ANH'verse. Millennium Falcon and space station. Smokescreens

[random_xtras]

"Whaddya mean, we can't dock!?!" Jetfire's bellow of frustration rang on the bridge. "Gimme a good reason! I know your boss!"

"No one is allowed to dock at the moment, sir," came the calm feminine response. "Please move your vessel out of our airspace, and have a nice oorn."

"Why you...!"

"Here." Arcee put a hand on his chest, though she avoided looking up at him. "Let me try."

Kia watched the older bots from where she sat strapped into a seat toward the back of the bridge, her wide optics taking in the subtle shifts of their body language as Arcee attempted to reason with the docking official and Jetfire continued to shout his objections to the femme's refusal to let them dock. The two of them were embarrassed about something that made their faceplates heat up whenever they looked at each other, and they seemed very angry at each other, but confusingly, it was also very clear to her that they liked each other a lot.

Browplates drawn together with confusion, she looked down at the black Minicon who was snuggled in her arms.

Murphy just shrugged, and then winced as Jetfire let out another bellow of ire.

Comments

[astrotechmech]

"I'm sorry, miss. We've been ordered not to allow anyone--" The feminine voice is cut off as someone tells her something in hushed tones on the other end. She replies back in equally hushed tones away from the mike before there is a slight moment of silence as there is a change in speakers.

"Sorry for the delay and inconvenience. There was a slight . . . concern . . . that needed to be resolved before allowing anyone else into the city. You have permission to land on Platform 3-2-7," a male voice says, taking over for the femme. "Have a good oorn."

[random_xtras]

"Now was that so hard?" Jetfire growls as he goes and flops into his seat.

Arcee rolls her optics at him and thanks the mech on the other end of the line, then barks at an escalating Minicon quarrel back behind Kia's seat.

[astrotechmech]

The male voice ignores him but thanks her in reply before once more wishing them a good oorn and shutting off the line.

One of the small ships that had hitherto been preventing their landing now indicates that they follow them as they lead the way to the indicated platform, which--in the presence of the beautiful Bespin sunset--has been adequately been lit up for their safe arrival.

There is no one on the platform to meet them, but that does not mean no one will be there after they land.

[random_xtras]

The landing is softness itself, and then Jetfire gets to his feet and comes back to lift Kia and Murphy into his arms as the little femme gets up from her seat. "I can't wait to introduce you to Smoky. Don't worry, I won't tell him how old you are, and I'll keep him in line. But being around you'd make anybody's day, kid."

Kia just blinks at him, but then gives a shy smile.

"That's it. Show me the sunshine." Jetfire's chuckle is gentle and happy. "Ol' Randy hasn't got anything to worry about, I'll take good care of you."

Optics still twinkling with his grin, he turns and hits the control for lowering the ramp, and then makes his way toward it, totally ignoring Arcee as he does.

For her part, the princess rolls her optics and shakes her head before following, making sure to sidestep the Cometor and Rollbar discussion on the way.

[astrotechmech]

Now someone is coming--Nope, the door leading to the platform just opened and someone's silhouette can be seen in the doorway talking to someone else, but no one is coming out yet.

[random_xtras]

Jetfire looks toward that opening door as Cometor and Rollbar scoot down the ramp behind him, then gives a guffaw. "Smoky, you old.... I see you over there!"

Arcee pauses beside him, her blue optics shrewd as she studies those outlines.

[astrotechmech]

And Arcee may very well have a reason to be wary as not only "Smoky" but a gaggle of security mechs come out to meet them. None of them have bright and happy faces as they come over. The blue minicon sitting on "Smoky's" shoulder himself has a "Imperial drone" feel to him as he fails to even look around him.

"You got some circuits coming here after what you pulled, mech. You slimy, double-crossing, no good swindler," the mech known as Smokescreen says with a frown.

[random_xtras]

"Hey, watch your language in front of the k... ladies." Jetfire frowns and studies his friend. "What're you talkin' about?"

[astrotechmech]

There is now the sound of guns locking into place and powering up.

"Think real fast, mech," Smokescreen says with a warning tone as steps up to Jetfire.

He continues to frown while he does so until he is within a few yards of Jetfire, and he suddenly grins and burst out laughing jovially. "Hey, Jetfire! It's so good to see you again! How have you been?"

Meanwhile, on his shoulder, the blue Minicon turns around and beeps at the guards, who put their guns away and walk back into the floating city.

[random_xtras]

"You...." Jetfire nearly chokes on what he wants to say as his shoulders drop with relief and his hand comfortingly rubs Kia's back. "I forgot what kinda joker you are."

Kia, for her part, is hiding on her friend's shoulder, Murphy a muffled protest of being squished between them.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen chuckles. "And you must need your memory chips checked, you old rascal, if you can't even remember why a mech would be upset with ya."

The blue Minicon beeps at him from his shoulder then, and Smokescreen holds up a hand to allow him access and watches as the Minicon springboards off his hands before he has even put him down as the little mech goes over to attempt to "converse" with Rollbar and Comettor.

Smokescreen looks after him before returning his attention to Jetfire.

"I see Airrazor's done the smart thing and gotten out of dodge," Smokescreen says, teasingly, before looking at Kia and then the rest of the group. "But who all do we got here?

[random_xtras]

"I've had a lot on my mind lately." Jetfire tries to coax Kia into looking around and giving Murphy a little breathing room, but then realizes that the young femme's crying quietly and just continues the back rub. "This's Kia. Her personality matrix's kinda young, but she'll be up ta sayin' hi in a few. And this...." He starts to turn toward the pink and white femme at his side, but she steps forward boldly.

"My name's Arcee," she says in her quiet but firm way, offering a hand. "It's an honor to meet you."

