Paradise Lost

By Nadja Lee  

English is not my native language. Please forgive me my mistakes.

Disclaimer: “Star trek” and all the characters here belong to Gene Roddenberry, Paramount and I intend no infringement, this is a piece of amateur fan fiction, and I make no money of it.

Only the original idea contained within this work is the property of the author. Please do not copy this story to any website or archive without permission of the author.

Timeline: During the first 5 year mission

Universe: ST: TOS.

Pairing: Spock/OFC

Summary: Kirk and Spock saves a young woman and Spock seems to (logically, of course) like her. But then disaster strike...

Archiving: Want, ASK, take, have.

Feedback: Yes, please. My e-mail address is neh@post10.tele.dk.

Rating: PG-13

Series: None

Warnings: A very old fic, written very quickly. One of my first fics ever.  Be warned!

Things written *here* are telepathically said in the mind.

*                    *                      *

Kirk and Spock went around on the planet Tretius 3, a planet that they should investigate for the Federation. The planet was a member of the Federation but all contact had creased months ago and now Spock and Kirk could confirm their suspicions as to why. The Klingon Empire had taken over the planet. The planet was on a statistically imported place, on the border between the Klingon Empire and the Federation and the planet was rich on minerals. The Enterprise should only observe and them tell Starfleet what they found. From the data they gathered Starfleet would then decide what to do. The Enterprise was ordered to continue on their mission after they were finished on the planet. Tretius 3 was M- on the Richter scale of culture over planets. This meant that the planet resembled Earth in the sixteenth century and the inhabitants looked like the people of Earth. This resulted as always in Spock having to hide the obvious signs of being half Vulcan under a hat.

Kirk and Spock went to the Capital City. There in the middle of the square some Klingons were about to read a verdict over a young woman. She had pointed ears and eyebrows like a Vulcan but her skin was the colour of a Klingon. She was beautiful to look at with the evening suns, this planet had 4 suns, playing in her red hair and shinning in her green eyes. She did not appear frightened when the Klingons said that the penalty was death for disobedience. She was dressed in a long dress, plain but clean and she appeared unharmed. The axe and execution block before her spoke of how her sentence was to be carried out. Spock immediately looked after Kirk, as he knew how he always reacted when beautiful defenceless women were involved. And yes, in that moment Kirk yelled for them to stop and a fight broke out. With a wordless sigh Spock went into the fight after his captain and friend. Kirk reached the girl and they were on their way to Spock, who was fighting against five Klingons. Having reached him Kirk told the woman to stand back while he helped Spock defeat them. That done Kirk called the ship to get the three of them beamed up just as more Klingons came towards them. A Klingon pointed his weapon at Kirk. Kirk did not see it but as the Klingon fried the weapon Spock heard it and called Jim's name while he pushed him out of harms way. The blast caught Spock in the shoulder. With a shocked expression Kirk worried bent over his friend. With the woman’s help he managed to hold him up and they supported him between them as Jim told Scotty to beam them up.

 

The next day, Enterprise:

“How is he, Bones?” Jim asked his CMO, concern clear in his voice and face. He had come to sickbay as soon as he could be spared from the bridge. Now Jim cast worried looks at Spock who lay in bed before him, the young woman lay in the bed beside his.

“He should wake up anytime now, Jim. His healing trance is complete. He’s just sleeping now,” with a look at his concerned friend he added more softly, “do not worry. But tell me what happen down there?” his voice was curious. “With Spock injured and all I did not get a chance to ask.”

Kirk looked a little uncomfortable as he started to explain, knowing that his orders hadn’t given him right to intervene on the woman’s behalf. “Well, you see… There was this woman and….” Bones nodded knowingly and interrupted him with a smile.

“Ah, I knew it. I knew it had something to do with a woman. It should not happen to be the extraordinary young lady over there, now should it?” Bones asked and pointed at the young lady in the bed.

“Yes, it was she. She was about to be killed by the Kingons but we got her free. However as we were about to beam up a Klingon was shooting at me. Spock took the shoot meant for me,” Jim said honestly, gratitude, worry and a hint of anger over Spock’s sacrifice evident in his voice.

