JP - Lt. Nathan Richards & Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: Discoveries (Part 1)
Robin Hopper
((Level 3 of Copernicus Center – Amity Outpost))
Nathan made his way through the hallways of Copernicus Center, his nose buried in the PADD he was carrying that outlined the basics of the survey that he and Robin had been selected to perform. A familiar voice pulled him out of his reading.
Hopper: ::Smiling nervously:: Na– Nate! Hiya. You’re here too?
Nathan looked up at the voice, seeing Robin standing outside the door to Wil’s office.
Richards: Uh, yeah. ::Looking around:: Am I not supposed to be?
Hopper: No, I mean, of course there’s no reason you shouldn’t be, it’s just, you know… Well, I hadn’t expected to run into you here. Now. For the first time since ::looking back and forth uncertainly:: “Idrustix”.
Robin tucked her hands behind her back, subconsciously telegraphing the unresolved tension she felt lingering from their mission to the alternate universe; the unresolved tension between the two of them.
Nathan noticed how tense she was, and tried to keep his expressions as soft as possible. He of course felt the tension too but felt that if they both let it seep into the situation, it would only make things more difficult.
Hopper: So much has been happening since then. ::Looking at his collar, developing a small smile:: Lieutenant.
Richards: So it appears, ::Noticing the pips on her collar:: Commander.
Nathan offered her a smile as he came to a stop next to her outside of the door.
Hopper: Well then! If the little tidbit I got from the bio team about this mission is to be believed, we’ll have some time to catch up ahead of us.
Richards: ::Nodding:: Then by all means, ::Motioning towards the door, smiling:: After you.
((A minute later, XO’s Office))
Ukinix: Hello, Commander, Lieutenant, come in! Have a seat. I assume you’ve met Luminary Prarim before?
The robed Hawlat elder’s ears wiggled curiously as the two Starfleet officers entered, and his nostrils flared as he bowed his head in reverent greeting.
Prarim: All friends of the Emissary are friends to the Hawlat people. ::Beat:: However, perhaps it is my age – but I do not recall these particular individuals. ::To Richards, then Hopper:: Have we met before?
Richards: We have not. A pleasure to meet you. I am Lieutenant Nathan Richards.
Nathan had only heard of the Hawlat in passing, and never seen one in person. It was uncanny just how much of a resemblance they held to cows from Earth. He couldn’t help but wonder if they had udders…
Hopper: I think we passed each other once, Luminary. In the First Secretary’s office. But that was quite some time ago.
Prarim: Ahh yes, the Emissary’s cousin. A most capable and cunning diplomat.
Ukinix: Oh and Commander Hopper, congratulations on your promotion. ::Offering hand::
Robin smiled, accepting Wil’s hand gladly and giving it a grateful shake. Things in the SRC had been such a whirlwind with their ongoing investigations into the benamite-fueled anomalies plaguing the region; There were many people she hadn’t had the chance to see since Rivi had stopped by her apartment with that extra pip.
Hopper: Thanks Wil. Now I almost feel ready for that XO position you stuck me in months ago.
The elder Hawlat made his way to a nearby chair and leaned against it.
Prarim: Pardon me, Emissary, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to sit – and get this sharing circle started. I’m afraid these old bones are growing weary with our newfound… sedentary lifestyle here in the nebula.
Ukinix: And I was *just* about to offer the Luminary some Japanese Sencha tea, he’s mad for it. Would either of you like a cuppa?
Wil moved over to the replicator, to materialise a large post of the steaming tea that was a favourite of the XO - and apparently, the Luminary.
Hopper: ::Glancing to Nathan, then back to Wil:: Sure, I’d take one. ::Back to Nathan:: Mmm?
She moved to take a seat across from Wil and the Hawlat religious leader. Nathan followed, taking a seat and resting his arms on the table.
Richards: Why not? ::Chuckling:: I’ll try anything once.
Prarim: ::Smacking his lips:: Were your Commander Ukinix not the Angel’s chosen Emissary I would still grace his sanctua– mm… Office regularly just for this most excellent tea.
Hopper chuckled at the man’s comment, but accepted the drink happily and took a sip. It was good – clearly the replicator had a good recipe. One that rivaled the freshly-brewed teas served in the Grand Mezzanine’s Brew Continuum. Nathan scrunched his face slightly as he took his first sip. It certainly wasn’t something he would drink himself.
Wil sensed a change in mood in the room after Nathan and Robin got themselves settled. That was normal, sensing emotions to him were almost like different sounds, and he had learned over time to ignore them subconsciously, unless the emotions were very “loud”.
