Chapter 19—Mourning Ghosts—

Rachel's P.O.V….

Resisty hold ship….

I ran down the hall where the main room where the Resisty were holed up. I could hear the shouting even before we got halfway down the hall. The echoing of our footsteps grew louder as more joined in. I chanced a glance back over my shoulder to see Wren, Zim, Andy and more security behind us.

The door was open so we carefully entered and were met with a few weapons trained on us.

"So, you finally came to play," the Resisty leader sneered as he pointed his weapon at one of the captured security guards' head. "Took you fucking long enough."

"Look, don't hurt my crew. Tell me what you want," Wren said calmly from somewhere from behind me.

"Honestly, you dead. But I'll take you letting us go," he growled darkly grabbing a guard in a choke hold like grip. "I'd also like that nice ship of yours as well."

I turned soon enough to see Wren's face harden. She tensed and her tail lashed twice before stilling.

"Not a good idea," I said resting a hand on her arm. "Now let everyone go so we can talk about this without hostages in the way."

"No talking, I want your ship or they all get their heads blown off," he snarled pressing the gun more firmly against the Irken's temple.

"And I'm telling you it's not a good idea," I repeated slowly.

"It's honestly a very bad idea," Wren said flatly. "You do not want to take Bez. Now, let go of the guards and put your weapons down. Let's talk this over."

"You need to let them go Rarck," Tiz said as he came forward from the group of the Resisty that obviously weren't with the others that held the guns. "They've only been trying to help us."

The Resisty leader snarled and quicker than anyone could react he shot Tiz. It hit him in the shoulder causing him to collapse to the floor. Several members that he'd pushed through rushed forward to see if he were dead.

Tiz pushed the hands away and grabbed his shoulder. When they saw he wasn't going to die any time soon they helped him sit up.

"I've had enough of you Tiz. You are a deserter. They have us captured and will only hand us over to the Empire to have us destroyed," he snapped. There was a mad glint in his eyes. He shifted his weapon back to his captive. "Now, your ship or their lives."

I raised my hands to show I was holding no weapons. "We can't give you Bez, he isn't ours to give. But we can get you a different ship and let you leave. All you have to do is let them go."

"I don't think so. Bez or nothing," he began charging his weapon, pressing it more firmly against his captive's temple. "Don't make me say it again."

"Look, you don't want Bez," Zim said carefully. "You really don't want Bez. Take the other ship."

"Fine, have it your way," he sneered and pulled the trigger.

As if in slow motion we watched as our guard was shot close range, blood splattering everywhere. We watched as the light went out of his eyes and he collapsed as Rarck let go of him before training his weapon on us. Rarck licked the blood off his lips with a sick grin and a mad glint in his eyes. He glanced down to the body on the floor and gave it a savage kick. A roar echoed through the ship that could have only been Bez mourning the loss of one of his crew, breaking the slow moment.

I felt the air chill around me as time seemed to regulate itself back to normal. I felt tears escape their holds and run down my face as I turned to look at Wren. Her face was taught and pinched in grief. Unshed tears glistened in the corners of her eyes before they shifted to a dark blue, darker than midnight back on Earth. I wasn't sure what could save them now.

Tapping her com unit she said, "All personnel, evacuate Bez either by the ships in the bays or onto the vessel Bez is docked to. This is not a drill. Evacuate now."

"Wren, you can't do this!" I growled lowly and grabbed her arm.

"I can and am. He can have Bez. I'm not sacrificing anymore of my crew for this bastard," she hissed back sharply, her eyes bore into mine and begged me not to challenge this call. "He's not heeded our warnings. Let them deal with the consequences. We can't save everyone."

"It's good you've finally come to your senses. I'd have hated to take and kill any more of your precious crew," he chuckled darkly. "But to make sure none of you try anything…"

Quick as a cobra he leapt forward and grabbed Wren and wretched her out of my grasp, toward him. He pressed his weapon to her head firmly. Fear didn't even shine in her eyes as she snarled. I had to grab a hold of Zim to keep him from rushing to her aid. I had a feeling as he tried to break my grip that Wren had this under control.

"One move and your precious Captain dies, understood? Whoever wishes to come with me, you might as well come now."

