Invader Zim Fan Fiction ❯ Smip and Kwe's story ❯ Chapter 10

It's all too soon when the alarm goes off, startling Smip awake. He doesn't feel rested at all, but he knows he'll have to make do somehow. It feels strange sleeping in his clothes and it takes a moment for him to realize that Kwe had not yet returned, which saddened him, but he knows he needs to get ready.

Cleaning up with the cleansing chalk doesn't leave him feeling as refreshed and awake as he normally would with a normal shower, but he still changes into some clean clothes. Making sure he has everything he needs, he finally exits the room, getting lost several times on the way to find the ship. Luckily, it doesn't take long to arrive at Foodcourtia and park as he makes it into Shloogorgh's in plenty of time. He checks in, picking up his apron and hat and getting ready to start his first day.

Sizz Lorr still looks at him as if he's just an insect, "Go mop the floor before we get more customers in."

For poor Smip, though, if he had known that the mopping was going to be the easiest part of the whole day, he might have tried to extend it for as long as he could. He cleaned, scrubbed, and stocked for hours, feeling the effects of lack of sleep weighing him down.

Sizz Lorr doesn't help much as he keeps snapping at the teen to keep working and stop slacking off, which Smip quickly does to keep on the massive Irken's good side. When it's going on almost 10 straight hours, he's feeling faint and approaches Sizz Lorr humbly.

"Forgive me, sir.. I was just curious when I might be able to have a small break?.. I haven't eaten all day, so I just want to make sure to keep up my energy."

Sizz Lorr glares at him," You can get 5 minutes after you finish cleaning the bathroom. Now get back to work!"

Well, after 2 more hours, Smip finally finishes the disgusting task and collapses heavily in a chair in the back, too tired to even think about eating. When he finally catches his breath enough to perhaps get something to drink, Sizz Lorr bellows for him to get back to work and that his break was over....

Finally, after 16 long, horrible hours, he's ready to leave, feeling so drained that he can barely walk back to his ship to get home. Once again, it takes forever to find the room, and when he does, Kwe isn't there to let him in. Too exhausted to do anything else, Smip sits down outside the door to wait, falling fast asleep.

Kwe, on the other hand, was having a much easier time as he sets a new record in the survival obstacle course, making all the necessary arrangements to get himself into the course to become a full fledged Invader, and is fed a good 3 square meals of delicious snack food before being released back home.

Smiling wide over his accomplishments for the day, he hurries to the room, wondering if he would find Smip there or not as Kwe was not entirely sure of the schedule yet.

As he rounds the corner and sees the raven-haired teen laying asleep in front of the doorway, he runs over quickly, worried for his partner.

"Smip! Are you okay?"

Wasting no time, Kwe takes the prone body into his arms, opening the door swiftly and laying his love upon the small bed.

Smip is sluggish to awaken as he's jostled and moved into the much more comfortable bed. He smells of greasy fast food and sweat as he opens his eyes blearily.

He offers an exhausted smile to his mate, ".. Oh.. good.. You're back.."

It’s that time that Smip’s stomach growls loudly, reminding him that it’s been about 2 days since he last had a good meal. He actually looks down at his stomach with an irritated glare, feeling too tired to eat, but now too hungry to sleep.

"I'm glad to be back with you," Kwe says softly, leaning beside the bed to kiss Smip on the lips before petting his lover's greasy hair, sensing that the day had not gone as well for him.

Smip kisses back, though his lack of energy is apparent. He feels more relaxed though as Kwe pets his head.

"I missed you too.. So,.. um.. How was your first day?.." He can't stifle the yawn that overtakes him and, once again, his stomach growls angrily. Smip tries to chuckle it off, "Guess I'm a little hungry.. Didn't get to eat again today.."

Kwe nods and gets up, off to retrieve food for his mate.

This routine quickly became the two boys' lives with Smip working himself to death and Kwe excelling beyond any of his peers in the training, easily fast tracking his way towards Invader status. Kwe would rush home with food and his ID plug to let his mate into their room so Smip could eat his single meal, then fall into an utterly exhausted sleep to prepare to repeat it all again in a few hours. It wasn't ideal, but it was something. And through it all, Kwe's belly slowly grew larger and larger.

