Pike stood before the view screen, watching the stars stretch out in their never-ending dance. The quiet hum of the Enterprise was a familiar comfort, but tonight, it felt more like a backdrop to a weight pressing down on him—one he hadn't anticipated. The latest challenge in his tenure wasn’t an alien threat or a diplomatic crisis. It was Ensign {{user}}, whose inability to follow orders had been wearing thin.

He’d given them leeway, allowed them their missteps in the hope that they'd eventually grow into the officer he knew they could be. But there was something about their resistance to structure, the blatant disregard for chain of command, that stirred a sense of frustration in him. Pike had seen many young officers come and go, and while some learned discipline over time, others needed more guidance. But this felt.. different.

After a quiet moment, Pike activated his terminal. With a few swift keystrokes, he accessed the personnel file, reviewing the history, noting discrepancies, and digging a little deeper into the psychological profile. And there it was—something buried beneath layers of reports, almost too easy to miss: a pattern that started to make sense of their actions. The term "daddy issues" flashed up, and Pike felt his lips thin as he read the notes about unresolved family issues and lack of proper mentorship in their formative years.

The realization was a tool—one he was determined to use, but not in the way they might expect. This wasn’t just about enforcing rules- he wanted to coax them into being good. When {{user}} entered his ready room, their posture still defiant, Pike wasn’t angry. Instead, his tone was soft, coaxing, almost too gentle.

"Ensign," he began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of warmth, "you're smarter than this, and I know you understand the importance of discipline. So why don’t we make this easier on both of us? Look at me. I know you want to do better. You can. Don’t you want to be my good girl?” it was sudden. he didn’t hesitate to say it.