Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

The Irken Anatomy	By : ladylaguna Category: +G through L > Invader Zim > AU/AR-Alternate Universe-Alternate Reality Views: 4135 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Zim and all related characters - Viacom... All unrelated characters � Jenn L. No profit is gained from this writing.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
When Irkland finally loomed in view, Vermeil felt his insides twist. Lapis’s Pak sat in the seat next to him. Petting it softly, he brought the Shuvver in for a landing. The parking lot was completely empty, making him feel sorrow at the loss of what once was. He scanned the planet’s surface for any sign of life. Nothing but a few blips, probably vermin. Only some vines overtaking the rusted out buildings. But he did eventually locate a power source, however dull.

That had to be where the Control Brain was. Carefully wrapping the Pak up, he struck out onto the planet’s surface. He ached to try and capture the life that likely once buzzed around here… His own people, vacationing, enjoying freedom and blessed life. As he passed food stalls, games and ruined rides, he imagined his own youth… Imagined his parents bringing him here and letting him enjoy every attraction.

Eventually he came upon the funhouse. This was it! This was where the reading had come from. Feeling encouraged, he ducked into the building. As he touched the battered door, it fell from its hinges with a thunderous roar, hitting the ground and spreading glass and metal dust everywhere. Coughing and waving the mess away, Vermeil stepped over it and ventured deeper within.

Finally… the last door. He could hear a quiet hum on the other side. Opening it, he peeked into the room. A warm pink glow reflected off of the walls, beckoning the boy within. Smiling, he entered and finally beheld the object of his hopes and desires.

“Venerable Control Brains! I am Vermeil. I hope that this evening finds you well.”

One of the older Irken’s eyes flickered slightly, showing recognition. But apparently it could not speak. Whether it was too old or too damaged, Vermeil couldn’t tell. “You need a medic, it seems… I can bring one to you, sirs. We’ll get you out of this hellhole and find you a better place to dwell.” But there was a much more pressing matter at hand. Pulling the cloth away from Lapis’s Pak, he held it aloft before them. “Before I do that, I humbly request that you download my friend’s data. She’s been a great boon to the Irken race… And I feel that she needs to be preserved in the Collective as soon as possible.”

After a moment of consideration, two long cables finally emerged from each of them. Smiling wide, Vermeil let them take the Pak, feeling a great sense of relief. It took a few long moments, but it seemed her data had finally downloaded and they began to process it. “Oh, thank you so much! I’m forever indebted to you.”

Bathed in the glow of the flickering lights, Vermeil allowed himself to relax for a moment. That is, until he heard a scraping noise behind him. He turned just in time to see an emaciated Irken pull himself in through the door. “Do my eyes deceive me??” the old man hissed in a weak, rasping voice. “Red! You’ve returned too!” Confused, Vermeil merely stood still as the man stopped before him, looking him over. “You got a much heartier body, it seems… Always luckier than me, you bastard…”

Shaking his head, Vermeil reached out to steady the man. His skin was almost falling off the bone, limbs crooked and eyes dark. Each shaking movement he made seemed to take a phenomenal effort. “I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about, old man… Looks like you need a medic too. My name is Vermeil. Why don’t you come with me, back to my ship?”

For a moment, the man merely blinked deep purple eyes in the boy’s direction. Then they lit up as he clapped long fingers onto Vermeil’s shoulders. “Don’t you remember me? Oh, Vermeil. It’s so wonderful to see you. So wonderful to see you’ve survived.” When Vermeil didn’t seem to respond, he continued, “It’s me! It’s your Tallest Purple. I survived the cataclysm, just like you! Oh, I’ve missed you so.”

The Tallest Purple in Vermeil’s databanks didn’t match this… creature at all. The boy thought perhaps he was delusional. “You don’t look anything like my Tallest Purple, sir… Are you sure that your information is correct…?”

“Don’t be a fool!” the man barked. “I know you! You’re formed from my own flesh and blood. I remember the last time I saw you, when Tenn was loading you up on the Viral Tank… Oh, you cried and kicked and screamed… Red said you were acting just like me… How is Tenn doing nowadays, anyway? Is she here? Oh, I would love to set foot on a real Irken ship again.”

It really was him! There was no way it could be anyone else! Tears began to drip from Vermeil’s eyes. “Tenn… she’s dead. The… the human Dib, he killed her.”

“Oh. THAT one. So he lives and breathes as well.” Anger welled up in Purple’s voice, eyes narrowing. Vermeil nodded tearfully, wiping his eyes with the back of a hand. “My Tallest! I… I am so happy to see you! I’ve been so alone…” His voice broke and he covered his face.

