Octavia was nervous, she had every right to be. Walking what seemed to be the longest corridor in the history of corridors she paused and steadied herself against the bulkhead. She wasn’t particularly sure why she was so nervous, perhaps she didn’t want to say the wrong things or make a fool out of herself by tripping up or any number of embarrassing things. She could feel her symbiote stir inside of her which only made her feel queazy, for a Trill she was never meant to be joined and perhaps she was the worst host ever, the Raain symbiote inside her however constantly told her otherwise. Sucking in a deep breath she prepared herself and made the rest of the way without incident to the large briefing room.

Once she was ready she stepped up to the door before she knocked she could hear voices on the otherwise and instead of doing the normal thing of declaring her presence instead, she stood with her little button nose but a hairline from the door and listened. Perhaps she’d hear how and if she’d graduated before it would happen and that way she’d be prepared for the feeling of utter disbelief.

• Octavia Raain