Tholian Legacy

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Tholian Legacy
Author(s):	Patricia Roe
Date(s):	1995
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Tholian Legacy is a Kirk/Spock story by Patricia Roe.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #16.

Summary

"Long suppressed events surrounding his time in Tholian space rise to the surface when Kirk must once again don a spacesuit and go after Spock who has left the ship to meld with VʼGer."

Reactions and Reviews

A very well written story; and the characters vivid and alive. Very subtle and relevant, where Kirk and Spock individually are coming from—lots of questions with no answers. The period of this story, before/during/after ST:TMP, is such a wonderful turning point for their relationship; and lots of dramatic possibilities.

Directly after the "thataway" order at the end of ST:TMP, McCoy is giving Kirk trouble—shouldn't we go home? Perfect McCoy dialogue, and perfect use of McCoy, to dig out what Kirk's problem is. Is Kirk afraid of losing Spock? Kirk doesn't want the party to be over and go back to the desk.

We learn that when Kirk suited up to get Spock from V'ger, he suffered flashbacks of memories from the Tholian incident. An inventive scenario; and a unique connection of separate events. I also liked the reference to McCoy's experience with the Vians and subsequent bout of xenopolycythemia. I love episode tie-ins like this.

Flashback to the Thotian incident, after which Kirk had suffered nightmares. In one such dream, his terror was relieved by Spock's physical caresses. He'd never remembered this dream, but it turns out Spock's presence had 001 been a dream. In the present, Spock admits it. This part is written with an exquisite intensity; my favorite kind of scene. Kirk: what happened? Spock: We made love. Shocking. And a elegant explanation as to why Spock had felt it necessary to leave for Gol.

And so now the way is clear for them to come together. A beautiful, heart-warming story. A perfect poetry to the events. I was totally convinced (not that I'm a difficult one to convince!) that Kirk and Spock would have made love under those circumstances in the past, that it would have freaked Spock out, and that they both came through on the other side ready to be lovers.

I love the use of "thataway" again at the end. I can really see these two after the end of ST:TMP exactly like this. And I adore Spock's new assurance.

This story takes place during one of my favorite time frames; directly following The Motion Picture. When Kirk went out into V'ger to recover Spock, it was the first time Kirk had been able to even contemplate donning a EV suit since his nearly disastrous experience in one in Tholian space. The claustrophobia of the helmet, his sense of being absolutely alone in that other universe, had undone him. Until Spock required his help. Then all thoughts of Tholian space left him and only his duty to his friend remained. But none of that is known to Spock until after McCoy chastises Kirk for pulling away from the Vulcan just as he's dropping his shields, allowing his human friends back in following his failure at Kohlinar. And it's only once Kirk makes himself be utterly honest with Spock that memories Kirk had thought only dreams, reveal themselves, explain themselves, and reveal an utterly new path for both Kirk and Spock. This is a lovely little story, sweet and bitter at the same time but mostly sweet. It's the story of stars having crossed only to come untangled in the end. It's the story of that most archetypical friendship ironing itself out and, once again, becoming exactly what it was always meant to be. Patricia Roe has a great handle on both the plot and the characters, hitting Kirk, Spock and McCoy directly center of perfect. This is a gem in the midst of a zine that's full of gems.