I'M BACKKK! Did ya miss me? Eh probably not. I'm hoping this was worth the effort because life hit me like a freight train. Anyways I'll talk more after you read, Enjoy.
Chapter 9: Uprising
It was all falling apart. The power had caused his sanity to corrode and he laid waste to anyone or anything he considered a threat. Just weeks after figuring out that Zim was taller than him, Tallest Red passed a new law stating that no Irken, except for the Tallest may exceed the height of 5'0", and any Irken who did, was to be executed. The death toll reached nearly Twenty-five thousand within the first week. However, the worst part of the entire situation, was that the Control Brains supported him almost one hundred percent… all but one.
Dakmir, the same Control Brain that Tallest Purple had been seeking guidance from was doing everything in its power to stop the madness that was ensuing within the Irken race. Everything from advising Purple on what steps he should take next as well as belittling fellow Control Brains for encouraging such chaos. Currently he was in a digital meeting with the three most powerful Control Brains, The Almighty Council, who were once recognisable for hosting trials as well as executing defective Irkens, and were now known for mass murders and their abusive leadership.
All three brains were the same color and had the same design, but when it came to personality, they differed greatly. The middle brain was known as Alnoc. He was the alpha, and responsible for keeping the Tallest and other Control Brains in check. The first part however, clearly seems to have gone out the window. The left brain went by the name of Caalasic, he was more of the aggressive type, resorting to brute force whenever he deemed necessary. Alnoc had a tight leash on him but if he broke free, the entire Irken race would feel his wrath. Lastly there was Parzalen. He didn't fit in well with Alnoc and Caalasic and he greatly refrained from violence. As a result he was a bit on edge when the new law was passed, but he felt that it was his duty as a Control Brain to follow. While not very confident and lacking the courage to stand up for himself at times, he has learned to rely on his sharp wit and expansive knowledge to get things done.
"The fact that you are supportive of this entire situation is ludicrous." Dakmirs' voice boomed through the dark void. "These aren't just random civilians we're executing. It's the entire next generation!"
"Hence why we have smeet chambers and production tubes. They are expendable and worthless!." The aggressive brain shouted.
"While I hate to admit it… Caalasic is right." Parzalen mumbled softly. "Irkens can be produced manually and therefore there isn't a problem. Every Irken killed can be replaced."
Dakmir audibly sighed before turning his attention to the lesser. "Still kissing ass Parzalen? I thought that at least you would know a little better."
"Hey! No one talks to him like that but us!" Caalasic continued to let his presence be known. "Keep it up and there will be consequences!"
Alnoc stepped in shortly after as the argument was becoming a little too tense for his liking. "What my colleagues are trying to say, is that your actions will be seen as a sign of treason and as far as Irken law goes, you will be dismembered and all data on your memory drive will be wiped." The three Control Brains then began to whir as their eyes brightened and in unison they spoke. "You will submit, or fall!" Dakmir began to scream in agony as a bright beam of light hit him in the center of mass. After a quick shift he found himself back in his personal quarters, with Purple slumped back in a chair, obviously asleep from waiting for Dakmir to return.
"Purple. Wake up."
The somnolent Irken stirred awake at the call of his name. "Huh? Wha-? Oh, you're back."
"Indeed."
"So how'd it go?" Purple said as he picked up a soft drink a loudly sucked the liquid through its straw.
"Not well. I'm afraid that-… well we're on our own." It was hard to catch due to his mechanized accent, but disdain and regret laced his words.
Purple began to pace around the room, which had developed into quite an annoying habit. "I can't believe this! Why aren't other Control Brains doing anything about this?"
"Fear." Dakmir uttered. "Fear of being dismembered or killed. The Council is using it as leverage against anyone who would dare to stand up to them."
"So then that's it? The Irken race is oppressed for the rest of their lives and we live in fear?" Purple plopped back down into this chair.
"Not necessarily. It will take more than fear to deter me. As for the Irken race, they are divided. Some actually agree with the new law others, not so much. For the time being, however, I'm not sure what to do."
"I guess we have to see how it plays out then…"
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ZZZTTT
The sound was almost infuriating To Zim, as the bullet whizzed passed its target and buried itself in the hill behind it.
"Raggh! Pathetic earth weapon! Are they all so inaccurate?" Zim screamed in outrage whilst pulling back the loading mechanism of the M1 Garand the range had let him use. It had only been about an hour but Zim was really starting to regret tagging along with Nick and his partner Annette.
Annette resembled the average skoolgirl, except for the fact that Zim had never even seen her in skool, yet she looked extremely familiar to him. Her hair was dark crimson red and she wore a pair of black thin rimmed glasses. Her complexion was very smooth and clean and she had a very slim yet well defined figure. One that Zim couldn't help but admire a few hours ago, until Nick caught him in the act that is. However, the teen didn't yell or snap at Zim in anger, he simply said. "I don't blame ya man." before walking off and placing a firm hand on Annette's rear earning a squeak and elbow to Nicks side.
Her dressing appearance was very unique as well. She wore a gray cotton long sleeve sweater with black stripes and had an image of a red rose on the torso. Dark black skinny jeans hugged around her waist and a pair of black leather boots were strapped on her feet. Another outstanding feature of Annette, was her height. Unlike Gaz who was around 5'4" Annette was surprisingly tall at 5'9", which was very close to Nicks height of 5 '11'', but not far off from Zims either. Much like Dib and Nick, she was very quick to identify Zim as other worldly, which didn't really surprise or bother Zim. Humanity could use some more common sense and logic.
