Masks (Star Trek: TOS story)

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Masks
Author(s):	Brianna Falken
Date(s):	1995
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Masks is a Kirk/Spock story by Brianna Falken.

art in the zine by Terri Rett

It was published in the print zine Within the Mirror #10.

Summary

"Infected on Psi 2000, Spock discovers his desire for Kirk as tʼhyʼla as well as Kirkʼs hidden desire for him when he melds with Kirk to erase the memory of his rape of the captain."

Reactions and Reviews

A Mirror redoing of "The Naked Time." As I have said, I really enjoy a K/S story based specifically on an episode. But what I felt about this story, or any episode-redoing, is that the entire episode doesn't have to be rewritten, only the choicest parts. It could have been more effective if we zeroed in on Kirk and Spock more, without all the rest of what was happening with everyone on the ship. I don't know if f'm the only one, but maybe I've gotten away from ST in my K/S love, to the point where I really don't care much about say, Sulu—let alone Lt. what's-his-name in the episode who started all this—unless in a direct connection with Kirk/Spock.

At the same time, the story is loaded with inventive and interesting mirror-twists to the episode. (Chekov was in this story, but he was not in the episode.)

Spock is sleeping with a (female) lieutenant. An uneasy truce between captain and first officer. Some little hints of Kirk maybe feeling attraction toward Spock. And Spock is his usual "honorable" self. There seemed some rather gratuitous crudeness between them though.

The intense scene between Kirk and Spock goes on in Spock's cabin, instead of the briefing room, once they're both infected. We find out Kirk has been killing any woman Spock is with. What a guy.

I don't know if I totally bought Mirror Spock wanting to kill Kirk, strangle him. Especially with this emotional disease going around that brings out people's inner desires. So is this Spock's initial inner desire? This quickly turns into arousal, however.

After Spock basically raping Kirk and knocking him out until he can mind-wipe him, he later finds Kirk (still suffering from the contagion) happy and waiting for him! This was the quite beautiful part. Spock goes into his mind and finds the other Kirk there, the gentle, loving Jim....

Kirk wants Spock but doesn't know how to ask, only demand, and knows that won't work with Spock. Spock vows to get through to Kirk to find Jim.

A perfectly lovely ending, on exactly the right note. We know Spock will eventually get Kirk to love, that they will share a private haven where masks are removed.

This mirror version of "The Naked Time" was particularly well done. I loved hearing the lines I remembered from the episode. The original dialogue was twisted slightly to fit the mirror universe creating an effective blend.

Kirk and Spock didn't just lay eyes on each other and instantly fall in love (although I do think that's a viable scenario). At first they felt mistrust and wariness of each other with an effectively slow build-up of their feelings.

Lots of nice nasty mirror universe attitude, especially in the morning meeting scene with the captain saying to Spock:" 'Maybe she just got tired of being fucked through the mattress by a big, green Vulcan cock and stepped out the nearest airlock.'"

There's more fun mean behavior when Kirk backhands Tomolon for expressing fear and disgust at what he saw on the planet. What a guy.

Spock going in search of (sorry) a missing lieutenant who was last seen in his bed was a very good, strong beginning to the story. However, Kirk's point of view sprinkled throughout Spock's point of view was a little disconcerting. And later, out of nowhere, Spock mentions some "council". What council?

A number of clever touches to this story such as the officers having a "self-destruct button" in case of an accident. Also, some neat moments like when Spock gets into bed with Kirk without any question. This is neat, too: " 'Real men play Killzone or Divide and Conquer. " Not chess. And, boy oh boy, when Spock does it to Kirk on the desk....

A few difficulties: Having Spock be the only one to save the ship lessened the drama considerably as opposed to both saving the day together.

Also, Spock's transition from mean-mirror-universe-guy to sensitive-moral-guy was too fast and too unexplained. One minute, he's the Vulcan who kills without thought, the next he's the loving, understanding Vulcan. I know there's madness and a latent attraction to Kirk {I loved Spock's dilemma of "should I kill him or love him?") but the change was still too easy.

And I question portraying every single detail of the episode instead of focusing more just on Kirk and Spock. As an example, one of the best, most fully realized scenes was when Spock went inside Kirk's mind. Physicalizing the experience was inventive and powerful. This was a terrific idea. This author has many good strong plots up her sleeve combined with a nice sense of fun. She uses those two qualities very well.