Folsom Prison Blues

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Folsom Prison Blues
Author(s):	Greywolf the Wanderer
Date(s):	2000?
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:	Folsom Prison Blues
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Folsom Prison Blues is a Kirk/Spock story by Greywolf the Wanderer.

Reactions and Reviews

I've always liked "What If?" stories. "What if" one aspect of canon was changed - how would events have played out instead?

Greywolf asks an emotionally devastating question in this story: What if Spock did not escape the consequences of stealing the Enterprise and taking Captain Pike to Talos IV? What if, instead, he was court- martialed and served 19 years in a Starfleet penitentiary? The author shows the choices Spock must make to insure his survival, often existing on only his memories of the fragile, never-fulfilled bond between him and James Kirk. This story also shows the consequence of Spock's absence from the Enterprise during its most important missions. Without Spock by his side, Kirk achieves far less, and many people die who did not die before.

Years later, they meet again. Find out what happens here:

Greywolf has come to be known for his hurt/comfort plots. He is a master at putting Spock through the wringer, and this story is no exception to the rule. He asks us to imagine the following scenario: what if Spock faced a court martial for his actions in The Menagerie?

What if he were convicted and sentenced to serve twenty-five years in a penitentiary on Earth?

The story is set at the very beginning of the five-year mission. Kirk and Spock are just at the start of their relationship yet enough time has passed for Spock to realize he has found his t’hy’la. Kirk’s feelings are unknown; they had not as yet discussed it.

Knowing how Pike would feel about his condition and given the oath of loyalty, Spock truly has no choice. He must bring Pike to Talos, must give his former captain that new life the Talosians promise. They offer Spock sanctuary as well, but the Vulcan declines. The court martial is brief. Spock escapes death due to T’Pau’s intervention, but is sentenced to a facility for military personnel.

If Spock has appeared exiled from his family and planet previously, now his life is immeasurably worse. He is reviled, friendless, lost and alone as never before. His father has already disowned him, but his clan now declares him outcast; he can never return home. The letters from his mother are his only source of comfort. Kirk does not contact him, nor do any of his former shipmates. (There are good reasons for this, but we do not learn of them until much later in the story.) He is forbidden to contact them, and he accedes to this restriction fearing harm with come to his friends through his actions.

He is reduced to following the exploits of his former ship through news vids. He learns that Yonada has been destroyed and McCoy has died from xenopolycythemia. Kirk faced court martial over the Deneva incident. His father has died aboard the ship during the mission to Babel. (How many lives Spock has saved.)

The prison is too cold, too damp for Spock’s physiology, and in addition he is not given warm clothing or the proper or sufficient food. He is set upon by other inmates, guards, forced to use his mental abilities merely to continue his existence. He is a strong individual, but year after year of this does take its toll. He finds himself truly not caring about the continuation of his life after a while. Slowly his will to survive lessens.

It is at this point that Michael, another Starfleet prisoner enters his life. I usually don’t care to read accounts of Spock with other lovers, but at this point in the story I was desperate for Spock to find if not happiness with another, at least some solace in his bleak existence. He does find a measure of comfort with Michael, and then his lover dies.

Finally, he is paroled after nineteen years. Since he must find gainful employment, he takes a position as a busboy in a bar. A bar that James Kirk enters one night.

This is a hard story to read at times, and certainly will not appeal to everyone. However, if you’re a Spock fan and like hurt/comfort—well maybe more hurt than comfort for a while—than this story might be right up your alley. Greywolf ‘s writing style is smooth and effortless. He’s got Spock and Kirk’s voices down pat, and the characterizations are flawless. The story remains in Spock’s pov throughout with nary a slip to be found. But I think the best praise I can give is that I cared passionately about these characters, and I think you will, too.