Assumptions (Star Trek: TOS story by Kay Wells)

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K/S Fanfiction
Title: Assumptions
Author(s): Kay Wells
Date(s): 1988
Length:
Genre: slash
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:

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Assumptions is a Kirk/Spock story by Kay Wells.

It was published in the print zine First Time #19.

Kay Wells for "Assumptions"

Summary

"Spock and Kirk are forced to have sex in order to appease the god of a primitive culture while stranded on their planet."

Excerpt

"A sea of reddish-brown humanoids, becoming more numerous by the minute, jumped around excitedly, emitting sharp grunting sounds and baring sharp pink teeth. They appeared quite identical, each head topped with a flopping ball of frizzy orange hair. One of the natives, apparently braver than the rest, ventured forward holding out the blunt end of his spear as if to touch Kirk. A security guard immediately jumped between, phaser pointed. "Captain," Spock reminded, reaching for the phaser, "the prime directive." Too late. The guard fired at point-blank range as Kirk lunged forward."

Reactions and Reviews

There's a nice series feel to this story as Kirk and Spock and McCoy beam down to a primitively cultured planet (like LA?) where the hermaphrodite natives want Kirk and Spock to have sex. (Must be LA...)

I never was able to completely understand why the people wanted this. These people were dying out as a race and needed more in the gene pool, but they sure wouldn't get it from two males, would they? Regardless, the scenario of K and S being forced to have sex with each other to help out some aliens is one of my favorites.

So they do. along with a nice tie-in with the title as they both assume the other didn't really want to and was only acting out of duty.

Afterwards, there is misunderstanding, avoidance and denial—all done very well with McCoy as counselor. I loved it when McCoy pondered their love-making and realizes the love that's between Kirk and Spock.

A fine, strong story from an excellent author.[1]

This is one of those stories I really like where Kirk and Spock are not anywhere near close to acknowledging their feelings for each other—barely, if at all, even to themselves-but they are forced into a situation where they have to be intimate. I love this scenario for the tremendous depths of their friendship they must call on, and all the sweet awkwardness that leads to their admitting their feelings.

And this is also a good story of another culture, with a very series-feel to it (if they had gone as far as we would have liked in the series!).

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are stuck on a planet with a low-tech society. The natives are hermaphrodites and have a fertility rite in which they require Kirk and Spock. who they believe to be gods, to have sex.

An absolutely great moment, when Kirk is trying to reassure Spock. (I love this author's Kirk being very respectful of what he perceives as Spock's extreme sense of privacy.) Kirk: "Could making love with me be that bad?" (I ask you!)

Both do secretly want it very much, but pretend they are doing this in the line of duty. Nice sex, very much so!

Afterwards, their avoiding each other is painful, but eventually, with some help from McCoy, they see the light. Beautiful, beautiful love.[2]

If exploring strange new cultures is your thing, you'll like this. Kirk, Spock and McCoy find themselves stranded in the midst of some primitive people who, while not violent, present some frightening challenges. Much misunderstanding results from the visit of the Enterprise crew, and culminates in the sacrifice of a child.

The humans are aghast at this practice and determined not to allow it to happen again. The answer lies in the new-found "Gods", Kirk and Spock, performing a ritualistic act of joining before witnesses. Yes. "That" kind of joining.

The author does a fine job of allowing us to see how both men go to great lengths to convince themselves this was not the perfect act of love. Each wants it to be real. Each tells himself that the other was in truth repulsed by the whole thing. It takes McCoy to sort things out. I love it when the good doctor has it all figured out before our boys do. He's quite the talented advisor here, and everything comes to a very suitable end! [3]

References

  1. ^ from Come Together #31
  2. ^ from Come Together #9
  3. ^ from The K/S Press #72