Shadow of a Friend

Fanfiction
Title:	Shadow of a Friend
Author(s):	Andrea Arat
Date(s):	1985
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Shadow of a Friend is a Kirk/Spock story by Andrea Arat.

It was published in One Night Stand #3.

Summary

"Kirk is abducted by the Orions and thrown into a cell with who he thinks is Spock but who turns out to be the Spock from the mirror universe."

Reactions and Reviews

1985

The zine opens with "Shadow of a Friend" by Andrea Arat. I believe that the dynamic of this story is that of a triad involving Kirk, Spock and Mirror Spock. Unfortunately, the author isn't totally faithful to this dynamic and doesn't follow completely through. I wish she had. As beautiful as the intimacy and sex between Kirk and Mirror Spock is, the idea of mental and physical sharing between the Spocks is overwhelmingly attractive. Imagine how well those two could understand one another, and how much support they could provide for each other in their separate alienations. I suppose this might be my idiosyncracy, but I have always believed that samenesses attract and strengthen intimacy. There is also the fact that Spock/Spock sex would close the circle and complete the triad. When one stands aloof from another partner, as our Spock does in this story, it interrupts the current and mars the triad structure. Much has been said about the instability of triads, but the major reason why they are unstable is exclusion. It's true that our Spock excluded himself, rather than being excluded by the others. That is a significant difference. Being excluded by others against your will and inclination is hurtful and extremely damaging to the fabric of a relationship. Yet voluntary exclusion also harms it in that it lessens the relationship's potential. The flow only travels in four ways instead of six. There's a missing link. I appreciate our Spock's lack of jealousy toward Kirk and Mirror Spock, but I think that more should be demanded of him in this story than that he not be jealous. Our Spock could give Mirror Spock a great deal, and vice versa in less obvious ways. I theorise that the reason why the author left the triad incomplete is because she believes that if our Spock hadn't distanced himself from Mirror Spock, neither he nor Kirk could bear to let Mirror Spock go. The pain of parting would be equal to the beauties of their joining. Yet Kirk, and Spock would still have each other for solace. They would survive it, and would carry memories of something truly extraordinary to enrich their lives.

1992

This is a beautiful tale about Mainline Kirk and Mirror Spock. Mirror Spock has been very much in love with Mainline Kirk, and Mainline Kirk is incredibly moved by him. I feel that any reader would also be moved by this Mirror Spock. This story takes place within the context of a Mainline K/S relationship. When Mainline Kirk asks his Spock if he might spend the remainder of the time Mirror Spock has in the Mainline universe with Mirror Spock, Mainline Spock is generous and not jealous. I was delighted to see this.