Something cool dripped down his forehead. A gentle hand was smoothing back his hair—it felt so good. The cool liquid trickled over his forehead, and a rivulet wound its way over his brow and into his eye. He squinted, lifting his hand to wipe it away. As he removed his hand, he froze. Peering anxiously down at him was Purple's face, and his head was cradled in the Tallest's lap.

With a yelp, he rolled away and sprang to his feet. A mournful look crossed Purple's face briefly, but it vanished in a wide smile. "Dibbeh! You're awake. Just in time for lunch. Come on, I'll get Zim and you two can talk over curly fries."

Grimacing at the nickname, Dib reluctantly trailed the enthusiastic creature out into the hall. The walls were a garish shade of red, accented by glossy purple flooring. Squat, ugly Irkens rushed up and down the halls, disappearing through any one of the hundreds of open doorways which lined the walls. Dib wondered how they knew which room they needed to be in.

He was pulled from his observation as Purple dragged him into what appeared to be a lavish dining area. Various snacks and sweets lay heaped on a buffet-style table, and three tables stood around it, evenly spaced, with two chairs at each. Guided to the furthest table, he sat and scooted his chair in. He was surprised to see Purple drift over to the second table and seat himself. Dib shrugged off the odd sense of disappointment and relief, glancing over at the buffet. He didn't recognize half the things piled on it, but his stomach demanded to be filled.

Just as he pushed his chair back and prepared to brave the Irken cuisine, Red strode into the room, Zim in tow. He glanced at Dib and grinned, then gave Zim a small shove forward. Humming a tune that sounded disturbingly close to, "Here comes the bride," he sauntered over to the table where Purple sat, fiddling with his claws and blushing.

Having fully lost his appetite, Dib turned to face Zim, who sat squarely across from him, beaming with excitement. "I knew there was more to my mission than they were telling me! I just knew it! I found my hatch-mate, this is wonderful."

Dib's brows drew together. "Hatch-mate?"

"Don't play stupid, Dib, the Earth-term is 'brother'. No wonder you could see through my brilliant disguise, you were Irken too! You just didn't know it."

Dib nodded, swallowing hard. "Right."

Ignoring him, Zim continued on. "And guess what? Tomorrow afternoon we shall celebrate the reunion with a ritual forevermate ceremony!"

At this, Dib felt a twinge of alarm, but forced himself to be calm. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come now, you can't be that stupid. It's Irken tradition! Royal Irkens always mate with their siblings. Look at our parents, they were hatch-mates."

Horrified, Dib turned his gaze on the Tallests. Purple sat in Red's lap and was kissing him hard. Red's arms clasped Purple close and toyed with his antenna. A sudden image of the same thing happening between him and Zim flashed through his mind, and a scream of pure terror erupted from him. He seized the edge of the table and yanked upward, upending it on Zim. He turned and darted through the door, his wails echoing down the hall.

Red sighed happily. "Young love," he murmured, nibbling Purple's antenna.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Note: Remember, read till the end of the story, and this will all make sense. No, I have not turned to the dark side of ZADR and RAPR.