Their Solitary Way

Fanfiction
Title:	Their Solitary Way
Author(s):	Frances Rowes
Date(s):	1986
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Their Solitary Way is a Kirk/Spock story by Frances Rowes. It is a sequel to To Be a Help Meet for Him in The Voice #5.

title page

It was published in the print zine In the Wilderness #1.

Summary

"Their time with the Minarians has Kirk thinking that his and Spockʼs love affair is doomed by his lack of telepathic ability, but itʼs his fear of bonding that must be ultimately overcome."

Reactions and Reviews

1987

"Their Solitary Way" involves the Enterprise with a cultural delegation of Minarins, the race of "Empath" fame. Whilst Spock and Kirk try to find their own balance, McCoy becomes attracted to a Minarian, Zephyr, and is attempting to confront and control his own feelings. As an empath, Zephyr would find it difficult and painful to have a relationship with a non-telepath; a problem that appears to be directly mirrored in Kirk's relationship to Spock. It seems that the Minarians, by their very nature, affect the three men in different ways and force each to face inner truths. Sensitively handled material.

1992

I love "The Empath" and I find empaths fascinating, so I was immediately predisposed to like this episode sequel. There is some wonderful characterization of McCoy. There is also some very good victim psychology when the K/S relationship becomes abusive. Mccoy's past history with his wife aids him in understanding what has happened to K/S. and that's very well done. I noticed the Hedea parallel in Mccoy's wife killing their son. The story brings up some sexual issues that are important to discuss. First, there is the issue of assumed accommodation to sex in a relationship. I find it a distressing concept. If accommodation is assumed, then consent doesn't have to be gotten each time and there is no such thing as marital rape. Then there is the idea that Spock can be raped by Kirk's fantasy. I would ordinarily say that the only way someone can be harmed by another person's fantasy is if the fantasizer harasses the object of the fantasy about it, but Spock is a telepath. This means that he would be aware of Kirk's fantasy and that he would experience it. If he didn't consent to being Kirk's fantasy object, it would be mental rape. The telepathic dimension really does complicate relationships. On the other hand. Kirk is unduly upset about the bond in this story. Why should he think it would make him a "freak"? There are human telepaths in the series. Did Kirk believe that Miranda Jones was a freak? Kirk also knew that Gary Mitchell had a high telepathic rating before "Where No Man", did he think that his friend and First Officer was a freak? I tend to doubt it.

2004

This story is intriguing in many ways. It gives us a fascinating look at the Minarians—Gem’s people—but the real theme of the story is whether a telepath and a non-telepath could ever find happiness together.

Warning: there are several very dark scenes and one violent one between Kirk and Spock, so this story is not for everyone. Ms. Rowes never shirks away from difficult subjects, and while this is not a “comfortable” story, it is a compelling one.