ANH 'verse. Hoth. All good things . . .

[astrotechmech]

The tool in his trembling hand nearly drops as he finds himself looking over the same bit of engine over and over again just to forget whether he had mentally checked it off as fine already. Realizing this, he forces himself to stop and intake a deep breath of the base's cold air.

This is all just going too bad, too fast. The only good thing is that they finally found Hot Shot. The young Jedi had been unfortunate enough to cross paths with one of Hoth's natural predators on a patrol. Luckily, despite some severe injuries, Hot Shot was able to fend off the creature long enough to make a clean escape into the wilderness, where rescue crews found him and were able to drag him back in. Now he is finishing off his recovery, so he can be ready when the Imperials finally arrive.

In the meantime, Random and the other astrotechs are preparing the ships for both the expected assault on the base and the base-wide evacuation.

He can't say the wait is not getting to him.

"Sometime after this battle gets underway, either Arcee herself or one of her femme aids will prompt you to come with her," Random informs his shadow/pupil. "After making sure I know, you gotta go with her, all right? I gotta stay until the last few non-combatant shuttles are ready to go to make sure no unexpected problems arise. It'll be really pushing the envelope, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Truthfully, having Kia go with Arcee, is still risky. Yes, the first transport to meet up with the Imperial blockade overall probably has the highest chance of becoming Imperial fodder, but the chances of the others going that route as well are not that much different. The difference between staying here or going is that for one you're waiting around for the Empire to break through and deactivate you, and the other you're meeting the Imperial fleet head-on and getting blown up. Both lovely options this time of the stellar cycle.

On top of that, Random still hasn't quite forgiven Arcee for sending Kia on that "solo" mission. Granted, Arcee claimed she didn't know at the time, so it was unlikely that she would do something like that again, but Random still didn't like the idea of sending his little femme off with the femme who got them in the whole Tatooine mess. But the options were her, Jetfire, or one of the other mechs/femmes who he saw all the time but didn't quite socialize with. Even if Random had wanted Kia to go with him, Jetfire still had that debt with the Hutt to deal with and would be leaving to deal with that as soon as the all-clear was given, provided his ship got fixed. And since he got back from the uh . . . Imperial Doomsday Weapon, Random found himself clinging more to Kia than actually socializing so he was not comfortable with the thought that Kia would be traveling with mechs whom he had not "approved" to look after her. Where was Sneaker when he needed him? So with Arcee it is. Or at least her official ship. Knowing Arcee, she would probably stay behind for a little bit if trouble arose.

Comments

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

Kia looks up from where she'd been pouring over the engine, her brow plates drawing together in a frown as she holds back the urge to wibble. But doing something like that isn't going to help. Kia may be new, but even she knows that much.

Still, the thought of having her new family broken up, and even worse, of being separated from her mentor has her young spark quivering with fear and sadness, which she responds to by wrapping her arms around the nearest part of Random that she can reach.

"It'll be okay," she murmurs.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

The apprehension of the coming events has Random starting at Kia's initial contact before he realizes it was just her and relaxes.

"Y-yes, yes, it will," he comforts, reaching to put his arm around her. "I'm not going to be among the very last to leave. We'll meet again when we get to the rendezvous."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

Kia gives him a puzzled look, but then turns her attention to the spot he's indicating. "...Wow, that's really greasy."

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random tries to ignore the look. She didn't mean anything by it, just him overreacting . . .

". . . Y-yeah," Random says scanning the greasy area over. "Let's make sure it's not indicating a problem or will turn into a problem."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

She doesn't understand fear of death yet. Maybe it's her youth, or maybe she just doesn't fully understand the implications of it. But she understands fear, and her grip gets a little stronger as she wills her mentor to be comforted.

And here comes Murphy to try and get in on the affection.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

To be technical, he shouldn't fear it, especially since Sneaker's told him what it's supposed to be like after death, but he still fears. He's still having a hard time convincing himself to believe in a Being who he didn't really think was real until a short time ago, despite some progress.

He should also be getting back to work, but . . .

