Return to the gym

The gym was compact but well-equipped, with smart resistance equipment that could adjust to different body types and strength levels. That musky scent she'd noticed throughout the ship seemed stronger here, hanging in the air like an invisible presence. Oddly, it bothered her less than it had yesterday - either she was getting used to it, or her perception was changing.

She set her coffee down and began a basic stretching routine. The bite wound on her side felt warm to the touch but caused surprisingly little pain when she moved. The nanites had done their work well, though the area remained sensitive in a way that wasn't entirely unpleasant. She pushed that thought aside and focused on her workout.

Twenty minutes into a vigorous session with the resistance bands, she found herself increasingly thirsty. The terrible coffee had only dehydrated her further, and her mouth felt like sandpaper. A water dispenser gleamed on the wall, but the thought of drinking more liquid made her hesitate, remembering last night's bathroom ordeal.

"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered to herself. "You're an adult. You can handle a bathroom." Still, her cheeks burned at the memory of being caught in that **** position, the transparent tube displaying everything as she relieved herself.

She filled a cup and drank deeply despite her misgivings. The water tasted better than expected, with a subtle mineral quality that somehow complemented the ship's pervasive scent. Before she knew it, she'd emptied the cup and was filling a second.

As she drank, she noticed the workout had made her more aware of her body - the way her shipsuit clung to her curves with sweat, how the nanite-treated area seemed to radiate a pleasant warmth through her torso. The sensation wasn't unpleasant, just... distracting.

She was about to return to her workout when the door slid open.