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NOM DE PLUME - Natasha Solten

"Okay, so since his suggestion is not offensive to you, I still don't understand what the

problem is."

"I can think of no other names to use. I thought perhaps you might be of some assistance in this area?"

You want me to think up pen-names for you?"

Spock swallowed and looked uncomfortable. Then he nodded.

"Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? I'd be happy to help."

Spock looked genuinely relieved. "I appreciate this very much, sir."

"Sir? That won't do. If I'm to be involved in something as personal as thinking up your pen-names, you can at least call me Jim."

"Thank you, Jim." The brown eyes rose again.

IN CELEBRATION - Charlotte Frost

Spock's eyebrows indicated his surprise at the direct question, but he answered easily.

"Because of your sexuality, of course. You are innately heterosexual."

Kirk nodded absently, acknowledging the truth of that statement. But he was more interested in having his next question answered. "What about you?" he asked softly. "Are you . . . bisexual?"

Spock crossed his arms. "If one were to categorize my sexuality, I believe that 'asexual' would be the most applicable term. While it is true that I have had a few sexual experiences with females, those occasions were under unusual circumstances." He folded his arms and shifted in his chair. "However," he added with lowered eyes, and swallowing heavily, "I would welcome the opportunity to share with you on any level."

Kirk gulped. For an instant he'd felt pleased that Spock called himself 'asexual.' But with that last sentence, their relationship suddenly became very complicated.

ENTERPRISE ROULETTE - Angel C. Soie

Kirk had to strain to reach it without upsetting his balance. "Newspaper stock. Who are they slandering now? Or I ask, what are they printing now?"

"Offering a confidential-coded computer-version of an old-fashioned Lonely Hearts Club."

"Oh, my god! Enterprise's own romantic-roulette! What next?" Kirk glared at McCoy, indicating the question was purely rhetorical.

McCoy waited until his captain had scanned the list. "Didn't you get a paper?" He well knew that 430 copies of the ship's newspaper were always printed.

"Yeah, but I threw this sheet away."

"Nobody else did. Everybody is participating."

"I don't know why! Except for boredom. Surely all four hundred and thirty of us know each other."

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER - Sarah Leonard

Something would have to be done. And soon. Spock moved to his meditation area to gaze into the flame held by the fire shrine. However, he was well aware that meditation would not help. He had tried meditating over the problem many times. His lack of success only agitated him further.

Spock dropped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Something would have to be done. Something. But what? he wondered. Perhaps the only logical thing to do is request a transfer. But I would need a reason, a serious, logical, believable reason. After all, I could not say that I have become insanely jealous whenever anyone especially anyone female has his attention.

FRIEND, LOVER, BROTHER - Jenifer B.

"I did not 'abandon ship,' sir. I made a formal request as per regulations and turned command over to Mr. Scott."

"Coward," murmured Kirk. The rapid changes of approach and the instant understanding of his motives had its planned effect, and Spock crumpled into a sitting posture on a low stone wall.

Still, in his confusion, not totally understanding Kirk, Spock replied, "Jim, do you really believe I would ask you to my bonding ceremony after what happened last time?"

Kirk answered with his own question. "Why'd you have to come so far to get bonded in the first place?"

THE HUNTER - Michelle Baker

His voice stopped. He looked at me. "You really feel this way, and would be willing to leave me here, totally bereft of your friendship, without understanding, without even offering me a . . . what did you call it? A bond? How dare you take such a decision involving my life upon yourself. What kind of friend would do such a thing?"

He was angry. Perhaps more angry that I had ever seen him. Fury bristled off his skin, which darkened in its reaction. His body was tense, fingers crumpling the innocent paper into a ball to be discarded with an oath. It dropped against a bulkhead.

"Regardless of what you expected my reaction to be, you owed me more consideration.

Owed me the offer. It is an offer, Spock, not a threat, not a sentence . . . certainly not the death

sentence that you seem to feel it is. How could you do this to me?"

THE LAST STRAW - Roberta Haga

"No, I would not. You're dismissed."

"Sir, you seem to be in some distress. Shall I send for Dr. McCoy?"

"Commander Spock, you have been dismissed."

"Jim, I cannot leave while you are in this state. I sense that you are still upset with my actions. Surely you must see that I had no choice but to . . . . "

ROCK OF AGES - Kathy Tipton

When the dark hazel eyes turned to him, McCoy asked again. "What's wrong, Jim . . . with Spock?"

Kirk spoke quickly in a torrent of emotion. "He's aging, Bones! At an incredible rate. It's like that time when we all aged, only it's not that at all. It's something the doctor called, ah, trala kat."

McCoy's eyes widened as printed pages of a medical journal flipped before his eyes.

"Yeah," Kirk continued when he realized the doctor's comprehension. "It's a hormone change that a small portion of Vulcans go through but usually much later in life. They age a hundred years in a few weeks and die. Spock has it."

VENUS DESCENDING - Jenny Starr

I spread my hands in ignorance. "I thought Venus wasn't addictive. I mean, I know you have to keep taking it to get the results, but I've never heard of anybody becoming physically dependent on it." I looked at Spock for enlightenment, but his face shared my confusion.

Areel was shaking her head. "You're talking about the old drug, Jim."

"You mean there's a new one?"

"Yes. Venus IV."

POETRY

COVERS

ART

April 1987