Attraction

Fanfiction
Title:	Attraction
Author(s):	CatalenaMara and Danielle Stewart
Date(s):	at Legends #4 (2006) at K/S Archive (October 6, 2010) at AO3 (September 23, 2013)
Length:	200 pages at Legends #4 78,311 words at K/S Archive 78,781 words at AO3
Genre(s):	slash, m/m, AU!Tarsus
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	"Attraction" at K/S Archive "Attraction" at AO3
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Attraction is a Kirk/Spock story by CatalenaMara and Danielle Stewart. It was published in the print zine Legends #4 in 2006, years later in 2010 at K/S Archive and after at AO3 in 2013.

From the slash fanzine "Legends":

"This is an AU that supposes Spock was born in space among a mixed family of humans and Vulcans and a James Kirk who, from early childhood, was raised on Tarsus among a cruel and repressed society. Complex circumstances draw these two disparate beings into a world of social taboos, unexpected emotions and high adventure. A deeply involving, beautifully written tale of a Kirk and Spock who, in the end, aren't that different from the Kirk and Spock we know."

Reactions and Reviews

2005

[unknown author]

In my opinion this is the best story in the zine and indeed the best AU I have read in a long time. Now I know that many of you don’t care for AU stories, but I often like them because they allow me to explore how my favourite characters would behave in alternative situations. The author tells me that this particular situation grew out the Blake’s 7 universe but as I have never seen or read B7 I enjoyed it without that being any part of my response to the story. This review certainly gives away details so if you don’t want to know look away now... I love the way the writer lets the details of her universe enfold you gradually so that you become drawn into the story because you are trying to work out its world. This writer does not waste time telling us all the details before the story gets under way, she just leaps right in and takes us with her. Right away we have the familiar and the novel melded together in the way of the best MU stories. We recognise the references to ‘Fever’ and ‘Time’ as being about Pon Farr, but we know this is not quite our Spock as we learn he frequently ‘wishes his Human blood had predominated’. This is just in the first four lines but already we have drama, and we are asking questions... why? Why does this Spock so often wish he were more human? The more we read the more we discover... I love the circumstances that Spock finds himself in here. That as he says ‘no being here looked like him. None ever would. He was the only Vulcan in this part of space; he had not seen another Vulcan since the death of his Family and Bondmate over eleven years earlier.’ Perhaps I like this idea because it emphasises Spock’s aloneness – something I enjoy in TOS. It reminded me a bit of the Pro Novel Ishmael which I liked for a similar reason – it depicted a very isolated Spock. In this story too Spock has to keep his heritage a secret, but its not until about three quarters of the way through that we find out why that is and exactly how his family were killed. The story is a nice study of how we need to retain our cultural roots even in new environments – Spock still practices the concealment of emotion considered good taste amongst Vulcan’s, even though he will probably never see another Vulcan. I like the obvious thought that has gone into Vulcan culture and their beliefs about the expression and concealment of emotion. I won’t elaborate more suffice to say I find this plausible in this story and indeed I think I would find it just as acceptable in the TOS universe. The K/S plot is well handled – although if I just put down the bare bones of the plot it would sound ever so hackneyed. But the point is that the writer has given thought to consistent characterisation and given the story time to allow the characters reactions to one another to develop and shift in a plausible manner. So Kirk goes from being afraid of and disgusted by Spock to realising his love without haste or contrivance. By the time they come together I care about them enough to be as pleased as they are!

The original characters that the writer creates from the central (Daniel) to the peripheral (Sarah) are all well drawn and solid, no one is one dimensional and as such I really am able to feel this is a world as full of ambivalence, ambiguity and compromise as our own. This story does not offer easy answers but I appreciate the writers honesty in that sense. I was left feeling excited, warm and wondering what happened next... perhaps a sequel ....? Please??

2007

[Ivy at The K/S Press #127]

Here lies a most unusual and entertaining Alternate Universe study. The characters are vibrant and alive; the plot is tangled and built on a legend well known in the TOS universe. The premise is good—and would be a fine story even without Spock and Kirk in the lead. And I list Spock first for a reason, because to me this is primarily a Spock story, a character not unlike our own Spock, and yet very different in many interesting ways. One thing that is not different is his instant attraction to James T. Kirk. This is not our Kirk, though he develops along the way and you are able to see the same driving forces within him, the same charisma, the same determination, fearlessness and sense of right. Secondary characters are well drawn and while not always likeable, they are people you quickly become invested in, needing and wanting to know why they behave as they do, and what will happen to them. Without giving away plot, I will tell you that Spock and his “family” (I think of them more as a commune because this Spock has no living relatives) are freedom fighters in a universe where there is no longer a Vulcan people and where Kodos still reigns in terror on Tarsus. This Spock is a compassionate and mild man, yet a very complicated one who is trying to personify, all alone, his nearly forgotten heritage. He’s intelligent and thoughtful and very much interested in the well being of oppressed people; hence his involvement in the rescue of exiled men and women from all walks of life, all species. The backstory is one of mystery. How did this extended clan, whose only kinship is in their shared hardship and their shared dreams for the future, come to be? Probably the biggest mystery is why the character closest to Spock before Kirk’s appearance is so disillusioned and why he becomes even more embittered as the story unravels. Action is furnished in good measure, too. And the authors do not shortchange us on love; neither do they make the road easy for Kirk and Spock.

