Lt. Robin Hopper: Take A Chance On Me

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Lt. JG Kivik

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Jul 26, 2022, 7:55:14 PM7/26/22
to Amity Outpost

((Transport Vessel, USS Lovelace – En Route to Amity Outpost))


The journey from Theta VII to California hadn’t been this exciting!


It also hadn’t taken nearly as long. Even with its newly-retrofitted slipstream drive, the Federation transport vessel still took nearly three weeks to make its journey to the edge of the Delta Quadrant – and now they were nearly there. The anticipation was nearly too much to handle. The fact that Robin had already polished off three 21st Century ‘colas’ as she re-packed her Starfleet-issued duffel bag for disembarkation surely contributed to her antsy-ness.


The 27-year-old Human/Centauran woman paused for a moment to look over her belongings – though she continued to feel as though she was vibrating and rested her hands on her hips to try and steady herself. She had been judicious in deciding what to bring with her across the galaxy, giving away as many of her belongings to friends as she could foist on them… backing up a few unique things in a mobile transporter pattern buffer… and carrying with her only the essentials.


Her duffel bag was filled mostly with clothing – including many pieces inspired by mid-23rd-century designs – and she wore her skant uniform in preparation for her impending arrival aboard the station. Her prized Stromanthe Triostar, with its pink-and-cream variegated leaves sat on the desk in her small quarters aboard the transport under a replicated UV light. She reached into the overhead storage compartment, above the bunk, and carefully removed her most precious possession, a large trunk-like artifact which she carried by a leather strap woven around it.


A tone sounded over the ships’ comm systems indicating that they were only moments away from docking. Robin spun in excitement and ran to the door. As it slid open she remembered herself and ran back to the bunk, setting her ‘trunk’ down gently, before rushing out of the room to find a viewport…


There it was… Amity Outpost. It looked even larger than she had thought it would. It was practically a city floating in space – especially when one accounted for its vertical dimensions. She examined the station’s towering spire and, with extra curiosity, its descending inverse – which she knew housed, among other things, the Science and Research Center.


Robin had spent the last two years aboard the deep space science vessel, the USS Wall Street. Thinking about her time there gave her a moment’s pause as she looked out at what was to be her new home. She felt a pang of loss at the thought of no longer working with Trisha – Chief Science Officer Montgomery – under whose guidance and encouragement she had sought out this posting… but Hopper was a Lieutenant herself now – and she’d never been one to stay tied to one place for too long. It had been the right moment for a change of scenery…



((Thirty Minutes Later – Amity Outpost, Peace Park))


And talk about a change of scenery!


Robin had thought the station’s Grand Mezzanine was impressive when she strolled through it – transferring from the Purple Line train that had carried her and her belongings from Terminal A to its Blue counterpart that had brought her the rest of the way to Peace Park. Its soaring arches and beautiful views of the nebula, its bustling populace and varied storefronts, its aromas and sounds, had all impressed her.


But of all the amazing things to see and take in aboard the Outpost, the Park, with its many biomes had been the most intriguing to her – and it did not disappoint. A lifelong lover of plants, Hopper was beside herself at the sight of real thriving greenery. While she had enjoyed her time aboard the Wall Street immensely, it had always irked her how little life there was aboard, aside from its crew – and trips to the Holodeck simply didn’t measure up to the real thing.


She took a deep breath and shut her eyes for a moment, letting the ‘feel’ of it wash over her.  oO Yeah… I could get used to this. Oo


Opening her eyes, she checked the time. Her transport had arrived a little ahead of schedule and, while she had left her belongings secured at the Mezzanine train station’s baggage claim, it was not yet time to go back for it. Soon enough, she would meet Ambassador Vataix in her office and get properly assigned – but, for the meantime, she decided, a stroll through the park would be the perfect way to spend her wait.


As she walked, she looked about, taking in the flora and the fauna – including the myriad other park goers. She passed a group practicing yoga and smiled as the instructor moved them into a particularly silly-looking pose. Next, she giggled at the sight of a grumpy man swatting a Talaxian photographer with his hat, having evidently fallen into a nearby pond whilst taking a portrait. But what piqued her interest the most was the unbelievably gorgeous hunk who emerged from the foliage mere steps away from her, following some sort of ball that had rolled into the path. She was so taken aback by the tall dark and handsome stranger that she stopped in her tracks and gawked for a moment.


Tidrid: Response


She suddenly came to her senses once again and did her best to contain a nervous giggle. She had expected Amity would be teeming with smart, attractive, capable men – but she hadn’t expected to run into a truly perfect specimen quite so quickly. 


Robin: Hmm? What? Oh! I… Wow, okay.  oO Words, Robin – use ‘em! Oo  Hi! I’m Robber. No, uh, Hopper. Robin Hopper.


She smiled, hoping he would sense that she was not as crazy as she probably seemed. His long hair was tied back, revealing his chiseled jaw and handsome dark eyes. She put a hand on her hip and tried to look casual – but not too casual.


Tidrid: Response


Robin: Nice to meet you, Tidrid. I just stepped off a transport and was taking a look around, actually. I don’t suppose you’d like to–


Suddenly, a boy – perhaps around ten or twelve years old - emerged from behind the adonis. Robin felt her heart sink, just a little, at the sight of the boy. But hope was not yet lost.


Istrol: Response


Tidrid: Response


Robin: Hey, Istrol. My name’s Robin. I just ran into your oO exceptionally handsome Oo  dad. You guys were playing hoverball, huh? Awesome! ::Looking around:: Is your mom playing too?


Istrol: Response


A second young boy emerged, looking quite different from the first.  oO Perhaps Tidrid works in childcare. Ohhh I hope he does. Oo


Ayeden: Response


Tidrid/Istrol: Response



TBC



==

Lt. Robin Hopper (she/they)
Science Officer, Amity Outpost
V239806K11
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