Words- Regular speech

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(Words)- Bez speech

Chapter 21—New Uniforms. New Plans—

Narrator….

"Why did you volunteer Wren as the captain?" James asked Rachel without really looking her way.

As this point in time they were walking toward their room. They both needed to change into something more presentable for their first official meeting with another alien race that was to be more peaceful than the last.

"She had nothing else to do," Rachel explained. "And I figured that she could use the responsibility."

"And you trust her in charge of the ship more than me?"

"Not really, but…." Rachel paused to worry her bottom lip.

"But what?"

"But Wren did not have a job. She knows more about this ship more than we do. I don't know how either but honestly, having someone who knows the ship inside and out would be a damned good choice regardless. And even if she's changed physically, she's still my best friend, the same person I grew up with. I still trust her with my life. And there's this little part of me that thinks she probably knows most of the alien customs that are around this universe somehow," She said exasperatedly. "And she was the first person that came to mind."

James gave Rachel an unreadable look as they entered their room

"Don't look at me like that James. I was only thinking about her only because of everything that happened. And she is still my friend."

"Whatever." He said shrugging me off moving off further into the room.

Somehow she got the feeling that everything wasn't ok. It was also the same nagging feeling that everything wouldn't be ok from here on out.

Wren's P.O.V….

"I swear to anything holy I will kill Rachel with my bare hands," I thought grouchily. "What am I supposed to wear? How in the hell am I supposed to act? What makes her think I will make a good Captain?"

I growled more and headed toward my closet with GIR in tow. Rouk leapt from my shoulder to the bed as I threw open the closet doors. As I started to look through the clothes I noticed that most of them were really formal. Some of the pants were baggies, just like I loved them but the cloth was a silk like material instead of denim. A few of the shirts were also a silk like material.

"So, what should I wear?" I asked while looking over my shoulder at the two.

"Anything formal," Rouk said with a half shrug.

"Oh, thanks." I huffed and looked back at the closet. "Real big help…"

GIR had sat down on the floor and was watching me intently. "If you's a Captain, what does a Captain wear?" he asked.

I looked at him a little funny. "They usually a uniform, that is when dealing with others GIR." I said, "That or when they are on duty."

"Then wear a uniform." Rouk said looking at her tail intently before starting to clean it.

"Why didn't I think of that?" I sighed exasperatedly.

"You were too busy being fired at this morning and right now you're pressured to meet with an alien Captain or Commander of another ship in less than about three hours." Rouk said not looking up from her grooming. "So basically you're thinking of nothing else except that."

"Oh, that's no pressure at all. I just have to make sure that I'm wearing something that won't offend them!" I hissed not really mad at her but just mad at the whole deal I was in.

"Then make sure you're actually wearing something." Rouk said with a smile. "Unless they prefer that."

I sighed and sat on the end of the bed. I put my face in my hand and muttered. "I hate pressure."

GIR looked at me then squealed. "I'll help!" He then leapt into the closet and clothes started to fly.

I looked at the closet thru my fingers. "Go right again." I muttered. "You couldn't pick anything out that could be worse than what I would pick."

A squeal from the closet notified me that I either move or be prepared for a flying unit. And in the end my instinct of dive for cover took over. None to soon either. GIR came flying out of the closet, landing on the bed behind me. I sat up and turned around to look at him at the clothing choice when he squealed, "I found it!"

"I noticed," I said as I checked to see if I really was hearing bells or it was just my ears that were ringing from the high pitched squeal.

The SIR unit leapt to my lap and seemed to purr as he showed it to me. "It's all pretty and stuff!"

"Ok…" I said taking it from the unit for closer inspection. I held it up in the light and noticed how plain it was. It held a certain air to it though.

The shirt and pants were made of light cotton like material. These were all black. The pants were billowy and light. A band of blue material edged the bottom of the pants. There was a jacket that accompanied them.

The jacket had gold buttons down its black front and the sleeves ended with two almost triangle shaped pieces. At the tips of these were loops that I figured went around one of my fingers. On both shoulders of the jacket was a design that seemed to resemble wings of a dragon. And around the collar there was the same blue.

"Wow," I murmured, "it's amazing."

"Try it on!" GIR shrieked.

"But what if it doesn't fit?"

"You won't know till you try!" Rouk said laughing.

Later….

I was waiting for Rouk and GIR to finish braiding my hair tightly and fidgeting while they were doing it. After they were finished I stood up and quickly went to a full length mirror. While I was looking at myself in the mirror I frowned and made a face. "Are you sure I look alright?" I asked.

"You look fine." Rouk sighed exasperatedly.

"Are you sure?" I questioned again pulling on the jacket to straighten wrinkles that just wouldn't come out.

"Yes!" My muse and GIR almost shouted.

I heaved a sigh and checked out the uniform one last time before turning from the mirror. "Bez!" I called out.

(Yes?)

"How much time do I have left?"

(About two and a half kakes.) Bez said.

