Take A Stand

by SLRisme

During a little game Purple is asked questions that make him think about how Red and him have been doing as Tallests- And he's not pleased with the outcome. The Empire is in distress and no one else seems to notice other than him. Things need to change for the better and that starts with the short Irkens. How does Dib come into play? And how will this impact the entire galaxy?

16. Reactivation

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Hi, guys! Long time no see! Sorry it's been a while, but you know how it goes with life. Boot Camp sucked (Lol that's why it's not called 'Fun Camp') but graduated and I'm going through A-School to learn how to do my rate. I love all of you and I'm so sorry it's been forever! But a promise is a promise, I'm going to finish this story! This chapter may be- Dull since I don't really know how to properly type anymore, but I'll work on it! Promise! Just outta touch is all! Characters my be OC in this chapter by the way!

ZooLogy: You. Are. Amazingly. Crazy! I can't believe you reviewed every single chapter! Thank you so much for helping me reach to a hundred reviews, thanks to everyone! This means the world to me! By the way, Gir and the beaver battle would have been awesome. Lasers are kickass. ;) Of course you can use AIR, I can't wait to have time to read your Diary! Ah! I mean, NOT a diary! ;) Every review made me still, this really does mean the world to me! I couldn't help but smile the first time I was allowed on a computer after graduation! (I will have a much better reply to you and everyone else later, I'mma be lazy right now. D;)

So, let me start this (probably very rough, dry, and odd) chapter! :D

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Reactivation

In a single blink Dib found himself sprawled out on the cold metal floor, throwing his heads upwards instantly when realizing that he was no longer in the same place that he had been once before. What happened to Miyuki's Pak? Where was Young Purple?! His brown eyes glanced around his surrounding till he caught the sight of two Irkens before him, sorrow and confusion etching all over his features. Young Purple was curled up on a large bed with blue sheets, face buried onto the top of his unit's head. At the foot of the bed was none other than Red, ridged back up against the edge of the bed with his black mask drawn over his mouth. The chamber was dimly lit, paintings of what appeared to be Irk all over the walls, one picture stood out among all of the other paintings. It was a large portrait of the once Tallest Miyuki, her body nuzzled comfortably with the arms of Advisor Spork, Elite member Red by the Advisor's side and Purple with his SIR Unit by the Tallest. The group was grinning in the picture, not the same type of smile from Purple's goofy smile to Red's wicked grin, but they were happy. So unlike how they were now. It took the human a couple of moments to realize that Tallest Purple was sprawled out by his side, his purple eyes gazing onwards at the portrait with so much emotion though his face showing none. A sob broke the bitter silence, the teenager whipping his head around to see the Irken that had let out the pitiful sound.

"I'm sorry, it's not like me-"

"Purple. We just lost Tallest Miyuki less than two days ago. We gained Spork as a Tallest just to lose him in a matter of a day also. We just let two Tallests and many other Irkens die without being able to save them when we're the top guards. We were just told that we're to be the next Tallests in a matter of hours with no warning. Lose our thumbs, never talk to our comrades again, figure out how to repair Irk after the Blob incident, and to lose our SIR units. Irk is now in our hands. You can cry."

All that he received as a response was another sob.

Dib's face paled, wide eyes turning towards the Tallest by his side, not missing the baffled expression on his features.

"Why am I crying?"

"What? You just lost your Tallest! Apparently you just lost both Miyuki and Spork and-"

"No, you don't get it. I understand that much, Meatbag. I remember all that happened. Miyuki dying, Spork being eaten by the Blob less than a day later, the destruction of most of Irk's surface and the lives that were lost. I know that. But I never cried about it."

"You- What?"

"What are you? Deaf? You heard me! I never cried about it! I remember being super I-Just-Got-Free-Chips happy to become Tallest! I was jumping and cheering! Red and I were the two happiest Irkens in all of the universe by the news! I was so happy, yet... I just lost my Tallest, Red's instructor was killed before our eyes, and we failed to protect Irk. And I also lost-"

The pair of purple eyes gazed at the Elite member who was cuddling with his unit, trembling uncontrollable.

"My unit. Even becoming tallest wouldn't make me happy after that."

"So, why do you remember being happy? You remembered everything else after you saw it. Why can't you remember being happy?"

"Because being happy never happened. It was all fake."

