A/N: This will most likely be the second to last chapter. I was going to write only one more chapter, but Maron Zelde reminded me that The Tallest were still without meat (I knew I was forgetting someone, lol!) So this chapter will be devoted to The Tallest. I have decided that this will never turn into an epic, because I only have so much time, now that my SATs and ACTs are coming and I must study. Not only that, but I just think this is not a fic that I'd like to include fans in. I wouldn't want to rob this fanfic of its mystery to the characters.
Disclaimer: My afilliation With Jhonen Vasquez and Viacom is purely one-sided. Meaning: I know about them, but they know not of me. I would be very disappointed in my readers if they generated lawsuits against me.
The Massive slowly eclipsed a sun as it passed it while The Almighty Tallest ate their way through a pile of Irken snacks. Since all their nutrition came from the advanced paks attached to their spinal cords, they had little occasion to eat, but they enjoyed their sense of taste a little too much, as are the opinions of some. The crew occasionally shot their leaders furtive glances, most of them instilled with a sense of curiosity as to how they could eat non-stop. Otherwise, they busied themselves with maintainance and operation of the gargantuan vessel entrusted to their care. It was very rare if The Tallest even addressed them, other than to change coordinates, so they expected no type of distraction other than the somewhat disgusting noises being generated by their leaders' grinding teeth.
The Tallest themselves were having a grand time debating the importance of their limbs. Tallest Red was starting to question the initiation ceremony where their thumbs were surgically removed, but Purple was most certainly adamant about the tradition.
"Look, I just think that we could rule a little better with our thumbs!" Red argued, floating around the pile of sustainance, trying to find something specific. Purple scoffed at his co-ruler flitting to and fro.
"It's been done for... you know... A long time! They wouldn't do it if it weren't necessary." He insisted, holding out a tiny squeak toy and activating it to Red's annoyance.
"But, take Zim for example-" The crew stopped their duties to gasp and gaze at Red with amazement. Narrowing his eyes, Red waved them off. They all gulped and continued their operative jobs shakily.
Purple shook his head. "I told you that law against saying Zim's name was only going to make it more difficult for us to make fun of him behind his back." Red lowered his gaze in supressed shame, realizing his partner was indeed right.
"How about we revise the law saying that no one can say it except us?" Red asked. Purple pondered the question, but shook his head.
"If we can say it, it's not blasphemy to The Empire. Don't we have to have a reason...?"
"Of course not! We'll just convince everyone that only we're powerful enough to overcome the sheer force of the blasphemy... Or something." Red shrugged and his partner nodded.
"Their short; they'll buy it." He agreed. His satifaction turned into bemusement as he tried to remember what they were talking about before.
"Anyhow, Zim's got his thumbs, and he's the most terrifying thing in the universe! Other than space dooky, that is." Red continued.
"But Zim's pretty stupid too. I mean, we're not stupid, we're tall." Purple carefully pulled a bag out of the pile, which tumbled around his middle like several Jenga bricks. He frowned heavily, increasing his altitude to float out of the mess.
"I guess so, but that kinda stamina probably has something to do with his thumbs..." The other Tallest mused, turning his face upward in contemplation. Purple snorted and shook his own head again.
"I don't think so. Then again..." Both of the rulers lost themselves in their collective thumb-thoughts while the operatives took the opportunity to steal a few snacks, once again, out of pure curiosity to know exactly what it was about these things that were so addictive.
One small crew member returned to his post while stuffing bags of Irken snacks into his pockets unceremoniously. To his utter bewilderment, the control panel flashed, indicating an incoming transmission. He goggled at the board for a moment before calling, "Incoming Transmission... From an unknown source..."
The Tallest automatically snapped out of their reveries and stared at the soldier questioningly. "That's not possible," Red said slowly, confused to his highest extent. "Our computers know every transmission code in the universe."
"Maybe..." Purple began, but shrugged, unable to think of a logical explaination. Red signalled for the operative to feed the message through, as he complied. The screen in front of the leaders turned to static before bringing up a single text message:
We Love You!
Love,
The Fans
P.S.: Special Package Enclosed
The Tallest glanced at each other with confusion before both, at the same time, nodded to the small crew member to recieve the package. After he pushed several lighted buttons on the console, the sound of equipment whirring to life erupted in the bridge. The teleporter at the back of the control room shot a beam of light onto a platform beneath it. The particles reformed in perfect order, nothing but an ordinary cardboard box. The Tallest glanced at each other again with great skepticism before floating over to the small object and leaning over to rip off the silver foil with raised hearts covering it. Taking one look inside, their confused countenances deepened, even going so far as to pull out the strange meat.
"Ewh! What's that?" Purple demanded, pointing accusingly at the bone and meat hanging from Red's fingers. He shook his head and held it away from him as though it carried some sort of disease. Even as it had been properly launched into the space around the Massive, The Tallest refused to cease gagging.
These chapters seem to be getting shorter... Or maybe it's just me... Forgive me, I'm not too good at The Tallest, but I'm working on it. One more chapter and then it's all over. The last chapter is just to tie up loose ends and redeem my horrible job on the characters. I hope you find it worthy enough to read, lol! Oh well. Once again, thanks to all those who reviewed. And to those haven't, I would really apreciate your input, or constructive criticism. After all, I like to post here because it improves my writing skills. Blessed Be!