"And I warn anyone who wants to live to stay," Wren said slowly as she looked at Zim. "You do not want to follow this guy to your deaths."

He pushed his weapon closer to the side of her head. "Shut up!" he snarled. "Now move!"

Wren gave not a sound and only mouthed to us, "Trust me," when Rarck's attention was shifted minutely to the rest of his 'crew'. He was snarling at them to move it but only those who had taken weapons seemed to want to follow him. The rest had stepped behind Tiz and glared at their one time leader. They obviously were not moving.

"Fine then you sorry fucking bastards, you can rot here and wait for your deaths. Now move!"

We watched as he and his small group kept their weapons trained on Wren and the rest of us as they walked toward the door.

As the last member disappeared past the gaping maw of the door, I hoped Wren knew what she was doing. I didn't want to lose my best friend like I lost a good friend.

Wren's P.O.V….

"I'm telling you, you should have listened to me before you took the life of my security guard," I said slowly as we entered a now empty Bez. The air in the hall was practically thick as molasses with anger. And for once, it wasn't mine, but Bez's.

"And for the last time," Rarck snarled and hit me across the face with the end of his weapon. "That I don't care what you've said! This is our ship now. And I'm going to enjoy throwing you out of an air lock when we're far enough away from here."

A low rumble came from Bez and I could feel, almost taste his anger.

"Are we being fired at slut?" Rarck hissed as he raised his arm to strike me again.

Another rumble as we went to the lift and started ascending to the bridge.

My eyes locked with his and they narrowed causing him to actually pause. There was a look of almost something akin to a startled look in his eyes. "No, but I'm fucking glad I'm not you right now. Bez really does not like you and if I were you, I would have listened when we tried to warn you," I snarled in response.

"It's a fucking ship! It doesn't think or feel!" he roared and shoved me into the room as the lift stopped at the bridge. Again he went to hit me but I grabbed his arm before he got halfway there.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I growled out lowly, my eyes narrowing. My tail lashed furiously and my ears flattened to my skull. "You deserved everything that's coming to you. I have no pity for you for what's about to happen either."

I ducked back and away from the group as they entered the bridge after me, weapons raised. Before anyone could fire at me a shield came up around me. I gave a malicious sneer and waved at them as the glass from the helm protecting us from space dropped out of sight. The group held shocked expressions as they were sucked out into the vacuum of space with no time to react at all to try and save themselves. Some scrabbled for holds on the chairs, the panels, anything but it all seemed to melt through their fingers.

As the last person was flung out, the glass was replaced and the shield dropped from around me but my eyes never left the forms floating before Bez's nose. A soft caress across my mind made the tears that I'd been holding back since they shot my security guard slide rapidly down my cheeks. I wiped my face with the sleeve of my uniform as I turned from the sight.

"Bez, bring everyone home and send someone to dispose of that trash," I said softly. I felt my anger drain from my form, leaving me exhausted and in pain. I brought my fingers up and brushed my cheek, wincing. "Let everyone know I'm alright and that I don't' want to be bothered."

(Alright Wren,) he murmured and gave me a nudge. (They deserved it you know.)

"I know they did," I murmured back as I walked to the lifts caressing the wall as I went. "If I could have, I would have ripped his throat out with my teeth though. Blood for blood."

(You did warn them.)

"That I did lovely, that I did," I sighed and took one last look at their bodies before the lift doors closed.

Narrator….

Rachel ran to the window and looked out at Bez's form not sure what she was waiting for. Moments later she gasped as she watched what could only be bodies fling out into space. Zim rushed beside her and slammed his fist against the glass, resting his head against it as well. Something akin to defeat ran through his shoulders.

"She's ok Zim. Trust me. We'd know if she wasn't. She's not out there, I know she isn't," Rachel said quietly as he turned to look at her, fear evident in his ruby eyes.

Our comms crackled to life. "Everyone may return to the ship. The crisis is over. The Captain is safe and requests to be left alone. That is all."

Rachel let out the breath she had been holding. She thanked whatever deity was out there that Wren was alright. She looked to her side where Zim had been and noticed he was gone.

