Secretly Defective Chapter 2: Arachnea, an invader zim fanfic

Arachnea

The Biggest wasn't quite as nice as the Largest had been, but it would do until she could commission something better. A ship the proportions of which had never been seen before. Oh it would be magnificent. Perhaps she would call it the Colossal. Ooh, better yet, the Massive. Yes. That would do quite nicely. She gazed out the window almost dreamily as they cruised through space. She had always so loved it out here. There was a sort of romance to it. She noticed Spork's presence when he floated onto his platform and began scrolling through a device. Checking ship diagnostics, she would assume. "Spork darling, you really must stop that and take a moment to enjoy what's around you. He gave her a dubious look. "Just look at that nebula far in the distance."

He looked towards it dully and took a moment to observe it before… "Eh," he said, going back to work. She frowned a little at him and rolled her eyes. She would appreciate it at least. She glanced at him out the corner of her eyes, though, and noticed him watching it again. A smirk spread across her lips and she looked away once more.

"I think I'm going to commission a ship from the Vortians. A fine ship, the largest ever seen. And powerful. One that will fly through an asteroid belt and hardly have to worry about a scratch. It will absolutely obliterate everything in its path. Oh it will be most glorious," she said.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"Of course!"

"Why are you talking to me?" he asked.

She started and looked mildly wounded, then frowned and harrumphed. "Fine. If you would prefer my silence, so be it. I'm going to get something to eat. Keep us on track."

Annoyed, she floated away. He was a prickly one, wasn't he? Humph. She drifted into the cafeteria and paused. The comms officer was there, trying to decide on something to eat. "How do you stand being commanded by that irken? He's so… so… Ugh."

The comms officer blinked at her in confusion like he was trying to register she was talking to him. He looked around and upon seeing no one else decided that she probably was. "Has he offended you, My Tallest? You can have him punished for that you know."

"He's as prickly as a cactus," she said. "I try to make casual conversation with the man and the first thing he asks me is why I'm talking to him."

The comms officer was quiet. "My Tallest? Have you perhaps considered he really wanted to know?" She gave the comms officer a curious look. He shifted a little. "There are few who treat Commander Spork with any sort of… grace, I'll say. Fear of course, and respect born out of it, but not grace."

"He hardly warrants it, officer," she replied.

"It may just seem that way because he's always on the defensive. If you thought about it, perhaps, how did your initial interaction with him go?"

"He denied me a proper greeting to start."

"Did he deny you a proper greeting for no discernable reason?"

Miyuki stared at him, mulled the question over, and winced a little. She had treated him quite disdainfully at that, she supposed. "Am I to pay forever for one unkind moment?" she asked with a frown. "Or two maybe. He surprised me is all."

"As you say, My Tallest," the comms officer helplessly said.

"Now don't be giving me that nonsense when I'm trying to make sense of matters regarding a man you're presumably loyal to," she said.

"He has my loyalty, My Tallest," the comms officer confirmed.

"Officer, you have stepped into this conversation already as is. You might as well see it through," she said, perching on a seat. "Tell me, was I wrong to be surprised by him?"

"He is surprising, My Tallest."

"I feel as if you're speaking in double entendre," she said.

The comms officer shifted uncomfortably in her presence and looked nervously around hoping for a rescue. He looked back at her and swallowed. "M-my Tallest, was it his looks that drove you to speak ungraciously to him?" She frowned, not sure if she liked this line of questioning. The comms officer swallowed. "Forgive me, My Tallest," he quickly said.

"You aren't incorrect, I suppose." She sighed. "I suspect I am one in a long line of many, then?"

"Most are… crueller about it than you," he said. "I think that perhaps your treating him with grace now despite how your first meeting went has him confused is all! Especially when most mock and insult him behind his back. As I've said, few treat him with grace. They used to, before the torture, but not after."

She sighed. "Then this is a misfortune of my own devising. How am I to correct the error though? I have told him why I have shown interest. A good rapport between us will be mutually beneficial."

"How long, though, before it's more to your benefit than his? That might be his reasoning," the comms officer said. "You'll get your use out of him, but what happens after?" She winced a little. She hadn't thought of that and how it all must seem to him that a superior one was showing him such interest. Oh that irken would be frustrating, she determined. Still, it would be worth it in the end if she could win him over.

