Begin Transmission.
Someone pointed out that Red, Zim, Tak, and Skoodge have no honest reason to believe anything Tain says… umm… I guess I'll just insert an author note saying that Tak and Skoodge respect Tain's words as truth, he's kinda weird-o psychic, Zim had the strange experience finding Red as a priest to make him believe the whole alternative universe thing. As for Red… we all know sidewalk priests don't need to make sense.
Wow, after putting that in there I realize exactly how much I look like a poopy author for including that note, but… I just wasn't in the mood to rework the earlier parts of the story.
Oh yes… for those who asked, Spork is a real IZ character. He was featured in a canceled episode. I've seen what someone claimed was "concept" art for the character, and he was wearing light blue. Hence his blue fetish.
Sorry to put so much Violet in here, but I'm getting attached to her. She's getting her own fic eventually!
End Transmission.
~
Tak coughed. "Do these places have to be so smoky?" she asked.
"What?" Skoodge shouted, even though he was right next to you.
"I asked if they have to be so smoky… and LOUD," Tak shouted back.
Zim picked at the sandwich laid out before him. It tasted funny, like the vegetables in it were either less than fresh or had been picked out of a bush out back of the club.
Up on stage, a rather drunken creature resembling a cross between an octopus and a cat was belting out some rendition of a song written in the Planet Jacker's native language. Zim caught only a few words here and there, but didn't really particularly care.
"A house of sin," Red muttered for the third time since their arrival only an hour earlier.
"He liked karaoke, and the tabloids said he was often seen at this particular bar in disguise. This is our best chance of finding him," Zim shouted back to Tak and Skoodge.
The cat-things song ended prematurely when it fell off the stage and had to be dragged away by the security staff. Tak quit applauding the fall when she saw the next contestant climb up the stairs. "Zim," she hissed. "It's Violet! Is it possible… their names are almost the same… Do you guys think what I'm thinking?" Tak asked, looking back and forth to them.
"I'd say we're all thinking that," Tain answered.
"Thinking what?" Red asked. He'd been busy studying the insect he'd found crawling under his plate.
"Nevermind, Red. Tain, you stay here with Red. We're going to confront the lovely Miss Violet as soon as her song is over."
"What if one of Spork's enforcers is spying on her? You could be seen. Is it worth risking her cover?" Skoodge nervously pointed out.
"If she's the missing tallest, then all this will be over, Skoodge. We can end Spork's reign. Isn't that worth the risk?"
Skoodge paused, then nodded. "Just… be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Tak nodded. "I will. I love you."
Zim made a vomiting noise. Tak glared at him. "Come on, Zim. We got a Violet to pick," She said, dragging him out of his chair and towards the stage.
Violet was flipping through the list of songs. She picked one, pressing down on the button with her ungloved finger.
[Song: Shell, opening theme from Witch Hunter Robin]
Hitomi wo fuseruto sugukieteshimaisoude Jibun ga mishiranu tanin ninattaki gasuru Kanashiihodo chippokena Sukuwaretaikara tameiki wo tsukuno janaku Kakidashite shimatta kodoku no kehai no kazu wo Tada kazoeteita Kawaita jikan no nakade Oboreterumogaiteru kokoro Memaiga surukurai no uso wo Uketomete hikisaita Soshite watashi ga mayoikomunowa Usuyami no sekai Shinjirubekimonono tamenitoeranda basho wa Jiyuu wo kagi nishita ori no nakadeshou Kesshite mou Nukedasenai Kawaita nodo no oku de Hajimatta hakanasa no wake wa Chikazuku ashita ga kowaikara Uzukumari kuzuretemo Watashi wo sagashite sasayakikakeru Usuyami no koe Kawaita jikan no nakade Oboreteru mogaiteru kokoro Memaig asurukurai no uso wo Uketomete hikisaita Soshite watashi ga Mayoikomunowa Usuyami no sekai
She finished the song to the sound of throbbing applause and whistling. She raised one of her arms up and punched the air victoriously. Taking the stairs off the stage three at time, she was on top of the world until she looked down to see Tak and Zim standing at the base of the stairs, looking up at her with serious expressions.
"Are you… are you going to sing?" she asked quietly. "What song are you going to do? A love song. I think that would be nice for the two of you. You compliment one…"
"Purple."
Violet shook her head. "No, Violet. You know me, Tak. Why are you here? You know that this is dangerous. I've got to go before someone sees me talking to you."
"Violet… tell us the truth. Is your name Purple?"
She shook her head again, her antennae bobbing vigorously. Zim stared at them, feeling drool rising in his mouth. A female's antennae were sensuous enough when short, Violet's antennae brushed the backs of her knees.
Tak noticed and smacked him on the back of the head, causing him to take a face dive into the wood. Violet laughed involuntarily, putting a hand to her mouth in a futile attempt to hold in the giggles. After all, she had an image to maintain, and laughter wasn't part of it.
