Image in the Mirror

Fanfiction
Title:	Bailout
Author(s):	Anna Parrish
Date(s):	1991
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
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Bailout is a Kirk/Spock story by Anna Parrish.

It was published in Charisma #11.

Summary

""Mirror" Kirk and Spock are seen in an interesting light, and their relationship, though very different from that of "our" Kirk and Spock, does involve an interesting form of love. This is an unique, freshly-written story that maintains the unusual characterization of the "mirror" couple, while at the same time portraying a sensitive and erotic feel."

Reactions and Reviews

In Part 1, it seemed the mirror characters changed back and forth between lust and hatred for each other fits nearly every sentence. It was difficult to know where they were coming from. Granted, the mirror characters are generally assumed to be more volatile than the mainline characters, but I found myself wondering what their motivations were for their behavior. Part 2 was the best-written part of the story. It was concise and smooth flowing. However, I confess I was somewhat disappointed in Spock for letting himself succumb to lust until be knew for certain that Kirk wasn't his Kirk. During the beginning of Part 3, I was bored with all the re-telling of events that actually happened in the episode "Mirror, Mirror". I wonder if brief summaries would have sufficed. This story did vary from the episode in that most of Kirk's dialogue was related to his sexual thoughts and feelings, but I really think Kirk would have had more important things on his mind than sex — like getting himself and his crew back to their own universe. When the mirror characters were back together, they resumed their puzzling behavior of lusting after/hating each other. I couldn't relate to them at all. As for the mainline Kirk and Spock, the ending indicated that they had been lovers for a while. Yet, back on pages 17-18 it's inferred that Spock is a virgin and he is puzzled by Kirk's sexual behavior toward him. Was this a first time story or established relationship? I wasn't sure. In short, this story lacked consistency, which made the characters seen unrealistic to me.

She really must have had an off period when writing it. If find it a jumble, a mess. Let me amend that, it feels like a bunch of words, lines, ideas, all tossed in a bad, the only connection Kirk and Spock, thrown around for good measure and poured out on paper in every which way they came out of that bag.