Miyuki floated back to the bridge and paused. Spork was gazing out the window at the nebula shining so brightly in the sky. He seemed completely engrossed in fact. She tapped her fingers together nervously, hesitated briefly, then drew a breath and floated towards him. "Spork?" she said. He started and turned to her, guard immediately back up. "It occurs to me your question may have been a genuine one and I stormed off for no reason. I shall answer it for you, if you'd like, but you already know the answer. I have told you. A good rapport between us will be mutually beneficial. It will stay such. I have no plans to cast you off to the side once I've gotten my use out of you. Primarily because I believe you'll always have use to me, and I'll always have use to you. I don't seek to use you then toss you aside, like you might fear."

"Why?" he asked.

She blinked at him in surprise and scrambled for an answer, but she struggled to find one. "Because I don't wish to?" she said.

"Why?" he asked.

"I… I'm not sure," she said. "It's simply not something I relish doing."

"Any other Tallest would do it," he said. "I certainly would."

She frowned. "Well I'm not every other Tallest. I'm Miyuki."

He stared at her. "Either you're lying better than anyone or you're genuine," he finally said, looking away. She was quiet. "If you're gonna use me, just stay it. I don't have time for games."

"I'm not going to use you," she said. "I honestly believe something great can come from a partnership between us."

He glanced at her again, still so very distrusting, and she felt a tightening in her throat but didn't know why. What could he have possibly experienced in his life that made him like this? Had he truly been so cruelly treated? Even despite his height? He soon looked away once more. "I can't let myself trust you," he said.

"Then don't, but at least meet me on my level."

"I'm not on your level," he snidely replied.

"You were close enough to it they assumed you would be Tallest, if your garb is anything to go by." He glared warily at her. "I'm not going to request you take it off. I think it suits you quite well in fact. I understand you're probably wearing it just to spite me, but I really don't mind. If I did, I would have ordered you to remove it the first time we met. I didn't wish to isolate you then, though, and I don't wish to do so now." He was silent and she sighed, looking away from him and towards the nebula. "It can't have been easy having such a title ripped from you like that. I can't help but feel a little sorry about it. Especially since it would have won you all the respect and honour you could have ever wanted. Now it must just feel like something else for people to ridicule you about. I wish it had turned out better for you. I wouldn't have minded a co-ruler, really I wouldn't have."

He was quiet. "I'm going to get something food," he finally said, tone bitter. She didn't try and stop him. He watched her a moment more before shaking his head and leaving her side.

She didn't see him again for the next few days. He must tending to his duties behind the scenes. She was a little upset about that, but she realized a little too late that she had probably spoken too much. She had a tendency to do that sometimes. She must remember she was far more open about such matters than most Irkens were, and that could make them very uncomfortable. Him probably more than most. She went about her own duties as they came up. She commissioned the ship from Vort, she gave orders, she scanned and visited allied worlds, brokered treaties with neutral ones, and danced on eggshells around potential enemies. She saw Spork in the background when they visited potential enemies, she noted to herself. He always kept a close eye on her and on those she was discussing matters with. It was surprisingly reassuring to know he was there and ready to leap into action at a moment's notice.

He came out of hiding when they were nearing the end of their rounds. She glanced at him and nodded an acknowledgement. He was in shades of green. That seemed to be his preferred palate, so he must wear different colours for different purposes. It was a novel idea. Most irkens didn't bother. Perhaps she should entertain the concept herself. She enjoyed the colour purple as well as her default light blue. She opened her mouth to say something but then stopped. She reminded herself not to speak to him more than he was comfortable with and firmly determined to stick only with what needed to be said. "There are five more planets to go," she stated. He was quiet. "What are their statuses, Commander?"

"The next one was negative neutral when the last Tallest was ruling. They're positive neutral with you," he said.

"Whatever for?" she asked.

"It's Arachnea," he said.

"Say no more," she dryly replied. "Females dominate it and dispose of undesirable males while keeping the desirables for the sake of reproduction, correct?"

"Yep. Even the desirables are usually killed off either during or after the breeding process," he flatly said. "Then we're in the negative zone with the next couple of planets, then positive for the last two."

"Then we can at last return home and see to it the place is still standing," she said, a smile spreading across her lips. He gave her a look she couldn't quite decipher, so she didn't overthink it, just looked back out the window at the approaching planet in the distance. She had gotten the feeling the look had been somewhat amused, though. She decided she should try to amuse him more often. If only to crack that bitter, unimpressed shell of his.

They came in for a landing on Arachnea. "Only the female soldiers may accompany me as I go to visit Arachnea's Queen. The males must stay on board the ship for their own good. Spork alone may accompany us, if he should choose to," Miyuki said, addressing her soldiers. She frowned a little at Spork, who was sipping at juice at her side. "Really Spork," she dryly said, annoyed. He ignored her and she rolled her eyes hopelessly. "Fine then. Are you accompanying us or not?"

