He was laying on his back on something soft. It was calm and cool. There was a familiar scent on the air around him.
Purple opened his eyes. His eyelids were still heavy and his entire body felt weak. He was staring up at a ceiling. He sensed movement to his right and he slowly tilted his head. Someone was standing next to him, and Irken dressed in a doctor's uniform. Purple thought he was still dreaming. She was tall and she had ruby eyes.
"Garnet…"
The medic lifted her head. Her eyes wandered from her analysis device over to her Tallest. She didn't understand. She was a new transfer to the palace. She had arrived only two days ago, while the Tallest were still off-world. How did he know her name?
"Sir? How…" She was at a loss for words.
Purple opened his eyes as much as he could and smiled softly. "It's you. I knew I'd see you again someday," he said weakly.
"My Tallest?" She saw his eyes. She had seen them before. "Len?"
Purple smiled. "Yeah, it's me." He lifted one weak arm and took her hand in his own. "I missed you."
Garnet felt tears welling up. "Len…you're alive…but how? They said everyone on Silu's ship…"
"It doesn't matter Garnet. I've found you again."
Garnet knelt down so she was closer to him. Purple stared at her face. It was just as he remembered it. Her eyes, her smile. He had never before realized how much he missed her.
"Len!" Garnet cried in joy. She bent down and kissed his cheek but she pulled back suddenly when she remembered who he was now. He was her great and respected leader.
Purple didn't let her get far though as he cupped her face in his palm and held her still. Strength came back to him, and he lifted his head and kissed her.
>>>
"Pur?"
Purple felt someone shake him. He opened his eyes. Red was standing over him.
"Red…it's you."
"How are you feeling?" Red asked as he sat down next to Purple's bedside. "You've been asleep for almost a day now."
"Where am I?"
"You're at the palace, in your room."
"We came back to Irk?" Purple asked, taking notice of his surroundings and his own familiar belongings.
"They thought it was best to bring you home so you would recover better." Red paused. "What happened to you anyway?"
Purple sighed and shut his eyes. "You don't want to know Red."
"I do."
Purple looked at him. His face was serious.
"I want to know who did this to you," Red said firmly but calm.
The other studied him. "Are you trying to protect me Red?"
"Possibly."
Purple remained silent for a moment. His mind delved back into the past events that lead him here. "It was Korus, the Tulok warrior."
"Korus?"
Purple nodded his head. "I really don't feel like talking about this right now. There is so much you don't know about me Red. Look there…" Purple pointed to the table next to his bed. A data recorder was set on it, the one Purple found hidden in Tallest Silu's library collection several days ago. "Read it," Purple said to him. "It'll tell you everything."
Red glanced down at the device. He turned it on. As he started reading, Purple interrupted him.
"Where is Garnet? The doctor who was in here before?"
"She's out looking at your test results or something," Red replied, not looking up form what he read. "She said she'd be back. Why?"
"Nothing," Purple sighed.
>>>
"So you're no longer the one they're after?" Red said, looking over at Purple who was sitting on the edge of the bed. He had finally found the strength to get up and move about.
"No," Purple replied, somewhat relieved, although he was still worried. "But I don't know who this other person is. All I know is that they're on Earth, Zim's planet, and the Tulok are probably already making their way there.
Red frowned, disturbed by his friend's tone. "Why don't I like that edge in your voice? You're not thinking about going after them are you?"
"Red, the Tulok have somehow become very powerful again. If they are able to break this curse, then who knows what they would be capable of!"
"Purple…"
"Besides, if the Tulok are going after this mystery person, then that means they're attacking someone from my family!"
"Purple…"
"I thought I was the only one left. I would at least like to know who this person is before I lose the chance!"
"Purple!" Red finally shouted. "Calm down! We'll think of something. Right now, you should be focusing on getting better."
"Red," Purple started, unsure if he should say anything at all. "There's something else I have to tell you."
"And what could that possibly be, after all this?" He rolled his eyes up at the ceiling.
"I saw your brother, Grey." Red turned back to him. "He was working with the Tulok. He's the one who captured me and brought me to them."
Red stared at him but Purple couldn't read his face. Red turned away, much to Purple's relief, and he wandered aimlessly around the room, as if in deep thought.
"I'm sorry Red," Purple muttered.
Red stopped pacing in front of the bedroom window. "So he's still alive," he whispered. His eyes stared blankly at the outside world but he didn't see what was on the other side of the glass. "Where did he disappear to all these years?"
The door to Purple's room opened and Garnet stepped in. She smiled when she saw the violet-eyed leader.
"My Tallest, it's good to see you up," she grinned. She bowed respectfully in Red's direction, but he didn't seem to notice.
Purple stretched out his arm at Garnet and she went over and sat next to him. He pulled her closer and held her hand. She was only up to his shoulder. Red watched them, confused and somewhat speechless.
"Did I miss something here?"
"Red, I've known Garnet since we were young," Purple said happily. "She was my best friend at the academy." Garnet nodded her head at the other Tallest.
"Oh," Red replied. Purple could see a smirk growing across his face.
Purple changed the subject before Red could say anything more. "So what will we do Red? Should we send the fleet to Earth?"
Red's face faltered when he remembered their situation. He turned away from his counterpart, his eyes focused on the floor. Garnet looked from one to the other curiously.
"If it's really that important to you Purple, we'll go," Red finally broke the silence.
Garnet turned to Purple. "Len, you should really make sure you're well enough first if you're going off-world." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Red snap his head up at her. She felt his eyes staring at her and she avoided his gaze, knowing that she had just addressed her leader in a very improper way.
Purple sensed Red's irritation but he smiled at Garnet and lifted her chin so he could look at her. He enjoyed hearing his old name being used again, especially by her.
"I'll be fine Garnet," he said. "Don't worry about me." He turned to his co-leader. "We have to go Red."
