Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Will you pull for me, 'Lia?" Calla grunted, helping the surprisingly strong old woman crate up the gleaming cargo. No need to advertise the expense being packed away in Kiah Come to all the world. The last thing Calla wanted to encounter was bandits.

Ophelia nodded and without warning grew and twisted into centaur like creature. Calla coughed, hiding a grin. "Maybe something less...noteworthy?"

The Hakon frowned prettily, but obeyed. A strong, jet black mare snorted in place of the centaur, obviously pouting. Calla laughed and stroked the fine hairs running between the horse's unusual green eyes. "Better, sweet, much better. Just hook you up now..."

It was an old trick, honestly. The Hakon was stronger than any horse, and pulling even this crate of what appeared to be solid metal was a task suited to Ophelia. But the horse appearances made the crate seem much lighter and of less importance.

Calla tightened the straps, gave the old woman a kiss on both cheeks and hopped on the Hakon's back with a pleased grin. They pulled the cargo easily through the crowd, forcing it to part like a curtain before them.

Calla leapt off the mare's back with a smile, letting her drag it up into Kiah Come's cargo hold. Pleased with the uneventful pick up, she turned to go into the ship as well. The Hakon had already transformed back to human and helped Calla secure the crate with various bars and straps. "Done?"

The pilot nodded. "Yep. We'll wait a bit longer to see if that catgirl wanted to talk business, yeah? Then we're off to...which planet was it again...?" Calla hunted out her PDA sized computer, tapping the screen twice. A list of jobs scrolled along the cracked screen, only slightly warped due to the damage. The Hakon placed a fingertip firmly on one name and another list scrolled by. Another few taps and the description of "Hank's" current job popped up. "Planet Azel? What part?" Calla had been much too busy to register what her current employer had said back at the station. Good thing all orders were instantly picked up by her computer. "...I see. No wonder he didn't want me to go...but what could he possibly be shipping to Azel in such a hurry?"

A lump of uneasiness settled in her stomach. The Hakon merely yawned. "Tired. Are we going soon?"

Calla managed to return to her normal bright smile. "Yeah. Soon. Go ahead and take a nap- I won't go far without you." Ophelia nodded and went off to her own quarters, reverting to her true form halfway there.

Calla continued to smile easily, looking over the girl again with more thought. Another hand would be nice...ICDS didn't mind pilot hiring on extra hands at their own expense, and Calla could afford a reasonable salary. Plus, it'd be nice to have some actual conversations. Ophelia was fairly smart, but bored of most topics quickly.

"My name's Calla Sanford- nice t' meet ya. Well, we could always use some help- it's just my Hakon and me. INCDS does interplanetary work- I can't guarentee when we'll next be back on Earth. That alright with you?"

Calla laughed, instantly taken by the girl. "And who's this?" There was still a twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she regarded the tiny canine in Kira's palm.

Delighted that he could speak, Calla positively glowed. "A pleasure to meet you! Ooh..." Her face fell into utter seriousness for a moment. "Listen, I don't know what you know about the Hakon so I should warn you two..." Calla hesitated, then gestured that they board the ship while they talked. "Ophelia and I are...well, bonded, I guess you'd say. So she gets jumpy around new people and really defensive if I'm stressed out. So...try not to freak out and yell at me or whatever." She coughed, embarassed that she had to explain so bluntly. "Ophelia takes time to warm up to anyone else, so...don't be too worried if she gives you the cold shoulder at first."

Calla brightened as Kira showed she understood and accepted it. "Yep! It's natural, really...oh, and we're headed to Azel to drop this off. Dunno after that- probably headed back to ICDS' station."

She headed up to the bridge as she talked, encouraging her new crew to follow.

Secretly, Calla was celebrating. Someone who didn't mind going to Azel? And seemed happy just to be working for her? And didn't mind a Hakon onboard? It was amazing luck. She hummed happily, starting up the engines. "Yep! Should take about a day, earthtime, to make it to Azel. Oh!" Calla turned in her seat, slightly flushed. "You didn't even ask about payment! I should have said before we took off- I'm so sorry!"

Calla smiled. "Well, how about this- I'll cover your stay on this ship. Food and board's on me, there are a couple rooms back that 'a way." The pilot waved her hand vaguely the way they'd come in. "As for spending money...well, I'll make sure you have enough for a few souviners, ok? I'm not made o' money, but we'll be fairly comfortable." She smiled broadly, hoping her offer would be ok.