The Last Wave

Fanfiction
Title:	The Last Wave
Author(s):	Carolyn Spencer
Date(s):	1992
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Last Wave is a Kirk/Spock story by Carolyn Spencer.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #11 where it had art by Deeb.

art by Deeb

art by Deeb

Excerpt

"With one quick movement, the Vulcan was in the sleeping alcove. He snatched something from the wall and returned to drop to his knees in front of Kirk. Laying on the palms of his upturned hands was an ornate dagger... The blade was not overly long but looked to be wickedly sharp... “This is called a dashiek’atar. It literally means ‘freedom giver’ in the Old Tongue. It is a weapon from Vulcan’s Pre-Reform past. When a warrior became incapacitated in mind or body, his T’hy’la would honorably end his life with this. A cut here...,” he indicated the prominent vein in his neck, ‘and his Katra would be freed.”

Reactions and Reviews

1992

I found this story totally enthralling. The writing was superlative and the plot was gripping. This is the first story I've read by this author and if the rest of her work is as good as this I'm going to be buying every zine she appears in.

This Kirk is just the way I like him: fiery when he should be, cool when he should be, and always in charge. He does do a few things that I question whether Kirk would do, and I'll get to those in a minute. But for the most part, he's a starship captain, forceful and dynamic, the man that Gene Roddenberry created. Spock is also as I like to see him depicted: open, vulnerable, and filled with passionate and inarticulate yearning. The story was genuine Star Trek. The aliens display the complexity that typifies aliens in Star Trek: the threat they pose to the Enterprise is the result of misunderstanding and a failure to communicate. I thought it was a wonderfully imaginative twist that the only life form they were capable of reading on the Enterprise was Spock. And I loved their affectionately calling him "Little One" and "Young One."

The sex scenes were a particular joy. They're written with graphic beauty and don't lean more than occasionally on the endless cliches on which most K/S sex scenes limp along. The images, especially in the scene where Kirk and Spock are standing with Spock against the bulkhead, were sharp, vivid, and erotic in the extreme. The only way this could have been better is if it was on film. In technicolor. Widescreen....

Still, the story also had its rough edges, and here is what I perceive them to be: First, would Kirk actually give into Spock's request to be killed and would Kirk resolve to commit suicide? I frankly think the answer to this is no. Kirk is a person who is so strongly wedded to life that I just can't see him acting in this way. I think he might think about it, but then I think at the last moment he would have flung the dagger away from him and said. "No! There's got to be another way!" Kirk in the series clings fiercely to hope, and I don't think he would give up this easily. Another "off" flavor I detected was the characterization of McCoy. His relentless acerbity made him seem just a little bit like a caricature of himself. I also thought his reaction to the "destruction" of Spock's mind was overdrawn. I simply can't believe he would attack Kirk as harshly as he did... [regarding the 'slang'] A more complex deviation from Spock's typical speech pattern occurs in the scene on page 105 where he is being entered by the aliens. Although this scene doesn't include dialogue, it's written from Spock' perspective; consequently, the descriptive language used in it must be that which would be used by Spock. With this principle in mind, I think that the word "buttocks" rectum; (can I use that word in this publication?) should have been used in piece of the word "ass.' I don't think Spock thinks of these portions of his anatomy in coarse slang terms. If Kirk were the one being entered by the aliens, the use of "ass" would have seemed fine, because Kirk may well think in such terms... A similar objection applies to the use of "cock" instead of penis in this scene. So much for criticisms. This was a marvelous story, very well written. The prose was rich and sensuous. The pace was suspenseful and totally self-assured. This was not the K/S equivalent of fast food: it's the K/S equivalent of a seven course meal at a very good restaurant. It easily gets my vote for outstanding story of the zine.

This is an immensely gripping story, which you don't like putting away, because you want to know what happens next! The Enterprise is captured by a tractor-beam and Spock has to save the life of the crew by contacting an Ambassador Kolos-like alien. The alien is friendly and curious and forces Spock to face his hidden emotions. It's a very painful process for the Vulcan, but with Kirk's help all ends well. It's a strong, powerful story with equally powerful characters. I think, for example, of the scene with McCoy and Kirk, when they talk about Kirk's wiped mind and Kirk's supposed guilt and also that final scene when Kirk confronts his lover with his human concept of love, possessiveness and emotions. That was very impressive! And of course also that scene, when Kirk was going to cut Spock's and his own throat! It was captivating -- I thought "he will really do it"! And then the alien came and that took a load off my mind! Whew, what a story!

