Thank you to everybody who has read or reviewed the last set of letters. You are all great. I always appreciate the encouragement.

Day 371: Greetings from the Fun Uncle

From: Kevin KR
To: Peter_K; kitten_loverJJMU
Time arrived: 02/23/2261 00:00:01
Subject: Re: Greetings from Middle School Hell

I really want to know how an ensign lost a hand, but I'm afraid to ask. This might be a question for my brother next time I write to him. I'm intrigued.

I promise I'm writing people more. Liz practically every day now. I've also written to my mom and some friends still at the Academy. I do have friends other than Liz. One of them is Josephine's aunt, but that counts.

Things are slightly better. Mostly because I've switched rooms. I'm in a double by myself at the moment. I did have a roommate until three days ago when the guy did something so stupid that he ended up in the Brig. I'm not going to ask questions. Although I think I understand why there was an open bed available here. I'm sure they'll move one of the interns in the triple in with me, but I will appreciate the solitude while I can.

I'm trying to get along with my fellow interns. However, my current strategy is to keep my head down for the next four months. Also, to not punch anybody who's spreading really dumb rumors about my brother. Even if he were Nhi's sperm donor, it would be none of their business. Not that that can happen because…

Are you aware of why that cannot happen? If not, ask Jim. I don't tell other people's deep secrets. Not intentionally, anyway. I feel like my big brother would be mad at me for having this type of conversation with 12-year-olds.

So where are you guys now? Are you still dealing with plants that eat you, or is the ship already on its next assignment? Or are you picking up people? If I remember correctly, that's supposed to happen between New Vulcan and the next assignment. Is Scotty back?

How are classes? Any big projects? I'm only doing two classes this semester. Both are essentially independent study which I think works better during an internship. Liz has to deal with prerecorded lectures. I'm glad I am avoiding that. Also, at least I can do my classwork now that I'm alone.

Anyway, please write. It breaks up the monotony.

XXXX

From: Peter_K
To: Kevin KR

CC: kitten_loverJJMU
Time sent: 2/23/2261 01:23:21
Subject: Greetings from Starbase 39, still middle school hell

I am not sure if Uncle Jim included anything in his letter to you about the Audreys, but I guess I should explain anyway. Audrey is what we're calling the plants we discovered when surveying one of the planets near New Vulcan. They are carnivorous, and one chomped off a team member's hand.

Audrey 3 is currently in botany in her own little glass case. She's one of the plants that the Vulcan Science Academy did not take with them. Audrey 3 likes chocolate chip cookies and cheeseburgers. I'm not even joking. The scientists have been trying different foods to see how she behaves; those are her favorites. I don't know why the carnivorous plant likes chocolate, but that's none of my concern.

We are on Starbase 39 right now. We have been here for about four days. (We are still waiting on Mr. Scott.) The time difference is weird because we get these emails at 6:00 AM local time. I read this just in time to write a letter before class.

Today we're doing our presentations for our federation history project. I have the history of Starfleet propaganda. Josephine did her project on the history of federation propaganda. We might have chosen different subjects if we knew that a Rep from Starfleet would be assessing our class during these presentations. Oh well, it's too late to change things now.

The program is getting reevaluated since it's been a year. I wonder if we would have been asked to go to a star base anyway, even if engineering was not blown up during Christmas. Maybe they would've just come to us.

Anyway, we had our one-on-one interviews with Professor Franco yesterday. She prefers professor to her Starfleet rank. She is the head of the International School. I told her how much better the program on Enterprise is compared to my self-study program on Devon. I'm not a fan of self-study myself. Even the video lectures that Liz is dealing with would have been preferable.

I said nice things about Gina. I also mentioned that I don't want to lose any of my friends. So, I hope it was enough. Otherwise, Josephine and I are moving to New Vulcan. The uncles will follow behind as soon as they can. Although I hope it doesn't come to that. I have too many friends here that I don't want to leave. I was practically by myself on Devon. I don't want that again. Also, I don't know if I want to go live on a colony full-time. Going to school or visiting my grandfather is different.

I got to see Liz a couple of days ago. We were on New Vulcan for Valentine's Day. We had to drop off the scientists in person. It was safer that way because they were bringing down a lot of plant samples, except for Audrey three, whom nobody wanted to take. I think they're all scared of Audrey. But we like her.

Anyway, we had a big family party because Gina got married. It was a last-minute wedding. Possibly to ensure she could obtain Vulcan citizenship if the program does get canceled. Gina had to get married with Sue watching, so there was a video call. I got to speak to Liz for a few minutes. I heard all about you writing her. She appreciates it. She also emailed us kids as well. I wrote the response to that letter. It was my turn.

You should probably know that the Sulu wedding is happening earlier because the ship will be stuck going to the Federation general Assembly. Do you think you'll be in Yorktown by May 29? We'll have it either the day before or the day after we pick up everybody from Yorktown to take to the Babel conference. It's going to be a major pickup point. Then the plan is to leave us with Grandpa.

Of course, this all changes if the program isn't renewed. I think Uncle Spock wants Sue to replace him. Or maybe Uncle Jim stays, and Uncle Spock goes to New Vulcan with the kids. I don't think that will happen long-term, though, because I don't think they can be apart from each other for long periods of time. They would be absolutely miserable.

Anyway, wish me luck on my project today. Fingers crossed that I don't do something that gets the whole program canceled.

PS: Me and Josephine are well aware of why I am going to be an only child for a while. Uncle Jim is getting better at talking about it.

To be continued…