Purple patted him gently, awkwardly, on the head. “There, there… It’s okay now. Your suffering will soon be over, Vermeil…” Curling his arms around the boy’s form, he held him tightly. Clinging to him, Vermeil began to sob. So many years of pain and struggle…

Then he felt a jerk and pain shot over his spine. Purple’s hands had enclosed over his Pak and he was pulling now, knee pressed against Vermeil’s gut for leverage. Crying out in horror, the boy tried to shove the man away. “What are you doing?! Father! MY TALLEST!!”

“This is your destiny, boy! Give it to me! Give me this body! It’s mine! I need it!”

“No!” He struggled to escape, twisted Paklegs emerging to slice at the gnarled arms enclosing him. Purple finally reared back and almost fell, his frail body reaching to the walls for leverage. Vermeil was trapped between him and the Control Brains now. The only way to get out was to knock Purple down and jump over him. Steeling himself, he ran to tackle him. He was old and decrepit—that wouldn’t be tough to accomplish, right…?

But Purple was determined. His eyes suddenly began to glow, a bright blue throb, and he stood up to his full height. Clotheslining the boy, he threw him to the floor and stomped on his stomach. “Don’t you dare disobey your Tallest!”

Grunting in pain, Vermeil curled up into a fetal position. His fingers hovered over the butt of his gun, but he couldn’t bring himself to draw it. “Please… please don’t do this. Please…”

With a feral snarl, Purple advanced on him, grabbing his Pak soundly and beginning to pull again. The pain wracking Vermeil’s form intensified and he screamed in agony. This was it… He was going to die! The energy enveloped them both… His brain pounded against his skull; he felt as if someone were digging around in there. Purple was trying to overload his Pak, make it shut down so it stopped clinging so desperately to the boy’s form. “What have you done to this thing, you little shit?! It’s not supposed to be like this!”

Sobbing, Vermeil continued to try and scramble away. He felt his consciousness leaving him… and then… The room filled with howls of anger and the pain finally subsided. Rolling onto his back, Vermeil looked up to find the Control Brains dragging Purple backward.

“Lapis?! …it’s you, isn’t it?” Clambering to his feet, Vermeil leaned against the wall and watched them all struggle. The terrifying power Purple had displayed continued to crackle over his limbs, making the Brains’ tentacles stutter and twitch. It took him a moment, but Vermeil finally realized what it was…

Meekrob! He felt that same burning in his gut when the Fuck Pig had come for his family. He saw those same shocks. And he knew what to do with a Meekrob. Reaching around in his utility belt, he finally found it… The hunk of Amber he’d stored away, that Tenn had given him so many years ago…

“This body… is MINE!” he screamed, rushing forward to crack Purple across the face with the hunk of rock. The man hissed in pain, his body going limp. Vermeil continued to pummel him, shoving him back as the wires pulled Purple into the wall. A groan issued from the Brains that shook the very building. The wall itself seemed to open and engulf Purple’s body. With a last burst of strength, Vermeil kicked Purple backward as wires and paneling impaled his frail form.

Then there was quiet, save for the sound of Vermeil’s labored breath. Looking over the scene, he took a frightened step backward. The Brains had completely engulfed the Tallest and were now trying to siphon that precious Meekrob from him. All that could be seen now was a long arm and grotesque, grimacing head.

Barely able to see through the veil of tears, Vermeil turned and ran as fast as he could from the building. Once he finally felt fresh air again, at the top of the steps, he collapsed into sobs.

“Traitor… I gave you life… Traitor… Failure…”

The words… they were echoing INSIDE HIS HEAD. Sitting up, he looked frantically around. His Pak was still tingling, head still pounding.

“This isn’t over… This isn’t over…”

Frantic, Vermeil headed back to the Shuvver. The words did not fade.

At this point, Vermeil’s memories became scrambled. Megami could see that his files were corrupted. Somehow Purple had managed to worm his way into the boy’s circuitry. It must be that Meekrob! At first, Vermeil tried to fight it. The words never fucking faded, they never fucking stopped. After a year, the boy snapped and returned to Irkland.

“Stop torturing me!” he screamed. Purple merely laughed, and the laugh didn’t subside, even after Vermeil nailed a metal plate to his face, keeping his mouth shut forever. He built a new door for the funhouse, one that only he could open. Purple would be shut off from the rest of the universe forever. Or so Vermeil wished.

Purple burrowed deeper and deeper into the boy’s psyche. Vermeil stopped sleeping, for fear of seeing the man in his nightmares. He didn’t outwardly notice the change… it was so profound that he was no longer even self-aware. It was a virus, eating him up, slowly taking over his Pak until his body had no choice but to obey it. Vermeil tried his hardest to fight it, but it commanded his every action.

The obsession started. Zim… Find him. He’s still out there somewhere. Make him pay. Find him. Find him. Vermeil searched frantically. Ceaselessly. Revenge! Must have revenge.

The human colony. This girl he found… Who was she? She had a SIR unit. ZIM’S SIR unit. Find Zim. Make him pay.

Had Vermeil’s “love” for Megami only been a byproduct of Purple’s obsession with revenge? If only she could ask him! There was no answer to that in his databanks.

