AN: Someone asked me what songs inspire me with this fic and I figured I should share a few with everyone.
Let it burn- Red, My songs Know what you did in the dark, This is War- Thirty Seconds to Mars, Count Bodies Like Sheep (to the rhythm of war drums)- A Perfect Circle, Don't let me Go- Reign, Run- Daughter, All of me- John Legend, The scientist- Coldplay, Iris- Goo Goo Dolls, My friends- Sweeny Todd Motion picture soundtrack, Starring Role- Marina and the Diamonds, Rootless- Marina and the diamonds, My songs know what you did in the dark- fallout boy, Slither- Velvet revolver. THE WHOLE PERKS OF BEING A WALL FLOWER SOUNDTRACK. THE WHOLE GARDEN STATE SOUNDTRACK.
So there is just a few songs on a list of fifty I've used and listen every time I write the fic.
-o-
Aria smiled as she walked into the medical bay. Jessup was resting his eyes at one of the tables, his arms resting beneath his head, his ball cap covering his eyes from the bright fluorescent lights. She then walked into the large room that held the hydrotubes and stopped to see Galen with a horrified expression as he stared up at a certain Augment.
"Galen?" Aria asked and he jumped before looking to her wide eyed.
"We have a serious problem." He said.
"What is it?" Aria asked rushing over.
"Look." She looked to the hydrotube and stared wide eyed up at it. "Oh my god…"
"It's sick." He said his voice shaking as he stared up at a clone of Rayna.
"Are they all-."
"They're all clones. All of them… Why would they do that?"
"They were planning on replacing the others…" they turned to see Jessup.
"What?" Aria asked.
"They were going to use these fifty to fill fifty of the criotubes."
"And the Augments filling those fifty?" Aria asked and Jessups jaw clenched.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"Why did you not tell us they were clones?"
"It escaped me-."
"It escaped you!?" Galen roared.
"Galen…" Aria said setting a hand on his shoulder.
"So what you all were just going to kill them and replace them why!? What good would this do!?"
"Galen… It's okay…"
"What are we going to do about this huh?" he asked her angrily.
"Let me make a call…" Galen nodded as Aria walked away. "Send photos of the clones to dreadnaught I want to show Khan."
"Right away." Galen said while glaring into Jessup.
"Galen… I didn't plan this…"
"No but you were a part of it."
"I was just following orders."
"Isn't that what the Nazis said at Nuremburg?" Jessups jaw clenched.
-o-
"Commander?" Khan turned to see Rayna standing at the entrance to the bridge. "Your people wait."
"They're in the hull?" Khan asked.
"They are." She said. "I will stay with the children."
"Thank you." Khan said as he got up. Just as he was heading to the turbo lift a loud beeping came over the Com. He turned his eyebrow quirking as he slowly walked back over.
"What is it?" Rayna asked.
"That's the tone for an urgent message." Khan said before bringing a transmission to screen. He tilted his head seeing Aria.
"We have a big problem…" She said instantly.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "Are you safe?"
"Yes but… Khan they're clones."
"Who?" he asked.
"The Fifty Augments in their Hydrotubes. They're clones… They were going to try and replace fifty of the 70 Augments with Clones…"
"Why would they do that?" Rayna asked.
"My guess?" Aria asked. "I think they were going to make you think you had gotten your people back when in fact you had gotten a bunch of clones that had been Federation brain washed… You would have opened them up and together they would have killed you and the real remaining Augments."
"How did you find this out?"
"In the back of the Hydrotube room… Galen found Rayna."
"Me?" Rayna asked. "They cloned me?"
"What were they going to do with the original augments that they cloned?" Khan asked.
"According to Jessup they would have been neutralized. My guess with blood depletion."
"That's barbaric." Rayna said.
"Khan what do you want me to do here?" She asked. "I think you were right, I think they were made to destroy us…" Khan took a deep breath as he contemplated the
"Wake one up at the end of the week if it tries to kill you, you know what to do." Khan said.
"Okay." She said with a slow nod.
"Ariadne if your hand is forced I want you to have no guilt with what you've done to the clones…"
"I won't… If they die it's because they were made to kill us… We survive above everything else… Besides I won't blame myself… I'll Blame the Federation…"
"I'll talk to you later." He said and she nodded with a soft expression before the transmission went dead.
