Chapter 8: " New is Underway "

Zim questioned the rather mechanism he held. It was very elementary in it's structural build, however it's simplicity was what intrigued him. Shielding him from most of the water that was like acid to him; He wondered why he never decided to make anything like so. He walked down his walkway and up to his front door and opened it. However, as he noticed the runner was connected to the stretchers, he pulled it down and the fabric of the umbrella collapsed. This also lead for the gathered water to slip down, and it spilled on his arms, causing him to shout and cast the umbrella away from him.

" Sonofa..." He gritted. Zim clenched his wrists and the previous feelings of glee escaped from him. For something that could repel water, it was counter intuitive that it could gather just as much upon it's canopy. " Damned umbrella." Zim hissed.

" Are you alright, Sir?" The computer asked, however Zim didn't hear him over his annoyance. He walked over the wet abomination and headed into the kitchen. He stopped as he noticed the hole in the wall was gone, momentarily felt gratification, and continued on to the next room. Zim opened up one of his cupboards, and grabbed a cylindrical container.

He began to apply the healing paste he created a few months ago, while studying the elements of the water that hurt him, and the components of his own DNA that was effected by it. It stopped the steaming and it helped rejuvenate the weathered looking skin, but the shock still remained in his nerves, and the pain lingered a while longer. He was about to replace it back in the cupboards before he realized he could use this on his bruises and swells. Considering it and then re-opening it, he smoothed over his face. Zim wondered momentarily why he didn't do this earlier. Then he realized the stupidity of his actions, remembering how the formula was created for the harmful effects of water and not for superficial wounds or unsightly bruises. Zim sighed.

" Computer; where is Gir?" He asked raspy, grabbing a mirror and observed his face.

" Gir has been located down underground...he's in hiding again, Sir." The Computer responded.

" Only to be expected. " He groaned, or so he tried. Zim replaced the container back where he got it from and exited the kitchen. He kept his sleeves up and gloves clenched in one hand to let the remaining paste be absorbed by his skin, and he returned to the living room where he cautiously placed the umbrella into the closet. When he opened the door, he saw and remembered the security robots, or rather the ones he used mainly as parental figures. They remained lifeless within the small room. Zim placed down the umbrella and closed the door, shaking his head, remembering how useless they were to him.

Even when he re-programmed them to think more like humans, and fixed their electric routers and reaction trips so that they would spasm less and behave more like humans, he only used and activated them whenever a stranger came by, requesting for them, or for whatever other circumstance that required their presence.

Zim sat upon the couch and reclined on his back, setting his black gloves upon the floor. He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, finally being able to rest. He placed his hand over his hurting brow and as he was no longer focused on one purpose, the pain over his body was emphasized. His throat felt dry and no matter the times he swallowed or cleared his throat, the presence of the uncomfortable soreness and infection prohibited a certain volume and emphasis of speech.

" Sir, I recommend that you return to your test subjects." The computer said. Zim repositioned on the couch slowly, trying not to stir much stress on his body. He sighed slightly

" Why?"

" For the past few...months, I've been tending to their needs and have completed the daily objectives that you have assigned yourself to do. However, I feel that despite my efforts, your subjects have been deteriorating in health. Especially the Neural Experiments."

" Why do you think so?"

" Well...As humans, they are very meticulous in needs. They require social activity, which they do, they speak among themselves, but remaining in darkness in your labs can cause many problems to their health. Not only that, The food I repeatedly feed them isn't enough for their nutritional needs, and so a revisit to your pantry and for their food sources can be of assistance in their welfare. And mainly...those probes. Their brain probes, which you've designed to continuously electrocute their neural networks, particularly aimed at their limbic systems and other emotion generative areas, have been having severe side effects of shock—not any surprise—periods of withdrawal, or even times of PVS.

" These electric shocks limit the nervous system of neurotransmitters of certain neurochemicals, which in turn give out only designated substances for the drive work of the designated emotions. And because of that, you are also limiting their cognition of their brains—"

" By the gods, Computer! I know this. I created those probes, I know how they work." Zim interrupted, coughing after wards. The Computer paused for a while before he continued.

