Megami Joushou

This chapter is dedicated to everyone that follows me around saying, "When are you going to update? Are you going to update again?" Because they make me actually want to update XD

AW HELL. HERE COME THE ASTERISKS

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Vermeil said barely a sentence all the way back to the ship, and only spoke when he needed to issue a command to GIR as they reentered space. Megami didn't know how to address his sudden silence... He was sometimes prone to falling into "moods" but usually snapped out of them as quickly as he came in. She sat in the corner and watched, her face somewhat tense, as he stood before the console in the control room and blankly stared at the sky zooming by outside. After a short time had passed, she stood and made her way into the relaxation area and began to make something to eat for herself. Surprisingly, Vermeil followed her.

Without uttering a word, he observed her as she piddled away on the food processor much as he had been looking at the console. Meg felt a little uneasy, so she finally turned to him and smiled. "Thank you for your help, Vermeil... I know how hard that must have been for you."

His antennae perked as if he had just realized she was in the room. Focusing his attention more closely on her, he answered, "What do you mean?"

"Knowing that was Zim... The purported Destroyer of the Irken race... I'm sure you weren't too happy to see him."

Vermeil was quiet for a moment, but he finally nodded, slowly. "I wasn't."

Turning back to the sandwich that had just emerged from the processor, Megami said, "I know. And... I know that you were only there for my sake. For GIR's sake... And I thank you for that. I really do." She busied herself by adding condiments to her food. So much, in fact, that she didn't notice Vermeil approaching until he was directly behind her. She pretended not to notice and continued preparing her meal... Until she felt his arms slide around her.

He was hugging her! Or rather, holding her? Gently, he folded her into his long arms, laying his head against the back of her neck. Closing his eyes, he relished the feel of her warm skin. Comfort...

'I'm a failure... Because of her... HER... How? Why? Suddenly, I don't feel like I mind so much...'

The Prince sighed softly against her hair and she tried hard not to collapse. Her legs were shaking. She wanted to turn around and hug him back, but felt that she might ruin this moment. So instead she stood absolutely still, barely breathing if she could help it. She wanted to speak but could find no words. Maybe words weren't the best right now, anyway...

All too soon, he pulled away from her. Hesitantly, she turned and watched as he walked to the door of the room. Leaning against the doorjamb, he turned his head back toward her.

"We'll be making a short stop at a Space Station in the Narel Sector, for supplies... We should be there within the next few days."

"...okay."

And he was gone.

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

The next time she saw him, a few hours later, he was back to normal. She didn't dare speak about what had happened, though. Truly, she wasn't sure what to make of it. Whatever turmoil was in his head, he would have to be the one to unfurl it. Sure, Zim was the end of the Irken race's prosperity... Death of their home planet... But Vermeil, like Megami, was so young that those events were old, too removed from their own lives. However, Vermeil had probably suffered a lot due to the universe's hatred of Irkens. He probably blamed Zim for a lot of that, even though one might argue that they brought it all upon themselves.

Megami could just tell that Vermeil had a good heart. He deserved happiness and she felt that, deep in her soul, he would get it someday.

That was good. She could say THAT. A few days later, she got up the courage to do so.

"You deserve happiness, Vermeil. Someday, I'm sure... You'll get it..."

She expected at least some sort of reply, but got none. He just went on as if he hadn't even heard her, packing away some sort of red ore into a carry-on bag. They stood silently in the corridor until GIR announced they were entering Narel Station's docking bay. Together, they walked out of the ship into the bowels of the facility. Megami looked about in fascination at the thousands of lights and hundreds of ships coming and going throughout the bay area. When they left the room and entered another tunnel leading into some sort of commercial area, she audibly gasped.

There were probably hundreds of booths throughout the open area that was a few miles in perimeter. All kinds of interesting wares were displayed, being perused by thousands of different aliens from many races.

"Why don't you take a look around?" Vermeil asked pleasantly. "This is nothing new to me, but I'm sure there's a lot of stuff here you've never seen before..." He gave her a little push. "I'll come find you when I'm done."

A little nervously, Megami turned back to him. "Is it okay?"

