by Rob Morris
Due to the non-linear development of my story, people have requested a clarification in the five w's and h. This is my best effort, please bear with me, as the size and scope of this story has expanded dramatically from my original intentions.The first story to be read should be :
'Peter's Christmas', set in December of 2266, a month after Operation: Annihilate. It effectively introduces this AU's version of Peter Kirk, and his place in it. Also set during this time period are the opening chapters of 'Paradise Lost'. Also see the drabble, 'Yours'
'The Line Of Blood' is not the next story chronologically, but it is next most important as a primer to this AU. Set in June of 2278, we find that Peter Kirk's life did not improve in the intervening 12 years. Kidnapped by fanatic, xenphobic bigots who actually worship The Ancient Destroyer, the greatest shock comes from how highly they are placed. The leaders of The Order are the leaders of Starfleet itself--and they want the monster to come. Established in this story is the mentor/student relationship between Sarek and Peter, as they plot together how to strike back at the Order. Also established is Vulcania, the distant colony of Sarek's birth, destroyed by Ghidorah, and Sarek's Bendii-like illness, which will rob him of his emotional control but not his coherence. This story is due for revision so that it may be brought in line with later continuity, but it still serves many purposes as it stands. Also in this general time period are the later-written 'Morning Has Broken', set right after Peter's rescue, 'Remember--Walkin' In The Sand', regarding the hormonal awakening of PK/Saav. Also, the opening chapters of 'I'm A Believer'
Against Ghidorah - In 2284, Peter Kirk exacts a terrible revenge against Starfleet Command. Due for expansion, both in detail and in consequences, which in later stories are revealed to include the final closure of Starfleet Academy.
As Kill A King - Set in late 2285, Peter Kirk faces off against both a revived Gary Mitchell and Charlie Evans in the Vulcan midday desert. The confused, angry young man is gone. He is now a Kirk worthy of the name, and it is first suggested here that he is more than human, and perhaps even a being of prophesy. Also created here : The complicated relationship between Peter and Saavik. At this point, they have not yet remarried, and are confused about how to proceed on their feelings for each other. Due for probable retcon revision, especially as regards PK/Saav. In later-added continuity but the same time period are 'Can't Get Used To Losing You', 'A Familiar Grave', 'Image Of A Girl', and 'The Infinite Paths'
'Continuing Mission' is a mainly snippet story, used to explain how Ghidorah and his followers changed TOS history by their mere presence. It is useful for showing the lengths to which The Order would go to affect things in this AU. It goes from Pike's era to PK/Saav's boarding in 2286.
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The main story arc, 'Behold, The Ancient Destroyer!', can be read at any point after the arcs just mentioned. 'Shadow Of The Beast' is set from 2281-2286, and describes the changes the Enterprise crew went through, including the departures of Spock, Sulu, and Chekov. The frame is set in 2286, during the events of BTAD. It is therefore suggested that it be read between Chs. 10-17 of BTAD. Neither one contains huge spoilers for the other, though.
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Other stories :
These, in my opinion, may be read at any time, as they mostly extrapolate on events described above.
The bulk of 'Paradise Lost' is set from 2267 to 2277 on Earth, and involves PK's captivity.
'Feint Praise' and 'I Crossed The Desert' are JTK&Saavik stories, as Jim provides one of the only light points in the life of a little girl made miserable by an intolerant world and a distant Spock. Vulcan, 2270's
'Blessed Union' tells the story, in the spring/summer of 2283 on Vulcan, of Saavik and Peter's eventful bonding. It is an R-rated piece.
'I'm A Believer' is perhaps the darkest PK/Saav piece in the whole cycle, dealing mainly with the struggle of the two young heroes, shattered in the aftermath of childhoods punctuated by the worst kinds of abuse. It is R-rated, also dealing with sex and dysfunction, and the near-disintegration of a family under assault. September 2278 to August 2280.
'Qual Se Tu?' is set around the time of 'Line Of Blood', but is separate in that it directly questions whether Peter Kirk is The Messiah ( He isn't ) and features a major role for Istannor's character of Jean Little.
'First Time' - is aptly named, an R-rated piece that describes Saavik and Peter's first full sexual encounter, and their frustration at discovering how their private demons prevent their intimacy. It would be set in August of 2279, or in between Chapters 11 and 12 of 'I'm A Believer'
'All Saints' Eve' - is a Halloween piece that reveals the fate of an original TOS crew member. 2283, San Francisco
'One Dark Night' - Young David Marcus sees an apparition in 2268.
'Swimming's A Sport' - A PK/Saav piece, Fall of 2283, and a response to the Water Challenge.
'Grandma's Gift' is on Vulcan in 2284, and a response to the Strawberry Challenge.
'Fall Of The Angels/Where Or When' both have ST frames, but chiefly detail King Ghidorah's first visit to Earth in prehistoric times, where it kills Gamera, Mothra, Battra and the nascent dinosaur that would have become Godzilla. First shown in 'Fall' : T'Pau's summary annulment of PK/Saav's bond, and my pseudo-scientific means of making PK into G's descendant.
'A Familiar Grave' is set on Earth, in 2284, at the Kirk family plot in Iowa.
'Love And Lirpas' is a somewhat humorous piece set at the Academy in 2284, and features a guest star from another ST series.
'Twenty Years In Space' has a monologue by Captain Kirk, reflecting on how commanding a Starship non-stop has changed him, and made him actually eager for something he once dreaded. It is set just before BTAD begins.
'The Cup' is another Christmas story, on Vulcan in 2278, as Peter Kirk begs God to choose another champion.
'Can't Get Used To Losing You' is a piece that goes from the annulment to the reconciliation of PK/Saav, 2284-to early 2286.
'Unready' - Dealing with a version of Q, Captain Kirk must prepare for life-changing news in 2278.
'Image Of A Girl' mainly deals with a telepathic practical joke between PK and Saav, late 2285.
'Upon That Rock' - A 2268, pre-kidnap Drabble starring Peter Kirk and The Prophets of Bajor.
'Ghidorah Z' - Set in the ST - ADU, but mainly dealing with Ghidorah's millenia-agone war with the residents, good and bad, of Dragonball Z. No real time, possibly 50000 BCE.
'Paradise Lost' - Set from 2266-2278, showing how the ADU is far removed from ST's future utopia, and how this affects the life of Peter Kirk.
'Morning Has Broken' - Fills in some of the gaps in 'Line Of Blood', 'I'm A Believer', and others. When first rescued, Peter Kirk is still a shattered ruin of a young man.
Vulcan, 2278'The Corridor' - During his captivity, Peter's will is broken and Ghidorah is contacted. Finding the City Of The Dead in his own mind, Peter is able to successfully repulse the monster with the help of the spirit of the young man who would have become Gokou, had he lived.
'The Good Cadet' - Jim Kirk hears the tale of a young crewmember about how she was humiliated by The Admiralty, and how someone close to The Captain saved her.
'The Dragon' - Poem Drabble
'Brothers' - Saavik and Jessa Preston talk; Drabble
'Yours'- Romantic K/U drabble
'One Word' - Uhura Drabble
'But My Opinion....' Uhura and Saavik talk; humorous drabble
'Drifters' - Short K/U&PK/Saav piece set during Chapter 17 of BTAD
'Y*AD - Panic In The Sky' - Set in 2286, all over the AQ. The universe is changing.
'Legumes' - Humorous ; PK&Saav, a tribute to Charles Schulz
'The War Begins' - December, 2255, Deneva. Peter's evil grandmother has issues with the newborn....
