NOTE: The KITT mentioned in this story is from the 2008 Series (the mustang), not the original!

Song of inspiration – Open Your Eyes (Sean Tyas Rework) by Insigma

The Immortals
Salvation

Zim's eyes drowsily opened. His head was throbbing and his view was spinning. Through a glass surface by his head, a shadowed figure stared at him off in the distance. He closed his eyes and re-opened them slightly to try and get a better view, but the figure vanished.

The Irken weakly rubbed his head to try and sooth the pain. Becoming more aware, he felt a cool breeze hit his body, the sounds of an engine and an air conditioner became more apparent. He gazed around, though his vision was blurred and everything seemed to appear in slow motion, he could identify his surroundings as a car's interior and that he was sitting in the passenger's seat. Zim moaned as he tried to move his sore body.

"I would not recommend that…" An emotionless voice stated. "…it is best that you refrain from moving…"

The voice sounded as if it were beside him, but no one was there.

"You appear to be suffering from symptoms relating to heat exhaustion…"

Zim opened his mouth to speak. "I…who…" But he wasn't able to get a full sentence out. His breath was extremely short. A strong blast of cool air shot at the Irken as he lay back in the seat.

"Keeping cool is the best treatment…" As the cold air continued to blow onto him, Zim became more able to realize what had happened.

"Wher-" Before he could start his question, the driver side door opened. A small robot was set down into the center console between the front seats. Still too weak to fully turn his head, Zim caught a glimpse of a being sitting in the seat behind the steering wheel and closing the door.

"Well?" The emotionless voice asked.

"Unsuccessful. I think your sensors might of picked up lizards or something…" The person replied.

"Improbable. My sensors can only pick up on body heat…lizards are cold blooded"

"Well there was nothing out there."

"Incorrect."

Zim drowsily stared through the corner of his eye as he noticed the person in the seat was talking to the dash board of the car.

"We searched the entire perimeter." The small robot stated.

"I do not deny that, but Omega was able to locate one of the two-" Before the unknown voice could finish, Zim had built up enough strength to push himself up and meet eyes with the being behind the wheel. He was a black and red anthro-morphic hedgehog. Both were surprised at each other's appearance. Zim was more so, he was use to seeing humans walk upright, let alone talk. It was unusual to see an animal doing so. He took quick notice to the hedgehog's right eye. It had a scar reaching from his cheek to his forehead.

"Um…KITT?" The black mammal turned his gaze to the dash board. "Why is there an-"

"As I was saying…" KITT interrupted. "Omega located one of the two sources of heat I was picking up…luckily, we found him just in time. He was already passed out from exposure to the intense heat and possibly from the contaminated air…"

"And…he's an alien…" Zim jolted at the hedgehog's remark, remembering that, in the midst of his freak-out seven days ago, he'd forgotten to put on his disguise before leaving what was once his home.

"Well…I suppose he's still a life form…"

"What's that suppose to mean?" The Irken questioned after regaining his full strength.

"You haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"The only organic life left, save for you and I, is reptiles…"

"Yes I noticed…but why does it matter to you as to what 'form' I am?"

"You've been our only success in our search for survivors…"

"Survivors?" It was finally becoming clearer to him as to what happened seven days ago. "So…that bang…"

"Took out almost all life and destroyed the Earth's atmosphere? Yes."

"The atmosphere?!" He was shocked. How could anything be that devastating?

"Well…part of it anyway. But that's why it's been terribly hot in the day and freezing at night…I know it's hard to believe that the atmosphere could almost be annihilated. One reason why we're traveling to the site where this all started…with 'the bang' as you call it…helping any survivors we may find along the way."

"Zim needs no help!" Zim huffed, oddly referring to himself in third person.

"Zim huh?" The hedgehog chuckled. "From what KITT said, obviously you do. You can't seem to handle the intense heat, it's practically suicidal to be outside…the name's Shadow by the way. As you know by now, KITT is the very car you are sitting in. And this is Clank." Shadow stated as he pointed to the small robot.

"Well then who's O-" Zim stopped his sentence and a chill ran down his spine as he caught a glimpse of a bulky robot in the backseat. "…mega…?" His tone became nervous.

"Don't worry. As deadly as he looks, Omega is very gentle…as long as you stay on his good side…"

"Yeah I'll keep that…in mind…" He shuddered as his gaze fell back onto the hedgehog's scarred eye. "How…are you able to survive the heat and cold yourself?" He asked, trying to keep Shadow's scar out of the subject.

"Because of 'what' I am." He stated coldly. Growing curious, Zim tilted his head.

"And just 'what' are you?"

"I…am the Ultimate Life Form…" Zim fell silent as fear began to boil in his gut. He'd heard of this 'Ultimate Life Form' before, but thought of it only as a myth. To have it possibly sitting next to him was a complete shock.

"S-so…that must make you well over…four thousand years old by now…" He stated, trying to keep his cool.

"Nearly five hundred over to be exact. I lost count at four thousand four hundred thirty five several centuries ago…"

"I see…" The Irken pondered. "Now, if you're the Ultimate Life Form, then why do you care about finding survivors? I mean, people have feared and hated you for-"

"Because!" Shadow snapped, his disposition immediately changing from calm to furious. "I promised someone that I'd protect the Earth as long as I could…" This was an obviously touchy subject for the hedgehog.

"Protect huh?" Zim questioned nervously. "If he finds out why I came to this planet…who knows what he'll do to me!" His heart raced as did his mind. He would surely be no match for the Ultimate Life Form.

"Shadow…" KITT's sudden interruption brought Zim out of his thoughts. "I am detecting movement in a town located approximately three hundred and twenty five miles from here."

"Understood. Set course for the destination at full speed."

"Rodger that." The black car tore off down the dirt path, unknowing that a silhouette watched in the distance.

I tried...
I tried sooo hard to get Zim back into character. FAIL!

I also fail at writing now. It's gone downhill compared to my other works (Chaos D'Amour De la Vie for example). Reading over this chapter I realize that there's a bunch of sloppy writing and lack of detail. Leaving lots of questions.

I'll answer some right now:
#1 - Zim wakes up laying on his RIGHT side in the seat. Being sore, he remains stiff and remains on his side until he pushes himself up to meet eyes with Shadow. Thus why he can't really see Shadow that well until he does.
#2 - My brother, ZaneWulf made this one apparent while beta reading this; The atmosphere isn't necessarily "destroyed", but weakened, unable to block the Sun's heat. The air is still strong, just contaminated with chemicals.

I'm a sucker for putting Shadow the Hedgehog & Clank in a story together as close friends. Mainly because they share a same purpose in a way- created as weapons but both chose a different path then what they were created for.

Invader Zim © Jhonen Vasquez
KITT © NBC I suppose?
Shadow the Hedgehog & E-123 Omega © SEGA
Clank © Insomniac Games
Mysterious Silhouette, Plot & Story © RaidenRaccoon