"Duty Calls"
	Enterprise Lehana looked at the duty roster in disbelief, how on earth were they expecting her to manage this? The schedule was a mixture of duties in the medical section assisting Dr Phlox and Dr Callaghan together with a serious amount of on-line tutorials and exams from the academy, all mixed up with some navigation classes in the Astrolab. No sooner than she was finished with one subject, another one was scheduled... she knew now that being sent to the Enterprise was not so much of a privilege but more like a punishment. A persistent noise, ringing in her ear, was an irritation, she looked up from her screen and turned around, but couldn't pin-point the source. When she turned back to the screen she found it blank, all her work had disappeared... she tapped on the keyboard to no avail, the power was on, but nothing appeared. The ringing continued to irritate in the background, as she tried to recover the work. It was due to be handed in in less than an hour and it was critical to her final score.. Abruptly, she sat upright.. the scene vanishing in an instant as the lights were turned on automatically two minutes after her personal wake-up alarm had sounded. She looked around, the small cabin was empty, with the computer showing a green status report. She was relieved to find it had been a nightmare, but terrified that it might still be a reality. Quickly she showered and dressed and left to go to the galley. It had taken her ages to stop calling it the kitchen, the naval terms had taken a while to sink in.. and she still didn't understand why these terms were used aboard a space vessel, it was hardly a navy ship of the 20th century, it was just so old fashioned. She reported on schedule at 08.00hrs, to Dr Phlox, he nodded once and then pointed her towards the store cupboards. Wearily, she picked up the clipboard and returned to her stocktaking, if she didn't know better, she would have thought that he had nothing better to give her to do than count supplies. In the past week she had done nothing else except to check off one computer listing off against the listed manifests. Sighing heavily she climbed the steps to the cupboard and began counting the items within it. She was up to her ears in one cabinet when a voice behind her called out "Ensign Solomon?" startled, she stepped backwards into space, just saving herself from a nasty fall by grabbing onto the rail. She turned to face the voice, holding her head where she had cracked it on the door and then automatically standing to attention and saluting as she saw the figure of Dr Callaghan in front of her. She stepped down onto the floor and he leaned up against the counter and waited for Dr Callaghan to speak. "It's ok Ensign.. at ease." Dr Callaghan Indicated a seat, "I just wanted a word about your programme of study," she groaned inwardly. It was a nightmare, no break from studies.. then she thought of the alternatives.. no, being here on the Enterprise was worth it, even if it meant working extra hours. It was better than wasting the Summer break and not being part of this crew. "What did you have in mind Sir?" she asked. "Well as we are going to be collecting all sorts of specimens, biological in nature, during this trip. I wanted to bring your skills up to date on the methods we will be using, unless you have something else particular you wanted to work up," Dr Callaghan paused before winking and saying "But it will be a major part of the Academy examinations, talking of which, I have arranged for you to take them on board at the appropriate time." Lehana looked on in disbelief, Dr Callaghan was giving her an advantage. She didn't know whether this was a trick on her part or a test of character. Drawing her figure up straighter, she responded formally, "Dr Callaghan, I want no special favours. I want to pass the exams on my own merit, not because it has been made easy for me. Of course I will benefit from the extra practice and no I have no particular areas that I would prefer at this stage. I consider myself very fortunate that I have been able to be a part of the crew and I am happy to follow instructions." She had watched Dr Callaghan carefully as she replied, and was surprised when the Doctor simply shrugged. "No problem Ensign, it was not an easy route to a pass in the exams. Your assistance is required with the volume of work they expect we will have." Dr Callaghan paused before standing "After lunch, you will report to the small lab for your first session, and then we will see how much you have remembered from my classes." Dr Callaghan smiled thinly, as she left. Lehana sank back into the chair, holding her hands to stop them trembling. Great, now she had alienated her main tutor.. what else could go wrong today.. and it was still her first week of duties.. The rest of the morning went extremely slowly, finally she finished the stock take and when she logged the sheets into the computer and handed the report to Dr Plox, he dismissed her for lunch. She didn't feel much like eating, not with the session with Dr Callaghan straight after lunch, so she grabbed a snack from the galley and made her way to her bunk. Logging on to the computer gave her access to her notes and she read up on the lectures Dr Callaghan had given to her class.. She lost track of the time and it was only her bleep that she had set to remind her of the time that aroused her from her studies.. she made it to the small lab off the medical suite in quick sharp time. Just arriving, slightly breathless, before the door opened to reveal Dr Callaghan. "Ensign. So glad you could make it." It could get worse, it was already getting worse.. was what she was thinking, first I alienate the Doctor and now I arrive late for a scheduled session. I should go home before we leave earth orbit... she jumped as the Doctor put her hand on her shoulder, "please, Ensign, come in..."
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