Through the automatic sliding metal doors of the Vortian ship, Tak stepped out and set foot onto Earth's soggy, bug-filled soil.
What
was she going to do once she got here? Not about the weenie stand,
though, or even Zim.
Was she going back to Irk, was the question.
Operation Impending Doom 3 was already initiated. She would not be an
invader this time around due to her six-year absence.
Tak thought about this as she stood with her back to the ship she had exited out of. She had stopped and was looking downward, mind wondering. Unless she wanted to go back to planet Dirt, she had to decide on something.
In Tak's predicament, a human might have
considered forgetting one's heritage and living apart from society. A
Vortian might consider the same, as with most other races in the
universe. The free mind provided more options. After failing to be
acknowledged, presumed unworthy of rescue, and missing Operation
Impending Doom 3, who could blame her? After all, she now found
herself on Earth, one of the most beautiful planets in the galaxy.
But Tak's mind was not free.
No Irken mind was, and they would
never consider such a thing.
She was a servant to her
civilization as much as Zim or any other Irken. There was no hint of
rebellion in her.
A forever loyal Irken was merely one of
billions, bound by their PAK to the empire. They were incapable of
emotions that could contradict their programmed obligation to obey
their Tallest. No compassion, no depression, no mercy. An Irken mind
was an interesting thing, very restricted in many ways.
This was
why the race was so successful, but success came at the cost of free
will.
It did occur to Tak that--hypothetically speaking--she could become disloyal. But this idea was discarded immediately. Aside from going against her morality, they could deactivate her at any given time from any place. How would she survive on her own? She needed equipment and food supplements that only Irkens could provide.
She had to do something drastic to prove her worth to the Tallest. That was the only option. No taking Zim's mission this time. Warning them about the Resisty was a start, but hardly enough... No, this had to be great.
"Uhh... bye!" said Spleenk for the second time from inside the ship, slowly waving his hand and looking at Tak. The door was still open. The Resisty were waiting for Tak to move so that it would close again and they could leave, but she had stopped for some reason.
Tak jolted back into reality and looked over her shoulder at Spleenk with a sheepish grin. "B-" she began, but quickly whipped her head around when she heard something rusting in the bushes beside her.
Dib
yelled.
"TAK!"
She instantly recognized his voice.
He
climbed out of the bushes, covered in sappy leaves and twigs. He
stopped in front of her. His mouth hung open in astonishment. He
looked from Tak to The Resisty members behind her, then back again.
"I thought Zim killed you! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
"No,
he didn't," Tak snarled back at Dib. She paused, feeling a lump
in her throat. Her eyes darted back and fourth from him to The
Resisty. He's enormous... How can anyone grow that much in six
years?! He's at least as tall as the Tallest now!
Oh no! If he
figures out why I'm in my disguise, so will they.
Tak smiled at
Dib, prepared to put on another act in hopes of fooling The Resisty
until they left.
"Who's he?!" asked Shloonktapooxis. The cone flew out of the ship and made a half circle in the air around Dib's head.
Dib followed the cone alien with his eyes, but he was more interested in knowing why Tak was smiling at him.
"He's... " Tak began, trying to think of a something that would satisfy both Dib and The Resisty. She had to get the human away from them somehow. or run and hope to make it safely to a hiding place.
Darn it! What are the odds that he'd be here, anyway?
"The person who I teamed up with when I was dealing with Zim," Tak said quickly. She started walking away, motioning for Dib to follow. "Let's get out of their way so they can leave... and I'll tell you everything," she said slowly to Dib. "Okay?" she added through her teeth, nervous about being revealed in front of The Resisty. They had enough people and weapons to obliterate her in seconds, and there was no doubt that they would if they knew she was an Irken. And Dib will probably blurt out everything...
"Nice try!" Dib said angrily to Tak. He swatted at Shloonktapooxis to get the alien away from his face. "Who are they? Your backup squad? Allies? Hostages, maybe? And you're here to get your revenge on Zim, steal your cruiser back, and fill the Earth with snacks as an offering for the Tallest so that you can become an invader like you tried to the last time you were here!"
Tak's eye twitched.
There.
He did it. He told them everything, all in one nice, long run-on
sentenbce.
"I KNEW IT!" yelled Lard Nar, eyes wide
in astonishment despite what was claiming. It was true though. He was
suspicious of Tak from the start. He made his way forward out of the
ship, a finger outstretched accusingly in Tak's direction. "You're
Irken!" The Vortian sprung forward and stumbled over one of his
feet, due to an irritable reason that seemed to be a problem on a lot
of planets.
The gravitational pull on Earth was stronger than
what Vortians were used to. On their planet, the pull was less, and
therefore their legs didn't have to be as sturdy as a human's, or as
thick. This made it difficult for Lard Nar to balance on his awkward
stilt-like legs.
Tex faced similar difficulties and was currently
leaning against the wall near the ship's door.
There was a gasp amongst several crew members.
Tak tensed and bit her lip. She walked backwards a few paces, getting ready to turn around and run. "CURSE YOU, DIB!" she shouted with a raised fist.
"Need I point out that helping her was SPEENK'S idea?" growled Tex with a deep scowl as he looked irritably at the tall, brown alien. He didn't bring attention to the fact that he was just as guilty for assuming Tak was an innocent, lost human girl.
Spleenk lowered his head in shame, lips quivering
pitifully.
This always happened... He thought his ideas were good,
up until something horrible happened. They often seemed to, and
oftentimes the alien would think of them spontaneously, without
giving the circumstances or consequences much though. As a leader,
Lard Nar had to consider every idea and suggestion that came from his
crew. It was his choice whether to improve upon the idea or reject
it.
Lard Nar had picked himself up off of the ground. He didn't have time to concern himself with Spleenk right now. There was no point, anyway. What's done is done. Spleenk didn't mean to give bad advice. It would be unfair to yell at him. "After her! Don't let her get away!" he commanded angrily, with sudden authority.
Tak sprinted away from them. Dib was the closest and quick to
respond by running after her. He wasn't sure what was going on with
the other aliens, but it looked like Tak had tricked them somehow.
Good thing they weren't on her side.
Shloonktapooxis flew
over Lard Nar's head, giving the captain a chance to grab onto his
tail.
Lard Nar's eyes were wide in slight fear, shocked by the
speed the cone took off in. It all happened quickly. He didn't have
time to think between grabbing Shloonktapoxis's tail and the moment
of impact. They were faster than Dib and caught up with the disguised
Irken in a matter of seconds.
Tak shrieked when she was taken down with a quick blow to the head via flying (and rather hard) robotic cone and panicking Vortian.
Lard Nar lost his grip on Shloonktapooxis and was dropped face-down onto the ground several feet away.
Dib gasped and fell forward onto Tak just as she
was about to stand. He took advantage of his current position and
grabbed her arms to hold her down. She squirmed and clawed at his
wrists.
"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF ME!" Tak screamed,
struggling to get away.
Lard Nar flung himself onto Tak's legs. With Dib's assistance, she was successfully restrained.