He gave her a look, looked back out the window at the Arachneans spread out behind them awaiting their arrival, then shrugged. "Sure. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Your sarcasm is unwarranted," Miyuki said, shaking her head at him. "But really, if you feel at all uncertain, stay with the men."

"One way or another they're gonna have to get used to the idea of their allies keeping males around for more than just breeding, killing, and probably eating," Spork said.

"Be careful with that crassness in their presence," Miyuki warned.

"Does it get crasser than keeping your own kind solely for breeding and food?" Spork asked.

"It is their culture and we must respect it as far as can be afforded," Miyuki said.

"Then they'd better return the favour," Spork said.

Miyuki sighed hopelessly. "Very well. Come along then, but don't wander far from my side. For your own safety." He gave her another look she couldn't decipher. A puzzled one she would guess. "Is someone desiring to protect you as foreign as that?" she asked, shaking her head at him. He was quiet. "I will take that as a yes then," she said with a sigh. "Someone desires to protect you now." He started, and she could have sworn she saw his cheeks turn a darker green. "Stay at my side," she repeated.

He stared at her a moment. "Yes, My Tallest," he finally said. She smiled at him and definitely saw the green deepen.

The female soldiers marched out of the Biggest first and lined up, standing at attention. Spork gestured for her to precede him out. "No. Depart at my side," she said. "Like you said, they will have to get used to the idea of us keeping males around. What better way to show it than this? That way, if one day a male takes my place as Tallest, Arachnea may still hold to a treaty."

He looked doubtful her plan would work, but soon said, "Fine."

She nodded and floated towards the door. He stuck by her side. The two of them floated down the ramp together and immediately saw the Arachneans whispering amongst one another and pointing toward him. There was giggling they heard, and scoffing. Spork seemed to slow down a little. Miyuki matched his pace and touched his gauntlet lightly. He started, like the touch had jolted him, and gave her an almost alarmed look. "Keep up," she said, noting to herself to be careful with touch when it came to him. There was a possibility the torture he had gone through had made it taboo for him. There was a chance it had been taboo even before, depending on what his life prior to that had been like. He nodded and kept up. The Queen of the Arachnians looked less than impressed with his presence.

"Tallest Miyuki, you honour us with your presence," the Arachnean Queen greeted.

"Greetings, Queen Hypolit," she said. "The honour is mine of course. I have been so looking forward to visiting Arachnea. I've heard such marvellous things about it." The Queen's eyes, however, were fixed disdainfully on Spork who stared at her almost nervously, beady eyes wide. "Your attention is on me, Queen Hypolit, not on him," Miyuki said.

The almost spider-like woman turned back to her. "Yes. Of course. Please. Enter. The male, though, remains outside."

"The male accompanies me wherever I go. It's his duty, I'm afraid. If you would prefer he not enter your palace, so be it. We can conduct our visit on the grounds or on my ship," Miyuki said.

The almost spider-like Queen considered this, staring at him. "Very well. Let the male come," she finally said. She turned to her attendants. "Prepare the banquet." They bowed to her and hurried to do so.

"A banquet? How delightful," Miyuki said. "Your hospitality is most appreciated, Queen Hypolit."

"Your male will not be permitted to sit at your side," the Queen said.

"Oh, but he must. Duties of the position, you understand. However, so as not to offend you he won't eat a crumb from your table or anything other than what you permit him to," Miyuki said.

"What position does he hold that he must be constantly at your side?" the Queen asked.

"He's my co-Tallest, of course," Miyuki said. Spork started and looked at her like she was insane. "We rule together you see. Equal power."

"A consort?" the queen disdainfully asked. Miyuki's smile immediately vanished, and she felt warmth rise to her cheeks. Spork stared at the spider-like Queen like she'd gone insane.

"N-no. Of course not! Only a co-Tallest," she said. Spork gave her a sharp and accusing look. "I didn't mean it like that," Miyuki said with a sigh. He huffed, crossing his arms and looking away from her. Miyuki winced and cursed her careless words. Of course he would take offense to such a response if he had been as badly treated as the comms officer had implied.

"Does your co-Tallest speak?" the Queen asked.

"Out of respect for your culture, it was determined beforehand he would refrain from speaking in your presence unless spoken to," Miyuki said.

"Good. Then come with us," the Queen said. Miyuki did so, nodding for her soldiers to follow her. They closed behind her to do so.

"How very undesirable."

"What a hideous specimen."

