Star Trek: Eventide 777 - ╰new-lima-city

Lima had been wiped out of existence during the Third World War, used as a cruel testing ground for nuclear warfare. After its eventual recovery, it had turned into a chess board for different political fractions, until finally it was turned into the solarpunk city, New Lima, that Mika had grown to love. New Lima was made up of many fields and parks, with squares of civilisation scattered in between, accumulations of houses and shops in between the greenery. The biggest one of those squares was the one around the marketplace, not far from the Grey family’s farm shop. Namika reached it by foot, walking over bright cobblestone that was warm from the sun. Most buildings were simplistic and functional. Only a few of the old, pre-WW3 sights of architecture had been rebuilt. The city was colourful. Amongst the sandy beige stone of the buildings, there were the different shades of green - trees, shrubs, tendrils - and bright coloured festoons made of wool or flowers. Namika felt at home as she wandered through the alleyways, dressed in shorts and a black tank top. The outfit revealed the tattoos on her legs and collar bone. Eventually, Mika decided to sit down on a bench in the shade of a palm tree. She pulled out her PADD and checked her messages.

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Was Namika smiling at the screen as she texted Mo? Yes. Yes, she was. Was she thinking about the fact that he was a nerd, and imagining how nice it would be if he were here and they could work in the hover bike together and he could play monopoly with her and Rico? What? No! No, she uh, totally wasn’t thinking about that. At all. A woman with a dog passed by the bench and gave her a smile. Mika smiled back and thought about what to do next. She really wanted to get gifts for her friends. Ava, Nia, Jack and maybe Richards? Would he want a present? Eh, why not! Souvenirs from Peru for everybody. She could even get a friendly present for Isaa- She cut the thought off before it could even make itself at home in her mind. Bad idea! But… Mika already had an idea where to get a present for Mo, and maybe also Ava… She stood up from the bench and walked through the park, around a few corners and towards a clothing store…

Namika bought a really cool present for Mo which I am not describing because I am evil and what first reactions once she gives it to him. She also bought a wide comfy wool sweater for Ava because she knew that Ava loved comfy clothes. Then she headed to some other shops to get things for Nia and Jack and Ken. AND KONSTANTIN! Who I forgot but Mika wouldn’t forget him. (edited)

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After spending some time in the city, shopping for gifts, Rico called her. He was getting impatient. Namika shot a message to her mother, telling her that she was heading home via bus to spend some time with Rico and then she did just that.

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Namika took the bike down the streets and to the edge of the city, Rico in tow. After a twenty minute drive, they reached the cliffs. La bahía del cráter. She throttled the engine and the bike rolled to a stop in a free parking lot. “There we are.”

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Rico hopped off the bike. “You still drive like a madwoman.”

“Don’t say you don’t enjoy it,” said Mika with a smirk. She took off the helmet and shook her hair out. “You know, I did a hoverbike race with Captain Mo once.”

“No way! How’d you get him to do that?” He mirrored her action, taking off the helmet.

“Made a bet. He lost, obviously. But he can handle himself on a hoverbike, I give him that. Even did a flip, though I guess that was more of a lucky accident.” She grinned and then put both their helmets away before she pointed towards the cliffs. “Let’s go!”

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“I’m coming!” Rico walked with his sister, past a small crowd of people who were watching other people cliff dive. They made their way up to the jumping spots and settled down with their stuff - towels, backpacks, food, all that. Rico was already wearing his swimming shorts and just had to pull off his shirt.

Namika was already wearing her swimming suit as well underneath her outfit. They were ready to go!

“I wanna go first!” He ran up to the edge of the cliff to jump.

“Guess that makes me second. Take care!”, she said, but Rico was already jumping. He fell and fell. He did an elegant header, just as he was supposed to in order not to hurt himself. Just like she’d taught him. Good boy. Namika stepped to the edge and waited for Rico to leave the water before she, too, jumped off the cliff. Falling is like flying. Like piloting a shuttle, but more intimate. It’s just you and the air and gravity. You’re alone. Namika stretched her hands and head towards the water, shooting down like an arrow. Three seconds of free falling, then a splash as the cool water enclosed her.

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09:13

It was silent underwater. Namika held her breath. The air in her lungs slowly pulled her back up to the surface and she found herself gasping for air. She swam out to the beach, clearing the area for the next person who wanted to jump. Rico was waiting for her.

“Can you still do a flip?”, he asked as she climbed out of the water.

Namika laughed. She felt much cooler now, with water dripping down her body. “I think so! Wait I need you to take a radical video of me, though!”

“Will do!” Rico grinned.

And so, Mika ran up and did two flips mid-air before diving into the water, while Rico took a video.

Rico spent several hours with Mika, jumping off the cliff over and over again.

After a lot of cooling off in the sea and impressing Mo, Namika pulled Rico back onto the hoverbike and they rode back home! (edited)

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