The Stranger
"You there! Who is she?" A voice spoke softly to a man sitting at a wooden table in the middle of the woods. The question was asked of a stranger. No one here really cared about strangers. But they cared little of anyone or anythingexcept their enslaved families, or dead ones.
The people here were rebels. They wanted to free the people of earth from Zim. Zimeven the name spoken dripped with hatred but now this evil king had trickled into this rebel camp in disguise just to see what was here. His eyes lay opens and peeled at the beautiful girl on the stageShe looked familiar, but how could he know why? Zim had never known anyone other than Dib, Kizzy, and Gaz. Other humans from his childhood would remaindead to him. This girl thoughshe was very different. This was something he could see.
"And when the mourning dove criesMay your heart be free". The girl fell into a silence of dramatic yet beautiful dance. She moved like a catlike a fallen angle.
"I never saw the truth to these realities, but all I ever knew is gone. Taken like the wind by the hold of the darkness. Each day and night I lost one close to the dark shadow that looms over all. Maybe the death of an angle will set us all freemaybe the death of an angelwill set us all free" With that the people rose to give her a standing ovation. She fell into a bow before turning and walking down the steps. Her dark hair fell about her face but her deep forest green eyes looked out at the crowd and fell upon the stranger. Her head turned once more back to the shadows and she disappeared.
Zim was spellbound by this girl's voice and the single lock of hair that fell down in front of her face almost garnered what he wanted to confirm. Was this really the daughter of the leader of the resistance?
"Your new her right?" The man said. He made a motion for Zim to sit down.
"Yesyes I am, but I will be moving on, I am only stopping for a bit. Anyway, do tell me of this girl"
"Her, well she has quite the history but don't think you will win her heartshe doesn't care for anyone. Well she did but all of her family is dead now. Though she does care for that boy Cain."
"I see, tell me of her family."
"Well she is the daughter of Dib and Kizzy. She has got quite the sad past mind you and she almost killed that bastard Zimtwice. That is closer than any of us got mind you. Oh sure, we can mess with his computers, kill his guard and armies. We can abduct his planes and trucks and car and such. But we can never even get close to him. When she was fiveshe shot him in the side. It was said he almost died but he lived. He" The man snarled and a small crack slipped up the glass he held in his hands.
"Well" Zim said as he lifted himself. "I guess its time you learned what true power is made of." He hissed. He flipped out a knife and the flash of the blade sent a blinding light to all for a split second. The man Zim had sat with lay dead. Crimson blood trickled from his neck. Zim sat in the shadows a sadistic smile spread across his face.
She could have killed him themshe knew itAutumn stood surrounded by darkness. A thick silvery mist slipped about the area and kept any light from filtering in. She could see in the dark. She had been given a type of contact lens that could only be removed surgically to let her see in darkness. She was also given an upgrade to each of her other senses so that she would be in no danger. Her father had done thisher father.
"Fatherthe great Dib" She whispered. His death had torn her worse than anything had. She couldn't save him; she had been young and foolish. She thought Zim would take her instead but notshe forgot the bullets pierce skin and a forty-five-caliber pistol would go right through
Autumn was a dark girl to start. She had grown up with death and it showed. Her skin was pale. Her hair was jet black like her father's and she inherited his lock of hair. It was a single piece that that hung down in front of her eyes. Her eyes were the deep forest green her mother's had been. She was strong and she had been trained in ever type of hands on combatshe had made herself learn and train everyday so she would not fail her father again. Her father had taught her everything he could find; he wanted her to learn and know all she would have been taught, all she could have been taught. After his death she continued to learn and even to that very day she continued.
She could remember everything so clearlythe day Gaz died was a month before her mother left. Gaz had always wanted something out of lifeto change the pain she had felt as a girl into a force to fight the pain Zim now inflicted on the people of earth. She had loved him for a few years but when he betrayed her by killing her friend. JulieJulie had been Gaz's best and first real friend. Gaz could truly identify with her and they actually understood each other. But Zim killed her, when she spoke out to him and told him how awful he was to Dib and she said something awful to himZim killed her and for once Gaz's eyes were opened. She had to help Dib and Kizzy and stop being such a little girl. When Zim took over Gaz led with Dib and Kizzy to stop him. She wanted him dead for what he had done; he had taken away everything she had loved. He had killed her father and her best friend and her friend would be avenged.
