Chapter 21—Calls—

"Tallest Red. Tallest Purple. How are the two of you?" Wren asked as she leaned back in her chair and smiled a genuine smile at the two.

"We've been better," Red sighed as he messaged his temples.

"I did receive your transmission. How many planets now?"

"Too many," Red ground out. "Have you any better news?"

"You don't have to worry about the Resisty," Wren supplied.

"The Resisty? We haven't heard from them in forever!" Purple exclaimed. "What happened to them?"

"I'll throw a mission summary your way, too much to explain right now. Still trying to deal with what in the world happened," Wren muttered, she herself looking frustrated as a frown marred her features and her pain in her eyes. She rubbed the migraine she knew was starting behind her eyes.

"That bad?"

"It got there," Wren sighed. "Those guys and whatever's trying to outdo you guys in taking over the universe is really starting to wear me down. All I've wanted to do is just find my way home. Is that too much to ask for?"

"Not at all," Purple said soothingly. "Have you come any closer to that?"

"Nope. Signed a treaty with some giant bunny aliens and then had to deal with the Resisty, so we haven't actually got too far," Wren explained as she leaned back in her chair, her form slouching slightly. "Any clue what you're going to do about the planets and your invaders? Because I'm really starting to worry about this."

"We're pulling everyone back to the Armada and will try to fall back to a few of our better defended planets."

Wren nodded. "We'll have space at the station for any you feel would just be in the way. And space for a few ships to stay around the station hidden as well."

"We'll keep that in mind," Purple said.

Wren took a moment to look at the two leaders before her. They looked stressed, more than usual and if possible thinner than they were only months ago. Dark circles were starting to form under their eyes regardless of their lack or need of sleep. She guessed they'd never faced anything that could match them in shear power like this. From everything she'd seen, those monsters looked like tanks and even the hardest of Irken Elite had a hard time piercing their armor to do any sort of damage at all.

"Have they been going after other planets as well?" Wren asked after a few moments of silence between them.

"They have."

"Is anything being left after?"

"We can't tell. Our probes can't get through or get destroyed."

"Damn," she frowned as she tapped a finger against the arm of her chair. She shifted her weight to get more comfortable and took in what information she had so far. Her tail lashed as she thought.

After a moment or two she smiled lightly as she saw that the two were watching her tail behind her. Or more accurately trying not to watch her tail.

"This needs to be dealt with and unfortunately we don't have enough units at our disposal to take them out directly with brute force. And I don't know anything about them honestly to know their weaknesses. These buggers haven't been taken out by any one yet and we don't know if anyone has. We need to work on figuring out their weakness. I'm sending you boys a low down of what's happened since last time and call me back in four kakes. I have to brain storm with my people."

They only nodded and cut the signal.

Wren rubbed the bridge of her nose with a finger hoping to will away the migraine settling there. "Here we go again," she murmured.

Wren's P.O.V….

"Ok crew, let's move. We have a lot on our plates and no time to waste," I said as I took my seat on the bridge.

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!"

Controlled chaos broke out as the crew scrambled to get on the way. Several people came to me with reports and I hoped our leaving wouldn't be delayed any longer. But it was just our luck if anything went wrong.

Later….

"Did you come up with anything?" Red asked.

"Not yet. We still come up with the fact that we're screwed," I sighed as I continued going through reports on my desk. "And I don't like that conclusion."

"Who does?" Purple asked as he rolled a cup that was on its side back and forth on the table with a low expression.

"Did you get what I sent you guys?"

"We did."

"And?"

"I can't believe you got a treaty out of them. Though all the planets that had created the crews were taken over but the Vortian have not been taken over. The Resisty lost quite a few planet side."

I winced. "Great, just great. What are you going to do about them?"

"We've already scared them by throwing them on ships without a moment's notice as soon as we read the information you sent."

"Really guys? Really?"

Red shrugged, "They wouldn't have listened to us if we tried to explain."

I sighed, "I guess not."

Frowning I pondered more of what they had said. With a raise of a brow I asked, "You had enough ships for that?"

"The carriers and refugee ships that came back after the group settled down on your station actually. And I hope you have space on that station for them. If not then some of the ships will have to stay there to hold them all," Red said. "At this rate we're going to need more stations."

"Well, we have the plans. It wouldn't be too hard to do. I think we may be able to send some of our engineers. We just have to find the proper spot or spots," I hummed as I drummed my fingers upon my desk in thought. "If you can have a few scouts scout as few areas for us we could probably come up with something. I'll have some of my connections keep an eye out for potential spots as well."

"That way we have a backup plan ready just in case something comes up," Red nodded in thought. "Do you think something good will come of all these treaties? Sooner or later we're going to have no one to take over."

"If we want to survive all of us are going to have to work together. In the small amount of information that we've gathered and from the few Invaders that have survived escaping these monsters, we need all the help we can get. And honestly, no good ever came of anyone trying to take over anything."

