Author's note: Here's part 3 of the IZ fan fic. Some interesting stuff
happens in this one! (I don't own any of the official chars btw, only my
fan chars!)
~The Fist Conquers All~
~Part 3~
The first night of the journey soon came. Xiz was logging the record for her day in her log.
Outside, she could hear clanks bangs and yells from the others in their quarters and the lounge. Kligg was swearing so loud that she thought the Tallest could probably hear him. She heard SIR being flung across the room, no doubt it had attached itself to Kligg in some way and he'd lost his temper with it.
She sighed. Kligg she thought. Wow. She really wanted to go out and see him but was afraid she'd get in his way. She sat up and closed her log. There was a small light on above her head and shadows danced in the corners of the room. She got up and got a drink from the vendor. Then she got back in her bed and started to drink it.
Suddenly something smashed against her door, or rather thudded. Startled, Xiz ran to the door and opened it to find Duf on his back with one of the lenses in his glasses broken. He sat up and rubbed his back.
"Are you ok?" she asked him.
"Not really. How shall I ever fix my glasses?" he sighed taking them off.
"What happened?" asked Xiz.
"Rast went into destruction mode when he lost his temper with Kligg" replied Duf.
"And he slammed you against a door?"
"Yes"
Xiz looked around the room and spotted Rast near one of the vendors, foaming at the mouth like a rabid thing and panting. She shuddered. Kligg was no where to be seen.obviously in his quarters. Smee was picking up SIR's arm with had fallen off on impact with the wall.
Man if the whole journey's gunna be like this I dunno how we'll make it thought Xiz. She decided to go and see Kligg. It would give her a chance to be in his quarters and help make him feel better too.
She knocked on the door.
"WHAT?!" came the loud reply.
She opened the door and went in.
"And what the fuck do you want?" he snapped.
"I just came to see if you were ok that's all" she replied. Kligg sighed.
"I should never have chosen that bastard Rast" he said. He was sat on his bed. Xiz sat down next to him.
"Why's that? What happened anyway?" she asked.
"Eh, I made a snide remark about his looks. I couldn't help it. I was joking around and asked him how it was hanging and the little bugger attacked me. Then he just went fuckin' insane." He told her. Xiz wanted so much to hug him, she nearly put an arm round him but held herself back.
"Well I think he's calmed down now" she said.
"Yeah", replied Kligg, "I shouldn't have been so stupid. That fucker can gut an Irken with his bare hands. I've seen him rip this guy's squeedilyspooch out when he made fun of him. While the guy was still alive! I've never heard such pained screams except that cull I went on on Shogral. I thought I was bad, but man, he's way worse."
"But why would asking him how its hanging make him go like that?" asked Xiz, puzzled now.
"It's his ruddy tongue. It's dislocated and that's why it hangs out like that. If anyone mentions it, he tears them apart. He got it dislocated in a fight years ago so when he relaxes it, it just hangs. I'm sure you've noticed he has a slight speech impediment because of it?"
Xiz hadn't noticed really but it was kind of hard to spot. Rast sometimes spoke with a slight slur.
"Yes, well never mind. We all need a good night's rest. Today has been pretty busy and we're all stressed and tired" replied Xiz. Kligg nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. WIR, recharge mode!"
WIR reversed into his compartment and some wires flew out of him and plugged into sockets set in the walls and ceiling of the compartment. A few sparks and he was soon recharging. Kligg yawned. Xiz didn't move.
Kligg's quarters smelt of cigarette smoke and she was scanning around it with her eyes.
"Uh, Xiz?"
She looked at him, eager to hear his next words. "Yes Kligg?"
"Get out of my fuckin' quarters so I can go to bed. I don't want you gawking at me while I get ready" he said.
Xiz's antennae dropped so low they lay flat against her head. "Uh yes ok, see you tomorrow then" she said and walked out meekly. Kligg rolled his eyes as the door closed behind her. He snorted and prepared for bed.
Xiz miserably returned to her own quarters. Oh man I was so sure he'd say something different. I guess I.wait a minute.I was in his quarters! I was in his quarters and he didn't care! I actually talked to him without messing it up! She fell down onto the bed on her back, staring happily at the ceiling.
Wow he's so cool.
After a while, she finished her drink and got into bed. She'd forgotten her night uniform so she just told the lights to turn off and fell asleep with the curly fry on her pillow.
