A Friend in Need (Star Trek: TOS story)

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	A Gift of Crystal
Author(s):	Yvonne De Chine
Date(s):	1986
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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A Friend in Need is a Spock/OMC/Kirk story by Yvonne De Chine.

first page

It was published in the print zine Shades of Grey #1.

Reactions and Reviews

A FRIEND IN NEED by Yvonne De Chine is a different twist to the old problem, how does Spock solve his lack of Bondmate when he enters Pon Farr? Kirk's solution is practical, amiable, even fun, and turns out to be more revealing than either Kirk or Spock had imagined. The third party here is an intelligent, admirable female, one who doesn't intrude on the relationship, the electricity between Kirk and Spock but only adds to it. There is a great 'flavor' to this story, a feeling of atmosphere, of texture and weather and emotion let loose. This is a highly sensate story.

The general plot summary of "A Friend In Need" by Yvonne de Chine sounds terribly unpromising, yet this tale is surprisingly good. I would normally be prejudiced against any story about Spock resolving his pon-farr by going to a whorehouse, but the characters and events portrayed here are scarcely normal from the 20th century perspective. Imagine a society where a woman who used to be an Intelligence operative can become a prostitute as if it were any other profession with no stigma attached. Let us further imagine men treating prostitutes with respect for their competence. It is true that Elizabeth, the prostitute in the story, is treated as a sexual object. That's her job. That's what she contracted for. She didn't contract to be humiliated and abused as prostitutes often are in this society. I consider it rather wonderful to see Kirk and Spock treating Elizabeth as a human being. They may be in the midst of discovering their need for one another, but that doesn't mean they have to trample all over the rights of anyone else in their vicinity as I have seen in some K/S. "A Friend In Need" avoids misogyny and transcends formula treatment of heterosexual encounters in K/S stories. I was impressed with it.

Post TMP. When Spock's pon farr returns, Jim makes arrangements with a pleasure house on his Vulcan friend's behalf... and gets dragged into his friend's intimacy in a way he never expected. M/M/F threesome and great gay-for-you story. Some het sex but unobtrusive; the female third is nicely done and discreet, so the real focus is entirely on Jim and Spock's deep emotional connection.