.

Miyuki and Spork

She was powerful, feared, respected, elegant, and most importantly of all, tall. Stunning as well. There had been no question in her mind that she would one day rise to the position of Tallest. It had been a close battle, but she had eeked out on top, and now everyone who saw her practically worshipped her. It was an exhilarating feeling. Everyone sought to gain her favour. Irken males especially, she had noticed. Even before her ascension she had gained her fair share of attention from such. Probably more than her fair share in fact. Though such primitive desires had long been weeded out of their society, there were holdovers that every so often reared their ugly heads. Basic instinct the cloning process simply couldn't erase. Not a single gaze had ever fallen on her that wasn't filled with adoration and admiration.

Except this one.

She stared blankly at him. He was without question the ugliest Irken she had ever seen. Green upon green upon green. Even his eyes were green! Beady and protruding as well. She had never in all her existence seen an irken with green eyes, let alone beady ones that protruded from his head and almost blended in with his skin. His teeth were also strangely separated, and how could she have even begun to describe his head shape? It was almost deformed. He was also the tallest Irken—apart from her of course—she had ever seen. He looked absolutely done with everything. A bitter, probably indifferent sort. He stood there in front of her sipping soda through a straw looking utterly unimpressed. That wasn't a look she was used to seeing from her fellow Irkens. Not at all. "Tallest Miyuki, this is Commander General Spork. He's the highest-ranking soldier on Irk! He was your runner-up for Tallest. You beat him out by just a smidge," the Irken introducing them said, making a tiny gap with his fingers to get the point across. Miyuki stared blankly at Spork. Spork just continued to boredly stare back at her in turn while sipping from his drink.

"Are you quite certain that's correct?" Miyuki finally asked. Spork paused in his sipping, though his lips didn't leave the straw, and narrowed his eyes a little at her. She blinked. He went back to sipping while simultaneously continuing to glare.

"It was double, triple, and quadruple checked," the irken confirmed.

"This is who was almost Tallest?" she dryly said.

"Yep."

"And I suppose I'm expected to work in tandem with him, given he's the Commander General?"

"Uh huh. Unless you wanna hire a new one."

"Oh joy," she dryly said. "Commander Spork," she said, holding out her hand expecting him to take and kiss it, though she didn't relish the thought. He paused in his sipping again, glancing at her hand, then looked back at her, finished slurping up his drink—she grimaced—and tossed it over his shoulder.

"Ow!" someone exclaimed. He continued staring.

"Does it speak?" she disdainfully asked.

The small was starting to shift uncomfortably. "Yes?" he lamely said. "G-General Spork?"

"Get back to the barracks. Prepare the officers for the Almighty Tallest's inspection," Spork said. She started. His voice was about as unappealing as his appearance and personality, she determined.

"Yes sir!" the Irken quickly replied, scurrying off to the barracks.

"Tallest Miyuki, it's my pleasure," Spork said. Everything from his expression to his demeanor told her it decidedly was not his pleasure. He still didn't reach for her hand, so she awkwardly lowered it.

"The pleasure is mine," she replied, though it was no truer than his claim was.

"Follow me to the barracks, My Tallest," Spork said, turning his back on her and beckoning for her to follow. She could have sworn she detected a hint of resentment and disdain in his tone. She frowned, a little put out by it, and harrumphed. Nonetheless, she followed him.

He led her into the barracks and down the hall. She took note of his garb. It was Tallest armor, complete with the hover functionality. That made her think they may have assumed he would become such before they'd measured her. She could only have beaten him out by a fraction. She considered ordering him to take it off and dress to his station, but having her top general resent her so early on in her reign would be most counterproductive, so she would allow the blatant display of defiance just as long as he stayed in line and didn't try and assassinate her. She certainly hoped assassination wasn't on his mind. It shouldn't be, given the way Irken PAKs were programmed, but his general disdain for her and likely jealousy implied a disturbing possibility indeed. That perhaps this particular Commander was somewhat defective, or had become such. That was a great risk to her person. Still, it would be wisest to put trust in him for now, as long as he proved trustworthy. Perhaps it would have the added benefit of somewhat pacifying this bizarre and outrageous man.

