Yeah…Sorry about the title of the Last chapter, it keeps making me want to sing the Campfire Song song. I hope it didn't do the same to you. If you want, while reading this story, you could listen to Heavyweight, by Infected Mushrooms or Easier to Run by Linkin Park.
Anyway this is the chapter where we see the most pitiful attempt at apprehending a caravan ever made. Don't you just love how Lea talks? She says caravan… You'll see what I'm talking about… This is also probably the saddest chapter of the story, well next to the end, I plan for that to be sad. I have no ending comments, so if I killed off your favorite character so soon.
Sorry.
Caravans, Infiltration, and Awkwardness: Mourning of Champions
Zim
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Daylight came around 3 hours later, and I didn't get any sleep. Of course neither did Tak—we were glaring at each other all night. Lea didn't make it any easier with her sleep-talking. "Hey guys! Are you ready for some mugging?" Lea suggested. I yawned slightly and stood up swaying.
"Alright." I said tired. Lea glanced at me and Tak. "Please say you didn't stay up all night." Lea asked. I stretched a little and glared. "Just making sure she wouldn't kill me in my sleep." I said tiredly. "Well that settles it, you're not coming." Lea said boredly. Tak stuck out her tongue at me and ran off.
Lea kneeled down next to me. "You, just get to sleep." Lea ordered. "The amazing ZIM-" I started. Lea held her antennae and put her finger on my lip. "Sleep… I'll make sure Tak doesn't kill you." Lea ordered pushing me down. I glared at Lea.
As soon as they left, my eyes slowly closed heavily as the silence of the hidden spot…
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Lea
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"Okay so Lea you're sure this is safe?" Veronica asked me wearily. I smiled sweetly. "As safe as can be!" I lied; I hadn't really done much research on this caravan. All I knew was it might have food—which we were severely short on.
We watched the caravan stop at our trap, Sheret lying dead on the road. "Okay so I estimate we have 1 second before she gets jittery, go!" I ordered. Veronica coughed and glared at me.
"Fine..." I grumbled. "Go!" Veronica ordered and we ran to the back of the caravan and opened up the back of the first ship we saw.
"Oh…shit…" I said backing away with everyone. "Hey! There are some Irkens!" About twenty Meekrobians shouted. "Um…Veronica? A little leadership?" I asked. "Yeah, just one…Run !" Veronica shouted. "I could have said that!" I yelled.
We very quickly ran off. Tak was standing in the forest by the trees chuckling when we were sure we lost them.
"So I guess the caravan wasn't exactly…" Tak tried to start. I glared at her. "Well if you would've helped instead of standing here chuckling prom queen!-" I started. Tak glared at me. "I'm Tak, not prom-queen." Tak hissed.
I slapped her across the face. "You didn't do anything. We could have found food we so desperately need." I hissed. Veronica tapped me on the shoulder. "Lea, have you noticed Zim and Sheret are missing?" She asked. I looked around.
"Zanna! Ron! Have you seen Sherry?" I called out. No reply. "Tak! What did you do with Zim?" I demanded. Tak blinked. "I was over here the entire time." Tak hissed.
"Great! Sherry's been kidnapped, Irk knows where Zim is, and Zanna's nowhere to be found!" I yelled exasperated. Veronica tapped me on the shoulder. "Lea, all of them were at the campsite. I think the Meekrob fooled us." Veronica suggested. I sat horrified at what could happen to my best friends and ally.
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And for once I didn't enjoy it.
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Zanna
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"Let go of me!" I cried struggling against the large glowing beings hands. "Shut up you little brat! Lucky you were wearing those bright clothes, we could have never caught you." He gruffly ordered putting me in a cramped cage. "Another prisoner for the Meekrobian Army"
I grabbed the bars of the cage and started to cry. "Zanna!" I heard Ron cry from behind me. I turned around and hugged him. "Ron where are we?" I cried. "We're prisoners of war…" Ron said sadly. "I know that! But where?" I demanded. We heard coughing from behind us.
"He-who-shall-not-be-named, would you happen to know?" I asked. Zim looked around.
"The capital." Zim stated then talked to Sheret. I turned. "So I guess we're screwed." I cried. "Lea will save us!" Ron tried to comfort.
I threw back my head and laughed. "Lea? She would rather see me rot here!" I laughed. "But not me! Not Sheret! Not Zim! She loves us!" Ron argued. I glared at Zim. "I can understand why Tak hates him." I hissed.
"It's not hate Zanna, more of a confused obsession. Lea 'hates' me, Lea 'hates' Sheret." Ron explained. "And yet she still gives us the time of day." Ron continued. I scoffed. "I'll kill her." I said glaring. "That's why we're here Zanna! Because you refused to join Lea!" Ron yelled.
