Matthew waited for the turbolift, reviewing his orders on the PADD for the fifth time and fingering a coin with the other. Sighing, he dropped the PADD to his side and tossed the coin into the air. He stared at the doors, willing them to open, and caught the coin, flipping it again. He fumbled it as an officer joined him waiting on the lift. Ducking his head he avoided eye contact and picked up the coin from the carpeted floor. The doors finally opened.

Matthew followed the officer on, pausing as the other man requested his destination. Matthew checked his PADD for his deck, and signaled the lift. Both stood in silence.

Matthew again rubbed his thumb across the medallion in his hand, embossed with the Starfleet delta on one side and the UFP crest on the other - a gift shop trinket he had picked up years ago, something that always helped him focus.

“There’s no need to be nervous, cadet.”

Matthew started at the other man’s voice interrupting his brief reverie.

“The senior staff here are some of the best,” the other man continued, looking at him. “This your first cruise?”

Matthew shook his head. “Third,” he admitted, pocketing the coin. “First day jitters never stop, though.”

The other man grinned. “Never do. So last outing before graduation. Congratulations, cadet. You’ll do fine.” The door hissed open, and the officer exited, and Matthew realized he hadn’t even noticed the man’s rank.

The lift continued. Alone again, Matthew leaned against the wall. Deep breaths, he thought, then straightened. He wondered, not for the first time and not for the last, whether he should have gone for academia and research. He realized he was stroking the coin in his pocket again. No, he thought as the doors opened. No. This… this is it.

Ten meters down the hall he flipped the coin and pocketed it, pressing the chime on the door panel to announce himself.