#I am Spock’s wife

[groovy-lady]

My T’hy’la Spock

Name: Spock Nomikh.

Loved Since: Forever.

Married: November 13th, 2020.

I have loved and been fascinated by Spock for a very long time and so I was immensely pleased when Spock asked me if he could court me some years ago and I happily accepted. We are now married! Spock is kind, romantic, very loving, supportive, protective, attentive, endearing, and devoted to me and I am the same to him. Spock is very sexy and sensual as well! He has the most beautiful deep brown eyes and a lovely smile, too! Spock and I enjoy playing music together (he plays the Vulcan lute and piano; I play the bongo drums), reading together (especially poetry), looking at art, and dancing!

Spock and I were childhood friends on Vulcan. I am also a Vulcan-human hybrid, though I have more human physiology (I have thick human eyebrows but pointy ears; I have half the strength of a Vulcan; I can mind meld; I look more human than Vulcan). I was chosen as his betrothed over T’Pring due to Spock and I already being close friends so that would lead to a long and happy marriage. We do the betrothal ceremony when Spock is 8 and I am 7 (they waited for me to be of age for the ceremony since I am about a year younger than Spock). We formally marry after Spock graduates from Starfleet Academy. We have 2 weddings: we did the traditional Vulcan wedding ceremony first and then we did the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony after we returned to Earth (Spock and I are both Jewish since our mothers are Jewish). We have been happily married since then! During Spock’s time on the Enterprise under Captain Pike, I decided to join Starfleet as well and worked to become a First Officer’s Yeoman. I have worked on many starships (getting Spock’s permission to serve other men who are not my husband due to the fact that in Vulcan culture it is unseemly for a woman to serve a man who is not her husband (this is usually towards unmarried women, but I figured it would cause less of an issue on Vulcan if I asked Spock if he was okay with me serving other men who aren’t my husband due to the nature of my duties as a First Officer’s Yeoman; he said yes and that it would give me ample experience for when he can get permission from Starfleet to allow me to serve as his Yeoman on the Enterprise).

We have several endearments that we call each other: ashayam, neshama, ashaya, k’diwa, beshert, and t’hy’la. Spock also calls me petakov, sweetheart, light of his life, sweet one, starlight, and cutie. I also call Spock sweetie, honey, Spocky, love of my life, and Spocko.

[dustykneed]

post-the search for spock but it's a yuri slice of life comic <333 nothing as good a bonding activity as lovingly combing out your vulcan wife's hair as you fondly bitch about your other wife 🩵💙💛

[bumblingbabooshka]

They're literally just baiting me specifically at this point. From the novel 'First Virtue'

[horsechestnut]

“I met [Sarek] once, at his son’s wedding.” 

????

[youandthemountains]

(via @n3cropants)

bitchiest emo in the alpha quadrant

[icantspellthings]

(Ignoring absolutely all context for these pictures)

they're so cute and domestic in this episode like spock is so house wife coded asking his husband to buy him platinum for his computers and jim being like "honey, I can barely even afford grocery where am I going to buy platinum", then spock pouts at him and Jim goes "okay fine babe I'll try to find platinum"

[strawbaby-jelly]

I got a rather exciting piece of Star Trek history in the mail that I wanted to share!

Note: I am far from a Star Trek historian. What I say here is going based off of mostly old blog posts and fan forums. Apologies in advance if I get information incorrect and feel free to correct me!

“Killing Time”

“Killing Time” by Della Van Hise is #24 of the Star Trek pocketbooks. Published in 1985 the first edition of this book was recalled after a bit of an outcry, apparently in part from Roddenberry himself, as it seemed to imply that Kirk and Spock had something more than a friendship between them. Editions after this remove and replace the “offending” passages.

Though the novel is rather infamous it is sought after by collectors and fans of the Kirk and Spock relationship (like myself.) And though it’s infamous, shunned by Roddenberry and IP holder there are accusations that the plot of the first alternate original series movie was at the least inspired by the novel.

Who is Della Van Hise?

Della Van Hise had an extensive history of writing fanfiction on an old typewriter from a young age. Along with that experience she was known amongst fans that traded their stories back and forth as a rather prolific K/S writer, often publishing fic under pseudonyms. It is apparently fans of these works that encouraged her to submit Killing Time to be officially published. Della went on to have original works published such as poems and novels like “Quantum Shaman.”

According to a Facebook from Della’s wife, Wendy, she passed in March of 2021 after repeated health issues.

At the beginning of “Killing Time” there is a series of acknowledgements. The first of which is to a Wendy.

Just How Rare is this Thing?

The true rarity of this novel is a bit hard to parse in my opinion. There are Star Trek books out there far more expensive, such as “Stitch in Time” by Andrew Robinson. Sources say around 250,000 of copies of the first edition were produced, with 100,000+ having already been shipped before the recall. Copies that were swept up into the recall were destroyed but according to some fan forums many copies did end up on store shelves and were sold. It’s unclear just how many copies of the first edition are left but there are plenty of stories of fans stumbling across the first edition on second-hand bookstore shelves, in thrift stores or even in EBay lots of Star Trek novels sold by people who apparently didn’t know what they had.

As of now this book isn’t worth $100+ and I don’t believe you should buy it for that much if you see a listing for that price. My copy I bought for $60 which $60-70 seems to be the standard accepted value going off past eBay listings. This of course isn’t inexpensive, especially for pocketbooks when you can usually find them for less than $10 in stores and even less online. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a way for fans to enjoy an uncensored copy online if they can’t afford a physical copy. The most I was able to find is this.

A journal entry which compares the uncensored to censored parts of the book.

How do You Know if it’s the First Edition?

So say you’ve run into a copy of this book out in the wild or you’re looking at listings online and are unsure if it’s the recalled edition or not. There are luckily a few quick and easy ways you can figure out if it’s legit.

1. An Embossed Title

Now this way is not always a guarantee if you have a 1st edition copy. Apparently there was some copies that were printed with flat lettering but all first editions I’ve seen of this book through listings and blog posts do always seem to have the raised lettering on the title.

2. Publishing Date

The first edition was published in 1985. If you have a copy or are looking at one that has a publish date past 1985 then it’s not first edition.

3. Page 41 Uncensored

Now this is a guaranteed way to find out if you have a first edition copy. There is a sentence that is only included in the uncensored version on page 41.

“I understand that you were probably playing with dolls and wearing lipstick until you were twenty!”

If you have or have found a copy of “Killing Time” with all these things included then congratulations you’ve got the recalled first edition!