A very creative other-being consciousness; really good mind-journeys. Fascinating first contact. I like the idea of a long, slow, not-rushed courtship. McCoy's anger was really effective. Kirk's angry passion was interesting, but a bit confusing as to how he was really feeling. Lovely writing, poetic. Good sex. Well written, no flaws. Good detail and level of intensity. ("Ass" and "cock" in Spock POV passage seems inappropriate.)

This story had so much going for it -- a competent writer, a K/S relationship in the "courtship" phase as the story began (a lovely idea that I'd like to see much more of in fan fiction), a plot hinging on a good, old-fashioned Trek concept, the importance of learning how to communicate with a vastly different life fora -- that I was very disposed to like it.

However, the plot was simply dropped once Kirk and Spock got together, and the encounter with the aliens appeared to go nowhere and to have little point. At times the author seemed to be making her characters behave in ways that were out of character in the interest of extracting emotion from the reader -- for example, McCoy's attack on Kirk for sending Spock to meet the aliens.

I could not suspend my disbelief when Kirk, who at the beginning of the story was courting Spock with exquisite care, turned around and forced a sexual encounter on him. (To be honest. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the forced sex in that scene even if Kirk's behavior in the rest of the story had been consistent with it.) And I was quite troubled by Kirk's insistence that Spock make contact with the aliens despite the danger to Spock and Spock's obvious fear and reluctance. Is this the same Kirk who, in "The Immunity Syndrome," anguished over the decision to send one of his two friends into danger? And is this the same Spock who, in that episode and in any number of others, freely offered his life and everything else he had for his captain and the safety of the Enterprise?

I felt I must be missing something. because I could find no reason why the author had to tell her story to make the two men behave in ways that to my mind were "out of character." She could easily have written it so that Spock, for instance, has the same fears, forced himself not to admit them, and insisted on going anyway. Kirk could have sensed Spock's fear and tried to find excuses not to send him, only to have his hand forced by reality -- hammered home by Spock with relentless logic -- that Spock was the only man for the job.

Of course, the author may simply have been following her own vision of the characters. The fact that mine is different is hardly a criticism of hers.

Highly advanced, incorporeal, telepathic alien beings invade Spock's mind and body. They want to examine and communicate, but in doing so, they almost wipe out his meaory and turn him into a mental vegetable. Kirk must try to save him.

The interpretation of the aliens' language was extremely effective: using the references to themselves as "THE WE" and using childlike expressions. When such intelligent beings do this, it allows the reader to understand how far advanced they are from us. It's apaparent trying to communicate complex ideas to a child. As the aliens invade Spock, they draw out emotions and dreams in the form of meaories and haunting images. One of the most powerful of these was the image of the enormous wave of water, threatening to engulf Spock and destroy him. Hence, the title and the wonderful tie-in at the end.

The characterizations of Kirk and Spock were true to form, including good use of McCoy as the devil's advocate.

Excellent description of life aboard the Enterprise and Kirk as the captain. This is not easy to do: combine imagery and dreams into a real life situation. It's also very difficult to keep up the pace of a story when there's lots of mind stuff going on. But, this really moved along, involving the reader in the emotional content of the images as the author did not just dress up a bunch of pretty words with no place to go.

As the aliens begin to affect Spock profoundly, he turns to Kirk for help in ritual suicide if need be. The dilemma that Kirk faces is wonderfully complex. The deep desire to save Spock no matter what the cost, juxtaposed with Spock's intense request that he not live if his mind is gone. A very exciting and thought provoking idea, culminated with a tension filled, "will he?/won't he?" scene that was quite harrowing.

But, wait! There's more! What a sexy sequence of the aliens exploring Spock's body, EVERYHHERE!!), and Spock's thoughts turning to Kirk. I was enthralled with the images and dreams and emotions as one by one, they emerged into Spock's consciousness. Plus, Kirk's guilt and shame at not being able to help Spock even though the Vulcan overcame him and faced the aliens on his own accord. It forced Kirk to face the fear of abandonment and it tuned into a fabulously erotic scene of Kirk taking control and making passionate love to Spock.

