Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. You are all so wonderful. We have more rapid messages in this section.
Day 221: Greetings from Yorktown
Starfleet priority message for Captain James Kirk-Grayson from Cadet Elizabeth Chen
Subject: We are safe in Yorktown
Hey Jim, we arrived at Yorktown this morning. We got here a day earlier than we thought we would. There was only one surprise inspection, and it only lasted a day because we didn't uncover vast amounts of fuckery. That's always good.
I'm sending pictures of my new apartment the normal way. I'm by myself with a guest room for the babies when it becomes too much for mom and dad. I'm very grateful I didn't end up bunking with Ben's former mother-in-law like proposed initially. Ben and Sue are sharing an apartment. They have separate rooms, which makes sense since it's a sibling spouse situation. (Don't mention the M-word around my sister.) You're also getting pictures of their four-bedroom apartment. You'll probably get them in three or four days.
Theoretically, messages from Yorktown should get to Enterprise about 50% faster than they did from Earth. So, expect to hear more from me, especially since my boyfriend is far away. It's going to be a long six months. I think it's ridiculous that I'm banned from instant messaging him. I'm tempted to ask you to pass on an "I'm safe" message. However, I remember what you told me last time. This annoys me because, again, they're going to think whatever they want to think. Nothing we can do will ever change that, so why try.
This is getting long for something that is supposed to be a "hi, I'm safe" message. I think Sue is messaging the not a boyfriend separately. Or maybe it's the fiancé's turn. Just in case, let Sulu know we're safe, and the kids miss him so much. I dealt with an hour of crying when we left Enterprise.
Please write back. I need something to keep me entertained. I feel like this is going to be a boring semester abroad.
XXXX
Starfleet priority message for Lieutenant Commander Sulu from Dr. Benjamin J. Sulu
Subject: Greetings from Yorktown
Hi sweetie. Sue has decided it was my turn to send you the "we have arrived safely" message. We arrived at Yorktown and are almost settled into our apartment. It came fully furnished. I think it might be a little too nice for a house with two toddlers. It's newer than the other Starfleet housing. We are also going to have to baby-proof the place—too many sharp edges.
It only feels slightly strange to live in the middle of a space station floating upon nothing. Maybe we'll get used to it after a little while. Anyway, we both miss you. We're sending lots of pictures.
Don't worry about letting your boss know. Liz wrote him separately. She should be messaging her boyfriend, but Liz won't message Kevin because he's worried about nepotism accusations. Because she's not messaging him, the Admiral is doing it for her, probably making things worse. We can't wait to hear from you although regular messages are OK.
PS: Also, don't forget to write to the babies. Katie bear might be able to dictate a response now.
XXXX
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Elizabeth_Chen
time sent: 01/08/2261 19:43:01
Subject: Congratulations on arriving at Yorktown without strangling anybody.
I'm glad to know that you have arrived at the Starbase completely intact. Congratulations on not sharing an apartment with your sister. I don't think Starfleet can handle it. Kevin told me stories. I'm pretty sure your mom is putting Ben's mom in non-Starfleet housing for everybody's sanity. Technically, Ben should've been there as well as a contractor, but Starfleet recognizes them as a family unit. Per Nyota, kids are more legally binding than marriage for Starfleet assignment purposes.
I hope you have a few days to settle before starting your assignment. It was kind of hard going straight back to my regular duties after diplomatic ass-kissing on New Vulcan for a week and a half. Running straight into the birthdays didn't help. Thankfully, Nyota's email prevented most people from wishing me a happy birthday on January 4. January 6 went much better. I like my joint birthday with my husband. You're getting pictures from our birthday breakfast.
We're actually going to get some boots on the ground soon. Granted, it's taking soil samples from New Vulcan's closest neighbor NV 748G6, but the hubby is happy because he can go down with them. Spock and the new head of science have reached an understanding. Also, it just made sense for Spock to be on the team since it will be filled with Vulcan Science Academy members.
Of course, Spock will be staying on the planet for a few nights. I'm hopeful Peter will be better with that now after visiting his grandfather. We had no emergency messages begging for him to be transported back to the ship. So that's progress, right?