All in all, this is a very ambitious, original and intriguing novella, not soon to be forgotten. Part of the reason for this is due to what happens on the final page. I’m not revealing it, but you will gasp and wring your hands when you read it!

[Karen P at The K/S Press #127]

In some of my past reviews for the KSP, I've mentioned that I'm not a big fan of either Mirror or A/U K/S stories, so it takes something very, very special in either of these genres to capture my interest and keep me reading beyond the first page. As far as A/U stories go, there is only a handful for me that fit into this category - From Choice by Vivian Gates, Matelock by Deanna Gray, and These Things Take Time by Jenna Hilary Sinclair. Now, I am happy to add "Attraction" to that very short list. This story is a collaboration between a long-time K/S author/editor and a close acquaintance of hers. While CatalenaMara was the one who actually put the words to paper (or in this day and age, to computer), it was Danielle who provided the foundation for the story. The result is one memorable tale that is a wonderful breath of fresh air when it comes not only to A/U stories, but K/S stories in general. For me, one of the most difficult things in penning an A/U story is putting Kirk and Spock in a vastly different situation than what was seen on the screen in TOS and still keeping them recognizable as Kirk and Spock. But in this author's talented hands, that is a challenge she meets with ease. Here we have a Spock who, when he is just beginning to mature, loses his entire Vulcan family to an enemy they thought they had no reason to fear, and as a result, is left to live the rest of his life in a world of humans. Still, he somehow manages to maintain his Vulcan heritage, even though there are times when he doesn't always understand the potential cost of doing so. In addition, the deep scar left behind by the death of his bondmate is made worse by the fact he is still unable to escape the call of pon farr and is forced to take drastic, dangerous, and unwanted actions in order to survive his frequent cycles. It is during his most recent bout with the dreaded mating ritual that he discovers Kirk, who agrees to become the first of many paramours Spock is forced to use if he is to survive. But the result proves to be disastrous for both, and the man Spock would wish to become his bondmate instead becomes an angry, resentful, and potentially dangerous enemy. Even after a harrowing circumstance forces Kirk to take temporary refuge with Spock and his human family, he still cannot forgive the Vulcan for what he has done. It is only after he comes to realize that Spock's suffering is as great, perhaps even greater than his own, that Kirk realizes that perhaps there is another choice he can make, a choice that could lead to a brighter, more hopeful future for both. This has got to be one of the most thought- provoking, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable K/S stories I've read in a long time. Not surprising considering this author has always been one of my absolute favorites, but the complexity of the world she has created here for Kirk and Spock is truly astonishing.

Yet despite that complexity, the reader never gets lost or confused as to the events that transpire around and between Kirk and Spock. And while the final chapter leaves the fate of these two undetermined, one cannot help but feel they will be successful in their endeavors and that love, indeed, shall conquer all.

Highly, highly recommended.

[unknown author]

This is a breathtaking story. Irresistible! I would nominate this novella for whatever award is offered in its AU genre. A bold statement, but I was immediately impressed, then overwhelmed as I became immersed in this sprawling saga. Painted in broad strokes of vivid action and romance, the main theme is instantly engaging and, most important, encompasses a premise that's cuttingly relevant to today's society.

Beautifully crafted, it offers up a smorgasbord of excitement, surprises and, especially, true love in affecting and to me inspiring ways.

Recently I came across a quote from author Doris Lessing that made me think about this story I was attempting to absorb: "...there's a kind of problem between critics and writers. A writer falls in love with an idea and gets carried away. A critic looks at the finished product and ignores the rush of a river that went into the writing, which has nothing to do with the kind of temperate thoughts you have about it. If you can imagine the sheer bloody pleasure of having an idea and taking it It's one of the great pleasures of my life. My god! An idea!" Well I can imagine it! And it gave me quite a rush! This creation turns everything I knew about our K/S world upside down. Everything except the one solid thing in our universe, Kirk and Spock's eternal love. From primal to sublime this twisting tale kept me jumping with adrenalin, emotional highs and lows and in the end the intimacy I always crave. But make no mistake about it: the depth and complexity of this story is challenging and requires close reading, all your attention. The cast of characters is diverse, interesting, not cardboard cutouts, all of them fleshed out in a way that makes you care about them. Whether it's in a positive or negative way.

