Beginnings (Star Trek: TOS story by CatalenaMara)

Fanfiction
Title:	Beginnings
Author(s):	CatalenaMara
Date(s):	2012
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Beginnings is a Star Trek: TOS Kirk/Spock story by CatalenaMara.

It was published in the print zine Legends #7. A shorter version of “Beginnings” (approximately 1/4 length of the finished work) appeared in the 2011 KiScon zine.

Summary

"This story takes place in a universe proposed by Harve Bennett about Kirk and Spock during their Academy years. The story deals with racial bullying from upper classmen, Kirk's relationship with Janice Lester and an unexpected friendship."

Reactions and Reviews

This is an "academy" story. I hate "academy" stories. Almost as much as I hate "pre-reform Vulcan" stories. In all the years I've been reading K/S, there's never been one "pre-reform" story that I've been able to read beyond the first page and only one "academy" story that not only was I able to read all the way through, I actually enjoyed it. Of course it did help that particular story was penned by the fantastic Cynthia Drake, who also happened to write the very first K/S story I ever read. Now I am pleased to say I can add another "academy" to that list, namely this one. And once again, it is due mainly to the fact that it was written by another fantastic K/S author who has yet to write ANYTHING I haven't thoroughly enjoyed or, more likely, haven't gone absolutely ga-ga over.

This story starts out with our two young students first encountering each other in, of all places, a public bathroom at the academy. It is not a very comfortable meeting, as Kirk is staring at graffiti that basically is telling Spock to quit the academy because his kind is not welcome there. Spock, of course, has no reaction, although Kirk knows he's seen it, as it is rather impossible to miss. Kirk, being Kirk, apologizes to Spock for the message, explaining that not everyone in the academy feels that way, especially him. Spock, being Spock, can see no reason why Kirk should apologize as he obviously was not the one who wrote it, but nevertheless understands and acknowledges Kirk's good intentions. That brief meeting leaves an indelible impression on Kirk and he determines right then and there that he is going to do his best to befriend Spock. And of course, Kirk being Kirk, he soon succeeds, but discovers that friendship, not even love, isn't enough to protect Spock from those fellow students who wish to do him harm. Add to the fact that he soon realizes he wants to be more than friends with Spock, even though he has a girlfriend, a young lady by the name of Janice Lester, who is not all that fond of his Vulcan, and you have the right blend of ingredients to create a story that can't go wrong, even for academy story-hating people like me.

Of course none of that would be possible without the incredible skill and talent this author has in abundance. She knows these two characters like the back of her hand and when that's the case, any story will work, regardless of the setting. I'll bet if she ever writes a pre-reform Vulcan story, I'll not only actually read it, I'll probably enjoy it. Wouldn't that be something?

I admit, I was a bit skeptical starting this story, since so many writers have dealt with the premise of "Kirk and Spock meet at the Academy," usually portraying the two young men as horny teenagers who get together due to hormones rather than actual loving feelings. I thought, what else can be done with this plot? But this story proved me wrong--it was not only fresh and unpredictable, it was the best "Kirk and Spock at the Academy" story I've ever read. It begins with Kirk and Spock meeting--a great "cute meet", by the way- -and then their friendship (and more) flowering very slowly but believably, as Kirk struggles with his tempestuous sexual relationship with Janice Lester and Spock struggles with anti-Vulcan bigotry on the part of some of the cadets.CM's young, eager, idealistic Kirk was amazing, so much like the Kirk we all meet later but yet different too. I loved the part where Kirk mentions all thealiens out there waiting to be discovered by Starfleet--"and we can learn a lot from all of them." And the ending was so different from the ending I expected that it took my breath away. I don't want to spoil the story for the reader so I won't go into detail, but suffice to say: this long story (over thirty pages) is alone worth the price of the zine.

It’s always a treat for me when CatalenaMara writes a new story. Not only because her writing is masterful (which it is), and not only because she manages to touch my emotional center every time (How is that possible?), and not only because she instantly transports me into my favorite universe (though she does), but because she has the same take on these beloved characters as I do. I never find I have to stretch to accommodate her character- izations, or her plots, or her settings. Her stories are so real to me, populated with characters I recognize and love. This one is a great example!

The story opens at the Academy with that wonderful scene we had heard about but never got to see: Kirk and Spock side by side at a urinal. Thank you for this, CatalenaMara. It was perfect and exactly how I pictured it would be. I love how we see in these young men the seeds of the heroes they will become. Kirk has perhaps his first experience with bigotry and finds it in himself to fight it on behalf of someone else. It’s not Spock’s nature to reach out to another person, yet he finds the courage to do so. These two truly fit together like two halves of the same coin. There was no hurry to get to the “good” parts of the story. All of it was the “good” part. The slow development of their relationship laid the firm groundwork for what was to come. By the end of the story it was inevitable these two young men were destined to be together and achieve more than they ever could apart. There are lovely people and situations the two will encounter in the years to come, but since this is a brand new zine, it’s hard to tell more and not spoil the story for readers. Lovely work, CatalenaMara.

Buy the zine, read the story, and I think you’ll agree.

This is an Academy fic, as the phrase goes, and I am finding that I quite like this particular trope. Jim Kirk is beautifully written here, the type of student we would expect him to be: academic, ambitious, curious, and at the same time mature, thoughtful and open minded. Spock is also at the Academy, as a student and Teaching Assistant. They meet and largely through Jim's efforts become friends. The story centres around 'hazing', a tradition where "upperclasspersons are permitted great latitude in both verbal and physical abuse of underclasspersons "as Spock explains.

Some of the abuse heaped upon Kirk, and then Spock as well, by Finnegan and his cronies is horrendous. Not to give too much away, but Spock also knows that only a "unique individual" can effect a change to a long standing tradition. Guess who?!

Most satisfactory. I also love the way that this story has been so well researched. The use of Finnegan here is an easy one, but there are numerous other subtle references to the episodes and we see how Kirk may have been awarded his Axanar peace medal in a way that shows us new aspects of his character. Indeed, CatalenaMara is very skilled in showing us younger versions of Kirk and Spock, who are growing and changing as the story develops. Jim's friends are portrayed, too: Janice, Carol and Gary. The former, especially, is well drawn. Taken mainly from what we learn in Turnabout Intruder, Jim's girlfriend is wilful and impulsive. Jim is in turn attracted, then repulsed. Which brings me to the crux, the attraction between Jim and Spock which develops in a most satisfactory way and ends with a lovely sex scene in Yosemite. In fact, my only real criticism is that Beginnings ends here, quite abruptly, it seemed. But that may well be simply because I wanted more!