“I see, ”McCoy nodded in understanding. It really did not surprise him. Jim was many things but he was above all a gentleman who could never help but to save every defenceless woman or in fact defenceless creature he came across. It was just the way he was and it was what made him an extraordinary captain. Neither did Spock’s sacrifice surprise him. Spock had often saved Jim's life over the years just as Kirk had saved his. It was as if there was a special and unbreakable bond between the two of them. His thoughts were disturbed when Spock turned around and opens his eyes. A moment he looked confused. Then his eyes found McCoy.

“It Jim ok?” he asked quietly and sounded worried.

“I am fine. Do not worry, ” Jim calmed him and stood forth so Spock could see that he was indeed ok. He smiled warmly at his friend, “and thanks,” he said sincerely, saving his speech about how Spock shouldn’t risk his life for his in that way for another time.

Spock nodded gracefully and looked like he was fully recovered. He stood up and went to the other room to get dressed. When he came out McCoy and Jim was talking to the woman. She said that her name was Elina and that she was half-Vulcan and half-Klingon. Something in her eyes and voice touched a place deep within Spock. A flame that he had thought dead suddenly got new life. It was rare that Vulcans mated outside their spicies, even if, as Spock suspected, it wasn’t on purpose. He was pretty sure Elina’s mother had been raped and she was the result. Her life couldn’t have been easy and it gave Spock hope that maybe he had finally found someone who could understand how difficult it was to stand with a leg in two so very different cultures as Vulcan and Earth or Klingon and Earth. When it was discussed where their extra passenger should sleep and where she would be safe, as many people onboard had no love for Klingons and many had lost loved ones to Klingon raids.

 May I come with a suggestion?” Spock interrupted. His heart was beating so hard in his chest that he feared that Jim and McCoy would hear it. He tied hard to look as passive as possible. McCoy and Jim looked surprised at him but then Jim nodded at him to continue.

“My quarters are large enough to hold two people and it has a spare bed. The temperature in my quarters should further more suit Miss Elina since she is half Vulcan. Finally I doubt that anyone will try to harm her when she is under my protection,” Spock said and hoped that it sounded logical because logic was why he asked…right?

“I don’t know. What do you say, Miss Elina?” Jim asked with a smile on his lips and a teasing gleam in his eyes.

“I would love to stay in your room, Spock,” she said softly and looked lovely and adoring up at him, making Bones and Jim strangle their smiles. Spock was probably the kindest Vulcan she had ever met, pushing all her buttons towards hero worship.

“Good. Then that's stetted, ” Kirk said satisfied.

“Now Spock, was that entirely logical?” McCoy began to ask him teasing but before McCoy could get any further Spock left for the bridge. Kirk shrugged his shoulders as answer to McCoy’s unspoken question and followed his first officer to the bridge.

“He is wonderful, ” Elina said dreamily, having obviously not been raised with as much emotional control as the object of her affection.  McCoy knew exactly who it was she was talking about and frowned slightly in concern.

“I would be more careful with my emotions if I were you. Even though Spock is half human he was unlike you raised on Vulcan, as a Vulcan and has full control over his emotions,” McCoy warned her but he wasn’t 100% certain if his assessment was true. Had Spock really his emotions under control always? McCoy thought. Could Spock be falling in love with Elina? Well, it was not impossible. Spock was after all half human and he had falling head over heels in love with the beautiful Zarabeth in only a few hours, so...

 

4 weeks later:

Now there was no doubt whatsoever that Spock and Elina was falling in love. They were always together and every time they looked into each other’s eyes they seemed to get lost in them. Of course Spock denied being in love as it was a human (or Klingon) emotion and to Spock’s credit must be said that it was also only Jim and McCoy who could see it. He was very much like his father, Sarek, in his love but Jim and McCoy knew him well enough to catch the small signs.

