Nne: Last chapter! Last chapter! Last chapter! La--
Pur: Shut up! We get it!
Nne: I feel I am disappointing the readers of Purple Mountains Majesty. Am I? Huh? Huh?
Pur: Probably. You're killing me.
Nne: Ah. ^^ Okay. I'll continue. Enjoy the finale!
Month Four
Red made his way over to the medical wing, winding through the crowd of Irkens that blocked the hallways leading to the room where Purple had been moved to. It was in the bowels of the medical wings, surrounded by rooms filled with new equipment and experimental items. Peprik had been reassigned to another patient, reportedly causing too much grief for Purple. The original plan was to hide Purple from any other Irken except Red and a few doctors, but Red had argued, saying that it was BS to hide Purple, like it was some sort of game. Peprik's overseer had consented, and put the ailing Tallest in a more conspicuous room, without Peprik knowing.
Red shoved an Irken aside and pushed open a side hall door, leading to the janitorial rooms. He turned and floated down a hallway until he got to a door that had Purple's name scribbled on the top. He entered, and the first thing he saw was a startled doctor fleeing the room from the opposite side. Purple, in the tube he was originally placed in, had his arms crossed. A small flame gleamed in his dull eyes, but he looked frail and shaky.
"What did you do this time."
Purple whirled on him, blood flowing from his left arm. "Why the hell did you let them take Peprik away? She didn't do anything, damn it! What freakin' grief?"
Red shook his head. "I couldn't do anything, Purple."
"Yes you could! You're the highest rank! You're not sick!"
"The problem is," Red snapped back, "you are." "But that doesn't make any sense! How does that incorporate into what your orders are?"
"They care about you, so they make decisions on what they think is best for you."
"Maybe they should ask me first, because I know what's best for me. Didn't you think of that, genius?"
Red looked at his infuriated partner. Pur was breathing hard, and blood was leaking out of the sides of his mouth. "Maybe I care."
Purple's features softened. "I appreciate it, Red. But you know that I--"
"I doubt it."
Stonily, Purple turned away. "I thought so. You're going to be a jackass just because Peprik gives me more comfort than you do. I'm not asking anything from you, Red. Support, maybe, but nothing more."
"I'm not shunning you because you ask too much. I can't act myself around you any more. It's like I'm talking to another person who doesn't even know me..."
Purple started to choke. Blood pooled out. "No...you're not used to this kind of treatment."
"Treatment?"
Purple smiled grimly, his teeth barely showing behind thin, quivering lips. "Ignored. Alone. The feeling you get when you know nobody's backing you up."
"What the hell are you talking about? The whole Armada backs me up!"
"Ah," Purple sighed. "Does it back me up, too? Or has it entirely flocked over to you?"
Red blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "I see what you're getting at, mister 'I'm so special because I'm sick'. Fine. I'll tell the whole Armada that you'll be better in a week, how's that? Then, when you die, we'll throw you out the airlock and I'll make a life-sized plushie of you and prop it up next to the main computer! There! No leader can die!" "I didn't say that! Where the hell do you get these ideas! I--" he gasped and bent over. "--I was barely implying that you should start telling the Armada to be prepared? Do they even know? Or have you hidden the truth from them?"
"Of course they know! The whole Armada's had to take a detour because the trip would be too long and grueling for you!"
"I didn't say it was," Purple answered. "Who made that up?"
Red glared. "The pilots, stupid."
"Oh, yes, I'm psychic! Bow down before me."
"Your sarcasm pisses me off," Red retorted, "but I'm not going to waste precious energy arguing. I'm going up. See you later."
Red raised his hand as he turned his back to Purple and exited the room. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least the fellow Tallest had not lost his spirit. Turning, Red floated down the chrome hallway and into the mess hall, where a small group of Irkens sat at various tables, trying to force some yellow mush down before their lunch break ended. One of them looked up, then elbowed the Irken sitting next to him, who hushed the rest of the group.
"It's okay, I'm leaving," Red called as he got a slushie out of the freezer. "Continue."
...
Peprik peered over her friend's shoulder, hunched down in the booth. "Is he gone, Oren?"