The day she was killed Gaz was at the head beside Dib and Kizzy. She spoke strongly against him, but now her words had been forgotten like the fact that she had ever been alive.
"Zimyou and your race are monsters. Do you see what you have done to the people of earth? Do you see what you are doing? You are responsible for the deaths of thousands! You will be stopped, maybe here, maybe by my descendants, but someone will stop you Zim! Someone will end your rein and I am going to try and make my dreams and the world the same. I am not that dark little girl anymore. I am strong enough to step forward and so are the people of earth!" She raised a fist and so did the army. A yell rose up and Zim gave a laugh.
"Oh my Gazwhat a touching speech. I knew you were an artist but I never knew you were a poet. Trulykudos."
"We can all be poets if we speak what is in our hearts."
"GazGaz, Gaz, Gaz. It vexes me sothis whole problem here. Your are just an annoying little brat running around. Why are you not dead yet? I expected you to kill yourself long ago you know. You seem the suicidal type. You know Gaz you should join me nowJoin what I have done for the world. You will be given power and all of your mongrel followers here? You can watch as they have lined up to dieSurrender Gazyou-"
"You really think I'll stop for you? You killed the person closest to me for telling the truth! You deserve to die Zim!"
"Oh mythat hurts Gaz"
"Ah Zim, if that hurt, then this is going to hurt like hell!" She lifted her gun and fired sending a bullet at his head. He managed to dodge but it grazed his shoulder.
"Attack!" She screamed. The men rode forward on horses. Zim's men ran forward, Zim sat on a black horse laughing as he shot mercilessly at the people. Autumn rode her own stallion forward. Jumping forward she landed on him knocking him to the ground.
"Autumn, no don't!" Dib yelled. He bolted forward his gun drawn. Kizzy followed behind him. Zim through Autumn off him and into a wall. Her head hit hard and she did her best to get up, but could not.
"Now you die Dib! Say good bye, you and your wife!" He fired the gun and Autumn saw Gaz's eyes. Tears streamed down her face, as she seemed to be there suddenly Knocking Kizzy and Dib out of the way.
"Gaz no!" Dib cried out.
"Gaz, Gaz don't!" Kizzy yelled as Gaz knocked them both to the ground. She suddenly fell, crumpling to the ground. Tears trickled down her face and him laughed before mounting his horse again and riding back into the crowd murdering everyone he came upon, including his own men.
"Dibpeople of earthforgive me"
"Forgive you for what, Gazyou have done nothing wrong. It's okay, you will be fighting again in no time" Tears trickled down Dib's face and Kizzy had her hand over her mouth, tears slipped out of her closed eyes.
"NoI'm not"
"GAZ! GAZ NO! GAZ! GAZ! GAZ! Please" Dib closed his eyes buried his face in his hands
Zim had always left them there, Dib, Kizzy, and Autumn. Killing them slowly one by one. Kizzy had died like Gaz, in battle. Kizzy had always been strong, beautiful, and a courageous fighter. Dib loved her for that, he always had and when she diedit devastated him. Kizzy had stood face to face in front of Zim.
"Well, it seems you've gotten what you wanted out of life Zim. You conquered a planet; you killed Gaz and millions of humans. What more is there for you to do?"
"So much more Kizzyyou can't even see itI still have to kill you of course and Dib. End the rebellion you know all that fun stuff."
"Really, maybe Zim, maybe I can end all of your cares nowjust like you ended so many other's cares."
"Or I could do the same for you, you never know KizHow about right now? Bang" Deadly silence. Dib's head whipped around to see Kizzy fall. Autumn eyes grew wide and she did something no one every would have. She jumped forward grabbing Dib's gun.
