1 Chapter 1 –Jump To The Future
It was later during the night that Callista returned from Zim's dimension. Callista had just snuck into bed; she was late getting there because she lost track of time while looking at the UFO 'zine she had been given. She would tell her parents that her friend had given it to her, which was true. No one would believe that she met a cartoon character and that he gave it to her. Just as she crept under her blanket, Callista's mom turned the light on.
"What do you think you're doing? It's 2:00 in the morning!"
"Oh – I... um... saw a UFO and wanted to check it out!"
"That's the third time this week you've used that excuse!"
"Yeah, she's always saying, 'they're coming! They're coming! They're after my mind!'" Callista's sister Tany said in a mocking way.
"Go to sleep. I have to get up in a few hours," Cathey told Callista angrily.
"It's true! If you had any idea what I've been through..."
"What? Were you abducted by aliens?" Tany asked jokingly.
"Take a look in the trash!" Callista instructed, referring to the note she had written.
"Okay, mother, I was reading a UFO magazine because it's a gift from someone special."
"And what should you be doing?"
"Going to sleep, but..."
"Exactly."
"But I saw something strange!"
"What Callista?" Cathey asked.
"A flash of light! I thought it was lightning but it lit up the whole room! If it was lightning, it would have been followed by thunder shortly after! It was too bright! I think it was them!"
"Yeah. Right. Who?" Tany asked.
"Try to go to sleep," her mother instructed.
"I will try. It won't be easy, though," she said awkwardly, for she really had seen the flash of light that she described.
Four years later.
Callista was in the ninth grade now. Time sure flied since the time that she staved off the Gauveuntains with her two best friends Zim and Dib. In the high school, her sister Tany picked her on. She spread rumors that were and weren't true. A bright light that greatly resembled the Gauveuntain ship hovered in the sky; disappeared. Seralio's ship appeared in its place. Suddenly, she was beamed aboard.
"Welcome back, Callista. We have a job for you."
"What is it?"
"You need to go back to Zim's reality."
"What am I to do there, Seralio?"
"You will find out."
"How long will I be there?"
"You are truly a kidder, Callista. You know very well that time is relative."
"I know. How much time there, then?"
"As long as it takes."
"I will be honored to take on the job, whatever it is."
"I will send you right away. What time would you like to be sent to?"
"The same time as I am in. When Dib is in the ninth grade."
"Very well then. You will arrive at Dib's house."
"Will the time of day be the same as now?"
"It must be."
"Very well. Beam me down." In a flash, Callista found herself outside of Dib's room. "I hope he doesn't get too shocked..." Callista whispered as she slowly turned the doorknob. She entered Dib's room and saw how different it was. When she approached Dib's bed, she said as quietly as she could, "Dib, wake up!" Still he didn't stir. "Wake up Dib!" Callista ordered, slightly louder.
"Who – what?" Dib asked, "It's you! Callista, you're back! After four years!" Dib cried in amazement and joy.
"Quiet!" She shushed Dib.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to Zim's house."
"What will dad think? That I ran away?"
"We'll be back before anyone knows. I promise."
"Okay, I'll go." When they reached Zim's house, Callista rang the doorbell. Zim was already there and opened the door.
"Callista! What are you doing here?"
"I was sent by Seralio."
"We've got work to do. Callista, do you know anything about what this is about?" Zim inquired.
"No. Zim, get your stone that I gave you. Dib already has his." They entered the room.
"I have the latest issue of Crop Circles Magazine. Would you like to see it?"
"Sure. Thanks. I haven't seen you for four years. I've missed you."
"Me too."
"I know. It's too bad you couldn't stay for Thanksgiving last time."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to miss it – I guess fate had other things in store for me."
"If you're here for a long enough time, can you stay for Thanksgiving?"
"Of course. Nothing could keep me away."
"I wonder what's taking Zim so long."
"I don't know. What I do know is that the week I spent in this dimension was unforgettable. I never forgot it, and I never will."
"I've got it!" Zim yelled as he came into the room.
"Be quiet Zim! It's two o'clock in the morning for goodness sake! Do you want to wake up the whole planet?"
"That's what I asked GIR when I first arrived on this planet!" Zim cried out in amazement.
"Yeah, I know. We have to keep quiet. Zim, go in the kitchen."
"Why?"
"GIR left something on the stove and it's going to start burning soon."
"Oh." Zim got the pot of beans off the stove and asked GIR what he was doing with beans. It was futile, though, as all he could get out of GIR was, 'I don't know'
"Zim, go to your lab," Callista commanded.
"Why?"
"You'll see something very peculiar down there that I think you should investigate." When Zim left the room, Callista turned her attention toward Dib. "So, what have you been up to the past four years?"
"Not much. I hoped you could have come back sooner, though."
