Prisoner of War
Feta Cheese
AN – It's good. It really is. There's no better title for this chapter, and I'm munching on Feta. xD I'm having too much fun with this. Thankies to reviewers, alerters, and favers xD I hope you enjoy this chapter 3
Unsettling dreams and uneasy, passing thoughts were ripped away from Dib when the door whipped open. He snapped up and looked confusedly, yet expectantly towards the door. A cruel silhouette appeared through the blinding light behind, making Dib rub his eyes tenderly. The door shut promptly, choking out the light leaving frigid violet eyes aglow. Dib's eyes snapped open and he leapt off the bed. The other had noticed Dib by now, and had shifted towards him.
Dib shrank back, feeling uneasy with the laughing eyes that hovered above him. The lights flickered on within moments, making Dib wince at the sensation, but he instinctively looked about him. The room was made of dark velvet, luxurious and almost seductive. He looked back up at the strange creature, still not entirely sure what to think about this situation. Purple advanced forward, causing Dib to tense warily. He didn't know if the Tallest would attack him or something, but the ruler simply hovered past Dib lazily and hardly gave him a second glance. Purple paused by a wall and a chair rose from the ground, which he promptly sat in, and picked up a nearby drink. A screen materialized before him and some foreign language started playing on the screen. It was a show of some sort, by the looks of it, and the Tallest seemed not the least bit interested. Silence rested between the two for the longest time, and Dib cautiously stepped forward. What was he to do or think? In the very ship he feared, revered, and had even longed to someday breech. The wonders of the mechanics behind it, along with the awe and fascination of the race, so advanced and new, that piloted it? How could anyone not relish in finally seeing it in full. Yet being here now, he knew his very existence was in danger. Every pair of alien eyes that fell on him seemed set on destroying him. But this one, this one was different…
"You know, if you have something to say, I suggest you say it before the commercials."
Dib blinked and pulled back a little at the comment. It didn't make sense to him, but he figured it was best to take it seriously. He stepped forward, just behind the chair in which Purple sat.
"Um, I was just wondering why I'm not in the dungeons."
Purple eyes peered around the back of the chair, and almost seemed like they laughed at they question.
"What, do you want to go there?"
Dib tensed and waved his hands in front of him.
"No no, no that's not what I meant! I was-"
A soft chuckle from the other made him stop, and the glassy eyes disappeared behind the chair. The alien hand rose and waved softly in the air.
"I donno. You came here by mistake. I think it's a bit harsh to just lock you away."
The way he replied felt so blunt, and the answer didn't make any sense. At least, from what he had found out about Irken and their empire.
"But, you're-"
"Irken, yes. Unsavory, heartless, cruel. The ruthless Irken machine, yes. And it's true."
"Then why would you show mercy?"
Dib felt awkward talking so formally, but he wasn't about to show disrespect to the leader of an enemy race. This was the one person only had to wave a hand, and he could spell out the final chapter of the human race. Pissing him off would be the dumbest thing he could do. And he wasn't stupid. A little crazy maybe, but not stupid. The other didn't make a move and Dib wondered for a moment what look was on his face. Purple spoke, though, and bore an air of complete indifference.
"Do I need a reason?"
He stepped forward to stand beside the chair. The other seemed so dangerous in how lazily he watched the screen. He didn't seem the least bit bothered that Dib could be an assailant that was planning to kill him come the opportune moment.
"But don't you guys not like aliens? Aren't you not even supposed to breathe the same airs or something?"
Purple barely turned his head towards Dib, looking at him with cool, emotionless eyes. They narrowed a touch, a flash of something glinting over his glassy eyes, but it was gone in an instant and he turned more completely to Dib with a soft smile on his face.
"Well, not normally."
"They why be nice to me?"
Purple shrugged off-handedly and looked back to the screen.
"You just reminded me of someone."
Dib rose an eyebrow, cocking his head to the suspiciously. He opened his mouth to say something when the screen changed suddenly and Purple snapped up.
"Aw yeah! Wooh!"
He sucked on the straw and happily watched as various colorful advertisements flashed over the screen. He giggled and munched popcorn, and Dib just sighed. Whatever, he didn't really expect to figure much out anyway. He walked over to the bed and plopped down. The sheets were certainly comfortable, but were almost too soft to sleep on. Maybe that's why he couldn't really sleep before. The screen eventually shifted back to the darker, more serious show and Purple relaxed to a dull state once more. Dib pushed himself up and he looked over to the ruler.
"I thought you guys didn't sleep."
Purple straightened up and turned to look at him with wide curious eyes.
"We don't."
"Then why the beds?"
He grinned and set down his cup, getting up as he spoke.
"For comfort, I guess. You gotta lay down sometime, and the floor gets frustrating after a while."
Dib crossed his legs and placed his hands on the bed before him. Purple rubbed his neck and looked around for a moment. His antennae perked up and he looked at the door just before it opened. Red hovered inside, rubbing his head frustratedly. He growled as he sat down on the bed heavily, obviously not having seen Dib.
"I hate you, Pur."
Purple grinned.
"Hn, yeah."
He floated over to a desk and grabbed the drink that was there. He turned and leaned against it, waiting for his co-tallest expectantly. Red moaned and threw out his hands.
