Call Me Master

Fanfiction
Title:	Call Me Master
Author(s):	JS Cavalcante
Date(s):	1997
Length:
Genre(s):	slash, slavery
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Call Me Master is a Kirk/Spock story by JS Cavalcante.

It was published in the print zine Scattered Stars #9.

Summary

"Kirk is taken prisoner when his ship is shot down during Earthʼs raid on Vulcan and given to the Vulcan warrior who captured him."

Reactions and Reviews

1997

I'm so thrilled that this totally gorgeous story has finally made print after about two years! This is way, way too good to not have been published — it's a real gem.

Fast paced and vivid beginning finds Kirk as a commander on an attack vessel ready to raid the planet Vulcan of its dilithium.

Even just these two pages are perfect—not only in their clarity of action—space battle and techno-stuff—but in the descriptions of characters and background that introduces us immediately without any lengthy, dry expositional narrative.

All the information is fully integrated into the story and into Kirk's character itself, as we see all the goings-on through his POV.

This is also the kind of technology talk that I as a "techno-challenged" individual can understand. I don't need to know how those antigrav nacelles work to enjoy the story.

And beautiful details of Kirk's character woven into the story, like when after the crash, Kirk phasers a mortally wounded crewman.

The structure, the descriptions, the POV, the character set-up—all these elements I know I'm going to be studying to see how it's done.

Here's just one example of how the author so successfully combined character descriptions with the action of the story: Kirk is being led away by his Vulcan captors to the city. He thinks on the attack and how he and his Empire didn't know these people could defend themselves; they thought this planet would be easy pickings. "They had apparently once had a rudimentary kind of spaceflight, but had long ago abandoned it for reasons not altogether clear. There were, of course, the usual stories about Terran vessels crashing or being marooned here, but Kirk had never put much faith in space tales."

Just with this we learn that Kirk is a realist, a man of action rather than fantasy—that Vulcan is a mysterious planet and a hint of Spock's human half.

I adore the first glimpse from Kirk's POV of a Vulcan warrior. Of course he's totally gorgeous. I love Kirk's observation that "anyone who could bind James Kirk and force him to march—without himself suffering so much as a bruise in the process—had to be a formidable warrior, and from the look of this group, Kirk's captor was nothing unusual."

Then a change of tone as we meet the Vulcans in their council chambers. This part is charged with emotion and filled with rich details of their society. It's very intriguing and imaginative as spaceflight technology has been prohibited since the time of Surak, but now Spock wants Vulcan to defend itself against invaders. This includes a very sexy scene as Spock, totally powerful, subdues a recalcitrant warrior.

So many little details that make this story come alive. T'Pau makes Spock ask Kirk a question in Standard. This is done as a power play—Standard is the language of humans. And Spock mentally warns the warrior: "I will take that out of your hide, Selka, he thought back. Better pray to S'thyr that I will do it in private." There's a mention of one of the Vulcan gods and also Spock's strength of will.

Adding to this terrific writing, is a wonderful romance feeling—with a kind of sweep-you-off-your-feet style and sensuality. And absolute nothing is wasted. Not one word feels unnecessary or overdone.

So damn good!

A beautiful master/slave story. Excellent writing; and the story has so much: a well-drawn setting and situation, depicting a unique Vulcan culture; a focused look at Kirk's and Spock's characters; a touch of delightful humor; steamy-hot and soul-deep erotica; and a thoughtful and satisfying exploration of dominance/submission.

I was glad to have the story from both Kirk's and Spock's points of view (one scene, one POV).

The circumstances surrounding the capture of Kirk by the Vulcans (who are not part of the Terran Empire) is really good—succinct and vivid and enough but not too much. I like this premise: that Vulcans had had spaceflight capabilities, but abandoned space travel. Even better as far as story-potential, space travel was not only abandoned, but is forbidden now.

Spock's place among these people is appropriately as an outsider. "Skinny bastard," "magician half-breed," etc. I like the idea that not all Vulcans have the psychic gifts Spock has inherited. I like that we get to have Spock be a scientist (often he's not in A/U stories) yet within this colorful society that has some elements of "primitive" to it. Reminds me more of Romulans—a spacefaring warrior society—than modern-day Vulcans as we know them.

I love the alpha-male stuff Spock has to resort to with the warrior-oaf who would challenge him. The goings-on with the warrior council advance the story; but even more, this is a hot, powerful scene and a good set-up, for when Kirk comes into the picture, of the master/slave dynamics of the society. The scene was also strong for being a turning point in Spock's life.

Gradually we learn what his place is in this society; we learn about Sarek and Amanda—a convincingly realistic history. We learn about Spock's desire to fly the stars....

I love Spock's calm masterfulness, bred into this as he has been; although this is undermined by his consternation over his own hesitation toward taking what he wants from one who is, after all, his property. I love Kirk's spirited resistance, including his being nonplused by being given to "a faggot, no less." We gradually learn about this attitude of Kirk's, and this is one thing that really makes the story work—a clear facet of his personality around which to work the dramatic elements.

Spock's dialogue is different—this is not a stiff and formal Vulcan. He laughs, etc. Quite delicious.

As for the scenes of Spock and his slave Kirk together, these are so rich. I'm glad JSC gave Kirk this attitude ("goddamn queer barbarians"); and also that she made Spock bisexual. I have to say that Spock's disciplining of Kirk may not be to everyone's liking, but breaking down Kirk's resistance, curing his distaste for love between males, is the crux of the story and its emotional impact. This disciplining is far from gratuitous. The reason Kirk must be disciplined is convincing; it is for Kirk's safety that he must submit, that Spock must dominate. Even though, by so doing, Spock believes he will lose the love he desires from Kirk.

I would make many more comments on each and every scene or passage or line that I adored in this story, but I'm trying to be somewhat succinct.

Suffice it to say there are beautifully hot scenes once Spock sets out to "tame" his wild-stallion slave. Not just lower-chakras-hot, but heart-touching powerful.

And Kirk from his innermost self comes around.

Exquisite scenes of his realizations that his responses are not being forced by a Vulcan's mind-stuff, but are coming from the truth in his own depths. Not that he doesn't the whole time scheme and strategize to free himself.

Spock also comes around, realizing the bond he might have with this one he finally sees as his equal, is so far superior to anything in a master/slave relationship.

Gorgeous, gorgeous at the end, their coming together, both turned around. The wanting, the giving.... So powerful, so erotic; a beautiful surrender to each other.

1998

I’m not much of a fan of A/U stories nor of slave stories. But I really enjoyed this one. The universe here seems to resemble our Mirror universe. But Vulcans keep slaves and do not go into space due to Surak’s tenets. Kirk, a Starfleet officer, is captured and becomes the property of Spock. There are some very hot, although cruel, sex scenes. Spock forces himself on Kirk and makes him come. They seem to be developing some equity in their relationship when the story ends rather abruptly, I thought. The writing here is excellent. Very smooth.

The characters really came to life for me. There’s lots of room here for a sequel. I know the author is really busy right now with her family. But could you please think about it, J.S.?