Unchained

Fanfiction
Title:	Unchained
Author(s):	Mary Kay Urbanski
Date(s):	2008
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	on AO3
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Unchained is a Kirk/Spock story by Mary Kay Urbanski.

It was published in the print zine First Time #62.

Summary

"Spock appears restive and combative for weeks, until at last the reason for his obvious discomfort is revealed."

Reactions and Reviews

I turned to this story as soon as I read Ivy’s review last month, as I, too, love a vulnerable Spock... Wow! The scenes where Spock is experiencing extreme arousal, focused on Kirk, are really hot! Spock touching himself and not being able to control what he’s feeling and when, can be very erotic, and the author can write powerful scenes. I was relieved to read early on that Kirk has fallen in love with Spock prior to the story opening, and, as Ivy says, there’s love and respect, as well as lust. Their caring for each other comes across in the final sex scene, as I’d hoped when we saw the Captain losing patience with Spock earlier on, because this is so painful for poor Jim and the reader, I found... I enjoyed the moment, too, when Jim refers to his solution to the spores’ effect on Spock, saying that he should have seduced Spock instead of picking a fight! After all, haven’t we all thought this?! There is a bit of a plot device in the sense that Kirk and Spock set out in the shuttlecraft on a diplomatic mission away from the Enterprise, but I quite liked the topless aliens that we meet and it gave us opportunities to see both the Spock-fighting-the-spores’-influence and ‘our’ Spock, the one who works so well with his Captain. I hope the mission ended well and that Mary Kay writes some more K/S! The artwork that accompanies this story is lovely. A kiss, against a starfield backdrop and Kirk’s hands holding Spock’s neck so-o possessively—sigh! I’m in debt to Ivy for commenting on their wedding rings in this piece as this is a wonderful touch that I’d not noticed.. .My gaze had been captured by the light, shining on their rapt faces, and the beautiful detail of Spock’s ear and Kirk’s nose really move me.

In this story set after the episode This Side of Paradise, everyone has recovered from the spores. Everyone except Spock, that is. The presence of the spores is still bothering Spock, and his deeply hidden passions for his Captain are being released and no longer entirely within his control. Spock is burying himself in work and trying to avoid Kirk while he struggles with his emotions, when the two of them must take the shuttle Galileo and go on a diplomatic mission together. Of course they have to share a room, much to Spock‘s dismay. But that‘s nothing compared to how he feels when he sees the costumes they must wear to a diplomatic dinner one evening! We don‘t see a story exploring the lingering effect the spores might have on Spock too often, and I liked how the author set up her story, let us see the effect of the spores on Spock, learn about Kirk‘s love for Spock, and then sent them away together on a mission. I loved the costumes they had to wear to the diplomatic dinner that eventually brought matters to a climax (er, sorry, bad pun.) It was fun to see how Kirk, determined to find out what was wrong with his friend, figured out the problem (or part of it anyway). Exciting love making scenes and a beautifully worded last paragraph made this story a great beginning to First Time # 62.

I‘m a sucker for first times and a confirmed lover of a Spock who is vulnerable. This story fulfilled part of my cravings. It‘s definitely a first time for Kirk and Spock, and Spock is vulnerable to the extent that he is having very physical feelings for Kirk and doesn‘t know how to handle them. He is, however, portrayed as a man with a very strong sex drive, perhaps fueled by the after-effects of the spores from Omicron Ceti. While I prefer Kirk to have the upper hand in such matters, I nevertheless enjoyed this story.

Most of what I liked was that beneath Spock‘s fiery need for his captain‘s body, there was love and respect. Quite a war between the love and the lust ensued, which naturally led Spock to become more cold and withdrawn toward Kirk. He simply could not allow his feelings to show for fear of losing what little he possessed of the human: his friendship.

Kirk, though he became quite frustrated with Spock‘s inexplicable behavior, continued to be interested primarily in Spock‘s welfare and concerned about what was causing the changes. This was a satisfactory story in most aspects, even though Spock was more forceful than I prefer. I enjoyed reading it and hope this author continues with her writing.