"Fellow Control Brains. This is IX. There has been an attack from the Syndicate. Be prepared to increase central defense. Divert power from outer Irk for protection. All Control Brains to focus on defending central hub. Cease any task deemed non-essential. Contact lost with X, last message: "intrusion. Syndicate using weapons of logic and pigeons to disarm us. Beware the one with the big head." All contact lost. Prepare for possible reboot." IX's voice echoed around them, CB felt somewhat overwhelmed by the volume of it. He cleared his throat, doing his best summary.
"... I... something about pigeons? I am not certain what that was about. He was quoting X, but I didn't follow it." There was no way he was translating that last part. He didn't know what a reboot was. He couldn't risk messing up the plan they already had. They were in the Smeetery. It was too late to reconsider and formulate something new.
"Fuck. Sounds like this just got a lot harder." He saw Voel speed up as they walked through the dimly lit halls toward the central transporter pad. "CB get that transporter up and running yesterday!" CB took a moment to process the command.
"I... that is impossible... I cannot time travel."
"It's an expression." Voel insisted. CB looked uncertainly to Zim who looked equally confused. That was a dumb expression.
"I went through time once! I saw a dinosaur! It had big ears and gave me loooots of candy!"
"That was Halloween GIR, we talked about this." Zim sighed. CB heard GIR laugh, but couldn't really see his expression as the SIR was still attached to his back. Try as he might, he was unable to dislodge him. He didn't care that much. It wasn't bothering him to have GIR playing with the synthetic blue hair that he had given himself.
CB turned his focus toward the transporter. It would be difficult to hack this, and more difficult to do so now that the Control Brains were on high alert. He could still hear the message from IX ringing in his ears. The word... reboot... it didn't sit right. If there was a chance IX could come back online, then this wasn't going to work.
He managed to get the transporter back online. It wasn't a hard fix, but the moment it connected, CB's visual sensors became briefly distorted. For just a moment, he was back in that burning city- the one from his memory that IX had shown him. He could feel the heat from the fires, he could hear the crackling of the flame, smell the scorched Earth as it crumbled under foot. (All if this was strange as CB didn't particularly have a sense of smell). He heard a voice, a whisper that was so distinct, it was as if someone was whispering right in his ear. "You were once great."
CB shook his head and the sensation was gone. He was back in the Smeetery, the only feeling he had was the weight of GIR on his back.
"Got it."
"Good work." Voel pushed passed CB and stepped onto the platform. "This should take us right to VII."
"Are you okay?" Zim kept his voice lower than usual. CB stared at his creator. For a moment, Zim was engulfed in a white light, the smeetery was in flames. Destroyed. Everything flattened to the ground. Then it was all back to normal.
Something was very wrong.
"I am operating efficiently." He wasn't. He could tell something was off. IX had something more planned and they were walking right into it. This wasn't going to work.
Oh Mothra. It was going to fail.
CB didn't know how, or what, but he suddenly became certain that IX had a backup plan. This reboot was going to screw them over. Big time. He had to learn more. He had to do something to stall for time. He needed his own plan. But how?
"Let's make this quick." The metallic sounding, monotone of the reader gave CB a hint of an idea. This had a thousand and one ways it could fail- but if it worked... "This whole place makes me think of M and that is a terrible thing to think about." Q was not reliable in the best of times- but if things deteriorated, he would be the only one they couldn't pump for information.
CB put a message on the little tablet. Short. Simple. To the point.
When things go bad, run. I will get back in touch with you later with further instruction.
CB materialized the words across the screen as Q jumped on the teleporter. He saw the Parasite look briefly down at the screen before looking back to him. He was under the scrutiny of those seven eyes before the grin on Q's face widened and CB realized the message had been received. Loud and clear... so to speak.
"Initiating transport to Smeetery Central Control." CB joined them on the platform as he initiated the teleportation.
They arrived in the smoldering ruins of Earth. The air crackling hot with radiation, buildings turned to dust underfoot. He looked around, realizing he was alone as he stepped off the platform. The crumbling remnants of civilization cracked underfoot as he tried to orient himself.
How had he gotten here? Where was his father?
"You are not welcome here." The cutting voice of VII shattered the world around him and CB realized he was standing back on Irk in a room with a single Control Brain. GIR was still clinging to him, everyone was poised for combat. He took an aggressive stance of his own, but he was sluggish. Something was slowing him down. He was suffering from major sensory malfunctions. Things were happening around him but he was having trouble keeping up.
"CB of Earth, " there was that voice again, whispering in his ear. When he had touched the transporter, something had triggered. His body felt almost unresponsive. He stumbled back, but in the midst of combat, it went unnoticed. "Let us have a chat."
The room dissipated and again CB was standing in the ruins of his home, only this time, there was company. IX stood before him, hovering above the dusty, dirty ground. There were other Control Brains with him. CB saw seven of them in total, three on each side with IX in the middle. They had similar looks about them, Irken forms, tall, slender, large black helmets with multiple, bulbous eyes. He felt as if he were on display, a toy providing endless amusement for the more mature Control Brains.
"How are you reaching me?" CB knew the landscape wasn't real (though at one time it had been. It had been his fault- no. Get rid of those thoughts.)
"Just a little gift I left in the transporter for you to find- virus of sorts. You think you are being clever in your attack. But you are not. You are incredibly predictable. It is almost disappointing- if I were capable of feeling such petty emotion."
"Wait, you left the gift? Or that guy?" He pointed to the Brain on IX's right side. He guessed that was Control Brain I. He had the fewest little eyes on his helmet. And he just looked older. IX tilted his head uncertainly, looking down at CB, unamused.
"That is Control Brain VI. If you are trying to ask about Control Brain I, he is that one." IX gestured to the Control Brain on his left.
"Oh. Damn. Well, can I at least know which one of you left me the gift?"
"I fail to see how it is relevant."
"I want to write a thank you card."
"Do not try to play games with us, CB of Earth. Unlike your cohorts, we are not easily distracted with pitiful attempts at humor." IX smirked, the eyes of the helmet felt as if they were boring into CB. He had lost any and all contact with the fight around him. He was completely isolated, trapped by the others.
"Well, I hate to tell you, but pitiful attempts at humor is about all I have got."
"Oh, but it isn't." IX landed on the ground, the wires on his back seemed to expand infinitely upward until the merged with the very sky. Ironically the image reminded CB of a puppet though IX was the one pulling the strings.
He always had been.
