Contamination
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Contamination |
| Author(s): | Karla Kelly |
| Date(s): | 1992 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Contamination is a Kirk/Spock story by Karla Kelly.
It was published in the print zine Way of the Warrior #5.
Summary
"While Kirk and Spock recuperate from injuries sustained on a mission, a Vulcan is emporarily put in command of the Enterprise."
Reactions and Reviews
1992
The main problem with this story is that Starn being in command of the Enterprise is not believable. Starfleet wouldn't put someone who had no prior deep space experience in a major command like that even temporarily. I also don't understand why he rushed into Kirk's quarters to see shocking K/S sex. Surely he could have deduced from what he heard that something far too intimate for him to witness was going on. [1]
I liked several aspects of this story, and had some major problems with other parts. First, when a friend told me that story's basic premise, that of a Vulcan observing the Enterprise, and in particular, our guys. I was intrigued, I've always liked another person's point of view of Kirk and Spock, I guess it's the voyeur in me, so I read this story with interest and predisposed to like it.
However, I really think this would have been a much more interesting story if it had been an established relationship story. More difficult to write for sure. Since it was first time, the author was able to rely on a lot of conversations and cliches to fill out the plot; i.e. - McCoy's desire that the Captain and First Officer would 'cohabitate.' the doctor's call to Scotty to celebrate when it looks like K and S have finally gotten together, and worst of all, the much dreaded 'a third character. (in this case, the Vulcan Starn) just happens to see K and S making love together.
I am so tired of this wildly improbable scene. How likely is it, really, that neither Spock nor Kirk heard the door swishing open, regardless of how intent they were with each other? Not too. But the author didn't really have to rely on these cliches. The sections where Kirk is teaching Starn about the subtleties of non-verbal, human communication are well-written, and interesting. The author shows true insight and understanding here. Starn's growing comprehension of the crew's attitude towards Spock is also delightful. And this story of a Vulcan's growth and understanding of a culture not familiar to him did not need the obligatory sex scene to fill it out. A moment of quiet tenderness between Kirk and Spock would have been as much a revelation to this emotion-starved Vulcan as physical intimacy. Or at least it could have been.
And I believe that Karla is capable of writing such a subtle scene, because of the way she handled Starn and his education in this story. Her writing is improving all the time, in my opinion, and I sure liked seeing this longer- than-usual story from her.
A few other points. If this was Starn's first deep space mission, and he was a recent graduate of the Vulcan Space Academy, how in the world did he achieve the rank of 'Captain' and how did he earn the right to command the Enterprise? This is a point that could have been cleared up with a little more attention to detail. And though I understand the plot machinations which required Starn to inhabit Spock's quarters, and forced Kirk and Spock to stay together, I don't have to like it. Surely there was a more subtle way to do this....
I especially liked the paragraph on page 21 where Kirk is thinking of how he can't control, within his thoughts, the expression of his love for Spock. "It popped up in the middle of a report on Scotty's progress with the engines, appeared unexpectedly while Kirk recounted the healing of his own injuries, leapt into his mind while discussing plans for a new mission." Nice.
And Starn's sympathy for Spock because of a supposed difficulty in establishing a bond with Kirk had forced him into frequent 'coupling' was a hoot. If this story had to include the dreaded overheard and voyeur scene, at least it was handled with considerable humor.
All in all, a good effort. My favorite story in the zine. [2]
A longer than usual story from this author, with a charming sense of humor threaded through it. I really enjoy reading about Vulcans; and temporary Captain Starn's interaction with the Enterprise crew makes this tale a delight. [3]
This story is twelve pages long. That's my complaint. It should have been 24 pages long. This is a view of Spock and Kirk through another Vulcan's eyes, Starn. It's an interesting angle. The story is a delightfully humorous one. (Writing K/S humor is difficult. Kelly definitely succeeds.) I loved McCoy's one liner "His weird readings are as weird as ever," meaning Spock was okay. I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. and the ending was perfect.[4]
References
- ^ from The LOC Connection #40
- ^ from The LOC Connection #40
- ^ from The LOC Connection #43
- ^ from The LOC Connection #47