"That she must share a throne with that. Hah!"

"What even is it?"

"So ugly."

Miyuki hated the whispers all around them. She saw Spork looking down trying valiantly to ignore the cruel things they muttered about him, but he couldn't hide from the words or deafen himself to the degrading talk. It wasn't generally something that bothered Irkens, much less him as she perceived him to be, but when it came at you from all around, it was difficult to ignore. At least she presumed so. She herself had never been in such a position. She hated that Spork was. They all but spat at him. By the time they reached the dining hall, she was almost in tears for him. He kept on a brave face, but she saw the exhaustion and hurt starting to show in his expression and nervous behaviours.

"Out of respect for you and your opinions on your co-Tallest, we will not feed you what we usually would eat. We will feed you foods more suited to your palates," the Queen said.

Miyuki dryly wondered if she should dare ask what the usual menu consisted of. She probably really, really didn't want to know. "Thank you, Queen Hypolit."

"Her mate is so disgusting. Like a crushed insectoid."

She saw his jaw tick at that, and a subtle shudder ran through him. She couldn't help herself at that point. Determined to reassure him, she reached out and ran her finger down his own. He almost tripped on air, looking at her in blatant shock. She smiled and wrapped her finger around his, squeezing it gently. He could only stare at her, his antennae—lekku as many called it—twitching at the contact. She couldn't begin to imagine the signals going off in his brain. She must be confusing him terribly. Out of pity, she let his finger go. His antennae flattened a bit as if displeased with this or unsure of how to feel about the sudden lack of contact. He really was a puzzle, wasn't he? When she thought she was doing something right, she was doing it wrong, but then also it was right after all sometimes? Wrong was right but also wrong, and right was wrong but also right. Brains Spork was confusing. Small doses, she told herself. Let him adjust to small doses.

They sat at the foot of the table together. Spork nervously held the edge, eyes fixed on the Arachnean Queen. The Irken soldiers filled half the table, the Arachneans the other half. "He is undesirable," one of the Arachneans said, eyes fixed darkly on Spork. "Why have you settled for his presence at your side? Surely you do not lack for hopeful consorts much finer than he."

"He is my co-Tallest, not my consort," Miyuki said, frowning.

"This makes far more sense. There is not a chance one as lovely as you would settle for one as unappealing as him," another Arachnean said.

"Leave him be," Miyuki darkly said before she could guard her tongue. She immediately regretted it when the spider-like race fell silent and stared at her as if she'd grown two heads.

"He would not give good, strong offspring," another bit, deciding to ignore her.

"Leave him be," Miyuki repeated more firmly this time. The Queen watched, mildly interested in how this would escalate.

"Tallest Miyuki," Spork muttered. All eyes went to him, narrowed and cold. Miyuki immediately checked her tongue and the table lapsed into silence. Spork didn't speak again.

"Keep silent, Irken," one of the Arachneans at last said to him. Spork did so.

"It is a shame his ilk must sit with us. You know you may send him away, correct? He is not your equal here," another said.

"He is not her equal even on Irk," another said. Spork's grip on the table tightened and his jaw twitched again.

Miyuki, increasingly concerned, touched his armour under the table gently. She felt him jolt a little. He spared her a quick look, but soon relaxed ever so slightly. "He is my equal wherever we may be. I hardly expect you to treat him as such here, but I expect you to show him some small measure of respect at least," Miyuki said.

"Crushed bug."

"Deformed, unsightly, thing."

"Enough!" Miyuki sharply said. "I absolutely won't hear another slight against him!"

"Tallest Miyuki," Spork said.

"No! They won't show you such disrespect in my presence," Miyuki said, eyes fixed almost challengingly on Queen Hypolit.

The Queen tilted her head, stirring. "No more will be said of the male. As far as we are concerned, he does not exist." The table fell silent.

Miyuki felt herself relaxing. She hadn't honestly even known she'd been tense until that moment. She was suddenly aware one of his fingers was resting on hers beneath the table, squeezing it gently. She was so bowled over at that realization, in fact, that her eyes widened, and colour leapt to her cheeks. Quickly, though, she composed herself and subtly returned the gesture, wrapping her own finger around his. His antennae began to move around and twitch again. She determined that it was a good thing in this context, and not a sign of unease or discomfort.

"Thank you, Queen Hypolit," Miyuki said. "Now, shall we discuss the matter of a potential alliance between Arachnea and Irk?"

"I am leery of such, knowing you are not alone on the throne," Queen Hypolit said.

Miyuki frowned a little, considering how to navigate this. "I'm not her equal. Most of the power is hers even if she says it isn't," Spork said.