Next morning, she awoke to a pail light shining in her face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked towards it. It was Duf.
"Uh.excuse me." he said waving a light wand around. Xiz blinked a few times and sat up.
"What is it?" her voice was groggy and croaky. Duf held up his shattered glasses.
"Do you have anything that will fix these?"
"No. Go into the repairs room. There's probably a matter welder in there you can use for it." With that, Xiz flomped back down on her bed and closed her eyes again. Duf left without another word.
When Xiz awoke next, all was quiet. No more intrusions from anyone else, just peace and quiet. Xiz commanded the lights on and sat on the edge of the bed getting her bearings. It had been her first night on the Tooz Ship and she'd slept well. However she did miss her father.
I think I'll contact him this morning she thought. She stood up, flicked a switch so the bed flipped smoothly into the wall and grabbed a snack from the vendor before going out into the lounge.
It was surprisingly peaceful in the lounge that morning. Smee was pulling SIR's aerial, Rast was fiddling with some sort of weapon of mass destruction, WIR was in duty mode-cleaning and Kligg was watching TV on the giant viewscreen. Xiz made a bee-line for him and sat down on the couch looking at the TV. He was watching some sort of Irken battle film.
"Uh, Kligg?"
"What?"
"Can I borrow the viewscreen to contact the Tallest with?"
"No, why?"
"I want to speak with my father."
"Do it in your room then, I'm watching this movie." Kligg had a finalising tone to his voice that unnerved Xiz.
"Oh" she said, sounding disappointed. "And I thought the great Kligg was kinder than that. Maybe he's not as undeniably great as I thought he was." She looked away. That did it.
"Here, use it if you bloody well want to" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Xiz nearly collapsed as he touched her. Without even realising what she was doing, she'd thrown her arms round him.
"Oh thank you great and mighty Kligg!!" she yelled and kissed him on the cheek. Kligg was speechless and Xiz, just realising what she'd done ran off to her quarters, leaving Kligg dumbstruck on the couch. Duf looked enviously at him.
Oh yeah, he thought, the girls are all over Kligg. Kligg blinked and went a bit pink.
Xiz, in her quarters, paced around.
Oh no, what if he hates me? What if he thinks I'm weird? What if he thought I was a jerk? She decided to call the Tallest from her quarters after all.
On the Massive, Red and Purple were sorting out the missions the individual invaders were taking on.
"I hate work" said Red tapping his fingers on the table in aggravation. Purple was trying to find Invader Slacks' file.
Suddenly the buzzer went off.
"There's someone outside" said Red.
"You don't say!" replied Purple sarcastically. Red raised his antennae and growled at him. Purple smirked.
"On screen" commanded Red and the door of the room went invisible, revealing the Irken outside.
"It's for you" said Red. Purple had his head in a pile of papers.
"Remind me to fire that annoying communications officer.you know, the one who yells things in that REALLY annoying voice. (He is of course referring to the communications officer in the episode, Megadoomer who very enthusiastically announced incoming transmissions in a voice that could be heard out in space.) Huh? For me?" Purple hurriedly got up and went over to the door to greet the newcomer.
"Enter" he commanded and the door opened revealing Nar standing in the corridor.
"Hi Purpy!" she grinned. Purple went pink and gestured for her to come in. Nar walked in, fondling him under the chin as she did so. Purple felt his antennae go weak. Nar was his female Irken that he spent a lot of the time with. Sort of like a concubine in some human countries. She was an unusual Irken with bright blue eyes. This was the main think that had attracted Purple to her in the first place. She wore a long black trench coat, black pants, boots and a purple top with some kind of symbol on it. Like most female Irkens her antennae were curled over at the ends. Purple followed her in closing the door.
"Hello Nar. We're busy right now, you'll have to come back later" said Red. He was jealous of Purple since he himself, although he had many females, he didn't have a personal one. He used to but she'd gone off to be an invader.
"Red." warned Purple. Red pouted and carried on looking for any invaders who didn't currently have missions but were supposed to.
"So, what have I done to deserve your company, Nar?" asked Purple, with a smirk.
"I just felt like dropping in." Nar sidled up to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Purpy." she murmured. Purple hugged her close. He loved that pet name she gave him.
Red made puking noises behind his pile of invader papers.
