Tangled Webs (Star Trek: TOS story)

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Tangled Webs
Author(s):	Karla Kelly
Date(s):	1993
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Tangled Webs is a Kirk/Spock story by Karla Kelly. The art is by Deeb.

art by Deeb

It was published in the print zine KaleidoScope #1.

Summary

"Kirk has trouble procuring a tape of pre-reform poetry for Spock from the shipʼs library."

Reactions and Reviews

Karla Kelly's Yeoman Pulver story, "Tangled Webs" continues the adventures of the addled character first introduced in Counterpoint 5. I read this story first, and eagerly turned the pages. It takes real talent and just the right touch to write humor. I found myself laughing out loud as Kirk tried to get a special tape of pre-Reform Vulcan poetry from the ship's library for his bondmate-to-be, but without making any contact at all with Yeoman Pulver, the ship's new librarian. Kirk remembers the disasters attached to Pulver in the past very well, and he will do anything, it seems, to stay away from her.

This story benefitted greatly from the addition of Uhura, who came across as a real, breathing character, upping the "price" she would charge for helping her captain in his quest with every obstacle she finds in her way. I also really liked the presence of a non-human character, Zi, who wants to date Chapel. (Yuch! He's got lousy taste!)

There were several really nice touches in this story. 'For a long moment they looked at one another, headache to headache." and "Having seen his Vulcan stand up to raging animals, Klingons and tribbles without turning a hair.

Kirk was confident Spock could withstand the few minutes of Ensign Pulver's presence. Also nice was Kirk forgetting that he'd told Uhura to contact an admiral; seems he was distracted by Spock.

Yeoman Pulver is a gem, and I hope to see many more stories with her well-intentioned machinations turning the Enterprise upside down. I liked the skillful way the previous Pulver story was integrated into this one; the references to Scotty were just right.

It's a pleasure to review one of Karla Kelly's Ensign Pulver stories. Although I do think her first one is the best, this one is also funny and convincing. Seems that Spock wants to borrow a book of pre-Reform Vulcan love poetry from the ship's library, but it's checked out. "Firmly believing that anything Spock wanted he should have, Kirk tried to think of a way to get the tape without actually having to contact Ensign Pulver."

So the comedy begins. For of course Kirk doesn't want to go anywhere near Ensign Pulver, who seems to create disaster wherever she goes. He asks Uhura to be his emissary in obtaining the book, promising her one week's leave if she is successful.

The only problem is, Spock witnesses Kirk's persuasion of Uhura on the bridge, and he mistakes his captain's intensity for seduction. More trouble in Paradise! Meanwhile Uhura trots off to the library to confront Ensign Pulver. The Ensign doesn't feel it's proper to reveal who has borrowed what from the library, and she discovers a Starfleet directive about privacy that the crew and officers have never gotten around to signing....

Spock's jealous, Uhura wants more and more leave for her impossible task, Pulver alerts Starfleet Public Relations about the ship's lapse.... It's all funny and frustrating for those involved, but ultimately rewarding when Spock gets to read his bondmate-to-be love poetry at night.