Of Nights and Pawns

Fanfiction
Title:	Of Nights and Pawns
Author(s):	Karin Porter
Date(s):	1997
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Of Nights and Pawns is a Kirk/Spock story by Karin Porter.

It was published in the print zine KaleidoScope #6.

Summary

"Kirk and Spock are sent to rescue two Starfleet researchers on a planet populated by both a human and a vulcanoid race."

Reactions and Reviews

1997

This was an interesting idea for a story and an intriguing way of getting our guys in the sack. A Human/Vulcan colony had adapted to isolated and harsh circumstances. K and S get involved in a rescue and then in each other because of the planet’s culture. Kirk was well characterized and there was a nicely logical conclusion. It was a well thought out story.

1998

Kirk and Spock are involved in trying to rescue two crewmen from a planet that has a society of Vulcans and humans living together. They're all strong warrior types with a bigger emphasis on Vulcan culture (at least pre reform) than human.

Meade and Craig are the hapless prisoners who become not so hapless when Craig bonds with a Vulcan male and falls in love. So it's kind of a neat dilemma because Kirk and Spock's orders are to bring them back, but now they don't want to go back and their partners are going into pon farr.

Some good scenes like when Kirk and Spock observe what's described as foreplay between Craig and his Vulcan mate. I also really liked the descriptions of the way of life of these people. I found it to be imaginative and involving.

I also found Meade's and Craig's predicament involving, but only to a point. I felt too much of the story's focus was on them which detracted from Kirk and Spock. It related somewhat, but not really enough Kirk and Spock become characters that only respond to all the goings-on, instead of being an integral part of the proceedings. In other words, it was too much about Meade and Craig instead of Kirk and Spock.

Spock drinks a potion that brings on pon farr. Kirk wants to be the one, but Spock says if they do, it will be a mate bond. But they are definitely meant for each other and are prepared by the people for their sexual encounter. The preparations given to Kirk were downright sexy and stimulating. I especially liked the women's part in the proceedings-they get to have all that great Kirk semen for future generations.

I appreciated the solution to the dilemma and thought that the story ending was excellent with an appropriately baffled McCoy.

If anything, it's too short. Not that it is short in itself, but it seemed that way to me.

I would've loved to have learned more about Kirk and Spock-but that's because I love such things-not necessarily because it's needed. In a way, I need it to make a story more whole.

The richness of detail of the alien culture took me completely by surprise. Perhaps my wish to explore that culture with the author is also one of the reasons why I found it too short.

I wanted to find out why the immediate trust in complete strangers. Perimeter guards hint at possible hostile actions. If the gene pool is so small that the survival of that group depends on every member, wouldn't that imply a greater protectiveness towards its members? And that would mean a greater distrust towards stranger who could pose certain threats. On the other hand, new blood would be doubly welcome and perhaps eagerly sought after. It's a delicate balance.