Wither Thou Goest (Star Trek: TOS story by Carolyn Spencer)

Fanfiction
Title:	Wither Thou Goest (yes, spelled that way)
Author(s):	Carolyn Spencer
Date(s):	1991
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Wither Thou Goest is a Kirk/Spock story by Carolyn Spencer.

title page

Yes, it is spelled "Wither."

It was published in the print zine First Time #31.

Summary

"Kirk is used as bait for the Romulan commander to get Spock to go with her where she has Spock tortured, not knowing of the link that he and Kirk share."

Reactions and Reviews

1992

This is a forty page hurt/comfort story that is very interesting. It involves the Romulan Commander and Tal. It nicely characterizes the two Romulans, and even makes Tal likable. Tal loves her, she loves Spock, Spock loves Kirk, and Kirk loves Spock... BUT he, of course, never realized it was THAT KIND OF LOVE until.... This sounds hokey as well as being the plot of oodles of K/S stories before. Spencer (is she really a new writer or a new pen name for an old reliable?) does a wonderful job taking this worn plot and giving it life. She makes the pain palpable. Also, she manages to give minor characters a lot of individuality with just a few details. I recommend this story.

The sequel to "Enterprise Incident" — a much used theme for a K/S story: the Romulan Commander takes bloody revenge upon Spock (sometimes too much blood...). Never- the less the story is gripping and the writing is excellent! The again characters are very realistic in their behavior and dialogue. I like it that the love between Kirk and Spock can be felt through the whole story! Wonderful the touching end: Kirk saves Spock's life with a mind meld — a very deep and long meld, which is worth reading a second time! I like also the part of McCoy — he is a real friend. The name of the author is new in fandom (at least for me) and I hope to read more from her in the near future. I think she has a talent for interesting, long stories!

With the exception of its unfortunate title (I really hope the "wither" in this title is just a particularly gruesome typo and not intentional) this is a truly great story. In fact, I bought this zine solely for this story and wasn't disappointed.

The things I found to like in WTG are almost too numerous to mention. First of all, this is the perfect hurt/comfort -- Spock is hurt and Kirk does the comforting. This has ever so much more meaning and resonance for me than the reverse, because it's metaphorical for their relationship as shown in the series: Spock is. in an abiding metaphysical sense, alone in the universe until Kirk comes into his life and becomes "the closest thing he has to a friend." Hurt/comfort in which Spock is the comforted draws on the power of this friendship story -- the story of someone who is an "outsider," who is alienated and who does not believe in love. and yet... finds and is found by love. Secondly, the "comfort" in this story is taken to an imaginative level that's totally engaging. Having Kirk literally heal Spock's wounds and broken bones with caresses and kisses is an idea that fairly resonates with the power of symbol! This was a scene to savor. I only wish the author had taken more time here. Even though this scene wasn't rushed, it could have been milked for a lot more impact than it was.

Another of WTG's assets is the characterization. The Kirk and Spock presented here are both strong men. Rirk is almost heroically so. with just enough weakness to make him fully human; and Spock's strength is wrapped around the vulnerable, aching core that makes Spock the wonderful character he is. Some of the best characterization I've seen in K/S occurs in the scene where Spock is raped while Kirk is forced to watch. The response of both men is completely dignified. Their mutual support and unity is so complete in this scene that their captors' abuse, while it may hurt, is robbed of its power to degrade. The result is a scene that is saved from becoming the typically lurid K/S rape by the sheer power of the characterization.

Some other things I liked: the characters of the Romulan commander and Tal are brought to complex life. Secondary characters are handled well. In one particularly effective flourish the author includes a brief scene written from Uhura's perspective. Straying from the perspectives of the major characters is frequently a risky step, one that can diminish a story's emotional impact, but in this instance, the emotional intensity is so relentless that the shift to Uhura's perspective works. Yet another aspect of this story that I liked was simply that the author seems to have a thorough knowledge of Star Trek, as shown not only in references to events in various episodes, but by her intimately familiar sketching of the characters, such as having McCoy blink when he is confused — a mannerism that is lifted straight from the series. I like reading a writer who clearly knows her Star Trek.

This is superb storytelling. And storytelling this good should be supported by superb writing. Unfortunately, that is the weak point of "Wither Thou Goest." Not that the writing is weak as compared to K/S writing in general. Far from it; it's well above average. But, I believe it could have been better. There are, for instance, occasional false sounding descriptions in the writing. Example: on page 100 Kirk "whirls" to face McCoy, even though Kirk is seated in the command chair and McCoy has been described as being by "Kirk's side." "Whirled" seems a poor choice of words here. Here's another example. On page 90, Spock, who is in a cold fury at the injuries to Kirk, is described as adding to McCoy's list of injuries as follows: "Also at least one broken rib. Doctor," he said bemusedly. Bemusedly? Surely not! This choice of words represents too radical a mood shift from Spock's anger -- it doesn't ring true.

