Okay, just because one bloke was kind enough to post a reply (you know who you are, thanks a million, mate), I'm going to post a new chapter. So read and enjoy. I don't own Tak, or any IZ character for that matter. Wish I did, but if hopes and dreams were bricks and mortar, we'd all live in mansions. Here's chaper four. Tally Ho!

CHAPTER 4: FOR THE SAKE OF SANITY

I pulled the "Batmobile" into its parking spot, and shut off the engine. Three hours with little dialogue is a scary thing, if you've ever been in that situation. I stepped out of the van and coldly closed the door. The others exited the van, and I stoically walked to the main door, slid my keycard in the slot, and entered the lab. Walking to the break room, a pulled a bottle of Earl Grey iced tea from the refridgerator, and plopped down on one of the black leather couches. I took a long swig of the sweet beverage, still thinking about the kiss. What was that? Why did she kiss me?

"Ahem," Ana cleared her throat from the doorway. I looked up to see her leaned against the doorframe, lightly smiling.

"I don't know why you're in such a bad mood." She said. "Personally, I like kisses."

"Yeah," I replied, "Well, It's complicated, alright?"

"Tak's moping around the office. I think she actually likes you." I scoffed, and looked at the floor. Ugly tile.

"Tell her that I'm not mad. Tell her that I just..." I sighed. "It's not her. Maybe a few people would have a problem with being kissed by an alien from another dimension, but that's not it. I think I'd have a problem being kissed by anyone." Ana smiled, and walked over, sitting beside me.

"The stoical, apathetic Dr. Drake." She said with sarcasm. "That was a year ago. You need to let it go."

"Love's the greatest lie man has created for himself." I said. Ana looked at me sadly.

"No." She whispered. "It can hurt you, but it can heal you, too. Maybe it's time you gave it another chance." I stood.

"Thank you, Ana." I said without emotion. "I think we should all get some sleep now. It's been a long, wantonly bizzare day. Give Tak my bunk." The laboratory, being out of the way as it was, had small rooms with bunks for researchers.

"What about you?" Ana asked.

"I have some numbers to crunch. I'll be in my office late." Ana sighed. With that, I turned and left the room.

I stared at my computer monitor and grunted. I hate when things don't add up. I glanced at my watch. 2:34 am. Bollocks. No wonder I was so tired. Taking another sip of woodstain-grade coffee, I typed another set of numbers into the equation on the screen.

"You know," A female voice said from behind me. I liked Tak's voice. It was very british, very soothing. That I would admit it, though... "Humans need to sleep. Without rest, dementia can set in, even to the point of hallucination." I laughed lightly.

"Are you a hallucination, Tak?" I asked jokingly, as I spun around in my chair. Tak stood near the door, changed back into her Irken form, a worried look on her face.

"I didn't mean to...you know..." Her voice trailed off.

"Yeah you did." I replied. "But it's okay. Really. I have been wondering why, though." Tak looked into my eyes. She slowly walked closer.

"I don't really know." She whispered. "You're so intelligent, you know how to have fun, you're not too bad looking...for a human." I laughed. "I know it's wrong. And we're from two different worlds."

"Tak," I said, "I couldn't give a damn less that we're so different. I just...I find it hard to show these kinds of emotions."

"Ana told me that your mate left you."

"Yeah," I replied in a whisper.

"And that over a few Earth months afterwards, several members of your family group...ceased life functions from naturally occuring causes?"

"That's a good way to put it. Ana told you all of that, huh?" I asked, fighting repressed memories. Tak placed a black-gloved hand on my arm.

"Yes. She said that's why you act so distant sometimes, and why you stay here at the laboratory constantly. She says you're a 'work-oh-haw-lick'." I couldn't help but smile at Tak's pronounciation of the word. "You shouldn't be afraid." Tak whispered. "I always believed that you should never give up, no matter how hard the fight is." She put a hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry if I was out of line before." I leaned in, and we hugged.

