Then We Can Be Heroes (An Untitled Adventure with S & H and K & S. In One Hundred & Eighteen Pages)

Zine
Title:	Then We Can Be Heroes (An Untitled Adventure with S & H and K & S. In One Hundred & Eighteen Pages)
Publisher:	Penny Warren
Editor:	Mahko Root Press
Author(s):	Gloria Galasso
Cover Artist(s):	unknown
Illustrator(s):	no interior illos
Date(s):	undated, 1980?
Medium:	print
Genre:	non-explicit slash
Fandom:	Starsky and Hutch/Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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Then We Can Be Heroes (An Untitled Adventure with S & H and K & S. In One Hundred & Eighteen Pages) is a 118-page non-explicit slash Starsky & Hutch/Star Trek: TOS zine by Gloria Galasso.

The zine contains no interior illos. The cover features Kenneth Hutchinson and David Starsky, and while a crossover, the dominant fandom is Starsky & Hutch.

Another early crossover novel by the same author is BIRD OF PARADISE, an RPS coded-Led Zeppelin story with Starsky & Hutch in a nominal role.

Ads

In 1979, there was a notice in Scuttlebutt in the Proposed Zines section:

A full length ST/S&H novel by Gloria Galasso, coming from Mahko Root -- eventually. No age statement is required, but readers are advised that some adult themes and explicit violence are involved.

In December 1979, an ad in S and H #5 said:

Forthcoming:

BIRD OF PARADISE/THEN WE CAN BE HEROES.

SASE to Penny Warren

A Summary

In it, Kirk and Spock beam down to Bay City, California and work with Starsky and Hutch to solve a case involving a dangerous drug. After a terrible accident that appears to take Starsky's life, Hutch goes with Kirk and Spock to the Enterprise to rescue him. They find Starsky, pumped full of the deadly alien drug, and dying. After Dr. McCoy saves him, they go back to earth. Hutch then finds a copy of "The Advocate" in Starsky's apartment and confronts him about his sexuality. They have a physical fight, and then Hutch admits that he is gay, too.

The story includes a reference to The Price of the Phoenix, a 1977 Star Trek tie-in novel.

Excerpts

Finally Spock whispered, "Captain?"

"What is it Spock?"

"There is something I fail to understand in their behavior..." Spock said seriously.

When the Vulcan did not go on, Kirk said softly, "It's a game, Spock. A game called, 'you-know-and-I-know-but-if-we-don't-mention-it-maybe-nobody-else-will-notice." He chuckled. "You're not so bad at variations on the theme yourself."

"Indeed, Captain?" A completely neutral question.

"Offended, Spock?" Kirk strained to see the alien face beside him in the dark. "No."

"But you would be if anyone else had said it," Kirk thought. Aloud he said, "It's their defense, Spock. Against death. They too, are men who can not be bought. Except that they are each other's price."

Spock was silent, but Kirk knew that he was reliving those terrible moments of mind-touch with Kirk's replica on the Black Hole, Omne's outlaw world. He could almost hear Spock saying, "...you have been a captive before.' And the replica's answer, 'I will not be your price.' And Spock's calm and unequivocal reply, 'You have been that before too.' Spock had not known at that moment that the original still lived. So even though it hadn't been between them, it had.

Now Spock nodded slowly, "Yes. It is as I thought."

Hutch turned away. Starsky's voice drifted into silence. When he didn't turn back Starsky laid one hand on the leg nearest him.

"Hutch?" He asked softly. Hutch looked down, but said nothing. Stung, Starsky said shakily, "Ken? It's true that before I knew you I was pretty loose. But since then I swear I have never... "

"Dave." Hutch cut him off. There were tears in both their eyes. Gently Hutch bent down and gathered his friend into his arms. He buried his face in the curly hair and whispered unsteadily, "You know I've never cared who you slept with, as long as it's me you love."

Starsky's breath caught on a sob. They clung to one another, trembling. Finally Hutch's self-control reasserted itself. He lifted his head. Starsky didn't move, his face turned to Hutch's shoulder, resting easily, but still shaking.

"Are you gay?... David, listen to me. I have got to know."

Starsky collapsed in a chair and sat looking at his partner far a full minute. At last he shrugged and sighed. "Okay. We'll talk about it. But since if I say yes I could lose everything that matters to me, you tell me why you want to know."

It was Hutch's turn to be reluctant. He stared down at his hands. When he looked up at last his face was open and frightened. "Because...because I think that I am. I wanted to come over tonight because I had to have somebody to talk to about this."

Stunned, Starsky leaned back in his chair. Then, softly, he said, "But you were married. I mean, Nancy..."

"I got a divorce didn't I? I didn't really know at the time, but I think this was why." Hutch said miserably. He looked down at his hands, "What am I going to do?"

"Hey." Starsky said gently. "Hey, partner.' Listen. It's not so bad, being gay. Not if...not if you have somebody who really cares." Hutch raised his head, hope finally replacing despair on his face. Their eyes met. Hutch stood up.

Starsky got up, too, quickly. quickly. But he held his hands in front of him in a warding off gesture. Hutch stood still, hurt and uncertain.

In a low voice his partner said, "Don't move till you've heard me out. Yes, I am gay. That's why I'm out here. I hate California. But it was leave or get kicked off the force. The Lieutenant had heard about me, but he couldn't prove anything. So, 'cause he had been such a great friend of my dad, which he wanted to make certain that I understood meant in the upstanding, all-American, true to the force fashion, he gave me an option. I could stay and get my ass canned, or I could get out. 'Just like that?' I said. 'Yeah, just like that.' He said. 'Go out to California. They like queers in California. I'll see that your record looks good.

Sample Pages

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  front cover, photocopy

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  title page, photocopy

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  title page, photocopy, with handwritten alteration

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  photocopy

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  photocopy