"I never wanted to break us apart."
Pieces

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed


Skoodge blinked as he sat atop the table. He was too short to reach the table like normal, so he chose to sit atop of it. Skoodge pointed something out to the strange human female and she scowled. He noticed that her work increased and the growl continued to lowly carry on. Skoodge sighed and remained silent once more. He studied the girl in curiosity as she furiously worked on her project. The girl cursed and smacked the project away from her. Herpupils narrowed and she covered her eyes with her palms. Elbows on the table, she sat there looking broken.

Skoodge raised his left antenna in confusion. He had been watching Sara ever since she came to the base. She worked hard and sought the destruction of all Irkens. The way she glared at him and Zim showed that she loathed his race. Skoodge watched as her hand slid under the black veil and traced something. He wondered what was under that veil. Skoodge figured he wouldn't understand the reasons why these humans acted strange. Her pale eyes opened and turned to stare at him. He tensed when her gaze landed on him and relaxed when he realized it was a true gaze and not glare.

"Why are you always following me?" Sara tiredly asked. Skoodge blinked when he realized that she had spoken to him.

"I don't know," Skoodge replied with a shrug. He mentally hit himself for sounding stupid.

"Can you answer something for me?" Sara softly questioned.

"Sure," Skoodge quickly replied.

"I've watched the other humans taunt you…why don't you do something about it?" Sara questioned.

Skoodge remained silent and sadly smiled. Being picked on was something he was too. The Tallest had degraded him despite his accomplishments. He should want revenge and be angry, but he couldn't find it in himself to be angry or want revenge.

"You mean to ask…why don't I kill them," Skoodge rephrased as Sara's pupils widened in surprise.

"No…yes," Sara admitted.

"You think that all Irkens are killers…you're absolutely right," Skoodge stated. "We invade planets…kill off species and take no mercy upon them."

"Then why not take care of the taunts?" Sara stressed.

"Just because I can do something, doesn't mean it's right that I do it," Skoodge answered as her pupils narrowed.

"So you don't want to hurt them?" Sara questioned.

"I'd like to hurt them…I'd like to hurt everyone that hurt me…make them feel what I feel on the inside," Skoodge corrected.

"Why not, do it." Sara softly urged.

"It wouldn't be right…I won't sink down to their level," Skoodge firmly said as his hand clenched.

Skoodge's antennae rose as he stared at Sara in confusion. Her eyes were shut and she was giggling. The soft, even giggle startled him. He had heard laughter around the base, but it was rare. Sara put a hand to her already covered mouth and shook her head.

"Skoodge, I think you've sunk as far as you can," Sara replied with a chuckle.

"Haha, pick on the short guy," Skoodge mumbled.

"I don't mean it to be mean…it just sounded funny," Sara explained.

"You said my name," Skoodge pointed out with a smile. "I didn't think you even knew it."

"Yeah…well you aren't that bad," Sara grumbled as her eyes avoided him.

"Can I ask you a question?" Skoodge asked.

"Sure…why not?" Sara mused.

"Why do you wear that head covering?" Skoodge questioned.

Sara sighed and raised her hand to pick at the material. Her eyes lowered to the black cloth and she sighed again.

"I'm ugly…I need to cover the sin that I carry," Sara softly said.

"We all do bad things, but there's no need to cover your face for it," Skoodge replied.

"My insides are so ugly…so everything is ugly," Sara reasoned.

"What did you do to merit such a thought?" Skoodge questioned in confusion.

"I'm selfish," Sara answered. "When the Invaders came for my family I hid and ignored their screams."

Skoodge remained silent as she covered her eyes with her palms again. He could her the soft sniffle. Her voice became shaky as she pressed her palms into her eyes a bit harder.

"I could have helped them…but I hid and listened to them get killed," Sara shakily said. "I could have grabbed my sister and hid her with me…but I left her in the crib."

"You followed your instincts," Skoodge tried to reason.

"I'm better then an animal…I should have died with them if I couldn't save them," Sara growled as her fist hit the table.

"I've watched many species…and you just followed your instincts because you couldn't reason. It isn't your fault that you have a will to survive," Skoodge spoke.

"I'm evil…I'm selfish…I'm such a horrible person," Sara stated as her tears hit the table.

Skoodge awkwardly shifted from side to side. He had never seen sorrow such as Sara's. He had seen anger, fear, joy, but not this type of sadness.

"What if you just…remove the covering?" Skoodge questioned.

"I can't!" Sara gasped.

"Why? Is it attached to you?" Skoodge questioned.

"It will only come off once I find peace," Sara softly said.

"Until you find peace…can I help you with your project?" Skoodge hopefully asked as he pointed to the object in her hand. Sara looked to Skoodge and blinked before she offered the object to him.


