Thank you to everyone that has given me favorites and followed me XD I'm so happy to see that people are enjoying this story.
Kawaiicake22: Yes. Yes, they are so cute/sexy. I love RAPR so much. They are such fun characters to write XD
Glowzilla: I think they would be mortified to find out that their mating advice came from information taken from Zim. Part of the deal for the information was that they (and every other Irken) would never find out about Zim's assistance. Firstly, Zim would probably die of embarrassment. I imagine that Zim is a bit prudish when it comes to affection unless he is alone with Dib because Dib is very good at manipulating Zim (not in a bad way), he just understands Zim much better than Zim understands himself. Dib would totally stand up to the Tallest if they mocked Zim in front of him and he'd tell them off and make Zim feel all kinds of happy goo-feelings. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen in this story. If things progress how I'm planning (yay snowball writing) then I have other plans for these guys ;)
Mystic Mrya 8: Thank you for reading! I hope I don't disappoint as the story progresses!
AkaMurasaki: I am excited for pregnant Purple as well. In the beginning there won't be much change in his behavior/body and I'm still throwing ideas around about what I want the whole process to be like. It will be shorter than human pregnancy though, that I'm sure of. Mik will definitely be there as their smeet develops which should be fun for him...or not lol. Dib has no childcare experience and knows nothing about birthing no babies. However, that will not stop Mik from trying to get future advice from the human. As for Zim, Human DNA doesn't like anything else but human DNA, Zim and Dib can't create smeets naturally.
"This news is most pleasing," the Center Control Brain said in a monotone drone. Purple couldn't help the smirk on his face after glancing at Mik. The medic stared disbelievingly, his mouth hanging open. "We will expect daily reports on the smeet development progress. Tallest Purple, you will report to the medical bay every cycle to ensure that you and the smeet are in ideal condition. Any directions given by Head Medical drone, Mik, are to be flawlessly followed. Should any of those directions interfere with your ability to continue your duties as Tallest, Tallest Red will take on your duties until otherwise notified. Under these conditions, we declare you both on active duty again and you will resume all routine Tallest duties. We also revoke the lock on your PAK," it said as a tendril came down from the ceiling and attached briefly to Purple's PAK.
He could feel the difference immediately, it was like an aching cramp had been removed. Purple opened his PAK and spread out his PAK legs as far as they could go. A pleased hum escaped his lips from the feeling of freedom. Withdrawing them back inside, he gave Red a big smile; he felt like his whole self again. Red shared his smile, pleased that Purple was pleased.
"Also," the Left Control Brain continued. "It has come to our attention that you, Tallest Red, Tallest Purple, wish to have a Union."
"We want to be recognized as belonging only to each other," Purple said standing as tall as he could.
The Control Brains hummed a moment. "A Union," the Right Control Brain began. "Is an encoding placed into your PAKs that will recognize you both as one Irken."
Red frowned. "It will merge our PAK data? Our memories?" he asked remembering how it felt to be in both his and Purple's body at the same time. It wasn't something he wanted to repeat.
"Incorrect!" The Right Brain bellowed before launching into an explanation. "This code will change nothing within the PAK. It alters the PAK ID. Your PAK will be recognized as only half a PAK, the other half will be listed as belonging to Tallest Purple. Tallest Purple, your PAK will be recognized as only half a PAK, the other half will be listed as belonging to Tallest Red. Together, you will both be recognized as one PAK. An Irken with only half a PAK cannot join in an Union with any other Irken. You may not mate with any Irken other than your other half.
"Further, as Irkens in a Union, it is forbidden to bring harm or allow harm to be done to the other half. Should this occur, you will be declared defective and your PAK removed. If you allow the other half to die and fail to protect the other half, you will be declared defective and your PAK removed. This is only countered if an evaluation is done and it is judged that the harm and/or death of the other half could not have been prevented.
"Should one half die, or is harmed by another, and it is judged that the other half is not at fault; it is within the other half's right to seek revenge. Until revenge is carried out, all duties will be held without penalty. However, even if the death is not judged to be caused by the other half, the living half cannot join in a Union with any other Irken."
"Knowing this do you still wish to engage in a Union?" the Left Control Brain asked. "Both Irkens must comply by their own will. If only one Irken complies a Union will not occur. No Irken can be forced into a Union. A forced Union would cause both PAKs to malfunction and result in death."