I pushed him off and stared at Zim, whom had obliviously tuned us out. "Perhaps Veronica had a point." I said quietly. "I don't want to end up like him." I commented. Ron smiled at me. "I just hope that someone saves us soon…"
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Veronica
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Lea, Tak, Mimi, GIR, and I waited outside the capital's gate. "Lea, this isn't safe." I said shyly. Lea laughed at me, and I felt upset. I can't believe I the commander is not taken seriously. "Now here's what we'll do. The second they see an Irken, they'll open fire." Lea said quickly.
I burst out laughing. "What?! What type of city do you think this is?" I laughed. Lea glared at me and coughed. "As I was saying, we'll run into the jail." Lea explained.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
"Lea, what happens when we enter the jail?" I asked shyly. Lea blinked and looked away. "The way I see it, there are two scenarios." Lea said quickly. "Three." Lea quickly added. I stared afraid of what she was thinking.
"One, we go in, we rescue all of them, and everything's peachy." Lea pondered. She looked away and glanced back at me. "Two, we all get shot on the way out." Lea listed. I stared shocked, it sounded like she was instructing me on what our plan was.
"And three?"
Lea exhaled and put her hand on my shoulder. "Only one of us will die." Lea said calmly. I stared at her; she seemed to be foreshadowing something. "Don't worry Lea, you'll be okay." I cheered on. Lea stared at me, as if she saw some sort of picture. "I'm not worried about myself." She informed me, putting her hand on her chest.
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Lea
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We ran in through the gates as the next caravan left, ignoring my instinct to kidnap the caravan, or even just wear a disguise. I guess that's what adrenaline will do to me. Getting to the jail was simple, Veronica was right, no one shot them. In fact no one noticed them.
They slowly walked into the jail, heads down. They could possibly act as if they were on an errand. "Veronica, this is where I see the scenarios fall into place. Don't screw up." I hissed. Veronica nodded. We paused in the rather large courtyard.
There was one building—two. Veronica glanced at the large stone writings. "Lea, I've got to save them." Veronica said quickly. I gasped and grabbed her arm, my fingers dug into her skin.
"Veronica, we can only save our squad. Don't you dare run into the execution room." I ordered. Veronica pulled her arm away stubbornly. "I'll save them on the way out." Veronica hissed. I gasped, she could ruin this! "No! If you get the security on us-" I started.
"You can't order the commander." Veronica yelled. Shocked I made a run for the cages. If Veronica is going to do something stupid, I might as well have tried to save them.
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The last cage was where I found them; I paused and had a sick feeling in my stomach. Why do I care so much? These people I try to kill on a daily basis? Zanna leapt up onto the bars. "Lea, you might want to work quickly." Tak chimed up, the first she's said anything to me since we reached the city.
"Lea? Why are you here?" Zanna begged. I twitched and hesitated to pick the lock. "To…Rescue my squad." I said exhaling shakily. "Lea! You're saving us?!" Zanna asked excitedly. "Unfortunately." I muttered. Zim jumped up upon seeing Tak.
"Why did you bring her?! I mean—Zim needs no rescuing!" Zim said quickly. I opened the door annoyed. "Now get out, Veronica-" I was interrupted by the alarm going off. Tak and Zim jumped and stared at me.
"Run. Run away. Get the Hell out now." I ordered slowly. Zanna and Ron had no trouble with that order; they didn't even wait for me to finish the sentence. Tak and Zim glared at each other. "Veronica isn't looking." Tak hissed. "Yeah well, she is!" Zim hissed. I glared.
"We need to go now!" I yelled pushing them away. Of course the courtyard had erupted in gunfire, Zanna and Ron were probably off the planet by now, Zim and Tak stared at each other in the eyes mortified. "Veronica…" They gasped. I let up on my pushing. "Guys! We need to leave her behind." I ordered.
They didn't listen; I glared at the exit and at Zim and Tak. "Hey! Snipers! Look! I'm escaping!" I screamed getting the gunfire's attention. I immediately made a break to catch up with Zim and Tak.
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Tak
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I ignored Zim as we ran to find Veronica. She had been our close friend since Devastis—the only person that didn't laugh at Zim when he wasn't looking. We stopped in our tracks mortified. We had found Veronica.
She was bleeding to death on the ground; green was coating the fine dirt.
Suddenly we felt someone grab us. "What were you guys thinking?!" I heard Lea shout. I instinctively tried to grab the first hand I could feel. "Veronica's dead." I hissed glaring at the ground.
I felt the grip tighten. "We're in a war, death happens, now run." Lea ordered. I heard my pulse ringing in my ears, gunshots seemed to quiet. I fell backwards shocked; there was a stinging in my center squeedilyspooch. As the world seemed to dim and I realized I had been shot, only then did I realize whose hand I was holding.
And who was helping carry me out of the prison.
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Zim.
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Zim
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Tak fell backwards into Lea. "Don't just stand there!" Lea shouted painfully. I stared at them. The bullet had gone through Lea and into Tak. "Carry her! I'll get her feet!" Lea ordered. I picked up Tak's other hand shocked. Someone with such a sour attitude was saving us.