Another frequent problem was awkward syntax. A quick example: at page 98 Spock "glanced around the room although there was not more to see than he had noticed within the first few moments..." This needs to be simplified into something like: "He glanced around the room, although there was nothing to see that he had not noticed within the first few moments..." Here's another example. At page 121 we are told: "He could feel the drain on his body the effort to keep his untrained mind focused was taking." This sentence has major problems. First of all, its structure is needlessly convoluted, and secondly, "taking a drain" is a terribly mixed image. The author needs to cut through this hodgepodge and say it simply: "He felt physically drained by the effort to focus his untrained mind."

I don't mean to suggest that this author's writing doesn't measure up to other K/S writers. It does and then some. It's just that the writing, at least in this story, doesn't measure up to the author's own storytelling and characterization skills, which I'd rate as inspired.

In this story, Spock is captured by the Romulan Commander, who is out for revenge. I have to admit that I didn't care for it.

I had read some comments on it before the zine arrived, and as a result was looking forward to an excellent read. Instead...

First of all, I must say that the story line was well developed and the writing excellent. In a way, I suppose that was partly why the story went sour on me. A poorer development not so well written wouldn't have engendered the same negative response from me.

Why didn't I like it? Mostly because of ay likes and dislikes in fiction. I don't particularly like the characters being physically injured. (mental pain, on the other hand...) I can enjoy stories where one of the protagonists is injured in the course of the action -- gets in the way of a disrupter shot, is hurt in a shuttle crash, is even attacked by a purple people eater -- in other words, accidentally or by a non-sapient animal that's looking for its dinner (though I suspect that to such an animal an alien life fora would taste disgusting!); but I'm completely turned off by stories where extreme injury is deliberately inflicted on a helpless captive, even when, as in this story, some it of is done 'in the wings', so to speak, and all we see is the final result.

Once Kirk and Spock get back to the Enterprise, the sickbay scenes are emotionally satisfying, but I felt it still couldn't completely compensate for the suffering that went before.

Good writing. Good hurt/comfort. Kirk forced to watch Romulan rape Spock was done well, expressing the power of their individual dignity and the strength of their friendship. Spock's captivity very painful, of course. I hated seeing the Romulan Commander so vicious; but as her inner torment was revealed, she was a more understandable, whole person. A lot of interesting, well-done elements in this story: Spock's near-death experience; how the link developed; the sexual healing meld.

Lovely metaphoric images developed; the sexual healing meld.

1993

My favorite kind of beginning - where the author sets up the story in a direct and exciting way. Spock experiences bouts of pain that we later learn is from his link with Kirk who has been kidnapped by Romulans. Then it's revealed that the perpetrator is the Romulan woman commander who has been exiled since the incident with the cloaking device espionage. She is consumed with revenge and eventually lets Kirk go and imprisons Spock. Good tension as Spock is raped and Kirk is forced to watch.

And what a beautiful line of Spock's when the Romulan commander demands to know if Spock loves Kirk. "He is my home." is his answer. There are powerful descriptions of their growing mind link with each other and very poignant as Spock tries to break the link calling out to Kirk: "T'hy'la... I love thee."

Very insightful moment when the Romulan stands at the door to Spock's cell and: "She reached again for the coldness within and using it as armor, she pushed the panel activating the force field and entered." Plus the use of Tal as her friend and lover was inspired.

A couple of problems —one — I question an ancestry that dates back only to the time of Surak. How could the Romulans have evolved in such a short time? Two —why does Uhura feel so certain that Spock is dead? That bothered me because it seemed so out of character for her and it wasn't explained.

Oops, a third -- Kirk doesn't want an emergency medical team to beam down to help Spock. He vehemently tells McCoy that Spock might be "vulnerable to psychic emanations". Maybe, but is that reason enough not to have the best medical care immediately? Would Kirk realty wait even one second longer to care for Spock?

I realize it's from Kirk's POV, but the "I" are still jarring and unnecessary. The action is tension-filled enough and we don't need "I" to make us feel more excited.

