Disclaimer: I know, I know! They're not mine. Did I claim they were?

Written for the Koffee Klub's Picnic Prose Prize 2001

Command Style
by Kayla, Summer 2001

"I'm glad that you trust me enough to ask me to serve as first officer but frankly Captain I'm not sure that the whole idea is going to work."

"You don't think you can serve under me?"

"Oh no, it's not that. I'm just uncertain that my crew will accept you as their commanding officer."

"If they want a ride home they don't have much choice because I'm certainly not going to turn my ship over to you."

"I'm not asking you to, but I have a suggestion of a change you could make that might improve matters."

"What change is that?"

"Well frankly, Captain, your hair is a mess."

"My hair?" Janeway leapt to her feet in her indignation, "I fail to see what my hair has to do with anything."

"Calm down, Captain, I'm just suggesting that you find a style that makes you look a little more 'commanding'. Have you considered a bun?"

Janeway stared at him in astonishment for a second before crossing to the mirror on the wall and studying her reflection.

"A bun you say? Well maybe I could try it." She turned to face him with a grin. "I'd never have taken you for a hair stylist, Chakotay."

"Really? I thought my name would have given it away. Didn't you know that throughout history the greatest stylists have only used one name?"

Copyright© 2000 Kayla unless otherwise stated.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication and distribution strictly prohibited