Before Dib could let the question slip from his lips the sound of shattering glass broke his train of thought, snapping upwards at the sound. The red eyed Irken was smashing the random objects around the room, breaking paintings over his knee and using his fist to break glass vases. His best friend cried out his name but he was ignored, the Irken rampaged through the chamber in a fit of sudden rage that he hadn't been able to let out in two days. When his finger tips dangled a few inches away from the portrait a ragged cry was heard, being tackled only a few moments later. Fists were flying and Irken curse words were being hissed, Purple roughly biting Red's antenna. He gave a yell of pain at bite, gripping his best friend's wrist into one of his palms, twisting it towards a direction it wasn't used to. As soon as the cry of agony left his lips a cocking sound was heard, both Elite members stopping their motions. AIR held a laser pressed against the back of Red's head, eyes glowing a bright scarlet within the dim chamber. He let his companion's wrist slip from his grasp, hands lifting upwards in defense to show the unit he was no longer harming his master. If only his unit had been this good before being deactivated hours ago. Purple was lucky, he had hidden AIR away before they could find him. Just a few more hours, just some more time, but it would never be enough time. Never. Though tear stains were on his cheeks Purple still sneered up at Red, ignoring the fact that he was the one pinned to the ground.

"I know you're scared, so am I. I'm terrified. You won't destroy of the last things we have of Miyuki and Spork. I know how you felt about Spork. Don't do this to his memory, Red. Don't."

The other Irken crumbled instantly, falling into the arms of his best friend without a single sound. Not a sound nor word was needed though, the desperation on his features was enough.

"How he felt?"

Tallest Purple looked a bit awkward at Dib's question, tugging at his robes like the temperature just went up by a few degrees.

"Red felt- Strongly for Spork. It wasn't a pitiful emotion like love if that's what you're thinking! But Red, he... Admired Spork, a lot. A lot lot. More than an instructor, more than a comrade, like... I don't even know how to explain it. I was always his bets friend, ever since we've been smeets, but with Spork there was... A connection."

"Even with his freaky eyes?"

"Even with his freaky eyes. They were really creepy though, weren't they?"

"We can't do this, Pur."

Red's voice broke through their conversation, the two turning their heads towards the scene. Red eye were glancing all over the little unit, fingers trailing over the top of AIR's head as though he was just a smeet. The unit had calmed down back to his usual self, acting perfectly alright with the Elite member's lingering touches. In no time AIR was going to be deactivated. Nothing of your past life was allowed when you became Tallest. No pictures, no old comrades, no SIR units, nothing of the sort. If there was some sort of information that an enemy could use with the objects then they could destroy you. Which Red thought was utterly stupid- Miyuki and Spork were close and he had come along after she became Tallest, why couldn't they just use Spork against her? Threaten to kill him or something? Oh, that's right.

Tallests and those of higher rank aren't supposed to let themselves feel for others in such a way.

"We have to."

"But we can't! Look at this! How can you sit there and say we have too? We just lost the two closest Irkens to us in a less than two days! Miyuki died right before your eyes, Purple! Eaten in just one bite! And Spork? He died the same fate! Screaming in agony! Fear in his eyes! He had just become Tallest and lost it in no time! During the Tallest ceremony that beast had attacked! I should have saved him!"

"Please, Red, don't blame yourself for his death!"

"He pushed me out if the way, Purple!"

"He had too! You would have died along with him if he hadn't! By the past Tallest, Red, I already lost Miyuki and Spork, don't make me lose you, too! Don't let Spork's death be in- In-"

"Vain. The word is vain."

The two leaned against each other, AIR seated comfortably between the two. In a few seconds the two had flung each other within the other's grasp, embracing tightly with the little unit smushed in between the hug. Shattered glass pieces and ripped pictures were ignored as the two held onto each other as though this may be their last hug ever given, both trembling pitifully. Harsh breathing and choked stutters was all that was heard in the chamber. They stayed like this for many moments and all Dib and Tallest Purple did was watch, barley even two feet away from the others. Two days. To lose two Tallests, have Irk destroyed, and be told that you were to be Tallest over a planet in a devastated time while you yourself were devastated. No wonder why they were crying. The Earthling felt himself breaking at the scene before him, reaching a hand out as though to put his hand on Young Purple's own hand. A green hand latched onto his, tugging Dib's hand downwards with a half smile, though eyes were narrowed sadly.

"Stop that. I'm fine. Don't act like I haven't gotten through this. I'm a Tallest. I'm fine."

"Yeah, but he's not."

When realizing that Dib was gesturing towards his younger self he said nothing, just gripped his hands a bit tighter than he liked. This was a memory that he didn't remember, but he did. The part of him that did remember these memories was still experiencing them every single moment. Haunting him. Destroying him. Killing him. They really were two different Irkens, sure, he had gone through all of this- But he didn't remember. He did.

"Tallest Spork was carrying the collar at the ceremony."

"Yeah, we know, that's why he was attacked. That monster wanted his collar back."

"He had not been carrying the collar before the ceremony."

"What?"

Red tugged away from Purple, both him and the unit's master passing the unit a shocked expression. The unit tilted his head downwards slightly, as thought possibly thinking over something in his head. A nod was given to the two, eyes glowing in the dim light.

