Hello all, thanks for reading my fic. I'm glad you guys like it so far, and if you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to review. I'd do a shout out, but I've got so many reviews that it would take up half the page or more. So a super special thanks to all who reviewed. You all make me so… happy. One quick thanks to my Beta Reader, (soon to be Beta Readers) Shang Hai. Also, a disclaimer since I seem to have forgotten it earlier. I do Not own invader Zim. Thank you. Also, would you guys like author notes at the beginning or end of a chapter? Well, I hope you like.
Chapter 3: Will of the Tallest
Jarka squinted as he read the continuously scrolling text, oblivious to the world around him. It had to be somewhere. The stupid ship had to be somewhere. The distress call had come from within this star system, and a research vessel couldn't travel that far, especially if there really had been a containment failure. So where was it? Jarka sighed, pulling back from the screen. This wasn't going to look good on his report. He settled down into his chair, a look of despair on his face. What if they never found it? What was he going to tell the Tallest? Jarka sighed, wallowing in self-despair. In actuality, system scans took several hours to complete, and even though they had already scanned the majority of this solar system and turned up nothing, there was still a lot of space left to cover. Jarka, however, had never really been able to see the positive side of things, always preparing for and fully expecting the worst. In truth, that quality helped him to ascend to his current rank. If worse comes to worse, better to have a leader who was prepared for it, after all.
Jarka's spirit brightened as a young technician turned around to address him.
"Sir, we've just picked up a high concentration of cybernetic activity on the third planet. Looks Irken."
The technician turned back to his station and began to study the readouts in greater detail.
"Yes… definitely Irken."
Jarka straightened in his chair, a great burden lifted from his shoulders.
"The Research Ship."
The technician hesitated a bit before turning around to face his Captain.
"I… I don't think so. The schematics don't match up. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say it was a base."
Jarka raised an invisible eyebrow, his mouth frowning in confusion.
"A base? What would an Irken base to be doing way out here?"
The technician hesitated again, still facing Jarka. He had an idea of what it might be, but he didn't like it. Didn't like what it would mean to the mission, and didn't like the way Jarka might take it.
"You… uh… you don't think that…it could be… you know… him?"
Jarka caught what his subordinate was hinting at and his eyes narrowed as realization entered his mind. His lips hissed out only a single, almost inaudible word.
"Zim."
Red threw another handful of nachos into his mouth, crunching them noisily. The incessant chomping was the only sound echoing out of the sitting room, and it was beginning to greatly fray Purple's nerves. Several minutes passed with no end to the crunching, chewing, slurping of Red's everlasting supply of snack foods. His sanity breaking, Purple whirled around, screaming at his co-ruler.
"COULD YOU STOP FOR ONE FREAKING SECOND?!"
Red stared at Purple in shock, a handful of nachos frozen halfway to his open mouth. Slowly, Red placed the nachos back in their deli basket, his eyes never looking away from Purple's. For several seconds, Red simply stood quietly, holding his nachos, a hurt expression on his face.
Purple, feeling only slightly sorry for yelling at his friend, turned back towards the window.
"There, was that so hard? Now we should be able to enjoy some peace and-"
Purple was cut short by the hideous squelch made by the nacho container as it connected with its target and now rested, overturned, on his head. Thick, melted cheese running down his face, he turned slowly around, his eyes shifting into violet slits emanating a piercing hatred. Red stood on the far side of the room, pointing and laughing for all he was worth. Purple was shaking with rage, too overwhelmed to move or even think coherently. Only one thought coursed through his brain.
Kill Red.
The scene in the break room was interrupted as the large monitor on the far wall sprang to life, revealing the face of the Massive's Chief Communications Officer. He glanced once at Purple, most of his face now drenched with cheese, and once at Red, still laughing his ass off.
"Maybe… I should… uh… call back later."
Red shook his head, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.
"No, no. It's fine, it's fine. What is it you wanted?"
"We have an incoming transmission from the Majestic. Shall I put them through?"
"Of course. Right away."
The face of the CCO faded as the screen became static, bending and hissing noisily for several seconds before snapping back into focus to reveal the face of Captain Jarka. Red, never one for small talk, succeeded in getting right to the point.
"What have you found, Jarka? Believe me, it had better be good."
"We… have located EX-05."
"Excellent. What about the others?"
"No sign of them yet, but we've still got a lot of ground to cover."
"Good… good. How is 05?"
"Well…"
"That better be a good 'Well…'"
"I said we found him. Not that we had him."
"So get him. What's the problem?"
"We last tracked his beacon to a… certain city… a city one Earth… a city that contains an Irken base… an Invader base."
Red's eyes widened with comprehension.
"Son of a Bantoid…"
"What… should we do?"
Red furled his brow in concentration, rubbing his forehead with his right hand while muttering incoherent thoughts and ideas. Finally, he looked up at Jarka, and gave the young Captain his orders.
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The transmission was severed, leaving Jarka staring at an Irken Insignia and the flashing words "Transmission Ended". He turned away, leaving the communications bay and heading for his private quarters. This was big. Very big.
Red turned away from the screen just in time to see Purple flying through the air, knife in hand.
And that's it for tonight. Sorry about the lack of Zimmyness, but don't worry, he'll be back next chapter. (If any of you are still reading by then ^_^)