"This Station is under Federation law so you'll be safe here. Don't worry." He slung the bag over his shoulder. "I have to get this Krenamium exchanged out for cash so I can buy us some things. You'd be bored to death if you came with." He looked around. "Besides, you don't want to be seen hanging out with an Irken. It's... uncool these days. I was only able to dock here because I got special clearance... I called in a few favors."

"But I AM Irken, remember?"

Walking away, Vermeil replied, "You don't look it!" and smiled. In a few moments he had disappeared into the crowd. Was that supposed to be a compliment?

She wandered around all of the stalls looking at all of the wonderful things that were for sale. Food, furniture, animal hides... Some things she didn't even WANT to know about... Vendors occasionally called out to her but it was obvious from her simple clothing and lack of a money purse that she didn't have any means to purchase anything. Sighing, she felt like such an outsider. Poor Vermeil... He couldn't even DOCK here because he was Irken? It didn't seem fair at all. Despite the hardships, he seemed to make his way around okay, though... She wished she knew more about him. Where he was really from? And why he was so idolized by the Irken race...?

"All in due time, Megami," she said to herself, smiling. Her heart should feel lighter than air. She was about to go meet her mother! But something kept nagging at the back of her mind... Uncertainty, for sure... Sadness still crept up sometimes. Homesickness. Thinking about her family back home and how they must have felt when she ran away...

Did they even care? Valerie probably did, but Gaz and Papaw... They were most likely glad Megami ran away, so she couldn't shame them with her horrible secret...

Shortly she came to the end of the second row of stalls and saw a small area full of computer terminals. Some creatures were hunched over them typing away, looked over by a tall, thin man (?) with a head as thick as his neck. His skin was light blue and he looked humanoid aside from spikes on his shoulders. He was wearing a black uniform, so Megami somehow felt she could trust him.

"What are these for?" she asked, hoping he had a translator like she did and could understand.

Holding a hand out toward the terminals, he answered, "Free to use, Miss. Open-ended transmission terminals for those that don't have fully functional communications on their ships, or are staying at the station for an extended period of time."

"Oh!" she replied, trying to pretend she wasn't a total idiot. "Supplied by the Federation? How generous!"

"Would you like to use one?" he asked, genially.

Looking unsure, she answered... "Um..."

He pointed to a terminal in the third row next to the wall and said, "Yarburkin. That you speak, yes?"

Not quite sure what he meant, she simply nodded and walked over to the computer. The keys weren't at all organized like the "QWERTY" boards from Nirvana, but they were most certainly Roman letters... Yarburkin must be a language very similar to Earth English.

"...weird," she whispered as she sat down and pressed her finger to the screen, causing the main page to load up. She found herself at the Federation's site just as it had shown on the terminal on the ship. "Awesome!" She could check her own unit at home-- er, Nirvana-- and not worry about Membrane tracking the ship's signal and possibly hunting her down. She wondered if anyone had bothered to leave her any messages-- maybe hoping she'd check them-- as she logged into a networking program and entered all the relevant information. Without any trouble at all, her e-mail account popped up onto the screen and she found it exactly as she had left it. "I guess nobody's been snooping on my computer since I left," she murmered, clicking on her inbox.

There was only one new message there, from who else but... "David..."

"I heard about your parents being alive after all. I'm glad that they found you after all these years... I hope you're happy in your new life, Meg... Though I wish you would have come to say goodbye. I know things have been rough between us for a while, but I still do care about you and the thought of never seeing you again, even from afar, really kills me inside. No matter how hard I try, I can never bring myself to be angry at you... I wonder why that is? You're just that type of person, I suppose... It's always so hard to blame you for anything, because you're so sure of yourself. So convinced that you're right in all you do.

I'm sure you'll come back to visit us on Nirvana after you've settled in, right? I really do mean it when I say I want to see you again... The way you left was so abrupt... I still can't reconcile it in my mind, Megami. There was no real closure for me. Even if you kick me in the balls and tell me to go fuck myself, it would be so much better than nothing. So much better.