Running a hand through her hair she muttered, "Christ."

"He went to Wren," Andy said as he came up beside her. "I've already got a few of my guys cleaning that mess out there up and right now you should be with your guy. I've got most of this covered."

"You sure?" she asked looking at his face and searching his eyes for anything. "It is sort of our mess."

"Yeah," he shrugged. "We're at a station, you've got officers to take over the small stuff and I've got nothing to do but wait and twiddle my thumbs. Now go. Find Curtis Rachel. I out rank you anyway," he grinned.

"I'm not sure about that."

"Get the hell out of here Rachel. I'll handle what's left of the Resisty for now and have your left over guards take your fallen to be given a proper burial," Andy said quietly smile still on his face but his eyes telling Rachel all she needed to know.

"Thank you Andy. I'll repay you for this, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that, oh Short one. Now move Co-Second in Command, find your boyfriend," he gave her a little push toward the door.

Rachel rushed back to Bez as fast as she could. As she entered her room Curtis' head snapped up and he stood suddenly, relief evident across his face and form. She launched herself at him and they both collapsed to the floor as they mourned for their lost friend and celebrated the relief they both felt that they were safe.

Zim's P.O.V….

I ran to our rooms as fast as I could, dodging crew members and other things in my way. I couldn't get there fast enough as the doors slid open and I slid into the doorway.

Scanning the room I spotted Wren's form curled up in the center of our bed. On either side of her were the SIRs who were cooing and rubbing her back gently to try and calm the tremors that ran through her body. Gingerly I made my way across the room. She barely raised her head as I crept onto the bed to sit beside her. We sat in silence as sobs wracked her body.

"I killed them Zim, like those guards when we escaped."

"Wren, you didn't kill them. You warned them. You tried to save them even though they didn't deserved it," I said softly to her, threading her fingers through her hair.

She looked at me with such sorrow in her eyes it almost shattered my soul.

"Oh Grashe, you did all you could. You can't blame yourself. Who died tonight, died because they deserved it or it was just an accident."

"But if I would have given in sooner then he'd still be a live!" she snapped harshly. "That was my fault! He died because of me!"

"Grashe, it was not your fault! That bastard would have probably shot Thruin regardless. There was no way we could have predicted anything that happened today. Ext for Bez ejecting their ass out into space."

"How is that any better? How could that be a good thing?"

"No death is right Grashe, but Bez could have done a lot worse than he did. They had an almost instant death, which is better than they deserved," I sighed and brought a hand up to cup her cheek.

She winced away and I frowned. That wasn't like her. I gently grasped her chin and turned her head a little to the side. A bruise had already started to form across her cheek from what looked like the butt of a weapon. It was swollen and looked raw and painful.

I growled lowly in my chest. "Much better than they deserved."

Wiping away her tears I sighed at the look from those eyes of hers as a fresh wave of tears began again. "Tell me what to do Wren. How can I help you grieve? What can help lessen the pain in your chest?"

"Hold me? Just hold me and never let go!" she sobbed as I pulled her toward me and she buried her face into my shoulder.

I buried my face into her hair and rubbed her back with my free hand as my other curled into her hair. I clutched her to my chest. "I'll hold onto you till the end Wren. And there after as well. I'll never let go," I whispered as I held onto her.

Narrator….

All of Bez was quiet as they mourned their fallen comrade. He had been well liked and admired among the crew. Thurin would not be released into space for a curial but cremated and given a spot in a memorial that was going to sit in the center of the greenhouse.

Wren stood before it and placed a hand on the stone, feeling it warm at the touch of her fingers. The one crew member they had lost during the space anomaly battle had already been placed within the stone cube monument. She felt it was only right to have the cure stay together. She only wished she could do more to memorialize them.

Wren looked about her taking in the view of her crew wandering into the greenhouse. Some were on the second tier walkways and third tier walk ways looking down into the center of the green. Others were milling about on the main level waiting for the memorial to start. Everyone was dressing in their best uniforms and while there were tears in the eyes of those in the crowd, there was also laughter, stories, and good memories floating about as well.

She knew he'd always be remembered as long as the crew lived.

