04

LOOKING OUTWARD TOGETHER - Natasha Solten

He turned questioning eyes on me, stared at me intently for a moment before nodding in understanding. "It's like choosing between death or torture. The lesser of two evils." He gnawed thoughtfully on his lower lip, stared again at his lap and the leather pouch there. "You know, when I found out we would have a child, I . . . I was so happy. I thought she will be like Miramanee, the wind, the rain, the beauty of nature . . . and I would teach her everything I knew.

Or he would have been . . . again like her, dark and mysterious. I kept seeing your face but I couldn't remember your name. I would have named him after you, Spock, if I had remembered."

DIAMOND DUST - Indra

On the last night of the second week Kirk put down his book and looked at the slim figure seated on the floor in front of his chair. Spock was absolutely still and Kirk realised with a sudden shock that his friend was deep in a meditative trance.

He's meditating! Meditating completely! And I'm here while he's doing it! It's so private .

. . . Yet he's doing it and he knew I was here. He must have begun deliberately. I've seen him in melds and helped him out of more than one when he needed it, but he's never let me see him meditate properly. He's so deep, too. Must be right into the lower levels and very vulnerable when he's like that. I must be careful not to disturb him.

" . . . ALONG CAME A SPIDER . . . "- C.A. Pierce

She took the report and he almost let go before her clawed hand could take it. He wanted no 'accidental' contact.

She nodded, her eyes again doing their torture. Then Spock sighed and slumped when the turbolift closed.

He sat at his station, wondering how he would get rid of her. I do not wish to put a smear on her record as she is a very good worker, but she must learn to respect . . . superior officers.

Because she comes from a planet where men are sexual objects . . . Spock flinched, does not give her the right . . . .

NESSUS' TEST - Faille

"Come on, Spock . . . cheer up. We're not down for the count yet. The Enterprise is probably on our trail right this minute." Kirk patted Spock's knee, consolingly. His words sounded hollow, even to him. The solar system they had been exploring was very large and there were several habitable planets. And they had no idea of the range of Nessus' transportation device.

They were, in fact, very short on any information. Kirk remembered only that he had been standing beside Spock at the science console when a blinding rainbow-flash had filled his eyes.

The next moment, he and Spock were in the rapidly-becoming-odious cell.

OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB - Vera Barga

He looks so damn innocent. What DID he find out? What the hell could I have revealed to a touch telepath while I made love to him? Calm down, James T., panic won't get you anywhere and you had better be far away fast.

Kirk grabbed his tunic and pants, hastily pulling them on. You don't know that he read you. You don't even know for sure that Romulans are telepaths. He might not be a Romulan, could be a Vulcan. Sure! Tell that one to High Command. Jim unlocked the door and checked the hall before making his way as unobtrusively as possible to the changing cubicles. I feel like a thief. Espionage 101. Sorry, sirs. I thought I was screwing a Vulcan, wasn't my fault I gave my libido free rein. Doctor's orders you know. You see, sir, I have this thing about my first officer .

.

. RIGHT!! SPOCK!! I've been down here for HOURS!! I can't face him now!!

A MORE INTERESTING GAME - Donna Vanderlaan

"Do you mean that we should play for . . . credits?" The Vulcan tried not to appear scandalized.

"No, Spock, that's too ordinary. I have an idea though. How about something more threatening . . . like the loser has to reveal something that he wouldn't want the other person to know. Something he wouldn't normally talk about?"

Spock raised both brows as he thought about this new puzzlement.

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET - Brandy Amber Allen

"Damnit, Spock, what do you want from me?!" Kirk whirled around to face his friend In facing the Vulcan, however, this close to the edge, it was like standing aside looking on as he lashed at one who understood. Though the Vulcan's face remained unmoved, Kirk saw the hurt his words inflicted. Why am I doing this? he asked himself. To Spock!! Look at him, standing there, taking it. I love him and yet I attack as if it was his fault!

But Kirk couldn't stop the awful rage once it had begun. It only seemed to intensify until he felt smothered. "Okay, you want to know what's bothering me . . . fine! First, though, I want you to take a look. Take a real good look at the man you see standing in front of you. This man's a fake, Spock, nothing more than an empty shell! I'm not who you think I am. My life has been nothing more than an elaborate masquerade!"

EBB TIDE - Tere Ann Roderick

Kirk pulled back as though the well-known face had suddenly transformed into a mugato, his own features showing his dismay. "Then . . . you DON'T . . . . " He could not say it . . . not now. He'd been a fool to think that Spock might feel 'romantic love' for him, especially after the Vulcan had used the example of the family unit. He thinks of me as a brother. I must've shocked him out of his skin when I touched him. Shit! How the hell do I explain it? Jim started to get to his feet, but strong arms prevented him.

"T'hy'la, do not regret this desire. I am honored that you . . . find me acceptable. I would be pleased to . . . serve."

FANTASY OUT OF HAND - Alexis Fegan Black

What was it about Spock's company that made everything seem all right? Was it the Vulcan's dependability, the fact that Kirk knew he could rely on him in a crisis? No . . . there were plenty of reliable officers on the Enterprise. Those who weren't didn't last more than a week. It was more than that, more than just the fact that Spock was a good second-in-command.

Was it because the Vulcan represented security? A stable friendship which didn't depend on social niceties and artificial masks? Well . . . that was part of it, Kirk knew. With Spock, he didn't have to constantly play the role of Captain Kirk. With Spock, he could relax, could curse at a faulty dilithium crystal or spout philosophy in the wee hours of the morning all without feeling that some form of social judgment was being passed in the Vulcan's mind.

A PRIVACY OF STORM - Lyon

They had known the possibility existed that they would be trapped, but could not have known it would happen so quickly after beaming down. The bizarrely erratic atmospheric conditions on the planet, and the fluctuating radiations of its dying sun, had both intrigued the Enterprise scientists and presented a problem, complex and dangerous, for her transporter engineers. McCoy had peevishly labelled it "just another Go-At-Your- Own-Risk pleasure jaunt."

The Vulcan had volunteered to take charge of the small survey team, and at first Kirk had seemed uncharacteristically content to let him do so. But another offhand, mildly critical comment by McCoy appeared to prompt the starship's captain to abruptly change his mind, and join the landing party.

POETRY by

COVERS by

ARTby

1985