Later that evening, after the kids were in bed, Red gathered Azka, Purple, and Purple's wife,
Gem, together in his and Azka's living room for a little discussion about the kids' recent behavior.

"I can't take this anymore!" growled Red as he paced back and forth behind the couch where
the other three Irken leaders were sitting. "Hardly a day goes by without a complaint about
some prank the kids pulled. It's driving me crazy!"

Purple tried to placate his angry co-leader. "Calm down, Red. It's not like they murdered or
robbed someone, or vandalized someone's property. All they did was play a few tricks."

"I know that, Pur, but they're still disturbing the peace around here, and no one's getting
any work done!" Red sighed in exasperation and cast a pitiful look at Azka. "What are we
going to do with them?"

Azka folded her hands together and placed them on her lap, as she always did when she
was trying to think. "Their energy has built up an awful lot over the past several days," she
remarked. "Maybe they need some time away from the Massive."

"What?" shrieked Purple. The idea shot through his brain like a torpedo. Time away from
the Massive? Time away from him and Gem? The mere thought of it caused him to shudder.

"Think about it," Azka continued. "They've been cooped up aboard this ship since the
beginning of this operation, which was almost a year ago. They need some fresh air,
and good, solid ground beneath their feet. I'm thinking two or three weeks in such a
place will be good enough."

"Yes, but-" Tears welled up in Purple's eyes. One week without his babies close by
sounded bad enough, but two or three weeks without them was just plain cruelty
to him.

Gem placed her hand on her husband's armour-clad shoulder. "Pur, I know you don't
like being separated from our children for too long," she said, "but maybe this time, it's
for the best. Besides, some fresh air would be good for them, don't you think?"

"I guess so," Purple agreed. "It's just that...it's so dangerous out there, and I don't
want anything bad to happen to them."

Gem giggled. "They'll be fine. Trust me."

Purple gave her a small smile and nodded in reply.

"Alright, then it's settled!" exclaimed Red, clapping his hands together. "Now, let's give
a certain someone a call. Heh heh!"

Azka frowned, knowing very well who that certain someone was. "Are you sure that's
wise?" she called after her husband. But he had already disappeared down the hall
toward the communications deck.

Zim gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes in deep concentration. Before him lay a
computer screen displaying the blueprints for his latest attempt at conquering planet
Earth.

There is absolutely no way the big-headed Dib-beast can stop me this time! he thought.

Sitting a few feet behind the defective Irken was Gir, his equally defective SIR unit. Normally,
Gir would have been upstairs watching the Scary Monkey show, but the cable was out that
day, so the little robot had nothing to do but pester his master.

"Whatcha doin', Master?" he asked.

An angry growl rose in Zim's throat. Gir had bothered him all day, and he was getting sick of
it. Scowling, Zim turned to face his obnoxious little minion.

"Gir, if you interrupt me one more time, I'll-"

"INCOMING TRANSMISSION FROM THE TALLESTS!" announced the computer that controlled
Zim's base.

"Eh?" Zim looked up in surprise. That was strange. Normally, he was the one who contacted
the Tallests, not the other way around. Why would the Tallests contact him? Whatever the
reason, it must be very important.

"Computer, take me to the communications room immediately!" Zim shouted as he marched
toward the elevator that would take him to other rooms in his base.

"Yes, Master," sighed the computer.

As the elevator rose toward the communications room, Zim grinned and rubbed his hands
together with glee. "I wonder what wonderful words of praise they have for me this time!"
he cackled.

As soon as he arrived on the communications deck, Zim walked out of the elevator and on
to the control platform. The Tallests were already waiting on the transmission screen.

"Greetings, my Tallests," said the smaller Irken. "In case you were wondering, the mission
goes well and everything is fine. Anyhow, I was-"

"Um, yeah, that's nice Zim," Red interrupted. "Now listen - we've got a very special job for you."

A big smile spread across Zim's face. "A special job for Zim? Oh, thank you, my Tallests, you've
done the right thing! I promise you, you won't regret this!"

"I'm starting to regret this already," Purple whispered to Red.

Red sighed and continued, "Zim, we need you to watch our kids while we, ehrm, take care
of some important Tallesty stuff."

Zim's big smile vanished. A babysitting job was not what he had in mind. Gir was trouble enough,
but smeets? However, he did not wish to disappoint his leaders.

"Very well, my Tallests," he replied, "I accept this great responsibility, understanding the
consequences you have bestowed against me."

"Thank you, Zim," said Purple. "We'll send the kids to you tomorrow morning, so expect them
to arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon."

"Absolutely. Invader Zim, signing off."

After the transmission was cut, both Tallests burst out laughing.

This ought to be interesting! Red thought with a smirk.

Author's note: Just FYI, I did not intend to make Purple a sissy crybaby here. The impression
I was going for was overprotective parent, which I think fits him pretty well.