AN: Hello very faithful readers! I know I suck at updating, but I'm still here. Thank you for those who still read this, it's nice to know this story and these characters still interest some of you out there!

In this chapter, we have more 777/Kinn interaction and there's some trouble brewing amongst the rebels.

Chapter 7- Planet Jackers

Let's head back inside the Control Brain's room, where an Irken and a Vortian scientist were willingly working together for the first time since Vort's invasion. They were both half-buried inside the main console, tinkering with its circuitry and chatting happily.

'…and it has the most beautiful forests, full of trees, but you can't imagine the amount of water. It's just unhealthy. I can't believe how much critters manage to live in such a toxic environment.'

'Not all species are that allergic to dihydrogen monoxide, my dear Kinn.'

'I know that, but it still makes me uneasy. Also, I'm sure the toxicity of it has something to do with the crazy way they act and think, over there. I mean, they have this unnecessary urge to wait in lines for everything! Oh, and they have silly ideas like public transportation, religion and Boxing Day. A holiday for boxes!'

'It's hard to understand, I'll admit. Pass me the whatchamacallit.'

'Here.'

'So, you say that Zim's important one comes from there?'

'Yeah, but he's not as bad. I mean, he's tall, and smart, and funny-'

'And sadly for you, already claimed,' noted 777 without lifting his eyes from his work.

'I don't- I didn't mean- It's not like that!' she wailed. 'I know he's Zim's! I don't want to separate them, they're hot together! I don't have any interest in Dib, I wish that people would stop insinuating that!'

'I'm sorry, my lady, I shouldn't have assumed…'

'Yeah, I had this tiny crush on him when we first met, but it's over now,' she admitted in a high pitched mutter. 'We're friends, that's all! So there!'

A strained silence passed between them. Kinn went back to work with a pout.

'Can I ask you a silly question?' asked 777 out of the blue.

Kinn lifted her head and saw the hopeful expression on the Vortian's face.

'…Yes?'

'If we both get out of this mess alive, would you-'

'YOU'RE BOTH SURROUNDED! COME OUT PEACEFULLY AND WE WON'T SHOOT YOU!'

Kinn let out a panicked squeal and held her antennas nervously.

'We're going to diiiiiiie!' she wailed.

'We won't,' said Seven, placing a tiny hand on her arm. 'Are you any good with your pak legs?'

'Atrocious, my aim is all off,' she muttered. 'And my only gun is out there, with that ray thingie…'

'Do you have anything else?'

'Err, calming shots, in my lab coat pocket, but I don't think…'

'It's better than nothing.'

'I SAID COME OUT!' bellowed the voice.

They crept out of the computer and looked up. Two tiny Irkens were aiming mean looking guns at them. A third one, the one who yelled, was holding Kinn's huge ray-gun and inspecting the changes made. 777 stood up, and frowned.

'What is this?' he asked the little janitors. 'Aren't you aware that I'm working for the Almighty Smallest?'

'Orders have changed!' said the leader. 'There is now a new word, a new leader, more fit for the cause! All hail the Tiniest!'

'All hail the Tiniest!' chanted the other two.

'We'll get rid once and for all of the tall oppression! Death to the tall ones!'

'Death to the tall ones!'

'The new orders are to eliminate every Irken taller than a hundred Ligas!'

'But, I'm not an Irken,' noted 777 with a deep frown. 'I've nothing to do with your political system.'

'We're not here for you, but for her!' said the leader, pointing at a crouching and whimpering Kinn. 'She's too tall for the new era! Death to the oppressors!'

'Death to the oppressors!'

Kinn let out a high-pitched wail that sounded a lot like "I don't wanna diiiiiiiiie!" and made herself even smaller on the floor. The leader frowned and approached, but the Vortian placed himself in front of her.

'Don't you dare shoot my table!' he shouted with mean looking beady eyes.

'…Table?' asked the tiny Irken.

'Yes, my table! A tool that YOUR revolution let me use to I could help YOUR revolution by disconnecting the Control Brains!'

At that, the Irkens shot a second look at Kinn. They saw a pathetic looking female, cowering from their guns, and wearing a table strapped to her pak. She blinked, trying to stop her panicked tears. An Irken snorted, then the other, then they were all laughing out loud at the pathetic image of the orange-eyed one.

'This is excellent,' giggled the leader. 'But still, orders are to execute her. Sorry about your table, but you don't really need it, do you?'

'Sure I do!' shouted 777 in an outraged voice. 'I am a SCIENTIST! A scientist needs a table to place his tools on!'

'…But you can have any other table for that…'

'What, and have to walk each time I need a tool? What a foolish idea! I thought you Irkens were a civilized specie!'

'But, you don't even have anything on it right now, I'm sure we can find you-'

'That's because it's holding my stuff in its pockets! That's the full advantage of having a live-table, the clothes! See?'