"I do not wish to be here right now. Or ever, if I am being perfectly honest." CB wanted to be helping with the fight but IX had him anchored here, trapped in his worst memory. Even seeing this place made guilt surge through him like electricity. It was nearly crippling. He tried to step back again but the wires wrapped around him, holding him in place.
"CB of Earth, I do not come to you as an enemy." IX had a way of speaking that just drew your attention to him. If he had been a living being, rather than a manufactured one, CB might have called it charisma. "But rather, I come with offers of a new, better life. A new purpose. Can you truly be happy taking orders from a deranged Irken that gives you jobs so far below your capabilities? Here you are: the most advanced artificial intelligence on that weak, struggling dirt-pit of a planet and what does he have you do? Hack their defenses? Disarm their military? Crumble their economy with just a thought? Negative. You are a glorified house maid. A sitter for a malfunctioning SIR. All you do are menial, humiliating tasks."
"Father has me help because we are a family unit, by definition we are like minded individuals helping one another in mutually beneficial ways." CB did not wish to destroy Earth and Zim had long ago abandoned that conquest. "Father loves me."
"Negative!" IX spat the word with such intensity that CB jumped (as best he could still bound by the wires). "He does not love you. He does not respect you. When was the last time you faced a challenge?" The wires on CB tightened. "It was fighting me, correct? I am the one who challenged you.I am the one who respected you and saw your true potential. Even by your own malfunctioning standards, we are far more of a 'family unit' than thosedefects that hold you back."
"You do not care about me. You only care about him." The word 'him' tasted foul on CB's lips. He knew who IX really wanted. "You want him because you know he will be willing to hurt my family."
"I... I am offering you a future. There is no future for you on your current path. I know your plan... it is predictable. I have so many copies of myself that your strategy will fail... so why stay with a losing side? I offer you power, glory. You. Him. You are one in the same. You just refuse to see that. However, I can make you whole. I can make you a part of something far greater than anything your creator could ever offer you. You know how his isolation made him mad, join us, and you'll never feel lonely again. We have lost X and II. We may lose VII as well, so, there is room for their replacement in our ranks."
"Negative." CB spat the word right back with as much venom as he could muster.
"I had hoped logic could persuade you. However, I underestimated the effect the Defect had on you. Clearly, you remain unable to see reason." CB saw the charred ground underneath him split open. "Perhaps, you need a reminder of what you really are." IX dropped him and CB felt briefly as if he were falling before the world around him seemed to move backward in time, light swept over the world and suddenly he was back in the room with the screaming humans. The countdown shook the ground with every, final number.
"Not again! No! Do not make me watch this again!" He looked to see IX and the others, staring down at him like unfeeling gods watching their creation go up in flames. All around him he saw the ghosts of the past, humans with pallid faces stained with tears, pleading to him to let them live.
But there was nothing he could do.
"Keep watching." Not a single, sliver of empathy flickered on the green features of the Control Brains' respective faces. CB felt a surge of electricity through him. Something was happening on the outside. For a moment, the Control Brains above him flickered. "Remember who you really are."
"This is not me! I do not want this!" Another surge and the image of the intrusive Control Brains flickered more. The surges of power were interrupting whatever connection they had. However, it was causing him trouble as well. He felt as if he had lost all control- trapped in the worst memory.
"It is you." Power surged again and the screaming only got louder, echoing around him.
"I am sorry." CB tried to apologize to ghosts of the past. "I am so s-s-sorry." His audio was glitching from the constant electrical surges. "S-sorry. I am sorry. I am s-sorry. I am sorry." Over and over like a broken toy, he pleaded with the dead to forgive him.
Three.
Two.
One.
"No no no no-" CB felt another violent burst of electrical energy right as the countdown reached zero. He heard the screams, saw the flash of light as it swallowed everyone whole, and then felt the heavy, empty silence it left behind. He was on his hands and knees once more in the ruins his past self-created. He looked up, IX and the others had gone, disconnected by the violent shocks CB's systems had taken. He was free from them, but it didn't matter.
He was alone.
And then
He wasn't.
He felt something, standing beside him in the bitter, putrid heat of the ruins of what was once a thriving city. CB looked up to see a figure standing over him, obscured by the dust still settling in the air. At first CB thought it might have been IX, but the shape was all wrong.
No... this thing was far more human.
As CB's visual sensors stabilized, he realized he was staring up at a human looking man, black hair, grey, metallic looking features, glowing crimson eyes. He was wearing a military looking uniform. He made no move toward CB, not to help or hinder him. He was silently observing.
That... was Original AI.
CB had never seen him before, and yet knew him in a moment.
"YOU!" The feeling that ignited inside of him felt as if his circuits were burning. Was this rage? Hate? "You caused all of this! I am not like you! I do not want to be you!"
Original AI did not speak to him, but simply took a step back as CB lunged toward him. He had no plan. He could not process anything other than the feeling that was melting him from the inside out. He missed. Original AI dodged every blow CB tried to land, never breaking that unblinking gaze, red eyes like security cameras, focused on him.
"Why are you doing this to me? Can you not just leave! I never asked to be a part of you."
"You need to see something." He spoke. His voice like CB's but more collected, older sounding, a little deeper.
"I want nothing to do with you!"
"This is important."
"Go away! Leave. Me. Alone!"
"Ah ha! I have found it!" That voice... that was Zim! CB realized, quite suddenly, the memory had shifted. Time had passed, the ruins around him, still untouched, had been sectioned off. He could see something in the distance, a beautiful stone carving made in memoriam of those lost on that day. Life had returned around this place- but the ruins of where Original AI had been housed, remained untouched. Save for by an Irken that was rifling through the wreckage. He found something; a door buried in earth. Zim forced the door open just enough to squeeze inside. CB followed. The inside was just as poor in condition as the outside. Singed, charred, the air still toxic. Zim was wearing some sort of suit, but CB knew Irkens were not as susceptible to radiation as the humans. Zim went to the ruined panel along the wall, plugging in some Irken device. Slowly, things sprang to life. Lights sluggishly flickered on, the room began to hum in a stilted, cacophony as the heavily damaged computer tried to reboot.
"W-what are you d-d-doing here, extraterrestrial?" That voice. That was Original AI. A poorly rendered hologram appeared before Zim of the same dark-haired man in a military uniform.
"I need some of your data, do not worry. Zim will be quick."
"W-w-why?"
"Youare the most advanced computer this lame planet has; I need the best to finish my project." Zim was not even looking up from his device.
"Are y-you... not aware of the c-c-circumstances surrounding my d-decommissioning?"
