Thank you to everybody who read and review the last section. Again, we are going to continue with the unusual formats for a little while. We are going to have more journal entries and even text messaging. Jim and Spock text message each other during shift all the time. I just don't let you see all of them. Besides, half of them are job-related, and where is the fun in that.

I also decided that 12-year-olds will probably have more curse words in their diary entries than their parents would like.

Day 291: The continuing adventures of the good grandfather

December 9, 2260

Excerpts from the diary of Josephine Jamie Uhura-McCoy

Dear diary:

I am almost packed for my nearly 3 weeks' stay on New Vulcan. I'm actually going to be there longer than the other kids. They will come back right after the dedication ceremony on the 24, just in time to spend the holidays with their families. I think we're going to be on the planet until the end of the year possibly. Grandfather Sarek was somewhat ambiguous.

My father is still shocked that the former Vulcan Ambassador said for me to call him grandfather. I think it has something to do with the familial mental bond between mom and Uncle Spock. It seems Uncle Spock adopted her as family. I refuse to read more into that because I know they had a past relationship. Although that relationship did happen right after his mom and planet died, so extenuating circumstances.

Also, my mom has a history of having sex with her friends after another friend's death. That was a very interesting conversation. Should I be happy that my mom feels that I am mature enough to have these conversations about sex or be completely mortified? It happened the last time Peter and I shared a bed together. I'm not even a teenager yet. I can understand why she's concerned because of what happened to Uncle Jim because his stepdad was a piece of shit. Circumstances are different.

All my friends outside of Peter are significantly older than I am. There's a big difference between 12 and 15. They are definitely all thinking about sex. Jay and Ash may have gone past first base. I think I saw bite marks. Although maybe mom did too, and that's why I got that talk. Also, I have to stay in my own bedroom while we are at the compound unless Saavik is sleeping over as well. I think we might have a few slumber parties. Saavik has never had one before. We have to fix that.

I adore Saavik. We are definitely going to have to write more. She usually just talks to Peter when she calls, but we will have to change that. She needs as many friends as she can get. I think that's why we invited her to hang out with us in classes today and attended the fencing club. Saavik happily accepted because it meant she didn't have to go to the boring dinner with the head of the VSA research team and the new head of the science department Doctor Morales.

Good news the doctor actually gets along with Uncle Spock. Of course, it helps that she doesn't completely try to lock him out of the science department. Also, unlike Carol, she doesn't hate being in Starfleet.

It's pretty obvious that Carol is only staying around for Aunt Becky. I did get a letter from Aunt Becky. They are enjoying London and are both much happier there. Even though Aunt Becky is trying to undo a lot of damage within the engineering department. Carol's father was up to a lot of shit. She also told me that Nana Winona is bringing me more presents. I'm looking forward to it. Although really they don't have to keep buying me stuff. I think I'm going to need a bigger room eventually.

Even though Nana Winona and the others won't arrive until closer to the ceremony, we have so much planned for our time in the colony. After classes anyway. Saavik is going to be stuck at her learning pod almost the entire time. That doesn't seem very fun. Also, if you're just going to a building to spend the entire time looking at a screen, why are you even there? What's the point? It may be socialization, but socialization doesn't work when everybody there is a dick.

I'm going to help Saavik explore other options. Is there a Vulcan equivalent to a private school? I'm sure grandpa can afford it.

Anyway, we all got our final immunization boosters yesterday. Now we have two more days of Vulcan etiquette/culture/history classes. Grandpa is actually going to be one of our lecturers this afternoon. Peter talked him into it. We will leave on the morning of the 11th, and I am already looking forward to it.

I wonder if I can talk grandpa into letting us go with Saavik to her learning pod one day. She's going to be sitting on our classes today for all the lectures. It would only be fair. I have plans for some of her classmates. I'm packing all my rings and made a few other things. Scotty gave me replicator codes. I'll ask grandfather when he visits our class later today.

Xxx

From: Peter_K

To: Spock's_cuddlebunny

Time sent: 12/09/2260 12:32:01

Subject: Uncle Jim, can Saavik just stay with us?

I'm serious. Saavik would be so much happier on Enterprise. We have significantly fewer xenophobic assholes roaming around. Saavik likes our classes better. None of us called her a murderer during project time. Also, nobody tried to sabotage her schoolwork. Apparently, that happens a lot. The overseer just looks the other way. When she doesn't, she blames Saavik for everything. I think she's a xenophobic bigot too.

You should know that one of our guest instructors this morning gave Saavik a dirty look, and what I've been informed is an inappropriate hand gesture. Not Gina's friend. Gina's friend actually called her the cultural equivalent of xenophobic bigot, per Josephine. She is planning to file a report with her supervisor. I'm glad I'm eating dinner with Sue and Sulu because that's going to be a very awkward dinner tonight.

I think Uncle Spock is not getting treated the way he did when he was younger because these Vulcans are not as prejudiced against humans since many of them worked with humans pre-Vulcan implosion. Although it may just be because it's uncle Spock. Apparently, saving the elders managed to get Uncle Spock some brownie points per Gina's friend. But they are very prejudiced against Romulans, probably because of the Vulcan implosion.

I can understand their animosity. If my entire family and planet were destroyed, I would be angry too. But you can't blame an entire people for the actions of one group. Especially when they had nothing to do with it.

This may be why Gina decided we would study the anti-Asian prejudice experienced on earth after the great pandemic of the early 2020s. Technically we are not up to that section of our 21st-century Earth history course yet, but Gina decided we should skip ahead for reasons. She also stated that history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. That feels obvious. My mom was killed by an alien pathogen. I understand, too well.