"...They can't detect threats, sir. Their nervous systems are, for the lack of a better term, out of whack, and they are showing signs of more emotions, rather than the limited one emotions per probe...It wouldn't surprise me if within a few months, those probes neutralized them. I'm surprised by the fact they lived for so long under those conditions." He stated. Zim sat up and sighed, rubbing his eyes.

" What are you suggesting? I remove those probes? They're lodged in their brains, Computer. I bet those are the only things keep them alive. Judging by how deeply those probe are engaged, and by the weight of them, I bet those are the only driving force that keep their brain working and intact." Zim said, raspy, opening his eyes to the TV screen.

"...Well...with all due respect, you need to do something about that, it's a serious situation and you're taking it too lightly. " Zim hardened a look.

" What, do you want me to go down there and let them watch TV, or take them outside? Give them Bloaty's pizza?"

" Whatever it takes, Sir. Ease their pain." He said. Zim kept his eyes on the screen for a while before he scoffed, and shook his head. He reclined back down against the couch and rested his head against the armrest.

" They're just humans..." He murmured, annoyed, a little more loud than expected

" Humans as they may be, sir...They are—" The computer paused abruptly. Zim waited for a few seconds for him to continue, but heard the engines of the computer revving instead. He was processing.

" Sir, Dib is near the premises. He...He's..."

" He's doing what—" Zim said, more alert, sitting up in the couch, but was interrupted by a sudden ear-piercing shatter. He flinched and whipped around to see the cause. A large rock entered through the window and rolled against the carpet, leaving the window in pieces. Zim watched it for a split second to realize that Dib had cast it inside. Then another sound of the splitting shatter caused his rage, as the rock hit against the arm rest of the couch.

" Dammit!" He yelled to an extent that spread pain, immediately stood and ran to the door. He opened it, but as he did so, Dib had launched another rock in time just as the door opened and it spiraled towards him. Zim shut it immediately and let it slam against the wooden surface, before he re-opened it and stopped himself before he fully engaged in a mad sprint in the rain. He he saw that the Dib was actually a poorly made model that had a catapult device for an arm, and saw a loading system behind it.

It was filled with three rocks, specifically for the event of shooting at the windows and door. The drawn Dib on it was of course with his smirk. Zim clenched his fists. The garden gnomes, shooting their built in lasers at a high energy, successfully broke off the arm of the figurine. The sight fed his anger, however animosity spilled in him, and his clenched fists caused the material of his gloves to creak. His breathing became rapid and blood rushed through his body. A sneer crossed his face and Zim grabbed one of the rocks. Impetuously, he yelled, turned and flung it, and broke through the head of the imitation, falling apart as the lasers had weakened the material. He began back inside and marched through the living room.

" Sir, I mistook—"

" Don't talk." He said deathly. Zim continued on to the kitchen and leaped on the toilet, beginning to descend down. He was tired of all of the taunting. The deriding insults. All of the hatred and the mocking tones of his enemies. How they all rose above him, Dib especially, and managed to bring him lower. He was sick of being here, occupying the planet he was destined to destroy. He felt the anger slip through his veins and he squeezed his fists as tight as he could. Dib always managed to make his days worst. He gave him hell, and Zim loathed it. But that was what Dib wanted. And he got what he wanted every damn time. If Dib did something, and Zim was able to get him back with a retort, Dib returned with an even bigger ricochet. And he wouldn't give up until he got the last throw.

Zim dropped down onto the lab floor base and landed, ignoring the pain that spiked through the past areas he landed as so, and continued on to his Laboratory.

He began pressing keys against the keyboard and he registered codes and activated his machines. Soon enough, with the thoughts running through his mind, he set his Project's on state. The blueprints Dib saw...they were miniscule drawings. Zim thought as the different parts of the room removed themselves from the areas to create space for the ascending project. It detached floor tiles, dislodged counters and tables as the machinery orderly disassembled.

Zim took happily to the appearance of his weapon; It didn't matter if it was unfinished or not. Using it to destroy this pitiful race was his mandatory mission. He entered another code as the process of it assembling finished, the satellite dish nested upon the roof and it's generator near the ceiling. He reprogrammed the machine to effectively send it's radio signals to the orbiting satellites above. Thoughts of annihilation and massacre of a grandiose scale gave energy through his nerves, and a smirk creased his face. It instilled a bit of rash excitement, finally being able to accomplish this long waited operation.