Purple sighed. "Do you think things are going to ever go back to normal at all?"

I gave my own sigh and directed a sad smile his way. "I highly doubt it will Purple. I wondered that at the very start of all this. And look where I am now. Captain of a ship that I never thought in my wildest dreams was actually real, having a civil conversation with two leaders of one of the mightiest races. At least in my opinion that is. Don't let that go to your heads either. I've got one Irken who has ego enough to supply the Armada and I don't need two more."

Purple gave a weak grin at that and the fact that I was wagging a finger at them like a child getting scolded.

"Now, I need to see if I can get anything good to come out of all this info. I'll keep you two posted with what I've come up with. And remember, stay safe boys. I don't want to come half way across this galaxy to find you smeared across the stars!"

Red laughed as he waved me off. "Try not to get smeared across the stars yourself!"

"Take care you two," I said softly.

Red and Purple gave weak smiles in return as the connection cut.

Narrator….

Elsewhere….

Lak frowned as she looked across the vast amount of space that lay out before them. Something was off. Not the bad off, but off none the less. She couldn't put her finger on it but she could swear the Raroduen was trying to tell her something.

Of course, that wasn't programed into her systems. But they also didn't configure the engines to be this strong either. They shouldn't have made it this far out by her previous calculations of what the engines could handle. They seemed to be working perfectly fine in all honesty.

Just what was going on with her ship though? There were other small things as well that just didn't seem to fit into the puzzle that was this ship.

"Lak, did you want something to eat?" Grace asked as she clutched the door frame, hanging into the room.

"Hm?" Lak asked, distracted by her conundrum.

"Food Lak. Food," Grace sighed. "You know, the stuff you eat."

"Yeah, yeah…. Sure. Whatever…" Lak mumbled as her fingers danced across the boards.

"Not this again," Grace scowled and mumbled. "Ignore me will she…"

Loudly Grace said, "You know. I've been thinking of adopting twenty three space orphans and refer to them as our love children. And when people asked where they came from I'd say that you were the one who wanted to adopt them all."

"That's ni…..Wait. What?!" Lak growled turning to look at Grace in the doorway.

Grace grinned at her. "Food!"

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"Nope. Do you want me to?" she chirped sweetly batting her lashes at her best friend.

"You do it enough as it is! Why do I want you to try?"

Grace shrugged. "So, what were you working on that had you so distracted?"

"The ship seems off," Lak muttered turning back to the console.

"Bad off or 'meh' off?" Grace asked as she came over to lean on the back of the chair.

"Dunno. Just…. Off. Not bad, I think."

"Well, what seems off?"

"Our speed and our scanners. Both are stronger than they should be. Though our engines don't show any signs of stress at all. She seems more responsive than when we first started out too."

"That doesn't seem so bad," Grace commented. "Maybe you're worrying too much."

Lak leveled a look at Grace that Grace bit back a giggle from. "There is no worrying too much. This is serious Grace. What if something's wrong?"

Lak, nothing could be wrong. This is a new ship that you helped build. You know it inside and out. If it's working better that just means you out did yourself. That or the ship's finally found it's pace."

"I don't believe that one bit," Lak muttered as she sat back into her seat, crossing her arms over her chest as she did so.

Grace rolled her eyes and blew a few stray strands of hair out of her face. "If you say so Lak. Now, come eat."

Lak followed Grace out of the room grumbling all the way. Before she left completely though she paused in the doorway. Looking back at the controls she just couldn't shake the feeling, that for a split second, she felt a brush of humor across her mind. Almost like she did when living on Bez for that small amount of time.

Somewhere on the Massive….

Tonu sighed as he ran a hand over his scalp. Tension was building on the ship because of the new aliens and it almost made him want to vomit. What he wouldn't give to be soaking in one of the pools in the spa on Bez right now. Rolling his shoulders he tried to ease the tension out of them only to run right into something. That something turned out to be a someone and that someone was the Tallest Red.

Both of them landed in a heap in the vacant corridor stunned. Tonu blinked up at Red from where he was sprawled out on the Tallet's lap.

"M-m-my Tallest! I am so sorry! I didn't see…. I mean…. I didn't mean to…. Are you ok?" Tonu asked as he looked up at Red stuttering.

Tallest Red on the other hand blinked down at the stuttering ship Captain before breaking out into laughter.

It was Tonu's turn to blink again at the other. A small part of him wondered if the fall damaged his leader's PAK or his brain meats or something.

"I'm fine," Red chuckled as Tonu Shifted enough to finally stand up.

"Are you sure? I'm not going to get launched out an air lock am I?" Tonu asked, his fingers twining about themselves with nervousness. That had happened once to someone else and he didn't want it to happen to him.

