Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of conversations. You are all fabulous. Much longer this time and hopefully it will answer a few of your questions.
Day 20: Greetings from the Family
From: W_Kirk_wellness_Hills
To: Spock's_cuddlebunny
Subject: Re: I'm still alive and kicking, mom
Time arrived: 3/10/2260 00:00:01
I'm glad you're still alive and kicking. I'm also glad you're writing me. I wish you wrote me sooner, but I'll take anything over song lyrics or music files. You're trying and my therapist says I should appreciate that.
Jim, I'm fine. Still not drinking. I know you're worried about that. I'm worried about that especially as we get closer to May 20. And yes, this is hard on me and Kevin, but we'll get through it. There is supposed to be a survivor's events this year. It's Liz's idea to commemorate the rescue. Considering who is now in charge of Starfleet, maybe they'll stop covering up the fact that Chen's decision to completely ignore orders is the only reason why we survived. I think I told you that part of the story. I know you know everything else now because you look at me differently and what use is your security clearance if you don't use it occasionally.
So how are things? Do you prefer being a Captain or first officer? Have you had any major missions yet?
Kevin came over this weekend with Liz along with her niece. She's cute as a button. She reminds me a lot of you at that age. You were so adorable. At least from what I remember from when I was breast-feeding and trying to stay sober. I'm sorry I wasn't… I'm sorry I was not the mom you needed me to be back then. I really wish I got help earlier.
Xxxxx
From: Ambassador_Sarek
To: SpockX-Kirk
Time arrived: 3/10/2260 00:00:01
Subject: Re: Are you well?
I am still in good health. I am glad to hear from you, despite the time involved. I understand the decision to de-activate the instant message option because an encrypted version was used to plan the conspiracy to have you and your spouse killed for the sake of war. Although I do miss being able to speak to you in near real time, I understand the need to prevent such a conspiracy from occurring again.
I am not completely certain your spouse solved all your email issues considering the amount of time it took me to receive your message. I believe that outside ship communications are no longer working optimally before the completion of your current mission. Or has it been so long that you have already completed said mission? If so, how did it progress.
I am not offended by the long gaps between correspondence being an ambassador who has been stationed throughout the galaxy and have experienced such lacks in communications before. It once took three months for me to receive correspondence. I do not take such absences as a sign that you wish not to communicate with me, but rather part of the reality of our occupations.
Regarding your transition, I realize that it might be difficult to turn over key parts of your former duties to other individuals, but it is necessary. They may not do things the same way you do, but their way may still be nearly as efficient. Trust your staff. If you do so, you will become an effective leader. They will not let you down if you give them the space to grow and learn.
Remember, James is there to help you in all things. You must lean on each other, not only in the professional, but also the personal. The thing I miss the most about your mother no longer being with me is that I no longer have someone to speak about my concerns with. Your mother always had the perfect thing to say to me when I became frustrated. It was one of her many skills. Despite being a diplomat, I never had the way with words that she did.
Also, still make time to do the things you enjoy. Science brings you enjoyment, so you should schedule time for that. Is it not within your right to schedule yourself time in the lab to work on special projects, thus allowing your spouse to be on the bridge in your place. I trust you and your spouse will figure this out just like your mother and I did many years ago.
From: Number_one_Pike
To: Jim_Spock-Kirk
Time arrived: 3/20/2260 00:00:01
Subject: So, what really happened on your last mission?
OK so how is your first real mission of your five-year mission going? I read the initial readout in this morning's report and saw that the MOU was signed. But I feel like something was missing, especially because Chen has been in meetings with the Federation AID all day and apparently, we're sending a relief ship of rations and a team that specializes in food distribution and cultivation. Why do I feel like I got the clean version?
How are you doing otherwise? Are the teenagers still giving you problems? Have you realized yet that they gave you those teenagers because they thought you might be the only one who could possibly handle them, being a repeat genius level juvenile defender?