"Oh don't be so insensitive Red!" snapped Purple. Red didn't reply. Purple looked down at Nar. She was about two feet shorter than him. She stood on tiptoes and nuzzled his neck, laying her antennae flat submissively.
"Oh Puh-leeeeese!" groaned Red in the background. Purple and Nar ignored him, too intent on gazing into each other's eyes.
Suddenly the computer spoke up. "Incoming transmission from Xiz on Tooz Ship number 86210." Purple looked up.
"Accept" he said.
A giant holographic screen was projected onto the wall by holo-projectors set in the ceiling of the room. Xiz's face appeared on it.
"Hi Dad! I was just calling to let you know I'm still alive!" she laughed nervously, still flushed from her earlier experience with Kligg and the kiss. Purple smiled.
"That's good. Kligg is handling things well?"
"Yes, he's a great captain"
"And the others?"
"Rast is a bit scary and Smee is insane, but they're ok really."
Purple smiled. "Well only another two months after this and you'll be there ready to test out your invader skills. You.are training.aren't you?"
"I haven't yet"
"Well you will. Kligg will train you."
Xiz smiled. Kligg wasn't really top of her list of people to talk about in case she blurted something out she shouldn't. She noticed Nar.
"Who's that?" she asked, looking at Nar, who was draped on Purple's arm looking exceedingly content.
"Oh, this is Nar" replied Purple. Nar waved. She was not Xiz's mother. In fact, Xiz had never even met her mother. Once Purple found out Xiz was going to be tall and had the tallest gene in her (a very rare occurrence), he got her out of the smeet chambers and raised her himself. He wasn't going to waste his gene on an Irken that was going to be a soldier. He wanted to bring her up in a proper environment for ruling, on the Massive. It was unknown who her mother was. (All down to the way Irkens breed. I'd explain how I think they breed but lets face it, no one gives a flying grik!)
"Hi Nar" said Xiz.
"Its good to hear from you anyway, Xiz. Tell me if anything bothers you or if you have problems of any kind" said Purple. Xiz didn't like the finalisation in his voice. It seemed he wanted to close the transmission.
"Ok Dad. I love you and I'll call tomorrow. Invader Xiz signing off!"
The screen went blank and disappeared. Red coughed.
"OPERATION: IMPENDING DOOM 2!" he said loudly. Purple wasn't listening. He was indulging in a long and passionate kiss with Nar.
"PURPLE! We're supposed to be sorting out the invaders!" yelled a frustrated Red. Purple broke off the kiss and gave him such a poisonous look that Red cringed. Nar played with Purple's antennae.
"I have some eggs that need removing" she purred. He looked at her and the corner of his mouth curled upwards into a small smirk.
"But we have to sort out the missions for the invaders." trailed off Red.
"That's why there are two of us, Red. So one can keep working when the other has.business to attend to." Purple picked Nar up gently in his arms and they left the room. Red sighed and carried on sorting.
"Incoming Transmission"
"What now?" groaned Red pushing Invader Spleen's paper away for the third time that day. Kligg's face appeared on the large screen.
"Invader Kligg reporting my Tallest! The mission is going well. We're currently in sector 8K. The ship is progressing faster than I first thought, we should get to earth earlier than previously expected. The ship, as you know, is capable of hyper drive so if we.my Tallest?"
Red was slouched with his chin resting on the palm of his hand looking like he was listening but not paying any attention. When Kligg stopped speaking, he sat up.
"Yes, good, carry on as you are. You're doing well. I have to get back to the filing now so I have to go."
"As you wish my Tallest," said Kligg, "Invader Kligg signing off!" He flicked the view screen back to the film again but the way Xiz had acted kept nagging at him.
He finally saw her emerge from her quarters and called her over to him. Xiz swallowed a little and went over to Kligg.
"Sit." He said. She obeyed.
"Your behaviour around me is becoming increasingly unusual. I would like to know why." He kept the sentence short and straight to the point. Xiz gulped.
"I'm sorry, but it is such an honour to be in your presence. I never know how to act around you."
"For the love of Irk, Xiz, you're around the bloody Tallest every day. In comparison, I am not as incredibly "amazing" as them. I know its something more than that. I know a liar when I hear one." He stared deep into her eyes, his face so close to hers she could smell the tobacco in his very skin. "And you," he said quietly in a low monotone, "are lying." Xiz's lip quivered and she looked away, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Well?" he demanded quietly. She could hear in his voice he was trying to be calm. She didn't want to push him.
