Story 38: "Reach" by Khyber

[wendelah1]

Like "Sparks Fly Upward," Khyber's story-turned-alternative-universe "Reach" also takes off from "The Red and the Black." Needless to say, it takes off in a very different direction. If you haven't read any of his work, Khyber is known for being a Mulder/Scully shipper, for humor, for angst and for really hot sex. Thanks to finisterre for the nomination.

Here is what Khyber has to say about his story:

CLASSIFICATION: TRA (Non-X adventure, Mulder/Scully)

RATING: R for mature content, non-explicit sex, language, and brief extreme violence.

SYNOPSIS: Mulder and Scully are called off an X-file to an emergency assignment where they have some time alone together. Their reflections and thoughts about the events of the past year lead them both to make certain decisions...

KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully UST, Mulder/Scully romance

Time/Spoilers: This story essentially starts an alternate universe after "The Red and the Black." There's loads of spoilers for everything, and conversely if you haven't seen US5 plenty of this won't make sense.

As always, let the author know what you think; let us know what you think; and please, give us your suggestions for next time.

Reach(and all the days to come)

Comments

[dictatorcari]

If you haven't read any of his work, Khyber is known for being a Mulder/Scully shipper, for humor, for angst and for really hot sex.

I like this story already. :)

(Also, this is what I get for being a slow reader...I just finished SFU like ten minutes ago. Ack!)

[wendelah1]

I thought this would make a good compare and contrast to "Sparks Fly Upward." I don't remember if there is any actual sex in "Reach." But the story is very shippy and angsty. So there should be something for everyone except the slashers, who seem to have disappeared, even for SFU. We noromos are as always left having to fend for ourselves.

[dictatorcari]

I agree, I think that was a clever choice. I'm excited to read it and see how they compare.

Awww, you poor noromo. We should find you some more fic to suit your tastes. Or you could always join the dark side... :)

[wendelah1]

I am happy straddling the fence as a noromo. I think it gives me a unique ability to see things from all sides of the shipper/slasher controversy. I also find a wider variety of smut to be- entertaining.(smirks)

[leucocrystal]

Oh, do I love Reach. It's just fantastic. (If I'm not mistaken, this is one of the stories I picked awhile back for my Top 12 XF fics...)

[wendelah1]

Can you tell us more? The first time I read this, I thought it was good, but not something I would put in my top twelve or even my top twenty-five. I will try to read it again later today for discussion.

[leucocrystal]

Well, it's been quite a while since I've read it, but for some reason, it's always stuck with me; more so than any of Khyber's other work. Bear in mind also that I'm sure to have read far less XF fic than you. ;) I just remember being struck by the situation they were in (not X-files related as far as we can tell), yet how jarring it still managed to be. Plenty of X-files casefile fic don't even manage that.

[counterphobe.livejournal.com]

I love this story. Maybe it's the afterglow talking, but right now I think it's the best fic I ever read.

I think this might be the best Scully voice I've ever read. Khyber gives her internal monologues that echo Carter's style, but they're better. They make sense.

Don't get me wrong, Khyber's Mulder is damn good too. But Khyber's a guy, so he's supposed to be able to do a good Mulder. (I think it's a little easier for writers to compose a good Mulder because the original isn't as riddled with ignorance. That Carter knew and cared nothing about medicine or women was less of an issue.)

Sometimes M and S get lost in the MSR, but this is real M-S-R.

[dictatorcari]

Sometimes M and S get lost in the MSR, but this is real M-S-R.

That's maybe the most insightful thing I've ever heard about XF fic. It's so true.

[penumbra23.livejournal.com]

I feel obligated to drop in here and say that not only is this story still in my top three desert-island fics, but it's also the story that made me want to try writing XF fanfic. (Although I've been heard to say the same of 'All the Children Are Insane.)

There's a rawness to this story I really like. In the old days XF fic writers started out writing in pure, untempered glee, and this story and Khyber were no exception. XF fic and its readership is a different climate now. For me, 'Reach' embodies that pure 1998 joy. It's easy to look back and criticize it now - it's rough around the edges, it could have used another overhaul and a bit more padding; and if Khyber'd properly finished it up with a proportionate amount of his trademark mind-bending sex, it'd be even more unforgettable.

