Zim sat, patiently, as the smaller drones updated his PAK. He had several wires connected to him at once, downloading his new credentials from every department on and off Irk. He would soon have access to everything he would ever want access to. He bobbed his antennae as he sucked all the jelly off the sugar sticks he had requested. It was more of a smaller's treat, but it was always a favorite of his, and now he could have them all if he so desired. He glared to the side as a Table-headed Service Drone prompted him to try one of the other dazzling snacks on the platter on top of his head. Zim eyed the colorful treats, but disregarded the drone, scraping more jelly from the bottom of the packet and sucking on the stick.
"-and once you have fully downloaded your new data and your title has been updated, I will escort you to your quarters where you will be robed and updated on all of your current affairs."
Zim raised his stare to the smaller drone who had been rattling off information to him since he was plugged in.
Rem. He recalled. The drone's name was Rem.
Rem had been assigned as Zim's personal attendant. He was a short, skinny drone with small, pink eyes. He wore the Irken insignia proudly on his chest, but only came to Zim's waist in height. Zim directed his attention back to his sweet. The smallers behind him began unplugging his PAK.
"Finished, my Tallest."
My Tallest. Zim smirked.
"Right this way." Rem bowed and gestured for him to follow. Zim rose out of his chair but said nothing as they walked. He waved off the Table-headed drone, who had excitedly tried to follow close behind Zim.
Rem took him to the nearest teleporter. Zim noticed, after he was scanned, that he now has access to several new teleporters across Irk, including the nearest one to his quarters. They reformed in the hall of the highest building on Irk, on the topmost floor. Rem guided him to the only set of doors on the floor, just a short distance from the teleporter. A gel pad waited beside the grandiose door for Zim to identify himself with and, cautiously, he squished his hand in. Zim waited for the gel to harden, trapping his hand inside, and sound some sort of alarm. To alert everyone on Irk that he wasn't meant to be here, but the door pinged and slid open without protest.
Zim entered the large room and studied every feature, carefully. The front wall was an expansive window that overlooked Irk in all of its glory. An enormous television screen was framed on the far left wall, the Irken insignia spun slowly on the dark screen. He noticed the universe's most comfortable couch resting in front of the T.V., accommodated with end tables and cup holders.
There was a silver, sliding door to the right of the television and a table of various treats on the left. On his right, there was a large counter space that circled around a metal chute with a touch screen and intercom system attached to it.
Zim stepped forward, looking around. The theme of the room varied in shades of red from the walls, to the floor, to the tapestries and machinery. His feet gently sank in the luxurious carpeted flooring, and he raised his gaze to the large, shiny dome in the center of the vaulted ceiling that seemed to shimmer as he moved under it.
"Service drones will arrive momentarily to take your measurements for your robes, my Tallest." Rem interjected as Zim took it all in.
Zim made his way to the door beside the television and peaked in. There was a large, round bed with raised edges like a nest in the center of the room. It was crammed with soft blanketing and cushions. There was a smaller television screen to his left and another sliding door on the far wall. The same shimmering dome of light lit this room, except it was covered for more indirect light.
Zim's antenna twitched and he turned to Rem who stood quietly in the center of the room, awaiting orders.
"Have my bedding redone. Make it purple." Rem nodded, a screen unfolded out from his PAK as he prepared a stylus.
"Excellent choice, my Tallest."
Zim turned to look out of the window behind him. This room stood high above every building and structure on Irk and he could now peer down to its surface. It was one of the few times he had ever been on the surface of Irk. He was still a smaller before his mission on Earth, and most smallers weren't allowed proper clearance.
The sky was dark red and littered in ships, distant space stations, and satellites. He could see Irk's moons appearing in the sky as their star began to set over the horizon. He could almost see the docking port on the far edge of the atmosphere.
"There is a Vortian vessel in our docking station." Zim turned to the little drone. "The crew and captain are currently in custody, have them released to their ship but bring me the Vortian captain."
"Yes, my Tallest." Rem bowed and wiggled his antennae. Zim watched him bounce away out of the room and close the enormous door. Zim was alone. There was silence.
