Hello! Hope you enjoy this Tallest centered fanfic :) Zim and Dib will make guest appearances. ;) I'm still working on my other story but I have been working on this slowly and want to get feedback on it. Rated M for Mmmmm
Purple hovered over to the couch in the common area of their Tallest Chambers. Turning off the hover belt he plopped down on the soft and comfortable piece of furniture. His two fingered hand reached out, almost on it's own accord, towards the plate of donuts on the small table in front of him. Hooking his fingers around two of them he pulled his hand back and began munching on the sweets. Being the Tallest meant that he almost constantly needed to intake sugar. At their height their bodies almost instantly burned the sugar into fuel, and they needed an insane amount of fuel to keep their bodies from shutting down, which was why most Tallest were oddly thin. Purple could go about one hour without sugar before he started to feel the affects of deprivation.
To make sure their Tallest wouldn't waste away, food drones came in daily to stock their chambers with numerous piles of sweets and snacks. Purple was never more than an arm's reach away from a snack. Snacking came almost as naturally and unconsciously as breathing to him. So the fact that he was snacking while simultaneously having an internal meltdown wasn't unusual.
Back on Irk the unthinkable had happened, the smeeteries had run out of viable Irken DNA. Well, it wasn't entirely unthinkable, as the scientists and researchers in charge of the smeeteries had predicted that this would happen. The cloning facilities could only make so many billions of Irkens before the crop of DNA they had lost its effectiveness. And they couldn't just take DNA from existing Irkens, they needed fresh, non-cloned Irken DNA. So the Control Brains, upon receiving this report, declared a state of race-wide emergency and went into computing mode for three days while they came up with a plan. They declared that Operation Impending Doom 2 would be put on hold for 8760 hours, or 1/10 of an Irk year. During this time specific Irkens chosen by the Control Brain would be gathered together and their reproductive functioning activated so they could pair off and produce a generation of smeets that Irk could then take DNA samples from for cloning.
Of course, the Tallests, Red and Purple were among the Irkens on the list chosen by the Control Brains. This knowledge hadn't bothered or surprised Purple, they were the tallest Irkens alive and of course the Control Brains would want their DNA for the next generation of smeets. All the called for Irkens would return to Irk where there would be a 760 hour period for them to mingle and pair off. It was important for the reproductive partners to be willing and compatible in order for the smeets to grow successfully.
The Control Brains wanted them to turn the armada around immediately to return to Irk (they would need to be protected on their way back). Red whined at the Control Brains to let him and Purple stay on the Massive and for the armada to continue it's course for the allotted time and send the other Irkens to Irk on their own. The Control Brains at first refused on the basis that the Irkens among the armada that where chosen happened to be all male, and thus couldn't produce. They further said it would be inefficient to send all the female Irkens to the Massive for them to choose their partners.
Then Red then did the unthinkable, and this time it was unthinkable, because he betrayed Purple in the worst possible way. Red informed the Control Brains that Purple was one of rare types of Irkens that happened to be female-recessive, so couldn't he and Purple pair off here on the Massive instead of returning to Irk?
Purple had been so utterly shocked that he hadn't even noticed the Control Brains plugging into his PAK and running a through bio-scan to affirm Red's claim. Being female-recessive meant that Purple had both female and male organs, but because he was male-dominant and female-recessive, that the female organs had remained inactive his entire lifespan, thus making him appear and identify with purely male.
Usually gender didn't matter, it made no difference if an Irken was male or female each was treated the same. However, it was whispered that those rare Irkens that happened to be born with both sets were born from some sort of genetic mutation, and thus defects. This was far from true, as it was completely normal for this to occur, it was just much less likely genetically. In fact, if all Irkens were born naturally there would have been more multi-gendered Irkens as about 1/3 of naturally born Irkens would be recessive-female/male. While another third would be bi-female/male (meaning that both sets were active), however, due to some side-effect in the cloning process bi-gendered types were non-existent and it was about a 1 to 10,000 chance that a recessive Irken would be created in the smeeteries. So because it didn't matter if an Irken had a recessive gender, it wasn't encoded into a PAK's dominant memory that the host had extra organs. In fact there were probably many Irkens out there that had no idea they were recessive.
