Date: 01 Aug 2014 05:04 Title: To Die Alone
WHOA. Kirk in tears? McCoy delivering terminal diagnosis with a dead serious tone? Damn. You start this chapter off without pulling any punches and it’s tough to read. McCoy’s description of what’ll happen to Spock is downright disconcerting, if not nasty. And poor T’Beth … with Spock so ill and his time so short, she’s going to be raised by Sarek and Amanda.
Kirk wrestling with Spock’s imminent death is tough to watch. All his feelings, all his movements, feel right here. Even with Lauren entering the cabin, Kirk is too distraught to care. But she provides him with hope and he took it. Spock doesn’t make it easy in the end, which you really can’t do when you’re dying unexpectedly. I don’t think Lauren is going to have a very easy time with the grumpy Vulcan, but maybe she can get through to him.
The end of the chapter was poignant. The cadets defying their orders and giving their captain, their mentor, one last send off was touching. Kirk was right to swell up with pride at them; they did the right thing. It was painful to watch as Spock stepped onto the pad and no one said any goodbyes. That feels like a moment people are going to regret in the future.
Author's Response:
Thanks so much for your remarks. Yes, I think Lauren will have her hands full. She has not been on the ship very long, and now this.
I think no one spoke in the transporter room because they were afraid they would lose control. Things were certainly rough enough when they said their goodbyes in private.