The transporter beam shut off as the process was complete and Noah did his best to get his breathing back under control. He completed his routine of flexing first his fingers, then toes, before allowing himself to open his eyes. It was hard to beam yourself some place when you had spent months studying all the ways these things could break and even spent some downtime looking up the grisly results of what happened when they did break.

Staring at him with a mixture of concern and amusement was the transporter operator. “Another cadet?”

“Yes.” Noah fumbled a salute as he remembered his formalities. “Cadet Noah Parata. Engineering.”

“Know where you’re going Cadet?”

“Yes,” he lied confidently.

She nodded in satisfaction that she had done what she had to do. “Off you go then, it’s a busy day today.”

He nodded and left, taking long strides as he fumbled with the datapad in his pocket trying to remember who he was meant to go find.

“Cadet Parata?”

He turned around to look at the transporter operator who was in turn looking at the duffel bag he had left behind. He ran back and snatched, giving a hurried ‘Thanks’ as he went on his way.

It had taken longer than it should have but once Noah finally admitted his mistake and asked someone for directions he was back on track. The office of head of engineering was easy enough to find once you knew how and Noah took a moment to calm his nerves before knocking on the door and stepping in.

“Cadet Parata sir, reporting for duty.”

-Cadet Noah Parata