Disclaimer: Star Trek is the property of Paramount/Viacom.
This story is the property of and is copyright (c) 1981 by Cheryl Rice.
Originally published in Gateway,
Martha J. Bonds, editor Rated PG.
To Rule In Hell
(An After Story)
by Cheryl Rice
I was a sculptor once...
I'm warning you, don't come any closer. Now, what was I talking about? My memory
isn't what it used to be. But then, why should it be when everything else has
changed?
Oh, yes, that's right. I
was a sculptor. Not first rate at all if you compare me to the masters, but I
had some talent for catching expressions. It's hard to believe now, but that's
part of the reason I found Khan so attractive at first. He looked so heroic.
His head properly belonged chiseled in stone or on a coin from some savage
civilization.
No! All of you, stay
back. Stay away from me. It was a long time ago, but I took the standard
weapons instruction at the Academy and I remember that very clearly. I put a fresh power pack in it this morning,
right after he told me… I don't care what he's been telling the rest of you.
They haven't been all used up. You should know what kind of leader he's always
been -- keeping the best for himself. Other than me, of course…
Keep away. I'm warning…
there, convinced I'm serious? No, she isn't dead, but she would be if I had
wanted. It was on heavy stun that time. Now it's set to kill. And if I hold it
like this for too long it well may overload and take out this whole corner of
the building. No, it's not a threat, just the truth. You people see that so
rarely you can't even recognize it when it points right at you.
There, that's a good idea.
Let's all calm down. No reason to panic. Khan is, how to put it? Resting.
That's it. Resting all comfortable in his own bed. He told me earlier that he
didn't want to be disturbed and I'm going to see that he gets what he wants.
But then he always gets
what he wants in life, doesn't he? The only problem is that sometimes he
doesn't know what to do with it after it's his.
Like me. He needed me...
I was a 'superior' woman … at least on the
Well, yes, I suppose you
do.
Really, the Captain was
much kinder than I deserved. I could have been court-martialed for mutiny at
least and if things had gone that far, for murder. He was so kind -- though I
wonder if he had any idea how things work out for me on this hell-hole. I
almost cost him his ship. This would
have been a very sweet revenge. But, no, Kirk wasn't the kind of man who would
plan anything like this. He wasn't vicious.
No! How many times do I
have to tell you? Khan is … resting and this door will stay closed. It's the
least I can do. Yes, thanks, I'm fully aware that there hasn't been much I've ever
been able to do here, but it isn't all my fault. I never pretended to be knowledgeable
about anything other than history. And at that I forgot that no one ever really
trusts a traitor. Neither side. And I managed to betray everyone. Most of all myself…
Joaquin, for the last
time, stay away from me. This door is locked and it will stay that way until
Khan wakes up. And that could take some time. I don't understand all the fuss.
So what if you had a meeting with him? He forgot or changed his mind. You didn't
have to round up this mob to try to scare me.
I'm beyond being scared.
I've been frightened for … it must be almost four years since we arrived here. As
exiles. Four years of wild animals, and the crops that died and everyone being
so damned superior. Everyone better, smarter, stronger than me. Bullies, that's
what you are. It must have been great fun, heaven for you, when you were back
on Earth in the old days and could look down on everyone else. On this
godforsaken rock all you have is me. Do you have any idea how tired I am of
hearing about your heart-valve action and renal function and who knows that
else? If any of you had been content to do some hard work around here instead
of complaining and whining about the glorious past, we could have made a go of
it. Instead, we go on simply using up the supplies the
Don't you dare say that.
They were more than generous to you. To us. They didn't have to give us
anything. There was no debt. You aren't out of our past. Everything the
Federation is based on is opposite to your beliefs. You should have seen Khan's
face the first time I tried to explain
all that to him. I'd never seen him so furious. He seemed to think the galaxy
was just sitting out there waiting for him to come along and run everything his
own way. I still don't think he at heart believe me, or that history didn't much
care what had happened to him or the rest of you.
Still, he never should
have hit me like that when I told him. It isn't my fault if Fate treated him
unkindly. Maybe in a way I did deserve it, though. I loved him so much and all
I did was let him down. I'm twice-traitor and it didn't work either time.
