Shakeba to Astori: 0600 hours, September 21, 2265

I can't believe you found a way to send me messages! I'd ask you how you did it but I'm pretty sure the answer is you found someone else to do it for you. Regardless, how are you? Everyone got back to Boreth safely? I miss you!

Astori to Shakeba: 0630 hours, September 21, 2265

I ought to be offended that you don't think I could figure out how to contact you but you're right – I did use someone else. And everyone is here again…minus those we lost on Celos. Some I'm glad to never see again but I miss dad. And Drel'ak. I'm surprised by how much I miss Drel'ak. Mom says she's fine but she's been acting like a lunatic ever since the raiders returned. She's in charge now – can you picture it?

Why didn't you come back? You know you're revered now in some circles for killing Ovic. You could've come back a hero. Mom won't talk to me about it but Avum told me you asked him to tell her you remember everything. What's that mean? Did you really fall for a human? Is that why you're joining Starfleet? (Are you joining Starfleet?) And did you change your name? Also, I can't believe you didn't tell Avum to tell me you were going to miss me. Did you forget what a great sister I've been to you?

Shakeba to Astori, 0715 hours

So great. Remember when you locked me in the attic when I was 10 and left me there overnight? How could I have forgotten to mention you to Avum? Just kidding. I'm sorry I didn't tell Avum to tell you how much I was gonna miss you. I assumed you would know that without me telling you.

Yes, I'm going by my real name now. My parents named me Shakeba Massoud and that's who I am.

It wasn't an easy decision to make, you know, choosing not to return. But I think I made the right choice. I'm a human. I want to be around other humans, want to be accepted for who I am instead of constantly trying to be something I'll never fully be. Starfleet isn't nearly as bad as we thought. I feel useful here.

Katbujo knows what happened and when she's ready, hopefully she'll tell you.

Astori to Shakeba, 0720 hours

Not fair! You can't leave me waiting for mom to fill in the details. Tell me when you're ready, okay? And whatever happened on Celos, I'm sorry. I really do miss you, weirdo. Who's afraid of an attic, you big baby? Hey, remember the time we shaved your hairline so you'd have a bigger forehead? You were so hoping it would make you look more Klingon but it was awful! Remember how mad mom was? That's nothing compared to listening to her now, yelling at anyone and everyone. I'm telling you, she might have some screws loose.

I don't care if you're Shakeba or Jokusho or whatever other name you want – you're my sister. I should have done more for you along the way and I'm sorry if I didn't do enough to make you feel loved and wanted. I hope you didn't run to the bad guys because you didn't feel useful here. And don't think I didn't notice that you haven't answered my question about falling for a human. Avum told me all about the eyes you were making at the human he "captured" with you. He says the man was a doctor. That sounds sexy…

Shakeba to Astori, 0730 hours

That haircut. Why did you have to remind me of it? Why did we ever think it was gonna work?

Lots of people are afraid of dark places that make creepy noises all night long!

I've never doubted your love for me. But you have a life of your own – a family to raise. I can't rely on you to be my sole friend there. You remember how your friends would talk about me. It didn't stop once we got older. It just changed. And it never stopped hurting. I'm not saying things are perfect now, but I feel better here.

All of that aside, I do miss you. And Drel'ak. And even Hus and Katbujo. I miss waking up in the morning on Boreth, miss the smells, the food, the sights and sounds. And maybe I'm too old to try to integrate myself into another culture. But I need to try. I need to have the chance to be what I was born to be.

There's not a man. Avum is as bad a gossip as any woman.

Astori to Shakeba, 0740 hours

I don't believe you. I mean, I understand – you want to get in touch with your human side, blah blah. But there's a man. Or maybe a woman? Both? Who am I to judge?

Have you seen Tellarites on the ship? Andorians? Anything else? Are humans as crazy as the holomovies portray them to be? What's the ship like? I have so many questions and I know you might not want to answer them but I promise, I'm not asking for spy reasons. I'm kinda jealous you get to travel around now and see so many different things. How's the food?

Take care of yourself, okay? If you ever change your mind, you know you can always come back. In the meantime, I want to hear all about your life in Starfleet. And I promise, what we talk about stays between us. Mom doesn't know I reached out to you. Neither does Avum.

And if there is a special someone, I want to know all about the sex. Details! Do humans throw things at one another? Is there yelling? Broken bones? I MUST know!

Love you, Shakeba. I mean it.

Shakeba to Astori, 0750 hours

I'm about to start my shift which is a perfect excuse to not answer any of your questions about human sexuality. Besides, you can just watch porn, right?

The food is awful. No spices, so bland, and everything is dead before they eat it. The ship, however, is amazing. I wish you could see it. There's so much more to it than weapons. And yes, I've seen Andorians and Tellarites - also Orions and even a Vulcan! He looks like a Romulan and I almost freaked out the first time I met him. It's really…nice, being surrounded by all these different species. Humans are the majority but there are so many other beings – beings I'd never heard of before. And everyone gets along. Makes me wonder why we spent so much time isolating ourselves in our own Empire. Maybe the Federation is on to something here.

I love you too, Astori.