"Tame your male," Queen Hypolit said.

Spork's grip on her finger tightened almost painfully as he glared at the Queen. She reached out her other finger, grasping his second one as well. He had no third. Her heart sank. She didn't like what that implied. His eyes flickered to her, and his grip relaxed once more. "My male is not a pet," Miyuki said. "What he has claimed is true. Most of the power is mine. I'm ever so slightly taller than he is, but not enough to have disqualified him from becoming my co-Tallest. Only enough so that I would have the final say in all decisions."

"This appeases us," the Queen said, musing it over. "If this is the case, Arachnea will be open to a potential treaty with Irk. For now, at least."

"Wonderful. Then we shall start on it right away after dinner if you would like."

"The male must not be present," the Queen said.

She felt him lightly squeeze her fingers. She glanced over at him. He subtly nodded and her gaze returned to the Queen. "Very well," she said. "I'll deposit him on my ship."

"He will be fed the scraps from our table," the Queen said.

Spork's mouth began to curl into a scowl. "There is food aboard our ship for him," Miyuki said.

"He will be fed our scraps," the Queen said.

"Must you humiliate him with every action you take?" Miyuki coldly asked. The Queen only smiled darkly in response. Miyuki glanced at Spork. He subtly nodded again. "Fine," Miyuki said, looking back at the queen.

Miyuki floated with Spork towards the Biggest. There was silence between them. "You didn't have to come with me," Miyuki finally said.

"I know," Spork replied.

"Did you suspect how you would be treated there?" she asked. He was quiet. "Then why did you choose to come?"

"Because my job is to protect the Tallest," he said. She gave him a doubtful look. He shifted a bit. "Also I was curious. I just didn't expect it to get as bad as that."

"You should have stayed behind," she said, looking away from him and down. "I hate that you were subjected to such cruel treatment."

"It's fine," Spork said.

"It wasn't," she replied, shaking her head.

"I'm fine," Spork corrected.

"Are you certain of that?" Miyuki asked.

"I'm fine," Spork repeated more quietly.

"The more you say it the less I believe you," she said as they reached the bottom of the ramp and paused.

He turned to her, considering his answer, then suddenly smiled ever so slightly. She wasn't sure what to make of that smile or what it meant. "I'll be fine," he said. "Even if I'm not right now."

"Please, don't pay any mind to what they were saying," she said.

"Do you claim they were wrong?" he asked.

"Well, you're starting to grow on me," she said with a small smile.

He tilted his head at her, judging whether she meant it or not. "Sure," he finally said, though it was hard to discern the tone behind it. She nodded then made a sound of discomfort, wrapping an arm around her middle. He frowned. "What's going on?" he asked.

"You know how the armour of the Tallest functions. The rings in the middle start out normally, but over time compress the body until they've thinned it out entirely. It's not a comfortable process, as you must have experienced yourself," she said. "I assure you it has nothing to do with poison or anything as sordid as that." He considered this, nodded, bowed a little to her, then turned, floating up the ramp. She watched him go, sighed, and returned to the palace to finish up negotiations.

From the Biggest, Spork watched Miyuki make her way toward the Arachnean castle. For the life of him, he didn't understand her. He didn't like that. He really didn't like it. He always understood people. He tapped his fingers together, shifting a little, then bowed his head and floated away. "Commander?" the comms officer asked, noticing his odd behaviour.

"I'm fine," Spork said, floating passed. In reality, though, he felt the farthest thing from fine. He would be fine, he always was, but he definitely wasn't okay in this moment, so it was better he be alone for a bit. He hoped Tallest Miyuki did alright with the Arachnean Queen.

"Why do you protect him so? He is not your mate," the Arachnean Queen said. Miyuki was quiet, fists balled and eyes narrowed. "Give him to us."

"I won't give him to you," she replied. "He may not be my mate, but he is my co-Tallest."

"His disrespect must be punished."

"He spoke in defense of me."

"If you could not defend yourself, what use are you as our ally?" the Queen asked.

"I could easily have defended myself. He was simply quicker to speak."

"Give him to us," the Queen said again.

"Irk departs as your friend or your enemy," Miyuki said. "You've done little so far to convince us to have you as a friend."

"If he is strong enough to subdue me in combat, he will be strong enough to be pardoned his disrespect."

"He respected you as far as could be afforded," Miyuki hissed. "Why do you truly want him?"

The queen smiled ever so slightly. "That is not yours to question," she said.

"It is in fact mine to question," Miyuki said.

