Real life sucks. This chapter took so long to bloody type because I haven't had time to do much of anything typing related either. And now, I have an, oh so wonderful problem with my computer. I need a new battery and adapter for my computer because if I unplug it at all, there's a high chance that it may not turn back on. And to add to everything I had to reboot my computer and all my programs were wiped. Thankfully I was brilliant enough to keep this wonderful story on a jump drive.

I apologize for the long wait and I apologize for not getting the artwork out sooner to anyone who's waiting for it. Hound me a little more and I'll get these things done. I swear it. Contact me too if you are one of the two that need to see the work I promised!

On a happier note. I have been writing over time it seems and I'm up to the 7th chapter now for this section of the story. So I haven't really been putting off the story fully. I'm really enjoying the twists and turns that are coming up with for this thing and possibly, just maybe, I'll give a preview of the soon to be horror to frighten your favorite crew. I have to have at least 5 reviews. And no, you can't post more than once you silly people. Though I know a few of you love me that much. And I think the moment you've been waiting for is finally here! Read and you'll figure it out.

Words- Regular speech

Words- Thoughts

Words- Chapters and changes

(Words)- Bez speech

Chapter 4—A Little Fun and Games—

Rachel's P.O.V….

The next week….

I hummed to myself as I looked over a few things on a vid. Reports were not my most favorite things to look over. It always took too much time and effort to weed through so many things at once. I never knew how I made it through all of the reports relatively fine. Not to mention without any screw ups.

"Rachy, you have no sense for reports do you?" Wren asked as she slid into a chair across from me.

"Shut up you," I growled as she started to snicker. "I don't know how you stay sane with all these reports."

She smiled at me. "Sanity? What's that?"

I glared at her and she just smiled back while taking a bite of food. "I hate you sometimes."

"I know you do," she shrugged afterward, mixing something on her plate together, "but unfortunately paperwork is a necessity."

"I doubt that," I snorted. "We could do without."

"I thought that too until I saw how bad at keeping track of things I was until I had paperwork. I usually don't miss anything now."

"Well, do mine then!"

She grabbed the vid from my hands scanned it once, checked a few things on the screen before handing it back to me. "There. Done. Now stop being a bitch."

I looked at the screen then to her. "How the hell did you do that?"

"It was a mineral report from the scientists. They wanted an OK to go ahead with some tests to see if Bez could have the ability to absorb raw materials to reinforce his haul. That one really should have gone to me but, oh well, I looked at it anyway."

"Again, how do you do that?"

"Not sure," she frowned taking a bite of what was one her plate. "It's almost like I'm a super computer sometimes with reports. Not sure how well it will continue to work though."

"Do you think it could have happened from the injection?"

Again Wren shrugged, "Not sure. Just hope I don't burn out potentially."

"Well, you don't seem any different except for the paperwork abilities," I offered, "I think you're fine."

"Keep our fingers crossed then," she sighed.

We ate in silence fore a few more bites. "Anyway," Wren started, "do you think it's been weird that it's been so quiet?"

"Yes actually. Only one emergency. For us, that just doesn't seem right," I frowned tapping my bottom lip with my fork.

"Do you think we've just jinxed ourselves?" she asked grinned. "Because this is usually what happens."

"We talk about it and suddenly the…"

Alarms blazed in the mess hall. Wren and I looked at each other and burst out giggling as we stood to head toward the emergency chutes as everyone around us scurried to get to the places they were supposed to be.

"Gotta love our lives dontcha Rachy!" Wren shouted as she got to the chute and hit the button for the bridge.

I grinned at her, "Who'd want to change anything about this? We get all the exercise we need along with the excitement to go with it!"

We both laughed as we leapt into the chutes feet first. Seconds later we were on the bridge and Wren was calling out orders as soon as her feet hit the floor. I moved to my station with practices ease and released the crew member that was already there.

"Status reports crew!" Wren shouted glancing about.

