Another chapter because I can and I don't want to get writer's block and stuff… or just get bored…

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Eleven continued to giggle and squeal as ZiM stayed on the screen. The smeet's demeanor had made a complete reversal on account of ZiM's visual presence.

The control brains made sure to take note of that.

The center brain hummed quietly, "Little smeet, you like ZiM, don't you?"

Eleven squealed loudly and hid his face in the guard's shirt with excitement, "I do!" came the muffled response.

The smeet peaked out to smile at ZiM and ZiM made a funny face for him. Eleven screamed and laughed, nuzzling against the guard. The guard smiled and nuzzled back.

"ZiM!" barked one of the brains, "Continue such conduct and you will be removed for the duration of this part of the trial!"

ZiM scowled and crossed his arms angrily. Eleven whimpered and pouted softly.

The center brain continued, "Guards, wait in the other room until further instructions are given."

The guards groaned. After finally seeing the smeet happy and adorable, they had to leave him.

The guard holding Eleven set him down on the couch and waved as they went to the kitchen, "I'll miss you, you happy little smeet."

The smeet watched them go, then jumped up on the couch on his tip toes, hugging the screen, "ZiM! I missed you, I missed you!" he looked at the screen, "When are you coming home? I wanna play games but the guards say they can't play games."

The brain on the right spoke up, "Smeet, you will refrain from addressing ZiM. You will speak to us for the duration of the trial as needed."

Eleven pouted and nodded, "Oh… o'tay…"

The center brain beeped, "Now then… how would you categorize ZiM in three words?"

The smeet gasped and thought for a minute, "ZiM is… smart! Real smart an' umm… He's strong, too, cause he can hurt anybody who tries to hurt me an'… an' he's…" Eleven stopped to smile as he thought as hard as possible, "ZiM's the only person ever in the history of ever who's helped me."

Tallest Purple whimpered, tears in his eyes and hugged onto Red for support as he sobbed, moved by the smeet's honesty. Red shoved him away.

The brains hummed as they processed the answer; then the brain on the far left spoke, "Smeet, would you say ZiM has done everything possible to keep you safe?"

Eleven nodded, "Yes, yes! He makes sure all the security systems work an' he makes sure that GIR doesn't mess wif me an' he makes me the sanswiches!"

Some of the Irkens 'ooed' at the thought of a good sandwich, but settled down after a moment.

"Smeet," the right brain mumbled, "how would ZiM react to a verdict involving your immediate removal from his care?"

Eleven's antennae fell flat against his head, "Umm…"

He was nervous now. He could feel the pit of his squeedlyspooch tighten in fear.

"ZiM," Eleven whimpered, "I'm scared, I don't wanna go away."

The hologram smiled, "Smeet," he said softly, "only answer what you believe is true."

The smeet nodded, "O-o'tay… o'tay… Well…" he looked to the brains, "I think ZiM would be really… really upset… But he would be good! He would ask for a chance to prove his awesome ZiMness!" the smeet squeaked and ZiM chuckled, "Then if ZiM couldn't take care of me no more, he would ask for visits!"

Eleven nodded again at his final answer then looked confused, "ZiM… I'm still scared…"

The brains hummed, the center speaking for them, "Smeet, our verdict is beginning to sway in your favor. Are you still worried?"

The smeet began to shift, his breath becoming quick, "ZiM, I don't feel safe, I don't feel safe here."

ZiM's antennae perked, "Smeet, what's wrong? Talk to ZiM?"

Eleven whimpered, "ZiM, I'm scared, I don't feel safe. Come back, come back home now, please."

Red and Purple began to grow worried as they watched the smeet. They chattered among themselves quickly.

"Guards," Red said to the screen, "guards, come back. Tend to the smeet."

The guards came back to the living room in a rush, taking the smeet from his perch and checking him over to make sure he wasn't injured.

"No, no, no," Purple shook his head, "engage the base's defenses. Lock down the perimeter. Begin a full scan of the area."

The guards left Eleven on the couch to activate the base's laser controls, working quickly.

ZiM growled at his Tallests, "Forget what they said, just do both!"

One of the guards stopped what he was doing and went back to the smeet, trying to comfort him.

The brains began to grow worried now. From what they had observed, the mere presence of ZiM should have calmed Eleven completely. The fact he was nervous and scared, even after he was told their verdict looked positive, was not something to be overlooked.