"He had not been carrying it. I thought it would be of your best intentions, master, if I examined his body every time he left our sight to make sure of no new wounds and other issues. He had not been carrying the collar when he went to meet with the Control Brains, when he had come out of the chamber less than 3.45 degrees later, he was carrying it- Inside of his Pak."

"His Pak? Spork never carried things in his Pak. He always gave me his items to carry so he'd have an excuse to have me around all the time!"

Red hadn't even realized what he had just spoken out, though it didn't matter. This was serious. Why would Spork have the monster's collar in his Pak? Wasn't the collar the thing that controlled the Blob? hadn't- Hadn't the collar been missing when Miyuki had been eaten whole? Eyes glanced towards each other, unsure twitches and fidgeting from the positions they sat in. What did this mean? Spork would never plan Miyuki's death. Even if he some how did in some twisted way, why would he carry the collar on him? Why not send the evidence off to another planet for no one could find it? And...

And why did he have it after he left the Control Brains?

"Why would he have it after he left the Control Brains?"

"Better question. Why did the Control Brains have the collar in the first place? Zim said it was the collar that helped to control the beast, so why would they have it?"

Red and Purple gazed at each other for a few moments, AIR being grasped by each of their hands.

"You know, Miyuki always talked about the Control Brains. The last few months. Often. Said something was wrong with them. Destruction, deceiving, something was wrong with their Origin Coding, and she even said something about not being able to remember her own memories. Do you think...?"

"...That the Control Brains? No. No, they couldn't of. Why? It just doesn't make sense!"

"None of this does. Something is wrong though, Red, very wrong and she knew. Spork must have found out something, too. There's-"

The horrid sound of agonized screams filled the air only a second later.

Dib hadn't even realized that he reached outwards to throw his arms around Tallest Purple when the lasers shot out of no where. His body huddled over the Tallest's own form, not tall enough to completely protect him, but still trying. It took him a few seconds to realize that no one the lasers were going to hit them (This was a memory. Duh, Dib, get off Purple. That's creepy.), fingers still dug within the purple robes. Wide eyes of the Tallest stared at the sight of his younger self wobbling back and forth, desperately trying to figure out where this pain was coming from. He tried to lift his arms upwards but nothing worked, slumping downwards against Red's own fallen body. Miyuki's chamber door was wide open, two other muscular Elite members standing through the open doorway with laser guns within their grasp. Stun ray. They had put the ray on stun, no doubt. Their eyes seemed to have been lifeless and unblinking, like it was just a hollow body without a soul. Young Purple tried to move at all, but nothing was working, eyes starting to water from not being able to blink. AIR was slumped downwards by his chest, wires fried and circuits not whirling away with Red also stunned, the entire group not being able to do anything. Why had they been attacked by their own race? What in Irk's name was going on?!

One of the muscular Irkens took slow steps into the room before he was only a few inches away from Young Purple. They two made eye contact, but it felt as though the future Tallest was just being stared right through. This was creepy. Why was he just staring like that? It was silent until the standing Irken moved his foot a few inches, positioning his face right by Purple's face. His booted foot lifted upwards and moved backwards, staying in midair for a few moments.

As soon as the kick was delivered directly to his face Dib and Tallest Purple disappeared.

...

(Floating In The Galaxy, Massive, Present)

...

"Get. Off. Of. ME!"

Gaz roared, twisting her arms backwards to try and tug the Pak off with no success. Her nails dug through the metal from her little fit of rage, but it would do no good. The Pak was stuck onto her, through bone and everything. Huh. She felt pretty good for something that just went through bone and flesh.

'That is because the Pak heals at a much faster rate.'

She growled.

"I don't care. What do you want?"

'The same thing you do. Answers. Destruction. To be done with this entire situation.'

"Didn't you die? Weren't you already out of this situation before you attached yourself to me like some sort of disease?"

'I can't rest in peace until I know they're destroyed.'

"Who?"

'The Control Brains.'

"Yeah. Uh-huh. And what do I have to do with this?"

The Earthling was completely ignoring the fact that she was talking out loud to herself, pacing around the room with her hands behind her back. Well, more like stomping in frustration, but still. She stepped over Zim's body without so much as a glance, making sure to use her foot to push Gir closer towards his master. Let Zim wake up with Gir right by his face, it'll be funny a funny scene. Probably will result in loads of screaming and ranting. She liked screaming. Her eyebrow tugged upwards when she felt a force that was pulling at her brain, tongue pushing up against the inside of her mouth.

"What?"

'You know Purple. I am glad he became Tallest, both him and Red were fine Elite members. The best. And Zim was a great scientist. Quite insane, but just as amazing.'

"But what does this have to do with me?"

