[A/N] Longer chapter today to make up for the last one.
Also, I'm going back to some old chapters and correcting errors so don't be alarmed if you get a lot of notifications.
Please enjoy!
Truth be told, there were far worse people to have a crush on than Iiek. The Irkin was intelligent, beautiful, and didn't annoy Gaz with every word out of her mouth. A pretty big feat all things considered.
So yes, Gaz had a problem.
Though, as she reached her hand out to ring the doorbell to a modest one story house, she knew it could be a lot worse.
Iiek focused on the open files on the computer in front of her. While she waited for Gaz to arrive, the invader had decided to occupy her time by scrounging up everything she knew about the Delicious Weenie Corporation. It wasn't a lot all things considered.
Founded around fifteen years before Iiek arrived on Earth, the food distributor had started out small, merely one man making hotdogs in his home and selling them on the street, and had quickly grown into a massive multimillion dollar corporation. A classic come up story, fit for television. All in all, nothing too unusual
There was one thing that interested Iiek however.
The CEO and founder Gerald Weenie, and wasn't that name just further proof of how weird most humans were, had recently come out with a statement to the press. He had apparently been reunited with his long lost daughter after years of searching. He had held a board meeting and immediately names the girl as his heir, much to the stockholders chagrin.
Iiek found this odd for several reasons. In all of her extensive research, she had never once seen mention of a daughter or any other child. Not only that, but a mere week after the meeting with his board two months ago, Gerald had disappeared into thin air and still hadn't made an appearance since. Digging further into the company's records revealed what Iiek had suspected.
Tak was apparently this long lost daughter. Not only that, but she had for all intents and purposes taken over the company as a whole as all business documents were being signed by her instead of her 'father'. The company's latest venture, the massive hotdog stand downtown was all Tak's idea.
When using her scanners on the building itself, the only thing she had been able to detect was the overall power usage in the building. Something that would have been useless if not for one thing.
Whatever was powering that building was emitting entropic radiation, something almost completely unique to Irkin power cores as most other space faring civilizations found it much too dangerous. This practically confirmed that Tak was not who she said she was.
Attempting to dig into the hotdog stand any further than what was visible on the surface however, was met with an incredibly complex security system that Iiek's house A.I was unable to break through before being detected and expunged. She had been unable to even get a blueprint of the building's layout.
It was incredibly frustrating.
Iiek was spared from her frustrations by the base's alarm sounding out around her, indicating someone had rang the doorbell. She pressed a button on the holographic display in front of her and the screen switched from the open files to a camera view of her front porch.
Her bracelet beeped with her spiking emotions as she caught sight of Gaz standing at her door. The other girl was wearing a back hoodie with a purple skull on the center and her purple hair was up in it's signature snake fang shape that Iiek was pretty sure was natural somehow. Gaz's arms were crossed and she was staring at the camera, clearly waiting for a response to the doorbell.
Iiek cleared her throat, pressing a button on her wrist and speaking into it, "Hello Gaz, I'll be up in just a second. Make yourself at home in the meantime." She pressed another button on her wrist and watched through the camera as the front door swung open and Gaz walked into the house.
Iiek turned away from the screen and addressed her SIR unit, "Ram, mirror please." Her robot companion saluted before his body bent backwards at the waist and a full length mirror emerged from his open torso.
The Irkin inspected her appearance in the mirror, taking in her dark green skin and purple eyes, "Gaz likes purple right?" She muttered to herself, taking in her eyes and clothing. Her antenna twitched lightly as she inspected herself for flaws. Gaz might not have had a problem with her natural form, but that didn't mean she could just let her appearance falter. Especially not in front of her.
Her gaze ran across herself for another moment before she shook her head hard. She brought a hand up and gave herself a small smack across the face, "What am I doing? I'm acting like a Slorbeast in heat! Is the bracelet malfunctioning?!"
