Tak woke up, and when she found GIR poking her in the head continually, she assumed that they were still at the base. However, as she looked around and saw the enormous crowd of Irkens, she began to have second thoughts.
"Um, could someone explain why I'm here?" She asked the crowd as she stood, but they simply watched her intently.
Irken Tak, it is time for you to receive the consequences of your actions.
"Hey…this looks an awful like the Spike of Judgement." She said, beginning to feel rather nervous. Mostly it was the three Control Brains, much more complex than the one who sent her to Planet Dirt.
"HIYA PEOPLES! I'm dancin' like a monkey!" GIR screeched, starting to hop from one foot to the other in a mad jig. The crowd murmured to each other uncomfortably.
"Well, I'd like to go now, if you don't mind. The robot is insane, and can't be kept too long from television." But as she moved towards a conveniently labeled exit, a cable from one of the Brains pulled her back.
You must stay. We will explain everything when the Almighty Tallest arrives.
"The…Tallest?" If she was nervous before, she was terrified now. There was only one reason that they would come to see her. "I'm on Trial, aren't I?"
…Maybe…
A platform came down from the ceiling, and the crowd burst into cheers.
"Thank you, we are quite amazing, aren't we?" Tallest Red said, waving to the crowd.
"Greetings inferior ones! SHUT UP!" Tallest Purple shouted, and the crowd immediately obeyed.
Tak walked nervously towards the two. "My Tallest, surely there must be some mistake? Of course, you would never do something like that, but perhaps someone shorter who works under you?"
Neither one of them paid attention to her, and Red declared, "Let the Trial begin!"
Irken Tak, prepare for REPLAY. All your memories will be known, your life for all to see and know…behold! Your past!
Twin cables snaked towards Tak's Pak, connecting, and flashes of her life shown on a large screen above.
Onscreen:
"Welcome to life, Irken child. Report for duty." A robotic voice echoed, and a small, purple-eyed smeet looked up at the arm. She says nothing, only blinks and looks confused.
The screen flashes, and the same smeet is sent through a chute, and ends up being plopped into a chair.
"You are two minutes old, smeet. Be prepared to be filled with the whole of the IRKEN KNOWLEDGE!" Still, the smeet says nothing. A machine attaches to her, and she shuts down for a few minutes, the information being sent into her Pak.
"Upload complete! You have been given a name. IDENTIFY YOURSELF." The smeet opens her mouth, trying to comply, but she only closes it and makes a confused sound. There is silence for a moment, and after a bit, the robot pushes her out of the chair. Soon, another smeet drops out of the chute and into the chair. The little female smeet can do nothing, but follows the new smeet when the upload is finished.
The screen flashes again, and this time the smeet appears to be in an Irken-style hospital, with several taller and older Irkens surrounding her.
"It's been a while since there's been one of these." A male with dark green eyes says. "Get the anesthetic." The smeet can do nothing, only lays on a gurney, and drifts into unconsciousness.
When she woke up, she shouted out. "Owie! That hurts!"
"It looks like she's awake, sir." A female with light red eyes (though not quite pink) said to someone behind her.
"Good, you are dismissed." The female walked out of the room. "Hello, little smeet. What's your name?" The male from before said, but not quite kindly.
"Tak, of course! Now lemme out of here! I gots to go to my invader training!" She shouted, leaping out of her cot, and would have gotten away if not for the male grabbing her and putting her back on the cot.
"We'll have none of that. Now, Tak, listen to me. You have a bad genetic disease. You may never be able to become a soldier, or an invader, or an Irken elite." He said, very gravely.
"Dookie! I'm gonna be the bestest invader ever!" She said, a little irritated.
"You don't understand. Your disease keeps you from functioning properly without that cybernetic implant in your head." At that, Tak looked startled and reached up, feeling the cold metal that penetrated her head. "It might be a better idea if you do not go to your military training, and instead go to some training for a less dangerous job. Like a food-service drone."
"NO! I'm gonna be an invader!" She protested, getting angrier.
"You have to understand, you're never going to be as good as the others!"
"You're lying!" Now she was shouting, and her little fists her shaking.
"Stop that, and listen to what I'm saying! You will never be-ARGH!" The smeet-Tak had launched herself at the Irken doctor, and was biting at his antennas. "GET OFF! That hurts!" The doctor flailed around, trying to get her off, but the more he thrashed, the tighter she held on. Suddenly, he slipped, and banged his head on a tray
Tak let go when he fell unconscious, and the nurse re-entered. She tsked at the doctor for being so careless with a smeet in the room, and walked out.
Off-screen:
"Oh yeah, I remember that guy! What a creep! If he were here right now, I'd…" She trailed off, noticing the disapproving looks from the Tallest. "…I'd apologize! Yeah, that's what I was going to say…"
They didn't buy it.
This was not going well at all.
Meanwhile…Zim, after finally getting sick of all the silence, decided to contact GIR. The transmission went through, and even Zim could not deny the rush of relief he felt (though he gave it a good try).
"GIR! Where are you? Why are you not here making hideous Earth pastries?" He demanded.
"I's at a Trial for da scary lady!" GIR squealed. "She's on a giant TV!"
"A Trial? But why?" Zim asked. "YOU'RE LYING!"
"Nuh uh!" The little robot said happily.
"Well, stay there. I'll come and get you wherever you really are. I'll lock onto your transmission's co-ordinates."
"I gots no idea what you is saying!"
"Good. I'll be right there." And with that, Zim ended the transmission. "Computer! Ready the Voot! Also, locate Mimi and Minimoose."
They're right behind you.
"Eh?" He turned around, and much to his astonishment, Mimi was standing right behind him, with Minimoose floating by her head. "Oh, right. Mimi, you are coming with me to get Tak and GIR. Minimoose, defend the base from all manners of humans. Especially the Dib." Minimoose squeaked in confirmation, whereas Mimi looked somewhat pleased to be included in something for a change.
As he and Mimi got into the Voot Cruiser, Zim began to wonder if what GIR said was true. Was Tak really on Trial? That would mean she was a Defective, and all Defectives should be destroyed… after all, that was the way of the Irkens, and Zim had always been the first one to agree with that. Defectives were dangerous, and might end up ruining the goal of universal conquest.
They were like broken toasters, not something you would mourn for or miss if the were gone.
So then, why was it that Zim suddenly felt so frightened for her?
A/N: Behold! The origin of Tak! Hee hee, a smeet-Tak must've been very adorable.
Also, you guys figured it out! GAPR stands for Gaz and Pepito Romance! However, since you needed an extra hint to get it, I get the cookie! BWAHAHA!