Purple had only discovered his recessive gender as a fresh elite soldier after getting into an horrible accident on an enemy planet. He had been almost gutted and the medic drone that helped heal him had commented on his rarity and explained it's meaning to the confused Purple. Purple himself had viewed it as a defect, an abnormality, though the medic had done everything to convince Purple otherwise. But he thought he couldn't let anyone find out. At the time Purple was very tall for his age and the idea of eventually becoming a Tallest was in the forefront of his mind. In a moment of blind panic, Purple permanently silenced the medic drone.
It wasn't until the day before his and Red's Tallest naming ceremony that Purple confessed his condition to his future co-leader. He had worked himself into a frenzied panic over not being 'fit' to be a Tallest, enough so that Red (his friend since they were smeets) had finally pried the truth out of him. It had eased Purple's nerves that the thing that upset Red the most was that Purple hadn't told him about it before. They were close friends and soon to be co-leaders. He declared after that incident that there could be no secrets between them. However, he did agree to keep Purple's recessive gender a secret from everyone else.
A 'Tallest Secret' is fine, he told Purple. They were going to be the leaders of the Irken race, it was completely expected that there would be things only they should know. So when Red so casually told their 'Tallest Secret' Purple had been shocked. The Control Brains, after confirming Red's claim decided that it would be very beneficial to have Irken DNA that had plenty of tall genes in it. However, they did ask if Purple had any objections, but he had been too shocked to reply. By the time he recovered Purple was already was back in the Tallest Chambers and had two donuts hooked on his fingers.
How dare Red give away his secret like that? Purple fumed silently to himself while munching on the snacks. And so thoughtlessly! All because Red was too lazy to return to Irk! Now the Control Brains knew about him, and it wouldn't take long for it to get out to everyone else. The specialized medic drone was already on his way from Irk, the Control Brains had taken care of that personally. Maybe Purple could threaten the medic into not activating his recessive organs and then report to the Control Brains that the bio-scans were wrong. Or maybe he could just kill the medic when he came.
Going back to the Control Brains and telling them he didn't agree was out of the question. They only made a decision once. They wouldn't go back and change it over something as trivial as Purple changing his mind, especially as it had been his fault for not speaking up in the first place. Besides they seemed very enthused about a smeet created by the two Tallest Irkens and praised Red extensively for the idea. Red preened under the Control Brains' compliments and had the Irken arrogance to smile at him in an aren't-I-great-for-thinking-of-this way. Just thinking about it filled Purple with rage.
Purple heard the door to their chambers whoosh open and Red whistled an upbeat melody as he hovered in. Red had gone ahead to alert the navigator to stop the armada and go into idle mode while they waited for the medic drone to arrive. He also handed in the list of Irkens that were to be sent back to Irk.
Seeing Purple on the couch he hovered over and sat next to him, turning off his hover belt as he let his head fall onto the back of the couch. "It took forever to explain to the navigation drones why we had to stall our advance. They thought it was something they had done wrong and were all clamoring at once trying to appease me, heh," Red chuckled at the memory. "They were stepping over each other to try and beg forgiveness. They settled down once I explained the Control Brains' orders. Pur, you should've seen their faces when I told them we'd be making a smeet destined to be the next Tallest."
Purple dropped the donut he was holding, it bounced off his lap and onto the floor. Red watched it fall then turned a concerned look to his counterpart. He'd never seen Purple drop any snack before. Purple stared at Red, his entire body going into a shocked state, eyes wide he stared at Red.
"You told them about me?" Purple asked, carefully forming the words, it took a significant amount of effort to speak. The words almost had weight to them, making his tongue heavy.
