“N-not really,” he answered Adeline, as mildly as he could. He looked around, still disoriented from sleeping. “Did the sh-ship stop?”

Techie slept fitfully, even with the comforting warmth of Adeline at his side. He whimpered and shuddered all through the night.

“We can s-sleep when we’re on the ship,” he assured her, before slinging her against his chest so she could nuzzle her face against the crook of his neck. With the other hand, he checked his pocket. Did he have any credits with him?

Thankfully, he did, and used them to pay their passage back home. Now to get settled in for the ride.

He was almost sad to wake her up once they reached the ship, but it had to be done. “Up, p-princess,” he said, poking her cheek.

It wasn’t safe on this planet anymore. Maybe NOTHING was safe. He needed to get back to Ren. Ren could help them! Hopefully…

They sped off to the closest transport ship; a good five miles off. The trip was a little uneventful, so Techie began to sing something soft and soothing for Addie.

“A-Al-Almost, sweetheart.” The fear is sinking into him again, but they’re so *close*. Finally, FINALLY, he pushes the door open and sunshine welcomes them both outside.

Quickly, he settles Addie and himself on his speeder and zooms off as far as he can get.

He gently picked her up into his arms. Off to the distance there was a door with a sign he couldn’t quite make out, but it seemed like an exit so he stolled over to it.

“We might g-get out of here alive d-despite ourselves,” he mused to Adeline. At this age, did she even know what death *meant*?

And so, leisurely strolling down the labyrinth of corridors hand in hand, with the distant sounds of goons sniffing them out, Techie and Adeline smiled.

Together.

Neither knew if they’d make it out. Perhaps neither really cared.

But they were together, and they were making the best of it. And that’s all that mattered.

He held her away from him and gaped in shock. Her first words to him and it’s THAT? The insanity of it all leaves him speechless, and then he does something strange: he laughs. Long and hard.

There’s some desperation in there too, but mostly it’s joy, and disbelief, and *exhaustion*.

He picks himself up and takes her by the hand. “C’mon Addie,” he says mildly, once the laughter dies down. “Let’s get you s-something to eat.”

Damn it all, if this is going to be their last moment he’s going to ENJOY it.