Red walked down the steps stealthily and quietly. It was quite
strange of him to do that because he did have access to every place in the
Empire, but it wasn't the guards he was worried about. In fact, he wasn't
worried about anything. He just wanted to catch a glimpse of her before
she saw him . .. . .
He spotted the cell she was in. There she was; shivering, laying down in a curled ball, closing her eyes and sleeping in the hay. Her face was wearing an expression of pain, and she looked quite uncomfortable. For an Irken who didn't really care much about anyone or anything, he looked quite distressed as well.
He opened her jail door. He couldn't believe she was actually in this jail. More than anything, he wanted to get her out. For some reason, that was his only desire.
He sat by her and waited. He waited for over two hours in the cold and dark prison. He played with her soft ebony black hair, twisting it around his claws. He studied her for awhile, he had never really studied a human up close before with as much time as he liked. And she was … What was that human word???
He touched her face with his claw. All of a sudden, as he brushed his claw against her face, it cut her skin and fresh blood came out.
She woke up immediately, sitting up instantaneously. She stared at him suspiciously.
"I'm … I'm sorry." Red quickly stuttered.
She felt her face, touching the blood with her fingers and looking at it. "It's okay." She finally said. It isn't the worst thing that has ever happened to me before." She shivered again, her arms trying to warm herself as much as possible.
Red saw this and quickly felt sorry for her. He couldn't really feel the chill in his warm regal clothes. "So, do you want a blanket or something?" He asked her.
"No, that's okay …" She started, shivering again. "I supposed I could make a blanket out of the hay, but I'm too last to do it now." She lay down again. "And I don't think a royal should wear out his hands worn for the sake of a prisoner."
"I like to weary my /claws/ especially in battle." Red grinned. "A pleasurable feeling to have your enemy's blood dripping down your claws, or hands in your case."
"Heh." She smiled weakly. "Am I your enemy?'
"Well… not exactly. But I couldn't care much for your blood anyway."
"Why, red doesn't suit you?"
Red rolled his eyes, knowing he had lost again.
"I'm going to sleep, get some more energy from that in place of eating." She closed her eyes.
Red immediately left. He ordered for some servants at once. "I want the warmest blanket there is! I have been getting extremely cold during the night. I need another blanket!" He yelled.
"Sir, we can just get the heating system working into your room." One said.
"No, I want a blanket! Do you have authority to question me?" Red demanded.
"No, sir." The Irken servant went to fetch the blanket, muttering curses. He brought it to Red and handed it to him.
"Thank you, now here's your tip." Red said, dropping a few gebels (Irken money) into the servant's hands. He carried the blanket, turned around, and bumped into Purple.
"Red?" Purple looked at him suspiciously.
"Oh, hi Purp." Red weakly smiled.
"What are you doing with that blanket?" He eyed the blanket.
"I get cold at night, for some reason."
"We'll turn the heating system higher."
"Naw, that's okay. I'd much rather have the blanket anyway. It's nice to feel." Red quickly lied.
"Whatever you say …" Purple said. "I'm going to the library, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll be busy for awhile, I'll meet you later." Red turned around and headed toward the prison … with Purple seeing him go there. Purple shook his head, with hatred in his eyes, and left for the library. He would figure out a plan …
Red quickly rushed down the prison stairs. He could care less about the guards now, so he made as much noise as he pleased. He slid down the banister of the rest of the prison stairs and ran to her cell. He saw her sleeping again, still shivering though.
He opened her door and laid the blanket on her. She stopped shivering and began sleeping peacefully, with no signs of pain on her face. She slept quite emotionless, but it was hard to tell if a smile was creeping up her face.
But she woke up anyway. She noticed a change in the environment and immediately woke up. She saw and felt the blanket placed on her, and then saw the Irken leader sitting right beside her. "Thank you." She finally said.
"Your welcome." Red replied. "Your name is Ri, if I'm not mistaken?"
"What is my name of any importance to you?"
"Much. After all, it was you who saved Purple and many other Irkens."
"Well, if it /is/ that important to you, my name is Ri. And yours, Red?"
