Thembrian concentration camp! - the hog said as he slammed his fist on the desk -Deliveries will be on time or pilots will be shot! Regular work day of 23 hours from Monday to Monday! -another slam- We will crunch the numbers, squeeze the resources and burn the gas to make this reflect our military superiority and ideal! Hail the High Marshall and the Great Patriotic Flounder!

           

-And don't ferget the guy who thought he was going to count beans... and the one who thought he was being hired as the CEO of a big business and thought coming ta this place was a test and we'd take him to a big building downtown later...and the weasel guy who was a former mobster and said he knew how to handle with all the numbers in a permanent way...- Baloo went on -Man, are all those suit'n'tie types a buncha yahoos or what?

-It seems so, Baloo...-Rebecca sighed. -All I know is that after five days of interviews, we couldn't find anybody and the paperwork keeps piling up! I am going insane! Can't we find ONE normal looking office worker who can actually help?

And at that moment, the sound of a motorcycle stopping outside was heard.

-Must be the delivery boy with the parts Wildcat ordered...- Rebecca whispered. More paperwork.

Kit peeked outside the window and nearly double flipped. - Only if delivery boys now use Bearly Davidson motorcycles!

Then came a knock at the door.

-Come in, please.- Rebecca answered. She got up from her sitting place by her desk and stood by it, trying to look as professional as she could, but when the door opened, her jaw nearly fell on the floor. Standing at the open door, dressed in jeans pants, a leather jacket, gloves and with brown eyes that gazed from behind glasses, were that same golden brown bear who saved her and Molly the other night. - YOU!! It's YOU! - she exclaimed.

Kit and Baloo looked surprised at their boss and then at the stranger at the door, who seemed equally surprised and apparently not knowing what Rebecca was talking about.

-Uh...it's...me? Well, I am me...- was all that the surprised bear in glasses could say.

Rebecca crossed the room and suddenly hugged the stranger, who was taller than her but shorter than Baloo, and much leaner too.-It's me! That night, the truck, my daughter!

The stranger's face illuminated and he smiled down at her, returning the hug -The mom and daughter crossing the street! That was you?? Are you two ok? How is the little girl? Was she hurt?

-Waitaminnit Beckers...that near miss you told us about...this was the guy?- inquired Baloo, who stood up and was now walking toward them

-Yes Baloo! This is him!- she smiled at Baloo then looked at him -Molly...my daughter, the little girl, is safe and sound thanks to you!

The golden brown bear blushed a bit -I just saw you two and the truck and did what anybody WHOOOF!!- he wheezed when Baloo slapped his back and then grabbed him by his shoulders in a bearhug - literally.

-If You saved Molly and Beckers, man, then yer good in ma book! Baloo's the name and if You ever need to fly anywhere, count me in! - the big gray bear boomed and then shook the smaller bear's hand, prompting a wince from him when his paw was nearly crushed.

-But..-Rebecca started - how did you find me? And what can we do for you?

After Baloo set the not-so-stranger bear down and he adjusted his glasses, he smiled and pulled out a newspaper clip -Well...I actually didn't know you worked here...I saw this ad on the paper and thought I would try for it...see...I am an accountant.

For a moment, the silence in the room became awkward. Baloo scratched his head and measured the brown bear with his eyes. With a leather jacket and worn jeans he looked like anything but an accountant. Rebecca, meanwhile had her mouth open in disbelief as if the stranger had just told her absurd unbelievable news. An accountant? THAT? I mean, he saved Molly and her, and had a good heart it seemed, but from that to being a formal professional...it was a huge stretch.

-I...hum...- she blinked - well, yes...yes, we are interviewing...I am Rebecca Cunningham, the owner of this business...this is Baloo, my pilot, and this is Kit, my navigator. Welcome to Higher for Hire, Mr...?

-Ah, Goldwing, Ma'am. Jon Goldwing- he smiled but Kit instantly recognized the name and pointed out.

-Goldwing? As in Goldwing & Stein Corp, the former aircraft makers? You are related to them? - the knowledgeable navigator smiled and looked at the brown bear as if trying to read him.

-Aircraft? - Jon chuckled - Hehehe, no, I'm afraid not. I am just an accountant, and don't know the first thing about airplanes.

-Well, Mr. Goldwing - Rebecca said crossing her arms -do you have a résumé with you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Chapter 2-

Louie's Bar, Lunch time

Baloo slurped the last bit of his double Krakatoa Special and yawned.

