Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Invader Zim
Chapter Eight: How Lucky.How Unlucky
Finally released from the friendly detainment of her Tallest, Tah was free to question the prisoners. She walked briskly as she thought of all she had and would accomplish that day. She'd already given Red and Purple a thorough explanation of all her thoughts on the case, and now she was heading off to get more information. There was also the anticipation of the reports that Tzen would send. At her side marched the guard that had been assigned to her, a tight-shouldered guard named Zeek. The only words she'd heard come from his mouth had been "Yes, my Tallest!", "Yes, my Mistress!", and "As you wish!" He was almost like a S.I.R. unit in his militaristic loyalty and she wondered why he'd never signed up to be a marauder. Thinking about the marauders made Tah think about Clay and the ground invasion that was currently in progress. Despite her friend's enthusiasm, Tah couldn't help but worry - any species that couldn't be damaged by an organic sweep had to be tough.
She drove her mind from those unconstructive thoughts - she was almost to the detainment center. She composed herself as a couple of guards opened the doors for her and led her to Admiral Tark's cell. Although Mim's information would probably be more valuable, she wanted to avoid seeing her for as long as possible.
He had been restrained for the interview, but the former admiral was free to frighten her with a nasty glare. Tah straitened herself and took out her pad. "Admiral, I'm here to ask you a few questions. I advise you cooperate - things will go much better for you if you do."
The orange-eyed Irken lifted his head proudly, refusing to relinquish an iota of his dignity. "Do your worst, Hive drone! I'm not giving you any answers! Let the Tallest banish me to Food Courtia if they like - you won't get any information out of me!" He struggled with his bonds, but they were too powerful even for his muscular frame to break.
"I don't work for the Hive anymore -" Tah mumbled as she tried to ignore Tark's stubborn behavior. She glanced back down at her pad in a businesslike manner. "Yes, um, I would like you to tell me about this Admiral Queue. As the Prime Admiral, you were the one to promote him to the position. Yet, it seems that there is no recorded information about him. There isn't even a record in the hatcheries of his birth. Why doesn't he have any records?" She looked back up at him, only to see his scowling face.
"I can't tell you!" was his single response.
Tah's antennae perked up. "Why not?"
Tark narrowed his fiery eyes and growled loudly, "I won't tell you!"
Tah sighed and placed her pad to her side. She thought to herself how this was going to be a lot more difficult than she'd anticipated. She pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "You know, after a week of detainment the Irken Empire will be authorized to use a truth serum on you. I'll get answers from you one way or the other, but you'll be much better off if you just tell me now. You have served the Tallest for a long time and they will not forget your accomplishments. They'll put your record into consideration when deciding upon your punishment if you just don't struggle." She watched as Tark grew silent, a hard but thoughtful look on his face.
He seemed to relax and glowered toward the ground. Tah thought she detected the slightest of grins pulling on his tight lips. "I'm not telling you -" he said in a determined voice.
Tah decided that she was wasting her time with him and marched out of his cell. Next was Mim. She braced herself as the door to the cell opened and she was escorted inside. Mim was restrained, staring at her with her typical deadened expression. Tah straitened herself and again held her pad for notes. "Hello Mim. I've come here to ask some questions." Mim didn't reply, continuing to look at her with her hollow eyes. Tah felt she needed to clear her throat. "Right. Well, firstly, where did you go after you attacked me in the I.S.C. Fathom?"
"I went back to the Massive." Tah raised a brow, unnerved at Mim's cooperation.
"You couldn't be found after I came back. Where did you go between the time you were found missing and the time you recently attacked me?"
Mim shrugged. "I went back to the Massive for a short while, and then hopped off for a little bit. I went here and there."
Tah narrowed her eyes, realizing that Mim was indeed planning on being difficult. She hardened her tone. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere in particular. Just thought I'd go back to the Massive and then head off." Tah bristled as a smirk began to appear on the prisoner's face.
"Did you send or receive any transmissions after you returned to the Massive?"
"No."
"The mercenary Montoy informed me of an assassination plot against Almighty Tallest Purple. Are you or were you involved in that? Or, do you know anybody who was?"
This time Mim broke into a full smile. "No," she said with sarcastic intonation.
Tah's knuckles were white as she clenched her electronic pad. "It is my duty to inform you that after a week of detainment, the Irken Empire is authorized to forcefully gain information from you." She frowned and looked back down at her notes, wondering if she should even bother going on. "Tell me about your charge, Admiral Queue."
