Fanfiction Rec-List: Star Trek (TV, DS9, Movie-Reboot)
If a FF (all here with a focus on Kirk/Spock or Kirk/Bones - with the exception of Garak/Bashir for DS9 - fall either into the category bromance or slash, with a bit of gen for good measure) caught your interest and you follow the link, please heed the warnings/ratings to be found at the archive/authors site.
Part Two
Star Trek - '09 Movie Reboot
1. Atlas by Angel Baby1 (FF.net)
Excerpt:
"We're going to give Jim Kirk the Enterprise."
For a moment, Spock thought his hearing must have become faulty during the last three months in space. He shook his head to clear it, a nearly imperceptible motion, and said, "Pardon?"
Barnett looked up from Spock's mission report, a grin in his eyes even if it wasn't reflected in the calm of his face. "At his graduation ceremony a week from Friday, the Admiralty intends to uphold Cadet James Kirk's field promotion and give him the flagship Enterprise. She'll be ready for a shakedown mission by then, which is as good a way to start as any."
Vulcans didn't gape, which was the only reason Spock managed to maintain his well-honed expressionless demeanor. "…Sir, if I may make a query."
Now Barnett did grin, sitting back in his chair with his elbows propped on the arms. "By all means, Commander Spock. We drew straws to decide who got to break the news to you. I've been looking forward to fielding your response for weeks."
"Sir," Spock began, ignoring the odd non-sequitur about straw and fields, "while I can appreciate the need Starfleet must have for qualified captains, it is highly illogical to base a promotion as…unprecedented as this upon one successful mission that was, in itself, unprecedented."
The admiral's expression then was odd, amused and compassionate by turns, as though Spock were the victim of a cosmic joke that Barnett himself had suffered through on a previous occasion. He seemed to relate to Spock's befuddled confusion every bit as sincerely as he derived hilarity from it. "I know you just got back," he said eventually, "but let me make a suggestion. Find Jim Kirk and follow him around for a while. We can draw up an excuse if you need one, but I really don't think you will. Kirk hasn't been notified of where he'll be serving after his graduation, much less in what capacity. If you still think we're wrong about this promotion after walking his path for a few days, we'll take your concerns into account."
Spock struggled with the idea of Captain James T. Kirk for a heartbeat before releasing the turmoil as illogical.
Barnett saw his fleeting concern and offered him a small, understanding smile. "We were badly wounded when you left," he said softly, lacing his fingers together so he could observe the tangle they made. "Nero took our cadets, and in doing so effectively gutted the fleet. We had to heal quickly, and in any way we could, before the hurt became a weakness."
"Understandable," Spock agreed. "However, giving a cadet his own flagship might highlight our current difficulties more than alleviate them."
"Situations like ours become something of a baptism by fire for everyone involved," Barnett continued, nodding once in acknowledgement of Spock's assessment but ignoring it otherwise. "You get to stress people, test their limits, see what they're really made of. Sometimes people just can't stand up under it. We've lost some good recruits recently. But sometimes," he murmured, meeting Spock's dark eyes with firm conviction, "you find a man who takes everything you throw at him and more, and doesn't give up so much as dig down. Jim Kirk dug his heels deep on this one, and he hasn't let anyone around him surrender so much as an inch to the losses that should have crippled us. We need him and his ilk badly, Commander Spock."
2. 5 Time James Kirk Almost Died And One He Didn't by Angel Baby 1 (FF.net)
Excerpt:
The situation was only about half way under control when James Kirk strode onto the bridge of his ship. "Report," he demanded, taking his seat with the calm confidence of a king holding court.
"The damage seems to be limited to the area directly around the affected generator, sir," Chekov said obediently, fingers dancing over his terminal. "It appears as though it was a malfunction caused by-"
"Assume I was there," Kirk suggested, leaning his weight on his left arm where it was propped on the chair.
Chekov swiveled to face his captain, surprise obvious on his face. "Sir?"
"Here's what I want to know," Jim explained brusquely, his own expression almost disturbingly blank. "What are the expected effects of the loss of the generator? How soon will it be functional, assuming it can be repaired? What is the total number of injured, and is Dr. McCoy equipped to deal with them or will he require additional help?"
Chekov stared for only a moment before turning quickly to scan the data available to him. "Loss of the generator takes us down to ninety percent of available power, enough to keep us going at present cruise but not enough to make the jump to warp speed. Mr. Scott reports sufficient supplies to fix the damage, plotting the work-order at an estimated three-day repair cycle, but he also submitted a request to replace the generator at the next starbase. As for the injured, Captain, our connection with sickbay seems to have been disrupted in the explosion. We aren't receiving any reports from Dr. McCoy."
