Transgressions of the Heart

Fanfiction
Title:	Transgressions of the Heart
Author(s):	Bersakhi
Date(s):	2006
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Transgressions of the Heart is a Kirk/Spock story by Bersakhi.

It was published in Beyond Dreams #9.

Summary

"On a planet with problems with low fertility, Kirk and Spock find themselves on trial when their relationship as lovers is discovered."

Reactions and Reviews

Now here is another substantial story that I really enjoyed. I liked the plot and the whole set up. Poor old Kirk and Spock looking forward to the end of diplomatic negotiations on a planet so they can get back to sharing a bed. Overcome with longing Kirk feels the need to act ‘impulsively’ for a moment they share a (very sexy) moment of passion but someone sees them. Kirk’s act of impulsive recklessness is well drawn, not only is it in character but its hot! How’s this for you? “Kirk suddenly pulled him into a long shadowed alleyway and pushed him up against a heavy stone wall. Kirk’s brazenness caught Spock by surprise and he gasped slightly [...] The feeling of Kirk pressing him against the unyielding wall made Spock hard instantly.” Now lots of small details in this passage make it work for me. Kirk’s brazenness – well he is! Spock’s surprise – Kirk is always able to surprise Spock. I like Spock’s arousal being slightly caused by the illusion of Kirk’s dominance, this is a dynamic I very much like between them. They go on to a formal dinner where Bersakhi writes their formality as fluently as their impulsiveness. Kirk enters conversation ‘smoothly’ – good word for Kirk. And Spock ‘focuses’ on the ‘rather intriguing genetic experiments’ he is discussing. Just as they are about to leave they are arrested. Apparently same sex desire is a criminal offence on this planet and Kirk and Spock have got caught out. Turns out the punishment is re-conditioning. At this point I was well and truly fascinated by this story – of course historically speaking re-conditioning has tried on earth too (though largely failed) and I was really looking forward to seeing where this was going. But sadly the story gets a little muddled here. The re- conditioning seems to consist of drugging Kirk and having a women have sex with him – (repeatedly?). Jim’s friend Renee calls Sarek in the hope he’ll intervene inadvertently being the first to tell him of his son’s relationship with Jim. And Kirk bargains for Spock’s release with his own captivity. But I lost the plot over who or what actually got them freed. I guess that doesn’t really matter, but I kept trying to figure it out. Spock feel’s Kirk’s reconditioning, and Kirk is horribly ashamed. On returning to the ship he finds that he has lost his desire for Spock, though not his love. Kirk makes a pass at his old friend and Spock walk in on them. Oh dear everyone is feeling bad. Kirk’s characterisation seems to slip away from the writer here, I am not taken on his journey I don’t know what he is feeling – and I wish I did because the issues involved seem really interesting and funny worth exploring in full. Spock’s feeling are better handled, I like his line “So this is heartache.” But then suddenly when Kirk is threatened with losing Spock he’s OK again, desire restored, fears gone. Spock asks if Kirk plan’s to ‘re-learn’ his desire for Spock, but it looks like Kirk’s already has it back. Again I felt let down by the excellent build-up and rapid resolution. The second half of this story could have been twice as long as Kirk works to overcome his conditioning, there are so many interesting possibilities to this story and I wish that they had been explored in much more detail. Next time, Bersakhi, write me a longer story so I can savour the kind of excellent characterisation and detail inherent in early half of this one.

Why can't people leave each other alone? Why do Kirk and Spock have to run into other species all over the galaxy who are exactly as bigoted and close-minded as some of our own population today?! There I was, just getting relaxed, enjoying some hot moments with our heroes in an alley-way, and also anticipating their next intimate meeting, and what happens? Well, I won't tell you. I was disgruntled and angry! I got over it, though, because this story had some excellent, flowing writing going for it. Things work out in the end and you'll have to find that end yourself. I reccommend it!

Another established relationship story which raises an important question regarding the Prime Directive. Although everyone in Starfleet is bound by the Directive not to interfere in any other planet’s development and to abide by their rules when visiting that planet, does this apply to these visitors’ personal lives as well? This comes to the fore when Kirk and Spock are arrested on a planet where Kirk has been assisting with negotiations regarding this planet’s membership of the Federation when they are suddenly confronted with the true nature of this particular culture.