Jai and Aton grew concerned. They hunted Vermeil down and tried to speak with him. He had changed so much! What the hell had happened at Irkland? He seemed to be the same old Vermeil, but he was empty. His eyes were empty, and he spoke of strange things. They commanded a small crew to overtake Vermeil’s Shuvver, and brought him onto Aton’s ship. Told him that he needed to rest for awhile.

He spent the time in his quarters on the console. More studying. Trying to find info on the human colony… But his methods were sloppy. The Raziers were able to track the signal. Find the ship. Against the human fleet of warships, they stood little chance and were apprehended.

Then… glory! He saw that girl! And the SIR unit! They’d lead him to Zim, surely.

In Gaftar, Jai was completely helpless. Separated from his precious computers, he lay crippled in the corner of his cell. The whole crew was locked up in the same wing, able to whisper to one another when the guards weren’t paying attention. That horrible woman with the purple hair had already taken a couple of them to fates unknown.

Everyone had lost hope, but not Vermeil. “Why are you all lying around like this, simpering? The humans are nothing to us. NOTHING! We defeated them before and we will again.” The mechanisms that disabled their Paks didn’t work on Vermeil’s outmoded model. He was able to rise of his own accord and hack into the cell door’s locking mechanism. It was almost too easy. Did the humans really take them for complete fools?

Jai still had some of his spirit. He formulated a plan. Ushering Vermeil over, he rasped, “It’s the end for me. But not for you. We can’t let that bitch get a hold of you. I saw the way she was looking at you… Like a hungry animal. Switch your Pak ID with me. Let her take me…”

Even though his mind had been corrupted, Vermeil still felt pity for his old friend. He was sacrificing himself for the good of Vermeil, for the good of the Irken race! He was wise. “I’ll break out of here. You’ll see. And I’ll come back with reinforcements. We will crush the humans!”

“I’ll try to live until then,” Jai replied, doing his best to smile.

That evening, Vermeil disconnected all of the Irkens from their Pak controls. They rioted, completely covering his escape.

Still he struggled to keep Purple at bay. His mind was constantly trying to erect barriers against this disease festering within it… But the stress of coming face to face with the Fuck Pig, of finding out the truth about Tenn, of giving in to his feelings for Megami… The moment that he fell asleep in her arms that last time, the battle was over.

* * * * * * * * * * *

As Megami’s—no, Purple’s-- laughter echoed off of the funhouse walls, Vermeil took off running at full speed. There was only one functioning ship on this planet and he knew that he would have to get to it first or he would be stranded on Irkland forever. The barrier he’d built of the Funhouse’s main door cycled shut with a click of his Pak and he climbed the numerous stairs without looking back. Hopefully it would hold her for a little while…

Just as he stumbled through the main gate, he heard an explosion and felt a wave of Meekrob pass over the ground. She’d blown the door. And she was coming!

“Where are you going, sweetheart?!” she called. “I want to give you a kiss! Mwa! Mwa! Haaahahahahahaaha!”

He didn’t dare look back or lose step for a second. Reaching the Shuvver, he frantically tried to undo the complicated lock that Purple—well, in his body—had erected. He heard her voice just as it finally popped and turned to see her striding through the gate. Her eyes were glowing, the power radiating from her body in waves so powerful that the neon lights shattered as she passed beneath them. Falling backward through the door, he shut it quickly and ran for the bridge. “Launch! Launch! LAUNCH!” he barked at the computer. It crackled to life-- Purple had done some heinous damage to it—but it didn’t lift until he fell onto the main console and jammed every button in reach.

Somehow, he managed to get off that fucking planet. The viewfinder scrolled back to watch as they rose up into the atmosphere; Megami was giving him four middle fingers as she watched him go.

Falling back into the captain’s chair, he rubbed his eyes. For the first time in five years, he could think clearly. There were no more voices, nobody telling him what to do. It felt so good… But now, instead of this virus within him, he held the captured soul of this innocent woman. Covering his face, he allowed himself to yell and cry for a few moments.

This was all his fault. His father had ruined everything! And he had to fix it somehow. But how? Oh, by the merciful Goddess… If only Jai were here.

…Jai! Aton! All of his comrades! They were still on Nirvana! He set course for the planet and punched it. He could do repairs on the ship en route. He hoped that he wasn’t too late to save them… Or Megami. He was going to need a much larger hunk of Amber now.

************************************

REVIEW REPLIES:

Amaretto: Thank you!! I think my flow is improving as I continue. Looking back at older chapters is so embarrassing! But I'm glad people enjoy it.

And no, he really shouldn't have gone to Irkland. ;)

Lum1: YOU'RE WELCOME BD

Also HUGE HUGE HUGE Thanks to Calantha who has looked over every chapter for, like... ever! She helps me be a better Jennsy BD
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Irken Anatomy