Spork pushed open the doors to the barracks, where Irken officers were lined up from shortest to tallest. As they walked by them, Spork gestured to each one and recited their titles absolutely boredly. "Comms officer. He's special," Spork said, and the sudden changeup from the monotony jolted her. She paused.

"This one is?" she asked, curiously looking at said comms officer.

"He would be fleet admiral if he was taller," Spork said, stopping and giving her a vaguely annoyed look.

"He seems an adequate height," Miyuki said. Spork stared at her incredulously.

"I'm content with being your comms officer, My Tallest," the comms officer said.

"Are you now? Hmm…" she said before floating after Spork once more. Spork continued with his monotonous tour, and no other officer garnered an extra remark beyond their rank, so she didn't press.

Eventually, they finished their brief walkthrough. "And that's the last one. Have a nice day. Don't let the door hit you on your way out," Spork dismissed, opening the door for her and gesturing for her to leave.

She frowned a little but didn't belittle him for his attitude. "You seem to have your officers well-structured. Their battalions too, I'd assume?"

He stared at her, narrow-eyed once more, then let the door shut. "Yes My Tallest," he said.

"For how long have you commanded them?" she wondered.

"Since I obtained my position a few decades back," Spork replied.

"How old are you?" she wondered.

He stared at her, clearly not sure what to make of the woman. "Two-hundred-seventy, My Tallest," he said.

"I as well. It seems we were smeeted about the same time then. We must have been trained together. Funny. I would have thought I'd remember someone like you." He stared at her dubiously. She shifted a little. "It's just you're so… very unique in your appearance!" His eyes narrowed a little. "Never mind," she said, frowning and letting the matter drop.

He stared at her a moment more. "You sat at the front of the room. I sat in the back. Besides, my head wasn't always this deformed. That was partly because of torture." She started, blinking in surprise. He shrugged and opened the door for her again, gesturing for her to leave again.

"Torture?" she said, shocked.

He glared at her. "Head crusher," he finally said. She stared at him, eyes wide. It was his turn to start to shift uncomfortably now.

"What on Irk happened?" she asked.

He frowned a little and stopped shifting. "A battle gone wrong."

"How did you escape?"

"My PAK came back online," he said. "It had a failsafe stuck in it. The comms officer got the ship in range, pushed the button, and I broke out."

"Is that why he's special?"

"Is this question period?" Spork asked.

She started, looking offended. "I'm simply interested is all, Commander. If it's such a difficult subject for you to speak of, say so and I shall let the matter go."

Spork glared at her. "He was trained about the same time as we were," he finally replied. "He and I knew each other. I saw his talent, so I trusted him with the button hoping for the best. He pulled through for me when everyone else didn't have a clue what to do. Then he managed to help get me out without trouble, so yes. That's why."

"Yet you haven't made him fleet admiral or recommended him to the Control Brains?"

"He hasn't wanted it," Spork said. He gestured to the open door again.

"How very peculiar," Miyuki replied.

"Are you gonna leave or not?" Spork asked.

"Why I never!" Miyuki said, a hand to her chest. "Fine. Have it your way, General. I expect we will meet again sooner than later anyway. Good day." Turning, she floated out. He watched after her quietly. She could feel his eyes boring into her back but wasn't sure whether it was with malicious intent or curiosity. Nor did she look back to try and see. She just kept on her way to the Citadel to acquaint herself with her new home.

IZ

Miyuki lay on her bed considering her current situation. She hadn't stopped thinking about that odd commander since meeting him. He was the sort that left an impression, it seemed. Albeit not a very good one. She certainly didn't relish meeting up with him again. His bad attitude rubbed her the wrong way, and he made her uneasy besides with his questionable loyalty. If he was indeed defective, that was a problem for her. Particularly if she'd beaten him out for Tallest by only a hair. What if he was already plotting against her? No, she couldn't allow herself to become paranoid over this. Trust until he gave her reason to distrust. They could form a working relationship yet; she was certain of it.