Oren swallowed the yellow lump and grimaced as it slithered down her throat. "Yes...blug...I hate these eggs."
Peprik poked at her plate. Oren was slightly heavyset and shorter than she was, but no matter how much Oren hated the food's taste, she always got in on the better share. "I can't eat. Don't you want mine?"
Oren looked over in disbelief. "What, you want to make me sick?" She picked up another sporkful. "Besides, I've got mine." Peprik sighed, then dropped her spork. "It doesn't feel right, Oren. I was trying to help."
"He don't get it," Oren stuffed another blob of eggs into her mouth. "'N besize, 'e neva wanted 'ou t' 'elp Tallest Purple 'eneway."
"That's a load of BS."
Oren swallowed. "...That's what I heard. Don't believe me word for word, but I wouldn't go waltzing with the machinery any time soon..."
Oren got up and stretched. "If you'll excuse me, I'm getting some juice. I hear it's good...like exotic oranges?"
Peprik followed Oren over to the liquid dispenser. "Do you think he was uncomfortable with me?"
"Look, P-rik, I don't know. Don't you remember the petty arguments they had the few hundred years or so of joint ruling? Red had wanted to kill Purple." She held the cracked plastic cup under the nozzle and pressed the button. Gray orange slices squeezed out, followed by a light nectarine- colored liquid. Oren, suprised, pulled the cup away. "Looks like I got last."
"What do you mean? That was hundreds of years ago! They patched things up already."
Oren carried the cup back to the table. "So? Scars last a long time."
"They're Tallests, Oren. Leaders." She sighed and leaned back in the booth. "But what did I do?"
"Nuthin'," Oren claimed, putting another forkful of the remaining eggs into her mouth. "An' you know it, don' you?"
Peprik didn't answer. Instead, she watched a group of doctors run past, practically leading Almighty Tallest Red by the hand. He had a confused and scared expression on his face, and the doctors were chattering nonstop. "What's...happening ?"
Oren looked up, trying to gag down the juice. She shrugged. Peprik slid off of the booth and ran to the door, trying to see where the doctors were taking Red. They made a hard right and disappeared into the "Practitioners Only" hallway.
I'm a practitioner, she thought grimly. I've got to see where they have him.
Bursting out of the door, she collided with a scared looking doctor with a beginner's badge on his orange uniform.
"Ex...excuse...me," he stammered, getting up shakily and offering his hand. "How...clumsy...of me..."
Peprik denied the help and brushed her uniform off. "Where were you going?"
The young doctor pointed to the hallway. "There's been an emergency. Almighty Tallest Purple's lapsed into a beginning brain dead state. I've got to go deliver this relaxation medicine--" he held up a small vial with a yellow liquid splashing in it-"--so the doctors can try either save him or let him go."
Peprik involuntarily seized the vial and stumbled into the practitioner's hallway. She heard a low moan from one of the rooms, and threw open the door. Purple was twitching, his head bent back, staring at the ceiling with quivering, dull eyes. Red was standing next to the tube, pounding on the side and cursing Purple with everything he could think of. Doctors were rushing around, shouting orders to each other, in a total state of chaos.
Purple choked, spitting up white-spattered blood. His chest heaved, but rose and fell with haunting irregularity. A machine was breathing for him, oxygenating his blood, even though his lungs had ragged holes in them.
This is insane, Peprik thought, clutching the vial. Why is this happening?
She rushed forward and pushed a doctor out of the way. She needed to get this medicine in.
^^
Purple writhed. He couldn't feel, smell, or see. Black clouds were dimming his vision slowly, creeping around the figures surrounding him.
I'm becoming a vegetable, he thought with disbelief. Leader of the Irkens?
Realizing that he was allowing small moans to escape from his lips, Purple clamped his mouth shut. Dimly he could hear a familiar voice...
"Damn you, worthless leader! You were supposed to outlast me for a hundred years or more, asshole! If you go now..."
The voice became distant. Then...
"Sir? Tallest Purple, can you hear me? It's Peprik? Remember? I'm giving you some sedative..."
At the word sedative, Purple tried his best to avoid the steadily approaching robotic arm. Sedative meant that the doctors would concentrate on what he was acting like. Dishonorable.