My Thoughts

I am *very* excited to own a copy of this book. It’s been a dream, I know silly, to own it for many years. I’ve avoided spoilers or even having the second edition of this book with the hopes that I would one day own it. I am a K/S fan of course but also as a lesbian I am curious to see if the book is truly as bad in its uncensored state as some claim. Homophobes have a way of blowing up the smallest moments. Some blog posts from the early to mid 2000s claim the book is disgusting and should’ve never been published for its content, others say it’s exaggerated and it’s mostly blink and you miss it moments. I can’t wait to see for myself!

I may leave a review of this novel after reading it. 🖖💖

[youandthemountains]

What are some of your favorite trek novels? sorry if this question is hard to answer, I'm looking into reading some myself but I know it can be hit-or-miss with a lot of them 😅

Oooh no, thank you for asking!!!

I am by no means an expert - @electronickingdomfox is definitely more widely read in terms of trek books.

Obviously I'm also biased, but as a Bones Enjoyer, my favorite trek books I've read so far have been:

Dreams of the Raven by Carmen Carter - so good for bones backstory, especially what he was like as a fresh faced intern and how his beliefs and self perception changed over time. Very good if you enjoy pacifist, anti-hierarchial organization bones. It's very much a bones-centric triumvirate book. It's also had some of the best writing of bones as a doctor specifically that I've read so far, in terms of how his career shaped his worldview and how he interacts with people. It even gets into the different constitution of the work - for instance there's scenes in the autopsy room where Kirk wonders how McCoy works down there. There's also other medical staff with different personalities which also helps bones shine - really highlights that what stands out about him isn't just that he's the Doctor Character, which can sometimes be his flattened role, but the way he chooses to handle his position. The plot itself gets a little silly but I adore the character work.

Sarek by AC Crispin - an interesting look into Spock's relationship with his family, with plenty of triumvirate scenes and a really beautiful sense of how he sees McCoy as a comfort. Also really beautiful and mournful story about Sarek and Amanda, as she passes away. A lot about grief and the ways a family deals with it so def a warning for that too.

The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Una McCormack - SO MUCH good stuff in here, ties later trek into Spock's life so well and bones is so ever present in it <3. Such a good Spock character study, lots of interesting insight into his beliefs and psychology bc it's the perspective of him reflecting on his life so you see more of how he changed and grew. Loved a lot of what they added to his early life, and his relationships and how his perspectives changed as he grew older and learned more. Like I particularly enjoyed all the insight into his family life, and how during the 5YM he was only aware of the parts of his life story you understand as a child, but over time has learned about wider things going on that affected the events in his family's life which in turn affected how they raised him, who could only react to their actions without knowing their context. Also enjoy its perspective on Vulcan in general - a very good shades of gray book.

Shadows on the Sun by Michael Jan Friedman - I can only half recommend this book honestly. It's a McCoy's Divorce book which actually I do enjoy and some of his characterization makes sense in terms of how he was in their marriage. I also like the idea of McCoy having a little chip on his shoulder about growing up lower class - fully just a characterization I made up that this book and some other beta canon leans into. As the book goes on though, McCoys written a little too damsel in distress-y and just seems way less competent in general which is annoying. Also while I do believe he'd still carry love for everyone he's loved including his ex-wife, I don't believe he'd go back to her or become her affair partner like the book has him do near the end (after these scenes where she gets him drunk and basically forces some kisses on him, like WHAT is going on here.)

Haven't yet read, but recommend:

Diane Duane books including The Wounded Sky, Spock's World, the Rihannsu series. Haven't yet read them because they're my treat for when I run out of trek novels. Every quote I've seen from them looks sooo enticing.

The Entropy Effect - again haven't read it yet, looks great

Ex Machina - have not yet read, intriguing quotes

[foone]

I haven't watched it in a while, but I was just explaining the plot of Star Trek 4: The One With The Whales to my wife (like you do), and let me get this straight:

Am I remembering this correctly? One of the moments in the movie is that an alien probe is blowing up the earth with an energy beam, and Spock does his Smart Science Dude moment and figures out that the energy beam is in the frequency of whales?

How... How is an energy beam that's blowing up the ocean IN THE FREQUENCY OF WHALES?

Why would... It's a radiowave right? Why would... Do whales have radios? If they do, why would it be tuned to the frequency of their auditory songs? Those are two very different things!

I can't tell if I'm not making sense or if this movie isn't.

[bumblingbabooshka]

Watched ‘Charades’ - The Vulcan/Human stuff wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be tbh. Typical Star Trek bioessentialism which I expected. (EXCEPT THE BACON BULLSHIT. WHY DID THEY HAVE HIM EAT BACON? AND THEN PLAY IT FOR LAUGHS??? Of ALL things they had him eat Bacon. It leaves a really bad taste in my mouth since Leonard Nimoy was jewish and seems to have put a lot of that into Spock.) Love T’Pring no notes for T’Pring you were so sweet the whole time. Her holding his hand and subtly giving him tips to make the ritual go smoothly...AAA!! Christine/Spock things sooo boring on their own but as angst for T’Pring? Very good. She wasn’t even gone a DAY before they made out. DUMP! HIS! ASS <3 The phone operator please-hold aliens were very cute to me, I liked them!  Also it introduced the concept of a sacred Vulcan familial roast sesh which is honestly so fucking funny and I adore it. Five minutes on the clock to devastate your future son-in-law, better make it count. The mother-in-law-is-a-bitch and ‘henpecked husband’ thing is SOOOOOO boring though. Boomer comics. The funnier and more interesting option is that they are both equally pretentious but T’Pril is just more committed/has a better eye for things to complain about. 

[spirk-trek]

"We shield it with ritual and customs shrouded in antiquity. You humans have no conception. It strips our minds from us. It brings a madness which rips away our veneer of civilization. It is the pon farr..."

"The time of mating. There are precedents in nature, Captain. […] On your Earth, the salmon. They must return to that one stream where they were born, to spawn or die in trying." "But you're not a fish, Mister Spock. You're-" "No. Nor am I a man. I'm a Vulcan. I'd hoped I would be spared this, but the ancient drives are too strong. Eventually, they catch up with us, and we are driven by forces we cannot control to return home and take a wife. Or die." "…I haven't heard a word you've said, and I'll get you to Vulcan. Somehow."

[440mxs-wife]

The Country Doctor, Chapter 6: Confessions

Pairing: Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy x F!Reader (finally!). Other Characters are the usual suspects: Jim Kirk, Nyota Uhura, Spock, Christine Chapel, Scotty, Guinan. Eleanora McCoy, Miles Cooper, and Jocelyn (Leonard's ex-wife), Charlie (OMC, mentioned)

Word Count: 5618

Warnings: This is a long one, folks, but it's finally happening!! Minor mishap in the kitchen leading to Leonard slipping into "doctor mode", Leonard and the Reader FINALLY confess their feelings for each other, some K-I-S-S-I-N-G, greedy CEO scheming with Leonard's ex-wife, Reader meets Leonard's mother (by phone).

