A Time for Timelessness

Fanfiction
Title:	A Time for Timelessness
Author(s):	Lee Owers
Date(s):	1981
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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A Time for Timelessness is a Kirk/Spock story by Lee Owers.

It was published in the print zine Nocturne.

Art

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  art for this story by Nan Lewis as printed in "Nocturne"

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  art for this story by Nan Lewis as printed in "Nocturne"

Reactions and Reviews

1981

A TIME FOR TIMELESSNESS by Lee Owers is an alternative view of the ending of ST-TMP. The plot hinges on Scott's line, "We can have you back on Vulcan' in four days, Mr. Spock". To which Spock replies, "That will be satisfactory, Mr Scott". The story revolves around Kirk's reaction to that comment and his bid to force Spock to reveal his reasons for going. Spock's reason is simply that he loves Kirk, while Kirk has to resolve his own feelings about Spock and why he desperately wants him to stay.

I found the storyline excellent and the characterisation good. At one point, both were prepared to sacrifice what they wanted for themselves believing that their feelings would distress the other. Spock is filled with emotions he cannot hope to control and Kirk with the realisation that his days as a woman-chaser are over. The physical relationship is presented as an act of deep love and commitment to each other. The story was enhanced for me by the illustrations of my favourite Trek artist Nan Lewis.

2010

The story is set shortly after the happenings of TMP and it begins with the scene in which Scott states: "We can have you back on Vulcan in four day, Mr. Spock," just that this time Spock answers: "That will be satisfactory, Mr. Scott."

And it‘s true, Spock wants to leave the Enterprise (again) to go back to Vulcan and for a couple of pages we do not know why. Kirk tries everything to learn about why – he is devastated as he thought that finally, finally both of them are back where they belong, on board their ship, and he saw Spock open up at the sickbay and had so much hope for a future including the entire crew and his beloved ship. Kirk is not successful and Spock only exchanges the necessary words with him during duty and would otherwise retreat to his quarters, being as Vulcan as possible. The reader knows at some stage that it‘s this strong feeling of love Spock feels for Kirk that frightens him – frightens him to confess to Kirk as he‘s sure Kirk won‘t respond in the same manner, and it almost breaks him. It breaks him to see the sorrow he‘s causing Jim and yet, he can‘t bring himself to speak to him. There‘s no outlook for him – he doesn‘t not wish to live on Vulcan, fearing it even, but there is no alternative and he clings to the thought that his next pon farr will end his ache one and for all. Kirk‘s full of sorrow as well because he simply can‘t understand just why Spock wouldn‘t stay and wouldn‘t talk to him. We follow him quite closely during those pages and when we do, the mentioned sorrow creeps in our hearts, holds us, touches us in such a vigorous way that I for instance could hardly breathe. I think I even grieved for both of them.

Kirk eventually finds out at least why he himself reacts that strongly to the situation and discovers his love for the Vulcan – partly relieved to be able to name his emotion, partly even sadder as he will lose his love all too soon again.

All the time, and wherever Kirks goes and whatever he does we feel his pain, his expected loss that seems to be too much to bear.

And then there‘s this moment, just 11⁄2 days before they reach Vulcan, when Kirk‘s down in engineering, trying to do his job as good as it gets, letting himself to be introduced to Scott‘s improvements in the engines, when one of the circuits overloads and causes an explosion. Kirk stands nearby, hears Scott‘s calls to move away – and he doesn‘t. He knows what‘s happening but he does not move away from the detonation, he‘s just...standing there, letting it happen.

It‘s my favourite scene – and this although I know that Kirk is usually not a quitter at all – because it‘s written in such a brilliant, credible manner that I had to cry. Kirk is then in sickbay and McCoy gets his body functions more or less stable but not his soul and doesn‘t know what to do. He speaks to Spock, pleads him to talk to Kirk, to do something, anything he can to avoid Kirk‘s death.

And torn as Spock is – the one thing, the one person that means more to him than everything and everyone else, must not die. And so he goes in, stands vigil by a comatose Kirk and begins to speak.

What follows still includes sorrow and tension, but also answers to all of their questions. And the well- deserved and long awaited union in love, based on their sincere and powerful feelings for each other, mends the heart perfectly. Fantastic story that hosts a superb atmosphere and is gorgeously written. It‘ll stick.