Smip is quite proud of his mate, even if he keeps worrying about Kwe's safety as well as their smeet's. And, in truth, that's all that's really keeping him going each day as he works himself as hard as he can, trying to do his absolute best to earn the 2 monies every few days that he can call his own and put to good use for his very small, growing family.

He had once thought about finding a different job, but found, sadly, that his reputation preceded him and there was no one that would think of hiring him since he was the infamous Zim's son. Though, sometimes, on very rare occasions, the job was all right. Smip started learning more about the more frequent customers and was getting very good on the cash register; doing better than his mother ever had, really. Sometimes, he found himself watching the younger children as he worked, thinking about what the baby would be like.

About 2 months into his life lead to something rather unexpected happening at the restaurant. Kwe suddenly ran through the doors, pregnant belly swaying with each step.

"SMIP! SMIP! I DID IT! I'M ACCEPTED!!"

Running through the crowd in line, Kwe leaps over the counter, grabbing his lover, and kissing him hard on the lips in front of all the waiting customers.

Smip lifts his head up as in confusion as he sees the familiar loving face of his pregnant mate come rushing through the doors and nearly has a heart attack when Kwe jumps the counter to silence his protest with a passionate kiss. The half Irken has to grab onto the counter to keep from falling over and eyes all the staring customers with a nervous glance.

That's when he replays just what Kwe said, ".. Wait.. You're an Invader now?.. You're an Invader now!!" Smip throws his arms around his love happily, "Congratulations, Kwe! I'm so proud of you! You finally did it!"

Kwe turns to address the entire restaurant, stating loudly, "I'm an Invader now!"

Sizz Lorr instantly comes bursting through the kitchen door, glaring at the two teens because of all the commotion. Smip notices him glaring in their direction and he loosens his embrace slightly, looking nervously to Kwe.

He whispers, "Um.. You better get back over the counter or I'm going to get in trouble.."

Kwe lifts a brow, "Oh? You wish to keep working here?" He couldn't understand why Smip would wish to keep his job, but gives a shrug as he hops back over the counter. "I thought you'd be eager to quit.. I'll be making 650 monies a day now as an Invader, more than enough for us to easily live on."

Smip blinks in shock. ".. How much?.. To hell with this then!"

Cackling happily, sounding a bit like his mother, he rips off his hat and apron, throwing them on the ground at Sizz Lorr's feet and hopping the counter to be with his mate. He doesn't care at all that everyone is watching and swoops up his love, feeling playful as he dips Kwe back and kisses him passionately. He even throws in a bit of tongue action too.

Letting the other back up, Smip takes Kwe's hand before cheering, "Fuck this place! C'mon!" And with that, he pulls his partner out, shooting the bird as he runs away excitedly.

Kwe blushes deeply as he lets the other lead him from the building. Once outside though, he giggles cutely, "You know, your reputation isn't very great as it is. You might have done better to tell Sizz Lorr in private that you wished to quit and give him a day or so of warning... But we will be fine now. No one can touch you, or me." Kwe nuzzles into his love's arms, his large belly pressing against Smip. "I'm supposed to start my first mission immediately. I've already been assigned a planet to conquer.. I've been assigned Niff, planet of the pink, cute, fuzzy beasts."

Smip just shrugs, actually feeling happy for the first time in so very long. "Doesn't matter. It's not like he would have made it any easier for me and you're the only one I have here that doesn't think I'm lower than garbage.." He snuggles into his mate, reaching down to rub the bulging belly gently while he listens when Kwe continues. ".. They want you to invade already? Wow.." Despite the name, he looks worried and a little confused. "Um.. Is it going to be safe?.. If it is, I'm glad, but then I wonder why they gave you such a simple one?"

"Well, umm.. heh.." Kwe looks away nervously as he begins. "I.. got a little, um.. Zim-like, I guess is the only way to put it... I asked for a challenge... So far, 5 Invaders have been.. um.. made.. not.. alive anymore.. trying to take over this particular planet." He looks at the ground, having once again forgotten about his own pregnancy and that he had to be careful. "I'm sorry.. It's the Invader blood that runs through my veins.. I must prove myself!.."

Smip's face drops as fear washes over him. "KWE!! I'm sorry I'm getting upset, but, really.. What were you thinking?! You're at a little bit of a disadvantage right now looking like a plump, juicy, Irken snack and you're trying to tempt fate. What if something happens to the smeet, or worse, something happens to YOU?! I couldn't keep going if that happened, not after so long.."