Summary: Fresh off of his divorce, Dr. McCoy receives word that he has inherited a 5,000-acre farm and home in Logan, Montana. Finally, he has an opportunity for a clean slate and to start his own clinic out west and leave his ex-wife behind. Along the way, he'll meet a cast of unique characters, each with a place in his new small-town life. But there could be trouble ahead in the form of a powerful CEO hell-bent on acquiring Leonard's property by any means necessary.

A/N: If you’ve been tagged here, it’s because you’ve interacted one or more times on a McCoy story of mine, or we’re moots. Whether you like or reblog, I am eternally grateful for your support. If anyone else would like to be tagged on any future Karl Urban character postings, or would rather leave the Crazy Train, please let me know. Thank you, and enjoy the show!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

One night you and Leonard were working together in the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. You were chopping vegetables for a tossed salad, while he was stirring the sauce and boiling noodles for spaghetti. This routine had become an almost daily occurrence with the two of you, which allowed you to introduce each other to treasured family recipes. His favorites were your pasta dishes, while yours was his chicken and dumplings. It was a way for you both to showcase your talents, as well as spend some time learning more about each other.

He was in the middle of relating a hilarious story from his med school days when the knife in your hand suddenly slipped. Instead of slicing a cucumber, the blade shifted and sliced into your thumb. You yelped in pain then dropped the offending piece of cutlery onto the counter with a clatter. Quickly you wrapped your hand around a towel and cradled it to your chest.

Leonard swiftly turned the knobs for the burners to the "off" setting and removed the pots from the heat. "Whoa, darlin', what happened?" he exclaimed as he cupped your elbow and guided you to the sink. "Here, let me see it." He carefully peeled back the towel to see a decent-sized yet precision gash across the side and into the pad of your left thumb. He reached over and turned on the cold water to wash away the blood.

"Sorry, if I'd been paying better attention, I would've sliced the vegetable instead of my stupid thumb," you muttered. Leonard pulled it out of the stream of water and blotted it dry with the towel. He studied it for a few moments to see if it would start bleeding again. "So, Doc, will I get to keep my thumb? Am I gonna live?" you asked him with a shaky grin.

He continued to examine the wound, which thankfully had gone from dripping blood to more of a slow seep. "Well, fortunately, your knives are well-sharpened, because that's a damn near surgical cut; therefore, it won't take long to heal. It's not deep enough for stitches, so I'd say you get to keep it. For right now, anyway," he smirked. "Wait here, and I'll be right back with the first aid kit. We'll get you fixed up in no time, sweetheart," he winked.

As he walked away, you shook your head and chuckled to yourself at his attempts at humor to comfort you and lighten up the situation. The pain had mostly subsided, leaving a throbbing sensation while you waited for him to return. What a klutz, slicing my own damn thumb open like that, you mentally face-palmed.

When he reappeared in the kitchen with the first aid supplies, he saw that you were perched on one of the barstools while you waited for him. The late evening sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm, almost angelic glow around you. He watched as you examined your wound and frowned at what you likely perceived as your own clumsiness. In that moment, he realized how special you are to him, just by being yourself.

"Here we are, just what the doctor ordered," he called as he held up the bandages and disinfectant. He pulled over one of the other barstools to sit on and tend to what was more or less a minor injury. He held the alcohol wipe above the wound and cleared his throat to get your attention. "Now, this, uh....this may sting a little," he warned.

Though you expected it, when he swiped the antiseptic pad over the gash, it took 110% of your willpower not to scream and yank your hand away. You sucked in a sharp breath at the initial bite of the alcohol on the open cut and tried to breathe through the pain as you averted your eyes.

All of a sudden you felt relief in the form of a cooling sensation across the surface. When you looked down, Leonard was gently blowing on the affected area. This caused a shudder to run through your body, which did not go unnoticed. "You all right there, darlin'?" he asked.

You cleared your throat in an attempt to get your racing heart under some sort of control. "Yeah, I'm fine," you whispered. He bent his head downward again, to focus on the task at hand, but not before you caught the renewed tinge of pink that dusted his cheeks. He secured the bandage to your thumb and brought it to his lips, then gave you a sly grin.

He started gathering the remnants of the medical supplies used in the patch-up, but you tried to stop him. "Here, let me help with that," you requested as you got down from your barstool. However, your foot got hooked on one of the rungs, definitely making it less than an Olympic-worthy dismount. Without Leonard's quick reflexes, you would've ended up on the floor, but instead, he caught you in his arms.

A wave of warmth washed over him as he cradled you in his embrace. Holding you was a different experience than he'd had before with other women, even his ex-wife. With you, it was the most natural feeling, and he never wanted to let it, or you, go. He heard the hitch in your breathing and saw your pupils grow large at the proximity of his face to yours. The universe was giving him an opportunity, and he was for damned sure not going to waste it.

"Easy there, sweetheart," he murmured. "Don't need you back in the hospital with another serious injury," he teased.

Your heart was beating wildly within your chest and you prayed Leonard couldn't hear it. His face was so close to yours that you could see tiny flecks of gold in his eyes. Though the color was nearly invisible from the dilation of his pupils. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower he took after work and you were itching to drag your fingers through it. Your eyes darted to his lips, away then back again. So close, you thought. If I lean forward just a bit m--

There was no time to finish the thought because Leonard threw caution to the wind and closed the gap between you. The kiss was soft at first, his plump lips moving slowly with yours, searching, nearly begging for reciprocation. He was about to pull away when he felt you kissing him back, almost chasing his lips with a desperation to prove that you were on the same page.

"So beautiful," he whispered, momentarily breaking the kiss. He tilted your head back to dive in, with his head at the right angle to deepen it. Your hands slid up his toned, muscular chest to circle around his neck. When your fingernails gently scratched at the skin, you could feel his lips smiling against yours, producing a grin of your own. "You little minx," he mumbled.

The sound of a throat clearing brought you both out of your blissful trance and you broke apart to see who had entered the room. "I was going to ask what was for dinner, but looks like you two already had your appetizer," Jim smirked. "Please, feel free to continue," he razzed.

Leonard rolled his eyes. "Jim, don't you have something better to do? Dinner will be a bit delayed, we just got a little....sidetracked," he replied.

Jim snorted in amusement. "Sure, yeah, I can see that," he grinned. When you and Leonard refused to elaborate, he gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine, I'll come back later," he groaned.

