Author: Let's get right to it!
Alter Ego: [Don't tell me what to do!]
Author:... Fine, do it on your own accord.
Alter Ego: [FINE! I will! *Crosses arms to signify disobedience and taps foot impatiently to be purposely annoying*]
Author:*Wait's patiently, letting imagination run for a bit before...*
Alter Ego: [WELL! Get right to it, then!]
Author: Sorry to my readers for taking my time on posting this chapter. Life dealing with work, school, family, and friends tend to get the best of me. Don't think I forget about my first baby either. In fact, recently, I had a whole day to myself, and instead of going out and being social [I have no time for friends anyways], I stayed in [because it rained], and worked very diligently on this chapter [until the lights cut off before it could be saved]. unfortunately, it rained pretty hard where I was at, and was without power for quite some time [bla bla bla, excuses excuses], but I did manage to retype little by little in my spare time, to still be able to give you a chapter you've been waiting for. So without further adieu [FINALLY!], here's chapter seven!
Please forgive grammar, misplaced punctuations', and run-ons'. I'm illiterate… and sometimes in a rush.
Chapter Update: MAY 07, 2016
CHAPTER SEVEN
ESCAPE
"What in the hell are you doing here?" Xens voice stern over the loud commotion within the club, but Tak could see it in his face that he was extremely pissed. It did not matter to her, however. It was her current mission. Her eyes seethe back who now stood in front of her. Why on Irk would he be pissed? Was it because his cover was blown, or perhaps he wanted to keep the secret of Zims mate a secret for himself? No matter, the human is alive. Xen will no doubt be punished for his secrecy on knowledge of both the location of untagged human facility, and the whereabouts of the female thought to be dead.
"Don't speak to your commanding officer in that light. I have been ordered by Tall-" her mouth was abruptly covered by her lieutenant as he pushed them back into a dark corridor that led to the humans rooms of lavatory stalls.
With her back against the wall, and his hand over her lips, he whispered towards her hologram ear, "please understand the situation before uttering our leaders name or missions in the presents of many unpredictable humans." She looked from her situation with caution as she witnessed many humans watching their spectral, and understood what Xen meant.
They were watching, not many, but it only took one who notice to make a large scene that may end badly. Xen followed her eyes to see the same watchers, slow down in their dances and see what may happen next. It most surly was not appropriate for a human male to manhandle a human female the way he just did. He had to defuse the situation quickly before someone interfered.
But Tak was more quicker to respond by a hard brush to his arm, effectively releasing his hold against her mouth, followed by a harsh left punch to his side. Truly, he was out of air for a moment before he looked back to his undercover commander.
"You have some nerve to keep her a secret. Did you think I wouldn't find out about your lies?"
'Ah, the ol' lovers-quarrel bit', he internally mused as he watched the nosy crowd dissipate back into their festivities. Seemed fitting and was effective to notify the humans that this 'woman' could handle her own without assistance.
"I guess I deserved that at some point," he rose with a smile as he rubbed the side where she struck.
Cutting to the chase, she immediately questioned, "How long have you known the whereabouts of Zims mate?"
His amused expression faltered at the title, 'Zim's mate'. Such thing are now considered blasphemy. They maneuvered to the corner of hall, where they could see their subject of conversation sitting with a drink and chatting it up with the barmaid.
"I only just found out about her existence about an hour ago," he said truthfully, "I too believed she was no longer alive."
Taks mind scoured to take in this new information and thoughts of how to proceed after this new-found knowledge. With a keen eye on the subject, she whispered her thoughts to Xen. "She must hold valuable information on the rebels weaknesses. I am sure our leader wishes to reunite with his mate, so we must inform-"
"No," Xens voice louder than what he meant, and breaking her sights away from the human and onto her fellow Irken.
"Any why not?" Tak quizzically asked.
