Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper – Let’s Get Physical
Robin Hopper
((Fitness Center, Talaxi Palms Hotel – Amity Outpost))
Holding the weight above her, she bent her elbows to slowly lower the heavy bar until it lightly touched the middle of her chest. She then pushed it back up in a controlled motion until her arms were completely straight.
She’d been at it for a little while now (about halfway through her intended reps). The point of doing this exercise at the end of her workout, especially with the extra weight, was to exhaust her already-fatigued muscles, reaching the point where they’d have no option but to adapt and grow.
Hopper: Well, when I’m done this… I’ll just be in my cool-down phase… If you want a spotter for your… workout or just some company…
Again, she left the rest to implication. She still wasn’t sure if Seleya was just being polite, given her status as a visitor on Amity, or if she was genuinely interested in carrying on a conversation. But Robin was definitely interested to learn more about the Kazleti women, and how the intelligence officer had wound up out here – not to mention any other interesting goings on from the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
Hopper: Okay… I’m getting close to my… limit here. If you can… help me on this next one…
Seleya: Of course, you got this.
Seleya did as any good spotter would, reaching under and gingerly touching the bar to help Robin with that last bit of push to get it up and onto the rack. As she dropped it safely into position she let her arms relax with a quick exhalation.
Hopper: Wooh! ::Breathing hard:: It’s been a while since I did that…
She sat up, rolling her shoulders gently.
Hopper: Feels good though… Ever since my recovery from Frontier Day I’ve been trying to keep in better shape. I’ve never been much of a hand-to-hand fighter, but in the couple of scraps I’ve found myself in, the extra strength does come in handy.
Robin briefly eyed her own arms and the muscle tone that existed there. While she still lacked anything even close to the size or definition that her husband possessed, Robin nonetheless felt proud of herself.
When she’d started in Starfleet, as a Cadet, she’d been soft – and in her younger days, at University and through high school, she’d always considered herself scrawny, definitely not someone who could have arms like she did now.
A lot of that was in thanks to Nathan who had been working out like this since he was a teenager, and the pointers she’d gotten from him – but a good chunk of it was, of course, also hard work and dedication.
Seleya: Good job, take your time to rest, I will just start putting some weights on to prepare. No rush though.
Seleya added an additional 60 kilos to the setting on the weight bar sitting on the rack, paused, and then added another 10. Robin’s eyes widened.
Hopper: Holy buckets! ::Eying the weight setting incredulously:: 130 kilos? Is that, ahem, normal for a Kazleti with your build? ::Brow furrowing, blushing slightly:: Oh, I don’t mean that in any sort of– I just mean, that’s quite a lot. Obviously a lot more than I typically lift.
It was likely obvious from her surprise and tone of voice that she was impressed – though she wasn’t an expert on Kazleti physiology by any means, she was always blown away by the raw strength that some of the other humanoid species (including Vulcanoids, of course) in the Federation were able to achieve with similar body-plans. oO Whose idea was it to make those of us with human ancestry so darn fragile? Oo
Seleya: Are you comfortable spotting that much weight? We have safety at the very worst.
Hopper: Well, considering I’m not the one benching it, we should be alright – and I can always adjust the weights down as needed…
She waved a hand over the weight setting, the numbers dropped instantly, and the bar became practically weightless, before waving her hand back the other way, returning it to its original setting.
Hopper: ::A reassuring smile:: Don’t worry, you’re safe in my hands, Lieutenant.
Seleya: Response
Robin stood by at the ready, watching Seleya’s form carefully. In part, she was monitoring to ensure the Lieutenant hadn’t grossly overestimated her ability in order to ‘show off’ (though, to be honest, that wasn’t a strong concern in Robin’s mind because Seleya of Khanda looked like she knew what she was doing) – but in part it was also just to appreciate her technique and see if she could pick up anything.
With Nathan reassigned to the Shelby, she had lost her favourite workout partner and her unofficial personal trainer all in one. She had to pick up what she could wherever she could find it.
Hopper: What’s your typical routine like, Lieutenant? Other than weight-lifting?
Seleya: Response
Robin nodded.
Hopper: Well, there are so many options when it comes to keeping fit. Running, swimming, cycling…
She trailed off, inviting Seleya to share any other means of exercise she enjoyed.
Seleya: Response
TBC
