ANH'verse. Bespin Space Station. No Comment

[astrotechmech]

Somewhat early the next morning, a knock comes at the door to Arcee and the gang's suite, or rather a 'chime'. Knocks are so terribly old fashioned and who knows what the door bell things in sci-fi movies are actually called? Up to this time, there has been no major change in the Falcon's condition status. All reports to this point have said that they still aren't done with her repairs--but--they are getting close. Just a couple more hours and they should be completed.

Any other news the caretakers of the station might be privy to have not been shared with the suite's inhabitants.

Depending on close the rest of the gang is to the door, they may hear muffled voices immediately proceeding and succeeding said "knock." There are two voices to be precise: one male and one female.

Anyone inside the suite bored or observant enough could hear the rather familiar voices go from somewhat louder, normal tones to becoming decidedly hushed--but not quite whispered--by the time one of them interacts with the door's 'chime'. The walls' superior sound proofing makes it pretty much impossible to clearly hear anything said however.

But anyway, someone on the other side door wants to talk to someone or all in Arcee's suite, so let's move on from there . . .

Comments

[random_xtras]

There's a moment's pause, and then something rustles in the otherwise silent room just before the door slides open and Comettor is looking up with a slightly peeved frown. [Yes?]

[astrotechmech]

Outside the door stand the two owners of the voices, Crystal and Smokescreen. Crystal stands in a position of shock in the background and Smokescreen has his back to her as he stands immediately before the door. Crystal startles out of her shock as the door slides open, quickly jerking her hand away from where it covered her lip components and her embarrassed expression (if she were human, "blush" would be a better term) deepening as she abruptly turns and walks away down the hall.

The cause of her embarrassment not immediately clear on Smokescreen's face as he nods his head to look down at Comettor with his usual cheerful grin, and Liftor is oddly absent from his shoulder. Smokescreen notices Comettor's frown, but for the moment, he hopes it's not related to him sees if he can brighten Comettor's mood without pressing for details.

"Good morning, Comettor," Smokescreen says, voice on the softer side as he is aware that some of his guests might still be sleeping. "Everything all right? I was just comin' to see if Jetfire and Arcee were up and still hanging around."

Yes, he does realize that he can just look into the room, but his time with the "Little People," the Minicons, makes it hard for him to just ignore them when he comes in contact with them. And the writer realizes they were mistaken about Smokescreen's not wanting to press for details. He's just got too big of a spark.

[random_xtras]

Comettor gives a temperamental snort and then turns and runs back further into the room, his advance soon followed by a Jetfireish yelp and groan.

Then the red Minicon comes back, still exhibiting every sign of bad mood as he looks up at his host. [They're both awake now.]

[Comettor, come back here and help me, this joint is twisted all out of shape, and he'll be even less use than usual without his slagging head,] calls another little Minicon voice from somewhere under one of the pieces of furniture.

Comettor grumbles and looks toward it. [Give me a click, Airazor, it's Smokie.]

"Do I wanna know how Airazor got in here last night?" asks Jetfire groggily as he sits up on the couch and looks under it. "Whoa, what the heck did you guys do to Rollbar??"

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen frowns despite himself as he watches Comettor retreat into the room, a bit disturbed by his attitude and later taken aback by the yelp he hears.

Even by the time Comettor gets back, Smokescreen hasn't quite gotten his cheerful demeanor back.

"That was, uh, mighty kind of you, Comettor--" Smokescreen starts to reply cautiously, Airazor's interruption preventing him from ultimately deciding whether he should state that he could have come back later if Arcee and Jetfire were still sleeping.

". . . What?!" the exclamation comes out of his mouth before he realizes it at the "head" comment, and then he is at a loss of how to react afterwards.

Smokescreen grabs onto the frame of the door to prevent himself from rushing right in at Jetfire's last question. As it is, Smokescreen is still trying to figure out how he should be reacting to all of this.

One would think that, given his background, it wouldn't bother him that much, but then again . . .

[random_xtras]

"You found him in the garbage when you flew up the chute last night???" Jetfire sits up and gives Smokescreen a o.0 look.

[Yeah, and then I spent the rest of the $#@#$#@ night trying to put the dumb glitch back together, no thanks to Comettor!] comes Airazor's retort.

Comettor just looks from Smokescreen to Jetfire and beeps to himself quietly.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen's optics widen in shock before they resolve into a frown that still reflects some of his previous expression as he steps just enough inside to let the door shut behind him. No, he hasn't been invited in, but this is also something that you don't exactly want spread around.

"I'll get Security to look into this," Smokescreen says, putting a hand to his audio as a visual clue that he is about to make a call. "We also have a medic on board that specializes in Minicon repairs--if you think that'll help."

[random_xtras]

Jetfire waits a couple clicks, then sighs and looks under the couch again. "Razor? Did ya hear Smokie?"

"[I heard,]" comes the cranky retort. "[What's his name?]"

[random_xtras]

"Which last part?" Jetfire frowns at his friend. "The part about somebody trying to put Rollbar's processor permanently offline, or the part about him bein' from Kashyyk?"

