Turnabout Alternative

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	Turnabout Alternative
Author(s):	"A Lady" (likely Sue S)
Date(s):	1978
Length:
Genre:	non-explicit het
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:
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"Turnabout Alternative" is a Star Trek: TOS story by "A Lady."

art for this story by Mike Eason portrays Kirk in Janice Lester's body

It was printed in King Grope. While King Grope focused on humor and parody, this story is serious.

A Series

This story is the first part of a series.

"Turnabout Alternative" -- in which Jim Kirk remains in Janice Lester's body after she is killed while in his own. They become lovers.

The second story is "...and now for something completely different...". It was printed in Enter-comm #1, where it had some small uncredited illos and a portrait of Janice Lester by Kathy Carlson. In this story, Kirk and Spock marry when they discover Kirk is pregnant. They become the parents of twins.

This third story, Difference That is No Difference was in Enter-comm #2 where it had art by Pat Stall.

Plot Summary

Kirk's physical body and Janice Lester's mind both die.

Spock uses a mind meld to keep Kirk in Lester's body sane.

The Enterprise crew is so loyal that they support Kirk and don't even blink an eye.

Kirk begs Spock to take Kirk's job, as she knows women can't be Starfleet captains: "'Spock, why won't you take over?' she pleaded. 'You're the only one I'd willingly hand her over to and serve under'."

Spock sends Kirk to Vulcan to stay with Amanda Grayson: "'Go to my mother and, with her help and that of the Vulcan psychologists, you can learn to live as a woman.'"

Spock tells Amanda that he is now linked to Kirk, and needs to stay away from her.

Kirk remains on Vulcan for two years and becomes a Space Ambulance Pilot. She tells McCoy that she became "a whole person again" and this is thanks to Amanda.

Kirk offers herself to Spock who tries to decline. Kirk tells him: "'I might even have gotten to like it, Spock. I often wondered about that and hoped you didn't know. You sometimes knew too much of me for my own comfort'."

They become lovers in an fairly explicit manner, and then fade to black.

Spock Helps Kirk with a Mind Meld

Shortly after Kirk's physical body dies, McCoy and Spock attempt to keep Kirk's mind in Janice Lester's body sane:

As his hands touched her face in the familiar gesture, she raised her own, driven by some uncomprehended feminine impulse to touch, him also. His skin was firm under her hands, the hones hard and prominent. Within her mind she felt his momentary withdrawal from the caress and, instantaneously, his fierce acceptance of hertouch. The link between them strengthened to an intensity she had never felt before. In her gratitude she let all her old affection for the Vulcan flood her mind, receiving in return his courage, compassion and love.

McCoy looked at the two still figures, worry lines etching themselves on his face. Would Spock be able to hold Jim stable until she'd gotten used to a whole new life? Certainly Jim had been capable of showing tenderness in a way few truly masculine men achieved; it had been a measure of the strength of his personality that he had not been afraid of the feminine traits all men bore to some extent. He'd never known such a whole person as Jim. He could only pray that between the three of them they could see this thing through.

Kirk and Spock Become Lovers

"You've been avoiding me, Spock."

He would not look up at her. "You know why," he said harshly. "You must have felt the link strengthen. You must stay away from me until I can get to Vulcan."

"No, I shan't stay away," she said softly, and touched his fingers lightly with two of hers. "I shall stay here as long as you need me."

He snatched his hand away. "I was afraid of this. Jim, you have to leave me alone."

She knelt on the floor beside the chair. "Spock, we've shared a lot of things, been closer than most friends. So much has changed now that our relationship must change, too. I don't have to tell you how much you need someone now, and it has to be me, Spock, because I need you as well."

The dark eyes, unfathomable, met hers. "I could not do it to you, Jim. I am not sure I could do it to any woman. Perhaps I should choose to die."

She shook her head. "You're thinking with your brain, Spock, not with your gut. I've accepted that I am female and I want to be a whole female and not a sexless shell, but there's only one male I ever think about. No-one else will share my bed if you don't. No-one else will be able to take me as I am, ambitious, bloody-minded, tough - the things that made me into the man I was."

Spock stood up abruptly. "Don't you understand, Jim? It isn't gentleness and love I'd give you, only lust and animal satisfaction for me. You'd simply bo a means of release. Is that what you want?"

"You're talking to the one female around here who understands because she's been there, Spock. Simply because the human sexual urge runs to a different pattern don't think I don't know about masculine lust. I never raped anyone, but on occasions it was only one tiny step away from rape. Sex can be primitive and frightening in humans as well as Vulcans. If all you need is physical release then I am here and willing. If we can make more of it than that, then it will be right and beautiful for us both."

He stared down at her, mouth one hard line of tension. "Get up."

She rose and stood before him, eyes gentle. "I am here, kah-lan," she said in Vulcan, "she who is to be yours awaits your desire."

"No."' The eyes were blazing now. "No Vulcan rituals between us, Jim. If I am to take you I will do it as the half-human that I am. There must be honesty between us now, more than ever before."

[...]

"You may wear the body of a woman, a body I desire more urgently every moment, but you are still James Kirk, my friend, my leader. I have willingly followed you across the galaxy and will still follow you. Your body may have changed but your mind has not. To take you as a woman will tear your mind apart, as mine is torn between my two selves. Let me deal with this in my own way, Jim. I will go to Vulcan and fight this thing alone."

"And lose, my friend." Jim shook her head. "You will lose and you know it, and then I shall lose you, too."

A Parody Alternative

Immediately following the story is a short parody by Margaret Draper. In this story, Janice Lester is now in Spock's body AND Kirk's body. They become "simpering", "cheeky," campy bitches. This story has a illo by Gordon Carleton showing both men with limp wrists.

Fan Comments

Thish concludes with A Lady's "Turnabout Alternative", in which Kirk is permanently trapped in Janice Lester's body and must come to terms with his new sexuality. It's an obvious story, without any discernible depth, but it is enjoyable and a fair sample of the goods.