Ad Astra :: Star Trek Fanfiction Archive ^{Beam me up, Scotty.}

Chapter Text

Maya walked away from that interaction feeling unsatisfied, even though she went in with no expectations and no idea what she hoped to get out of it.  Back to wandering the wreckage  while guessing when and how she would eventually answer for her brother’s murder.  She went back to the laboratory where she first contacted the Portland, hoping at least for the solitude she craved.

Back at the same computer console from before, Maya skimmed through databases and records, more keeping herself busy than anything.  It had occurred to her that there was nothing stopping her from contacting the Enterprise herself, but after having her plans dissolve in front of her, it didn’t seem worth the trouble, only to get turned down again or create another disaster.  

The sound of approaching footsteps sent a jolt of energy down Maya’s spine.  She stood upright and jerked her head to see, standing in the doorway, two men she knew well: Huy Nguyen and Xanti Vasquez.  The pair of them were often seen together and claimed to be the best of friends, even though they never seemed to stop arguing with each other.  

“Maya,” Xanti spoke, softer than she had known him to be.  “Word travels fast, we know what you did.”

Panic set in.  Maya had no way to defend herself, and even though she had never seen Huy moved to real anger, he was built like a human shaped battering ram.  “If you’re here to take justice into your own hands, I would advise against it.”  She spoke with force, well aware that her words might be her only means of preserving her life.

“We aren’t interested in justice,” Huy spoke this time.  “We want your allegiance.”  

“I don’t understand.”  Maya was interested, if confused.  She was still on high alert, but at least didn’t feel immediate danger.

“We’ve begun to question if Khan really is the best choice to lead,” Huy continued.  “And we intend to remove him.”

An impossible scheme if ever she heard one, but she was still listening.  “I hope you have a good plan.”

“It’s in its infancy,” Xanti spoke this time.  “What we need now is numbers.”

Maya had to fight to stop herself from laughing, but the proposal still appealed to her.  She didn’t care about their goals, didn’t think the had a chance of succeeding, but their allegiance meant their protection.  “And I’d be thrilled to be rid of him.  We have the same goals.”

A goal was about all they had: no plan, no support, no weapons…well, they could do something about that last one.  Maya began to search around the laboratory.  “They we’re doing astrophysical research, but there might be something here a little more deadly than blunt objects.  Huy might be able to break bones with his bare hands, but I can’t.”

Only moments after they came to their agreement, the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor.  All three froze, alert and ready when another augment stepped through the door.  A shiver went down Maya’s spine when she saw who it was: Katya Mikhailovna, an old sweetheart of hers and one of the few people to show her kindness that wasn’t laced with pity.

She looked toward Maya.  “Khan wants to speak to you again.”  Her tone was soft and distant, as if she didn’t want any part of it.

Maya stepped forward, only willing to give herself up because of who was speaking to her, but Huy spoke first.  “We don’t take orders from him anymore.”  His voice was just as powerful as one would expect for a man of his size and strength.  “And anyone who refuses to join us is our enemy.”

“You know I can’t do that.”  Katya still spoke softly, frail and frightened as she began to shrink away, but Huy lunged toward her,

“Huy, dammit, stop!” Maya shouted, rushing towards him, but she wasn’t fast enough.  Huy head Katya in his hold, and even though she struggled fiercely, her broke her neck with little effort and dropped her lifeless body on the ground.

The world was a blur.  Huy and Xanti were arguing about something, but Maya didn’t care enough to listen.  The few people she knew who treated her with genuine kindness and dignity were all dead.  All except for Captain Albrecht, but she wouldn’t have much longer anyway.

The landing party beamed down to a section of the wreckage where the ship’s sensors detected to life forms.  They had their phasers at the ready—and set to kill as per Captain LeFevre’s instructions—but the fewer augments they encountered the better.

“Move quickly and quietly,” McTavish command.  “We find the hostages and get out.”

Carefully they moved through the wrecked ship, ready to spring into action.  Before they left the Enterprise they had been able to study the layout of the Toyotomi, but there were limits to the usefulness of that knowledge.  They didn’t know where any augments might be lurking, where the hostages were, or where the wreck might have hazards or unsafe areas.  Their first few minutes aboard were uneventful, with the team only encountering two augments along the way, who Zh'izaolit dispatched without hesitation.