"Clones to replace us… They're crafty I'll give them that…" Rayna said.
"We've run blood tests on all of the Augments?"
"We have." Rayna said.
"And…"
"They check out sir."
"So they are ours?" he asked.
"They are."
"Good…" He stood. "I will address them now…"
"Good luck Commander." He nodded as he exited the bridge. Rayna smiled before looking down at the sleeping Khaleesi and Samandriel. "Your daddy will be back soon until then it's just us." She said with a smile. "You're just going to sleep through our whole time or what?" she asked before sighing. "Can't wait until you two kids are bigger so we can at least play hide and seek or something. She heard a small giggle and spotted Samandriel he had his eyes covered before bringing his hands down from his eyes.
"Peek-a-boo?" she asked before covering her eyes she peeked through her fingers to see he was doing the same. She laughed softly as she looked the boy over. "Aren't you quick one…" She said with a soft expression before looking over at Khaleesi who was eyeing her brother. Samandriel instantly looked to his sister and for a second Rayna could have sworn they were communicating somehow. But then Khaleesi yawned stretched out and fell back asleep. "Maybe not."
Khan took a deep breath as he slowly walked out into the hull. He heard the room go quiet and just as had been done on the medical bay before everyone went silent. Their eyes turned so they could look up at him. But unlike before in the Medical all at once every man and woman stood their hands held behind their backs as they held their heads high.
"Commander." They all said and Khan nodded.
"Take ease." He said and slowly they relaxed. Khan looked over his people for a long moment, wondering how he should start. "There's… Much you all need to be informed about. We'll start with the date… Stardate 2259." Many took a deep breath. "You all have been under for a long time…This is what has happened, in that time." He stepped away as a short history taken from the Federation Archives played before them. "Take it in slowly…" He said seeing their wide eyed looks.
-o-
"Aria what's to be done?" Galen asked as Aria walked into the Hydrotube room. "What does Khan want to do about this latest development?"
"We wake one up, if they try to kill us we kill that augment and then we take out the rest of them." Aria said.
"Those are his orders?" Jessup asked.
"You laddie don't get a say." Galen said. "You helped grow these abominations."
"These abominations as you call them are still living breathing-."
"Let's stray from a pro life pro choice debate." Aria said cutting Jessup off. "It's kill or be killed simple as that, be glad we're even giving the clones a chance to show their intentions."
"I can't have two of my wife walking around Aria. I just can't." Galen said pointing to the clone.
"Galen… I'm sorry this was done. I'm sorry a copy was made of Rayna."
"They were going to kill her! Kill her and replace her! As if…" he quelled his anger. "As if she was nothing to begin with… As if no one would miss her."
"Galen…" Aria said walking to him. "Tell me how I can make this right. Tell me and I'll do it."
"How could the Federation do this?" He asked as he looked to the clone of his wife before storming off.
"You would kill them?" Aria looked to Jessup. "They have our augmentation Aria."
"They are clones of Augments… Not Augments."
"Semantics." He said and Aria looked him over.
"Jessup I'm going to only say this once so please… Do pay attention." She said as she walked to him. "You stand in my way, I move you. I move you in a way that puts you six feet under. Do you understand me? If I wake them up and they try to kill us I will kill the ones awake, and the ones under. It's kill or be killed. Survive or die. Do you understand what I'm saying to you Jessup?" He slowly nodded. "Don't try anything…"
"I won't."
"Good boy." She said before walking off.
-o-
Khan looked around at his people. They were adapting to this new age. That's what Augments did though. Adapted. One by one they turned their gaze from the screen where the archive footage was shown to Khan who stood before them ready and willing to answer any questions.
"Who is this Augment who helped you?" A man in the front row asked. "Who helped all of us… How was she able to do what she did in the archive footage? It doesn't explain how she came to be of use to me."
"The history of the woman you saw is a complicated one, but one directly relating to our own history." Khan said. "When I first met her she went by the first name Aria and the last name Adne. She was the youngest chief battle expert to ever walk the halls of the federation. Her godfather, the man who raised her, had been killed by the attack on federation head quarters. He was a geneticist and battle expert himself. She took his post and was sent along with Captain Kirk and his crew to kill me, she being the one who was to deal my death blow… Now though she goes by the name Ariadne, in truth having no last name to claim. She is our chief battle expert, my first officer, the mother of my children, and soon to be my wife, your queen." Many blinked and a young man raised his hand.
