Be amazed, another chapter. Thirty one chapters and still counting oddly enough. Not sure though if this story will ever be finished. It's quite old and I never got around to working on it much because loss of inspiration. You may get lucky though and it may get closer to getting finished. You never know.

Anyway, this will be a short chapter. Can't be helped, sorry. Though, the next chapter may be longer. I think so at least. I haven't reread over any of these later chapters lately. So it's a surprise for you and me! Lol

Words- Regular speech

Words- Thoughts

Words- Chapters and changes

(Words)- Bez speech

Chapter 31—Taking Charge, Taking Seconds—

James' P.O.V….

We watched as Wren paced back and forth in a refurbished room that was on Bez meant to be used for speeches at this time. The room would probably be a 'ballroom' of sorts in the future. There were exactly sixty Irkens there not counting Zim watching as Wren paced. Each one was talking and murmuring about various things while still paying attention to us. Most of them confused as to why they were there. That didn't bother me one bit. But if there was one spy or an assassin on the group I would not be happy. And they might as well kill themselves now before I got a hold of them to save themselves some pain.

Wren paused in mid step and turned to the crowd before her. "Alright people! Listen up!" She said in a parade voice.

Everyone quieted almost instantly turning to look at her. All shuffling stopped and it was dead silent.

"You're Bez's crew and mine now. You have been assigned to this ship because of a treaty between your leaders and us. Amazing isn't it?" she asked with a smirk.

There were several blank stares around the room. Wren sighed and continued. "For those of you who don't know this ship and for those of you who have guesses, Bez is a living ship. He can hear you, feel you, and understand every damn little thing you say and think. He'll stay out of your head if you respect him. We'll stay off your backs if you respect him. We owe Bez our lives.

Now, I'd also like to say that I'm in charge. I am your Captain, but I am also your friend. You can come to me with just about anything. I'm assigning James, the male human here, beneath me as my second in command. If there is a fight or anything needs settled in that aspect you will go to him before you find me."

I sighed and shook my head absently pinching the bridge of my nose. "Oh great," I murmured, "just what I need."

Rachel poked my side. "Hey, at least you got something. It may not be Captain but it's important none the less," she whispered. "I didn't get anything."

Several voices were murmuring throughout the crowd. Wren cleared her throat and silence fell throughout the ranks again. "Rachel is head of communications and weapons. Some one is going to have to help her with her aim though, she sucks at shooting specific targets without blowing the ship up." Several good humored chuckles were heard throughout the crowds.

Wren smiled and pointed to Zim. "Zim is head of system controls' and even though it is a big job, he will also have security. No if, ands, or buts about it. And even though James is my second, he is also in charge of navigations. Are there any questions?"

An Irken raised a hand, "What exactly is our mission?"

"We… Our mission is…." Wren fumbled as she looked for an answer.

I stepped forward to stand beside her. "Our mission is to find Earth. It is also to try and find others of the human species to take back to Earth because our species was scattered by slavers. Within that mission we are to help those that are in need and to join as many alien species together within an alliance. There may still be many kinks in that idea but it will help this wide space we live in."

Beside me Wren had sighed under her breath as I spoke. "Thanks James," she murmured to me, "I hadn't quite figured that part out as of yet."

"No problem. You're still new at this," I said back. "I just pulled something out of my ass that sounded good."

She stifled a giggle as another member raised a hand. I pointed at them to show that they had the floor.

"Do we share rooms?"

Now it was my turn to look a little confused. I didn't have a clue at all. Wren and I looked to Zim who was looking at a vid screen. "Zim? Do you have an answer for that?"

Without even looking up Zim tapped the screen. "You didn't have to ask. No one needs to share rooms. There are enough rooms to hold everyone in the crew. But…" Zim tapped the screen in his hands again and a hologram appeared above our heads. The section that held the Captain's quarters appeared in blue. "This section is the floor of the Captain and higher level officers."

"Those officers will be assigned later," Wren added in when Zim paused.

Zim nodded and tapped another part of the screen. The section that held the captain's quarters dimmed and the regular quarters glowed green. "These are the regular quarters for all the rest of the crew. There are a lot bigger than those of the Massive. You can pair up if you want and you might later if I know Irken hormones." A wave of light, quiet laughter spread through the crowd

Another section of the ship came up in yellow. "Now, these are the crew showers, baths, and latrines. Bez already has a formula for a cleansing solution for our species. No worries there and at least we have a chance to bath and have time to unlike on the Massive."

Wren smiled at Zim, "That all?"

He nodded as he took the hologram down. "Yep, that's it for now."

"Ok, next?" Wren asked looking over the crowd.

"When will positions be assigned? We don't want to get too comfortable in the temp rooms before we have to move again."

Wren paused for a moment and then shrugged. "I didn't think of that to be truthful," she confessed.

(I can decide that,) Bez said. (But you must give me a while to figure it out. I need to get to know the crew well before I make any decisions.)

"We can do that, thanks Bez." I said.

(You are welcome James,) he said before falling quiet once again.

Wren stepped forward again as the crowd before them began talking animatedly. The murmurs were mostly about what had just happened. "As most of you should know by now, that was Bez. He will be our home for quite a while. Treat him with respect and you'll get respect back. After a while you will notice new areas of the ship and changes to the ship. Bez will have done this. As part of a Bio entity he will grow like any living thing. This will be an interesting experience for everyone because this is the first time we've dealt with a growing ship also. So let's make the best of the adventure."

