13

LETTING GO - Darla Michaels

"Spock," he said softly, "we need to talk."

The Vulcan straightened up and looked at Kirk. "There is nothing to say, Captain. What happened last night was . . . was . . . my fault. I behaved abominably. I shall request immediate transfer when we return to the ship."

"Your fault?! Transfer?!! Spock!!!!" Kirk was astounded. "How can you say it was your fault when I practically . . . er . . . you were in no condition to . . . um . . . . Hell! Spock,

you were drunk and I took advantage of you . . . of your condition. The only explanation I can offer is that I was pretty drunk too. And that's no excuse. All I can say is I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

OBSESSIONS - Pat Charles

The idyllic moment was shattered. "There you are." The voice was a desecration. "Is this where you do your paperwork? Not very efficient." She giggled. "Still, it's nice up here." As she spoke she was walking toward them. Without a word Spock turned and, going straight past her, moving too quickly for interception, left.

"I'll get him, you know," she said almost conversationally to the stunned man facing her.

"It's no use trying to protect him. I want him and I'll get him." Then she followed her prey.

Kirk hardly heard her. Usually so quick to react, he was still groping for normality after the shock of the disruption of that exquisite moment with Spock. With returning reality came anger. This harridan, this spiteful, ruthless creature had upset Spock. His expression had been outraged and he would be ashamed of that. All of Kirk's protective instincts came to the fore.

Why should that harpy be given a chance to disturb Spock?

WHAT CAN BE DONE - Sarah B. Leonard

"It is my turn for white, Captain."

The two men sat at the appropriate sides of the board, then momentarily looked into each other's eyes, measuring their opponents.

His eyes are still unsure when he looks at me. Does he expect me to leap this table and rape him? Spock stared down at the board, then moved one of his knights in an opening move.

I'll have to make the first move. Somehow I'll have to show him that I still want his friendship. Kirk lifted his knight in the opposite maneuver. Spock answered that move, and Kirk lost track of his worries as he be came involved in the match.

A DREAM IS A WISH - Yvonne DeChine

"'Spinner-gas.' An hallucinogenic gas."

"Haven't tried it since Academy days. Come on, Spock, there's a cubicle vacant now."

Kirk tugged, but Spock was unmoved. "Won't work on Vulcan's?"

"Apparently, it has proven effective on all oxygen-breathers." Spock had quick-scanned the disclaimers and the list of chemical components. "It will not harm Vulcans. However . . . . "

Kirk had heard enough. "Come on, Spock, it'll be fun. We never do anything together."

ALL HE WISHED - Sharon Pearson

"I know. I'm sorry I had to kill him, but you're right, I had no choice. That's not the problem, not really." Kirk paused, trying to sort out his thoughts, to put into words what he was just beginning to understand himself. "Gary used people for his own ends, not just after our run-in with the barrier, but always. He used me, used our friendship to improve his grades at the Academy, and later to get himself promoted." He slapped the arm of his chair with a clenched fist.

"And yet, realizing all that, you still hesitated to kill him, still regret having done so."

HIS IS THE ONLY MUSIC - Elizabeth Scott

The barely formed smile shattered as Spock saw Kirk stalk into the room, his entire body trembling with fury. Red-faced, with clenched fists, he confronted his first officer. "Beating the shit out of me while you raped me wasn't exciting enough, is that it, Spock? Last night you had to rape my mind, too?"

The bubble of sunshine Spock had carried back with him from the Cestus morning sputtered and died inside him. "Jim, you wanted . . . . "

"Wanted you? Is that what you're trying to tell me? You bastard. You put something in my mind to make me say I wanted you. Think about it, Spock. Why the hell would I want you?

Why the hell would anyone want you?" Kirk didn't wait for an answer, but continued. "What I want is you off my ship. Got it? I want your conniving, perverted ass off my ship!"

TWO BLIND MICE - Brandy Amber Allen

McCoy broke the silence. "No, huh? Okay, then listen. You know nearly as much about

life sciences as you do natural sciences. You go to Hamm. I'll be better able to cope with whatever Jim's gotten into. If he's gotten into anything. For all we know, his communicator may have malfunctioned. He may be dead drunk under the table. He might have found some woman who finally means more to him than this bucket of bolts. He may have just wandered off, hoping for a little solitude that, surely, he hasn't been able to find here. And if it is a medical emergency, who is more acquainted with his medical needs; who might better treat it and have it on the mend before you can have the ship turned around? Me, that's who! Now, why don't you be a good boy and stick with what you get paid for and let me do my work?"

WAITING FOR RAIN - Jenny Starr

Look at him! Talk about the look of eagles! Even kneeling in some mystical version of meditation I'll never comprehend, his head bowed in humility, he takes my breath away. After all these years. I wish I could be the man he remembers. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve me.

. . . I have lost my passion . . .

Come out of it, Spock. Back to the real world. Your admiral needs you. No, actually,

what he needs is your ship. He never really seems to need you anymore, does he?

Play it cool. Strictly business. He hates emotional scenes.

POETRY

COVERS

ART

September 1987