3. Home by Lanaea (FF.net)
Excerpt:
"Are you alright, Spock?" he asked as they got moving, and the half-Vulcan stiffened noticeably. "You look a little green."
Spock raised an eyebrow at him. "Captain, you are aware that my Vulcan physiology produces a natural green pigment-"
"I know, I know," Jim assured him, raising one hand. Jeez. Bones must be rubbing off on him - that was one hell of a crappy joke. "I was just trying to lighten the mood. And don't call me 'captain'. It's Jim," he insisted.
"…Jim," Spock reluctantly agreed, and he let out an internal sigh of relief. Good. He was getting a little sick of being called things like 'captain' and 'sir' all the time. For one thing, it made him feel about ten years older than he actually was.
He shot Spock another smile, and then cast his gaze out the nearest window to the passing scenery. Spock followed suit, the hum of the transport rumbling quietly beneath their feet as they took in the sight of open blue sky and solid ground. Things which were fast becoming a rarity as their assignments took them further and further from familiar space. Jim wouldn't trade the Enterprise for it, but still - it was kind of nice to back on terra firma again.
"I have not spent much time on Earth outside of Starfleet Academy," Spock confessed after several minutes had passed, the low timbre of his voice startling Jim out of his reverie.
"What?" he asked. "You never did the tourist thing?"
With a glance which seemed to imply that Jim ought to have known better than to ask, Spock shook his head minutely. "There did not seem to be much appeal to the prospect. The temperatures of Earth's northern hemisphere are too cold by Vulcan standards," he explained.
4. Gravity by faithunbreakable (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Hating Frank is pretty much a given. The man breezes into Jim's life when he's three and sets up shop permanently when he's five, demanding to be paid respect because he's the man in the house now. Nevermind that the house they live in, the car he drives and the woman he fucks all belong to another man.
A dead man.
And that man's name is George Kirk and he's Jim father and hating the usurper is almost his duty - he knows all about duty, grows up on tales of it, tales of his great father and the way he went beyond his duty and saved eight hundred people and even if Pike looks at him like he's stupid, he knows the exact number, thanks anyway, knows it by heart. Eight hundred and seventeen people. Including his mother. Including him.
So he hates Frank because it's his duty and it's not like the man makes it hard. He marries Winona, loves Winona - or maybe the prestige and titles and infamy she brings to rural fucking Iowa - but Sam and Jim are unwelcome tag-alongs. Like buying a dog and getting the fleas for free.
5. Roomates & Pillows by Ginger Ninja (FF.net)
Note: The stories got deleted from FF.net and I can't find the LJ account - mail me if you want them (or if you have a link).
Excerpt:
Jim thudded against his shoulder. He jerked awake, offered an apology, but didn't move.
"I am not your pillow," Leonard groused. Jim offered a tired laugh. "But you're so comfortable."
Leonard could feel the heat of Jim's skin radiating through his clothing. He looked and saw his friend's skin shining with the unpleasant red of deep sunburn. "Didn't you use sunscreen at all?" "Yeah, but I ran out." "Ran out? How? We had more than enough to last."
Jim shrugged, wincing as his burnt skin brushed against his t-shirt. "I had to share it with the others. Not everyone got some. You know how the instructors liked their little tricks and tortures."
Leonard definitely knew, having been on the receiving end of midnight push-ups several times. He hadn't been allowed back into his tent until he'd managed one-hundred. Compared to what others had been put though, including Jim, Leonard had been lucky. "You might have heat exhaustion."
6. 5 Times Bones Says by puravidaloco (FF.net)
Excerpt:
He was completely surprised when he entered the room, and found a familiar figure lounging idly on Kevin's bed, playing with a PADD.
"Damnit…", he swore out loud, but was forced to stop short. For the life of him, he could not remember the name of the blue-eyed kid who saw copious vomiting as an open invitation of friendship. The kid seemed to dog his footsteps everywhere, from class to the mess hall, constantly talking, even though McCoy had tried to make it clear that he did not want the company.
The boy raised his eyebrows as he glanced up from his PADD. "It's Jim, Bones. My name is Jim. Jim Kirk." he said, a hint of mischief in his tone.
McCoy just stared back at the kid, trying to figure out where in the hell he had acquired the nickname 'Bones' (which was just awful) and why the kid was sitting on his roommate's bed. He finally managed to speak. "My roommate is going to be pissed. He doesn't like people touching his things." (McCoy had found this out when he had picked up pair of shoes he had tripped over on the floor and had to endure an hour long tirade about mutual respect for property.)
