The Ratings Game

Fanfiction
Title:	The Ratings Game
Author(s):	Debbie Cummins
Date(s):	2009
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	The Ratings Game
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The Ratings Game is a Kirk/Spock story by Debbie Cummins.

Reactions and Reviews

the anguish as Kirk or Spock worries about the disappearance of the other; and they lift me into a pool of redemptive light when they‘re safe again at the end. And I‘m often humbled when she shows a Spock who, no matter what has been done to him, cannot truly wish for, or delight in, another person‘s death.

This story is different but just as good and takes place during ―Bread and Circuses.‖ I like the episode for many reasons, such as the jail scene between Spock and McCoy, but also for the threat of physical and emotional harm that never lets up. Like the episode, this story is fast-paced and drops you right in as the cameras start rolling to televise Spock‘s execution. Claudius Marcus has determined to make an example of Spock who, in coming to McCoy‘s aid, prevented their planned execution and moreover ―violated‖ the rules of the game. The story is told from Claudius‘ point of view and does a fine job contrasting the aging, somewhat effete, power- hungry proconsul with the vitality of our heroes. The proconsul finds himself strangely fascinated by these two men (McCoy‘s importance to them is referred to, but he does not have an active role in this story) and studies Kirk‘s too-revealing face minutely, trying to spot weakness. Despite Claudius‘ title, he is as insecure as anyone whose popularity depends upon a program‘s market share.

Now Spock walks out, ankles chained, and blinks in the glare of the studio lights.

"He can't see you, Kirk, because of the lights."

But he could, Claudius realizing with a start that Spock was looking directly at them, that, despite the glare, he'd found the captain almost immediately. And his eyes changed. Even from thirty feet :away Claudius could see it. Those eyes that had shown so little emotion up to now filling with compassion and sorrow and a deep, mournful sense of regret.

Slowly, Kirk rose to his feet, Claudius, feeling strangely irrelevant, scrambling up beside him.

An odd, almost mystical, silence descended, as if some sort of spell had just been cast over them all. Everyone felt it: the technicians, the gaffers, the grips. As one they stopped what they were :doing, their attention shifting from Spock to Kirk and back again.. . .

This time there is to be no duel, just asphyxiation from a burly executioner, a sure thing in this city that has perfected public ways to die. Kirk watches, horrified, until Spock cries out... and the :sound sends him ―rocketing out of his chair to struggle against his captors.

In less than five minutes, he is backed up against Spock, holding the guards off with a rifle. But they are armed and the arena is a sound stage with nowhere to go.

―Guards, resume the execution. Kill them both.

The soldiers advanced in unison. Kirk and Spock stood, back-to-back, to face them.

Unseen by the natives, Spock stretched out his fingers and brushed them against the captain‘s back in a silent gesture of gratitude and farewell.

I won‘t tell more but by a strange miracle, they are spared—for now. Maybe not so strange, for the audience sees something in the two of them together that we have known for years. It shines out to us in the few seconds Kirk and Spock have amidst the horrific events. We get to see it in the smallest details and gestures, and in the way one is galvanized when the other is in pain. In the third-person voice of Claudius Marcus, we get to see his unease as he realizes the strength in these two men. This story left me with a very warm, satisfied feeling. The only thing is, I would really love a follow-up story. What would this writer make of Merikus, for example? How can a regular person slide into depravity to the point where he earns the title of First Citizen of Rome?

If you would like more also, please bug the writer too!