Chapter Text
"So are you into antiques or just really want to recreate the Boston tea party?" Mary asked with a sunny grin.
The man she was addressing looked up at her from his position at one of the terminals in the weapons R&D area. His dark hair was combed back, revealing startlingly blue/green eyes that had an oddly Asian cast to them. Pale skin stretched over high cheekbones. Privately she thought that it was a face more accustomed to frowning than smiling. That frown was firmly in place as he looked at her with one raised brow.
"I'm Mary Finley from logistics." When this didn't provoke a response she continued a bit awkwardly, "You ordered a box of English breakfast tea and ten pounds of C-4? It's just a wee bit antiquated...so yeah." She trailed off under his unbending gaze. She couldn't believe how awkward a look could make her feel.
"You are having difficulty getting it?" He surmised.
Mary fidgeted, somehow feeling that she had done something wrong, which was absurd because who asked for C-4 anyway? That stuff went out in the 1990s. Swallowing nervously she continued, "I-yeah. I can get it for you but it's going to take a few weeks. I have to contact some specialists. Would Semtex work instead? I can get that quicker."
Khan appraised the woman before him. She was small, just topping five feet with the cinnamon complexion. (Meso-american ancestry, lips and nose indicate southern central America.) her black hair was surprisingly long and hung in a thick braid down to her waist. (Most common hair color, dominant trait.) Her defining feature was, without a doubt, her large dark eyes. They twinkled when she smiled, which seemed to be a constant for her. "Semtex would be acceptable."
Mary nodded dumbly. How was this guy so intimidating? He was just sitting there! She decided it must be his manner. He had this odd air about him, as if you were being barely tolerated, the way one might treat a very young child that is interrupting you with something incredibly inane. She mumbled a farewell before leaving is work station in a hasty retreat.
Two days later found Mary occupied in her favorite new hobby, John watching. After some digging she had found out that the man's name was John Harrison and she had begun to watch him, trying to figure out why he had floored her. She noticed that he always ate alone and didn't seem to have any friends at work. His manner certainly didn't invite others in but he still seemed a bit...lonely maybe? She hadn't been able to put her finger on it.
He still intimidated the heck out of her but Mary had always been a fan of facing her fears, well most of her fears. So on Thursday she picked up the box of tea that had come in and marched over to his work station again, "Your tea arrived," she said, placing the box on the edge of the console. John raised a brow in acknowledgement but didn't look up from his console screen.
Mary waited for a few moments, but when no answer was forthcoming she gamely trundled forward, "I looked through your orders," (Oh god, did that sound as stalkerish as she thought it did?) she said, "You seem to need a lot of specialized items. I just thought I'd, um, I'd offer, that is if you needed anything come find me. I can help get it." There. She had made her offer of the olive branch.
Khan raised a brow at her offer. Most people were somewhat put off by him, a condition that he worked hard to maintain. He didn't want the complication of these people trying to find out about him while he was in the Admiral's power, "Do you make these offers to all members of staff?" he asked a bit scathingly. Better to stop this...whatever it is, before it started.
"Not exactly, no," she responded slowly, (Tone and cadence indicate uncertainty and guilt.) "But you're not from around here and you don't really talk with your co-workers. It's just, well, if you want anything from Logistics in a timely manner, you need someone on the inside."
Khan waited to find out what she wanted in return. When no request was forthcoming he simply nodded and turned back to his work. Mary walked away, not seeming to take offense at his abruptness.
A week later the Semtex was waiting for him on his desk. After researching it he was somewhat impressed by her ability to get the antiquated material so quickly. Carefully slicing into the substance he reflected that Mary was useful and, while uncertain, at least less annoying than the rest of the people at this facility.