I've just noticed that I haven't any disclaimers: so here's one now-

I don't own Invader Zim, never have, and never will. I do however own Ju, Nijai, Tegin and any other characters, 'cept Ivy- she's AF's, that you do not recognize.

Um, and cycles (ten years on earth) are just going to be Irken years, makes things easier. ^-^

Thanks for reading and reviewing peoples!

A flicker of gold reflected off two eyes as Nijai Mahaleem stole through the dark alleyways towards the huge Tallest complex. She would be focusing only on the lower cells this night, but as a staff member she wouldn't have to worry too much, she hoped. Nijai wasn't sure how much the security had upgraded but if Purple was in that prison then it had to be a lot, she would have to be careful. The main problem, aside from being arrested, would be anyone not affiliated with the rebellion catching her as she conversed with the Student Tallest.

"I am only the messenger." She told herself, "There is nothing to worry about." A nagging voice in her head told her otherwise.

"What if you're caught, or Purple reveals you?" It asked. "You will be tortured for information and killed. This is a Tallest we're talking about here." Nijai chose to ignore it, it would only make the job harder.

And then there was Ivy. She had just learned about the Student/Soldier combination. It was unheard of! A mixing of the Classes was atrocious, you just didn't do it, Tallest or not. The young one would prove to be a problem...something would have to be done about her.

Red paced around the 'living' room, staying on the red half of course. Pur hated to have anything touched or out of place-especially his books. Ivy sat on Red's couch and sipped a fizzy drink.

"What are you worried about Reddy?" She asked when he paced to her side of the room. "Is it Pur? Is something going to happen to Pur?" The Soldier was on the other side again and swinging back.

"No, I just don't know how I'm going to run an entire Empire without Purple!" He waved his arms, emphasizing the size of the Tallest domain. "Pur was always the brains behind everything."

His attention wandered to the rack of bati staffs. He longed to practice, to feel the sheer power he could wield with a mere, careful, flick of his wrist. The serrated blades swinging in a gold arc, coming around with a precise and fluid movement to rest against the throat of his imaginary foe, or Purple, whoever he was scaring, er, practicing with. But he couldn't. It took total concentration and that was something he didn't have at the moment. He could end up in two pieces. Maybe later with a plastic set, he could give Ivy a lesson...

"Do you need help?" The green-eye asked innocently, slurping noisily through the straw, a habit picked up from Red and looked down upon by Purple.

"No, I do not need help!" Red shouted indignantly.

"Yes you do!" Ivy shot back.

"Do not!"

"Do to!"

"Fine!" Red yelled, "What has Purple taught you about the Irken government?"

"A lot, why? I thought you didn't need my help?" Red rolled his eyes.

"Well if you're going to be a brat about it, I'll ask a short thing." The Soldier began to leave.

"Wait!" Ivy called. "I'm not a brat; I'll help you, really!" She ran out of the room and followed the crimson figure down the hall.

The pretty young Irken was sitting at a control desk staring at the corroded circuitry. A determined look was in her light blue eyes and her curly antennae were pricked forward in concentration. She promised to be a wonderful technician. Her skills were almost unsurpassed, but then again, she was being taught by some of the best in the business. Ju-Tian Di placed the holograph back on the table and rubbed his eyes, blinking away the beginning tears.

"Master Di?" A hesitant voice asked. Tegin entered the room slowly, not wanting to disturb his teacher. His orange eyes were lowered and his antennae slicked back in a sign of submission. Ju-Tian always had to tell him not to be so serious...

"Yes, has anything happened? Are you all right?" Tegin's antennae pricked forward in gratification at the genuine concern his teacher felt. No one had cared about him in a long time.

"I'm sorry to bother you sir, but I was wondering about the student of Tallest Purple's sir." Ju stood up and walked over to his young student, who immediately shrank away, damn Soldiers! It had taken months to get Tegin to even look up without cowering and now, with the heightened emotions and the business of the coalition starting up again, he had begun to revert back into himself. He was an excellent technician and under the guidance of both Nijai and Ju had begun to flourish despite what the Soldiers in the nurseries had done to him.

"Hey, lighten up kid, what's your question?" Without raising his eyes the timid young orange-eye whispered his answer; Ju had to strain to hear it:

"I was wondering if I could see to her, sir." Ju-Tian almost fell over. It was the first time Tegin had ever asked to be part of the rebellion, Ju hadn't even wanted him to know but the young student was inquisitive, despite his shyness.

"Are you sure?" Teal eyes narrowed. Red was a Soldier and he lived where Ivy did. It had been his plan to put someone older, perhaps Nijai herself in there, but not Tegin.

"Yes sir." Ju placed a slender hand on the small shoulder and for once Tegin didn't flinch.

"Red is there."

"I know sir." Ju sighed. His student had made a decision and wouldn't ever go back on it.

"Only if you're are absolutely sure." Tegin nodded.

"I am sir."