"No, maybe I was." I said. We turned our faces toward each other. Our lips were nearly touching. We came together slowly, pressing our lips together. Honestly, logic and mathematics can't explain such a thing. All scientific thought and theory falls short of describing the perfect kiss. Maybe a poet can do it justice, but I won't even try. We broke the kiss, and pulled apart, our hands on each other's shoulders.

"Doctor..." Tak began.

"Please," I interrupted. "Call me..."

"I like 'Drake'." Tak whispered. "It means 'dragon' in an ancient human tongue."

"I know." I said softly. We looked deeply into each other's eyes.

"Drake." Tak said. "I...I..." We were interrupted by the door flying open. I upstarted in surprise at the intrusion, as two men in grey security uniforms entered the room. I could see four more in the hall. I pulled Tak behind me.

"What is this?!" I yelled angrilly. A older, grey-haired man in an expensive black suit stepped into the room. It was Mr. Fowler, the owner and chief financier of the lab.

"Dr. Drake," He said, smiling. "I'm glad to see that your hard work has finally paid off. And all this time, we were beginning to question your sanity."

"Mr Fowler," I said nervously. "Please, what is the meaning of this?" He looked at Tak, then back to me.

"You have in your company a being from another dimension. I have come to remove it to a lab where tests will be conducted in a proper scientific manner. Gentlemen, if you would please." The two guards shoved me out of the way, and grabbed Tak's arms. She struggled against their resolute grip, looking at me fearfully. I saw a metal, insect-like appendage leave the device on her back. She directed it through the shoulder of one of the guards, who immediately let go of her arm and fell to the floor in pain. The other guard pulled out a long stun baton, and fired it into Tak's side. She fell to the floor, unconcious.

"No!" I shouted, but before I could move, a large guard gripped my wrists from behind. Mr. Fowler casually walked up to me, still smiling.

"Dr. Drake," he said condescendingly. "You know a scientist is supposed to be objective in his studies. You're fortunate enough that I don't fire you on the spot. But in light of your brilliant discovery, you can stay on...for now." I glowered at him angrilly.

"How in the bloody hell did you know?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"Your man Ashton was dutiful enough to call me. Good man. He'll go far around here." I glanced over Fowler's shoulder to see Ashton standing in the doorway nervously.

"Ashton!" I yelled furiously. "You bastard!" Two guards helped the injured guard up, and led him past Ashton, out of the room. Two more handcuffed Tak, and lifted her carelessly. They carried her out, as I fought against the steely grip of the guard who held me.

"Thank you, Doctor." Fowler stated. "That will be all for now." He nodded to the guard, who released me, throwing me to the floor. Fowler and the guard left the room, dissapearing down the hall. Ana came running into the office, and helped me to my feet.

"God, are you okay, are you okay?" Ana asked frantically. "It was like the Umbrella Corporation in here, and they wouldn't let me...they took Tak...Oh my god, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said coldly. Ashton slowly approached, his head hung low. I stared at him wrathfully a moment.

"Bastard!" I bellowed, punching him hard enough to send him to the floor. "Sodding traitor!" Ana grabbed me, restrining me from killing Ashton. "How could you do this?! Answer me, you spineless bloody wonder!" Ashton looked up at me from the floor, tears in his eyes.

"I didn't know." He said sadly. "God help me, I didn't know it would be like this." He sobbed lightly, and my anger subsided a bit. "They weren't supposed to hurt her. I'm sorry. Sorry. What have I done?" I looked at Ana.

"They're going to kill her." Ana said, tears streaming down her cheeks. I felt anger rising again, but not toward Ashton this time. "What are we gonna do?" Ana asked moroseley. "They took Tak." She sobbed. I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Then we go and get her back."

Well, this chapter ended on kind of a down note, huh? What's going to happen to Tak? Oh, how I like keeping you in suspense. It just warms the cockles of my heart. Please, warm them even more by posting a review. The last line, I kind of borrowed from "Dog Soldiers", one of my favorite movies. It seemed like a fitting statement if delivered correctly, and I wanted to include it I hope you're enjoying this story so far. I'll try to post the next chapter soon, so 'till then,

cheerio.