[ she remains impassive as he studies her, unreadable to a fault. she's a little too good at this, and the one person who can read her when she's not giving anyone anything to read isn't here. ]

The augments from that time period aren't as superior as they believe themselves to be. There are numerous genetic flaws in their design, traits like heightened aggression and an innate arrogance. Genetic manipulation has come a long way since then, but back then, those scientists didn't take those mental attributes into consideration when they were so-called "amplifying" everything else. Superior intellect came at the price of superior ambition and ruthlessness. Obsessive personalities and egos that when damaged could breed lethal consequences.

Khan had the project. He had it. He had it, and he could've simply left, gone off and used it as intended. He didn't. Why? Vengeance. There was Admiral Kirk, aboard the very ship he failed to steal. He risked the lives of his people to carry out revenge -- revenge that cost those people their lives, and his own. It's genetic, Jim. A split in the timeline isn't going to change that. It's there, and if he already has it out for you and your people...