ZIM

Zim ran, tumbled, and ran some more through the halls of his base. His squeedily spooch throbbed with excitement and his tongue was hanging loose out of his mouth. He couldn't think straight. He hadn't spoke the Tallest in years. In the beginning he had tried to contact them a few times, but they either cut off soon with a stupid excuse, or they didn't even accept the call. Finally, the elevator opened on the right level and he hurried towards the big screen.

'INCOMING TRANSMISSION' bleeped in green, irken letters. Except of those two words it mentioned the callers and some useless data. Zim's spooch jumped again while staring at the words 'THE ALMIGHTY TALLEST' bleeping. It was true, it was really true.

He sat down in the seat and straightened his back. He brushed over his uniform, making sure there weren't any folds in it. He took a deep sigh and then clicked 'ACCEPT'.

Zim shrieked. There they were, his almighty leaders. They hadn't changed a bit. With the same attire, and in the same room, the duo greeted him with two big, toothy smiles.

'INVADER ZIM!' Tallest Purple shouted, he opened his arms, as to invite him for a hug.

'Our FRIEND! It has been a while, hasn't it?'

Zim shrieked again. Friend. They seemed so kind, so respectful to him. He wasn't prepared for the sudden language switch either. The clicking and hissing of his native language filled the room. It had been forever since he heard or spoke irken. He had forgotten how beautiful it sounded. He smiled pathetically, before finally talking.

'My tall-' His voice cracked. He tried again. 'My Tallest! What a pleasant, pleasant surprise!' he said. His throat felt soar, handling his first language since ages.

'Isn't it?' Tallest Red said, granting Zim another smile. 'It's been way too long. How have you been?'

'How is your.. mission?' Tallest purple added. They both smiled at the last word, Zim didn't understand why.

Zim froze. His mission. Of course they would ask him about it! Guilt and embarrassment flew through the irken as he realized how much he had neglected it. Years of not even trying to conquer it, and here he was in front of his leaders, who just asked how it was going.

He started talking. 'G-good. I'm good. My mission is, too. It's going a bit.. slow, but I'll get there. Just - just a little more time and I'll have it ready for the armada.' He stammered. 'My Tallest.' He added quickly.

'That is just great, Zim.' Tallest Red said. Zim could sense that he didn't mean that. He was grateful that his leader didn't make a big deal out of his delay.

'Just great. Good job, Zim.' Said Tallest Purple, agreeing with his partner.

'Thank you, my leaders.' Zim said, bowing his head. He stared at the tall, smiling irkens for a second. He inhaled.

'So, my leaders, can I.. help you?'

Tallest Red snickered. 'My dear Zim, you're not just going to help us, you're going to help your whole race!'

They didn't give Zim time to let those words sink in.

'Ah, yes!' Purple continued, 'Zim, we are putting your current mission on a break for a much, much more important one!'

The third shriek of the evening slipped from Zim's lips. More important than invading a planet? Zim started to shake with excitement, but at the same time, fear bubbled up in him. Was he going to have to leave earth? That break the Tallest were speaking of could easily be over a hundred human years. Out in space, Zim wouldn't age like he did on earth, but if he returned, Dib would be dead. He shivered at the thought.

'A-another mission, my Tallest?'

'That's right.' Red confirmed.

'How long will it take?' Zim asked with a trembling voice.

'Oh, not long, not long at all!' Purple said cheerfully. 'A week or two. We even came to pick you up! The armada is really close to your planet, Zim. Including your trip, you'll be gone for around.. five weeks. Just five of'em!'

Purple clapped in his hands while his red counterpart smiled at him.

Zim sighed relieved and fell back in his seat. Five weeks, that wasn't much. He had expected at least a few years.

He couldn't believe they were this close to earth. They came all that way, just to pick him up? How important WAS this mission?

'What is the mission, my leaders?' Zim asked. Excitement could now be sensed in his voiced while he leant forward.

'It's complicated.' Red said. 'We'll explain everything once you're here with us, on the armada.'

Purple nodded. 'Yes. Come as quickly as you can, Zim. We'll be waiting.'

The Tallest stared down at the invader. They were still smiling. Zim couldn't find any words to say.

'Alright then, we're off!' Red said. 'We're expecting you in around ten days. Leave immediately.'

'Have a save flight!' Purple added. They both waved, and with that, the transmission ended and Zim stared at a black screen.

Zim's squeedily spooch was going wild. He could feel his blood throbbing through his veins, his hands sweating underneath their gloves. He had started panting, too.

Unbelievable. All of it was unbelievable. He was getting a new mission. ''you're not just going to help us, you're going to help your whole race!'' Red had said.

It was almost too good to be true. Everyone was going to look up to him after this, he'll finally get the attention and adoration he so greatly deserved.

Zim started hopping on his chair, soon his arms joined by waving up and down and eventually he started screeching in excitement. He jumped off the chair, screaming as he ran down the hallway, back to the bedroom.

'DIB! DIB!'

The human appeared in the doorway while Zim approached him. He was just in time to catch him, as Zim jumped in his arms.

Dib gave a 'whoa!' with surprise as he rotated the cheering alien around.

'I guess that's good news?' he tried to scream above Zim's yelps.

'Dib, Dib! A new mission! I'm getting a new mission!'

DIB

It took his partner only an hour or two to get everything ready. Dib and GIR helped. That is, Dib helped, GIR ripped three of Zim's uniforms to pieces before passing out in the mess.

'Can't you go tomorrow?' Dib tried, again. He had been complaining about Zim's sudden departure ever since they started packing.

Zim sighed annoyed and turned around in the voot cruiser's cockpit, in which he was sitting.

'For the last time, Dib, no. They want me on the armada as soon as possible.'

Dib handed him a bag with irken food in it. His partner won't be needing much of it, maybe one or two snacks during the whole 10-day trip.

It was all so sudden. The night had started out so ordinary, just like every night. It seemed hours ago since they were kissing in bed. And now, here they are, on the roof of the house. Zim in his space ship, Dib next to it. Now, they did see the beautiful evening sky, but Dib couldn't enjoy it.

He bowed his head. 'I'll miss you.'

Zim stopped with adjusting the ship and turned towards his mate.

'I know. I'll miss you, too.'

He bowed forward, stretching to pull Dib on his tip-toes. The alien pushed a soft kiss on his lips.

'But I have to go now. I'll try to contact you when I get the chance.'

Zim sat down in the seat and pushed a few buttons. The cruiser started with a soft humm. The alien was suddenly bathing in pink and purple lights from the ship.

The humming got louder and louder as the ship got ready to take off. Before the noise would overcome their voices, Zim shouted:

'Goodbye, my mate. I'll be back before you know it.'

Zim smiled and waved as the glass closed before him. He really seemed happy and excited, so Dib forced a smile for him while he waved.

Way too soon, he was gone. The cruiser had taken off surprisingly quiet and within a few seconds, it had disappeared in the night sky.

Dib was unhappy. He didn't trust Zim's leader for one bit. He was afraid his lover might be in great danger, but he know that he would never –ever be allowed to come with him. Zim hadn't even taken GIR with him. Dib had never seen him leave without the useless robot.

Everything seemed so... surreal.

Again, Dib would just have to wait.