"Yes. The others are required to call me Almighty Tallest Red, but you are most certainly welcome to call me Red, my lady." He grinned. Ri blushed a little, but did not let herself go off guard. "So, how did you find the Irken ship?"
"Mostly by taking a stroll. I do that daily every night because I like to get away from home as much as I can. I saw the ship in the woods, neared it, listened to what they were saying, and here I am, on the planet Irk." She shrugged.
"My officers have many flaws." Red shook his head thinking of a few. "It's a pity we don't have skilled soldiers or invaders like we used to have."
"Oh? What would be the description?"
"Strong, obedient, skillful, clever, smart, trustworthy, and loyal. A lot of our soldiers have gone to the Goroken army. The ones that you see left are loyal, I think but few fit the entire description."
"Anyone particular?"
"Not that I can think of who's Irken … But …. Invader Zim, though he was a total failure, isn't that bad."
Ri nodded.
The prison door quickly opened. An officer looked in. "My Tallest, my Lord, Almighty Tallest Purple has called for your audience."
"I'll see you later, Ri." He smiled, and she smiled back. He ran up the stairs and out of the prison. He walked to the library, filled with the strangest thoughts. Purple was sitting in his soft purple armchair, with a stack of books right beside him. "Hi, Purp." He said as he leaned back in his own red armchair.
"Red. I'm glad you could come." Purple began.
"So, what did you want?"
"I think I may have a solution to our problem with the human."
Red gulped. "Ri?"
"Ri?" Purple eyed Red. "Is that what her name is? Well anyway, I have been looking through some of the old history books of politics and the political problems they had. They don't have humans, but I found similar problems and solutions to ours."
"Go on."
"We simply execute her."
"WHAT?"
"We execute her. She already knows too much about the plans and our empire. Even if she is a great soldier, we can't risk having her get captured and tortured for information."
"What about the other soldiers?" Red questioned. "They could be tortured for information as well!"
"But you are forgetting that humans are so much weaker than us. They can be easily persuaded by pain to do anything. They are unpredictable, Red. We can't risk her being alive."
"We can't kill her. She's too good a soldier." Red quickly made up an excuse.
"Are you defending this human, Red? Do you want her to live? Are you simply attached to this human?" Purple eyed him with a deadly stare.
Red sighed. "Fine. We go on with the execution."
"I'm glad we could figure this out. Her execution is schedule for tomorrow."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Red watched as Ri walked up the platform steps. It wasn't the walk she had walked when she went up to them, struggling with all her might and determination. No, she walked without the least bit ferocity and confidence, almost seeming to give up everything.
The crowd stared up at her. Ri looked at Red. She weakly smiled at him, almost as if she was saying, "don't worry, Red. It will be okay. Nobody's going to get hurt."
Red watched in absolute horror as the shooting squad lined up to face Ri. It was the traditional way to hold an Irken execution, but sometimes different punishments were given. They tied Ri to a wooden pole with rope, and somehow, Red knew that she could easily escape it-but she just didn't want to.
Purple sat relaxed and calm and Red sat with intensity and fear. "Aim." Purple said first. Every Irken up there aimed their guns pointed toward Ri. "Shoot …" They got ready to pull the trigger. Ri sighed, knowing that it was the last breath she'd ever take and knew she had somehow served her purpose.
But that wasn't enough for Red. "STOP!" He yelled and he ran over to the platform, blocking Ri. Somehow, all the words poured into his mind, creating a lie that would work though. "Did you see her performance? Did you see how she didn't struggle at all? Do you really think she would betray the Empire, Purple?" He shouted. He looked at the crowd. "Do you?"
The crowd themselves seemed to shake their heads as well. She didn't seem the traitor type.
"Let her become a soldier, Purple. Please." Red begged his friend.
Purple sighed. "Why are you asking me for? You're a ruler too. Go ahead, get her out."
The guards began to near her to untie her but Red shooed them away. He untied her quickly and took her hand.
"Come on, let me get you a room." He said to her.
"Why … why did you save me, Red?" She stuttered.