They don't transmit these type of radio waves, neither do they just...latch on to others near them.

Zim's heart skipped a beat, however he ignored the received feeling and overwhelmed it with his anger and recently received excitation, blaring the thought that brought a sense of doubt. Zim began to administer the types of radio waves it would broadcast and selected the few most highest. He began to pick as well the accompanying sounds and other sound waves that he had researched upon, that are damaging to the human brain. What Dib didn't realize was that this was a sonic weapon; something that could kill or incapacitate with the mere intensity of the sounds waves being submitted out into the open air. Zim had done his studies. He wasn't a fool. He knew how this worked.

How did you plan this exactly?

Zim even remembered the sound of his mocking tone, his laughter that mortified all of his attempts at being a threat to the human race, but only ended up being the laughing stock amongst his enemies. Zim shook his head, and paused for a few moments. He closed his eyes and enforced the thought of his mind and then he began to feel his arms and hands shake involuntarily. He ignored this immediately and continued typing at the small keypad. Zim adjusted the Hz of the sound waves and the frequency, setting the pitch to a high sequence, high enough for penetration and absolute impairing for the ear drums, but low enough for audibility. He then realized he was trying to distract himself.

Now how stupid do you feel? On a scale to 1 through 10?

Knowing that the 'Surprise of the Year' was just another failure to try and conquer earth?

Zim stopped what he was doing, and his mind wavered. It no longer tried to ignore these thoughts; the feelings that came with them. Soon he lowered his head and after a few moments, it turned into minutes to where he was doubting everything. He let it take effect to him, and he realized that just how much of a waste of time all of this was. The creation of this condemned-to-begin-with project, trying to initiate it in his childish attempt for resolve in his anger.

His impetuosity that clouded every decision he made with his blunt emotions and groundless logic-making that made him into a fool. His immaturity that was the fuel to his anger and the leading factor for all of this...vanity. All of this he did because he simply felt wronged. As if he deserved better. Zim clenched the ends of the counter again and was beginning to loathe the feelings he was recently receiving. They always brought nothing but more pain and it didn't help his situation in any way. He tried to keep his breathing level, but in the end his attempts got him no where.

It was one thing that you did stupid things and made your own image of stigma, but it's another level entirely of disgrace when you pity yourself. You used to be a symbol of praise. You had dignity, valuation to your work and ethics, and you gave no look back to anything, anyone. Now...you are simply a revulsion amid the people. Abhorrence becomes you, and you pity yourself more because you can't seem to get what you want. These hideous emotions that cloud you, your disgusting guilt over vindication, your softness for when you put one in their place, for they knew not who they addressed or spoke to, and your ruth...Ruth! Towards yourself and to others! When you felt you wronged them! By any means possible, they wronged you by their existence! You came here to abolish these creatures. They are vile, reprehensible things that were meant to be enslaved to your home planet, and serve your leaders! Do not think twice when striking!

...Why?...

Why?...You ask me...why? Why in the hell do you think!? You came here in the first place to destroy them! You don't heed them as people!

… I came here...on mission...no...because it was exile...

Then you prove your worth, you idiot! The Almighty Tallest only did so because you showed no value to them! Once you conquer this planet, and enslave it's race, and deliver it back to The Almighty Tallest, then they will see the mistake they made to exile such a valiant Invader!

And if that didn't work? If that didn't prove our 'valiance'?

There are no "if's" you fool! I will not accept that you are losing faith within your Leaders! I've noticed your unwillingness to finish your own sentences because you fear that they may no longer be true for whenever you address your eminence! It has been tough, but you have survived tougher situation and endured a lot more hell than what you're going through now! Do not break under such circumstances, they trial you purposely!

If you have faith within those leaders, than you are just as delusional as you have aforementioned about me. Groundless, insolent trust to those who don't even so much as like you. You try to prove yourself of worth, when clearly no one is around for you to prove to, no one to care. We are abandoned...We have accepted that...Why haven't you?

...You are all fools...Idiots with minds filled with Angst!