'Hmm- I see you are not up for a discussion. Very well, it is simple enough. Destroy the Control Brains and I will unattach myself from you.'

"And what if I don't, huh? What if I don't want to agree to this?"

'You? Not wanting to destroy or have a good fight? I can read your thoughts, I have already gone through your past memories, this is a task you wish to have. You enjoy this sort of thing. You would please Zim this way.'

She snorted.

"Why do you think I give a damn what Zim thinks?"

'I can read your thoughts.'

No remark was given back about the issue.

"Yeah, okay, fine. But I'm supposed to take you back to Earth to have you looked at. They don't believe that there was actually anything wrong with the Control Brains. They think you were crazy as my brother. I can't just go and destroy the Control Brains! Isn't that like- I don't know- Irk's God or something?"

'If that is so, you can say that you have killed a God. You are tired of trying to figure out this entire situation. As am I. I never took action in time to save the Irken Empire, but you can. Destroy them.'

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"I was told that one brain is destroyed and the entire Planet is in chaos. Wouldn't destroying them just ruin the entire planet?"

'Then they shall make a new start for themselves. A new power source, new memories, new rules- Not ones created from creatures that are not completely Irken.'

"You're insane!"

Gaz cried out, hands tugging at her dark purple hair, not knowing what to do. Only with this Miyuki for a few minutes and she was already having a headache! Gah! It was like talking to Dib! What was she supposed to do? Find a way to steal the Massive, fly towards Irk, figure out where the Control Brains were, and destroy them?!

'Exactly.'

"Stop reading my thoughts!"

'I would if I could. But I cannot. And I truly don't want to stop. Come, Gaz, just do this. I know you are tired of this entire situation as I am. For months all you have heard is arguments and discussions, but no actions. Destroy them. If you destroy them everything will go back to normal for you.'

"Yeah? And what of the Irkens?"

'They shall figure something out. We are not a weak race.'

"... Fine. What's first?"

'Steal the ship.'

Her amber eyes glanced downwards at Zim's lying form, eyebrow tugging upwards slightly.

"And him?"

'You must not let Zim know of what your intentions are. No Irken has attacked the Control Brains on purpose for destruction, only in self defense. It is impossible for us too. That is why I have been waiting for a creature such as you. Leave him there. Take the ship, place in the coordinates for Irk, and destroy them.'

"You know, I've never had someone make me change my mind so quickly- But maybe you aren't so insane. I like the way you think."

The Earthling took one final glance at Zim before she slipped through the metal door of the chamber, letting it slide shut behind her. Steal the ship. Fly it to Irk. Destroy the Control Brains. Try not to get killed because you're about to kill some sort of God to the Irken race. Yeah, okay, this sounded like a fun day. Maybe this was an easier way to deal with things. All the others did was discuss and whine, it was time to take action. Destroying the Control Brains would be fine, right?

...Right?

A soft laugh was heard from the back of her mind, her new Pak popping open as metallic arms lifted multiple weapons out towards her gaze.

'I have come to realize that I am very much insane. I am just not defective though. Take a stun ray and your first left, main deck is down that way.'

Gaz cocked the laser gun.

"This is going to be fun."

...

(On Irk, Control Brains Headquarters, Past)

...

The platform was cold against his palms, Tallest Purple lifting his head upwards from his kneeling position to instantly regret it moments later. The ceiling was towering high above his head, walls looming over him as though to mock him. An eerie light was created from the blue light of thousand of wires twisted around objects and the scarlet poles that were illuminating the deadly color. The only sound heard was the whirling of circuits and the buzzing of currents being shot off here and there. He knew this place. He had hated this place before he had even destroyed it on accident. Control Brains Headquarters. No other place had ever scared him in such a way. Not even when he had been captured during a mission with Miyuki on planet Beersche and held over the oozing acid of the Beerchion's spit. Whoa- Where had that memory come from?!

"-You have awoken, Elite Purple.-"

Young Purple snapped his gaze towards the Control Brains floating high above him many feet away, wires dangling randomly from every inch around them. He instantly reached towards Red without even caring what the Control Brains thought, checking over his best friend. No wounds, not bleeding, he seemed alright other than the fact that he was still out cold. He pulled his best friend into his arms, glaring upwards at the Control Brains, who seemed to have been glaring back. Dib lifted up his own head finally, both him and the Tallest making eye contact for a brief moment, grim expressions telling all. They both turned back towards the scene before them, the Tallest not realizing that the Earthling was inching towards his younger self.

"What have you done?!"

The younger one caught on to something missing, cheeks dimming down a few shades.

"Where's AIR?!"

"-Deactivated. A Tallest has no SIR Unit. A fact you knew when you were told you were to become Tallest.-"

"D-Deactivated? No. No, no, no... Not AIR. He never did anything! He could have just been reset and sent to a new invader or Elite member!"