"So I'm guessing a lot went down in the middle there?" he asked and Khan smiled recognizing the young man as Tuck Shings a very skilled mechanic and resident comedian.
"It's a long story." Khan said. "All you need to know is she is the next Generation of Augments. Because of her we were able to start rebuilding our race while thinking everyone sitting within this room were dead at the hands of the Federation."
"Those children growing in the criotubes, they're of her genetic line?" A geneticist by the name of Camille asked.
"They are."
"What sets her, them apart from us?" Khan tilted his head as he looked to one of his Generals.
"They are Augments." Khan said. "It doesn't matter what sets them apart from us."
"Are they a threat? Is she?" Khans jaw clenched.
"She is on our side and in extension so will those children be when they are full grown."
"What of your children?" He looked to a young woman sitting in the front row. He remembered her as Dianda. "Are they healthy?" She asked and he could see her concern.
"Yes are your children healthy?" another person in the back asked.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"You said children, how many did you have with her?"
"Is she a loving mother-."
"One question at a time." Khan said with a smile.
"When can we see the Children?" Camille asked.
"The children and their mother will make their official introduction when Ariadne is back."
"Where is she now?" A general asked.
"Doing her duty as a my first officer, securing a battle station, and gaining information from it."
"Is she alone?" A General asked standing. "If she is to be our peoples queen she will need soldiers at her command to help her in battle."
"You saw her in the archive footage." Tuck said as he ran his fingers through his blonde hair. "She clearly doesn't need help."
"She will be fine, she'll be back in a few days." Khan said. "She is very excited to meet you all. She is more excited for you all to meet her children." Many smiled but Khan could see a handful of people were unsure of Ariadne, and his children. He didn't know what he would do if these people proved troublesome to his family.
"Commander?"
"Yes Tuck?"
"What is our plan?"
"Our plan right now is for you all to rest and get back into warring shape." They nodded.
"Is there a bigger plan?" Tuck asked.
"There's always a bigger plan." Khan said and many smiled. "Now… Rest. It's an order. I will retire now to be with my children." Many nodded as they watched him walk away.
"Play the archive footage." The general said when Khan was gone. "I want to start studying this Ariadne…"
"Yes sir." One of the soldiers said walking to a control panel.
"Look at the way she moves…" Camille said walking to his side. "Smoother, faster, more methodically then an average Augment…" She smiled. "She's evolved… In every way…"
"She's advanced…" General Tannes said. "What do we do to lesser people Camille?"
"She wouldn't kill us…" Camille said. "It's not in her nature."
"You must not be watching what I'm watching… It looks like it's very much in her nature."
-o-
For the next few days there was no communication between Khan and Aria. Aria too busy with keeping an eye on Jessup and Galen. Khan to busy keeping an eye on his people. The time apart was starting to take its toll. An unfortunate side effect of their connection to one another. They were better together, less so apart. Both could feel the longing for one another, and it tortured them with every breath they took.
Aria knew though that she would get to have communication with Khan soon. After all she was about to wake up one of the clones. Depending on what they did she would have to report to Khan on what went down. She now stood her throwing knives strapped to her thighs as she faced off with a hydrotube.
"It will take a few seconds for them to adjust…" Jessup said along with Galen as they started to wake the male Augment up.
"Who is he cloned after?" Aria asked and Galen looked to her. "Do you recognize him?"
"He is a clone of Kannis Berath… A soldier."
"Thank you for giving me a soldier." Aria said. "I'd rather put down a man who can fight then one who is defenseless."
"I knew you'd prefer it." Galen said.
"I'd just like to point out that if he attacks and you put him down, he may have been able to defend himself but the rest of these people will be defenseless…" Jessup muttered.
"Thanks for that." Aria said her jaw clenching.
"Ready?" Galen asked.
"Do it and stay back." Aria said and they nodded. "I mean it don't step in."
