The Eighth Day

Fanfiction
Title:	The Eighth Day
Author(s):	Indra
Date(s):	1980s
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Eighth Day is a Kirk/Spock story by Indra. It is a sequel to Romulan Code, Romulan Regrets.

It was published in California K/S 4 Play.

Summary

""The Eighth Day" begins eight days after the explosion in the prison which injured Spock. Kirk and Spock must now try to continue with their lives and hope that Kirk is really as resigned to their forced bond and sexual situation as he claims to be."

Reactions and Reviews

1988

My favorite story in the zine was the last piece, 'The Eighth Day", by Indra. It is a 35-page sequel to "Romulan Code, Romulan Regrets" (by Jessica Dalgneault), which appeared in DARING ATTEMPT 3. I've always thought of the latter as a very intriguing and memorable story, and while the sequel doesn't have the same degree of intensity, it Is still a good read. The Eighth Day" begins eight days after the explosion in the prison which injured Spock. It is a difficult time for both Kirk and Spock, as the two must now try to continue with their lives and hope that Kirk is really as resigned to their forced bond and sexual situation as he claims to be. The conflicts within both characters-and between them-are very well depicted. They finally come to a point where those conflicts seem to be resolved, but then the two are rescued, which changes the situation completely, as they must now return to an environment where Spock's rape of Kirk's mind and body can only be viewed as the worst kind of crime. This is a thorough, satisfying story and one that, despite it all, has a happy ending. In short, CALIFORNIA K/S 4 PLAY is difficult to recommend, as it contains little that is unique or unusual. Fans of "Romulan Code, Romulan Regrets" will probably want to purchase it for 'The Eighth Day" alone, but the K/Sers who skip it won't be missing much.

1995

This story is a sequel to Romulan Code, Romulan Regrets by Jessica Daigneault, in Daring Attempt #3. In that first story, Kirk and Spock are imprisoned by the Romulans in a labor camp, sentenced to life. The Romulans can scent whether a male has been penetrated by their mate within the last eight days. They respect the sanctity of a bond, but if the inmates don't scent that odor, than they consider the person fair game, sexually. To prevent Kirk from being "taken" and abused by various other prisoners, Spock basically rapes Kirk to supply him with the protecting odor, and continues to do so every eight days. Kirk doesn't understand, won't allow himself to understand that Spock has violated all his principals in an effort to protect his captain from even worse degradation. He denies recognition of the bond and cooperation in his own protection, hating Spock for their enforced intimacy, the on-going rape, and for the mental bond which he blocks.

Finally, Spock is almost killed in an explosion, and Kirk realizes his stupidity, his stubbornness in the face of enduring the camp without his Vulcan. The first story ends with his offer of reconciliation, his promise that he'll try to cooperate.

The sequel. The Eighth Day, opens with the first sexual encounter between the two after the accident. Eight days have passed, and Kirk must have the protection of Spock's sexual scent on him or he'll be raped by the other prisoners. There's an interesting but prolonged scene as the two come to terms with what has happened, and Kirk realizes how much he's been hurting Spock through denying the bond. They discover the joy their relationship can bring to their bleak life in the camp.

Eventually, the two are returned to the Federation, through some interesting political maneuvering, and Spock is the one now who cuts off the psychic emanations of the bond. He's consumed with guilt for what he's done, and is convinced that Kirk will want to have the bond broken, and will turn him over to the Vulcan authorities for what was. in his eyes, a truly heinous crime, the imposition of the bond on an unwilling partner.

The best scene in the story takes place when the two beam back to the Enterprise from the Romulan transport, and Kirk takes charge of their relationship, forcing Spock to acknowledge what they are to one another. I liked the fact that Sarek was there to act as inadvertent witness. Clever!

I don't know what year this zine came out. but it shows a characterization of Spock that isn't written too frequently any more. Spock consumed with guilt, illogical as that might be. Spock willing to be used as a doormat. Spock failing to consider the most likely reasons for his captain's behavior once back on the Enterprise There were parts of this story that tested my patience because I simply don't see that brilliant Vulcan as being so stupid, but there were also parts of the story that I liked very much. There's an interesting parallel that emerges concerning 'gain(ing) more by yielding and letting yourself be defeated!" that I found to be especially well conceived.

Stories by Indra are an acquired taste, I believe, as her style fits mid-eighties K/S much better than mid-90's K/S, with a plethora of "thee's" and "thou's" and a somewhat ponderous pace. But for those with patience, I'd recommend what I've always thought was an interesting, memorable story.

I like the sequel better than the original.

1999

Story is a sequel to "Romulan Code, Romulan Regrets" from Daring Attempts 3. The first story was one of those that you might not really "like", but that sticks in your head and will not let go (guess any author would feel good about that reaction). I was so pleased to find a great sequel that explains what I felt were inconsistencies of character in the original. Indra finds a way to turn a dead-end situation, with our guys serving a life term in a Romulan prison and trying to deal with a bond forced on Kirk by Spock because of Romulan code of honor, into a happy ending with Kirk accepting the bond and making Spock acknowledge their bond in front of witnesses that include Surak. The tension and conflict comes from Spock's guilt from raping Kirk's mind and forcing the bond...even though it was necessary because of Romulan customs. And the plot is so logical!! Had to go back and reread the original and then the sequel. Was so good that I read them again.

That is the great thing about fan fiction. I'm always surprised at the marvelous sequels that show up for those stories that I didn't "love" but couldn't forget. My thanks to the authors that must have had a similar reaction, but then proceed to do something about it.

I believe K/S itself is the ultimate sequel. When I was only reading gen Star Trek, I was always dissatisfied with Spock's retreat to Vulcan. Only K/S makes that a logical progression in Trek mythology.