23

FIRST STAR - Lurae Brisley

James Kirk, looking more like a beachcomber than the captain of a starship, sat lost in thought. Wearing cut-offs, feet stuffed into soft sandals, he shivered, in spite of the hot sun that beat down from a cloudless sky. Mentally, he scolded himself for not working harder on those Vulcan disciplines.

EAVESDROPPER - Gena Moretti

"Okay, Spock, I've got him now. Come on, let go. I can take care of him if you'll just let go! Please boy, you're exhausted! That's it, end the meld. Easy, easy now. You're both gonna be fine. You leave everything to me. Attaboy, Spock, now you just sleep and rest. Rest."

THE OFFER - Judith Coventry

"I asked you for a simple explanation, Spock." The tone was deadly.

"And I believe I have given it, Captain." The Vulcan appeared outwardly calm but felt the combination of anger and concern for the human warring inside his chest.

"Is that what you call it?" Kirk was out of the command chair and at the railing below the science station. He lowered his voice so only the Vulcan could hear. "You're of no use to me anymore, since I can't trust you to help me. Don't bother to deny it either!" he hissed.

A VIEW FROM THE TOWER - Emily Adams

. . . 328 . . . 329 . . . 330. "Three hundred thirty!" Kirk announced with a flourish and stopped at the head of the steps, bending over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"Precisely," Spock agreed, stepping up beside his captain, the long climb not having affected him.

Kirk looked at his friend with amusement. "You knew what I meant! That means you counted too!" He laughed delightedly, if somewhat breathlessly.

THE MERRY-GO-ROUND - Telana Wells

In the space of a heartbeat, Spock's anxiety peaked. "Jim?" He stepped closer, reaching a hand toward his fallen captain.

Quick as a snake, Kirk grabbed the outstretched arm and flipped his unprepared first officer, pouncing on him and pinning him with his whole body.

Spock raised his head up enough to look his victor in the eyes, their faces inches from each other. "That was somewhat unethical, Captain."

ADDICTION - Gena Moretti

McCoy had brought along some 'sipping' brandy for himself and Jim to enjoy, as they lounged among the big pillows, looking at space, talking and just being together.

McCoy stretched and idly remarked, "The only thing needed to make times like this super perfect is something warm and soft to cuddle."

SHADOW DANCING - Jane Elza

Captain Kirk was looking at him again. Spock could feel it. During the briefing, Kirk seemed to be looking down at the file before him on the table, but the Vulcan knew differently.

And now Kirk was looking at him from beneath his lashes, studying him, watching him with that curious expression that had been on his face since Sabir and Sulandr.

RAEMOSE - Anna Parrish

"Captain," Spock said, cool and dignified, distant. "I have come to tender my resignation."

I fell from the ropes in my hurry to get to him. As he moved forward, I scrambled to my feet. "You can't! I won't let you!"

"Captain? I do not understand." He was clearly puzzled.

"I thought you were happy here," I said in pain. My hands were clutched behind my back for it I did not keep them there, I would touch him. "Why?" I stepped closer and was surprised to find he was avoiding looking into my eyes. "Spock?"

"Captain, I . . . . " He stopped, startled, disturbed. He finally said, "My reasons are private."

BLIND FOOL - Kay Wells

"Does Spock know this information is in the computer?" Kirk asked, a real fear beginning to show in his eyes, and a knot forming in his throat.

"Of course," McCoy blurted. "He was instrumental in obtaining it after . . . . " Kirk's stricken look jolted the doctor into revealing the last bit of information in a more compassionate tone. "It was only through Spock's insistence probably with a little help from Ambassador Sarek and Admiral Sarnin that it was made available to command personnel and not just doctors."

"That was " The stark realization hit Kirk, cutting off his words in mid-sentence. A stabbing pain gripped his stomach and he suddenly felt very alone and very old.

"That was for my benefit," he started again. "He was hoping I'd see it twenty years ago."

He hung his head but not before McCoy had seen the pain in his eyes.

"Jim." The doctor spoke softly. "He's never rebonded. There haven't even been any pre-bonding arrangements made with anyone."

ONCE MORE . . . IN STANDARD - Addison Reed

"Am I to be made aware of that plan, Captain?"

"I'm afraid you are the plan. And that's the part of this whole scheme I like the least."

Bouncing to his feet, Kirk threw his hands in the air, addressing the walls on each side of them as he paced. "Oh, they aren't asking much this time. First of all they want me to take the Enterprise across the Neutral Zone and into enemy territory without so much as a 'kiss my ass' and then, just because you share ancient amnesty, they expect you to sweet talk a Romulan Commander into handing over the Empire's newest defense technology.

POETRY

COVERS

ART

October 1989