"Two kakes? Geez…." I sighed. "Well… Can you tell the others to be in their uniforms and on the bridge in about two kakes."

(Two kakes, gotcha. And have them wear their uniforms and meet on the bridge.) Bez repeated so he had it right. (Anything else?)

"Yeah…. How do I look? Do I look bad or do I look alright?" I asked fidgeting.

(You look just fine ma'am, stop worrying.)

From behind me Rouk and GIR chorused, "We told you so!"

I mumbled something under my breath and headed for the door. "Maybe," I thought, "I should take Zim up on his offer for a brunch? I could go for a good meal right now. I hope I can keep something down especially with my nerves."

Narrator…

Rachel and James had headed back to their room after Wren left. They had been enjoying some alone time until James got up to get a drink. That's before Wren's message had been relayed to everyone at once and James sighed.

Rachel looked at her boyfriend and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing." He replied smiling.

"Right…" Rachel replied with a roll of her eyes. She stood up from her spot on the couch and walked over to him. Poking him in the chest with a finger, "You're mad because I didn't pick you to be Captain. If I would have picked you, then you would have had too much to think about."

James grabbed her finger and kissed her forehead. "I'm not mad that you chose Wren and I doubt that I would have had too much to think about if I would have been Captain."

Rachel just frowned at him and without another word about it she wretched her finger out of his grasp. She turned around and headed for the closet. "If you say so James-kun. We should really find a uniform that is suitable and meet Wren."

"But we have two kakes till we have to be ready."

"So? That doesn't mean I can't be prepared." Rachel huffed grabbing a uniform and stalking to the bathroom.

"Can I help you get ready?" James asked playfully.

Rachel looked over her shoulder, "Noooo."

This time James added a puppy face and a pout, "Pwease?"

"Hell no." she said smiling at him before she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

Elsewhere….

Zim was already finished changing and about ready to grab something to eat. He stopped mid grab for a pot when he remembered the conversation that he and Wren had.

Zim stood and leaned against the counter tapping his chin. "I wonder if she was joking about it?" he asked himself out loud.

He pushed himself off the edge of the counter and straightened his uniform jacket. It was black with green shoulders. The jacket ended in straight cuffs at the sleeves and gold buttons down the front. The collar and stripe around the bottom of his pants were the exact same green.

Zim headed for the door hoping to catch Wren before she left her room. He walked towards her door and knocked once, twice, three times. When the door opened he was somewhat stunned at what he saw before him.

Wren's P.O.V….

Someone knocked at my door just as I was about to pull something out of the fridge to eat. I sighed heavily and leaned my head on the closed door before I turned to answer the other door. I opened to door only to find Zim. His eyes widened just a bit.

I raised an eyebrow, "What? Did I get something one me?"

Zim shook his head. "No."

"Then what is it?" I asked placing my hands on my hips.

"It's nothing." He said smiling at me.

I shook my head. "If you say so, but I'd like to know sooner or later."

"If you really would like to know, I'll tell you."

"Yes Zim, do tell. All of us are really curious about this." Someone said from behind Zim.

Rachel and James had appeared behind Zim. Rachel was smirking a bit with her arms crossed over her chest. I scowled at them and growled

"I said meet on the bridge. Not my room."

"But," James said, "we want to hear this too!"

"Hell no. Get your asses somewhere else and be productive or something." I snapped.

Rachel pouted and kicked at the floor. "You're no fun!"

"I don't care if I'm not fun anymore! I haven't had anything to eat in several hours so I'm just a little moody." I said giving an example with my forefinger and thumb. "And I don't care what you guys do I'm going to find something to eat and rip into it before I rip into one of you two."

Rachel grabbed James. "My James-kun. You can't have him."

I made a face as I suddenly realized how bad that sounded and started down the hall muttering. "Ewww… Bad thoughts. Shouldn't have said that. I now need to go scrub my brain after that."

Rachel's P.O.V….

I blinked at Wren's retreating back. "Well then…"

"That was interesting." James said and looked down at me. "Why do you think she left in a hurry? Was it something she said?"

James and I burst into a fit of laughter. The laughter only calmed down as Zim looked at them glaring and then walked off after Wren. I smiled slowly as we started to follow him. It only got bigger as we went on because a little hunch was becoming a lot clearer.

James raised an eyebrow and gave me an odd look.

"What?" I asked when I finally noticed the look.

"You're thinking about something."

"Yeah, so?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing." I said still smiling. "Just something to keep me entertained."

"Really now."

I nodded.

As we entered an elevator James looked at me out of the corner of his eye. "Whatever you're thinking about, can I help?"

I smirked evilly and crossed my arms over my chest as the doors closed. "Only if you're good."

Rereading chapters while I'm here at my grandmother's for a family reunion. I'm hiding from a bunch of children that just won't shut up and I'm frustrated because I got another grilling on when I'll bring a boyfriend to a reunion or when I'll have kids. I'm tired of the same things over and over again. And they wonder why I hate hanging around people at reunions…..