- Aw man, this mangoes run got me wrecked, Louie! And escaping Karny and his gang of clowns spends more time and gas than usual. Why are those guys after us anyway? - the big pilot sighed.

-Nobody knows, cuz, but yer not the only one!- the simian bar owner dressed in a floral shirt answered while holding a glass with his left foot and wiping it with a rag on his right hand -almost every pilot carrying cargo has been attacked, and many had their cargo taken these last months! Very few get past those flies - Louie pointed out at a table where a group of panthers sat down, all in similar bomber jackets, all carrying Shere Khan Enterprises symbol. -It helps when your cargo ship also carries guns or can have a fighters' escort! - he whispered.

Baloo grunted -Ah never needed guns to dodge those bubbleheads, but yeah, they are making life harder for the little folk...good thing the military are keeping ships on alert but they can't be everywhere...

-Well, cuz, they are between here and Cape Suzette so you won't have to worry about the trip back. Relax man! You still the best pilot there is, and those hoodlums can't getcha.- the bar owner smiled and high-fived his old friend, then looked at Kit, who sat by Baloo - and You got the best navigator to help you get around too!

Kit smiled and finished his own sundae -Thanks Louie...but it's really weird. Last time Karnage did this, he was after the parts and the stone to build his ray gun. What is his game now?

- No idea, kid, but not my business...mine's just keep this place full! And I just got a new artist here to help get this place stuffed! Come by next Friday night and You'll all see!

 Baloo chuckled - So I don't need ta dress up in a fruit hat and play the bongos anymore, cuz?

Eventually, they resumed their trip and soon enough, the Sea Duck docked at Higher for Hire, where their boss was waiting for them at the pier.

-On time for a change! It's going to rain! - Rebecca chuckled

-VERY funny, Boss Lady! With those pirates around one does not wanna be away from home fer long!- Baloo said as he exited the plane.-And yer not behind yer desk fer a change! It IS gonna rain!

- Well, you two been away for days, so - she pointed her thumb at the office - take a look!

Pilot and navigator exchanged glances and shrugged, then walked inside. They blinked at what they saw.

There was a Rebecca's desk...strangely clean. Just a few sheets of papers on it. On a corner, by the file cabinets, there was a smaller desk, with a few piles of paper and, behind it, the new addition to Higher for Hire staff worked on the numbers. Without his leather jacket, and just wearing his blue checkered shirt, he was so concentrated, that he took a moment to notice Baloo and Kit arrival.

-Oh...hi fellas...welcome back! How was the trip? - Jon asked, setting down his pen and books aside for a while.

-Hey man....what happened here? You swoop all the papers under the rug? - Baloo greeted while shaking the brown bear's hand.

-Well Baloo - Rebecca, who just walked behind him and to her desk and then leaned against it - it just happens that, Jon here IS an accountant! He managed to organize all the papers, most are in the file cabinets in the correct order as they should, and many were filed away in boxes as they are no longer needed! I...have...a DESK AGAIN!! - she cheered with joy.

Baloo looked at his boss and then at the brown bear sitting behind his small desk - Well, I'll be...looks can fool you! With that jacket and bike of yers, one would never believe it!

Goldwing just smiled -Well, dad gave me the bike many years ago so to not use it would be bad, right? And the jacket and gloves are better to ride than a suit and tie - he chuckled. Kit's ears just perked at that and he held his chin thinking.

-Well - Rebecca said - if you want to come work on a monocycle and pajamas that's up to you, Jon, as long as you keep doing this good work. We are again up to date with the accounts and I don't have to spend long nights balancing them! And since I didn't scheduled anything else for today as I expected you to be late again, Baloo - she smiled at her pilot, who just crossed his arms and pouted - I guess we can all call it an early day and close on time for a change. I can take Molly - and you, if you'd like to come, Kit - to the amusement park Buzz helped build.

The boy's eyes lit up and he jumped at the opportunity - Yes! Thanks Miss Cunningham! You're coming Baloo?

-Weeeeell, parks mean candy and popcorn, so count me in! - the big bear laughed.

Jon got up from the chair and stretched, closed his books and got his jacket and gloves from the hanger. -Well, you all have fun...I'm going for some coffee and then home.

-Coffee won't keep you awake this late? - Rebecca grinned -Don't want you

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