Folsom Prison Blues

Fanfiction
Title:	Folsom Prison Blues
Author(s):	Greywolf the Wanderer
Date(s):	2000?
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Folsom Prison Blues
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Folsom Prison Blues is a Kirk/Spock story by Greywolf the Wanderer.

"An alternate way "The Menagerie" might have gone. What if StarFleet had refused to accept the Talosians' testimony on Spock's behalf?"

Reactions and Reviews

2007

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.

2007

I'd not seen this one before and it blew me away. Spare, dignified and utterly plausible - way to go Greywolf. Mind you, I wonder how Earth is going to manage when V'ger arrives - serve's 'em right! Seriously, I really liked this one, emotional intelligence is far too rare in K/S and you managed to endow both of them with it.

Wow! This one blew me away. Until you mentioned it, it didn't even occur to me that the outcomes of many of the situations on the Enterprise must be completely different than in canon Trek, so it surprised me when I read that part, but still my mind went "Yes! Of course! That is exactly what would have happened!" It was brilliant. I love the descriptions about Spock's situation and what it did to him... very strong. I couldn't help but feel a strong empathy for Spock all the way through, and I am not usually a very empathic or emotional person, so well done, you. Thank you very very much for this wonderful story.

2008

This story haunts me. I have read countless K/S stories over the years but very few have touched me as much as this one. I LOVE Spock in this story. Stripped of his clan, posessions and even Jim, he is so wonderfully vulnerable and yet, he is still very much Spock. One of the best scenes for me was when Spock was actually considering suicide after his meeting with Jim. That scene was so realistic and poignant that I find myself thinking of it very often. Thank you for this precious gift and I hope that you will post more of your stories to the archive.

2009

Wow....i'm am so happy that people are writing K/S stories. I am so envious of you all, that you can make a reader like me lose oneself in a different world. What a wonderful story you wrote... i enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. It's so amazing how a character like Spock can change when you strip everything that he's become accustomed to. One becomes desperate, lonely, suicidal, even kills but in the end finds love a fitting end. Merci beaucoup...

Dear God, that was beautiful...

I think that this has been my favorite K/S story. Like ever.

It took me so much longer to read this because I kept getting distracted by either an utterly remarkable turn of phrase or simply by Spock's amazing character. Your story is such an alteration of canon, I didn't know if I'd like it...But every other scene I found myself lost wondering about your characters and their lives. You write superbly and brought me into your universe quite happily.

And, I absolutely adored your first-person Spock. You wrote him so well...He's different, damaged but still essentially the same wonderfully strong and sensitive man that we know and love. Your character has a very strong and unique vioce. It was beautiful.

Your whole story felt like one of those warm, summer thunderstorms we get here in the south. Dark, pressing and hot...But they always clear with the dusk. The fresh happiness of your story's conculsion more then made up for the dark, angsty tone. The sweet theme of your story complemented it's bitter tone very, very nicely.

Okay, so I'll stop rambling now and just leave you with a "job well done"! : )

Thank you so much for such a lovely piece of fiction!

A sad and disturbing story, which is ultimately deeply moving and not at all sentimental. It kept me riveted from beginning to end. Emotionally powerful and very satisfying tale...thank you.