Standing and brushing himself off Red rolled his eyes but grinned. "No air locks. The only thing damaged is my ego." He assured as he glanced down at the shorted Irken. "What about you? You ok?"

Tonu blinked up at him slightly confused. "I am… are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Red waved the question off. "I shouldn't have been so wrapped up in my thoughts. I've been unable to relax lately so I've been walking the halls trying to come up with something to help the crisis that's going on now."

"Anything yet sir?" Tonu asked meekly, unsure if it was he place to ask such things of his Tallest.

Red sighed and looked out toward the stars. "Nothing yet."

"I'm sure you and Tallest Purple with think of something soon," the Captain said smiling weakly at his Tallest. "You're not the Tallests for nothing."

Red looked at him for a second before he grinned and started laughing. "I wish I had as much faith in us as you have in us."

"Someone has to," Tonu shrugged. His eyes widened as he realized what he had just said and he quickly slapped his hands over his mouth. A blush crept over his cheeks.

Red could only laugh harder at that. After a few minutes he was leaning against the wall, holding his sides as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I needed that. Irk did I need that."

"I don't mean to be so rude sir," Tonu said finally feeling as if he had to apologize for something.

"Rude? Rude is Purple. You, you're fine. Everyone's been tense lately. This I don't mind at all," Red chuckled pushing himself off the wall. "It's good to have something say what they think sometimes."

"You sure?"

"Positive," he grinned. "So, were you heading anywhere specific?"

Tonu shook his head, "No sir, not really."

"Good! Would you like to head somewhere to grab a snack?"

"Really?" Tonu squeaked uncertain.

Red rolled his eyes again but smiled all the same. "Yes, really. My treat of course."

"But I knocked you down sir."

"All the more reason to get snacks!"

Tonu blinked once before smiling. "Who can turn down free snacks?"

"Exactly!" Red laughed as he slid his hand into Tonu's and began down the hallway, Tonu in tow.

On Bez….

Wren sighed as she sank into the couch while throwing her feet up. What she wouldn't give to have everything calm again. And not the calm before the storm either. That was more grating then any sort of battle.

And her hope for peace was shattered as she felt the silent nudge from Bez that she had a secure message from the Massive coming in. A frown turned down her lips and her brow creased in confusion.

"What now?" she wondered to herself. She opened a channel on the vid in her hand. She was slightly startled that I was only just Purple on the other end of the connection.

"Pur, what is it?"

"Wren, can I ask you a question?"

"I'm not leaving Zim Pur," she deadpanned with a roll of her eyes but her lips quirked into a small smile.

He gave a chuckle. "Oh, I know that! I wanted to ask you something else."

"Ask away Pur."

"Is it wrong of me to want to modify one of our bombs to create a bigger explosion?"

Wren raised a brow. "Pur, you're a Tallest. You can do anything you want to. Remember?"

The other began twisting his fingers together, obviously nervous. "Not any bomb Wren. A bomb that connects to an Irken's self-destruct button."

She frowned sharply. "What are you planning Purple?"

"Modifying my self-destruct unit to be more powerful. Just in case, you know…." Purple trailed off.

He obviously was afraid to look her in the eye. She knew why he wanted to do it and sadly if she could do the same she would. And it seemed he had been thinking about this for a while now. This wasn't some off the handle idea he just happened to get. It was an honest, well thought out idea.

"Pur, if you feel you have to do this, do it. I'll support you all the way. I just hope it doesn't come down to you needing it," Wren told him quietly.

"I hope so too. But it's the only thing that I can think of to help. And if it can take out thousands of those things somehow, it'd be worth it," Purple said as he looked down at the desk he was sitting at. Bits of odd things were scattered across the top from where Wren could see. Tools and extra parts glittered almost dangerously.

"Can you make and explosion that big?"

"I can try," he shrugged with one shoulder. "I've been experimenting with a few things."

"Don't blow yourself up on accident Purple," she smiled weakly, scolding him.

"I won't. Jeez, I'm not a smeet."

He rolled his eyes at her causing her to giggle. "Sometimes I wonder!"

Purple stuck his tongue out at her which caused her to giggle more. He couldn't help but chuckled with her.

When the bought of amusement was down with Wren smiled weakly at him. "Remember to stay safe Pur."

His antenna flattened to his skull and he gave a weak smile back. "Only if you stay safe as well Wren."

"Deal," she smiled. "And if it comes down to that bomb being used, it better bloody well be epic."

"It'll be as epic as the damage Zim created before he met you," Purple grinned.

Wren burst out laughing, knowing all the stories of Zim before he met her. It would definitely be epic if it was on that scale. But she hoped it would never have to used.

OMG….FINALLY! Sorry guys. Inspiration took a one way ticket a little while ago and I only was just able to finish this. I've been writing a few sentences here and there, just not a lot to be any good. And now I just need to start on chapter 22! Bah…..