ANH. Imperial Shuttle near Imperial Blockade. Out of the frying pan . . .

[astrotechmech]

Random paces up and down the small "corridor" behind the pilots' chairs. It isn't enough that they're using probably very-much-illegally-bought Imperial codes to sneak past the Imperial blockade led by Nemesis Prime's imposing vessel and onto the forested moon holding the shield generator for Unicron's two bodies using Random's ship-clearing formula. But they're also doing it in a ship that he's fixed before while in Imperial service. Not the one he used to get his formula written, but it was still unnerving to be in a ship whose weak points you're all too familiar with.

Especially if you know where the Imperials need to hit in order to instantly blow it up.

All he needs to complete this nightmare is for his old Imperial CO to pop out of one of the shuttle's compartments.

Comments

[random_xtras]

"They said it was old but good," says Kia absently, her eyes on Murphy where he's hiding behind some of the equipment and peeking out uncertainly.

"If they do, we'll be ready for 'em." Jetfire's voice is grim, and he doesn't turn his head as Airazor hops up and clings to his right wing.

[astrotechmech]

Random thinks over Kia's words as he continues to rub her back. Yes, it went in line with how they treated them. Maybe they'd be okay after all. . . . It's what Primus has been trying to tell them the whole time.

Random wills himself to relax and not think of what could potentially happen next.

[random_xtras]

There's a sudden scuff of a foot, and then Hot Shot sits up and scowls. "I'm endangering the mission. I shouldn't have come."

"It's going to be okay," insists Kia quietly without moving from her snuggle.

"Alright. My neck's pricklin' now," notes Jetfire in a dry, conversational tone. Arcee snorts at him.

[astrotechmech]

Random turns and frowns at Hot Shot. He's endangering the mission? Kinda late to be figuring that out, isn't it? . . . And wouldn't Primus have warned Kia? Or something?

Random shifts a bit uncomfortably and keeps hugging and rubbing Kia.

[random_xtras]

"Hot Shot's only bein' a dummy." Kia wiggles her fingers at Murphy, who perks and then falls over laughing at Hot Shot's protest. The black Minicon is joined in the laughter by every other little person on the ship.

Arcee chuckles softly, the set of her shoulders relaxing as she turns to send a fond look back to the yellow mech. Beside her Jetfire's mirth fades and he tenses and looks hurt and confused.

[astrotechmech]

"Oh. Okay." Random sighs in slight relief.

Random focuses too much on settling himself in for the rest of the ride and doesn't catch the significance of Arcee's look at Hot Shot and Jetfire's reaction to it.

The rest of the trip is silent--except for the obligatory Minicon snickers--and the small Imperial shuttle soon begins its descent.

Much like Dagobah, the planet is covered in trees and organic life. Unlike Dagobah, however, there's no fog and far fewer bodies of water. The sun is also able to peek through the tree tops and create patches of sunlight on the ground below.

It would feel almost inviting--if the Empire hadn't taken it over for their own purposes.

[random_xtras]

"Nice," notes Airazor, leaning forward for a better look.

"Like mini Kashyyyk, huh?" says Jetfire. "Think there's little people here?"

[There will be, if there aren't already.]

[astrotechmech]

Random looks up quickly and then tries to relax again. With how peaceful it looks, he had been hoping it would be the one organic planet that wouldn't be out to get him in some way.

So he does not like idea of Minicons from Kashyyyk here. Are there worse things? Yes. As previously mentioned, the fact that there are Imperials here doesn't really make the planet inviting.

But, argh, Minicons always want to do things with Kia.

Random resists the urge to take a closer look at the trees as the shuttle nears the chosen landing spot. It is better not to know.

Or at least he hopes so.

Anyway, Random is very glad that they're not landing right at the shield generator station and breaking in immediately. That could be very messy and intense. Instead, the plan is to land far enough away to not rouse suspicion but close enough to still get there at a reasonable time.

He hopes that the effort will not go to waste.

[random_xtras]

Kia looks up at him as he thinks about Minicon reaction to her, her pale eyes sparkling with gentle teasing. Then she snorts at the slight bump of the landing. "Jetfire's not paying attention."

Jetfire's not replying to Arcee's jibes about the landing, either, just checking things over and glancing through the viewscreen with a thoughtful scowl.

[astrotechmech]

Oh, Kia "heard" that. Or sensed that. However she gets . . . yeah. Random shifts a bit in embarrassment when he senses her teasing him and muses how much she's grown up since the day he found her out in that asteroid field. She's really come into her own in some ways, and it makes him happy to know she's not as vulnerable as she used to be.

It also means that she's more taken to scolding and teasing him now. Like right now and also when he stubbornly stayed awake in Jabba's dungeon. He's glad that adventure is over. Having her do so is a lot better than when she almost blindly followed him, unaware of the dangers around her, but he finds himself missing the trust.

But that's probably very selfish of him, right? She needs to be able to be her own bot and grow up and . . . leave him some day?

The bump in landing jolts him from these thoughts, and he frowns as Kia and Arcee point out Jetfire's distraction. Random wonders why Jetfire is distracted. Surely not because of anything Random said earlier, right? Or at least historically Jetfire has been more dismissive of him.

Maybe more of what Hot Shot said? No, maybe not that either.

He has no idea, and they've got more important things to worry about now.

Random finally lets go of Kia and gently nudges Kia off of him, so he can get up and get the cloaker for the shuttle out.