I'm rambling. I admit I'm a little drunk. I'll regret sending this in the morning. In the old days they say letters got printed out and put into envelopes and delivered by foot. Can you believe that? It seems so much better. Then I could chase the delivery man down and ask for my letter back before it ever reaches you. Maybe he wouldn't have given it back, though. I don't know how that system must have worked.

Please reply, Megami. Please."

At least her family hadn't attempted to soil her good name by telling an unsavory lie. Or the truth! But Megami supposed that the current explanation kept most people from asking questions. Papaw HATED those kinds of questions. Only inquisitions of a scientific nature were tolerated.

"I'm sorry, David..."

"David, huh?"

Megami whirled around and had her face full of Vermeil's stomach. He had snuck up on her again! How did he do that? She stood, looking up and blushing. "He's-- an old friend."

"A human," Vermeil stated, narrowing his eyes at her. She walked away, out of the row of terminals. Sometimes his "right in your grill" method of confrontation was tiring. Of course he wasn't going to let her get away that easily. Pinning her against the wall with both arms at either side of her head, he growled, "What have you told him?"

"NOTHING," Megami spat back, glaring. "He sent me that message weeks ago and this is the first time I've read it. We are not in communication."

"And old friend from Nirvana? I find that hard to believe. Are you two in a relationship or something?"

Megami grinned viciously. "Are you jealous, Prince Vermeil? We WERE in a relationship a long time ago. I broke it off and he's still in love with me... He's always nice to me. Maybe I should give it another go."

"Mixing with humans is never a good idea," Vermeil answered, coming a bit too close yet again. He didn't even seem the register the accusation of jealousy. "Haven't you figured that out yet?"

Sighing in exasperation, Megami said, "I'm NOT talking to him, okay? The only person I ever talk to is YOU. And you usually just ignore me anyway."

Vermeil's face was entirely too serious when he replied, "I NEVER ignore you. I listen to every word you say. Even if I don't like the things you tell me..."

Even Megami was taken by surprise when she shot up and jammed her lips against his. It was almost instinctual, reflexive. She moved to wrap her top arms around his neck but he grabbed her wrists and pushed her away.

"Vermeil!"

He shook his head. "Don't do this to yourself, Nymph..."

"Why? Why, Vermeil. Why." Pulling her hands out of his, she moaned, "I want to be closer to you. Please--"

Pity was showing in his eyes. Or was it regret? "You shouldn't..."

"What do you think you're doing here, Irken?"

He spun to face a group of five strong-looking aliens that had snuck up on them. They were all at a good six feet in height, well muscled and covered in dirty rock-like armor. They stood in a semi-circle around Vermeil and Megami, pinning them against the wall. Moving in front of Meg and obscuring her vision, Vermeil replied tersely, "I have clearance from Birkan to be here. And I was just leaving, anyway..."

"Not good enough," the man (?) in the forefront replied. "You got a lot of guts showing your face around here, red-eyes... Filthy Irken murderers, all o' ye..."

"No!" Megami cried, jumping in front of the Prince. "He's a GOOD Irken...!"

"The only good Irken is a DEAD one!" an assailant yelled, whipping out a box-like object faster than Megami could see his hands. Vermeil shoved her roughly out of the way just as a violently crimson beam of light shot from it, hitting him in the stomach and slamming him back against the wall.

Megami recovered her balance a few feet away and turned in horror to see Vermeil crouched, back to the metallic surface behind him, clutching his left side with a severe look on his face. Purple liquid was splattered across the wall. The wound was some eight inches in diameter; he was trying to stay standing but his legs were giving out. He was quite obviously badly injured.

"No--!"

The men were advancing on them. Tears streamed down Megami's face and she looked to them, balling her little hands into fists.

"What... Why... WHAT HAVE YOU---DONE?!!"

The sheer force of her words was like a tornado. Blue energy reverberated from her mouth, blasting the gunman backward. He flew a good twenty feet and landed on his back, stunned. The other men looked at their companion in surprise.

"Now--while they're distracted-- NGH..." Vermeil stumbled forward and grabbed one of Megami's hands, taking off into a run through the gap left by the downed alien. Surprisingly, no one gave chase.