"I could've come back a year after, but I'd still be the same age I am now."
"I understand."
"I have a question," Callista said.
"What is it?"
"Have you ever dated anyone besides me?"
"What? No!"
"I will have to check with Zim."
"How can you rely on that alien? He'll just make something up!"
"I don't know. I just have to check."
"I really haven't though!"
"Are you still in love with me, or are you just making it up so I won't feel bad?"
"I really do. Trust me."
"I do. Let's look at that magazine."
At Zim's lab
"Callista, I don't know what you were talking about. There's nothing peculiar down..." Zim didn't finish his sentence. He saw GIR chewing on a candy bar. Not only that, but GIR was messing with a machine. It was a machine that would change people's ages.
"NO!" Zim shouted, but it was too late. Dib and Callista were looking at a magazine together, but now they were drinking coffee and typing a report about paranormal activity on their laptops. They looked different, too. Dib looked pretty much the same; only instead of having a face on his shirt there was a ghost. Callista wore a jacket like Dib's that was blue and a dark blue long-sleeve shirt. There was another difference also. This difference was apparent in the both of them. They both wore wedding rings. When Zim saw what GIR had done, he could only say, "Oh my gosh..." The whole world was twenty years older.
"Dib, are you almost done with that investigative piece on Bigfoot?"
"Yeah, almost. You almost done with your report on my abduction?"
"One more lengthy paragraph should do it." Zim felt slightly weaker, for he was 20 Earth years older.
"When do we pick up the kids?" Dib asked.
"3:00 p.m."
"Wait a minute. Callista, I have a question," Zim cut in.
"You can call me by my first name since we're friends, but I often prefer 'Mrs. Membrane' okay?"
"I could have taken your name when we married, though."
"No, I was honored. Your name is just fine."
"I was wondering... what are your kids' names?" Zim asked.
"Zim, of all the stupid questions to ask! They're Caitlyn and Dil of course!"
"I'm sorry, I've lost some memory... or my senses... what are the professions they desire, how old are they?"
"Zim, what has gotten into you? Caitlyn is ten and Dil is eleven. Caitlyn wants to be a scientist and Dil wants to be a paranormal investigator, just like old mom and dad!"
"-Like...mom and dad... okay... You're married, aren't you," Zim guessed.
"I'd better get you to the lab. Dib, don't sneak a peek at my report. It's a surprise for the meeting."
"Okay!"
"Zim, what's wrong?" Zim wanted her to know about the problem, but couldn't tell her because knowing this could affect them in serious medical ways.
"Nothing. I'm in perfect health."
"What about the amnesia?"
"Can you fill me in after work?"
"Sure thing Zim. I've got to get my report done, though, so just lie down and rest. Okay?"
"I will do that."
"Dib, it's almost 5:00 a.m., finish up."
"We don't leave for work until six!"
"According to the schedule, we have to begin getting ready for work at 5:00 a.m."
"I don't like that schedule."
"I just don't want us to be late; I don't have a license, remember? If you're late, I'm late. If we're late, we'll get fired. If we get fired, we have no money. If we have no money, we have no food, shelter, etc. Our whole income is based upon the schedule."
"Let's not fight. We can argue with skeptics at the office and on TV. That sounds better, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Thanks. You do know we don't go on TV for another week, though."
"I know, but we get to go on 'Mysterious Mysteries' my favorite show as a child."
"Some things never change, do they?"
"Nope, they sure don't."
"Dad, I need to ask you a question," 11-year-old Dil said. Dil wore a coat like Dib and a green shirt under-neath. His pants were black, as was the tradition.
"Go ahead. But first, tell me why you're up so early."
"I couldn't sleep."
"You mean you've been up all this time?"
"Yes, but, why don't we just catch Zim as proof that aliens exist? I want to hunt that alien down and save the Earth!"
"You sound just like Dib did when he was your age."
"Well, you see Dil, if we were to catch Zim, then the Earth would be in danger. Don't worry. Everything will pan out right."
"How do you know?"
"I've had my own adventure... believe me."
"Aw, Dad..."
"Dil, you leave Zim alone, and that's an order! I'm sorry about this, but I can't allow you to do this. A whole twenty years ago, when I was fifteen I learned my lesson."
As Dil went back to bed, he thought, 'Well, dad doesn't want to hurt Zim because he threatened to kill Mom or something. He couldn't possibly mean what he said.' "Caitlyn, wake up."
"What is it now, DIL. You are so annoying sometimes."
"Just because you're a year younger than me and that I am the favorite child doesn't mean you have to be jealous of me."
"Dil, I might just be saying this because from both sides of the family siblings have picked on the one that wants to be a paranormal investigator, but you are weird."
"No, I'm not weird! I think I inherited a gift from Mom."
"Why did you bother me at 5:05 a.m.?"
