The Measure of Success

Fanfiction
Title:	The Measure of Success
Author(s):	JS Cavalcante
Date(s):	1993
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Measure of Success is a Kirk/Spock story by JS Cavalcante.

It was published in the print zine Against All Odds.

Summary

"While Kirk and Spock deal with a load of Romulan prisoners, theyʼre notified that at the end of the mission Kirk is to be promoted to Admiral and Spock to the captaincy, effectively parting the lovers."

Reactions and Reviews

1993

The Enterprise fires upon a Romulan warbird and takes a group of Romulan prisoners aboard, one of which is the Captain named Setal. He is an albino (a wonderful, inventive idea, including a touch of realism with his eyes being green instead of pink!) who is consumed with hatred towards Kirk and Spock because they have love with each other. Setal, shown in a vivid memory/dream sequence, has lost the love of his life and is filled with pain and grief.

This makes for a fully realized character - one who is a villain, but has good reason to be! The tension builds beautifully as Setal vows to kill Kirk. It's also an added touch that it was an insult to Romulan honor not to have blasted him and his ship out of space! An admiral comes on board (with another realistic touch of his being one of the only aliens to ever advance in Starfleet), and brings the news that Kirk and Spock have been promoted. Of course this causes much consternation and the Admiral Zil remains blissfully unaware of it all as he spouts twisted and wrong Terran sayings in several amusing instances.

There are so many examples of fine writing and lovely language. "The Vulcan's smile was genuine, now. unshielded from this man, reminding Kirk wordlessly that the Vulcan heart was equally unshielded." And I loved the little references to how brilliant Spock is -- his education and intellectual achievements.

What an excellent love-making scene: "Kirk growled like a hunting le-matya, lowering his head to Spock's chest, the white teeth finding a nipple and capturing it, roughly." and "Take me, Spock thought. Take me and do not release me, my captain." and "...to have brought that look to James Kirk's face! He would do this again; he would do anything, say any words Jim wanted to hear, to see such joy in that face." Suffice to say, this is one erotic scene!

Setal's character and the ensuing events were really exciting and well-done. A little touch that I especially enjoyed was Seteal's perception of Spock as Kirk's "sweet favorite" and "favored whore of the captain."

There's wonderful imagery as Setal attempts to take Spock's mind and memories as though pulling up a plant from the earth. The mental battle was well-imagined and nicely expressed which is not easy to do when something takes place "all in the mind". Plus it was very exciting as the consequence could have been the destruction of the Enterprise.

I really liked the tie-in with the title. How success can be measured in so many different ways and how Kirk and Spock define it for themselves.

Good, clear writing. I was swept right in at the beginning. Good tension, good tale. Lovely intimate talking and lovemaking. Rich characters: Setal the outcast (because of his telepathic powers) Romulan. Adm. Zil the Centaurian with his amusing mis-matched Standard idioms and proverbs. And I liked all the mention of minor characters - great names! Adm. Zil announces Kirk's promotion to commodore and Spock's to captain of the Enterprise, in three days. Shock! The admiral is on board while the Enterprise is towing the Romulan ship it defeated in battle and carrying Romulan prisoners to Starbase. An interesting scenario, their trying to refuse these promotions.

An intense, sexy scene. Spock only wants Kirk to command him in bed. Also some raunchy sex talk I didn't really expect, whatever that means.

Sometimes the narrator called Kirk "Jim."

I really liked Spock saying in his thoughts, "By the All..."

Excellent jeopardy, Setal trying to take Spock's mind. I loved the struggle scene; Spock realizing he had access to Kirk's strength, and realizing he could change the rules in the middle of the struggle, throwing away his control which was expending needed energies. He forced Setal to look at love, at love lost. I love that Spock really got to Setal, although it seemed slightly unlikely.

I loved the scene of Kirk holding Spock desperately, in front of everyone. Written (as was the entire story) so that it was very easy to visualize. Wonderful scene with McCoy becoming aware of the closer relationship between Kirk and Spock.