Kirk just smiled, his eyes straying back to his PADD. "I don't think your roommate will mind so much."
McCoy just stared, dumfounded. This kid was brash. "What? Why?"
Kirk smiled, still staring at his PADD. "Because, I'm your roommate."
"DAMNIT, JIM!" McCoy exploded.
7. Light Flash Crack by audi katia (FF.net)
Excerpt:
A streak of lightning flashed suddenly across the sky, followed by an immediate clap of thunder. McCoy flinched against the abrupt, rumbling noise and when he shut his eyes, the brightness of the lightning reappeared under his eyelids.
The wind howled around them, causing goosebumps to erupt on McCoy's skin. Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the pair for a moment. The light flashed in Kirk's eyes, the exact same shade of blue.
"Bones, look, did you see that?" Kirk cried against the wind that raged against them. The force was so strong that McCoy was pushed against the unmovable body of his friend.
"Do you mean, did I see the cause of our inevitable deaths?" he began sarcastically, still dimly aware of Jim's hand holding his. "Yes, Jim. I did see it."
He wrapped his fingers around Jim's hand and pulled him in the direction of the underclassmen dorms.
"Oh, where's your sense of adventure?" Jim teased, resisting against McCoy's pull. McCoy glared into his friend's face. As he noted the unbalanced look in his eyes, his anxiety mounted within him.
"It's back in my dorm, staying dry and safe!" he answered gruffly, pulling his hand from Jim's hot, slick grasp.
Star Trek - Deep Space Nine
1. Falling & Oblivious by babel
Excerpt:
"It doesn't make sense."
The doctor straightens up the way he does when he's preparing for a disagreement. He's not naturally disagreeable, my doctor. It's one of his more endearing flaws.
"I thought it was fairly straight-forward," he says. He's watching me closely, trying to be sure I'm not simply saying this to draw something ridiculous out of his mouth.
Which I'm not. Not today, anyway. "The plot -- if it could be called such-- is simplistic, yes. But the characters do completely ridiculous things for absolutely no reason."
"Garak." He's incredulous now. "They fell in love."
I could argue this point. Not only because I can't imagine even a couple of Humans doing the things that these characters did for romantic reasons, but also because they couldn't have known each other nearly long enough to be in love.
But I get the feeling that these arguments will only support his theory that I am a horrible cynic and that it's his job to introduce me to the beauty of life as portrayed in Human literature, art, and music.
To avoid that (again), I take a different path.
"What a peculiar expression."
He blinks at me, apparently not aware what I'm referring to.
"Fell in love. I wouldn't expect you to use such a negative term for that particular emotion."
"It's not negative."
"Fell? As in 'fell off a cliff'?"
2. Opacity of Paradise by thehoyden (AO3)
Excerpt:
"I will take things from here," Worf says, managing not even to look at Garak as he says it.
But if Garak is offended, he doesn't show it. "Of course," he says with a great deal more grace than Julian would have expected from someone who has just spent days wrestling terrible claustrophobic attacks, as well as watching his own father die, Tain denying him almost to the last breath.
"Doctor," Garak says. It's evident from his tone that it's not the first time he's tried to get Julian's attention.
"Yes, what is it?" Julian asks mechanically.
"I think you should get some rest," Garak says. There's some weight to his words, but Julian is too tired, too muted to begin to guess what he means. But that exhaustion doesn't stifle a beat of panic -- he doesn't want to go to the rear compartment alone. The internment camp guards put him in isolation twice, and he thinks he'll go mad if he's alone again.
"We could both use some rest," Garak says gently, and Julian is pathetically grateful for Garak's customary perceptiveness. He allows Garak to pull him up on his feet and carefully shepherd him to the rear compartment, Garak's hand warm on the small of his back.
Julian knows he should be happy that he's out of purgatory's shadow. He should be just a bit proud that Garak let him know the biggest secret of all, let him stay while Tain uttered his last words.
Star Trek - Original Series
1. Meddling and Melding by abraxis (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Spock had been suspicious of Rayna from the very first. Vulcans, while functionally only touch telepaths other than through a bond, were not psychically blind otherwise. If they were, it would not be necessary for them to require such total shielding of one's emotions as a social imperative among themselves. With other beings, beings of lower psi abilities, it was simply easier to shield against the emotional auras when touch was not involved. When one had use for that sense, it could be employed by relaxing the shield.
