A Parade of Indignities

Chapter 6: Of Irken Ultimatums and Earthbound Outcasts

Chapter art created and owned by Starpaw0007.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Larb had never been much of a navigator.

He cursed softly at his radar screen as the tiny red dot he'd been watching slowed. It dawned on him several seconds too late that it was likely descending on a nearby planet. He straightened up in his pilot's chair and prepared for landing as well, focusing on maneuvering in such a way that he would trail behind his target far enough to not draw suspicion.

No, he had never been much of a navigator. His expertise lay in the art of manipulation. He had mastered it on Vort and used it to his advantage to bend others to his will. It was one of many things he took great pride in and the stubborn invader suffered a bruised ego from his lack of success in using it the week before.

Now, he sat stoically in his ship, following the path that would lead him to the defect and pondered the exchange he shared with the Tallest.

It had been several days ago, on the very night they had attempted the murder on the defective. For Larb, the defining moment was not the success of his mission, but the ultimatum he had been faced with following its failure.

-x-

The invaders had stared helplessly up at the sky as it returned to pitch black following the departure of Zim's ship. The entire assemblage had gone silent, confronted with their very limited options. The eventuality in any case was to confront the Tallest and take whatever consequence that may be delivered.

Therefore, with utmost deliberation as to not arouse suspicions, they trickled back into the room they had originally met in. One by one, two by two, they marched back, nerves hidden professionally behind well-practiced poker faces. Their chins were held up high in a signature stance that gave off the impression of increased height, looking down upon all that was shorter than they.

As they approached the two rulers of Irk, however, this attempt at appearing taller was unceremoniously turned on its head. As soon as their eyes flicked upwards to make eye contact with the Tallest, they appeared more like smeets staring up at their elders with a sort of timid reverence.

Silently, the invader who held the canister meekly offered it to the Tallest. Purple took it from his outstretched hands, measuring its bulk thoughtfully. He frowned, then sneered down at them. "Hey! It's still full."

Spleen stepped forth, eyes fixed ahead coldly, and began speaking in a recited, somewhat monotonous tone that did little to conceal his fear. "My Tallest, we were only able to administer a small amount of toxin before the mission was compromised by unknown forces. We were forced to abort."

Both looming figures frowned in the darkness. Slowly, they turned to exchange a glance with one another. They had clearly not planned for their dubbed finest elite soldiers to fail what they had presumed to be a foolproof plan in ridding themselves of Zim permanently. An abstruse hush had fallen over the room, and a few soldiers shifted uncomfortably.

Then, as if to break the silence, Tenn stepped forward. Her face still dripped with blood, which glistened in the darkness. "My Tallest. Months of reconnaissance on Meekrob has given me insights to the nature of the toxin. It is highly lethal. Even a small amount of exposure will have drastic effects over a very short period of time. The defective will expire, likely before the month is through."

The Tallest pondered this for a moment. With a hint of apprehension, Red opened his mouth to speak.

"N-not good enough!" All heads whipped around to where Purple stood beside him. "We assigned you with a crucial mission in the name of the Empire! You are not relieved until you complete it!"