He blinked, still staring at the door, and slowly turned away to the window, gazing out on the horizon of Irk. Zim took another deep breath and closed his eyes.
He saw purple.
Zim frowned, letting his antennae fall and turned his bandaged arms over to inspect them. The service drones had insisted on pestering him for proper medical care, but he dismissed them. He pulled a tucked edge away and unwrapped one of his arms. His scabs were healing and had shrunk back down again. He rubbed his palms over them, sending a dull wave of ache up his arms. He reached down into his pocket to retrieve his stone, running a thumb over its surface carefully. Zim stared down at the little, Earth rock and ground his teeth. He clutched the stone close to his chest, feeling a wave of emotion pass through him.
Red and Purple were gone, but there are still loose ends to tie. He cast his gaze on his new television and began walking over. He plopped down on the couch and-.
Dear IRK this is a comfy couch! Zim bounced on the plush cushions for a moment before shaking his head.
No. Evil doings. Stay focused.
"Computer." He called, nestling in his spot. "Relay your privacy protocols."
"Calls sent and received by Tallest Zim are filtered into records by your specifications."
"Excellent. Call Prisoner 777 on planet Vort."
"Calling."
Zim smirked, this new system was far more behaved than his last one. The little, spinning, Irken sigil floated on the screen before the call connected. The prisoner was standing in the corner of his cell, thumping his head against the wall. Zim cleared his throat to gain his attention. The Vortian turned around and flinched back, he approached the screen with apprehension.
"Hey, Zim." He greeted.
"Tallest Zim." He snapped, making the Vortian flinch again. Zim leaned back on the cozy couch and flicked his antennae.
"Y-yes. Tallest. I heard about that." The Vortian feigned a smile, Zim's antennae flattened. "To uh... to what do I owe the honor, my Tallest?"
"We have unfinished business." Zim remarked, casually. The Vortian's eyes narrowed, suspiciously. "I understand you've been in prison for quite some time."
"Yes, sir. Eight years now."
"I recall you mentioning that the former Tallests had lengthened your sentence. Why is that?"
The Vortian bit his lip. "I uh… I disrespected them, sir."
"I see. A misunderstanding I'm sure. They were terrible, after all."
"Y-yes, sir." He agreed, hesitantly.
"Still," Zim held a finger to his mouth, pretending to think. "That you were able to insult them is what perplexes me. How did you gain their attention?"
"Um… I requested their audience." Zim raised an antenna. "For personal reasons."
Zim stared at the Vortian for a moment and grit his teeth. His antennae flicked as he rose off the couch, beginning to pace with a thoughtful frown.
"Wal Gern…" Zim began, the prisoner perked up. It was the first time Zim had addressed him by his name, he didn't even think he knew it. "Do you remember my human slave?"
"Pardon?"
"My human slave." Zim cast him a side glare, leaning on the back of the couch. "Female, purple hair, insufferable attitude?"
"Ummm... slave… right, yes. How is she?"
"Dead." Zim faced Wal Gern with a dark scowl.
"D-dead?" Wal Gern's eyes widened.
"Yes. She proved to be more trouble than she was worth, so I disposed of her."
"O-oh?" He began to sweat a bit, darting his eyes.
"Yes. You see, there was a disturbing rumor floating around that I had mate-bonded with that slave." Zim's antennae flattened again. "You wouldn't happen to know who would have started a rumor like that. Would you?"
The Vortian quaked in his boots, visibly shaken, before frantically throwing his arms up.
"Pffffffffttttt." He laughed, nervously waving Zim off. "How would I know? I've been in prison for the last eight years. I haven't heard any slorgak-related rumors. Especially about you, my Tallest."
Zim continued staring.
"A-and even if I did, I would have stopped them in their tracks! After all, I'd like to think we've grown as friends, right?" The Vortian nodded, still smiling. "I mean, what are we without the natural bond between invader and engineer?"
"Yes." Zim finally spoke. "And such a bond is not without reward. The subject of your offspring is still at hand."
