that Ceti Alpha V had no sentient inhabitants.
The night seemed almost supernaturally dark by the time Khan finally completed his rounds and joined Marla by the fire. He dropped cross-legged onto the ground beside her. The flickering orange light of the flames caught the sharp angles of his majestic countenance, which were familiar to Marla from centuries-old historical photos as well as her own firsthand observations. His burnished bronze skin seemed to glow from within, as though lit by some unquenchable inner flame. A ceremonial silver dagger, or kirpan, was tucked into his belt along with the phaser. Despite the exertions of the day, he looked as strong and vibrant as ever.
The first time Marla had seen Khan, in that coffinlike hibernation niche aboard the
Botany Bay
, he had taken her breath away.
He still did.
“My apologies for making you dine alone,” he said graciously. “Sometimes the responsibilities of command take precedence over more personal concerns.”
“That’s all right,” she replied. “I understand.” She glanced up to see Joaquin standing only a few meters away, watching over Khan like a Baneriam hawk. He eyed Marla suspiciously, as though expecting her to knife Khan at the first opportunity.
Doesn’t he realize,
she thought, unsettled by the bodyguard’s relentless scrutiny,
that I would rather die than hurt Khan, despite what happened on the
Enterprise
?
Her discomfort did not escape Khan’s keen powers of observation. “That will be all, Joaquin,” he instructed the attentive bodyguard. “You may leave us now.”
“But Your Excellency…!” Joaquin protested, alarmed at the prospect of leaving Khan alone with Marla.
Khan smiled indulgently at his servant’s distress. “Do not trouble yourself, my old friend.” A deep, resonant chuckle escaped his chest. “I think I can defend myself against a lone woman.” He shared an amused look with Marla. “Not that I expect I will have to.”
Reluctantly, Joaquin exited the scene, but not before casting one last glare at Marla, who breathed a sigh of relief as the bodyguard’s hulking figure receded into the distance.
“You must forgive Joaquin for his diligence,” Khan said. “Back on Earth, I had many enemies, and Joaquin was my last line of defense against traitors and assassins.” Khan’s voice and face grew more somber as his memory stretched back across the centuries. “He owes me his life, and will do anything to protect me.”
“I see,” Marla said.
At least we have that much in common,
she thought, although she still couldn’t shake the image of Joaquin striking Uhura.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget that
.
A momentary hush fell over the campfire. Now that she finally had Khan to herself, Marla found herself strangely tongue-tied. It dawned on her that this was the first time they had been alone together since Khan’s defeat aboard the
Enterprise
; afterward, Khan had been placed under maximum security in the ship’s brig, while Marla herself had been confined to her quarters until the ship arrived at Ceti Alpha V. Although they had seen each other briefly at their judicial hearing, when Marla agreed to join Khan in exile, they had largely been kept apart—until now.
Where to begin?
Marla thought. “Thank you,” she murmured, “for saving me … before.”
Khan dismissed the incident with a wave of his hand, as though Zuleika’s attack on Marla was of little consequence. “In time, my people will come to accept you,” he promised.
Marla had her doubts, but chose not to contradict him. There was something else on her mind. “Khan,” she began, “we’ve never talked about what happened on the
Enterprise
, when I helped Captain Kirk retake the ship.”
Khan nodded gravely. Marla held her breath, waiting for his response. She was terrified of what he might say, but, for better or for worse, she had to know whether he blamed her for stranding them all on this remote and uncivilized
The night seemed almost supernaturally dark by the time Khan finally completed his rounds and joined Marla by the fire. He dropped cross-legged onto the ground beside her. The flickering orange light of the flames caught the sharp angles of his majestic countenance, which were familiar to Marla from centuries-old historical photos as well as her own firsthand observations. His burnished bronze skin seemed to glow from within, as though lit by some unquenchable inner flame. A ceremonial silver dagger, or kirpan, was tucked into his belt along with the phaser. Despite the exertions of the day, he looked as strong and vibrant as ever.
The first time Marla had seen Khan, in that coffinlike hibernation niche aboard the
Botany Bay
, he had taken her breath away.
He still did.
“My apologies for making you dine alone,” he said graciously. “Sometimes the responsibilities of command take precedence over more personal concerns.”
“That’s all right,” she replied. “I understand.” She glanced up to see Joaquin standing only a few meters away, watching over Khan like a Baneriam hawk. He eyed Marla suspiciously, as though expecting her to knife Khan at the first opportunity.
Doesn’t he realize,
she thought, unsettled by the bodyguard’s relentless scrutiny,
that I would rather die than hurt Khan, despite what happened on the
Enterprise
?
Her discomfort did not escape Khan’s keen powers of observation. “That will be all, Joaquin,” he instructed the attentive bodyguard. “You may leave us now.”
“But Your Excellency…!” Joaquin protested, alarmed at the prospect of leaving Khan alone with Marla.
Khan smiled indulgently at his servant’s distress. “Do not trouble yourself, my old friend.” A deep, resonant chuckle escaped his chest. “I think I can defend myself against a lone woman.” He shared an amused look with Marla. “Not that I expect I will have to.”
Reluctantly, Joaquin exited the scene, but not before casting one last glare at Marla, who breathed a sigh of relief as the bodyguard’s hulking figure receded into the distance.
“You must forgive Joaquin for his diligence,” Khan said. “Back on Earth, I had many enemies, and Joaquin was my last line of defense against traitors and assassins.” Khan’s voice and face grew more somber as his memory stretched back across the centuries. “He owes me his life, and will do anything to protect me.”
“I see,” Marla said.
At least we have that much in common,
she thought, although she still couldn’t shake the image of Joaquin striking Uhura.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget that
.
A momentary hush fell over the campfire. Now that she finally had Khan to herself, Marla found herself strangely tongue-tied. It dawned on her that this was the first time they had been alone together since Khan’s defeat aboard the
Enterprise
; afterward, Khan had been placed under maximum security in the ship’s brig, while Marla herself had been confined to her quarters until the ship arrived at Ceti Alpha V. Although they had seen each other briefly at their judicial hearing, when Marla agreed to join Khan in exile, they had largely been kept apart—until now.
Where to begin?
Marla thought. “Thank you,” she murmured, “for saving me … before.”
Khan dismissed the incident with a wave of his hand, as though Zuleika’s attack on Marla was of little consequence. “In time, my people will come to accept you,” he promised.
Marla had her doubts, but chose not to contradict him. There was something else on her mind. “Khan,” she began, “we’ve never talked about what happened on the
Enterprise
, when I helped Captain Kirk retake the ship.”
Khan nodded gravely. Marla held her breath, waiting for his response. She was terrified of what he might say, but, for better or for worse, she had to know whether he blamed her for stranding them all on this remote and uncivilized
Similar Books
