Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The wind swayed gently through the neighborhood. The few trees planted around rustled, and the grass silently flicked. A soft crunch of dead grass under military boots was one of the few things, other than the droning ruckus of the nearby city, that disturbed the hill. Zim had been walking for a while, aimless and distant. He looked up at the night sky as a warm breeze ruffled his faux hair. Small specks of light piercing through an endless void made Zim feel small, something he had, sadly, grown familiar with.
Everything was so distant, so far away, it was as if this planet was never meant to be found. A lucky speck of life in a lifeless solar system. Yet, Zim had stumbled upon it, almost a direct hit.
His mind had been restless for the past few weeks as the Tallests declined yet another one of his calls. All he wanted to do was report his mission and findings, but he knew it was worthless. Zim had known for a long time, though denial and arrogance never allowed him to bring it any further from the back of his mind. Now, he felt the denial and arrogance weaken, and it all came back with a vengeance. It struck his pride and left him quiet and bitter.
Despite the pain, Zim only wanted closure. Even if it slashed him open like so many other truths, he knew it needed to be said. He went back to his home, hesitant but driven by a force he couldn't pinpoint. When he opened the door, the bright light of the TV blinded him for a moment. The cheery sounds bitter on his tongue.
Gir paid no attention to Zim as he walked past, artificial eyes glued to the bright colors on the screen.
Zim barked a quick order, "Computer, bring me to the conference room. I need to call the Tallests."
With that, the platform lowered and Zim stared down at his boots. He didn't feel completely there, as if he were watching someone else face their truth head-on, ready to accept the anguish it might bring.
The platform stopped and Zim looked up and walked to the nearest table and took off his disguise out of respect, for the Tallests and for himself. He glanced into his reflection in a mirror nearby and felt… alien. He was so used to that human disguise defining him that without it, he felt like an imposter. He hated how he was becoming unfamiliar with his normal reflection, and all it did was leave a cold stone in his chest.
He approached the large monitor, "Computer," he spoke loudly and clearly, "contact the Tallests."
The screen loaded for a moment, before flickering to life. He could hear the remnants of irritated groans as the Tallests turned to look at him.
"What is it now, Zim?" Red sighed.
"My Tallests, I must ask you something, and it is vital that you respond honestly." Zim tilted his chin up, trying to appear confident and in control. But, he could feel his hands begin to shake from behind his back.
"Uh huh?" Purple grumbled through a mouthful of donuts.
"Is my mission a lie?"
Both of the Tallests froze in stunned silence. Purple coughed briefly before asking, "Uh, can you repeat that? I didn't catch it."
Zim took a shaky breath and repeated, "Is my mission.. A lie?" His voice cracked slightly with the last few words.
The Tallests looked at each other and gave a relieved sigh, "Oh, thank Irk you finally caught on." Red smiled, "Took you long enough. How many hints did we have to drop?"
Zim could feel the feral rage rise within him, and a sharp growl tinted his voice, "Why did you give me this mission?"
Red rolled his eyes and Purple spoke, "Well, your first banishment didn't go as planned, as you believed to be above our orders." Zim winced under a harsh glare. "So, we made it look like a secret, special mission. After all, you wouldn't have accepted it as anything else, now would you?"
Zim looked away and Purple purred in amusement, "Didn't think so."
"Why… Why did you let me waste so much time here?" A cry rose in his throat, "Why did you never tell me?!"
Red grumbled, "We had to wait until you had matured and ya know, stopped being a delusional idiot. After all, only someone like you would fall for something so obvious."
Zim took an angered step forward, "ZIM IS NO IDIOT! YOU TWO-"
"QUIET!" Red's harsh order made Zim recoil in fear, "Don't you dare forget who you are speaking to. We have dealt with your pathetic disrespect for much longer than any Irken could deserve." His eyes flickered like fire and a wicked grin spread across his face, "We are your Tallests, we are your leaders, and you only exist to serve. Us. And you have failed that more times than any being could count."
Zim was trembling in anger and fear as Purple joined Red's side, "Don't you dare call us back unless it's absolutely worth it. I can't bear to hear your grating voice again, so don't even bother, unless you want to get what you deserve." Red growled, "Bye."
The screen cut back to the default and the large Irken Empire insignia draped Zim in a cloak of rage and anger. The furious thoughts echoed in his mind until he screamed in rage and punched the screen, the display flickering and glitching.
"Those.. HORRIBLE-"
Zim deployed his pak legs and went at the screen, stabbing and scraping and punching until the screen was nothing more than a jumbled mess of colors and broken glass.
Zim hung his head, not understanding these horrid feelings that left him feeling so numb. His hands stung and a warm pink liquid dripped from them onto the ground. Blood. Such a beautiful color.
His antenna twitched as a shocked gasp came from behind him and a soft squeaking pitter pattered to him.
"Master, are you okay? Why is there jam everywhere? Are you mad?" Gir asked in rapid fire. Zim had no words to say, all he could do was crumple to the ground and sob.
Gir's warm embrace welcomed him, "It's okay master, I got you."
Zim let Gir hold him, unable to do much else but be the pathetic Irken the Tallests knew he was. Everything was hopeless. The pride and arrogance that had protected him for so long was now gone. Nothing could protect him, now.
Zim couldn't see anything left to lose.