Personal Log 75: Correspondence
03 Oct 2016Jemine Caesar
+++ k-cast recorded message +++From: Jemine Caesar
To: Sam Hodkin; Nathalie Hudson
24th October, 3301
Dear Sam and Nathalie,
Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me to find my real father. The events of last night were a shock to us all, with emotions running high. I hope you understand my decision to stay, even if you do not necessarily agree with it. I feel it is something I simply must do. Edward Harvard may not appear to be a very nice man, but, as I said, he is still my father.
Edward's debts have now all been paid off, thanks to the money you left, Sam. It is clearly a weight off Edward's shoulders. I am now busy trying to establish some sort of order in Edward's pigsty of a home. All the empty beer and liquor bottles have gone, and there is now some proper food in his galley store. The whole apartment has been cleaned and disinfected. The dirty clothes that we found strewn all over have been washed and put away, except for some particularly disgusting items that went straight into the incinerator. I'm taking Edward shopping for some new things later today. You both know how much I love shopping! I'll also be treating him to a decent haircut and shave.
I have booked Edward a place at a residential clinic for recovering alcoholics, down on Koyans 5, starting November 1st. Edward tells me that today is the first time he has felt properly sober in years, and he is determined to stay that way. I have a glimmer of hope for him.
Sam; Edward says to tell you he doesn't blame you for shooting him with the stun pistol. He thinks he had it coming anyway, so no hard feelings. He promises to carry out his part of the bargain you set him, though he confesses that 'being a father' will be the toughest challenge of all.
Nathalie; Edward understands the anger and frustration you directed at him last night. He's spent the much of the last 28 years feeling guilty about what he did to gran-- I mean, to my mother. Your reaction, he says, is a big part of the reason he wants to change. He's happy that you are my friend.
I must admit, it came as a great relief to learn that I am not the daughter of Harold Duval. I don't think I would have made a good princess-in-exile! Instead, I am content to know that I am an ordinary woman, like billions of others throughout the galaxy. But I am blessed with something that those billions of others are not; I have you as my closest friends. Please take care of each other until I see you again in a few days time.
All my love to you both,
Jem
xx
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+++ k-cast recorded message +++
From: Jemine Caesar
To: Sam Hodkin; Nathalie Hudson
28th October, 3301
Hello Sam and Nathalie,
How are you both?
Edward and I have found out a lot about each other in the last few days. Amongst other things I now know he was born on Capitol, the son of an Imperial merchant. So I do have Empire blood in my veins after all, which is something I will have to accept.
I'm happy that I'll be leaving Edward in a much better state than that in which we found him. I've missed you both so very much, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again in a couple of days time. I have a lot to tell you.
All my love,
Jem
xx
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+++ k-cast recorded message +++
From: Sam Hodkin
To: Jemine Caesar
29th October, 3301
My dearest Jem,
I'm incredibly well as it stands, though I must confess that I ended up hotfooting it back to Beta Hydri a few days ago for family matters, and to partly tend bar as well.
Long story short my father had a mild heart attack, and is currently on leave from heading the Rose. My uncle Mark has stepped in to deputise. (I assure you the Black Hole is in very safe hands!) In other news, it looks like Jenna could well give birth earlier than her due date as it stands, or more accurately her due date has been moved back to mid- to late-December, so there's a strong chance I could have unclehood as a Christmas present!
Can't admit to have having managed any contact with Nathalie the past week or so either, could be that she's keeping a low profile with the assassination warrant on her head, but by Gaia I miss both of you and worry for you every minute.
At present I've been indulging in a little civil war participation in nearby systems in order to up my credit balance a little, as well as a little Civilian Space Patrol work for lost pilots, it's gratifying to have saved someone's life and then co-piloting if able!
Love as always,
Sam
x
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+++ k-cast recorded message +++
From: Jemine Caesar
To: Sam Hodkin
29th October, 3301
My darling Sam,
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to hear your voice again, even though it is only by k-cast recorded.
I do hope your father makes a speedy recovery. It seems that fathers are uppermost on both our minds at present. Please make sure yours listens to advice and gets some rest. I am quite sure the Rose can get by without him, at least for a short while.
Please give Jenna my very best wishes. For her due date to be revised from mid - January to late December suggests that her pregnancy may be having a complication. One strong possibility is that the baby does not have enough growth room in Jenna's womb, which is quite a common cause of premature births. It would explain Jenna's prolonged bouts of pregnancy sickness, as well as the size of her bump! I'm sure her gynaecologist will have explained everything to her, but she probably doesn't want to alarm anyone. You mustn't worry, Sam. Jenna and her baby will be fine.
I must admit, I'm worried about Nathalie. She hasn't responded to my messages, and I'm afraid for her. I hope your hunch about her keeping a low profile is right, but it's strange that she hasn't let either of us know where she is. I miss her.
I've been running some checks on The Last Thing, in preparation for take-off sometime in the next 24 hours. Edward says he may move to another system once his alcoholic rehab is over. He'll let me know where.
News of the local systems is a little patchy in Koyans, but rumours of your space patrol exploits have reached the station bars. A pilot called Robinson has been regaling anyone who'll listen with tales of his rescue from certain death by someone sounding suspiciously like you. My hero!
Love you,
Jem
x
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+++ k-cast recorded message +++
From: Sam Hodkin
To: Jemine Caesar
30th October, 3301
My dearest Jemine,
I managed to get a comms signal from Nathalie last night so hotfooted over to her location about 35ly from Koyans. She's keeping a low profile, as you would expect with the assassination warrant still on her head. We did a spot of civil war fighting in the nearby conflict zone and netted a few credits fighting for the non-Empire faction... until I realised at Reid Gateway that the faction in question were slavers...
That aside, it's becoming imperative that once you're out of Koyans that we need to get out of Empire space sooner rather than later, I've been able to listen in on a few Imperial Navy frequencies via creative means, and Nath's warrant could become more widespread than the 50ly radius, and while chatting we agreed that Federation space is the safest option until everything dies down.
And Jenna is right as rain judging by her k-cast this morning, albeit bed rest has been prescribed until the birth, and to be fair she's not exactly a beanpole like myself! Sarah inherited those genes instead, and Luke is looking after Jen like a absolute star.
Before you leave Koyans, pass on my warmest regards to Edward, and assure him that if he needs any cargo space for when he moves, R134 is available as needed.
As for the CSP exploits, Robinson was one lucky man, his wreckage popped up on the ship's computer, and by the time I picked up his escape capsule he'd been without emergency oxygen for maybe a minute..
Love always and godspeed
Sam
x