Go, Purple.
Purple shook his head, dizzy. Hearing voices was not good. Flinching as the needled entered his skin, the dying leader watched as the yellow fluid entered his torn vein.
It won't work.
"...Lo...look..." Purple spat out, turning his eyes in the direction of Peprik. "It's...not go...goin...t...help."
She shook her head. The activity in the room stilled.
"Not true," she whispered, letting her hands hang at her sides. "You've made it this far, we're not letting you go now."
Purple swallowed the growing lump in his throat. His strained heart slowed. "...Tried for four...months and noth...came..."
Dammit, Pur, he hissed to himself. Think!
"Purple," Red warned, floating up behind Peprik, "you're not making this situation any easier." "It...doesn't need...to be...easier..." Purple stammered, tears coming to his eyes. "I'd like to remember someday..."
Peprik looked down, unsuccessfully trying to supress sobs.
"...Will you do it?" Purple whispered, listening to his slowing heartbeat. His vision clouded. "Make it on your own? You were a better single leader..."
Red pressed his claws up to the glass. Purple tried to lift his arms, but only succeeded in going half way before he convulsed and stopped. "Talk to me, Red," he pleaded. "Promise?"
Red closed his eyes. When had the world come to a crashing halt? How? Only yesterday they were beating each other up for control of the curly fries...
Purple hit himself in the chest several times. "Red!"
"I..." Red lifted his crimson eyes to look into Purple's searching lavender ones. "...Promise."
Looking relieved, Purple settled back. "...Than...I know...you'll...d-"
His words were cut off abruptly. Curling up in an agonized smeet's position, he gasped, "Guess I've got to get in shape?"
Red rolled his eyes. "Bad humor, bad day, Pur."
His partner lifted his head. "I'm seeing fuzz...where are you?"
"Right here," Red tapped the glass in front of Purple's face. "I'll always be there."
"Except...fo...stops..." Purple's antennae quivered.
Red bit his lip. It was obvious that Purple was delirious.
"I'll...miss..." Purple rolled his head around to try to strain to see Peprik. "Than...you...you saved my soul...because you cared..."
"You are my Tallest," she answered quietly. "It was my duty to try to save you."
"I owe you everything," Purple whispered back. "If anyone bothers you, ask Red...I'm sure he'll fix it..."
Peprik saluted. "Yes, sir. I will try."
Purple looked at the rest of the doctors. "I owe you all so much for trying to save me. I wasted four precious months of your lives, and I am grateful for..." he stopped, looked around, confused, and was silent. Red tapped the glass. "Pur?"
The heart monitor was barely showing any activity. Red shook his head. "No...no...no...no...Purple, wake up..."
Then...
"Red," a slow whisper was uttered. "To you comes the power we divided. I took your time most of all...please...forgive...me..."
"You didn't do anything wrong," Red sighed. "I was the power glutton."
Purple's shadowed face alit with a smile. "Keep on going. I'll be backing you up..."
"...for all time."
The monitor went flat-line. Emotionless, Red watched as the doctors removed the electrodes from Purple's body. The machines were stored again, and the health stats were shut down. All that was left was a dimly-lit room and the body of a dead leader. Red looked down at Peprik.
"He knew."
Peprik nodded. "I tried."
Turning back to his partner, Red stood still for a moment.
"Sir, are you going...to...miss him?"
Red did not alter his gaze.
Peprik hardened.
"...Yeah. I'm gonna miss him."
"It went too quickly." Peprik turned to go. "I wish I could have done more."
Strange attitude, Red thought as he listened to Peprik go. Stubborn as him...
He watched Purple, still, silent, and cold.
"...for all time?"
Red grinned weakly.
"Start now."
^^
Oh, God, that SUCKED!!! I can't believe the stupid ending on this fic! I was planning it for a year! Huge disappointment to me, but fortunately I won't be writing any more like this one (too classic? Nah, too hard to follow), but I'm not done with writing fanfics! ^^ I guess I was a little too carried away with this one...ah, well. Look for my other fanfics that will be up soon...