Such a successful conclusion; heart-warming ending.

1994

What a terrific story! This tale gripped me from its beginning to its very satisfying conclusion and had me turning pages in a frenzy to find out what happened next.

It starts with a bang. Literally. The Enterprise finds itself in a battle with a cloaked Romulan ship on the Federation side of the Neutral Zone. The battle won, the enemy ship captured, Kirk and company take the Romulan crew prisoners, thus earning their commander, Setal's undying hatred for the loss of honor; he and his men were not allowed to "go to the fire".

Setal manages to break free of the brig using his telepathic abilities that would have cost him his life on Romulus, He also feels tremendous guilt that his lover, a woman who looks very much like Spock, was killed for possessing this same skill. The differences between Vulcan and Romulan culture were explored in a detailed and very interesting manner.

I don't want to reveal too much of the plot; that would spoil it for others, but among the many details I liked were: the realistic techno-babble, the absolutely right-on characterizations of both Kirk and Spock, neither too weak, nor too strong. These are career military men who know their jobs, and have found a personal relationship that enhances their abilities rather than diminishing them in any way. I adored how the growing love between them was compared to an often read poem and how they "peeled back the deeper layers' of that poem as their relationship progressed. Lovely.

In the first of three (yes, three) sex scenes Kirk notes that he only sees the perspiration that beads Spock's upper lip during lovemaking, and how that is a very special private thing between them. Umm,.. Fantastic!

And then there's Admiral Zil... What a marvelous character! Kirk calls him a pompous fool. I call him totally endearing. His use of malapropisms such as "...cat got your tongue tied" and "It will be a sad day in Tipperary" made me laugh out loud. Although a comic figure, he is also a wise and compassionate being, and I appreciated ncj seeing him portrayed in a stereotypically unsympathetic manner. From his physical description, though humanoid, 1 got the impression he had alien characteristics, striped yellow eyes, herringbone patterned skin, etc. I wondered why he was portrayed as an Alpha Centurian. Zefrem Cochrane was very human in appearance. Are there different races in this star system? In any case, I would love to see Admiral Zil again. Please, J S?

Also on page 54, there's a reference to Tareth's brother Gal. "Gal, who should have been the one." The one what? Was killed? Why? There was no further reference to this character. I would be interested in finding out the story behind this remark. And when Setal says "Then the fabled Vulcan bonding does exist?" Spock answers, "It is not as the fables would paint it, nor do we refer to such a thing as a 'bonding',..." They don't'??

I thought the conclusion was marvelously thought out. Spock and Kirk survive and save the ship because of what each has learned from the other, how their differences combine to create a new understanding in each of them. Wonderful!

The narrative flows so effortlessly. What a delight! Not just the story, but also being able to watch as this fine writer hones her skills-Super job!

1997

I hold the view and have heard it expressed by others-there is nothing so fine as getting to see James Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise in action, shining at their best, doing their jobs with the decency and excellence we expect from them. There is also nothing so sexy as Kirk and Spock in rapport, reading each others minds, a team.

Is it any wonder I loved this story?

Outwardly, it's a very straightforward tale with a clear plot; a Romulan nasty with a grudge on board, determined to get out of the brig and blow up the ship. But underneath the deceptively simple exterior-what a bounty of delights! Dialogue that practically crackles off the page, it's so well-paced. Gorgeous little touches of K/S interaction that speak volumes in a few words. A Kirk and Spock so perfectly drawn that I could hear and see every line being delivered. Hot sex, backrubs, near-death... what more could a girl ask?

What do I mean, by speaking volumes in a few words, you may ask? How about this: "God, I thought he'd never stop talking." Kirk hit the privacy lock and slumped against the inside of Spock's door. He let his eyes close in the reddish dimness. A faint scent of musky spice—Vulcan incense-touched his nostrils. The Vulcan's long fingers settled gently on Kirk's shoulders, then pressed more firmly. "There is much tension." Eyes still closed, Kirk smiled in spite of himself. "You just want to get me out of my clothes," he teased.

