It was nearly midnight when all exams for the day concluded. All who had taken its grueling challenge of mental and physical strength stood in small, chattering circles as they all buzzed with the excitement of wondering what their future held. Assignments to their cadet corps would be posted soon, and she was left wondering if her name would find itself on the list.

Andy wasn't even sure where her desire to join Starfleet had started. Maybe it was the way her brother would tell her about the stars as they lay on a hill, or the way he would repeat to her in full detail on how they had saved a planet or discovered a new species of healing fish. Anything and everything to feed her imagination.

Her favorite story was when he told her of the destruction of Otthon Sárkányok, home planet for the Dragonbourne. It was what sparked her interest in languages, truthfully. She could still see him reading from the old and tattered book, head dipped into it as he squinted to see. He told her how there were civil wars between all of the non-Dragonbourne, and how they destroyed the planet bit by bit until there was almost nothing left.

Then the unthinkable happened. A star exploded, creating a supernova that destroyed everything in its path, including both Romulus and Otthon Sárkányok. Billions of lives lost, turned to negative material and civilizations destroyed. Almost none of the non-Dragonbourne made it out, and only a handful of those who were Dragonbourne survived and managed to escape. Ever since then, spying a Dragonbourne on Earth or any other planet was nearly impossible. They looked, talked, even acted like humans. The only thing that truly stood them out was their tattoos, and you had to get them angry to see them.

Sam had told her that Dragonbourne was impossible to speak if you weren't born with the knowledge, and Andy, being the stubborn little bug she was, decided that it was a challenge and poured herself into learning everything about it. Needless to say, it wasn't easy. She had to learn seventeen other languages first. At this point in her life, speaking any other language was easier than English to her. So many strange words to wrap your tongue around, or your head even. This wasn't to say she was anywhere near fluent, of course. To become fluent, she'd need to spend time around a Dragonbourne themself.

When Samuel had learned of his acceptance into Starfleet Cadet Academy he had called her, telling her what the test was like and to which training group he had been assigned. He also regretfully told her that he wouldn't call for the next three months, seeing as boot camp would take up most of his time otherwise. At night, he would be too tired to do anything other than sleep.

Andy's eyes flicked up as a door opened on the opposite right of her, watching as a woman dressed in her grey Starfleet uniform stepped out, the slight heel to her boot clicking against the cold marble floors as she walked towards the call board. Scrambling to her feet, Andy walked over to the screen and prayed that hers would rotate through.

Usually, those who were most physically fit were the only few who made it through if they were high on their recruiting quota that month. At times they passed everyone (this was usually during a crisis), though they were selective about putting those of the strong mind in advanced training. If they needed a brain or muscle quickly, you were shoved through. Everyone else was put in the easier, less fast-paced training of cadet school.

Her legs were weak as she took her few final steps forward, noticing that everyone who walked away with a true smile had rippling muscles and a strong aura. Those who were smaller and more fragile were rarely among them. She wasn't a physically fit specimen, but she was good with people. Perhaps it was the thought that counted? The screen shimmered as it changed the names of people on the screen, eyes scanning once more.

Haddock, A.—Advanced Training.

If it wouldn't have been incredibly embarrassing, Andy's jaw would have hit the floor. This had to be a screen error, perhaps this was the list of those rejected? No, the other names that she faintly recognized belonged on the list. Samuel was a far better candidate than she for advanced training, seeing as he was a good foot taller than her and built like an ox. Again, Andromeda had received the short end of the stick for this trait and was stuck with the horrible graciousness of being slightly under average height. Top shelves were not her friend.

But advanced training! Samuel was distraught when he was put into regular training, and Andy was positive there was no way that she would be placed into advanced training. Everyone else grouped with her were… Mountains. Behemoths. Huge.

Andy stood there for a passing moment before she was nudged out of shock by someone bumping into her. It recognized in her brain that she should check in and receive her placement. Walking along with everyone else, she found a woman sitting at her desk, tapping on her computer screen for a moment before smiling up at the new cadet and assigning them to the 547th Cadet Corps, and giving them the loading dock to report to. Standing at the back of the line, Andy waited patiently as the people in front of her were assigned to their training legions.

She could only imagine the faces of the people behind her when she would have to say advanced training, wondering if they would be as equally shocked. Her results on the test must have been exemplary, seeing as she completely bombed the small physical portion. It was just fifteen minutes of running, which was nothing too hard for most. She had fallen. Twice.

Andromeda's thoughts were interrupted as someone behind her nudged her to pull her from a daze, making her blush and focus once more. "Haddock, Andromeda. Advanced training." She said, watching as the woman raisied an eyebrow and glanced over her before returning her icy gaze back down to the computer screen, tapping away. An impressed look flickered along the woman's face.

"Haddock, A., you are placed in the 409th Cadet Corps, and are to report to Ganna Base at oh-eight-hundred for shuttle takeoff to boot camp." Handing her a sheet of paper, the lady glanced over Andy once more. "Good luck, kid. You're gonna need it."

Muttering a quick thank you to the woman, Andy exited the line and soon was out of the building. She couldn't believe it. Her test score must have been perfect! There was no way that she would have been able to be grouped into advanced training if they didn't need someone like her. When the computer asked them what branch of Starfleet she planned to enlist in, she was instructed to list the languages she knew after answering xenolinguistics. Perhaps that was why. Taking a deep breath, Andy let it out.

Thank you, Samuel.