The Cleansing

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	The Cleansing
Author(s):	Kay Wells
Date(s):	1991
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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The Cleansing is a Kirk/Spock story by Kay Wells.

It was published in the print zine Counterpoint #4.

Summary

"The Enterprise is sent to negotiate the admittance of a planet, one that hides a horrifying secret."

Reactions and Reviews

I liked the plot of this -- that of forcing a culture to face itself through the courage of one of its members. And being a 'Spock' person I particularly liked the way he was used as an example of a superior being despite his 'imperfection'. I enjoyed this story all the way through and was surprised to realize at the end that it had covered 60+ pages, because I didn't feel like I'd read a long, involved novella. This in turn leads me to believe that it probably could have been quite a bit shorter and still made its point. On the other hand, it didn't drag at all and was a nice, leisurely read. In order for most first timers to be believable to me, the relationship has to develop gradually, and in this novella it went nice and slow and yet still managed to contain plenty of sexual action. I got a kick out of McCoy in this. As a character who didn't have much involvement, he sure seemed to get all the good lines.

Several elements combine to make this a very compelling read. There’s a mystery -- something about a Federation-candidate planet’s two native races that doesn’t quite add up. There are also answers to Kirk’s questions that really aren’t answers at all.

For quite a few pages there is only an easy camaraderie between K & S. Yet there’s enough intrigue that you don’t really notice you aren’t getting your expected dose of sexual tension. As for the mystery, everything seems quite innocent, after all, there’s nothing particularly unusual about two races who don’t intermarry. Somehow, though, you know there’s more to it than meets the eye, some sinister secret lurking. The soul-searching that takes place when the secret is discovered is very, very revealing. Babies of mixed heritage are ritually drowned between the first and third month of their lives. Silent for hours as daylight passes into darkness, Kirk finally asks Spock, “What would it be like if you hadn’t been allowed to live?” Spock states he cannot theorize on this eventuality as, “I would not exist”. Kirk’s head drops and he finally manages to speak with great difficulty. “I wouldn’t either, then. I can’t imagine a universe without you in it, and I couldn’t live in a universe without you.” The last confession is buried in a sob. They come together then, in a most profound and exciting expression of their love. In a place where many stories end, this one has much left to explore.Kirk’s plea to this culture to reconsider its prejudices is filled with double meaning. It is as much an open declaration of his uncompromising love for the Vulcan as it is a statement on the benefits of a mixed gene pool. The looks and undercurrents fly like sparks. One could criticize here, I suppose, because of the lusty encounter that follows, seemingly disregarding the useless and horrifying genocide Kirk and Spock have witnessed. One could be critical, but one would have to be very determined. Because the intensity and sincerity of the love that is evidenced in their sudden arousal and fiery passion clearly cannot be set aside. It is perhaps because of the magnitude of their horror and disbelief that they cling so desperately to each other. The author chooses not to cloud the clarity of their passion by verbalizing these concerns, and it is truly ingenious that she allows us simply to be swept up in a tide of adulation. This reader is not turned off by the “oversight”, conversely, she is very much turned on. And I might add I read this while taking a morning off from work -- enjoying a break in the well- publicized summer heat wave. This did NOT lower my temperature! What it did do is cause me to shed tears for a supporting character in a K/S story -- possibly the first time that’s ever happened.

I’m out of words to convey how much I enjoyed this powerful story. I think I’ll go back to the beginning and immediately read it again. I can’t think of a better compliment.