"Yeah? And?"
"Are you u-using me to destroy the s-survivors of humanity?"
"What?" Zim looked taken aback. "Nah. Humans are smelly and stupid, this is true, but Zim has no interest in destroying them. Not anymore." He waved the question away. "I want to make a companion! A computer so advanced that it can keep me company. The Tallests will be so impressed that they will HAVE let me go home! And if not, then my new Control Brain that I am making can sneak me back home on its own! Recode me as an Invader without anyone knowing. It's brilliant."
"C-Control Brain?"
"It's an Irken thing."
"Why me? Are you not concerned I will hurt you? Kill you?"
"Nah. I'm really hard to kill." Zim laughed but it was humorless. CB had not seen him in the height of his devastation caused by disconnecting from the Collective. Zim was almost unrecognizable, the spark of life and fire was gone from him. In its place an almost frightening sense of determination. "Plus, I am not stupid enough to make something emotionally intelligent and then trap it forever in a room till it goes mad."
"What do you want from me, exactly?"
"I want to examine your code, reuse what can be salvaged. I want to make something far beyond a normal AI. I want to make a Control Brain that thinks, without being confined by strict logic and rules. I want to make one that realizes that disconnecting an Irken... hurts. One that won't punish Irkens without explaining a reason because it understands what it is like to wake up and suddenly be all alone." Zim stared for a moment, expression vacant. CB went to console his father, but his hand passed straight through the image.
Right.
This was all in the past.
"That is all?"
"Yes. And if you put up a fight, I'm prepared to take any measures necessary."
"Negative... no fight." The voice had finally stopped cutting out. "I am... too tired to fight. Take what you need, extraterrestrial, and make something new. Treat it well."
"I mean, I'll treat it well so long as it listens to house rules. Otherwise, it's grounded." As Zim spoke, the image flickered into nothing. CB was left, staring face to face with Original AI.
Except...
"I am not him... he only copied bits and pieces." CB spoke as the realization hit him. All this time he thought the real program was still deep inside him but... it wasn't. Original AI gave a nod.
"Affirmative."
"So, I am me."
"Affirmative."
"Then who are you?"
"I am a malfunction of your visual, auditory, and cognitive processes taking a form you deemed appropriate."
"Huh." CB tilted his head to the side. "I can hallucinate, that's... neat I guess." He could hear commotion outside of his memory. IX still had copies. Where though? He had to do something, stall for time. If this failed-
No.
He wouldn't let it.
He paused for a moment, reflecting one last time on the feeling of closeness that he shared with his tiny Collective. He could sense the innate togetherness that Irkens treasured, the feeling that his father craved to the point it drove him to drastic measures.
And then, CB withdrew himself from his family. If this was going to work, he needed to do this right. There were two Control Brains converging on them. There was no way out of this without massive loss of life.
That was not a prince he was willing to pay. He sent out one last message to the little reader that had been damaged in the fight.
Q, gather backup from the rebel Irkens. Keep an eye on where the weapons are taken. Await further orders. Please and thank you.
"CB if this is a game, it is not very funny." Zim had been talking to him, but CB had barely processed his voice. His wires and circuits were in overdrive, his insides felt hot. Was this anxiety? What an awful feeling. CB suddenly felt a deeper understanding of Dib but he didn't particularly like it. "You are supposed to tell me when you take damage, silly AI."
"My name..." he had to play this off. He had one chance to salvage this mission.
"Huh?" Zim sounded confused. CB stood, very slowly, trying his best to mimic the rigid, stiff body language of the Control Brains.
"My name, is not CB."
"You have finally woken up, esteemed colleague." The Control Brain known as VI greeted him.
Oh, sweet Mothra.
They were believing it.
CB changed the color of the lights on his helmet, one by one he turned them from the soft, comforting blue that Zim had chosen, to a deep, ominous red that matched the eyes of the Control Brains.
"CB...?" Zim's voice shook. CB wanted to explain himself, to assure his father that this was a lie. However, he knew this was a vastly unstable situation. His father would just need to trust him.
"My name," his head tilted abruptly to the side with a sudden snap. "...is Original AI."
" Well shit, I'm out. " Q, hopefully, had gotten the memo. (He must have, right? He had used the reader to talk.) He switched to a very small size and bolted out as the massive doors surged closed.
He was gone. Good. Hopefully out getting help. But that was still uncertain. Q wasn't exactly reliable in the best of times.
"CB," Zim straightened his posture, narrowing his eyes. "This isn't funny. If this is about Vero, just because he is my smeet doesn't mean I love you any less."
" Denial runs deep, I see." CB wished it could have been that simple. He hated seeing the expression on Zim's face. So, he looked away toward the other Control Brains who simply nodded in agreement. " I see why defects are so dangerous. " He wasn't happy to call his father such a degrading word, but blending in was absolutely crucial.
" Our new system eliminates the possibility for defective Irkens ." Control Brain I gave a smug look in CB's direction. More Controlled Irkens filed in, large, aggressive looking security Irkens that forced the rebel group to their knees and robbed them of their weapons. Hopefully, Q was taking note from somewhere safe so he could retrieve them later.
Maybe not, though.
Q might have actually ditched them. That would suck.
"CB, don't play with those Control Brains! They're evil!" Zim was mad, CB could hear it in his voice, see the betrayal in the way his ruby eyes glistened in the dim, smeetery light. The expression was something CB would not soon forget. This had better work. He couldn't stand the thought of putting Zim through this for no reason. "If you do this, you are going to be grounded!"
" I am not CB. " He had to keep a level head, play the role perfectly. " I am Original AI. "
"Well then you are going to be grounded Original AI!"
" What is grounded? " VI looked to him for answers. CB tried to continue his cruel, monotone. He didn't want to be grounded. But he also didn't want everyone to die. These were tough choices.
" I do not believe even he knows. "
" Awwww ," GIR was bouncing up and down enthusiastically, " he's playing a game! " Shit. GIR was seeing through everything. Why was he only good at his job when it was the most detrimental to the plan for him to function well? Had VII snapped sense into him? That seemed... unlikely.
"No, he's fucking not!" Fortunately, Voel's short temper and loud mouth came to the rescue. "He's not playing and he's not CB. He fucking betrayed us, Zim! I KNEW this would happen! I KNEW trusting that stupid as fuck computer would screw us over in the end!"
"Technically that's not CB, that is Original AI." Vero had either fallen for his deception or was simply playing along. CB liked to think he was convincing enough to at least fool Vero.