"No promises lass." Galen said as he woke up the man. The hydro tube tipped back and instantly the liquid inside began to drain. Galen and Jessup backed far away into a corner of the room, phasers set to kill in hand. Aria took a deep breath as she watched the man inside the hydro tube begin to twitch.
Please don't try and kill me… Please don't try to kill me… Please be civil. Just be civil.
The hydro tube hissed open, as it did the man inside sat up and removed his mask. As he did he coughed and shook his head, droplets of liquid flying from his hair as he did. Aria watched as he slowly got out of the tube his hands clutching onto it as he stretched.
"Hello." Aria said and instantly he looked to her. She watched as his eyes went from hers to the weapons strapped to her thighs.
"Hello." He said and she tilted her head as his eyes met hers.
"Your name is?"
"Kannis-."
"Your real name is?" Aria asked cutting him off.
"Kannis-."
"You're a clone." Aria said and he tilted his head.
"Am I?" he asked taking a few steps towards her, not at all worried about his naked state.
"Do you know?"
"I do now."
"You're adapting to that information quite well."
"That's what us Augments do… Adapt… Who are you?"
"Ariadne. Chief battle expert to Khan."
"Khan noonien singh?"
"That's right." He looked off as his muscles tensed and Aria took a deep breath. "That's too bad…" He looked back to her and went to make a move forward. Jessup and watched as a knife slammed into the throat of the clone.
"What are you doing!?" Jessup yelled as she moved forward took a nother knife in hand and decapitated his head from his body. "He didn't even-."
"He made a move." Aria said looking down at the dead body. "He was going to make a move."
"You killed him!"
"I saved us!" Aria said to him. "He made a move… You must have seen it." Jessup looked off telling her that he had in fact seen what she had seen.
"So what?" he asked his voice shaking. "We're just going to kill them?" Galen looked at the young man with some remorse.
"Jessup…" Aria said softly. "These aren't our people, the Federation made sure of that with their brain washing." Aria said walking to him. "Our people are back on Vaquitas…"
"Not our people."
"Not true." Aria said. "There are children grown from our genetics and DNA waiting to be born…"
"Like us?" he asked.
"They're not just our people Jessup… They're our family."
"I can't kill these clones…" He said.
"You won't have too…" She said before looking to Galen. "You two get the prisoners from the brig and onto this station. Then get back to the Dreadnaught settle in and get some rest. We'll be heading back to Vaquitas as soon as a possible."
"Aria…" Galen said seeing her blank expression. "Are you alright?"
"Go." She said and he nodded before looking to Jessup.
"Come lad." He said and Jessup looked over Aria for a long moment before nodding and following him out. Aria when they were gone slowly faced the room full of floating defenseless cloned Augments. To her it didn't matter they were bred to kill she and her people. They were defenseless and there was no honor in taking their lives. She took a deep breath weighing her options. She could kill them by cutting off all power to the hydrotubes, or she could wake them up one by one and give them a fighting chance. She wondered what she would have wanted as an augment and after only a minute of thinking about it she walked to one of the hydrotubes and began the sequencing to wake the man inside up.
As the clone started to wake Aria took a few steps back and waited patiently. The man slowly gout out of the criotube and the first thing he saw was the dead body of his fellow clone laying on the ground. He instantly looked to Aria with an expression of rage.
"Kill me and you live." Aria said tossing him a knife. "Simple as that." He instantly ran forward and engaged her in ruthless battle.
-o-
Galen sat in the bridge along with Jessup. Niether had said anything to one another since disposing the sleeping prisoners back on the space station. They had been waiting hours for Arias return. Both knew it would only take fifteen minutes tops to cut off life support to the hydrotubes. Which told them there had been a change of plans, Jessup hoped there had been a change of heart. That hope was smashed though with the hissing of turbo lift doors. They both slowly stood seeing Aria walk in blood spattered across her face.
"Get out please." Aria said walking to the control panel.
"What happened?" Jessup asked wide eyed.
"Let's go lad." Galen said pulling him from the room.
"What did she do!?" Galen covered his mouth and shoved him against the wall of the turbo lift.
"You will not give her trouble for this." He said his eyes filled with rage. "You…" he said pointing at him. "Will not…"
"She gave them a bloody death instead of a calm one she killed them with her bare hands!" He said pulling his hand away.