I did talk to Sulu, and the fiancé did rapid message him. You were right about that. Also, because you elected not to message your boyfriend, your mom did it instead. I bet that's going to go over well with the assholes. I thought I did better at teaching Kevin not to give a fuck. Obviously, I failed.
Thank you for the birthday presents. You guys didn't have to, especially because you just brought us a bunch of stuff for Christmas, but I love the books. I have no idea who got what because all the cards fell off, but we love it all the same. Spock is having fun reading a bunch of books that managed to get banned in the 21st century. He's very curious about why a graphic novel that frames the Holocaust from the perspective of mice was banned. I just told him that humans were assholes and enjoy whitewashing their history as much as Vulcans do. (Next time you write one of the kids, ask them for a copy of their report on the "official" history of the Battle of Vulcan.)
I want to know who was responsible for getting me a vinyl copy of Paul's Boutique? I need to send them a personal email of extreme thanks. I only had that on digital, not classic vinyl. It was the only one missing from my collection. Spock thinks it might be an original 20th-century pressing, which probably costs a small fortune. I'm too afraid to actually play it, but I love it. I'm going to have it framed and put up in our quarters.
You know I want you to write as much as possible. I want all the best gossip from Yorktown. Spock and I have been thinking of doing a non-ship assignment after the five-year mission. Of course, the first choice is New Vulcan, especially if Peter gets into the VSA. However, we may want to try out space station life first. New Vulcan feels more like a retirement assignment. I think we have a few more Starfleet years in us. Although maybe less if we keep doing things like collecting soil samples from desolate planets and moons.
XXXX
From: SuluHG2260
To: Benjamin_2254
Subject: Congratulations on not living with your mother-in-law
time sent: 01/08/2261 21:45:21
I'm so happy to hear from you this time. I'm glad you're getting settled into the new apartment. Although sorry, it's all Starfleet furniture with sharp edges. I thought your old place was cute, but I'm sure all the housing in Yorktown is very stylized. I'm glad that they decided you could go straight to Yorktown and not have to spend a couple of months on New Vulcan doing training.
How is your mother-in-law settling in? Jim said that Liz has her own apartment and is very grateful for it. I thought they were going to be sharing an apartment? Although with her tendency to micromanage the babies, I'm hoping that she's on the other side of the Starbase.
Work has been interesting. I'm going to get to do plant life samples soon. Unfortunately, we're visiting a moon first tomorrow. I don't think there will be any plants there, but then we're going to visit all the other planets in the New Vulcan system over the next few weeks. We think at least one more might be suitable for life. I think that means I'll get to sample the local planet life. You know that's my favorite part
Anyway, I can't wait to see the pictures. I hope you guys do well in Yorktown. I miss you both. The next part is for the babies.
XXXX
Dear Katie Bear and Baby D:
I think this is the first time I've written to both of you, but K get used to this. You're my little girl too. I miss you both. It was really great to spend time with you. You're both so big now. Katie Bear, you practically talk in full sentences. Your daddy thinks you might be able to send me a response. The ambassador was trying to teach you all sorts of fun Vulcan words. Well, not too much fun. Aunt Nyota is the one that will teach you all the curse words in different languages. Although not until you're a teenager. You didn't get to spend as much time with her because she had to work on the ship. But she loved every minute with you guys.
I'm glad we got to spend time together on New Vulcan. It was so nice to do the holidays as a family. You guys really enjoyed wrecking those gingerbread houses. I may have a hard copy of that photo on my console. That way, I can look at it when I'm working.
Anyway, I love you guys. Take care of mommy and daddy. I will see you girls this summer for the wedding. You two are going to make the cutest flower girls together. Although one of you gets to carry the rings. K, I think that's you because your little sister still likes to put everything in her mouth. Rings are not food.
To be continued...
Please note, that I will not be updating this story for four weeks instead of the normal two. I am visiting my parents in two weeks, and I will be busy with them. Normally I would just upload the chapter afterward, but I only have one more chapter ready to go after this one. I hope to work on new chapters this week, but I'm not sure how far I will get with having to do other things like packing. The extra two weeks will give me more time to work on the next batch of chapters.