No Price Too High (Star Trek: TOS story by Carol Pierce)

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	No Price Too High
Author(s):	Carol Pierce
Date(s):	1986
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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No Price Too High is a K/S story by Carol Pierce.

It was published in the print zine Daring Attempt #6.

Reactions and Reviews

This moving story centers on Spock's willingness to sacrifice for Kirk, but it also highlights Spock's Vulcan respect for other life forms. I thought that Spock choosing to heat the rocks to give the snakes warmth rather than killing them was an especially nice touch. I was impressed by the fact that both Spock and the alien in this story both learn and grow in their appreciation of IDIC by the tale's end. Unfortunately, the famous life risking cycle that feeds the hurt/comfort syndrome is dealt with in this story, but never resolved. Perhaps Carol was trying to do too much at once here.

After a shuttle crash Kirk is deadly injured and to safe his life Spock makes a deal with an entity on the planet; If Kirk lives he will stay with her. When the Enterprise comes back for them Kirk is well again and then Spock tells of his promise. The Enterprise officers are transported back to the ship and when they try to beam up Spock too it turns out to be impossible. Kirk is desperate. The Enterprise stays in orbit while he is trying to safe his friend for whom he has more than just friendly feelings. In the meantime Spock learns that the entity is female who is very interesting in him. Spock does was she asks and stays with her, but his heart is with Kirk. To live here and to never see Kirk again makes him stop caring about what will happen to him in his new life Nothing is interesting for him, he just tries to live this new life, far away from everything he cherishes, and hope it will not take long. Yet he is very happy that Kirk's life is saved and if he has to pay the price for that, so be it. The creature tries to reach him, to understand him. She wants Spock to care for her as he cared for Kirk and Spock tries to explain that "one cannot produce such caring on demand". The creatures cares for Spock in her own way and tries to understand him, and when he tries to get himself killed by some animal she finally let him go. Spock is so sad and still so very brave in his new life. For once Kirk can do nothing but hope. Spock's 'non existing' emotions are beautifully portrayed, as is his struggle to be true to his promise. A remarkable and moving story, full of love.