"An unknown ship on the edge of our sensors ma'am!" someone called. "Looks to be a larger ship of the one we destroyed that was attacking the other ship we rescued."

"Have they spotted us?"

"I don't think so, Ma'am."

"Good, we don't want to have to defend ourselves so fast. Hang back and see if we can get anymore readings from them," Wren stated sitting in her chair.

"Ma'am. A hailing call is coming through."

"Patch it through then," Wren said, stone faced.

In only a matter of seconds she had gone from someone I was joking with only a little while ago, to an experienced captain.

"You should not be in this sector. Not only that but you have also destroyed one of our ships," a dark figure said as soon as the screen came up. The only things we could see was it's silhouette.

"Said ship was attacking a defenseless ship with women and children on board. We gave fair warning before attacking," Wren said frowning.

That ship was an escaped vessel with criminals on board and should have been destroyed. You have no right interfering."

"I do when a ship is attacked for no real reason and it involves women and children," Wren growled.

"They are escaped convicts."

Wren scowled at the screen. "You must be the Warirkens I've been hearing so much about. I knew I wouldn't like your impossible lying. Mind you, from everything I've heard it's not even just that."

The shadow silhouette dropped to reveal a species of a wasp like Irken race. He was similar to Jace but also different. Almost like the differences with the Tallest Irkens and invaders.

With a quick glance at the crew, Wren was glad she only had one Irken crew member on deck right now and that was Zim. Speaking with them would be a little easier without the Irken presence.

The other's eyes went straight to Zim though. "Irken filth. Are you finally coming to finish the job?" the Warirken Captain.

Wren stood before Zim could answer. Sending him a warning look she snarled to the screen. "I am the Captain of this ship. You're concerns are with me and no one of crew. You will address me and only me!"

He had the audacity to laugh. "Hiding behind another species now are we? Has the greatest Irken Empire fallen so low?"

Wren's tail lashed fiercely as she was ignored and the other Captain continued to insult Zim. The Sharshan's eyes widened and so did mine. Very slowly her ears began to flatten as more taunts were thrown Zim's way. Of course, like Zim, we were more interested in watching Wren's reactions. Zim took one look at Wren's tail as it snapped back and forth and took a step back as the tail almost caught him.

"Nonavindalvenavaet," Wren snapped finally. "Tovantuvua mayiouna!"

I looked at the other captain and his jaw dropped. "Cut the link!" he snapped to his crew. "Head back to the Colony under cloaking now!"

The screen went blank as everyone just looked at Wren.

"And what the hell did you just say?" Curtis asked after a moment or two. "I mean, he freaked at what you said."

Wren blinked, then frowned. "I… I think it was something along the lines of 'if you can't respect me or my crew, then get the hell out of here before I blow your ass up.' Or something to that effect, I think."

"Where did that language come from?" I asked sharply looking at her.

"I-I don't know," Wren murmured looking lost. She glanced about the room then bowed to the whole bridge. "Excuse me, Zim, you have the bridge."

With that, she turned and walked off the bridge toward the lift without looking back at anymore.

"That was just too weird," I murmured myself with a slight frown. I stood and started off the bridge. I heard Curtis follow me and Zim give command to another as he followed us.

"Where would Wren have gone?" I asked knowing both the boys were behind me.

"She could be in her room," Curtis supplied.

"Or in the gardens or officers mess," Zim added.

"Where would be the quietest at this moment?"

"Her room!" Curtis and Zim said together.

"Unless the SIRs are there."

"Let's check there first," I said.

"Or we could just ask Bez?" Curtis offered.

"Duh! Why didn't I think of that!" I exclaimed.

(Because you were worried about Wren,) Bez said. (She's in her room by the way.)

"Thank you Bez!" I sighed as the lift stopped on the right floor.

I didn't rush in like I really wanted to. Coming to her door, I knocked.

Wren's P.O.V….

"No Rachel. I don't want to talk about it!" I snapped as I paced my room.