He dove a hand inside the lab coat pocket and fished out a handful of syringes. He smacked them down on Kinn's table, getting a scared whimper in response. The Irken lifted an antenna.

'But that proves not-'

The Vortian reacted before he could finish his sentence. He stepped in front of Kinn, grabbing two syringes and throwing them in a smooth move to the other two Irkens. Nothing happened. The lead Irken pointed the Vortian with Kinn's gun.

'What was the purpose of this? You are DYING, Vortian! SHOOT THEM!' he bellowed.

'…I'm not sure, boss…' said one with a sigh.

'…What's the point?' shrugged the other one.

The lead Irken placed the gun square between 777's eyes and growled.

'What have you done to them?'

'Merely a little calming shot, they're fine, don't worry.'

'I'M NOT WORRIED, I'M FURIOUS! DIE, VORTIAN!'

And he pulled the trigger. A ray of light illuminated 777's head for a moment. And nothing happened. The Vortian smiled with satisfaction.

'It would work if I had a pak, my friend,' said the scientist.

'But, but-' started the Irken, before letting out a deep sigh. His shoulders sagged in defeat. 'Then, I'm not sure I want to continue this fight…'

777 took a step back and let go of the syringe half-buried in the Irken's squeedly-spooch. He turned around and extended a hand to Kinn.

'Are you alright, my lady?' he asked.

'…Yeah, I think so…' she muttered while standing. 'I'm not so sure about them, though, it was a triple dose, one I hadn't even tested on our pilot yet…'

'Then we'll have some time ahead of us. Do you have more of these little treasures with you?'

'A couple, in my pak.'

'Keep them preciously; we might need them in our escape.'

'Wait, aren't we staying to finish the job?'

'Not when there are traitors in the cause. I refuse to endanger you, and even myself, further than this.'

'Alright, let me call my Captain first…'

She took a step back and concentrated on sending a signal. When it didn't work, she tried several other times, using older and older channels of communication. After some time, she finally found a working encoding that patched her through to the Squeaky. A screen came out of her pak, showing Taty's frowning face.

'Kinn, what is happening? How are things?'

'Disastrous, my Captain! Well, not our work, because the Control Brains are off, and that's some very difficult stuff going on there, but I gotta admit that's most of Seven's work, he's amazing like that-'

'KINN! To the point!'

'There's a rebellion inside the rebellion!' squeaked the scientist. 'We almost got killed by people of the Uprising, they said we were too tall! They're executing everyone over a hundred Ligas! I'm a hundred and TEN Ligas! I'm SCARED, my Captain!'

'Calm down!' ordered the Captain. 'I'll dispatch this information to Skoodge. You, stay out of trouble. Is the Vortian still with you?'

'Yes-'

'Let me talk to him.'

Kinn moved the screen so 777 could see Taty's angry eyes and menacing antennas.

'What is your name, Vortian?' she demanded.

'Call me Seven, Captain.'

'Seven, I entrust you to keep this Irken alive with the price of your own life. If I discover that she's dead and you're not, Irk help me, I will remove your horns and make you EAT them.'

'An interesting way of saying that you're worried, Captain,' smiled the Vortian.

'Do we have an understanding?'

'Yes, Captain. I will take care of lady Kinn.'

'Good. And Kinn?'

'Yes, my Captain?' she whimpered.

'Do NOT panic. We are coming to get you.'

At that moment, the door opened once again, to reveal a dozen of tiny Irkens pointing them with as many lethal-looking guns.

'My Captain?' muttered Kinn. 'Please, do hurry up.'

The author of this story is very aware that is has been a while since we've talked about one of our protagonists, the only human taking part in this invasion of green. But to be fair, not that much time had elapsed, story-wise. And Dib was actually boring during all this time. You know, brooding, sulking, talking to himself, feeling guilty of lying to his alien lover and endangering him by doing so, that kind of thing. It was enough to drive Tak completely crazy. She gritted her teeth while typing furiously on a computer, trying to tune the human out.

'-and I KNOW it was the only way to get him to cooperate, but when you think about it, what right do I have to manipulate him like that? All this is not really my problem, when you think about it, all this Uprising stuff doesn't concern a human that much. I'm sure you lot can take care of yourselves, you're pretty vicious when you need to be. Oh, shit, what have I do-'

'HUMAN!' screeched Tak at the top of her voice. 'If you don't shut up RIGHT NOW I'll take your spleen with my bare claws!'

Dib opened his eyes, and sat down next to her, crossing his arms.

'Irk,' she mumbled through her teeth. 'I had forgotten how insufferable you were.'

'Hey, I'm just worried for Zim-'

'Yes, I got this part!' she snapped. 'Change your tune, PLEASE.'

'Come on, don't you feel guilty of manipulating him?'

'Never!' she snickered. 'If he's stupid enough to buy it, too bad for him!'

'But, but… I'm his Kribliss…' muttered Dib.

She stopped typing and snapped her head around, narrowing her purple eyes.

