Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: Down Where It’s Wetter
Robin Hopper
((Crusher Wing, Medical Center – Amity Outpost))
Seeing Kaito in the hospital was bringing back tough memories… Robin crossed her arms, finding it hard not to relive the pain of her injury, and the drudgery of the recovery period on the USS Artemis – not even her own ship. She’d found it difficult not to feel like a burden to the few people aboard who knew her, a drain on their time and energy asking them to come and visit as often as they could.
Which was precisely why she knew she had to be there.
Hopper: I have some recent experience being where you are now. During the Frontier Day incident I was… stabbed. The wound was bad. They broke a few ribs, severed some important nerves, punctured a lung – and there was considerable plasma radiation damage as well. I was lucky to survive, and probably wouldn’t have if it hadn’t happened right outside the Artemis’ sickbay.
She sighed.
Hopper: Anyways, I came because I wanted you to know that I understood what you’re going through and I know what you’re facing down for recovery. It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll get through it. And you aren’t alone.
Moore: Thanks, I appreciate it, and I appreciate the company. It… has been kind of lonely lately.
She nodded, appreciating Kaito’s response for where he was at, and the subtle smile that had appeared on his face.
Hopper: It’s cheesy, I know, but feeling that you aren’t doing it all by yourself does really help, I think…
She wasn’t sure how he’d take her imposition on his recovery, especially given his recent spat with Char, but she was pleased at least not to be sent away immediately.
Hopper: Actually, that’s not all. I’ve spoken with Doctor Paulsen and arranged for a little field trip for you. They’re preparing a grav-chair right now. I’d like to take you somewhere and show you something you might find… Well, maybe a little ‘healing’.
Moore: Oh? A field trip? They’re letting me out to touch grass? I would really like to touch some grass.
Hopper: ::Smirking:: In a manner of speaking. ::Raising her index finger:: It’s a surprise, though. More fun that way.
Besides, if she told him here and now she’d have to explain a lot – and it was easier to just show him first and answer whatever questions remained after.
Moore: Alright, well anything beats being stuck in here. You could ask me to go scrub the phase joint capacitors, and I would gladly do it if you push me to them.
Hopper: ::Teasing:: Oh, good. I was hoping to swing by those on the way!
Robin stood, making her way towards the room’s entrance and standing beside it to look for an approaching orderly.
Moore: Can I make one request?
Hopper: Of course.
Moore: I know they are preparing a hover chair for me. Could you… get them to grab one of the backup manual chairs? My arms work fine, and I would like the workout. Plus I would look less like a comic book hero.
Hopper: Hah! We wouldn’t want that. ::Considering:: Alright, if you say you can manage it. I’ll just confirm with Doctor Paulsen – don’t want to get in trouble with Starfleet Medical after all.
Moore: Response?
((Twenty Minutes Later – Corkscrew Terminal Station, SRC Level 9))
The two of them had travelled together (Robin walking and Kaito in his requested manual chair) through the turbolift to the nearest train station and, from their, around the corkscrew line to its final stop – the terminal in the SRC’s core.
Throughout the journey they’d engaged in some further small talk about physical therapy, recovery timelines, and the healing value of counseling – but Robin had evaded answering any questions about where they were headed, or why. Now, as they exited the train, she led Kaito over towards the SRC’s internal turbolift system and pressed the button to summon a lift.
Moore: Response
Hopper: Not exactly. We’re going somewhere new – so far, only a few members of the Science and Operations teams have been here… ::As the door opens, stepping into the lift:: …We’ve been working on designing some new state of the art facilities that will significantly enhance our Delta Quadrant stellar cartography and navigational charts. Ahem. ::To Lift:: Level One.
Moore: Response
She smiled, giving Kaito a simple (and silent) double raise of her eyebrows, as if to say, “you’ll see!”
As the lift slowed to a stop at the lowest level, they exited into what was once a small round foyer with a secure terminal – the access point to Amity’s restricted Borg Research section, one of the last vestiges of its former existence as Copernicus Station.
Now, however, they were surrounded by a massive ring of transparent aluminum, and through it a sprawling marine-scape. Sand, rather than decking, lined the ‘floor’ of the space beyond, along with artificial reef and a number of specially-designed aquatic work terminals. The far walls, obscured through the curved surface and water column, contained a multitude of bright displays and more interactive surfaces, the details of which weren’t discernible to the two humanoids.
Hopper: Years ago, Copernicus Station had a small Cetacean Ops section – and there had been plans for upgrades, including some approved equipment requisitions waiting at Starfleet Command… After Frontier Day, when it became evident we couldn’t keep the lower levels filled with Borg doo-dads, and we had to repair a significant amount of damage to these sections, I decided to task the remediation teams with converting both Levels 1 and 2 to our new Cetacean Ops. ::Hands on hips, proud:: What do you think?
Moore: Response
As he spoke, two dark forms began to approach on the other side of the ‘glass’, looping around the central column where they stood and swimming down towards Robin and Kaito’s level. As they drew closer, the nearest one came into clearer view, pausing directly in front of them. A harbour porpoise, dressed in the specially-designed livery of Cetacean Starfleet Officers – complete with a set of Crewman First Class pips– parked itself in a slightly inclined position with a series of friendly nods towards them.
A moment later, the section’s internal speakers awoke with the sounds of Cetacean speech translated to Federation Standard with a distinctly high-pitched tonality and inflections resembling a rather thick Norwegian accent.
Reidar: Hallo Commander! Pleasant vibrations to you and your companion. ::Head tilting towards Moore, waving one of his pectoral fins:: Nice to make your acquaintance, Lieutenant. ::To the other cetacean nearby:: Hay, come say hallo!
TBC
