Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the cartoon, Invader Zim. I do own Naizrra, Xai, and her classmates.

Chapter 7: Denial

Irken smeets grow faster than human children so, after five years, Xai and her classmates were the equivalent of human nine or ten year olds. Xai had nearly tripled her meager size and now stood at about three feet tall, among the tallest of her invader class. Her cute, puppy face had also matured a bit. Xai's button nose had grown into an elegant canine snout and her cherry-colored eyes didn't seem as large.

Xai jolted upright from her sleep pod.

Xai: (to herself) Oh darn it! (Aloud) Computer, output variable 'date'

Computer: The 38th day of Zookinary, year, 3-0-9-6-8

Xai: Oh man, I was supposed to be at the academy early today! What use is the ability to wake up at will when you forget what day it is?

Xai dashed through the Massive on her spider legs (which she now learned to use properly) causing a breeze to whip past her mother's antennae. She turned.

Naizrra: Xai, where are you rushing off to so early?

Xai hopped to the floor letting her spider legs trail behind her.

Xai: I don't have time to talk! The field trip's today!

She lifted her spider legs to leave.

Naizrra: (in a military tone) Invader Trainee Xai! I order you to consume your daily breakfast foods!

Xai: (in the same tone) Yes, my Tallest! I obey!

She dashed through the dining hall pausing just long enough to devour a nutrient bar.

Xai: Requesting permission to egress.

Naizrra's expression softened with a hint of pride as she gazed downward at the future invader.

Naizrra: Dismissed.

Still dangling from their pack, Xai's spider legs electrified, gracefully swinging beneath her body. The clink of metal against metal quickened to a buzz as Xai sped toward the teleporters. She nearly barreled into the sub-tallests heading in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, she raced past too quickly to hear their conversation.

Red: I can't believe the Tallest has kept that little beast around for all these years.

Purple: If only we could get rid of her somehow.

Red: Yeah, but even if we killed Xai, we'd still have Naizrra breathing down our necks.

Purple: No, you idiot! I meant we get rid of the Tall... Wait a sec. You're a genius, Red!

Red: You just realized that now?

Purple: Listen, with all the security around, we could never get away with killing the Tallest but if we stamp out that little rat then poor 'mommy' will too preoccupied to run an empire. We'll be able to take control and no one will ever know.

They laughed menacingly.

Meanwhile in the teleportation room, Xai's ear twitched. She thought she had heard cackling in the distance.

Xai: (Thinking) I wonder what they're laughing about? Oh, well. Whatever those jelly brains are up to, I don't have time for it now.

Xai had learned the importance of respecting her tallers but she made special exception for the 'jelly brains'. Tall or short, they were clearly idiots.

Tapping the keypad, Xai waited for the glaring light to transport her. She didn't even wait for the spots to clear from her eyes to dash into the hallway. Xai raced at full sprint into the level 3 training room, skidding to a stop at one of the tables in the back. Also sitting at the table were Koj, who had grown a lot but was still one of the shortest in the class, and two other smeets. The tallest of the group, a ruby-eyed female named Kari turned smiled at the lupine irken with an air of friendly condescension. With barest hint of disdain, Xai extended the formal greeting for a taller friend.

Xai: Requesting to make your acquaintance!

Kari: Granted. … Is something wrong, Short-stuff?

Xai: (brightening) No, everything's fine.

Yes, everything was great. Xai had made it to class on time and she was going on a cool field trip. She was no longer the naïve outcast she was as a newborn… but at what cost? No…no every thing was just FINE. She had great friends. Of course, Narz and Koj were always sucking up to her and Kari kept acting all superior all the time. That was to be expected though, because of their respective heights. It was the natural order of things. It was fine. Just… fine…
Narz, a shorter male with rose-colored eyes, looked up from typing on a mechanical notepad.

Narz: What'cha looking at, Xai?... Xai? … XAI!

Snapped out of her reverie, Xai groped for an excuse. Her eyes darted to Narz's notepad.

Xai: Oh!... I was just wondering where I put my notepad. Have you guys seen it anywhere?

Kari: (in a know-it-all tone) It's right on your computer desk, Xai. You know you really should get more organized. You remember what Teacher Veer said (mimicking the teacher's high-pitched voice) 'Now students, you all must be on time and prepared for the chemical analysis lab or you will not be allowed to participate in the field trip'.

Koj: You sound just like her. (to Xai) I'll get your notepad for you.

Xai: You don't ha-

Koj was already scurrying toward Xai's desk. With a bit too much enthusiasm, he snapped up the machine and tossed it back to Xai.

Xai: You know, I could've just as easily walked over and got it myself.

All three faces turned toward Xai, shocked that such a tall smeet would suggest doing such a menial task.

Xai: Erm, never mind. Thanks Koj. (changing the subject) Hey Koj, how come you guys in the armada training division are in this lab?

There are three classes of invaders: scouts like Zim who probe the planet for weaknesses, ground warriors who use stealth to destroy strategic locations, and armada pilots who directly attack the weakened planet's forces. Smeets in level 3 training choose which class to train for in addition to the standard invader curriculum.

Narz: Yeah, what does a voot pilot need to know about chemicals?

Koj: I dunno. I think my teacher said something about how we need to learn how stuff in a planets' atmosphere affects our ships.

Xai: (relieved that they forgot about her weird behavior) Yeah that makes sense.

Just then, the mechanical door swished open and the chattering of voices petered into silent attention. The teacher sauntered in, ruby eyes narrowed with authority. Teacher Veer was a moderately tall female with antennae slicked backwards.

Teacher Veer: Greetings class. Now, extend your syringe tubes.

Each smeet released a thin tube from its pack, made from the same metal as the spider legs.

Teacher Veer: Good. You'll find a beaker of clear liquid in each of your drawers. Carefully place it on the table in front of you. Now, we're going to practice our chemical analysis drills. Do you all remember what to do?

Smeets: (all at once, in monotone) Yes, Teacher Veer.

Xai's eyes glazed over, her mind drifting elsewhere. She had done this drill a dectillion times. She wasn't in the mood and it was becoming harder by the day to quiet her troubled mind. With a sigh, the hybrid pup dipped her needle into the fluid, sucking it into the core of her pack. Suddenly, her fur, once limp with exasperation, sprang on end. Kari looked up at the startled Xai.

Kari: Pfft, you didn't just inject that stuff into your bloodstream, did you?

Xai: (Calming down) Uh-huh

Xai smoothed down her cheeks, partially to get her fur back into place but mostly to hide the lavender blush spreading over her face. And of course, Teacher Veer just had to be looking toward their table at that moment.

Teacher Veer: Xai! An invader can't afford to make mistakes like that. If this were a real mission, that chemical could've been poisonous. Do you know what would happen if you let H2O into your system?

Xai: (Trying to save face) H2O or dihydrogen-monoxide can dissolve irken tissues and short out a pack's electric circuitry.

Teacher Veer: Correct, so you must keep your mind on your work.

Xai: (Saluting) Yes sir.

Xai lowered her eyes toward the beaker, hoping the teacher would move on. She breathed a sigh of relief when the instructor paced toward Noza's table.

Teacher Veer: Noza, can you identify the substance for the class?

Noxa: (with a saccharine smile) Bromine, sir.

Her mocking sideways glance was not lost on Xai. She twitched her antennae in a gesture equivalent to eye rolling.

Xai: (mumbling, barely audible) 'Bromine, sir.' It's always bromine. I'll bet the little weasel just guessed.

Narz: Are you alright Xai? You haven't been yourself today.

Xai: (thinking) Pfft, no one is ever their self anymore.