"I."
"Look at me. A true invader looks danger in the eye when they confront it." He reached down and moved her face towards him with a gloved hand. Xiz sat up, but her antennae showed her fear, limp and laid back against her head like the ears of a frightened cat. She looked him straight in the eye and said:
"It was something I ate."
Kligg didn't look impressed, nor did he look like he believed her. He stared at her with a slightly sceptical air.
"You don't believe me, do you?" she muttered. He shook his head, no.
Xiz took a deep breath and said, "I can't tell you why I act like this around you."
"And why the fuck is that?" asked Kligg calmly.
"I have my reasons" replied Xiz, trying to look at him straight in the eyes as he had done to her before. Kligg ran a hand down his face in a weary fashion.
"Fine" he said after a short pause. Xiz was speechless now. He'd taken it so well and she wondered why. She looked down at her feet and suddenly saw something shiny and round on the floor. She picked it up. It was the photon adjuster for a standard Irken laser pistol. She guessed who it belonged to. Kligg was leaning back on the couch with his head leaned right back and his eyes closed. No doubt mulling over what had just happened or asleep.
Xiz wandered over to Rast's quarters and went in. Rast was curled up on the bed asleep. She carefully put the photon adjuster on the windowsill and paused to look out at the glittering stars in the vast blackness of space. They whizzed past like flashes of light from the cars on a highway at night.
"Nice, isn't it? Did you know most of them are dead but still shine for a few light years ahead?"
Xiz jumped and looked behind her. It was Rast.
"I'm sorry, I was returning this I found on the floor in the lounge." She handed him the photon adjuster.
"Cheersss" he hissed and accepted it.
"Can't control the size of the laser beams that come out without one of these!"
"Uh.yeah, I'll be off now." Xiz walked over to the door but it didn't open. She was locked in!
"Stealth and silence are the first most important things to remember when you're an invader. Next to destruction of course!" Rast erupted into demonic laughter.
"Can you let me out?" pleaded Xiz.
"Yes. But first I want to show you something" replied Rast. Xiz looked around. Rast's room had a bed and some charred carpet.there was nothing else to see except a few pieces of warped plastic and twisted metal here and there.
"Sit down" ordered Rast. Xiz sat on the bed.
"No, that's not down enough!" grinned Rast, his teeth glinting like needles lining his mouth. Xiz sat in the only other place she could sit-on the floor next to Rast. He was holding a round device with a button on the top and three holes in the front. He pressed the button and blue beams shot out of the holes. They aimed for the bed and gathered into a single beam, locking onto the bed and dragging it towards Rast.
"Now for the fun bit!" giggled Rast excitedly. He twisted the button and the bed was flung against the wall, shattering it on impact and making a huge dent in the steel wall.
"Congratulations Rast, now you don't have a bed either" said Xiz getting up.
"Maybe I did set it a little high" murmured Rast, shaking the ball thing in his hands.
"Can I go now?" asked Xiz.
"Yeah sure, whatever" said Rast examining the device. "Unlock." Xiz crept out and back into the lounge again, sitting down with a soda.
**********************************************************
For the first month or so, life on the Tooz Ship was fairly quiet. Xiz called Purple once a day to begin with but that soon became once a week, as there was never anything much to talk about. Duf read a lot and Smee nearly broke SIR trying to stuff it in the food vendor when he couldn't get a snack out one day. Rast stayed in his quarters a lot of the time. Xiz never ventured into them again for a while. Kligg kept lookout and watched Irken TV, mostly enshrouded in a small haze of fag smoke. He never mentioned anything else about Xiz's behaviour towards him basically because she didn't talk to him much though she longed to. She often spied on him in his room though, as in the equipment bay, she'd found a tiny spycam she fixed in the corner of his quarters while he was repairing Odax, his Voot Runner in the docking bay one day.
She could pan it from side to side and zoom in by means of a remote controller she kept in her quarters. After Kligg went into his quarters each evening, she'd retire to her own and watch him.
Near the end of the second month, they were cruising at a steady pace.
They were all in the lounge having lunch when it happened. An enormous explosion followed by a blast that rocked the ship. Kligg leaped up and rushed to the window, then turned and calmly said:
"Battle stations everyone! We're under attack!"
