Author's Notes

I just looked back at my notes for the last chapter. Boy, I think too much. Well, I'm about to think some more. Because there wasn't that much on Vortians on the show, I'm going to make assumptions.

First: Vortians are carnivores. This is because they have sharp teeth. I mean, just look at them! They're definitely sharper than an Irken's teeth.

Second: Vortians are mammals, or at least mammalian. I can't think of many reptiles with horns except for maybe dinosaurs, and I just can't think of Vortians as anything but mammals anyway. So there.

Third: A popular sport among Vortians before conquest was head-butting, which evolved from primal Vortians butting their heads together to establish dominance. Why else would they have horns? That's what deer, rams, goats, and other horned animals do with theirs.

That's enough thinking this time around. Once again, I hope you enjoy the story, and to go yell at Nickelodeon if you want to buy Invader Zim.

Chapter 2: Rebirth

The glass slid away. A scientist shined a light in her eyes, and she squinted and raised an arm to block it. Suddenly, a loud ringing noise rattled her brain, making her cry out and throw her arms over her head, trying to block out the pain it caused. The scientists said more things, but she couldn't understand them. The sound ended. "Wiggle your fingers for us, please." She did so, because she had the sneaking suspicion that they had caused the noise. "Good, now lift your legs and stretch them, one at a time." She did that too. "Good. State your name."

"Tak."

"And what was your encoding?"

"Janitorial Drone."

"What race were you?"

"Irken."

"What race are you now?"

"Vortian."

"Okay. Which diffuses slower: hydrogen or nitrogen?"

"Nitrogen."

"We've done it! She's all there!" The scientists exchanged handshakes. One ripped out the cord, causing her to cry out again. Bandages were wound around her neck, and then she was taken to a cell that was exactly like her old one, except it had another Vortian female in it. She was gray skinned, with long horns and green eyes. "You're that girl, aren't you? You just became Vortian, right?"

"Um... yes."

"Well... I'm Saki Hir."

"I'm Tak."

"Do you know why they flopped you in with another Vortian, instead of keeping you alone?"

Tak honestly didn't have a clue."No."

"So you could learn to walk if necessary."

"But... I can teach myself!" Tak struggled to stand up. "See?" She fell backwards. "Ow!"

"Try again, but this time, shift your center of balance forward."

"Okay." Tak got up again and leaned forward a bit. "There you go. Now try taking a step." Tak lifted her leg, then put it down a couple of inches ahead of her. "Good, now do it with the other." She tried, but fell on her face. "Oww..."

Saki Hir approached her, ready to help her up. "No... I want to try by myself." She got up and managed to take six steps before falling again. She crawled to the toilet and used it to boost herself up. That time, she managed to get across the cell and halfway back. "Did you see that? I think I'm getting the hang of it!"

"You're doing great! Keep going!"

Tak got up and was able to get around the entire cell before she fell down. She kept practicing until her steps were no longer slow, but still a little shaky, and guards came. "Dinner time," they said.

They were led to a large room with long tables that had dozens of Vortians seated at them, eating. Saki Hir led Tak to a table where a few more females were eating. "Look!" One of them cried. "Saki Hir got a cell mate!"

"Hey guys. How's it going?" Saki Hir said as she smiled.

"We're still in prison. Who's that girl?"

"She's... that girl."

"Oh... the Irken."

"Yes. She's Vortian now, and she can't change it. Be nice."

They sat down, and two table drones served them bowls of mush. Tak took a spoonful and tried it. It was disgusting, and judging by her tablemate's giggles, she'd made a face. "Isn't it delightful? If you're lucky, it won't clog you up!" One of the girls yelled.

"Hey, the body's probably already been clogged up." Tak said weakly.

Another girl tapped her shoulder. "See them?" She pointed to a cluster of guards. "They're guarding the garbage tanks, so people don't try to jump in."

"Jump in? Why would anyone want to do that?"

"The Vetkin Splodey System hasn't been taken out yet." Saki Hir explaned. "If you manage to jump in, and if you don't get yanked out, and you manage to dig in deep enough, then you can escape." She smiled weakly. "My brother tried it. I don't know if he made it."

They chatted for the rest of the meal. "ALRIGHT! REPORT BACK TO YOUR CELLS NOW!" an Irken yelled. Almost at once, the Vortians stood and started to file out of the dining room. As Tak left, she tripped. A purple skinned male helped her up. "Are you okay?" he asked in a deep voice. She caught his prisoner number out of the corner of her eye: 777. "I'm fine, thank you."

"You're wel- ARRGH!" One of the guards had come over and given him a shock. "Hey! What was that for? He was just - AAAHH!" She'd gotten a shock as well. "Get moving."

Tak blushed, then managed to find her cell mate. She followed her to their cell and sighed as the door slid shut behind them. "Worst day of my life. Ever." She sat on the bed and curled up, and barely managed to keep her tears inside of her.