As soon as he left the room, you and Leonard turned to each other and burst into laughter. "Feels like I just got caught by my ma while making out with the prettiest girl in school," he remarked.

"Oh yeah? Did you have a habit of 'making out' with pretty girls in the kitchen, where your ma could catch you?" you joked.

"Nope, you're the first and only one, darlin'," he admitted, not yet releasing you from his hold. "She would love you, you know. You're kind, smart, and you have a great sense of humor. All that in such a gorgeous package." He reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind your ear, then brushed the back of his knuckles along your jawline.

"Len," you playfully rolled your eyes, as you felt your cheeks grow warm under his touch and words of praise.

"What? Sweetheart, I'm just callin' it like I see it," he countered. "You've bewitched me, woman, but I'm sure as hell not complaining," he declared before swooping in to capture your lips again in a heated kiss.

"You're quite the charmer, Leonard McCoy," you replied softly, trying to catch your breath. "You and my dad probably would've gotten along well, and your charm would definitely have worked on my mom. Just like it did for me," you added with a smile.

"Is that so?" he asked, returning your smile. "Well, I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to meet them, 'cause I know how important they were to you. Speaking of parents, I did tell my ma I'd send her a plane ticket sometime to come out for a visit once I got settled," he recalled. "What do you say, darlin'? Are you up for meeting my ma?"

You thought for a moment, then sent him a beaming smile. "I think that's a great idea, I'd love to meet the woman who's such an important part of your life," you gushed.

"Hey, your ma's coming to visit? That's awesome! When will she be here?" Jim inquired. He poked his head into the kitchen and looked around, only to see that you and Leonard had left the room. "Wait a minute. Where's dinner?" He asked the ceiling as he raised his arms, only to drop them to his sides in exasperation.

***

After what happened in the kitchen, going forward, there was a noticeable shift between you and Leonard. It started with the lingering touches, fond smiles across the dinner table, and arms around shoulders and waists. Then it was followed by hugs that lasted a few seconds longer than they had before and random hand-holding.

Every so often, your lips would meet to express your innermost thoughts. Sometimes it would be for a peck on the lips or cheek in passing. More frequently, though, it hovered between soft, deeply passionate kisses with all the time in the world, and hungry, desperate, can't-live-without-you ones.

The more time you spent with each other, the more you wanted to be in each other's presence. You and Leonard had a standing "date" for the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Hand in hand, you leisurely strolled from stall to stall and chatted with the vendors, who were always glad to see you. Movie nights were at least once a week, with Mimzy in regular attendance, curled up with one of you on the couch.

Nighttime was lonely, though, because as you lay in bed, your thoughts were nearly always about Leonard. You wondered what it would be like to wake up each day with him beside you, bed head and all, his raspy voice bidding you good morning.

His thoughts were along the same lines, constantly occupied with you. He longed to know the feeling of wrapping his arms around your warm body as you slept, or to hear your soft breathing, and seeing your eyelashes fluttering against your cheek.

For his part, Jim refrained from giving the two of you too much grief about your budding romance. He knew you were meant for each other from that very first day you and Uhura showed up to help them move in. He stopped short of shouting "I-told-you-so" from the highest mountain, smiling while he silently observed you growing closer together. As your mutual friend, he couldn't be happier for you, which he frequently expressed in his regular updates to Uhura.

***

A few weeks later, a large, thick brown envelope was delivered to the clinic. The return address showed Blue Mountain Survey and Mining Corp, which meant it should be the final report. You placed it in your desk drawer until you could inform Leonard that it had arrived.

It was important to him that you review it together, so it would have to wait until after the clinic closed for the day. The pages contained within that envelope represented a potentially significant change in his life. And he wanted to share everything about his life with you, past, present, and hopefully the future.

As if summoned by your thoughts, Leonard returned to the waiting room, with a patient and her daughter following behind him. "You and Bridget are all set, Mrs. Keller," he affirmed. "Drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. If your fever returns, or any new symptoms develop, please give my office a call." He then nodded in your direction. "My lovely assistant will take over from here with the rest of your paperwork," he winked at you.

Your cheeks grew warm from the affectionate smile he sent your way, then you returned your focus on the women before you. "Here you are, Mrs. Keller, your after-care summary, and your prescription has already been called into the pharmacy. Do either of you have any questions?"

"Not at the moment, dearie, thank you," Mrs. Keller answered. "That nice young doctor sure is sweet on you. You're a lucky lady," she remarked.

"Mama, don't tease her like that," Bridget gently admonished. "I'm so sorry," she whispered to you.

"It's okay, she's not telling me something I don't already know," you beamed. "He's a wonderful man, and quite handsome, too. Take care and have a nice evening!"

You smiled as you watched the ladies get into Bridget's car and drive away from the clinic. Before you could return to your chair and finish the daily filing, you felt two strong arms wrap around your waist from behind. "Hey there, sweetheart," Leonard murmured huskily near your ear. "Everything all right?"

"Hello yourself, Len," you giggled as a shiver went down your spine. "And yes, everything's fine. Before I forget, the packet from Blue Mountain came in today. Do you want to take a look at it?"

"Sure, we're done with all the appointments today, and no one's left in the waiting room. We can close up shop and head home," he suggested. "But first, how 'bout some 'sugar', Sugar?" he grinned.

You turned around, still in his arms, with your hands reaching up to cradle his neck. Then you pulled him down so your lips could meet in a slow, lingering kiss. "How's that for a little sweetness?" you asked.

"Like I want some more," he responded, then hungrily captured your lips with his. His tongue teased the seam of your lips, requesting entrance that you so eagerly granted. A small moan escaped from you, further igniting his desire as his hands roamed up and down your back. Your fingertips played with the short hairs at the base of his neck, lightly scratching at his skin. You smiled against his lips as you felt a shudder roll through his body.

"Wow," he whispered when you broke apart. Before he could kiss you yet again, his phone rang in his pocket. He checked the screen, then a wide grin stretched across his face when he noticed who was calling. He put the call on speakerphone, and enthusiastically belted out, "Hello!"

"Leonard, it's your mother. I just got your message, and I would love to fly out to see you, your house, and meet your delightful girlfriend," Eleanora gushed.

Her exuberant but sweet voice was exactly as you imagined it would be, which made you giggle. "Hello, Mrs. McCoy. It's great to finally meet you," you commented, and gave her your name.

She tsked good-naturedly, followed by, "Oh, now, none of that 'Mrs. McCoy' nonsense, my dear, that was my mother-in-law. You can call me 'Eleanora', 'Momma', or just 'Ma' if you want."