"-No. The unit could not. It knew too much, just as you do. It could have spread false information and sent the Empire into chaos. Just as you would have if we had not gotten to you first, Elite Purple-"

And even though he was terrified out of his wits with his best friend was limp in his arms and SIR Unit now gone, he still dared to hiss at the Control Brains.

"It was you who killed Miyuki. It was you who took the collar and opened the cage to send the creature to attack her. You murdered both her and Spork. She always said that you were insane. Your Origin Code is created by Irken, Meekrob, and Vortian language. There was an extra chip in her Pak that wasn't supposed to be there. The memories she can't remember. She even said that there is no proof that we as Irkens ever agreed on taking over the galaxy. What? Was it the Meekrob part of you that decided on that? Why are you doing all of this? What is this about?!"

"-Control, Elite Purple. Something you clearly lack. A trait both Tallest Miyuki and you have in common. This is all about which race will survive based on what type of control mechanism works.-"

He was taken back by the abrupt answer.

"Huh?"

"-A tale from long ago. Three beings had made a bet on the seeing what the perfect amount of control was needed to form the strongest species. Left was based upon control being set on one being with all the power. Right believes that giving an entire race their own free will of ultimate power will create the stronger race. And it is I that will prove victorious when Irk is the last standing, for you can not give too little nor too much. I do not have complete and utter control of the Irkens, but enough to keep you in line. Enough to have you functioning properly with no issues and as the top species. Those three beings placed themselves within the coding of a machine and became the Control Brains, the most powerful creation ever invented. No machine has ever run three very powerful planets on their own. In simple terms- We are playing a game and you are pawns for our little game.

You lack control though, Elite Purple. Rash. Far too sudden. Falls into his emotions. It is difficult to be set on the mission if you keep listening to every little thing someone says. Such as what Miyuki had told you about us. A very bad trait as a Tallest, the mission comes first, not emotion. Red, on the other spectrum, is far too in control. He only focuses on the planet. The Irkens and only the Irkens. It is only about Irk, not all of the surrounding planets that must be taken over. You both are intelligent, though not in the way that is needed for a dominant power source that Irk is trying to obtain. I would much prefer you to be dumb and follow orders than to be intelligent and be completely useless to the Empire. You both are unfit to rule properly right now. I shall fix that though. Both Elite Red and you will receive a different control chip than everyone else's chip. A stronger one. A better one. A chip that is needed for future rulers.-"

This was too much to take in for both young and old Purple.

"I- I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"-Another simple answer.-"

A wire shot outwards, capturing Purple's hand, tugging him away from Red.

"-You will not remember this after we're through.-"

Wires were shooting out from too many directions, Purple's fear taking over while flailing his arms around madly to try and get the wires away from him. Metallic arms pinned his body to the platform, cheek pressed downwards onto the ice cold metal. He cried out his best friend's name though Red didn't even stir, limp body being lifted upwards into the air by the arms. The young Irken screamed as loud as he could, struggling fruitlessly and any attempts of escape going unnoticed by lack of success. He felt his Pak being pulled open from the top, terror etching through his features with three fingered hands digging through the flooring underneath. Tallest Purple spoke not a word when Dib leaned over towards the younger Purple, the Elite member had his eyes slammed tightly shut, sobs raking through his body at the intense pain of being electrified. This wasn't happening! This can't be happening! The Earthling let his hand slip on onto the screaming Irken's hand, trying his hardest to ignore his own tears welling up in his eyes. This was useless, he knew it was, but he couldn't just sit there and watch the scene. It made him feel better, even if he couldn't actually help out, it was still there. The effort. It was all he could do not.

"-The chip is preparing to activate. Control will be stabilized. Red and you shall complete each other as rulers of Irk. You will be the perfect amount of control. I will help you to achieve this.-"

The Irken symbol was wiped from his forehead and thumbs were sliced off in less than two seconds. The human refused to let go of the bleeding hand that belonged to the sobbing Irken, his own teeth grit in emotional turmoil. How could they have done this to him? This was all just some sort of bet? A game?! None of this even truly made any sense! And it didn't make sense, but damnit if he was going to let go! He couldn't actually touch him and he knew that this Purple didn't know he was there, but he cared! He cared for too much to just sit in his own sorrow! So through the screaming and bleeding he held onto the very hand of the future Tallest, tears crossing his cheeks that he didn't even want to be. One sentence was whispered through his lips that Tallest Purple heard-

"It's going to be okay."

The purple orbs met upwards at his own brown ones before they fluttered closed a moment later.

And all was gone.

...

(Planet Irk, Through The Cities)

...

Everyone was so scared.

It was a sin to be so scared, but by the past Tallest, they were all terrified.