She was due to make her rounds of the planets Irk was currently in the process of aligning with. That would require a space trip of a few months with the armada, which would doubtless be marred by her General's presence. A pity. She would have so looked forward to it otherwise. No, she couldn't be negative about this. It was an opportunity to build rapport with the man. With that thought in mind, she got up and began preparing for it. She grimaced a little as she realized she would have to contact him to ready the fleet. Sighing in exasperation, she floated over to a panel, typed some commands, and waited until he popped up on screen. Sipping at a drink of course. In shades of red and orange instead of green this time. What on earth? And his eyes were orange now as well? Were the green eyes contacts or the orange ones?

"Commander Spork, ready the fleet for an early morning departure. There are duties to tend to surrounding Irk's neighboring and conquered planets," she said. He looked around her at her room. She squirmed a little. Perhaps it did come across a little strange she had summoned him from here of all places. A bedroom was an intimate slice of one's life, after all, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her uncomfortable. "Did you hear me, Commander?" she asked.

He gave her a dubious look and took that stupid drink away from his face. "Two days, unless you want half an armada," he said.

"Two days is acceptable," she said. He shrugged then hung up on her. She frowned. How insufferable. At least he would do as she told him though. That was a start.

IZ

She approached the Irken flagship. It was called the Largest. True to its name it was quite sizable. Intimidating also, when surrounded by the entirety of the armada. Spork stood at the top of the ramp waiting for her. Still in Tallest garb, of course. That no one had called him out for it bothered her to no end. She reminded herself she wasn't looking to antagonize him though, and as long as he stayed in his place she would allow the slight. He was back in shades of green from his eyes down, she noted, so she assumed that was his preferred palate. "Spork," she greeted.

"My Tallest," he replied, arms crossed. She strode by him, head held high. He trailed after her. She gracefully floated up to her platform. He floated onto one a little lower than hers and slightly behind. They were easily accessible to one another. She grinned at the sight of open space before them ready to welcome them with open arms. She did so enjoy flying.

"General Spork, when the armada is positioned, give the order to depart," she said. He gave her a look. She blinked curiously then frowned. "What did I do wrong this time?" she asked. He watched her a moment before shrugging and taking to monitoring the ships. She huffed and didn't call him on his behaviour.

"Comms officer, prepare to hail the other ships," Spork said.

"Yes sir!" the comms officer replied, saluting.

"On my signal."

"On yours, sir?" the comms officer asked.

"Is he your Commander or isn't he?" Miyuki said.

The comms officer blinked at her blankly. "Yes, My Tallest," he finally said.

"Then on his signal," Miyuki said. She got the sense, now, what she was supposed to have done, but she let the mistake wash off her back and played it like it was a purposeful decision. Spork gave her a weird look again before monitoring the ships once more.

"Now," Spork ordered. The comms officer hailed the other ships, and all as one they lifted into the sky and made for outer space.

"Thank you, Commander," Miyuki said. He gave her a look that seemed almost annoyed, if not edging on hostile. She chose to ignore it for the time being, and soon he went back to his work.

IZ

For some time now they had traveled in mostly silence. When finally that silence became too uncomfortable for her, she turned to her commander. "Tell me, Spork. What achievements do you have to your name?"

"I conquered nine of our neighbouring planets and helped fight in battles for six more," he said, working with the panel in front of him. They were approaching an asteroid belt, so he signaled the fleet to keep an eye out.

"Either you are very modest or an irken of very few words," she said.

"I'm the greatest commander on Irk," Spork said.

"Actions speak louder than words you know," Miyuki replied.

"Read my file," Spork said.

"I have, but I would much sooner see it in practice than read about it," she said.

"Well you will," Spork almost petulantly replied.

"Don't be childish," she said.

"Don't be condescending," he replied.

"How have I been condescending?" she demanded.

