Nala found Sickbay easily Deck Four, two turns off the main corridor. The doors parted with a gentle chime, revealing a bright, spotless medical facility alive with quiet purpose. Soft diagnostic tones hummed in the background, and the faint scent of sterilizing agents tickled her sensitive nose.

A nurse at the intake desk looked up as she stepped inside an ensign, human, with warm, professional eyes.

“Cadet?” he asked.

Nala straightened instinctively. “Cadet Nala Shai’Mori t’Liriena, reporting for medical check-in.”

“Welcome aboard,” the nurse said with a small smile. He reached for a padd. “Let’s get your intake logged. Standard procedure for all new personnel.”

Nala offered her datapad, careful not to let her excitement push her into rapid speech.
“Of course, Ensign.”

He scanned her orders.

“All right, Cadet Nala,” he said, tapping in a few notes. “Let me confirm the basics. Species: Caitian. Any known allergies? Medical implants? Ongoing treatments?”

“No allergies,” she replied calmly. “No implants or treatments. My physiological profile and Academy medical history should already be in the Federation database.”

“Already pulled it up,” the nurse said. “Everything looks in order on the administrative side.”

He offered her datapad back.

“You’ll need a standard physical upon arrival. One of the doctors will conduct that shortly. Please take a seat in the waiting area and someone will call for you.”

Nala nodded.

Straightforward. Predictable.
Good.

She moved to the seating alcove along the bulkhead, choosing a spot where she could see the entire room. Her tail tucked neatly beside her, she folded her hands in her lap, repeating her grounding phrase silently:

One step. Then the next.

Crew passed in and out—medical officers, support personnel, a tech rolling a diagnostic cart. Not one seemed bothered by her presence. Not one stared too long. Life aboard the Challenger moved around her effortlessly, like she was already part of it.

She inhaled slowly, letting the sterile air settle her nerves.

Waiting is fine, she reminded herself. Waiting gives me time to breathe.

Cadet Nala