Ooh! What a cliffhanger! You'll have to wait till the next part to find out what happens.
~The Fist Conquers All~
~Part 3~
The first night of the journey soon came. Xiz was logging the record for her day in her log.
Outside, she could hear clanks bangs and yells from the others in their quarters and the lounge. Kligg was swearing so loud that she thought the Tallest could probably hear him. She heard SIR being flung across the room, no doubt it had attached itself to Kligg in some way and he'd lost his temper with it.
She sighed. Kligg she thought. Wow. She really wanted to go out and see him but was afraid she'd get in his way. She sat up and closed her log. There was a small light on above her head and shadows danced in the corners of the room. She got up and got a drink from the vendor. Then she got back in her bed and started to drink it.
Suddenly something smashed against her door, or rather thudded. Startled, Xiz ran to the door and opened it to find Duf on his back with one of the lenses in his glasses broken. He sat up and rubbed his back.
"Are you ok?" she asked him.
"Not really. How shall I ever fix my glasses?" he sighed taking them off.
"What happened?" asked Xiz.
"Rast went into destruction mode when he lost his temper with Kligg" replied Duf.
"And he slammed you against a door?"
"Yes"
Xiz looked around the room and spotted Rast near one of the vendors, foaming at the mouth like a rabid thing and panting. She shuddered. Kligg was no where to be seen.obviously in his quarters. Smee was picking up SIR's arm with had fallen off on impact with the wall.
Man if the whole journey's gunna be like this I dunno how we'll make it thought Xiz. She decided to go and see Kligg. It would give her a chance to be in his quarters and help make him feel better too.
She knocked on the door.
"WHAT?!" came the loud reply.
She opened the door and went in.
"And what the fuck do you want?" he snapped.
"I just came to see if you were ok that's all" she replied. Kligg sighed.
"I should never have chosen that bastard Rast" he said. He was sat on his bed. Xiz sat down next to him.
"Why's that? What happened anyway?" she asked.
"Eh, I made a snide remark about his looks. I couldn't help it. I was joking around and asked him how it was hanging and the little bugger attacked me. Then he just went fuckin' insane." He told her. Xiz wanted so much to hug him, she nearly put an arm round him but held herself back.
"Well I think he's calmed down now" she said.
"Yeah", replied Kligg, "I shouldn't have been so stupid. That fucker can gut an Irken with his bare hands. I've seen him rip this guy's squeedilyspooch out when he made fun of him. While the guy was still alive! I've never heard such pained screams except that cull I went on on Shogral. I thought I was bad, but man, he's way worse."
"But why would asking him how its hanging make him go like that?" asked Xiz, puzzled now.
"It's his ruddy tongue. It's dislocated and that's why it hangs out like that. If anyone mentions it, he tears them apart. He got it dislocated in a fight years ago so when he relaxes it, it just hangs. I'm sure you've noticed he has a slight speech impediment because of it?"
Xiz hadn't noticed really but it was kind of hard to spot. Rast sometimes spoke with a slight slur.
"Yes, well never mind. We all need a good night's rest. Today has been pretty busy and we're all stressed and tired" replied Xiz. Kligg nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. WIR, recharge mode!"
WIR reversed into his compartment and some wires flew out of him and plugged into sockets set in the walls and ceiling of the compartment. A few sparks and he was soon recharging. Kligg yawned. Xiz didn't move.
Kligg's quarters smelt of cigarette smoke and she was scanning around it with her eyes.
"Uh, Xiz?"
She looked at him, eager to hear his next words. "Yes Kligg?"
"Get out of my fuckin' quarters so I can go to bed. I don't want you gawking at me while I get ready" he said.
Xiz's antennae dropped so low they lay flat against her head. "Uh yes ok, see you tomorrow then" she said and walked out meekly. Kligg rolled his eyes as the door closed behind her. He snorted and prepared for bed.
Xiz miserably returned to her own quarters. Oh man I was so sure he'd say something different. I guess I.wait a minute.I was in his quarters! I was in his quarters and he didn't care! I actually talked to him without messing it up! She fell down onto the bed on her back, staring happily at the ceiling.
Wow he's so cool.
After a while, she finished her drink and got into bed. She'd forgotten her night uniform so she just told the lights to turn off and fell asleep with the curly fry on her pillow.
Next morning, she awoke to a pail light shining in her face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked towards it. It was Duf.
