[A/N] An original idea for a simple 1000 word one-shot turned into something I didn't expect. Hope you like it :)
(Invader Mia doesn't own Invader Zim)
"No!" Dib exclaimed, jumping up from his seat at the table. "You're lying!" he yelled, pointing a finger in his "father's" face.
"Calm down, son. It's not a big deal." Professor Membrane replied.
"Not a big deal? Of course it's a big deal! You're telling me I'm not even human!" Dib yelled.
"Son, do you understand why I wanted to wait until you were older to tell you this? You aren't mature enough to understand what I had to go through to get you." Membrane said, seeming unfazed by Dib's anger.
"And another thing, have you ever called me by my name? It's always 'son' with you. I am your son, but tell me, what's my name?" Dib yelled. "Do you even care?" his voice dropped down to almost a whisper.
Professor Membrane stood up. "Of course I care. But you need to not make a scene. Your sister is sleeping. You've no reason to be upset. You're just as human as your foreign friend." he said. Dib groaned. Even after Dib turned 16, he still couldn't convince his own dad that Zim was an alien.
"But he isn't human! He's- oh, never mind." Dib sighed. "And what about Gaz? Is she-"
"Yes." Membrane answered, avoiding Dib's gaze. "But just like you were, she isn't ready to handle this sort of thing. Please don't say anything until I can explain it to her."
Membrane tried to calm him down, "I understand you're angry with me, but I know that this is not a big a deal as you are making it out to be. I understand that-"
"You think you understand? You know what I'm going through? Well, Professor," Dib snarled the word, glaring into his eyes, "You have no idea."
Dib stood up and ran out the front door, slamming it behind him. It was late, and there was no moon out. He walked under the lighted sidewalk, with his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked back. No one seemed to be making an effort to follow him.
He sighed. "I can't be a clone. I'm nothing like my dad." He pulled his hands out of his pockets and studied each one carefully. They were human. No doubt. But they were exactly the same as his father's. Every ridge line, every palm line. It was highly illogical for two different people to have the same hand prints. And their hair. Same color, same natural scythe shape. But family members were supposed to have similar qualities, right?
And Gaz. Also a clone. A female version of Membrane. Again, nothing like him. But, it also wasn't impossible. He was responsible for the cloning, he could have manipulated any feature he wanted.
Why? Why clone yourself when you can just have children? Dib gasped as he realized, Membrane never really wanted kids. Dib and Gaz were just science experiments. Only this time, they legally couldn't be destroyed.
Dib yelled as he punched the brick house he was walking by. The resounding yelp of pain came as he felt the crunch of bone. His hand glowed red in the street lamps, and he felt the warm liquid flowing to the ground. He didn't care.
Shoving his hands back in his pockets, he bit his lower lip, trying to resist the urge to scream, or cry, or stifle whatever emotion was trying to rise out of him. Maybe Membrane was lying, trying to prove Dib was too emotional about things. Willing to believe any idea thrown into his head by anyone. Trying to make him stop chasing Zim.
But why lie? If he'd wanted Dib to stop chasing Zim, he could've chosen from a wider variety of options, that involved a lot more science. But he didn't.
"What makes me different?" Dib said aloud, quietly. He lifted up his sleeved arms and looked at them. He'd never suspected he was a clone. But was he human?
Dib took a deep breath, and tried to clear his mind. He didn't want to think about it anymore. He put his head down and walked faster, wanting to get as far away from his house as possible. Dib wasn't even sure if he ever wanted to return. But he had to tell Gaz. Somehow.
Dib glanced up. He recognized this area. He'd absentmindedly walked to Zim's base. However, the horrible green facade of a house wasn't there. All that was left was the white toilet that led to the underground base. The house, the furniture, even the fence and lawn gnomes were gone.
He walked up the sidewalk. There was no evidence of life ever being here, aside from the toilet. It was just a lawn, covered in grass. But where was Zim?
Dib walked over to the toilet. It stood just as it had before. He wondered if it still worked. Making sure no one was looking, he stepped into the toilet. Nothing happened. He pressed down on the handle. The entire toilet began to descend into the ground. He looked up and watched as night faded away above him.
The tube that led down below was longer than it used to be. Dib guessed it might not even lead to where it used to. After a few minutes, the toilet thudded against the ground in a small, dimly lit room. It contained a desktop computer on a desk, and a chair. The computer looked human, nothing alien looking to show to the Swollen Eyeball Network. The computer monitor was off, but Dib could hear the soft whirring of the computer running beneath it.
He sat down in the too small chair. Probably one of Zim's. Turning on the monitor, there was a message on the screen.
FOR DIB'S EYES ONLY
Dib was confused. Something from Zim? He clicked it with the mouse. Zim's face filled the screen. He wasn't wearing his disguise.