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

Soft sparked Kia firmly refuses to stand on her friend, instead scrambling up to sit on the edge of the access hatch so that she can continue to help her mentor. Undaunted, Murphy climbs up too and starts tinkering with a wonky gauge.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

"Murphy . . ."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Alright, Random!" Kia gives an adorable smile as she jumps down, then runs across the repair bay toward where the head Astromech is standing and scowling into a parts bin.

[I could try to find some of these,] says Murphy thoughtfully. [But I think we kinda need every bot we've got right now....]

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random smiles slightly as she runs away before turning back to the engine to begin taking more of the parts out.

"And we also need to know where everything we do have is."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Okay!" Kia gives him a quick hug, then bounces over to climb on her stool and reach into the engine compartment.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random allows her to hug him before organizing the parts on the floor so they are about in the positions they will need to be in. "I've taken most of the damaged parts, but there's still some in there. We'll need to remove those before we can replace them with what's here."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

The black Minicon beeps quizzically and looks up, then laughs softly as he holds out his hands. [No, but my mouse would like a friend.]

Kia peeks over the edge of the hatch, but she knows she's not going to be able to reach to give the mouse to Murphy.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random takes the glitchmouse from her warily and hands it over to Murphy.

"Keep him away from the wires. We don't need another ship going out on us."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

[It shocked me.] Murphy shudders and grumbles.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random gets up and carries the parts he was working on over to Murphy.

"I'd thought I'd taken care of that. Guess not."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Now?" Kia plunks her face down on his shoulder in a gentle imitation of the gesture that he wants to do. "Murphy, this isn't a good time for that."

Murphy waves at her apologetically.

And giggles more.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

"I'm sure he didn't mean to get overcharged." HA!

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

And Kia watches, waiting till he straightens up before giving him a big hug and a snuggle.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Once he is sure he does not have any extra charge, he stands back up and moves over back to the hatch.

"Okay. I think that's enough foolishness. Let us--Oof."

(frozen comment) Sometime Later . . .

[astrotechmech]

Hewasnotgonnapanic,hewasnotgonnapanic,hewasnotgonnaback--Oh, Darn It to Heck! He was panicking!

The first ships were leaving, the Imperial fleet was right there, and-and there was still way too much to do! He was going to be left, they weren't gonna make it. Ahhhhhhh!

Random tried oh so very hard not to outright and outwardly panic, but he could not keep his hands from shaking as he finished repairs on the shuttle he was working on. Being an on-board shuttle mechanic, he wasn't quite used to these type of stressful situations. Most of his worries usually involved not getting shot by the Imperial Armada. This was just a whole new level of stress.

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

And here is Airazor, beeping up a storm as she hovers in his face and pats him on the nose. The fierce little femme is calm as tells him to intake and cool it.

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

[No no no no no! I know ONE thing about fixing things. And that's that the green connectors are only good for midnight snacks!] She flails, beeping shrilly.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

"I'm not using the green connector."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

[I mean with you. Right now.]

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

". . . I guess you can check the box . . ."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

The sound goes unnoticed beneath the yelling and beeping, especially when Airazor gets a leg up and manages to kick the hitter right in the faceplates.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

"AHEM! Ladies! You can kick 'er butt later! Right now you guys need to GO! . . . Unless you really WANT to be Imperial fodder."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"I think nearly everyone else is gone." Hot Shot looks around. "Most of these shuttles look like wrecks."

[Hmm. Yeah, they do. ...Can we blow them up so the Imps can't have spare parts?] Airazor perks with a whistle.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random twitches at that.

"Let me ask . . ."

//'Shift? You still here?//

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Red said astrotechs make good navigators." There's sadness in his voice as he names the friend he's hung out with most while here.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random hears and instantly knows the cause of that sadness but decides not to bring it up to prevent his processor from thinking about his own losses.

"Oh yeah, I remember training for that."

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Got it yet?" calls Hot Shot, turning the X Wing into a tighter spin than the makers probably ever planed of for it.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random snaps out of his inner panic-fest. ". . . Uhh. Getting there."

Now to. Just. Not. Think. About. Them. As he finishes getting the hyperdrive coordinates.

(frozen comment)

[random_xtras]

"Thanks, buddy." There's a soft sigh as Hot Shot's engine settles into standby.

(frozen comment)

[astrotechmech]

Random sighs as gets out a flight checklist and begins tapping his hand with it as he watches the stars streak on by . . .