I must admit that I found the initial part of the story, where Kirk and his officers are relaxing at a party on the planet very enjoyable, as Kirk and Spock are both finally able to relax and enjoy themselves at the social gathering, exchanging information on their respective cultures and intermingling together. Unfortunately, this does not last for long, as Kirk and Spock are very publicly arrested in the middle of the party, and marched away to jail like criminals, although at this point they have absolutely no idea what it is they are supposed to have done wrong. Kirk’s confusion over this is very well conveyed, especially when it turns out that their only “crime” is demonstrating their feelings for each other in public on a planet where not just same sex relationships, but any sign of affection at all between two people which cannot lead to the procreation of children have been declared illegal, as a way of combating their dwindling population. As usual, Kirk’s main concern is the effect this will have on Spock and this is very well described as and Spock are separated from each other and imprisoned in the run-up to the trial, as is McCoy’s concern when he is finally able to visit Kirk whose main reaction is anger at having his private life dissected so publicly. His feelings are well portrayed as he and Spock are forced to defend their relationship to the population of a very bigoted planet especially when McCoy is called as a witness – for the prosecution! After a very one-sided trial with a predictable verdict, Kirk’s concern for Spock leads to his making the decision to make a devil’s bargain with the authorities to save Spock from punishment. This is typical of Kirk, with far reaching consequences both for himself and his relationship with Spock, not to mention Spock’s somewhat tenuous relationship with his family back on Vulcan. When it comes to light that the well intentioned interference of the Commissioner on the planet has prematurely revealed their relationship to Sarek, Kirk is not very pleased to say the least as Spock has been struggling very hard since the events on the journey to Babel to re-establish his relationship with Sarek, who is understandably angry and hurt that he has not been consulted on such a crucial event. Kirk’s reluctance to deal with Amanda and Sarek is well described, as is his determination not to let himself be intimidated by Spock’s formidable father, especially since he already feels guilty about not telling him and Amanda about the most important change in his son’s life.

The rest of the story, which deals with how Kirk and Spock struggle to cope with the consequences of what has happened back on the ship, is extremely well written and enjoyable. At first Kirk’s only desire is to simply forget what has occurred and get back to normal and his despair and confusion when he realises this may not be possible is very realistic and well portrayed, especially after he realises that his bonding link with Spock has almost disappeared and he indulges in some very inappropriate behaviour which is unfortunately witnessed by Spock himself who also initially reacts badly to this. The depiction of how they struggle to return to their old relationship and regain what they have lost in the fact of Kirk’s very real confusion about his sexuality is very sympathetically written as is this author’s description of a world which is not at all what it seemed in the beginning and the repercussions of Kirk’s decision which echo on after they have left this particular planet far behind.

This is based on a rather unusual idea in K/S. In fact, I can only remember one other story with a similar theme, but even there Transgressions veers into new territory.

Kirk and company are on the planet Melinkar concluding the admission of the planet to the Federation. After days of separation due to the diplomatic mission, Kirk and Spock relax together in a local spa. Two women administer the massages that are the first part of the treatment as the barely clad men lay on tables in the same room. The soft music and therapeutic massage work their magic on Kirk, and Spock‘s burning look of desire finishes the job. By the time the second part of the treatment—a long soak in warm scented water in separate rooms—is over, Kirk can hardly wait to lay his hands on his bondmate. Only one more diplomatic dinner stands between them. On their way back to the hall, Kirk yields to a passionate impulse and pulls Spock into a shadowed alley, pressing hard against him for a fast kiss. Both men have trouble ending the embrace, but of course they do. Duty, as always, comes first, and they attend the banquet as scheduled. It is only after they have eaten that three natives enter the hall and place Kirk and Spock under arrest. Quite inadvertently the captain and first officer have broken one of the planet most strictly observed laws. Because of the very low birth rate homosexuality is strictly forbidden, and their embrace in the alley was observed and reported. A farce of a trial ensues. The Federation commissioner assigned to the mission is Reneé Larson, a beauty with the hots for Kirk. She does her best to defend the men, but the verdict is rapidly decided and not in the pair‘s best interests. In a private interview with the planet‘s leader, Kirk assumes the blame and asks that he alone bear the ―rehabilitation‖ that is the penalty for breaking the law. Spock is released unharmed and by the time Kirk is returned to the ship, the penalty has been carried out. Kirk no longer is physically attracted to his mate. Cleverly, Bersakhi resists the urge to make Larson a villain. She honestly does her very best to represent the men in court though Kirk hasn‘t told her of his bonding, but it‘s hard to believe a negotiating group that was responsible for a planet‘s admission to the Federation would be unaware of this very important Melinkar law. Of course then the story wouldn‘t work at all, and the author skips over this point. With her smoothly flowing style and clear vivid writing, I was perfectly happy to skip with her.

Nicely done. I enjoyed this story.