(A/N) This is a very important chapter. I really hope you guys'll like it. :3
Thanks to Lileipad, leddybug, PastaLuv, xXFemkeXx, and BizarroVeR for reviewing! GIR! Reward the children! (GIR: SAAALTED NUTS!) And a special shout out to Lileipad; your wish has been granted in this chapter. *bows* Although let me tell you, he is the absolutely hardest IZ character for me to keep in-character. P:
I do not own Invader Zim. I do, however, own a Zim wristband which I wear (with pride!) every day.
Dib wasn't sure what made him go back to the lab after night had fallen; he didn't even remember making his way there, only found himself standing before the cold glass wall.
"'… 001…'" the human read aloud, letting his fingers trail along the label stuck to the glass. "'SUBJECT 001…'"
Zim was hardly visible in the darkness, a hunched bundle of bones shivering on his metal bed. The sound of the heart monitor echoed around the deserted lab, the alien's rapid, irregular breath harmonizing with the quasi-steady beeping.
Moving quickly, the boy pulled a marker from his pocket. Silently he drew a thick line through the cold, inflexible number 001, scrawling instead "ZIM" in messy capital letters.
"Subject… Zim…" he whispered. "Subject Zim. Yes. Sleep well."
… … …
Dib trudged down the street, feeling as though his soul was no longer in his body, but instead back at the lab watching Zim sleep. He didn't know how he got to the alien's darkened house, but soon he was staring up at the colorful little base with its empty windows.
"'You crossed a line…'" he whispered. "Zim, I did. I crossed a line."
Suddenly a light flashed on in the living room, the door crashing open and making Dib jump. A small shape dashed out, hurriedly pulling on a green disguise.
"Mary!" the little robot squeaked, bowling into the startled human and knocking them both to the ground. "Mary, my master is goned! Is he losted? Do we needs to go to the lost n' found? Is der a lost n' found for missing masters?"
The little robot wasn't being accusatory, but Dib's breath hitched, the ache in his chest and throat unbearable- then he was sobbing there on Zim's lawn, clutching the tiny robot to his chest.
"GIR…" he choked, "GIR, I did something… I made a mistake! I crossed a line, GIR!"
The robot cocked his head. "Is master not coming home soon?"
Dib shook his head, trying to get himself under control. "N-no… GIR, I don't know if Zim is ever coming home."
"Ohhhhh." GIR fell silent, allowing Dib to cry until pale dawn light stained the sky. When at last the light touched them, the human roused himself slowly.
"GIR, I need you to come somewhere with me. We might be able to save Zim yet."
"Okie-dokie!"
Hurrying through the shadowy streets with the robot in tow, the human ran to the lab, swiping his card for entry. Creeping through the deserted hallways, he came quickly to Zim's room, another swipe of his card granting instant access. Then, all too soon, the little alien came into view.
"Master?" GIR squeaked, then cried, "Master!" and ran for the bed. When he collided with the glass he only backed up, throwing himself against it again and again. "Master! Master! Master!"
Shame sweeping through him, Dib slunk to the computers, vividly aware of the beeping heart monitor. Occupied with the charts, he was startled by movement on the metal bed.
Zim's eyes were open, though just as slits; he had spotted the little robot beating at the wall of his prison. Struggling with heartrending weakness, he got one elbow under himself, leaning forward slightly.
"GIR…?"
Trying to shut out his emotions and failing, Dib leaned over the computer and called, as calmly as he could, "GIR, come over here. I need you to take a look at these."
Zim's head snapped up, crimson eyes widening as he found the boy. But GIR complied, trotting dejectedly over to the computer and hopping up beside it. Pulling back his hood, he stared at the screens with flashing blue eyes, recording the information with a rapid series of clicks and whirring noises. All the while Zim, unblinking, watched Dib, who couldn't bring himself to meet the alien's shamed and indignant eyes.
"Got it?" he asked the robot, just before switching to the next set of data. Fidgeting under the subject's now critical, questioning gaze, he rushed to the other computer with his head down, accessing it with a quick swipe of that handy card. There was no information on Zim there, but instead data on the lab itself; after examining it with painstaking care, he turned the machine off once again and returned to GIR's side.
"Master is sick," the little robot said sadly, pointing first at the data and then at Zim; Dib nodded.
"Have you recorded everything?"
GIR nodded; sniffling softly, he rubbed at his eyes. Dib drew back slightly; he hadn't known robots could cry. Bundling the little creature into his arms, he turned to leave, but froze at the voice that sounded behind him.
"What are you doing, Dib-thing?"
Swallowing hard, Dib pushed onward, ignoring the Irken's rasping question. For he feared that if he replied, he might not be able to leave.
… … …
Dib didn't return home, instead trotting through the waking city to Zim's base; GIR let them both in, and soon the human found himself gazing around the abandoned house with something like grief.
"This way!" GIR chirped, pointing to the oddly-placed kitchen toilet. Following without complaint, Dib found himself on a rather silly-feeling trip downward, emerging into Zim's futuristic lab. He spared a moment to be astonished, gazing around at the technology that he had seen but only dreamed of using. Sitting hesitantly in what he knew must rightfully be Zim's chair, he tapped the computer screen.
"Identifying user…" the electronic voice announced, and Dib stiffened. "Identifying user…
"User identified as the Dib-Human. User identified as the Dib Human." Said human's heart leaped into his throat, for how could a computer know he was there for benign purposes, much less a computer programed by Zim?
"The intruder has been classified," the computer continued, and Dib braced himself, preparing to leap from the chair if necessary. "The Dib Human…
"… has been granted full access by primary user Zim. Welcome, Dib Human."
