"You shouldn't be here."
Two ruby eyes looked down at a figure strangled by darkness.
"Red-" she choked.
He bent down to untie her arms and legs. She was lifted with dignity and carried from the room by the red-eyed Tallest. Bodies lay still at his feet as they departed.
* * *
Space hummed always, deep. The Massive hummed as it floated through the star-flecked blackness. From the great window of the control room, the universe flew by. Everything was still. Everything echoed in the deep hum.
By the huge glass the Tallest stood, ruby eyes heavy as they watched the velvet black sea beyond. Behind him on the sofa sat a slender blue-eyed female. She was bruised and bandaged and sat slumped on the sofa, maintaining some composure. Standing off to her side was the second Tallest, soft purple eyes watching her.
"The resistance is growing," came the voice of the Tallest Red.
"They'll settle down," murmured Purple, "The Control Brains will approve of her. So should the people."
"No. They will remain unhappy. It is not the nature of a resistance to be satisfied so easily. They want me to rule, Purple. You know it."
Purple looked down.
"It's getting out of hand," he continued
"I am able to protect myself, Red. This was a freak occurrence. They only took me because of my health at the moment."
Red turned around and his eyes glinted. "Against a pack of fifty angry Irken revolutionaries fighting to rip off your Pak? No, Miyuki, not even you."
She glared back at him.
"I would never have this happen to you, Miyuki. I would have every one of these revolutionaries sent hurtling into space with their Paks ripped off if I could. But more will come."
"Violent leader, violent followers," she spat. "You don't see Purple's followers kidnapping the Second Tallest and beating her to a pulp. They are like him. They would never dream of violence."
"Miyuki, I have an entire empire to protect!" he said. "You don't expect me to sit passively while my people are attacked and overthrown. I didn't ask for this. But here I am, and I have a job to do. It won't get done if I sit back and dream of peace."
"Just think of what Irk would be like if you didn't have Purple beside you, Red."
Red glanced at his fellow with elegantly furrowed brows.
"Stop," Purple said. "This isn't about me."
"Then what is this about? Are we coming to any conclusions here?" Miyuki saw the look that passed between the Tallest. She waited. Red turned his back to them.
"You've got to leave Irk, Miyuki."
The Massive hummed. She stood, blue eyes a sea of silent flame. They had barely blinked and she was gone. They were left with silence and the deep hum of space.
"Zim, wake up."
Two pinkish eyes blinked up at her in the darkness of their room.
"What?" he mumbled, turning over.
"Zim. The Tallest are sending me away."
He shot upright.
"What?"
"Red thinks the resistance groups are getting out of hand. He's sending me away from Irk."
"Wait, no- you can't! You have to rule! You'll be taller than them in a month at this rate. You… we'll hide you!"
"No, there's no time. I just left the Massive. They'll be after me now."
She searched his frantic eyes, shaking her head. "Zim, please. Listen to me now. Do not endanger yourself trying to come after me. You're going to be Assigned, you'll be an elite Invader, one of the best Irk will ever see. Do not try to save me, Zim. They will strike you down." Her heart sank as she looked at his disbelieving eyes. She grabbed his shoulders. "This is an order from the Second Tallest, Zim! Is that clear?"
Her eyes watered as she looked upon him. Zim straightened. He raised a hand to his brow.
"Yes, My Tallest. I will not let you down."
The door flew open. Miyuki grabbed Zim in a last embrace as the soldiers yelled and stormed for her. She gave them hell, of course, but it was no use.
Her last glimpse was of Zim standing with complete composure in the darkness, his eyes glistening as he watched her go.