Mirror Antagonists

Fanfiction
Title:	Mirror Antagonists
Author(s):	Flora Poste
Date(s):	1985
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Mirror Antagonists is a Star Trek: TOS K/S story by Flora Poste. It has art by Suzan Lovett.

It was published in Nome #8 and Mirror Universe Alternates.

title page from Nome

illo from Nome by Suzan Lovett

illo from Nome by Suzan Lovett -- "This artist‘s work is very distinctive and very realistic – a quality I like very much in K/S art. It doesn‘t hurt at all that Kirk and Spock are standing very closely in this or that they are accompanied by a Siamese cat who is looking directly into the dark Vulcan eyes – sensing a kinship, perhaps. I didn‘t have time to read the accompanying story, but this is a nice vignette in itself – two men sharing their friendship with a curious feline."

Prequel

A prequel to this series is Brotherʼs Keeper by D. T. Steiner in Rigel #3.

Series, in Chronological Order of Their Internal Time Line

• Mirror Antagonists (44 pages) (also in Nome #8) (published in May 1985)
• Mirror Amnesty (10 pages) (also in Maine(ly) Trek #4) (published in 1986)
• Mirror Awakening (14 pages) (also in Maine(ly) Trek #4) (published in 1986)
• The Chess Match, "a related poem" (12 pages) (also in Nome #6) (published in May 1983)
• Mirror Antecedents (62 pages) (also in Nome #8) (published in May 1985)
• Mirror Allegiance, part 1 (114 pages) (also in Nome #9) (published in May 1986)
• Mirror Allegiance, part 2 (105 pages) (also in Nome #10) (published in July 1987)
• Mirror Afterthoughts (22 pages) (also in Nome #7) (published in May 1984)

Summary

"Mirror Universe: Spock has secret orders to report to Vulcan, orders Kirk feels threatened by when Spock refuses to divulge their content. "

Reactions and Reviews

I loved your Mirror, Mirror series in Maine(ly) Trek 4 and Nome 8. I can't say enough about the writing. I find your descriptions and your dialogue tight and crisp. There isn't a spare word anywhere, but what is there is perfect....

All of "Mirror Antecedents" was beautifully done. My comments on the first name scene also apply to the ending of "Mirror Antecedents." The dialogue was eloquent. I thought the section where Spock looked at his hand and realized it was trembling was very moving.

"Mirror Antagonists" & "Mirror Antecedents" by Flora Poste are two stories set in the the "Mirror-Mirror" universe. Each story is complete by itself, gratefully."Antecedents" takes place after the Halkan Crisis with Kirk and Spock becoming aware that there is much to learn from each other. They explore their pasts and possible futures. "Antagonists" goes into the events surrounding Spock's first Pon Farr. This piece was well thought out and executed. You will probably want to check out future stories in this series as they become available.

"Mirror Antagonists" is the prologue to Flora Poste's Mirror Universe the last part of which we have already read in NOME 7. Spock has sealed orders & Kirk has been directed to take the ship to Vulcan where only Spock will be allowed to beam down. Kirk - via the Tantalus Field - is witness to a violent, destructive outburst by Spock. Yes, this is the Mirror Pon Farr. Kirk uses this apparent moment of weaknesses to extract, under torture, Spock's secret orders. And regrets it later even though he will not admit it. He confronts Spock a second time, offering help, an unprecedented move, & is rejected. Spock beams down & events proceed in a similar vein to those in "Amok Time" with some differences. An erotic dream finally sublimates the Plak Tow - with Kirk in the starring role - bringing with it the realisation that it is Kirk for whom Spock burns. Despite the handicap of having a reviewer who does not enthuse over Mirror stories, Flora Poste still, by her very skillful writing, managed to capture my interest; I cared about her characters, strange mixture though they were. Despite the brief glimpse we had of him in "Mirror, Mirror" this Kirk, in many ways, resembles 'our' Kirk; he is softer than one might imagine & has his own code of conduct - far more ethical than those around him. In fact, only he & Spock seem to have any saving graces. This Kirk is oddly muddled & one is tempted to say that he does not know himself, he certainly refuses to permit himself to see his more vulnerable side, rationalising many of his untypical feelings, particularly after his own erotic dream, the counterpart to Spock's. There are hints about how both characters might feel were their situations different: Kirk's lack of enthusiasm for his many sexual partners, his thought, before torturing the Vulcan that he would 'make an end now to any dreams he might have had about some different reality in which no such actions would have been necessary. Yes, I like this Kirk, it is a very subtle portrayal, cleverly done & it would be difficult to be interested in someone less vulnerable even though it's possible we are supposed to take him at face value. All the same this man is real, not some stereotyped sadist.

"Mirror Antagonists" & "Mirror Antecedents" by Flora Poste are 2 stories in a series set in the "Mirror-Mirror" universe, some of which have appeared earlier and/or in other zines, some of which are scheduled for later publication. Each one stands well on its own, however, always a blessing when connected works are published piecemeal. "Antagonists" details the events surrounding this Spock's first pon farr, while "Antecedents" follows the crisis at Halkan, as Kirk & Spock discover that they have much to learn about each other, their respective pasts & possible futures. Poste's thoughtful use of the mirror concept extedns to plot as well as to character, & readers will likely be tempted to seek out the rest of the series.