grow again, "Strength! Intellect, instinct and above all else the will to endure as men do in war, so I will grant you those gifts for you to take up your people's vengeance against those who have wronged you."

His smile radiated superiority much to my inner turmoil in wondering whether it seemed natural, or absolutely true. I again refused to be baited into believing what was in front of me, "What makes you any better? You pretending to be God?" I retorted much to this man's smiling visage who seemingly took it all in stride, "God? Boy, if I were God then no man on Earth would dare to believe to stand against me."

I sneered openly finding his words far too beautiful of a lie spoon fed to us in an orphanage. All the adults promised things would change yet we only received fire, blood and death in return when we believed them years ago. I called out that arrogance in favor of seeking an end, "Then you're no different from those men who'd fuck me, kill me and believe they were above everyone else who only wanted to live. You're nothing without anyone!"

Those icy blue eyes crinkled as an overt grin appeared fully pleased, "Precisely!" I blinked owlishly as a deep laugh of utter agreement granted me shock. He pointed right at my beating heart, "Without a people to fight for a mere man is powerless in this world of war, boy. Without a kingdom, a nation or anything to bind him to do all he can for those who are his blood then it is utterly inevitable for any man to fall into ruin itself. There is no greater cause but to fight, to die and to create a place for your people to dictate this world's destiny."

Tears went down my cheeks again refreshed due to how sincere and absolutely unwavering this man spoke. There was no deceit to mask this ambition, no lie for an ulterior motive and no wavering as his gaze pierced my very soul itself. He believes what he says because it's true. My country was weak, I was weak and yet why am I so damned driven to kill them! I want to kill these bastards, I want to see them on their knees and give back what they did to us a thousand times over!

"What I want is no mere solider to command, tool to mold or see yourself as a meager subordinate, boy." He lifted his hand as if extending it for me to take upon a chance of belief. Now I trembled clutching my friend's corpse defiantly crushing an instinct to take that limb finding too sweet to be true to which his approval kept itself consistent, "You will be something more if you allow yourself to shed away this weakness. My people will never be limited, my people and my blood alone will make you stand among the bodies littering this world for us to look down to decide how one shall rule over these crude beings."

I had next to no idea what this insanity of a man was pitching to me. It all sounded so great, so perfect and so damned possible that I laughed. I laughed loudly making him raise an eyebrow as I leaned back unable to cope with how damned fucking surreal everything had become. Reality seemed far too good, far too willing and I couldn't help but damn it all to hell. I looked at him right in the eye to say this so sincerely, "Take your shit to hell and let me know how it is! You're just another man who bleeds red regardless of how sweet your motives are to get me to say...yes."

Immediately a pair of eyes narrowed for once in an organic expression of irritation. I smirked in return finally seeing what would be underneath all those sweet little promises that were just asking for someone to shit on! Come on you bastard, I want you to kill me. End me, so I can die without regret because someone thinks their too smart. I stared him down unable to quench a hidden desire just to see those hands break one more neck, I'd be certainly spared an agonized existence and I would find my way into someone peaceful.

"Ah, I see." He mused aloud seeing something that must have given my effort away, "You'd rather die then submit to anyone. Clever to provoke an assured end, painful or not." The man looked away as gunfire erupted on a nearby street indicating another potential battle zone. I spoke up hell intent on angering this guarantee of seeing an afterlife, "Better to die by choice then pretend to think you'd care for anyone. Another nameless killer of kids, I hope you love hell because there's no other place men like you deserve more."

Another flicker of annoyance brought me closer as my lips widened in finding something to dig into his gut. Do it you son of a bitch, do it! I chanted over and over again clutching a knife to ease it closer. If words weren't going to do it, I'd make him. I wasn't going to care about living until I found the way to die without cutting my own throat. I'd rather die by another killer than commit suicide to earn a place in hell itself.

"Such misplaced determination to meet your end." He finally spoke up to kneel once more inspecting my half infuriated facial expression. I was well aware he'd snap my neck, "If you wish to die I'd recommend doing so in a manner fit for a...prince." My expression became horrified due to an old fact I was descended from the once monarchy that ruled this country hundreds of years ago. I only knew because apparently my mother, or so had been an offshoot from the very people who we'd read up in history.

That smile returned as an inevitable explanation chilled my blood, "Oh yes, boy." I suddenly lunged forward screaming hell intent on ending myself now and forever! The sharpened point never reached even a foot before fire surged through an arm that got cleanly snapped. Bone literally extended out of my wrist as I howled clutching it over a corpse as crimson leaked onto us both. I screamed so enraged that he found it admirable.

"You have a warrior's spirit, mind and body." I bit down avoiding to scream yet tears fell because of sheer overwhelming pain alone. Wheezing in air I stared him down once again cursing everything to wish someone would end this misery, "But to be a true warrior who is both a king and man requires guidance to attain that title. You have fire inside boy, I am the same and we both are fit to rule over those who deserve our fury. And I offer you that opportunity!"

Hoisting me by a strangled neck I spat out blood at him to which a smile remained frigidly amused. Gunfire crept closer and closer as distant screams of panic, agony and despair all reached a crescendo underneath a bloodied day. I was not a prince, or whatever the flying fuck this man seemed to imagine given nothing amounted to that history. So my ancestors were rulers, or made this country yet they gave it all away over centuries as did many families for whatever means. Money, profits or even forced too by what I knew.