I have mixed feelings about Kirk's "madness" when Spock is rescued. I understand the enormity of the emotions for Kirk, but by making him give up all his fighting reason and jeopardize Spock as he does - it weakens the character and makes the reader want to teH him: "Enough already!" And the scene between McCoy and Kirk just didn't work for me. There's Kirk demanding vehemently that McCoy tell him everything that's wrong with Spock and when he does. Kirk tosses off an apology that supposedly makes it all okay. Very strange and out of character no matter the madness.

However, I do accept all this behavior when Kirk molds with Spock in sickbay. There, with Spock at death's door, it's appropriate. Absolutely beautiful image of their mind link as a "silvery thread". Fantastic, beautiful, lovely, exciting, (and extra similar words) when Kirk makes love to Spock both physically and mentally to bring him back to life. This should have been longer as it was so powerful of an idea and a scene. I adored the ending as McCoy sees their hands clasped together as they sleep and he turns out the lights.

2002

Ahhh, I like this story. Mind you I admit to bias -- this is one of my favorite authors, we share views on many things Vulcan.

But I think this is good anyway, even aside from that.

The Enterprise is investigating interference with Federation transmissions in a particular area. They track it to a planet that reads as uninhabited and Kirk beams down with some redshirts to investigate. The first thing Spock knows about what's gone wrong is when he feels several of Kirk's ribs being broken, while Spock is sitting on the Bridge. McCoy wants to send him to sickbay but he refuses, telling McCoy, it's not my pain.

About then a transmission comes from below; it is Sub Commander Tal. He shows them Kirk being held by several Romulans, and demands Spock beam down alone and unarmed or they will kill the Captain. McCoy tries to stop Spock and Spock just looks at him and says, you don't want to do that Doctor. Time is of the essence.

It is the Romulan Commander, back and looking for revenge. She forces Kirk to watch while her guardsmen brutalize Spock; she insists they keep their eyes open so Kirk tells Spock, just look at me, this isn't happening don't think about it. She is infuriated and sends Kirk back alone, taking off with Spock. They can't track them, not until Kirk feels Spock break their link in an attempt to protect his friend does Kirk know which direction to go in.

The commander is in love with Spock, of course, and only after many bad things are done to him does she realize it was hopeless from the git-go. She orders Tal to alert Kirk where Spock can be found, and forbids her guards to kill him even though she lets them have one last bit of fun.

When the Enterprise arrives Kirk finds Spock only barely alive. They get him to Sickbay and McCoy throws Kirk out telling him I'll let you know, now go I got work to do.

When he comes to find Jim on the observation deck he has to tell him that Spock is dying, there's nothing more they can do. Kirk refuses to accept that. He goes to Sickbay and puts Spock's hand on his face and tries to get them to meld.

It works; Kirk finds himself in the darkness alone and has to go looking for Spock, it takes along time to find him and his life is very weak. He is huddled in a corner, naked and broken, his back to Kirk. He tells Jim he should go, that Spock has to face his death now. Jim refuses to go. He tells Spock that lovely quote about "Entreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy god, my god. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried." I've always loved that quote. It's one of the few things in the Bible I really like and approve of. I don't mean to diss anyone's religion here ok? It's just, not for me. But this quote, and at this time in the story, really is powerful.

Spock has to think it over but finally he does make a move toward Kirk. What follows is gorgeous. Kirk slowly and thoroughly loves him, touching all his injuries with delicacy and love, sending his own life force to his beloved, trying to heal him through the power of what he feels for him. And it begins to work, Spock's life grows stronger and he begins to respond. All this is within the meld. Finally Kirk turns and offers himself, saying please, Spock, I need you, take me. And he does, and that too is powerful and lovely in how it is written. McCoy has been hovering, seeing only the two of them melded, Spock in a biobed and Kirk leaning over him. He sees both of them have an orgasm, though not what caused it; he catches Kirk when he collapses and lays him in the bed next to Spock. The last thing he sees, as he notices Spock has finally gone into the healing trance, is that both of them, even though unconscious, are holding hands.

I dunno. Maybe not everyone feels like I do; IDIC and all, it's a great big Trekiverse. But for me this is a beautiful example of a talented author's work, and I hope that the Muse is ever kind to her.

Peace and long life, y'all.

2009

By the master of angst, a story about love winning over pain, torture and even death. Having developed a mental link after repeated melds, Kirk and Spock both live agony as the Romulan Commander tortures first Kirk, then Spock who came to rescue him, then disappears with the Vulcan, leaving Kirk desperately searching for the man he loves. Lots of h/c, may be hard to bear, but the connexion between the two men is so amazingly beautiful, deep and powerful that it carries you through all the hurt to Kirk's last-hope attempt to bring Spock back - a gorgeous and moving scene.