David (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	David
Author(s):	Sarne
Date(s):	1994
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
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David is a Kirk/Spock story by Sarne.

It was published in the print zine In the Wilderness #4.

Summary

"Spock learns the tragic consequences of jealousy when The Enterprise rescues an elderly scientist and his young companion, whose attraction to Kirk does not go unnoticed by Spock."

Reactions and Reviews

1995

This taut, finely-written short story is a tragedy that at first blush seems reminiscent of "Requiem for Methuselah" but rums out of be deeper, more complex, and far more ready to take on the profound ethical issues that episode ignored. The publications of Village Press have been called "the thinking fan's zines," and this story is a good example of the reasons why. It is as thoughtful an examination of scientific and social ethics (approached dramatically, not didactically) as anyone is likely to find in fan fiction.

The writing is evocative, rich yet economical, the plot complex and multilayered. Evan an apparently gratuitous event—in this case, a Klingon raid on a colony—turns out to have a revelatory purpose. Although the continuing K/S relationship appears at first as "background" (highly delectable background, I might add), by the end of the story we realize that K/S has been a driving force in the tale all along. The structure could be described as overlapping circles with each character's "truth" at the center. As the story moves toward its tragic conclusion, the layers of pretence, disguise and rationalization around each character gradually are stripped away until only that core of truth remains.

I loved the author's portrayal of a continuing K/S relationship that is woven into their working relationship. A good example is a scene in which Kirk announces his decision what to do about David to Spock while shaving in the morning. Despite the moment's intimacy. Kirk is every inch the starship commander making decisions not even an extraordinary mortal should have to face. The K/S sex is, well, authentically sexy—hard, fast and very masculine—but though the deeper dimensions of the relationship are suggested, they perhaps are not developed quite enough to justify Spock's feelings and conclusions at the end of the story.

I wish only that there were more stories like this in fan fiction.