What the hell was going on with me? Never had anything like this happened before. All the weird shit happened to me for no damned reason. Was it because of the DNA changed in me? The Medical bay hadn't found anything unusual. High functions in part of my brain but that was it, it seemed. Even the human medical staff on board said the same. He was a gene specialist and he didn't think anything was off.

The knocking persisted. "Wren open up or I'll have Bez open it for us!" Rachel shouted

I rolled my eyes and ran a hand over my face before running a hand through my hair across my ears. "Might as well open it," I growled, "they would just burst in anyway."

The door beeped and opened to reveal Curtis, Rachel, and Zim. They glanced about warily before Rachel stepped in. She started to open her mouth.

"No, I don't know what's going on," I snarled turning away from them and continuing to pace. "I don't know what language it was, I don't' know how I now it, I don't even know if I could recreate it either."

Rachel sat on the couch as Curtis sat on the arm of the couch. They watched me pace, mollified by my truthful answer. Zim remained standing and watched me pace, unsure what to do.

It was quiet for several moments before Curtis spoke up. "You know, it almost sounded as if you were singing to him there for a moment."

I paused mid step and blinked at him, "What?"

"What you said was almost lyrical, like music."

"It was quite interesting," Rachel nodded, "It reminded me of some orient language from Earth."

"And what did it sound like to you?" I asked, casting a look to Zim.

"A dead language of an odd species that has only been mentioned in passing a few times. Dead long before the Irken War. But I did like how it sounded. Even though there were probably quite a few colorful words in there."

"Oh admit it, you like it when she talks dirty," Rachel laughed.

Zim only raised a brow to Rachel at that comment.

"Do you know the name of them?" Curtis asked drawing our attention back to the original topic.

"No, unfortunately not," Zim sighed. "I don't know any thing about them except I know they existed and sounded like that. They were one of the largest races that had classes and advanced technology."

"Do you think anyone would know about them?"

"I don't know. Someone out there has to."

"Why isn't there more on them?"

"Because they had been gone and missing even before Irkens gained flight in space," Zim answered helplessly. "That's all I know about them unfortunately."

I frowned then smirked. "There is one person who knows more."

"Who," all three asked.

"The Captain of the other ship."

"He did look a little startled," Curtis said thoughtfully.

"More than that," Rachel added. "He looked ready to shit himself, he was that scared."

Zim nodded with a smirk.

I took a deep breath then and centered myself. "Ok, so here's the plan. We're most definitely going to be running into another Warirken ship again, so we need to be on alert for that. If we have to catch one of those bastards to get a better answer then we will, but for now, we're in the defense."

"Gotcha," Rachel said with a nod.

"You're the Captain or mon' Capitain," Curtis added with a grin.

"Now, about what just happened. I'm going to roll with it. Just another bump in the journey that is my life. Not a problem. We'll ask round the ship to see if anyone has any information or can get some info about the species that I seem to be. Not that big of a deal."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Zim said.

"Not much else that I can do really," I said as I fell onto the other couch.

"Yep," Rachel said. She stood and smiled at me. "I'll head back to the bridge and take command for a while. They need one of us up there to keep them calm after this. And you need to take five."

"Also give a full ship broadcast that things may be on alert for a while, but not to worry. It's just a precaution," I added while trying to get back up from the couch. Zim pushed me back down into my seat.

"You sit down, Rachel just said she can handle it and told you to take five," he said with a frown.

"I get the hint, rest while someone else takes the head for a bit. I don't need to be everywhere. Get out of here before I decide to change my mind about listening to Zim Rachel."

Curtis laughed, "I think Zim would do a lot to make you relax."

"You're lucky Rachel loves you, or I'd throw you out an air lock," I growled glaring at him.

He only grinned back at me and followed Rachel out the door with a mock salute. I rested my head back onto the back of the couch with my eyes closed. I felt the seat move as Zim sat down beside me. Slowly he drew me close to him so that I was laying against his chest as he lay on the couch. I felt him shift just a bit under me and he drew my hand into his, twining his fingers through mine.