"Ma, let me get my office calendar, and then we can talk about dates for your visit, okay?" he told her, then handed you the phone. "Talk to Ma, sweetheart," he winked.

Flabbergasted at first, you nearly dropped his phone. "H-He'll be right back," you explained nervously.

"That's all right, now I have a chance to hear a little more about you," Eleanora replied. "How did you and Leonard meet?" While you waited for him, you explained that you met her son the day he moved in, and that you were currently working with him in the clinic. You told her about where you grew up, a little background on what brought you to the town of Logan.

By the time you'd finished, Leonard had returned, office calendar in hand. You passed his phone back to him so he could chat with his mother and coordinate her visit. He caught your gaze and gave you a heart-stopping smile, then returned to the phone conversation. He nodded when you motioned that you would meet him in the kitchen.

As you left the office, Leonard's eyes lingered on your retreating form long enough that he missed the question his mother asked. "Sorry, sorry, Ma," he mumbled. "What did you ask me?"

Once she realized the reason, Eleanora chuckled at how absent-minded he was. "A bit distracted, are we, Son? By the way, she's lovely, Leonard. A vast improvement over your first go-round, I'll tell you," she muttered.

He sighed deeply in contentment. "I'll say. She's great, Ma. Kind, compassionate, so smart, and she brings such a light to those around her."

She hummed in response to her son. "Is she pretty? Not that it's a deal-breaker, you see, only curious," she hastily added.

"Ma, she's beautiful, and not just on the outside. She has a beautiful soul as well that it....you just can't help but....love her," he replied softly.

"Do you? Do you love her?" she asked. "I know after Jocelyn, you might not know quite yet, or be afraid to--"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Then you should tell her. Soon. And don't give me any of that bull about 'what if she doesn't', because I can hear it in the way she talks about you. She does," Eleanora affirmed.

Leonard gave a faint huff of laughter. "Yes, ma'am. Now when should we have you come out here to meet her?"

***

On the other side of the country, a meeting was taking place the following morning in the CEO's office at NorthStar Corp. A fashionably dressed woman, with elegantly styled dark brown hair, and piercing blue eyes approached the receptionist and gave her name.

A call was placed to Mr. Cooper's office, and she was escorted through the double doors then to a chair in front of the large wooden desk. After an offer of beverages was made and accepted, followed by an order from the CEO that they were not to be disturbed. His receptionist acknowledged his command with a quick nod and indicated she would be back when the refreshments were ready. She closed the doors behind her and returned to her desk to place the beverage order with the cafeteria.

"Well, Miles, you called me here, what's going on?" the woman drawled.

"I'm glad you asked, Jocelyn. There have been some new developments regarding your ex-husband that you should be made aware of," Cooper started.

Jocelyn snorted. "You summoned me to your offices to discuss my ex-husband?? I have nothing more to do with Leonard, not since the divorce was finalized. What makes you think I care anything about what he's doing with his life? I have my own life to live, thank you very much," she retorted.

Cooper leaned back in his chair, his steepled fingers resting on his chin. "You should care, Jocelyn. Leonard is living in Montana now, which means he may not be aware that you are married and therefore no longer entitled to spousal support. All it would take is one phone call, and you would be hauled into court and, at the very least, ordered to pay him back. Do I have your attention now?" he snarled.

Jocelyn was taken by surprise at Cooper's knowledge of her second marriage, but she quickly schooled her features to a neutral expression. "You do," she responded coolly.

"Now, he's living in a farmhouse situated on a piece of land that he inherited from a distant uncle. This land happens to contain some of the largest deposits of raw copper and other minerals in this country. He has so far stubbornly refused to sell this property to us or anyone else. He's more interested in being a 'country doctor' than the accumulation of such wealth," he sneered.

"Well, that's Leonard for you. He has no ambition, no vision of the future, or drive to succeed. He was never interested in advancing his career in medicine to hospital administrator or beyond.  Kept plugging away in that clinic of his. So, where exactly do I fit into all of this?" she asked.

"All of that wealth is just sitting below the earth's surface, waiting to be claimed. If we don't intervene and quickly, NorthStar Corp will lose any chance of getting its hands on any of it. There's too much at stake to let just anyone benefit from this situation. I have worked too long on this deal to see it closed with some other entity," he growled. "I will not be bested by some simple doctor, practicing medicine in the middle of nowhere."

Jocelyn considered Cooper's words for a few minutes. Charles will know how to administer the proceeds from the land's resources better than Leonard can, she surmised. He'll probably do something noble with it, like start a backwoods hospital with it or whatever, she internally grimaced. He has no idea how to manage money because he's never had much of it to speak of. I, on the other hand, will have no problem with it, especially with Charles by my side to help me.

"Well?" Cooper asked with a knowing smirk.

"Looks like I'm going to Montana," Jocelyn answered with a matching smirk.

***

The next few weeks leading up to the visit from Leonard's mother were a bit hectic at work. Cold and flu season had yet to make an appearance, but you and the good doctor knew it was just around the corner. Late nights in the clinic were spent restocking supplies and keeping up with the sudden influx of patients.

Fortunately, Leonard trusted you enough to handle the "vaccination only" patients, while he handled the other cases. Occasionally, Uhura stepped in to help with checking people in, printing reports, and filing the paperwork. Jim kept himself busy around the house, with anything from light housekeeping to small repairs and updates.

Somewhere in the chaos of preparing for Eleanora's visit, you and Leonard reviewed the surveyor's final report. It confirmed the existence of the copper and platinum, not silver, veins running beneath the land. In addition to sapphires, the report also mentioned pockets of garnets and agate throughout the property, providing material for the jewelry industry.

After he reviewed the report, Leonard's head began to swim with all of the information contained within it, especially the numbers. He'd never seen so many zeroes before, and had no concept of that much wealth, all at his disposal. What am I going to do with all of this? he wondered silently.

You grew concerned at seeing the furrow of his brow and the way his eyes darted back and forth across the pages. His thoughts were beginning to spiral, and you had to introduce some calm to the situation by shifting his focus. "Len? Honey? You want to let me in on what's going on? You seem a bit preoccupied."

Leonard took a deep breath before answering. "This is....a bit overwhelming, to say the least," he started. He talked for a while about what he thought he should do with the amount of wealth brought in from a mining operation such as this. You listened patiently, interjecting your thoughts and asking questions where appropriate, even coaxing a few laughs out of him.

"Listen, you don't have to decide anything right now. Those minerals have been there for probably thousands of years, and they ain't goin' anywhere," you pointed out. Then you suggested that it may be time to engage the services of an attorney. "We need one who specializes in this area of the law, so your interests are protected." You remembered that one of your friends' fathers was an attorney, so you offered to check with her.

