Silent Gestures

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	Silent Gestures
Author(s):	M.L. Badger
Date(s):	1988
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Silent Gestures is a Spock/Kirk/McCoy story by M.L. Badger.

illo for this story by Shellie Whild

It was published in the print zine Shades of Grey #3.

Summary

"After Minara, both Kirk and McCoy are haunted by the torture and subsequent mercy of the Vians. Though Kirk and Spock are bondmates, neither human can deal with the after effects alone."

Reactions and Reviews

I have read this story over and over, partly for pleasure and partly to pin down faults that I feel are there. It's a K/S/Mc story, a beautiful and believable portrait of a tortured McCoy after "The Empath." I found it totally convincing and very captivating. So what's missing? I'm not sure, but my suspicions are that M.L. Badger has tripped on a couple of rocks that have frequently tripped me. With the warning, then, that I may be reading into the story what I'm used to seeing in my own writing, here are a couple of possibilities: (1) I think a little more sense of the visual would anchor the story better. (2) (This is the main thing) It might need some judicious cutting, condensing the story in time and space. (3) (minor point) Usually I think stories end too late, but this one could have used another line or two. (4) I would have preferred the principal source of McCoy's distress (the knowledge that he loves Kirk and Spock) to be made clear sooner. But it's a wonderful story. I especially liked the part where Kirk wonders if he hasn't needed someone of his own Human heritage; it was delicately handled and entirely un-racist.

A sensitive story of Kirk, Spock, and especially McCoy, after "The Empath." McCoy's opinion was neither partner of the bonded pair had a right to sacrifice his life, knowing what it would do for the other. His sacrifice of himself was partly an escape from his own feelings for them. Afterwards, he is drowning in depression and feelings of uselessness and unrequited love. Badger does a wonderful job of making plausible McCoy's part in the triple bond, especially the need Kirk has for this very human contact. I wish some parts of this had been a little clearer; I didn't really "get it" on first reading. But on second and third—real good stuff.

(33 pages) - After the events with the Vians, McCoy withdraws from his friends. Kirk and Spock, freshly bonded, have a hard time to get through his barriers and make him a part of the whole...sometimes painful, believable psychology; the final threesome sex scene seems a bit forced to me, but still acceptable. Longer story with threesome art at the end.