I have had this question for quite some time: As I understand it, in string theory there is tension along the strings such that this tension is between different elements of the string in space. Thus, a string will move in spacetime as if different elements of it were connected in the target space. However, this does not by itself mean that such elements will be connected through time (according to the target space's local definition of time). Now, if we take special relativity (SR) somewhat literally, then time ($ct$) and space (say, $r$) should be treated equally and we may argue that time, in the form of $ct$, should be able to be thought of as a length. Note that I am not referencing the use of SR transformations but the idea that $ct$ can be thought of as a length which seems to be standard in many treatments of relativity.
So my question is: could there then exist strings that have tension between different elements in the time defined locally in the target space? If this were the case, then, using the local coordinates of the target space as $(r,t)$, there might be tension between one particle appearing at $(r,t_1)$ and another particle appearing at $(r,t_2)$ if $t_2-t_1$ were sufficiently small and both particles were a part of the same string. (I realize that this suggests some unusual phenomenon, but if we consider the expected small scale of strings I'm not sure that these phenomena can be ruled out conceptually.) If not, then why not?
I will attempt to clarify my meaning as requested. (I'm not sure how to use the MathJax equations on here just yet, so I have tried to use as little math as I could.)