"Ummm, Joshua?" Nani said from the workstation she sat at as the ships exited the wormhole. "Someone's calling you. Said her name is Kobiyashi Maru?" Kirk smiled as he stared out the viewport at USS Enterprise. "Let me speak to her." He said as he turned and stepped behind Nani. An image of Captain Shion Charzide appeared on the monitor. "Captain Charzide, as always, it is wonderful to see you." "Colonel Kirk, long time no see!" The Melani female said, flashing her fangs in a big grin. "I've heard that you've been up to your usual galaxy saving shinanigans once again." "Of course. I am a Kirk after all. It's what we do you know." "I've also heard that you've fathered a boy." She said, leaning forward in her seat. "It's about time! Cyn was tired of you shirking your responsibility as a father. She's looking forward to meeting her brother." "So she tells me everytime I call home." "I was on Mars two days ago, and her football team had just won another game." Shion gave her friend a puzzled look. "The girls were singing the praises of someone named Conrad Dobler. I looked him up. Are you sure you want her praising someone like that?" "Well, he is one of Mack's heroes. Same for The Kirk, James T. They both believe you do what it takes to win." "There's nothing wrong with that." Joshua shrugged. "But not in sports." He said. "You say that because you never played sports, like your siblings. You were either studying your science or preparing for command." "You got it. I had more important things to do." "The idea of being a kid is to have fun." The Starfleet officer shot back. "You didn't start having fun until you got your own command." "Hey! I used to snowboard!" "That was the only fun you allowed yourself. Well, that, and playing poker." "Joshua." Mala tapped him on the shoulder. "Gond is calling. He wants you to know that he's taking his ships home, and that he's looking forward to the ceremony." "Very well, tell him I'll see him there." The girl nodded and returned to her seat. "Using children for your crew?" Shion asked with a chuckle. "Maybe you forgot how old I was when I entered Starfleet. I was the same age." "True." Shion said with a nod of her head. "But enough small talk. I'm here to escort you and your friends to Earth. They have a big party ready to welcome them." "Do you have a hyperdrive in that bucket?" "Bucket?" She asked, giving Joshua the eye. "Watch how you talk about Starfleet's first hyperdrive capable ship of the line. She has a hyperdrive that's rated at 1.0." "Well that will enable you to keep up with the big ships. This baby here is rated at .7." "Oooo. You have a fast ship." "Not mine. She belongs to the gorgeous blonde there." Kirk said, pointing to Peenk, who waved. "She's done some rather nice modifications to her." "We can talk about that in eight hours when we get to Earth. But until then, they've asked me to welcome you home." The Melani extended her hand. "Welcome home to the Federation, Joshua Kirk." Tomorrow I start the Prophecy series. It'll last about three weeks, maybe a month. Then I'll return to this series. A series that has taken control of my brain! And if you are upset by male full frontal, then don't check in for the next couple of days.