ANH. Bespin Station. Return of the Jedi?

[random_xtras]

The speeding X-wing had just entered the system and was swooping through space.

Inside the cockpit, it was noisy.

"Yeah, Random." A grim-faced Hot Shot cut across the chatter of excited Minicons and a very anxious Astrotech. "I'm sure Kia's with 'em. So just circulate already. 'N stop talking about your insides squirming, you're kinda creeping me out here."

All three of the Starsaber Minicons turned their attention to the pilot, the volume of their beeping rising drastically.

"Just hold on," said Hot Shot with resigned patience. "We'll be there soon."

Then he blinked as he caught the barest hint of a communication that shut all three of his small friends up instantly. "...And nobody better ask me what that was, because I don't know."

Comments

[random_xtras]

Hot Shot watches with frowning confusion and concern as a black slab of some sort is wheeled out of a side corridor, accompanied by a few Autotroopers and a disreputable looking bot with deranged sounding case of the giggles.

[astrotechmech]

Maniacally deranged-sounding case of the giggles. . . . But the additional word is probably too redundant to properly convey how crazy the mech is in general, so the aforementioned description will have to do. In any case, the mech is much too pleased with himself to bode any good for anybody, especially their friends.

As for the black slab, from his stuffed viewpoint, Random doesn't even really see the ominous thing in question until it passes his line of sight. . . . And then he kinda wishes he hadn't. Some bot has some sick taste in art. Random is glad when the procession passes.

[random_xtras]

There's a small sad sound from Hot Shot once the strangers are passed, and he rests his head against the arm that is leaned against the wall. "Man. Jetfire, I'm sorry..."

[astrotechmech]

Random starts when he hears the echo of Hot Shot's head against the wall, and then he stares in his direction. It takes a few moments before Hot Shot's words really sink in, though, and then he feels like he really is gonna be sick.

He doesn't have time to dwell on it--or even think about the consequences of Jetfire's end--as a bit of color catches in the corner of his optic.

"Hot Shot! Look out!" Random manages to get out before a burst of insane cackling around a corner precedes a couple of shots fired in their direction, and Random slides free-fall fast to the floor, leaving a dirty trail on the nice, clean, white wall in his wake.

The words Cyclonus volleys in their direction are essentially lost amidst his cackling and the chatter of the echos off the walls, but the little that comes through seem to convey disappointment that Hot Shot wasn't free for the killing and to have fun getting 'slagged' by the Dark Prime. Cyclonus swiftly leaves without further ado.

[random_xtras]

Hot Shot's growling softly once the echoes have died down. He's also laying on the floor and peering after the shooter with optics bright with temper as he regrets not having gotten a shot off himself. The Starsaber lays on the floor beside him.

"Stop giggling," he tells it quietly, then lowers his face for a moment to cool down a bit before doing anything else.

[astrotechmech]

What is going on with Hot Shot falls on dead audios as the experience of getting shot at calls to remembrance the last time he was shot at waaay back on the Rebel flagship. He was not used to getting shot at, and if not for Kia gently--

Random comes to the present with a start. Kia! The panic starts setting in again.

"H-Hot--H-Hot Shot. H-How do--W-What i-if--Kia?" Random stumbles, stutters, and chokes on his words. Basically: It's been too long since he has had Kia in sight, and he needs to know that she's okay now.

[random_xtras]

"Kia's fine." Hot Shot doesn't lift his face from the floor.

[astrotechmech]

Random stares at him for another few moments before he growls softly himself.

It was what he wanted. Maybe it was the way it was said, but that really didn't help settle the question. Yes, Random knew the answer. Wasn't it what Hot Shot had been telling him over and over and over again--and why wouldn't it be true? Primus said it, didn't he?

So, why wasn't it enough?

He looks over at Hot Shot again.

And, he couldn't just sit here. Moping. He raises himself to his feet and starts off down the hall. He makes it to the corner before he stops.

He couldn't think about Sneaker anymore. He was dead. He was gone. Whether he actually abandoned him or not, he doubted the mech really wanted Random to dwell on Sneaker either. Random needed to think about Kia. That's who Primus put in his care for now at least, and he was gonna at least try to take care of the femme who's found a place in his spark.

[random_xtras]

"Random, wait." Hot Shot rises to his feet, absently rotating one arm at the shoulder to hear the faint squeak. "You're going the wrong way."

[astrotechmech]

Yeah, Random kinda figured. He had no idea where on this blasted station she was. Part of why he waited at the corner. The other being not knowing who was gonna shoot at him next.

But Random's too annoyed to say anything nice, so he just waits for further instructions.