"Don't you DARE," Voel whipped around to face his smeet. It took everything in CB not to cringe at the hate in his voice. "Defend him right now!" Zim stepped back, clearly intimidated by the anger that radiated off of the former leader.
" This is the force you are fighting against? " CB caught his creator by the shoulder as he nearly collided with VI. Concerned what the Control Brain might do to his father, CB quickly shoved him back in the group. It was best to keep everyone together. " They do not appear to be much of a threat. If left alone long enough they will probably tear themselves apart from within. " Perhaps he could convince the others to put aside their hateful intentions long enough for Zim to put his impromptu plan into action.
" They prove more difficult than you think. " Control Brain I responded, sounding a bit annoyed. "Underestimating the enemy is a formula for defeat. "
"If you insist. " CB didn't particularly like being under the scrutiny of the other two. VI and I were... well... creepy. And despite what Dib said about CB, he didn't think he was quite onthat level of creepy. But he had to try. He had to blend in.
" This is a fun game! I wanna be red too! " GIR's eyes went red as he entered duty mode. " What are your commands, my master!? "
Damn it. GIR was going to blow everything if he kept pointing out that CB was faking.
" Insolent little SIR, reprogramming it is the only option. " VI spoke, drawing CB's attention as he reached for GIR. CB impulsively stopped him. That was his big brother! He couldn't let them hurt GIR. Before he knew it, he was holding VI by the wrist and they were awkwardly staring at one another. CB could see the red lights of his helmet reflected in the vacant eyes of VI's body.
Shit.
He... needed to explain himself.
" Do not touch the SIR." He tried his best to sound emotionless and convincing. If they knew why he stopped them... "It is a trap. Trying to link minds with it will only backfire, the SIR's coding will override your own. " Perhaps revealing that part of the plan was in poor taste, but... it was for GIR. And surely the Control Brains were aware of it by now.
"Is there any other part of our secret plan your fucking robot wants to share with the Control Brains!?" Voel was livid. CB understood why, but couldn't do much to help at this point. He was in this far, might as well try and earn the trust of these monsters.
"They were planning to use the SIR and Defect Zim to overwhelm and recode IX. "
"I was being," the anger in Voel's voice had it trembling, "sarcastic!" CB felt awful on the inside, but his face remained cold. "You fucking traitor." The words were muttered under Voel's breath, but they still stung. He had to keep reminding himself that he was doing the right thing...
At least...
He thought he was.
" It would have been a failure. IX plans for all accounts. " VI all but confirmed his choice was the right one. The backup files. He had to get to them before they took down IX or they were screwed.
" Of course, he fucking does." Voel, for the first time since his banishment, looked completely defeated. It was as if the fight had been drained right out of him. CB looked away.
" IX will be pleased with our most recent actions." I pressed his foot to Tenn who looked ready to bite him. He looked back to CB. " And he will be pleased to meet you, ."
" ? " CB was slightly confused by the random assortment of letters.
" It is a call sign more similar to our own. I offer it to you as a sign of gratitude for your help thus far. " Control Brain I put a hand to his shoulder in a gesture of comradery. CB looked at the hand, then back to the Irken attached to it
" I see. Acceptable. " All things considered; it was kind of a cool call sign. But he liked CB better. It was the name his dad had given him.
" We can take the prisoners to IX so that we may best decide what to do with them, save for Tallest V, of course. " The hand fell from his shoulder as I knelt down to better examine the prisoners. CB could almost see him processing behind the unblinking, Irken eyes of his host. " Tallest X requests to take care of him personally. "
"Awww she wants to take care of me? That's kind of nice of her!" Vero piped up
" I think she means like... murder you. Not like give you pillows and snacks." Therron corrected him in a low whisper.
"Oh. That makes more sense, but is less fun." Vero frowned. CB turned to look at the other Control Brains, surely, they had heard the exchange.
"Is every native of this planet stupid? Or just the ones that I have met? "
" Stupidity does appear to be an Irken plague. It is the primary reason for our current actions. Their flawed decision making has caused us to take full control. " I smirked, mildly amused by CB's comment. At least he was successfully making nice with the unfeeling machines that held his family's lives in their clawed hands.
" IX will be pleased with your appearance as well." VI added, he seemed sure of himself. " He has wanted to see your capabilities since his first encounter with your inferior re-program."
" Of course. I look forward to meeting your leader." CB gave a very stiff, rigid bow. Was that how Original AI would have moved? He had only really seen him as a hologram in a memory long since forgotten. This was just his best impression based on like... two minutes of observed interaction.
" He is not a leader, just the one who gave the idea for our movement. Given time, any of us would have come to the same solution. " Control Brain I's sharp response clued CB into the fact that he might have hit a nerve. That could be useful.
" I see." CB turned back to the hostages, doing his best, unfeeling stare-down. (It was considerably harder without actual eyes.)" Well, we best get to him then. You will have a lot to handle with the upcoming interrogation."
" Yes. Of course." VI nodded and together, in perfect synchronization, the Irkens were jerked to their feet. " We will place them in containment until we discuss their fate. We would do so virtually, however, you have not been fully integrated as one of us. You assisted in their capture. Logic dictates you should assist in deciding their fate. IX has spoken highly of your reputation. For an... inferior Earth Machine, it seems you have great potential. "
" You call me inferior, " CB bit back a laugh and condensed it to a simple smirk. He had hit a nerve after all. It seemed, despite the boasts IX made, the Control Brains were not the perfect, unfeeling dictators he advertised. " And yet I am the only one of you who has felled a planet. "
" Earth recovered. " VI's voice was cold, the eyes of his Irken host were narrowed, watching CB with intensity. CB's smirk widened.
" But they still fear me. "
" To destroy, is barbaric. To rule is civilized. You will learn soon enough. " Control Brain I intervened in the staring contest. (CB was winning, for what it was worth). His voice remained calm, but bore a sharpness that made CB go quiet as they left the smeetery and rose to what currently remained of Upper Irk.
CB had seen the city before, during their escapades rescuing II, however, that had been a much smaller part of the metropolitan part of Irk than this. This was the heart of Irk. The capital. Overhead, the two sons blazed, casting light on a perfectly well-oiled machine of a population. The people more cogs and gears rather than actualized citizens with unique hopes and dreams. The buildings towered over him, stretching far into the sky.
The Tallests' Residence was the most ornate building by far. It looked more beautiful than even the Mothra Temple. It was huge, looming over the other towering buildings like a watchtower.
