My suspicion that Capt. Kirk's mistrust is a macho thing is confirmed when I overhear a conversation between him and Dr. Spock. I am enraged to hear him protesting that I could not possibly accomplish the difficult task at hand because of my gender and that he wishes to request that I be replaced. Dr. Spock's gentle lecture applies to me, too, the gist of which is, "The success or failure of your mission depends on your ability to trust each other."
Swallowing hard, we return to our mission, which leads us onto a hostile planet in pursuit of the criminals. They find us first, a chase scene ensues, the tension mounts, and we find ourselves trapped with only one transporter between us, as mine is lost. Who will stay behind and trust the other to send back reinforcements and/or rescue? Suddenly, it is a multilayered question. Capt. Kirk is caught between his ingrained chivalry and his mistrust of me. I am reasonably certain that he can be trusted not to abandon me to a terrible fate (and so could take my chances at staying behind), but I am too stubborn to accept his offer of rescue that smacks of chivalry. Our eyes lock, and the dream ends at that "moment of truth."
