#kalifee

~Act One: In Denial of Pon Farr~

Blood Moon~by Saint Sister, Madrid (Album)

“To return home, and take a wife… or die.”

Spock is feeling anxious and unusually lonely, more resentful of his complex heritage than usual. Feeling rejected, but not by Jim, he finds his thoughts wandering to T’Pring. Who he feels deep resentment toward, she hasn’t contacted once him in the two decades he’s been gone from Vulcan. He has yet to realize it is the beginnings of Pon Farr.

“I am sure, you craved me once before. When I think of all the fruit I’ve found, and how easily you left it on the ground.”

Evening On The Ground (Lilith’s Song)~by Iron & Wine, Woman King (album)

“I hoped that I would be spared this.”

Spock’s yearning and loneliness transforms into anger and frustration. He knows Pon Farr has begun, and he hates it. He has no desire to return to Vulcan, worse still, he loathes that he yearns for someone who he does not know. Worse still, she’s not the only one he’s longing for…

“We were born to fuck each other one way or another but I’ll, only lie, down by the water side at night”

I Want You (She’s So Heavy)~(Originally) by the Beatles, performed by the Cast of Across the Universe, Across the Universe (Album)

“How do Vulcans choose their mates… Haven’t you wondered?”

Spock cannot bear the tearing between Human & Vulcan halves that has come ferociously to light under the stress of Pon Farr. His duty is to that man on the bridge, but the call of Koonut Kalifee is only getting louder. He has no desire to burden Jim with horrible display of emotion. Yet desire is quickly becoming all that he can think about.

“I want you, I want you so bad, it’s driving me mad, it’s driving me mad.”

~Act Two: Blood Fever, The Nightmares of Plok’tow~

Howl~by Florence + The Machine, Lungs (Album)

“To have their logic ripped from them, as this time does to us.”

The first, foreboding rumblings of Plok’tow have begun. He dreams of a hunt, he’s chasing someone, he does not know who. Each time the blood of this faceless, slaughtered, ravaged victim is a different color, every time he turns around, green, red, green, red, green, red, green, red…

“Like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins, I want to find you, tear out all your tenderness.”

The Horror of Our Love~by Ludo, You’re Awful, I Love You (Album)

“It strips away our veneer of civilization.”

The dreams are getting worse, more violent, detailed, intense. He knows his quarry-

Jim.

He tears his captain apart in a thousand visceral, grotesque ways, physically, mentally, no love, no hate, no want, just blinding hunger. And the most frightening part, he enjoys it. He begins withdrawing from Kirk, for fear of what may happen should dreams threaten to become reality.

“Carnivorous and lusting, I’ll track you down among the pines.”

Become the Beast~by Karliene, Become the Beast (Album)

“It is the Pon Farr, the time of mating.”

The last of his Blood Fever dreams occurs after Kirk confronts him about his behavior. This one is, much to Spock’s relief, not violent. The lyrics are spoken through the faces of fellow Vulcans- T’pring… childhood tormentors… Sybok… his cold and disapproving father… T’pau… Surak… himself.

The rage and hunger has cooled into ice rather than fire, for now.

“Do I terrify you? Do you feel alive? Do you feel the hunger? The desert howl inside?”

The Woods~by San Flemin, Jackrabbit (Album)

“You humans have no conception.”

When James Kirk grabbed the shiv from Spock’s hand in their confrontation, a shard of Spock’s Blood Fever came with it. Spock was spared a nightmare this final night, but not Jim. The dream even dared to be pleasant initially, alone together in the woods. Before the arena of Koonut Kalifee erupted violently around them, as did Spock. Yet, before Spock could deal the final killing blow, Kirk found himself sinking into the sparkling sands below. He startles from his slumber, feeling suffocated.

But he does not remember how, or why.

“The nights are lovely dark and deep, but I’ll appear when you’re asleep. You’ll wake up with a sudden hurt, your mouth and nose all full of dirt”

~Act Three: Kalifee, the Death of A Friend~

Take Me Down~by Brother, Pax Romana MMV (Album)

“I’ll get you to Vulcan somehow…”

All Jim knows is that Spock is getting worse, and that he needs him. Not knowing, and not daring ask whether the shiv was meant for himself or Spock haunts Kirk, as does the ghost of his forgotten dream. He does not know what will come of this wedding. Only that he will do whatever it takes to make certain Spock lives. No matter what, it’s a race against time.

“The powers that be, the powers that run you through, I’m taking a stand I know what it comes down to, God knows I do.”

Hunting Grounds (feat Joe Cotela of Ded)~by In This Moment, Mother (Album)

“He is deep in the Blood Fever, he will not speak with thee again.”

Kalifee has begun, Spock has completely lost himself to the Blood Fever, and Kirk must fight for his life. He finds himself outmatched by the environment, and by Spock’s rage. He knows two things, he has no desire to die, but he cannot, under any circumstances, kill Spock. (I imagine this duet could be as seen as Maria Brink=Kirk, Joe Cotela=Spock)

“Like a predator sink my teeth into your neck.”

Die Today~by The Txlips Band & Guitar Gabby, Queens of The New Age (Album)

“Kill Spock? That’s not what we came to Vulcan for is it?”