"We just need to kill everyone. They're all so stupid."
"Yeah, I know where you're coming from. You think they'll do it for us though?"
Red waved, his eyes closed angrily.
"No problem, I mean, its par-GAH"
Red whipped back, having just noticed the alien boy sitting on the bed behind him. He reeled back, stopping just at the edge of the bed. He pointed a tense finger at Dib.
"What is HE doing here!"
Purple smiled coolly.
"You sent him here, remember?"
Red looked frantically back at Purple, and then quickly back to Dib.
"But shouldn't it be in a cage or have a muzzle or something?"
Purple grinned and Dib rose an eyebrow. He folded his arms over his chest.
"Hey, I don't bite."
"Ah! Stay back!"
Dib held out his hands.
"I'm not even doing any-"
Red reeled back again and fell off the bed. Dib blinked and rose an eyebrow.
"Uh, o…kay…."
He crawled over to the edge and peered over at Red.
"Uh, are you alright?"
Red just glared at him and jumped to his feet. With an arrogant air, he folded his arms and turned his back to Dib.
"Send him somewhere else. His presence is making me sick."
Purple grinned, shifting quietly towards Dib. He pointed towards Red, winked and grinned. Dib rose an eyebrow as Red continued.
"An alien presence is illegal and should be terminated. So he needs-"
He continued on and on as though someone was actually listening, and Purple leaned his head down and motioned to Red.
"I'll give you a donut if you poke him."
Dib looked curiously up at the towering leader and looked at Red's back. He wasn't really that hungry, but a donut sure sounded good. He crawled over the bed towards him, leaned out, and poked him in the back of his roes. Red tensed up immediately and whipped around.
"Assassination! Disease! Filth!"
His frantic explosion made it hard for Dib to suppress a grin. He looked back at Purple, who was making squeaky noises and covering his face with a hand.
"To the dungeons! To the interrogators! I told you Pur, he's here to destroy us!"
Dib fought back a giggle and reached out to poke him again. However, in a flash, hard fingers snapped onto his hand and an unimaginable strength instantly crushed his fingers. He hit the ground and he gasped in pained surprise. He looked up at Red, whose eyes were narrowed to deadly, almost maniacal slits. The long, spindly fingers tightened and Dib screamed.
"Alien filth."
"Red, hey, come on now."
Red looked back at Purple, who had poked him in the shoulder to get his attention.
"He's an assassin. I bet he's using mind control on you or something so that you don't expect anything!"
"He won't be able to kill us Red, and you know mind control don't work on us."
"He snuck up behind me!"
Purple grinned.
"But I do that all the time."
"You know that's different."
"I told him to. I think that's different too."
Red turned more towards the other and glared, releasing Dib's hand off-handedly as he spoke.
"You jerk."
Purple laughed and didn't notice Red's growing grin.
"Oh, by the way, Pur…"
His voice softened to the point that Purple quieted and gave him a suspicious look. Red continued.
"I left a special task for you."
Purple's expression fell as Red continued.
"The, Vagarans are here."
A look of frustration and disgust washed over Purple's face at the mention of the alien race.
"Aw man, Red! Come on…"
"Hey, you're better at dealing with crazy people."
Purple glared at him, sighed defeatedly, and decided it best to comply. Red watched triumphantly as the other retreated, and the door shut behind him. Dib looked up as Red slowly turned around to look at the new slave. His eyes had a look that Dib didn't like for a second. His eyes narrowed even further and Dib pulled back. The leader advanced and stopped just before Dib. He leaned down to glare right into his eyes.
"I don't know why you're here, or who you are. And to be frank, I don't care. But if you even try something, anything, while you're on this ship, I swear to whatever primitive god you might believe in that the deepest pits of Hell won't have ever seen anything as horribly maimed as you."
His seething voice made Dib swallow hard, and to his relief, Red straightened up and away from him.
"Don't leave this room, no matter what the reason, unless one of us, preferably me, accompany or call for you. Understand?"
Dib nodded meekly, certainly not doubting anything this dominating and overpowering figure said. Red turned and left the room, leaving Dib alone. He swallowed. He'd have to be careful with this one, and he hoped he'd have to deal more with the other. At least Purple didn't seem set on killing him, though he still didn't know what to think. He hopped onto the bed and held out his arm. He instinctively clicked on his watch and sent a message to his sister. When her face appeared on the screen, Dib hurriedly explained the situation before she could make up an excuse to end the transmission.
"Gaz! Zim sent me to his leaders, and they're going to make me their slave!"
"So does this mean you won't be home for supper?"
Dib glared and yelled.
"No, Gaz! Look, I might not ever come back!"
"Pff, finally."
He sighed.
"Look, I'll try to figure a way out of this on my own, but I might need you're help."
Gaz just shrugged her shoulders, and Dib decided to take that as an agreement.
"Thanks Gaz. If I need you, I'll contact you again with directions."
She turned off the transmission and left Dib to the silence of the room. He stared at the watch for a long time, feeling so unbelievably alone. He looked up at the dark draping walls and wrapped his arms around himself. It was cold here, and all the warm colors and fabrics strewn about didn't seem to help make it feel any warmer. The TV's soft voice whispered in the background, and Dib just sat on the bed, staring at the distant wall.