Written for the 2014 March Challenge:

Write a story with the opening or closing line “Before the dying of the light,” any Trek setting or characters.

Featuring a glimspe into Cyste Ryaenn's experiences.

Musical inspiration Track 21: Seppuku from 47 Ronin, music by Ilan Eshkeri

Winner: Before the Dying of the Light Challenge 

Spock's daughter has crashed on Donari and there is every reason to presume she is dead. Now see what happens as the story continues...

Image courtesy of papaija2008 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is an immediate sequel to “Call of Duty,” and a companion piece to “The Awakening.”  Kirk and Spock find themselves stranded 2,000 years in Vulcan’s past.  Spock is racing against time to make repairs to the shuttlecraft, their only means to return to the future, before a mysterious infection claims Kirk’s life. 

It will stand on its own, but will be a richer story if the events portrayed in those two pieces are fully understood.

The pon farr destroyed Lauren's love for Spock, and Spock no longer even trusts himself. But from the ruins of their broken marriage comes a new hope.

Cover image "Expulsion from Paradise" by Marc Chagall.

Spock's daughter, T'Beth, cannot accept the fact that he is marrying Lauren Fielding--and she's not the only one opposed to the marriage. A surprise bachelor party and a trying reception test Spock's Vulcan endurance, but at day's end they are truly one and together. 

Cover image from TrekCore.

Lauren Fielding encounters Sybok when he takes over the Enterprise. It seems that Spock has not told her everything about the renegade Vulcan. Sybok is fascinated with his brother's woman, and Spock's loyalties are even more deeply torn.

Cover image from TrekCore.

Spock's self-confidence is shaken when a psyche evaluation leaves him grounded from the Enterprise, but Lauren refuses to give up on him.

Image courtesy of aopsan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lauren learns that the new Spock has returned to Earth to testify at Kirk's court-martial. Her Spock is dead. She stood over his coffin. How can she expect anything from this stranger, when Spock even feels like a stranger to himself?

Cover image by CannibalismOf Machine.

Spock and his daughter T'Beth are back safe on Vulcan, but memories of their captivity haunt them as Amanda prepares to celebrate Christmas.      

Image courtesy of MaxStraefen at FreeDigitalPhotos.net    

Just when Lauren Fielding's relationship with Spock looks most promising, he dies saving the Enterprise. Why can't she seem to accept it?

Cover image from TrekCore.

With Spock back in command, the Enterprise comes upon a derelict ship. It soon becomes apparent that the aliens he rescues are even more "charming" than they first seemed.

Image courtesy of kraifreedom at FreeDigitalPhotos.net