The center brain grew agitated, "Smeet, calm yourself. You are being protected by three elites of the Irken Empire, there is nothing to fear."

Eleven shook his head, "No, no, something's wrong an' I want ZiM here, now!"

"Sirs!" one of the guards working the controls suddenly shouted, "It seems ZiM placed a specially-made satellite over this planet and it's… gone, sirs… It's been out of operation for almost three hours."

The crowd observing the trial gasped and murmured.

ZiM's eyes grew wide and full of fear, "You listen…" he hissed, "You listen to ZiM. You take the smeet down as far as you can into the base. You hide him. ZiM is leaving, now."

A small knock came from the door. No one moved.

Eleven curled up onto the couch, shivering and whimpering while the guards stared at the door, unsure of what to do.

ZiM shook his head as a guard went to answer, "Don't… don't you dare."

The guard froze, his hand on the knob. Everything fell silent as the guard barely turned the knob at all.

A sudden explosion of fire tore the door from its hinges and sent the guard back, his antennae alight with a bright red fire. Eleven screamed and dove for the safety of under the couch and ZiM pulled his PAK from the cables connecting him to the brains, yelling for the guards to protect the smeet.

The other guards tried to spring into action, but were quickly melted out of commission by a bright wave of fire. The guard crushed by the door managed to pick himself up with a groan and fire a laser at the mystery assailant. There was a laugh as the laser fire was deflected and hit the hangers holding the living room's second TV screen. The feed the trial occupants were receiving almost cut out, but simply became a little grainy.

ZiM's eyes widen, "No! Get the smeet out, protect him, damnit!"

The only sound anyone could manage to hear was the crackling of the flames then the soft sound of footsteps crunching through glass. A humming tune began to make the air feel heavy and sick as the mystery assailant walked from the front door to the couch. They couldn't see much from the TV's prone position, but they could only infer the worst when they heard Eleven shriek in terror. A laugh accompanied the smeet's scream, which was then muffled by a hand.

ZiM would have cried in anger and frustration if his holographic form would have allowed it. He felt so powerless.

The mystery assailant held Eleven closer to his person, then turned to the broken TV, "Oh, now what a shame this is, isn't it, my little smeet?"

The smeet could only give a muffled sob in response. The assailant kicked at the TV a little and his person became more focused. A few Irks in the audience screamed and dove for cover and the Tallests themselves grew pale.

The Irk before them had dark purple eyes and a dark purple shirt with a dark colored belt and a large, single piece of dark purple shoulder armor resting on his right shoulder. The infamous Irk who had attempted an act so cruel and vile that life imprisonment seemed more suitable than allowing him the sweet embrace of death. Reep.

Reep smirked down at the screen, "Isn't this a turn of events? Strange and curious…"

"No…" ZiM shook his head, "NO! NO, NO, THE TALLESTS LOCKED YOU AWAY!"

Reep chuckled, "Locked away, but not sealed indefinitely. Seems when the wounds healed…" he held up his hand, which soon expressed a darkly lit flame, "I was left with a beautiful scar…"

Eleven struggled in Reep's grasp, digging his little claws in in an attempt to escape and get help. The grip only increased.

"Let him go," ZiM hissed.

Reep seemed to stop and think about it, then smiled, "No, I don't think I will. The smeet is mine now, ZiM. You will have no place in Eleven's life when I'm through."

Reep then picked up his boot and slammed it into the TV, crushing it and severing the feed. The trial brains' screen went black.

ZiM fell to his holographic knees, deep in shock. He couldn't move and he couldn't take his eyes off the TV screen.

"… Fault…" he suddenly managed to murmur, "This is… your fault."

Everyone's focus slowly landed on ZiM.

"Your fault," he said again, getting to his feet, "This," he growled as his PAK opened, "is your fault!"

The trial brains seemed to shrink back as ZiM's attention was aimed at them, his eyes a blazing red.

"If ZiM wasn't dragged here," he bellowed, "if ZiM had never been forced to come here, Eleven would be safe!"

A flurry of robotic tentacles escaped the PAK, throwing themselves into important pieces of equipment and damaging anything they could lay a hand on.

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" ZiM shrieked.

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Wow, three in one day. Be merry, BE MERRY! …