The former guard leaned her head against her shoulder as if she were bored. Her features held a distinctive smugness. "He was quiet - never went out of his room."
"Was there something wrong with him? There are hardly any records on him, and there are no signs of him doing any work. You seemed to be the only person under his command!"
Mim merely shrugged at this dubious fact. "Well, what can I say? I was only a guard. He just - likes to keep to himself. I didn't bother him, I just kept him safe. That was my job, after all."
Tah sighed and accepted the realization that nothing was going to be found out about Admiral Queue through Mim. Her only hope on that were the reports that would be sent in the afternoon. She scrolled down the surface of her pad and looked at the next item of topic. "Alright. Do you know anything about an Admiral Yir?"
"No."
"Tell me about Montoy."
Mim rolled her eyes slightly and then grinned a bit, as if an idea had just found its way into her mind. "I only met him that one time, when he met me on the Fathom." She then turned to look directly at Tah, "But he struck me as a sweetheart."
Tah knew exactly what Mim was getting at and decided to go on. "What about that green-eyed Irken Bri? He contacted you and you followed his orders."
Mim paused for a bit again before letting an unusual amount of language pass by her lips. "Yeah, Bri is the one you're looking for. He's the one who told me to kill you. He hired me out - for money. If you check my money records you'll see a payment sent right after I handed you to his lackey. After you escaped he hired me to get you again. I don't know him or anything about his operations, but he's the guy who hired me."
Tah blinked twice. This was new behavior for Mim, and she didn't know if she could trust this outflow of information. She took a few notes on her pad and nodded to herself. "Alright, I think this should be it for right now. I'll be back in a week to verify the information." She straitened her shoulders and left the room, cringing when she again felt her former roommate watching her.
She was actually happy with the interrogations, despite the fact she gained hardly any information. She at least had the prisoners in custody, and in a week she'd be able to get some real answers out of them. She swung by the dining hall for a bite to eat and then headed to her room. She opened her door, half expecting someone to leap out at her, and then walked in. She flopped herself on her bed, positioning her body so she was on her back facing the ceiling. She held out her electronic pad and switched it on, hoping that the Information Hive would have gotten her reports sent by now. She nearly jumped out of her bed with joy when she saw she had files received. She opened them and was relieved to see it was the information she'd requested. The first thing she wanted to look at was Queue's file - she just new he was the link that held all this together. She scanned the data quickly, and then looked over it again more slowly with a frown. There wasn't much data on him at all, and most of it was stuff she already knew. There were no records of his existence before the Prime Admiral had assigned him his position. No section of the Armada was marked off for him, and he had no money records at all. Tah scratched her head wondering if this guy even existed, and if he didn't, why someone would make him up.
Tah jolted as her screen went blank. An anonymous message had popped up, written in larger print and dominating the screen. The message read in bold letters [Do males have babies?]
She typed out a response. [No, females do.]
After a moment another message appeared. [Wrong, Investigator. Females lay eggs. Tubes have babies.]
This was making her angry. Who was this person and why was he asking her these stupid questions? She had work to do. [What does this have to do with anything? Stop bothering me!]
[If you speak crossly again, then your dashing hero will be embarrassed.]
Tah scrunched her face in confusion. Was this person giving her riddles? What was dashing hero supposed to mean? [What is your problem? Go away or I'll contact security!]
There was a very long pause before the next message came. Minutes passed and Tah began to think she might have gotten rid of the mysterious weirdo. All hopes of that faded when one word crossed the screen. [Boom.]
Now Tah was sure the person talking to her was crazy. She frantically contacted him again. [Why did you just say that?]
[You shouldn't have been cross. It wasn't very ladylike. Go - turn on the monitor in your room.] With that the no name messenger disappeared and Tah's reports returned on her pad screen. She was not, however, interested in them at the moment. She jumped out of her bed and activated the monitor on the wall, freezing with horror at what she saw. Somewhere on Irk, a building was caved in on itself and engulfed in flames, as if there had been an explosion. The view then panned out, and Tah's jaw literally dropped as she realized that all the surrounding building as far as the eye could see had been destroyed. Tah tried to name the place on Irk, wondering what facilities had been attacked, when the picture of the two Tallest replaced the devastation. They were on the speaking platform they used for public speeches on the Massive, and both their features were ironed with pain-stricken looks. They didn't stand tall and proud as usual, but hunched as if something weighed upon them. Purple began to speak, Red for once taking back stage.
