Two Words (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Two Words
Author(s):	CatalenaMara
Date(s):	2009
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Online at the K/S Archive Online at AO3
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Two Words is a Star Trek: TOS Kirk/Spock story by CatalenaMara.

It was published in the print zine Legends #5.

Summary

"Based on Barbara Hambly’s pro Trek novel, “Ishmael”, this story tells of what happens once Spock is returned to his timeline from 1870’s Seattle, Washington. How has his time in Earth’s past with Aaron Stemple and the rest of the characters from “Here Come The Brides” changed him? What has he learned? What has he gained?"

Reactions and Reviews

Well, I did as Ivy recommended and reread ISHMAEL first, so this review may include a little of both. I‘d not read the novel since the eighties, and I remember being told afterwards that not only was it a crossover but that the Aaron character was played by Mark Leonard! Wow! Familiarity with the author‘s other source material must have made for a very different read. I wish I‘d known on first reading, I think, because I‘d not visualised him as resembling Sarek and mainly just had the memory of the best scene in the book, where Spock convulsively grabs Kirk‘s hand when he‘s finally found... Of course, I wanted more, as with many of the pro novels, and now Ms Mara has provided it!

I have to say, though, that the novel is well written: Hambly‘s portrayal of Spock as a stranger, out of his own time and with no memory, is very moving. I especially love the way he‘s referred to as 'Spock‘ (rather than 'Ishmael‘) again once his memory has returned. Her Kirk, too, is pretty vivid: there‘s this moment where he recognises the set of a much- changed Spock‘s shoulders that‘s quite appealing!

Two Words is entirely pleasing as a sequel, I loved it. The author successfully maintains Hambly‘s versions of our two heroes, I found, whilst moving the plot on to a far more satisfactory conclusion for us. It begins immediately at the end of the novel, even overlapping slightly, and believe me, if you just carry on reading, one to the other, you can hardly see the join! Kirk has been so worried about Spock, so convinced that THIS time, he must be dead, in fact would be better off dead than in the hands of the Klingons... Now, we see him solicitous of Spock‘s fatigue and injuries in a caring way that the Vulcan can accept. And we see Spock, relaxing against Jim in sleep, 'overhearing‘ his intimate thoughts! This is a wonderful moment, and gives rise to the Two Words of the title—even if I didn‘t actually realise this on first reading! I was desperate for the love scene, of course— after all, it had actually been a 200-plus-pages wait, but Spock‘s reunion with the Bridge crew is beautifully handled, and best of all, there‘s the gentle conversations between him and Kirk, where the latter shows him that a Spock with no memory or cultural controls was an honourable person, worthy of love... (The author phrases this so-o much better than I have!) And, when they finally declare their mutual attraction and make love, Ms Mara keeps them satisfyingly in character, as Kirk cannot yet forget what Spock suffered. I much prefer sex scenes that are embedded into the story: Some, you can lift out of context and read as self contained, but the best are integral, if you know what I mean? All in all, this is a lovely story. Now, I wonder if Ms Mara‘s read Spock Must Die?!

This story is a sequel not to an episode but to a pro novel: "Ishmael" by Barbara Hambly. (For those who are interested, it is no longer in print but is currently available used on Amazon and Half.com, and is also available in a Kindle version.) "Ishmael," one of the better Trek pro novels BTW, is actually a crossover with a TV show that was on from 1968 to 1970, "Here Come the Brides" (with Mark Lenard playing Aaron Stemple, so Hambly making Aaron a pivotal character in her novel was something of an inside joke). In the novel Spock, escaping from Klingons, travels back in time to the 1860s in Seattle, Washington, suffering from amnesia due to a run-in with the mindsifter; Aaron Stemple, a local businessman, finds him injured (and obviously alien; he's bleeding green blood) and takes him in, while Kirk and company frantically try to find Spock--and incidentally stop the Klingons from changing history.

This sequel story is not big on plot, but it doesn't matter. It extends the reading pleasure of the pro novel with a definite "feel" of the original book, and that is all one could want. The love story evolves very naturally and realistically from the happenings in the pro novel, and the love scene (combining physical pleasure with the mental closeness of a meld) is especially delectable. The characterization is very well done. I loved the moment where McCoy tells Kirk he should let Spock know how he feels, and Kirk is not surprised that McCoy, although he has never been told, has guessed his feelings; so typical of their close friendship. And I loved the plot twist that Kirk hasn't spoken to Spock of his feelings because he wants to avoid "the appearance of favoritism"--a motive that I haven't seen explored by a lot of K/S writers, but given Kirk's devotion to his ship and crew, makes perfect sense. And the ending--where Kirk realizes that if he has to send Spock out into danger again he would do it, because "this was what they had chosen. This was who they were"--was a wonderful insight into Kirk's character as well.

What really makes this story shine, however, is the spot-on portrayal of the Kirk and Spock relationship. For example, I loved the moment where Spock, without being prompted, changes the temperature of his quarters so that Kirk won't be too warm, and Kirk tells him he doesn't have to do that--both of them caring more for the other's comfort than their own. It's those little touches--the two men showing their love for each other in non-sexual, ordinary ways--that really enrich a slash story, IMO.

