Words – Story

"Words" - speaking

"Words"– thoughts

Words – Chapter and scene changes

(Words) – Bez speak

Chapter 13—The Xinan Comith—

Wren's P.O.V...

"So, no big who-ha for the leader of the Sharshans?" Rachel asked.

"She specifically asked for nothing big," I confirmed with a nod. I pulled a piece of fruit from a dish that was sitting on the floor and took a bite of it.

"We should have something bigger than 'Hi, how are you. Welcome to the space station. Please, look around.' She is the leader of the Sharshans after all," Rachel frowned watching me as I somehow ate the fruit I took a bite of while upside down. "And how the hell are you doing that?"

I answered with a shrug to both questions. "Personally I would like to think she wouldn't want a lot of fuss with it all because she gets that everywhere she goes. I know I get tired of dealing with all the formality sometimes myself. And I can eat this way because of the way we're made. You can do it too you know. You took a health class as well in highschool."

"I know, but doing it makes me a little nauseous."

"I seem to just have a talent for the odd stuff," I grinned, talking around a mouthful of fruit.

"You look like a fruit bat," Rachel snickered.

I made a face at her and just went back to my piece of fruit.

"We don't have to make a huge deal of all this. We could always take her on a tour and then host a dinner with the Elders and a few of their family members. That probably would please her. It's still big but more informal than anything," I said licking my fingers from the juices.

The look on Rachel's face was one that was very thoughtful. "You know, that could work. We are sorta like a big family on board Bez and having the Elders and a few of their family members would be interesting. Now the question is, would dinner on the station or Bez be better?"

"Hmmm... That's a good question," I murred still cleaning my fingers. "The center green would have enough space for everyone. And I mean everyone. But with Bez it would be a more personal situation. So I'm not sure what would be best."

"Maybe we should ask the boys," Rachel suggested. "More views would be nice."

"I definitely agree. More views would be nice but we need to make up our minds now. It shouldn't be left till later. Doesn't seem right to leave it till we find everyone."

"You have a point and making preparations, even if this is a small deal; will take a while to do. "

"So, it's settled then?"

"Seems like a plan to me. We decide now without contacting anyone. Want me to get ahold of the Elders to see about confirming the plans after this?" Rachel asked.

I could only nod as I completely cleaned my fingers after the fruit. I tossed the seed toward the kitchen and actually caught the trash can I had there.

"Here or there?"

I frowned. That was a good question. Where would be the best place to have this damned thing? Here would be more personal and quiet, but on the station would give the Sharshans a better opportunity to see the Station with a fuller understanding of it all. That would give the other Delalines a better view of the Sharshans. But would the Sharshans want that, especially after the Xinan specifically said she wanted something small.

"I have no clue," I sighed heavily. "Suggestions?"

Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment. "How about here? Bez is kind of neutral really in all this, even if we've had a hand in building most of the station. The Delalines have probably got in their mindset that it is their station too."

"And technically it is," I pointed out.

"True, but we don't want to insult them by bringing someone completely new into their territory."

"You have a very good point. And if we have the meal here, we could show the Sharshans the station first which would give Bez and whoever wants to cook meals more time to work. Which now that I'm thinking about it, we should add a pod for ambassadors and leaders to stay on the station."

"Why didn't we think of that earlier?"

"Because it was rushed to get this place finished first. We were only worried about getting the Delalines settled comfortably and safely. I knew these other things would come up sooner or later."

"True, true," Rachel said with a nod. She stood. "I'll go tell the Elders what's going down. And I have a Dinner Date with Curtis I want to get ready for after that."

"What are you doing for your dinner date?" I asked as I righted myself on the couch.

"We were thinking of the new restaurant on the station actually," Rachel said as she stood from the couch and stretched.

"I heard that was a good one," I smiled brightly. "I think it's run by an Irken, Delaline and a Human. They mix all of their foods into one serving. Like the first course is Human, second Irken and the last Delaline. Or a mix there of. People like the mix and the variety surprises them."

"Definitely want to go now," Rachel smiled. "It sounds really good."

"Better head off and get ready then. I also heard there is a small line for getting in usually," I laughed.

Rachel eeped, called a goodbye over her shoulder and darted out of the room quickly.

I giggled a little longer before sighing to myself. I looked about the room with a small snort and the age old question. What now?

"I should go get a few things set up," I thought to myself. "But do I really want to try and do all that now?"