"Are there any more questions?" I asked after Wren was finished.

One last Irken's hand rose, "Are there locks on our doors?"

Rachel gave her a funny look and Wren, Zim and I raised a brow.

"Why would you…." Rachel started to ask.

A screech cut her off almost immediately. GIR ran through the crowed towards Zim. Just as the unit launched himself towards Zim, Zim side stepped. GIR hit the wall and fell backwards. He leapt up and giggled insanely before running off again.

"Never mind," Rachel sighed. "There are locks on the doors though we still don't know if they keep him out."

Zim shook his sadly, "My poor insane SIR. "

"Anyway, "I started to say.

"Who's up for a snack?" Wren asked.

A cheer went up and Wren lead the crowd out the doors.

Rachel's P.O.V….

"It is a very good thing that we don't have to stop for provisions." I muttered. "If we did we would have been out of food about three point two seconds ago."

"Damn," James muttered. "You're right. Irkens eat more than anything or anyone I've ever known."

"Maybe we should put them on diets and exercise programs," I said taking a sip from my shake type drink.

"I don't think that that would even work with them," James muttered and snatched the drink before I put it down.

"I just hope this all works out and we don't run into anymore trouble. These 'warriors'," I quoted, "probably wouldn't make it through one battle."

James smirked, "Rachel, you know we'll whip them into shape. But if GIR gets in the way, nothing will work out right."

"Speaking of the little bastard, where is he?" I asked looking about the room to see if I could spot the monstrosity.

James took another sip of my shake and motioned over to a table full of nurses. GIR was sitting on one of their laps and was getting giggled over. I sighed and shook my head.

Snatching the drink back and taking a big sip I glanced over at Wren and Zim. Wren was laughing as Zim grinned at something. I motioned to them with the cup in my hand then took another sip.

"At least Zim is hitting it off with Wren," I said swallowing the drink. "They like each other but don't want it to show.

"Eh, could be worse," James said. "Wren could be totally oblivious to the fact that Zim likes her."

"Let's not count our chickens before they hatch," I muttered and took another long sip of the drink. "She's more oblivious about things than we think sometimes."

Wren's P.O.V….

I grinned at Zim. "Amazed yet? It's been, what, about three or four days and we've been captured, we've escaped, we've been attacked several times, signed two treaties, and leave with sixty Irkens on a living ship with two humans, a hybrid, a bio-mech, whatever GIR is and you. Are we good or what?"

"It'd be even better if we could pick officers and get things settled," he replied with a sigh and looked down towards the tables where all the crew was seated. He ran one hand across an antenna and placing his other hand on the table.

"If we got this far we can get farther and better with time," I said placing my hand on his. "Trust me."

Zim looked up at me and nodded, "I know. I'm here to back you up when it gets tough, you just remember that."

I gave him a playful shocked look. "Get tough? When would that ever happen?"

"When you get lazy," he replied with a grin.

I stuck my tongue out at him. I then crossed my arms over my chest and started to pout playfully. "That's mean you know, I know I'm lazy."

Zim just continued to grin and stood up. He ruffled my hair, "I know you know. I'm heading to the control room to check everything. I'll be back here for a snack or back in my room if you need me."

I nodded as I brushed a strand of hair out of my face. I looked up at him, "I'll most likely be in my room looking over files and doing orders for uniforms, even though Bez can do it quite well." I made a face at the thought of all that work.

"Alright," he said, "Just don't work too hard tonight. It's only our first night with a crew."

There was a pause before I randomly, right out of the blue, asked, "How do we tell time on here exactly?"

"We might have to figure that out later," he laughed and started to leave. "Right now I have to go check the bridge."

"You're right. We have got to figure that out later," I murmured and watched him walk. I couldn't help but notice his very attractive ass as he walked out. And with him away leaving me too brood a little on other things than his fine anatomy.

"Bez?" I thought another out of the blue question popping into my head.

(Yes Wren?) he answered.

"How fast do you grow?"

(I really couldn't tell you Wren. Even I don't know everything about us, the living ships.)

"So it would be silly to ask if there are other forms of living ships out there I'm guessing." I thought with a small smiling gracing my lips.

He rumbled in laughter and everyone in the room looked a little surprised at that. I giggled a little myself, "Bez, you're startling the other crew members that don't know you yet. And I'm sorry for asking about what you don't know about."

(No harm done,) he said. (And they'll have to get used to everything if they're going to make it as my crew.)

I smiled, "And my crew too. They'll make it Bez; we both will whip them into shape."

I stood and stretched before picking up my tray. Taking it to the tray return I decided to make my way around the ship. I wanted to see all the new changes that were happening around the ship. I was lost in thought when I stopped at an intersection of a corridor.

"Excuse me," a small voice asked from behind me.

I jumps a bit and turned around to see only a small Irken that matched the small voice. I smiled warmly as my ears came forward. "What is it that I can help you with?"

Finally done! I'm really happy about this one. Well, as happy as I can be now before I decide it needs revamped. Lol

Hoped you enjoyed this chap. And again sorry it took so long to get it up.