PS: I was joking about the cannabis brownies. Mostly.
Xxxxx
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Number_one_Pike
Time sent: 3/10/2260 01:23:01
Subject: You really don't want to know what really happened
So, I changed my email address again. Use this one from now on.
I'm not sure if I believe that it is a joke. Honey pie confirmed the pot brownies, but never partook because he's too smart to mix his drugs.
Only the Ashleys and J 1 are awful, so I guess that's an improvement. J 2 is learning to behave. They managed to put laxatives in their instructor's food. I mean it's better than fertility drugs, but it still causes some emotional distress for others. Especially because I know they tried to drug Jo Jo as well. Of course, she doesn't know that I know because Jay told me in confidence. He's also looking out for Jo Jo because she reminds him of his little sister. The one that was killed last year. Okay, now I understand why we got some of these kids. I also understand why we got Dr. Margarita since she is certified to work with children and adults. And let's be honest, some of the people on the ship are children and I'm not talking about the miners.
Yes, the mission was not what we expected. We were called in without the King's knowledge, which was a good thing because he was starting to take a page out of the Tarsus playbook. Oh wait, I'm not supposed to know what happened there. I'm just glad somebody had more sense and we were called in to keep things from getting Tarsus bad.
At least there were not that many dead bodies. The King is dead because his wife killed him. He was an abusive bastard and responsible for the current food insecurity issue.
The Queen was the one who called for Federation help. So, if we can keep the people from starving, we might get access to some of their very precious minerals which I know is what the Federation really cares about. I'm being extra cynical right now. Sorry, I need more sleep. I think we can count this as a win, right? Maybe?
Yet I should probably go back to sleep or try sleeping for the first time.
I probably should write Winona too, but maybe when I'm not this sleep deprived. Spock says I'm incoherent when I'm sleepy.
Xxxx
From: SpockX-Kirk
To: Ambassador_Sarek
Time sent: 3/10/2260 05:12:01
Subject: Re: Are you well?
I am glad you are in good physical health. I assumed that you would understand more than most about the delay in correspondence. James and I are currently discussing ways on how to free up our schedule to have more time to do things we enjoy as well as spend more time together. James will work on procuring two new assistants as soon as the current mission wraps up.
Due to some political matters, we are staying until a humanitarian vessel with food aid arrives. Since our next mission was to be star mapping, there is no real urgency.
I will try to write to you when time allows. Please continue to do the same.
X
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: W_Kirk_wellness_Hills
Subject: Re: I'm still alive and kicking, mom
Time sent: 3/10/2260 23:21:01
Baby D is so adorable. She is the cutest baby in the quadrant. I'm glad they could come over.
I think it's a clever idea that they're doing a memorial or something. Hopefully it will be less showy than all the stuff they did for the Kelvin.
You can't change the past. Well you can change the past, but it's already been fucked up enough as it is so let's try not to do any more damage because then we'll end up with a third...
I don't see you differently. I just understand more about why you were the way you were when you got home. Maybe I was too hard on you before. Maybe I didn't understand what you really went through and the trauma, but well dying kind of gives you a new outlook on a lot of things. I think I blame that for more of the change in my perception than anything else. I don't know, but I'm trying.
Even then I still worry maybe more than before. I think it's worse because I'm not there. Plus, you've almost ended up burying another kid last June due to Starfleet malfeasance for Carol's crazy daddy. Of course, we don't talk about Carol's crazy daddy because she's a scientist on the ledge. Seriously I wonder why she even came back. It must be for the wife. I don't even think she likes working with weapons. You know if we lived in a world where everything wasn't fucked up by five Romulans from the future, I bet she probably would've became a biologist. Not that I know that for sure because it's total speculation.
Spock is good. The constant gossiping has slowed down because the Vulcan death glare has come out. Spock is scary as hell when he wants to be. The minions are now sufficiently chastened. It's a beautiful thing.
To be continued