Vermeil nearly fell but Megami grabbed him with two of her arms and urged him forward. She ran as fast as she could, trying hard not to be distracted by the feel of Vermeil's blood flowing on her skin... Trying not to lose her composure any more as she watched it dripping thickly on the floor as they ran. "This can't be real..."

Startled shoppers jumped out of the way as they went by. They left the marketplace without further incident. The ship was in sight and they were still alive! Vermeil's Pak blinked and the docking bay door slid open. Steam began rolling from beneath as they reached the steps... Vermeil fell into the doorway and looked up at Megami. "Tell GIR to--- GGH... GO. DEPART. NOW!" He reached down and pulled on the door, trying to get it to close faster.

She finally allowed herself to sob as she ran to the control room and found GIR there peacefully watching an Earth movie on the console. Looking at her as she skidded into the doorway, he cried, "The ship started up by itself, I swear!"

"Vermeil started it!" Megami sputtered. "And you need to depart RIGHT NOW. We got attacked by bad guys!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!" GIR screamed, the prospect of bad guys all too titillating to him. He quickly turned off the cinema and started hitting buttons wildly. Within moments, the ship began to rumble.

Turning, Megami ran back to the door and found that Vermeil had moved. She followed the trail of blood and caught up with him in the infirmary, throwing his shoulder armor to the floor and painfully removing his shirt. Responding to blinked commands from his Pak, arms sprang from the ceiling and began cleaning the blood off his body with some sort of chalky substance and a vaccuum. As they worked, he tried to climb onto an examination table but missed by a foot. Megami caught him and helped him up, assisting as he laid slowly on his side that wasn't injured. Within a few moments the ship calmed and it was obvious they had reentered space.

"Vermeil... That looks bad..." The skin had totally been blown away. Viscera and bone could be clearly seen glistening beneath dark purple blood. Tears flooded from her eyes. "You... might die..."

The arms began tending to his wound, shooting at it with some sort of laser as his Pak hummed. Its condition began to improve before her eyes; blood congealed, bones regrew.

"It hurts..." Vermeil groaned, clawing at the surface of the table and clenching his teeth as he was poked and prodded. "But... I'm not as easily taken down as a human. It will heal."

Megami jumped back as an arm nearly hit her in the head during its work. She watched worriedly as they continued, though they seemed to be making progress. Vermeil growled low in his throat, closing his eyes and laying his head back on the table. He was obviously in horrible pain. Megami chanced to approach again and ducked next to the table's surface, reaching up an arm and grabbing one of Vermeil's hands. Squeezing encouragingly, she whispered, "It must hurt... Give me some of your pain, Vermeil... Let me distract you..." He opened his eyes and looked curiously at her, until another laser hit him and he winced, grinding her fingers between his. "There you go. Break my fingers if you have to. I know it must be unbearable."

"Megami..." He couldn't finish, however. His breath quickened and he was only able to squinch his eyes shut and lay back.

Within a half hour he was seemingly whole again. The only evidence of his wound was an angry network of thick stitches running in five directions along his side. The arms sprayed some more chalk onto them and roughly pulled him into a sitting position, beginning to press a large square of some cotton material against the wound. Another arm began to wrap bandaging around his torso to hold it in place, rolling unforgivingly against his skin.

"NGggh..." he cried, every muscle in his body tightening. Fed up with watching him suffer, Megami wrestled the material from the arms and said, "I can do this. Tell them to stop."

Vermeil's antennae perked. "Hmm?"

"I can bandage you up. Make them stop." She was pushing stubbornly against the arms as they tried to get the bandaging back from her and tend to their patient. After a moment of regarding her, his Pak blinked and they finally receded back into the ceiling.

Sighing in relief, Megami gently pushed the pad onto his injury with two arms and wrapped the bandage around with the other two. His body visibly relaxed and his posture slumped a bit.

"They're not too gentle, are they?" she said quietly. "There's only so much you can trust to machines."

Her last statement sounded loaded, but Vermeil didn't know if he wanted to argue. Feeling her soft hands against the skin on his chest was intoxicating. "If it weren't for those machines... For my Pak... I would be dead right now," he finally replied, his voice tired.

