Section1:
(A.N: I don't own Invader Zim. Som-Ri, Ri and Radu are the only things I own)
Radu peaked into the room, being careful to not make any noise. Som-Ri lay sleeping soundly, her sides rising and falling as she lay nestled in her pillows. Her pale green skin, much paler than any normal Irken's skin, made her look almost human in the dark. She could have passed for human while sleeping, if it weren't for her long antennae that had curled themselves ever so gently around her neck. She was young, only about maybe a teenager by Earth measure.
He couldn't help but feel a swelling of longing while gazing at her; she who looked so much like her mother, and bore her name as well. She was like her mother in almost every way, but at the same time, he could tell the difference between the two. He smiled and closed the door gently, letting his daughter sleep.
Radu had built this base on Earth when he was trying to find a better place to raise their child. Som-Ri's mother had died right before he had fled with their daughter to Earth. He still longed for her, and seeing her every day in their daughter made the emptiness he felt for her deepen. It felt like he would never heal, like the ragged edges of his heart were being rubbed raw and torn every day.
He walked down the hall and opened the transport that was hidden under one of the counters in the kitchen to go down to his hidden lab. Sitting before one of the computers, he pulled up some of the pictures that had been taken of him and his mate Som-Ri. They were mainly images of them after they had become mated.
The first one was of them at the ceremony officially mating them in Irken society. Som-Ri wore a similar white tunic like outfit that their daughter wore, only it was more elaborately decorated and her antennae bell beads each had a small strand of glisten beads hanging from them. His own clothing was also elaborate, but he didn't care about himself, it was Som-Ri he was more interested in. They were younger in the image, both smiling widely and in each other's arms. From that day on, he was Som-Ri's personal bodyguard, not an Irken Invader.
The next one was a month after they were officially mated. They had gotten their own home on Irk and were moving into it. They stood in the den, holding hands and smiling happily. Tin, his robot servant, had taken this photo and uploaded it to the computers.
It had been a home that held many happy memories, even now that he no longer lived in it. He and Som-Ri had agreed to leave the house behind when they tried to leave to give their child a better life, a safer life.
He leaned back in the chair, listening to its creaks, and sighed heavily. He always smiled around his child Ri (his nickname for his daughter), and tried to never show his sadness. It was his past, his burden. Ri shouldn't have to deal with something like that.
"I miss you so much, Som-Ri. I don't know if I can live without you," he murmured, closing his eyes and trying to get some sleep.
They were running down a long corridor brightly lit by overhead lights. The alarms were screaming overhead, deafening them. Their boots slapped against the hard metal floor as they sprinted for the docking bay where their ship waited. Behind them, over the blaring alarms, they could hear the shouts of the imperial guards trying to close the distance between them and stop them from reaching their getaway ship.
He looked back over his shoulder at his mate, trying to make sure that he didn't run too fast and leave her behind. Her bright gray eyes shone the same fear and excitement that he felt himself. The bundle in her arms began to make small hiccups that were the tell-tale singes that their child was about to start crying. She cradled the bundled against her face and crooned softly to the child, trying to calm her.
"Not much further," He shouted back to her.
He turned his attention back in front of him before he got a response. He knew that time was of the essence. The shouts behind them were getting louder and more frantic. They had been found.
They were coming to a turn that would lead them to the docking bay and to relative safety. His mate put a hand on his arm and stopped him. He looked down at her, panting heavily and confused. She pressed the bundled child into his arms.
"What-" He tried to ask.
"Take her and flee. Get her to safety and don't look back," she said giving him a kiss.
"No. No, you're coming me. With us. I'm not leaving without you," he almost cried the words, fighting to be heard over the alarms, and keep his emotions in check.
"I'm not asking you, Radu, I'm telling you. If I hold them off, get her to safety. Hide away somewhere, and raise her," she said turning to face the guards that had come into view.
Her shoulders were squared, feet planted firmly in place and claws flexing menacingly. She was ready to die defending her mate and child, and would not hear any argument from him. But he couldn't live without her. She was the one being in the entire universe that had accepted everything about him and loved him despite all of his faults. She was his life. He couldn't live without her.
"I can't leave you, Som-Ri," Radu could feel himself losing his usual tough as nails spirit.
"Radu, she needs you right now. Leave on the ship and get her to safety. I will fallow when I take care of them," She glanced back at him and smiled. That smile of hers always made him feel better. A smile that went to his very core and filled him with warmth.
"I'll look for you once I find a safe place," Radu said holding their child closer to him and getting ready to run.
"I'll fallow," she said looking back at the guards.
They were almost upon them. Radu turned and ran down the rest of the corridor, catching a glimpse of Som-Ri driving her claws into the neck of the lead guard, green blood spraying all over the walls as a deep feral roar erupted from Som-Ri, drowning out the alarms. It was a rage filled roar that warned anyone within hearing distance that the attacker was not messing around.
