Author's notes: This story shouldn't really exist. I wanted Tribulation to be a one-shot prelude, but I couldn't help it. I like this character, and now with the events of Kay's Invader Zim Saga ultimately clear, it is time to bring him back and have him kicking ass again. So then, let us retaliate against tyranny.
Essentially, this is my nirvana. What else could I live for at this point? I mean, you rebel against an ultra-mighty empire, and it sticks to the back of your head forever, like a bull's eye in the scope of a trained snipers rifle. Thing is, I'm not just some target; I'm a bounty. The Tallest would very much love to never talk about me ever again. They'd list me as dead, erase my existence, and carry on being the dick bags of the universe. But when somebody like me deviates, it is a long process to get a replacement. And so, we loop back to the sniper analogy.
My name is Flux. I am an Irken Elite Assassin and Royal Guard of the first regiment. I was quite literally made to be unstoppable bull. But my creators, said dick bags, had never thought they wouldn't be at the reigns. As a fake human, I'm tall, lanky, have black hair, and I wear a dark, long coat with green steel beaked boots. As an Irken, my true form, I can be described with more detail; after all I've seen so many bounty papers on so many hunters, assassins, and killers alike. Tall Irken, emerald eyes, skinny limbs, outdated assassin gear, and a crazy look in his eyes. That crazy look, by the way, has only been seen by those I have tried to kill. Must've been Red who filled out the information; I'm surprised he actually did something.
Oh yes, sniper analogy. Before he can get a shot off, I end my internal monologue and whip around, dodging left and pulling out my trusty modified 44. Magnum, a little toy I got from being around the humans. With better accuracy than most laser rifles, I plant a metal bullet between the eyes of the hunter who had cutely thought he had the upper hand. We obviously know the outcome here. Why do the Tallest always approve such unskilled lowlifes to pursue me? It is a senseless waste of time. The least they could do is send a Megadoomer for the Prince of Assassins, eh?
Oh wait, they did. Now, this was about a month ago, so don't get on me for forgetting; I have much enemies to kill daily, y'know? It isn't a bad gig for me, especially since my roommate needs blood for the wall. Don't ask; it is just a precautionary act. Speaking of Johnny, he can be pretty helpful. I can always count on the crazy bastard to cut some people up with me. That, and he has many connections. Some neighbor kid that grew up around him (I can't imagine a worse childhood) is pretty street smart. He's given me some good heads up in the past, and that kind of thing helps me keep a schedule. Not like I need one, really. I just spend my time trying to forget.
Forgetting things like my failures. Forgetting things like my insecurities. Forgetting things like my crazy as fuck dictators. Forgetting things like Apex. See, Apex was my brother. He was the first successful genetically engineered Irken. We, the First Regiment, were his clones. But to him, we weren't clones; he looked at the group of potential killers and thought "family." Ha! How fucking crazy can a person be to think that way? No, not the prospect of having family, the prospect of having family when you're an elite fucking guard! That's Apex; crazy.
And for me, that is the best way to remember him. I don't want to think soldier, warlord, assassin, elite, killer, or any other kind of gruesome title when I think about him. To me, he was a crazy big brother. But in the end, I was pressured and strong-armed into shooting him. Not even he can survive having your brains splattered against a wall.
I shouldn't go farther; it isn't a pleasant family memory.
I read the Intergalactic Imperial News headline, and chuckled slightly. "Irken Mining Depot in Milky Way Space Found Abandoned." I laugh because I know they'll never find the bodies. The stupid miners had caught wind of my presence in the same area as the newly established mine, but instead of lighting a red flare for the armada, they had called some lowlife thugs who had taken the bounty. They were ready to move in, but that Squee kid picked up a radio frequency between the miners and the hunters with his strange device. He had told me some other aliens had invaded his home and dropped the technology upon their exit. With this poor kid's luck, it isn't too unlikely.
It was a simple go in, slit many throats, throw bodies down mining chasm, and leave operation. I even grabbed some cool minerals to use for the next upgrades to my magnum. I love my job.
Well job of course isn't the best term for a depressed refugee who wishes to bury his past and suppress his memories. I was more of an outsider. But then again, I seemed to fit in with the Humans well. Was I adapting? I feel as though the Irken in me feels out of place, while the new me, the Human rebel, was at home and simply feeling bored.
I turned to ask Apex about his thoughts, and suddenly the memories came rushing back. Why do I always do this? Why do I always have to think about him? Can I not move on? Who the fuck could replace Apex though? I pull the blankets tighter around me as I reminisce on my past, missing my big brother and feeling ultimately alone.
In my dreams, I either quake with grief or laugh maniacally with utter pleasure. Johnny says it's pretty annoying, but I can't help it. It takes everything for me to not go crazy and slaughter everyone in sight. I either see myself shooting my brother in the head, or I see what I hope will happen in the near future, that is me slowly crushing Red's throat under my boot. In the latter, not to make a pun, I'm seeing red. My vision is blurry from anger, and I can hear my laughing. It is my vengeance.
I decided to tell Draco about it. If anyone can help me with my issues, it would be the last remaining friend from my old life. Sure, he is only an AI, but he is at the height of AI technology, making him a truly intelligent entity.
"Draco," I said to him, "I can't stop having these dreams. Either I'm in despair from the loss of my family, or I'm having visions of killing Red. I can't stop, and I feel trapped by my past. I want to move on."
It was silent for so long, it felt like an hour, but finally Draco told me, "Perhaps you may only escape through the venting of your pent up sadness and anger. Despite your actions towards any Irken contact in this galaxy, you haven't directly struck the Tallest yet. They do not care for any loss of soldiers, they will only care when their lives are in danger."