While Flint had radiated emotions far different from the amiable calm his body and words portrayed and did so at a greater than normal strength, Rayna had a nil emotional aura even when 'her' expressions and vocalizations were mimicking great emotion. The conclusion was that Flint, though quite untrustworthy, was a mentally normal human and that Rayna was not.
Humans, on average, had some ability for this sensing of emotional auras though they preferred to think of it as being able to read others through subtle body language and other factors tied to the five non-psychic senses. Jim Kirk was extremely able at this type of "reading". It was one of the important factors in his command ability. He had easily discerned the contradictions in Flint. Why had he not questioned the lack of aura in Rayna?
But, aside from this puzzle, there was the matter of his almost instant depth of attraction and now his inordinately strong reaction to the android's malfunction. Spock's observations during their association had shown that, with a few rare exceptions, Jim Kirk was very careful to limit himself to flirtatious short-term affairs, avoiding any deeper relationships that might threaten his true grand passion, the command slot of the Starship Enterprise. Even those exceptions, including the death of Edith Keeler, had not left him in this depth of emotional distress. For a human, Jim could be remarkably pragmatic concerning the personal costs of his command decisions.
2. Thy Brother by MissAnnThropic (FF.net)
Excerpt:
But not even the relaxing and calming warming of all his cells after months in the cold of starship space could remove his concern. Even with his eyes turned upward to the sky and mind focused on the sun as much as he could isolate the thought, he was all too aware of the stains drying to a dull rust brown on his uniform, fighting to overtake the blue as dominant color.
Spock was never comfortable with the way human's red blood turned to such a color of decay and rot so easily and quickly. And not when the blood in question was so dear... not when the drying areas that were drenched in blood on his shirt came from the body of his captain... James T. Kirk.
"If your mother saw you doing that, she would tell you that staring into the sun would blind you," an even voice intoned from a few feet behind Spock's left shoulder.
Spock did not startle at the voice so near him. It was calm and deep in candor, and Spock's adept hearing had picked up the visitor's approach long before he arrived at Spock's immediate side, though Spock had been only unconsciously aware of the new person's presence.
Now that he was addressed, however, it would not be proper to ignore. Especially so considering the Vulcan who had joined him.
Spock brought his face down, eyes moving to the figure that stood a matter of feet from him as the third eyelids coating his eyes blinked away as though they had been but a trick of one's imagination. His vision focused sharply on the regal and controlled figured of his father.
Spock replayed to himself Sarek's words, commenting in return, "If she were to stare at the Vulcan sun permanent eye damage is likely. I, however, would suffer no ill effects."
Sarek stepped closer to his son, hands held coolly together before his solar plexus... the proper and common repose of someone of Ambassador Sarek's status. As he came up abreast with his son, Sarek's far brow rose slightly and a dark twinkle flashed in his eye as the lines around his mouth softened. It was the closest Sarek came to a smile, and it was likely that even that small gesture was a result of living with an Earth woman as his wife for so many years. Spock had adopted the same slight mannerisms having had Amanda Grayson as a mother. Implications to reactions were not too outlandish, and control was still maintained while communicating a sentiment to those species less attuned to moods and thoughts of others. To have done it in front of Spock was just... habit.
Sarek mused aloud, "Earth mothers, I've found, do not wish to be told facts if they run contradictory to their instinctive parental drives."
Spock nodding, returning to his father the phrase it was tagged with, "Maternal instinct."
Sarek nodded, remaining silent.
3. Amo Amas Amok by Nesabj (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Uhura thought that it was ironic that though medical personnel were generally discouraged from treating their own family, here on the Enterprise they found themselves treating family all the time. No wonder the doctor was so irascible. No wonder her friend Chris could seem so stiff and reserved.
Uhura rotated her neck to loosen up a sore muscle. She too had recently spent more than a few double shifts at her board. She had sent and received some pretty unusual comm messages between the ship and Starfleet Command, not to mention the ones between Vulcan and the Enterprise. Long hours spend bending over a comm board meant that stiff neck muscles were the norm for a communications specialist. An occupational hazard they might be, but they still hurt.
"Let's call it a day," Uhura suggested. "I'm due on the bridge in forty minutes. This is the captain's first full shift back on duty and I don't want to be late." She grimaced at that thought. Her captain was a very punctual man. He had little patience when his officers were not. Uhura hated to disappoint him, even with small things. "I hope things finally stay quiet for all our sakes. Everyone's complaining that this Vulcan-to-Altair trip is a milk run, but I think it's just what we all need right now."