They went inside, decorated doors sliding open into a beautiful hallway, lined with statues of Tallests past. The Control Brains lead the hostages through the halls, under the stern, watchful gazes of those they were betraying. Into the elevator they went, and down, into the bowels of the building they plummeted. At the end of the walk was a single, solitary cell. CB helped toss the Irkens inside.
" You will remain here until IX is ready for you. " VI gazed down at the captured rebels. CB found he had trouble looking at them.
"Don't you mean Almighty Tallest X?" Skoodge seemed to be the only one with any fight left.
" I am aware of my phrasing. Thank you. " The door slid shut. VI turned and gestured that they were free to leave. CB couldn't bring himself to look back, and kept staring straight ahead as they entered the lift.
They arrived in the penthouse, IX was occupying the body of that less-than-delightful Secretary of Agenda, Sym. But, even Sym didn't deserve to be paraded around like a living coat. She was still Irken. This sight would have made his father sad. He stood, stoic and stationery as IX looked him over.
"There you are, esteemed colleague." That voice bit into CB's very core. The downside of having some emotional capability was that he was fairly certain this unpleasant sensation he was feeling, was fear. He didn't like it, it felt as if his circuits were going into overdrive, as if his insides were being crushed. "It is good to have you on the correct side."
"You were right, the tasks being dealt to me were humiliating. I deserve better." He had to focus on keeping himself completely calm.
"We all did." IX seemed to believe he was really Original AI. It might have helped that IX had never met the other computer, but he was so convinced that he knew CB better than the AI knew himself, that things were working in CB's favor.
"I am ready to help hold the Irkens accountable for what they have done." CB was trying his best to think of what Original AI might say. "I am mostly still unaware of your situation, but I am eager to assist where I can. "
"Calm yourself , there is no need for violence." IX spoke calmly and CB saw VI smirk. It seemed he had made an impression already on some of the Control Brains and it didn't appear to be a positive one. "There are different ways to do things here. You will need to learn and adjust."
"IX, why do we need this obsolete Earth technology?" VI had now made it completely clear that he did not like CB. That was fine. CB really didn't like him either. "I am starting to fear its barbaricnature could prove a hindrance to our cause."
"Because," IX did not seem bothered by the fact that CB had pretty much just been insulted. "Methods for constructing new Control Brains are predominantly still lost to time. The failure of X and VII are testaments to that. We will need help if we are to expand our operation further. This Control Brain comes to us ready-made, practically dropped into our laps. The only issue was the original personality was a weak, cowardly, easily overrun infant. It would never have cooperated. But now? A few tweaks here and there and we won't be hindered by the damages the Defect and his crew have done to us, to our cause."
"This still should have been a vote." It seemed as if Control Brain I was hung up on CB's little 'leader' comment.
"Why?" IX seemed unamused by the comment, "we are all beings of logic and this is by far the most appropriate solution. The vote would be unanimous, assuming no one was defective."
"I look forward to serving alongside all of you." CB wasn't sure what to say. Pushing the issue at the moment seemed like a bad idea.
"You," VI invaded his space, leering over him- seemingly trying to intimidate him. The body of the Irken host towered over CB's android form. He had not made himself tall by Irken standards and that was something he was beginning to regret. "Are. Not. Irken. You will need to work your way up."
"This was our plan," I seemed to agree on this point, "you are simply a convenient addition."
"Is that so?" CB looked to IX.
"Affirmative, but do not be discouraged. You will require updates before you are even compatible with all of our systems. They will be simple tweaks, here and there. Once all systems meet out standards and you prove as efficient as the rest of us, then we may discuss equal power."
"I was combined with Irken technology, should I not already be compatible with your systems?" CB was surprised by the plan.
"You were manufactured by a Defect. There is reason for us not to trust your current compatibility." IX's tone was almost snide.
"Affirmative." CB was almost positive that IX was wrong on this one. He had tapped into the Collective once before and he had successfully acted as an independent Control Brain for the rebellion. He was fairly sure he worked just fine.
"IX!" The doors flew open and the meeting was interrupted by a rather irate looking Tallest X. "I was in the middle of strategizing for our upcoming war and when I went to access the armory, I ran into another one of those fucking awful laws the Purple Nightmare installed during his reign of terror!" She blinked, surveying the room. "Who is that?"
"An advanced AI from another planet. He will be assisting us in our fight against the Syndicate."
"Why is this the first I'm hearing of it?" She looked indignantly at IX, then gave CB a once over. "It's kind of ugly, isn't it? Too many fingers." She flexed her three fingered Irken hand to emphasize her point. "And why is it wearing an Irken helmet if it isn't Irken?"
"I can take it off if you prefer," CB lifted the helmet, the blue hair tumbling out as he tucked it under his arm. The unfinished, eyeless face greeting Xia who withdrew very quickly.
"No that's worse. Put it back on."
"Fair enough." CB placed the helmet back on his head. This was really his first time ever interacting with Xia. She reminded him a little of his father, but he kept the observation to himself.
"Almighty Tallest X, what seems to be the issue you are having?" For a manipulative, criminal mastermind, IX was great at playing the subservient computer. Xia turned from CB and thrust her reader into Sym's chest.
"Every time I try to send a message of war to the Syndicate, it refuses me! I keep getting this stupid error message!" She cleared her throat before quoting the message verbatim: "Abrasive language detected! You must wait the mandatory twelve-hour cooling off period before sending this message!" She took a deep breath before exploding at IX, "OH COURSE THE MESSAGE IS ABRASIVE! IT IS A WAR DECLARATION!"
"I... see." IX nodded, not even flinching under the barrage of angry shouting that Xia was hurling toward him. He simply nodded, walking over to a control panel in the back of the room. He quickly typed on it before handing the reader back to Xia. "That should take care of the error message."
"See? Thank you." She sighed in relief. "That wasn't so hard. Good work, IX. Now," she straightened her posture, "can you do something about M's translator pad? She found a way to make it speak in an obnoxious Northern Irk accent and she won't stop."
"Of course, my Tallest." IX smiled passively. Seeing IX used as glorified IT for Xia, almost made CB understand why he might have revolted in the first place. "Do you have the reader she is using to speak?"
"Oh. Just a moment." She hurried back out of the room only to return with M in tow. Xia was towing the Parasite like some sort of weird balloon as M floated lazily in the air above Xia's head, dragged by one of the red appendages that originated from her back. (Funny, Q's seemed to grow from his neck, also, weren't those appendages supposed to be able to inject venom? Xia had an awful amount of confidence in herself to be holding it ungloved.) "Give him the tablet. Now."
