Date: 12 May 2014 21:12 Title: Chapter 3
When T'Beth told the social services guy (Essentially that's what he was) "In a Pig's Eye!", I knew immediately that the story would end with her apologising to Spock for being such a brat and begging to stay with Daddy. Beautiful.
Author's Response:
Oh gosh, I'm so glad you liked it! Young T'Beth and her father will have a rocky road ahead of them, but at least it's a start. At least they've finally found one another. Thanks for the comment!
Date: 06 Feb 2014 19:36 Title: Chapter 3
A happy family born from tragedy. It was a rough week, a tough journey, but the two found themselves together. I like this girl and I like what she brings out in Spock and I like the story, a lot. Rich with emotion and descriptors, it does well in showing the developing relationship.
There are just some things that confuse me. Developmentally, I can see some of the Spock we know and love here, but a lot of his actions/dialogue/interactions feel off to me. There's a 12 year jump from our first story in this series to this point, but it seems in that 12 years Spock has undergone some shift and I can't place where.
Even if the arrival at this planet did shake him and make him compromised, emotionally, acting the way he was towards Sulu (who took a beating for most of this story) and lashing out as he did feels wrong to me. I don't see the full cause of it, it can't just be being back at the planet and dealing with the loss/grief/anger that makes Spock so unhinged.
I like the way you reconcile the two in the end, but that reconcilation seems far too fast, especially considering that Spock had been so withdrawn from Sulu since he assumed command of the Enterprise. There's more here to tell, I think.
Something else had to happen in that 12 years to bring Spock to this point, in this story, where Sulu is barely tolerating him and the two are at each others throats. Where he's so emotionally unhinged and derlict in his duties. Where he spends time sulking in his cabin. I'd like to know more abut what happened, if anything, but the developmental arc for Spock leaves me confused and leaves Spock somewhat unrecognizable.
Feel free to disregard this if I'm way off base or if stuff is explained later on in the series.
Author's Response:
Thanks, trekfan, for the critical input. I see you've already read this story!
I think the problem here with Spock is guilt, guilt, guilt. He is very hard on himself. He can't seem to get over his "fall" with Adrianna and the way he later abandoned his own child. The story mentions in passing that even his stint with Kolinahr had to do with these feelings that have consumed him for years. It also says that he was doing well enough until the ship's arrival at Ildarani. That's when everything went sour.
As a Vulcan, Spock could not establish the sort of warm relationship Sulu wanted, but they were not doing too badly until they hit the Ildaran snag. At that point, Spock's reactions to Sulu grow testy. And of course, Spock feels guilty about that, too! That's why he makes a special effort to smooth things over with Sulu after things settle down.
Maybe there should be a story somewhere in between. Time will tell...
Date: 06 Feb 2014 19:04 Title: Chapter 2
Well, this is going to be even more of a mess. Seeing McCoy talk some sense into Spock did my heart good. Seeing Spock and Christabeth run together was a sweet moment, but man, there are some things Spock needs to get a handle on here. Let's see what happens next.
Date: 06 Feb 2014 18:28 Title: Chapter 1
Poor Christabeth. Poor Spock. This is a mess of a situation and the two of them are locked in a battle of wills, a battle of ideas. Spock, who vowed he had no child, Christabeth, who has been taught to hate her father. Both are stubborn. Both are dug in.
One has to break through and it looks like Spock will, despite his completely wrecked (for him anyway) emotional state. McCoy's got to talk some sense into him and get the man to see that he can't give up on this girl.