Advisor Gig positioned herself up so tight up against the wall that it looked like she was trying to be absorbed into the object and never be found again. She wished she could. Her eyes narrowed when she heard the pitiful sobs and quiet murmurs of worried rumors. The planet was going to be attacked, no doubt. They didn't have enough power, this was the perfect chance for all of those planets they had taken over to attack. Food sources were running out. A power source was needed, they would not survive if they could no recharge soon. No new smeets were being born, no new generation of Irkens. They were losing all of the invaders on other planets. Or they at least thought they were. Communication was down, there was no way to contact for help with an planet that sided with them. Did any planet even side with Irk? Did they even have any hope? And their Tallest... Tallest Red was not the same. Something was wrong with him. The planet was in chaos and it seemed like he was doing nothing for his planet. They were to serve him with no questions, it was the Irken way. That was what needed to be done.

But- But, damnit to the past Tallest!

They were scared!

"Let. Us. Out."

Her eyes lifted upwards to see the sight of a maroon eyed Irken of medium height standing before a guard, his shoulders and antennas bent backwards. Behind him were a group of Irkens, at least twenty of them that had been shoved into the building, but her sight caught three individual ones. A curly antenna Irken with light purple eyes was only a few inches away from the one who had spoken, worry written all over her. She was using both hands to hold the hands of two Lefk, Irkens that were older than smeets though not old enough to be counted as worthy soldiers, the two of them also having the same eye color as the short Irken. They were the lucky ones to be born before the smeet facility shut down, but thinking over the entire situation, were they really that lucky? The curly antenna Irken probably counted herself as their mother, nature births were very uncommon on Irk, but maybe she had given natural birth to them. It wasn't impossible. But very hard to achieve, out of millions of Irkens only a select few could actually give birth. Was the one who spoke up to the guard the father? A natural birth mother and father still together? That didn't happen often, after the birth they usually left each other for some bitter reason. But there they were before her sight. A family in the middle of this disastrous event.

Her antenna perked up when she noticed the guard slip his fingers over his laser gun attached to his hip.

"You know I can't. This will be fixed soon. Go sit down and relax."

"Sit down, huh? Sit down and die, you mean, not relax. We've been stuck in this building for weeks, if Sekaroo had attacked us we would have been dead by now. There is no attack, at least not from another planet, not yet. Let us out."

All that was received was a locked jaw.

"Listen, shortie, I'm not letting you go. It'll be suici- It'll be crazy to go outside. Tallest Red has set up the systems to go off if any Irkens go outside, you'll be executed. You can't do this."

"Then let me try. Let me see my planet before I die. We all should be able to see our planet one last time before we die. Don't you see? Nothing is getting better! Yet here you stand before the exit, not allowing us through! If it was so dangerous outside then all of us should be locked indoors, not just a few! Why is it that the Advisor can go through this 'battlefield' when we're being attacked by 'Sekaroo'? Why can she go from building to building to check on us when there is supposedly a battle going on? Do you really think that the Tallest would just let his Advisor prance around in danger like that?"

All eyes turned towards her and she immediately caught her breath. Don't look at me, this isn't my fault. Please. I'm trying! I'm trying so hard to keep you all safe! Her lime green eyes just gazed on at the crowd, watching as Irkens began lifting themselves off the ground, murmuring quietly. There was a new feeling thickening up the air right now. Something was off. Something was changing.

"And further more, why is it only her that we've been seeing this entire time? She is the only one bringing food! She is the only one who has come to see us and tell us news of progress- Progress that I don't believe is actually happening! Where is the Tallest? Why have we not heard from Tallest Red? We know this is the end for us! And you know it, too! I can see it in your eyes! Move to the side and let us through those doors! Let us outside to see our planet one last time! Prove to us that there is a battle actually happening outside! Let us see with our own eyes, not some words from a Tallest that we haven't seen in weeks!"

"Get back!"

"No! Move out of the way! You know that what I say is true! Let us see our planets! We're Irkens just like you!"

"I said get back!"

Desperation rung through his words, laser gun pulled from his holster and pointed directly at an Irken. Not the one who had spoken though. The line of fire was pointed directly at the mother of the Lefks, hearing a shocked cry given out from the crowd forming. Fear. More fear. It was always fear. It had been just fear for weeks. Months. Forever. When the Advisor had tugged her own laser out with quick skill and bolted towards the rather short, muscular to place the barrel against his own head there was no fear. No. Disgust. Rage. Power. You dare to turn against your own race? You dare to point a weapon directly at a mother who was one of the lucky ones to give natural birth? You dare to actually even think of firing your laser at a mother with her Lefks right there? Was this what Irk was coming too?

... Or had Irkens always been this way?

The guard gave a hearty chuckle.

"Drop the weapon, Advisor. You know Tallest Red wouldn't like this."

