Sage sat at her desk in her living quarters. She had gotten the date that her parents were to arrive, and she couldn’t believe it was so soon. They were headed her way today, and she wondered if she was ready for the reuniting to take place. She pondered over a book, barely reading it, trying to scrape some plans together of what they could do. Should she show them her programs on the holodeck? Should she take them to eat her favorite cuisine? Should she show them how well she has learned to meditate? Where to begin? She shifted in her seat as she thought about taking them to sickbay. She wondered what her parents would think of her coworkers and the place she decided to work. She wondered if they still were ashamed of her. She slammed her hand down on the desk, sending a shockwave through the items on the desk, making them jump. She herself jumped. She had not meant to put her hand down that hard. She must be tired. Guess its time to call it a night. She thought, closing her book, turning off the light, and rolling into bed.

Sage sat on her bed in her room, looking into a mirror at her new rank. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride even though she was supposed to be emotionless. After a few seconds she looks away and begins to find her workout clothes. She quickly changes and heads towards the holodecks. She needed to think through the events of the past few days, and the best way to think for her was while she is practicing her martial art. When she finds herself in front of one of the holodecks, she enters. “Run Sage’s Program, number 3.” She had imputed the programs she made not soon after she arrived. The program begins and she is in an earth style dojo, mirrors across one wall, and springy mats under her bare feet. She put on the uniform hanging on the wall, tied her belt, and bowed to the simulated instructor in the middle of the room. “Practice your kata.” She begins the first of her kata, a long precise set of blocks and strikes, almost majestic when done by the masters. She can now think about the events that have presented themselves for the past week. Part of the kata is to stop thinking, which, paradoxically, helps her think of other things besides the movements. She runs through the events in her mind; The Captain has gone through surgery for some reason and is now recuperating in the VIP room to keep her surgery a secret. Her parents sent her a message she still hasn’t properly responded to. The difficulty she has been having with the emotions anxiety and curiosity. She knows that she probably shouldn’t be curious about the Captain, be she can’t help it. The events are so strange to her- strange but logical. Though she does not know the details, she can understand the desire to keep this surgery a secret. If that information- whatever the information- got out, she could be compromised, and being compromised is not a good thing for a captain to be. Then there are her parents. The fact that, before now, they haven’t had any contact with her for four years makes her think. Why now? Maybe they didn’t think she would really go through her entire training, but now that she has, they feel proud of her; or as proud as her parents could feel. What is she going to send to her parents? She decides that she will tell her of her advancement; perhaps they will respect her more, not think of her as a trader. She trips over her feet, close to the end of her kata, and the instructor glances at her. “Start over; and use these” He gives her two ten pound dumbbells to work with. She nods and begins again, this time letting her mind slip into nothingness.