"Do you accept the terms of a Union?" the Right Brain asked.
Red and Purple exchanged quick glances before they both faced the Control Brains with set expressions. "I accept," they said simultaneously.
Without further ceremony, a tendril from the right and left Control Brain connected to their PAKs. Purple felt the Control Brains' downloading the coding into his PAK, and he braced himself for some kind of pain or any other type of sensation, but nothing happened and the tendril withdrew. Purple checked his PAK but he didn't feel any different.
"Anything?" Red whispered to him, clearly confused by the lack of nothing different as well.
"No," Purple whispered back.
"Unions were created to cease unproductive fighting among mate-able Irkens," the Center Brain said. "Before the creation of Unions, archives indicate that Elite Irkens engaged too frequently in mortal combat over the right to mating partners, this caused a decrease in the Empire's Elite soldiers. Unions ensure the safety of mated Irkens and allow focus to shift back onto the betterment and advancement of the Irken race. Therefore the mark of a Union is to be placed on the foreheads of mated Irkens to warn other Irkens and protect mated pairs." As it finished two tendrils came down and stuck themselves to Red and Purple's foreheads.
Both of them yelped at the sudden and searing pain being inflicted. Purple's vision went white for a moment as he felt the skin on his forehead burn. Thankfully, the pain was brief and the Control Brain's tendril withdrew. Delicately he tried to touch his forehead, but winced as whatever they burned onto him was still raw. It would take a little while until the pain faded. Trying not to wince as it hurt the tender skin, he turned to Red.
On Red's forehead was a blackened mark burned into his skin. The mark looked like two Elite symbols, one on top of the other, the bottom one upside-down to create an hourglass shape. Inside the top triangle was the Irken letter 'P' and in the bottom symbol the letter 'R' was upside-down, so if the image had been flipped it would be right-side up. Red similarly studied Purple's forehead.
"All formal documents you create will now be sealed with your respective marks," the Center Control Brain continued, "Instead of your former forms of signature.
"Ah," the Left Control Brain said as if a sudden thought occurred to it. "Congratulations."
"Congratulations," the other two Control Brains echoed.
Red and Purple exchanged glances. "Er... thanks?" Purple said.
The Control Brains hummed. "We will await for the next cycle's update. You are dismissed," one said then they powered down.
Mik immediately turned to them. "See?! Did you see that?" he gestured wildly to the dormant brains. "They displayed emotions!"
Purple frowned down at the distressed medic and furrowed his brow, but instantly winced as it hurt to move his skin. "That wasn't emotion, that was formalities," he said annoyed that Mik's comment made his face hurt. "More importantly, how long until this thing stops hurting?" Purple said pointing to the mark.
"Oh, um, let me see," Mik said easily dropping into 'medic mode'. He went up on his PAK legs to closely inspect Purple's forehead. Such an act would have gotten any other Irken throw out of the airlock, but being a medic it was acceptable that he would have to bring himself up to inspect Purple. A taller would never stoop down low for the convince of a smaller. Mik's PAK handed him a scanner and he scanned Purple's forehead, lowering himself as he studied the data.
"Fascinating," Mik said to himself. "This method of using laser has stunted all regrowth cells on that area of skin. It isn't powerful enough to cause any internal damage, but it has permanently damaged the skin cells. The mark will scar," Mik said in awe and looked back up to study them. "You will have those marks forever."
"It won't heal?" Purple said irritated and bordering on angry when he moved the skin on his forehead again and it sent more waves of pain. "It's going to be painful all the time?" He could all ready see many problems with this, one being that he was going to be grumpy all the time, which meant his ire would be unleashed on the smallers more often. They'd have to beef up the crew.
"What?" Mik said alarmed. "Oh, no, My Tallest, it will heal. The pain should stop in a few cycles, the skin will just heal at a vastly decelerated rate. Eventually, the black will fade as new skin replaces it, but it will discolor and scar, preserving the mark."
"Days?!" both of them exclaimed causing Mik to flinch at their obvious displeasure.