Chapel nodded in agreement. "You and me both, Nyota. I'm going to bed. I thought I'd never get off duty. I swear Dr. McCoy sometimes forgets that he's got other nurses. I guess that's a compliment, but those double shifts are getting harder and harder. And these past few days have been killers." She flashed Uhura a twisted grin.
Part Two
Part Two
Star Trek - '09 Movie Reboot
1. Atlas by Angel Baby1 (FF.net)
Excerpt:
"We're going to give Jim Kirk the Enterprise."
For a moment, Spock thought his hearing must have become faulty during the last three months in space. He shook his head to clear it, a nearly imperceptible motion, and said, "Pardon?"
Barnett looked up from Spock's mission report, a grin in his eyes even if it wasn't reflected in the calm of his face. "At his graduation ceremony a week from Friday, the Admiralty intends to uphold Cadet James Kirk's field promotion and give him the flagship Enterprise. She'll be ready for a shakedown mission by then, which is as good a way to start as any."
Vulcans didn't gape, which was the only reason Spock managed to maintain his well-honed expressionless demeanor. "…Sir, if I may make a query."
Now Barnett did grin, sitting back in his chair with his elbows propped on the arms. "By all means, Commander Spock. We drew straws to decide who got to break the news to you. I've been looking forward to fielding your response for weeks."
"Sir," Spock began, ignoring the odd non-sequitur about straw and fields, "while I can appreciate the need Starfleet must have for qualified captains, it is highly illogical to base a promotion as…unprecedented as this upon one successful mission that was, in itself, unprecedented."
The admiral's expression then was odd, amused and compassionate by turns, as though Spock were the victim of a cosmic joke that Barnett himself had suffered through on a previous occasion. He seemed to relate to Spock's befuddled confusion every bit as sincerely as he derived hilarity from it. "I know you just got back," he said eventually, "but let me make a suggestion. Find Jim Kirk and follow him around for a while. We can draw up an excuse if you need one, but I really don't think you will. Kirk hasn't been notified of where he'll be serving after his graduation, much less in what capacity. If you still think we're wrong about this promotion after walking his path for a few days, we'll take your concerns into account."
Spock struggled with the idea of Captain James T. Kirk for a heartbeat before releasing the turmoil as illogical.
Barnett saw his fleeting concern and offered him a small, understanding smile. "We were badly wounded when you left," he said softly, lacing his fingers together so he could observe the tangle they made. "Nero took our cadets, and in doing so effectively gutted the fleet. We had to heal quickly, and in any way we could, before the hurt became a weakness."
"Understandable," Spock agreed. "However, giving a cadet his own flagship might highlight our current difficulties more than alleviate them."
"Situations like ours become something of a baptism by fire for everyone involved," Barnett continued, nodding once in acknowledgement of Spock's assessment but ignoring it otherwise. "You get to stress people, test their limits, see what they're really made of. Sometimes people just can't stand up under it. We've lost some good recruits recently. But sometimes," he murmured, meeting Spock's dark eyes with firm conviction, "you find a man who takes everything you throw at him and more, and doesn't give up so much as dig down. Jim Kirk dug his heels deep on this one, and he hasn't let anyone around him surrender so much as an inch to the losses that should have crippled us. We need him and his ilk badly, Commander Spock."
2. 5 Time James Kirk Almost Died And One He Didn't by Angel Baby 1 (FF.net)
Excerpt:
The situation was only about half way under control when James Kirk strode onto the bridge of his ship. "Report," he demanded, taking his seat with the calm confidence of a king holding court.
"The damage seems to be limited to the area directly around the affected generator, sir," Chekov said obediently, fingers dancing over his terminal. "It appears as though it was a malfunction caused by-"
"Assume I was there," Kirk suggested, leaning his weight on his left arm where it was propped on the chair.
Chekov swiveled to face his captain, surprise obvious on his face. "Sir?"
"Here's what I want to know," Jim explained brusquely, his own expression almost disturbingly blank. "What are the expected effects of the loss of the generator? How soon will it be functional, assuming it can be repaired? What is the total number of injured, and is Dr. McCoy equipped to deal with them or will he require additional help?"
Chekov stared for only a moment before turning quickly to scan the data available to him. "Loss of the generator takes us down to ninety percent of available power, enough to keep us going at present cruise but not enough to make the jump to warp speed. Mr. Scott reports sufficient supplies to fix the damage, plotting the work-order at an estimated three-day repair cycle, but he also submitted a request to replace the generator at the next starbase. As for the injured, Captain, our connection with sickbay seems to have been disrupted in the explosion. We aren't receiving any reports from Dr. McCoy."