'I think you still don't get the meaning of this word, Dib,' she stated.

'Isn't it claiming someone?' asked Dib petulantly. 'To love them or kill them?'

'It's to love AND kill, silly boy. Your species never understood the subtlety.'

'What? How can you- it doesn't make any sense!'

'Think, Dib! If Zim suddenly decided that your silly puppy love wasn't worth his time? What if he tried to pathetically take over your planet again? Would you sit there and mope around?'

'No! I'd try to stop him, of course! I won't let the Earth be endangered, not even by him!'

'And what if he tried to eliminate you?'

'I'd fight right back, of course!'

'Tell me, Dib, what is the absolute worse thing that Zim has ever done to you?'

'I- I don't know where to start! There was the time where he made me believe in a fake life just to get back for a stupid muffin! And there was the time where he has my DNA replaced by BOLOGNA! Or when he tried to throw my whole school bus into a parallel dimension WITH A MOOSE! And then-'

'ENOUGH, I GET IT!' she yelled.

'Then, what's the point of this? We've come a long way since-'

'Dib, when did Zim mark you?' she gritted through her teeth.

'Err, actually, right after you came to Earth, so that must have been…'

'Years ago,' she added with a satisfied smirk, before turning back to her keyboard and resuming her frantic typing.

This left Dib thinking. Maybe Tak had a point, there. Zim had claimed him a long time ago, and that hadn't stopped the alien from doing some horrible things since then. He then came to a realization.

'…He marked me as an enemy. Maybe I'm still that, to him,' he muttered out loud.

'And how does that make you feel?' asked Tak in a monotone, not taking her eyes off the screen.

'…Not that awful, strangely. It's still weird, but it's also nice to be deemed worthy enough…'

'This is Zim we're talking about,' sneered Tak. 'Nothing to be proud of.'

'He still has the biggest ego in the galaxy,' noted Dib.

'Point.'

At that moment, she stopped typing and pressed a big glowing pink button at her side. A bright light came from the ceiling and vanished, materializing something on a nearby table. Tak motioned him to come closer, and took the pile of fabric.

It was a space suit, bearing an Irken insignia on the chest. Tak smiled proudly.

'Like it?'

'Is this… for me?'

'It's twice my height and way too slim for Sizz-Lorr,' she deadpanned. 'Of course it's for you.'

'Thank you, it's great! Love the color!' he said, taking a hold of the black and blue suit. 'Wait, how did you get my measurements?'

She just threw him a enigmatic smile and motioned him to get changed.

'In front of you? No way! What is it with you Irkens trying to get me naked all the frigging time?'

'…You are tall…' she admitted with a smirk.

'And also taken, thank you very much,' he added with shooing motions.

She snickered and let him alone. He hurried, not trusting her much, and he was right to do so. He wasn't even done zipping the suit that she came running back through the door.

'Tak! I told you to-'

'No time, human! Skoodge needs us on the bridge, there is a change of plans!'

Dib ran after her in the Stain's corridor until they reached the main control room. Skoodge was talking frantically with someone over a communicator, his worried face illuminated by the screen. Sizz-Lorr was by his side, holding several mean-looking weapons. He threw one to each of them.

Skoodge terminated the communication and frowned.

'Bad news, I'm afraid,' he said with a serious tone. 'There are traitors among our ranks. They are currently engaged in a killing spree targeting every tall Irken, no matter their affiliation.'

'Do you have any idea who started this?' asked Tak with a frown.
'They call him the Tiniest, but nothing more is known for the moment.'

'Plan of action?' asked Sizz-Lorr.

'We get in there, find this Tiniest and neutralize his troops,' said Skoodge.

'And what about the Uprising?' asked the fry lord.

'We'll se if there is something to salvage. The important thing is to get our men out of this mess.'

Dib gritted his teeth, a wave of guilt submerging him. He tricked Zim into going there, and now his alien could be killed at any moment by allies.

"Wait, Zim has no allies, he's way too paranoid…" thought the human. "Maybe there is a chance…"

'I'm coming with you,' warned the human.

'Of course you are,' snorted Tak. 'Fool.'

He decided to let the comment slip. Skoodge nodded his assent and grabbed a gun for himself.

'Captain Taty told me they were going in too. Something about rescuing furniture.'

'We can't just rush in there,' stopped Sizz-Lorr. 'We need a plan.'

'But we've never had to fight our own kind before!' interrupted Tak. 'Every newly-hatched smeet gets Irken war strategies downloaded in their pak! They'll know how to counterattack everything we throw at them!'

'They know nothing about human strategies,' proposed Dib.

'Anything you'd like to propose?' sneered Sizz-Lorr.

'In fact, there is this story about a wooden horse-'

'This is no time for stupid human stories!' snapped the fry cook. 'We need something completely unexpected!'

To everyone's surprise, Dib snickered.

'And I've got just the thing,' he smiled.

AN: You guys know what's coming, right? hehehehehe...