That could have been bad.

Spinner's hands couldn't stop trembling in her seat; she needed to put the ship on 'autopilot' lest her tremors cause the vessel to shake along with her. The Neophron... it was everything to her. The fact that it nearly got jacked just from trying to pick someone up! Attempted entry was something to be expected, but she never expected a place to be as audacious as using the starship equivalent of a forklift to just lug the vessel out of port. That lack of expectation nearly cost her, and then she would have been utterly screwed.

Just breathe. Breathe, damn it.

"Lady Spinner? I-is everything alright?"

Right. Her. That's why there was all this risk. Sophia Trepan, AKA "Reef". It was all coming back now. A missive had been sent out requesting to board a vessel, looking for anyone that could help them with their jobs. The age of the girl was unusual. Her eyes. The landfall made it more clear... a slave girl from Rownett. It shocked her. She needed to get the girl away somehow. Find a way t-

"Lady Spinner?"

Spinner snapped back to attention at the sound of Sophia's voice. It carried more obvious concern; the child was worried about her. She shook her head and cleared her throat to speak. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just going over the events and where to go next. It's best not to stick around at your port for too long." A small pause. "Will... you be able to return?"

The sudden look of concern that shot across Reef's face was enough for even Spinner to notice it. It was clear the child never even considered it until now, but within a second it was replaced with that expression of pleasantry alongside a curtsy . "Ah, nothing to fear Lady Spinner. I only need to call the Rownett Association and inform them of the clear mistake that occurred. We will be able to consider the port safe from that point forward."

Spinner frowned a little bit at the gesturing as she nodded. "Noted. But... please. Just 'Spinner'. I'm not your master, just a pilot."

"As you wish... Spinner." That pause in Reef's words. Was it struggling against her training? Being uncomfortable with seeing someone as an equal? Excitement? Spinner couldn't tell, Reef was guarding her emotions a lot more carefully now. She just had to hope for the best, but it felt wrong to be called that ag- "May I ask your rules regarding my companions?"

OH RIGHT, THE PETS. How in the world did she forget? The Zorga was literally right behind Reef and the Loni had been sniffing parts of the wall. Wait. Thinking on it, how did they even get those two on board as fast as they did? Questions for later. "I'm assuming you've had them trained. Get a list for their requirements along with any supplies you need, we'll try to stop at another port soon. We have to pick two other people anyway."

Reef looked ready to question who it was before holographic screens suddenly appeared on the walls. Messages and destinations, similar to her own. Spinner didn't know if Reef was expecting anyone else or not, but the girl looked remarkably okay with the situation. "I see. May I inquire about these personages, Spinner?"

"Fair, you deserve to know. The first one is Corto Case." Spinner making a gesture as one of the messages light up. "He appears to be a member of the Fangli Group, but the request was a personal one. Similar to yours in wanting a ride to complete some of his missions. None of the usual thinly veiled suggestions you'd expect, and we could use the metaphorical scalpel. Speaking of." Another gesture, and the second message lit up. "Dr. Isar Archer. I recognize his official reputation is about as sparkling as mold, but he also insisted that those acts weren't him due to his identity being stolen. Something I..." Spinner quickly shook her head. "Not important. What is important is his skills in cybernetics and medical techniques are quite frankly better than what most S.C.R.A.P.P.E.R. crews will get, and is of immediate use. So we're taking the chance."

Reef was quiet, and her face was motionless. Contemplative? Compartmentalizing? Damn it, this girl was too good at this. It was arguably more dangerous than her psionic abilities. Granted, Spinner never did understand social cues as well as she should, but to put that against someone who could master their emotions was unfair!

"собаки? Новый?"

Oh, right. Him. Probably should have mentioned him earlier.

The floor creaked with the weight of the man who was approaching the doorway. Well, no. To call him a 'man' would be both overselling and underselling what mankind was capable of. He was a mountain of steel and muscle, enough to make both of the women there look like toys. Servos audibly creaked with each movement, and the being's optics glowed a baleful red as he looked down at Reef's two allies. Reef herself had frozen up at the sight of this being, clearly not expecting such a beast to be aboard the vessel.

"Ah!" Spinner quickly got out of the chair. She needed to settle this quickly. "Yes! New friends." Making a motion to the two animals. "Dogs. Friends." Then putting a hand on Reef, who made a high-pitched squeak as the contact snapped her back. Spinner kept talking. "Reef. Friend. Friends with Spinner. Friends with Пeтp."

"как друзья." His voice was gravely and very deep, almost like a mountain was trying to speak by grinding stone together. But he moved his hand with far more care than one would expect most of his size would, bringing a hand low to the Zorga before staying still. Reef looked distressed for a moment until the Zorga gently sniffed at the giant's hands, made a strange sound, and buried its head in his hand. Пeтp made a sound that could pass for a chuckle as he very gently stroked the Zorga, with the Loni looking inquisitively.

"A-ah, who... Lad-I mean Spinner, who is... that?" The small girl sounded unsure, but her usual affectation was returning. Good on Reef for trying to quickly regain her composure.

"This, Miss Reef... is Пeтp. I consider him a friend." There was a genuine smile that crept up her face as she saw the big lug looking content with the Zorga. That bit of happiness. "I was in a real bad spot for a while. Had to hide in some dark places. I found Пeтp in one such place, in a cryo-tube. Not entirely subtle, but we've saved each other plenty of times. Knowing we're there for each other is... well. That's what matters. I've been trying to help him as best as I can, but I confess we need experts for someone like him. It's why I'm trying to take a chance on Dr. Archer."

"помогите боссу. помоги друг." Пeтp raised his other hand and pounded it against his chest like a sign of pride. Only to quickly stop when he saw the Loni flinch at the noise. "извини. друг." He looked a little guilty, which got Reef's eyes to widen a bit.

"You'll have time to get acquainted with each other. I think you'll be surprised at what lies under that exterior, personality wise." Oh Spinner was smiling now. Seeing Пeтp like this already made picking Reef up worth the risk. With that situation handled, she went back into the pilot's seat, taking it off of autopilot as she placed her limbs into two tubes, with a final one being inserted into the base of her neck via a port. The ship 'pulsed' for a moment and then began to move much more fluidly, like a creature in the sea rather than a ship on the surface.

"Ah, Spinner. You never told me, what is this ship? It's not Pyriean or Bothan, or even Naverizi. Is it Teme in origin?" Spinner didn't hear Reef's words so much as 'feel' them in this state. It felt weird, but there were side effects from trying to jury rig the vessel for human use.

"Truth be told, I have no idea. I like to focus what I do know, and right now I know this: Two down. Two to go."