Sadee watched her mom, the Ogawa’s new XO, leave to report in for her first day on the job. She hadn’t really said anything. She wanted to tell her mom how great she looked in command red, or how proud she was that she was fulfilling the dreams of their late beloved husband and father. But she also wanted her mother to talk to her about anything other than doctor stuff or star fleet. She wanted her mother to ask her about… about… about anything. She never asked her about what she liked. Then again, she didn’t know what she would say if she were to ask. Sadee felt as though she had no idea who she was. She was so confused about her own identity. Her sister Shanti was a model student, accepted to Starfleet academy, as if there were any question, and their mother had been so proud. Her mother had not only managed to fulfill her own dreams of becoming a doctor but was well on her way to fulfill her father’s as well. What could Sadee do? What was her dream? Did she even have one. She felt confused and mixed up. Angry, yet set. But also proud, but prideful. She constantly felt on the inside as though she were going to explode. And she had no idea why.

She flung herself down on the bed, her braids slinging across her face. “Ugh,” she exclaimed, flipping a few braids away. Her she was the “new girl” again. Eventually, some teacher, or officer, or other kid, if there were other kids, would ask her about herself, or what she wanted to be. The truth is, she didn’t know anything. She didn’t know who she was going to become and she had no idea who she was.

She attempted to rise from her bed but mistakenly put her elbow down on one of her long braids pulling it painfully. “That’s it!” she screamed in frustration. She walked hastily to a duffel and rummaged around. Finally her hand secured around the desired object. A laser scissor. She walked up to the mirror and looked at her reflection. There was nothing special about her. Nothing unique. Even who braids, which were a holdover from her childhood, were simple, long, and un-magnificent. A look of rebellion glinted in her eye as she raised the scissor to the first braid.

Half and hour or so later and the sink was piled with sheared off braids. She stared at herself for an eternity. Her hair was short. Short short. She ran a hand over her nearly bald scalp… and then burst into tears.

-Sadee, XO’s daughter