"Because..." Xen thought for a moment as a flash of his possible offspring would be in danger within the armada. It even crossed his mind at the improbability that an Irken and a human mating could cause a half-breed to live. It was indeed an unheard of phenomenon within the fleet, that it would be impossible given the genetics. If true, the specimen would have to undergo probing of its genes. Much testing on the new-found species... species? It was his child. First, and only one, of it's kind, and yet, his. Should he allow the armada the capture, or protect what was created? This sudden paternal protection was confusing to Xen. He looked to his female commander, who's patience for an explanation was running out.
"Because... If Zim finds out, the Irken law will uphold, and the human will become co-tallest of the Irken empire." Though not his underline reason to withhold the key component of information, the basis provided was enough to befuddle his co-conspirator.
Tak's eyes showed utmost perturbation at this revelation. "Your right," she spoke astoundingly, "The Two-Pair Law..."
The Two-Pair Law
Candidates for Tallest must consist of two participants at the highest length, with the same length between the two. If participants are not at same length, the individual will highest length with be deemed a sole Tallest, with intention to select co-ruler. The sole Tallest must agree to proceed with agreement to seek candidate, least be deactivated. Runner up height will repeat law. This Law is final and does not discriminate on sole Tallest choice of candidate. Once candidate is chosen, proceedings will be final until deactivation or death.'
Anger swelled from within Tak at the combination of the rules, and the humans' interference. "That position is mine... not a humans. To think, us, ruled by them. It cannot, it will not... it must not happen! That idiot of a ruler will seek her hand in-"
"Then we shall not discuss what we have seen!" Xen tried to calm her down, as they continued to on-look the human, they called Gaz.
A moment of pause passed between the well-disguised aliens as they inwardly thought on the next course of action. It was then that Tak recalled what was done.
"The fleet will be arriving soon, if not they must already be above."
Xens eyes widened as he looked to his commander with shock in his eyes. He let this information settle for a bit before he uttered the next steps.
"We have to get out of here... And fast."
"And what about the girl. Once the Armada tags her, her DNA will most surly cause an alarm. She is, after-all, a membrane member of her genes. Zim will believe it is their leader and want to watch the execution personally. As soon as he sees her, it will most surly result in a domino effect."
It was then, they could hear screams arise from the main entrance.
"The Armada..." Tak whispered to Xens senses. His eyes caught Gaz, whom was also turned to the location of the screams, and before he knew it, he was already moving in between the crowd to get to her, leaving his comrade behind as she shouted at him, "Where are you going! We have to get out!"
He looked back as he continued his pace between the sweaty heaps of confused human cattle. "We can't let them get to her!"
"Blasted fool," she would mutter as begun after him, slower in pace as the complete disorder and confusion of the human horde grown thick between them. Numerous humanoids bumped and squished the undercover female alien as she tried to follow her fellow soldier.
At this point, the humans were forced into chaos as they realized their sanctuary had been breached by a large fleet of Irken soldiers, who each wielded their own device to tranquilize them. They new that to be shot, meant becoming tagged and succumbing to their whims, but the enemies had blocked the only entrance and exit they knew of as means for escape. Many men grouped together and formed an idea of running towards them all at once, sacrificing themselves in order to save others, but that idea was shot down as they noticed the aliens harbored automatic tranq-guns, and many fell like raindrops as they fired onto the near portion of the crowd. The music, that once pounded rhythms of heavy bass and catchy vocals, now came to a scratching halt as the strob lights were cut off and replaced by bright floodlights that illuminated the masses, now every nook and cranny visible without shadow.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Their guns went off repeatedly, hitting targets as Xen watch them fall to the dirty club floor, hollers of pain at the needle-bullets made contact and many in daze as the serum coursed through their poor and fragile veins. Heaps of humans already passed out, though unsure of from the Irkens or the alcoholic beverages, they laied in mass in the area where they fell around the club.
By the time Xen had approached Gaz, she was already crouched down by her stool chair, her drink long forgotten on the bar table, and accompanied by another female, previously pointed out moments ago. Her friends' hand gripped tightly in the hand of the purple-haired one. "We have to get out of here," she cried in panic.