"He doesn't like the fact that Tallest Purple is gone, but he's still dealing with that, too."

The mock grin was gone.

"Drop the weapon. Now. You are going against the Empire."

"I am going against the Empire? You point a weapon at your own people when they were only talking to you and you dare to blame me for going against the Empire? I am of higher rank than you and I order you to put your weapon down!"

His eyes hardened, grip tightening on the handle.

"No. You are no above the Tallest's words. I was told to keep everyone indoors that need to be indoors."

"Do we really need to be indoors? Why? I have gone outside. I have seen what is happening. There is no battle! Not yet! At least, no with another race. We are battling against ourselves. Our once glorious streets are no longer lit with many colors, only shades of red and purple! I walk past buildings and all I hear are cries and screams for help, pleading to get out of the building they have been stuck in for weeks! I hear the firing of lasers and I know that one of my people have been killed because they spoke too much for a guard's liking! There is only fear! Our Empire is no longer an Empire! We are slaves to our own society, wasting our lives away in false lies! No progress is being made! Nothing has been fixed in months! Everyone is being made to stay inside these building for no reason at all! Every Irken deserves to walk their own streets, not to be locked up away from it! They deserve to see their planet one last time if this is truly our last! All of us do, including you! I say this again- Drop your weapon, comrade!"

"I am no comrade of yours if you are to disobey an orders of a Tallest. You may know more of what's going on than I do, but a Tallest is never wrong. You are the wrong one. If you do not agree with the Tallest, do something about it. Oh, wait, you won't. Because you're a scared little smeet, just like them."

When he sneered towards the exhausted and overly emotional crowd that was Gig felt her jaw lock.

She didn't like being angry. She didn't like being scared. And she hated playing a part that was for no reason.

She wasn't going to have Sic live this sort of life.

Deactivate my Pak, my Tallest, but not without a fight. Not without trying to do something for Sic.

"Besides, what could you do? Form a little rebellion? Call yourself something stupid like the Resisty? Start a revolution against the Empire and kill everyone who stands in your way?"

She twitched.

"Good idea. You're first."

The trigger was pulled.

The revolution had begun.

...

(Planet Earth, Zim's Lab)

...

"S-S-S-omething has b-b-b... Breeched the b-base."

"Little- Too- Late- Computer!"

Tak hissed, using her hands to try and tug the metallic hand off her throat with no luck. She was pinned against the far wall by a very, very tall unit, the Irken symbol branded in white lettering upon its forehead. She struggled and he only tightened his grip, his scarlet eyes never breaking eye contact from her own eyes. This thing had taken Tak down in a matter of seconds. One moment there was Mimi shaking violently while saying incoherent words and in the next moment the floor above her head broke through. Her reflexes were quick, but the unit's was quicker. She pulled a weapon out, he'd knock it out of her hands. She would try to do hand to hand combat he would flip her onto her back. She called for Mimi or the computer and (sadly, yes) she had even called for Gir, but no one came to help her. She was placed struggling and screaming against the wall in a matter of moments. What kind of unit was this?! And why was it attacking her when she should have been off limits to touch?! Every unit was programmed with the five basic rules, attacking an Irken member was one of them unless the Irken threatened your master!

"Active code 30981.1!"

"Dismissed."

Did...

Did he just dismiss his own shut down?

"You must! You are falsely attacking an Irken who has done nothing wrong to your master!"

Was she getting desperate? Actually arguing with this unit?

"Negative."

Negative?! She had done nothing to his master! There was no master here!

The Irken sneered, a gun popping out of her Pak with her hands still pulling the hand that was collapsed around her throat. The snapping sound of a spear slicing through her weapon was heard, the unit gave one hard tug and it ripped right out of her Pak. He held his staff with the broke gun dangling from it on one hand while her choking body was dangling from the other one. His eyes narrowed into slits when he saw her fingers slowly edging towards her pocket. She immediately let her hand fall to her side instead, she knew when she lost. Not that she had lost yet, for she never loses. Never. Sometimes she hits rough patches, but never a lost battle. And that time with Zim doesn't count either! Crazy people aren't included because... Because they're crazy! Let the unit think that he won. She just needed him out of the area and away from Dib and Purple. Pay attention to me, don't look towards Dib or the Tallest. Play fifty questions, state your business, and leave.

"What are you?"

"I am an Advance Infiltrator Unit."

Huh. A good infiltrator it was.

"How many of you are there?"

"There is only one Advance Infiltrator Unit."

"Who commissioned you to be built?"

"Tallest Red."

Wait- Tallest Red commissioned for him to be built? Neither Tallests ever dealt with that though! They didn't care! Uhh- They were too- Busy to deal with that! Not that they didn't care! They were just too busy!

"Your purpose?"

"To protect my master."

Duh, Tak.