The Kalifee has been an intense drain, Kirk knows, deep down, that not even the “Triox Compound” could save him in this fight. He feels his life flash before his eyes, he bears no ill will toward Spock, he’s not in control of himself. He reflects on their relationship, and how much it has meant to him, and accepts, that for Spock to live, he has to die.

It was worth having known him, saving a friend isn’t the worst way to go out…

“If you die today, if we die today, at least I’d be in your arms.”

Pearl Diver~by Mitski, Lush (Album)

“You may find, that having, is not so pleasing a thing as wanting.”

Spock is absolutely distraught, he’s disgusted with himself, he loathes every single Vulcan he’s ever known, but most of all he is angry with Kirk. That he had to be the moth to his flame. How dare he want to get close to him! How dare James Kirk ever have the stupidity, the courage to love him?! The wanting had driven Jim to his death, and himself to murder. It was illogical, and he will never, forgive either of them for it. Curse having, curse wanting, and curse himself too.

“But hunter you were human don’t forget it and go safely. And I? I’ll live without you, though the struggle will be daily.”

Sweet Dreams~by JOSEPH, I’m Alone, No You’re Not (Album)

“I shall do neither, for I have killed my Captain, and my friend.”

Spock languishes in the agonizing hours between the Kalifee and confronting Bones about what must be done. He prays for a short and cruel life… and dares ponder the question, do Humans have Katras?

“I’ll return to my sleepless night, dreaming with my eyes open, watch the shadows play on the ceiling.”

[The final act is a little on the smutty side, here’s a read more just to be safe.]

I’ve made a 5-playlist compilation that can be listened to as both a single playlist OR as individual chapters (because Spotify is cool like that). It’ll be titled after the real name of the Vulcan homeworld, T’Khasi. I’m using it to get into The Vibe of learning Modern Golic Vulcan. Each of the playlists will be tackling different aspects of Vulcan culture:

Kanu T’Eshikh

Translation- Children of the Desert

This will be capturing the sound of ancient Vulcan, the roots of their spiritualism and be a bit reminiscent of my Pon Farr playlist. Survival of the fittest, tightly knit clans, unbridled in passions and furies, the vast silence of a moonless desert night. Lots of songs in other languages, romanticization of the hunt, anything that calls to mind ancient rituals under the midday sun. Featuring songs by Heather Alexander, Brother, The Huntress & The Holder of Hands, and Iron & Wine.

Suvel Nahan Fa’Surak: Whl’q’n Yuk-tor

Translation- The Time Before Surak: The Vulcan People Slumber

The time before the Surakian Awakening was brutal and war-like though industrialized, lust for power mingled with ambition. Lots of industrial rock and grunge, anything that calls to mind the unforgiving nature of war and the elements. Featuring songs by Bring Me The Horizon, Infected Mushroom, Igorrr and System Of A Down.

Suvel Nahan Po’Surak: Keshtan T’Ozhika

Translation- The Time After Surak: The Birth of Logic

A combination of the feeling that comes from when a long and taxing fight has ended, and the existential ambitions of seeking enlightenment. Equal parts lament and looking forward. Lots of indie folk and psychedelic rock. Featuring songs by Of Monsters And Men, TOOL, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Mountain Goats.

Psthan Na’K’war’ma’khon

Translation- The Inner Search for Being One People, One Family, One World

K’war’ma’khon is the psychic energy that connects all Vulcans to each other in a way few species are capable of ever understanding. It also shares meaning with the term “chosen family” or “family in all but blood”. This also marks the feeling of once again venturing toward the stars, and accepting the Mind Meld back into their culture. It’s a breather for the Vulcan people now that they seem to have found a path to peace. Lots of gentle indie folk and pop that draws thoughts of peace and family to mind. Featuring songs by Adriana Figueroa, Eddie Vedder, The Beatles and Melodysheep.

Tel-Tor: T’hy’la Eh Ashayam

Translation- The Bond: Friend, Brother, Soul-Mate, Lover, and Beloved

The last of these playlists is about the most powerful connecting force between Vulcans, between all sentient beings, more powerful than history, war, ideology, or even species-

Love.

Love of all kinds, and, if you’d like, is also about a profound relationship from the point-of-view of a certain Half-Vulcan about his Captain. Characterized by love songs tinged with a bit of spiritualism. Featuring by songs AURORA, Florence + The Machine, Kodaline and Björk.

Before refreshing the cycle back to its spiritual roots if you listen to the collection on loop.

I’ll link each of these playlists when they are complete before linking the whole collection. I also know I’d love to cover some of the songs I have in mind translated into Vulcan!

Well thank you! I don’t necessarily think it was an issue of the author not thinking about the implications because it was supposed to be problematic, even for the 60s. It’s also frankly in character for Vulcans as we knew them in ENT and TOS. They were recovering from Romulan extremist infiltration and internal discontent after all. Not entirely unlike stuff that was happening during The Previous American Presidency.

In Denial of Pon Farr

Blood Fever, the Nightmares of Plok’tow

Kalifee, the Death of A Friend

The Need is Met

The fanfic vignettes/song choice explanations will be book ended by quotes from the episode and the most potent lyrics from each song.