"Proud Irkens! It is my agony to inform you that, just a few moments ago, an explosion of horrendous proportions occurred on Irk. The Hatcheries were the targets - all of them. I - " he looked more upset than Tah had ever seen him, "I regret to say that there doesn't look like there will be any survivors - nursery workers or hatchlings. The unique environment that the tubes require has been destroyed. Irkens, we are a clear-headed race. We should not loose our heads over this tragedy. Rather, steady yourselves for the task ahead. Although there will be a noticeable shortage in hatchlings, more will come and hatchery attendants will be needed. I want all young Irkens to consider this noble profession - for although it is not as glorious a career as that of a solder, it is just as important if not more so! I have already written up a rough draft of a program that will concentrate on the fast education of hatchery attendants. The details will be worked on immediately, and I hope to have new recruits ready before the week is through. Rebuilding will commence right away! As I stand here, crews are already putting out the fires and looking for survivors. The new hatcheries will be built before the first new graduating classes of hatchery attendants gain their diplomas."
Purple stepped back and let Red address the monitor. He looked just as upset, but more violently so. He raised one fist in the air and spoke in a harsh voice. "Proud and Mighty Irken Soldiers! We have been attacked by a cowardly, unknown enemy! I assure you that no stone will be left unturned until we find the ones responsible for doing this to our home planet! And when we find them, they will face the full wrath of the Irken Empire! Our hatchlings will be avenged." Red narrowed his eyes and continued to speak, but Tah couldn't listen. She'd collapsed on the floor and was caught in a haze. This didn't seem real. There had been thousands upon thousands of hatchlings being incubated, and now they were all gone. She shook her head and sat on her bed, picking up the pad she'd involuntarily dropped. This weirdo had known.
Once the Tallest were done speaking, Tah turned off her monitor and opened her door. Zeek was waiting outside, completely unaware of the tragedy. She automatically brought him inside her room and told him what had happened, showing him the pictures on the monitor. Although he was very controlled, Tah could tell he was angered by the assault. He stood up with a new posture and gleam in his eye and asked her if she needed to go anywhere. Tah said she did, and began to lead him down the hall. She went immediately to the main transmission room, where the Tallest usually were during the day. She was recognized by the guards and sent right in. Both her monarchs were sitting on their thrones, each holding a pad and discussing something with eachother, apparently about the most recent disaster. They both stopped when they saw the expression on her face. "I must speak with you, my Tallest!" she said as she waved her pad around in the air. "I'm sorry to disturb you but it's very important!" Her urgency left no question, and the Tallest agreed to follow her to another room. She slammed her pad on a table. "I just received a series of messages moments before this happened, and I think there might be a connection!"
Red opened his ruby eyed wide while Purple gaped. "What?!"
She proceeded to show them the messages that had been saved on the pad. With the baby insinuations and the ominous 'Boom' there could almost be no question that the two were related.
"Who sent this?" yelled Red, murder in his voice.
"I don't know! It's anonymous - I asked who he was but he wouldn't tell me. He called me 'Investigator' so he must know I'm on the case. This dashing hero crap must mean my two Tallest! I don't know who it is but - I just had to report it." Tah lowered her gaze, suddenly very disappointed at the fact that although this information was highly important, possibly linking the bomber with the assassin, she couldn't do more. She had no idea from were the messages had come or who he might have been. She felt like leaving, but a brisk soldier stepping in the room stopped her.
"Sirs?" he said in a noticeably timid voice.
"Yes, solder?" prompted Red.
"This, er, this might not seem important - " the soldier squirmed, "but you told me to inform you the moment that, uhhh - "
"Spit it out!"
"Yes, my Tallest!" he straitened immediately. "The squadron you'd sent to find and destroy Yir's base, Sirs! They squadron arrived directly to the coordinates given, but no base was to be found. The moon it was supposedly on was located, but scanners found no base or lifeforms." The soldier gave a rigid salute and stiffly marched away.
Both the Tallest glanced toward a mystified Tah. "What?" she finally said. She stood up from her chair and desperately tried to explain herself. "I swear I saw that base. There were monitors and rooms and all those craft. People and Montoy and that Bri!" She grappled onto her head with confusion and fear. "I swear I was telling the truth!"
Purple instantly hovered over to her, placing a long arm around her shoulders. "We believe you! We saw you while you were captured. Remember?"
"Yeah!" added Red helpfully, "They must have moved base after you left. That's what I would have done if I were them."
"The most important thing for you to do is continue with your work." Purple reached over and picked up her electronic pad. He looked to Red, "She's already given us a lead on who did this."
Red nodded solemnly.
