Thank you to everybody who read or review the last conversation. You are all fabulous.

Day 254: Fine has various meanings

November 3, 2260

Starfleet priority message from Dr. Benjamin J. Sulu to Lieutenant Commander Sulu

Hey sweetie. I miss you. This is my second attempt at writing this message to you. The first one didn't go through because, apparently, I didn't have the clearance to send a rapid message to Enterprise despite being authorized by both captains Kirk-Spock. Liz spent half of today rectifying the situation, which is part of the reason why my last name is now Sulu in the Starfleet database even though the legal name change is still pending. Although I was warned this could cause problems with receiving Zach's pension. According to Winona, remarriage occasionally messes that sort of thing up.

Ming was not happy when I told her about the mixup. Ming may have fired someone. I'm quite sure she's fired a lot of people, with a few most likely seeing a cell very soon. Technically, Perez oversees the Hamilton investigation on the San Francisco side, but Ming is watching everything closely. She is pissed, like breaking furniture pissed and I don't blame her.

It's why she brought in your sister, who I think might be the Starfleet equivalent of a secret agent. Okay, now I'm less upset about her not wanting to take care of D if something happened to you.

I'm not happy with what's going on either. I knew things were not good on board the Hamilton. Sue and I always email each other, and half of her emails were laments about her boss and coworkers. I'm sure you got some of the same. Although I didn't think it was "hand you over to others to save your own skin" levels of horribleness. I'm still wondering what happened. Although good news, the maternity leave replacement is currently sporting a black eye and Starfleet medical has been ordered not to fix it before turning them over to protective custody. Three guesses how he got it. Obviously, charges will be coming.

So, how are you? How is Sue? Do you have an idea about how to answer that question other than "fine"? Because I don't think 'fine' is an adjective that works right now. Also, as a reminder, comfort sex is allowed if both of you need it. She's like your ultimate freebie card. I would prefer a video, but I don't trust Starfleet messaging right now. All the Enterprise updates to HQ were arriving 6 to 12 hours later than they should have.

I guess, at this point, I want to know what happened. I got the clean version from Ming at the briefing. Then I read Jim's rapid message to Kevin. He was more honest with details. I've also got to see your email to Liz. Being a doctor, I am worried about the fact that brownies are not on the menu for another week.

Modern dermal regenerators can do wonders for the bruises on the outside, but with all our marvels of technology, we have yet to easily heal the scars on our souls. I feel like those might be significantly more pronounced. You don't survive being held captive for two weeks without some scarring.

I know Lizzy is worried about that. She will not outright say it in an email, but she's concerned because she lived through hell and didn't have enough to eat. From the details that she got, that's kind of what she's thinking happened to Sue. Liz has been hoarding food for the last few days. A lot of it has been half-price Halloween trick-or-treat pretzels and cracker packets along with other stuff as well. I'm sure she's bringing an entire suitcase filled with ration bars to New Vulcan or possibly leftover Halloween candy.

Xxxxx

Starfleet priority message from Lieutenant Commander Sulu to Dr. Benjamin J. Sulu

Subject: We are okay, and I really love your new last name

Thanks for writing. Let me just start off by saying how much I absolutely adore your new last name. I was going to write to you soon, but I have been busy with Sue, as you can understand. Good news, she's out of medical and in my room now. I think Leonard let her out a little earlier than intended because we're so close to medical.

You're right about the mental scars being more pronounced. Sue is having trouble sleeping alone. The first night I tried to be a gentleman and sleep on the couch, she woke up. Sue woke up screaming still thinking she was there. She didn't fall back asleep until I was in bed with her. Since you pretty much gave me permission to have sex with her, I think cuddling has been authorized as well. I believe cuddling is kind of what we both need right now. Also, anything else more strenuous, she won't be cleared for couple more weeks which may lineup with our time in new Vulcan. I am game if you are.

The investigation on the Enterprise side of things is headache-inducing. Being Jim, he looked past the easy answer. Although it still looks like the whole thing happened due to jealous coworkers, sex, and the attempt to take out the competition. There was also a bit of stupidity. OK, a lot of stupidity, in addition to elevated levels of gaslighting. I think the captain was just stupid, but the guy who filled in was malicious and he made sure he was far away from the crime scene before the shit hit the fan (leaving one of his friends in charge) and it did hit.