"She gave them an honorable death!" Galen said his anger flying. "She gave them the chance to live… It may have been bloody, but at least they died with honor." Jessup slowly looked down to the ground. "Think before you speak boy."
-o-
Khan walked to a control panel seeing a transmission being sent. He put it to screen and looked to see Aria sitting in the captain's chair. She was covered in blood and looked worn as she sat with her head held high. He instantly knew what had happened.
"Ariadne…"
"Coming home." She said and her voice sounded dead. "Empty handed."
"You did the right thing."
"No." Aria said. "I did the necessary thing." Her jaw clenched as she bowed her head. "Not the right thing." Khan could feel it, her shame. He could actually feel it filling him in whole.
"Ariadne…"
"I miss my children…" she said softly and he could see her heart wrenching expression. "But how can I face them after having done this?"
"Aria they were made to kill us and in extension our children… You will be able to face Khaleesi and Samandriel because you did what you did to protect them." She slowly nodded as she sat back in the Captains chair. "Come home to us Ariadne…" She took on a soft expression as she looked off.
"I'm bringing their bodies back." Khan sat up straight. "Their bodies are in the hull… They deserve burials. They may have been clones but they were Augments all the same… A reminder to our people of the lengths the federation was willing to go to kill us." He nodded.
"I'll begin preparations." Khan said.
"I'll see you soon."
"Ariadne?" she looked to him. "I love you."
"I-."Aria flew from her chair as the ship was visibly rocked.
"Ariadne!"
"I'm fine!" She said getting on her feet instantly. She stared down at a panel.
"Talk to me what's happening."
"I've got company." She said. "All personal to bridge incoming attack!" Aria said broadcasting ship wide so the message would find both Jessup and Galen. She saw a transmission was coming through and her jaw clenched.
"Ariadne communicate with me." Khan said. "What's going on?"
"I'm being hailed… It's Kirk."
"You're sure?" He asked.
"I'd know that Dreadnaught ship anywhere."
"Attack don't engage." Khan said.
"They're hacking into the com systems… I may not have a choice-." The transmission went dead and Khan took a deep breath. There was nothing he could do. His hands were tied. All he could do was wait for news.
-o-
Aria smiled as she sat in the Captains chair. Before her on screen was Kirk. He looked livid as he sat in his own chair staring into her with pure hatred. She tilted her head while smirking at his rage. Finally she laughed and looked off.
"I hope you didn't just hail my ship to stare at me Kirk." She said before looking to him. "Op." She said as he made a move. "He's standing up. He must be very angry."
"Where is he?" He said ignoring her trademarked sarcasm.
"He?" she asked. "Going to have to be a bit more specific there Kirk…"
"Khan." He said his anger flying. "Where is Khan?!"
"Kirk I didn't answer that question when your federation was poking needles into my eyes I'm not going to answer it now… Not even with that steely gaze of yours." His jaw clenched. "Now this is how it's going to go. You're going to let me fly away and I'm not going to kill the man I currently hold hostage." She said as Jessup and Galen ran aboard.
"All the hostages are inside the station, they're the ones who called us."
"You think I'd give you all my hostages?" she asked before grabbing Jessup and pulling a knife from her thigh holsters.
"Hey!" She put it to his throat instantly silencing him.
"This here is Jessup…" Aria said. "Say hello Jessup…"
"Hello…" he said wide eyed.
"Jessup is a young bright eyed scientist, a prize to the Federation. I should know, he was second in our class, I of course was first… I really don't want to open his throat but I will if you don't let us go."
"You're not going-" Jessup hissed as the blade nicked his neck and blood began to trickle. "Stop!" Kirk yelled in panic and Aria smirked.
"See if I'm bluffing again… Please… I'm just dying to make your skin crawl."
"I'm not going to let you fly off with a hostage and 70 of your fellow augments." Aria smiled.
"Those 70 augments are long gone and woken up." Aria said with a smirk. "You're a full week behind Kirk."
"No-."
"Yes." She said in an overly dramatic tone to mock the one that Kirks had just taken. "Scan my ship you'll see there's only three bodies aboard, oh and 70 dead bodies, I killed the clones made of my people. The clones the federation intended to replace the real augments with. It was a fine plan to bad we thwarted it."
