In Check (Star Trek: TOS story by K'Sal)

Fanfiction
Title:	In Check
Author(s):	K'Sal
Date(s):	2001
Length:	~14,557 words
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	In Check at cimorene.net In Check at Side by Side AO3 Collection
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

In Check is a Kirk/Spock story by K'Sal. It was published online in Side by Side #1 and then in the print zine Cyberdreams #2.

Summary:

Kirk finds it necessary to deploy his logic. This story is an answer to Kira's kiss challenge. Spock would argue that it fulfills both requirements; if anyone would like to split hairs with the Vulcan - be my guest.

Reactions and Reviews

An intriguing battle of wits between Kirk and Spock. This story *impressed* me.

While this story certainly gets full marks for originality, I have to admit I wasn’t too keen on it as it takes the form of a conversation between Kirk and Spock with no other action, even in the background. It obviously takes place after the events in “Turnabout Intruder” although how long after is not really revealed, my guess would be that its probably quite soon after this, but that is only a guess. The conversation is prompted by a mission to negotiate the release of some Vulcans from the Melkotians whom Kirk and Co encountered in an earlier adventure (Spectre of the Gun) but this is only coincidental and does not have any real influence on the rest of the story.

Although Kirk has submitted a report on what happened, Spock is very insistent that Kirk mind melds with him to ensure he has a complete picture of what took place which is something Kirk is reluctant to do, even offering to meld with someone else on the Vulcan ship instead. I must say I found this somewhat surprising, given that during most of the original series, Spock is normally rather reluctant to indulge in mind melds even with Kirk, and they are usually depicted as being an invasion of privacy. Spock’s motivations are coloured by the fact that he knows he and Jim have accidentally formed a bonding link and he is trying not to reveal this fact to Kirk, who in actual fact has already realised what has occurred and is not too keen on Spock’s proposed solution of breaking this link. Their resultant conversation with Kirk trying to persuade Spock over to his point of view completes the rest of the story.

Although it was quite cleverly written, with Kirk trying (mostly successfully) to out-logic the logical Vulcan, I have to admit that it was by no means my favourite story in this particular zine, although it was quite well written, rather clever and certainly different to most others I’ve read.

It wasn't until I got close to the end of this story that I realized it was a story I'd lost track of long ago and been looking for. Now I won't lose it again since it's in print! All I remembered was that it took place in quarters, with 'a super-logical Spock who approached sex analytically and was hot as heck'. (Oh my yes. I'm a long-time Jim-babe, but push certain Spock buttons of mine, and I'm putty in his hands). What I *didn't* recall was the absolutely hysterical and so-well-done break down of any detachment and subsequent (supposed) logic whatsoever in both parties involved. Picture a determined Jim Kirk, having cornered Spock in his quarters, set on getting the stubborn Vulcan to reveal the truth about their relationship; i.e., a functional link exists between them. Picture a just-as-determined Spock, set on not revealing the full truth, and fully dedicated to doing ‘the right thing’ and saving one James Kirk from being “locked into a lifetime commitment with results you cannot foresee.”

Imagine the resultant conversation as a verbal chess game, with Jim Kirk dominating the board and causing Spock to lose pawn after pawn, pulling out all his best defensive gambits. Throw into the conversation lovely little pieces of the Star Trek universe to plump out the situation: the Melkotians, the ShiKaha ship full of Vulcans, along with a situation involving both; Sarek and revealed conversation between him and Kirk during the Babel conference cruise; and lovely mentions of canon to support and further the arguments being presented by Jim to further his cause.

I love the confident, smart, mentally aggressive Jim Kirk in this story, a man who has all the angles figured out and uses them to halt Spock’s retreat at every move. I love Spock’s dismayed, almost horrified internal reaction to Jim’s obvious goal (the truth), and of course he never reveals that his equilibrium has been rattled. (Much.) This debate goes on in such a (pseudo-) non- emotional and logical fashion for some time, and we get to know each and every reaction Spock has because of the wonderful Spock point-of-view. The longer they “debate”, the more ragged Spock’s control becomes. We see evidence of Jim’s jealousy over the women in Spock’s past; we see a jealous Spock when it comes to a possible meld with another Vulcan.

Both men are at their mulish best when they are determined to do “the best thing” for the other. Then Jim leaves Spock’s quarters, on a wave of indignation (he doesn’t want me!) and determination to allow him to pursue what he does want...and Spock subsides into a mental fit of jealousy (how dare he withhold a meld from me, then turn around and give his mind to some strange Vulcan from the ShiKahr!)...and the fuel of their emotions results in combustion.

