//Thank you to Invader Myu/Utah, who helped me with this chapter. ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Invader Zim.
Chapter Four: The Slope of Corruption
Red yawned and leaned back in his chair, staring sleepily at the pile of policies Purple wanted him to review. He glanced over at his co-Tallest, who sat working at a hurried pace. He was making some changes to a speech or something - Red didn't care. He stretched his arms and scratched his head, his eyelids beginning to droop. "All nighters...." he said with apparent distain. He once again hunched over his work and examined the information before him - at least he was clean.
Purple looked up at him, his eyes wide and awake. "Sorry Red, I just want tomorrow to be free. I've already rescheduled all the Invader transmissions......" He checked the time. "Hrm.you can go to bed if you want - I can do this."
Red stood from his chair the moment the offer was made. "Thank you!" He began to hover to the door before he turned to look back at his friend. Purple had finished reviewing the speech and was now rushing about the room, looking for some books he needed for the next project. A frustrated expression covered his face and he deactivated his hover belt and began to use his long legs to walk at a much faster pace. Red shook his head, "There's no way you expected us to do all this tomorrow, is there?" Purple didn't respond, not noticing that his companion was still about. "You're going to kill yourself if you keep worrying so much."
As fate would have it, Purple, still getting accustomed to walking on his feet, stumbled over his robes and began to fall forward. His head smashed into the wall and the numerous books he carried were flung from his grasping arms. He fell flat on his back and didn't move. Red hovered over to him, an amused grin playing on his face. "...Told ya."
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Yempt glanced out the window as the I.S.C. Feth Gra was maneuvering into position in the Massive's docking bay. He shuddered when he noticed a few people waiting outside. The last thing he was looking forward to was some teary reunion. He shoved himself from his seat and followed Tah, unable to do much else.
The first two people he noticed were standing in front: a very short lavender-eyed man and a pink-eyed female marauder. Yempt didn't recognize the male's uniform, but he knew it couldn't be anything too intensive - from the little guy's stature he certainly couldn't be on the Massive for anything physical. For a slight moment he mused that he and the lavender- eyed one were just about the exact same height when he noticed Tah's reaction to the female. Despite the fact that Tah loomed over the female marauder, once they had made eye contact she seemed to melt into a more submissive posture. Yempt warily eyed the marauder and her confident smirk, making a mental note she was yet another person to avoid.
Then all thoughts vanished when he suddenly recognized that there was someone very tall standing, or rather hovering, behind these two more common Irkens. He let his eyes wander up the red and black robes until they rested on the face of one of his Tallest. It was Almighty Tallest Red come to see Tah of all people. He was brash, he was arrogant, and he looked really groggy. Yempt raised a brow when he noticed his ruby-eyed leader sway a little and let loose an unapologetic yawn. 'This is one of our leaders?' he thought sarcastically. He glanced over at Tah, who had also noticed her monarch. She wiggled her antennae in salute, but seemed rather confused. Her eyes danced about worriedly, as if she were looking for someone else.
Her attention was forced back to Tallest Red when he addressed her. "Tah, nice to see you."
She nodded her head respectfully. "Nice to see you too, my Tallest."
Red visibly rolled his eyes and Yempt nearly fell over with shock when he actually hovered over to her and gave her a hug. "Just Red right now, geez!" His voice was somewhat annoyed. "You haven't been here for two years, ya know!" He pulled away from her, but one hand remained on her shoulder.
She smiled at him. "Where's Purple?"
Red's smirk widened. "Moron - he knocked himself out. He's in the infirmary now, but he should be awake in a couple hours."
Tah's eyes widened at the information that he'd hurt himself, but there was also a smile of relief. Yempt scoffed at the thought that she would be so distraught over Tallest Purple's absence. He figured she was big-headed to expect the attention and foolhardy to have what he supposed was a crush on one of the two most powerful men of Irk. He folded his arms and listened as Tallest Red continued, "Why don't you say hi to you're little friends here?" He motioned toward the shorter ones waiting in line, although he didn't seem to know them well. He backed away and let Tah approached her friends.
Yempt felt himself blush when Tah picked up the lavender-eyed male and smothered him in a shameful embrace. "Good to see you, Dak," she quietly said into the male's antennae. He only giggled and nuzzled his head deeper into her neck. She set him down and kneeled next to the marauder, who was beginning to tap her foot.
"It's about time you got to me!" said the woman harshly, albeit with a smile. "I can see where I stand on your list of priorities." She glanced to the side and tried to frown.
Tah shrugged her shoulders, seemingly pleased at her adversarial friend's greeting. "I'm sorry, Clay. Can you ever forgive me?"
