Thank you to everyone who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all fabulous. So, more family drama ahead.
Day 23: Complicated conversations with mother figures
From: Number_one_Pike
To: Spock's_cuddlebunny
Time arrived: 3/13/2260 00:00:01
Subject: Congratulations on your coup that was not a coup.
I had lunch with Chen today, so I now know the whole story of what happened on your first mission. She's pissed. It's never good when the Mandarin curse words come out. Not at you, but the situation and maybe a little bit at whoever prepared your intelligence packet.
She would also like to know why you had your communications officer send her the real version of the report in pre-warp Mandarin? I'm assuming code chocolate sprinkles or is it rainbow sprinkles is in effect? You really should've left me with a copy of your codes.
Also I was told to pass on to you that if Liz or your brother are having problems in Academy housing and are too afraid to tell her then you should. Or at the very least convince them to tell her what's going on and not hide at her sister's apartment or send anonymous video files to Admiral Burnett. I feel like there's a story there. But Chen did not elaborate. Also, you need to remind a certain neighbor of yours what they can and cannot tell their boyfriend via personal correspondence. They're not planning to release a sanitized for consumption press release regarding what happened for at least another week.
So obviously you now realize that every child chosen for the program has lost at least one parent to tragedy or has always been a member of a single parent household. That would be Jeremy. He is the one with the arrest record to rival you. His dad just left before he was even born.
All the Ashleys lost one of their parents during the battle of Vulcan. Mr. Martinez lost his little sister last year to one of the few forms childhood cancer that we haven't cured yet. Then his father committed suicide the month after. So the fact that he's starting to come around and help you is a good sign. That kid needs all the help he can get. I think you're the one who can provide that help. If anybody understands what those kids need, it's you. I believe you can do it.
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Number_one_Pike
Time sent: 3/13/2260 06:02:01
Subject: Why didn't you tell me that earlier?
It's great that one of us believes I can do this because I don't. They are all so fucked up. Jo Jo is like the well-adjusted one and her mom wrapped herself around a tree last year. Therapy, they're all getting mandatory therapy. Even one of the Ashleys has her own Frank.
So obviously I finally read through everybody's dossier beyond the arrest record section. I mean, I should've realized it was this bad because why else would their parents qualify for the trial program. Yes, I realize I'm a dumb genius sometimes. So I guess this means I have to try harder to keep them in check or to help. I'll talk to Sulu about inviting Jay to do fencing lessons as well. He really misses his daughter and I think helping Jo Jo has lessened the pain. Actually, self-defense classes might be good for the Ashleys. Especially the Ashley who got raped by her uncle Frank.
Maybe helping another kid will help. I may have to write Dr. Suarez. I can ask her how she helped me, especially through all the Frank stuff.
Were doing good things on the planet. It was only a tiny coup d'état. Only the king died and he was starving his people so I'm not that upset about it. Now that he's gone, the food distribution is happening appropriately. We also think the lab has found what was causing the crops to produce less. Pollinator killing chemical being released into the atmosphere by the king, no less. Even alien plants need pollinators. Thankfully, things did not get to irreversible levels before we got here. The situation is stable for the moment and it will hopefully stay that way with additional Federation Aid oversight for recovery and relief distribution. I really would like to avoid Tarsus part 2, especially because we're getting close to the anniversaries.
Speaking of Tarsus, I should really write Kevin soon. Maybe send a gift. That probably would be best.
Anyway, I will try to write you again later.
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: mental_health_help_desk_Suarez
Subject: How is colony life?
Time sent: 3/13/2260 06:15:54
Hey, it's Jim. Your favorite former adolescent patient. I hope at least anyway. This is my new email address. It was time for a change.
So how is your second tour of duty on the new Vulcan colony? Is it going better than the first time around? Things are going good with Margarita. She is actually picking up on my sarcasm and she did not start giggling when I went on a 15 minute tangent about Spock not wanting to have shower sex or any fun activities with chocolate syrup. I mean it's not like we haven't done ice cream play before, but he kind of doesn't want to be chocolate tipsy and something on the ship go wrong so I can't blame him. Let's be honest, the universe will go to hell the moment we try to do something like that.
Okay, I do want to know how things are going with you, but I also need your help. So, you know that Enterprise was chosen for the trial run of the new minors on starships program and well somehow, they chose preteens and young adults that are somewhat more screwed up than me at that age. I think Jo Jo might be the well-adjusted one and she is being bullied and I think she cries a lot. Her eyes are always puffy. She won't talk about it. She won't talk about anything. And again she's the good one.
One of the Ashleys even has her own Uncle Frank. That is causing all sorts of bad memories to come back up. No one should have to deal with an Uncle Frank. I shouldn't have had to deal with an Uncle Frank. But at least Ashley 2's mom kicked the evil boyfriend to the curb after she stabbed him with a barbecue fork. Starfleet didn't count that against her. Well, Chen didn't count that against her. Actually, I think Chen gave her a promotion.
So what do I do? They're all acting out, mostly on Jo Jo. I've already lost our tutor. Finding a replacement is going to be awful. I need help. You handled me and I was a lost cause. Help!
To be continued