"I didn't know of this plan." Kirk said in all honesty.
"Well you wouldn't there Kirk… Your title may be Captain but you're just a quarterback. A quarterback mindlessly following the plays set forth by the real Captain of the team your dear coach the Federation." She smirked as she looked over Kirk. "See I put that into football terms so you could understand it. I know big words upset you." Galen couldn't help but smile as he looked off.
"Give us back the scientist-."
"Oh no." Aria said. "No he stays with me… When I'm far enough away I'll give him a shuttle and send him back to you."
"You think we're going to let you leave with him?" Kirk asked.
"I'm not going to hurt him."
"Oh no?"
"No I'm not like your Federation… Trust me Kirk once you've been tortured you don't really have the capability of doing it yourself…"
"Khan could-."
"He would never."
"Where's Till-."
"I'm done with this discussion… You have five seconds to make your choice. Let us leave in peace, or get the hostage with me and the hostages inside the station killed. Then yourselves… Because why stop with just the hostages when I can take out entire Federation crew?"
"What happened to you?" Kirk asked his jaw clenching.
"What happened to me?" She asked. "I became a mother… And I will never allow what happened to me, happened to them. The only way to ensure my children grow up healthy, happy, and with a fighting chance is to destroy you and your precious Federation."
"I thought you wanted peace."
"Your Federation has proven there can be no peace… It's up to you Kirk… Do you want to start the war today, or do you want time to prepare." His jaw clenched as he looked her over. "Your five seconds are well over…"
"You know that I am not the Federation right?" Kirk asked. "Or has your hatred blinded you so much?"
"You command a federation ship. You wear a federation uniform. You fly a federation banner… Don't kid yourself Kirk… Now." Her fingers glided over a control panel.
"Sir self destruct has been initiated in the space station." Sulu said making Kirk look to him.
"What's your decision?" Aria asked.
"Is she treating you well?" Kirk asked Jessup who nodded.
"Like she would treat a brother." He said and Aria kept herself from smiling at his words.
"If you don't return him nothing will stop me from seeking you out and destroying everything you and Khan have built." She let Jessup go as her jaw clenched. "Swear it Aria. If that Doctor isn't on my ship in three days time I will level everything and everyone you hold dear…"
"Did you just threaten my people?"
"It's not a threat Aria… It's a promise."
"You've made your choice." She looked to Galen. "Blow it."
"No!" Kirk yelled.
"Sir she's locking Phasers on us!" Sulu said.
"Aria-."
"Fire." Aria said and instantly phasers slammed into the Federation ship as the station behind them exploded into a fiery blaze.
"You just declared war on the federation!" Kirk yelled.
"Your Federation declared war on us long ago!" Aria said before more Phasers slammed into Kirks ship. Aria let her fingers dance across the control panel.
"Strap in." She said to Jessup and Galen who instantly did so as she rushed to the pilots chair. As Kirk fired everything he had at her she instantly threw them into defensive evasion techniques. "Sulu is a great pilot but not as good as me…" She said as she threw the Dreadnaught into a roll before firing a group of torpedoes at Kirk. She smiled when she saw them blow apart the hull of the ship as it went completely dark. "Entering warp." Aria said before shooting off into the verse.
"Galen look after Jessup I cut him pretty deep. Take him to medical bay."
"Of course."
"I'm fine." Jessup said and Aria looked to him with a soft expression.
"Let him look you over." She said and he slowly nodded.
"Come on Lad." Galen said before leading him off. When they were gone Aria sent a transmission of her discussion with Kirk to Vaquitas.
-o-
Khan sat in his chair as he watched Aria and Kirk face off in a heated discussion. Khan had watched this transmission over and over again for the past two days. He kept rewinding to the very end. One minute she was the peace seeking Aria he had always known. The next she was vengeful, and full of hatred. He could see it in her eyes as she let go of Jessup and faced off with Kirk.
"You know that I am not the Federation right?" Kirk asked. "Or has your hatred blinded you so much?"
"You command a federation ship. You wear a federation uniform. You fly a federation banner… Don't kid yourself Kirk… Now." Her fingers glided over a control panel.
"Sir self destruct has been initiated in the space station." Sulu said making Kirk look to him.
"What's your decision?" Aria asked.