"If I do them now then there's less to do later I guess," I smiled to myself while standing. "And I do like easy cases."

Narrator…

Later….

The preparations were set and it was only kakes away. Never had Wren been so nervous about meeting the leader of a race. The Tallests didn't count seeing as they tried to kill one of her friends. This leader had done nothing to challenge her or anyone near her. So it made her antsy and unsure of herself.

Zim, seeing her nervous hands straighten her jacket once more, moved to take her hands into his. He ran a thumb over the back of her hands. She gave a quick squeeze back to his fingers while looking up to meet his eyes. He gave a small smile of reassurance. Wren returned the smile readily and her nervous twitches calmed.

"Wow, can we do that?" Curtis asked catching their attention.

"Do what?" Rachel asked looking up from a vid that was in her hands.

"Nonverbal communication."

Rachel frowned in thought. "A bit. Wren's just better at it because she's part Delaline. She picks up on these cues better than us."

"Only because you mere humans are sooooo inferior," Wren teased with a small grin.

"So very inferior," Rachel rolled her eyes.

The tenseness of the moment was broken with laughter. And just in time too. The air locks gave a low hiss and a final fwoosh as they signaled the arrival of the Xinan.

Wren turned to greet the leader with a bow customary of the Sharshan race. "Welcome Madam, I hope you had ease getting here. The gate is still a little fickle with the field sometimes."

"It was quite amazing coming through the asteroids. Whomever created that gateway, created a master piece. I dabbled in a little of the theory of a self-renewing force fields when I was younger," She smiled returning the bow lightly.

"I may be able to get the small group of scientists together if you want to chat about it," Wren smiled brightly.

"Now, that, sounds like fun to me," she laughed. "I shall be here long enough for a very scientific chat that does not involve any sort of delegation or political sorts."

"It would sound like you need that break."

"Oh, I do. As you probably understand yourself. I've never heard of or have seen a ship or station created and built so quickly as this one. And this station is stunning from the outside. Almost as stunning as your ship!"

Wren blushed, flattered more than she'd like to admit. "Bez and I thank you for the grand complements Xinan. If Bez could be anymore smug after that complement, he'd smother us all."

She laughed, a very musical sound which caught and burned through the small group quickly. Introductions were quickly made and filtered through with a case of familiarness that relaxed everyone present.

And so the evening continued with ease and a feeling of familiarity. The tour through the station was met with a diplomatic stride that left everyone content. As many wondered over the clean and linear design of the station, others noticed the companionship already forming between the species that were already on the station.

Children bickered and giggled as they do, women gossiped and sat together, men laughed as they helped each other with various things. A few small stands and sellers moved about panning out foods and such to those on the green. They saw the workers behind the scenes and those that kept things running smoothly.

Retiring to Bez for the evening meal was simple when the guests knew it was a small affair. There was laughter and an easy going feeling throughout the room. The joys of good food and new friends just doubled the deal.

Conversations ranged from the space station, a name for it mainly and to the habits of each other's species. The Xinan laughed and teased what they couldn't continue to call it The station because there were so many that they would get confused after sometime. Names were tossed out. Some ridiculous, some humorous and some that were quite good. It was decided to take a vote soon to find a name for the station.

The other species found out that the Sharshans leader, Xinan, was actually called Xinan. Instad of the person taking on the title, the title became the person. So before her was the Eindora. And it became quite confusing when one chance happening in the leadership when twins actually switched places more so than not, confusing a whole council before both stepped down because the council wasn't sure which one they had sworn into the office to begin with.

The evening wore on and several people almost dozed off in their seats. The Elders had left earlier before the others began to file out, several swearing that they did not have the energy we younger people had. The crew felt that everything went well and the bond between their peoples went well and had grown significantly.

Later….

The Xinan and her crew stayed for a flin before things were settled and she had left a fourth of her crew, all volunteers. She was going to send a few more our way just to expand the populace just a bit more. She thought that it would be a nice idea to even send a small family or two here if they were willing to separate from their extended families.

The crew of Bez stayed for longer than they thought. Several months in fact, trying the smallest ways to finish setting the station up and trying to prepare them for almost anything. Training for emergencies and preparing new technologies for what may come up within their future travels.

And finally a name came for the station. Simple and worth it in the eyes of many. Hidden Hope. The hope of several races, hidden, growing, thriving. And so then signal went out to the aliens that were part of the treaty under Bez that Hidden Hope welcomed all that were friends to Bez.