"Yeah?" Red answered still worried about the dropped donut and not picking up on the oddness to Purple's voice.
"Why?" Purple asked trying to keep the deep betrayal he felt out of his voice.
"The Control Brains already know and the medic is only about 50 hours away. Everyone will know whats going on soon. I didn't see a point in waiting for them to make an official announcement," Red frowned. "Did you want to be there to see their faces too? Sorry, Pur. I can show you my PAK memory if you want."
"The Control Brains only knew because you told them," Purple said unable to keep the harsh tone out of his voice and honestly he didn't feel the need to hold back.
Red flinched, unused to hearing Purple speak that way, and especially not to him. "What?" he said getting defensive. "It's not like it was a big deal to tell them. Instead of wasting all that time going back to Irk just to pair up with some short female, we can stay here and pair up with each other. Wouldn't it be neat if we made a smeet destined to be a tallest?"
"For you maybe, you're not the one with the parts," Purple snapped.
"Why are you—Oh," Red said his face lighting up with understanding. He smirked at his co-leader. "You're thinking about that movie, right? 'It Came from Within Me', that scene where the parasite growing in that female's stomach ate it's way out of her body splattering her insides everywhere? C'mon, Pur, that won't happen. The medic will stay on board till the smeet is ready to harvest."
Purple's eyes widened. He hadn't been thinking of that at all, but now that Red mentioned it the scene played fresh in his memory and he placed himself in the female's place. That could happen! This was all more reason that this was a horrible idea. Now he had a good reason to go to the Control Brains, he was much too important of a person for that to happen. His life should not be risked, surely they hadn't thought about that. Purple didn't reply to Red, he stood and ran out of their chambers.
The fact that he was running and not using the hover belt was even more of a reason for Red to become concerned. Purple was acting really weird. Turning on his own belt, he raced after Purple. By the time he caught up, Purple had pushed his way into the Control Brains' room.
Bursting through the doors Purple ran up to the railing in front of the Brains. "Hey! HEY!" Purple called out waving an arm around to gain their attention. The three Control Brains on board the Massive hummed to life, coming out of inactive mode.
"Tallest Purple, you do not have an appointment," the center Control Brain said after a quick scan of its schedule.
"No, but this is urgent," Purple said and stopped waving his arms now that he had their attention. "I want you to reevaluate your decision about the smeet making. I'm a Tallest, what if the growth of it kills me? I can't be risked, let some smaller Irken be the host!"
Red hovered in and heard Purple's protest, and join his co-leader at the railing, "Control Brains, he's just thinking of a movie. Such a thing can't happen, it's fine," he said trying to be the voice of reason.
The Control Brains hummed as they computed Purple's request. "Request denied," it said after a short moment. "We have calculated the risk of a Tallest barring a smeet. In the event that Tallest Purple becomes incapacitated due to the growth of a smeet, Tallest Red will take over all Tallest duties. The benefit of a new, naturally taller smeet is priority. The orders stay as they are," the Control Brain said then powered down into inactive mode once more.
Purple froze at the railing. He couldn't believe what he just heard. He, a Tallest, was... was... expandable. Beside him, Red was equally shocked at this, but Purple didn't notice. He shoved his co-leader out of the way exiting the room.
He knew it! All along he had been worth nothing. His body was deformed, freakish, and... and... defective. It just so happened that his defectiveness could be used for the Empire, but he himself? He was nothing. Maybe the Control Brains had known all along? Maybe Red knew? It made sense. Red didn't seem bothered by his recessive-gender when he told him. Maybe it was because he was in league with the Control Brains all along. They just had to bide their time and wait until the smeeteries ran out of DNA then they could issue their order. He would be disposed of, and then Red could be the sole Tallest. Red would rule the galaxy without having to share decisions or snacks. That was why Red told his secret so easily, he didn't care. He wanted Purple gone too. Red thought he was worthless too.