Gaz looked to the only entrance she knew of. The count of alien soldered only increased to innumerable amounts as they flooded in with weapons of their technology as they drew deeper into the club, and closer to their vulnerable area by the bar.
"I know a way out," Xen joined as he crouched next to Gaz.
Her friend looked bewildered at the man, noticing his green eyes seemed rather odd and out of the ordinary, yet appealing."Who are-"
"NO time for that," he hollered, interrupting the unacquainted friend, just as a random human female fell to his knees nearby. "This way," he grabbed Gazs' other hand and pulled her to her feet and ushered through the thick and panicked crowd. His grip tight on hers as many humans pushed in all directions against their chain of line. During the chaos of squishing through the masses and avoiding the bullets as they whizzed by, Xen felt a sharp pain to the side of his mid-section, but avoided the mental distraction as priorities were established and a mission needed to be completed, even if wasn't ordered by a higher officer. Screw politics.
He only hoped he had enough time at this point.
After they quickly made their way through a heavy section of pandemonium, they came to a secluded corridor that led to the security room, but that was not his intent. Rather a narrow wooden stairway that led above ground.
It was the friend that spoke first. "We can't go up there! They might be waiting to shoot us!"
Xen ignored her concern and proceeded to speedily feel around the side of the wood with his hands. Gaz noticed this a tried to calm her companion down, "Hold on, Angelica," she furrowed her brows as they clamped hands together. With an attentive hand, Xen found what he was looking for.
A crack in the side of the stairs.
With a diligent cause, he managed to remove a plank from the casing of the structure to reveal a dark cemented tunnel, dim flood lights illuminated just enough to see where to step. "A secret passage," Gaz whispered.
"Let's Go!" Angelica pulled at Gazs' hand as she ushered them through the opening. However, Gaz felt something off as she noticed Chip was not moving from holding up the plank, and stopped. "Aren't you coming?"
The one she called Chip looked away, "I can't," he stated as he continued to watch out for witnesses. Luckily everyone was to busy striving for escape elsewhere to avoid capture. "I don't understand," Gaz questioned as her friends tugging continued.
"I can't go with you," he looked to her eyes. Hopes of trying to convey her past and ushering them to the surface was all he could express with his eyes, but all he could receive back was one of confusion and desperation.
'Could this be the last I see of her? Does she really have to stay hidden?' Questions rang in his mind as to how he could protect what needed protection. It was best this way.
"Just promise me something," he whispered for only her to hear, her puzzled look knew what he was he spoke, "promise me... you will run."
"Promise?"
"Promise to Run. Protect her and run." His peripheral sight caught Irken scouts drawing closer to the entrance of the hall.
"Chip... I don't even know-"
"RUN!"
That was all Angelica needed to give one tug harder on Gaz as they started a sprint away from the opening of the secret escape route and away from their savior. A moment later and they turned a dim corner and were now out of his sight.
With a heavy sigh, unknowing he had held his breath for an unknown amount of time, he proceeded to place the plank of polished wood back into place to cover the opening on staircase. All the while his arms grew weaker with each second that he counted down in his mind. 'Nine... Eight... Seven...' his hazy thoughts only able to comprehend the slits on the stairs the flat wood should slip into and his ragged breaths drew in little as he did his best to cover the hole of escape, but those damn slits were too damn thin and time was only going by too fast. All left was but a discrete crack of darkness between the structure of the staircase and the entrance door, as Xen collapsed on his rear, his back laid against the passage door, and a knee bent to lazily rest one of his weak arms. 'Five... Four...' he continued to count down in his mind. He did not feel any pain, but the lack of control of his body was giving, and while under this influence, counting down was the only control he could withstand to hold on to. Knowing how long it takes for the concoction to fully envelop his body and mind was his motivation on ensuring what happens next will only be temporary. He had never shut down before, but knew few of his kind that underwent the process of rebooting. They claimed it scary, only knowing that you exist, but unable to feel existence. Xen drew in this knowledge in hopes of understanding and not to become frightened if ever it should ever happen to him.
Irkens do not show fear.