3. Home by Lanaea (FF.net)
Excerpt:
"Are you alright, Spock?" he asked as they got moving, and the half-Vulcan stiffened noticeably. "You look a little green."
Spock raised an eyebrow at him. "Captain, you are aware that my Vulcan physiology produces a natural green pigment-"
"I know, I know," Jim assured him, raising one hand. Jeez. Bones must be rubbing off on him - that was one hell of a crappy joke. "I was just trying to lighten the mood. And don't call me 'captain'. It's Jim," he insisted.
"…Jim," Spock reluctantly agreed, and he let out an internal sigh of relief. Good. He was getting a little sick of being called things like 'captain' and 'sir' all the time. For one thing, it made him feel about ten years older than he actually was.
He shot Spock another smile, and then cast his gaze out the nearest window to the passing scenery. Spock followed suit, the hum of the transport rumbling quietly beneath their feet as they took in the sight of open blue sky and solid ground. Things which were fast becoming a rarity as their assignments took them further and further from familiar space. Jim wouldn't trade the Enterprise for it, but still - it was kind of nice to back on terra firma again.
"I have not spent much time on Earth outside of Starfleet Academy," Spock confessed after several minutes had passed, the low timbre of his voice startling Jim out of his reverie.
"What?" he asked. "You never did the tourist thing?"
With a glance which seemed to imply that Jim ought to have known better than to ask, Spock shook his head minutely. "There did not seem to be much appeal to the prospect. The temperatures of Earth's northern hemisphere are too cold by Vulcan standards," he explained.
4. Gravity by faithunbreakable (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Hating Frank is pretty much a given. The man breezes into Jim's life when he's three and sets up shop permanently when he's five, demanding to be paid respect because he's the man in the house now. Nevermind that the house they live in, the car he drives and the woman he fucks all belong to another man.
A dead man.
And that man's name is George Kirk and he's Jim father and hating the usurper is almost his duty - he knows all about duty, grows up on tales of it, tales of his great father and the way he went beyond his duty and saved eight hundred people and even if Pike looks at him like he's stupid, he knows the exact number, thanks anyway, knows it by heart. Eight hundred and seventeen people. Including his mother. Including him.
So he hates Frank because it's his duty and it's not like the man makes it hard. He marries Winona, loves Winona - or maybe the prestige and titles and infamy she brings to rural fucking Iowa - but Sam and Jim are unwelcome tag-alongs. Like buying a dog and getting the fleas for free.
5. Roomates & Pillows by Ginger Ninja (FF.net)
Note: The stories got deleted from FF.net and I can't find the LJ account - mail me if you want them (or if you have a link).
Excerpt:
Jim thudded against his shoulder. He jerked awake, offered an apology, but didn't move.
"I am not your pillow," Leonard groused. Jim offered a tired laugh. "But you're so comfortable."
Leonard could feel the heat of Jim's skin radiating through his clothing. He looked and saw his friend's skin shining with the unpleasant red of deep sunburn. "Didn't you use sunscreen at all?" "Yeah, but I ran out." "Ran out? How? We had more than enough to last."
Jim shrugged, wincing as his burnt skin brushed against his t-shirt. "I had to share it with the others. Not everyone got some. You know how the instructors liked their little tricks and tortures."
Leonard definitely knew, having been on the receiving end of midnight push-ups several times. He hadn't been allowed back into his tent until he'd managed one-hundred. Compared to what others had been put though, including Jim, Leonard had been lucky. "You might have heat exhaustion."
6. 5 Times Bones Says by puravidaloco (FF.net)
Excerpt:
He was completely surprised when he entered the room, and found a familiar figure lounging idly on Kevin's bed, playing with a PADD.
"Damnit…", he swore out loud, but was forced to stop short. For the life of him, he could not remember the name of the blue-eyed kid who saw copious vomiting as an open invitation of friendship. The kid seemed to dog his footsteps everywhere, from class to the mess hall, constantly talking, even though McCoy had tried to make it clear that he did not want the company.
The boy raised his eyebrows as he glanced up from his PADD. "It's Jim, Bones. My name is Jim. Jim Kirk." he said, a hint of mischief in his tone.
McCoy just stared back at the kid, trying to figure out where in the hell he had acquired the nickname 'Bones' (which was just awful) and why the kid was sitting on his roommate's bed. He finally managed to speak. "My roommate is going to be pissed. He doesn't like people touching his things." (McCoy had found this out when he had picked up pair of shoes he had tripped over on the floor and had to endure an hour long tirade about mutual respect for property.)
Kirk just smiled, his eyes straying back to his PADD. "I don't think your roommate will mind so much."