Gaz sat in the little cafeteria they had. She could easily smell the stink the Salisbury steak released. It wasn't even real meat; she assumed it was a soy product. Her fingers tapped against the plastic of the table and she held a real expression of sorrow. It had been three days since she had seen Zim. After the bathroom fight, he had not come to their room in the night. She didn't even catch him in the different labs or food areas. Gaz had went to the ships and checked for him, he wasn't there. She let her forehead rest on the table and embraced the feel of the cool plastic.

'It wasn't even a real fight,' Gaz growled as her fists clenched.

She wondered if she had pushed him to far. It had always been a bit of game to her. She would like to see how far she could push him. It never occurred to her that she could really hurt his feelings.

'Zim…feelings?' Gaz thought with a laugh.

Her features tensed and she smacked herself in the face.

'I'm such an ass,' Gaz growled.

She pushed away from the table and left the cafeteria. Zim really did have feelings for and she had ignored them. Her features softened and her eyes slightly opened as she continued her search for Zim. The hate she held for the Irkens slowly traveled onto Zim. It was wrong of her to release any anger onto him. She realized that she had begun to judge him based on his race. Her scowl returned when she realized she was more human then she had first thought. Gaz gritted her teeth and growled when she realized what she had to do.

'I have to…apologize,' Gaz dreadfully thought. 'I did mean to hurt him…but I didn't really want to.'


Purple traveled through the Massive hoping to reach his small quarters. He had work to do and didn't want to see Red now. When he had come back from the labs Purple had met Red. The bloodlust in his eyes was slightly disturbing. Purple had silently left Red to his musings.

"Where are you off too?" Red questioned.

Purple's antennae stood straight up as he heard the voice. It had drastically changed. There was no humor in his voice. His voice was deeper, darker; it traveled through his body. It was a voice of madness, calm, that left you in a false security. Purple watched as Red floated into the light of the halls. His crimson eyes were half lidded and he displayed a serene calm. If Purple didn't know better, he'd say that Red reached some inner peace.

"I'm going to my room," Purple calmly answered as his antennae lowered.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…how can you lie to your co-ruler?" Red questioned with a growing smirk.

"How is going to my room a lie?" Purple questioned with a dry look.

"I know what you've been up to Purple and…it hurts me," Red admitted with a fake look of hurt as he raised his hand to where his heart would be.

"Really?" Purple doubtfully questioned.

"I know the road to perfection is hard…but it's something that I must do," Red began. "Even if I have to get rid of those who stand in my way."

"Are you threatening me?" Purple growled.

Red floated over to Purple and circled him. He stood behind him and grinned madly. His mouth was at the right side of Purple's head.

"You were always so dense…it was adorable," Red calmly growled.

Purple quickly floated forward and turned to face Red. The twisted grin on his face turned Purple's fear to anger.

"Are you trying to destroy the empire?" Purple growled.

Red's features darkened as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"The empire is dead…it is nothing but defected soldiers who are weak. I'm rebuilding the empire from the ashes. The Irkens will rise and be even greater," Red passionately explained.

"I think you blew a circuit in your Pak," Purple pointed out with a grin.

Red growled and quickly floated over to Purple. Their faces were inches apart.

"Friendship means nothing when I destroy the flawed Irkens," Red hissed before he floated off into the darkness.

Purple hovered in the same spot before he shook his head and floated back the way he came. He was going to go to the bridgeto see the status on earth. His plan wouldn't work if he couldn't get his key players into position. Purple arrived on the bridge and his mouth dropped when he already saw Red there and giving orders.

"Tonight we destroy those humans!" Red declared.

Purple watched in confusion. It seemed that insanity kept you going. Red turned his crimson eyes to Purple and smirked.

'I never wanted to break us apart,' Red thought with little remorse.

If he could create perfection then the lost of one friend wasn't that great. He could easily program the memory of Purple out of his Pak. Red turned his gaze back out the window and laughed. He would get his scream and he would enjoy the sound of her voice before he choked the life out of her body.

Purple watched as ships launched out toward the human base. He floated to stand by Red's side and gazed at the oncoming destruction.

"Look at the perfection," Red whispered. "Those six soldiers will do what a hundred Invaders could never do."

Purple narrowed his eyes and left the area. Red chuckled andwatched Purple leave. He then left the bridge and floated to the transportation center. The technician saluted and Red didn't even acknowledge the Irken.

"Beam me down to earth," Red ordered. He wanted to watch the destruction first-hand.


Author's Note:

I agree that Gaz is being a Bitch, she tries to act detached from everything; which doesn't work.
Zim and Gaz's relationship is going to be make it or be broken within the next few chapters...Red will also learn a few things...I don't plan to kill him off...he's too much of a cute-evil-jerk to be done awaywith. I have major plans for Red, oh such plans do I have. I can't help but chuckle at my plans. It will all be revealed within the next chapter.
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