"Is she treating you well?" Kirk asked Jessup who nodded.
"Like she would treat a brother." He said and Aria kept herself from smiling at his words.
"If you don't return him nothing will stop me from seeking you out and destroying everything you and Khan have built." She let Jessup go as her jaw clenched. "Swear it Aria. If that Doctor isn't on my ship in three days time I will level everything and everyone you hold dear…"
"Did you just threaten my people?"
"It's not a threat Aria… It's a promise."
"You've made your choice." She looked to Galen. "Blow it."
"No!" Kirk yelled.
"Sir she's locking Phasers on us!" Sulu said.
"Aria-."
"Fire." Aria said and instantly phasers slammed into the Federation ship as the station behind them exploded into a fiery blaze.
"You just declared war on the federation!" Kirk yelled.
"Your Federation declared war on us long ago!"
He heard a beeping and looked to the control panel to see a large vessel was entering their atmosphere. It was Aria. He watched as a ship flew down from the sky and settled not far away from his own ship. He smiled as he stood before moving his hands down his uniform.
"Rayna?" he asked.
"I have the kids, I'm just getting them presentable in their new clothes for their mother." She said with a smile and he nodded before heading to the turbo lift. He landed in the hull and walked out to see a group of his soldiers and Generals with weapons in hands.
"Sir there's another ship."
"It's Ariadne." Khan said and they nodded lowering weapons. He walked out of the ship the men following him as he did.
"This is Vaquitas." Aria said to Jessup as they exited the ship.
"It's beautiful." He said as he looked around.
"And soon completely self-sustaining something I hope you can help us with."
"I'd love to." He said. Aria took a deep breath as she looked forward. She smiled when she spotted Khan moving forward a group of men behind him. When they were breaths apart Khan set his hand on her hip and cupped her cheek in hand. He moved forward and captured her mouth with his. She smiled against him as she completely melted into his arms. Khan pulled back only slightly and set his forehead against hers.
"Hello…" She said with a soft expression.
"Love." He said with a smile before she took a deep breath and took a step back. "Khan I'd like you to meet my brother Jessup."
"Nice to meet you commander." Jessup said his thick southern accent leaking through.
"Nice to have you on board." He said. "We will be having a discussion."
"Of course."
"Hello Gents…" Aria said to the men behind Khan.
"Yes of course." Khan said stepping aside. "Ariadne let me present to you my General Artimis…" A tall broad shouldered man moved forward.
"Very nice to meet you I've read so much about you in the archives." Aria said shaking his hand.
"As I have about you… A pleasure my queen."
"Please call me Aria." She said and he nodded with a smile.
"Let me present to you my… Your… Soldiers." He said. "Darius, Maynard, Maxis, and Balthalt."
"Queen."
"Aria, please." She said and they nodded as she shook their hands. "It will be a pleasure working along side you, I hope we can learn much from one another."
"Indeed." Artimis said.
"Artimis gather the others it's time they meet Ariadne and the children." Khan said and they nodded before walking off.
"Later." Aria said. "We have bodies that need preparation."
"You've done enough we have people now to handle it." He said. "In fact Artimis."
"We'd be happy too. Men." He said and they walked past.
"I would like to assist them." Jessup said.
"Fine…" Khan said looking the young man over.
-o-
"You know what I find very interesting?" Kirk asked as he sat in his war room with Spock, McCoy, and Scotty.
"What's that?" Scotty asked.
"That the rest of the world, and mostly the federation views Aria Adne as a saint." He said. "A poor young woman whose life was cut short by the ruthless Khan… If only they knew she was fucking him."
"Jim." Scotty said. "That girl is still like family to me."
"That girl just murdered five hostages, and 45 of our crew members." Kirk said. "I mourn each and every one of them. Oh by the way she wanted me to give you her best." He said dryly.
"There will be time for grief later captain. Right now we need to figure out what we're going to do now that Khan has the rest of his crew back." Spock said. "They've most likely been woken up by now."
"This is war, and now well above our heads." Kirk said. "We've been called back to Headquarters to discuss what our next steps are to be… Men this is no longer a ship of exploration but a ship of war."
"It was always a ship of war." Scotty said.