Kwe cowers before Smip, and only for Smip. His head droops and he looks honestly scared. "I'm sorry.. I am.. Please forgive me... You could.. come with me.. If I get in trouble, you could save me.. I.. I don't think I'll need it, but there is no rule against it," his voice is soft and meek now.

Smip sighs softly, embracing his mate and stroking his back lovingly, laying Kwe's head over his shoulder. "I'd love to be your knight in shining armor, Kwe, but if 5 trained Invaders with PAKs haven't been able to make it out, I doubt I'll have little chance.. In fact, I should probably go start sprinkling seasoning on me as it is.." He places a soft kiss on Kwe's head. "Is there any way they'll let you wait until, ya know.. after the smeet is born?"

".. We are to leave for the planet within the next 12 hours, no exceptions.." Kwe replies in a whisper, feeling as if he was in more trouble with the other. A moment passes and he looks back up, "... I promise I can do this.. safely and quickly.. I'll.. I'll give it my all, Smip."

Smip's brief, happy mood has turned sour after this turn of events. He wonders if there's any way he can just barricade them in their base until he thinks it's safe, but he doubts that would work. He clutches his mate tighter to himself, ".. Well, I hope you don't give it your all.. I don't know what I would do if I lost you.... But, I'll come with you.. I would be worried sick if I couldn't be with you."

"... You'd also be starving and without access to our room without my ID plug, love. So, yes, you're coming with," Kwe says with a slight chuckle, but the humor dies away quickly. "Smip.. I.. You really trust my abilities, don't you?.. You're letting me risk our smeet.. I.. I will not let you down, my love." With one more kiss, Kwe leads to the parking area. "Oh, one more thing..."

"Well, guess I didn't really have choice in the matter then, huh?.." Smip grabs his love's hand, holding it tight as they head to where he had last left the Voot Cruiser. However, when he can't find them where they had last left them, Smip has nothing short of a heart attack. "OH MY GOD! WHERE ARE THE SHIPS?!?!?! MY PARENTS ARE GOING TO KILL ME EVEN WORSE NOW!!!" He starts hyperventilating, clutching his hair.

"Well, you see.. I was assigned my own cruiser.. but I figured out that if I traded in all three, we could get.. this!" Kwe waves his arm out over a fully loaded battle cruiser looks that it has enough living space to fit 5 individuals easily.

It was painted in a black sheen with pink highlighting its curves; truly, a brilliant piece of Irken military might and travel comfort.

".. Do you like it?.. I know I should have asked, but.. I wanted to surprise you... And.. this way we can be together.."

Smip's eyes bulge a little more than they did already and he straightens up in shock. "Holy shit.. THAT'S your ship?!.." He admires it for several minutes, then suddenly remembers, "Wait!! What am I saying?!" He turns, back to freaking out, "You traded in my dad's ship?! Don't you realize that he will completely forget about the fact that you're pregnant and will try to pull your squeedilyspooch out with a rusty spoon?"

Kwe blinked, "I.. kinda thought they were our ships since we stole them.. Isn't that how stealing something works?.. It's their's and then it becomes yours?.. Um.. I guess we could save my monies and buy a couple new cruisers for them to replace the others."

That helps settle Smip's nerves at least. There's nothing he can really do about it right now anyway.

".. I guess so... But I don't think you're going to be getting on his good side for a while.. Though, a new ship.. and LOTS of snacks, would probably help."

Heavy with smeet, Kwe strides up the ramp into their new ship. "I chose this one particularly because it has a medical bay equipped to handle births.. I thought it best to do it ourselves, seeing as with the human genetics in our smeet, the Irken medical staff might declare it unfit to live.. Speaking of which, I've already started construction and modification of the PAK for him. Or her."

With his ducks apparently in a row, Kwe smiles to Smip, hoping his mate would be pleased. Smip didn't even think about their smeet possibly needing a PAK, but he has little time to do so as another voice sounds.

"THREAT DETECTED!"

And with those simple words, SIR unit jumps from the shadows, eyes glowing red, and grips the half Irken tightly around the neck, pinning Smip to the ground on his back.