Nne an' Purple, Almighty Tallest of Irk and Nne's victim of pain
Pur: Shut up! We get it!
Nne: I feel I am disappointing the readers of Purple Mountains Majesty. Am I? Huh? Huh?
Pur: Probably. You're killing me.
Nne: Ah. ^^ Okay. I'll continue. Enjoy the finale!
Month Four
Red made his way over to the medical wing, winding through the crowd of Irkens that blocked the hallways leading to the room where Purple had been moved to. It was in the bowels of the medical wings, surrounded by rooms filled with new equipment and experimental items. Peprik had been reassigned to another patient, reportedly causing too much grief for Purple. The original plan was to hide Purple from any other Irken except Red and a few doctors, but Red had argued, saying that it was BS to hide Purple, like it was some sort of game. Peprik's overseer had consented, and put the ailing Tallest in a more conspicuous room, without Peprik knowing.
Red shoved an Irken aside and pushed open a side hall door, leading to the janitorial rooms. He turned and floated down a hallway until he got to a door that had Purple's name scribbled on the top. He entered, and the first thing he saw was a startled doctor fleeing the room from the opposite side. Purple, in the tube he was originally placed in, had his arms crossed. A small flame gleamed in his dull eyes, but he looked frail and shaky.
"What did you do this time."
Purple whirled on him, blood flowing from his left arm. "Why the hell did you let them take Peprik away? She didn't do anything, damn it! What freakin' grief?"
Red shook his head. "I couldn't do anything, Purple."
"Yes you could! You're the highest rank! You're not sick!"
"The problem is," Red snapped back, "you are." "But that doesn't make any sense! How does that incorporate into what your orders are?"
"They care about you, so they make decisions on what they think is best for you."
"Maybe they should ask me first, because I know what's best for me. Didn't you think of that, genius?"
Red looked at his infuriated partner. Pur was breathing hard, and blood was leaking out of the sides of his mouth. "Maybe I care."
Purple's features softened. "I appreciate it, Red. But you know that I--"
"I doubt it."
Stonily, Purple turned away. "I thought so. You're going to be a jackass just because Peprik gives me more comfort than you do. I'm not asking anything from you, Red. Support, maybe, but nothing more."
"I'm not shunning you because you ask too much. I can't act myself around you any more. It's like I'm talking to another person who doesn't even know me..."
Purple started to choke. Blood pooled out. "No...you're not used to this kind of treatment."
"Treatment?"
Purple smiled grimly, his teeth barely showing behind thin, quivering lips. "Ignored. Alone. The feeling you get when you know nobody's backing you up."
"What the hell are you talking about? The whole Armada backs me up!"
"Ah," Purple sighed. "Does it back me up, too? Or has it entirely flocked over to you?"
Red blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "I see what you're getting at, mister 'I'm so special because I'm sick'. Fine. I'll tell the whole Armada that you'll be better in a week, how's that? Then, when you die, we'll throw you out the airlock and I'll make a life-sized plushie of you and prop it up next to the main computer! There! No leader can die!" "I didn't say that! Where the hell do you get these ideas! I--" he gasped and bent over. "--I was barely implying that you should start telling the Armada to be prepared? Do they even know? Or have you hidden the truth from them?"
"Of course they know! The whole Armada's had to take a detour because the trip would be too long and grueling for you!"
"I didn't say it was," Purple answered. "Who made that up?"
Red glared. "The pilots, stupid."
"Oh, yes, I'm psychic! Bow down before me."
"Your sarcasm pisses me off," Red retorted, "but I'm not going to waste precious energy arguing. I'm going up. See you later."
Red raised his hand as he turned his back to Purple and exited the room. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least the fellow Tallest had not lost his spirit. Turning, Red floated down the chrome hallway and into the mess hall, where a small group of Irkens sat at various tables, trying to force some yellow mush down before their lunch break ended. One of them looked up, then elbowed the Irken sitting next to him, who hushed the rest of the group.
"It's okay, I'm leaving," Red called as he got a slushie out of the freezer. "Continue."
...
Peprik peered over her friend's shoulder, hunched down in the booth. "Is he gone, Oren?"
