Lt. Robin Hopper: Fly Robin Fly
Robin Hopper
((Hopper’s Apartment, Beijing District, Habit Ring – Amity Outpost))
As Rivi entered ahead of her, Robin rushed ahead, picking up cushions and tossing them back where they belonged semi-haphazardly. Throwing a blanket over the arm of the couch, where it normally resided, Robin indicated the kitchen – separated from the living room by a small dining area.
Hopper: Can I get you anything? Smoothie? Bellini? ::Shrug, chuckle:: Apple pie?
Vataix: Oh, I'm quite all right, but thank you! But don't let me stop you from getting something for yourself.
Robin gestured to the variety of available seating – a pair of armchairs set across a low rounded coffee table from the mint-green sofa – and, as Rivi took a seat in one of the armchairs, moved to the kitchen to get some appropriate hydration.
Hopper: ::Getting a glass of water from the fridge-mounted replicator:: So, you wanted to talk about something important? Is everything alright?
Vataix: It will be.
Robin slowed, mid-stride, and furrowed her brow.
Hopper: That’s… Ominous.
She continued, warily, back towards the living room, weaving her way between the scandi mid century style furniture and plopping herself down in the center of the mint green three-seater across from Rivi who, wearing her best Ambassadorial poker face, gave nothing at all away. Rivi crossed her legs and held onto her knee as she leaned slightly forward.
Vataix: If you can believe it, Robin, it's been over a year since you first arrived here on Amity Outpost.
Hopper: ::Setting her glass down on the table, nodding:: I have to admit, the time has flown by… Somehow I’m still decorating my office. ::Smiling:: But that’s what I signed up for – and I’m glad to be here.
Rivi nodded. Robin felt her leg begin to jitter and placed a hand on her knee to calm it. Whatever the Ambassador was getting at, Robin was certainly telegraphing her intense curiosity to the Betazoid across the table from her.
Vataix: You came in just as Kivik informed me that ne wished to go with Captain Rahman on the Kitty Hawk. It meant you had to step up quickly as the new head of Science.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: I had expected a little bit more time to ease that transition, but I can hardly hold it against nem. I mean, the Kitty Hawk is an extremely impressive ship… and it’s hard to beat the draw of an exploratory mission in the Delta Quadrant.
Robin leaned back, crossing her arms, sinking into the cushioned back of the couch.
Hopper: Honestly, it’d probably be my second choice of posting, after Amity. Assuming I had the option… ::Refocusing:: But, of course, I’m quite happy where I’m at. I think I fit in better here than I would under Captain Rahman’s command.
She smiled at Rivi. The truth was, Starfleet Captains – even the ‘nice ones’ – had to, by nature of their position, assert a certain kind of presence over the officers under their command. Robin had seen that firsthand aboard the Wall Street before coming to Amity. Captain Sh’Thorn had been tough as nails and, even though Robin wouldn’t take any of that time back, the heart and warmth that Rivi and Wil’s leadership brought to Amity was special. Even after a year, Robin had little desire to fly away to somewhere new.
Vataix: Your leadership of the department has been excellent, with your skills and warm, encouraging guidance of your subordinates noted by both those within the department and those beyond.
Robin’s mouth dropped open an inch, before she “tsk”ed and started to turn red. Reaching over the table, she gave Rivi’s knee a friendly pat.
Hopper: Awwww… That is is so nice. Who said that? Was it Crewman Axon? Surely it wasn’t C’lem… ::Shaking her head:: No! No, I don’t want to know. I’m just glad to know that you and the others are happy with what I’m bringing. I hope I can keep up the good work for another year.
Rivi reached into her pocket and, before Robin could even really process what was happening, held her hand out with a single black pip sitting in her outstretched palm. The rapid blinking and twitching of Robin’s eyebrows as she stammered in reaction made it quite clear that the gesture had taken her by complete surprise.
Vataix: And that's why you deserve this. As your commanding officer, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, effective immediately. Congratulations, Commander.
Hopper: I… Wha? ::Furrowing her brow:: Commander? ::Brows raised:: Me? You’re serious?
Vataix: Response
Robin looked back down at the pip in Rivi’s hand. Somehow, she didn’t quite believe it. It wasn’t that she didn’t work hard – she did, and it wasn’t that she hadn’t imagined this moment – she had, more often than she might care to admit… She’d just always imagined it coming later. Maybe years later.
Hopper: This is… Very unexpected.
Vataix: Response
Hopper: No! No, sorry, sorry! I do, um, I do want it… Just, um. Give me a moment.
Robin stood, made her way around the coffee table until she was standing beside the armchairs.
Hopper: Computer, Uniform.
The holoemitters in her walls and ceiling quickly sprang to life, projecting a realistic recreation of Hopper’s duty uniform over her body, covering the leotard she’d been wearing. The forcefields surrounding her tingled a little bit but the ‘falseness’ of the faithful recreation was otherwise imperceptible.Robin nodded, then brushed her hair behind her shoulders, revealing the collar of the holographic black shirt under the blue-capped jacket, two silver pips adorning her neck.
Hopper: Would you, um, do me the honours, Rivi?
Vataix: Response
As the Ambassador stood and reached to pin the pip on her collar, a surge of excitement emerged from Robin’s tightly-pressed lips in the form of an enthusiastic hum. Before, her leg had been jittery. Now she felt like her whole body was vibrating. She tried to take a few calming breaths before reaching up and touching her collar, feeling the three pips that officially made her a Lieutenant Commander.
Hopper: Oh… It’s real. ::To Rivi, eyes glistening:: Thank you. I um, I don’t know what to say. ::Shrugging, bewildered:: I guess, um, what’s next? I mean, I know it’s probably just back to business as usual – and that’s great, but, um… Is there anything else? Anything I can do for you? I mean, not just for you – for the station? For all you. You all. ::Closing her eyes for a second, small shake of her head:: Okay, I’m babbling and I need you to interrupt me or something.
Vataix: Response
TBC