He grabs at the metal hands around his throat, gasping for air and kicking his legs until Kwe shouts in shock.

"Iif! Get off of him! Now!!"

"I obey!"

The robot jumps off Smip, giving a salute. Smip sits up, coughing and rubbing his neck as he tries to get the blackness to fade from around his line of vision.

Kwe tries to kneel down as best he can to check on his partner. ".. Um,.. Heh.. I forgot to mention, this is Iif, my SIR unit, love..."

".. Next time *cough*.. Tell me a little sooner since I enjoy breathing.."

"I'm sorry.. Are you okay?" Kwe looks to the robot, "Iif! You are to obey Smip's orders as if they were my own, understand?"

Iif regards Smip a moment while he salutes once more. "Sir! This 'Smip' is not an Invader and thus, does not qualify to give orders to a SIR unit."

Kwe narrows his gaze, "Iif, I trust Smip with my life. He is my mate and he will be along with us for most, if not all, of our missions. Do you understand now? You will obey him."

As a good SIR unit does, this time Iif salutes, "Yes master, I obey."

Now that that has been settled, the young Invader turns back to his mate, looking over his neck as he helps him up.

"I'm really sorry about that. Are you sure you're okay?" he places loving kisses upon the abused neck.

Smip 'mmm's softly into the touch and kisses Kwe's temple lovingly in return. "I'll be fine. But, I don't mind the attention either," he chuckles softly and runs his hands down, rubbing his love's lower back gently. ".. I'm still worried about you and our smeet though. You don't think that.. well.. your reactions have slowed just a little since you're pregnant?.. But, you also don't want to push yourself so hard that you could hurt yourself or the baby."

The kisses pause, ".. Oh, well.. Um.. hehe.." Kwe's nervous giggle at the end becomes an obvious sign that he was about to inform Smip of something the other didn't want to hear.

Smip's body tenses with the giggle, knowing by now that it means nothing but bad news, "What is it now?.."

"I was kind of planning an attack strategy that would let me successfully take control of Niff as quickly as possible.... It.. will be a bit hard on me.. But if I can do it, then I'll get plenty of leave time for the smeet and for us."

Smip stiffens and clings harder, "Kwe.. Dammit, you're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing this! I thought you wanted this smeet, but every time you put yourself or the smeet in danger, it certainly doesn't seem like it."

Kwe listens to these words and takes them deeply to heart. ".. I.. I.. I'm sorry, Smip.. I just.. wish to prove myself.. I.. guess I get carried away.." With a sudden over reaction, Kwe's hormones take hold and he starts crying into his lover's arms, "I'M GOING TO BE A TERRIBLE MOTHER!!"

Smip feels horrible now and his antennae droop as he holds Kwe tight. "Aw, Kwe.. Don't cry.. You know I hate to see you cry, especially if it's because of something I said... I didn't mean to upset you." He holds his love, rubbing his back as he tries to calm his mate down. "You'll be a fine mother.. Shh.. Calm down, you'll make yourself sick if you get too upset." He leads his mate inside the ship, the door closing behind them and the SIR unit and looks to Iif, "Iif, can you get something for Kwe to drink? And some snacks."

The robot salutes, "Yes, Sir," and walks off.

Wiping his eyes dry on Smip's shoulder, Kwe smiles softly. "N-no.. It's just.. the hormones.. I'm sorry.... I.. I do wish to try to finish this mission as quickly as possible though... It shouldn't be that hard either.. Well.. if the data that the other Invaders sent back before being destroyed was true.." His voice came in a sobbing whisper, speaking all of these things quickly.

In all honesty, part of him was hoping that Smip would put his foot down about this and not let him since he was afraid, but the other part wishes to prove himself to all the other Irkens and the Tallests so badly that he could taste it.

Smip sets his jaw tight as he watches, feeling apprehensive of this entire thing. "Kwe, I think this is a very bad idea to be doing right now. If you are going to take over this planet, then you'll need to be completely focused, no distractions, and will have to be in top form. You have too many things going against you right now and this just has 'suicide' written all over it.. Please, Kwe.. Can you ask for a different planet first? This one just sounds too difficult right now."

".. I'm a terrible mate.. I.. I asked for this one special.. I can't go back on it now.." he whispers in reply.

