Tarsus IV

Tarsus IV is a planet mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Conscience of the King". 
It is known in Trek fandom as the location of where teenaged James T. Kirk witnessed the massacre of thousands of colonists. 
The exploration of what happened there, and its aftermath, is a common trope in fanworks that focus on Kirk.
==Canonical and Semi Canonical Events Related to Tarsus==
Description of the series of canon events from Memory Alpha: 
 
===Other Events Linked to Tarsus===
*According to the Star Trek Into Darkness App, John Harrison is one of nine survivors from a 2246 attack on Tarsus IV. . accessed 6.9.2015 According to the movie, however, John Harrison is only an identity fabricated by Khan.
*In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", a computer readout mentions that Hoshi Sato was killed on Tarsus IV. . accessed 6.9.2015 
===Characters Related to Tarsus IV===
* Anton Karidian
*Hoshi Sato
* James T. Kirk
*"John Harrison"
*Kevin Riley
*Lenore Karidian
*Thomas Leighton
== Fanon==
Since the details of what happened on Tarsus IV are somewhat vague it has encouraged many fans to fill in the gaps. There are numerous different fanon, fan theories and tropes surrounding the events of Tarsus IV. Some common examples seen in fanworks include:
* Kirk Should Have Died: Kirk was among the group that was supposed to be killed, but somehow Kirk and a small group of other survivors lived, and that is how they could testify to the events. "There would also not be a point in calling them “survivors” of the massacre if they had been among the thousands selected to live."
* Kirk as a Leader of Survivors on Tarsus: It should be noted in this case Kirk is commonly depicted as taking care of various children, and the remaining survivors, when they are rescued, become the Tarsus Nine. "Many theorize that after surviving the massacre, Jim and the other survivors might have had to live in hiding, nearly starving and constantly in danger of being caught and executed."
*Changing the Timeline: In some instances the canonical timeline for the Tarsus IV incident is lengthened, so that the massacre may take place over a series of days or even months.
* AOS Kirk: Various plot points are used by authors of reboot stories to get Kirk on Tarsus IV during the massacre. They may closely follow The Original Series canon, or use other issues such as a chaotic home life or punishment to achieve their goal.
*Characterization of Kodos: Kodos' view of Kirk also varies from fic to fic. In some fics, Kodos is depicted as almost loving towards Kirk in a kind of sick parody of a father-son relationship; other fics have Kodos treating Kirk harshly in an effort to break him.
*Darkfic: Torture, Rape, Non-Con, Starvation, Mass-Murder, etc, are all common themes seen in Tarsus IV fics.
*Hurt/Comfort: Tarsus IV is commonly used as the hurt element in hurt/comfort fic by both AOS and TOS authors. Exploration of the physical and psychological effects of Tarsus IV both during and after the incident are explored.
*Sam Kirk: some older fanworks also have Sam Kirk, Jim's older brother, also on Tarsus IV at the same time. Most of these fanworks seem to paint Sam in a bad light, often with him offering his brother up to Kodos.
*Aftermath: exploring how this event effected Kirk afterwards, this can be immediately afterwards or decades in the future, Kirk having some sort PTSD is a common theme 
*Other Characters: it is fairly rare for fanworks not to focus on Kirk, but there are a few examples of fanworks focused on other Trek characters, sometimes as an outsider POV, sometimes placing those characters on Tarsus IV. Even rarer are fics that take characters from other fandoms and put them in the Trek universe on Tarsus IV.
== Fan Reactions ==
==Fanworks==
===Tarsus IV Zine Fiction===
These stories are all based on Star Trek: The Original Series.
* Night Creatures by Mandi Schultz (Kodos spares Jim and Sam Kirk's life in return for sex.) (Alpha Continuum #1 (1976) and Rising Star) (1978) 
* Flight by Jane Aumerle (Karidian's wife dies in childbirth and he and the child take refuge in a colony.) (Rigel #3) (1977)
* The Only Other Thing by Ginna LaCroix (Kirk must kill an old friend from Tarsus IV who has become a rebel.) (Contact #4) (1977) 
* Without Ceremony by Christy Mathews (On a lawless planet, Kirk hunts for two of Kodo's lieutenants.) (Companion #1) (1978)
* Treffpunkt by Sandy Sapatka (Kirk, on his way to Tarsus IV, meets a Vulcan boy on a space station.) (Log Entries #17) (1978)
* Another King's Conscience by Natasha Solten (Kirk visits Lenore Karidian after her father's death.) (More Missions, More Myths #1) (1981)
* Family Secrets by Mary Louise Dodge (Kirk visits his aunt on Tarsus IV and finds his cousin is a follower of Kodos.) (Kirk) (1982)
* Joseph's Brother by Pamela Rose (Desperate to leave Earth, Sam Kirk sells Jim to Kodos.) (Out of Bounds Overflow) (1983)
* Call It a Feeling by Laura Zipkin (On Altair IV, Lenore Karidian tries to kill Kirk.) (Vault of Tomorrow #5) (1984)
* Stock in Trade or a Time for Love and a Time for Hate by Tere Ann Roderick (A Vulcan ship trades provisions for slaves with Kodos.) (Duet #11) (1985)
* Death Drops the Final Curtain by P. Charlene Deaton (Kirk is found with his wrists cut and Lenore Karidian is in the area.) (Sahndara #2) (1985) 
* To Be a Help Meet for Him by Frances Rowes ("Already upset over almost sending Spock to his death, the situation on New Paris is too much like Tarsus Four for Kirk to deal with without his loverʼs help.") (The Voice #5) (1986)
* The Small Voice by Robin Hood (Kirk is obsessed by Lenore Karidian after her father's death, remembering Kodos.) (Naked Times #11) (1986)
* Decision by Karen Rhodes (Jim and Tom Leighton survive the famine on Tarsus IV.) (By His Side) (1986)
* Joyboy by Syn Ferguson (Spock meets Kirk shortly after his rescue from Tarsus IV.) (Before the Glory) (1992)
* Interlude by Ida Vega (Lt. Kirk meets a Vulcan Musician on Tarsus IV and again seven years later.) (As I Do Thee) #21) (1994)
* Strong Together by Susan Legge ("Kirk's solution to making money while he and Spock are in New York of the 1930's eventually brings about an understanding for both men.") (T'hy'la #18) (1997)
===Fanfiction===
 
