Title: Dear Sam 16
Author: Istannor 
Series: TOS
Part: 1/1
Rating: [PG13]
Codes: 
Summary: Kirk  runs a training drill for his crew. Be
prepared is his motto.

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,

Yes, I'm almost completely healed. I feel really good and my
endurance is  back to near normal.  I've been working out
with Bones a lot since he has to work on rehabbing his leg.
After I finish with him, Spock shows up and we practice
Kata's, or sometimes he just works on my flexibility and
strength. He gives a mean massage, Big Brother.

I'm really am almost fully recovered and my strength is
returned to norm. Stop worrying. I even have some pubic hair
again. It itches. My chest has sprouted a few measly hairs,
too. If I had known that a visit to Charon would make me grow
hair on my chest, I might have gone sooner...right. They are
so few and look so pathetic, that I'll get rid of them. I'd rather
have no hair then a few anemic ones. At least the good folks
of Charon spared my head. I hated it when they shaved my
head after Tarsus. Luckily, it all grew back.

The dreams are getting better. Last night, I was a woman
looking down at a child.  I was making small noises and
laughing when the child cooed or smiled in response.  He
looked to be six months old, or less, with startling gray eyes
and coal black hair.  That was a good feeling. There was no
killing, no fear, no running, only the sounds of a mother and
her child. I woke up feeling refreshed.

We are going out past Federation Borders again.  I know this
is encrypted, but even in this letter I can't tell you where we
will be.

I decided to run some competitive drills yesterday.  I had
each shift trying to beat the time of the last shift in a series of
competitions that involved getting 10 randomly selected crew
men from one site on the ship to another. I selected the
beginning site by lots and they had to start there, in the dark.
We made them wear blinders so they couldn't see.  I gave
each person two spotters so they didn't walk out of an air
lock.

It was really hilarious to see them wander around the ship
trying to find the mess based on the map in their heads. The
times were horrific, and the success rate was 18.5 percent.
They have no guarantee we will always have light, heat,
gravity, or even air, so they better learn this ship. Sulu came
to me today and said the crew felt it was an unfair drill.  I
asked him how he wanted me to prove to them it was a fair
drill.  He said I should show them it could be done.  It was a
good idea, so I used it.

I called together every body from the last drill and had them
select a beginning site and a destination.  I had to laugh.
They selected Scotty's quarters in the back of engineering as
the starting point and the destination was the waste recycler.
Those are two of the most out of the way places on this ship.
I hammed it up a bit, took a bow and was led blindfolded to
Scotty's quarters.

I'd brag, but you'd just call me an idiot and make me feel like
one for bragging.  I made it to the destination site in 10.73
minutes.  There are braille signs all over the place, so it really
was just a case of following the yellow brick road.  Every one
of the crew knew those signs were there but only 18.5
percent used them.

I made sure they saw me using the signs.  It wouldn't help
them to know I have every last tube, corridor, cabin, and
conduit in this ship memorized.  That would only demoralize
the crew, and make them give up.  So, I stumbled from sign
to sign until I got to the goal.  Today, I noticed a lot of folks
walking down the corridors with their eyes closed.  I will hold
the next drill in a week.  That will give them a chance to
practice.  I'll keep it easy for a while. Then, I'll turn off the
gravity and the lights.

Won't that be fun?

We're going to have a three-day lay over after this.  I'm going
down with Bones.  He wants to go to some clubs together. I
asked him why he doesn't go on leave with his friend from
engineering, the one he's screwing.  She has family where
we are going and she is going to visit with them.  Bones was
invited, but he told her he was allergic to meeting the mothers
and relatives of the women he dates.

I invited Spock, but he declined.  He said leave is for rest and
bar hopping all night is not his idea of rest.

Enough for now.  I'm tired and I'm going to sleep.  Give my
love to Aurelan and the kids. Let me know what Sammy
wants for his birthday. Tell them they should write to their
Uncle, I would like that very much. It would help keep
me...involved. I don't want to be the stranger who sends them
gifts on holidays; my non-relationship with David is enough
for one lifetime.

Love,

Jim