"Autumn!" He yelled she fired the shot and suddenly Zim clutched his side. He fell to his knees beside Kizzy.
"K-k-killNOW!"
"Yes Lord Zim" Suddenly everyone else had been captured and Autumn and Dib stood alone. Dib suddenly ran forward to get Kizzy.
"Father no!" Tears could be felt in his eyes, but Dib had to get her. He would not leave her here. He scoped her up into his arms and turned back to Autumn.
"Run, don't worry about merun and don't stop."
"Right." She nodded and bolted forward. A shower of bullets came through the tree and Autumn stopped for a moment. A low whistle slipped from her mouth and turned into the call of a mourning dove. He was the only way both Autumn and Dib could make it out alive. She couldn't just leave him thereand their motherWhy had Kizzy died, she had done nothing wrong in her life. Zim would be stopped, but Dib, or by Autumn. It didn't matter now
She remembered when she finally found him. Dib lay hunched over Kizzy, his sides heaved and he seemed torn apart.
"FatherI'm sorryI-I love her too"
"I know you can mourn without crying since you do not know howI love her so muchHE TOOK HER FROM ME!" Dib slammed his fists to the muddy ground.
"Say goodbye to the angle, say goodbye to your motheryour wife. Say goodbye to your aunt, your sisterSay you love themand let them go."
"I cannot let them goI-"
"FatherGaz and Kizzy died the same and I hope you or I will not join them in the same way."
"Leave meLEAVE ME!" A raven sat in the tree above them. It was time for Kizzy and Gaz to go
"Fatherthe raven comeslet Kizzy go without a fight."
"I" Autumn turned and left.
Dib was never the same after that but he was loving and did his best as a father. She remembered the day he died. She sat with him in a field and he lay on his back beside her. They didn't speak, but Autumn knew that something was going to happen.
"Autumn, I think that I have taught you everything I can"
"Yes, but I could learn so much more."
"I know, but you can do that on your own, or with life's experiences. You don't need me anymore." Her head snapped towards him. The wind blew his hair softly and he kept his gaze on the blank blue sky. The emerald grass rippled as the wind blew fiercely like the rage that turned in both their hearts. Her forest green eyes looked at him had she known how to cry she would have been for she knew he was going to do something.
"Father" She whispered.
"You are just like me you knowI mean know. You are more like Kizzy when she was young. I was eccentric and veryobsessive over my hobbies" He gave a chuckle. "But you know, you are just like me nowlonely. I was like that as a boy. All I had was Gaz before I met your mother. You've only got meand Cain." He laughed.
"Cain means nothing to me" She snapped harshly.
"Oh Autumn. I am not blindI know you have been going of with him these nights. You don't spend time with him during the day but"
"That's enough"
"You're a teenager, it is to be expected." He chuckled. Autumn's eyes narrowed.
"You never laugh you knowYou never cryYou have never smiled once in your life."
"Maybe there has been nothing for me to smile about. You know, when you're born into hell you never leave."
"You never had to be apart of it you know."
"Bull shit, you know damn well I was apart of this from the day I was bornWhy did you train me to fight, give me these sense upgrade chips?"
"Because I wanted you to be safe. You know you never had to go to those battles."
"I never wanted to until Gaz died! The goddamn battles were right by our camp! How could you get away from the death."
"Now you want what I wantTo destroy Zim"
"Is that what you want, Father? You want me to hate Zim with all my heart too? I don't even have all my heart anymore. My own mother and aunt were murdered right in front of my eyes. Their blood might as well have splashed my face I was so close. I hate him with every bit of sanity I've got left." Dib sat up and put his arms around her, kissing the side of her head softly.
"It's getting darkI've got to get home."
"You'reyou're not going to go to confront Zim are you?"
"No" He said softly.
"Goodbye, father." He had nodded and disappeared.
That night Autumn heard him leave the wood cabin. She watched him gather his guns and climb above his storm gray stallion. He was going to kill him and she knew it. She could see Cain approaching her and she sat up.
"He leftYou're going too."
"Yes, Cain." She kissed him softly on the cheek and he held her there for a moment. She pulled herself away and let out the low whistle.