"Y-yes, my Tallest." Wal Gern gulped and tapped his fingers together. "I… I know I haven't been as… orderly as you would have preferred, as of late, but I would very much like to see them again."
"Of course." Zim smiled. "I'll be signing your release papers as well. You've done well, Wal Gern."
"R-really?" He snapped up in delight. "Oh- oh thank you, my Tallest. Thank you, so much!"
"That'll do, goat. That'll do." Zim waved off his excitement. "Expect a drone to relieve you soon."
"Yes, my Tallest."
"Goodbye." Zim faked a smile and cut the transmission, quickly dropping it.
Good riddance.
"Computer, erase the data of that transmission."
"It is done, my Tallest."
Knock knock knock.
"My Tallest?" He heard Rem's voice at his door. He stepped away from his monitor and casually pretended to browse his kitchen facility.
"Enter."
Zim turned to see Rem with a furious Lard Nar. He attempted to stomp at Zim, but Rem put out a hand to stop him.
"Greetings, Captain." Zim smiled.
"Hello." Lard Nar growled. "Tallest Zim."
"Yes, you've noticed my plan worked brilliantly. I hope you'll forgive me for the whole 'turning you and your crew into security' thing." He shook his head, musing. "Your loyalty was in question. I had to make sure you wouldn't do anything drastic."
"Drastic?" He snapped, his eye twitching. "Do you have any idea-."
"Shhh." Zim hushed and turned to his attendant, who bounded forward and saluted.
"Rem, halt present and future plans for Operation Impending Doom 2."
"Yes, my Tallest."
"Write this down." Zim turned away and began to pace. Rem pulled his note screen out from his PAK. "Open the prison doors on Vort. Let the prisoners go and vacate the planet of all Irken influence."
"Right away, my Tallest." Rem nodded as he furiously wrote on his screen. Lard Nar watched, wide-eyed and mouth agape.
"Have a team of drones deliver the Vortians' couch as well." Zim gestured to the couch beside him, Rem nodded in agreement. "We have slaves of several species all across the galaxy, do we not?"
"Yes, my Tallest."
"Free them all. Send them back to their home planets and disband all of our troops."
"Yes, my Tallest."
"You're serious?" Lard Nar finally spoke up, making Zim stop pacing.
"Of course." Zim smiled and bent down to face the Vortian. "We made a deal, afterall."
Lard Nar began to wildly nod and smile. "Yes. Yes we did. I just… I didn't think... Wow. I can't believe it."
Zim flicked his antennae as he rose and turned away again.
"I expect you and your crew to return to your home planets. We have nothing to gain from each other anymore."
Lard Nar's smile shrank. "Yes, of course."
"That will be all. Rem, have my drones escort Lard Nar back to his ship." Zim smirked. Rem took a short bow and turned to lead Lard Nar out of the room. Lard Nar began to back away, still staring at Zim with unbelieving eyes, then turned to walk out the door.
Foolish goat monster.
Zim turned back to his couch and slumped down into it.
"Rem. Inform gate security to lock onto that ship with our weapons systems. Don't let them leave the atmosphere."
"Yes, my Tallest."
They know too much.
"There is a prisoner on Vort I'd like to send a team to dispose of, as well. Prisoner 777 to be exact. I doubt he'll be any trouble to deal with."
"I'll inform the guards immediately, my Tallest." Rem agreed, unquestionably.
"Write this down, Rem. We have much to do."
Rem readied his screen again as Zim strode to his windows, looking out on all of Irk again. All he had conquered. All he had won.
"Gather my invaders and alert my armies. Book the main convention hall on Conventia for my announcement. We will begin preparations immediately for my new flight plan. Operation Impending Doom 3."
"And the liberated colonies, sir?"
"They will be easily re-conquered while occupied by unarmed slaves." Zim turned his chin down, with a dark smile spread on his face. "Our disbanded troops will hold their positions until further notice. Reassign prisoners to their original cells and round the slaves back to their posts, they will be punished severely for abandoning them." Zim brought his hands together as he spoke.
"All except the Vortians. I have a special new project for them."
The End
*takes a bow*