AN: I've never done this before, so I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. I'm gonna try and do this fic to a song: 'Maybe' by NZ band Opshop. I heard it on the radio and it seemed to fit quite well, so, here goes…
Oh yeah, 'Maybe' is written and performed by Jason Kerrison, Matt Treacy, Clinton Harris and Bobby Kennedy.
The D.I.B. Project Part 3: Maybe
Prologue – Secret
So what's this big secret you can't tell me?
Haven't we all had enough?
Enough for one day?
His mother's funeral had been anything but closure. It was over a week ago and Dib was still beset by insomnia. He wished that he had listened to her when she instructed him to remain upstairs while his father euthanised her. Instead, he had left Gaz immersed in the GameSlave 2, in her room, and opted to go down to his parents. Phoenix had, after all, chosen to die for the sake of her children.
The images plagued him ceaselessly: The shock on Phoenix's face as Zim had thrust the steel appendage through her back… The argument she had had with Membrane on the drive home… The regret in her eyes as she gave him her final piece of wisdom…
His thoughts were interrupted by a heavy thud and Dib sits up in his bed to look over to see what happened. A book had fallen from the shelf. Not just any book though – since his mother died, it had become one of his prized possessions. Dame phoenix had written it herself. Bending down to pick it up, he is startled when the next one falls. As he looks over to it, confused, a breeze flows loudly into the room… or… was it… a voice?
---
You need to be subtle, Dr. Gary Fisher told his daughter. You don't want to scare him, do you?
No, but… Phoenix shifted nervously. I just want… to comfort him. She walks around to her son's bed and watches as he stares blankly at the ceiling, sleepless. Kneeling down next to him, she kisses his cheek and whispers, Everything's gonna be okay, I promise…
He can't hear you.
I know.
He doesn't even know you're there.
I know, she repeats, rising and gliding to the bookcase, scanning all the spines. Perfect, she utters, placing her index finger on the top of one book.
Mothman Theories? Her father enquired.
In the Network, Dib's codename is Agent Mothman, she explained. Look who wrote it…
You.
Precisely, Phoenix replies, tugging on the book and letting it fall to the floor. She observes as her son rises from his bed and walks over to inspect the fallen book.
I, was Elite Chimera, Phoenix adds, pulling down the next one, ensuring that it lays open on a page concerning the beast. Did it work? Does he know I'm here?
Only one way to find out…
Phoenix nods and whispers: Can you hear me, Bumblebee?