"You're telling me to try again, aren't you?" I stared at the holographic emoticon that was his only appearance. It shimmered and looked guilty.
"Sir, I know your grief, I know your agony. I feel as you feel. I cannot say it's a good idea, or one we can easily choose, but it may be our only option. Either way, I am ready to adapt."
I closed the hologram emitter, standing up to gather my materials, "Yes, I guess you're right."
"I usually am."
I read another report on the Irken equivalent to Earths internet. For a faraway, uncharted area, I certainly got good connection. I think it would be best to share with you what it said:
"On Monday, August 11th, on moon LV28064212 in uncharted sector 28, Irken reconnaissance squadron 7 found the remains of what was a test mining facility. The facility was established on Tuesday, July 29th. Reports came in after two days of setup on the moon, and the mining crew requested trade ships come to establish a route back to Irk. Three days later Irken Trade Federation (ITF) had finished necessary paperwork and was preparing a shuttle to LV28064212. Two more days, and the shuttle was completely prepared, and had disembarked. On Wednesday, August 6th, only one day after disembarking, ITF Shuttle 525 received an audio transmission from the miners. Provided is a full transcript;
Captain Wek: This is Captain Wek of the ITF 525, who am I speaking to?
Foreman Zaf: This is Zaf, foreman of the LV28064212 mining facility, do NOT come here! I repeat, cancel your flight and return to Irk!
Captain Wek: Calm down, foreman. Explain the situation-
Foreman Zaf: There is no time!
-Assorted plasma blasts and sounds of ruckus-
Unidentified Miner: It's getting closer!
Foreman Zaf: Oh dear god, what is he!?
-Sounds of crashing, screaming, and gunfire-
Foreman: He's a monster! It's a fucking monster! Do not come here! Return to- ACK!
-A thud, silence-
Captain Wek: What the hell has happened there!? Come in!
Unidentified Person or Thing: I'm coming. Let the Tallest know. I'm coming home.
-Retreating footsteps, silence-
-End transmission-
Upon returning to Irk on Thursday, August 7th, ITF 525 presented the recorded transmission to Irken military officials and requested a squadron be sent to check the mining facility. Squad 28 was dispatched and sent to the moon to investigate. Upon arriving, they noticed the site was totally abandoned, and the bodies were missing. Blood coated many rooms, especially the Foreman's office where the transmission had taken place. Soldiers reported finding teeth on the ground along with said pools of blood. Later, the squad found the missing miner's corpses dumped deep in the quarry, all mangled and mutilated. The squadron speculates that some unknown monster had attacked them, and then threatened the empire over the transmission. We are currently waiting for more information to be disclosed.
I found it to be a very accurate report on what happened there. I think I'll leave the squad stationed there alive, just to see if they can find any other fun facts.
It was pathetic, and maybe a bit sad that these so called soldiers could not follow my tracks. I put hardly an ounce of effort into that assassination, and they hadn't found a thing. I'll give them points for managing to find the bodies though, double for the fact they were smart enough to even notice the quarry. Were the tallest really okay with having these morons as their soldiers? They didn't check for any energy residue left by my ship, they didn't search for my landing print; they didn't even scan for any recent carbon let out through respiration. Had they done the last one, they could have easily followed the trail of my breath to find the other two clues. Either these soldiers were idiots or… Nah, never mind; they're just idiots.
And to think me and my brothers were even ranked in comparison to these failures. I can imagine an empire where every soldier is elite tier. One could assure maximum success if they would just take the extra step to do it. It's really these qualities that make me loathe the tallest. When it gets down to it, it isn't personal, it's impersonal. My goal to eradicate the Tallest isn't even for me; I just can't allow an empire, one I come from no less, to be this weak and deluded. The people are lied to and they just eat it up like flies. I can't stand the idea that the people that I am technically related to are this brainwashed, and in the end, I just want them to see what I see. I want them to feel what I feel.
If any other Irken went through my life, they'd have shot themselves and everyone around them. They're weak, and I will not allow this. I will change everything, for the good of my people. The brainwashing ends here, the tyranny and dictatorship must collapse. A new order will be born, and I will see to it that no Irken is left behind. None of my people will be subjugated for petty things like height. I will lead them to a new future. My only fear is the fact I will do it alone.
But that was when it happened; I received a separate signal on my Irken DNA radar. I hadn't noticed it because I had only recently created it, and it was constantly focused on LV28064212 until now, but I could see it. There were many Irken life signatures on Earth and in one area no less. I decided to research the other Irkens before killing them, but that second thought was dropped at the first Irkens reading.
I couldn't believe my eyes; what was the Princess doing here? And the Prince too? Was that a defect? Did that one have hair? Three smeets as well? And…
I knew exactly who it was at first sight. He looked so much like her… The woman I thought was caring but was only there to get my elite DNA to create the perfect spawn. And from the looks of it, she had gone along with the plan. Because this smeet was him.
This Yak kid was my son.
The next morning I told Johnny I was leaving to fight alongside the rebel Irkens. I was going through with my plan to free my people, but not alone. I was walking towards their destination, when I noticed my old Irken Elite Guard SMG was gone! Did it fall out of my bag? Where was it now? Did some ignorant human take it, thinking it was a toy?
I hurriedly retraced my steps until I found a group of three small girls holding and inspecting my gun. I approached them, clearing my throat.
"Um… Pardon me, but could you please give me my gun back? It dropped out of my bag."
They turned to look at me, and I immediately recognized them, especially the one in the middle; mainly because she too was an assassin, you could tell by her looks. The other reason was because she happened to be the Princess I should technically be taking orders from.