For a few moments, she was silent as she finished wrapping the bandage. She looked about for a moment, until an arm finally came down again and handed her a clip. "Thank you," she whispered, maybe a little bitterly, securing the end of the cloth and gently rubbing the gauze, making sure it was secure. When she was satisfied she pulled herself up onto the table and sat next to him. He turned his head to look lazily at her, feeling the drugs from his Pak setting in. "How do you feel now?" she asked, noticing his relaxation.

"The pain is subsiding," he replied. "I'll be okay. Thank you for your help."

Eyes shining, Megami murmured, "You... risked your life for me." He didn't reply and she went on. "You pushed me out of the way... You could have died but you let that shot hit you anyway."

A small smile pulled at his lips. "I don't know if I could have died. But... you most certainly would have."

"Why would you even care if I died?" Megami answered cynically.

"Because--" he began to speak but his voice fell away. He looked blankly at her for a moment before turning his head. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "You're so trusting, Megami. No matter how I reply to this question, you'll believe me... You'll accept what I say as fact because you would never believe I could hurt you. Lie to you."

"You promised me I could always believe what you say," she said seriously.

Vermeil laughed lightly. "But what about what I DON'T say?"

This concept didn't quite click with her. "What don't you say? I want to know. I want to know what's in your head... You shouldn't worry about hurting me if you speak."

"Oh, Megami. If you knew all of the things I worried about..." He finally met her eyes again. "Even though it's such a human trait... In you I think it's so cute. You have such a solid sense of justice. You want to believe that everyone is good deep down inside. You want to make everyone's life better, you want everyone to be happy." He grabbed her arm. "Not everyone is good, Megami. And not everyone can be happy."

"I don't believe that at all!"

"Of course you don't!" the Prince laughed. "And that's why I love you."

Megami's eyes widened. Just like that he had said it! So casually. Vermeil's face went a few shades lighter. The drugs were making him talk too easily... But it was out there. He had said he loved her and he couldn't take it back. Or could he? If he did, she would be devastated. And it would be a lie. He HAD promised her that he wouldn't lie to her.

He had promised her...

Why had he made such a stupid promise?

Because he loved her. He had loved her for so very long, long before she ever knew he existed. There were so many things she didn't know, and he never wanted her to know them. But eventually she would learn, and she would hate him forever after that.

Until then, though... What was the point of suffering? Should he indulge in his own feelings and make her happy as well? Pain will happen on the horrible day that all is known. But for now they could be happy together... He could forget his cares and she could be happy in knowing that he felt the same way about her that she did about him. More pain later... But less pain now. It was a decision he didn't want to make. He never wanted to make in the first place.

As per usual, she broke the silence. "Vermeil... um... You said... you..."

The pain in his stomach was gone. He was riding on euphoria all of a sudden... He had never felt it before. But his heart was lighter than it had ever been. "I just want to be happy for once," he stated. To whom he was speaking he wasn't quite sure, but he turned and was on his knees, spinning Megami around so that she was facing him. With one arm he pulled her legs up onto the table. With the other, he grabbed the back of her neck, steadying her as he dipped his head down and locked his lips into hers. After a long, hard kiss he pulled away.

"So you Irkens DO know what a kiss is?"

"Not all of them do." Vermeil grinned. "I grew up on an alien planet with a lot of women, though."

Before she could ask any more questions, his lips were at hers again. She sighed lightly and wrapped all of her arms around him, holding desperately onto him as he eased his long tongue past her lips. Megami moaned. It was the most desperate, plaintive sound Vermeil had ever heard... It filled him with desire.

...and dread.

Her mouth was slightly wet. It burned a little... He wasn't sure why, exactly, but the drugs in his system kept him from caring. He pulled back and looked down on her. "Megami."

Meg's eyes were only halfway open. "Hmm?"

"Please... Don't hate me for this."

"Why? Why would I?"

Laying his head down, burying his forehead in her shoulder, he mumbled something.

"...I... I didn't understand you, Vermeil."

He didn't answer. Within moments, he was snoring.

She didn't know Irkens slept, much less snored.