McCoy just stared, dumfounded. This kid was brash. "What? Why?"
Kirk smiled, still staring at his PADD. "Because, I'm your roommate."
"DAMNIT, JIM!" McCoy exploded.
7. Light Flash Crack by audi katia (FF.net)
Excerpt:
A streak of lightning flashed suddenly across the sky, followed by an immediate clap of thunder. McCoy flinched against the abrupt, rumbling noise and when he shut his eyes, the brightness of the lightning reappeared under his eyelids.
The wind howled around them, causing goosebumps to erupt on McCoy's skin. Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the pair for a moment. The light flashed in Kirk's eyes, the exact same shade of blue.
"Bones, look, did you see that?" Kirk cried against the wind that raged against them. The force was so strong that McCoy was pushed against the unmovable body of his friend.
"Do you mean, did I see the cause of our inevitable deaths?" he began sarcastically, still dimly aware of Jim's hand holding his. "Yes, Jim. I did see it."
He wrapped his fingers around Jim's hand and pulled him in the direction of the underclassmen dorms.
"Oh, where's your sense of adventure?" Jim teased, resisting against McCoy's pull. McCoy glared into his friend's face. As he noted the unbalanced look in his eyes, his anxiety mounted within him.
"It's back in my dorm, staying dry and safe!" he answered gruffly, pulling his hand from Jim's hot, slick grasp.
Star Trek - Deep Space Nine
1. Falling & Oblivious by babel
Excerpt:
"It doesn't make sense."
The doctor straightens up the way he does when he's preparing for a disagreement. He's not naturally disagreeable, my doctor. It's one of his more endearing flaws.
"I thought it was fairly straight-forward," he says. He's watching me closely, trying to be sure I'm not simply saying this to draw something ridiculous out of his mouth.
Which I'm not. Not today, anyway. "The plot -- if it could be called such-- is simplistic, yes. But the characters do completely ridiculous things for absolutely no reason."
"Garak." He's incredulous now. "They fell in love."
I could argue this point. Not only because I can't imagine even a couple of Humans doing the things that these characters did for romantic reasons, but also because they couldn't have known each other nearly long enough to be in love.
But I get the feeling that these arguments will only support his theory that I am a horrible cynic and that it's his job to introduce me to the beauty of life as portrayed in Human literature, art, and music.
To avoid that (again), I take a different path.
"What a peculiar expression."
He blinks at me, apparently not aware what I'm referring to.
"Fell in love. I wouldn't expect you to use such a negative term for that particular emotion."
"It's not negative."
"Fell? As in 'fell off a cliff'?"
2. Opacity of Paradise by thehoyden (AO3)
Excerpt:
"I will take things from here," Worf says, managing not even to look at Garak as he says it.
But if Garak is offended, he doesn't show it. "Of course," he says with a great deal more grace than Julian would have expected from someone who has just spent days wrestling terrible claustrophobic attacks, as well as watching his own father die, Tain denying him almost to the last breath.
"Doctor," Garak says. It's evident from his tone that it's not the first time he's tried to get Julian's attention.
"Yes, what is it?" Julian asks mechanically.
"I think you should get some rest," Garak says. There's some weight to his words, but Julian is too tired, too muted to begin to guess what he means. But that exhaustion doesn't stifle a beat of panic -- he doesn't want to go to the rear compartment alone. The internment camp guards put him in isolation twice, and he thinks he'll go mad if he's alone again.
"We could both use some rest," Garak says gently, and Julian is pathetically grateful for Garak's customary perceptiveness. He allows Garak to pull him up on his feet and carefully shepherd him to the rear compartment, Garak's hand warm on the small of his back.
Julian knows he should be happy that he's out of purgatory's shadow. He should be just a bit proud that Garak let him know the biggest secret of all, let him stay while Tain uttered his last words.
Star Trek - Original Series
1. Meddling and Melding by abraxis (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Spock had been suspicious of Rayna from the very first. Vulcans, while functionally only touch telepaths other than through a bond, were not psychically blind otherwise. If they were, it would not be necessary for them to require such total shielding of one's emotions as a social imperative among themselves. With other beings, beings of lower psi abilities, it was simply easier to shield against the emotional auras when touch was not involved. When one had use for that sense, it could be employed by relaxing the shield.
While Flint had radiated emotions far different from the amiable calm his body and words portrayed and did so at a greater than normal strength, Rayna had a nil emotional aura even when 'her' expressions and vocalizations were mimicking great emotion. The conclusion was that Flint, though quite untrustworthy, was a mentally normal human and that Rayna was not.