[The one closest to here,] says Airazor, her tiny hands planted firmly on her grungy little hips as those big blue optics scowl up at Smokescreen.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen distractedly turns to look at Jetfire, determination once more in his optics, as he prepares to return to his calls. ". . . That was it."

In response to Airazor, Smokescreen frowns in thought at first, as if trying to map out where it is. "And that's what I need to know." He adds, as he returns his hand once more to his audio. "Thank you, Airazor."

[random_xtras]

"They crushed his cranial unit," says Makeshift, his steady voice raising over the rumble of Jetfire ire at Smokesceen's reply. "Thankfully, it didn't work. All they've done is made him mad, and as soon as he's mobile again we'll be picking pieces of them out of the walls."

[@#$@%@ yeah!] says Airazor with an angry beep. Comettor's too busy heading for Arcee and Kia's room to comment.

[astrotechmech]

It is a little bit before Smokescreen comes out of his unfocused "making a call" state, but when he does, he chuckles one of his cheerful chuckles that somehow seems to be lacking something in response to the comments about Rollbar getting back on his feet. "Not too many pieces, I hope. It'll probably be me getting the complaints. . . . Although it might send the right message . . ."

If Smokescreen is aware of Comettor's leaving, he does not visually acknowledge it.

"And First Aid's getting prepped to help Rollbar," Smokescreen informs those remaining in the room. "Given the information about his condition, First Aid think it might be best to bring him downstairs where he'll be able to make use of the equipment down there that is better suited in helping Rollbar--provided he's stable enough to be moved, of course." His gaze turns to each of those remaining in the room, awaiting their response.

[random_xtras]

[If he's not stable enough to be moved then he's already dead,] says Airazor with a snort. Then she looks over as the door to Kia and Arcee's room opens again to admit Arcee and Comettor.

"Hey, Princess." Jetfire perks just slightly without realizing it. "Where's Kia?"

"She says she and Murphy are staying in bed today," says the pink and white femmebot. Then she loses her slight frown as she notices Smokescreen.

[astrotechmech]

". . . Point taken," Smokescreen replies. "First Aid's down on level three, medical room 45. Now--" It's at that moment that he's interrupted by Arcee's arrival.

A frown comes onto his face as the conversation creeps in Kia's direction, and there is a bit of uncertainty deep in his optics. He manages to brush off his frown and replaces it with a small, friendly smile when Arcee turns in his direction.

"Good morning, Arcee. Were ya able to get some recharge in?" Smokescreen says, amiably, although it's clear he is only trying to lighten the mood a bit.

[random_xtras]

Jetfire watches the femme in front of them instead of providing the next comeback, and there's an odd wistful sadness in his optics.

"Yeah..." he says at last, absently. "Tell me about it."

[astrotechmech]

If Smokescreen caught Jetfire's wistful look or his comment, he does not show it as something comes to his attention.

"Whoop!" Smokescreen backtraps a step, and turns towards a double-paneled door on the side of the hall. "Hang on, Arcee. Elevator's right here."

[random_xtras]

"Heh. Lost already." The pink femme turns and comes back, and by her actions and attitude it would seem that Smokescreen's the only other bot in the corridor.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen presses a button on the command panel to the side of the door. "Don't worry about it." He gives her a knowing smile. "I own the joint and I still get lost sometimes."

A few moments pass as they await the elevator before something comes to Smokescreen's processor and he chuckles.

[random_xtras]

"Well, this is only my second time through, so I guess I have an excuse?" The pink and white femme smiles at their host.

Jetfire is miles away in his own thoughts as they await the elevator, but Arcee glances toward that chuckle with a curious expression. "Did you remember a joke?"

[astrotechmech]

"Way more of an excuse than I do," Smokescreen replies, smiling back.

"What?" Smokescreen comes back from his memory and looks at Arcee with some confusion until the connection clicks. "Hah hah. Not so much a 'joke.' More like a funny part of a story."

"Have Jet Fire's Minicons ever told you what happened soon after their rescue?" Smokescreen asks, the humor from his remembering still touching his features.

[random_xtras]

"Actually, the Kessel Run one's true," says Jetfire, lifting his head slightly. "I've met the little slagger that did it. He teleports."

Everything else Smokescreen just said has just been pushed aside in Arcee's processor as her eyes flash white with shock and dismay. "A teleporting Minicon? Oh no..."

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen looks skeptical. ". . . You're gonna have to explain that one."

Arcee's distraction is probably a relief to both mechs. Smokescreen chuckles. "They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes."

[random_xtras]

"So long as all those sizes are pipsqueak," adds Jetfire. Then he frowns at the floor indicator. "Are we lost again? I didn't think your fuel dumps were down this far."

[astrotechmech]

"Right," Smokescreen replies, chuckling slightly again.

Smokescreen sobers slightly as the elevator dings! in arrival. "This one is."

He motions them out of the elevator once the door opens and starts to lead them down the hall . . .

[random_xtras]

"Oh, so this is where you hide the good stuff for personal use?" Jetfire chuckles knowingly.

[astrotechmech]

Smokescreen appears surprised. "I have no idea what you're talking about."