"The call of the mourning dove" He said. "I shall mourn if you do not return."
"If I do not come back Cain, you can meet me in hell." For the first time she gave a soft smile along with a light chuckle. Cain whistled for his own black stallion and Autumn's head turned to see him. She sat atop her horse looking at him.
"Do not interfere with what I am going to do."
"That's hypocritical, your interfering with your father's work."
"I have my rights, besides. He never said anything against me going. The difference is I told you not to interfere." He nodded.
"I'll do what I must to keep you alive."
"I have no cares for my life, that is why I'm so deadly." She gave a soft bird like call and the horse galloped forward.
That night was not one Autumn would ever forget. As they neared the fortress she could see where her father had entered. The pair hopped a few fences and dismounted sending the horses into the woods. Autumn knew this would not end well as she and Cain looked down upon a scene that began to unfold.
"Well Zimwe finally meet the way I've always wanted and one of us is going to die this night."
"Oh yesyou may have me at gun point Dib, but will you be able to escape alive?"
"Without your leadership these people will be lost. I will have freed earth with a single bullet."
"Maybe so but your banking on the fact that you actually shoot me. Come on Dibshoot, for your bitch of a wife that now burns in your human hell. Or for your ignorant sister. Come on now" He came close to Dib's ear.
"Well thenlet's end it nowbang." He said softly, copying the last words his wife would ever hear. But noZim flickered and disappeared.
"No! A hologram!" He said. Suddenly he felt his gun snatched and he turned to see the laughing face of Zim.
"Oh it's to bad Dibyou were so close but yet do you think I was foolish enough to have the real me stay hear? Out in the open and so close to your filthy camp? On your knees Dib."
"I will never-" Zim slammed Dib in the back of the head with his gun, sending him on his hands and knees. Grabbing him by his hair he lifted him up.
"Good boy, Dib." Autumn could not believe what she was seeing. But she knew it would come to this. She had known it when he first spoke of it. Zim had always won and going after him single-handed would not work.
"Well Dib it looks like the last few moments of your life are before you."
"Zim, you will not win this war for earth. You will never win, my descendants will destroy you."
"Oh don't tell me, that girl of yours will stop me? I highly doubt that."
"You don't know my daughter then"
"Well it's time to end this" Autumn's eyes opened wide as she saw Zim load a bullet into the gun.
"Now you die" She saw the gun raise. Suddenly she felt something trickled down her cheek. TearsShe was crying for her father. She loved him so and now she would watch as he died. No she could let that happen! She had to stop Zim beforebefore Dib would be no more.
"NO FATHER!" She jumped forward onto the dark black curtains in the room. She the swung onto a large chandelier above Dib and Zim.
"This ends now, Zim."
"Meet my daughter, Zim. Her name is Autumn."
"Wonderful! I get to end your family here Dib!" He lifted the gun once more. Autumn dove suddenly before she knew what she was doing. She flipped back on her hands and kicked the gun from his hands. Snatching it out of the air she aimed it at his head.
"No more Zim"
"Autumnyou're tears"
"How touching but it looks like this party is going to endI always bring back up." Pain seared through her chest before the sound was even heard. She fell to the groundZim had missed anything that would kill her, but not Dib. Blood trickled from a wound in his head.
"Cain help me" She whispered. But nothing around could have helped her now. She could see the blood pouring from a wound in her father's head. She could see his amber eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Cain swooped down out of nowhere it seemed and scooped her into his arms.
"Get father" Cain dragged Dib as quickly as he could to the window and helped Autumn out. Dib followed her followed by Cain. Autumn was heaving now; blood trickled through a wound by her shoulder. She wouldn't die if the wound was taken care of, but Dib was already dead. How could he be dead?
And so as Autumn sat in the darkness knowing the stranger had been her father's murderer and the eradicator of her family she wanted to kill him more than ever. He father's passionate hate for Zim had grown where her heart had been. Now There was nothing but a beating muscle, with no love for anyoneat least anyone she wished to speak about.