ANH 'verse. Alderaanian space. Something's missing....

[random_xtras]

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[random_xtras]

"Get your fingers outta the way." Jetfire grabs the panel and makes sure it's properly in place, adding before it's fully closed. "And don't move!"

Then there's nothing but darkness and silence and a little femme clinging to her mentor and hiding her face on him.

[astrotechmech]

He promptly does so before moving to sit down beside Kia.

I guess talking's not a smart option either, he thinks to himself once the panel is shut and he has his arms around Kia, rubbing her back briefly and resisting the temptation to rock her back and forth.

[random_xtras]

She continues to shake for some time, but then the darkness and closeness, and her trust in Random overcome her fear of the moving of the ship and the slight jostlings. She doesn't even wake up when heavy feet tread overhead.

[astrotechmech]

As she drifts off, Random once again realizes that he is going to be the one whose going to be worried about what's going on around him, and he finds that he is a bit jealous of her even though he finds that her presence gives him comfort, more than he would have been able to give himself if he were alone.

At the heavy steps, he tenses, trying as hard as he can not to make noise and fearing that the mech above will hear either the beating of his spark, the rumble of his engine or the air moving into his intakes or perhaps all of the above.

[random_xtras]

The steps pause, and something thumps against the panel a few times, followed by silence as the Astrotrooper waits to see if anyone answers.

[astrotechmech]

If it was Jetfire, Hot Shot, or Scavenger, wouldn't they say something first? Or just pull the panel up? . . . Yes.

Random does not answer. Instead he hopes and he prays that the Astrotrooper will leave before he stasis-locks due to lack of cool air.

[random_xtras]

Long clicks of silence, followed by loud and far too obvious footsteps leading away. And then more silence.

[astrotechmech]

He wants to breathe freely again, but something about those footsteps stops him from doing so. Did they trail off gradually or just cut off?

He tries to remember, still not breathing, and hoping the mech still isn't in the room.

[random_xtras]

There's nothing from above, but from a crack in the wall of the hideout comes the glimmer of a Minicon's optics, and then Murphy is waving very carefully before putting a finger to his mouth.

[astrotechmech]

He did not like that silence.

Random's optics flicker over the crack in the wall--luckily not startling or making noise--and he sees Murphy's motions, which just confirms that it's not safe yet.

[random_xtras]

The tiny mech stares upward, his optics intent as he waits for the Troopers to leave.

[astrotechmech]

How long has it been? Hours? Days? Minutes?

He just wants this to end!

. . . How would they know when it's safe again?

[random_xtras]

Murphy makes another 'shhh' sign, then slips soundlessly through the crack and comes to stand with a hand on Random's knee as he continues to look upward.

[astrotechmech]

Random raises an optic ridge as he repeats the 'shh' sign, and then his facial expression turns to one of alarm and general 'what do you think you're doing?!?' when Murphy slips through the crack and comes closer to them though he doesn't make any noise.

Random's optics flick upward.