"Quit laughing at me you intestine haired filth, It's not my fault your weapons lack accuracy!" Zim was very quick at making himself comfortable, as he had already insulted or yelled at both Nick and Annette several times.
Annette chuckled lightly at the green skinned boys rowdy attitude and returned her gaze to her boyfriends sight lines. "It's not the weapon dude, you just suck at aiming." Nick stated calmly as a piercing ring filled the trio's eardrums seconds after Nicks shot added another hole to the already decimated steel plate.
"You dare insult me? I'll have you know that your filthy and greasy weapons are inferior to those of the Irken race. This so called 'recoil' your weapons possess makes its impossible to shoot consistently." He gnashed his teeth at an attempt to defend what little of his pride he had left.
Annette finally decided to join the conversation as she continued to antagonize Zim. "But I thought you were an elite alien soldier? Surely adapting should be one of your greatest skills."
"Well I… uh… of course it is! I just dislike the texture of-"
PING
A sharp ring sliced through Zims sentence shortly after Nick had hit the very center of the target. "Huh, another bullseye."
Zim audibly growled before throwing his rifle to the ground in anger earning a disdainful look from disgruntled alien marched to the back of the strip and sat down at a wooden table and placed his elbows on the surface as he held his head in his hands. Nick who had witnessed Zims little outburst glanced over his shoulder at Annette. "Hey Ann, you want a turn?"
"Definitely." Annette smiled as she switched places with Nick and grasped the rifle with a grin of excitement which quickly faded into a frown of annoyance. "Ugh! Babe, where's the scope?"
The little time Zim spent with Nick had shown that the human boy was an excellent marksman, much to the Irkens displeasure as he was hoping to one up the earthlings with his exemplary skills. Zim had become increasingly jealous at the long distance shots Nick was constantly pulling off as well as Annette's handiness with side arm weaponry. She still lacked the skill to use a rifle without the scope like her Boyfriend could however.
"It's in the bag somewhere, you know it gets in my way. I see better without it."
"Yes, I know that. But I can't."
"Well practice makes perfect. I'll be right back."
Nick leaves Annette to her own devices as she searches through a small backpack and walks back towards the table, taking a seat across from Zim. "You know Zim, you're not as bad as Dib makes you out to be. You are much, much worse."
Zim drops his arms to the surface of the table and shakes his head violently with confusion. "If you were offering me consolation you did a terrible fuckin' job."
"Heh. Yea it's not really my thing."
"I can only imagine how bad it must be when your love-pig hits a mood swing."
"Tsh, you have no idea dude." NIck widens his eyes in remembrance of the many moments when Annette was so angry, that any object she found could be used as a weapon. "Shit gets crazy when she gets going on something that bothers her."
The two remained silent as they watched Annete carefully aim her shots. Pulling the trigger the rifle cracked and a glass bottle down range exploded. Grasping the bolt she smoothly and calmly pulled it back and readied her next round.
"So what is going on with you Zim?" Nick began to question Zim about his random outbursts and vulgar actions that had recently taken place. "I mean, I know that you're usually all upfront and weird but I've never seen you like this."
"Ok firstly ow my pride and second… I just got some shit goin on right now. I'm trying to figure it all out."
Nick slowlys nods in confirmation before continuing the conversation. "Tough couple of weeks, huh?"
CRACK
KLING
The conversation hits a lull as Annette fires again and her round hits the edge of a steel plate causing the bullet to ricochet downwards into the dirt resulting in a scoff from the girl.
"Yea…nothing too bad though. Just the leaders of my entire race who I've idled and looked up to my entire life hating my guts and lying to me for half of my life span."
"...I kinda know the feelin' " Nick says in an almost bland voice as he stares off into the distance. Zim stares confusingly at the boy until Nick clears his throat and gets out his wallet. "So, Zim. You hungry, we can all go out somewhere. I've got a bit of cash on me."
"That sounds fine I guess. I've come to find that some of your food is quite bearable for my squeedly-spooch."
Nick widens his eyes and slowly turns his head to look at the alien. "Your what?"
"Well it's basically just… nevermind. I'm hungry let's go." Zim gets up eagerly and walks along the dirt trail towards the main building of the range leaving Nick and Annette behind.
Annette slowly walks up behind Nick and intertwines his arm with hers before resting her head in the crook of his neck. "He's a lot different than I thought he'd be."
"Yea, somethin tells me he'll be a tough nut to crack, I didn't get anything other than the fact that he had a raging hard-on for his leaders." Nick stated in annoyance.
Annette rolled her eyes and scoffed before looking back at Nick with a devilish glare. "So what you're trying to say is, he didn't tell you?
"Yet. He hasn't told me yet." Nick looked back at Annette with his eyes narrowed before looking back at the range.
"Is that going to be a problem?" Annette asked as a hand ruffled her lovers hair.
Nick swatted Annette's hand away while chuckling softly. "Of course not, I've got it all under control." Picking up the same rifle Zim had tossed aside he pulled back the charge and loaded a round. "Besides. If it really does become a problem, we'll do what we've always done." Nick aimed the rifle down range and pulled the trigger, causing a large hole to decimate the head of a cardboard cutout. Nick put the rifle down and looked back at Annette with a smile. "We'll deal with it."
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All I can say is Yikes. I'm really sorry this took so long to finish up I got really caught up with lots of family stuff and lots of work. As a result this is a relatively short chapter but it helps thicken the plot a little bit. At least i hope it does, cause at this point I'm more confused than a homeless man under house arrest... Anywho! I've started working on the next chapter already and if life is generous enough then it should be done next month. See you then.
