ANH 'verse. Tatooine. Departure

[astrotechmech]

Mech, is Random glad to get out of that alley. He didn't know how much longer he could have taken Scavenger's snoring. And that rat had almost won the staring contest . . .

Scavenger had led the group the twists and turns of Mos Eisley to the hangar where Jetfire's ship was supposedly docked. Now with one last turn and walking in through the doorway . . .

"What a piece of junk!" Hot Shot exclaimed.

"At least it appears this haphazard amalgamation of 'ship parts is supposed to look like a victim of ignorance!" Random responds. "Unlike some things."

Comments

[random_xtras]

"Hey. She's the fastest thing in the galaxy," says Jetfire from where he's sitting in the shadow of the ship's ramp. A little black Minicon with pointed 'ears' turns to look at the newcomers from his perch on the white mech's shoulder, then hops down and starts beeping excitedly as Rollbar runs over to see him.

Scavenger says nothing for now, his optics scanning first the ship and then the two tiny mechs, who are deep in conversation.

Kia is also watching the little people as she leans against Random.

[astrotechmech]

"Oh really? What's the specification?" Random asks, doubting Jetfire's claim.

Random ignores the minicons for the moment and rubs Kia's arm absently.

[random_xtras]

The white flyer seems to smirk despite his lack of mouth, and then starts spouting off an impressive list of specs. The list is just ending when something explodes inside.

Jetfire winces and leaps to his feet, then hurtles up the ramp and inside. "And it used to have a Xercon 2354 air conditioning system... COMETTOR! AIRAZOR! Don't make me hurt you!"

[astrotechmech]

"Not bad." By his tone it sounds like 'for a . . .' should come after it.

"Minicons?" Random says with a knowing grin.

[random_xtras]

"Minicons." Scavenger opens his hold and lets out three more, then pulls his poncho back around himself and walks up the ramp.

"I know how to fix one of those." Kia looks up at Random seriously.

[random_xtras]

And here comes a little golden and white Minicon femme, flying in to swing on that loop of cable.

Kia's optics go positively enormous at this. "Ohhh. That's going to hurt the ship, isn't it, Random?"

[astrotechmech]

Uh oh.

"You mean more, right? Yes." Random tries to grab on to said femme before she can get that far.

[random_xtras]

"Right." Kia goes D:

The grab is successful, and blue optics stare up at him with surprise before the little femme squirms and beeps indignant protest.

[astrotechmech]

"A-HEM" Random glares down at the Minicon. "Should you be doing that?"

[random_xtras]

More irate beeping! And then she fires her thrusters.

[random_xtras]

The Minicon looks back at him with calm yellow optics, beeping inquisitively.

"He did..." says Kia softly, looking down at him with a little grin.

Rollbar just winks at her.

[astrotechmech]

Random peers at him with narrow optics. "I always had a feeling you guys could but just decided not to."

[random_xtras]

The tiny mech just crosses his arm and leans against the wall, his beep sounding like a chuckle.

And at that moment the droid gives a little beep of distress and switches off.

Murphy makes a mewling sort of beep and looks at it, then pats it and tips it up to look underneath.

[astrotechmech]

Random glares at him for a moment before the droid catches his attention, and he moves towards it.

"Looks like this thing's seen better days," he comments, kneeling by it and picking it up for a closer examination. ". . . But not entirely unsalvagable."

[random_xtras]

Murphy chirps, beeps, and mews at him earnestly, wringing his hands as his optics flicker with distress.

"He says MC23 is his friend, and he's afraid he hurt him," says Kia from where she's knelt next to her mentor and is looking on with a worried expression. "He wants to know if you can fix him."

[random_xtras]

"Didn't you have enough credit for the dock fees? We just gave you some!" Kia winces as acceleration presses her into her seat.

"Yeah. But I'm savin' that for something else," says Jetfire absently. "And I don't really feel like coming back to Tatooine anyway."

One of the Minicons lets out what sounds suspiciously like a razz.

"Same ta you, Comittor."

[astrotechmech]

What about that Hutt after your head?

[random_xtras]

The acceleration lessens as the stars start to streak past the view screens, and then a garbled call comes from Hot Shot.

"Heh... looks like somebody didn't listen to the public service announcement." Jetfire turns in his seat to crinkle his optics in a grin at his passengers.

[astrotechmech]

Random sighs with relief and lets go of the console.

Random chuckles. "I almost forgot about him . . . Are you all right, Kia?"

[random_xtras]

The little femme nods, then blinks and looks down at the Minicons as Jetfire's three companions suddenly launch into a no-holds barred rumble right there on the bridge.

Rollbar watches them for a moment, and then starts taking bets from his trio of friends.

[random_xtras]

Kia just nods and clings, her face hidden.

[astrotechmech]

"It'll be alright," Random says quietly. Seeing that she's in Cling Mode, he shifts his arms around so that he's soon holding her Damsel/Baby style.

Standing up gingerly, he looks for a way around the Minicon rumble pile and goes for it.

[random_xtras]

Out in the passage way a relative silence falls, though the ship gives the occasional groan that might be startling to the faint of spark.

Kia peeks and then looks around, her expression lightening.

[astrotechmech]

The first groan made him flinch but after a while he learns not to notice them, instead enjoying the moment being with Kia alone.

"See? Much quieter out here."

[random_xtras]

She goes ^_^, then wriggles to be down and walk beside him, starting to talk about what might be wrong with MC23 and how easy he'll be to fix.