I admit: When I got to the line, “Eat it,” I laughed for the next five minutes and had tears in my eyes. It just...snuck up on me! K’Sal manipulates the characters (and the reader) so well, that I (along with Jim and Spock) don’t realize how thoroughly and completely the ‘logic’ of the situation is compromised. But that line surely revealed it! Just picturing Spock sitting there, watching a thoroughly revved-up, half-naked Kirk spout off about jealousy, about humans being “naturally more civilized”, about the fact that it’s “not Vulcan that’s ignoring my needs, here, Spock, it’s you!”, all the while waving around half a cinnamon donut (cinnamon, whose supposed aphrodisiacal effect on Vulcans was pondered by Spock when they were eating them earlier) and getting crumbs everywhere, which fact Spock proceeds to interrupt and tell him in a calm and reasoned manner.

“So?” Jim challenged him belligerently. “Are you afraid the ants are going to disturb your picnic?” The doughnut made a disdainful movement indicating the mat Spock knelt on.

“Eat it.” Spock would establish control of the situation. “Place the doughnut in your mouth, bite, chew, swallow, then repeat.” Jim glared briefly at him before following his advice. Needless to say, Spock does assert control of the situation in a manner theretofore not attempted, grabbing Jim, and before he could even say a word, baring him and devouring a certain excited and sensitive portion of his anatomy to Jim’s utter and complete satisfaction.

I love the sneak build-up of sexual tension, disguised as “logical debate” in this story, with the resultant explosion of so-called logic going out the hatch. Score one for Jim Kirk for winning the argument...but Spock scores, too, he scores Jim Kirk.

This story is so well written, presenting an incredible debate between Kirk and Spock utilizing logic that leaves me gasping to keep up. The story begins with Kirk asking Spock to kiss him in answer to Spock’s insistence to meld with him to ensure his mind was not tampered with when negotiating with aliens. The debate continues incorporating very believable bits of information from episodes in regard to the repeated mind-melds between them. When Spock continues to insist that he should meld, Kirk counters with an option of having another Vulcan meld with him to avoid harming Spock. I loved Spock’s thought, ‘An extremely unpleasant vision of James T. Kirk roaming the galaxy wandering up to randomly selected Vulcans suggesting a mind meld for any punitively logical reason transfixed him. It was very possible that Jim might convince an unwary Vulcan to do it - the man was exceptionally persuasive.’ Yes, he is exceptionally persuasive, isn’t he? And I’ve never heard Kirk’s speech described so accurately with K’Sal’s description, ‘The staccato rhythms of his speech flagging his intensity.’ The story is entirely in Spock’s point of view and I respect her ability to keep the thought so Vulcan and yet beautiful in their description. As Kirk continues talking, Spock reflects, ‘That cherished voice weaving a wall isolating the two of them in Kirk’s domain.’ Wow! I can clearly see it happening, feel for a moment that I’m there, listening to the argument. When Spock tries to end the argument, Kirk says, “It’s clear I’ll have to continue whacking you over the head with a lirpa of logic.” Makes me laugh every time I read it. And I smile when Spock thinks, ‘It appeared that Imperious Tiberius would not be diverted . . .’

The many layers in this story are incredible and I find I have to read it slowly and carefully to absorb the complicated logical debate that Kirk manages to confound Spock with. In the end, Kirk manages to convince Spock that he does desire him and his resulting action is unexpected for Kirk and for us. Again, I enjoyed the well written perspective of Spock’s point of view.

There are more great lines in this story, i.e. Kirk’s, “I think I’d rather get strip searched in a Klingon jail!” But I will stop here to say that I find this an intellectually stimulating and fun to read. And I am quite literally awed by the writing.

This is a difficult story to loc. When I first read it, I didn't care for it very much. Lots of talk and very little action didn't make for a very satisfying reading experience at the time. Now either my reading tastes have changed over the years, or I've learned to be more patient. Each time I reread this piece I find something more to like.

Certainly it starts out with a unique line: "Kiss me,‘ Kirk said again." It appears the captain of the Enterprise wishes to seduce his first officer, but knowing Spock very well, he realizes that emotional arguments will not do the trick. The debate champion of Starfleet Academy three years running must convince one supremely logical Vulcan that there is an emotional need for them to acknowledge the feelings between them.

What a wonderful portrayal of Jim Kirk! Brilliant, yes, of course, but also a tactical genius, determined, inspired and not to be sidetracked by a Vulcan who is hiding the truth even from himself. And who can resist “Imperious Tiberious” when he is wildly gesticulating with a cinnamon donut and spreading a shower of crumbs throughout Spock‘s quarters? Not me!

Very clever, K‘Sal, and very well written.

a handwritten review for "In Check," found inside a used copy of this zine -- unknown date, unknown "reviewer"

At least I found out, that [Gol?] could be the Foreign Legion of Vulcan, where disgruntled or damaged Vulcans go to live in misery.

After so many pgs of argument vehement argument between K & S, my head was spinning. We finally get to love scene by ____. Interesting, but for me too much & not enuf love/sex.

spock is masterfully outflanked by kirk in an eventually rather desperate logical argument. best characterization of kirk you'll ever encounter.