"The doubt to start with," Spork replied.

"It isn't a question of doubt. It's a question of…" she trailed off, blinking. It was a question of incredulity, she realized. Sheepishly she glanced at him. He narrowed his eyes at her, unimpressed. She frowned, recovering her confidence. "Forgive my doubt when all I've seen of you has been a surly snacker with a miserable attitude." He opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly one of the ships in front of them exploded. Startled, they both quickly looked out the window with eyes wide. The armada stopped moving. "That… wasn't supposed to happen, was it?" she said.

Spork stared. Another ship suddenly blew up, this one closer to them. Miyuki cried out in surprise, now concerned. "Start moving!" Spork barked into comms. "Full speed ahead!" Immediately the armada began surging forward quick enough that both Miyuki and Spork stumbled a little at the sudden change in speed.

"Spork!" Miyuki exclaimed, pointing at something. Spork quickly looked over and his eyes widened. Coming out from behind various asteroids all around them was a large fleet of enemy ships from Meekrob! Suddenly a powerful blast struck the Largest, knocking it off course. Everyone shouted in alarm, catching onto whatever they could to steady themselves. Another blast struck from the other side, pitching it to the left. They cried out again as they were sent to the ground. "What do we do?!" Miyuki demanded, pushing herself up.

"Panic!" Spork exclaimed. Everyone, including him, began screaming and dashing around aimlessly.

"Excuse me?!" Miyuki furiously demanded, getting to her feet. "Commander, I order you to get a hold of yourself! Spork! Aren't you supposed to know what to do in this situation? I insist you listen to me! Of all the times to panic, you choose now?! Fine! I'll do it myself!" She turned to the controls. "Now which one of these is fire?" She pressed one and screamed as the Largest surged forward, sending the Irkens inside against the back wall. The ship tore towards the struggling armada, now locked in combat with the Meekrobian ships. Good. She quickly tried to find the weapons again and became concerned when she couldn't seem to figure it out. She looked ahead quickly and started up the communications panel. "Armada, separate and retreat back to Irk."

"What are you doing?!" Spork demanded from the wall, peeling himself off it.

"If you can't command them then I will!" Miyuki snapped.

"You're gonna get us killed! They want us to split up and isolate ourselves! Especially the Largest!"

"Take charge like you're supposedly good at or sit back sucking your thumb!" she snapped.

"Fine then!" Spork shouted, soaring over and grabbing control of the ship. He pulled it up last second before it ran into the Armada and Meekrobians altogether, then swung it around quickly. "Disregard those orders! Regroup the Armada!" he ordered through comms. He whipped around to the other Irkens. "Activate the lasers and ready the missiles!" he barked. The Irkens aboard the ship scrambled back to their seats and began hurrying to do as he said.

"Aim at the Meekrobian mothership! Don't slow down! Open fire!" They did so, barraging the mother ship. Its shields repelled the lasers and it soared towards them in turn, fully prepared to crash into them headlong.

"What are they doing?!" Miyuki demanded.

"The Meekrobites don't pilot their own ships. They do it remotely. They have nothing to lose!" Spork said.

"How do we fight something that has nothing to lose?!" Miyuki demanded.

"By blowing them to Irkalla and hoping we can outlast them," Spork said. He pulled up last second, barely avoiding the mothership, then rounded the Largest again. "Shields up!" he ordered. The shields went up just as a barrage of lasers flew at them, rattling the entirety of the ship. The Irken armada was quickly regrouping though. "Fly as a swarm! Fire with everything you have! Destroy them!" The armada opened fire on the Meekrobite ships. They began blowing up one after the other.

"Yes!" Miyuki cheered.

Spork focused on the mothership, taking aim. "Hit the lasers!" he ordered Miyuki.

She looked quickly over at them and did so. The lasers tore toward the Meekrobian mothership, penetrating its defenses, but it kept coming. "It's not stopping!" Miyuki exclaimed. Spork jerked the Largest around, but despite his efforts, it was clipped badly and sent tumbling. The soldiers flew around screaming. Miyuki cried out in pain as suddenly she felt herself slammed against a far wall that had now become the roof. The next second she was sent spinning downwards.