'Three... Two...' In the final seconds of his mental countdown, the haze was as deep than a Delihi fog, he could make out two random Irken soldiers approaching down the hall.
'One... Zero.' and his mind went blank.
The two scouts, with weapons drawn at the ready, witnessed what they presumed was a collapsed human against a staircase. As they approached closer to the fallen man, they heard an echo of a feminine British accent from behind at the hall entrance. "-EY! What do you idiots think you are doing?" Tak exclaimed. The two scouts looked towards the newcomer only to see a small human female walking her way towards them, their weapons now aimed at her as she approached. "Halt!" one shouted, "Come easy or risk compromise of your senses."
But she did not waiver, rather got irritated instead, "You shoot those tranq's at me, and I guarantee you both a spot as a toilet washer on planet Ordur," she announced as she flicked at her com-wrist to dissipate her human appearance. "Especially for shooting a lieutenant."
"Commander Tak!" they stood in salute upon viewing her true appearance and aiming their guns down. "We located a human male attempting escape up these stairs."
Tak could see Xen hologram appearance was still activated as his human persona. "Escape you say?" she looked around the hall a bit as she made her way between the scouts and towards her fallen comrade. She took note at his serene face, almost looked like he was at peace. 'Pitiful', she inwardly thought. With a quick glance at his fallen form, relaxed against the base of a stairwell than led above ground, she eventually located the cause of his illness. A glimmer of small thin metal punctured through his clothing. He's been tranq'd.
She reached for his wrist device and switched off his hologram appearance to revile his true alien body. Green skin, large black antennae, and the remodeled Irken uniform. The scouts moved back in awe as they witnessed one of their own commanders laid incapacitated on the ground. "It's Xen!"
"Someone has tranquilized him," one scout look at the other with narrowed eyes.
"Don't look at me? I mean, I was shooting... Yeah, I did a lot of shooting, mostly blindly, but..."
"I am not saying you shot him," his fellow scout shook his head away, "But someone did aim and shoot at a lieutenant," the tone sounded accusingly at the word, 'someone'.
"ENOUGH!" Tak yelled to break their little verbal squabble, "Call an E-L-B (Emergency Lift to Base) and haul his body out of here. I will stay behind to ensure no escapes route through here."
The scouts saluted and proceeded to lift Xen out of the hall, through the chaos, and make their way out of the underground club. Tak watched as they left and stood in place, thinking. Wondering why Xen collapsed here, of all places. He knew the surface would be just a chaotic and riddled with fleets of Irkens. He eyes looked upstairs, where her view caught the exit door rested pleasantly on its hinges, and felt that something about this whole scenario felt somewhat off. With a gloved digit, she glided her finger across the third step of the wooden structure. The stairs had dust. A good thick layer of it as a matter of fact, but it was undisturbed, at least until now where she swooped it with her finger.
'They did not go up here'. She looked down and rounded the corner of the base of the stairs as she contemplated this. That is when she noticed a crack between a plank and the side of the stairs, right where Xen rested against. 'I see...'
She now knew how the human escaped, and this thought alone left her pleased to know the girl would not be a problem to her conquest of co-leader of her species. With a nudged of her boot, she pushed the board back into place, effectively sealing what Xen was to weak to do. Leave no trace of Gazs' existence.
With that, she walked away from the stairs and helped the fleet round up the rest of the tagged humans to prepare them for their ultimate change in their insignificant life.
Author: I am not sure what title to give Tak. Is she an enemy? A friend? Eh, I'll just go with greedy, and will break rules to get what she wants. [Sarcaticly: ooo, very descriptive]
I was thinking about adding the next scene in here as it is a continuation of this chapter, but then I thought, It's also a beginning point on what the next chapter relates to. I'll give you guys a little hint, just so I can get more follows on this story.
Okay, ready?
No?
Okay. I'll wait..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now?
Okay..
The next chapter has to deal with separation. In fact, that is what the title will be. But...
.
.
Separation of what?
Tell me what you think in the review section below, and tell me what you think of the story thus far. HAPPY READING YA'LL!