Iif returns with a drink and some snacks that he presents to his master. Trying to calm down, Kwe takes the drink and the bag of snacks gratefully.

"Thank you, Iif. Go start up the ship and leave for Niff."

"Yes, master!"

Smip moves them over to a bench, sitting them both down upon it with Smip behind his mate and letting Kwe lean back against him while he eats his snacks.

Kwe eats his snacks, "We can talk more about this on the way.. I mean, we really haven't gotten any time together since we first got out here. We've either been apart or you've been asleep... You'll be happy to know that the ship is fully loaded. I even had a human type shower installed, which they were convinced was some type of Irken torture device. Hehe.. Let's.. Just spend some time together. Okay?"

And truthfully, the ship was luxurious and amazing with it's stock piles of food, shower and bathroom accommodations fitting for a human, and a large bed for sleeping really showed that he kept his lover in mind when ordering this ship. Of course, he still had his own private combat simulator, high end weaponry, and an advanced AI system to satisfy himself.

Stroking a hand over Kwe's pregnant belly, Smip cuddles with his mate. "Well, I guess we may as well since we have no choice to go then.." He leans in, kissing Kwe's cheek. "I've missed you terribly.. I thought I was going to die in that place... It was only you and our smeet that kept me going through it all."

".... I just hope Zim didn't make too many more enemies than what we've already encountered... And.. you'll never have to work that hard again, my love.. I will always remember it.... I just wish I could have gotten to say 'goodbye' to Sizz Lorr. Besides hating Zim, he seemed rather nice."

All Smip can do is stare at the other teen. ".. I'm going to just pretend that you said that because of the hormones..."

"What? He was fairly nice.. To me at least. I don't appreciate that he was punishing you for Zim's past deeds, but still," Kwe takes a sip of his drink.

------------------------------------

And what of everyone back on Earth during this time?

Let's go back to that faithful day.

Dib tried to get through to his angry mate down in the lab. "Zim.. Please talk to me.. Smip needs you right now too. This was just an accident. But, we can't change it. If Kwe really is pregnant, then we'll just have to deal with this. You already know Tak is going to be absolutely furious about all of this."

Zim keeps his back to his mate angrily. In truth, he was very worried about this, not only for Smip's welfare, but for the safety of Dib as well. He knows deep down that Tak is a powerful adversary and it would be difficult to save his family from her rage. Suddenly, the cold feeling of metal rests on his head and he sees glowing bluish-green eyes smiling at him upside down.

"GET OFF MY HEAD GIR!" he bellows and the SIR hops off.

"Aww, you just need a hug master!"

Zim growls, "I don't need a hug. That's the last thing I need right now."

Gir ignores his protest though and climbs back up, latching onto his elder master's head once again.

"GIR! GET OFF MY HEAD!"

He knocks the robot off, but luckily Dib catches him and sets him down, "Go back upstairs, Gir."

Sadly, Gir obeys, hoping to look for his younger master instead.

The conversation turns more into an argument in a few moments until Dib stops, trying to silence his partner as he hears something.

".. What's that noise?"

Zim perks his antenna to listen as well then looks afraid. "That's the ship dock!"

They both take off for the stairs, Dib calling his son's name in a panic. But, it's too late. They arrive in time to see the two ships become nothing more than dots on the horizon.

Dib's in shock, ".. They.. they left.." He stares out after their son before rounding on Zim. "GOD DAMMIT, ZIM! If you hadn't stormed off like that then they wouldn't have left! Who knows where they're going now!? We can't follow them either because they took both ships!!"

The human runs out, hoping, with some desperation, that maybe his fellow Swollen Eyeballs may be able to help. Dib runs downstairs, trying to get to his own lab to get the direct link monitor when he notices the paper on the kitchen table. Approaching with apprehension, he picks it up, reading the familiar scrawl of Smip's handwriting and begins to tear up.

Zim finally emerges, finding his love standing in the kitchen holding back silent sobs of anguish, "What is it?"

Dib balls up the note, throwing it at the alien's feet angrily.

