Dancing on the Edge

Fanfiction
Title:	Dancing on the Edge
Author(s):	Gayle F
Date(s):	1987
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Dancing on the Edge at AO3
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Dancing on the Edge is a Kirk/Spock story by Gayle F.

It was published in the print zine KSX #1.

Summary

"Spock is switched by the transporter with a Spock from another universe who has been raised on Earth, and who had a lovehate relationship with his own Kirk."

Reactions and Reviews

1987

"Dancing on the Edge" is [Gayle F]'s second story, and presents a transporter malfunction during an ion storm, so that instead of beaming up Spock and five other crewmen from Vulcan, the Enterprise beams up a dancing troupe from an alternate universe. The leader of this troupe is a Spock who was raised on Earth and,' therefore, acts very Human. In fact, he acts so Human that Kirk finds him infuriating. Eventually, he discovers what drives this rebellious, tormented Spock. I'm afraid I didn't like the alternate Spock very much and found him difficult to relate to. I enjoyed the humor at the^ beginning of the story, however, and wish it would have maintained that tone. Still, it was an intriguing tale and very well told.

Another Spock from an alternate universe swaps places with his counterpart on our ENTERPRISE (again, per ion storm and transporter accident). He's strikingly different, and Kirk doesn't like him —until he learns the sad history of this Vulcan. In his universe, the affair with his Kirk was distorted and tragic. In our universe, the two are not yet lovers, but this encounter helps Kirk come to a decision. Like all stories by Ms. F, it's a moving and sensuous tale.

1989

C'mon, Gayle, I really wish you WOULD write that novel you discussed in your introduction! Anyway, this is a TRULY original concept on the theme of getting the uptight Captain Kirk to realize his love for Spock. An A/U Spock gets transferred to "our" universe — a Spock who is a dancer. Kirk is at first repelled by the defiant effeminacy of Spock-the-Dancer. But shortly after, the two... but I don't want to spoil it. More!

1997

DANCING ON THE EDGE by Gayle F is a marvelous story of an alternate Spock—this one very human and a very emotional who is in our universe on the Enterprise. He will be transported back to his rightful universe, but not before he attempts to seduce and love our Kirk.

This Spock is a superb dancer and in the major scene in the story, Kirk comes upon him while he is alone performing a spiritual Vulcan dance. They confront one another, Kirk angry and hostile in denial of the attraction he feels and this Spock, mourning the loss of his own Kirk and needing to assuage his negative feelings by loving this Kirk. It's really a fascinating scene, filled with wonderful dialogue and interesting insights. I had to smile though, because I believe I noticed a strong similarity to the writings of Anne Rice, especially popular during this time. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, inspiration notwithstanding.

Great sex (Ms. F is a master [or is that mistress?] at sex scenes): "With each thrust, the world about him shattered, and shattered again. Sensation, pleasure, images multiplied, mirroring each other, transformed. A dozen faces floated through his mind, all Spock, all different, obviously or subtly. Their mouths, their hands touched him, dissolved him in their fire. Their bodies, Spock's and his own, blurred, melted, reformed in new positions, so they each did everything. He was in Spock and Spock in him, cocks buried in each other's bodies, filling each other's mouths. Each cry, each moan of Spock reverberated in his mind, echoed by his own voice. As if they shared this moment with other versions of themselves, fusing together in some single moment in time.

Drowning in the vision, holding the dancer in his arms, part of Kirk still hungered for his own Spock, as the dancer must still hunger for his Kirk. Part of him reached out to emptiness. Are you dreaming this dream, Spock, he wondered, alone and lost in the night of another universe?"

So very beautiful and at the very end when our Spock returns, my heart melted as Kirk says: "Welcome home, Spock."

2007

As Gayle explains, this was to be part of a novel. Unfortunately it was never written. What a shame. It’s based on a truly fascinating idea. Imagine a Spock raised by his human mother on Earth after she separates from Sarek. He, of course, is more emotional than the Spock we know. That latent, hidden sexuality is more blatantly revealed here in everything from his long hair to his career as a dancer to his choice of clothing— black velvet and silk.

There’s another accident with the transporter—they really ought to fix that thing once and for all—and from out of the ether, this Spock from an alternate universe and his troupe of dancers have materialized on the Enterprise. This is not the Mirror Spock, but an alternate that apparently delights in trashing our Vulcan’s image before the crew and driving James Kirk up a wall.

In the universe this Spock comes from both his wife, Leila, and Kirk, his lover, have died. That Kirk and Spock shared a disturbing relationship, powerfully drawn to each other, but hating the attraction that inexorably pulled them together. And our captain realizes what he wants from his Spock for the first time.

The two men heal each other. When our Spock returns, what was once inconceivable becomes possible. Another memorable story by this author and artist who gave so much to our fandom. (Like Spock’s double

ridges? Gayle’s the person to thank.)

2011

Dancing on the Edge by Gayle F is the story of a different kind of transference of personnel between universes. The same phenomenon that took characters from "our" Enterprise to the Mirror Universe happens again but this time it‘s Spock and a group of scientists who go astray. The Vulcan who appears on the transporter platform is obviously not "our" Spock! This one has long hair and is a dancer who was raised on Earth and, so, is much more human than Vulcan. The intricate story is lovely and heart-breaking while remaining hopeful toward the end. Gayle‘s storytelling here is superb, sexy and emotional, just like this alternate universe Spock. This universe would have held up very well throughout the novel Gayle tells the reader she almost wrote.