WAGER
Ch.2

His mouth was open, but his vocal cord refused to cooperate. Instead he was just mouthing things. A flurry of emotions hit him like a train on a track.

First, he scolded himself. How could he be so foolish? He should have known the second he let his guard down that that would be the time he struck. He should have been more careful. Then, he was irritated by his teammates. How could they let him in so easily? If anyone came around and said they were with the FBI and they wanted Dib, is that grounds to let them in no matter if they're lying? The whole thing struck his paranoia. Or lack-thereof in this situation. The one time his disorder could come in handy, it didn't. He was also shocked to even see Zim. He was disguised, but he had never been very good at those. Some things never change. Not only that, but his teammates knew better! This was obviously not someone human and in a terrible disguise nonetheless.

Dib felt sick. Hopefully the contents of his stomach wouldn't shoot out of his mouth before words did.

The thought that this slipped past him is what sickened him worst of all.

This was stupid. He couldn't show the enemy weakness. He had spent all these years trying not to only to have it blow up in his face in one single minute.

"FBI? Nice joke." he managed to spat at his enemy.

Zim remained pleased with himself. "I figured you wouldn't believe that. But take a look, pathetic wimp!"

With that retort, he held up a badge. It was legitimate.

Dib bit his lip. "That's..." But before he could finish, he looked to his coworkers. "Step outside a minute. I want to speak with him alone."

They looked hesitant to leave their founder with someone who he didn't seem too fond of, but they did so thereupon.

The sliding door shut behind them with a gust of air moving with it. It gave Dib a long enough distraction to lunge at the invader.

He brandished a specialized weapon with electric measures at the ends that could deal out a great shock. It was like a tazer.

The fact that Zim was still smirking caused Dib to hesitate and weapon paused millimeters before Zim's face. The cockiest look was on his face.

"What? So accepting of your death?" Dib pushed for answers.

"I just...think it's funny that you want to destroy your own base." came the quick-witted reply.

That thought hadn't even occurred to him. Why was it that every time this green asshole came by, he was unable to think clearly? At least now he could work on this problem he had with himself.

He moved the weapon away from his face as it retracted into itself and put it away into his coat.

"You couldn't have gotten through with any weapons in my security. But if you do..." he was wary.

Zim finally lowered his smile into a frown. "Surprising it may be, but I only wish to talk."

He frowned back at the alien. "Why?"

"I guess you could say I've been hired to watch you, Dib-stink."

That answer didn't make him feel any better.

"Watch me?" he questioned, "Why now? I haven't seen you in ten years."

"And what a peaceful ten earth-years it was! Ah, I could actually hear the sound of myself think without you around." Zim reminisced, looking pleased. Before Dib could retort, he spoke again. "Look, filth, I have gained access to this planet's form of government agency and it's best you let me do as I want. I'm above you in authority now, after all. With a flick of my wrist, I can shut your little foundation here down."

Dib gaped. No words came out again. He was so smug about this, it was obvious and painful. Painful because there was actually nothing he could do about it.

In that moment, he felt so out of control.

His eyes wandered. "H-How did you manage to do that? You're stupid!"

"Get into the FBI? Oh, it was easy. You seem to lack the understanding of how stupid humans can be."

"They're heavily trained individuals! You couldn't have been able to get past anyone with your shitty disguise and demeanor."

He locked eyes with Zim once again, regaining his confidence.

"You're lying."

The only thing that came in reply was a quick shrug as Zim started to walk towards the exit. He passed Dib, but paused as he approached his side. "Do you think so? Maybe that's what I want you to think. I've had a long time to delve into your human psyche, you simple creature. I know my way around."

Dib shuddered.

The air-tight door reopened as Zim got to the sensor. Dib's teammates were right outside, as though they had been trying to listen in but the door was too thick to have done so effectively.

"I'll see you bright and early."

All the years he had spent preparing to face him again, gone. In one fell swoop it was taken from him. He never felt so vulnerable and out of control. How could he let this happen?

Silence fell upon the room as soon as Zim left. Dib felt like a child again, though this sentiment is not intended positively. A child as in a weak, inferior, gullible, and vulnerable child. Had he learned nothing?

After a moment to gather his thoughts, he gestured his friend's into the room. Grabbing the envelope he dropped during his attempted murder, he set it on the large table in the center of the room. "If you all recall, I was at the hotel this weekend. I had the employees stay Saturday, as they usually did, but take off Sunday so I could see if they were the one's responsible for sightings." He reached in the envelope and set out the images taken with the infrared camera.

Angela was the first to speak. "Are you debunking this as being a contaminated area by the employees?"

He shook his head. "These photos were taken on Sunday."

All three members eyes widened.

"I plan to return this weekend to make sure my leads are plausible leads. Then, we can get somewhere."

The three were impressed with him. He was so crafty and thorough about his work that they took it to heart to better themselves to his level. This was a huge ego boost for Dib, who craved such a thing since he lacked the support as a child.

"What if it's a sham? Then, won't it be that we've wasted time?" asked one of the male members, Davis.

Dib put his hands on the table, the agitation from earlier emanating from his body. "I would rather chase 100 cases and be false than not chase one and that be the one that's true."

The three looked at each other warily. It was obvious their founder had more to say, but was too dumbfounded to say it. Usually he was more articulate, so they found reason to believe something was wrong.

"Dib, about the visitor..." Angela started, uneasy with her tone.

Instead of letting her finish, he held up his hand. Not in a disrespectful way, but so she knew he was having a hard time with that subject. Though he knew that his teammates were not ones to let something go unsaid.