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]

"But..." The big mech looks flustered, guilty, and uncertain. "I never did that."

"It's only insulting to Imps anyway," says Arcee softly as she steps over and gives Random a quick hug and a little comforting peck on the side of the head. "Relax. You're a good mentor."

Then she steps away, ignoring Jetfire's grateful and approving look and Murphy's irate fist shake to transform and zip away over the top of the rise.

[astrotechmech]

Random is yet again confronted by a Jetfire who isn't acting flippant around him, and he's still not sure what to think about it. Yes, technically, he can't remember Jeftfire teaching Kia anything bad, but Jetfire's crew is still rowdy and probably landed up teaching her some stuff--even accidentally. And the Rebellion is full of mechs that aren't used to having kids around.

Before Random can know if he should clarify any of this, Arcee hugs and gives him a kiss, which makes him stop short. She what? WHY HAS EVERYONE STARTED GOING CRAZY? Like, it's good that they're starting to respect him, but this?

Random is startled out of his mild shock as he hears outbursts coming from said rise, and he crouches down so he can walk over to the edge of the rise without being seen above the bushes and underbrush.

Yeah, those troopers are yelling and scrambling and moving to intercept.

[random_xtras]

"They really don't like being called drones," notes Kia from where she's laying on her belly next to him.

"Nope," says Rollbar, from a similar position on the other side of her.

"You weren't really asleep, were you?" She turns her head to look at the sandy Minicon.

He just beeps and withholds comment.

"There they go." Jetfire sounds worried but proud as the troopers vanish among the trees, but he just straightens his shoulders and stands up to head in the direction of their goal.

[astrotechmech]

Random wouldn't like to be called a drone either if he had any awareness left like the Autotroopers had. They weren't completely droned, so they could keep some self-perservation and initiative.

Random stifles a shudder and tries not to go too far down that line. He didn't need to flashback right now.

. . . Did Rollbar do something?

Random cautiously looks around before standing up like Jetfire is. Then he sees where the other mech is going. "We're not going to wait for the others to get back?"

[random_xtras]

"The princess kin take care'a herself." Jetfire glances toward his wing, and it's suddenly empty. Then he puts a hand on Random's shoulder while he gives a last scan of the area and gripes under his breath at Comettor for tickling.

Kia sniffs a flower she's picked, then looks up at the two mechs. "She's got friends to meet too."

"Yeicugh." Jetfire shudders. "Sure she does. Let's get outta here."

[astrotechmech]

Random supposes that's true. Though Jetfire didn't mention Hot Shot. . . . Wait, is Airazor gone, too? . . . How the heck does he keep missing this stuff?

Random looks down at his daughter. Kia's not worried, anyway.

Random frowns and nods slowly but otherwise ready to follow where Jetfire leads.

[random_xtras]

Jetfire's hand squeezes gently, and then falls away as Random starts walking. The big flyer fans out slightly where he can see the Astrotechs and cover them, but he's not so close to them that fighting might be dangerous. He also starts to absently pat his leg to try and convince Comettor to transform and come into his hand, but the Minicon's too busy rubbernecking and swatting at butterflies who like the colour red to pay attention to the hint.

Kia gives Random her flower, and then stoops to pick another one without moving from his side as she walks. This flower, identical to the first, gets sniffed too, and then she looks up at him.

"Hot Shot's gone to see Nemesis Prime," she says, her voice quiet so that it doesn't pierce Jetfire's distraction. "And Jetfire asked Airazor to cover Arcee and the Race Team's backs."

[astrotechmech]

Random glances down and takes the flower. He lets himself get distracted by it while she picks up another. Yes, the flower is pretty, and it smells kind of nice.

But then her news makes him stop and nearly drop the flower. It takes him a moment to recover before he starts walking again and stepping over an uneven area in his path. That explained a lot.

[random_xtras]

Kia walks over a little sand crawler that trundles in front of her, then hops down again and offers Random her second flower.

"And Rollbar was making the troopers feel like they were eating the best tasting ration bars ever, so they couldn't hear us at all." Her voice holds sympathy as she glances to one side, where a third flower is peeking in a friendly way from a berry bush.

[astrotechmech]

"Oh." Now Kia's words to Rollbar make more sense. That would have been a very rude wake up call for the Autotroopers. No wonder they sounded so angry when they were chasing Arcee.

He sees that she has noticed the third flower and wonders if she's going to pick that one too.

[random_xtras]

"Mmmhmmm," says Kia absently, her eyes going to flower number three as she leans toward it and offers Random flower number two.

"Murphy, that's disgustin'," says Jetfire, also sounding absent. "Don't eat bugs."

[I wasn't!]

[astrotechmech]

Yep. Random knew it. . . . And she heard that, too.

He takes the second flower and wonders how many more they'll be picking up before the end of this adventure. He is glad the flowers are nice and not trying to eat him.

And he doesn't wanna know what's going on with Jetfire and Murphy.