Dib stroked the steel autopsy table in the dark. It was an ordinary steel table. It was cold, emotionless, and never was bothered by the screaming victims the scientists strapped to it.
Dib shuddered at the memory. He had finally caught the alien. But not in a way he had imagined so many times before.
It was so simple. A single gunfire to the pak and the deed was done. No heroic battle, not even a last word. At least, not until he helped his father reactivate Zim on the table.
Dib remember Zims' expression. He remembered how he watched Zim attempt to break free. How horrified he seemed when he told him he had disabled his weapons in his Pak.
How heartbroken he seemed when he told him what the other scientists did to Gir.
Dib fell to his knees, suddenly feeling sick. The detail of how the pale red blood poured out. The pain filled screams. The last words.
"And you called me a monster."
It was only a hoarse whisper, but it jabbed into the boys' heart like a jagged blade.
After the autopsy, his father urged him to go outside. A large news crew and spectators were all shouting questions, praises, and called him a hero.
But Dib would have none of it. He didn't want this. Not now. Not like this. He ran back in the building and stayed there. Dib walked into the room where the scientists kept Zims body. They were going to freeze it and display it the public.
Dib remembered those lifeless orbs. He remembered the scattered pieces of Zims' Pak lying on a table. He remembered it with such detail, he swore he still in the room.
Dib then lay on the cold floor. He could hear the other scientist cheering in the break room. No one bothered to look for him. No one wanted to have Dib spoil their fun.
He knew he had to leave to building sooner or later. He knew he would have to go back home, and go to school again.
But to do it all without him.
It was too much to bare.