Ukinix: Thanks for coming, both of you. ::Grabbing pot and tea cups from replicator:: We have a system identified by the Luminary. It’s named “Gramineae:, ::gesturing with chin to two PADDS:: details are on those PADDs in front of you. Luminary, can you tell the officers about the significance of the system?
The old man cleared his throat – a sound not unlike an antique earth lawn mower starting up.
Prarim: Hurr-hurr-humm. Yes. Well, our scientists provided most of the relevant information. However, as one of the eldest living Hawlat, I felt it was my duty to fill you in on the fascinating history and the splendor of Gramineae…
He gestured widely, nearly spilling some of his tea.
Prarim: At the heart of the system burns a bright blue sun – brilliant and radiant, like a beacon in the darkness of space calling to those who wander in search of new pastures. Orbiting this sun is a planet rich in the Angel’s preferred grazing gasses and, as it passes near to the star, great plumes are released!
Hopper: ::Eyebrows raised:: That’s very interesting, Luminary. So you’re saying it’s a Blue Giant solar system that includes at least one gas giant that trails its gasses… ::A look to Wil and Nathan:: Perhaps due to some pull from one of the other planetary bodies in the system?
Nathan blinked a couple of times. He understood some of the scientific jargon that Robin and the others in the SRC used, but there was only one thing he could think of when it came to gas giants and trailing gasses through space…
Richards: oO Heh…space farts… Oo Makes sense to me. There would have to be quite a pull from one of the other bodies make the gas giant trail gasses, wouldn’t there? ::Shrugging:: Anyways…
Ukinix: And, Commander Hopper, your boffins in SRC detected signs of liquid water on long range scans. Although, as we know, the nebula can mess about with those readings.
Prarim: We have no such record of this… ::Confused look at Ukinix:: And what is a “boffin”? Is that some sort of “computer”?
Ukinix: ::To Prarim:: Oh, uh- “boffins” is like, ::rolling hand:: a nickname to describe smart science people. You know - kind of a term of affection, in a professional way.
Prarim: Mmm. Like “Emissary” – a term of both great respect and dignity, yet also love.
Wil looked down at the desk, blushing a little, and just slowly nodded. oO Awkies. Oo
Hopper: Is there anything else we should know about the system, Luminary?
Prarim: Yes, indeed! Eons ago two of the sun’s small cousins must have run afoul of each other, and both remain split and shattered to this day. Perhaps this is also the source of the great cloud of Angel’s Jewels which surround the system.
Robin nodded excitedly and rubbed her hands together. The system truly sounded unique – and definitely worthy of in-depth study. Though accomplishing that safely and effectively was going to be a bit of a challenge, she was sure that they were up the task.
Hopper: We might need to transport some specialized probes into the system ‘manually’, aboard a shuttle, and keep an eye on them while they do their thing. It sounds like there are some complex gravitational systems interacting there – not to mention all the debris you’re speaking of.
Prarim: A very reasonable plan, Commander.
Hopper: Well, Nathan – um, Lieutenant Richards here is quite a capable pilot. And if we run into any trouble out there, I know he’d be able to get us out of it.
She looked at him with a squinty smile.
Richards: We’re in good hands.
Nathan returned Robin’s smile and rubbed his hands together.
The emotions that Wil subconsciously “heard” before registered with the conscious, aware part of his brain. It was like someone ringing bells. Except, instead of bells, it was emotions. Specific emotions that were a mixed soup of confusion, tension, infatuation, seasoned with a hint of intimacy. The XO was pretty sure it wasn’t from Prarim (unless the Luminary had suddenly developed the hots for Robin - or Nathan for that matter). The emotions *were* though coming from more than one person. The XO’s eyes shifted left to Robin for a moment, then back to Nathan.
It became clear to him who in the room the feelings were coming from - Hopper and Richards. And even worse, he doubted that either of them knew to the extent he did that they felt that way about each other. It was like he was eavesdropping on something he was sure he shouldn’t know, but really, didn’t even *want* to know. Regardless, he could tell that there was a seeming “romantic” dynamic between the two. oO I hate being part Betazoid sometimes. Oo
Richards: So, when are we doing this? Heading out now?
Nathan looked around the room at the others with raised eyebrows.
Hopper: Hold your horses. We’ll need to get the probes prepped, do some tweaks. Maybe tomorrow. ::To Wil, jokingly:: Mind if I borrow your Lieutenant, Wil? I promise I’ll bring him back in one piece.
Hopper didn’t even have to ask that question, which is why it took him by surprise.
Ukinix: Ah-
Wil’s eyes, once again, shifted back to Richards, before looking back at Hopper. Something was definitely going on between those two…
Ukinix: ::Raising palms:: … knock yourself out.
TBC in Part 2…
Lt. Commander Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Lieutenant Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer,
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1
&
Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attaché and First Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0