She looked down at her EM bracelet to find that it seemed to be running fine, the purple lights dancing on it's surface not flickering in the slightest, "Is the power source not strong enough? I know the one I used was had lower output that most, but the bracelet shouldn't consume that much power in the first place." She muttered in confusion.
She brought a hand to her PAK, retrieving a small scanner and running it over her bracelet. She frowned as she read the results. According to the scanner, the bracelet was working fine, all systems nominal.
"So that means it's likely something to do with the courtship reaction." She returned her scanner to her PAK and stared down at her bracelet. Given that there wasn't exactly a lot of information on Irkin mating, the actual issue could be a whole host of things, but she had a theory.
It was possible that Iiek had been a bit too late when activating her emotional regulator, as her body had already decided that Gaz was a suitable partner and had enhanced her emotions accordingly. Iiek using her emotional regulator while the process was already in motion was most likely akin to putting a bandaid on a severed limb, it would stop some of the blood from being lost, but not enough to be significant in the long run.
In fact, it was possible that her body had actually increased the enhancement of her emotions as a response to her bracelet, believing that her emotions hadn't been changed at all when in actuality it was her bracelet diminishing them.
That meant there were really only two options to fix her emotional state. The first was to either remove her bracelet and live life with her emotions even further enhanced until they eventually returned to normal. Something Iiek suspected could take months at the very least.
The other option was completing the bond with Gaz, finishing the courtship and taking the other girl as her mate for the rest of both of their lives.
And as good as that second option sounded, Iiek knew it was also the most unlikely one. Even if Gaz was interested in members of her own gender, Iiek wasn't human, the other girl was unlikely to be interested in her like that at all. She'd would likely be disgusted by the proposition in the fist place.
No, the better option would be to remove the bracelet and seclude herself in her base for as long as it took for her emotions to return to normal. Even if that meant avoiding Gaz for months.
Iiek shook herself out of her depressing thoughts and gestured to Ram, the SIR unit retracting the mirror and giving her a salute once more. She motioned for the robot to follow her as she made her way to her lab's elevator. She'd deal with it later, there were more important things waiting at the moment.
Gaz observed her surroundings as she walked into Iiek's house/base. The area she was in was clearly the one meant to maintain her disguise. It seemed to be just a normal living room, a large television sat on a stand adjacent to the dark purple couch, paintings of various landscapes hung around the room and gave it a slightly cozy vibe.
There was a hallway to her left that led into a large kitchen, complete with a refrigerator and a stove. It had a small table that could sit maybe three or four people around it, though there was only one chair, indicating that Iiek lived alone.
There was a door on the far wall that Gaz suspected lead to the base proper, as it had a large 'Do Not Enter' sign on it's surface. Mechanical whirring was coming from the other side, slowly growing louder and indicating something was getting closer.
She was soon proven correct as the door opened and Iiek appeared, followed by a small silver and red robot. The robot looked similar to the one that Gaz sometimes saw following Zim around but also a lot less… stupid, it was also staring at her.
Gaz stared back for a moment before turning her attention toward Iiek. The Irkin herself had chosen to not wear her disguise again, something Gaz was secretly happy about.
"Gaz, welcome to my base. Well, part of it anyway." Iiek greeted her, smiling widely and revealing sharp teeth. She motioned for Gaz to follow her as she turned around, "Come with me, I'll take you to the lab." The purple haired girl nodded, following behind Iiek as she stepped back into the elevator.
It was mildly cramped on the inside, clearly not meant to hold more than two occupants. Iiek's shoulder was pressed tightly against hers and she could practically feel the other girl's breath on the side of her face. Gaz struggled to keep her heartrate normal.
As they rode the elevator down, the awkward silence was periodically interrupted by a beep that Gaz was unable to place the origin of. It happened once every few seconds and Iiek shifted lightly each time as if she was uncomfortable. Gaz looked toward the robot to her right, believing it to be the maker of the sound, only to find it staring at her again, red eyes glowing in the dim light of the elevator.