"I'm afraid of what's happening to me Zim," I sighed opening my eyes to look out our twined fingers. He had taken his gloves off before twining our fingers together and I smiled at that. He only took them off for me. My hands were small compared to his and he could easily curl his fingers over the tips of mine.

"You shouldn't be," he hummed. I could tell he was looking at our twined hands as well. "Remember how you suggested that the human race was a mixing pot?"

"Mmhmm..."

"Maybe this is part of it. Human are so different and peculiar that they just surprise you more and more. Your change may be part of that."

"You think?"

"Humans are the most adaptable species I've ever seen. And you always keep surprising me over and over with your will and adaptability to anything that gets thrown at you. I never know what's going to happen next around you," he nuzzled the top of my head and I felt him smile against my ears.

"You seem to always say the right things to make me feel better."

"I only do what you continually do for me," he said still smiling, though his voice muffled by my hair.

I shifted my body just so to where my nose just touched his jaw. I drew in a deep breath committing this moment to my memory. How warm our hands were together, how I knew he was smiling though I couldn't see it, how he smelled. His scent, rich and earthy, mixed with something almost like sandalwood and another smell that was uniquely him. It had become my new favorite scent and reminded me of so much more than just my time here with him. I really hoped that nothing would change between us.

Narrator....

Grace looked up from playing with Bren as Lak walked through the door. He giggled and squirmed to try to get Grace's fingers, which were just out of his range.

"Anything wrong?" she asked as she let Bren have her fingers. He immediately stuck them in his mouth and began to gum them to death, drool getting everywhere.

Lak flopped gracelessly down onto the sofa. "No," she muttered.

"Uh huh..." Grace said not really making it seem as if it were a conclusion or just a comment as she inspected her drool covered fingers Bren had just released. He grabbed her other fingers though before she could get the chance to move them out of his reach. He stuck them in his mouth and covered those in drool as well. She made a face at him only causing him to giggle.

"Where's the other one?" Lak asked with a frown.

"Sleeping," Grace said tickling Bren's stomach making him giggle even more with her fingers still in his mouth. "Lace is sleeping isn't she Bren, fast asleep while you're wide awake."

Lak rose a brow at her after she said that. "You know he doesn't talk back, right? And he probably doesn't understand a word you're saying."

Grace looked up to Lak and made a face at her while sticking her tongue out. "So? At least it's better than trying to talk to you Miss Mood."

"Miss Mood? Dare I even ask?"

"You, you've been very mood and very rude as of late. We don't talk like we used to."

"I've been thinking is all..."

"Oh no!" Grace gasped dramatically, "You're breaking up with me!"

"What!?" Lak, yelped as she fell off her seat. "What in the world ar you talking about?"

Grace burst into a fit of giggles. "I have no clue why that was so funny but I couldn't pass it up."

"I hate you," Lak growled picking herself up off the floor.

"Awwww, I wuv you too," Grace cooed.

"Grace..." Lak continued to growl.

"I wasn't talking to you Lak. A little conceded if you ask me. I was talking to Bren, he blessed me with a very dirty diaper," Grace said while still laughing and standing up to head into the bedroom.

"Grace, why did you even say what you said earlier?" Lak asked as she followed Grace into the bedroom.

"To lighten the mood. Nothing against the same sex couples anywhere on board, but the idea of us and I together is just too funny," she explained as she sat on the floor setting up a make shift changing station after pulling a small container from under on of the beds. "And personally, I see the relationship between us as just good friends. That's it."

"Why?"

"You don't survive what we've been through without having some sort of bond. And don't deny it either," Grace challenged looking at Lak with a slight glare.

"Yes ma'am!" Lak grinned at her before silence fell between them.

"So, what has been on your mind?"

"I," Lak paused, "I was thinking of maybe leaving you here with all of the other Humans when the ship is ready to go."