"Uh.excuse me." he said waving a light wand around. Xiz blinked a few times and sat up.
"What is it?" her voice was groggy and croaky. Duf held up his shattered glasses.
"Do you have anything that will fix these?"
"No. Go into the repairs room. There's probably a matter welder in there you can use for it." With that, Xiz flomped back down on her bed and closed her eyes again. Duf left without another word.
When Xiz awoke next, all was quiet. No more intrusions from anyone else, just peace and quiet. Xiz commanded the lights on and sat on the edge of the bed getting her bearings. It had been her first night on the Tooz Ship and she'd slept well. However she did miss her father.
I think I'll contact him this morning she thought. She stood up, flicked a switch so the bed flipped smoothly into the wall and grabbed a snack from the vendor before going out into the lounge.
It was surprisingly peaceful in the lounge that morning. Smee was pulling SIR's aerial, Rast was fiddling with some sort of weapon of mass destruction, WIR was in duty mode-cleaning and Kligg was watching TV on the giant viewscreen. Xiz made a bee-line for him and sat down on the couch looking at the TV. He was watching some sort of Irken battle film.
"Uh, Kligg?"
"What?"
"Can I borrow the viewscreen to contact the Tallest with?"
"No, why?"
"I want to speak with my father."
"Do it in your room then, I'm watching this movie." Kligg had a finalising tone to his voice that unnerved Xiz.
"Oh" she said, sounding disappointed. "And I thought the great Kligg was kinder than that. Maybe he's not as undeniably great as I thought he was." She looked away. That did it.
"Here, use it if you bloody well want to" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Xiz nearly collapsed as he touched her. Without even realising what she was doing, she'd thrown her arms round him.
"Oh thank you great and mighty Kligg!!" she yelled and kissed him on the cheek. Kligg was speechless and Xiz, just realising what she'd done ran off to her quarters, leaving Kligg dumbstruck on the couch. Duf looked enviously at him.
Oh yeah, he thought, the girls are all over Kligg. Kligg blinked and went a bit pink.
Xiz, in her quarters, paced around.
Oh no, what if he hates me? What if he thinks I'm weird? What if he thought I was a jerk? She decided to call the Tallest from her quarters after all.
On the Massive, Red and Purple were sorting out the missions the individual invaders were taking on.
"I hate work" said Red tapping his fingers on the table in aggravation. Purple was trying to find Invader Slacks' file.
Suddenly the buzzer went off.
"There's someone outside" said Red.
"You don't say!" replied Purple sarcastically. Red raised his antennae and growled at him. Purple smirked.
"On screen" commanded Red and the door of the room went invisible, revealing the Irken outside.
"It's for you" said Red. Purple had his head in a pile of papers.
"Remind me to fire that annoying communications officer.you know, the one who yells things in that REALLY annoying voice. (He is of course referring to the communications officer in the episode, Megadoomer who very enthusiastically announced incoming transmissions in a voice that could be heard out in space.) Huh? For me?" Purple hurriedly got up and went over to the door to greet the newcomer.
"Enter" he commanded and the door opened revealing Nar standing in the corridor.
"Hi Purpy!" she grinned. Purple went pink and gestured for her to come in. Nar walked in, fondling him under the chin as she did so. Purple felt his antennae go weak. Nar was his female Irken that he spent a lot of the time with. Sort of like a concubine in some human countries. She was an unusual Irken with bright blue eyes. This was the main think that had attracted Purple to her in the first place. She wore a long black trench coat, black pants, boots and a purple top with some kind of symbol on it. Like most female Irkens her antennae were curled over at the ends. Purple followed her in closing the door.
"Hello Nar. We're busy right now, you'll have to come back later" said Red. He was jealous of Purple since he himself, although he had many females, he didn't have a personal one. He used to but she'd gone off to be an invader.
"Red." warned Purple. Red pouted and carried on looking for any invaders who didn't currently have missions but were supposed to.
"So, what have I done to deserve your company, Nar?" asked Purple, with a smirk.
"I just felt like dropping in." Nar sidled up to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Purpy." she murmured. Purple hugged her close. He loved that pet name she gave him.
Red made puking noises behind his pile of invader papers.
"Oh don't be so insensitive Red!" snapped Purple. Red didn't reply. Purple looked down at Nar. She was about two feet shorter than him. She stood on tiptoes and nuzzled his neck, laying her antennae flat submissively.