Gaz glared right back, amber eyes meeting red lenses in a makeshift staring contest which continued for several seconds. Until finally, the robot averted it's gaze with a small nod, leaving her confused and slightly annoyed.
The ride lasted around a minute and as the doors finally opened to the lab, Iiek practically darted out of the elevator, leaving Gaz slightly bewildered.
'What was that about?' She thought to herself as she followed behind the other girl. She looked around the lab and was met with the sam sight as when she had the video call with Iiek. Dark grey metal and purple lights gave the lab a slightly sinister vibe which Gaz enjoyed immensely.
She returned her gaze forward as Iiek stopped walking, the two of them having come up to a large screen with a holographic display in front of it.
"Computer!" Iiek shouted beside her, startling Gaz slightly, "Bring up the analysis on the signals in the weenie stand!"
"Understood Mistress." A disembodied voice rang out, before the screen lit up with several graphs and charts that Gaz couldn't make heads or tails of.
"What am I looking at exactly?" Gaz asked the girl beside her.
Iiek brought her hands to the holographic display and ran her fingers along it's surface in a deliberate fashion. The screen zoomed in on the right most graph, one side of the graph read POWER OUTPUT and the other read in big red letters ENTROPIC RADIATION.
"This," Iiek began, "is the most recent reading my scanners were able to retrieve from the massive building masquerading as a hotdog stand that the Delicious Weenie Corporation has built downtown. Whatever is powering that building is emitting entropic radiation. The reaction needed to produce that radiation is mostly unique to Irkin power cores. And while it is possible that my scanners simply misread something, subsequent scans indicate otherwise."
She made another gesture and a second graph popped up beside the first, "This," she pointed a the second graph, "is the radiation output from my own base's power core when operating at maximum power. Notice anything odd?"
Gaz did, "They're exactly the same."
Iiek nodded, "They are. If my scanner's readings are accurate, that building is being powered by an Irkin power core. While this could be a coincidence, your father could have invented something using the same reaction, it's extremely unlikely."
Gaz shook her head in agreement, "Dad's been talking about inventing a new type of energy but according to him, it's still in it's beginning stages and won't actually be possible for a year or two at least. Wherever this… power core came from, it's not from him. "
Iiek nodded, "And as dim as he can be, even Zim knows better than to let Irkin technology find it's way into the hands of the enemy. That means that Tak is most likely Irkin. Why she's here however, is still a mystery."
There was a small moment of silence as the two girls stared at the screen, during which Gaz dimly noted the beeping had slowed down signifiganlty since they left the elevator. She stared at the screen for a while longer before she was struck with a thought.
"Could-," She began hesitantly, "Could she have been sent here to retrieve you for the Tallest? You said you deserted the empire and fled here, maybe they found out and sent her after you."
Iiek froze, body becoming completely still while her antenna twitched lightly on her head. She stayed like that for one long moment before she shook her head slowly, "No. No, there's no way they could have found out. I modified my PAK to ensure I would appear dead to any monotering systems back on Irk. Red and Purple aren't that smart, they likely believed I was just a failure of an invader and sent someone else in my place."
Though she didn't let it show on her face, Gaz was relieved that Iiek wasn't being hunted down by Irkin retrieval teams. She had just come to accept her crush on the other girl, it would suck if she was forced to leave so soon.
"Still," Iiek continued, bringing a hand to her chin, "It is possible that-"
She was interrupted as a loud alarm sounded throughout the base, red lights appeared on the ceiling and flashed periodically. A loud voice rang out from hidden speakers.
"Attention! An intruder has been detected inside the base! All entrances and exits have been temporarily sealed!"
Iiek cursed, rushing to the computer and rapidly pressing buttons on the console. After a few moments of rapid tapping, the alarm went quiet and the lights went back to normal. Gaz noted the exits remained sealed however, and turned to Iiek as she backed away from the computer.
"Did your base think I'm an intruder? Why'd it wait this long to sound the alarm?"
