In Memoriam

I was saddened to learn about the passing of the legendary Nichelle Nichols, but also glad to realize she lived such a long and full life. If it weren't for Ms. Nichols, I don't think I'd have ever written anything. I struggled for years trying to write my own stories, but it wasn't until I became obsessed with Star Trek TOS that I finally caught the inspiration to write and complete a story. One night, I had a dream about Uhura and Spock in a cave and that was all she wrote...

Thank you Nichelle Nichols for all the joy and inspiration you've brought to a lot of fans and especially African American girls who saw a competent black woman keeping up with the big boys on the screen and holding it down on that bridge with grace, beauty, and intelligence. Maybe someday we'll all meet somewhere Beyond Antares...

"Bibi"

When the Enterprise was well within the subspace communication range of Vulcan, Spock arranged for Uhura to place a call to Earth, so she immediately called her grandmother.

Bibi's face appeared on the viewer, beaming a brilliant smile. "Hello, sweet child! It's been too long since I have heard from you. What have you gotten yourself into now?"

"Hello, Bibi! I apologize for the radio silence. Life has been pretty hectic lately," Uhura said with a wry grin.

"Oh? Is everything okay with you and your husband? There were some news reports..." Bibi said cautiously.

"Everything is perfect Bibi," she said, barely containing her excitement and nearly bouncing in her seat. "Spock is fine. We're fine."

Uhura's joy at speaking to her beloved grandmother again had made her look radiant, or at least Bibi thought she looked radiant. She didn't think there was a grandmother in the galaxy who was more proud of her child. Her little star was the brightest in the sky. "That's good to hear," Bibi said. "And you? Are you really fine, child?"

"Bibi, I love you so much and I miss you terribly. I cannot wait to see you in person and tell you all the things that have happened to me."

"I love you too. But you didn't answer my question. How are you, child?"

Uhura's heart was beating so hard she thought it could be heard by the viewer, but she took a deep breath to calm her excitement. "Bibi, I have big news. You may need to sit down," she said, trying not to spill the beans too soon.

"I am sitting down, but what news do you have that is liable to knock me off my feet?"

"Well, you know Spock and I have been married for a while now?" Uhura said primly but barely containing her joy.

Bibi rolled her eyes. "Yes, if you call a few months a while now."

"Well," Uhura said shyly, "we've been through so much, so fast it seems like it's been years. But what I want to say is that we are happily married now- oh look!" She held up her hand with the ring on her finger. "Look what my husband gave me, Bibi."

"Oh, my," Bibi said when she got a look at Uhura's ring. "A wedding ring? About time, I'd say."

Uhura nodded happily. "Yes, it's official. Everybody knows we're married and I don't care what anybody thinks."

"Everybody? I had a call from your mama..." Bibi left that to hang in the air.

That poured cool water on some of Uhura's excitement, and her smile faltered. "Oh, really? What did she say?"

"That you were being your usual disrespectful selfish self. She didn't know whether you were dead or alive, haven't seen hide nor hair of you in months, you never return calls or messages..." Bibi ticked off a long list of grievances.

It was Uhura's turn to roll her eyes. "Now Bibi, you know I've been busy and preoccupied with work and Spock and marriage and... Bibi, I'm pregnant!" She blurted out, unable to hold it in anymore.

Bibi didn't react right away. She stared at the screen and at her precious granddaughter. Nyota had been the light of their lives. She wasn't just a granddaughter; Nyota was like her own child, her only little angel. She and Bakari, her husband, had been alone for years after their son left home for school. Then he decided to travel the galaxy as a musician and they rarely, if ever, saw him until he showed up with a wife. They thought he would finally settle down and start a family close to home, but that was a short-lived dream. Bakari and his wife didn't stay close. They still hopped from planet to planet, chasing their own dreams until they broke up.

Bibi didn't like to meddle, but her son's wife was not her favorite person in the galaxy and the feeling was mutual, so when her son divorced, she wondered if she'd ever see her grandchildren again. But they were allowed to visit on school breaks and holidays, which she and her husband made the best of.

And then one day out of the blue, Nyota came to visit with all her belongings in tow. It was incredible to Bibi for so many reasons. Mainly because the thought that a mother would leave her child alone at such a young age and that she would choose her ex-husband's family to care for the girl. Bibi had been livid on Nyota's behalf, but she had thanked the ancestors that she was the one chosen to keep their girl safe.

Now her Nyota was a grown woman. She was an officer in the space force, a wife, and soon-to-be a mother. Bibi clapped her hands together in prayer. "Praise the Maker!" she finally said, with tears in her eyes. "My baby, my little star, I am so proud of you."

Uhura had tears in her eyes as well. "Thank you so much, Bibi," she said. "Thank you for always being there for me, for raising me. I hope I can continue to make you proud of me."

"I could be nothing but proud of you."

"Spock and I are so excited but we haven't told many people yet. We're waiting to make sure..."

"You'll be fine," Bibi said, waving off any doubts. "Uhura's are tough and we make good parents, if I do say so myself. When are you coming home? We must celebrate. In Person!" Bibi insisted.

"Soon I hope. You know the mission is almost over and... Well, I will be out of commission before you know it. But right now, we're on our way to Vulcan. I still have some tests I need. Bibi, please don't tell anyone yet okay? I want to be the one to tell Mama and Baba and the boys. And well, I know you say I'll be okay, but this baby is part Vulcan and I am not."

"Psh," Bibi said. "Your husband is half Vulcan, which means his mama managed. You'll be fine. I should have known somebody was expecting when I dreamt your Babu took me fishing..."

"Bibi, that's an old wives' tale."

"And I am an old wife. I told you I saw little green babies in your future."

"You said they were blue," Uhura reminded her grandmother.

"Blue, green, teal. It's all in the same family."

"Oh, Bibi! I miss you so. I cannot wait for you to meet Spock and your great grandbaby." Uhura beamed.

"Well, I've waited this long. I can wait a while longer, I suppose. Just come home in one piece."

"I will. I promise. I love you Bibi."

"I love you more."

"Goodbye. Nyota out."

*/*/*

Yes, I know it's been a LONG while since I posted an update to this story and I'm sorry about that. I really have no good excuse. I sorta took some time off to study coding, but I dropped that for the time being. Then I sorta just lost my mojo for writing anything at all until a few days ago.

Now I have to make the most awful confession of them all... I've been unfaithful. I've fallen in love with another fandom.

Yes, I'm a Star Wars girl now. Don't look at me that way. It's not you, it's totally me. But they have baby Yoda and the Mandalorian and Boba Fett... And I've also been cheating with the Sherlock fandom too. But Star Trek will always be my first love and we can still be friends. Right? And I promise I will finish posting this story. It's already done. It just needs some polishing, so stay tuned.