Contamination

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Contamination
Author(s):	Karla Kelly
Date(s):	1992
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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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

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.

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 reaiiy 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 wouid have been as much a revelation to this emotion-starved Vulcan as physical intimacy. Or at least it could have been... All in all, a good effort. My favorite story in the zine.