The Arachnean Queen considered this. "I would see what is so special about him that you are driven to defend him."

"He's my co-Tallest," Miyuki said. "I need no other reason than that."

"He is special," the Arachnean Queen said.

"He's my co-Tallest," Miyuki said a second time.

"Then let him face me in battle and prove to me he is worthy of wielding that title," the Queen said.

For a moment, Miyuki was silent. "I will speak to him about it," she finally said. "But what if he refuses to come?"

"Then he costs Irk its alliance with Arachnea," Queen Hypolit said.

"I am tempted to accept that after the way he was treated in your halls."

"You know a male's place in our culture."

"Then you could have ignored him. Instead, your people chose to insult and belittle him endlessly," Miyuki said.

"There is another way to secure alliance if he refuses to face me," the Queen said.

"And what is that?"

"You could battle our males until one proves strong enough to match you. That one you could then take as your consort and alliance would be guaranteed."

"Or perhaps we bargain without marriage on the table," Miyuki said.

"He battles and shows his strength, or you do," the Queen said. "We will see where matters lead after that." Miyuki shifted uncomfortably. It was far from an idea she was fond of.

"She would have you battle her to prove your worthiness to rule as co-Tallest at my side," Miyuki said to her commander.

"What if I refuse?" Spork dryly asked.

Miyuki shifted uncomfortably. "It's unimportant," she said. He frowned deeper at her. She squirmed even more. "Then I take on their males in battle to see which is strong enough to become my consort, and alliance is formed through marriage," she said. "Though it won't work out quite how they're hoping, I promise you that."

"I'll take on the stupid Queen," Spork said almost immediately.

"I suspect this is a plot to have you killed," Miyuki said solemnly. "The Arachneans are not easy opponents. I won't see you die for this."

"So I don't die," Spork said.

"Agitate them and they may descend on you in a battle you won't be able to win. It would be better for me to fight their males instead," Miyuki replied.

"You'd probably get the winner killed by rejecting him and end up accomplishing nothing," Spork said with a shrug. "Not that I care, but in the end, me fighting the Queen is best for everyone. Most importantly my pride."

"But is it best for peace with Irk?" Miyuki asked, frowning at him.

"Who cares? Just blow Arachnea up," Spork replied.

"That's callous," she said.

"It's efficient. Some planets are just more trouble than they're worth."

"I would prefer to forge an alliance."

"Fine. Then I'll fight their stupid Queen. Not sure how she thinks I'll lose though. Most of their males are a lot smaller than their females. That's why said males have such a tough time holding their own. I, on the other hand, am at least two heads taller than their Queen, and she's the biggest one of them all."

"I don't want to see you hurt or killed," Miyuki said, growing concerned.

"I'll be fine," he said, brushing it off.

"Darling…" she began. He gave her a sort of look that could have been either amused or suspicious, but she ignored it. "This is your life on the line. You realize that, right?"

"It's all under control," Spork brushed off.

"I can only hope you're right," she said, genuinely worried at this point.

"He has agreed to battle you," Miyuki said to the Arachnean queen, standing at Spork's side as he glared at the Arachnean Queen. The man was in orange and red again, so she assumed that was the colour he wore to battle, likely courtesy of a chameleon apparatus. Perhaps the orange contacts helped him see better and gave him some sort of advantage as well. She really should ask about it and take notes.

"Excellent," the queen said.

"He is of more use to me as a co-Tallest than he is to you dead," Miyuki said. "What will you do if he defeats you?"

"You will see," the queen said, fixing Spork with a glare. His eyes narrowed, unimpressed. Miyuki didn't like the sound of the queen's answer.

"My Queen, we will take the Irken male and prepare him for battle," an attendant said.

"He's prepared," Miyuki said.

"Then he will receive battle in full," the queen said, striding away. Miyuki gave Spork one more worried look, then followed behind Queen Hypolit.

