T'hy'li

Star Trek TOS Fanfiction
Title:	T'hy'li
Author(s):	Gena Moretti
Date(s):	1990
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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T'hy'li is a Spock/Kirk/McCoy story by Gena Moretti.

It was published in the print zine Shades of Grey #5.

See some comments about this story at Some Fan Comments: Her Star Trek Fic.

Summary

"When McCoy and Spock crash-land their shuttle craft on an uncharted planet, the last thing they expect to have to deal with is the Vulcan going into pon farr while out of reach of his bondmate, James T. Kirk. But that's just what happens. When returned to their normal lives, new dynamics have been set in motion... and no one's life will ever be the same as before."

Reactions and Reviews

'T'HY'LI' by Gena Moretti is something I've read before: McCoy and Spock, stranded on a planet when Spock enters pon farr, have to turn to each other to save both their lives. In this case, Spock and Kirk are already lovers when this happens but Spock accepts McCoy into his life as his "T'hy'li", his "lover-in-need". The interesting part of the story is watching Kirk come to terms with this and seeing a wonderfully affectionate relationship develop between Spock and McCoy. Ms. Moretti has taken what could have been a stereotypical situation and turned it into the best K/S/Mc stories I've read. The writing is very clear, the plot is never weighted down with excess baggage. This is a very good story.

This was by far the best story in the zine, and it contained some original plotting. The pon farr aspect wasn't unique, but the way that it was approached was. The complications' and plot twists that followed were also satisfying. The one aspect the novella was missing was that the reader wasn't allowed in on most of the characters' feelings except for the very beginning when we knew exactly where McCoy stood. The characters' dialogue and actions were for the most part believable, but I still found myself wondering what any one of them really felt about the situation they were in. The dialogue was a little too polite and consoling to be a true indication of inner feelings. Also, the entire story had a subtle yet disconcerting aura of apology about it, as though there had to be excuses for McCoy's involvement, which seemed out of place in a K/S/Mc zine. I loved Spahr, though wasn't sure if the sex with McCoy was professional or personal on the doctor's part. In either case, I'm not sure he was using good judgement -- he had no deep feelings for Spahr, after all -- though I did enjoy the situation. Since I'm one who views Spock as being rather insecure and emotionally screwed up, I had a little bit of difficulty with him always being the one with all the answers and being so relaxed about the entire situation. Also, there were moments when I questioned his frequent use of the word "so", such as: "My need for you was so great... your response was so completely open and giving." (p. 133) and "You and I are so incredibly close..." (p. 138). To me, that doesn't sound like Spock talking. Also, I was uncomfortable with Spock eavesdropping on McCoy's thoughts and so unabashedly, at that; though I imagine it's likely that the general consensus that Vulcans would always ask permission first is one of those so-called facts that isn't necessarily supported in 'real' Trek. All in all, though, a very enjoyable read with a lot of depth.

I admit that I consider Spock/McCoy a puzzling phenomenon, and this story doesn't help me to understand why it would work any more than others with that theme have. McCoy says that Spock 'calls' to something in him, which would imply a relationship with a strong psychic dimension. Instead what we have is a relationship that is primarily sexual. The link between them is used for nothing except to locate one of then when the other is horny. It is even more disturbing that the bonded relationship between Kirk and Spock seems just as superficial. There's some wildly romantic talk on Spock's part, but no real indication that his relationship with Kirk is any deeper than the one with McCoy. Perhaps that's why Kirk was so insecure about adding McCoy. In a relationship that is based so much on wonderful fucking, the partners are inter-changeable. Outside of the pon-farr that opened the story. I don't believe that Spock's intimate needs would be as focused on sex as this story shows him to be. I expect that this wasn't the author's intention, but actions absolutely do speak louder than words. I am also perturbed about the way McCoy handled the encounter with Spahr. An ethical physician needs to make a strong distinction between his professional life and his personal life. McCoy blurred that distinction in the way he treated Spanr. McCoy indicated to Spahr that it was his duty to educate about sex. Educate, yes. That means dispensing information, not becoming a sex surrogate. It occurs to me that having been Kirk's surrogate during Spock's pon-farr may have caused McCoy to become permanently confused about whether he was engaging in therapy or recreational sex. This confusion doesn't excuse his behavior with Spahr, however. A doctor should not be projecting sexual desire at a patient who's a touch telepathic and if he does it accidentally he should apologize immediately. He shouldn't encourage the patient sexually and call it therapy. The encounter with Spahr was cute and amusing, but it was bad medical ethics.

(62 pages) - Spock (already bonded to Kirk) and McCoy crash-land on a planet and Spock goes into Pon Farr. McCoy saves Spock's life by offering himself, and they end up having a "small-mate" bond. This story is closest to the reality of polygamous relationships where there is often a primary and a secondary partner (in this case, to Spock). Not everyone's cup of tea, but McCoy gets along very well with this construction, happy to have emotionally and sexually satisfying meetings with Spock and - more rarely - with Kirk and Spock together. A K/S, S/Mc triangle story with little connection between Kirk and McCoy.