Missing in Action (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Missing in Action
Author(s):	Rae Trail
Date(s):	2005
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Missing in Action
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Missing in Action is a Kirk/Spock story by Rae Trail.

It was published online and then in the print zine Cyberdreams #2.

Summary

"Spock takes Kirk to Vulcan after a head injury causes his captain and lover to lose his memory."

Reactions and Reviews

This is another very well written story detailing Kirk’s gradual recovery from a traumatic injury, and Spock’s unswerving devotion and determination to help him recover and regain all the skills he has lost as a result. We are not told the circumstances in which this injury occurred, and in a sense this is not strictly necessary, other than that they were the result of a bomb being detonated close to the Captain. The story actually begins with Spock arriving in the transporter room carrying Kirk’s unconscious body. His horror when he realises the extent of Kirk’s injuries and their likely consequences is very well described, as he completely ignores his own relatively minor injuries while McCoy deals with Kirk, displaying all too clearly once again his complete devotion to this human who is all-important to him.

It is truly heart-wrenching to read about this new, childlike Kirk who has trouble even remembering the most basic details and we sense Spock’s intense pain and fear as he has to explain to Kirk over and over again, every time he wakes up who he is and what has happened. His terror that Kirk will not recover and will remain like this always is very well described, as is his determination to do everything possible to help him whether or not he recovers. What makes it even more painful for Spock is the fact that he and Kirk were planning to be bonded in the very near future and the tantalising comparison between what might have been and what the circumstances actually are is also very well described. He accompanies Kirk to a specialist hospital on Vulcan for treatment and his continuing devotion is very obvious, and well portrayed as is the support provided by his parents, a recognition of the fact that Kirk was due to become a member of their family – somewhat surprisingly, in this particular story, this is something Sarek does not disapprove of and he and Amanda are both shown as more than willing to help in anyway that they can to contribute to Kirk’s recovery.

It was a nice change for once to read about Spock’s parents being depicted in such a sympathetic way, there is no suggestion here that Sarek is cold and disapproving of his son’s choice of partner. I’ve always thought that since Sarek married a human woman, he must be more familiar with human emotions than we thought and cannot possibly be so emotionally suppressed as some authors would have us believe, although of course that is a matter of personal opinion.