Spork looked up and gasped, seeing her toppling towards him. He cried out in alarm. She struck him and instinctively he gripped her tight as they were both sent floating all over the place. They recovered themselves quickly and Spork blinked down at the Irkenette in his arms, who was staring up at him with eyes wide and shocked. His arm was over her knees and his hand behind them, holding her up. His other arm supported her back. He stared blankly at her like he couldn't quite process what had just happened here.

The ship semi-stabilized. "My Tallest, My General!" the comms officer shouted. "The Largest's systems are failing!"

"Failing?" Miyuki demanded, looking quickly towards him and floating out of Spork's arms.

"We're gonna blow up!" Spork exclaimed in alarm.

"Excuse me?!" Miyuki demanded. The irkens began panicking again and racing around, Spork included. "Spork!" she shouted furiously. She seized him as he was racing by, then spun him around and shook him. "Look at me! We need you now. Our lives depend on your direction."

Spork took a second to process her words, but when the alarms began to blare, he gasped, looking up. Quickly he looked back at her. "I knew this stupid ship was outdated!"

"What do we do now?" Miyuki demanded.

"Everybody to the escape pods!" Spork ordered. All together the irkens fled for the pods screaming. A few of the Largest's crew were still trying to salvage it. The comms officer was among them, but as Spork passed him by, he paused, looked back, grabbed said officer by the head, and dragged him from his seat while running again. "I said everybody!" he shouted at the stragglers. Quickly the crew members still trying to save the Largest abandoned the plan and bolted as well.

Miyuki and Spork darted straight for an escape pod, the comms officer still in Spork's hand, and threw themselves inside. They realized it was a mistake when suddenly they found themselves pressed up against each other about as tightly as they could be. Miyuki and Spork blinked at one another. The poor comms officer was squished up against the glass.

"Mmm, no," Spork said, making to get out again.

"Stay right here! The rest of the pods are gone!" Miyuki snapped sharply at him. They cried out as they were suddenly launched away from the Largest. Almost right after, the ship exploded. The Meekrobian ships tried to shoot down the escape pods, but the Irken Armada hounded them relentlessly, bringing the enemy down in droves. The mother ship was making a play for the Armada now, but half of them broke off to face it down, opening fire. The rest of the Armada raced to collect the escape pods. Miyuki and Spork both hoped to the Brains they were picked up fast, because this was getting extremely awkward now with three of them jammed in here like this. They were extremely relieved when their pod was scooped up and docked. The glass opened and they all fell out onto the ground. Miyuki and Spork scrambled up and soared towards the command deck, the comms officer presumably following behind. They came out onto it to see the Irkens inside readjusting things but starting to look uncertain and panicked. "What are you waiting for? Command them!" Miyuki ordered Spork, pointing.

"You're so pushy," Spork whined.

"Spork!" Miyuki shouted.

"Fine!" Spork said. He looked towards them. "Where's the mothership?!"

"Sir, it's cloaked itself." A group of armada ships blew up. "There it is!" the irken exclaimed in a panic.

"Unleash the soda!" Spork ordered.

"The soda?! But sir…!"

"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make!" Spork said. The irkens did so and sparks began to appear from seemingly nowhere before the cloaking capabilities of the Meekrobite mothership gave way, revealing it. "Open fire!" Immediately the Irkens did so until at last the ship exploded and disintegrated. There was silence a beat while they waited for a sign of any surviving enemy ships. When none came, they cheered loudly.

Miyuki let out a relieved breath. "It seems you're halfway competent after all, Commander. Once you stop panicking, that is," she said, looking at him.

He frowned at her. "In the General's defense, this is the first time he's been in space, much less in a high-stakes combat situation, since he was taken prisoner and tortured," the comms officer almost timidly said. Spork immediately seemed to start shutting down. "Apologies, General," the comms officer said, shrinking back a bit. Miyuki looked quickly at Spork, eyes wide, and could see the unease filling his expression.

