Two irkens, but only one of them concious. Zim studied the other irken closely, the longer he looked at Tak, the more it hurt. He hated these feelings, he hated that he and her had experienced something other than hate. This poison running through him, was this why Irken Society forbid it to begin with? Humans embraced it, but what did they know? How could they?
They called it "Love", Zim called it anything but.
It was at this moment, simply a constant pain. He wanted it to stop. He had done enough already, he already ruined her life, he refused to completely shatter it at this point. This poison called "Love", it would only mark them as Defectives, and then Tak would never get to live her dream, the dream that he took from her so long ago. But not this time, this time he was going to make things right. For once in his miserable life, he was going to do something for someone else.
He glanced at the dual monitors, one showing Tak's memories from the past few weeks, memories of how they grew so close, memories that led to so much regret. On the other monitor, a fake memory, constructed purely to trick Tak and the Empire into thinking that something else occurred throughout these few weeks. This monitor showed Zim's death at the hands of Tak. Surely with such a satisfying memory as that, Tak would be renowned a hero to Irk and get the life she wanted, the life she deserves. Zim's thoughts were interrupted by his computer.
"Are you sure about this?" The usually disinterested voice seemed almost anxious this time around.
Without a second thought, Zim gave his answer. "Yes, they need to think I'm dead. That way they can all be happy. Begin the overwrite process in her PAK's memory."
Oddly, his computer was hesitant. "You must understand, she'll forget everything that the two of you went through in the past few weeks."
Zim remained stoic, "I know." His computer continued.
"She'll revert back to hating you." Zim repeated his response.
"I know." This finality wasn't stopping the computer.
"But why would you give up on all that progress? All that bonding?" Zim didn't answer as quickly as he did before, he thought hard about his next answer.
"Because she deserves better." The computer didn't retort right away, as if they were thinking of their next response as well. By tone of voice, they almost sounded defeated by the finality in Zim's choice.
"What will you do once she's gone?" Zim glanced up at this, away from the keyboard and at the dual monitors, before returning his gaze to Tak. He almost whispered his answer.
"Stay out of her life." The computer's tone suddenly shifted.
"She wanted to stay, you know that." Zim almost scoffed at this.
"Then what? Get branded a traitor? Get captured by Earth's authorities alongside me? We couldn't go anywhere, no planet accepts Irken refugees. It was either execution on Irken soil or being cut open on Earth. This is for her own good, now stop questioning me." The computer wasn't intimidated, and kept their resolve.
"You really are a moron, the one Irken in history to actually like you, and you're throwing it away."
Zim's tone darkened, the computer clearly hit a nerve, "Stop talking."
The computer kept pushing, they knew they were getting somewhere, "You won't let her choose? She wanted to stay with you." Zim raised his voice, getting agitated.
"You're talking about me throwing things away?! If she chooses to stay with me then she'll be throwing away the life she always wanted, the life she dedicated decades trying to achieve after I stole it from her!" This wasn't enough to silence Zim's computer, their master was clearly losing his temper, but they remained just as stoic as Zim originally was on the whole situation, how the tables had turned.
"The life she used to want, think about it Zim. She abandoned her post on Planet Dirt to track you down, much like how you abandoned your post on Foodcourtia, why do you think that is? What does that make you and her? You're both Defectives, long before you fell for each other, it wasn't emotion that made you Defectives, it was free will."
Zim felt like he was going to explode, "If you won't help me overwrite the memories then I'll do it myself." The computer took a risk with a smug tone.
"And how will you do that? We both know you'll regret it for the rest of your long Irken life if you do this. You'll be alone again, the one Irken to ever show you compassion will be gone, celebrating the belief that they killed you. Let her decide what she wants."
Zim broke his gaze from the monitors, he glanced at Tak before fully turning, "I don't know how to love, how will that be any good for her?" Zim didn't sound angry this time, in fact, he sounded sad.
In response to this change, the computer softened their tone.
"She's new to it as well, it will be a learning experience for the both of you." Zim shook his head.
"No, I mean, I only know what it's like to be hated. I don't think I can get used to the concept of being.. Loved.." The computer didn't say anything, but someone else did. It would seem that the sedatives had worn off.
"Then let's try it." As her purple eyes fluttered open.