Chapter Eight: How Lucky.How Unlucky
Finally released from the friendly detainment of her Tallest, Tah was free to question the prisoners. She walked briskly as she thought of all she had and would accomplish that day. She'd already given Red and Purple a thorough explanation of all her thoughts on the case, and now she was heading off to get more information. There was also the anticipation of the reports that Tzen would send. At her side marched the guard that had been assigned to her, a tight-shouldered guard named Zeek. The only words she'd heard come from his mouth had been "Yes, my Tallest!", "Yes, my Mistress!", and "As you wish!" He was almost like a S.I.R. unit in his militaristic loyalty and she wondered why he'd never signed up to be a marauder. Thinking about the marauders made Tah think about Clay and the ground invasion that was currently in progress. Despite her friend's enthusiasm, Tah couldn't help but worry - any species that couldn't be damaged by an organic sweep had to be tough.
She drove her mind from those unconstructive thoughts - she was almost to the detainment center. She composed herself as a couple of guards opened the doors for her and led her to Admiral Tark's cell. Although Mim's information would probably be more valuable, she wanted to avoid seeing her for as long as possible.
He had been restrained for the interview, but the former admiral was free to frighten her with a nasty glare. Tah straitened herself and took out her pad. "Admiral, I'm here to ask you a few questions. I advise you cooperate - things will go much better for you if you do."
The orange-eyed Irken lifted his head proudly, refusing to relinquish an iota of his dignity. "Do your worst, Hive drone! I'm not giving you any answers! Let the Tallest banish me to Food Courtia if they like - you won't get any information out of me!" He struggled with his bonds, but they were too powerful even for his muscular frame to break.
"I don't work for the Hive anymore -" Tah mumbled as she tried to ignore Tark's stubborn behavior. She glanced back down at her pad in a businesslike manner. "Yes, um, I would like you to tell me about this Admiral Queue. As the Prime Admiral, you were the one to promote him to the position. Yet, it seems that there is no recorded information about him. There isn't even a record in the hatcheries of his birth. Why doesn't he have any records?" She looked back up at him, only to see his scowling face.
"I can't tell you!" was his single response.
Tah's antennae perked up. "Why not?"
Tark narrowed his fiery eyes and growled loudly, "I won't tell you!"
Tah sighed and placed her pad to her side. She thought to herself how this was going to be a lot more difficult than she'd anticipated. She pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "You know, after a week of detainment the Irken Empire will be authorized to use a truth serum on you. I'll get answers from you one way or the other, but you'll be much better off if you just tell me now. You have served the Tallest for a long time and they will not forget your accomplishments. They'll put your record into consideration when deciding upon your punishment if you just don't struggle." She watched as Tark grew silent, a hard but thoughtful look on his face.
He seemed to relax and glowered toward the ground. Tah thought she detected the slightest of grins pulling on his tight lips. "I'm not telling you -" he said in a determined voice.
Tah decided that she was wasting her time with him and marched out of his cell. Next was Mim. She braced herself as the door to the cell opened and she was escorted inside. Mim was restrained, staring at her with her typical deadened expression. Tah straitened herself and again held her pad for notes. "Hello Mim. I've come here to ask some questions." Mim didn't reply, continuing to look at her with her hollow eyes. Tah felt she needed to clear her throat. "Right. Well, firstly, where did you go after you attacked me in the I.S.C. Fathom?"
"I went back to the Massive." Tah raised a brow, unnerved at Mim's cooperation.
"You couldn't be found after I came back. Where did you go between the time you were found missing and the time you recently attacked me?"
Mim shrugged. "I went back to the Massive for a short while, and then hopped off for a little bit. I went here and there."
Tah narrowed her eyes, realizing that Mim was indeed planning on being difficult. She hardened her tone. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere in particular. Just thought I'd go back to the Massive and then head off." Tah bristled as a smirk began to appear on the prisoner's face.
"Did you send or receive any transmissions after you returned to the Massive?"
"No."
"The mercenary Montoy informed me of an assassination plot against Almighty Tallest Purple. Are you or were you involved in that? Or, do you know anybody who was?"
This time Mim broke into a full smile. "No," she said with sarcastic intonation.
Tah's knuckles were white as she clenched her electronic pad. "It is my duty to inform you that after a week of detainment, the Irken Empire is authorized to forcefully gain information from you." She frowned and looked back down at her notes, wondering if she should even bother going on. "Tell me about your charge, Admiral Queue."