But apparently, so do you. Or maybe it was Liz. You should've included pictures. I assume protective custody means he was arrested. Please tell me that guy is getting court-martialed. That would make me feel so much better and would make it easier for Sue to sleep without using me as a teddy bear.

Sue wasn't tortured or sexually assaulted. She did see someone murdered in front of her who was obviously tortured. We are not sure if that happened in front of her because Reyes won't let us do the investigation interview until at least tomorrow. Sue may have felt like he was ridiculously incompetent, but she didn't want him dead even though he tried to sell her out. Despite that, it was still traumatizing. I think flashbacks to that are why she had trouble falling asleep last night.

There was also a lack of food due to humans eating significantly more than the local population. Also being isolated for more than two weeks with no actual human contact for the last eight days could make anyone start to lose it. She was worried she was going to die there, especially after watching her captain be killed, and Garber was sent away.

Sue did have some injuries with no first aid. Before the captain got killed, he did stab her, and her captors didn't really know what to do. OK they may have done nothing on purpose. They didn't want to outright kill her, but if she dies because of infection, that's not on them. So, they're not concerned with it. Communications is still trying to work out interview translations by hand. The universal translator algorithm for the language is messed up. Maybe it will go better once Sue talks to the investigators.

I know she's been talking about things to her therapist. I'm so glad Dr. Reyes ended up on the Enterprise because it's been beneficial. They've been talking a lot. No formal sessions but talking. Mostly over applesauce because cookies are still not entirely on the menu just yet.

I am not surprised Liz is hoarding leftover Halloween treats and nutrition bars. I hope she gets the ones that taste good. I heard Vulcan cuisine can leave much to be desired at various times.

I'm also thankful for Gina being here, which has done better than just about anything else. Gina pretty much slept in the chair next to me for the last few days. I think she would have been on the floor, but the kids need her. All the kids are a little unsettled by what happened, especially JoJo, since she is friends with Liz.

Gina didn't know it was Sue we were trying to find, just that it was the first officer of the diplomatic ship. Spock didn't even tell Gina the name of the ship because if she knew it was the Hamilton then she would've known and someone needed to keep the kids calm because they were in lockdown while we were trying to find Sue. I am really thankful that Nyota figured out the universal translator was messed up.

We now know it was the maternity leave replacement responsible for that. We're currently investigating most of the communications team on Hamilton. I'm sure two of them will be in the brig by tomorrow. Nyota is trying to decide who from her team will need to be transferred to the Hamilton temporarily as the new department head.

I'm sure you're responsible for filming at least half the baby videos that Liz sent. They've also been helpful. Sue feels better when she's watching the babies. Hugs and kisses to everyone. I cannot wait to see you.

PS: I sent you a letter that wrote when I was in the middle of the "Sue is missing" nightmare, and I was kind of a mess. I apologize now, but hey, that means you're the person I need to talk to when things are a hot mess.

Xxx

Starfleet priority message from Dr. Benjamin J. Sulu to Lieutenant Commander Sulu

It's OK that you were a mess. I understand this. When you get to meet Zoe next month, ask her how I was right after the Vulcan incident. I realize these last few days have been hard on all of us. I'll stand by for more from Sue. Hugs and kisses from the baby and I look forward to New Vulcan.

I'll arrange for a babysitter for both kids. The three of us will have a good night. There will be wine.

You should know both of your sisters have managed to talk their way onto the trip. Your oldest sister is going to be doing some sort of event planning, and the one that's part of Starfleet is supposed to be meeting with Jim and the others about the Hamilton investigation. Okay I understand why the one who's a Starfleet member is coming, but I think the other one is there mostly to do wedding stuff. If we elope while on New Vulcan, I think she'll kill us both. So how do you feel about Yorktown in summer?

PS: Cuddling is so allowed. Cuddling is the one thing I miss the most when you are away. I feel like you both need cuddling.

XXXX

Starfleet priority message from Lieutenant Commander Sulu to Dr. Benjamin J. Sulu

I don't think I want to know how both sisters managed to worm their way onto this trip. Maybe they both work for the branch of Starfleet that's not supposed to exist. I want a summer wedding in Yorktown. You read my mind. More hugs and kisses and virtual cuddles. You get all the virtual cuddles.

PS: Sue likes your wine and babysitter idea. She has made a joke about you knowing to get the right type of lube. Apparently, I am better at getting smarter significant others.

To be continued