We fear that the only fool here, is you...

Zim realized that he had been on his knees. His eyes refocused and it felt like he had just waken up from a dream, although he had recent memory that suggested otherwise. His hands were flat against the cold floors, and he blinked slowly. He sighed and let his body give in to his uneasy shaking, the uncontrollable rampant emotions that poisoned him. The pain in his chest he recognized as guilt. The chills that so frequent shook his body was fear, and sorrow. These feelings were unknown to him...mainly because he spent so long neglecting to recognize them.

He spent years in training to make himself void of emotions that were deemed useless, and unproductive to his work ethics. He would be weak if he wasn't able to overrule and maintain his own trivial mental functions, and so he endeavored to not be so; It meant denying his conscious, and to sacrifice whatever sagacity he had left. Why? For the service of being an Invader. Their tactics required them to perform works and complete tasks that disregarded the earthly, carnal feelings of the Irken mind. They were required to kill races, destroy planets and conquer and enslave the natives, that ownership over a conscious wouldn't allow.

But most of all...for the loyalty to the Almighty Tallest. They were the root of all Zim's doings, wanting to please them, wanting to honor them was his duty. It was the duty of any other Invader, of any other Irken, to symbolize the Almighty Tallest and to glorify them. The Irkens gave their hearts, and would give their lives if it meant exalting their beloved leaders...

...And to be shunned...to be banished. Scorned and demeaned by those of your heroes, your righteous leaders and those you gave your life to...It was more than just destruction of the soul.

And to be humiliated directly, to be selected from a group of thousands...and chosen to be the target of their hatred, and laughter. It was devastating.

Zim was prostrated and he remained against the touch of the cold floor for the longest of times. Finally recognizing the problems of all of his predicaments, the root of all things, and if anything, it felt like defeat. There was no gratification towards finding this solution, no reward.

Zim's head began throbbing again. Emotions weren't the only apparent condition he was ignoring; soon he remembered the twist in his gut and the soreness in his body. His state, both mentally and physically, weren't faring well. His headache brought a sensitivity to light, and to open his eyes hurt the tops of his eyelids. His bruises and soreness in his back right shoulder, his head. Zim thought about his recent past actions, yelling when his sore throat wouldn't allow him, acting out of his anger when his body willed that he didn't, and now it came down to sick exhaustion, hurtful intakes of breath and a nausea that hung over his head.

Though in a strange, indescribable way, among the pain of his head and the fullness of his throbbing brain, he felt almost like...an emptiness. Something that was present before was now gone, and made his head feel light. I might've been his literal dizziness on virtue of this, however it wasn't so much as a physical feeling. It gave a bit of... ease of mind.

Zim no longer saw, thought, or did anything that automatically triggered a sense of procrastination for his 'mission'. The nagging voice that brought his motives down with demeaning words that hovered in the corner of his mind; his self-conscious. It was gone...and it made what he did...almost easier. No longer held down by being worried if what he did was beneficial for the completion of some large task at hand, or if it would be disadvantageous. He felt a freedom to decide what he would do now without being judged every second of his life...even if he was doing it to himself. For once, for the tiniest bit...felt a bit of freedom.

• • •

Red paced around the front of the main channel doors. After a while, he would glance up from his nervous daze, and a hand would shoot up to his chin. After receiving no results, he would continue pacing. There was a perpetual constriction in his throat, and an inconsistency in his gut. Not only did it not help that he hadn't eaten anything—not anytime during this day—which considerably degraded at his energy, Red could only foresee what would happen. He knew the mindset, the intricate, vague, rationale of the I.C.B. No matter how hard they tried, they were basic data bases; and data bases always had some sort of misshape. Everyone, or everything in this case, has a set of roles and principals they run through from their own experiences, altered by their moods, and moral standards, etc. Irkens and Humans and things alike do it so much that it becomes almost like a style; habits able to be deciphered. And from what Red has gathered...the outcome would not be pretty.

" Red; Almighty Tallest. Enter the domain." A voice announced. The very annunciation of his name sent a wave of momentary trembling and bitter coldness. He forced a swallow to try and loosen his throat, and continued on through the channel doors. Red persevered to keep his legs from showing any shaking as he walked to the middle of the chamber. Purple was already present and he glanced back at him as he approached to his side.