He held his child closer to his chest as he sprinted at top speed toward the ship that was rapidly coming into view. He had to make it, for his mate and his child. He ran up the loading ramp and dropped into the pilot's seat, cradling his child in one arm as he booted up the ship and warmed up the engines. As the hatch closed, he could hear the sound of shots fired down the corridor, followed closely by the same feral roar.
He deftly piloted the ship out of the docking bay and well clear of the armada, dodging blasts from the cannons as he warred with himself. He could have gone back to save her. He could have left their child on the ship with his robot servant, but he couldn't leave her defenseless. He flew the ship out into space with no real destination. His ship was the fastest, so he didn't need to worry about being fallowed.
Letting his ship fly off into unknown space, he felt the first waves of pain wash over him. His chest tightening sickeningly until it felt like he would be sick. He felt hot tears working their way down his cheeks. Tears that he never knew he could shed. He held his head in his free hand, letting his own emotions get the better of him. He had left the most precious thing in his life behind.
Radu woke up crying out, arms reaching for something he knew wouldn't be there. His chest was aching just like it had all those years ago. He looked down at his hands. They were shaking badly. Holding his head in his hands he let the tears fall. His chest heaved with sadness, his breath hitching with every intake.
"Dad?" came a soft, worried voice behind him.
He quickly wiped away his tears and swiveled his chair around. His daughter Som-Ri stood just inside the room, the transport doors closing with a soft whoosh behind her. Her pale blue-grey eyes were full of concern. She looked almost exactly like her mother. She even wore the same white tunic like coat as her mother.
"How did you sleep?" He asked, smiling warmly at her, pushing his dream far from his thoughts.
"Dad, you were dreaming of Mom again weren't you?" she asked, walking over and grasping his hand gently.
"Why do you ask?" he asked, his smile falling a little.
"You always cry when you dream of Mom," she replied.
"Not always. Sometimes it's the happier times. But that doesn't matter. Ready for breakfast?" Radu replied, standing and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Sure. I just wish you wouldn't sleep down here. It gets too cold sleeping in the chair," she said looking up at him as they entered the transport.
"I'll be fine, Ri," he replied kissing her forehead.
Radu made all the meals, taking extra care to make sure that everything he used and made was in its prime and as perfect as possible. He was trying to teach Ri how to cook, since he wouldn't be around forever to take care of her. He was showing her how to crack open a Rekki egg so then it wouldn't get any of the hard shell in the food. Apparently Earth had a similar creature called a 'chicken'. As he was trying to show her how to cook both sides evenly without burning either side of the delicate mixture, there was a series of anxious bangs on the front door.
"Tin, get the door," Radu ordered the little robot in the corner of the kitchen and not watching as it did as it was told, "Careful. You just need to push it around every few seconds. That lets it cook without burning."
Ri nodded and used her spatula to push the eggs around every few seconds. Tin re-entered the kitchen with Zim behind him. The poor little Irken had been banished to Foodcourtia for almost annihilating all of Irk, but he didn't understand. Then, to get rid of him a second time, the Tallests informally banished him to Earth, telling him he was going to invade the planet to get it ready for the Armada. Since the young Irken's arrival on Earth, Radu had taken him under his wing and did his best to take care of him too.
"Didn't you hear me out there?" Zim exclaimed as he caught his breath.
"Good morning Zim. Breakfast is just about ready," Ri said turning the stove off.
Radu took out three plates from one of the cupboards, and some silver wear. He held the plates while Ri dished out the eggs. It didn't look anything like the eggs that were eaten on Earth, but it was something they could eat.
"Zim, sit down please. Ri worked hard to make this," Radu placed the plates on the table and sat down.
"I was chased the whole way here!" Zim shouted.
"By Dib?" Ri asked sitting beside her father.
"The Dib-stink wouldn't leave me alone! He chased be for three blocks!" Zim said pointing at the living room window.
Dib stood with his face pressed against the glass. He had pressed his face so close to the glass that it had skewed his glasses. For just such occasions, Radu had made his glass windows himself. The windows instantly disguised Radu, Ri and the robot slaves if they were ever walking around without them.
Radu rose from the table and walked over to the front door, donning his disguise as he went. He opened the door and looked over at Dib, who immediately sprang away from the window, both startled and embarrassed.
"Is there something I can help you with Dib?" Radu asked smiling slightly at him.
"I was just looking for Zim to, uh, talk about the homework," Dib lied.
"He's having breakfast with us. He'll be out in about 20 minutes," Radu said not breaking eye contact.
"That's okay! I'll just, see him at school," Dib said quickly as he ran off.
Radu sighed. It was just one more of the headaches he'd gotten while living on Earth. Dib was no match for Radu. It was Zim and Ri he worried about.