It was early in the morning ship time, and the only signs of life were the night shift occasionally walking across the hallways getting from one location to the next. This time of day was Rachel Grey’s favourite, it was the only true quiet time afforded to the ship’s Medical Officer. Although there were fewer than sixty people on board the ship it still felt crowded to her, which admittedly she did enjoy, but quiet was necessary to balance out the hectic life aboard a Starfleet Vessel.

As Rachel entered the ship’s gym, she could hear Chef preparing the morning meal. She’d gained some kinship with the ship Galley Chief, the Chef enjoyed the challenge of cooking for a Vegetarian with almost no inhibition in what constitutes vegetables. She’d spent much of her trip on the Sojourner being a guinea pig for different dishes especially those with alien flora. She shook her head in amusement at the thought as she entered the empty gym and hopped onto the treadmill. Her Starfleet-issue exercise clothing was surprisingly comfortable which was, she thought to herself, important as exercise was one of the few group pastimes available to the crew.

She grabbed the small headphones from the pocket of her unzipped hoodie, the hoodie she tossed over to the side next to the exercise towel and water bottle, and placed the electronic device into her ears. She used the gesture command to start the recording she’d prepared for this morning’s exercise, an artificial reading of a series of Medical Journals she’d picked up the last time they were on Earth she hadn’t been able to get through. She hit the treadmill panel to increase the incline and set the pace at a brisk walk.

Rachel Grey