"Dib," Zim began. It was a video, "If your watching this, I'm probably long gone by now. I won't be returning to Earth. You were a formidable foe, but I have been called back to Irk to rescue another Invader. And," Zim paused, his face tightening up, "After the mission, I'll probably be erased. I'm a defect, Dib-stink. This mission I've been called back for might not even be real. I'm not like a normal Irken. I have ruined things, and I have feelings that we aren't supposed to have. My PAK will be erased, and my body destroyed." Dib felt he'd won a small victory. Zim wouldn't be returning to Earth! But, Dib realized, he and Zim now had more in common than before. They were both outcasts of their own people. Except, Zim had to be destroyed because of it. "I'm not supposed to know this, but I have I friend on the inside who figured it out. And, Dib-stink," Zim paused again, "I have an odd favor to ask of you. There is a box to the left of this computer." Dib paused the video, and stood up. There was a box to the left. He walked over to it. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what was inside of it. What if it was a bomb or something? He pulled it out under the lamp overhead. It was sealed shut with tape. He shook it. It wasn't light, but it also wasn't very heavy. It didn't explode, so Dib decided to peel back the tape. Slowly. He pulled back the cardboard flaps. It was still too dark to see inside the box so he turned it over. A deactivated GIR fell out, hitting the floor with a clang.
"GIR?" Dib said aloud. His eyes were dark, and he didn't know how to turn him back on. He went back to the computer and pressed the play button on the video.
"Inside, is my little robot servant, GIR. He doesn't deserve to be destroyed because of my mistakes. Dib- human, please, I know I don't deserve a favor of you but please, care for him. If you don't, I understand. That's all I had to say. Good-bye, Dib- uh, Dib. I am glad I had the opportunity to fight against such a worthy opponent. Invader Zim, signing off." Zim saluted the camera and the video went black.
Dib tried to replay the video, but the file just seemed to be gone. He wasn't sure what to do about GIR. Why would Zim leave him? He never seemed to care for him. Why try so hard to protect him? Maybe Zim wasn't supposed to care. A feeling an Irken wasn't supposed to have. But maybe, secretly, he did.
He picked up GIR. How to turn him on? There didn't seem to be a switch on his body. Dib tried to move the antenna on his head. When he pushed it back, his head opened up. There was a small switch on the inside of the rim of his head. He moved it. GIR's bright blue eyes shined in the dim light. "Mary!" GIR exclaimed, "Where's my master?" GIR searched about frantically.
Dib didn't know what to say. "Zim had to, uh, go fight bad guys on, um, Mars." Dib lied.
"Ohhhhhh, OK!" GIR smiled. "When's he comin' home?" he said, loudly.
Dib felt horrible. Zim didn't tell GIR he was leaving. "Not for a long time, GIR. In the meantime, how would you like to stay with me?" Dib picked him up.
"Can piggy come too?" GIR asked, pulling a rubber pig out of his head.
"Sure." Dib replied.
"Yay!" GIR yelled. He dropped out of Dib's grip and started running around the small room. He grabbed a piece of fabric out of the box and put it on, which Dib could only guess was his poorly made dog costume. He ran back to Dib and started to climb him until he was sitting on his head. "Let's go!" he yelled, all too eagerly.
Dib walked over to the toilet, and stood on it. This time it rose on it's own. They came out into the night. He stepped off the toilet, and it went back into the ground, only to be covered by a fresh patch of grass. It looked completely normal.
"Where's the house?" GIR almost cried.
"I don't know." Dib shrugged. "GIR, do you have anything to write on in that full head of yours?" He looked up.
"Um..." GIR said, and a yellow notepad and dull pencil shot out of his head. "I dooooooo!"
Dib sat on the sidewalk and scribbled a crude note. Gaz, it read, I'm leaving. And, there's something you should know. You and I are clones. Sorry to have to tell you in a note, but, this couldn't wait. We are a male and female clone of dad. But, I can't stay home anymore. Zim's gone, I'm no longer needed to protect the Earth. I've adopted his robot slave. I don't know what I'll do now, but I'll figure out something. Stay safe, Dib.
He folded up the note, and jammed it in his pocket. "Ok, GIR, I'm ready to go." Dib said, standing up.
"Okie dokie!" GIR said, taking his place back on Dib's head. Dib walked back towards his house. He snuck inside, and slipped the note under Gaz's door.
"GIR," Dib whispered, "I have to get some stuff from my room. Stand here and make sure no one wakes up. And be quiet."
GIR gave him a thumbs up, and Dib snuck into his room. He didn't take much. Just a few changes of clothes, his laptop, and the alien transmission device he'd used, and modified. Now transmissions could run both ways. He threw them all into his old backpack, grabbed the small robot and started down the stairs. The living room was darker than it was when he got home, which could only mean...
"Son, where do you think you're going?" Membrane said, flipping on the lamp that looked just like him.
"I'm leaving, Dad." Dib said.