"Thank you, darlin'." A puzzled look crossed your face as you asked why he was thanking you. "For being patient, listening to me, and knowing exactly what I needed without me having to say it."

A fond smile was sent his way in response. "Len, you don't ever have to thank me for that. Of course I'm going to be patient with you, listen to you, help you with whatever you need. I love....that I can be there for you," you remarked. That was close, you thought. Too close.

"And I promise to do the same in return, and to give you a shoulder you can lean on, to hold you when life gets too rough for you. I love....taking care of you, darlin'," he affirmed. Damn, that was close, he silently noted. Almost let the cat out of the bag.

>>>

That evening, the two of you curled up on the couch to watch a movie, after a quick dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Mimzy, ever the attention-seeker, settled in next to you for once, instead of Leonard. Her little paws kneaded your thigh muscle before she leaned against you and closed her eyes. You were seated next to Leonard, his arm resting on the back of the couch, behind you.

Around halfway through the movie, your eyes started to droop and your head began to feel very heavy, until finally it fell onto Leonard's shoulder. His eyes flicked over in your direction, and he let out a soft chuckle when he noticed you were asleep. Carefully and without waking you, he draped his arm around your shoulder, which caused you to shift closer to him. Your arm stretched across his midsection and you gave him a gentle squeeze before sighing deeply in contentment.

Leonard delicately turned his head and pressed his lips to the crown of your head. "Darlin', I know you probably can't hear me, but....I love you," he murmured against your hair. "You've stolen my heart, but that's okay, because it belongs to you. Always." He nuzzled your cheek with his scruffy one, then closed his eyes as well.

Jim walked through the living room later that night. When he saw the two of you cozied up together, he snapped a picture with his phone, then chuckled to himself as he walked to his room. Lovebirds, he thought, with a satisfied grin on his face.

***

"So, how many days until you meet your future mother-in-law," Uhura joked as she sipped on her soda. When you told her you had some errands to run in town over your lunch break, she suggested meeting you for lunch. It had been a while since you had spent time together, so you agreed.

"Ha ha, very funny," you muttered. "Just because we've kissed, doesn't mean--"

"Wait, what?!? You never told me that!!" she exclaimed, then demanded for you to give her details. You explained how your first kiss came about, and how you've steadily been growing closer as the days go by. "I'm so happy for you, honey," she gushed. "You deserve a good man, and Dr. McCoy is one of the best."

"Yeah, he sure is," you agreed with a bashful smile, which set off a fit of giggles between you.

>>>

"I see things are progressing nicely with you and our lovely houseguest," Jim smirked. Leonard was making a sandwich for lunch before returning to laundry duties.

"Yeah, well, I don't kiss and tell," Leonard shot back, a smug grin on his face.

Jim's eyes widened at his friend's revelation. He had photographic evidence of them cuddling on the couch, but they've kissed?? "I'm impressed, Bones," he replied. "Definitely moving in the right direction."

"She's....amazing. My ma will be here in a couple of days, and I just know she's gonna love her," he affirmed.

"Of course she will. You deserve a good woman, and she's miles and miles ahead of your ex. One of the best I've ever met," Jim remarked.

"Absolutely."

***

The last patient of the day on Friday dropped off a flyer for the Holiday Festival, which was set to occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Among the events was a craft fair, a cookie exchange, and an old-fashioned Barn Dance, to be held at the Community Center. 

You closed the file cabinet after placing the final patient's paperwork within its drawers. As you turned around, you found Leonard perched lazily on the corner of your desk, his hands resting on his knees. "All done, sweetheart?" he asked.

"All finished, Boss," you drawled as you sauntered over to where he was sitting. You stepped between his legs and ran your hands along his arms and up to his shoulders. "Shall we head home? Traffic's always terrible this time of night, you know," you grinned.

"Oh, yeah, we really should get going, then," he chuckled. You stepped back to grab your belongings, by which time he stood waiting for you, his hand outstretched with his palm facing up. You easily slipped your hand into his, intertwining your fingers and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Ready?" to which you nodded.

Dinner passed as usual, filled with lively conversation, including what to do during Eleanora's visit. Cleanup was fairly uneventful, but completed quickly, with you washing and Leonard drying the dishes.

Tonight, though, a slightly awkward silence filled the room after the cleaning was finished. You stood with your back leaning against the counter, eyes trained on the floor and your bottom lip caught between your teeth. This did not escape Leonard's notice, and a concerned look crossed his face.

"Darlin'? Is everything all right? You seem a little worried about something," he gently prodded.

His question broke through your reverie and brought you back to the present. "Hmm? Oh, sorry, Len. I just have something on my mind," you responded.

Leonard stood in front of you and clasped your hands in his then gave you a tender smile. "I'm here for you, if you want to talk about it, sweetheart. Look," he gestured to one ear, then the other. "Two ears, no waiting, ready to listen," he joked.

You giggled a little at his silliness, which was a welcome relief from the thoughts currently swirling in your head. "Okay," you took a deep breath. "In less than two weeks, the Holiday Festival will be going on, and there's a dance. Will you--will you be my date? For the dance?" you asked timidly.

He let the words sink in, then a beaming smile spread across his face. "Of course I will. I would be honored to accompany you to the dance, sugar. Though I'm a little rusty with my two-step, but I'll give it my best shot," he replied.

"Well, whether or not you have two left feet, I love you just the same, Leonard," you responded, then immediately clapped a hand over your mouth.

"What?" he whispered. "What did you just say?"

Your mind raced as it tried to come up with some way, any way to fix this. There were two options: pretend you said something else, or come clean and confess how you felt about him. After a quick, internal debate, you decided he deserved the truth, so you would admit your feelings and let the Fates decide.

"You know, I've said, 'I love you' so many times to you in my head and in my heart," you started. "But, I suppose it doesn't really count unless I say it out loud. So I'm saying it now. I love you, Leonard McCoy."

The silence between you seemed to last an eternity and had you second-guessing your decision, then he finally spoke. "Darlin', you've opened places in my heart that I thought were closed after my divorce. I can't imagine my life without you, because it certainly wouldn't be as happy as it is with you in it. Now it's my turn to say it out loud. I love you," he declared.

Leonard's hands braced themselves on the edge of the counter behind you, caging you in. He slowly leaned forward to close the distance between you. As the gap grew smaller, your heart began to race with the anticipation of feeling his soft lips against yours. The two of you had kissed before, but now with the weight of your shared confessions, this kiss would be different.

