Eye of the Storm (Star Trek: DS9 story)

Star Trek DS9 Fanfiction
Title:	Eye of the Storm
Author(s):	Macedon and J
Date(s):	1997
Length:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
External Links:	at AO3
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Eye of the Storm is an Star Trek: DS9 story by Macedon and his wife, "J."

It was posted at alt.startrek.creative and won an ASC Award.

Comments by Macedon

When J and I sat down to write "Eye of the Storm" part of why she wanted me involved (aside from getting Jake's voice out of me and making the language sound marginally like "Orfeo") was to try to bridge the gap between the "tone" of slash and the "tone" of gay fiction. She hadn't read any Trek slash before she wrote it, but she was familiar enough with published "slash" and was intrigued by the whole phenomena.

Part of a Series

The Jeu-Parti series deals with a number of sensitive topics from masculinity and male/male relationships, to living with depression, to constructions of family. It also explores Vulcan culture.

The stories, which focus on Jake Sisko's relationship with a Vulcan castrato, Salene, are:

• Orfeo (written c. 1996) - When Bajor hosts an interstellar music festival, to which a very unusual star singer is invited, Jake must face questions about friendship, manhood and culture, as well as freedoms of belief.

• The Eye of the Storm (1997) - This story is a sequel to the DS9 episode, "Nor the Battle to the Strong," as well as to "Orfeo." It is rated [R] for some sexual material. Persons under 18, or those who have trouble with gay fiction, should read no further.

• Anslem (1997) - The final story in the DS9 novel, JEU-PARTI, sequel to "Orfeo" and "Eye of the Storm." Eleven years after his abrupt, late-night departure, Salene reappears in Jake's life. He finds a twenty-nine-year-old Jake whose writing career is beginning to blossom even while his private life is falling apart.

Reactions and Reviews

Okay, after I just got done saying I don't do DS9, I gotta say, if there's one story that could make me a convert, it's this one. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. The thing I liked best about this story was that it felt like a real, genuine, passionate relationship between two young men who are still not really grown ups. Gorgeous setting, moody love story, angst, classic tragedy... well, what else could I ask for? Add to that the fact that it's a story about my very favorite DS9 character, and I was hooked. I've already read the thing four or five times, and each time I get to the end I pray for a sequel to magically appear on my hard drive. Macedon, please make her write more?

Let's see more with Macedon's wife! In all honesty, I enjoyed this story much more then I did it's prequel "Orfeo". That's not to say I didn't like "Orfeo", I just felt that this one set out to be a story. Macedon himself admitted that "Orfeo" was to be something of an allegory."

It's always great to read the "forgotten" characters of DS9 (Jake, the O'Briens, and to some extent Ben). When it is written to the mature level which EotS is, with a strong background, excellent characters, and does what my fanfic refuses to do... stay on track, I love it. Point #1. I learned about opera from "Orfeo." I always thought it was such a unique, such a separate story from the normal genre of "hero/heroine in peril" and there was an ENJOYABLE Vulcan, one who remained alien yet was accessible as a character. Salene, with his internal warring etc, did not transgress into being "human," if that makes any sense. Point #2. EotS remembers Jake is a young man. He isn't this impervious Starfleet officer who can handle alien abductions/possessions/etc and be "normal" within the next week. Having Jake recover from "Nor to the Battle" and using his writing as his life preserver, was fantastic. His dependency on Salene's "logical" point of view, valuing the opinion in the manner he does, suddenly makes Jake vunerable and acceptable yet we don't "pity" him in the bad sense of the world. We relate. Wow. Point #3. Joseph Sisko. Excellent characterization, playing up that Southerness (my mom is from New Orleans) with that particular brand of 24th century awareness and open-mindedness. It's clear where Ben got his smarts, Joe's savviness and pledge to confidentiality a compliment not only to the character, but shows that connection between all three generations. Point #4. Excellently streamlined, fast paced story. I searched and searched for parts 5-10 when 1-5 showed up. Point #5. The slash. I don't write slash. I find myself incapable of it. I've tried, but have always hated what I created. This slash is excellent. Touching. Moving. Stunning. Romantic without the gushiness. Completely and without a doubt believable. You retained the edge of uncertainty, the "newness" in discovering same-sex sex, and the adventerousness of physical contact without being awkward or too bawdy. Superb command of those scenes. Point #6. Admittedly, I cry at supermarket openings given the mood, but the build up and the wrought and the emotions permeating each bit of this piece had tears flowing down my face. The realization that Salene could have been *the* one yet they could never be "one" because of society rules. Point #7. The Vulcan view of homosexuality. Made perfect sense. Employing the "logic" side blended perfectly with established canon... Not that I'm a "canon" freak or anything, but this does not stand out as "Vulcans would never do that." Again, keeping aliens aliens. I could go on and on and on... revelling in each paragraph, envious of the style and tone, and being inspired and given a "template" in structure terms (two POVs versus six or seven... eliminating the need for EVERYONE's reaction) know that this type of work will help me improve on my fanfic as well.