Kirk’s thoughts were disturbed when Spock asked if he could enter Kirk’s quarters They were both of duty and Kirk and thought that he actually from time to time missed spending time with Spock who lately had spent most of his time with Elina. Kirk said Spock could just enter and Spock did so and seated himself opposite Kirk.

“Captain, I have some shore leave left. I will like to use those months now. We will past Vulcan in two Earth days. Could you leave Elina and me there?” Spock asked, his eyes telling Jim this was an important request but his face was impassive.

“Of course” Jim readily agreed but looked more worried than surprised at his friend. Something was wrong. He could see it in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” Jim asked him gently.

“I do not know what...” Spock began to deny but stopped when he looked into Kirk’s eyes and saw the genuine concern and love for him in them. Spock sighed softly, almost too still to be heard. “She is dying,” he admitted quietly, strangling all his emotions about the subject, keeping them buried inside. Jim looked shocked at him. “She is dyeing from Xenies,” at Jim’s confused look Spock elaborated, “It’s a rare decease but due to her unique DNA structure it’s deathly and incurable. She has known she was dying from it since birth. She knows her time is near,” he forestalled Kirk’s next question as he added, “I have already had Dr. McCoy and Starfleet’s medical team look at it.” Having told this much Jim could see Spock’s control fading and thus the pain in his eyes became visible and he could hear despair in his voice.

“I am sorry, ” Jim said, his voice sympatric and he wished there were anything he could do. Something better he would offer than just words. He knew well the pain that losing a loved one brought. He had lost his father, his brother, countless friends not to mention lovers and of course one of his greatest losses had been his wife, Miramanee, and their unborn child.

“Just get us to Vulcan, ” Spock said quietly and answered Jim's unsaid question. Spock got up from the chair and for a moment he looked like a very old man who carried all the pain of the world in his heart. Then he found his control again. He put an arm on Jim's shoulder.

“Thank you.” The words were soft and warm and the gesture of both touch and words made Jim know just how deeply this was affecting his friend. Before Jim could reply Spock had left his room and Jim looked after him long after the door had closed. Despite Spock’s assurance Jim still wished he could do something, anything to ease Spock’s pain. He was happy and sad at the same time over the joy and pain Spock was experiencing. After all that pain Spock had felt through his life he deserved some happiness. Jim was secretly pleased that despite what he had had to go through then he could still be fascinated by the small things, and be secretly happy for the small words and sacrifices. He was always ready to make excuses for his captain no matter how obvious it was that he had been mistaken. Always ready to help and heal. And still he could not find the courage to be himself. Everybody wanted for him to choose. Always choose. Never just accept him as he was and what he could give. Well, everyone expect Jim…and Elina who seemed infatuated with Spock as a young girl who be over meeting her idol. Jim wasn’t by far certain their relationship could have lasted but now…now it would last forever because like many of his own loves then she would die before any crises had time to disturb the image of paradise.

 

2 days later:

Standing on one of the biggest mountains on Vulcan, Elina and Spock saw the Enterprise disappear between the clouds. Spock had a cabin up here and there were no one else around for miles. No one would know how they had chosen to spend their last days. The cabin lay by a small lake, one of the few lakes on Vulcan, and with the sun shinning and a light wind playing with the grass that grew around it, it was like a picture from a book. Spock had told Elina that he often came up here when he was on Vulcan to be alone and because here he could be himself. Here there was no one to tell him what he could or could not do. After a small hesitation he took Elina’s hand and they walked hand in hand to the cabin.

*                    *                      *

Later that day Elina was in the kitchen preparing dinner for them “Will you go get some more of these berries, beloved?” she asked Spock, pointing at the bowl of berries that stood closer to him than her as she went around doing this and that to get the meal right. She had always ate meat but since Spock did not she was preparing vegetarian meals for them. Spock's heart filled with love as he saw her. He could sit and just watch her for hours which was what he had been doing from the living room, pretending to read while in reality he had been watching her through the door to the kitchen.

“Spock?” she asked and raised an eyebrow questioningly and looked at him.

“Of course.” he tore himself out of his daydream and helped her with the meal.