Clay sniffed. "I don't think so. After all, I'm throwing you a party at the Entertainment Center tonight." Her smirk turned into something more malicious. "You'd better be there."
Tah stiffened, her antennae lowering a bit, and Yempt could tell that going to this Entertainment Center was what she'd had planned. However, she held up no resistance. "Of course." She stood to her full height again and Yempt frowned at her as she glanced toward him. "This is my - um - my associate, Yempt."
Yempt made a concerted effort to glare at everyone - exempting his Tallest, of course - in order to make the right impression. His gesture did not have the desirable effect on the marauder, however. She narrowed her brilliant pink eyes at him and approached him, placing her face just inches away form his own. He pointed one gloved finger on his chest and growled, "I don't like you."
In response Yempt deepened his frown and tried to look unimpressed. "I can see you have no taste."
Clay gnashed her teeth and swung around in anger. She gave Tah a knowing look before stomping away, grabbing Dak's hand as she went, dragging him behind her.
Yempt was shown a room of his own and given a short tour of the Massive. It was apparent to him the Tah had no intention of him being her actual 'associate.' Of course, that's what he'd expected - she only had him around for his own protection. Until she could think of what to do with him, he was free to do as he liked. Unfortunately that wasn't much, and at the end of the day, as he sat alone in his room, he decided that he would attend this party Clay had spoken of. After all, he could see how the people on the Massive, who he'd heard were an amazingly talented group, really behaved.
He slid off his bed and picked up the electronic pad he'd been given that detailed certain sections of the Massive. He followed its directions until he successfully made his way to the dark, smoky room that seemed to pound music from every angle. He cringed at the heavy atmosphere, but walked in despite himself. He found a group of tables at the other side of the bar and could see where Tah and her friends were. He grumbled to himself and approached.
Tah sat silently, still and awkward in the unfamiliar environment. Clay wasn't kidding when she said she'd organized a party - nearly every marauder on board was becoming drunk in her name. She'd never been a party girl and was very content to sip on her drink as she listened to Clay talk. Every once in a while she glanced around to see if she could catch a view of either of the Tallest, since Red had promised to bring Purple over whenever he awoke, but aside from that she was pretty sedate. Dak was also with them, and he shared her calm nature, so she wasn't completely out of place. She was slightly surprised when she felt a presence beside her and saw Yempt taking the seat beside her. She was about to greet him when he gave her a menacing glare that seemed to challenge her to question his appearance - she decided to remain silent. She turned back toward Clay, who was talking nonstop.
"It's been my observation that when you first date a guy, that's as good as he's ever going to get. After that, there is a sure and steady decline in behavior. Take Urp, for instance. The moment Yat deemed to join him, he began leaving the disposal lid up. He never did that while they dated. I like to call this decline of behavior the slope of corruption." She tilted her hand to one side, as if marking a line on a graph.
Tah perked her antennae and stirred her drink with her straw. "The slope of corruption? Corruption as in, say, the corrosion of metal?"
"Yes!" Clay clapped her hands. "You've got it! That's exactly what it's like."
Tah leaned forward, highly amused by her friend's ranting. "How steep would you say Dak's slope is?"
Clay glanced over to her husband, who seemed just as amused at Tah at the conversation. "Well, we didn't really date.. I'd say it's a non-factor with this one."
He turned toward Tah and shook his head, smiling. "I don't know what she's talking about.." At this Clay punched him in the arm. He winced, but continued talking as he gingerly rubbed his appendage. "I'm as steady as they come."
A new voice came from behind. "..in bed." Everyone at the table turned to see a middling-height man with blearing red eyes and the black uniform of a researcher. He was grinning at his recent joke.
Clay rolled her eyes when she recognized who he was. She waved an arm in his general direction and explained. "This is Twaine, researcher and resident pain in the ass." She narrowed her eyes at him. "He crashes every party we marauders have."
Twaine shrugged. "I love to boogie." He then caught sight of Yempt and nudged himself in his direction. "Who are you, green-eyes?" He raised one brow in a suggestive manner. Yempt sputtered at the flirtation, but before he could come up with a properly bitter response the researcher took a hold of his arms and pulled him out of his seat. "Let's dance!"
Yempt couldn't help but be dragged out onto the dance floor, and when he was finally released he was so dumbfounded he could barely move. He stood uneasily as he watched Twaine move about in a strange dance. He looked around - no one was dancing like Twaine. The red-eyed researcher moved as if his joints were stiff, like a robot's. As he danced, or more appropriately jigged, he made noises in accordance with the music. They could only be categorized as noises, because he certainly wasn't singing. "Do da da do la ti da. Ra ti da la ra ti da. Roo to da da ra ti da. La la ra da ti la da."