Spork stood nonchalantly on the battlefield waiting for the Arachnean Queen to prepare herself. He looked towards an observation deck and saw Miyuki standing there looking deeply concerned. Cheers suddenly erupted and he turned his head curiously. He saw the Queen creeping out of a dark hole. Miyuki floated closer to the edge, resting her hands on the railing and gripping it. The Arachnean Queen fixed her gaze on him, then suddenly lunged. He dodged swiftly backward. That had been more sudden than expected. She kept coming at him relentlessly, stabbing with the many limbs protruding from her back. Unlike Irken PAK limbs, these were organic ones usually tucked away out of sight until needed. The queen skittered rapidly towards him, and he was really glad he'd been fitted with a Tallest PAK before Miyuki had shown up late, because it was powerful. He immediately seized two of the Queen's limbs with the mantis-like serrated blades and began fighting to keep her other legs back with the rest. He fired a blast into her for good measure. She made a terrible sound of pain, falling away, but then leapt on him again. He struggled frantically with her. Maybe it would have been better after all, if he still had the spider-like PAK any Irk who wasn't the Tallest used. He scrambled quickly under her and leapt on her from behind, pinning her to the ground. Her limbs flailed until she managed to strike him a glancing blow that knocked him off her. Quickly she rounded on him with a hiss. Fangs began to grow from her mouth, spreading it hauntingly wide and erasing any sign of attractiveness she might have otherwise had in favour of going full horror mode. His eyes blew open. Said fangs were dripping with what he'd bet was poison, and he wanted no part of that.

She went to try and bite him, but he dodged the fangs and struck her powerfully with his mantis limbs, sending her backward. She hissed and tried to go at him again. He floated out of the way and reoriented himself, drifting away from her. She came at him relentlessly, so he knew immediately that defensive was what he was going to have to stick to if he wanted to survive this. He focused entirely on that and watched carefully for whatever opening he could take. The Queen was getting annoyed, he could tell. He wondered if anyone had lasted for very long against her. Had he already outlived most of them? It wasn't a good sign if he had. She sprang, pinning him to the ground again and trapping him there. She went to bite again. He punched her in the face, dodging the other way simultaneously, but she wasn't letting him up and she was more powerful than he'd anticipated. He glanced towards Miyuki, who was watching with fingers nervously at her mouth. He glanced back at the spider-like queen and began striking with his mantis limbs to get her off him. He blasted her a second time, causing her to fall back, and got up again, floating around her as she began to pace, now angry. She leapt again. He dodged. She leapt a second time. He dodged again. She kept leaping at him while he dodged until she paused to rethink her strategy. He backed away. She sprang once more. This time he dove forward instead of to the sides, in an effort to throw her off, but she spun quicker than he'd expected and his back was still to her, which was a problem.

He shouted in pain when her fangs pierced his shoulder armour and entered the body. He heard Miyuki cry his name. The Arachnean Queen forced him to the ground but quickly he retaliated with a blade out the back of his PAK. She shrieked in pain, falling away, he crawled out from under her, rose, and spun around. He felt the poison making its way through his body. He didn't know what it would do to him, but he knew he needed to end this now or he was dead. Unable to afford to play defensive anymore, he attacked. She was still staggering and holding her wound from his blade. He sprang on her, knocking her onto her back. She screeched in rage, spidery legs flailing and wrapping around him. She went to bite off his head, but he drove his mantis limbs into her abdomen. She screeched again, legs spasming. He quickly broke free of them, rolled her roughly over with his serrated blades, and held her in place on the ground as the spidery legs flailed. He stabbed her again with his mantis limbs. She screeched, back arching and legs curling. The impalement wasn't fatal, however, and he held her down until she stopped struggling. She was breathing heavily. When she was at last still, he carefully got off her, floating backward. His limbs were starting to feel stiff. He shuddered at the poison going through his body. If she went at him now, it was over for him.

The Queen dragged herself away, fighting to breathe, and rolled over to glare at him angrily. "You have proven yourself stronger than anticipated."

"I beat you for the sole purpose of showing off the strength of the Irken Empire. You don't want us your enemies," Spork said, trying to play it off like he was still good to go when he definitely wasn't.

"You will be my consort," the Queen said.

There was a beat. "I'll what?" Spork asked.

"He'll what?!" Miyuki blurted.

"Alliance through marriage," the Queen simply said.

Spork stared at her blankly, then looked at Miyuki who looked equally confused. She met his eyes and shrugged. Spork turned back to the queen. "I have someone else back home," he said.

"You think you have a choice?" the Queen asked.

Spork stared. "Yes?" he tentatively asked.

The Queen laughed cruelly. "You will be my consort."

"Or how about I fight until someone can actually beat me?" Spork asked.

The Queen started, looking deeply offended, then scowled dangerously. "Very well. There are many others who will finish what I have started and give you to me regardless. Or choose what is done with you and whether you live or die."

"I challenge him!" Miyuki blurted without thinking. The Queen looked quickly at her in shock. So did Spork, who stared blankly at his Tallest. Miyuki floated off the observation balcony and down the steps. "I intend to return to Irk with my co-Tallest, so if this is how I secure that, so be it."

The queen looked mildly intrigued by this. "If you win him, it secures no marriage alliance."