The former guard leaned her head against her shoulder as if she were bored. Her features held a distinctive smugness. "He was quiet - never went out of his room."
"Was there something wrong with him? There are hardly any records on him, and there are no signs of him doing any work. You seemed to be the only person under his command!"
Mim merely shrugged at this dubious fact. "Well, what can I say? I was only a guard. He just - likes to keep to himself. I didn't bother him, I just kept him safe. That was my job, after all."
Tah sighed and accepted the realization that nothing was going to be found out about Admiral Queue through Mim. Her only hope on that were the reports that would be sent in the afternoon. She scrolled down the surface of her pad and looked at the next item of topic. "Alright. Do you know anything about an Admiral Yir?"
"No."
"Tell me about Montoy."
Mim rolled her eyes slightly and then grinned a bit, as if an idea had just found its way into her mind. "I only met him that one time, when he met me on the Fathom." She then turned to look directly at Tah, "But he struck me as a sweetheart."
Tah knew exactly what Mim was getting at and decided to go on. "What about that green-eyed Irken Bri? He contacted you and you followed his orders."
Mim paused for a bit again before letting an unusual amount of language pass by her lips. "Yeah, Bri is the one you're looking for. He's the one who told me to kill you. He hired me out - for money. If you check my money records you'll see a payment sent right after I handed you to his lackey. After you escaped he hired me to get you again. I don't know him or anything about his operations, but he's the guy who hired me."
Tah blinked twice. This was new behavior for Mim, and she didn't know if she could trust this outflow of information. She took a few notes on her pad and nodded to herself. "Alright, I think this should be it for right now. I'll be back in a week to verify the information." She straitened her shoulders and left the room, cringing when she again felt her former roommate watching her.
She was actually happy with the interrogations, despite the fact she gained hardly any information. She at least had the prisoners in custody, and in a week she'd be able to get some real answers out of them. She swung by the dining hall for a bite to eat and then headed to her room. She opened her door, half expecting someone to leap out at her, and then walked in. She flopped herself on her bed, positioning her body so she was on her back facing the ceiling. She held out her electronic pad and switched it on, hoping that the Information Hive would have gotten her reports sent by now. She nearly jumped out of her bed with joy when she saw she had files received. She opened them and was relieved to see it was the information she'd requested. The first thing she wanted to look at was Queue's file - she just new he was the link that held all this together. She scanned the data quickly, and then looked over it again more slowly with a frown. There wasn't much data on him at all, and most of it was stuff she already knew. There were no records of his existence before the Prime Admiral had assigned him his position. No section of the Armada was marked off for him, and he had no money records at all. Tah scratched her head wondering if this guy even existed, and if he didn't, why someone would make him up.
Tah jolted as her screen went blank. An anonymous message had popped up, written in larger print and dominating the screen. The message read in bold letters [Do males have babies?]
She typed out a response. [No, females do.]
After a moment another message appeared. [Wrong, Investigator. Females lay eggs. Tubes have babies.]
This was making her angry. Who was this person and why was he asking her these stupid questions? She had work to do. [What does this have to do with anything? Stop bothering me!]
[If you speak crossly again, then your dashing hero will be embarrassed.]
Tah scrunched her face in confusion. Was this person giving her riddles? What was dashing hero supposed to mean? [What is your problem? Go away or I'll contact security!]
There was a very long pause before the next message came. Minutes passed and Tah began to think she might have gotten rid of the mysterious weirdo. All hopes of that faded when one word crossed the screen. [Boom.]
Now Tah was sure the person talking to her was crazy. She frantically contacted him again. [Why did you just say that?]
[You shouldn't have been cross. It wasn't very ladylike. Go - turn on the monitor in your room.] With that the no name messenger disappeared and Tah's reports returned on her pad screen. She was not, however, interested in them at the moment. She jumped out of her bed and activated the monitor on the wall, freezing with horror at what she saw. Somewhere on Irk, a building was caved in on itself and engulfed in flames, as if there had been an explosion. The view then panned out, and Tah's jaw literally dropped as she realized that all the surrounding building as far as the eye could see had been destroyed. Tah tried to name the place on Irk, wondering what facilities had been attacked, when the picture of the two Tallest replaced the devastation. They were on the speaking platform they used for public speeches on the Massive, and both their features were ironed with pain-stricken looks. They didn't stand tall and proud as usual, but hunched as if something weighed upon them. Purple began to speak, Red for once taking back stage.