Purple slammed his fist into the button opening the door to their Chambers. In the distance he could hear Red shouting after him, but Purple didn't stop. He ran into his personal room and locked the door behind him. Red slammed his fist against the door, calling his name when the door refused to open. Purple had to work fast, it wouldn't hold Red for long. Red had a knack for technology and he'd find a way to hack the door.
Purple would die before he let them kill him. He'd die before he let the next Tallest kill him. If he died he'd be preventing the next Tallest from being created, thus killing it. That would show them! Purple would not be used as a host.
Frantically, he searched the room for something he could use, but nothing he found would work quick enough. It had to be quick or else his PAK would heal him. Purple paused as a crazy idea occurred to him. Looking across the room he saw it, the garbage shoot. He went over and opened it, peering down into the darkness. It led straight down to the garbage section of the ship. With a shaky hand Purple reached around him and willed for his PAK to disconnect. Catching it in his hand he brought it around to look at it. All of himself was copied in it, everything that he was. A twisted smile formed on his lips. Wasn't it fitting that he was throwing himself away? This was all he was after all, disposable garbage, destined to be thrown away once used.
A whoosh sound made his antennae perk up. Without looking behind him Purple knew that Red had opened the door. He was too late though.
"Purple? PUR?!" Red shouted and shot towards him, knocking him aside with his PAK legs, sending Purple sprawling along the floor. Purple landed flat on his back and began laughing, the sound tainted with insanity.
"You're too late," Purple laughed at Red from the floor.
Red frantically looked around, he couldn't believe it. "WHAT THE IRK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" he shouted at Purple before slamming his fist into the communicator on the wall.
"Yes, Tallest Pur-"
"Purple's PAK fell down the garbage shoot. Get it up here in under ten minutes or I'll throw every last Irken on this giant-transport-ship-thing out the air lock!" Red barked into the communicator cutting off whoever answered it.
"You mean the 'Massive'?" Purple supplied dryly from his place on the floor. Sometimes Red was so caught up in whatever he was going that he forgot simple words. Usually it annoyed Purple, Red was a Tallest he shouldn't be making mistakes, but now he found it funny.
With one smooth move from his PAK legs, Red was at Purple's side. He grabbed Purple by the shoulders pulling him up into a sitting position. "Why?" he asked his voice strained and raw with the multitude of emotions in that one word.
Purple stopped grinning and his lips tilted down into a slight frown. His antennae must not be working right without his PAK, Red sounded... not happy. He should be happy. Purple would be out of his way. He'd be the lone Tallest, he'd get all the snacks. Did making a Tallest smeet mean that much to him? Well, too bad.
"I'm not going to be killed by the next Tallest," Purple said slowly. He could speak still but it took effort to say the words.
"I don't believe that would happen!" Red said gripping Purple's shoulders. "I wouldn't let it. The medics would figure something out. The Control Brains wouldn't have agreed if the risk was that great."
"The Control Brains said I wasn't important. They only need one Tallest," Purple said tapping Red's armor with one finger. He blinked, everything was starting to get blurry. "They only wanted a host. I won't be used..." it was getting harder to talk. "...like that." Purple couldn't make out anything beyond Red, but he could still see Red's angry and scared expression. It was weird. It bothered him. "Why?" Purple said the word slowly. "Aren't... you happy?"
"Why the Irk would I be happy about you dying?!" Red shouted then snapped his head up and called a communicator down. "WHERE THE IRK IS PURPLE'S PAK?!"
"W-We're still l-looking my T-Tallest," a fearful voice answered back.
"Look faster!" Red snapped before turning his angry face back to Purple.
Purple blinked confused, but he answered barely able to form words, "You...won't...have...to share."
Red went completely rigid, but his grip on Purple's arms tightened. "ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SNACKS?!" he exploded, shaking Purple. "YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SNACKS, YOU STUPID TALLEST!"
Oh. Purple wasn't sure if he said that aloud or not as his vision darkened and he began losing all feeling. That would have been nice to know.