The wreck was eerily quiet until the approached the ship’s laboratory and they heard the voices of two men shouting.  With his phaser ready McTavish inched toward the doorway.  Inside he saw three young augments, the two men arguing.  The moment he was spotted, they stopped and the larger of the two ran toward them, but McTavish was quick with his phaser and killed the man instantly with one shot.

“Where are the hostages?”  He demanded.  “Don’t think about trying anything, I’ve got four more of my people around the corner, all with phasers set to kill, no matter what enhancements the two of you have, those odds don’t look good for you.”

The remaining man glared at McTavish as the rest of the party rounded the corner.  “I have no more love for Khan, but I’m not inclined to help the person who just killed my best friend.”

“I’m not giving you a choice.”  

“Commander,” Dougherty spoke up, but she still had her phaser read.  “This man isn’t acting with hostility.”

McTavish ignored her and fired his phaser anyway. “Still too much of a threat to keep alive.”  He looked to the remaining survivor, a young woman.  “And what about you?”

“I only know where three of the hostages are,” she answered, voice trembling.  “I can tell you where they are if you accept my surrender.”

McTavish didn’t stand down yet.  “Tell me your name.”

“Maya.”

“Your full name.”

“Maya Noonien Singh.”

“That makes me less inclined to trust you.”

“I can’t blame you for that.”  Maya sounded defeated, pinned in on either side by people who wanted her dead.  “But I’m exhausted, unarmed, injured, and have made my father into my enemy.  I was led to believe that your Federation was known for treating people with compassion and dignity.  Am I wrong?”

McTavish still did not back down, but Torot had something to say.  “Commander.  There is a way to know beyond a shadow of a doubt if she is trustworthy.”

“A mind meld?”  Theeravit guessed, and Torot nodded.  

“Only if she consents,” Torot added.

All eyes were on Maya, but even with phasers pointed at her she hesitated.  “I need to know what’s involved,” she answered, chocking on her own words, a beat of sweat forming on her brow.

“Why?  Something to hide?”  McTavish pressed.

“Have you never had memories and feelings you wanted to keep private?” Maya snapped.

“It is an intimate sharing of minds,” Torot explained, clinical as one would expect a Vulcan to be, yet clearly trying to instill a sense of trust and calm.  “You have my word that anything not directly related to our mission will be kept in the strictest confidence.”

Maya nodded.  “Then do it.”

Torot put his phaser away.  “I must ask everyone to lower their weapons.”  Everyone looked to McTavish, who made no move and stayed silent.  “I will not perform a mind meld under duress.”

“Very well.  Phasers down,” McTavish commanded, though he sounded annoyed, and his team complied.

Torot began to walk toward Maya, slow and calm.  “Try not to put up any resistance.”

Maya chuckled to break the tension.  “You’re saying that to someone who hates to even talk about her feelings.”  

“Close your eyes and breath deeply.”  Torot placed his fingertips on the side of Maya’s face.  “Your mind to my mind,  your thoughts to my thoughts.”

“LeFevre to Doctor T’Ralia.”  He had his communication officer ensure that  he would have secure and private communication with the the Portland’s sickbay, and he wasn’t in the mood to waste time on pleasantries.  Good thing a Vulcan wouldn’t be bothered by getting straight to business.

The screen turned on.  “Doctor T’Ralia here.”

“Any updates?”

“We have lost all control of the ship.  Captain Albrecht is acting under control of Khan, and several augments are on board.  I have no reason to believe anyone suspects that I am not similarly compromised.  In fact, I believe the reason that I was also infected with Ceti eel was less to control me and more to ensure that I could be returned to the ship alive without risk of revealing what I witnessed.”

“Understood.  And what about your research?”

“The eel is remarkably resilient.  I may be able to synthesize a compound that could kill it, but it would be a neurotoxin to humans.”

“So we can’t regain the Portland without killing Captain Albrecht…”. LeFevre’s voice trailed off.  A Starfleet ship full of Starfleet personnel, and now it looked as though the only option was to proceed as if it was an enemy ship.