"Oh Puh-leeeeese!" groaned Red in the background. Purple and Nar ignored him, too intent on gazing into each other's eyes.
Suddenly the computer spoke up. "Incoming transmission from Xiz on Tooz Ship number 86210." Purple looked up.
"Accept" he said.
A giant holographic screen was projected onto the wall by holo-projectors set in the ceiling of the room. Xiz's face appeared on it.
"Hi Dad! I was just calling to let you know I'm still alive!" she laughed nervously, still flushed from her earlier experience with Kligg and the kiss. Purple smiled.
"That's good. Kligg is handling things well?"
"Yes, he's a great captain"
"And the others?"
"Rast is a bit scary and Smee is insane, but they're ok really."
Purple smiled. "Well only another two months after this and you'll be there ready to test out your invader skills. You.are training.aren't you?"
"I haven't yet"
"Well you will. Kligg will train you."
Xiz smiled. Kligg wasn't really top of her list of people to talk about in case she blurted something out she shouldn't. She noticed Nar.
"Who's that?" she asked, looking at Nar, who was draped on Purple's arm looking exceedingly content.
"Oh, this is Nar" replied Purple. Nar waved. She was not Xiz's mother. In fact, Xiz had never even met her mother. Once Purple found out Xiz was going to be tall and had the tallest gene in her (a very rare occurrence), he got her out of the smeet chambers and raised her himself. He wasn't going to waste his gene on an Irken that was going to be a soldier. He wanted to bring her up in a proper environment for ruling, on the Massive. It was unknown who her mother was. (All down to the way Irkens breed. I'd explain how I think they breed but lets face it, no one gives a flying grik!)
"Hi Nar" said Xiz.
"Its good to hear from you anyway, Xiz. Tell me if anything bothers you or if you have problems of any kind" said Purple. Xiz didn't like the finalisation in his voice. It seemed he wanted to close the transmission.
"Ok Dad. I love you and I'll call tomorrow. Invader Xiz signing off!"
The screen went blank and disappeared. Red coughed.
"OPERATION: IMPENDING DOOM 2!" he said loudly. Purple wasn't listening. He was indulging in a long and passionate kiss with Nar.
"PURPLE! We're supposed to be sorting out the invaders!" yelled a frustrated Red. Purple broke off the kiss and gave him such a poisonous look that Red cringed. Nar played with Purple's antennae.
"I have some eggs that need removing" she purred. He looked at her and the corner of his mouth curled upwards into a small smirk.
"But we have to sort out the missions for the invaders." trailed off Red.
"That's why there are two of us, Red. So one can keep working when the other has.business to attend to." Purple picked Nar up gently in his arms and they left the room. Red sighed and carried on sorting.
"Incoming Transmission"
"What now?" groaned Red pushing Invader Spleen's paper away for the third time that day. Kligg's face appeared on the large screen.
"Invader Kligg reporting my Tallest! The mission is going well. We're currently in sector 8K. The ship is progressing faster than I first thought, we should get to earth earlier than previously expected. The ship, as you know, is capable of hyper drive so if we.my Tallest?"
Red was slouched with his chin resting on the palm of his hand looking like he was listening but not paying any attention. When Kligg stopped speaking, he sat up.
"Yes, good, carry on as you are. You're doing well. I have to get back to the filing now so I have to go."
"As you wish my Tallest," said Kligg, "Invader Kligg signing off!" He flicked the view screen back to the film again but the way Xiz had acted kept nagging at him.
He finally saw her emerge from her quarters and called her over to him. Xiz swallowed a little and went over to Kligg.
"Sit." He said. She obeyed.
"Your behaviour around me is becoming increasingly unusual. I would like to know why." He kept the sentence short and straight to the point. Xiz gulped.
"I'm sorry, but it is such an honour to be in your presence. I never know how to act around you."
"For the love of Irk, Xiz, you're around the bloody Tallest every day. In comparison, I am not as incredibly "amazing" as them. I know its something more than that. I know a liar when I hear one." He stared deep into her eyes, his face so close to hers she could smell the tobacco in his very skin. "And you," he said quietly in a low monotone, "are lying." Xiz's lip quivered and she looked away, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Well?" he demanded quietly. She could hear in his voice he was trying to be calm. She didn't want to push him.
