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Prologue
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He never meant for things to turn out this way. But, honestly, does anyone truly intend to lose absolutely everything?
If one were to look at Dib Membrane, age twenty, and had known him as a boy, they would hardly recognize what they saw. Nor, in fact, would he recognize himself in the mirror, so altered was he now. He would not remember his childhood or teenage years or the things that made him who he was now…
No one knows, no one remembers… and yet here is that forgotten story.
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It happened right after his sister, Gaz, was born.
He didn't know what was wrong with her; how could he, at only one? But he must have, surely, in whatever semblance of awareness one has at age one, known that something was not quite the same with Mommy Membrane. Perhaps not, though. After all, Mommy Membrane didn't last much longer after that, after she got sick, as Daddy Membrane would tell them later when they were old enough to ask questions. By age two, Dib's mother had passed on, and he would never remember her for as long as he lived.
From an adult's perspective, one can confirm that Daddy—or, rather, Professor—Membrane did, indeed, mourn the loss of his dearly beloved. From a child's perspective, at so young an age that the concept of mourning was not yet known, the love and warmth previously enjoyed had gone, and that was all. The professor was not a particularly affectionate man, but he did care for his children and his wife. Work, however, was something for which he cared even more.
Dib and Gaz spent their toddling years under the care of various nannies, and they hardly ever saw their father. But once they were old enough for daycare, that was where they were put, and where they stayed.
As very small children, Gaz and Dib were fairly close, being that they were truly the only family they knew. But even at a young age, Dib came across and completely fell for the concept of alien life forms, as well as other "paranormal phenomena." Gaz did not understand his fascination and eventual obsession, and they began to play together less and less. She neither believed nor disbelieved in any of the things her brother so fervently sought after, but would occasionally play along to an extent. As they grew older, and she became competent of such a notion, she began to think him crazy; but at the end of the day, he was still her brother, annoying as he might ever be.
And then came Zim… and Gaz knew he was gone.