The Last Straw (Star Trek: TOS story by Roberta Haga)

Fanfiction
Title:	The Last Straw
Author(s):	Roberta Haga
Date(s):	1987
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Last Straw is a Kirk/Spock story by Roberta Haga.

It was published in the print zine First Time #11.

Summary

"Kirk and Spock argue over each otherʼs safety."

Reactions and Reviews

1996

I loved this, a very short story of only dialogue; basically one-liners back and forth. This was done so well—everything we need to know condensed down to essentials. I loved listening in on their argument over command, safety, responsibility. It seems they both had been foolhardy on the mission just past—both nearly got killed, each trying to save the other. And both are really upset at the other taking risks such as this. Kirk blurts out, in response to some logic-argument of Spock's. "Love isn't logical, Spock: "Love.' And so it goes from there. Very, very sweet.

2007

... after pulling out some old zines over the weekend and reading through a number of stories, one stood out above the rest: The Last Straw.

It’s very unique, you see. There is no setup, no narrative, and no flowery descriptive phrases to put the reader in the correct mood. There is no attentive examination of each man’s thoughts or feelings. There is only dialogue, beginning with “All right, Spock. Let’s hear it.”

As you surmise from the first sentence, Kirk is speaking. And he’s angry. Once again Spock has stepped into harm’s way to protect his captain, and in this four-page conversation every complicated feeling they ever had for each other comes pouring out. We first hear Kirk’s fury and Spock’s denial, then a typical Kirk challenge and finally acknowledgement of the reason for such illogical action as to offer one’s life for another.

If you’ve never read this or haven’t read it lately, do so at your first opportunity. It’s a real eye-opener.