The trip back to earth on the Enterprise was strained, with the Starfleeters watching the Augments like a herd of mice trying to guard a couple of cats. It would be funny if the situation were not so serious.

Khan's first major challenge was explaining everything to his crew, from where and when they were to why Khan was mangling his words and where Jo and the dead were. Brain injury, Marcus, Carol, incipient war with the Klingon empire – the explanations were a pain and it all had to be carried out with the fleeters listening in and presumably recording everything for the upcoming trials.

At least one thing was less bad than he'd feared though – so far no one seemed to blame him for all that had happened or be about to try to take advantage of his new weaknesses. Of course, that would probably change with time, but at least for now Khan could concentrate on enemies without rather than enemies within.

After a media circus and what was often described as 'the trial of the century', Khan and his crew boarded the Enterprise for her long voyage into unexplored territory.

Looking out of the Enterprise's windows, Khan smiled down at the earth below. It was the last time he'd see the place, with any luck. The planet he'd once planned to rule and almost managed to do so.

Now he and his people were going far away, to find a new home among the stars where they would make their own history, as neither slaves nor masters. Only time would tell what would become of them. Perhaps it was better thus.

FINIS

A/N: Well, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story to the end. It's been a long journey since I started it in mid 2013 – golly that's a long time ago now – begun because Khan's willingness to put revenge over his family annoyed me intensely and I wanted to know what it would take for him to choose differently. I hope you've all enjoyed the journey.