Stay! (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Stay!
Author(s):	Norma M. Smith
Date(s):	1970, 1974
Length:
Genre(s):	het
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):
External Links:
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Stay! is a Star Trek: TOS story by Norma M. Smith.

It was published in the print zines Spockulations (1970) and then in Showcase #1 (1974).

A related poem in Showcase is by Shirley Maiewski and called "To Stay?."

Inspired Fanworks

See The Misfit.

Synopsis

It is the only story in Showcase #1 that is not online, due to the inability to gain permission from/contact the original author.

Another fan, Rochelle Campbell, posted a summary instead.

Due to uncertain coordinates and a wide range, an unassuming Twentieth century Earth woman is unexpectedly hijacked into the Twenty-Second century when Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy beam back up to the Enterprise. The trio had come to Earth through a time-gate known as the Guardian of Forever, on a special Starfleet Mission. Scotty promises the Earth woman she'll return home, but when the time is right, she will have to leave post haste, or else she will not be able to return to Earth for 50 years.

While aboard the Enterprise, the Earth woman meets Ambassador Sarek, Spock's father, with whom she develops an immediate rapport because he is so kind and nurturing. The two even engage in mind-melds, further creating a bond between them. Sarek is headed for Mauretania aboard the Enterprise to deliver vital information to the Vulcan government that would greatly interfere with current covert Klingon activities.

The crew receives a distress signal, from an uncharted planet, that appears blatantly suspicious. However, Kirk cannot just ignore a call for help, so he, Spock, Dr. McCoy, Ambassador Sarek, the Earth woman, and three security men beam down into an ambush. It rapidly becomes clear that Ambassador Sarek is the target. The three security men are killed, and an unknown, fast-acting substance attacks and debilitates both Spock and Sarek.

The attackers, assumed to be Klignons, are imperceptible to the officers' instruments because of the Klingons' shielding devices. The party splits up leaving Sarek behind to rest. Upon their return, they find Sarek beaten nearly to death! How will the landing party save Sarek and his all important mission now?

In addition, STAY! has a harrowing ending, which leaves the reader in a philosophical quandary.

This is a great Kirk-Trek read!

(To find out how STAY! ends, read the spoiler.)

SPOILER

During the attack, Sarek has sustained severe internal injuries. McCoy told Kirk that Sarek is beyond medical help; the only possible solution is for Sarek to save himself using the Vulcan technique of rigid concentration. But, in Sarek's weakened state, this is not possible without assistance.

McCoy tells the Earth woman she must enter a mind-meld with Sarek to bolster his will to live until they can get him an antidote, which would help him heal rapidly. After many hours in contact with Sarek's mind, and a scant two hours away from finding the antidote, Scotty alerts the Earth woman that she must beam up now in order to return to her own time, back in the Twentieth century. What will she do? Stay and save Sarek, and his mission, refusing her desire to go home? Or, will she return to her family and leave Sarek to die? And this is how the story ends.

Opening Paragraph

"The first time I saw Sarek I knew that he was all that a man should be: intelligent, gentle, controlled and logical. I did not know that he would soon fall victim to an attempted murder, nor that I would be the instrument that could save his life or condemn him to death. Today, as that instrument, I must make a decision. Should I choose wrongly, Sarek's life could end or my own future be irrevocably misdirected."

Reactions and Reviews

Due to uncertain coordinates and a wide range, an unassuming Twentieth century Earth woman is unexpectedly hijacked into the Twenty-Second century when Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy beam back up to the Enterprise. The trio had come to Earth through a time-gate known as the Guardian of Forever, on a special Starfleet Mission. Scotty promises the Earth woman she'll return home, but when the time is right, she will have to leave post haste, or else she will not be able to return to Earth for 50 years. While aboard the Enterprise, the Earth woman meets Ambassador Sarek, Spock's father, with whom she develops an immediate rapport because he is so kind and nurturing. The two even engage in mind-melds, further creating a bond between them. Sarek is headed for Mauretania aboard the Enterprise to deliver vital information to the Vulcan government that would greatly interfere with current covert Klingon activities. The crew receives a distress signal, from an uncharted planet, that appears blatantly suspicious. However, Kirk cannot just ignore a call for help, so he, Spock, Dr. McCoy, Ambassador Sarek, the Earth woman, and three security men beam down into an ambush. It rapidly becomes clear that Ambassador Sarek is the target. The three security men are killed, and an unknown, fast-acting substance attacks and debilitates both Spock and Sarek. The attackers, assumed to be Klingons, are imperceptible to the officers' instruments because of the Klingons' shielding devices. The party splits up leaving Sarek behind to rest. Upon their return, they find Sarek beaten nearly to death! How will the landing party save Sarek and his all important mission now? In addition, STAY! has a harrowing ending, which leaves the reader in a philosophical quandary. This is a great Kirk-Trek read! SPOILER: During the attack, Sarek has sustained severe internal injuries. McCoy told Kirk that Sarek is beyond medical help; the only possible solution is for Sarek to save himself using the Vulcan technique of rigid concentration. But, in Sarek's weakened state, this is not possible without assistance. McCoy tells the Earth woman she must enter a mind-meld with Sarek to bolster his will to live until they can get him an antidote, which would help him heal rapidly. After many hours in contact with Sarek's mind, and a scant two hours away from finding the antidote, Scotty alerts the Earth woman that she must beam up now in order to return to her own time, back in the Twentieth century. What will she do? Stay and save Sarek, and his mission, refusing her desire to go home? Or, will she return to her family and leave Sarek to die? And this is how the story ends.