The Reward

Fanfiction
Title:	The Reward
Author(s):	Debi
Date(s):	1984
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Reward is a Kirk/Spock story written by Debi.

It was published in the print zine As I Do Thee #2.

Reactions and Reviews

"The Reward" by Debi is a sequel to "The Prize" which appeared in "The Price and The Prize". From McCoy's point of view, this story tells of his capture on an alien planet! Vulcan, and his run-in with a Vulcan master and his human slave (none other than Kirk and Spock). It is tastefully written with an intriguing plot and a minimum of violence. It IS an interesting exploration of the characters in an alternate setting. This zine has nothing objectionable in it (unless you object to K/S) and every story is well-written and well-edited.

The editor's introduction to this zine admittedly roused my ire. I had purchased the zine in large part because the ads stressed "no undue violence, torture, slavery, mayhem..." The introduction notes that the zine was touted in this way, but the editor goes on to say that she did include a slavery story because it was "not of the type I find so objectionable" and because the "slavery is a bit beside the point". I'm not sure how slavery can ever be beside the point, but I'll let that rest. It is an editor's right to decide whether or not she wishes to have an editorial policy; I have no objection either way. But I do feel strongly that when an editor does have a stated policy, she should stick to it. It is really unfair (and misleading) to the reader to do otherwise... To go on to the long (37 pages) slavery story by Debi -- it is the kind I find objectionable & and it is this type of story which makes me tend to avoid the whole genre. The story is a sequel to The Prize & and I can't comment on its relationship to that story, which I admit I haven't read. In this story, McCoy is captured and taken to Vulcan as a slave. There he meets Kirk (who is already Spock's slave) & is made part of Spock's entourage after he saves Kirk's life. This Kirk is tame & obsequious, a sort of pet poodle although we are told that he is a 'fighting' slave as well as a 'bed slave.' Nothing indicates that he anything but content to serve Spock, who is a 'good master.' At one point he says to Spock, "You have broken my spirit and made me love you." The underlying point of the story seems to be that it is desirable to trade one's freedom for love. I find this idea, like the concept of the 'good master,' repellent -- & never more so than when it is projected onto the proud, freedom-loving Kirk. Those who don't enjoy seeing Kirk groveling contentedly will squirm throughout this story -- I sure did!

... another Ohio opinion from someone who has read "The Prize" (several times) & thinks it's terrific. The major deficiency in "The Reward", the sequel by Debi, is that it doesn't stand alone; it omits some necessary back ground information to make it comprehensible to someone who hasn't read "The Prize." By the end of "The Prize," this Kirk is content—he & Spock are in love & bonded, but as this is "not done" with a slave they must keep their true relationship a secret while they remain on Vulcan & must play the roles of master & slave in public. "Thus the line you quoted as offensive to you — "You have broken my spirit & made me love you" — I read as a loving & rather lighthearted & playful comment, not a deadly serious complaint. I don't fell up to a serious debate over whether an A/U Kirk in a K/S slave story "really" would choose love for Spock over his own freedom, but he did in "The Prize" & I believed it. Spock has relinquished some ideals too, & the resolution of this story was bittersweet but satisfying. I found Debi's sequel rather lightweight as to plot & somewhat unclear/contradictory as to how soon after the events of "The Prize" it occurs, but I enjoyed it, mainly because it plausibly & interestingly brought McCoy into the A/U. It doesn't offer much to a reader unfamiliar with "The Prize or to one who I had agreed with all your other comments in your review of AS I DO THEE 2, so I suppose that's why I was so surprised when we saw "The Reward" so differently. Just wanted to offer another view for your & other NTS readers' consideration.