"You haven't been to space since…? How long ago did this happen?" Miyuki asked.

"Not talking about it! Someone get me snacks!" Spork ordered.

"But…" Miyuki began.

"Nope!" Spork said, floating off. Miyuki watched after him both puzzled and oddly concerned at the same time.

IZ

Miyuki wandered the medium-sized ship searching for her commander. They were making for Irk to pick up a new flagship called the Biggest. It was the Largest's sister vessel, but she got the feeling it would be no better in intense combat than the Largest had been. That would have to change effective immediately. The Vortians were known for their superior ship-designing and building techniques. Perhaps she should commission one from them. Irk was on good terms with Vort.

She drifted into the canteen and paused. There, sitting at a table, was Spork tossing snacks into his mouth as a soda sat next to him on the table. She hesitated to go in to see him. Goodness knew they weren't on wonderful terms right now. Still, if he wasn't the one reaching out, she would need to be. If they were to be working closely together for the foreseeable future, they absolutely must develop a mutual understanding.

"Spork," she greeted. "I trust you've recovered well from your little episode in battle." He gave her a hard look. "Perhaps that wasn't the best turn of phrase. My apologies. I trust you've recovered well from battle as a whole?" He tilted his head at her. "Your brief moments of panic, I suppose, were understandable, but will they be a recurring problem?"

"They always have been," Spork warily said.

"How have you navigated them in the past?"

"I get snapped out of them like how you did it," Spork said.

"Then we must remember to remain vigilant regarding your struggle," Miyuki said. He stared. She wasn't sure how to read him or what he was thinking, but she got the distinct impression she wasn't the only one of them trying to figure the other out. He picked up his soda and sipped at it. "Come now, Spork," she said, sitting on a seat at the next table. "It's clear you and I will be working in close proximity for some time to come, so let's let bygones be bygones and get to know one another a bit." He narrowed his eyes incredulously at her. She was quiet, hoping he would realize she was being sincere.

"People don't get to know me," Spork finally said before going back to sipping at his soda.

"Well I…"

"I'm your tool, My Tallest, not your friend. Use me like one," Spork said.

"That may be so, but there's no reason we can't develop some sort of rapport between us," she said.

"What's rapport?" he asked.

She frowned, unimpressed. "A friendly relationship."

"Why would we need that?" Spork bluntly asked.

She was quiet a moment. "To ensure our working dynamic is solid and…" she began.

"I'm not gonna assassinate you, you know. What you say goes. I know my place," Spork said.

"Brains you're a frustrating sort! This isn't simply a matter of ensured obedience or a guarantee of my safety. When two people build a close relationship, they work well in tandem with one another. That can be a powerful, powerful thing, to have someone on your wavelength," she said.

"What's tandem?" he asked.

She face-palmed, grimacing. "It means to act together or unite," she said. He was quiet and wary. "You have talents and skills I lack, and I have the same as well as resources and abilities you don't have access to. We could be most useful to one another you realize. Clearly you were all geared up to become Tallest anyway, before I was appointed to the position, so your insights in conjunction with mine could make for an excellent blend. Unlike our previous Tallest, I am open to accepting help and advice from sources beyond myself. I won't put full stock in my own abilities as a leader because there is always room for improvement I feel, so the more support I can find, the better a leader I shall be. Tell me you don't thirst for such power."

"Lady, you mystify me," Spork said.

"Excellent. The more unpredictable one is, the better," she said.

He shook his head at her then rose, floating off. She started and frowned a little. Well, she supposed it wasn't an outright refusal. Still, she would have to feel out how this whole endeavor would go from this point on. She hoped for the best of course, but she wasn't quite ready to let her guard down around him yet. Wait. Had he just used the word 'mystify'? Interesting. Perhaps he wasn't as clueless as he pretended to be. She smiled a little at that thought.