-o-
Khan smiled as he watched the turbo lift doors open. Aria instantly burst out of them and Galen gave a laugh as he watched. She broke out onto the bridge and came to a stop seeing Rayna holding Khaleesi and Samandriel. The children were smiling brightly up at her before they slowly looked to their mother. There was a moment of long silence before they both cried out and started straining against Rayna.
"Easy now Easy." She said to the children as Aria rushed forward. She took the children in her arms as she laughed and held them tightly to her chest.
"Hello my darlings." She said with a watery laugh as she kissed both their heads. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry I'll never leave you for so long ever again… Never again." She said and Rayna smiled softly seeing Aria getting misty over her children. Aria suddenly looked to her and smiled.
"Hello."
"Hello Aria…"
"It's so wonderful to meet you in person…" Aria said her eyes dodging away from Raynas. She was glad she was holding her children so she'd be unable to make physical contact with Rayna. All she could think as she looked at the woman was the clone she had cut down in cold blood.
"I just… It's wonderful to meet you but I just need a few moments along with my children I'm so sorry."
"No of course." Rayna said with a bright smile and nodded as Aria quickly walked into her bedroom the doors hissing closed behind her.
"She seems like a wonderful mother." Rayna said to Khan.
"She is… I'm afraid I too must spend some time alone with my children and my wife to be."
"What a coincidence I just need to spend some alone time with my wife." Galen said and Rayna laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. Khan nodded before walking into the bedroom to see Aria laying on the bed with her children them resting against her chest. They had fallen right to sleep in her arms and he smiled as he watched her switch from kissing the top of Khaleesis head to kissing the top of Samandriels.
"Why do babies smell so good?" Aria asked softly and Khan laughed as he walked over and laid on the bed beside his wife to be and children. "They've gotten bigger, I missed them getting bigger." She said looking down at them. "I'm a terrible mother."
"Don't ever say that." He said with a serious tone and she looked to him. "You're a wonderful mother." She smiled softly.
"So…" She said as she looked off. "I'm sorry I started a war." He smiled as he looked up at the ceiling.
"As you so fiercely stated, they started the war long ago."
"Was that too dramatic?"
"No it was perfect." He said looking to her and she smiled softly. "May I ask a question."
"Yes."
"Why can't you look any of our people in the eyes?"
"Because the last time I did I was slitting their throats…" She said softy
"The clones were not them…" She slowly nodded. "Everything you did was very right." She looked to him with a soft expression. "Never question it…" he looked her over to see pain in her expression. "Love?"
"He threatened our people, he threatened our children…" Her jaw clenched. "What if we can't protect them?" She asked looking down at her infant children. Khan turned on his side and set his hand atop her head.
"You've never doubted in me before." She looked to him.
"We didn't have children before… I just… Ever since they were born I've had this crippling fear that I won't be able to protect them, that we won't be able to protect them." She took a deep breath. "Khan I just, I never want them to end up in a white room like I did."
"That won't ever happen." He said kissing her cheek. "I won't ever let that happen."
"I… Can't lose my children… I wouldn't survive it."
"You're never going to lose them." He said as he kissed her temple.
"I can't lose you either Khan…"
"You won't…" He said wrapping his arms around her and his children. "I promise you now Aria you won't ever be left alone again."
She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe him more then she had ever wanted to believe anything. But something deep down kept her from doing so. She figured it was some childhood fear distilled in her by the early death of her parents, or rather her creators.
"Tonight after we present you to the people, let's sneak away…" She looked to Khan. "Just us…"
"That would be nice." She said with a smile. "Do we have to run off right now to our people or can I stay with the children-."
"As long as you like." He said and she nodded with a smile before looking to them.
"I can't wait until they're grown. I can't wait until we can converse. I have so much to tell them…" Khan smiled as he looked over his wife to be.
"You have lifetimes to do so…"
-o-
AN: Okay guys wow sorry for the lack of update had ANOTHER computer crash and lost five chapters of this fic at about 15 pages each. It was gutting but I've hopped back on and written you 18 pages of this chapter and we'll start on the next one right after I post this. I'm so sorry for the lack of updates. Love you guys!
Per usual check me out on Tumblr under the screenname karategirl666 it's the best way to reach me and converse. Ask questions. Or to just bug me for updates lol