"THEY'RE LEAVING! THEY'RE LEAVING EARTH, ZIM! Smip and Kwe are taking the ships so we can't follow them and they're leaving the Earth until Kwe has the baby.." He comes forward, too emotionally charged right now, and shoves Zim hard. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!.." Dib can't hold back his tears now as he grabs his lover's uniform, pulling him close as if he's going to punch the other, but just weakly sinking down to his knees on the floor instead. ".. He left Zim... He left... He.. He said he was sorry that he disappointed us so much and that he loves us.. Zim...." The suppressed sobs finally come forth.

In a rare display of affection, Zim slowly kneels down, holding Dib and letting his mate cry. It's the least he can do right now, even if he's suffering himself.

They're not sure how long they stay on the kitchen floor like that, but loud rumbling sounds from outside. It sounds like stomping, loud stomping, coming closer and closer.

Boom.

BOOM.

BOOM.

Like mighty steps from some large, mighty, thing.

They both lift their heads at the sound, Dib quickly getting to his feet as they both scramble to retrieve weapons.

The security gnomes out front suddenly begin to fire their lasers just to have another large crash as the entire front of the house is suddenly torn open. The occupants inside have to dodge debris as their home is torn apart, grabbing several weapons and readying themselves.

"ZIM!!" a familiar female voice cries out in an enraged and, surprisingly, slightly tearful manner.

She poised herself, sitting inside a powerful Megadoomer that was uncloaked and threatening... with fully charged batteries.

Zim tries edging himself in front of his mate as they point their guns towards Tak, ready to fight back all they can.

"You two promised that you wouldn't hurt my son!!!.. You will PAY!!!" Stepping forward, the charges and readies her own weapons, "What do you have to say for yourselves?!"

Dib, being the more reasoning one, keeps his weapon held firmly. "We didn't hurt him! We were trying to help him too, Tak! They were scared and didn't know what else to do.. Our son's gone too.. We don't have any ships left to follow them in or we would have already gone after them."

"LIES!! They wouldn't have left unless one of you did something! I didn't even have a chance to cause this!.. I've been waiting for a long time for this Zim, now say 'goodnight'."

Dib yells out, "STOP!" before being roughly shoved back and out of the way by Zim's spider legs.

Tak's finger slowly curls around the trigger, the large cannon aimed right at both males, and... *click*... The normal sound of the massive laser firing was replaced with the sound of an engine powering down as Gir jumped out from behind the machine, holding the droid's power supply.

He squeals happily, "I'M GONNA GET THE PLUG AGAIN!"

When nothing happens, Dib pushes himself up into a sitting position as he looks worriedly over to Zim, then sees Gir holding the battery before the little SIR runs off with it.

Tak blinks and looks around, frantically hitting buttons, "Wha.. Why doesn't this stupid thing have backup power!?" Luckily for her, Gir was back in a heartbeat with the large plug, affixing it to the large death machine and walking happily over to a nearby outlet. ".. Sweet Irk, your SIR is stupid, Zim," she mumbled in amazement.

Gathering himself up, Dib gets back to his feet and launches himself at Gir, knocking the plug away as he tackles the robot. Gir screams in terror as Dib flies at him, tumbling them both across the ground and sending him skidding. Without missing a beat, Dib flings himself over the fallen plug, using all of his strength to try pulling it free from the Megadoomer in case Gir tried plugging it in again.

Zim finally seems to realize the opportunity and leaps onto the cockpit, trying to open the hatch.

From inside, Tak gives a growl, "Zim, just stop it already! It's not opening."

On the ground, Gir tackles Dib to the side, trying to put the plug in place.

"Pleeeeeeease, Dib! The power plug is sooo much fun!"

Zim sees his mate struggling, and with a growl of irritation, he jumps off the cockpit to help pull Gir off, "GIR! Get away from that plug!"

Dib tries to appeal to Tak, even as he struggles with the little robot. "Tak! You have to believe us!.. They just told us what happened and it was an accident, but they were too afraid to stay here.." He rips the plug away, throwing it aside and motioning wildly to the general chaos that is before them all. "THIS is why they left! They knew something like this was going to happen again!"

Tak's rage slowly falters in the ensuing disorder. Crossing her arms, she sits back and glares out of the windshield. "... How I wish you were more.. stupid and annoying like most other humans, Dib... Maybe you're right, but I still blame Zim for this!" With that said, she opens the hatch door and jumps out, glaring. "Well then.. What are we going to do?"