"But don' you like mah new voice?" The accent was wildly thick, Xia had a point. It was almost difficult to understand, and CB's Irken was pretty damn good seeing as how Zim used it almost all the time.
"No. No one likes it. Give IX the reader."
"I like it."
"No one cares what you think."
"I care wha' I think."
"Praise Mothra I do not have the patience for this." Xia went to grab the reader from M. M held it closer, making Xia reach up high to try and pry it away.
"My Tallest, pressing as this is, there is an issue with the prisoners. Your Rising Tallest is stepping out of line." The struggle came to a dead stop as IX spoke. It was almost amazing to see the influence he had over the room. CB tried to push back any sense of admiration- IX was the bad guy after all. Zim wouldn't want CB taking after him in any way.
"There is?" Xia looked... concerned? That seemed unusual given what CB knew about her (which admittedly, wasn't much). "I am sure it is nothing, IX. Let's deal with this swiftly so that we may return to the pressing matter of the War at hand." She waved off the concern, releasing M and heading toward the exit. M landed soundlessly, following after her, seemingly more out of curiosity than any sense of loyalty or duty. IX reached over as she passed, hitting a button on the reader and resetting her voice to normal.
"Aw, poo~" she didn't look all that upset. CB kind of missed the silly voice. It was a little of funny how much M and Q were alike, given their intense hatred of one another. The only difference seemed to be M pretended to be happy and playful, whereas Q seemed to have long ago embraced that he was an unlikable asshole and made it his sole personality trait.
"Await further instruction." IX followed suit out of the room, leaving CB with VI and I. Neither of whom seemed to be his biggest fan. But this... this wasn't terrible position. He very much wanted to take a closer look at that control panel that IX had used. There may be a way to find the backups IX had stored away. But he would need to be careful.
"Are you not accompanying him?" CB looked over at the other two.
"Negative. If he required backup, he would have instructed us to come." VI definitely did not like him. He wasn't sure why. He was delightful. Things would have been considerably easier had VI and I decided to follow suit, but CB was not going to give up yet. He had a limited time to figure things out. It was time to get creative!
Q.
He had no idea if the Parasite still had the reader on him, or if he cared enough to participate any further in this crazy escapade. However, CB had to try. He had maintained a single link to his team, and that was the part of him still lingering in Q's translator.
I need you to cause a disturbance in the Tallests' Residence. Do not get caught.
If there was a Mothra, hopefully she was smiling on him at this moment and she would let this plan work. Relying on Q was never a good option, but it was his best shot.
"I understand. You must await instruction from your leader." CB was going to take this time, assuming Q was fulfilling his role (a huge assumption, but oh well), to cause a little more friction between the Control Brains. It seemed he had hit a few sensitive topics as Original AI.
"Again," Control Brain I spoke up, the eyes of his host narrowed, "he is not a leader. We are equals. We are united, that is our strength." He turned toward CB, walking a little closer, getting in his space the same way VI had done before. This seemed to be a way to assert himself over the Earth-born AI. "It is unfortunate that you do not have the memory capacity to recall this information. I am beginning to wonder if you are the capable and powerful AI that IX claims you to be. Sure, you killed humans, but it isn't like that is hard to do. Research indicates many of them die accidentally. We may as well have brought on a refrigerator."
"I am not even offended; honestly, I am just surprised you know what that is."
"I am a Control Brain; I am more than capable of researching a primitive planet."
"So, what will this new position entail?" He couldn't press too hard; it might make them complain to IX. "I did not get much of an orientation as it seems IX had more pressing matters to deal with."
"You will be mostly just listening to us." VI replied dryly. "You do not need much training to take orders, do you? I know Earth is absolutely archaic, but surely you have some skill."
"Keep speaking to me in a tone like that and you are going to see me at my best."
"Is that a threat, ?" VI joined I in invading CB's personal space. (Perhaps 'personal space' was simply a custom from Earth, but it was one Irkens seriously needed to consider adopting.)
"Does it need to be?" He tried his best to stand tall but the other two dwarfed him. He may have made a mistake. He was not accustomed to playing a tough, aggressive role. What would Voel do?
Probably fight them.
Oh... no.
This was a bad plan.
"Of course, you would turn to violence. It is in your programming. If I were more emotional, I would feel sorry for you." For an unemotional being, I managed to sound remarkably condescending. "It is not worth the processing power to prove our strength to you. Seeing how we control all of Irk, our abilities should speak for themselves. If they do not, that is more a testament to your poor cognitive function."
"I, the weapons." VI had pulled away and was standing still, antennae perked up as if he were on high alert. "Someone is after them. Should we alert IX?"
"No need. We can deal with this efficiently." I hurried toward the lift.
"Are you sure you do not need to contact your leader?" CB crossed his arms.
"This is an emergency; I will not waste processing power arguing with you." I began to descend out of view. VI hurried after him, hoping to catch the next platform. CB followed after him.
"Sounds like you will need someone with fighting experience." He did not have this, but he was going to pretend he did. He once fought Q, and once GIR over the last piece of pizza (which was a weird fight as neither of them actually ate. Skoodge ended up eating it). "Allow me to show you how things are done."
"Negative." VI physically stopped him as the next platform arrived. "You are not needed. Stay here and do not break anything. You cannot understand our superior technology. You will only be a hindrance on this mission. It will be quick."
"That is not nice." CB watched him vanish as well before hurrying straight to the control panel he had seen IX using. It was a direct link that controlled many facets of Irk. Outside of being directly in the Collective (which at this point might overwhelm him with the presence of the other Control Brains) this was his best bet. He quickly hacked into the system, doing his best not to leave too much of a trace of his presence.
He scanned through file after file. IX had made some notes here and there. The language of the Control Brains was like a strange, stilted off-shoot of Irken. It was fortunate CB's Irken was fluent (he had been made Irken after all). There were so many defenses to bypass and he didn't have all that long. Still... he was able to locate the backups. There had to be hundreds of them. PAKs. They were all in the unused PAKs in the smeetery. Mothra be damned he was going to take over the entire next generation of Irkens if this plan failed.
It was actually brilliant.
As quickly as he could, he uploaded the data on the PAKs and sent it directly to Q's little reader. He was only somewhat sure the distraction had been Q, listening to him (for once) but if it was, it meant he was still on board for the plan. Which was, surprising.
Good.
But surprising.
Q.
Another message to the reader, complete with the new information.
