Love's Obsession

Fanfiction
Title:	Love's Obsession
Author(s):	Erin Tooley
Date(s):	2007
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Love's Obsession
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Love's Obsession is a Kirk/Spock story by Erin Tooley.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #27 and later online.

Summary

"Kirk is still angry with Spock over his questioning of his obsession with the cloud creature when they beam down with a landing party to explore a newly found planet and find themselves stranded on during an ion storm."

Reactions and Reviews

When “Enterprise”, the latest series in the Star Trek anthology, first came on the air, I did manage to watch the first few episodes until I got disgusted with the way Rick Berman, et al, began destroying the canon of the original series and vowed never to watch it again. But one of those episodes I did manage to catch was called “Strange New World”, where Archer and a landing party, including T’Pol, find themselves trapped on a planet they’ve been exploring when a sudden ion storm prevents them from beaming back to the ship. Forced to take cover in a cave while the storm rages overhead, the crewmembers begin to experience hallucinations and paranoia, most of which involve T’Pol as the crew, including Archer, begin to truly believe she is conspiring with unseen aliens to destroy them.

The reason I mention this is because when I sat down to read this story, the plot just happens to involve Kirk, Spock, and a landing party beaming down to explore a planet, getting caught in an ion storm, and end up taking shelter in a cave, where the crewmembers, including Kirk, begin to experience hallucinations and paranoia revolving around Spock, where they believe he is conspiring with unseen aliens to destroy them. Now I knew for a fact that the author did not watch “Enterprise”, although she had told me she caught one or two episodes in the first season. So naturally I thought she just happened to see this particular episode and used the for her story. Much to my surprise, however, when we reunited at this year’s Shore Leave and I asked her about the similarities, she informed me that not only had she never seen this particular “Enterprise” episode, but that she had originally written this story back in 1999, while this episode originally aired on October 10, 2001, some two years later. Strange, to say the least.

So if those of you reading this review have seen this particular “Enterprise” episode, then you already have a good idea what happens in this story. What you may not know, however, is how much better this story is when compared to the episode. Not simply because it’s a K/S story and who among us wouldn’t rather be reading one of those as opposed to watching an episode of “Enterprise”, but rather this author’s skill and talent at weaving an intriguing, gripping tale is so impressive that she could give any of the “Enterprise” script writers a run for their money. When I watched T’Pol facing her accusers in “Enterprise”, I was merely interested to see what, if anything, would happen to her, but when it was Spock who faced his own accusers in this story, I wanted to just snatch him out of there so he would be safe. Thankfully, I didn’t have to because Kirk was there to shield and protect him, even though the captain himself almost fell into the same trap as the others. But, as all of us know and as this writer so eloquently expresses in this and all of her stories, the love between these two men cannot be denied or defeated, no matter what the circumstances.

Another unforgettable story from a long-time, prolific, and talented K/S author who never fails to deliver the goods.

There was a lot of tension between Kirk and Spock while Kirk was trying to convince his crew of the existence of the cloud creature in “Obsession”. It’s this tension the author builds on here, taking it to another level. Kirk doesn’t seem to be able to accept what he perceives as Spock’s betrayal of him. Naturally McCoy has picked up on the seriousness of this. Here is a well-written story, with some nice action scenes as well as a close look at how Kirk is thinking and what he’s feeling toward his First Officer. Threatened by an unknown force while temporarily marooned on a planet, all those feelings are multiplied. I enjoyed the back story of the events that took place with the crew as they became affected mentally by the poison emanating from the surface. This is all told in a believable fashion with good dialogue and a nice amount of continuing tension between Kirk and Spock even as we learn how much they care for each other. Kirk’s protective nature comes out when Spock is threatened, dampening any concerns that may have remained about his loyalty to his captain. Love wins out in the end and that’s all right, too.

Here‘s an interesting study of how Kirk assimilates the events of /Obsession/and the way Spock and McCoy fulfilled their duty. The Captain, despite his efforts to do otherwise, feels betrayed. Interestingly, he has forgiven Bones, but still cannot face Spock, is not comfortable reinstating their friendship.

A planetary mission goes horribly awry (you‘ll get no details from me) with almost devastating effects. There are some interesting, though frightening, secondary characters in this story and well-written passages of the ordeal the landing party faces. Both physical and emotional stressors are at work and there is never a dull moment.

It‘s very interesting how the mission affects Kirk; and this author‘s tale, culminating in a most satisfactory ending, closely examines it.