After dinner they sat in the living room. Elina seated herself beside Spock on the sofa and went into his embrace. He stroked her over the hair and held her close.

“I love you, ” she said warmly. Spock nodded, his throat tight with repressed emotions. He could still not say it. That Elina accepted this only made him love her even more. He took a decision, knowing it was the right one. He gently eased her out of his embrace so she sat on the sofa alone while he went down on one knee in front of her and took her hands in his, choosing the human way to propose to her since the Vulcan way seemed too cold for a woman as passionate as Elina. When he looked into her eyes that shinned with warmth, love and a hint of hero worship he knew for the first time in his life what those words really meant.

“Will you marry me?” Spock asked her and in that moment he was more nervous that he had ever been. He did not know what he would do if she said no. One woman had already scorned him. He wasn’t sure what he would do if Elina, who he actually cared for, would do the same. Her face and eyes light up but confusion clouded her happiness.

“But marriage between an officer of the line and a member of the Klingon Empire isn’t allowed, ” Elina protested though her eyes and face shinned with happiness.

“I meant if you would bond with me. That would make us husband and wife under Vulcan law but no one will know. And no one will ever know if that is your wish, ” Spock said seriously and looked her in the eyes. He could get lost in those green deeps of love.

“That is my wish, ” she said knowing that Spock could be put at a court martial for marrying her. Then she smiled warmly and said, “and yes, there is nothing in this galaxy or beyond that I would rather do than marry you.” Her happiness was like a living thing in the room as she put her arms around his neck. Spock actually smiled and kissed her deeply on the lips. As the kiss deepened and the flame of passion began to burn with the intensity of a fire he lifted her up and carried her into their bedroom to join them in mind and body, making them husband and wife.

 

2 and a half months later:

*I love you so much,* Spock's telepathic voice sounded in her mind, filled with love and warmth. She smiled weakly at him. Since their bonding Spock had said it repeatedly though their link. They had had almost three wonderful months filled with happiness and love. None of them had wanted to think about tomorrow. But now they could no longer forget reality in the arms of love. Elina lay on their bed and knew that she had seen the sun rise for the last time. Despite having prepared for death her entire life it now more than ever seemed to come too soon. Her only comfort was that her illness had been painless. She knew that it was Spock’s doing. Though their link he had taken her pain from her and made it his own. Having lived on Vulcan he had the discipline of mind to suppress pain at a level she couldn’t do. She was grateful to him for having shown her what love was. For the first, only and last time she had given and received unconditional love. She smiled sadly at Spock who stood by her bedside and fanatically refused to admit that she was dying.

He fetched first this and that for her in the disparate hope that she would be better.

“Spock, please don't,” she softly asked of him when he wanted to get yet another think that he hoped would help her. It was as if her kind words got something inside him to burst into thousands of pieces. With an agonising sigh he seated himself by her bedside and took her hand in his.

“What I would not do for more time, ” he softy whispered, knowing it was an illogical wish but it was true nevertheless. In his eyes love and pain shinned side by side. She nodded and tears fell down her cheeks. Spock softly wiped her tears away with his fingers.

“Do not weep, my wife. Please do not weep. I can take everything but your tears,” Spock said tearfully, fighting against his own tears. She smiled through the tears and nodded.

“Lay by my side?” She asked weakly. Spock nodded and got into the bed with her and took her into his arms. Gently he began to rock her from side to side while he sang a song about unhappy love that she loved. He had a very nice singing voice. Elina listened to his beautiful voice and she felt like his song lifted her up and carried her on the gentle wings of poetry and love to a life far away from here.

“I love you. I love you so much, ” Spock said gently when he painfully could feel their bond slowly but surly breaking.

“I know. And I love you, too,” she said lovingly. Her voice and eyes filled with love and happiness because he finally had bean ably to say it out loud. But her whole body felt weak and soon she could not keep her eyes open even though she wanted too. Her last sight was of Spock and his eyes filled with love, pain and unshed tears.

“Sing for me, ” she asked tiredly. And he did. He sung her favourite song again. The tones became doves of love that gentle took Elina and carried her to their home in the clouds.