"Well, I dunno, but when I asked you why you saved Purple, it didn't sound very truthful. Until you tell me though, let's just put it this way: The same reason you saved Purple."
He spotted the cell she was in. There she was; shivering, laying down in a curled ball, closing her eyes and sleeping in the hay. Her face was wearing an expression of pain, and she looked quite uncomfortable. For an Irken who didn't really care much about anyone or anything, he looked quite distressed as well.
He opened her jail door. He couldn't believe she was actually in this jail. More than anything, he wanted to get her out. For some reason, that was his only desire.
He sat by her and waited. He waited for over two hours in the cold and dark prison. He played with her soft ebony black hair, twisting it around his claws. He studied her for awhile, he had never really studied a human up close before with as much time as he liked. And she was … What was that human word???
He touched her face with his claw. All of a sudden, as he brushed his claw against her face, it cut her skin and fresh blood came out.
She woke up immediately, sitting up instantaneously. She stared at him suspiciously.
"I'm … I'm sorry." Red quickly stuttered.
She felt her face, touching the blood with her fingers and looking at it. "It's okay." She finally said. It isn't the worst thing that has ever happened to me before." She shivered again, her arms trying to warm herself as much as possible.
Red saw this and quickly felt sorry for her. He couldn't really feel the chill in his warm regal clothes. "So, do you want a blanket or something?" He asked her.
"No, that's okay …" She started, shivering again. "I supposed I could make a blanket out of the hay, but I'm too last to do it now." She lay down again. "And I don't think a royal should wear out his hands worn for the sake of a prisoner."
"I like to weary my /claws/ especially in battle." Red grinned. "A pleasurable feeling to have your enemy's blood dripping down your claws, or hands in your case."
"Heh." She smiled weakly. "Am I your enemy?'
"Well… not exactly. But I couldn't care much for your blood anyway."
"Why, red doesn't suit you?"
Red rolled his eyes, knowing he had lost again.
"I'm going to sleep, get some more energy from that in place of eating." She closed her eyes.
Red immediately left. He ordered for some servants at once. "I want the warmest blanket there is! I have been getting extremely cold during the night. I need another blanket!" He yelled.
"Sir, we can just get the heating system working into your room." One said.
"No, I want a blanket! Do you have authority to question me?" Red demanded.
"No, sir." The Irken servant went to fetch the blanket, muttering curses. He brought it to Red and handed it to him.
"Thank you, now here's your tip." Red said, dropping a few gebels (Irken money) into the servant's hands. He carried the blanket, turned around, and bumped into Purple.
"Red?" Purple looked at him suspiciously.
"Oh, hi Purp." Red weakly smiled.
"What are you doing with that blanket?" He eyed the blanket.
"I get cold at night, for some reason."
"We'll turn the heating system higher."
"Naw, that's okay. I'd much rather have the blanket anyway. It's nice to feel." Red quickly lied.
"Whatever you say …" Purple said. "I'm going to the library, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll be busy for awhile, I'll meet you later." Red turned around and headed toward the prison … with Purple seeing him go there. Purple shook his head, with hatred in his eyes, and left for the library. He would figure out a plan …
Red quickly rushed down the prison stairs. He could care less about the guards now, so he made as much noise as he pleased. He slid down the banister of the rest of the prison stairs and ran to her cell. He saw her sleeping again, still shivering though.
He opened her door and laid the blanket on her. She stopped shivering and began sleeping peacefully, with no signs of pain on her face. She slept quite emotionless, but it was hard to tell if a smile was creeping up her face.
But she woke up anyway. She noticed a change in the environment and immediately woke up. She saw and felt the blanket placed on her, and then saw the Irken leader sitting right beside her. "Thank you." She finally said.
"Your welcome." Red replied. "Your name is Ri, if I'm not mistaken?"
"What is my name of any importance to you?"
"Much. After all, it was you who saved Purple and many other Irkens."
"Well, if it /is/ that important to you, my name is Ri. And yours, Red?"
"Yes. The others are required to call me Almighty Tallest Red, but you are most certainly welcome to call me Red, my lady." He grinned. Ri blushed a little, but did not let herself go off guard. "So, how did you find the Irken ship?"
