The Land of Tears

Fanfiction
Title:	The Land of Tears
Author(s):	Debbie Parsons
Date(s):	1984
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Land of Tears is a K/S story written by Debbie Parsons.

It was published in the print zine As I Do Thee #2.

Summary

"Spock finally rescues Kirk after his bondmate has been held in prison for three months on a planet at war, and finds that he had been beaten and sexually abused."

Reactions and Reviews

1986

"The Land Of Tears" by Debbie Parsons is a well-written emotional story beginning with the rescue of Kirk from Zeta where he and seven Federation citizens have been held prisoner and tortured by Zetan rebels for 92 days. The story tells, through a series of flash-backs, what happened on Zeta. It details with care and dignity the healing of Kirk, and Spock' s gentle understanding and support of him through it all. Very well-written and moving.

"Land of Tears," by Debbie Parsons, may not, on the face of it, appear to be 'positive', since it involves Kirk's capture and rape. However, the real emphasis is on Kirk's struggle out of his depression, pain, and self-loathing; a struggle that Spock greatly aids. I do not like rape stories, but this one, painful as it was, was much more than that.

1993

I didn't think there was such a thing as a positive rape story, but this may be it. The story opens with Kirk's return from his capture by a group of rebels in revolt of the Federation backed government. The revolt triggers massive Federation response and 92 days pass before Spock sees his bondmate again. While captured, Kirk was forced to barter his body in return for food and medical care for the other prisoners. As a natural leader, he takes the responsibility for their welfare onto his own shoulders. We only "see" this through the remarks the now released prisoners make to Spock, and through one harrowing, (non-rape) scene Kirk himself relates in a totally unemotional aanner. He is unwilling to discuss his ordeal, yet unable to rid himself of the after effects, mainly exhibited by his constant need to cleanse himself repeatedly. Spock resolves the situation with his unique combination of logic and emotion in a way that is deeply moving and perfectly in character. Very nicely done, and worth a second look if you have this zine.

1996

The first read, I usually gloss over the little things which might bring a glitch to the storyline. In fact I never consciously register them. The second read, those little bits and pieces start drifting up but they still don't interfere with the enjoyment Occasionally there is a story where I simply can't ignore it anymore and this one is a perfect example. I'm in no way referring to how it's written but. for lack of a better word, to the illogicalities which, in my opinion, undermine its believability.

Brief summary. The Enterprise, under the temporary command of Spock, is undertaking a rescue mission, while Kirk is staying overnight at the Federation's Embassy on Zeta Colony III, Spock returns and finds the Embassy in ruins, Kirk missing and presumed dead. War has broken out between Zetan rebels and their government Galactic Marines land in aid of the federation backed government Three months later Kirk and seven scientists are found, undernourished, beaten. Kirk gets checked over at the marine's hospital, returns to his ship, accompanied by Spock, goes to his quarters, gives Spock (his bondmate) a needed sexual release, goes to the mess, doesn't eat a thing (perfectly normal), goes to see Bones, who didn't have a clue that he was back aboard. Bones gives him his medical and finds out that he has been raped repeatedly.

I'm not going to elaborate because the rest of the story deals with Kirk's healing and most of my questions have to do with the first part.

What happened to the Non Interference Policy of the Federation? There is no involvement of foreign troops/government(s). It is entirely an internal matter, so why the marines? Did you have a base in the neighborhood or were they just dropping by? Can Starfleet afford to keep the Enterprise in orbit for three months? Why did it take Spock three months to find his bondmate, surely the bond would have drawn him and given him a direction? Why wait till he sees Kirk before activating their link? Didn't he try to ascertain whether or not Kirk was more or less okay? McCoy is a fine doctor, if he didn't study psychology, the Enterprise ought to carry all kinds of tapes dealing with innumerable subjects, one of them on how rape victims feel and react but also on how to treat them. So why, when Kirk says he's going to take a shower, does McCoy say, "I suggested a nap, but I believe he said he was going to get cleaned up first. The examination, I guess."

Spock and Kirk are bonded, all right. Why would Spock think that Kirk is in the wrong quarters when he finds him on his bed? The Enterprise functioning with a skeleton crewt the rest of the crew shipped off for safety reasons due to the unpredictable war!! Come on. Kirk beams aboard, Spock doesn't take him to sickbay. Not only is it required but seeing the state Kirk is in, it should've been his first duty not only as a first officer but mostly as his bondmate. Barring that, he should've notified McCoy...

Too many inconsistencies, but that is purely a personal opinion and in no way did I set out to hurt anybody's feelings, I loved Spock's solution to help Kirk, though at times his handling of the human was out of character, too harsh.

2008

Ahh, this is one of those stories from my past from which small cobwebs of memory have remained with me through the years. I could not have named the story or the zine, but neither could I ever forget the tenderness represented here. The editor explains she has included this rape story even though her policy is not to do so because it deals with the aftermath and not the trauma itself.

And deal with it the author does, tactfully and uniquely. Kirk is rescued after three months on a warring planet where he has held together a small group of men, giving and giving so that they may survive the ordeal. He has succeeded, but the cost has been high. His physical wounds are painful but will heal. The psychological ones are much deeper and more malignant.

I believe this is handled as well as any such story I‘ve ever read, especially the way Spock comes to Kirk‘s aid. They are bondmates, but that doesn‘t mean there is an easy solution. However, Spock knows Kirk well, and finds the right answer in a scene that I could replay a hundred times and not tire of it. This is a beautiful story that defines the words caring and compassion.

2009

Thank you for your review of Home is the Hunter in last month‘s KSP, Ivy. I enjoyed another look at that classic K&S relationship story. It reminded me of 'The Land of Tears,' and I had to dig this out of the stack to reread. 'As I Do Thee' # 2 was published in 1984, years after the novel had been circulated, and I suspect the author wrote it from a desire to make HITH into a K/S story. It follows a very similar plot.

Kirk beams down to a Federation planet on what is believed to be a purely diplomatic mission. Meanwhile the Enterprise is called away to answer a distress call. By the time Spock returns, rebels have captured Kirk and seven other Federation representatives. Spock does not see his bondmate again for more than 90 days.

The Jim Kirk that returns to him after the rebel uprising has been put down is not the same man he left three months previously. Thank goodness the author does not take us through Kirk‘s ordeal as it is happening, but even second hand, the details of his captivity are harrowing in the extreme and very difficult to read. The degradation and humiliation he and the others have been forced to endure are horrendous. Kirk is a natural born leader. He assumes responsibility for the other men, pushing them, encouraging them, taking on their punishments, forcing them to survive their brutal captors. Never does his faith in Spock waver. Spock will return. Spock will save them...

Kirk does what he has to do to make sure they all survive. That‘s my captain.

When he describes how he beat one of the young camp dogs to death with his bare fists so the men will have food to eat, Spock gets physically ill. (This story is definitely not for everyone. Those with weak stomachs may want to give it a pass.) Kirk has been physically and sexually abused as well, and though impotent, he seduces Spock the first time the two men are alone. Spock does not know the true extent of his bondmate‘s injuries at this point and is so swept up in his relief that Kirk has returned to him alive that he allows it.

Kirk‘s constant showering and emotional denial are accurately portrayed as the residual effects of abuse. I will give not give away the ending, the way Spock resolves Kirk‘s apathy and eases his pain, except to say his solution is uniquely Spock-like—that is to say combines logic and emotion—as well as extraordinarily loving. I think, perhaps, the resolution is a bit too pat and easily achieved, but more would have required a novella form rather than a short story.

After almost a quarter of a century this story is as engaging now as the first time I read it.