"No, you aren't. And what's that thing on your back?" Professor Membrane asked.
"That thing is GIR." Dib said, pulling him off his back to show him.
"Hi-ya!" GIR squealed. Professor Membrane shook his head.
"That is a very odd looking dog." Membrane said. "Son, I know you're upset, but you're not thinking rationally."
"I know what I am. And I have thought this through. I've made my decision. I'm out of here." Dib said, walking toward the door.
"You leave this house, you won't be welcome back here ever again." Membrane said, standing up.
"Good. I don't want to share the house with a liar, anyway." Dib said, slamming the door behind him.
Dib set GIR up on his shoulder and walked away from his house, Zim's house, and everything he ever knew. GIR was quiet until they had almost reached the big city.
"I want some tacos. I want some tacos! I WANT TACOOOOOOOS!" GIR yelled while hitting Dib in the head repeatedly.
"Ok, ok. We'll get something to eat. But then we're going to find a place to sleep. I'm exhausted." Dib said.
"Ok!" GIR said, burrowing his head into Dib's neck.
"And try not to talk so much. You'll freak people out." Dib said. GIR nodded, his head still buried in his shirt. Not long after that, Dib heard a soft snoring. "I didn't know robots could snore." Dib said to no one.
Dib yawned. He hadn't slept in well over a day. Nearing a Krazy Taco, he shook GIR until he was awake. "GIR, do you want some tacos?" Dib asked. GIR nodded again, but went back to sleep. Poor robot. Left alone in the world. Just like Dib.
Dib picked up a bag of tacos with everything in them. He even bought a few extra burritos for GIR. There was a cheap motel down the street that was pet-friendly. Dib didn't have much money, but he paid for the room for a week. The room wasn't amazing. But it had the basic neccesitites. Bed, shower, toilet, cable tv.
He dumped GIR on the bed, and set the tacos down next to him. "Eat up." GIR woke up and started nibbling on a burrito. Dib unwrapped a taco and turned on the TV.
"Can we watch the Angry Monkey Show?" GIR asked quietly. He looked sad.
"Sure." Dib said. He didn't want to ask. It probably had to do with Zim. He didn't want to think about that.
After eating a taco and taking a shower, Dib laid down and tried to sleep. Which was almost impossible due to GIR loudly eating his way through the bag of tacos. Dib moaned. He threw off the sheets and sat up, putting his glasses back on. "Ok, looks like I'm not getting any sleep. Might as well do something useful. He hooked up his laptop and his alien transmission device. There was something he needed to do.
"GIR, there's a gas station around the corner. Can you take this 5 dollars and get a Suk Monkey for you and me?" Dib asked.
GIR's eyes widened. "OOOOOOOOOH! Yay!" he yelled and grabbed the bill and ran out the door. Dib didn't have much time. He set up the machine, and held the microphone to his mouth.
"This message is for Irken Invader Zim. Zim, I've got GIR. I'll take care of him. He'll be ok. It was a good thing you did, Zim. You were also a great enemy. Good luck." He clicked off. He leaned back in the chair by the desk, and waited for GIR to return. He dozed off.
A crackle began to come through the system. Then a voice. "Is th- the lar- heade- boy from Ear-?" Dib recognized the voice. It was one of Zim's leaders. He looked at the clock. It had been about 15 minutes since he fell asleep. GIR hadn't returned.
He leaned back into the microphone. "Yes. This is the," Dib paused, and sighed, "big-headed boy from Earth."
The voice came through clearer this time. "Zim never made it to Irk. Do you know where he is?"
"No, I don't. Why did you call Zim back anyway?" Dib asked.
"If you haven't already figured it out, uh-" the voice said.
"Dib. My name is Dib."
"Well, if you haven't already figured it out, Dib, Zim isn't like the rest of us. He contributed nothing to the rise of the Irken Empire. In fact, I say he's taken part in the downfall. He even ruined our first shot at world conquest. Based on this, his status is now Defect. And defects need to be removed from the Irken master brain." the voice crackled.
"But why remove them? Everyone makes mistakes." Dib said.
"The Irken race doesn't tolerate mistakes." the voice snapped. "Zim will be found, and he will be eliminated."
"But it isn't right!" Dib exclaimed.
"The opinion of a human means nothing to us. You will also be conquered." the voice said.
He turned the machine off. Dib signed, even Zim didn't deserve what they wanted to do. GIR skipped through the door with two Suk Monkeys.
"Thanks, GIR." Dib said, sitting back down in the chair with his drink. GIR stripped out of his dog costume and turned on the TV. He walked over to Dib and hugged his leg.
"Thank you," GIR said, burying his face in Dib's leg. He climbed off and went and sat on the bed.
Dib smiled.
[A/N] So, I have no idea whether this should remain a one-shot, or maybe turn into a multi-chapter ZADF. Please don't flame, this took me hours to write. Read and Review :D