When Spock had finished his song and looked at Elina she lay in his arms with her eyes closed and a small smile on her lips. So beautiful even in death, Spock thought. He brought his head to her soft and still warm neck and cried. Cried as he had never cried before.

Later that day Spock buried her. Her graveside was bathed in sunlight and she could look down at the lake that shinned like a jewel in the evening light. On her grave Spock had placed a stone and into it he had written, burned into it with his weapon:

 

To my wife who was taken from my side far too soon.

May my eternal love be a comfort to you in the unknown until I am by your side again.

 

He knelt by the grave and cried. Cried for all what could never be. Cried for the unfairness in life. Cried for the loneliness in his life. Cried for Elina who would never see the light of day again. Cried for all the ones who had lost their heart like he had. Cried for all the losses he had suffered but never been able to cry over before. He cried until he could cry no more.

“I love you. I will always love you and I will always remember you and our time together. Maybe there is a chance for our love in death since there was none in life, ” he whispered sadly and the sun bathed him as he kneeled by large engraved that marked her grave, the light glimmering in his now frozen tears.

 

1/2 month later:

The Enterprise’s small shuttlecraft, the Galileo, landed outside Spock's mountain cabin. Jim and McCoy came out to meet Spock, worry clear on their faces, most obviously on Jim’s. Spock's face was passive and only Jim could see the pain in his eyes that from now on would always be there though he knew from personal experience that the pain would fade with time.

“Where is Elina?” McCoy asked concerned. He had wished to have her in a hospital, no matter the chances to find her a cure. A always when he was worried McCoy’s voice took on a hard and almost demanding tone. Only Jim saw how much pain the mention of her name brought Spock.

“She is dead, Doctor,” Spock said with an almost emotionless voice. Again only Jim noticed his suffering. McCoy looked shocked at him, sorrow over having lost another young patient making him lash out in anger.

“What???” He quickly recovered from the shock at having been giving this news in the same tone of voice as the latest weather report. “And I who thought you loved her. You are without a doubt the most cold-blooded person I have ever met!” McCoy said angrily as they went into the shuttle, Jim putting a comforting hand on Spock’s arm.

“Why, thank you, Doctor McCoy,” Spock said all the while his heart was breaking even more but there was nothing to do but to move on, try and put it behind him.

“I am very sorry,” Jim said quietly with understanding and love in his eyes. Spock looked at his friend. He loved Jim as his best friend and as his t'hy'la, his soulmate, and knew that Jim felt the same way. Spock nodded gratefully and said quietly now that McCoy could not hear it, “I am sorry, too.”

Jim fought the urge to hug his friend and instead used his calming grip on his arm to guide him into a seat, his hand staying on his shoulder to offer silent support. He wished that he could take away his friend’s pain. Spock had suffered enough. He did not deserve this.

“But neither did you,” Spock said gently and referenced to all Jim's our sorrows. Jim nodded and knew their physical contact and strong mental bond had enabled Spock to read his thoughts. With one last look at Spock Jim went to the shuttle’s controls and got ready to lift off, Spock sitting in the chair beside him. They shared a look that spoke volumes and in that moment they both knew that despite their sorrows, despite their misfortune they could go on as long as they had each other to lean on. Sharing a small smile at this knowledge they broke the stare and Jim stared the shuttle.

Spock looked down on the cabin where he had experienced love and where he had lost it again. But he would not exchange that time for anything in the whole galaxy despite the pain he felt now.

He would always carry her love with him in his heart and the sorrow over losing her in his eyes.

“Goodbye, my wife. Goodbye,” Spock whispered towards the cabin and he knew that he was not only saying goodbye to Elina but also to his heart. His heart that he had given to a young woman who did not walk in this world anymore. A goodbye to his brief experience of happiness. It had all died with Elina and now lay buried in the warm Vulcan soil with a view out over a lake that looked like a pearl in the evening sun, a very appreciate comparison in Spock’s mind for that was what Elina had been to him.

 

The End