Red inserted the disk into it's slot in his computer, and took a seat in front of the screen.
Purple stood next to him.
An image of Anocian appeared on the screen.
"So you accept? Very good." He said.
The image of Anocian was replaced by a picture of a cruel-looking Irken, with piercing deep blue eyes…
"Sleet." Red hissed, gritting his teeth.
"This is Sleet." Said Anocian's voice. "He is the one after your job, and he's the type who'll do anything to get it."
"Well, duh." Red muttered bitterly.
"He is a threat to us, because not only does he want your job, but he wants something from Alcotech. We don't know what, but he wants it bad. He's already personally killed over twelve hundred of our agents and his followers have killed thousands more. We desperately need your unique talents to help us defeat Sleet. Otherwise, who knows where his acts may lead us."
The screen went blank.
"What do you think he wants from them?" Red asked, leaning back in his chair.
Purple shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I… I dunno…"
Red looked curiously at Purple. "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Why should I?"
"Hmmmm…" Red mused. "I suppose we should arrange a meeting with this Sleet character." He suggested.
"NO!" Purple shouted before he could stop himself. "He'd kill you Red. Don't be foolish." He added, trying to hide that he knew more than he was letting on.
He failed.
"So, you do know something!" Red stood up. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing!"
"You've always been a horrible liar Purple." Red growled. "If you won't tell me, I'll have to find out."
Red's eyes shimmered, and darkened to crimson.
"No… Red don't!" Purple could feel Red prying his way into his mind. "Stop it!"
"Then tell me!"
"I won't!" Purple arched his back as his eyes darkened.
"Stop fighting me Purple! I'll find out no matter how hard you fight. You will yield to me!" Red hissed, his eyes beginning to glow.
"I WON'T!" Purple's eyes gave off a bright violet coloured light, and Red was flung backwards. He crashed loudly into the wall.
Purple looked up, and saw Red slowly picking himself off the floor.
"When did you get that powerful?" Red asked weakly, still stunned from the collision with the wall.
"I…I don't…"
Red smiled, and moved back towards his slightly unnerved friend.
"Your powers are growing Pur. It's nothing to be afraid of."
"But I am afraid of it Red. I didn't mean to do what I did to you… I just wanted to get you out of my head."
Red nodded. "I shouldn't have tried to force my way in. Keep your secrets Pur. I won't try to take them from you again."
Purple smiled. "Thanks."
"Sir!" An Irken soldier said, coming up behind Sleet and saluting.
"What is it?" Sleet asked darkly.
"We have gone through the communication records of the Massive as you requested, and we have the location of the ideal exile planet. It's called Earth, and an Invader named Zim has been exiled there, although he believes he is to conquer this planet."
Sleet couldn't help but grin to himself.
"Excellent. Have a ship prepared and put on stand by."
"Yes My Tallest."
As the Irken walked away, Sleet's grin evolved into a truly sinister laugh.
"Soon…" He laughed. "Soon the entire Empire will call me that! And my dear friend and his foolish comrade will be so far away, they might as well be dead!"
Sleet's laugher rang out through the bridge of his ship, sending shivers through all who heard it.
"So what are we gunna do?" Purple asked.
"I wouldn't be wondering if I knew." Red replied dryly.
"Well, sor-ry."
The Massive shook violently again.
"Sleet." Red growled.
Both the Tallest rushed to the bridge.
"What happened this time?" Red asked as he and Purple moved to the centre of the room.
"A ship has forced a connection with us sirs! I believe it is Sleet's ship."
"That doesn't surprise me." Red muttered.
The door to the bridge opened, and a tall Irken, dressed in the robes and armour of a Tallest came through. There was no noise as he entered the room, but the air seemed to freeze in his presence.
"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. You're both still here." Sleet hissed.
"I told you Sleet. We're not going anywhere." Red hissed, his eyes darkening.
"Wishful thinking Red. But incorrect all the same." Sleet turned to look at Purple. "Do you know who I am, old friend?"
"I do. How could I not?" Purple answered in a quiet voice.
Purple, enough secrets. Who is he? Red's voice sounded inside Purple's head.
"I knew him when we were smeets. He was my friend… at least I thought he was. He knew I was growing taller than he was so he tried to slip me some drugs to stop me from growing any more." Purple arched his back as he spoke.
"We have those?"
"Apparently. But his plan didn't work. I switched our snacks, as a joke, and he got the drugs instead of me. He disappeared after that."
"You ruined my life that day Purple." Sleet hissed. "But revenge is going to mend my wounds. Today is the day for such healing."
"Not likely. I'm still taller Sleet." Purple growled through his teeth.
"Is that what you think old friend? Because you are sadly mistaken. I am the superior now."
Sleet moved forward, his feet not touching the floor, and stood tall next to Red… taller. By about an inch.
"Can't be…" Red breathed.
"Can and is." Sleet said quietly. "I am the Tallest. You are nobody… now and forever more."
Tears of anger started to well up in Purple's eyes. "You son of a bitch."
"Careful what you say, my unfaithful little underling. Or I may reconsider what I am going to do with the two of you, now that I have to power to do whatever I wish for that to be." Sleet cooed, turning towards Purple.
Purple moved backwards slightly and growled.
Sleet grinned. "I have such a pleasure planned for the two of you."
Before either of the Ex-Tallest could register what was happening, Sleet's minions had them by the shoulders. They tossed them into a small ship, Purple first, who collided with the interior wall of the ship upside down, then Red, who was stripped of his robes before being pushed into the ship along with some normal clothes.
Sleet leered over the Ex-Tallest. "You two are on your way to Earth. I am assigning you into Zim's charge."
"No… you can't be…" Purple groaned.
"Can't I?"
The door to the ship closed tightly, and the small craft shot away from the Massive, towards Red and Purple's new home: Earth.