I wish I could review it with what Spock calls, parhavt'hal, the polite concealing of emotion, but I definitely cannot.

We enter the action with a Spock who is rubbed raw and that's exactly how I felt upon learning of his predicament. For he is alone in the galaxy, a hybrid with no expectations. Eleven years earlier his entire Vulcan Clan were killed in a spaceship accident. Since then Spock has resided with his mother's people, the Grayson Clan. But as the story opens he is aboard his ship, the Leda, on his way to the planet Tarsus where he can assuage his terrible burning Need. This is his cross to bear, for his bondmate T'Pring was among those killed. Spock survived, no one knows how, but now experiences his Time more frequently than a full blooded Vulcan would.

[much, much snipped due to length]

If you all are not in a stupor reading this, then go on to Legends 4 and experience it fully for yourself. Fill in the wonders, the emotions, the love and life that creates a landscape of hope for our species. Dig beneath the surface and unearth the honor, sacrifice and love. Most of all, enjoy it.

2008

[unknown author]

I read Attraction a while ago and meant to LOC it then, but got sidetracked by RL. Then the other night I pulled out a random zine and started to read. And discovered it all over again. You know, I enjoyed it this time as much as I had the first time. Now while Kirk as a prostitute is not one of my favorite scenarios, I must admit that this story sucked me in faster than you can say K/S Forever. I won‘t go into the writing as this author is one of our best and it always shows. No exception here. What was exceptional was the detail and background given to the people who lived and breathed on these pages. How quickly I came to care for these AU characters. Kirk, of the frozen heart who despite his tortured past, still possesses that leadership ability and certain something that draws people to him. Spock, a man who has lost everything dear to him yet manages to retain a strength of spirit and a certain emotional vulnerability that we all know and love. I even grew to care about the original characters... which I almost never do. I read K/S to read about Kirk and Spock, but in Attraction they all came alive for me. I just love this story.

There is a problem however, a big one, and only Kathy R. and Danielle S. can rectify it for me. This story just screams for a sequel. Too many loose ends need to be tied up. PLEASE!!! I need Kirk to figure out that he really does loves Spock and that it‘s not just the bond making him think he does. I want to know what happens to poor Daniel. Does he come to grips with what happened? Find someone? Die? What happens to the revolution? Do they win? Lose? What? And the Vulcans? Do they come? Will Spock ever find them? Please have them find a wormhole or something. Okay, Kathy, I‘ll shut up now. And everyone else; Go read Attraction if you haven‘t already and let this highly entertaining story come alive for you.

2009

[unknown author]