"What?" Grace snapped shooting a scathing look at Lak.

"You'd be here, safe, with other Humans," Lak tried to explain. "I think it's the best idea."

"It is not the best idea," hissed Grace as she continued to glare at Lak. "We have been through too much together as a team to split now."

"You're making it sound as if we're a couple."

"We're friends and we've fought together, escaped, and survived. If you think you're going to leave me here with people I don't know, you've got another thing coming to you. I would personally find and beat the crap out of you for leaving me behind. Got me?"

"Damn, you're feisty. I pity the person who decides to mate you. I'd offer to put them out of their misery," Lak said with a small smile toward Grace.

She scowled, "I'd beat the crap out of you for that too."

Lak laughed as she started to head back into the living room.

"Stupid Irken," Grace muttered. "She can't just leave me here. She's got another thing coming to her if she thinks she's even going to be successful leaving me behing."

She snorted as she finished diapering Bren. Grace smiled at the baby and stuck her tongue out at him. He giggled madly while allowing her to cleaned up the left over mess from his change and washed her hands after that. She returned to pick him up and he yawned.

Grace smiled at him. "Let's go put you down for your nap. Lace will probably be waking up in a few moments and it'll be her turn to stay awake while you nap."

Elsewhere....

"Come on Zim, please?" Wren coaxed while peeking over the edge of the sofa where she sat on the floor.

"Wren, no. I have too much work," Zim said patiently as he looked over and corrected vids.

"So do I, but it can wait," Wren harrumphed.

"These need to be one though, I've put them off for too long."

"Oh yes, because over a day and a half is too long," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Wren," Zim warned while shooting her a look.

"But Zim, all work and no play makes us over worked and under payed," Wren whinged.

"Wren, we don't get paid to do this job."

"Exactly! That's why we need to have a little fun!"

"Wren, I will when I get these done."

"But you have bridge duty tonight."

"And if I could get these done, we'd have a little time to have fun, not before though."

"You wouldn't know fun if it bit you in the ass," Wren huffed as she snorted at Zim.

He paused midway through a vid to turn and look at her. "What was that?"

Wren braced her self on the arm of the couch, leaning over just so. "You heard me. You wouldn't know fun if it bit you in the ass," she repeated with a look that was almost a sneer.

He rose a brow at her, "Are you insinuating that I have no sense of fun?"

"I'm saying that your only sense of fun is teasing and torturing your former leaders."

"I'm sure you don't actually believe that that is the only fun that I, Zim, have."

"At this rate, yes," Wren grinned. "I believe that is the only way you have fun."

Zim placed the vid in his hand down slowly onto the couch beside him. Wren shifted slightly, not sure what he was doing. "Well Wren, what do you think is fun?"

"Uh... anything?"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, something other than vid after vid of boring reports and stuff."

"So... a more appropriate way to have fun is to, I don't know, tickle you?"

"Yeah! No … wait … no," Wren frowned, not liking how this was going.

Zim grinned evilly. "Too late," he growled and leaped at her to try and capture her with a swift grab.

She squealed as she backpedaled to dodge his grab and giggled as she stuck her tongue out at him. He growled and grabbed for her again causing her to laugh even more.

"Missed me!" she teased as she danced away once again.

'Not for long," he rumbled playfully as his fingertips brushed a few strands of the fur of Wren's tail.

"Admit it Zimmy, this kitty is too quick for you."

""Not quick enough," he grinned as he went to grab her one last time.

She slid from his fingers, but just barely again. Zim was faster than she had thought but she was amazed that she barely squeaked by. Slowly though, their little game of cat and mouse backed Wren against a wall. Her eyes grew wide as she realized she had no where else to go.

"Well crap," she muttered trying to analyze where to go from there as she saw the feral smirk on Zim's lips.

Zim advanced and pinned her escape with his arms and all of his spider legs. She glanced at the make shift cage he had created only to look up at him in the end. He looked down at her smirking. "So, that didn't take long."