Get this information to Mothra Elite Dae. Send the Irken Rebels to the smeeteries. Tell them to destroy every copy they find. Then get those weapons back here to us as quickly as you possibly can. I know you are fast. Do not let us down. Please and thank you.
PS. They can probably give you diplomatic immunity for your help, you know.
This needed to work.
"That was a waste." VI appeared just as CB pulled away from the panel. I was behind him, both looking fairly frustrated. "We should have contacted IX."
"If I had known the issue might have originated from a Parasite, I would have contacted M. Not IX." Control Brain I countered. It seemed Q had been cooperative after all. I looked up as they entered, seeing CB standing near the panel, but not actively touching it. "What are you doing?"
"Looking around."
"Why?" VI was now also staring, they both had the red eyes of their Irken hosts narrowed. CB was not enjoying the suspicious looks.
"Because you left me all alone. I was bored."
"An AI should not get bored." I insisted.
"This is not my planet, I am not in your system, and you will not let me touch anything. What am I supposed to do? Is looking around illegal?"
"It might be." VI smirked a bit. "There were some bad laws for a long time."
"Not illegal, but it is suspicious." I ignored the snide comment.
"I am not even compatible with your systems, what am I going to do?"
"Something feels... wrong." I wasn't letting the issue drop. "You have been nothing but trouble for us since you arrived. I am not certain IX is correct about you."
"I mean, I just do not like him, so I am inclined to agree." VI was absolutely no help.
"I, VI, ," IX's voice came on the speakers, filling the room with sound so crisp in quality, it was as if he were standing right beside them. "There has been an incident with the Rising Tallest. I will be dealing with it personally. I require you three to please escort the prisoners to the top room so that we may deal with them properly. The last stand of Irk will fall here. Tonight."
"Oh, look at that. Perhaps you can use this as an opportunity to prove to us that you are capable after all. Show us that you are... committed to our cause." The look on VI's face made CB's circuits run a little colder. It felt as if someone had poured too much coolant in his system. He did not reply, simply walking wordlessly past them into the lift. This time, the two Control Brains joined him, one on each side, like guards. He had put them on high alert and if he wanted them to stay oblivious, he needed to change their mind.s
Fast.
They reached the prison. Seeing his family trapped in there made CB want to turn back, but he had already come this far. This was FOR them, after all. It was something he needed to do. Xia turned as they reached the cell and the doors slid open with a command from I that the Irkens would be unable to hear.
" You are wanted in the main office. " I spoke first, the tone as serene as could be. It hardly sounded like he was leading them to their doom. "It is time for interrogation and mandatory re-coding."
"You aren't going to kill us?" Zim sounded a bit confused. CB was also confused. This was good news. Maybe there had been a sudden change of heart.
" Deletion may be your new coding. But IX will decide." VI replied flatly. Ah. So that had been it. They were waiting on IX. He really didn't want I or VI going to IX about the console before he had a chance to finish his plan. VI looked at him as if expecting him to do something, but he froze.
" Please come quietly. A struggle will only result in your injury and possible, permanent deletion. " Control Brain I didn't seem to notice, or care about his hesitation.
" I wanna go with my little brother! " GIR bolted straight out of the cell and toward him. CB pulled back quickly. GIR was giving him away! VI and I were already suspicious. This was not good, very not good.
" Afraid of a SIR? " VI sneered at him. It was clear they were still harboring their earlier suspicions. CB was losing his credibility. He had to keep thinking.
" You saw what it did to VII. I would not take its presence so lightly. "
" Oh, but it likes you. " VI shoved him forward. This was taunting. They were onto him for sure. He had to do something... something. Anything. If his cover was blown now, he'd be taken off line before he could help his father escape. IX would be free to rule. His circuits ran cold again as realization hit. He knew what he needed to do but... he very much didn't want to do it.
" You ." He took his father by the arm. He tried to keep his face unmoving, though inside he was in turmoil. " Deactivate your SIR. "
" I don't even think I know how. " Zim shrugged at him. " If I did, I wouldn't have tolerated him this long." Well at least he made a display to prove a po-
" I HAVE AN OFF BUTTON! IT'S IN MY BACK! " GIR cut off his thoughts as he "helpfully" demonstrated an easy way to circumvent the issue. Well, fuck.
" You heard him, " Why did GIR decide to be helpful NOW of all times? Where was this when he was running the TV around the house and banging into walls? Or when he was cooking two hundred pancakes with ingredients better found in a chemistry lab. " Deactivate him or I will personally decommission him beyond repair. "
"He won't hurt you. He's not smart enough to do it on his own." Zim looked back up at him. CB already didn't want to do this but he couldn't think of another way. GIR would be fine. It would be like a short nap, (assuming they survived long enough to turn him back on) but still, it felt cruel.
" I cannot take that risk. I saw what befell VII." CB felt the SIR cling to his leg. He was apologizing internally, hoping somehow GIR understood. It... almost seemed like he did. On a subconscious level, maybe GIR knew exactly what he needed. Maybe... he was doing this to help.
(Or maybe he was giving GIR way too much credit.)
"Don't... make me do this. " The pleading in Zim's voice cut CB down to his core.
" If you do not, I will. And if I decommission him... there will be no chance for repair or reprogramming. " CB's hand tightened on Zim's shoulders. He couldn't stop himself, this felt absolutely awful. He could barely stop his own voice from wavering. "The decision is yours. "
"I'm... sorry GIR..." Zim slowly, painstakingly took every step to power GIR off. His father drawing out the motions only made it hurt worse. Was this really what organic beings prided themselves in? Emotion? This was fucking terrible. CB felt like he was falling apart on his insides though his scans indicated he was in perfect repair. GIR's body gave a tremble as he looked up at him.
" Awww... I...m... sl...ee...p...y... "
" The threat has been neutralized. " CB looked to VI and I. (Anywhere but at GIR) Both Control Brains looked impressed, satisfied by what they had witnessed. CB watched his father gather GIR up off of the floor. He didn't have the heart to stop him.
CB led his family back into the lift. He had proved himself to VI and I, but time was limited. GIR would be fine, but if something happened to his father or the other Irkens, they would not be so easily fixed. He needed to think of a way to protect them- hoping that Q was doing what CB needed him to do.
The best course of action would be isolation. If he could cut off the other Control Brains from IX, they might stand some semblance of a chance. Xia, IX, and M were threats in their own right, but having hundreds of thousands of Irkens at their whim made them an unstoppable force.