I'm a junky for long, involved detailed stories...and Attraction more than satisfied my addiction on so many levels. Long? Check. Plotty? Check. Great characterizations? Check. Fabulous AU world-building? Check. HOT SEX? Oh yeah, 'ahem* Moving on.... I love stories that drip out facts and information bit by bit, moving the reader along the prose effortlessly in their quest for 'the payoff'—both informational and emotional—without becoming so obscure they lose the reader through frustration or boredom. Right from the second sentence, the reader knows this story is going new places; Spock is piloting a small private spacecraft into orbit around an unfamiliar planet...and he's in the midst of The Fever. Now that's a hook that's sure to get readers eagerly devouring the pages! Within the first two pages, we know that it's Spock's Time, that his Vulcan clan has been wiped out and he may be hunted as a non-human; that he has an extended human Family he's involved with, some of whom he's very close to; that he's involved in business that may or may not be legal, possibly smuggling in his ship; and he's currently heading to a high-class brothel to deal with his (bothersome) physical situation, an arrangement his cousin Daniel worked out for him in the past with, thankfully, a good outcome. Wow, that's a lot of information that had me asking more questions than there were answers...that's great writing. It's not Spock's first time at Rilka's upscale House of Flowers; he and Rilka both know the ropes. But when choosing a selection of companions for the next few days, he spies someone new on a security camera; a beautiful human male who called to Spock in ways he couldn't articulate. After offering a ridiculous sum for Rilka's general manager, retired from the profession, to participate once more, Spock (and the reader) gets his wish. Days are spent in leisurely and not-so-leisurely sexual activity—my, my, my—until the Fever winds down. They talk in between times, and Jim shares bits of his life, ensnaring Spock further in his spell. And when he no longer needs relief and his Time is over and Jim takes his leave, Spock realizes what he'd feared for years has finally happened: a bond had formed with his temporary partner. Spock follows it to find this human male to whom he'd mentally tied himself, wanting to erase it and correct the situation...and in doing so, happens upon a whole unexpected—and unexplained—situation, and ends up leaving the planet at Kirk's insistence before the bond is broken. Thus starts the rest of the story; a tale of a universe much different than original Trek, where Terran humans prevail and their intolerances for differences rule their actions. Where events and circumstances are very different than canon. Where Spock is a Vulcan alone in a universe of humans, far away from his homeworld— where he's never been. Despite his perilous situation, his mother's family, the Grayson Family, has made him one of them with no hesitation. He has a life of purpose, has an extended family clan who love him, and a place within it...and all this is tipped off-balance by his unexpected and unwanted tie to a human male whom he does not know and has no idea if he'll ever see again. But fate intervenes, as it usually does, bringing Jim Kirk back into Spock's life in a dramatic way, and Spock and Jim must deal with very real threats from the Terran Federation, keeping both themselves and Spock's Family safe from harm and thwarting discovery of their less-than-legal, mostly subversive activities. This new relationship in Spock's life upsets old ones, most especially with his brooding, bitter cousin Daniel, to whom he's been very close for many years. When Sarek's Vulcan clan ship was destroyed by the Terran Federation, Spock lost his entire father's clan, and he and Daniel both lost their wives. The course of true love never runs smoothly, and that fact plays out here quite dramatically. I love well-done world-building, and this novel does it wonderfully. There's many less than optimal things happening in this universe, and yet we see the Jim Kirk of this time and the Grayson Family struggling to right the wrongs, to make a difference in spite of the odds. And there's love...in the family, in the many couples therein, and unexpectedly for Spock and Jim Kirk, if they can get over their distrust of each other and make it work. The Spock and Kirk here are different in many ways than their counterparts in the original canon universe. Here they are creatures of the rather barbaric reality of this universe; struggling to survive, still trying to do the right thing, and yet both have lots of edges and sharp corners as a result of their lives. Their coming together is, because of those edges, not very easy for either of them.

This is definitely a story I'll revisit time and again; it's rich and layered, thick with wonderful meaning and characterizations and a slowly revealed universe, and of course, even though they struggle against it, real love. Try it, I know you'll love it.

2010

[avictoriangirl]
On an AU Tarsus, rescue never came. In the throes of pon farr, Spock hires a prostitute. But what Jim is concealing about his present life will change Spock in ways he cannot imagine. Great characterizations and wonderfully written. Not only is there rentboy!Kirk but there is accidental!bonding as well. \o/

[Greywolf the Wanderer]

This story was amazing the first time I read it and it's just as amazing this time! Daniel's bitterness, and his staunch refusal to let go and move on -- OMG I know folks like that -- I've been that guy myself before. So real, feels so true.

All the little details of Spock's human family, right down to the artwork in the common area and again in the temple, the bit where he asks Sarah what it is that Daniel needs, and she tells him, nothing that you or any of us can ever give him... Yowch. Cos sometimes that's just *how it is*, and Sarah tries so hard to help Spock to understand, though it isn't really anything that makes sense and in the end he just doesn't understand.

The bit where Spock shows Jim his new invention -- sneaky, workin' a holodeck in there, mm, nice! Very very hot stuff right there, woo!

Just, every little bit of this is so perfect, just as it is. Lovely lovely work, m'dear!

2011

[Dracavia]

A wonderfully written story. The depth and detail of the crafting, this could almost be a universe all of it's own, without needing to be referenced as a ST AU. There are the bits of characterisation here and there, and universe history, that makes you look and say "Yes, that's what the future could have been if things had gone wrong when Earth first took to the stars." The build up and development of Kirk and Spock's relationship feels very organic and unrushed, making the point they're at by the end of the story feel like a very natural place for them to be.

At first I found the switch to first-person-perspective for Daniel's sections to be somewhat jarring, however after finishing the story I can see where the stylistic choice ultimately worked. It set him apart from Kirk and Spock, even though he was on the journey along with them, but instead of sharing with them he was an outsider looking in.

I also really like how the story ended, just enough wrapped up, bringing them to the next turning point in their lives. Of course with as open as the ending is it does leave me wishing for more, to know how their revolution goes, to know if Daniel ever finds the peace he lost. I'd like to think that they succeed and are free to live the rest of their lives among the stars, and that Daniel finds his peace some day, even if it isn't with a partner at his side.

So, ultimately, this babbling all boils down to: Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of art with us!