Iiek shook her head, reaching an arm around and pressing a button on her PAK. Her form shimmered for a moment before stopping to reveal the disguise that Gaz had come to know. She looked down at herself briefly before turning to Gaz.
"No, your biometrics have been added to my base from the moment I gave you that phone at skool. You couldn't raise the alarms like that unless you actually tried to harm me. Someone else must have followed you into the base, somehow evading all of my scanners in the process." She sounded angry, but not at Gaz.
The Irkin pressed a button on her wrist and the elevator opened with a hiss. "I'll go take care of it. But first," She turned back to Gaz, retrieving a small device from her PAK and holding it out to Gaz as she did so, "Here, take this."
Taking it from Iiek, Gaz observed the device. It looked like a small metal bracelet, thick wires emerged from seams in the metal but she couldn't divine their purpose.
"Put it on your wrist. Dominant hand please." Gaz did so and was shocked as the wires on the bracelet crept down her wrist to envelope her hand. They wrapped around her hand, leaving her with a metal glove with a small glowing hole in the center of her palm.
There was a small red button on the bracelet itself and as Gaz went to press it, "Don't!" Gaz startled as Iiek grabbed her hand, "Please don't press that unless you want to blow a hole in the floor."
She grabbed Gaz's hand, the one covered by the metal glove, and brought it up to her face to inspect it. "PL device fits perfectly. All systems seem nominal. Finger flexibility seems normal." She muttered to herself as she articulated Gaz's fingers manually
Gaz cleared her throat, cheeks slightly red and Iiek jerked back in surprise. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was doing and her bracelet beeped. She stepped back, averting her eyes and clearing her throat.
"Yes, well. Ahem. Sorry about that. I just- sorry." Gaz had a feeling that the other girl was blushing under her disguise.
She looked to the glove on her hand, remembering Iiek's comment about blowing a hole in the floor, "What is this exactly?"
Iiek jumped on the question, "It's a PL device, or Personal Laser. Pressing the button on the bracelet itself will emit a burst of high energy particles. Nothing too serious, but certainly enough to destroy anything directly in front of you. I was planning to give it to you later, but the situation called for it now."
She cleared her throat, averting her gaze once more, "I just wanted to make sure that, in the event whatever intruder made it into the lab, you wouldn't be left defenseless. N-not that you're defenseless! Just better safe than sorry, you know? I didn't mean to imply anything."
Gaz took pity on the other girl, it was kind of touching anyway, "Thanks Iiek. But do you really think whatever intruded is that dangerous?"
Iiek frowned lightly as she began making her way to the elevator, "Well it made it through nearly fifty two individual security checkpoints so I think discretion is the better part of valor in this case. Ram, seal the door behind me." The silver robot saluted as his master stepped into the elevator.
Iiek's eyes met hers as the elevator doors started to close and the disguised girl smiled lightly. "I'll be back soon."
Gaz just stared the other girl in the eyes as the doors closed. "You better." She muttered, running one hand over the metal glove encasing her other.
The lab was eerily silent without Iiek. Gaz had taken to staring at the phone the invader had given her to pass the time. 6:46pm the screen read. Nearly fifteen minutes since Iiek had ascended the elevator.
Not that she had been counting or anything.
She wondered what was happening up there. The lab was soundproof so she couldn't even hear anything from the floors above. Anything could have happened and she had no way of knowing. It was driving her crazy.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as the robot, Ram if Gaz remembered correctly, walked up to her where she was sitting on a table. Ram stopped a few feet away from her and stood there, red lenses staring at her once more.
Gaz glared back and put her phone in her hoodie pocket, not in the mood for the robot's shenanigans in the slightest, "What do you want? Shoudn't you be helping Iiek somehow, maybe watch the cameras or something?"
The robot was silent and Gaz felt her already short temper fray even further, "You just gonna stare at me? Don't have anything to say?" Ram didn't respond.