Oren swallowed the yellow lump and grimaced as it slithered down her throat. "Yes...blug...I hate these eggs."
Peprik poked at her plate. Oren was slightly heavyset and shorter than she was, but no matter how much Oren hated the food's taste, she always got in on the better share. "I can't eat. Don't you want mine?"
Oren looked over in disbelief. "What, you want to make me sick?" She picked up another sporkful. "Besides, I've got mine." Peprik sighed, then dropped her spork. "It doesn't feel right, Oren. I was trying to help."
"He don't get it," Oren stuffed another blob of eggs into her mouth. "'N besize, 'e neva wanted 'ou t' 'elp Tallest Purple 'eneway."
"That's a load of BS."
Oren swallowed. "...That's what I heard. Don't believe me word for word, but I wouldn't go waltzing with the machinery any time soon..."
Oren got up and stretched. "If you'll excuse me, I'm getting some juice. I hear it's good...like exotic oranges?"
Peprik followed Oren over to the liquid dispenser. "Do you think he was uncomfortable with me?"
"Look, P-rik, I don't know. Don't you remember the petty arguments they had the few hundred years or so of joint ruling? Red had wanted to kill Purple." She held the cracked plastic cup under the nozzle and pressed the button. Gray orange slices squeezed out, followed by a light nectarine- colored liquid. Oren, suprised, pulled the cup away. "Looks like I got last."
"What do you mean? That was hundreds of years ago! They patched things up already."
Oren carried the cup back to the table. "So? Scars last a long time."
"They're Tallests, Oren. Leaders." She sighed and leaned back in the booth. "But what did I do?"
"Nuthin'," Oren claimed, putting another forkful of the remaining eggs into her mouth. "An' you know it, don' you?"
Peprik didn't answer. Instead, she watched a group of doctors run past, practically leading Almighty Tallest Red by the hand. He had a confused and scared expression on his face, and the doctors were chattering nonstop. "What's...happening ?"
Oren looked up, trying to gag down the juice. She shrugged. Peprik slid off of the booth and ran to the door, trying to see where the doctors were taking Red. They made a hard right and disappeared into the "Practitioners Only" hallway.
I'm a practitioner, she thought grimly. I've got to see where they have him.
Bursting out of the door, she collided with a scared looking doctor with a beginner's badge on his orange uniform.
"Ex...excuse...me," he stammered, getting up shakily and offering his hand. "How...clumsy...of me..."
Peprik denied the help and brushed her uniform off. "Where were you going?"
The young doctor pointed to the hallway. "There's been an emergency. Almighty Tallest Purple's lapsed into a beginning brain dead state. I've got to go deliver this relaxation medicine--" he held up a small vial with a yellow liquid splashing in it-"--so the doctors can try either save him or let him go."
Peprik involuntarily seized the vial and stumbled into the practitioner's hallway. She heard a low moan from one of the rooms, and threw open the door. Purple was twitching, his head bent back, staring at the ceiling with quivering, dull eyes. Red was standing next to the tube, pounding on the side and cursing Purple with everything he could think of. Doctors were rushing around, shouting orders to each other, in a total state of chaos.
Purple choked, spitting up white-spattered blood. His chest heaved, but rose and fell with haunting irregularity. A machine was breathing for him, oxygenating his blood, even though his lungs had ragged holes in them.
This is insane, Peprik thought, clutching the vial. Why is this happening?
She rushed forward and pushed a doctor out of the way. She needed to get this medicine in.
^^
Purple writhed. He couldn't feel, smell, or see. Black clouds were dimming his vision slowly, creeping around the figures surrounding him.
I'm becoming a vegetable, he thought with disbelief. Leader of the Irkens?
Realizing that he was allowing small moans to escape from his lips, Purple clamped his mouth shut. Dimly he could hear a familiar voice...
"Damn you, worthless leader! You were supposed to outlast me for a hundred years or more, asshole! If you go now..."
The voice became distant. Then...
"Sir? Tallest Purple, can you hear me? It's Peprik? Remember? I'm giving you some sedative..."
At the word sedative, Purple tried his best to avoid the steadily approaching robotic arm. Sedative meant that the doctors would concentrate on what he was acting like. Dishonorable.