"Um, if you accompany me to the medical bay, I can apply a healing salve that will speed up the process and reduce the pain," Mik said meekly. Irkens only needed or accepted medical care in extreme situations, not many would accept help for minor injuries as they healed quite quickly. However, Mik could instantly see the wisdom in keeping the Tallest pain-free; it would ensure that their moods were kept in the positive which would then ensure the safety and well-being of the Irkens around them, himself included.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Purple snapped. The pain he felt with every expression was just high enough to be irritating but not intense enough that he would have sought out medical assistance on his own.
They followed Mik back to the medical bay where they were greeted by Mik's lab assistant Shlen, which was the same Irken who had taken care of them after the PAK incident.
"Oh, My Tallest," he bounced excitedly. "I am so very honored to be a part of this medical unit. I have reviewed the data that a smeet has taken, this will be the first natural born smeet in generations. Surely it will be an amazing smeet. I am so very excited. Oh!" he bounced closer staring wondrously at them. It that the Union mark? You are the first Irkens to be in an Union as well. Truly amazing!"
"Wait," Red held up a hand to stall the giddy medic from blabbering on. "We just heard about Unions and this mark, how do you know about it?"
"The Control Brains just released a race-wide PAK message informing all Irkens about Unions, marks, and what they represent. You are the first to be registered in the new Union registrar that will record all further mated-Irkens who also request Unions," Shlen explained waving his arms excitedly. "A message was also sent out saying that depending on the success of this initial project, they may issue another deployment of Irkens to become mating-active after the first group of smeets mature to ensure a steady increase of viable Irken DNA for the cloning processes."
"That seems logical," Purple said shooting a glance at Mik.
"They are just excited about the smeets," Mik mumbled as he trudged past Shlen to the medical cabinet. He rummaged around until he found the bottle he was looking for. He had the two of them sit on the table so he could lift himself up and apply the salve. It took effect instantly and the stinging pain lessened to a dull ache that could easily be ignored. "My Tallest Purple, I would like to see you again in a cycle. I will be tracking the smeet growth and the effects it has on your sugar digestion. I will be adjusting your medical file and instructions as needed. However, should you experience anything outside of the normal report to me immediately."
"Yeah, sure," Purple said hopping off the table and going over to a reflective surface so he could see his own mark. It was the opposite of Red's with Red's letter in the top triangle, and his letter upside down on the bottom.
Mik's antennae twitched at his Tallest's tone and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "My Tallest," he began firmly. "You must be here in exactly twenty-five hours, if you do not report for your medical examination I will report this to the Control Brains and then you can explain why you didn't show up for the examination that they ordered."
Purple scowled back at Mik, but eventually conceded with a tisk. "Fine. Yes, I will be sure to come here, one cycle exactly, got it."
Satisfied, Mik gave one short nod. "Good. Then unless you have further questions, I will see you in twenty-five hours, My Tallest."
The two left the medical bay and as they hovered down the hall, Red stopped causing Purple to as well. "Where should we go?" Red asked.
"What do you mean, where? The bridge of course. We've finally been released from our lock-down. I'm almost sick of seeing the same walls. Besides we have all our work to catch up on and we can get more done there," Purple said.
"Don't you want to go back and celebrate our new status?" Red asked gesturing to their foreheads.
It took a moment to understand Red's meaning, but when he did Purple grinned. "Later, let's get some work done first. That is if you even can. I bet I'll be able to get more accomplished than you."
Red jumped on that opportunity right away. "Done. What are we betting with? What does the winner get?"
"The first do-" Purple caught himself as he saw the expression on Red's face. The first choice of snacks wasn't what Red had in mind. "The winner gets to be dominant, and the other has to be completely submissive...the whole time," Purple added to sweeten the deal not sure if Red would agree. Red hated doing busy work and it took him forever to get his share done. This bet would be putting Red at a disadvantage. It was almost too easy for Purple to win.
Red grinned back. "Deal."
In case you were wondering... the new story cover is the picture of these Union marks, without the color. The marks are all black now but will eventually fade to a lighter green, like normal scar tissue. You guys curious to see who wins? ;) I'll have the next chapter up soon. I'm going to work really hard to get one chapter up a week if not more if they are short.
(random inner mind tid bit: way back when-for special occasions and ceremonies-mated Irkens would apply paint over their scars or outline them to make their marks stand out further. Newly mated Irkens would also apply paint to their marks for up to a year after their Union to make it more obvious to other Irkens. This was both a warning to not mess with them or their partner, as well as to proudly show that they had found a mate)