"I."
"Look at me. A true invader looks danger in the eye when they confront it." He reached down and moved her face towards him with a gloved hand. Xiz sat up, but her antennae showed her fear, limp and laid back against her head like the ears of a frightened cat. She looked him straight in the eye and said:
"It was something I ate."
Kligg didn't look impressed, nor did he look like he believed her. He stared at her with a slightly sceptical air.
"You don't believe me, do you?" she muttered. He shook his head, no.
Xiz took a deep breath and said, "I can't tell you why I act like this around you."
"And why the fuck is that?" asked Kligg calmly.
"I have my reasons" replied Xiz, trying to look at him straight in the eyes as he had done to her before. Kligg ran a hand down his face in a weary fashion.
"Fine" he said after a short pause. Xiz was speechless now. He'd taken it so well and she wondered why. She looked down at her feet and suddenly saw something shiny and round on the floor. She picked it up. It was the photon adjuster for a standard Irken laser pistol. She guessed who it belonged to. Kligg was leaning back on the couch with his head leaned right back and his eyes closed. No doubt mulling over what had just happened or asleep.
Xiz wandered over to Rast's quarters and went in. Rast was curled up on the bed asleep. She carefully put the photon adjuster on the windowsill and paused to look out at the glittering stars in the vast blackness of space. They whizzed past like flashes of light from the cars on a highway at night.
"Nice, isn't it? Did you know most of them are dead but still shine for a few light years ahead?"
Xiz jumped and looked behind her. It was Rast.
"I'm sorry, I was returning this I found on the floor in the lounge." She handed him the photon adjuster.
"Cheersss" he hissed and accepted it.
"Can't control the size of the laser beams that come out without one of these!"
"Uh.yeah, I'll be off now." Xiz walked over to the door but it didn't open. She was locked in!
"Stealth and silence are the first most important things to remember when you're an invader. Next to destruction of course!" Rast erupted into demonic laughter.
"Can you let me out?" pleaded Xiz.
"Yes. But first I want to show you something" replied Rast. Xiz looked around. Rast's room had a bed and some charred carpet.there was nothing else to see except a few pieces of warped plastic and twisted metal here and there.
"Sit down" ordered Rast. Xiz sat on the bed.
"No, that's not down enough!" grinned Rast, his teeth glinting like needles lining his mouth. Xiz sat in the only other place she could sit-on the floor next to Rast. He was holding a round device with a button on the top and three holes in the front. He pressed the button and blue beams shot out of the holes. They aimed for the bed and gathered into a single beam, locking onto the bed and dragging it towards Rast.
"Now for the fun bit!" giggled Rast excitedly. He twisted the button and the bed was flung against the wall, shattering it on impact and making a huge dent in the steel wall.
"Congratulations Rast, now you don't have a bed either" said Xiz getting up.
"Maybe I did set it a little high" murmured Rast, shaking the ball thing in his hands.
"Can I go now?" asked Xiz.
"Yeah sure, whatever" said Rast examining the device. "Unlock." Xiz crept out and back into the lounge again, sitting down with a soda.
**********************************************************
For the first month or so, life on the Tooz Ship was fairly quiet. Xiz called Purple once a day to begin with but that soon became once a week, as there was never anything much to talk about. Duf read a lot and Smee nearly broke SIR trying to stuff it in the food vendor when he couldn't get a snack out one day. Rast stayed in his quarters a lot of the time. Xiz never ventured into them again for a while. Kligg kept lookout and watched Irken TV, mostly enshrouded in a small haze of fag smoke. He never mentioned anything else about Xiz's behaviour towards him basically because she didn't talk to him much though she longed to. She often spied on him in his room though, as in the equipment bay, she'd found a tiny spycam she fixed in the corner of his quarters while he was repairing Odax, his Voot Runner in the docking bay one day.
She could pan it from side to side and zoom in by means of a remote controller she kept in her quarters. After Kligg went into his quarters each evening, she'd retire to her own and watch him.
Near the end of the second month, they were cruising at a steady pace.
They were all in the lounge having lunch when it happened. An enormous explosion followed by a blast that rocked the ship. Kligg leaped up and rushed to the window, then turned and calmly said:
"Battle stations everyone! We're under attack!"
Ooh! What a cliffhanger! You'll have to wait till the next part to find out what happens.