The prison underneath the Tallest complex was chilly and Nijai rubbed her arms vigorously, trying to put some warmth back into the willowy appendages. She was searching for Purple's cell and they were all the same. Most were filled with thieves and even some members of the coalition; she avoided those ones. Some were in there for even pettier crimes, put there by Red on one of his bored days and most likely forgotten. When, if, Purple got out of here she would have to tell him, but not now.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she found the cell. He was in there, dead to the world and snoring softly. Legs dangling over the end of the pitifully undersized cot and his head draped over the other end, antennae twitching softly in response to his dreams. The Student Tallest would regret that position the morning.

Through the bared windows Nijai could see that the second moon hadn't even risen yet, making the time...very late at night. At dawn it would rise, incredibly low to the horizon, and that would be her marker for when she would talk with Purple, but not until then. Until then she would sit down and wait, ignore the catcalls from the uncouth prisoners and wonder what her Tallest was dreaming about.

***Flashback or Dream, whichever you prefer***

Purple pressed a gloved hand against the cold window of the transport. For the next few days it would be his home, until they reached Planet 37.5. Things hadn't been too bad yet. For the most part everyone left him alone, even Red.

"They're probably planning something." He murmured bitterly, pulling his hand away and watching the stars rush by, tiny pinpoints of light in the vast black beyond. The grand brilliance was enough to make you feel insignificant.

He loved the stars; it was almost impossible to find a Student who didn't. The intensity of the cosmos, planets, supernovas, galaxies, and so many questions yet so few that had been answered: the whole effect was mind blowing. It placed you into a category so small it was almost un-noticed by the surrounding powers of the universe.

"Hello Violet, having a nice trip?" The icy voice, filled with contempt, echoed through the large expanse of room and Purple turned around to be met by the cold scarlet eyes of five Soldiers, one of them Red. One he hadn't met before, or seen for that matter was doing the talking. "You're in our room."

"It's the conference room, how can it be yours?" The Student immediately regretted those simply words for in less then a second his throat was being pressed against the window with enormous pressure. Red just stood by and watched, letting the other four punch and kick and strangle their weaker prey, just like in the nurseries, only this time Jendai wasn't here to help him.

"Okay," Red spoke after a few minutes, "I think he's learned his lesson." The one holding Purple by the throat let go and the young scholar fell to a heap on the floor, eyes closed and gasping for air. A trickle of blood leaked from his mouth onto the metal surface creating a rose-colored puddle at Red's feet. Coldly, Red lifted the limp head and placed his face an inch away from Purple's. A swollen eye cracked open. "See you tomorrow." He removed his gloved hand and Purple's jaw hit the floor with a resounding thud, he listened to them walk away, regretting the day he was "born".

Somehow, hours later, he managed to pull himself upright and limp to the medical bay, coughing every step of the way and attempting to think up a valid excuse for his sorry condition. Needless to say he didn't find one, hopefully the medic on duty wouldn't ask.

"What happened to you Student?" The red-eyed Soldier barely reached up to Purple's shoulders.

"I, uh, tripped." Purple croaked out. The pitiful lie was all he could think of to say.

"Uh-huh, you tripped eh? Must've been some fall." Purple stayed quiet for the duration of the treatment. "There you go Student, now get out of here, I've got work to do." The scholar nodded and made his way slowly to his quarters.

Just as he was in sight of the safety of his room one of the Soldiers that had beaten him up came strolling toward him through the hallway. It didn't take long for the vindictive red-eye to spot him. Purple began running, praying to the Mother of Irk he could get to his room in time to avoid another encounter. The pad that would allow only him access was inches away from his outstretched hand, but so was the Soldier.

"Hey!" He snarled, grabbing Purple's finely boned hand. In a fit of terror and adrenaline Purple shoved the other Irken away. Caught off guard he stumbled and fell backwards, catching himself in time to see the door slide shut with Purple panting heavily on the other side.

"Sweet Mother of Irk..." he gasped, throat and bruises burning he listened to the Solider pounding on his door with fists so powerful he actual shook the heavy metal.

"Come out and face me Student! You can't hide in there forever and when you come out!" The threats fell on deaf antennae for exhaustion had flooded the young scholar's system and he was slumped against the door, asleep.

***End Flashback***

"Nijai!" The harsh word jarred the female out of her doze and it took her a few seconds to figure out it was from her com-link. "Nijai!" A few more seconds and the voice registered as Ju-Tian.

"Hmm, what is it?" She asked raising the com to her lips.

"I need you back here right away, it's about Tegin." Her antennae flicked in with a sense of dread.

"What is it? What's happened? Is he all right?" Ju noted her paranoia.

"No, no, he's fine, it's something else...about Purple's student." Now Nijai was perplexed. What would Tegin want with her?

"I'll be there as soon as possible, but what about Tallest Purple." The second moon was dipping back below the horizon. She had missed her window. "Never mind, I missed it. I'll be right there." She closed the link and hurried out of the underground prison. She'd have to talk to Purple later.