"Proud Irkens! It is my agony to inform you that, just a few moments ago, an explosion of horrendous proportions occurred on Irk. The Hatcheries were the targets - all of them. I - " he looked more upset than Tah had ever seen him, "I regret to say that there doesn't look like there will be any survivors - nursery workers or hatchlings. The unique environment that the tubes require has been destroyed. Irkens, we are a clear-headed race. We should not loose our heads over this tragedy. Rather, steady yourselves for the task ahead. Although there will be a noticeable shortage in hatchlings, more will come and hatchery attendants will be needed. I want all young Irkens to consider this noble profession - for although it is not as glorious a career as that of a solder, it is just as important if not more so! I have already written up a rough draft of a program that will concentrate on the fast education of hatchery attendants. The details will be worked on immediately, and I hope to have new recruits ready before the week is through. Rebuilding will commence right away! As I stand here, crews are already putting out the fires and looking for survivors. The new hatcheries will be built before the first new graduating classes of hatchery attendants gain their diplomas."
Purple stepped back and let Red address the monitor. He looked just as upset, but more violently so. He raised one fist in the air and spoke in a harsh voice. "Proud and Mighty Irken Soldiers! We have been attacked by a cowardly, unknown enemy! I assure you that no stone will be left unturned until we find the ones responsible for doing this to our home planet! And when we find them, they will face the full wrath of the Irken Empire! Our hatchlings will be avenged." Red narrowed his eyes and continued to speak, but Tah couldn't listen. She'd collapsed on the floor and was caught in a haze. This didn't seem real. There had been thousands upon thousands of hatchlings being incubated, and now they were all gone. She shook her head and sat on her bed, picking up the pad she'd involuntarily dropped. This weirdo had known.
Once the Tallest were done speaking, Tah turned off her monitor and opened her door. Zeek was waiting outside, completely unaware of the tragedy. She automatically brought him inside her room and told him what had happened, showing him the pictures on the monitor. Although he was very controlled, Tah could tell he was angered by the assault. He stood up with a new posture and gleam in his eye and asked her if she needed to go anywhere. Tah said she did, and began to lead him down the hall. She went immediately to the main transmission room, where the Tallest usually were during the day. She was recognized by the guards and sent right in. Both her monarchs were sitting on their thrones, each holding a pad and discussing something with eachother, apparently about the most recent disaster. They both stopped when they saw the expression on her face. "I must speak with you, my Tallest!" she said as she waved her pad around in the air. "I'm sorry to disturb you but it's very important!" Her urgency left no question, and the Tallest agreed to follow her to another room. She slammed her pad on a table. "I just received a series of messages moments before this happened, and I think there might be a connection!"
Red opened his ruby eyed wide while Purple gaped. "What?!"
She proceeded to show them the messages that had been saved on the pad. With the baby insinuations and the ominous 'Boom' there could almost be no question that the two were related.
"Who sent this?" yelled Red, murder in his voice.
"I don't know! It's anonymous - I asked who he was but he wouldn't tell me. He called me 'Investigator' so he must know I'm on the case. This dashing hero crap must mean my two Tallest! I don't know who it is but - I just had to report it." Tah lowered her gaze, suddenly very disappointed at the fact that although this information was highly important, possibly linking the bomber with the assassin, she couldn't do more. She had no idea from were the messages had come or who he might have been. She felt like leaving, but a brisk soldier stepping in the room stopped her.
"Sirs?" he said in a noticeably timid voice.
"Yes, solder?" prompted Red.
"This, er, this might not seem important - " the soldier squirmed, "but you told me to inform you the moment that, uhhh - "
"Spit it out!"
"Yes, my Tallest!" he straitened immediately. "The squadron you'd sent to find and destroy Yir's base, Sirs! They squadron arrived directly to the coordinates given, but no base was to be found. The moon it was supposedly on was located, but scanners found no base or lifeforms." The soldier gave a rigid salute and stiffly marched away.
Both the Tallest glanced toward a mystified Tah. "What?" she finally said. She stood up from her chair and desperately tried to explain herself. "I swear I saw that base. There were monitors and rooms and all those craft. People and Montoy and that Bri!" She grappled onto her head with confusion and fear. "I swear I was telling the truth!"
Purple instantly hovered over to her, placing a long arm around her shoulders. "We believe you! We saw you while you were captured. Remember?"
"Yeah!" added Red helpfully, "They must have moved base after you left. That's what I would have done if I were them."
"The most important thing for you to do is continue with your work." Purple reached over and picked up her electronic pad. He looked to Red, "She's already given us a lead on who did this."
Red nodded solemnly.
