I'm sorry to all of y'all who thought you'd get a real chapter today, but I wanted to get something down that I feel is important to the story, but I'm probably never going to get it worked in. They are my opinions on how Irkens feel affection, and how they differ from humans. Also, how they have family units and all those things. Since I'd be making Tak or Zim out of character if I had them talk about it, I decided it would be best making a mini-chapter explaining them. Well… here goes:
The way Irkens love is very different from humans.
The way humans love can best be described as dynamic. When they fall in love, it is powerful and often a beautiful thing. They can love someone for their appearance, their mind, anything. They have many different kinds of love, but the one that seems to stand out is the kind between two people who want to spend their lives together. Sometimes, this sort of love vanishes suddenly, like fireworks that light up the sky before fading away. Sometimes it goes away gradually. Sometimes it is there forever. Sometimes it changes into a different kind of love. Since humans are all confined to one planet, they are easily able to meet others that they may fall in love with.
Irkens, on the other hand, have much more mellowed feelings of affection. If they fall in love, it is generally not because of the other's appearance (although height is thought to be more attractive). Their love is based on trust, and comradeship (and occasionally possessiveness). Since Irkens are a highly militaristic race, they dedicate a good deal of their lives to their work, often on different planets. They very rarely have the time to get to know and trust another the way that allows them to love each other. Once gained, however, it cannot be shaken, unless horribly betrayed. Even though their PAKs do not allow them to feel the same fiery passion that humans do, they can love, in their own, trusting way. There are other types of affection, like the protective (if reluctant) way that Zim cares for GIR, but the closest they get to human love is the feeling that they can trust the other with their life.
On families:
Since Irkens hardly ever have the time to fall in love, they likewise rarely build families. Irkens have no sexual organs (as far as we know), so they cannot mate, and since they do not love each other for appearance, they feel no lust (at least, not in the way humans do). The only way for them to have a child, is to get a private incubator, like the ones they have in the Smeet Hatcheries on Irk. There, the DNA is chosen at random from every Irken alive (and perhaps even several who are not), but private ones need DNA to be submitted from one male and female. Once the smeet is hatched several months after the DNA is inputted, the way the parents react to the child vary. Since very few families such as these happen, it is impossible to give an average to how they treat their children, so all I can say is that they are somewhat like humans in that aspect. Whether they are controlling, uncaring, encouraging, or even abusive, it all depends on the Irken parents' personalities.
That's all I have to say on Irkens and their personal lives. Again, sorry for everyone who wanted a real chapter, but I felt a need to get these explained. These are only my opinions, and whether they are facts or not will never be known Only Jhonen knows, and I doubt he'll ever read my fanfiction and tell me.
Also, I'll be on vacation from Friday to the next, so I'll try and get a few more chapters in before then. I'm trying to wrap the series up with the next few chapters, so I can work on my other unfinished fanfics. It'll be hard to end this one, since it might even be the first story I've ever completed.