Lt. Robin Hopper: Good To Be Back
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Throwing out an optional “Any” tag at the end of this in case someone really wants to crash this scene at the BBQ. It’s unclear exactly who was/wasn’t expected at the event, so I’ve left it ambiguous deliberately.))
((Peace Park, Amity Outpost))
Robin held her eyes shut just a moment longer, smiling as she felt the rays of Peace Park’s simulated sun soaking into her skin. It was a feeling that she hadn’t realized she missed until the Jemison had moored at Amity and she’d stepped into the Habitat Ring again. It was glorious.
While it had been an absolute treat to live and work aboard the refit Intrepid Class, life aboard a starship and life aboard Amity Outpost were simply not comparable. Each had their benefits, and their drawbacks. Serving on a starship, you felt that you were always moving – always heading somewhere interesting to do something exciting. On the station, there was a sense of consistency and breathing room… Robin loved them both.
She opened her eyes, and sipped at the red-and-white striped straw sticking from her glass cola bottle. This informal (or at least, far less formal) gathering in the park following the conclusions of their war games was far more her speed than the dress whites dinner that had preceded it.
Kivik: I’m sure you’ve heard it already, Lieutenant, but it is somewhat uncanny seeing you in red.
Standing in a loose semi-circle with Hopper were Kivik, Chief Science Officer of the USS Kitty Hawk, and Nathan Richards – whom Robin had insisted come along since he’d skipped out on the formal dinner after telling her he’d be there…
Hopper: ::Raising an eyebrow at Kivik:: Jealous?
Kivik: ::Laughing:: Haha! Hardly. I’ve had nightmares about being in Command. I’m quite content with my current posting, thank you very much.
Robin smiled and rolled her eyes teasingly. She didn’t know the J’naii well – but she knew that ne had more experience managing a science department than she did, having done so in a civilian capacity before joining Starfleet. Whatever made nem happy.
Hopper: Well, don’t get too used to it. I’m back in blue starting tomorrow. ::To Richards:: Are you gonna miss poking around inside the guts of a starship?
Richards: Response
Kivik: I told you he was a scamp.
Hopper: ::Smiling:: You’re not wrong… ::Patting his back:: But he keeps things interesting.
Richards: Response
The J’naii suddenly seemed to remember something in the middle of taking a drink from nir chocolate milk.
Kivik: Mmm! ::Finishing nir mouthful of beverage:: Speaking of keeping things interesting – I wanted to pass along how impressed I was with Ensign Veers.
Hopper: Oh?
Kivik: She showed a lot of initiative for someone straight out of the Academy – some very interesting ideas on utilizing the pulsar’s emissions via the deflector dish.
Hopper: Is that what that was? ::To Richards:: Remember that last “wave” that hit us – how it seemed to be coming from the Kitty Hawk?
Richards: Response
Kivik: Oh! So it did make it to you after all. Fascinating… Anyways, it could warrant further study, if you’re so inclined.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: I’ll keep that in mind.
A couple dozen meters away, a queue was beginning to form by the grill, manned by none other than the Jemmison’s (temporary) commanding officer, Wil.
Kivik: Looks like food’s ready… If nobody minds, I’d like the chance to say “hi” to an old friend. Can I grab either of you something?
Hopper: I’d take a veggie dog. ::Looking up:: Thank god we’re not eating Hirogen food again… That dinner almost killed me.
Richards: Response
Kivik smiled, nodded, and then jogged over to join the queue, leaving Robin and Nathan standing in the field with their drinks. She turned to him and put her free hand on her hip.
Hopper: Speaking of which – where were you during that dinner? Knowing you, I refuse to believe that you had the good sense to actually skip it… You didn’t get your finger caught in something, did you? ::Sipping her soda::
Richards: Response
Any: Response?
