Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are so fabulous.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled emails.

Day 264: Your sister is cool

From: Elizabeth_Chen

To: Peter_K

cc: Kevin KR

Time arrived: 11/13/2260 00:00:01

Subject: Sorry we couldn't hang out virtually

Hey, this is Liz here. We're taking turns writing this because there's a certain one and ½-year-old that needs our attention. She's such a diva. She's my sister's kid. Someday I must tell you stories about Sue in college.

I am so glad to get your letter. So was Kevin. We are also happy to know that our grief checklist has helped someone else. Both of us know losing a parent is hard. We also know that going from a colony to a completely different environment is a process that takes a lot of adjustment. Kevin and I understand what you're going through probably a lot more than a lot of other people. We both lost our entire families on Tarsus during a famine and political action that followed. Your dad saved us so it's our job to take care of you in whatever way we can.

So we both are so sorry we didn't get to do a video call because I was so wrapped up in wedding and engagement stuff, but we are going to get to see each other in December, which is only about two months away. Baby D is looking forward to meeting her cousin. She always wants more playmates. Also, any friend of JoJo is a friend of hers. She misses her playmates so much.

I'm assuming that it's probably been a month since your last letter and therefore you have gotten to know your new classmates by this point. I want to hear all about these new people. What are they like? Have you made any more friends? Are any of them as evil as Jeremy? Did anyone tell you about Jeremy? I never met the kid, but from what I heard, he's probably on the pathway to being a sociopath. Mom mumbled something about him flunking out of quasi-military school in a week. She's not happy. My mom is not happy about a lot of things.

OK, this is Kevin taking over from Liz. Baby D just decided to spell applesauce all over Liz and our carpet. Who thought it would be a clever idea to put carpet in a kitchen? It is just ridiculous. Yes, it's kitchen carpet that easily washes up, but applesauce is everywhere. Kids are messy. I'm pretty sure most of the pictures that you've got of your uncle have been of him covered in chocolate sauce so you should realize this by now.

So, I was told you want stories about Sam. (Although still in London, mom does tell me things). Liz didn't know Sam and Winona until things on Tarsus went FUBAR. I knew him because the Kirks lived next-door to my birth family and me. Liz's family were civilian scientists like your mom, but my family were in Starfleet like the Kirks. It's in my blood just as much as Jim.

So anyway, Winona can't cook (still can't really), but your dad could. He made these fabulous cookies, they had toffee and chocolate. It was ridiculous, but delicious. I think I dreamed about those cookies when things started to get horrible. I remember the recipe (attached) and I promise to make you some when we get to New Vulcan. I think chocolate chips are considered contraband down there, but I'll be using candy bars and I'll make sure to bring some. So, you and I will make some cookies and get your Uncle Spock completely toasted.

From what I remembered from the formal Vulcan ceremony, Spock's probably going to need copious amounts of chocolate to deal with his father for extended periods. They love each other in a very Vulcan way, but I don't think they should be in the same time zone for more than a few hours at a time. Somebody may end up getting nerve pinched. Liz is glaring at me for dictating that. She knows it's true. I don't understand why she is glaring at me.

Feel free to write to us whenever you have the time. We want to hear more stories about Starfleet life. They must be more exciting than Academy life. My classes are emotionally draining and more than one professor is convinced I knocked up my girlfriend. On a positive note, a few of them want to help keep me from getting killed by Liz's mom. So, progress.

This is Liz again. I'm making Kevin put D in a new outfit. School is okay-ish. The Kobayashi Maru class is slightly less horrible now that Nyota's mother is in charge. That reminds me I must ask how Gina is doing as a teacher. She is friends with my sister, so I've known her for forever.

Anyway, like Kevin said write back soon. Pictures of baby D covered in applesauce included.

XXXX

From: Peter_K

To: Elizabeth_Chen; Kevin KR

Time sent: 11/13/2260 19:43:47

Subject: Your sister is cool

It's okay that we didn't get to hang out in person or rather via video call. There'll be other times. I look forward to trying out the recipe, but we don't have the toffee right now. Jim told me about it. He says they are Heath bar cookies, but he doesn't know the recipe and is happy that you know it. Jim did say they were the best thing ever, and he misses them. Maybe you can help me make him a huge box of them as his Christmas/winter solstice present? I want to get him something because he and Spock have been so good to me here. I know that they could've just sent me back to Earth and put me in the system, but they didn't. I'm grateful for that. I think Spock would also be happy with said cookies because I feel like he needs some chocolate right now. The last few days have been hard on him. Maybe I can make the recipe with regular chocolate chips. That could work.

Chris 2 told me that she was in foster care for a while. Thankfully, this trial program meant that her aunt could get custody. She's been liking ship life. It's an improvement over before. Chris 2 doesn't really like to talk about it. It makes her sad.

Everybody has been lovely to me, at least they are not the pygmy of evil. I've heard stories about Jeremy. Apparently, he was a toxic force that brought out everybody's worst behavior, but now that he's gone things have been peaceful. The Ashleys have been good to me. Jay and I talk about comic books all the time. We like some of the same things. Chris 1 understands me because their mom also died during a research mission gone badly. So, they get it. Chris 3 is ridiculously quiet, but he likes to draw. (Although he does behave weirdly around Chris 1. Thanks again for the art supplies and everything else. It's been useful.

Liz, I'm sorry your sister went missing, but she really is safe now. She's been staying with Mr. Sulu and I don't think he'll let anything bad happen to her. He is very protective of her.

I'm kind of surprised you mentioned that your sister and Gina were friends because they were kind of arguing a lot. Gina was mad because your sister is supposedly in love with a guy who is engaged to someone else and is gay. Sue says that at least the situation is better than her last long-term relationship. Also, that Sulu is at least demisexual when it comes to women because otherwise, they wouldn't have a kid together. Reyes had to explain what demisexual means to us. Sue hasn't been around the classroom since and that was like three days ago.

You know thinking about the type of argument they were having; maybe they are friends. That feels like kind of a friend argument.

I feel like Winona is probably the better source for Sam stories, but I'm worried about making her sad. Jim says she gets like that a lot, and then when she gets depressed, she drinks, but she's been doing better lately which he is happy about. I know there's a lot in this family that I don't know, but I'm hoping to learn it eventually. Anyway, thanks for the pictures. Also, now I know the context of the applesauce pictures that arrived a few days ago.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. Also, I want to hear more about what's going on in school. What is the Kobayashi Maru?

To be continued...