Second Action

Fanfiction
Title:	Second Action
Author(s):	Addison Reed
Date(s):	1988
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Second Action is a Kirk/Spock story by Addison Reed. It was nominated for a Surak Award.

It has a sequel called Third Law.

It was published in the print zine Within the Mirror #1.

Summary

"A group of pilots are sent by the Empire to complete a mission the Enterprise was unable to, and their leader's attraction to Spock only adds to Kirk's anger and depression."

Reactions and Reviews

1989

This story had PLOT and CHARACTERIZATION. The "Mirror" Captain Kirk finds that he is about to be robbed of all his glory, and he had difficulty dealing with this. This dilemma is wrapped around a fast-moving action scenario which is skillfully crafted into the character development. One minor quibble: the author portrayed the "just say no" theory of drug addiction, although she (he?) convincingly showed Kirk's relapse in the middle of the story. At the end, Kirk sees his shortcomings and so withdraws from the drugs. Addiction is a complex medical condition, and just seeing the error of one's ways does not lead to freedom from addiction. It would have been more convincing if the author had included a short reference to Kirk checking into Sick-Bay for some sort of treatment.

What a wonderful "Top Gun" take-off! Just when I thought I'd never see a truly original Mirror story, Addison Reed comes along and proves me wrong. This just shows that originality is really synthesis. Take one well-trod a/u, add a popular military movie and stir well. I did notice that the most physically intimate scene between Kirk and Spock in "Second Action" was of Spock holding Kirk while he puked. I'm not complaining, but it is a curious fact about the story.

...undoubtedly one of the best Addison Reed stories to date, has PLOT, detail, great loving and a whiz bang story with an action adventure ending. This could be a movie plot! And the witting is excellent. What else could you ask for?

1991

I'm not sure which is the greater strength of this story-- the well-developed, believable plot or the rich characterization. The Kirk and Spock shown here are true Mirror characters, able to coldly and efficiently wipe out a colony of rebels, and yet desperate for small intimacies and stolen moaents of togetherness. Each is drawn to the other despite being troubled by the attraction's uncertain effect on their roles as Captain and Vulcan first officer, and on their lives in an Empire where love is weakness. As for the story, it's a classic -- that of a past hero of the Empire (Kirk) whose career seems on the brink of decline as a new generation of Starfleet talent, in the form of an ace fighter pilot named Brandon Culhane, arrives to finish a mission at which Kirk has failed. Kirk's response is a self-destructive tailspin. The situation is worsened for Kirk when it appears Culhane is likely to take advantage of Kirk' unfinished business with Spock as well.

I had only one point of criticism regarding the plot of "Second Action." While the story's resolution, in terms of the action plot, was very satisfying, the psychological resolution was less so. The plot presented a lost opportunity for growth in Kirk's character. Kirk suffers in this story because he accepts his career as an enforcer for the Empire as his ideal identity, an identity on which his sense of self-worth is founded. That acceptance almost costs him both a relationship with Spock and his sanity. If Kirk had gained some insight into that fact, it would have added to the story's depth. But, then again... maybe I'm just being greedy. This was a first rate story even without the extra character growth.

The writing in "Second Action" was generally very good, even lyrical at times, as when the hour before ship's dawn is described as "the hour when life renewed itself." The aerial attacks were extremely well-described and the exchanges of pilot jargon (not easy dialogue to write) had the ring of authenticity. Only once did the writing technique falter. This occurred in the opening bridge scenes. The scenes leaned heavily toward dialogue without the benefit of visual description, leading to an oddly avisual effect, as though the reader is only hearing what's happening, not seeing it. Breaking up the dialogue with some visual imagery, even if it was just saying "Kirk inched forward anxiously in his seat" would have helped. Still, despite this weak beginning, the writing, and strongly plotted story of "Second Action",rank as the best in the zine.

2003

And as the saying goes, we’ve left the best for last (it happens to be the last story in the zine, but that just worked out that way.) I love this story. It’s probably my favorite Mirror story (with its sequel, Third Law, in WTM 2.) The mirror Kirk and Spock are both presented as basically normal men. As in Charlotte Frost’s story, Kirk is not the monster he’s so often painted to be; Spock is not a satyr. The both have their flaws, but they do the best they know how as they try to live in the violent universe they were born to.

In the episode, Mirror, Mirror, we are shown a Spock with a certain honor, though he has obviously gone along with Kirk’s past commands. So it turns out that that Kirk has honor, too. He has not always been proud of what he’s had to do, but he shoulders the pain and goes on. But now he is struggling. His dawning awareness of his feelings for Spock are intensifying his hidden insecurities.

A mission has gone wrong, casting doubt on Kirk’s ability to get the job done. When a team of hot-shot pilots are brought on board to do what the Enterprise failed to do, Kirk is at first only angry. But the anger turns to dismay as he sees the attraction the leader of the team obviously has for Spock. And Kirk is sure Spock returns the feeling. He doesn’t, but Kirk’s insecurities run deep. Driven by his fear of failure and sure he is losing Spock, he blunders into the world of drug addiction. It’s a world, we are told, he’s been to before. His self-esteem in ruins, he allows himself to slip more and more under the drug’s spell.

Spock fears for his captain and friend. And though neither are aware of the other’s love, the reader is. It’s beautifully presented in their secret daydreams of each other and in the concern and regard they so obviously feel. Both wants the other, and both are afraid of rejection.

As the days past the combination of what he thinks as unrequited love and the drug addiction begin to tear Kirk apart. He does manage to temporarily pull himself together after a night of closeness with Spock. But he still believes that Spock wants someone else, and he almost gives in to his despair.

But this is Kirk, in any universe. When it comes down to what he wants and what he thinks Spock wants, there’s no contest. He’s willing to die so that Spock can be with the one he loves. Luckily things don’t go according to plan and all ends well.

I’ve tried not to give too much away so that anyone wanting to read this story will have the pleasure of discovering its magic for themselves. I can’t recommend enough this story and its sequel.