*You Don't Have To (Say Yes) by luminousbeings -- A longfic where James Kirk was a Tarsus IV survivor in the Alternate Original Series universe. Features sexual assault at the hands of Governor Kodos and eventual Kirk/Spock
*Sound as Stone by starknjarvis— Summary: The three people who figured out that Jim was on Tarsus IV. Words: 14650, Gen, Outside POV, AOS (Alternate Original Series).
*Cupcake's Unexpected Evening by BotanyCameos. Words: 4878, Gen, Kirk Whump/ Hurt/Comfort, Academy Era, AOS (Alternate Original Series), Warnings: Implied/Referenced Rape/Noncon.
*Blue Fields by WerewolvesAreReal -- In his thirteenth year James Kirk ends up on Tarsus IV with his aunt and uncle. During the famine he takes refuge with a six year-old named Kevin Riley and a young half-Vulcan.
*Poke Me, I'm Here by SadieYuki -- His son’s name was on that PADD. His youngest son. On a list of people who had been ordered to be executed...
* strive seek find yield by waldorph (Kirk/Spock fusion fic, where the characters of Star Trek reboot, Spock and Kirk are respectively Victoria and Albert from the film The Young Victoria. "Spock is heir to the Federation throne, Jim is Prince of America because his fucking brother abdicated, and the Klingons are on the verge of blowing shit up--a love story.") (2010)
* Strength of Men by 1lostone (2010)
===Fanart===
* by raine-hearts-art (2023)
* by coolmanchocomilk (2024)
* by oddthesungod (2021)
=== Fancomic ===
* by gerardspuppy (2023)
=== Fanmixes ===
* by hotniatheron (2017)
* by sadieyuki (2015)
===Meta===
* by dykekeit (2017)
* by favvn (2024)
* by rhinexstone (2023)
=== Vids ===
* ϟ Tarsus IV || Star Trek by Wintersmith (2017), featuring AOS Kirk
== Example Fanart Gallery ==
File:Strength by thunderbottle.png|alt=illustration of an injured young Kirk holding his bleeding side while he is brandishing a knife in his other hand, text raeds 'Strength VIII'|Art by thunderbottle (2020)
File:Tarsus IV moodboard.jpg|alt=images of: shadows of children running; text that reads 'suspect you elders'; leafless trees; a hand laying on the ground; a blond haired teen standing behind a broken window; bleached bones; plant with dried, brown leaves; text that reads 'survive'; a young women carrying a gun.|Tarsus IV moodboard by asthrapolaris (2021)
==Links==
*Tarsus IV Fanfiction community on Livejournal
*Works tagged with Tarsus IV on Archive Of Our Own
*Inclusive list of Tarsus IV fic by shadowloverk
==References==
Category:Star Trek Tropes & Genres
Category:Star Trek Concepts