" Do you know why you are here, Almighty Red?" The voice asked, which Red only knew it was a question because of the format of his wording. The pitch of his voice suggested it was a statement. Red nodded in response, though it was more of a fidgety shake. He slipped his hands into his waist pocket and grabbed a writing utensil and preoccupied his hands to keep them from moving involuntarily. He remembered the sound of Purple's voice, the prosody of his tone of persuasion which for reasons he didn't know always left him speechless. He made his tongue latch on to the roof of his mouth and he no longer felt the need to continue whatever argument or conversation. It didn't even have to include vocal communication; in many cases to keep their talk silent, they had correspondence from their unaccounted data computers.

Sooner or later, We tell them, Red. We can't keep hiding this forever and expect the outcomes to be in our favor. It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't already plan for our punishments. They have ears that stretch to oblivion.

How? The Massive is one of the safest places away from the Imperial Control Brains...

Yes...but they monitor every part of the building, granted that the Massive is a ship; they're very curious. However, it pains me to say that I'll have to go be the one that tells them about suspicion.

Rat on me, Purple? When it was our idea to throw Zim out?

It is not an attempt to make myself look any higher, Red. It makes the situation plausible. And I hate to say it, but it was your idea to share this out with everyone.

I didn't mean that I wanted it public. I said it wouldn't be detrimental if it wasn't a secret.

Yes...Though If they have eavesdropped into our conversations, then for me to share my "suspicions about you" would only be realistic.

...I suppose so...What if they take into account about my...beliefs about power Purple? What then?

...I'll be there to explain it was just an idea...because in the end, they were just thoughts and premeditated plans that had no intention of being executed...Or at least they now should be...Alright?

…Yes...

Red blinked a few times and cleared his throat.

"...Yes..." He answered. Red decided that the utensil in his hands wasn't helping, for the fact that his hands were only becoming sweaty. He removed them from his hands and replaced it back into his waist pocket. He mimicked the posture that Purple oh-so well kept into composure and tried to calm himself. Red consciously noted that there was more than one Imperial Control Brain and they made a half circle around them. Even as machines, built by the Irkens themselves, they could intimidate beyond belief.

" We have had reports that you have kept crucial information about the location and welfare about Irken Invader Zim confidential over the last year. Is this true?" Another voice asked. Red nodded again. Purple had risen his head from the ground and glanced up, almost as if he was surprised his name was uttered. Red soon removed it from mind.

" Yes..."

"...Explain yourself..." She commanded. Red took a silent deep breath and finally willed himself to look upon the machinery that spoke to him.

" Irken Invader Zim was a defective; the severity of his state was unmeasured. Judging from his past actions; from murdering his own people, shutting down half of the planet's power and electrical systems for a snack, and killing the past Almighty Tallest, I deemed it worthy of this particular being to be considered a threat to our planet, and to exile him without a further conclusion or approval. He has been on mission, or at least he thought so, on another planet, Earth."

" Without our conclusion or approval." She said crossly. Red swallowed, feeling his mouth becoming dry from the anxiety. He nodded once more and looked back to the floor.

" You, of all people, should know how that type of treason is disciplined with, Almighty Tallest Red. You passed a judgment onto a fellow member of your army, Invader Zim, a decommissioning decree of his entire worth rank and followed on your own druthers to sentence him to trial in the process. All of which was completed without any previous notification nor any authorization claims that would've been your approval, Almighty Red." She stated. " Let's not forget that—"

" My apologies, your Majesty. Permission to speak." Purple said, his eyes slightly formed in perplex.

" Denied; You, Almighty Tallest Purple are charged with the same offenses, for you were an accomplice in this treason. Is it not true that you were having this dispute with your comrade because he told Invader Zim what he shouldn't have known? Because in all truth, you two both exiled him in covert, without approval. Your punishments should be catastrophic." She remarked, darkly. Red and Purple both set their heads lower, and kept their eyes to the ground. Red predicted the actions of the I.C.B wrongfully. He knew in some way they would have to undergo punishments, however he didn't know that they knew about the conversation he had with Zim itself.