Gaz growled, standing up from her position sitting on top of the table. She walked toward the robot until they were face to metal face. She stared it in it's glowing red eyes and snarled, "Iiek could be in trouble up there! And instead of helping, you're just standing there and staring at me! What's wrong with you?!"
"Mistress has already dealt with the intruder." Gaz startled at the deep voice coming from the small robot, "She is simply prepping them for transport down to the lab. She will be here momentarily. But for now, we must talk."
Gaz took a step back, hand coming to finger the button on her glove warily, "Talk? About what? You finally gonna explain why you've been staring at me the entire time I've been here."
The robot took a step toward her even as Gaz stepped backwards, "Since meeting you, Mistress has had increasing trouble focusing on her plan. She has diverted a great deal of her attention just for you." It took another step, "I believed it prudent to decide for myself whether or not you were worthy of her attentions."
Gaz took another step away from the approaching robot, gloved hand coming up to point at the center of it's body, even as her mind whirled with questions, "And? What did you decide?" She asked.
Ram stopped approaching her, something that she was glad for as she was rapidly running out of space to retreat. She would have normally blasted this robot to pieces but she knew it was in some way important to Iiek and she didn't want to earn the girl's ire.
"Through careful monitoring, I have decided that you are sufficient. Your feelings toward my mistress lack hostility and your viciousness toward your own species is commendable." The robot tilted his head and it opened up to reveal a compartment, "Your relativity short lifespan leaves much to be desired but that will be rectified." It's hand reached into the compartment on it's head and retrieved what looked like a small flash drive. It held it out for her to take.
Gaz's face twisted in confusion and her hand left the button of the PL. She reached out and took the drive warily, inspecting it at all angles, "What is this?" She asked Ram.
The robot pointed at the pocket which held the phone Iiek had gifted her, "Insert the drive into the device Mistress gave you. On the drive is a file that will hopefully speed along the process that had been in motion, then Mistress can return to her plans for conquest."
Doing as the robot guided, Gaz turned the phone around until she found a port similar to a USB port. She inserted the drive and was met with a glowing message on the screen.
Data Drive Detected
One file found
Download? Y/N
Gaz hesitated for a moment before pressing the Y. It only took a moment for the file to download onto the phone, after which it gave her the option to open it immediately. She did so and was met with what looked like an article she'd find on her dad's desk. The title however, shocked her.
Irkin Courtship Rituals
Gaz just stared at the title, mind whirling in confusion as she came to terms with what she was seeing.
"Read the research article when you have time and decide where to go from there." The robot spoke, startling her slightly, "But not now. Mistress has returned with the intruder."
Gaz hurriedly put the phone away as the elevator at the other side of the room opened and Iiek stepped out with a frown on her face. Gaz noticed that she was no longer wearing her disguise. Four mechanical legs extended from her PAK and were holding a slightly wiggling bundle of cloth.
"Iiek," She called out, quickly walking over to the invader, "did you find the intruder?" Gaz knew her question was redundant as the robot had already told her what had happened, not to mention she could see them. She was slightly discombobulated, sue her.
Iiek smiled at Gaz's question, "Oh I sure did. And you'll never guess who it was." Her mechanical legs shifted to the front and dropped the wiggling cloth bundle on the floor. One of the legs shifted slightly to reveal a sharpened blade which Iiek swiped across the surface of the cloth, slicing it in two and revealing the intruder.
Gaz was glad she wasn't holding the phone anymore because she surely would have dropped it as she saw the one responsible for the recent trouble.
The intruder's hands and legs were tied together with steel wire. His trench coat was missing, revealing a shortsleeve blue shirt with a white ghost on it and his ruffled hair swung around as he looked around the room before his gaze eventually fell on Gaz.
Amber eyes hidden behind glasses widened and he smiled nervously, "Hello dear sister. I don't suppose you would be willing to help me out of here."
Gaz growled at the intruder and Dib gulped from his position on the lab floor.