ZIM

Zim sat in the corner of his cell, hugging his legs, with his forehead resting on his knees. This was it. He had done everything in his power to save both the people he cared so much about, and now all he could do is wait. Lifting his head, he dizzily stared at the pink, electric walls of his cell. The bright lights hurt his eyes a little, but he didn't care.

He wondered how much time has passed. It must've been at least five hours since he and Skoodge got locked away- separately of course. His thoughts were with Tak, maybe if he prayed and hoped hard enough, it could influence her health… it was silly, but he preferred that to thinking about Dib. That just hurt too much.

Sighing, he eventually laid down on his side. His past self probably would've screamed and screeched, clawing at the walls and using every second to try to escape. Now, he was just too tired- both emotionally and physically.

TALLEST RED

Red stared at his own sharp nail, lining the edge of a glass. Lost in thought, he didn't react to Purple sitting down next to him. After a few seconds of silence, Purple spoke:

'They're almost done with her… We'll have news soon.''

Red took a sip of his drink before eyeing his counterpart. Purple gratefully accepted the eye contact, looking a little worried.

''What are we gonna do, Red?'' He asked.

''It's not up to us.'' Red answered.

''Whether she lives, dies, recovers or not.. The brains will decide what to do with her. And Zim.''

Purple dropped his head in silent agreement.

What a few weeks it had been. All the search parties, all the failures of finding them, all of the furious fans... Whatever was about to happen, Red at least was thankful that they'd caught the two, and things could finally start returning to normal.

The leaders looked up when an assistant hurriedly walked towards them. He stopped before their table and made a quick bow. He saluted, then started his report.

''Prisoner Tak has survived the procedure. It will take a few days of bed rest, but the doctors estimate she'll make a full recovery.''

Purple let out a sigh of relief; convinced that there was hope for the mission to succeed, but Red wasn't satisfied. The assistant didn't look like he'd been allowed to bring good news. And indeed, after a few hesitating seconds, he continued:

'H-however.. Her insides were heavily damaged. It seemed her- her nestling chamber had attacked prisoner Zim's seed, because it was too unfamiliar… It expelled an extremely destructive liquid, causing internal bleeding and extreme pain…''

Red started to get impatient. ''Just spit it out already, what's wrong?!'

The servant swallowed fearfully before saying quickly:

''Her nestle chamber has been completely destroyed. All that was left of it, was a bloody pulp, and the doctors have removed it. Without it, chances of gestation have been reduced to 0 percent.''

Silence followed. Purple let out a little, defeated noise. Red dismissed the servant, who scurried away.

Purple seemed to panic. ''Red! We've failed! What are the Brains going to say!?'

Red shook his head. ''Relax, we're gonna be fine. The Brains will see that this was not our fault.''

He looked up to the endless wires and computers above him, as if the face of their almighty ruler was up there.

''She'll decide what to do with them.'' He continued.

''But until she does, I have a plan to at least satisfy our people.''

ZIM

Zim was woken up by a loud set of bangs and shouts. Blinking, he saw that he had woken up just in time to see the pink walls of his cell vanish. He shot up to see three heavily armored guards, gesturing for him to follow them.

They led him far away from his cell without saying a word. Zim didn't bother trying to ask what was happening. He feared it might be his own execution, although the worst part of that would be dying without knowing what happened to Tak.

To say he was surprised to be arriving in an irken hospital was to put it lightly, let alone when they delivered him to a small, pink room with nothing but a bed in it, in which laid-

'TAK!' He heard himself shout, forgetting the guards and rushing towards the bed. He heard the doors shut down behind him.

Zim's mouth had fallen open a little as he stared at her. He kneeled down beside her, staring at her beautiful –but tired looking- face. Her eyes and mouth were closed, facing the ceiling.

Zim felt his irken heart pound in his neck, and it skipped a beat when he saw her move. When she blinked softly, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. She was alive. She was alive.

The purple eyes rolled in their sockets to look at her visitor. He saw confusion in them when she saw him- her words, very soft and hoarse, confirmed it:

''Z-Zim?''

Zim, for the first time in what seemed like ages, cracked a little smile.

''Hey there.'' He said, in English.

This of course, surprised Tak. She furrowed her brows a little, trying to make sense of things and carefully deciding what words she'd spend effort on.

''W-why are you- how are you here..?''

Zim shushed her, then pointed over his shoulder. In an upper corner of the room, he had spotted a little camera.

'I bet I'm here because the Tallest want to continue their show.'' He said, ''We should speak English, they won't be able to understand us.''

It seemed like Tak tried to smile as well.

''Good thinking.'' She said softly, in the human language.

Zim uncharacteristically took one of her hands in his. He wasn't much for showing affection in such a way, but he needed more validation that she really was back. Besides, the soft touch seemed to do her good.

''How are you feeling?'' Zim asked.

Tak closed her eyes. ''Tired, drowsy because of the meds... but the pain is gone, so good. Zim, what happened?'' She added as she opened her eyes again, acing for news.

Zim sighed and dropped his head. For the last couple of hours, he had done everything in his power NOT to think back to what happened… Manning up, he regained eye contact to tell her.

''You were dying so I brought you here. Dib and our SIR units are safe. They went back to earth. Skoodge was... Too stubborn. The both of us have been locked away for a while now, until… Well, now.''

Tak took a few seconds to process it all. Her purple eyes rolled in their sockets, switching their view from Zim to the ceiling and back.

''Mimi and the others.. are safe?'' she tried to confirm.

''Yes. All except us. And Skoodge.'' Zim chuckled sadly.

Tak seemed to realize something. Slowly, she rolled to her side so she could face him.

''Zim- Your mate- Dib. You sent him away?''

Her words, a sharp reminder of what had happened, hurt. Zim did his best to stay calm and collected, fighting against the misery inside him. He smiled bravely towards her when he responded.

''Yes, I did. He's safe now, and you're alive.''

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he added:

''I made the right decision.''

Zim swallowed heavily. It was so painful to admit that sending away the one being that had made his life worth living, had been a good thing. He looked up when he heard Tak whisper:

''You sent your mate away… to save me?''

Her expression was very disbelieving and surprised, but also touched. She had even lifted her head up from the pillow a little, the weak muscles in her fingers clutching the covers.

Looking into her eyes, Zim responded with a simple, short nod. Tak scanned his face for hints of regret or heartbreak.

It was quiet for a few seconds. Then, Tak seemed to remember something.

''Z-Zim! M-my nestle chamber.. it's gone.''

''What!?'' Zim said in surprise.

''My body it… attacked your fluids and now my nestle chamber has been destroyed.''

Zim felt his heart pound faster. It has been as he had predicted: she had miscarried. However, her womb being destroyed meant-

''Zim-'' Tak stammered, ''We failed our mission.''

Hey guys! Glad to be able to publish another chapter, although I don't really like the outcome of it that much. I'm excited to do the next chapter though... I won't spoil anything, but it's a scene I've rewritten in my head a lot of times.

Glad to have you all still abroad!