Utoto
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| Star Trek TOS Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Utoto |
| Author(s): | Jungle Kitty |
| Date(s): | 2002 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | het |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Utoto is a Star Trek: TOS Spock/Uhura story by Jungle Kitty.
It was nominated for a 2002 ASC Award.
Reactions and Reviews
I never grow tired of reading about Spock and Uhura, as there is always another aspect of their relationship, another nuance to the characters, for Wildcat to bring out. In this latest story, here is a couple that has known the joys of growing old together, who are perfectly at ease with each other and yet this familiarity breeds comfort, not contempt. More than ever I see the two of them as two halves of a unified whole, especially in the gardening scene at the end while Sarek's bonding to Perrin is taking place. And I see how much Uhura has grown, knowing exactly what Spock needed her to do that he couldn't do himself--namely go to his father at his parents' house one last time in effort to bridge the gap between father and son--and yet she knew when she could do no more, when it wasn't worth fighting any more. Spock may have been surprised at first that Uhura didn't insist they attend the bonding anyway, but upon reflection he knew why she didn't. Once upon a time, early in their relationship, he viewed Uhura as the one who pushed him in directions he didn't necessarily want or feel he needed to go, but he has long since realized that she doesn't push without reason, and understands all too well his limits as well as her own. This is, more than anything else, emblematic of just how close these two are, how much they implicitly trust and rely on each other. It was a pleasure seeing Saavik again, grown into the mature, confident woman we always knew she would one day be. I still miss the little girl, but her son Derek (and I love how it's at once an almost Vulcan name as well as a Human one) is a fun character in his own right. He is not at all like his mother at this age, but he is just as full of life. Wildcat has portrayed the young teenage male perfectly. Even the minor details are so right. And just like in "Thaya", some of the details thrown in almost as an aside are hysterical, like the Betazed version of "Baywatch." I also loved seeing Uhura with him, how she got through his adolescent armor, and was able to find a series of interests and activities that they could both share. Spock also handled his 'grandson' well--I can just see him showing Derek the various moves and positions with the same air of gravity as he once pored over a book of seashell classifications with Saavik. I very much am looking forward to seeing the 'missing years' between "Thaya" and "Utoto" filled in with future stories, and continuing to see the develoment of one of my favorite families through the generations.Which brings me to the heart of this story, Sarek and Perrin. I never took to Perrin when she was introduced on TNG; she seemed cold, distant, in major contrast to Amanda whose warmth and graciousness were just so evident. Canon never really explained to us why Sarek remarried after such a long time after Amanda's death, or how and why he chose another Human wife. Wildcat does an admirable job of filling in the gaps. Sarek's reflection over the painting that had used to belong to Amanda really brought home how he felt, and how he got to this moment of time and was perhaps more susceptible to Perrin's 'charms.' His emotions were conveyed very well. The way the story ended left me sad, but it couldn't have been any other way. We know how Sarek's story will eventually end--the Bendii's syndrome, the loss of emotional control, with just his cold, aloof wife to stand by his side, but not being able to truly be there for him, not able to help him or even advise a better course of action, an alternative way of dealing with his difficulties. Amanda, and Uhura, would have been capable of so much more. [1]
This is a very scary view of Perrin, a young woman who sees everything in terms of herself. It's not just an interesting character study, but also a believeable explanation for the rift between Sarek and Spock. Very well done. [2]