When Yempt finally came to his senses he hardened his gaze at the researcher. "What is wrong with you?"
Twaine just gave him a lopsided grin. "Easy, babe. I'm love struck by your handsome bod! I simply must have you."
"W-What!?!" Before Yempt could say anything more Twaine twirled him further into the mass of dancing Irkens.
Tah pounded her fist on the table, cackling uncontrollably as Clay and Dak watched in amazement. Her eyes watered, and every time she happened to look back at the dance floor all her efforts at calming down were completely demolished. Knowing Yempt as she did, he getting picked up at the Entertainment Center just seemed too funny.
Clay leaned toward Dak, slightly worried. "Has she ever cracked up like that before?"
Dak stared at his friend with confused eyes. "Maybe once or twice.."
"What's so funny?" Everyone looked up to see Red and Purple standing next to the table. Both Clay and Dak saluted them, but Tah was too far gone to respond.
She tried to control herself. "Yempt - picked up - that guy!" She again exploded into a fit of laughter, but was finally able to calm herself when Purple sat beside her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Red rolled his eyes and sat down across from them, ordering a drink for him and his friend.
"It's been two years," reminded Purple, slightly discombobulated from his recent fall and the distracting music. He wore a bandage on his forehead where he'd hit it against the wall.
Tah nodded and pointed at his wound. "What happened?"
"I, heh -"
"He fell down, trying to get some work done early," said Red, jumping into the conversation. "Idiot. Ended up sleeping most of the day anyway." He smirked as Purple glared at him.
"I'm not an idiot!"
"Yes, you are."
"Am not!"
"Who's the one with the bandage? Huh?"
Purple glowered. "That has nothing to do with being an idiot!" He was about to say more when he felt a hand cover his under the table. He smiled over at Tah, remembering who he'd come to see. "So, what's the plan now that you've come?"
Tah's face became serious as the subject of work was mentioned. "Well, I don't want to talk about it here. I'll meet with both of you tomorrow, if that pleases my Tallest."
At this Red shook his drink in her direction, spilling a good portion of it all over the table. "How many times do I have to tell you to drop the Tallest thing? We're at the Entertainment Center, for Irk's sake!" He placed his cup on the table and pointed at her. "You need another drink!"
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Invader Zim.
Chapter Four: The Slope of Corruption
Red yawned and leaned back in his chair, staring sleepily at the pile of policies Purple wanted him to review. He glanced over at his co-Tallest, who sat working at a hurried pace. He was making some changes to a speech or something - Red didn't care. He stretched his arms and scratched his head, his eyelids beginning to droop. "All nighters...." he said with apparent distain. He once again hunched over his work and examined the information before him - at least he was clean.
Purple looked up at him, his eyes wide and awake. "Sorry Red, I just want tomorrow to be free. I've already rescheduled all the Invader transmissions......" He checked the time. "Hrm.you can go to bed if you want - I can do this."
Red stood from his chair the moment the offer was made. "Thank you!" He began to hover to the door before he turned to look back at his friend. Purple had finished reviewing the speech and was now rushing about the room, looking for some books he needed for the next project. A frustrated expression covered his face and he deactivated his hover belt and began to use his long legs to walk at a much faster pace. Red shook his head, "There's no way you expected us to do all this tomorrow, is there?" Purple didn't respond, not noticing that his companion was still about. "You're going to kill yourself if you keep worrying so much."
As fate would have it, Purple, still getting accustomed to walking on his feet, stumbled over his robes and began to fall forward. His head smashed into the wall and the numerous books he carried were flung from his grasping arms. He fell flat on his back and didn't move. Red hovered over to him, an amused grin playing on his face. "...Told ya."
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Yempt glanced out the window as the I.S.C. Feth Gra was maneuvering into position in the Massive's docking bay. He shuddered when he noticed a few people waiting outside. The last thing he was looking forward to was some teary reunion. He shoved himself from his seat and followed Tah, unable to do much else.
The first two people he noticed were standing in front: a very short lavender-eyed man and a pink-eyed female marauder. Yempt didn't recognize the male's uniform, but he knew it couldn't be anything too intensive - from the little guy's stature he certainly couldn't be on the Massive for anything physical. For a slight moment he mused that he and the lavender- eyed one were just about the exact same height when he noticed Tah's reaction to the female. Despite the fact that Tah loomed over the female marauder, once they had made eye contact she seemed to melt into a more submissive posture. Yempt warily eyed the marauder and her confident smirk, making a mental note she was yet another person to avoid.
