9

PORTRAIT OF PROMISE - Brianna Falken

The maitre de of the prestigious Hilton-Hyatt-Regency recognized the impressive figure in the Starfleet admiral's uniform. "Yes, Sir," he said, bowing slightly. "Right this way. Your guest has already been seated."

James Kirk followed the tuxedoed man through a maze of damask-covered tables, nodding distractedly every now and then at someone he knew. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, after all. He and McCoy hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms two years ago. Why couldn't his former CMO and oldest friend understand or at least accept his decision? Either way, it didn't matter. It was too late to back out now....

CAPTAIN OF MY DREAMS - Karin Porter

Captain Spock landed the rented hovercraft in the well-marked lot, noting that six other crafts were already parked there. He picked up his duffel bag and followed a winding path which was lined by bushes and flowers. The path finally brought him to the front door of what appeared to be a large mansion. The front of the house was adorned with flowers from several different planet. He recognized Terran bougainvillea, several flowing cacti from Vulcan, and an assortment of flowers native to Argellius. This would be interesting....

OBLIGATIONS - Kate Sheridan

Spock watched the group of humans working on his ancestral home. They had been hired in the usual manner, a contract arranged by the Historical Preservation Society with the leading Restoration company. Strangely to some, the workers were all human, the supervising contractors, Vulcan. Although Vulcans possessed an unlimited knowledge of their own history and historical structures as well as great technical knowledge and skill, it had been found that humans, with their greater artistic abilities were better at the actual physical tasks of restoring the older building. Every curious, Spock wondered why the humans contracted for work on Vulcan....

CALL ME MASTER - J.S. Cavalcante

"Spock, in recognition of your efforts taken at grave risk to yourself this one is your slave. Or you may choose one of the others if you prefer," T'Pau said. Spock realized he had hardly looked at the others. His heart thumped in his side. "This one will be satisfactory," he said, laying his hand on the golden head again but averting his eyes from the alien fascination of that face. With this one, I could understand attractions of the Warrior ritual that I had not considered, he thought.

Covers by: DEW

Art by: Shelley Butler

Poetry by: Mitchell

April 1997