There were about a zillion good things crammed in here, and re-reading it made me realize just how rich the story is. Kirk and Spock are so in love with each other, and at the same time so quintessential^ themselves-which is the essence of a good K/S story for me. Also, I adored the double jeopardy plotline, the threat of the Romulan prisoner so wonderfully wound up with the threat of Admiral Zil, a well-meaning guy who wants to promote our fair captain off the Enterprise — without Spock!

Speaking of the Admiral, what a great character. It seems he's fond of the human art of the idiom—but hasn't actually mastered it yet. Loved the comic relief;

The admiral sighed loudly. "Sticks and stones will break the camel's back," he warned the Romulan. He looked at Kirk. "It appears you can take the boy out of the Empire, but you cannot take the starch out of his-" "Yes, sir," Kirk said quickly. "Shall we move on?"

Snort! This guy was too much fun... I found myself hoping he'd show up in some more stories down the road.

The most perfect thing of all about The Measure of Success is the resolution, which I cannot give away-but I was literally cheering at the end. (Okay, so it was just a quiet, yet fervent, 'YES!") As I've been struggling with the issue myself, I know how difficult a task it is to set up a story with multiple, parallel plot threads and get them to come together neatly at the end-never mind trying to make the resolution a satisfying and well-integrated one. This author makes it look effortless.

It's not often that you find a story thafs got humor, action, hot sex, intense emotion, delicious love, fun guest characters, danger... well. I always enjoy JSC's stuff, but this was the best the best, the best.

2001

Aside from being a credible adventure, this is one incredible love story! A fine blend of action, suspense and awesome tenderness.

It is in some subtle way a different touch that J.S. puts on her interaction between—who else?—Kirk and Spock That riveting ability to communicate without words is there, and so is a more overt method, exemplified by the scene in which they've just been faced with the totally unexpected offer of promotion and resulting separation. Spock waits until the briefing room clears, depresses the lock, then extends his hands to Kirk, offering whatever measure of love his Captain wishes. "Oh, God, Spock..." is all the human can say as he reaches for those supporting arms. They allow themselves a healing embrace before duty once again demands their attention.

It is like this throughout, little snippets everywhere, always entirely appropriate and so very, very, true to both characters. These many special moments are made more dear because of their fleeting nature. And there are longer moments just as fine.

A scene that will forever live in my storehouse of special K/S moments occurs when the Enterprise engineering section has been commandeered by a captured Romulan who possesses extraordinary melding capabilities. Still struggling with the possibility of promotion splitting them, Kirk finds he must authorize his love to enter the chamber and do battle with the Romulan. Knowing the result may be the loss of Spock's intellect, Kirk is agonized when Spock looks to him for permission to enter. Their eyes met, and suddenly no one else was there. Just the two of them, with Spock about to go inside, maybe, this time, to die. "Jim, I must," was all Spock said aloud. But his eyes said, I love you. Remember. Kirk nodded, feeling the stone in his gut heave ominously, like an earth tremor. "Go, Spock." And his words were also love."

In his mind, waiting outside the chamber, Kirk sees what may be the awful consequences. He sees Spock lying still, his eyes open and unseeing, his mind gone and thinks, "That unbearably beautiful, fine mind". With his own mind, he goes to Spock doing his best to lend his own strength to the battle waging on the other side of the bulkhead.

When they finally gain access, Kirk sees only Spock, lying much as he envisioned, still and unresponsive. He pays no attention to the activity surrounding him, dropping to his knees at Spock's side, his eyes on the beloved face: Kirk hugged Spock to him, not caring what anyone would think "Spock! Oh, my God, Spock" Please, God, no! Please don't take him from m e now. Then the eyes reveal sanity, recognition: "Jim." McCoy tries to separate them, but Kirks hangs on, "I thought I'd lost him," he said. McCoy's answer "Uh-huh."

Absolutely without a doubt one of the best K/S stories ever.