Then all thoughts vanished when he suddenly recognized that there was someone very tall standing, or rather hovering, behind these two more common Irkens. He let his eyes wander up the red and black robes until they rested on the face of one of his Tallest. It was Almighty Tallest Red come to see Tah of all people. He was brash, he was arrogant, and he looked really groggy. Yempt raised a brow when he noticed his ruby-eyed leader sway a little and let loose an unapologetic yawn. 'This is one of our leaders?' he thought sarcastically. He glanced over at Tah, who had also noticed her monarch. She wiggled her antennae in salute, but seemed rather confused. Her eyes danced about worriedly, as if she were looking for someone else.
Her attention was forced back to Tallest Red when he addressed her. "Tah, nice to see you."
She nodded her head respectfully. "Nice to see you too, my Tallest."
Red visibly rolled his eyes and Yempt nearly fell over with shock when he actually hovered over to her and gave her a hug. "Just Red right now, geez!" His voice was somewhat annoyed. "You haven't been here for two years, ya know!" He pulled away from her, but one hand remained on her shoulder.
She smiled at him. "Where's Purple?"
Red's smirk widened. "Moron - he knocked himself out. He's in the infirmary now, but he should be awake in a couple hours."
Tah's eyes widened at the information that he'd hurt himself, but there was also a smile of relief. Yempt scoffed at the thought that she would be so distraught over Tallest Purple's absence. He figured she was big-headed to expect the attention and foolhardy to have what he supposed was a crush on one of the two most powerful men of Irk. He folded his arms and listened as Tallest Red continued, "Why don't you say hi to you're little friends here?" He motioned toward the shorter ones waiting in line, although he didn't seem to know them well. He backed away and let Tah approached her friends.
Yempt felt himself blush when Tah picked up the lavender-eyed male and smothered him in a shameful embrace. "Good to see you, Dak," she quietly said into the male's antennae. He only giggled and nuzzled his head deeper into her neck. She set him down and kneeled next to the marauder, who was beginning to tap her foot.
"It's about time you got to me!" said the woman harshly, albeit with a smile. "I can see where I stand on your list of priorities." She glanced to the side and tried to frown.
Tah shrugged her shoulders, seemingly pleased at her adversarial friend's greeting. "I'm sorry, Clay. Can you ever forgive me?"
Clay sniffed. "I don't think so. After all, I'm throwing you a party at the Entertainment Center tonight." Her smirk turned into something more malicious. "You'd better be there."
Tah stiffened, her antennae lowering a bit, and Yempt could tell that going to this Entertainment Center was what she'd had planned. However, she held up no resistance. "Of course." She stood to her full height again and Yempt frowned at her as she glanced toward him. "This is my - um - my associate, Yempt."
Yempt made a concerted effort to glare at everyone - exempting his Tallest, of course - in order to make the right impression. His gesture did not have the desirable effect on the marauder, however. She narrowed her brilliant pink eyes at him and approached him, placing her face just inches away form his own. He pointed one gloved finger on his chest and growled, "I don't like you."
In response Yempt deepened his frown and tried to look unimpressed. "I can see you have no taste."
Clay gnashed her teeth and swung around in anger. She gave Tah a knowing look before stomping away, grabbing Dak's hand as she went, dragging him behind her.
Yempt was shown a room of his own and given a short tour of the Massive. It was apparent to him the Tah had no intention of him being her actual 'associate.' Of course, that's what he'd expected - she only had him around for his own protection. Until she could think of what to do with him, he was free to do as he liked. Unfortunately that wasn't much, and at the end of the day, as he sat alone in his room, he decided that he would attend this party Clay had spoken of. After all, he could see how the people on the Massive, who he'd heard were an amazingly talented group, really behaved.
He slid off his bed and picked up the electronic pad he'd been given that detailed certain sections of the Massive. He followed its directions until he successfully made his way to the dark, smoky room that seemed to pound music from every angle. He cringed at the heavy atmosphere, but walked in despite himself. He found a group of tables at the other side of the bar and could see where Tah and her friends were. He grumbled to himself and approached.
Tah sat silently, still and awkward in the unfamiliar environment. Clay wasn't kidding when she said she'd organized a party - nearly every marauder on board was becoming drunk in her name. She'd never been a party girl and was very content to sip on her drink as she listened to Clay talk. Every once in a while she glanced around to see if she could catch a view of either of the Tallest, since Red had promised to bring Purple over whenever he awoke, but aside from that she was pretty sedate. Dak was also with them, and he shared her calm nature, so she wasn't completely out of place. She was slightly surprised when she felt a presence beside her and saw Yempt taking the seat beside her. She was about to greet him when he gave her a menacing glare that seemed to challenge her to question his appearance - she decided to remain silent. She turned back toward Clay, who was talking nonstop.
