Winter smirked. “Thin air. We lived on Hoth for crying out loud. What air could be thinner, or that cold?” Elias rolled his eyes. “We may be able to breathe, but you don’t know how warm it is down there. Thin air isn’t a problem, but temperature is…”
(I feel like we should wait for Camie now…)
(Yeah.)
(Hey hey!)
Shiloh caught the conversation. An imperial mine? Shivers ran across her skin.
(Wow, crap. I gtg. Bbl!)
(Here! Anyone else here?)
(ME)
(CAMIE!!! Where u at?)
Winter looked over at Shiloh. "Did I cause you to shiver? I know I'm radiating cold air, but I didn't know how cold it was. I can try to calm down, that might help. But, it's gonna take some effort because of the caf in my system… Or, was it because of the thought of that Imperial mine down there?" Elias just sighed, and rubbed his temples. He looked at Essar. "If that mine is inhabited, and there are people, let alone Imperials, how would we go unnoticed?"
"Well, there's enough debris and radio interference that they shouldn't be able to notice us. Hopefully. There's a few hilly spots over there we could land in."
Elias relaxed, and then he tensed up again. "Say we land and go unnoticed out here, but what about on the planet among the miners? You, Shiloh, and if Estelle wants to go, can blend in, but Winter and I? We have eyes that glow, and we radiate cold, and if we feel threatened, ice armor that glows… How do we hide that?" Winter realized all of this and she looks up at Elias perplexed.
"Uuuuuummmm." Essar scratched his head. "Do either of you know how to pilot?"
Elias dropped his head. "Does flying a stolen tie fighter count? I mean I rebuilt an X-Wing fighter, and I figured out how to fly it, so maybe? Maybe I can pilot? I would have to look at your controls, and I could figure it out, in like an hour maybe?" Winter smirked. "I can't pilot, but weapons systems? Now that's what I know how to fix and operate. Plus, I think I can blend in on the surface. I just need baggy clothes… and a blast shield on a helmet… the cold, maybe the asteroid is cold? Maybe the asteroid can cover my cold?"
Shiloh piped up. "I could go in alone."
"That could probably work Winter. Elias, you can either stay here as a co-pilot for 5 incase we need a quick exit, or come with." Essar turned. "I don't think it's best that anyone goes in alone Shiloh."
Shiloh crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'm a trained assassin. Please. Let me do this."
"I'll let you come, but I don't think it's best for just one person to walk into there."
Winter nodded. "Shiloh, Essar is right. No one needs to go in alone. Now, Elias, do you still have those stormtrooper issued clothes that you stole out of his pack, when we raided his armor back on Hoth?" Elias smiled. "You bet. I knew that they would come in handy one day… But, those are huge. Like 2 sizes too big for you Winter." Winter smirked. "I know. They are perfect. Now, I just need a blast shield, or something to cover my eyes in the dark…"
"I can do this," Shiloh repeated firmly. Her short, feminine stature didn't help her case much. She felt that she looked like a child.
Winter walked over to Shiloh. She put her hands on Shiloh's shoulders. Shiloh was a little taller that Winter. Barely noticeable, but Winter felt smaller. "Shiloh, we all need to go in together. Plus, I can't talk my way out of situations. You can."
Essar nodded. "If you can't cooperate I'm going to have you stay on the ship." Essar internally cringed. He was puling a dad tone without realizing it.
Shiloh shrugged off Winter's hands and turned away from the group so they couldn't see her expression.
Winter turned around and lowered her eyes. They were glowing. She turned toward Elias, and walked over and buried her head in his chest. Elias was caught off guard. But, he didn't bother Winter. She looked up at him with her bright, glowing blue-green eyes."Are you going to co-pilot, or are you coming with us?" Elias sighed. He couldn't bear to let Winter go alone, but he knew he had too. He couldn't hide, when he was the size of a taun-taun. He weakly smiled. "Yeah. I'll co-pilot. I can't hide on that rock. You can, you are the size of an overgrown womp rat. You'll manage. Be safe down there…" Elias turned his head, trying to hide the tears coming from his eyes.
Shiloh listened to them talking and her heart ached for everything that could've been. Why did no one believe in her anymore?
Essar smiled slightly. Elias and Winter really cared for each other. It reminded him of Teela. He cleared his throat. "Right. So. Winter, Shiloh, and I will go take a quick look, see what we've got, and Elias, 5, and Estelle will stay back here."