“A precise dose would be effective yet non-lethal, but the neurological damage would be significant.”

That didn’t sound much better.  “Unless you can think up a better idea, that may be our only option.  I have a team of my best people planetside to rescue the hostage by force.  I’ll feel a lot better once they’re back to safety.”  That was still a big if, but sometimes it did feel better to adopt a little of Commander Dalton’s positivity.

“I will send over some information that might help you,” T’Ralia responded.  “I have genetic samples from Khan’s daughter.  The augments have genetic markers that, when integrated into the ship’s sensors, are enough to differentiate them from unmodified humans.”

“Send it over.  You know, this would be a lot easier if that might be enough to engineer a biological agent that only affects them.”

“Captain…was that statement meant to be sarcastic?” The doctor looked perplexed.  “Because if it was said in earnest, what you’re suggesting would be genocide.”

“Don’t talk to me about genocide,” LeFevre looked away as he spoke, his voice low and his jaw clenched.  “I have First Nation ancestors who survived the atrocities committed by the Canadian government, and that pales in comparison to what Khan did in the past and what he plans to do if he gets his way.  End transmission.”

Maya was shaking and holding back tears, such a contrast to Torot who appeared to be unaffected by the experience.

“Well?” McTavish asked.

“She knows where Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are, and she was telling the truth about being injured and on hostile terms with Khan”

“Can she be trusted?”

“For now, I believe so.”

“I thought looking into her mind was supposed to give you a definitive answer.”  McTavish’s grip on his phaser tightened.

“Her motives and personal feelings are complex, Commander.  She played a part in the takeover on the Portland, but was also driven to turn against her family.”

“If you have the information you need from her, I think she’s still too much of a liability.”  McTavish raised his weapon, forgetting Torot’s request from earlier.  

“Commander, if I may.”  It was Dougherty again, speaking more assertively than before.  “She won’t be a liability in the brig on the Enterprise.  I can escorts her.  Since we began taking a more forceful approach, I feel as though I have less to offer here.”

McTavish paused to consider this, the nodded.  “Very well.”

Dougherty took out her communicator.  “Dougherty to Enterprise.  Two to beam up.  Have security prepare to receive a prisoner.”

Torot led the way to the location he had learned from Maya’s mind.  It wasn’t far to go, and the only resistance they met was one more augment, a middle aged woman who tried to attack before they could fire their phasers.  McTavish was troubled by the stillness aboard the wreck, he couldn’t but wonder if the reason why so few people were on board was because more of them had beamed aboard the Portland.

A massive grin appeared on McCoy’s face when Torot came into view.  “Never thought I’d be so thrilled to see a Vulcan face!”  Spock offered a silent response by raising one eyebrow.

“I would advise against celebrating just yet,” Torot answered as he punched in the controls to open the door.  “Our situation is dire.”

“He’s right.  The Augments have taken control of the Portland.” McTavish explained .  “Captain LeFevre sent us.”

“Wait…” Kirk spoke up.  “Take Bones and Spock back to the Enterprise.  Khan will only negotiate with me, if I’m not here…”

“No way, Jim!”  McCoy.  Interrupted.  “Either we’re going together, or we’re staying behind together.  Besides, if any of those augments see that two of  us have disappeared, they’re going to know what’s going on.”

“We’re here to free the civilians too,” McTavish continued.  “Negotiation isn’t an option any more, Khan isn’t playing fair.”

“I don’t think he’s capable of playing fair,” Kirk replied.  “I can’t say I envy you, rushing head on into a den of angry, aggressive superhuman.”

McTavish shrugged,  “As it would turn out, genetic enhancements still can’t beat a phaser set to kill.”

Kirk smiled “I like the way you think.  I want nothing more than to accompany you, but they took our phasers, I’m afraid I would only be in the way.”

“You belong on the Enterprise, Admiral.  Any idea where the civilians are being held?”

Kirk shook his head.  “No, but it must be near the bridge.”

“Right into the lion’s den.  Don’t worry, Admiral, we’ll speak again soon.”  McTavish took out his communicator.  “McTavish to Enterprise.  We haven’t found the civilians yet, but we are here with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy,  ready to beam them up.”