captivity

[full_of_wrath]

Kirk gets called in. Mostly because Khan has made two duty officers guarding his cell ask to be relieved, one of them in tears.

He creates a lot of wear and tear, in general.

Comments

[full_of_wrath]

"I'll contact you personally."

She says, seriously.

"He will be safe."

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"I appreciate that."

He smiles for her, and has the Enterprise take him back on board.

[full_of_wrath]

There are a few people on board with something to say about the idea of taking Khan in. A few vociferous things to say.

Bones, surprisingly, isn't one of him. Jim, I'm a doctor, I know better than anyone that the only reason you're alive is because of that fish looming bastard. I'm not nuts about the idea, but I'm not going to pitch a fit.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Spock is logical enough that, between his support and McCoy's, Jim feels this is the right call. That doesn't mean it's any easier to listen to the dissenting opinions. That angry, grieving part of him still agrees with most of them--but he's made the decision not to act off of it.

Ultimately what he tells the crew is that they are trying to promote compassion through the universe, and if they can't do it in their own lives they have no business trying to encourage it anywhere else.

By the end of the month he even has Starfleet Command behind his idea. The hard part now will be convincing Khan.

[full_of_wrath]

When he comes back, Khan will be different. He'll be on his feet, standing on one of the building's balconies, hands laced behind his back. He's still gaunt, still in hospital things, but he looks less rent apart.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Hey."

Kirk knows what he wants, but--thanks to Spock--has reasoned his way to being all right with whatever the outcome here is.

"Looks like you turned things around."

[full_of_wrath]

"They decided I deserved a little easy. For admitting you to about the twelve that were lost."

Explaining, quietly.

"They're believers in expressing sentiment, here."

He sounds too worn down to be truly scathing.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Well...that's not the technical term for it."

He moves to lean against the window, facing Khan.

"I need to ask you something."

[full_of_wrath]

"What do you need to know?"

He looks over and down at him. His eyes are still hollowed. There have been a lot of tears. He feels wrung out beyond all belief.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"You can stay here, and continue the therapy they have laid out, for however long it takes. Or you can come with me, and work between therapeutic sessions. You strike me as the kind of person who needs something to do."

Like Kirk, really.

[full_of_wrath]

He glances over at him in shock. That isn't what he'd expected, in terms of offers from him.

"Marcus?"

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"He's doing therapy, too. That's mandatory. But he's also working in what you'd probably call a penal colony, or he will be, when he's stable enough."

Which is also an option for Khan, but not one Kirk remotely wants him to choose.

"He has it rougher than you do. He earned a tougher penalty than you did, and Starfleet knows that. So I told them to let you choose."

A lot can change in a month for Kirk, especially when he's actively taking the advice of Khan's counselor.

[full_of_wrath]

"Of course I'll come."

He says, breathlessly. He hadn't known it was 'of course' until the moments the words crossed his lips.

"They want me to ask if there will be touch points, contact between them and me."

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Yes. There has to be, that was one of Starfleet's criteria."

And he feels it's important for Khan to understand this isn't Kirk busting him out of prison, this is just another phase in his treatment.

[full_of_wrath]

"Then I'll come."

There are other questions he should ask about confinement to brig or quarters, other useful things.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"They want you to have a trial period. You'll have guards until I dismiss them; you'll have either quarters or a brig but the door will lock between your assigned shifts."

Which Kirk would have felt better about, if Khan hadn't saved his life. But the decision to end the trial period is on his shoulders, so it could be worse.

[full_of_wrath]

"Do I have to let the guards into my quarters?"

He wants to know, though he isn't sure why that strikes him about it first.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Kirk looks at him, eyebrow raised.

"Are you going to do anything in your quarters to endanger the ship or crew?"

[full_of_wrath]

He shakes his head. Then adds, on the prompting of a voice that isn't entirely his own;

"Even in restrictive situations, I do better when I am able negotiate some boundaries which are consistently respected. It serves as a touchstone to differentiate between this and the past. Physical space is the most effective, even if there is surveillance, the sense of bodily privacy is important to me."

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"...Fair enough."

Kirk is very much the same way. This feels like leaning out over a cliff, holding nothing but a thread, but it was his idea to bring Khan on board. He needs to show some conviction in this hunch.

"Your quarters will be your own, unless you show some reason I shouldn't trust you with it."

[full_of_wrath]

"I'll keep them sparse."

He promises, quietly.

"When do we leave?"

[kobayashiwhatnow]

"Tomorrow morning. Early."

He claps Khan's shoulder as he turns away.

"Welcome aboard."

It might be another one of his jokes, but it might not be.

[full_of_wrath]

He shivers, and goes to use the time to compose himself.

He'll be waiting for transport bright and early the next morning.

[kobayashiwhatnow]

Kirk is already on board the Enterprise, but he's sent an escort--just two guards--to bring Khan on board. It's a show of trust, because the chances of those two guards dropping Khan are slim to nil.

He's there waiting in the transporter room, though. He makes a practice of escorting prisoners, because of how rarely they have any.

[full_of_wrath]

"Captain."

Says Khan, solemnly, though he'd just seen him yesterday. He moves to follow him, without needing to be told.