"Your master?"

"Tallest Purple."

Her blood froze.

She was thrown across the room with no effort. Slamming against some screens and monitors her body tumbled to the ground, taking a few seconds to actually process just what had happened. She didn't even phase that she was in pain when she caught sight of the unit heading towards the medical table. No! If he removed Tallest Purple away and disconnected the wires he could either kill Dib or him! Maybe even both! It was unclear what would happen to the two if the connection was broke! With a feral scream she tackled the unit to the ground, throwing punches even though she was harming herself more than it. Anything to waste time! If they just would wake up before he touched them, that was it! The unit gripped her hand within its grasp when she tried to throw another punch, scarlet slits meeting her own purple ones.

"You will stand down."

"No. I won't."

He snapped her wrist backwards with one twist.

Her cry rung out through the entire base, teeth grit and breathing becoming unsteady. She delivered a kick to the side of its head with a swung of her leg, sprawling the unit onto its back from the impact of her combat boot. The AIR Unit threw his leg upwards and sent her flying towards the medical table where her Tallest was lying unconscious, her hands gripping the edge to keep herself from sliding under the object. She tugged her body off the ground, wobbly legs keeping her unstable and her arm with the broken hand positioned behind her back to protect it. This thing had taken out her unit and all her weapons, using her spider legs would be useless and dangerous. If he threw her body again and if she were to land on either Dib or the Tallest... No. She wouldn't even think of it. Through her agony she took her spot by the bed side of her Tallest, her non-broken hand gripping the other bed that Dib was lying upon. Let the unit come. Let the unit try and attack. She would fight back.

The blood of an invader marched through her veins.

"Air, stop it. She's not a threat. She's important to me. To us. Now, come over here."

Her head turned towards the direction of the voice to see a goofy grin spread across the Tallest's face. She would have smiled herself if Dib hadn't groaned a moment later, slumping to the side of his bed while gasping for air. Tak took action in catching him, both of them smiling at each other for a moment. She began reaching for the medical supplies that weren't far away from her grasp, stopping when Dib gripped her wrist. His wide eyes were gazing at her broken hand with worry clouded all over his features. She tugged it out of his grasp with a hiss, pressing the button on the side to unattach the needles that were inside Dib's head and gently trying to tug the helmet off his large head carefully. Tallest Purple pulled the cord out of his Pak with no effort, stumbling off the table with shaky legs to head towards the unit. AIR's eyes were no longer scarlet, hurrying towards his master as Purple stumbled towards him. With a gleeful laugh he pulled the unit into his grasp, nuzzling his chin on the top of the unit's head. Tak gaped in confusion and Dib smiled softly, tilting his head so it was easier for Tak to remove the dry blood from around his face.

"Air! But how? You were deactivated!"

A smile formed on the black face.

"Elite- Tallest Red. It appears that when he found out I was to be deactivated he downloaded my personality on a

chip and placed into safe keeping. He found it many years down the road and remembered what he always wanted to do for you as a gift."

"Yeah? And what was that?"

"Give you back the SIR Unit that you had lost, my Tallest."

"Red."

He breathed out his best friend's name like a pray that was answered, smile never leaving his face. Finger tips trailed down the metal cheek all the way down to the top of his shoulder, flicking against it to hear the echoing sound of armor being hit. He was real. He was here. The other Irken in the room had no idea how to handle the situation. Though Dib was seriously injured he was still smiling to himself, eyes half lid with his glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. The Tallest tilted his head backwards to grin widely at Dib, both of them laughing when they made eye contact. What were they laughing about? Nothing funny was happening...

"Whoa. Those memories really sucked, huh?"

"Ha! Yeah they did! Whoo! I need some chips and donuts after something like that!"

"You always want chips and donuts."

"Hey. Don't start this, Air!"

Another round of laughter and her antennas tilted backwards. They were all insane. Was there anyone left that wasn't completely crazy?

"What did you figure out?"

"Nothing. Just that Miyuki wasn't insane and something is wrong with the Control Brains. There are little chips inside of us controlling us all. Miyuki and Spork were murdered, apparently the Blob wasn't Zim's fault, both mine and Red's memories were removed and the personalities we have aren't even ours, the Control Brains are actually not completely Irken, and we're all apart of some sort of sick game created by three beings from long ago. But other than that, not much."

Tak's mouth fell open, but she composed herself a split second later.

"Ah. And, uhh- Anything else, my Tallest?"

"Oh, yeah, and now we gotta destroy the Control Brains."

And all Purple did was grin.

...To Be Continued...

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Hey guys, sorry if this chapter was bad! I'm trying to get a feel for typing again, I'm not really sure what I'm doing anymore!

Please review, tell me what was liked/disliked, all that jazz!

Have a wonderful day! :D

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