The best part of Khyber's fic, for me, is how his Mulder and Scully interact. They are friends, first, true friends in the vein CC originally envisioned and we all put asunder. A great majority of fanfic displays Scully as a contemptuously smug chauvinist. It pleases me that a male came into the genre and quietly demonstrated true gender equality.

[counterphobe.livejournal.com]

"It's easy to look back and criticize it now - it's rough around the edges, it could have used another overhaul and a bit more padding;"

I disagree; it doesn't seem rough, and padding is rarely a good thing.

"and if Khyber'd properly finished it up with a proportionate amount of his trademark mind-bending sex, it'd be even more unforgettable."

I'm sure the story would be rec'd more often by more people if it had more sex, but I don't see the lack of graphic sex as a shortcoming.

[dictatorcari]

Is there a rule somewhere that all fic writers must use the word "bemused" at least once in each story? Because it's always there. Always. And 95% of the time, they mean "amused" and it drives me crazy. But not Khyber! Oh, Khyber, you used "bemused" correctly and I love you for it forever.

I like this line: "She speaks of colours of a spectrum
that few will ever see." It's not especially elegant, but it does capture the feeling that most of us have about M&S. Their love (whether romantic or platonic) is sort of transcendent. It's the reason we know so much about how they're feeling with just a brush of hands or a meaningful glance.

I don't know why, but the emergency they're called out to handle is really fascinating to me. leucocrystal mentioned it, too...what is it about that case that's so intriguing? Does anyone have any insight?

And, because everyone already knows what a perv I am, it is unsurprisingly that I'm mildly disappointed bn the way the sex scene was more alluded to than described in thorough, smutty detail. I think it was the right choice for this story, but I'll mention it anyway. :)

I give it three stars out of a possible five.

[wendelah1]

Did you go on to read "Day 17," "Day 19," and "Day 51," as they may have precisely the element you are missing?

[dictatorcari]

I did not, but now I certainly will. Thanks!

[wendelah1]

You might want to check out Sokol, too. I think it is much better written and edited than Reach, and it is certainly a more ambitious project. It is as plot driven as Reach is character centered, which might be why I liked it more. I don't remember any sex but there could have been some. I confess I am rather baffled by the intensity of the love on the part of some readers and members here for Reach. I still need to go reread it. I've been-- preoccupied, as you know.

[dictatorcari]

Yeah, I was surprised, too. It certainly wasn't bad, but I wouldn't go so far as to put it in my all-times favorites. And thanks for the recommendation!

I don't think I'll have internet access for most of Friday (fourth of July and all), but I could still probably squeeze a post in there somewhere if you need me to. I think it's my turn, but you did just post those birthday stories (which I love and am almost finished with). What would you like me to do?

[wendelah1]

You know, I could post the Birthday Stories in book_club. What a great idea. I'll be at work, but I could post them at lunch hour. I don't technically have computer access for personal use either, but I can use them, especially since management will be at home enjoying their three-day holiday weekend, while I am at work making time and a half for the entire twelve hour shift. (I love working holidays...)

Aren't they wonderful?

[dictatorcari]

They are! I'm on the season five set right now, I think. The liberty bell one is so sweet and honest...the author doesn't try to insinuate that Mulder and Scully are already madly in love and know everything about each other six months into their partnership the way a lot of fic does. But it still lays the groundwork. I'm a fan.

Haha, I actually didn't realize you hadn't posted them in the book club...it was your personal journal, I see now. If you could post on your lunch break, that would be fine. If you don't get around to it, I'll just check when I get home from my festivities and do the posting myself. No problem!

[wendelah1]

You know, that is funny. I followed the crack_van guidelines so it looks like a community type post, doesn't it?

Okay, so we have a plan. I am still planning to read Reach, I swear. I am going to try to do compare and contrast with Sparks, so keep an eye out.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

Uhhhh, maybe I'm the only one, but I really didn't like the style of this one. I found it terribly confusing - the unexplained time shifts, fragmented sentences, incomplete punctuation. Probably that's what other people like about it (I loved

A Million Little Pieces

, with similar disregard for the rules), but for whatever reason it didn't work for me here.