It's a real page turner of such vivid, extraordinary images intertwined with tense, exciting action, all so intimately and excitingly written. Highly recommended!

1998

Structured like a series episode, The Last Wave would have been a memorable addition in that genre. The action is there, with steadily building tension as the situation becomes more serious. First curiosity, then realization quickly turning to crisis. The ship in danger. Spock in danger. Underlying it all, the knowledge that Captain and First Officer have a budding relationship — unconsummated by acknowledged. Before Spock enters in to a frightening mental contact with incorporeal beings, he asks Kirk to use a ritual dagger and kill him if his mind is lost. Kirk repeats his love for Spock, whereupon Spock declares apologetically that he cannot love, says instead "Thee are life to me. Thee are all that I wish in this life or any other. Only to be with thee at thy side, my body as thy shield. But I do not know of love." In a pig's eye. I don't want to give away too much detail, but oh, how my heart ached for Kirk when his life started falling apart around him. "Sanctuary, he thought, Sanctuary ... but there was none." Haven't we all been there when life just seemed to be handing us more than we could take? Ms. Spencer does a superb job of building the drama to its peak. I was ready to believe anything could happen. Anything except what did happen. And I didn't like what happened. It seemed such a radical departure from the way Kirk's character had been drawn, I could hardly believe I was reading the same story. It gets better, but I was still left confused and thinking Kirk would have found a less degrading way to solve things. Then, just as I was getting a sour taste in my mouth, the rhythm changed again, back to its original tempo. And I was left content and very pleased to have stayed until the mystery of the last wave was solved.

1999

Great symbolism. Kirk’s despair and grief are poignant. I wonder though, would he really go so far as to take his life without making it absolutely certain that his ship is out of danger? Temporal insanity is a possible excuse, but still his ship always came first and I think he would’ve made certain she’d be safe before committing suicide. Would he really be able to kill himself? He is a survivor, no matter what. For one moment though, I believed it, she had me completely in her web of enchantment.

2007

I finished reading this last night just before going to bed and it left me with a warm feeling that lasted through the night.

It gave me a sense of the unknown, of what it‘s like to travel uncharted space and just how quickly a routine mission can turn into an adventure—one reminiscent of a good Star Trek episode, but with some elements that would of necessity have been missing from a script. Once again Spock‘s telepathic abilities make him the target of an advanced race of non- corporeal beings, and once again Kirk has to risk Spock to save the ship and his crew. But it is different this time—Kirk and Spock are in love and have been carrying on a prolonged courtship which I found refreshing and nice. I enjoy the seldom-employed idea that they have recognized their love for each other months before and yet are still at the 'hand-holding' stage.

Make no mistake, their love is not lukewarm nor tentative. There is so much good about this story—so many scenes where Kirk is admiring Spock from a distance or torturing himself with the demands of duty and of love. When Spock contacts the beings to communicate they are a threat to the ship, things go from bad to worse. His mind overloaded, Spock accomplishes his goal, but at great cost. Seeing the flatline on his EEG, Bones flies into a rage, blaming Kirk. It‘s no surprise Kirk does the same, but there is an even more unthinkable element to this tragedy. Anticipating such an outcome, Spock demanded Kirk‘s promise to end his life should his mind be irreparably damaged. Now Kirk stares at the ceremonial dagger and faces the most devastating decision of his life.

This zine is not new, but still I am reluctant to give away all the details concerning the powerful climax. I hope those who have not yet read this dramatic story will be able to do so and experience it for themselves.

2006

Somewhat trite premise - yet another non-corporeal entity melding with Spock with overpowering force - and a few oddities, but well written. Kirk and Spock have declared but not consummated their love. Spock is damaged by overpowering contact with the entities, but to save the ship he goes down to let them examine him more fully - after telling Kirk to kill him with a ritual dagger if circumstances require, and neck-pinching him to get away. Spock does return a vegetable, which prompts a physically violent quarrel with McCoy. Kirk orders Spock to meld them so he can kill them both with the dagger, but the beings stop the suicide and take Kirk to Spock, hiding in his mind, frantically trying to get to Kirk beyond the barrier he has erected (this is all a bit confused). Having saved Spock, he is for some reason furious, and proceeds to essentially rape the Vulcan. But it all sorts out in the morning.