"It's been my observation that when you first date a guy, that's as good as he's ever going to get. After that, there is a sure and steady decline in behavior. Take Urp, for instance. The moment Yat deemed to join him, he began leaving the disposal lid up. He never did that while they dated. I like to call this decline of behavior the slope of corruption." She tilted her hand to one side, as if marking a line on a graph.
Tah perked her antennae and stirred her drink with her straw. "The slope of corruption? Corruption as in, say, the corrosion of metal?"
"Yes!" Clay clapped her hands. "You've got it! That's exactly what it's like."
Tah leaned forward, highly amused by her friend's ranting. "How steep would you say Dak's slope is?"
Clay glanced over to her husband, who seemed just as amused at Tah at the conversation. "Well, we didn't really date.. I'd say it's a non-factor with this one."
He turned toward Tah and shook his head, smiling. "I don't know what she's talking about.." At this Clay punched him in the arm. He winced, but continued talking as he gingerly rubbed his appendage. "I'm as steady as they come."
A new voice came from behind. "..in bed." Everyone at the table turned to see a middling-height man with blearing red eyes and the black uniform of a researcher. He was grinning at his recent joke.
Clay rolled her eyes when she recognized who he was. She waved an arm in his general direction and explained. "This is Twaine, researcher and resident pain in the ass." She narrowed her eyes at him. "He crashes every party we marauders have."
Twaine shrugged. "I love to boogie." He then caught sight of Yempt and nudged himself in his direction. "Who are you, green-eyes?" He raised one brow in a suggestive manner. Yempt sputtered at the flirtation, but before he could come up with a properly bitter response the researcher took a hold of his arms and pulled him out of his seat. "Let's dance!"
Yempt couldn't help but be dragged out onto the dance floor, and when he was finally released he was so dumbfounded he could barely move. He stood uneasily as he watched Twaine move about in a strange dance. He looked around - no one was dancing like Twaine. The red-eyed researcher moved as if his joints were stiff, like a robot's. As he danced, or more appropriately jigged, he made noises in accordance with the music. They could only be categorized as noises, because he certainly wasn't singing. "Do da da do la ti da. Ra ti da la ra ti da. Roo to da da ra ti da. La la ra da ti la da."
When Yempt finally came to his senses he hardened his gaze at the researcher. "What is wrong with you?"
Twaine just gave him a lopsided grin. "Easy, babe. I'm love struck by your handsome bod! I simply must have you."
"W-What!?!" Before Yempt could say anything more Twaine twirled him further into the mass of dancing Irkens.
Tah pounded her fist on the table, cackling uncontrollably as Clay and Dak watched in amazement. Her eyes watered, and every time she happened to look back at the dance floor all her efforts at calming down were completely demolished. Knowing Yempt as she did, he getting picked up at the Entertainment Center just seemed too funny.
Clay leaned toward Dak, slightly worried. "Has she ever cracked up like that before?"
Dak stared at his friend with confused eyes. "Maybe once or twice.."
"What's so funny?" Everyone looked up to see Red and Purple standing next to the table. Both Clay and Dak saluted them, but Tah was too far gone to respond.
She tried to control herself. "Yempt - picked up - that guy!" She again exploded into a fit of laughter, but was finally able to calm herself when Purple sat beside her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Red rolled his eyes and sat down across from them, ordering a drink for him and his friend.
"It's been two years," reminded Purple, slightly discombobulated from his recent fall and the distracting music. He wore a bandage on his forehead where he'd hit it against the wall.
Tah nodded and pointed at his wound. "What happened?"
"I, heh -"
"He fell down, trying to get some work done early," said Red, jumping into the conversation. "Idiot. Ended up sleeping most of the day anyway." He smirked as Purple glared at him.
"I'm not an idiot!"
"Yes, you are."
"Am not!"
"Who's the one with the bandage? Huh?"
Purple glowered. "That has nothing to do with being an idiot!" He was about to say more when he felt a hand cover his under the table. He smiled over at Tah, remembering who he'd come to see. "So, what's the plan now that you've come?"
Tah's face became serious as the subject of work was mentioned. "Well, I don't want to talk about it here. I'll meet with both of you tomorrow, if that pleases my Tallest."
At this Red shook his drink in her direction, spilling a good portion of it all over the table. "How many times do I have to tell you to drop the Tallest thing? We're at the Entertainment Center, for Irk's sake!" He placed his cup on the table and pointed at her. "You need another drink!"