Go, Purple.
Purple shook his head, dizzy. Hearing voices was not good. Flinching as the needled entered his skin, the dying leader watched as the yellow fluid entered his torn vein.
It won't work.
"...Lo...look..." Purple spat out, turning his eyes in the direction of Peprik. "It's...not go...goin...t...help."
She shook her head. The activity in the room stilled.
"Not true," she whispered, letting her hands hang at her sides. "You've made it this far, we're not letting you go now."
Purple swallowed the growing lump in his throat. His strained heart slowed. "...Tried for four...months and noth...came..."
Dammit, Pur, he hissed to himself. Think!
"Purple," Red warned, floating up behind Peprik, "you're not making this situation any easier." "It...doesn't need...to be...easier..." Purple stammered, tears coming to his eyes. "I'd like to remember someday..."
Peprik looked down, unsuccessfully trying to supress sobs.
"...Will you do it?" Purple whispered, listening to his slowing heartbeat. His vision clouded. "Make it on your own? You were a better single leader..."
Red pressed his claws up to the glass. Purple tried to lift his arms, but only succeeded in going half way before he convulsed and stopped. "Talk to me, Red," he pleaded. "Promise?"
Red closed his eyes. When had the world come to a crashing halt? How? Only yesterday they were beating each other up for control of the curly fries...
Purple hit himself in the chest several times. "Red!"
"I..." Red lifted his crimson eyes to look into Purple's searching lavender ones. "...Promise."
Looking relieved, Purple settled back. "...Than...I know...you'll...d-"
His words were cut off abruptly. Curling up in an agonized smeet's position, he gasped, "Guess I've got to get in shape?"
Red rolled his eyes. "Bad humor, bad day, Pur."
His partner lifted his head. "I'm seeing fuzz...where are you?"
"Right here," Red tapped the glass in front of Purple's face. "I'll always be there."
"Except...fo...stops..." Purple's antennae quivered.
Red bit his lip. It was obvious that Purple was delirious.
"I'll...miss..." Purple rolled his head around to try to strain to see Peprik. "Than...you...you saved my soul...because you cared..."
"You are my Tallest," she answered quietly. "It was my duty to try to save you."
"I owe you everything," Purple whispered back. "If anyone bothers you, ask Red...I'm sure he'll fix it..."
Peprik saluted. "Yes, sir. I will try."
Purple looked at the rest of the doctors. "I owe you all so much for trying to save me. I wasted four precious months of your lives, and I am grateful for..." he stopped, looked around, confused, and was silent. Red tapped the glass. "Pur?"
The heart monitor was barely showing any activity. Red shook his head. "No...no...no...no...Purple, wake up..."
Then...
"Red," a slow whisper was uttered. "To you comes the power we divided. I took your time most of all...please...forgive...me..."
"You didn't do anything wrong," Red sighed. "I was the power glutton."
Purple's shadowed face alit with a smile. "Keep on going. I'll be backing you up..."
"...for all time."
The monitor went flat-line. Emotionless, Red watched as the doctors removed the electrodes from Purple's body. The machines were stored again, and the health stats were shut down. All that was left was a dimly-lit room and the body of a dead leader. Red looked down at Peprik.
"He knew."
Peprik nodded. "I tried."
Turning back to his partner, Red stood still for a moment.
"Sir, are you going...to...miss him?"
Red did not alter his gaze.
Peprik hardened.
"...Yeah. I'm gonna miss him."
"It went too quickly." Peprik turned to go. "I wish I could have done more."
Strange attitude, Red thought as he listened to Peprik go. Stubborn as him...
He watched Purple, still, silent, and cold.
"...for all time?"
Red grinned weakly.
"Start now."
^^
Oh, God, that SUCKED!!! I can't believe the stupid ending on this fic! I was planning it for a year! Huge disappointment to me, but fortunately I won't be writing any more like this one (too classic? Nah, too hard to follow), but I'm not done with writing fanfics! ^^ I guess I was a little too carried away with this one...ah, well. Look for my other fanfics that will be up soon...
Nne an' Purple, Almighty Tallest of Irk and Nne's victim of pain