Even as her blood stained the ground.
"Yes Lea." I agreed in too much shock to protest. The gunshots rang out through my antennae, I couldn't feel my arms, I couldn't hear myself, and I could only hear the orders of Lea…
My commander…
We scarcely made it outside the city, and were only greeted by a caravan truck Zanna and Ron could find for us. We sat inside the truck, mortified. Lea sat in one corner treating her wounds.
"Zim, you have to get the cloth and bullet out of her." Lea stated so plainly, it was more of a request than an order. Zanna stared interested in what was happening. I grimaced and slowly lifted up Tak's shirt. As much as I hated her, I'd be the one to kill her, not some stranger.
Lea groaned as the painkillers in her pak started to work. "I am one lucky Irken." She groaned and pushed me away from Tak. "Okay, you pervert. The wound is on her back." Lea hissed at me.
"Zim knew that!" I shouted. Lea rolled her eyes and very carefully pulled out the bullet and shirt. "There, her painkillers should start to work in no time." Lea said assuring. I smiled and paused.
"Yes, yes, she is lucky, now…" I paused thinking. "Perhaps you can tell me why Veronica is dead right now." I hissed. Lea stared at me. "I told her not to go." Was all that Lea said.
"That was exciting! Let's do it again!" Sheret shouted jumping up from her seat. "She is your GIR." I muttered. Lea smiled. "That is so sweet of you to hold your girlfriend's hand." Lea commented. I dropped Tak's hand quickly. "Zim is not defective, he feels nothing!" I shouted.
"I'm not defective!" Ron and Zanna objected. I glared. "And where were you?" I demanded. "Um…We'd rather not say." They answered. Lea looked ready to tear them apart when Tak started to come to.
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Tak
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I opened my eyes shocked to see Zim sitting over me. "Oh great, if this is hell…" I muttered annoyed. I looked down to see my uncovered shirt. I gasped and jumped up (and on Lea) "You pervert!" I accused. "You should thank me! Zim saved your meager life!" He gloated.
I stared at Zanna and Ron whom just nodded in agreement. "Where's Veronica? Where's Lea?" I demanded. "You're standing on Lea." Lea hissed poking me. I looked around. We were in a truck…Without Veronica.
"Veronica passed away." Zim hissed. I tried to slap him when Lea stopped. "This should only teach you two something. We're in the midst of a war, we can't afford to fight." Lea ordered and pulled me down. "Besides Zim helped carry you out of the prison." Lea said snobbishly.
I glared at Zim. "Thanks then…But I still don't forgive you." I hissed. Lea tapped me on the shoulder. "Oh yes you do. I took a bullet for you, he held your hand the way here…" Lea led on. I glared at Zim, who had zoned out on a passing fly.
"And I, your commanding officer, order you to forgive him." Lea ordered. I pulled away from her and glared. "I forgive him. But don't expect me to be sincere." I hissed. Lea smiled and stared at Zim.
"Now hug, kiss, make-up." Lea ordered. "You're abusing your power." I hissed. Lea chuckled. "No this is for making me carry you with a gaping hole in my stomach." She laughed. I slowly walked over to Zim and sat down. How sickening this made me feel looking at him.
"Thank you…Zim." I spat out and grabbed his hand. "I too forgive you and hope to make a treaty for the duration of this war." Zim rambled. I shook his hand. "I hate you." I stated. "I hate you too." Zim spat out staring in the opposite direction.
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Lea
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I smiled at the two. It was adorable, but I felt that the apology needed some sincerity. So I pushed Tak over on to Zim (My preferred method of sincerity.) "Zanna, Ron, Sherry?" I asked smiling. They glanced at them, both still on top of each other. "I'm throwing out obsession." Ron said laughing.
They finally blinked and got off of each other, blushing a deep green, even if they didn't like each other it was pretty awkward. I liked it. They glared at me for a second before Tak got up and walked onto my side of the truck.
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Lea's Video Log
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We found a new remote place to camp; I had no other choice though but to make us nomadic. I believe Veronica was all the proof we had that we were the only squad that either wasn't shot out of the sky, or taken for execution.
Tak and Zim have been avoiding each other; I can't seem to put my finger on why. It could be because I've been purposely creating awkward situations for my own sick amusement, the fact that Zim appeared to be so worried when Tak got shot (But hey, I was too, it was a day of miracles), or the whole seeing Tak nearly naked thing.
I proudly stand on the cornerstone of two out of three of those. But every day I seem to find myself scowling at Tak, or glaring at her. I can't figure this out either, I'm trying to get her and Zim together, but (and be warned Sheret told me this) I'm apparently trying so hard, as to get an ulterior motive, to tear them apart.
Deep, all I know is I'm going to balloon Zanna, Ron, and Tak now. And I swear to Irk, I'll try not to scowl doing it.
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P.S. You should listen to them ramble to their SIR units, it'll be good blackmail.
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Lisa Zon.