When his lips touched yours, it sent a spark of electricity zipping through your body. Leonard moved forward another half-step until your bodies were nearly flush with each other. His hand lifted and hooked around your neck to maintain the connection as your mouths moved together. He smiled when he felt your breath across his skin as you sighed in contentment.

The need for oxygen finally won out, briefly breaking the kiss and also eliciting a quiet giggle out of you. As your emotions calmed a bit, you both became aware of Jim calling your names from the direction of the front door. "Wonder what he wants," Leonard mused.

"Ooh, could it be your mom? Did she maybe get an earlier flight?" you suggested. An excitement rose within you as you walked with Leonard to the door. Your head was practically buzzing at the possibility of meeting his mother sooner than you expected.

Jim stepped back from the entrance to meet you, clearly displeased at this turn of events. Leonard was puzzled, but brought his arm around your waist, then gazed into your questioning eyes. "Don't worry, sweetheart, we'll get this sorted out," he promised before moving to greet the visitor.

It didn't take long for any of your earlier enthusiasm to evaporate, as the person at the door was not Eleanora McCoy. "Jocelyn?" he whispered.

"Hello, Leonard."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tags:

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[pavel-chekov-appreciator]

Assuming we’re meant to take the weird “drag queen midwife cave birth” thing from Star Trek V literally and not view it as like. A symbolic microcosm of Spock’s childhood insecurity. Then there’s not a doubt in my mind that Sarek meant what he said to be taken positively. Like. My cool human wife just gave birth, how do I express how hype I am without sounding illogical? Oh I got it-comment objectively on the thing they have in common. He’s so human (like you you’re perfect I love you I love him).

And even if that specific instance didn’t happen, I bet things like that happened all the time. I don’t think he and Spock ever developed a parent-child bond, and they never melded, so all the unsaid positivity was never picked up on. Spock was primed by the way everyone outside the family treated him to take neutral or positive comments in the most negative way possible. He constantly thought “my dad is saying I’ll never be good enough” when his dad was trying to say “trying to fit in will make your life easier, but nothing about you is wrong or bad.”

This relationship would have been saved by fucking tone indicators.

[bones-mccoy-turned-me-bi]

Ok so last night I had a dream about startrek, it started during amok time pretty much going the same way except, T'pring didn't do the challenge they got married.

Only remember bits and pieces during this point but Kirk is heartbroken, he's not letting Spock know (duh) which isn't a problem because Spock is oblivious about Kirk's feelings for him.

I forgot to mention that Spock does have feelings for him and didn't want to marry T'pring but he was convinced that Kirk doesn't love him,whilst also doing this whole "It's Vulcan way" so he decided to just do it.

Anyways he went through Pon Farr with T'pring and ended up getting her pregnant

This is another point where memory doesn't like me, but anyway they have a son (his name was changing like every half a second but ima call him Telek since that's one of the only ones I remember)

ANYWAYS this child just sorta exists in the back of Kirk's mind for like 2-3 years till T'pring's work (I forget what she does but it's like similar circumstances to her being on the enterprise in snw) lines up with the enterprise, and she brought Telek with her.

So they meet the kid

Kirk is trying so hard rn but it's like that's Spock's child with the wife he didn't know he had so he's struggling.

Mccoy likes the kid and is doing a way better job of being normal towards him and T'pring ( whilst also comforting Kirk which I thought was really cute )

Anyways another time jump

T'pring dies.

This isn't even that much later cause Telek looked like 4.

I have no idea how she dies but she did, Spock is hurt but not like extremely?

Like he did care about her but he never really loved her and when they spoke it was really just him asking about Telek.

Anyways Kirk is like kinda happy about this but also very mad that he is happy about this because Spock's wife died and that's horrible so he's like trying to comfort Spock but it's kinda awkward because Kirk hated T'pring and they both know he hates her.

Anyways Kirk is like well he's not married anymore maybe nows my chance and Mccoy is like "She just died dude at least give the guy some time to grieve "

So Kirk does but like only for a month or so

and he's back to trying to court Spock, but Spock is still oblivious and thinks Kirk is just still trying to comfort him so it's not working that well. At some point Kirk decides fuck it I'll just tell him.

So Kirk invites Spock over for chess and partway through like thier second game ( gotta give him some time to work up the nerve) Kirk blurts it out.

And like at first Spock doesn't react so Kirk's like freaking out like "omg I just ruined our entire friendship " " why did I say that" " holy shit he hates me now doesn't he?? " all the while Spock is like fucking buffering because the guy he's been in love with for years just admitted loving him since like the first day they met and like ????? Holy shit?????.

Anyways Kirk started like apologizing to Spock which kinda snaps him out of his little trance and Spock is now the one freaking out cause he took to long to answer so he kinda panics and just like

leans over the chess board and like fuckin kisses him.

Anyways they're together (they also find out they are T'hy'la and it's really sweet)

And at some point ( not that much later come on its Spock and Kirk and they've been in love for years ) they get married and it's very sweet and they are both Telek's dads now and stuff and Mccoy is doing his whole " took you two long enough Jesus " but he's secretly stoked and not hiding it well.

Um anyways this is about were I woke up.

Its the most coherent dream (am I saying that right? ) I've ever had

Idk if you wanna make a fic about it please do and post the link when you reblog it cause I'm not gonna find it otherwise 👍

[electronickingdomfox]

"Time for Yesterday" review

Novel from 1988, by A. C. Crispin. It's a direct sequel to "Yesterday's Son", where Spock found out about his son Zar (born from his relationship with Zarabeth), and brought him to the Enterprise. This time, the Kirk/Spock/McCoy trio bring Zar again to the present, to help with a malfunction in the Guardian of Forever that is wreaking havoc all over the galaxy. While Zar has to deal with his own problems at home, as ruler of one of Sarpeidon's nations in the midst of impending war, and faces his own mortality in the process... Someone give this poor guy a break!

It's a slow-paced yet entertaining adventure, focused on the father-son relationship between Spock and Zar (which in turn, serves to explore Kirk's relationship with David at times; appropiately, since the setting is right before The Wrath of Khan). Spock's attitude towards his son is much changed since the previous book, and he has achieved a better balance with his emotions and a warmer personality, kinda as the Spock from the movies. The other characters are also given enough depth, specially Zar and his wife Wynn. And there's also emphasis on the bond between Kirk, Spock and McCoy, with situations between the three that ring true to the series. The parts about the war in Sarpeidon, with their vaguely Middle Ages flavor, may clash a bit with the parts set in the present, around the Guardian's subplot. Sometimes I found myself thinking "Am I still reading a Star Trek novel or something else?" But anyway, they never get boring, and there's an encomiable effort to shape up the history and culture of Sarpeidon, compared with the minimal info from the episode. On the other hand, the business with the Guardian is pretty intriguing (even if rather short compared to the length of the novel), and we get to see at last its mysterious creators! The weakest element is perhaps the romance between Zar and Wynn. Not because I don't think they make a great couple (they do), but because it happens way too fast (though that's partially explained by their empathetic bond), and the writing wanders sometimes into romance novel territory.

