Haircut "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jabal, Crewman, [Deleted [DEL]]

Stardate: 58205.28 1000

Hunter stepped out on to the bridge and walked directly toward his ready room, motioning to the Ops person who was sitting in to the command to remain.

Hot on his heals was Yeoman Rands who followed him into the readyroom. She approached her customary spot in front of his desk while Hunter got juice from his replicator. He sat at his desk and held out his hand which promptly received the PADD she carried.

"Night shift reports significant progress with repairs Sir."

Hunter acknowledged her verbal report with a nod.

"Furthermore, engineering reports all systems are expected to be fully operational by 1400 hours. Casualty reports are also in," she said swallowing hard.

Hunter nodded, "anything else?"

"No, Sir."

Hunter sat back in his chair and began reading the PADD, "Thank you, Yeoman," he said looking up, "dismissed."

"Yes Sir," she said promptly turning and leaving.

Hunter looked over the damage reports. There was a large breach on deck 5 which was reinforced with integrity shields. Nothing could be done for it until they returned to dry dock.

He briefly looked over Silvio's report. Silvio always provided abundant details to justify his reports, but he never had any reason to question them. If Silvio said the Zion would be ship-shape by 1400 his word was gold.

He flipped to the next report.

Casualty report. Much lower than first reported. There 19 dead, 227 injured, 36 critical patients still remained in Sickbay.

Damage control reported heavy damage on the port side of deck 2-5 with the most serious damage on deck 6. The forward section of the saucer section also sustained damage including Miranda's.

Hunter looked through the other reports, several reports had not been turned in yet. He was particularly looking for Westfall's tactical analysis.

He stood up and stretched, and walked to his fish tank where he dropped in a few morsels for them. He had seen the damage on deck 5, he thought he would go down and see deck 10.

--- Deck 10 ---

Hunter stepped over a large piece of debris near the entrance of Miranda's. He looked inside it was a busy place. He stepped up to the bar and was greeted by one of Miranda's waitresses, "Hi Captain, sorry, I'd offer you something but we're closed today."

"That's alright, I just came to see how things were down here." He looked around, "Where's Miranda?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Captain," she said with a concerned look. "She'll be alright, but she is in Sickbay."

"Okay, I see," said Hunter standing up, "well, give her my regards, let me know if you guys need anything."

"Thanks Captain, we will."

Walking out Miranda's he paused and looked around. Across the wide circular hallway he spotted Jabal through the glasswall, sitting in his barber chair.

He walked over stepped into his shop. Jabal immediately sprung to his feet, "My first customer of the day! Welcome Captain."

"I'm surprised you are open for business, this deck has been pretty heavily damaged, and after such a battle...." said Hunter with a look of curiosity.

"Well, Sir, sometimes when things are bad, something like a simple hair cut can make your world seem...back to normal," he explained, "And if I can do that," he said proudly, "I'm ready to serve."

Hunter smiled, "Sure..." he said sitting down in the barber's chair, "why not."

Jabal went to work carefully snipping and trimming the Captain's hair.

"So it is true we got a couple of them?"

Hunter smiled solemnly, "yep, we did."

Jabal paused to reflect, "execellent Sir."

"...and is it true we're going to continue on to Pacifica?"

"Yep." said Hunter being as brief as he could.

"What do you think will happen when we get there?"

"I don't know Jabal, we'll have to see when we get there."

"I see Sir."

Jabal continued to work on the Captain's hair without further interrogation.

When he was finished, Hunter looked at his work and nodded, "good work Jabal,"

"Thank-you Captain," he said as Hunter was walking out the door. He turned "What for?" he asked.

"W-why, for being what will probably be my only customer today," he said.

Hunter nodded, "no problem."