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STORM - Rachel Cavendish and Cassandra Cole

Kirk sighed and looked to the ceiling, rubbing his neck. "In the alternate universe . . . I had to . . . pretend to be the other Kirk; do all the things that were expected of him. His friends were my friends. And some of them were . . . very friendly." Kirk hesitantly glanced at the Vulcan, looking for Spock's reaction.

The first officer gazed at his captain in innocent ignorance.

"Spock, I had to sleep with . . . a certain member of the crew, if you understand me . . . ."

THE LAST ALTERNATIVE - Elizabeth Scott

"He's dead?"

"Not yet, doctor." Kirk stood and walked away into the main room. "Not yet. He's in prison on Magenus Six, sentenced to death." There was an odd faltering tightness in the voice. McCoy already knew it was not characteristic of this Kirk.

"Exiled from you," McCoy whispered. Then panic gripped his voice. "We've got to get him out, Kirk." The depth of the impassioned pleas startled the captain. Kirk whirled to study the openly anxious eyes that for the first time held his gaze without darting away.

THE SHELAT - Susan Douglas

The cell door jangled open. Two figures stepped in, dressed in the uniforms of the Empire.

Kirk jerked himself upright. Both men were Vulcan; he did not know the shorter of the two.

He stared at the taller Vulcan, the one who bore the insignia of the Inspector-General. A sense of utter betrayal washed over him. A name shaped itself in his mind. Spock . . . .

THE CAPTAIN'S MAN - Natasha Barry

"I'm going to give you that choice. Again, you must choose. I stay here as captain, which I would prefer not to do, as it screws up all my arrangements, or I go to the Klingons as their temporary captive."

"Your original plan seems best," Spock valued. "I wish one promise from you. That the next time we meet you will seduce me, even as I have seduced you."

BRIGHTLY AS A KING - Susan K. Dundas

Spock would not answer directly. The idea disgusted him.

Kirk moved a few steps away, reached for the hem of his shirt, tugged the gold velour over his head, discarded it on the floor.

"You will not undress!" Spock commanded. "I . . . brought you here to talk."

"You brought me here to fuck. So come on, let's fuck."

AFFECTIONS DARK AS ERBUS - Susan K. Dundas

A sudden itchy sensation washed over his body, like spiders crawling all over his skin.

Abruptly he squirmed, then the sensation surged harder, like electric currents zagging through his surface nerves . . . damn! Spock in the booth . . . his torture was spilling over the link into Kirk's body.

The sensation rose to pain and Kirk slammed his hand down on the intercom button on his chair arm.

"Detention!" he almost yelled. "Release Spock! Now, goddammit, now!"

THE SILVERED GLASS - Greta Foulard

Kirk wouldn't let himself be pinned down. He grinned. "It sounds like you're recruiting for the rebels, even before they've enlisted you."

Spock couldn't help responding to the irony. "It does seem quite premature." ?He swallowed hard, apprehensive of making any personal request. "Captain, if I am arrested, distance yourself from me immediately, both physically and ideologically. Denounce me with all vigor. Deny all knowledge of me, of my personal beliefs." He swallowed before continuing. "I would not have you suffer for my actions."

THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK - Ciana Sepulveda

The light stopped blinking, blazing a constant red, just as the door opened. The light flooding into the room revealed a sight that stopped First Officer Spock in his tracks. It was like looking into a mirror. Except for the beard and style of uniform, he could have been looking at his own twin.

There was no doubt in Spock's mind as to who had invaded his captain's quarters. Kirk had given him all the details of his brief trip into the alternate universe. This then was he, the other self who at that very moment was dematerializing in a golden mist . . . and in his arms an unconscious James Kirk.

"No!" Spock cried lunging for the vanishing pair, moving a split second too late. The next thing Spock knew they were gone and all that remained was the silence . . . the memory of his own eyes staring back at him.

MIRROR OF A DREAM - Roberta Haga

"You want me to wear this?"

"Why not? Besides, it'll help me stay in character whenever I look at you. You can't say that having it on won't help you."

Spock stared at the tube of makeup glue and the small mound of fake hair which Kirk had just placed into his hand. "I do not know the proper placement."

"What's to know? It's just a mustache and beard for your chin." When the Vulcan still had not moved, Kirk quickly added, "How else can you show me I'm wrong? That you don't act."

Beginning to understand just what it was he'd let himself be talked into, Spock relented, with a repetitious mental restriction to be more careful in the future. "Very well. However, I suggest we find a more satisfactory time in which to accommodate this challenge of yours. I would not wish to be interrupted."

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December 1989