"Violet… you don't have to be afraid anymore if it is. We've come to help you."
"Did you catch the insanity virus, Tak? You're talking nonsense."
Tak's antennae drooped visibly. "She's telling the truth, Zim. She's not Purple. We're back to square one."
"Why are you searching for someone named Purple?" Violet asked, looking nervously about to see if she were being watched. Despite all her work, Spork still didn't trust her further than he could throw her. Frankly, she didn't blame him. Even if he didn't know it, she was perhaps his most prolific and closest held traitor.
"His brother, his brother is looking for him," Tak quickly lied. It sounded good enough to her. "They're both so tall they have to hide from the Empire."
"That's sad," Violet said. "Perhaps I could look for him in the files. If I helped him escape, if he were executed, or if he escaped on his own, I'd be able to find that out. But you'll have to give me time, after the little "incident" with you three he's keeping me on a tighter leash than normal. I'll have to be extra careful when I look."
"Don't put your life in danger for," Tak nodded.
"You mean more than I already do? I'll send what I can find to you via the consorted system."
"Thanks, Violet." She nodded.
"Now that I've helped you two, I want you to do something for me in return."
Tak looked up, her eyes reflecting surprise. "What is that, Violet?"
=
"I can't believe she'd do this to us," Tak muttered, her face as red as the priests' name.
"Shut up and pick a song," Zim grumbled, a microphone clenched in his left fist.
"All right, I'll just pick anything!" Tak hissed, slamming a random button.
Zim's antennae drooped. "Why, oh why, did it have to be 'Total Eclipse of the Heart?"
~
Tain was applauding when they dragged back to the table. Even if they couldn't hear it, they could see his hands moving.
"She's not Purple," Tak sighed. "But she said she'd help us look for him."
"How could you be sure she's not a he in disguise?" Tain asked. He knew only from Zim's memories that both tallests from Zim's world were males.
"I could smell female hormone on her. It's amazing Zim's antennae didn't start twitching." Tak looked over at Zim and grinned, baring her teeth. "Maybe Zim plays for the other team."
"Huh?" Zim asked, not getting the reference.
"Nevermind," Tak shrugged, returning to her drink. She paused, sniffing cautiously at it.
"I watched it really carefully. It's safe," Tain assured her. "As safe as anything from a place like this can be, that is."
"I think we should go. There are no other Irkens here," Tak noted. "And even Violet seems to have left. Either that or I simply can't see her because she's rolling on the ground with laughter after seeing me and Zim attempting to sing and share a microphone at the same time." Needless for her to say, such a situation hadn't worked out in anyone's favor.
"I agree with Tak, and I'm dead tired," Skoodge yawned.
"Early to bed and early to rise makes an Irken healthy, wealthy, and wise," Tain smiled. His aged face cracked with wrinkles when he grinned.
"Then let's go," Red said, sliding out of his chair and leading the way through the swirling crowds.
"Zim does not sleep on the floor!" Zim protested for the third time since arriving back at Tain's. Red was sprawled out on top of the service counter, the longest surface in Tain's office, and his legs still dangled off the edge. Tak and Skoodge were on top of a table that was supposed to be used for Tarot readings, a cheap blanket spread over their bodies as they snuggled. Tain had refused to give his cot to anyone under any circumstances.
"You can sleep in a chair or on the rug in front of the heater. Those are the only two choices, and it does get more than nippy in here at night."
Zim narrowed his eyes and stared at Tain. The older Irken simply stared back, amusement reflecting in his shining orbs. Zim crossed his arms; Tain repeated the gesture. Zim stood as tall as he could; Tain felt no need to since he already "outranked" the little Irken.
Zim continued to grumble most of the night about a proud Invader being forced to sleep on the floor, despite the fact that no one was listening. Skoodge was asleep with one of Tak's antennae in his mouth. Tak would occasionally twitch or roll in her sleep. Red had one arm thrown over his eyes, occasionally snorting but not fully snoring.
Zim stared up at the ceiling, his arms crossed under his head. He wondered if GIR was all right. He wondered if Dib had noticed his absence yet. In a paranoid flash, he wondered if Dib were currently trying to break into his base. Or Tak, his world's Tak could come looking for revenge and he wouldn't be there to stop her!
Zim sat straight up in bed, determination shining in his sorrowful red eyes. He was going to find Tallest Purple fast. After all, he was Zim, and once Zim set his mind to something, there was no deterring him.
Meanwhile, on the farthest moon of Delphi, closer under their noses than they'd ever know, Purple ran through the darkness. He was alone, his breath coming out of his lungs in ragged gasps.
"This way, boys," a thick male voice called.
Purple jumped, his fingers catching the edge of a fire escape. Up the spiraling wrought iron his ran, his boots clanking loudly against the metal. They were going to hear him running even if they couldn't see him, but he had no choice.
He jumped over the roof of the building to find himself staring straight into the barrel of a large, highly illegal laser. "The boss wishes to see you."