The sound of the funeral procession broke through the murmuring of the crowd. Not a sound was heard as the crew parted, allowing the officers through with Zim and Rachel in the lead. Behind them was Curtis carrying the container that held Thurin's remains. They continued to where Wren stood at the stone.

Stopping Curtis gently handed the container to both Zim and Rachel before they handed it to Wren. She nodded to them all before they all spread out around the stone to look out at the crowd gathered. Wren walked up the small set of stairs that led to the crown of the stone.

She paused swallowing around the lump of emotions caught in her throat.

"We're all here to mourn the loss of one of our own. We became a family as soon as we took our first steps onto Bez. We live together, we fight together, we mourn together.

Thurin died in the line of duty, doing what he loved to do. He did it well and always had an odd optimistic view in several serious situations. Level headed, he kept the others in his team calm while things got unbelievable.

I have a feeling that if he could say anything, he'd probably yell at us for getting so teary eyed and mopey over him. That and he'd probably tell us to break out any and all booze on Bez to celebrate that he's gone and we didn't have to see his ugly mug anymore."

A few chuckles were heard amongst the quiet crew as Wren gave a very weak smile.

"But now that his body has passed, we know his memories will live in us and that what is left of his form will stay here on Bez, where he'll watch out for us and the future crew members that board our ship. Thurin, you will be missed my friend. May you forever be welcomed on Bez and be part of him as he's been a part of us."

With that she lowered his ashes into the center of the memorial as she kneeled upon the stone. Standing, she saluted his ashes as tears ran down her cheeks freely. The others of the crew saluted in their own ways looking only slightly startled as Bez gave a roar before Wren released her salute when his roar ended.

Seeing that as a sign the ceremony was over, Wren made her way down the stairs as the other crew moved around the area. Conversations were held and the people talked as the greenhouse emptied. Presumably, many were going to go remember their fallen friend in the way he'd want them to celebrate, with lots of drinking and laughing. Quiet took the area and only the fountain that was a hundred yards burbled, breaking the quiet with a soft sound.

"I wish there was more we could have done to remember our fallen," Rachel murmured looking at the memorial.

"It's more than what they'd ever get on the Armada. They either get shot out into space with not a word or thrown into the incinerators," Zim said quietly without looking at her.

"This seems better somehow," Curtis sighed.

The girls nodded in agreement.

"Let's go get something to eat," Zim finally said after they stood there a few more minutes absorbing the quiet.

As they walked toward the door, Wren paused. She had a feels she was being watched and not in the normal way she felt. She turned to look back over her shoulder and was startled to see Thuring standing by the Memorial. He gave a grin before saluting her loosely while leaning back against the stone. She blinked, startled at what she saw. But when she looked again, he had disappeared as if he'd never been there at all.

"Wren, you ok?" Zim asked frowning slightly as he noticed her hesitation.

She shook her head before turning back to him. "Yeah, yeah I am. I just thought I saw something," she said smiling up at him.

"What?"

She smiled and shook her head. "You'd probably never believe me Zimmy if I told you."

She leaned her head against his shoulder and gave a small happy sigh as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"If you're sure."

"Yep, completely positive!"

I so wanted to cry! Partially because of the content of the chapter and because of how long it was. It wasn't long at all but still. I don't think I could have done any better to make it longer and I knew I had to have some sort of something depressing sooner or later.

I would like to thank a few people. Feathers of Grey for one. She's been one of my longest staying fans and won a cameo which kinda turned into more. Love you deary and I promise to have those pictures I mentioned up soon… maybe….. bad me. Lol

Another person I'd like to thank would be a reviewer who made my day. Shloonktapooxi (wonderful name by the way, that alone made me giggle) wrote to encourage me to continue writing. Dear, thank you. Not a lot of people know how much writers love reviews and your's brightened my day and made me finally type this chapter up! I'm dedicating this chapter to you!

The next chapter may take a bit longer than normal. I only have maybe three pages written and I haven't had the time to write as much as I want. I honestly don't have any clue where the hell the chapter is going either! So you'll get as much of a surprise as I will. Lol Now onto trying to find an actual job and all that fun jazz. Anyway….. please review! I do love reviews and they make me write more.