Moving through the hanger deck of the Saracen, Ensign Laju Eghimea quietly moved through and keeping her head down as a new group of Federation Officers off loaded. There were a few family members along as well. Which she breathed a sigh of relief over as she tried to blend in with them. She watched the process of entry on to the ship with a keen eye as she checked her watch.

‘Two minutes,’ she thought as the line slowly moved forward. The two security personnel doing the check in were professional enough as they scanned the documents of those coming about. The line continued to move forward as started a mental countdown. She watched the people ahead of her and started to calculate how long before she would be standing before the two-armed security personnel. Her eyes watched each one as they scanned the chips and pressed the person through the check point. She noticed the time it took for each person. She glanced behind her at the shuttle being prepared for departure. She started to realize how their haste could be exploited.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her nerves and stepped up to the man screening the civilians.

“Good evening,” she said trying to force a smile.

He frowned at her as he corrected, “morning.”

She knew the mistake and had played it intentionally to eat up the last few seconds. “Oh I am sorry….morning,” she said softly. “You have a very pretty ship, its large and….”

“Just give me your transfer docs….” He grumbled holding out his hand.

‘One, two, three,’ she thought as she placed a smile on her face as started to reach for her chip. Taking her time, she fumbled for her chip while it was still in her pocket, “I have it right here…” she added with a playful voice. Her face and voice were nothing but a mask. All her life she had been forced to wear masks; this was nothing new for her. ‘Four, five, six,’ she continued to silently count.

Moving slightly, “I know I have it here,” she then added. From the corner of her eyes, she watched his frustration grow. At ten, she passed it to him with a faked sigh of relief.

Snapping it from her hand, he jammed the chip into his scanner. At fifteen he finally said, “you’re early, Ensign Laju.”

She nodded, “yes, there was change……” twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two

“That will be all,” he said cutting her off. He snapped the chip from the scanner without reading further, “Welcome to the Saracen, please move along.”

She took the chip and nodded, “yes sir,” she said softly. She had hoped that in prolonging his inspection, that he would unintentionally correct the time by not being through in his scanning of her travel documents. Of course, they were faked! She hadn’t received her medical clearance from the Bajoran Medical Directorate. The ones she was travelling under were bought from a bartender on Deep Space Nine.

Walking into the corridor of the Saracen, she checked her watch once more. She touched the smooth screen on her watch and switched it from her clock to a map of the ship. Using that map, she moved through the ship and found the location of where the office of the Chief of Security. Her mind was focused on the task at hand and her eyes fixed to where she needed to go. Making sure she didn’t attract any unnecessary attention, she found a nearby restroom.

Slipping in, she locked the door behind her. She placed her suitcase on the toilet and opened it. Moving with purpose and skill, she started to quickly undress. A rapid bathing from the sink removed the two days of traveling she had acquired. After she dried her face off, she started to get dressed in her Bajoran uniform. She pulled a cloth from her pocket, and anywhere she touched her brass, she quickly polished them. Sliding her Bajoran blaster into her holster, she took a step back and personally inspected her appearance for any flaws.

There was a flash behind her, and Eghimea turned. Standing in the doorway was her father. He wore this proud look on his face.

“I have never been more proud of you,” he said.

She slammed her eyes shut as she leaned back against the sink. “No…..” she whimpered. Her fingers grew white as she gripped the edges of the sink. She shook her head, “no……” her heart ached as she shook her head.

Snapping her eyes opened, she turned to her suitcase. Falling to her knees before it, she searched frantically. After about a minute, she finally pulled out a small white bottle, another purchase from that same bartender. She opened it and shook two small yellow pills into her hand. She popped the two pills into her mouth as she moved back to the sink. Looking into her reflection she can see the image behind her starting to fade. She let out a long sigh of relief as she spoke, “All I need to do, is just get back to work.”

She continued to finish getting ready and once more inspected herself. She would be prefect for this first meeting. Looking at her reflection, she finally gave an accepted nod. Closing her suitcase, she picked it up. She turned and left the restroom looking like the perfect Laju Ensign. She would set the perfect example of what they should come to expect from a member of the StarGuard. Feeling sure of herself, she walked with confidence towards her Department Head’s office. The name on the door read, Brenna Neenna Atoded, Lieutenant Commander.

She buzzed the door and calmly waited to be received by her new boss.