"We're going to capture an alien."
It was later during the night that Callista returned from Zim's dimension. Callista had just snuck into bed; she was late getting there because she lost track of time while looking at the UFO 'zine she had been given. She would tell her parents that her friend had given it to her, which was true. No one would believe that she met a cartoon character and that he gave it to her. Just as she crept under her blanket, Callista's mom turned the light on.
"What do you think you're doing? It's 2:00 in the morning!"
"Oh – I... um... saw a UFO and wanted to check it out!"
"That's the third time this week you've used that excuse!"
"Yeah, she's always saying, 'they're coming! They're coming! They're after my mind!'" Callista's sister Tany said in a mocking way.
"Go to sleep. I have to get up in a few hours," Cathey told Callista angrily.
"It's true! If you had any idea what I've been through..."
"What? Were you abducted by aliens?" Tany asked jokingly.
"Take a look in the trash!" Callista instructed, referring to the note she had written.
"Okay, mother, I was reading a UFO magazine because it's a gift from someone special."
"And what should you be doing?"
"Going to sleep, but..."
"Exactly."
"But I saw something strange!"
"What Callista?" Cathey asked.
"A flash of light! I thought it was lightning but it lit up the whole room! If it was lightning, it would have been followed by thunder shortly after! It was too bright! I think it was them!"
"Yeah. Right. Who?" Tany asked.
"Try to go to sleep," her mother instructed.
"I will try. It won't be easy, though," she said awkwardly, for she really had seen the flash of light that she described.
Four years later.
Callista was in the ninth grade now. Time sure flied since the time that she staved off the Gauveuntains with her two best friends Zim and Dib. In the high school, her sister Tany picked her on. She spread rumors that were and weren't true. A bright light that greatly resembled the Gauveuntain ship hovered in the sky; disappeared. Seralio's ship appeared in its place. Suddenly, she was beamed aboard.
"Welcome back, Callista. We have a job for you."
"What is it?"
"You need to go back to Zim's reality."
"What am I to do there, Seralio?"
"You will find out."
"How long will I be there?"
"You are truly a kidder, Callista. You know very well that time is relative."
"I know. How much time there, then?"
"As long as it takes."
"I will be honored to take on the job, whatever it is."
"I will send you right away. What time would you like to be sent to?"
"The same time as I am in. When Dib is in the ninth grade."
"Very well then. You will arrive at Dib's house."
"Will the time of day be the same as now?"
"It must be."
"Very well. Beam me down." In a flash, Callista found herself outside of Dib's room. "I hope he doesn't get too shocked..." Callista whispered as she slowly turned the doorknob. She entered Dib's room and saw how different it was. When she approached Dib's bed, she said as quietly as she could, "Dib, wake up!" Still he didn't stir. "Wake up Dib!" Callista ordered, slightly louder.
"Who – what?" Dib asked, "It's you! Callista, you're back! After four years!" Dib cried in amazement and joy.
"Quiet!" She shushed Dib.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to Zim's house."
"What will dad think? That I ran away?"
"We'll be back before anyone knows. I promise."
"Okay, I'll go." When they reached Zim's house, Callista rang the doorbell. Zim was already there and opened the door.
"Callista! What are you doing here?"
"I was sent by Seralio."
"We've got work to do. Callista, do you know anything about what this is about?" Zim inquired.
"No. Zim, get your stone that I gave you. Dib already has his." They entered the room.
"I have the latest issue of Crop Circles Magazine. Would you like to see it?"
"Sure. Thanks. I haven't seen you for four years. I've missed you."
"Me too."
"I know. It's too bad you couldn't stay for Thanksgiving last time."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to miss it – I guess fate had other things in store for me."
"If you're here for a long enough time, can you stay for Thanksgiving?"
"Of course. Nothing could keep me away."
"I wonder what's taking Zim so long."
"I don't know. What I do know is that the week I spent in this dimension was unforgettable. I never forgot it, and I never will."
"I've got it!" Zim yelled as he came into the room.
"Be quiet Zim! It's two o'clock in the morning for goodness sake! Do you want to wake up the whole planet?"
"That's what I asked GIR when I first arrived on this planet!" Zim cried out in amazement.
"Yeah, I know. We have to keep quiet. Zim, go in the kitchen."
"Why?"
"GIR left something on the stove and it's going to start burning soon."
"Oh." Zim got the pot of beans off the stove and asked GIR what he was doing with beans. It was futile, though, as all he could get out of GIR was, 'I don't know'
"Zim, go to your lab," Callista commanded.
"Why?"
"You'll see something very peculiar down there that I think you should investigate." When Zim left the room, Callista turned her attention toward Dib. "So, what have you been up to the past four years?"
"Not much. I hoped you could have come back sooner, though."
"I could've come back a year after, but I'd still be the same age I am now."