Wonderful stories, wonderful zine!

Having read the explanation that this story was based on the pro novel 'Ishmael', I quickly decided it was important that I go back and re-read the novel before proceeding. I was certain Ms. Mara would pull together all the loose threads that may have existed at the end of the original and was confident she would add that special K/S spice we‘re all so addicted to.

The novel is indeed a good one, as Ms. Mara points out. It‘s likely I had not read it since its release in the mid-eighties and it was well worth the effort. It didn‘t hurt that I knew from the start there was going to be an additional chapter at the end! There is a very smooth transition from book to short story, and I think it would be great if everyone could read them in tandem as I did. Spock has been through the proverbial mill, transported back to 1800‘s Earth with a complete loss of memory. Though he doesn‘t know who he is himself, the rest of us can readily see this is the Spock we know and love, in spite of the fact he must adapt to a non-technological culture and be drawn into a most interesting group of illogical humans. Every moment of the book, I was waiting for the moment that he and Kirk would be together again and while Barbara Hambly handled it pretty well in her version, I wanted Catalena Mara‘s! Sure enough, the feelings I knew were lurking just under the surface are fully realized in 'Two Words'. Not the two words one might expect, but in the context of the story, absolutely critical words.

The small subtle touches here were splendid! Kirk brewing Spock‘s favorite tea and serving it to the exhausted Vulcan, then making sure he‘s properly nourished with one of his favorite stews. Kirk had thought him lost forever, and he is understandably overjoyed and overwhelmed at Spock‘s return. This is a very new story, so I‘ll refrain from a lot of detail, but there are beautiful, tranquil, lovely moments between them as they both try to find their way back to this new reality. They are together again, something both men had despaired of ever happening. I wish all the pro novels could end as this one does, with Kirk and Spock where they belong – in each other‘s arms.

This story is a whatever-happened after tale and while such a theme is not uncommon is the world of K/S, the "before" material that it is based most certainly is. While such stories are usually based on the episodes or the movies, in this case, it is a pro novel the author has chosen to expand. That novel is Ishmael, written by Barbara Hambly and published in 1985. Basically, the plot of the novel is that Spock mysteriously disappears when the Enterprise is on layover and it is soon discovered he has been captured by Klingons. But after managing to get one last transmission to the Enterprise, a transmission that doesn't seem to make any sense, both Spock and the Klingon ship disappear and Spock is presumed dead. But Kirk cannot bring himself to accept that his Vulcan is truly gone and sets the Enterprise on a course to find him.

And although he doesn't realize it at the time, Spock is indeed very much alive. But he is separated from Kirk by more than just distance - time itself stands between them. For after being tortured by the Klingons, Spock finds himself alone on Earth in the year 1867. Unconscious and injured, he is found and taken in by a man who looks past his alienness and nurses him back to health. That man, Aaron Stemple, however, soon discovers the stranger he has brought into his home has no memory of who he is and where he came from. Also, unbeknownst to both, Stemple is more than a simple human living a simple life - his very existence is one upon which the future lies.

Unfortunately, the Klingons have also become aware of this and they too travel back in time to assassinate Stemple in order to change that future. Their plans, however, are foiled by Spock, who by that time has regained his memory, but finds he is only partially successful in stopping the Klingons from carrying out their goal, for the assassination attempt leaves Stemple horribly wounded and fighting for his life. Without the medical technology that would be available to him in his own time, Spock struggles to keep Aaron alive, and just as all hope seems to be fading, he is reunited with Kirk and McCoy. The three return to the Enterprise with Stemple, whose life is saved by the good doctor and returned to his time on Earth so that both Spock and Kirk's future will be assured.

In this author's version, the story begins right after the three beam back onto the Enterprise. And it is here that we are able to see Kirk and Spock's relationship in a way that the author of the pro novel could only hint at For example, in the beginning of the pro novel, where Kirk is alone and mourning the loss of Spock, the author writes, ""But Spock had saved Kirk's life and soul and sanity more times than Kirk cared to think about; put himself in danger against hope and logic in situations where Kirk knew his own survival had been despaired of. And all out of an emotion that Spock would have denied to the death that he felt." But in this story, the author is under no such constraints to dance around the love these two men clearly have for each other and as a result, that love which is only hinted at in the novel is given free reign. Thus, this story is able to fill a void that the novel, as good as it is, could never fill. It is a story of healing and forgiveness, of hope and faith, of lessons learned, of the pain of having to say goodbye, and of the joy and anticipation of a new future and a new relationship that is destined to be. Mot of all, it is a story of the tremendous love these two men have for each other, a love that can and will survive and endure even the test of time.

This is a most worthy sequel to one of the best pro novels out there.

A gorgeous sequel to the novel Ishmael. I love how the experience changes how Spock feels about living among humans, and the way he and Kirk tread so carefully. The downside to telepathic sex is a lovely touch too.