Color cover and interior art, both color and B&W, by T'Guess.
NOTE: Stories similar to those which appear in DARK FIRE have been published in many "unwarned" zines. But since this *entire* zine is devoted to "darker" fiction, I want to make sure people know what the zine contains before ordering.
The stories in DARK FIRE contain warnings for, among other things: graphic descriptions of torture and rape, other pairings, bondage. If you would like specific warnings for individual stories, please email me at Kathleener@aol.com. There are no death stories in DARK FIRE. There are no stories where either Kirk or Spock end up with another partner by the end of the story. There is one Mirror Universe story, one AU story. The rest of the stories are "our" TOS universe.
*****
Kirk knocked on the door. "Spock?!"
He knew he must answer otherwise Kirk would use his command override on the lock and enter.
"I-I am well," Spock replied, but even to his own ears, his voice sounded hoarse and rasping.
"You don't sound well. What was that noise?"
Spock couldn't think of an explanation that wouldn't arouse even more concern--and concern was the last thing he wanted from James Kirk. Hadn't he already put Jim through enough anxiety--enough anguish? Kirk had put his career on the line and endangered the life of his crew by taking the Enterprise into the neutral zone against orders. He had even risked a full-scale war with the Romulans. It would have been better if he had let Spock die for the Spock that had returned to him was useless.
NOTE: "The Strangest Thing" is available on the internet in a shorter form. This version contains many new scenes, and is quite a bit longer.
For one moment, Spock breaks free of Parmen's control, and the action he takes provokes the Platonian's revenge...
*****
Parmen spun around to address the frightened assembly.
"He did not break free of my control, Dionysus. I was merely distracted for a moment. You were all so intent on the spectacle, that none of you could have acted as quickly as I to restore order." Parmen turned back to look at Spock. When he spoke, his voice was measured and dark with innuendo. "I assure you, it will not happen again. I will see to that."
Kirk swallowed hard. He had seldom known dread like this. Anywhere else, he could have done something to protect his friend. Now, Parmen's anger at Spock absolutely terrified him.
"I am responsible for Mr. Spock's actions. If you must have revenge, take it out on me!"
Parmen smiled.
"Oh, I shall, Captain. I shall."
*****
I am Spock of Vulcan, and I belong to James Kirk . . .
. . . Unbound and terrified, I gave myself to him entirely. It was not his deliberate doing; there was no need for him to force me into a submission I had no choice but to give willingly. Indeed, he looks upon me as a free man, his in companionship alone, the possessive only a descriptor. He has no need within himself to make me kneel before him. It is my choice, as if it were a choice at all.
In the Mirror Universe, what begins as a mutual encounter with an Orion female quickly leads to other explorations.
*****
Spock paused at Kirk's door, amused by the guard's tension, his wary expression. Kirk's operative was obviously concerned that the foolhardy Human was venturing down a dangerous path for Vulcan sexual dominance was well known in the Empire. He stroked his beard deliberately -- very aware of the usual reaction to his intimidating gesture -- the silken, black robe only contributed to his sinister appearance. Spock glanced back at his own personal guard stationed at his bedroom door and nodded. The Human operative quickly opened the door for him.
*****
"Do you remember anything?" Jim asked quietly and pushed his plate away from him, suddenly not hungry anymore. He felt worse, knowing that he had lived through hell and Spock didn't even recall it. A part of him was angrier with Spock than he ever had been with anyone in his entire life and that part of him wanted to punish Spock for what he had done -- even if that punishment was forcing the Vulcan to hear the details of what he had done.
*****
Alexander's bright face clouded over. Now he hesitated. Swallowed. Looked away. "Then... you don't remember?" he said tentatively.
"Remember?" Spock was not sure he had caught the other man's meaning.
"Don't worry, you will," Alexander muttered. Then he looked up, uneasy, seemingly moved and concerned on Spock's behalf. "And then the best thing to tell yourself is that it wasn't you. When you're their puppet, it's not you, so it doesn't matter, it's all them and their sickness-"
"Remember what, Alexander?"
*****
You can't take Vulcan out of a Vulcan, the saying went. But you could take Vulcan attitudes out of a certain Vulcan -- sometimes.
It had been minor things that had changed over the last months, with both of them often away. But in the end, things had added up, not for the better, pushing Kirk to do this scene tonight. This way.
AU. James Kirk, special agent for Starfleet, follows his prey, the Vulcan criminal Spock, wanted for mind-crimes.
*****
A dark figure was silhouetted by light from the window. Spock was looking directly into my face.
A little bomb sparkled in his hand, explaining the blue light I had seen earlier. Why hadn't I made the connection then? I should have realized what that blue light meant. I knew this device. If it detonated, not only would both of us be pulverized; several city blocks would vanish, as well. It was an astonishingly radical response to the handgun I held, which now resembled a child's toy.
"I knew you couldn't resist." Spock hadn't moved. The words weren't menacing. They resembled a caress.
Hours after his near-death in the Vulcan arena, Kirk is drawn inexorably back to Spock--to face the fact that both are utterly changed.
*****
"Then tell me," Kirk said. "Tell me so we can get on with it and stop this nonsense, and--" He stopped, confused.
"Exactly," Spock said. "Get on with--what? Tell me--why do you kneel before me?"
"I'm yours," Kirk said. "I don't know how to explain it, but it's just there. It's the truth. Tell me what you want."
"I want everything to be as it was before yesterday," Spock said. "I want the impossible. It is not logical."
"This isn't about logic," Kirk said.
"No. It's not." Spock slid down to the floor to kneel opposite him. Their hands were still mated together. He lifted his left hand, and Kirk's right hand came up to match it. They pressed their palms together, all four, completing the circuit, and searing heat flowed between them.
A wave of powerful desire crashed over Kirk's being, drowning his senses, and suddenly everything was clear: he wanted Spock like a thirsting man wanted water. He had to have Spock. Now.
After Vulcan, Kirk and Spock begin to explore every aspect of their love for each other. It seemed easy--in the beginning. But each had needs the other did not understand.
*****
"Thinking rationally isn't what you need to do -- you need to feel."
"Feel? I felt enough, that night, and look at the results." Spock easily twisted out of Kirk's grip and went to grab his uniform. Leaping to his feet, Kirk placed himself between Spock and the door.
"You're certainly feeling something now."
"Emotions are a trap." A grimace twisted across Spock's face and vanished again.
"And excuses are a crutch. What are you so afraid of, Spock? Afraid of your own jealousy? Afraid of your own fear?"
"Jealousy. Fear. I know how to name these emotions. I know how to repress them. I do not know how to live with them." Uncharacteristically, he paced around the room, as restless as Kirk was when he was chewing over a problem. "You are a danger to me, James Kirk, and I am a danger to you."