Humans, on average, had some ability for this sensing of emotional auras though they preferred to think of it as being able to read others through subtle body language and other factors tied to the five non-psychic senses. Jim Kirk was extremely able at this type of "reading". It was one of the important factors in his command ability. He had easily discerned the contradictions in Flint. Why had he not questioned the lack of aura in Rayna?
But, aside from this puzzle, there was the matter of his almost instant depth of attraction and now his inordinately strong reaction to the android's malfunction. Spock's observations during their association had shown that, with a few rare exceptions, Jim Kirk was very careful to limit himself to flirtatious short-term affairs, avoiding any deeper relationships that might threaten his true grand passion, the command slot of the Starship Enterprise. Even those exceptions, including the death of Edith Keeler, had not left him in this depth of emotional distress. For a human, Jim could be remarkably pragmatic concerning the personal costs of his command decisions.
2. Thy Brother by MissAnnThropic (FF.net)
Excerpt:
But not even the relaxing and calming warming of all his cells after months in the cold of starship space could remove his concern. Even with his eyes turned upward to the sky and mind focused on the sun as much as he could isolate the thought, he was all too aware of the stains drying to a dull rust brown on his uniform, fighting to overtake the blue as dominant color.
Spock was never comfortable with the way human's red blood turned to such a color of decay and rot so easily and quickly. And not when the blood in question was so dear... not when the drying areas that were drenched in blood on his shirt came from the body of his captain... James T. Kirk.
"If your mother saw you doing that, she would tell you that staring into the sun would blind you," an even voice intoned from a few feet behind Spock's left shoulder.
Spock did not startle at the voice so near him. It was calm and deep in candor, and Spock's adept hearing had picked up the visitor's approach long before he arrived at Spock's immediate side, though Spock had been only unconsciously aware of the new person's presence.
Now that he was addressed, however, it would not be proper to ignore. Especially so considering the Vulcan who had joined him.
Spock brought his face down, eyes moving to the figure that stood a matter of feet from him as the third eyelids coating his eyes blinked away as though they had been but a trick of one's imagination. His vision focused sharply on the regal and controlled figured of his father.
Spock replayed to himself Sarek's words, commenting in return, "If she were to stare at the Vulcan sun permanent eye damage is likely. I, however, would suffer no ill effects."
Sarek stepped closer to his son, hands held coolly together before his solar plexus... the proper and common repose of someone of Ambassador Sarek's status. As he came up abreast with his son, Sarek's far brow rose slightly and a dark twinkle flashed in his eye as the lines around his mouth softened. It was the closest Sarek came to a smile, and it was likely that even that small gesture was a result of living with an Earth woman as his wife for so many years. Spock had adopted the same slight mannerisms having had Amanda Grayson as a mother. Implications to reactions were not too outlandish, and control was still maintained while communicating a sentiment to those species less attuned to moods and thoughts of others. To have done it in front of Spock was just... habit.
Sarek mused aloud, "Earth mothers, I've found, do not wish to be told facts if they run contradictory to their instinctive parental drives."
Spock nodding, returning to his father the phrase it was tagged with, "Maternal instinct."
Sarek nodded, remaining silent.
3. Amo Amas Amok by Nesabj (FF.net)
Excerpt:
Uhura thought that it was ironic that though medical personnel were generally discouraged from treating their own family, here on the Enterprise they found themselves treating family all the time. No wonder the doctor was so irascible. No wonder her friend Chris could seem so stiff and reserved.
Uhura rotated her neck to loosen up a sore muscle. She too had recently spent more than a few double shifts at her board. She had sent and received some pretty unusual comm messages between the ship and Starfleet Command, not to mention the ones between Vulcan and the Enterprise. Long hours spend bending over a comm board meant that stiff neck muscles were the norm for a communications specialist. An occupational hazard they might be, but they still hurt.
"Let's call it a day," Uhura suggested. "I'm due on the bridge in forty minutes. This is the captain's first full shift back on duty and I don't want to be late." She grimaced at that thought. Her captain was a very punctual man. He had little patience when his officers were not. Uhura hated to disappoint him, even with small things. "I hope things finally stay quiet for all our sakes. Everyone's complaining that this Vulcan-to-Altair trip is a milk run, but I think it's just what we all need right now."
Chapel nodded in agreement. "You and me both, Nyota. I'm going to bed. I thought I'd never get off duty. I swear Dr. McCoy sometimes forgets that he's got other nurses. I guess that's a compliment, but those double shifts are getting harder and harder. And these past few days have been killers." She flashed Uhura a twisted grin.
Part Two