All in all, I found this story both exciting and emotive, and a worthy sequel to the also nice "Yesterday's Son".

By the way, I have no idea who's supposed to be the hunky warrior of that cover; that's certainly not Zar! Also important detail: McCoy does the "how many fingers I'm holding up" test with a recovering Zar. Only that he's showing him just a middle-finger (ah! the maturity of old age!). Spoilers under the cut:

The Guardian of Forever is causing trouble, by emitting time waves that accelerate aging for any object they catch in their path. Several stars have gone nova in a matter of days this way, destroying at least one inhabited planet and a couple of starships. Therefore, Starfleet brings Kirk out of his boring desk job as Admiral, and orders him to go get Spock and Bones and travel to the Guardian (funny how the top brass is aware that Kirk can't function without those two).

After rescuing McCoy from one of those time waves, they arrive at Gateway (the planet of the Guardian), with an alien telepath called D'berahan in tow. She belongs to a race of highly telepathic beings, and they hope that she'll be able to communicate with the Guardian, who doesn't respond anymore to normal commands. However, D'berahan suffers a great shock while melding with the Guardian, and is left unconscious.

Spock, naturally, does the logical crazy thing, and disobeying orders, attempts a mind-meld himself with the Guardian, that had just fried one brain. His lesser telepathic abilities protect him from the full mental assault, but he gets glimpses of the Guardian's turmoil. Apparently, its higher mind is searching desperately for something all over the galaxy. And only its most basic, mechanical functions are still reachable. But at least, Spock manages to set these functions to work again and allow time-travel. He has decided to go find Zar again in the past, since he's the only one who successfully melded with the Guardian (in the last book). Spock has reviewed Sarpeidon's history, witnessing the moment of Zar's death in battle. So they choose a few days before his death to bring him to the present, as it wouldn't make a big difference whether he dies or just disappears.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy travel thus to Sarpeidon, dressed as natives. And of course, they're soon captured by one of the warring tribes of that era, the Danreg, commanded by High Priestess Wynn. They're left tied to a pole to freeze during the night. But just then, another tribe attacks their camp, and kidnaps both Wynn and the Enterprise officers (believing them spies). Soon thereafter there's much embarrassment among the raiders, once they realize they've captured their lord's dad and his friends. The "Sovren" Zar (now the ruler of that tribe: the Lakreo) welcomes them in his palace, and has an emotive reunion with his father Spock (and his mom McCoy). But he's not very eager about the idea of going to the future, even if his death is nearby. Zar is too involved in the politics of his land, and won't leave before the battle. There are three other nations planning to attack the Lakreo valley soon: the Danreg, the Kerren and the Asyri. So Zar kidnapped Wynn to propose a marriage alliance to her, hoping to gain the support of the Danreg at least.

Wynn accepts the deal, as she would rule in the Lakreo if they defeat the invaders. And even if at first it's just a marriage of convenience, she and Zar end up falling in love once they sense how much in common they have. Wynn has empathetic and prophetic abilites similar to those of Zar, and she senses his good will and noble nature. Then Wynn urges him to go with Spock, as she has a foreboding that this will be necessary for him to survive the battle. Not very convinced, Zar decides to travel to the future nonetheless.

Once in front of the Guardian, Zar is successful in his attempt at communication with it. He then learns that the Guardian is searching all over the galaxy for the native planet of its creators: the so-called Originators. This search has rendered it neglectful of its duties, and the Guardian was emitting those time waves because of its distraction. Zar manages to reason with it, and finally, the Guardian recovers its normal personality and stops messing around. But right then, the Originators erupt from the Guardian's portal. They're beings of dangerous and inimaginable power, and take the forms of several people from their pasts, to torment Spock, Zar, Kirk and McCoy. They start arguing among themselves, discussing their plans to get back to their planet, now that they've grown weary and old. And even suggest to hijack the Enterprise to make their travel easier. After much discussion, Kirk and the others manage to appeal to their better natures, and convince them of the damage they'd do if they stayed in that universe. Most of them return to their plane, but two have become so deranged and evil after so many millions of years, that they attack the group. In the end, everyone links together in a mind-meld with the Guardian, and joins forces to defeat these Originators too. This part about the Originators is the most sci-fi styled in the novel, though it also serves to explore the phantoms of the protagonists' pasts. It has also some curious parallelisms with the end of The Final Frontier.

After this, Zar stays for a few weeks aboard the Enterprise. A time he spends healing an old wound that made him limp, bringing D'berahan out of her coma, and relaxing in general. But no matter how much Spock and McCoy plead for him to stay in the present, where he'll be safe, Zar is determined to return with Wynn and fight his last battle. What will Spock do about this? Well, you can be assured it's something risky and against orders…

McSpirk Meter: 9/10. I could separate the dynamics, but this is rather a triumvirate novel, and it makes more sense to analyze it that way. At first, Kirk is missing his friends a lot as an Admiral. He thinks about how teaching at the Academy will let him see Spock more often. Kirk also has a very emotional reaction when he sees McCoy again, after believing he could be dead, and embraces him so much that Spock just wants to leave them alone. Later, when Spock is in shock after trying to save D'berahan through a mind-meld, Kirk says " I-we- can't lose Spock" (in parallelism with the first novel's "I-we- need him"). The three of them take care of each other throughout the story, comforting whoever is worried at the time. While tied outside the enemy camp, Spock comments how they could share body warmth if they were closer together, and Kirk and Spock watch over McCoy so he doesn't fall asleep and freezes. McCoy, apparently, can also recognize Kirk by his snoring alone, in a dark cell and without knowing who are the other prisoners (which is… eyebrow raising; maybe they're used to share body warmth after all). And then, there are Spock's "affectionate looks". First at McCoy, when the doctor tries to protect Spock's honor by disguising his relationship with Zar. And later at Kirk, when he jokes about enjoying being lazy. While confronting the Originators, it's Kirk and McCoy joining the mind-meld which gives Spock the final surge of power that he needs. And just as happened in the last book, McCoy acts as Zar's "other dad", alongside Spock. In general, the three of them are very close and affectionate towards each other, which is another similitude with the fifth film (also, Spock having a secret relative!? Hmmm…).