With slightly teary farewells, those who were continuing on Bez bid those that were to be left on station farewell. There were promises to return often to check and see how things were going and as the last person stepped on board Bez, the doors shut on a new chapter of the journey to find Earth.

Rachel's P.O.V….

Later….

Rachel looked out the window and watched as the station disappeared as the gateway closed systematically, section by section. She was going to miss the Station very much. It was just getting the feel of home but part of her knew that it wouldn't be Earth and wanted to find Earth. The urge to find it greater now more than ever. Though part of her was unsure as to why, it was just a push, a feeling.

They left most of their civilian crew mostly on the space station with a promise of coming back to get those that wished to get to Earth. That promise and their trust in Wren were enough to drive the Captain further on her way with confidence enough to send them home.

Arms wrapped her into the body of Curtis and she smiled up at him. He smiled back warmly before glancing out the window to watch the last section of the gate collapse and blend into the asteroid field seamlessly. The station, Hidden Hope, once again hidden safely within the cocoon that was it's home.

"I'm going to miss that place," he hummed as he placed a kiss on the top of Rachel's head.

"Me too," Rachel sighed relaxing a little more into her fiancé's grasp.

"At least we have space to breathe again though."

"God yes!" Rachel exclaimed. "We only have two or three full rooms again and that's only because they enjoy the closeness. And I think they're a group relationship anyway. And we have all our cargo bays back and everything else."

Curtis laughed, "Only you'd get excited over empty cargo bays. We're not going to know what to do with all this quiet and space."

Rachel turned in his grasp and gave him a small wicked smile. "I know one thing we can do with all this fantastic quiet and space."

"Wow, I think you read my mind Rachel," Curtis chuckled as he caught her lips in a kiss.

Zim's P.O.V….

I ran a hand over my antenna as I waved a hand over the door panel to the entrance of Wren's and my room. I walked in, my mind running through the thoughts of what was going to happen now that we were out in free space again. Several of the officers' quarters were open and empty so it wasn't a far reach. I really didn't want to move out. I was quite enjoying living with my Grashe. But it was up to her really, it was her room.

I looked up from the floor and my contemplations to see Wren walk out from the kitchenette with a spoon in her mouth and a cup of something in her hand. She had her hair down and she paused mid-way to the couch to smile at me from around the spoon. And that's when I noticed she was wearing only one of my lounging shirts I use for off duty. It came mid-thigh to her leaving her long, lean legs in full view.

"Comfortable?" I asked as she made her way over to me. Hips swaying slightly, tail relaxed and her footsteps almost nonexistent.

"Very," she smiled warmly, leaning up to kiss the corner of my mouth after removing the spoon from her's. "It's my day to be lazy. I'm going to be as lazy as I can. You don't mind that I stole one of your shirts, do you?"

"never," I smiled drawing her into a hug. "I think it looks better on you than it does on me."

"Liar," Wren giggled, sticking her tongue out at me.

She giggled even more as I scooped her up into my arms. Making my way to our couch I sat down and tucked her between me and the couch while leaning back against the arm. She reclined against me and gave a happy little sigh. I kissed her temple as I wrapped my arms around her.

"Comfy?" I asked.

"I've got my boyfriend as a pillow, I'm wearing his shirt, eating some really good ice cream and I get snuggle time. I am beyond comfy Zimmy!" She smiled at me brightly. "I'm happy." She kissed my jaw. "I love you Zim."

I paused, my eyes wide. That little worry in the back of my mind that she'd ask me to move out shattered. I smiled and caught her lips in a kiss. Chocolate, caramel and her would be my most favorite flavor from now on. "I love you too Grashe"

Finally! A new chapter out! I'm so happy! And so sorry about the wait. It took forever because of writers block and various school and work related things. That and I got distracted by my new hobby. I knit now! It's bizarre I know but I enjoy it. And I get to make pretty scarves and what not. Oh and if you hadn't noticed, I have a new computer. I'm too happy about this and that's another reason as to why chapters didn't come about. I was depressed about my computer. But I have another, it's name is Bartholomew. Weird, I know. But it suits him.

Anyway… Chapter 13 down, starting on Chapter 14 now. I hope you guys love the next chap as much as I will. One word. Resisty. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! That's all the hint you get.