Medical cadet Jonathan Baptiste hobbled down the corridor away from the turbolift that had deposited him from the transporter room to deck six. “Ma, quelle douleur”’ he thought in French, as he hobbled along towards sick bay and the Chief Medical Officer’s office. His right great toe was killing him as he walked along in a stiff gait. He had accidentally kicked the floor in his mother’s house as he was scrambling to get ready, and to the local transporter station to report for duty on board the USS Challenger. He knew he was cutting it close in reporting for duty, but he could not resist the last ski run at Whitewater Ski Resort for the end the ski season. “Ah bon” he thought to himself, then quickly chided himself “I must remember to think in English standard and not French. I am no longer at home with the family on leave.” With that thought he looked down at the small snow globe of Nelson, BC his younger sister had purchased and given to him just before he transported up. “Great,” he thought “I don’t even have time to put this away before reporting to my first duty station.”
He arrived at the sliding doors to sick bay and with one final glance at his uniform and a quick pass of his hand through his hair stepped through the doors. A glance around the sick bay and he immediately spotted the Chief Medical Officers office. “Here we go, broke toe and snow globe to boot, report for duty.” With a stiff hobble, he went over to the door way and announced in a loud clear voice “Medical Cadet Johnathan Baptiste reporting for Duty.”

• Medical Cadet Johnathan Baptiste -