" And about your ideas of dominance; The Irken Empire thrives on the idea of expansionist force. We, with the aid of our military and covert Invaders, as well with the advanced technology that assists our galactic conquests, are a system of absolute power and control. The planets we siege and then take control becomes our underlings and we enslave them for our needs."

"We treat them as so because we hold the power and are higher in the hierarchical class. However, your ideas to subdue our own people would only cause our success to plummet, and our domain to crumble. When you confuse the assigned tactics of treatment to enemies with allies, then you have failed within your duty, as a leading role in your people, to promise your people of value." Another Control had said.

Red felt a layer of sweat on his brow. His breathing was held managed, however that prospect of maintaining his composure was weakening. If he didn't stress his muscles as he did to remain constricted, he would be shaking. Despite the soreness that was stretching across his arms, he remained in stance. His gut had been twisted and for once he was glad he hadn't eaten.

" Don't tangle the strings again, Almighty Red. We assure you that it will not be tolerated." He commented, and Red measly nodded his head.

Another space of silence spread through the room, and silently, killed both the Leaders from anxiety, for the severity of their punishments were still to be known. Red almost considered closing his eyes to temporarily relieve his mind of a sense to concentrate better.

" You both are on temporary suspension. Your say and any involvement in any legislative, political or economical parties and events will not be accounted for, nor granted, for the duration of three months. Your positions will be slanted and your rights of the Almighty Tallest functions are taken away until further notice. Until then, you remain in the palace. Attending social affairs of the people will not be allowed until your trial is ended."

Purple and Red raised their heads in unison. Their penalties had been alleviated exponentially and they were perplexed. They glanced at another for a quick few moments and then back at each of the Imperial Control Brains, obviously questioning the acts of them.

" Reasoning is what you want..." One remarked.

" Because. Almighty Tallest Red and Purple, you have both secured this empire from a potential threat, one that could've caused a great corruption, judging from the deeds you spoke of. You acted out for the protection of your people, and yourselves. Understandable that you acted against the law, however not excusable. Don't think committing this twice will earn you the justice it did as so demonstrated now. Impetuosity will gain you no further than your demise. " They explained.

Red immediately felt a sense of relief, that almost drained the entirety of his anxiousness. However the two feelings fused for a bit, as he still yet remained within this chamber, as there were more to be announced, which could mean the more they could be punished. Red nodded and so did Purple.

" You will get what you wanted, Red." She spoke. He raised his antennae, and widened his eyes. His name being addressed to and being told he were to receive something he wasn't entirely sure of made his heart skip a beat, which caused a jump in his chest, but he tried his best to conceal that.

" A Trial; Invader Zim is too dangerous to be wandering around as we speak. We will hold an Existence Evaluation and if necessary, condemn him accordingly to what we find."

Red didn't know how to feel about this. It was all happening a little too fast, and he waited a few moments before he officially understood what they were speaking about. He stood taller and stood in formation.

" Yes, your Majesty."

" Pass the information on to Invader Zim. The Trial will be held in a year." Red almost frowned upon how long the duration of that was, and he was taken a back a few moments.

" A year? Why for that amount?" He asked.

" We are in the process of enslaving the natives of which your army has retrieved. The planets they conquered have been rather rebellious and the amount of soldiers we pressure into those areas have only been but unprofitable. We require more guards, battalions and authorities to control their behavior. This is as well as detrimental to the economy, spending the expenses on our facilities to handle these planets. It will take the time necessary, and for precautionary steps, the trial will be set in a year." She spoke. Red thought about the words she said. Inwardly, he was disappointed. He'd wished that this Existence Evaluation would be sooner, which would be all the more marvelous to get rid of the mistake that was created long ago. However, he couldn't deny that he was overall grateful that it was going to occur in the first place. He chose wisely not to speak his mind, and only agreed to the circumstances.

" Understood." He remarked.

Silence hung once more in the chamber and the system sounds of the Control Brains accentuated.

" Report back to us when you've delivered your message, Red and Purple. You have our permission to leave."