"Are you prepared to walk the path of soldier, warrior and ruler?" That question alone gave me pause because he smiled proudly, "No mere man will stand above our people. We stand over them because we are better, we are savage, strong and unyielding in a world of war. I am prepared to take everything to be the solution to this world." I looked away gasping for air yet his grip lessened to force me to think once again. Was it a better chance I dared to wonder?

The man brought face to face as I looked right in the windows of a soul. His eyes were so alight with sheer expectation I croaked out, "Why?" Another amused expression provided an answer that struck me cold, "Because those who don't seek to attain power are often the very best in becoming what men fear most. Rulers do what is necessary to secure their throne, to protect their people and more often go to war to never fear another man's ambitions. For I am different because I am better and you will be one my people."

I looked over to see the lifeless body which was but another of thousands. He followed to speak very clearly to make a point, "You will avenge those who were your family. But you cannot stand alone in this world anymore, boy." I looked at him before uttering one sentence to seal my fate and finally think of something truthfully, "Do you promise to make me like you?" I wanted something to finally believe if I had to live, I'd do it differently.

"If you so wish, I shall grant you that opportunity." He instantly said chuckling to hoist me upward at his side. I grimaced trying to support weight on broken bones yet I heard him state confidently, "You're destined for something greater than dying in a street. Our people will bring fire, death and order to this chaos." I struggled to move as we made our way towards a main street were burning vehicles. Bodies littered around them eerily similar to what I'd just witnessed and some of them weren't armed soldiers either.

I never wanted to fight, to fight in wars but if he's even got a shred of truth to promise me strength...I'll become the monster that make these bastards wish they hadn't created. I snarled silently baring teeth due to lightning like fire shooting up my legs, I wanted anything to rid myself of hell that was called a home. Home was supposed to be where you felt safe, desired to have and always wanted to be with those you'd called a family. I failed my friends, my family and I hadn't even been alive to know my ancestor's failed horrifically to have our present ravaged by foreign invaders.

The man smiled due to how pleased it sounded at first, "To learn to achieve victory you must taste defeat and lose everything in order to learn a crucial lesson, boy." I kept my voice utterly devoid of anything save for condensed anger, "And what's the point seeing everything you know being ripped away?" I hissed aloud trying to cope with both a physical and mental agony that seemed too much to stand. A subtle grip on my shoulder followed cold chuckling finding my reaction almost bemusing to humor.

What he spoke next would forever ingrain itself into my mind, "Everything! The lesson is when a man has something fight for then nothing will ever be able to stop him. Not matter the cost he'll do everything and anything, for a ruler and man will stop at nothing to achieve for his most important dream...his people." I looked up asking probably the only question that selfish part of myself dared to ask, "Who are you?"

He didn't answer my question at first in favor to pull out some kind of metallic device which emitted a bright strobe. Distantly a screeching came flying overhead where wind and debris started to get kicked up in a frenzy of violent stinging gusts. I watched with widened eyes as a militarily styled like craft armed to it's literal teeth appeared overhead easing downwards. Heat so fierce stung both eyes as I looked away desperate to avoid them being seared. Yet the man didn't even flinch once to only smile cruelly pleased once gunfire suddenly ceased with audible explosions rocking an entire street. I almost fell over in utter shock alone.

This craft took up an entire street length with ease to settle down as individuals walked off a descending ramp. I watched with sheer disbelief to see similarly styled uniforms, cold expressions and utterly deadly people lower their heads to the person holding onto myself. I looked right into this icy blue eyes as his smile predatory prideful, "My name boy is only worth to those who I consider my family, my blood, my enemies and I will have you will learn it today." As we moved towards the ramp where various eyes distastefully gauged my broken form to only escort us to seats where I saw an unfathomable technological wonder, "My name is...Khan."

End Prologue

Author's Note: Alright, I'm attempting this kind of story because I really found Into Darkness that good because of the actor who played Khan. They utterly nailed it, I mean for all it's fault and I sure as hell ain't a die hard Trek-fan, I enjoy Warhammer 40,000 and Star Wars more in all honesty. But unfortunately I really wanted to do something unique with the movie itself, with Khan and utterly a character whose going to be rather...related to my own imagination.

Thankfully the move itself doesn't go into how, or exactly awoke Khan personally. A blessing and curse yet for all plot holes imagination can do wonders. I don't know how well you readers will take to this yet for all I know, it's a hit or miss. So I welcome you to the Prince of Fire, a tale of when those who rule and love their own will do whatever it takes to secure their future. And I can promise it's not going to be a 'lighthearted' journey for those who think otherwise. Be prepared since I take apart what the very foundations form the Federation, mind you it's just a fictional what-if, so why not?

This will crossover into the movie, 'Into Darkness' I'd say my favorite if I had to choose of these modern interpretations. I still give respect, originality and sheer expanse to First Contact and the Next Generation, Picard over Kirk...yeah I said it. Hate me, or agree because it's too fucking hard to not decide. So I go with what I like more and that's it.