She stuck her tongue out at him and made a face at him. "If walls didn't exist, I would have gotten away."

"Sure you would have," Zim hummed at her while leaning down a little closer. "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you'll believe it sometime." He brought a hand up to cup her chin.

"Don't worry, I will," Wren smiled as she tilted her head up just slightly to look him in the eyes easier.

"Hope you keep it up then Grashe, you wouldn't be the same if you didn't," he quietly added, leaning a little closer.

"You know, I believe I owe you a kiss since we don't have any voyeurs around."

He hummed as he brushed her bottom lip with his thumb, "You're changing the subject now, do you really think it's going to work?"

"Well, seeing as so many times before, when you have had the chance, you couldn't because of one thing or another, then I was hoping so," she smiled shyly at him through her lashes, heart fluttering a mile a minute. She began to play with the zipper of the black zippered coat he was wearing before his shift. In the back of her mind, she thought he looked very good in it.

Zim paused as if he was considering the fact she had pointed out. He smiled at her with an almost smirk then lifted her chin. "I think I will let it slide then this time," he whispered as he caught her lips with his.

Wren sighed softly as her eyes fluttered closed at the feeling. She relaxed as he drew her closer to his body. The kiss was amazing and it felt like something just shifted within her and everything just felt right. It was soft and the taste of his lips was addicting. The scent of him and the taste of him overwhelmed her senses.

Zim couldn't believe that he finally was able to kiss the girl who had caught his heart, (his race's equivalent at least) and caught his attention. Her lips were softer than he imagined and her scent was intoxicating. It made his hands tremble slightly as he silently asked if he could deepen the kiss. When she allowed him, she shivered and gave a sigh. He was astounded that he had such an effect on her with just a kiss. He was also startled at how addicting she tasted.

She tasted of the chocolate she had snitched from his kitchen, the mint tea she favored sometimes with meals, and something that was distinctly Wren. Something close to the feeling of flying in space accompanied the taste of her. He would never forget it for as long as he lived and he knew he'd never get enough of her.

Too soon in Wren's mind, the kiss ended. She still had her eyes closed as she felt Zim rest his forehead against her's. Her heart raced and her mind reeled, as her breath came out in what could only be pants

She opened her eyes to see Zim's had closed. She smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth. He smiled before opening his eyes to look at her.

"Enough fun for you?" Zim asked.

"Mmm, of course I am," she purred nuzzling his cheek with hers.

"I didn't know you actually can purr like a real cat," he hummed with a smile that widened. "I may have to kiss you more often."

"Why's that?"

"I quite enjoy hearing you purr."

Wren blushed but smiled at him. "You're more than welcome to continue to make me purr you know."

Rachel's P.O.V....

I looked over the bridge, noticing the vids with the reports I had seemed like they were starting to look jumbled. I sighed. I hated reports. "Maybe I should just give Zim the second in command position and just worry about helms," I thought. "I wouldn't have to worry about reports then. They made no sense to me at all."

The doors of the lift opened to reveal Jace who looked around the bridge with a little confusion.

"This ship is nothing like anything I've ever seen," he even said as he frowned more.

"It takes a little to get used to," I spoke up setting aside the demon vids. "It's harder to find your way around now because of Bez expanding all the time. It was much easier to find your way around when we fist got on Bez though. He was much less complicated when we started out."

"And he just keeps getting bigger?"

"Yep. Wren's not even sure if or when he'll stop growing."

Jace shook his head as he observed all that was round him on the bridge. Noticing that there were only humans and Irkens on board he gained a calculating look on his face.

"The other beings on board, the Sharshans, how do they work on the bridge? I assume they do at least, but it does seem like they'd be unable to comfortably."

"Bez shifts the bridge about for them. He knows everyone's tastes and comfort levels to be able to adapt himself accordingly," I answered looking up at him.

"I'm not sure if I could handle an ever changing ship."

I laughed. "Sometimes I wonder how I can."