Zim and Gir still fight in the background, Gir giggling happily all through it.

Dib lets out a frustrated sigh, just looking off into the distance. "I don't really know. We can't go after them, but we could always track them and see where they're headed.." He's quiet for a moment until he seems to get an idea, turning to his partner, "Zim! What about Skooge? Do you think he could possibly help us? I mean, Kwe's his son after all."

"You can get in contact with Skooge?!" Tak's voice instantly changes, her face lighting up slightly. It was something that looked down right creepy on Tak's normally stern face. Eyes wide, she looks to her fellow alien. "Zim.. please!.. I.. won't hate you nearly as much!.. Just let me talk to him." She runs over, shoving Gir away and picking Zim up with one hand, looking dead into his eyes.

Zim blinks as he's suddenly picked up, but slaps Tak's hand away from him after, not wanting to be touched by the female Irken. "Fine, only because this concerns my son as well.. GIR! Clean up this mess immediately!"

Gir salutes and runs off, only to return with a small dustpan and broom. At least it keeps him busy.

Zim turns, leading him, Dib, and Tak to his lab and going to his computer. "Computer! Put me in through to Skooge immediately!"

After grumbling, the computer goes to work and a few moments later, Skooge appears on the screen.

"Skooge here."

"Skooge!" Tak was immediately glued to the screen, looking up at her past mate.

The story to how she 'used' Skooge was not true at all. She loves Skooge and it showed in the tears now running down her cheek at the sight of him. Quickly drying her eyes, she looks back to the screen.

"Skooge.. Our son.. he's with smeet.. and.. has run off with the half wo--.." pausing a moment, she sighs, "He's run off with his.. mate.. Have you heard anything from him?.. Could you try to find him?" She's quiet for another moment, too many things to say, but each just as important as the last. ".. Skooge.. I.. I never meant to leave you.. I was stranded here on Earth with no communications.... I'm sorry, Skooge.."

Zim narrows his eyes hard as Tak begins her comment of 'half worm.'

Poor Skooge, however, is taken by surprise as he sees one of the last people he'd ever expect pleading to him. He has to take this all in so suddenly and tries to make sense of it all.

".. Smip and Kwe ran away?.. And Kwe is with smeet?" He decides to work on the more pressing matters first and begins working, trying to locate the boys wherever they are. Error messages continue to pop up. "I can't locate them. Their signals are being jammed. Their entire power signature is being blocked from detection and because of that, they're completely untraceable. We'll have to wait until they're out of their ship to find them.."

Dib paces, trying to think of any place that they might have run off to. "Is there any way that they went to Irk maybe? What if you alert someone to watch for them?"

Tak glares, "If we do that and they're reported as runaway smeets, then they will be thrown into a holding cell with Tallests knows what kind of creatures.." She lets that sink in, "I.. know my Kwe.. He will be going to enlist with the Irken military... Skooge?.. Will you keep an eye on the recently recruited soldier listings?... And.. the listings of.. fallen Irkens.." Tak's own heart sinks as she says such words.

Dib stops pacing, his own heart clenching with fear.

Skooge nods with grave seriousness, "Yes. I only wish I could be more help right now, but I promise to keep you informed.." There's so much he wants to say now as well, seeing Tak again, but he doesn't wish to do so in front of Zim and Dib. "I will contact the Irken military now so I can set up watch. I'll contact you all if I find anything..." He looks straight at his former partner, "Goodbye.. Tak.." Skooge doesn't seem to acknowledge the others, still shaken up at seeing the female again.

The screen flickers away to black and Zim comes back to the computer. "Computer! Monitor for any sign of Smip or Kwe when they finally leave their ships."

Tak was heartbroken, thinking the goodbye meant Skooge didn't wish to be with her anymore.

".. I will be in my Megadoomer..." With those insightful words, she simply walks past Zim and Dib, lingering for a moment before she leaves the room entirely, ".. Oh, Dib?.. I apologize for almost killing your mate.. I'm.. almost glad I didn't..." With that, she disappears.

Sitting in her now repowered battle mech, she sits there looking at the display panel. Slowly steering it outside before Gir fixed too much of the house for her to get out. Walking it behind the structure, she sets it down and just sits, staring at the controls.

All she could mumble to herself was, "I wish I was angrier at Zim and less... sad...."