Title: Dear Sam 15 Author: Istannor Series: TOS Part: 1/1 Rating: [PG13] Codes: Summary: Kirk discusses the aftermath of Charon. Disclaimer: These are the characters of Paramount and Viacom, they own them, I only check 'em out from the library. I promise to bring 'em back. Feedback to Istannor @Aol.com Captain James T. Kirk USS Enterprise NCC-1701 C/O Starfleet Operations Earth Central STARFLEET DIPLOMATIC COURIER, CODED SECURE George Samuel Kirk Jr. Bioagricultural Industries, Kirk Inc. Deneva Central 17 Junque St. Deneva, UFP Dear Sam, I can see by your letter that you have heard about Charon and have decided that I should kill or seriously damage McCoy. You are not one for subtlety, are you? I know that it hit Earth's newsvids while I was asleep. I'm real healthy and I'm sorry if you were worried by the reports. I seem to have to say that quite a bit these days. I already wrote my letter to Mom and told her I was okay. Who's letting her use Starfleet channels to send letters? I even used the secret password to mean that I really was okay. Her letter was a tad strident. You know how it can get when Winona gets riled. Forgive him, Sam. He could no more have done what they asked of him without some type of preparation than I could kill a child on a whim. It is not in Bones to eat of death. I think that on some level his initial reaction was a fear that if he ate death, he would lose his gift for healing. He rebelled. His very essence coiled up in righteous indignation and he said no. I won't beat him up for that. I just won't take him anywhere In the future where I need him to say yes and I know that he can't. I'm fine. As for my skin, it is strangely soft again, like a child's. The real strange part is the fact that I don't have any pubic hair. The last thing I need is for a woman to see this. I had enough of being called baby face. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to be called baby dick? Hmm, on second thought, on closer perusal, I don't think I can ever be called that. You may have gotten the height, but I got the size that counts. Ah a ah a ah ah a aha. Yes, I'm beating my chest right now. Me, Tarzan, well hung Captain, with no pubic hair. Make sure and let your wife read this so she will admit at last that she picked the wrong one of us. Ha. Gosh, I can't believe I just did that; it was fun though. It's been ages since I did anything as goofy as that. Do you think I'm losing my sense of humor? Am I getting too serious? Am I getting burned out by all of this responsibility? I don't know, but I pray I last long enough to do what I must. Thankfully, I know I will see when my time has come and passed. Then I will be free, maybe even to love someone. Humph, that's probably too much to ask; I'll be content with being free. I'm sorry, I didn't intend to turn maudlin on you. I'm still a little weary, but I'll be okay by tomorrow, I promise. Spock was there when I woke up and made sure I knew that everyone was alright. I'm really grateful to him for that. It was very thoughtful and more than a little unexpected. I have a sense that he was always there while I was unconscious, like the small fire in the fireplace in Mom's den at home. I vaguely remember him coming down to the planet and touching me while I held McCoy's wound. I remember screaming at him to save my crew; I thought I had been skinned alive. It seems like another life now. As for Leonard Horatio McCoy, MD, what, you might ask, did I do to him? I am very proud of myself for this one. McCoy has to remain absolutely mute except for medical issues for two weeks, and sober. During his time of silence, he has to research the burial and funeral customs of two non-humanoid cultures a day. After he has finished, he must give the crew a series of three talks, one for each shift, on respecting the customs of others and cite his research in each and every lecture. I think that's fair, especially since he almost killed three members of my crew, not including himself. You asked me what I thought about the people of Charon and what they did to me. I honestly don't hold any hate in my heart for them. They are usually a very kind people. I can appreciate their point. If we didn't atone for our transgression, we risked the immortal soul of a child, and the nephew of the Emperor. They really believe that, Sam. It wasn't a diplomatic game to them. What can you say in the face of faith? Who knows, they may be right. I remember a conversation I had with Grandpa when I was six, about how gross communion was, because it was the ritualized consumption of blood and flesh. I told him it was yucky. He listened and told me to eat, have faith, and be quiet. I did then and I would've on Charon. I personally think Grandpa's disapproval would have been more painful then what they did to me on Charon. God, I loved that man. I'm content, Sam. My crew is safe and now I have good friends beside me, even if one of them does have an especially big mouth. As McCoy would say: What did I expect? He's a doctor, not a diplomat, dammit. Take care of yourself. I miss you. Oh, I'm going to try to take my next leave in your quadrant. I will see you if I can. This time I think I'll come alone, or I may bring Spock if he'll join me. Bone wants to see his daughter so they are going to try to meet up at a halfway point between Earth and where ever we end up. Bring the kids, please. Only bring Aurelan if you dare. Tarzan has spoken. I am sorry again for worrying you. Please have some fun for me and never forget that I love you and no matter how crazy I get, I will never do anything to shame you or our family, unless it serves the NEED. I won't be another Garth; I know I won't. I read up on him, Sam. He was fine until he lost his anchor, his Chief of Engineering, she died in his last battle, that's why he went crazy. Is that why you gave me two? Or, are you trying to tell me that I am twice as dangerous? Never mind, don't answer that. Love, Jim The Endowed Brother. March 26, 1999 Page 3