I can't decide whether I love this story or whether I hate it. I must, however, take this opportunity to say mea culpa -- I have never send Macedon and J my comments. Now that I've actually posted a story, I realize how important those comments are. I've been having trouble ordering my thoughts (and there's always that wonderful little nagging thing in the background called *work* -- you know, the thing that pays the bills), so I've been putting off sending the comments. Well, enough time has passed, so I'm taking this opportunity to put my thoughts down on paper (so to speak). First, I still love the portrayal of both Jake and Salene. My comments from "Orfeo" still hold true here. Second, the mind meld scene (was it in part 6? I'm drawing a blank), was simply wonderful. I lost track of time and reality as this portion of the story simply drew me completely in and held me mesmerized. It is a beautiful example of writing at its best. In fact, the only part of the story I had a technical problem with was the one at the festival. For some reason that I haven't been able to put my finger on, that section just didn't gel for me as well as the rest of the story. Now for the reason I hate the story. [spoiler space -- I'm not going to give away the details of the ending, but you'll get the gist if you keep reading. If you don't want to know even the gist, then skip the rest of this message] Basically, it boils down to the fact that the characters and the story completely involved me, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. I hate it when reality rears its ugly head. The story ended the only way it really could at this particular point in the characters' lives, but that doesn't mean I have to like it -- or that I don't wish a different ending had been possible. I had the same reaction to "South Pacific" (the musical -- don't go running to the archives) and to the TNG episode where Ro defected to the Maquis. I stomped around for an hour or so, as my husband patiently repeated "Dear, it's *fiction* -- you know, that made-up stuff that isn't real?". Errrrrrrr. I've finally decided, tho, that what we now need is another story. One set, oh say, forty years in the future. One where maybe Salene is gravely injured (perhaps by some vigilanti who hate the idea of the castrati). During a mind meld medically necessary to stabilize him, a Vulcan doctor discovers the bond between Salene and Jake. Worried that Salene will think he has nothing to live for (he may never sing again due to his injuries), the doctor sends for Jake and explains the situation. Salene recovers, Jake is pissed about what Salene did, but eventually forgives him, and everyone lives happily ever after. Sigh. I can dream, can't I? In all seriousness, "Eye of the Storm" is a wonderful story, and I highly recommend it.

Not only did "Eye of the Storm" have me pondering "free will" and the relationship between physical and mental maturity, it sparked some interesting correspondence with both Macedon and Peg Robinson, and inspired me to brush up on the physiology of puberty (an area which I could stand to be more familiar with for professional reasons totally unrelated to enjoyment of Star Trek fan fiction). Nor were the romantic aspects of this story lost on me. Jake and Salene reach out to each other across all kinds of cultural barriers/misunderstandings/predjudices. I *had* to root for them. Genders of the participants completely aside, anyone who has ever fallen in love against such odds will relate - interstellar distances not required, a mere ocean will do. Their determination to respond to each other's goodwill and affection, despite any number of inadvertent gaffs, brought back fond memories of my early days with the "alien" I'm married to (and he's only English, not Vulcan). I look forward to the next installment of Salene's story.

This is the sequel to the story "Orfeo", it takes place alittle while later, and concerns the further development of Jake and Salene's relationship. Without posting spoilers, I will tell you that it is written with love and respect, and that I personally enjoyed it very much. There is one more story in this series, "Anslem". An excellent storyline -- kudos to J and the Otter!

Loved the first half, especially the storm scene where Salene and Jake are almost swept away by the flood. I would have liked the second half too if it weren't for those extremely detailed sex scenes.

This one stands out in my memory for the exploration of two characters falling in love against the odds. Not only do they have to cross the usual barriers between two individuals getting to know one another, they have a whole host of Human/Vulcan cultural differences which keep getting in the way. How they trip over their own assumptions, and how their mutual feelings eventually triumph makes this one of the sweetest and truest romances I've ever read.