Comettor's telling the little blue bot about how Airazor's busy checking on some business of her own, but she'll be back soon.

[astrotechmech]

I believe that if you don't even consider your old friend becoming your bitter enemy.

//"Are you still in the Business?"// Smokescreen asks him over a secure comm with a seriousness that doesn't actually touch his outward expression.

"It's nice to meet you, Kia. Name's Smokescreen. I'm sorry if my earlier ruse scared you, but I thought I'd play a little joke on Jetfire since he only seems to show up when he wants something," Smokescreen says, amiably, despite his words, filing any questions he might have concerning the small femme's 'young personality matrix' for later.

"The honor's all mine, Arcee," Smokescreen says, taking her hand and leaning over to kiss it chivalrously, if she will let him.

"And that blue and gray Minibot over there talking to the Kashyyyk native is my partner Liftor," Smokescreen says with pride. Liftor looks over from where he is expressing his wish that Airazor's 'business' goes smoothly long enough to wave at the rest of Bulks eagerly for a few moments. "He helps me keep my sanity while I'm running this disaster of a joint."

Liftor beeps something in negative to which Smokescreen laughs.

"Ha ha ha! Okay, maybe 'disaster's not quite the right word, but sometimes it sure feels like it!"

"So what brings you to this lonely corner of the galaxy?" Smokescreen asks, returning his attention back to the Bulks of the group.

[random_xtras]

//Ah no. Not really.// Jetfire sounds a little surprised by the admission. //Lately I've just ben playin' taxi for the ladies and that old guy standing up at the top'a the ramp. Runnin' cargo... ain't as profitable as it useta be.//

Then his expression darkens to a scowl as he watches Arcee smile at Smokescreen and laugh softly at his words.

The scowl continues as his friend introduces the little Minicon, and then turns to very slight panic as he tries to think of a good reason on the fly.

"He's giving us a ride," says Arcee calmly, her optics still twinkling with the charmed grin.

[astrotechmech]

//Now that's something I never thought I'd hear from you, old friend.// Smokescreen can't hide the surprise from his voice. //Isn't that awfully quiet?//

Smokescreen chuckles. "Sure. But few people come here just for pleasure or go out of their way to come here. So what can I do for you?"

[random_xtras]

//Yeah, well....// Jetfire's free hand goes to rub Kia's back again as his optics stray toward Arcee. //Kia here likes it quiet.//

"We'd like to stay awhile," says Arcee. "Kia's really not up to a lot of traveling right now, and this looks like a beautiful and quiet place."

[astrotechmech]

//. . .// Smokescreen is momentarily surprised into silence. // . . . Don't take this the wrong way, Jetfire, but you haven't brought any trouble with you, have you?//

"Ah," Smokescreen chuckles, glancing over to where the Bespin sunset paints a colorful picture in the sky and around the clouds. "I know the feeling. Traveling to far off places can be quite exciting, but sometimes sticking around in a beautiful place for a while can become quite preferable. . . . But then wanderlust would hit again, and it was off to the next star system.

"But I think we can accommodate you in the meantime. Liftor?"

Already checked. Plenty of available places in the upper decks.

"So what'll it be?" Smokescreen gestures to the group and leads the way inside. "Oh, and does the Falcon need any maintenance done?"

[random_xtras]

The flybot's reply sounds a bit tired. //Nah. I just need somewhere ta park the girls while I go take care'a some business.//

Jetfire suddenly oozes guilt, and Arcee's sideways look at him doesn't help matters. "Er... that is. You see...."

"We've been working on her," comes Kia's soft, clear voice. "But there's still a lot of stuff that needs fixing yet."

See Jetfire go >.<.

[astrotechmech]

//. . . I sure hope so. I've got a responsibility to the people who live here, Jetfire. . . . They'll be safe here.//

Smokescreen suddenly stops just inside the city. "What did you do to my ship?"

Liftor beeps at Smokescreen. Liftor told him so.

"Yeah, I know! I learned my lesson."

After nearly losing everything.

"Dah! . . . You feeling up to doing a damage report?!"

Liftor is silent for a few moments before he seems to "take a deep breath." Yeah. And then he's off running towards the ship again.

"I'll get my people right on that."

[random_xtras]

"Your ship?" says Arcee with surprise.

"Well, ya see...." Jetfire cringes a bit as Kia once more softly speaks up, that soft voice giving a very detailed report of damages to the ship.

"But Jetfire didn't do it," she says first. "Most of it is just because the Minicons are really bad Astrotechs."

Murphy and Comettor razz at that. Rollbar is nowhere in sight.

[astrotechmech]

"Yeah, my ship." Smokescreen is very glad Liftor's not in audioshot to correct him. As he had technically lost it to Jetfire.

Smokescreen transmit a copy of Kia's report to Liftor, who comms him back with, "I believe that."

Smokescreen chuckles. "Careful what you say about Minicons from Kashyyyk."

[random_xtras]

[Oh Kia's okay,] beeps Murphy happily as he snuggles in the little femme's arms. [And we do kinda stink at putting things back together when they fall apart.]

"Or when you take them apart while you're looking for your mice," says Kia.

[Or that.]

Jetfire just stares at the pair of them.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen laughs. "I meant in general, but I see I have nothing to worry about."

[random_xtras]

Kia gives him one of her sweet, innocent smiles, but then frowns slightly as her big optics seem to look right into his spark.

"Hey hey." Jetfire jiggles her to get her attention, then looks at his friend. "She hasn't had a lotta time ta recharge lately."

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen fidgets slightly at her look but doesn't seem to understand why.

"Which reminds me. I was taking you upstairs. Any room preferences?" Smokescreen says, leading the way again. "I think we still have a suite big enough to accommodate everybody . . ."