Can't do anything right …
don't try slipping around to my blind side, Ling. The eye may be damaged, and I
know it doesn't look pretty, but I can still see motion. And it will probably
head without much of a scar. One of our brave leader's latest gifts. I was
lucky at that. Last time he hit me with his fist like that he almost broke my
jaw and I did lose two teeth. I don't think he's been so angry since we discovered
I couldn't have any more children. Motherhood was all I was ever good for and
now I can't even manage anything that basic. And after I watched three die in
my arms from whatever that disease is that kills most of the newborns here. They
wouldn't live anyway … why was he so made at me? Did he have to have more blood
sacrifices at his altars to his ego? And then he forces himself to tell me that
he's been sleeping with every available woman practically since we've been
here. Passing his 'superior' genes around. So I had to do something. Even I
have some pride left.
I think he fell out of
love with me, and I'm using the term very loosely, when he found out I didn't
have naturally red hair. I hadn't meant to life. The subject never came up. But
when the color wore off … he was totally unreasonable. I mentioned that he was
getting a little grey himself and he slapped me so hard he almost knocked me
across the room. No sense of humor. The only way he has of dealing with
unpleasant truths is violence.
And that is one thing I
really miss. On the
The saddest part is that
I did it all deliberately. I threw it all away with both hands and I can't
begin to blame anyone but myself. Then I didn't spare a backward glance. Now
all I can seem to do is think about the past and try not to cry. We all have to
play the cards we've been dealt. For me it's end game and no way back to all
that's been lost.
I guess it shouldn't be
so bad. That's what life is … a long series of losing things. Everyone loses.
But the only kind of loss that destroyed you, keeps breaking your heart, is the
loss you cause yourself. That's what I did and I'll have to live with it.
I am not hysterical.
Calm. I am calm. I did what I had to … this? You should recognize it … it's a
knife. Khan's knife. You know how he always carried … carries it. For
protection or to show authority or whatever. He's resting now, he doesn't need…
Yes, it is stained. But then blood is
very hard to wash off.
Stay back… NO … leave me
alone. All right. You are quicker
than I am. So now you have a phaser. Kill me and get it over with. Do you think
I care? I've been mortally wounded for years only it
No, I don't have a key.
Search me if you want. Oh, go ahead and
There you go … good
work! Right off the hinges. Now don't the whole group of you go trooping in
there and waking him up.
Don't shake him like
that … he's fine. As soon as the pills wear off. I had saved all sorts of drugs
we had brought with us. And that was always a very safe sedative. I may have
given him one or two too many but I had to be sure that they would work. He's
Khan … what could hurt him? Good thing for me he always liked his coffee strong
and bitter. At least this time he didn't have to worry about it keeping him
awake.
The blood? Oh, I have to
admit I thought about it. It could have been clean and easy. Cut his throat
from ear to ear as the saying goes. An old saying, that one. But I couldn't. He
was still so beautiful and I was a sculptor, you know.
He was being so
patronizing and superior. I was sick of it but you must understand it wasn't
revenge … really … it was making things even.
So I used the knife.
Don't everyone go in there, I'm trying to explain. Careful when you turn him
over … Don't tell me some of you superior people are actually going to be sick.
You can't fool me. Nausea doesn't snow affection.
He shouldn't be dead
unless he's lost more blood than I thought he would. I hadn't meant to cut so
deep, but once I felt the weight o f the knife in my hand and how easily it
slipped through his flesh and remembered all the things he had done to me… After
all, I'm only human. The 'only' part has always been my cross here. Like Kirk
who sent us here. He had to know how Khan would choose with his devilish pride.
When the pills wear off he'll wake up. Screaming, unless the knife did go too
deep.
And I still do love him.
Me, the romantic fool. If he recovers, I'm sure we can be very happy. Not that
he will be so superior any more. He'll have to forgive me … all we will have is
each other.
I don't like the look on
Joaquin's face. He seems angry for some reason. He is very handsome himself.
Almost like a sculpture. Wonder if he would ever consent to sit for me? He's
coming this way. I'll have to ask him. Not hat I like the look he has on his face
right now. I don't know why he should be upset with me… After all, I didn't cut
off his…
Oh, well, he will have
to understand. It was just to make Khan and a poor ordinary woman even. Maybe I
can't have children, but now, neither can he…
THE END