Tegin had disappeared back into the recesses of his room. He liked it in there, no one else but him and his projects to worry about. It had a nice view and he could watch the sunsets and moon rise whenever he wanted. And most of all he felt safe when he was there. Not like in the nursery. They could get him in there. Tegin shivered at the memories and curled into a tight ball as if shielding himself from imaginary blows. All around him he could imagine the red eyes of the Soldiers as they laughed and jeered and kicked and punched.

"St...stupid Soldiers..." he whispered. For years the academies had been overcrowded and it left the Soldiers no where else to go but to the Student nurseries. For years they beat up on the smaller ones and the ones that couldn't fight back. A knock on the door and Tegin looked up, orange eyes wide with fear until the soft alto voice of his teacher drifted through the metal.

"Tegin? Could you come out here please? Nijai wants to speak with you." With a soft sigh Tegin untangled himself and opened the door. The soft decor of teal mingled with gold was comforting and Tegin felt himself relax.

"Yes Miss Nijai?" Her soft voice was low and he began to wonder if he had done something wrong.

"Ju-Tian told me of your decision." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Are you positive you want to go through with it. I'm not saying you can't go back once the decision is made but it would probably not be a good idea."

"I'm positive Miss Nijai." He laughed, a rare event, and both Nijai and Ju-Tian smiled at the pleasant sound. "You two worry about me too much."

"And why shouldn't we?" Ju asked good naturedly. "You are, after all, only fourteen years old."

"What do I have to do?" The young orange-eye was almost immediately serious again but the excitement that laced his voice was hard to miss.

"All you have to do is come with me to work tomorrow. Ivy doesn't usually hang out in the halls, and that's why I didn't notice her until now, but she may be around. All you have to do is make sure she is apart from Red and Purple." Tegin nodded.

"That sounds simple enough. Is that all?" His teachers nodded.

Purple yawned and sat up, muscles protesting loudly with sharp spikes of pain.

"Stupid cot." He murmured. It had not been one of his better nights. Dreams of Soldiers and the uncomfortable position had plagued him endlessly. He stared through the bars of his window, contemplating, watching the sun rise along with rising memories of Jendai. Purple let his hand touch the smooth fabric covering his chest.

The calm Student had forgotten what Red and the others had done to him and now that he was remembering it he knew why he forgot. Red had been so cruel and unforgiving it was a wonder Purple had made it to Tallest alive. A noise in the hallway startled him.

"Let me by!" The scholar recognized it as Ivy's voice.

"I'm afraid I can't Miss Ivy, direct orders from the Tallest." Purple felt his anger rise and bubble to the surface. Why was Red doing this? Why wasn't Ivy allowed to see him? He knew that she shouldn't be down here but when she took the trouble...

"Reddy said I couldn't come down here?" He heard her exclaim in a loud indignant voice. Purple could almost imagine her twitching antennae and angry eyes. She would be easily a foot above that guard too.

"Ouch! Fine disobey your Tallest's direct orders!" He heard the clink of keys hitting the floor and uneven footsteps. She must've kicked him in the leg.

"Pur!"

"Red told you not to come down here." Purple said softly. "And kicking someone smaller then you wasn't a very nice thing to do."

"I know, I know..." she muttered on the other side of the door. She turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door. "But I missed you." Ivy threw her arms around Purple's neck and hung there for a few minutes. "Reddy's in a bad mood too." The green-eye said into his neck.

"Why?" Ivy let go and dropped to the ground.

"It's hard for him to run the Empire. He's not smart enough." She giggled.

"Your helping him right? We've been going over the laws and rules for years. You know shorty, if you grow a little more you might be able to become Tallest."

"I'm helping, I'm helping and don't call me shorty!."

"Ivy!" Red's thunderous voice echoed throughout the underground passages making Tallest, student and prisoners flinch. His tall, imposing figure loomed in the doorway and then visibly relaxed as his crimson eyes spotted the young green-eye. "Tell me next time you plan on going somewhere, and quit beating up the guards." Purple flinched at those words, Ivy was turning out to have Red's personality, the dangerous part that is. She hadn't picked up on the idiocy yet, thank the first Tallest.

"I was just visiting Pur, he looks lonely, see?" She yanked her teacher down to her level had pulled his face forward. Red laughed and Purple's expression.

"I see. Well Nijai brought someone in to see you. His name is Tegin, I think, and, um, he's your age. Why don't you go up and see him while I talk to Pur down here for a while. Oh, and take the Elite Guards with you, they're bothering me."

"'Kay, bye Pur." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out of the room.

I'm gonna have to stop here and this will be all for a while. I'm already starting to digress from the original point so I'll have to stop and gather my thoughts. It won't be too long, I promise, but unless you want it to be never ending...

Please review, they make me so happy! ^-^