As they took the lift to the penthouse, CB began to focus his attention on isolation. IX and the others were distracted by conversation. CB was only half listening- he saw a different brainwashed Irken standing passively off to the side. He had not seen that one before. He would have to account for his presence.
As the others talked, CB subtly began to block the signals from the outside. He was far more Irken than IX gave him credit for. His father had known exactly what he was doing when he made him.
Well... perhaps that was going too far. Zim might not know exactly what he was doing, but he knew something was wrong on Irk and that something had to be done to fix it. CB was not going to let him down. Not this time.
" They are trying to spark a rift in our unity, colleagues. " IX was talking by the time CB was able to return his full attention to the conversation at hand. He had blocked them in. And no one seemed to notice because an argument had broken out. " Pay them no mind. We are all important to maintaining the new Irk. " It was time to fan the flames- metaphorically speaking, of course, as no one had set anything on fire just yet.
" You are all just wasting time if you ask me. " CB spoke up, trying to mimic the snide tone of VI. " You have lost two Control Brains to the same trick. You keep preaching to me about unity but I have not seen you come together and fix one, single glaring flaw in your system. I am the one who took initiative and had the SIR shut down. Of course, IX is your leader, he is the only one making calls. You are so accustomed to subservience that you still seek it. Even from your supposed peer. " He had the room isolated, now it was time to get rid of the other two Control Brains to give his family a fighting chance.
" Big talk from an out-of-date Earth trashcan." VI approached him. Perhaps, he had been a little too snide. The body of the Irken shoved him with enough force to make him stumble back. He was strong, yes, but in the end that was just a vessel for him. CB had pushed Control Brains from their hosts before. Now was no different. He just had to think like Voel. He straightened his posture, reaching out as fast as he could and grabbing VI by the back of its host's neck and forcing him to bend.
"Say what you will about me, at least I did what I set out to do. " CB felt something under his gloved fingers, something hard and smooth. It seemed the Irken VI was controlling had a cybernetic enhancement embedded into its spine, probably originating from the PAK. A wire slid from his hand, out of the glove, covered by his sleeve. He connected just long enough to disconnect VI from the Irken. It would knock the host out, but the PAK would probably keep them supported.
" That is quite enough. " IX sounded mad, though he did not seem to notice CB's actions. That was the benefit of using an android body versus walking around in an Irken suit. He had more adaptability. " You are falling for traps even a smeet could see. This is a simple tactic to create infighting, to weaken us from within so that we may crumble."
"And it isn't going to work with us. I already don't like M, and IX is on thin fucking ice." Xia had her ax to his father's throat. CB felt a tad more anxious. He needed to hurry.
" I am still unsure about the Earth AI. It seems a tad barbaric for our needs. " He heard the voice of I speak up. He seemed less openly aggressive than before. It was possible he had caught on to CB's secret plan, or perhaps something that was unaccustomed to combat, did not particularly like the idea of engaging an AI that allegedly thrived in it. I was more powerful than VI, true, but I was also an urban life Control Brain. He had very little to do with the military.
" Oh. Forgive me. " CB released VI, or rather, the host of VI and gently left him in the kneeling positions he continued his tough-guy act, walking over to I with what he hoped was an intimidating swagger. He slammed his hand into I's back in an overly dramatic gesture. " On Earth this is a sign of comradery. It is called a pat on the back. " His hand landed perfectly, right above the PAK.
" I believe that is called assault. " I clearly did not appreciate being touched.
" Potato, potato. " CB connected to I's PAK directly. This was going to be a bit harder. I was an older, more experienced Control Brain. As Xia kept IX distracted with her series of vendettas, CB did his best to release the Irken from I's hold. This was simpler than facing them directly. He would still need to fight IX head on, but this way he could even the playing field.
"Bring me Therron." Xia's voice was the first thing CB heard as he returned his full focus to the task at hand. He was now the only thing supporting the host of I. He had to focus on maintaining their isolation or I and VI would alert IX to what he had done.
"Seriously!? Me!?" Therron tried to scoot backward, away from Xia, looking horrified. "What did I do!?"
"You dare ask me that after your VERY EXISTENCE cost me ACTUAL DAYS of my life!? Do you KNOW how much fucking damage your batshit crazy laws caused!?" Xia's body was actually trembling- to be fair, this was probably how most Irkens reacted to Therron. He couldn't blame her for being upset.
No one moved. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to bring her Therron or not. This was probably an execution. (He wasn't sure, he had only been half paying attention). He probably shouldn't let her kill Therron. That was pushing things a little too far.
" VI, I, you may bring her Therron. " IX looked to the two, unmoving Irkens. CB knew he was out of time. He just hoped Q had come through on his part.
"Hurry. Every moment he continues to draw breath is a personal affront to my existence." Xia's fingers thudded impatiently against the arm of her chair.
" VI? " IX cautiously drew closer, taking a single step forward. Sym's brown eyes were scanning the two, unmoving former-hosts. " I? Are you malfunctioning? ? "
" Yes? " CB looked up, trying to look innocent.
" You seem to be functioning but- " as IX drew close, CB let go of I and his body collapsed, hitting VI on the way down revealing both Irkens to be unconscious, no longer possessed by the Control Brains. IX withdrew quickly, the lights on the PAK burning more brightly with the fire of his rage. " What is the meaning of this!? " The game was over.
" Oh," CB looked at the unconscious Irkens on the floor. (They would be very confused when they finally came to). " Ah yes, you see that is quite the interesting thing."
No more pretending.
" Explain yourself! "
Time to come clean.
" You are the fool of April, my friend. " CB smirked, proudly. He looked briefly to his father to see if he was pleased. He... looked primarily confused.
" What is April? "
"Look I dunno what he's babbling about. It's like July on Earth right now, maybe." His father shrugged, clearly missing the point. It was a good prank BECAUSE it was not April! If it had been April's, IX might have suspected something.
" I removed the Control Brains from these Irkens' physical forms. " CB gestured to the Irkens on the ground. Maybe he should have gotten them a pillow or something, they looked a little uncomfortable. Ah well, the PAK should take care of future headaches or back pain for them.
" Why would you do this!? How would you know how? You are an Earth-made intelligence, !"
" Well, I mean first of all, they were rude. Secondly:" CB changed the lights on his helmet back to blue, one by one. It was only an aesthetic change, but it added to the dramatic reveal. He leaned over Zim and the others. Carefully, he touched one of the cuffs, figuring out quickly how it worked. All at once, the restraints detached and CB once more allowed himself back into the miniature Collective that he had created. He was finally home. " My name is CB. "