We watched some videos of Sue and Lizzy's great great great great grandmother who experienced a lot of prejudice. She looks a lot like Sue. She was actually physically assaulted and had a scar because of the incident.

Saavik really identified with her story. She may have cried a little. I didn't know that was possible; I'm learning all sorts of new things.

Anyway, Saavik should come with us because she will actually make real friends here that will not treat her like shit. Jay thinks she's cool because she offered to help him with his Vulcan vocabulary. All the Ashleys adore her. Although Ashley two did suggest an eyebrow waxing. The good Chrises like her. The other Chris was a dick because apparently, one of his parents died during the Battle of Vulcan. But, again, that's not her fault. I think Chris three is really going to flunk this history unit spectacularly.

Anyway, I know you don't have a final decision, but you can influence Uncle Spock and grandpa. I think it would be so much better for her to be around us. The learning pods are, well, hell.

PS: Josephine asked grandpa if we could go with Saavik to the learning pods when he joined us for lunch and his afternoon lecture to our class. I think she's planning to beat the hell out of the two girls that are making school completely miserable for Saavik. She packed rings. How much trouble would I get in if I joined her?

XXXX

Sexy husband: Why did you forward me Peter's email? I realize it would be less traumatic for Saavik to be educated on Enterprise with peers that will not blame her for the Vulcan genocide. It is, unfortunately, not an option. The only way this would ever become an option is if my father completes his adoption process and subsequently expires. That will most likely not happen for the foreseeable future. Although the first is likely to happen within the next six months, the second is not something I wish to experience.

Jim: Nor do I actually. I think you've gone through enough trauma. You don't need to lose your father anytime soon. So have the kids, and they are attached to their grandfather. I wasn't expecting him to be the cuddly grandparent. He's speaking at their class today.

Sexy husband: Neither was I. He made several schedule changes just to accommodate the lecture invitation.

Jim: Because Peter asked him to. He adores your little sister. So I think we might be able to help a little bit, at least in the short term.

Sexy husband: And what is your suggestion?

Jim: Instead of doing the learning pod while the other kids are on the planet, maybe Saavik should participate in their program? It would be good for her to socialize with kids her own age that are not bigots. We can convince your father that it's a cultural exchange.

Sexy husband: Except for apparently Chris 3. He is obviously xenophobic. He's unaware of Vulcan's superior hearing skills. I heard him refer to my sister by several racial slurs.

Jim: Oh, it's so cute you're already thinking of Saavik as your sister. That's a lot faster than I was with Kevin.

Jim: Look, we should have seen it coming. We already know Chris three is transphobic. Xenophobia isn't that much of a stretch. Anti-Romulan prejudice is a problem. You know that they wanted to change The Kobe mushroom bad guys to Romulans for the re-issue?

Jim: You know what I mean. Remind me to talk to IT about upgrading the voice rec. It's being bratty.

Sexy husband: I will. Although, I'm not sure how an AI can be "bratty." I am aware of the attempt to change it and personally argued against it. I know Admiral Chen was the one who decided that they would fight a fictional race instead that will change their appearance periodically to reflect the test takers.

Jim: Because she understands that the bad guys sometimes look like you. She was there for the aftermath of the Tarsus disaster, where the bad guys were very human.

Sexy husband: I will try to speak with my father about this as soon as possible. However, my father's original working lunch has been rescheduled as a dinner tonight that we must attend.

Jim: That definitely will not be a time for us to talk. But I think we're still doing a family dinner tomorrow night since it will be his last night on the ship.

Sexy husband: I will discuss the matter with him then.

At a minimum, we have to talk him out of letting Jojo and Peter go to the learning pods with Saavik because we might be dealing with an intergalactic incident otherwise.

Jim: Josephine will beat the hell out of those girls. Peter will help. Even if we tell him he'll be grounded, he would still do it. Which we won't because that would make us both hypocrites.

Sexy husband: I think they would nerve pinch her before she could do any significant damage.

Jim: Does the average 12-year-old Vulcan know how to nerve pinch, or were you in self-defense classes at an early age because both your parents knew you would need it?

Sexy husband: I think your theory might actually be accurate. I was the youngest individual in my self-defense classes. I always assumed it was because I was the son of an ambassador. Being able to defend myself would be necessary for some situations.

Jim: You are not entirely wrong. But I'm sure your parents both realized you would be dealing with a lot of bigots at home as well.

Sexy husband: Should I also suggest to my father that Saavik begin self-defense training?

Jim: Actually, he already tried to sign her up for classes, but she wasn't allowed to join. And there's only one place right now in their settlement. That might've been when your father started contemplating homeschooling. But he is also worried he might not find a qualified tutor. At least not a Vulcan one. That may have been why I suggested he go back into the Diplomatic Corps.

Sexy husband: I, unfortunately, feel that he should stay on the colony. He is one of the few trustees of the Vulcan Science Academy that survived, and he can help steer the curriculum.

Jim: And education is the key to a less bigoted society?

Sexy husband: Yes.

Jim: Which is important. But you can't forget your kids when accomplishing such noble goals. I feel like maybe your father forgot about that when you were growing up. Perhaps that wasn't so bad because at least you had your mom. But your sister isn't going to have your mom. She has us, so we have to be that person.

Sexy husband: Your reasoning is logical. Will you help me with this discussion by occupying the children so that I may speak to my father in private at the first opportunity?

Jim: As long as you promise no bloodshed.

Sexy husband: I will. I will also ask Nyota to inspect Josephine's luggage.

Jim: That would probably be for the best.

To be continued…