"Mostly by taking a stroll. I do that daily every night because I like to get away from home as much as I can. I saw the ship in the woods, neared it, listened to what they were saying, and here I am, on the planet Irk." She shrugged.
"My officers have many flaws." Red shook his head thinking of a few. "It's a pity we don't have skilled soldiers or invaders like we used to have."
"Oh? What would be the description?"
"Strong, obedient, skillful, clever, smart, trustworthy, and loyal. A lot of our soldiers have gone to the Goroken army. The ones that you see left are loyal, I think but few fit the entire description."
"Anyone particular?"
"Not that I can think of who's Irken … But …. Invader Zim, though he was a total failure, isn't that bad."
Ri nodded.
The prison door quickly opened. An officer looked in. "My Tallest, my Lord, Almighty Tallest Purple has called for your audience."
"I'll see you later, Ri." He smiled, and she smiled back. He ran up the stairs and out of the prison. He walked to the library, filled with the strangest thoughts. Purple was sitting in his soft purple armchair, with a stack of books right beside him. "Hi, Purp." He said as he leaned back in his own red armchair.
"Red. I'm glad you could come." Purple began.
"So, what did you want?"
"I think I may have a solution to our problem with the human."
Red gulped. "Ri?"
"Ri?" Purple eyed Red. "Is that what her name is? Well anyway, I have been looking through some of the old history books of politics and the political problems they had. They don't have humans, but I found similar problems and solutions to ours."
"Go on."
"We simply execute her."
"WHAT?"
"We execute her. She already knows too much about the plans and our empire. Even if she is a great soldier, we can't risk having her get captured and tortured for information."
"What about the other soldiers?" Red questioned. "They could be tortured for information as well!"
"But you are forgetting that humans are so much weaker than us. They can be easily persuaded by pain to do anything. They are unpredictable, Red. We can't risk her being alive."
"We can't kill her. She's too good a soldier." Red quickly made up an excuse.
"Are you defending this human, Red? Do you want her to live? Are you simply attached to this human?" Purple eyed him with a deadly stare.
Red sighed. "Fine. We go on with the execution."
"I'm glad we could figure this out. Her execution is schedule for tomorrow."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Red watched as Ri walked up the platform steps. It wasn't the walk she had walked when she went up to them, struggling with all her might and determination. No, she walked without the least bit ferocity and confidence, almost seeming to give up everything.
The crowd stared up at her. Ri looked at Red. She weakly smiled at him, almost as if she was saying, "don't worry, Red. It will be okay. Nobody's going to get hurt."
Red watched in absolute horror as the shooting squad lined up to face Ri. It was the traditional way to hold an Irken execution, but sometimes different punishments were given. They tied Ri to a wooden pole with rope, and somehow, Red knew that she could easily escape it-but she just didn't want to.
Purple sat relaxed and calm and Red sat with intensity and fear. "Aim." Purple said first. Every Irken up there aimed their guns pointed toward Ri. "Shoot …" They got ready to pull the trigger. Ri sighed, knowing that it was the last breath she'd ever take and knew she had somehow served her purpose.
But that wasn't enough for Red. "STOP!" He yelled and he ran over to the platform, blocking Ri. Somehow, all the words poured into his mind, creating a lie that would work though. "Did you see her performance? Did you see how she didn't struggle at all? Do you really think she would betray the Empire, Purple?" He shouted. He looked at the crowd. "Do you?"
The crowd themselves seemed to shake their heads as well. She didn't seem the traitor type.
"Let her become a soldier, Purple. Please." Red begged his friend.
Purple sighed. "Why are you asking me for? You're a ruler too. Go ahead, get her out."
The guards began to near her to untie her but Red shooed them away. He untied her quickly and took her hand.
"Come on, let me get you a room." He said to her.
"Why … why did you save me, Red?" She stuttered.
"Well, I dunno, but when I asked you why you saved Purple, it didn't sound very truthful. Until you tell me though, let's just put it this way: The same reason you saved Purple."