"I understand."
"I have a question," Callista said.
"What is it?"
"Have you ever dated anyone besides me?"
"What? No!"
"I will have to check with Zim."
"How can you rely on that alien? He'll just make something up!"
"I don't know. I just have to check."
"I really haven't though!"
"Are you still in love with me, or are you just making it up so I won't feel bad?"
"I really do. Trust me."
"I do. Let's look at that magazine."
At Zim's lab
"Callista, I don't know what you were talking about. There's nothing peculiar down..." Zim didn't finish his sentence. He saw GIR chewing on a candy bar. Not only that, but GIR was messing with a machine. It was a machine that would change people's ages.
"NO!" Zim shouted, but it was too late. Dib and Callista were looking at a magazine together, but now they were drinking coffee and typing a report about paranormal activity on their laptops. They looked different, too. Dib looked pretty much the same; only instead of having a face on his shirt there was a ghost. Callista wore a jacket like Dib's that was blue and a dark blue long-sleeve shirt. There was another difference also. This difference was apparent in the both of them. They both wore wedding rings. When Zim saw what GIR had done, he could only say, "Oh my gosh..." The whole world was twenty years older.
"Dib, are you almost done with that investigative piece on Bigfoot?"
"Yeah, almost. You almost done with your report on my abduction?"
"One more lengthy paragraph should do it." Zim felt slightly weaker, for he was 20 Earth years older.
"When do we pick up the kids?" Dib asked.
"3:00 p.m."
"Wait a minute. Callista, I have a question," Zim cut in.
"You can call me by my first name since we're friends, but I often prefer 'Mrs. Membrane' okay?"
"I could have taken your name when we married, though."
"No, I was honored. Your name is just fine."
"I was wondering... what are your kids' names?" Zim asked.
"Zim, of all the stupid questions to ask! They're Caitlyn and Dil of course!"
"I'm sorry, I've lost some memory... or my senses... what are the professions they desire, how old are they?"
"Zim, what has gotten into you? Caitlyn is ten and Dil is eleven. Caitlyn wants to be a scientist and Dil wants to be a paranormal investigator, just like old mom and dad!"
"-Like...mom and dad... okay... You're married, aren't you," Zim guessed.
"I'd better get you to the lab. Dib, don't sneak a peek at my report. It's a surprise for the meeting."
"Okay!"
"Zim, what's wrong?" Zim wanted her to know about the problem, but couldn't tell her because knowing this could affect them in serious medical ways.
"Nothing. I'm in perfect health."
"What about the amnesia?"
"Can you fill me in after work?"
"Sure thing Zim. I've got to get my report done, though, so just lie down and rest. Okay?"
"I will do that."
"Dib, it's almost 5:00 a.m., finish up."
"We don't leave for work until six!"
"According to the schedule, we have to begin getting ready for work at 5:00 a.m."
"I don't like that schedule."
"I just don't want us to be late; I don't have a license, remember? If you're late, I'm late. If we're late, we'll get fired. If we get fired, we have no money. If we have no money, we have no food, shelter, etc. Our whole income is based upon the schedule."
"Let's not fight. We can argue with skeptics at the office and on TV. That sounds better, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Thanks. You do know we don't go on TV for another week, though."
"I know, but we get to go on 'Mysterious Mysteries' my favorite show as a child."
"Some things never change, do they?"
"Nope, they sure don't."
"Dad, I need to ask you a question," 11-year-old Dil said. Dil wore a coat like Dib and a green shirt under-neath. His pants were black, as was the tradition.
"Go ahead. But first, tell me why you're up so early."
"I couldn't sleep."
"You mean you've been up all this time?"
"Yes, but, why don't we just catch Zim as proof that aliens exist? I want to hunt that alien down and save the Earth!"
"You sound just like Dib did when he was your age."
"Well, you see Dil, if we were to catch Zim, then the Earth would be in danger. Don't worry. Everything will pan out right."
"How do you know?"
"I've had my own adventure... believe me."
"Aw, Dad..."
"Dil, you leave Zim alone, and that's an order! I'm sorry about this, but I can't allow you to do this. A whole twenty years ago, when I was fifteen I learned my lesson."
As Dil went back to bed, he thought, 'Well, dad doesn't want to hurt Zim because he threatened to kill Mom or something. He couldn't possibly mean what he said.' "Caitlyn, wake up."
"What is it now, DIL. You are so annoying sometimes."
"Just because you're a year younger than me and that I am the favorite child doesn't mean you have to be jealous of me."
"Dil, I might just be saying this because from both sides of the family siblings have picked on the one that wants to be a paranormal investigator, but you are weird."
"No, I'm not weird! I think I inherited a gift from Mom."
"Why did you bother me at 5:05 a.m.?"
"We're going to capture an alien."