GAHGDJASHGLJASHFOIHSAGJAFK. /Makes dying, choking noises/ HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? MONTHS, YES? PERMISSION TO KILL ME, GRANTED. /Passes out pitchforks and torches/ I'm SO SORRY about this delay, I couldn't bring myself to write it. DX I'm sorry, guys.

Please review so you can kill me!

-- Rem

PS - I feel as though I've gotten worse since Spacebourne. I just noticed the small details as I was re-reading SB and BP. I don't know. My own writing intimidates me. Is that weird?

PSS - I /know/ I lost some of my humor. I'm working on a very serious Death Note fic, and I'm sorry if this gets less insane than you'd like, it's just that I'm working on a very serious one, that does not have much humor. So please forgive me, and let me get back into my style of writing! /Bow/

"Xenia, how is Zaroha?"

Zim muttered on the other screen, quickly typing something.

"She's fine. Reading a lot." Xenia murmured in agreement. She had been equally as busy. Being the co-leader of a resistance was not an easy job.

"Xima is… interesting." He muttered, an antennae going back. That meant annoying.

"So have you come up with anything?" Xenia exhaled and leaned back, deciding to take a short break.

"Well… I… I'm sort of thinking about something, and I'm not sure about it. I wanted your opinion."

Zim talked as though he was concerned about something. He had changed a lot since they had first met, Xenia crash-landing on Earth and Zim helping her.

"What's that?" Xenia asked, tipping her head to the side. Nar had offered to fix her horn, which had been damaged when she had been kept by the Tallest, but she had refused. It was… Characteristic, somehow.

"Well, I was thinking. Is it really good for them to be separated and not know each other?"

"Who are you talking about? Xima and Zaroha?"

Zim nodded briefly. "Yes. I feel like they need to. Besides, the Tallest haven't made a move in years. It's always calm before the storm. I think we need to report back to the ship. Besides, this would be a good opportunity for Xima. She's never been up in the Voot."

"I'd have to talk to Nar about it, but sure." Xenia nodded briefly, not looking up. "I suppose we could… I think they're old enough."

Xenia, in all honesty, was not putting much thought into it. She was immersed in her work, in charge on the census of the Resisty on each planet.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded behind Zim. "Oh, Irk. Xima! What'd you do?!" He shouted, spinning around in his swivel chair.

A muted shout of, "GIR! DON'T USE MINIMOOSE!" sounded, and Xenia chuckled, looking up for once. "I suppose you have work to attend to."

Zim smirked. "I suppose so. Talk to Nar about that, okay?"

Xenia nodded briefly and cut the transmission. It was perfect timing, because just then, Zaroha walked in. "Mom, I finished." She murmured, handing the book to Xenia.

"How many books are left in the library?" Xenia asked, nonexistent brows furrowing as she took the book from her daughter.

"I think… Sixty-four."

Xenia sighed. Her daughter, the reader of 1,257 books.

"Go find another, I guess. I'll put this back in the library for you, 'kay?"

"Sure." A long pause ensued, Xenia nearly turned back around to continue working on the census, but Zaroha gave her a slightly worried look.

"Mom…"

"Yes?" Xenia turned around, eyes softening.

"Who was that you were talking to?"

Xenia stiffened. "That was one of the members on our Earth base, Zim. Why?"

Zaroha shifted. "I was… well… Kind of… Overhearing."

"… Oh." Xenia sighed and shifted. "Well… What did you hear?"

In truth, Xenia was a little nervous. She had lied to Zaroha all her life, telling her that her father was dead.

"Well… You wanted them to come to the ship…"

Xenia sighed with relief inwardly. "Yes, I think it's about time Zim came over and exchanged with us."

"Alright." Zaroha murmured, mouth contorting slightly. She still didn't look completely sure.

Though Xenia's daughter turned around and disappeared in the direction of the library.

As she left, someone else came in, a very familiar red-skinned Vortian.

"Xe."

"Flay? What's up?" Xenia turned around again, trying not to act annoyed. She just wanted to work.

"Hey, the council's called a meeting. You're wanted. Some thing on the Irken news freaked everyone out."

"Alright, then." Xenia muttered with an exasperated sigh, pushing away from the table and brushing off her orange uniform.

Of course, she had gotten rid of the Irken uniform. It was of the same design, however, the symbol on the front was of Vortian origin.

"So, what ridiculous idea did you have for Lard Nar this time?"

"Zim thinks we should introduce the girls to each other."

"Huh." Flay pondered this for a moment as they walked. "Well, that's stupid." He muttered, pushing his way through a door and sitting down at a round council table.

Droa, Ne, and Lard Nar were already seated.

Rui and Kyu had yet to arrive, they were always a little late.

Xenia sighed quietly with slight nostalgia, remembering when they had come up with the idea for a trial, and this very council had helped her win.

Flay with his insane, violent ideas, Droa with his intelligence, Ne with her persuasive ways, Kyu with her pep talks, and Rui with her sarcastic jokes.

Xenia took her place between Lard Nar and Droa. Giving the black-skinned Vortian a small smile, he returned with a nod of greeting.

"Er, it seems as though Rui and Kyu have yet to arrive." Lard Nar muttered awkwardly.

"It would appear so, Sir." Ne nodded, making her steely-yellow eyes gleam oddly.

"Should we just go ahead and st-"

"WAAIITTTT~!" The blue, crystal eyed Vortian bounded through the doors, looking oddly happy, dragging the familiar, female, pink-eyed Irken after her.

"K-kyu! Slow down!" Rui shouted, standing up and brushing herself off exasperatedly.

Lard Nar blinked behind his goggles. "Thank you for joining us…" He murmured, gesturing to the two empty seats.

"M'kay!" Kyu shouted happily, sitting down. Rui soon followed suit.

"Now that it appears we are all presents, it may be the time for us to begin, Sir?" Droa asked, standing up ever-so-slightly.

"Quite. You may begin, Droa."

Droa cleared his throat. "Council of the Resisty, we have found disturbing news. The Irkens have found a hybrid on their planet."

Rui exhaled, surprised.

Xenia felt her chest tighten.

"We found this… May interest you the most, Xenia." Droa nodded. "We have captured a film clip from the Irken news and now have it saved." He murmured in his usual intelligent voice, just as a large screen lowered.

"Presume clip of Vortian-Irken Hybrid on Irk." Droa murmured, sitting down.

Xenia gasped as a bird's eye view of some hybrid stealing something began to play. The pictures were blurred and poorly captured, but she knew who it was.

Xenia felt a rush of adrenaline as she realized who this was she was watching.

It was her son.

Sorry for the anti-climactic ending.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the long wait, permission to kill me still granted. I hope you guys all remember the council. XD

I promise, this will get better!

Please review!

PS - Death Note fans, check out my other fan fiction, "Signed, mL"

--Rem