ANH 'verse. Slaver's transport on Tatooine. Start the story.

[random_xtras]

Restless, weary drones and organics rustled in the darkness of the hold, many of them uncomfortable in the heat of the world they'd landed on a few hours earlier. Over in one corner of the stinking, sweltering space two pair of glowing optics shone. The ones that were further from the floor held fear, the lower set, large and pale blue, held only patient exhaustion.

The silver femme frowned as an organic tentacle brushed against her leg, then moved her wrists in the restraining cuffs and looked up at her mentor as her soft voice broke the noisy silence.

"Random, I'm hungry."

Comments

[astrotechmech]

Random watches the proceedings warily, not quite sure what the other mech is doing. When the mech runs off, Random glances down at Kia, to see how she's doing. The other mech's return gets an raised optic ridge out of Random.

[random_xtras]

Kia peeks up at him, her expression quizzical, but trusting as ever. Something is bugging Random, and she doesn't like that. But all she can think to do to make it better is snuggle him the best she can with her wrists in the cuffs.

The Quintesson, meanwhile, looks the drones over and then orders a Sharkticon to herd them onto the carrier. The yellow mech downloads some credit to the tentacled mechanoid, who then receives payment from Wheeljack for the big organic.

And then the other slaves are loaded again and the carrier is trundling off across the sand, leaving Kia and Random standing under the burning twin suns.

"Let's get those cuffs off of you," says their new master genially as he reaches to do so. "Oh. I'm Hot Shot, what're your names?"

[astrotechmech]

A ghost of a smile crosses his face again at the attempt, but he is too focused on everything else to do much more.

Random doesn't even begin to start thinking about breathing easily again until the vessel is some distance away, and then he remembers that first impressions can't always be trusted and the hopeful thought goes almost completely out of his mind again, despite some easier breathing.

Not getting the somewhat expected turnaround of attitude, Random holds out his slightly trembling arms for the other mech to free as a sort of indicator to Kia that things were probably going to get better now. Where did that desire to want her's to come off first come from?

"My name's Random. Hers is Kia," he replies once the cuffs are off and he's rubbing his wrists and arms as if making sure they're still there.

[random_xtras]

"Hmm." Hot Shot frowns as he unfastens the cuffs. "Looks like you could use a little maintenance yourself, Random. Will you take Kia's cuffs off? I don't wanna scare her. Don't worry, we'll get the two of you fixed up as good as new... hey, Wheeljack, you need a hand there?"

"I got it," grunts his friend as he slugs the organic back for attacking him.

"Okay. Just lemme know." Hot Shot watches the fight for a moment, and then turns back to his own purchases.

[astrotechmech]

Heh. 'In need of maintenance.' More like 'underfulled, overstressed, and exhausted. Please rectify.'

He merely nods at the request, already moving to take her cuffs off, softly telling her, "I won't be missing these things!" as he removes the cuffs with slightly shaking fingers.

As soon as the cuffs are off, the puts an arm around her, brings her close, and begins rubbing her arm.

The fight gets a slightly worried look out of Random. Though the organic in question was a "bit of a jerk" on the slaver, so he's not as worried as he could be.

[random_xtras]

The little femme's smile lights her face, and then her arms are around her mentor as she cuddles close, offering and receiving comfort as is her way. She peeks toward the altercation with a frown, and then notices Hot Shot smiling at her and hides again with a tiny squeak.

The yellow mech's expression is thoughtful as he turns and toward the dwelling unit, indicating that Random and Kia should come with him. "You guys want some energy? We don't have anything fancy, but we've got a lot of what we do have."

[astrotechmech]

"I think we do," he says, smiling a bit down at Kia. "I don't quite remember the last time I refueled." But man, did he just want to keep standing there with her.

[random_xtras]

"Doesn't Alpha Q even feed you guys?" Hot Shot shakes his head.

Kia watches him for a moment, but then reluctantly lets go of Random to follow, the shifting sand under her feet soon attracting her attention and gaining a soft laugh of wonder and delight.

[astrotechmech]

"You mean the ugly tentacled guy? No, he didn't."

When she lets go and starts turning away, Random starts to reach his hand out but changes his mind at the last minute. Instead he follows her and becomes something of a living shadow without really thinking about it. Her delight with the sand gets another bit of smile out of him.

[random_xtras]

"The old pirate." Hot Shot opens the door, then watches Kia and the way Random's walking.

Kia, for her part, stops and hangs back till she can follow Random inside.

[astrotechmech]

Now that the 'immediate danger' is over, he has more time to think about other things, and he's moving again, he realizes just how tired and fuel-deprived he's become, moving a bit unsteadily.

When he gets to the door, he gives Kia another little smile. However, he doesn't quite trust Hot Shot completely enough yet to risk having something happen to her behind his back if he goes it in first, so he places a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to steer her inside while still being close to her.