On that note, Both of them left out of the room in order. When the chamber doors closed behind him, Red was able to take deep breaths again. He did so and grabbed a handkerchief from his waste pocket, and wiped the layer of sweat that gathered on his brow. He hated the visibility of his nervousness, and despite the number of times he visited the I.C.B, they always made him anxious. They weren't a force to reckon with lightly, and this was the lightest punishment he'd ever received. They odds were very unlikely and strangely favorable for him. He wasn't too sure now if that was presently a good thing. However suspicion was never tolerated by the I.C.B either.

" Well that could've been worse." Purple broke the silence, as they walked slowly down the halls. " That could've been a lot worse."

" It still has it's potential to being so." Red added, with a shaky sigh.

" We got off easy. It's not known to happen, however it doesn't make it an impossible outcome, Red." He said, lightly. Red wished he could have as much optimism as his friend had, however he wasn't the type of person to have it as such. He just shook his head and remained his eyes to the floor in front of him. Judging from the reaction Purple took to the information about the sentenced trial, which Red didn't tell him about threatening Zim, Red would've expected Purple to express his curiosity about it. However, as they left the corridor, all he did was take a glance behind of the area they were leaving and they parted ways once they exited.

Red walked in thought. As he thought before, he was able to recognize habits. Though with Purple, knowing he would be wondering why Red concealed such information, he didn't express any thing about the subject. It wasn't entirely something to worry about, as irrelevant as it was, however it did spike a bit or confusion.

Red pushed the door to his chambers and entered the furbished room. The door shut behind him and he removed the excessive armor.

" Almighty Tallest Red. You have just received a message." Roxi stated, as Red sat down against his soft bed. He took a moment to try and relish the comfortableness of the cushions, however he sighed and got back to his feet.

" Who from? Oh and...I'm stripped of my title temporarily. Further on, just address me as Red." He remarked, as he sat down against his desk. The light flickered slightly and it caught his attention.

" Yes...a message received from Almighty Tallest...er, Purple, if the circumstances have equally affected your counterpart." She said. Red thought momentarily he would need to call service drone for the slowing of his light, and then glanced back down at the monitor.

" Yes...okay, I'll view it. You may enter sleep mode." He permitted. She did so and a few of her activated engines shut down. Red had thoughts that maybe the expected expressed curiosities of beforehand would be presented in this message. He moved the cursor and clicked the headliner.

You never told me you threatened Zim.

Red scratched his chin as he thought about ways he could summarize his reasoning into simple replies, to explain himself.

I didn't think it would be important

Well apparently it was crucial for the I.C.B.

I didn't know that they would comment upon it. It never occurred to me that they would've heard my argument with Zim.

Well one thing for sure is that you don't listen. When I said we talk about everything, we talk about everything. Small "unimportant" details included.

It's nothing to be angry about, I'm sure.

It doesn't matter about me being angry or not, what matters is the argument you had with Zim. If you threatened him to trial if he returned, what else did you say to him?

I told him that the planet he inhabited was not marked for the Irken Armada Planet Jackers treaty; remember when they visited us in concern about how one of our Invaders over-crossed the treaty? Surely enough, It was Zim. Anyways, then I went on telling him what he didn't know, and after wards I brought up back the recorded history of his crimes. Then I told him that if he were to try and come back to Irk, he would be sentenced to trial, an Existence Evaluation to be punished.

...And how did Zim react to all of this?

Shocked...Desperate. And a lot of other ways I don't feel inclined to describe.

So be it...okay. Well, within a few days, we have to call up Zim and tell him about these conditions. Though I have a feeling the little brat is going to try some way to run and hide, considering how all we've got is You have to come back and receive your punishments. That is, in no way, convincing. Especially because the trial will be held in a year.

Well...Then we have to give him no options. Make it seem like he's under surveillance of some sort, so that he'll be watched. And if he tries to do anything then we stop him.

Stop him? How? We're not going to be able to do anything if we're galaxies away from each other.

Red sighed and thought a while before he would respond. How would they manage to try and keep Zim from doing anything stupid? He was a very unpredictable menace to the society and judging by his somehow self-unnoticed insanity, would be able to do anything if it meant saving his own skin. Red massaged his temples for a while before he thought about an idea, and soon into it's details.

...Well, That's why I have a plan...