"If I defeat him, you'll know for certain it would only be in Arachnea's best interests to ally with Irk," Miyuki said, drifting into the arena.

"It would not be a fair assessment of your skill to fight him when he is already as good as dead."

"Is the poison fatal?" Miyuki immediately asked, tensing up.

"Not if you defeat him," the Queen replied.

Immediately Miyuki attacked her Commander, who barely got up his PAK limbs in time to block her. He leaped on the offensive, unleashing on her. She stayed defensive until she saw him starting to weaken. She pressed him then, pushing back and lashing out with her mantis-like limbs and serrated blades. He met her determinedly, frowning a little. She wasn't sure what that meant, whether he was displeased or focused, but it didn't matter. What mattered was defeating him and getting him out alive. He was a skilled combatant, she immediately knew, and if not for that poison coursing through him, this would be a far more bloody and epic battle, but she felt him weakening with every moment that passed, and that scared her.

"Why do you fight when a loss guarantees your survival?" Miyuki asked.

"They're not gonna accept the outcome if I just stand there and take it," Spork said.

He stabbed at her head. She dodged it quickly with a frown. "You're making this unnecessarily difficult," she said. He began stabbing and slashing relentlessly. She scowled, focusing on fending him off. Even growing steadily weaker he was a formidable opponent. She redoubled her efforts, though she doubted she had to. His strength was fleeing him rapidly. He was beginning to stumble and move more stiffly and slowly. She locked their mantis limbs and serrated blades together, pushing against him. He pushed right back, but soon began giving way. He shoved her strongly back and floated away only to collapse to the ground. Her eyes filled with concern and quickly she floated over.

"Spork," she said, dropping next to him and reaching out to touch his shoulder. He gave her a startled and almost alarmed look. She reminded herself again to be careful with touch when it came to him. He wavered a little, eyes glazing over. He made a pained sound and she felt him falling back. She caught him with her PAKs limbs quickly, gasping a little, and lowered him gently. "Spork?" she quickly repeated, bending over the man. She felt him shuddering and he made another pained sound.

"My body won't work," he said. "It's hard to breathe."

"Slowly, dear, slowly. You'll be alright," she quickly soothed.

"My Tallest," he gasped.

"Slowly!" she pled. "The more you move the quicker it will take over your body." She turned on the queen quickly. "There, I've defeated him! Save him!"

"I have defeated him," the Queen said.

"Save him or see Irk your enemy!" Miyuki shouted. She felt him clinging to her arms and looked quickly back with a gasp. His eyes were dulling. "No. No, no, no, you stay here. Stay. I command it." She turned on the queen again. "Save him!"

"If his body is strong, he will survive," the queen replied. "The poison will wear off on its own."

"I'm taking him back to the ship!" Miyuki said.

"They will not be able to heal him," the queen replied.

"I can't move," Spork repeated. Miyuki hated the fear she heard in his voice.

"It'll be alright, I promise," Miyuki said, struggling to keep calm and composed. "Just focus on breathing." She felt his heart. It was beating, but slowly. So very slowly. "Just keep breathing," she pled again. He tried to focus his attention on drawing deep, slow breaths. "There has to be something you can do!" she said to the Queen, looking over.

"If the male's body is strong, he will survive. Our venom is not usually used to kill. Only to paralyze," the Queen said.

Miyuki looked back at Spork. "Be strong, Commander. Be strong and live. You have to. You haven't gone through all this just to die here."

"Escort the male to his ship," the queen said to two of her guards. They came quickly. Miyuki lashed out at them warningly with her PAK legs. "Now, now. He will be delivered safely," the queen assured.

"I'll deliver him," Miyuki testily replied. "His well-being is of utmost importance to Irk." To her also, but to say as much wouldn't go over well with the Arachnians. Locking her robotic limbs around him, she increased the power of her hover belt and flew him quickly toward the Biggest. She left no room for debate and brought him to the ship where the male irken soldiers were peering nervously out. "Take him!" Miyuki ordered them. "Have him tended to immediately. Arachnean venom. Research it and counter it."

"Yes, My Tallest," the comms officer said. He gestured for others to fetch Spork. They did so, scurrying quickly down, taking hold of their General, and scurrying quickly back onto the Biggest. Miyuki waited until the Biggest was shut, then let out a breath and frowned, turning to look towards the arena where the Queen was. She needed to keep calm, she reminded herself. Treaty with Arachnea was better than war. She would of course express her displeasure, and her terms would reflect that displeasure, but when all was said and done, hopefully she would secure alliance.