Blinking, Dib stared up in blatant shock at the computer. Glancing at GIR, he saw that the little robot looked just as confused as he felt, staring up at the computer with wide, uncomprehending eyes. Swallowing nervously- but convincing himself not to question it further –Dib began to type.
"GIR, come over here," he called after a moment, and the little robot padded up beside him. "Upload the data you got from the computer relating to Zim's current condition."
Nodding, the SIR unit plugged a cable from the computer into his head; after a few seconds, the information came up on the huge screen. Seeing the dismal display so large made Dib's stomach flip, but he kept himself under control.
"Computer, analyze: what is Subject Zim's condition?"
After a heartbeat of whirling colors, the computer replied, "Critical. Starvation of subject is imminent. Subject is suffering from severe hypothermia. Foreign contaminants detected in subject's bloodstream. Unknown object detected in subject's abdominal region. Squeedly spooch functioning at one fourth normal capacity."
Dib shivered, but forced himself to ask the next question. "Computer, project: if Subject Zim were to be kept in consistent conditions for three more days, what would be the outcome?"
"Termination of subject is imminent," came the emotionless reply.
Swallowing, the human had a slight quaver in his voice as he said, "Computer, synthesize a solution of Irken nutrients concentrated enough to revive subject within eight hours."
The computer beeped crossly. "Negative. Task is impossible."
Grinding his teeth, Dib tried again. "Computer, synthesize a solution of Irken nutrients concentrated enough to revive subject temporarily."
The result was the same. "Negative. Subject's recovery is impossible without aggressive, long term action. Injections will be insufficient."
I just need something to help me get him out of there; something to stabilize him! Dib thought angrily. Long term can wait! If I disconnect him from those machines now, the shock to his system will kill him! "Fine!" he snapped aloud. "I'll do it myself! Computer, access all available files on Irken biology; bookmark those on nutrition."
The next five hours were spent pouring over the information that came up; then he was in Zim's long-forgotten kitchen, used only for GIR's waffles now. Rummaging around, he soon discovered that most of the food was spoiled. Some, however, was packaged for long-term storage during space travel; such packets offered some vague starting point.
The next six hours blended together, spent in Zim's lab synthesizing the injections that would hopefully have the Irken boy's life. It took Dib a while to catch on to how to use the tools and machines to begin with, and after that it was a torturous process of trial and error. At last he removed the latest mixture from the heater, tipping it up so that several drops landed on the computer's sensor pad.
"Computer, analyze," he said in a voice weak with overuse; he had been saying those words for hours. "Hypothesize as follows: 21 micrograms of sample substance are injected into Subject Zim."
The computer seemed just as tired as the human, colors flashing slowly across the screen as it did its work. Then it answered tiredly, "Subject will undergo mild convulsions, and then bodily functions will return to normal levels for the space of ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the levels of activity and stress."
Dib let himself smile, the expression bleeding through his mask of disconnected exhaustion. "Take that… Zim. This earth monkey… just saved your life."
And then he crumpled, content at last to sleep.
… … …
That peaceful rest lasted for only a couple of precious hours before Dib woke, urgency driving him to his feet; he collected the vile of medicine and then grabbed GIR. It was once again dark, so he slunk from Zim's house silent and unnoticed. A short trip to the lab later, he swiped his access card and slipped inside, feeling his stomach twist as he approached Zim's room.
The Irken's condition seemed unchanged. Almost immediately GIR was crying, once again throwing himself uselessly against the glass; this time, however, Zim didn't wake. Running his fingers easily along the seam in the glass, Dib stepped into the torture chamber with a shiver, slinking closer to the metal table. GIR hopped up beside his master, sniffling and pulling back his hood.
"Master? Master?" he asked frantically, placing tiny paws on the boney green shoulder. When Zim still didn't stir, Dib felt his heart skip.
"Zim…?" the human asked breathlessly. "Zim… you idiot, wake up…!"
The Irken didn't respond, the beeping of the heart monitor steady- too steady –in the background. Panic lighting in his belly, Dib ran his eyes over the alien's body. Then his breath caught in horror, eyes riveted to the bloody holes on the Irken's back, his spine just visible where his PAK should have been. Instantly Dib was out of the glass enclosure, staring in dismay at the disabled Irken before his mind sparked, flashing back to life with the aid of sheer adrenaline. Looking around, he spotted it quickly enough, wrapped in clear cellophane and left casually on the highest shelf.
10 minutes… it has to have been more than 10 minutes. The beeping… too steady…
Life support. Fates, Zim is good as…
Bolting across the room, Dib scrambled up the bookcase to retrieve Zim's personality; his memories; everything the Irken boy was. For an instant he held it- just held it to his chest, feeling its weight. Zim… this is Zim…
"Master!"
GIR's squeal made Dib spin, PAK clutched tighter than ever. And there was the small alien, washed-out eyes fixed confusedly on GIR, limbs twitching as he tried to sit up. The human rushed over, slipping back into the glass and skidding to a halt beside the metal table. The Irken winced at the sudden movement, then fixed a bleary stare on Dib. His mouth opened and closed sloppily, as though he were trying to speak, but no words formed.
"Y-you… jerk…!" Dib screamed, his voice bubbling with suppressed tears. He hiccupped roughly, clamping one hand over his mouth as he stared at the empty shell that had once been the mighty Zim.
Moving quickly, he shoved the subject down. It was an easy thing for Dib to pin him to the table- with the aid of the restraints already in place –and then pull out the PAK. It should just… reattach, he thought, holding the thing close to the alien's wound. His heart skipped a beat as nothing happened, and he waited… waited…
At last the PAK gave a sleepy grating sound, wires sliding from it and twining around the Irken's spine; Dib let go as it attached, then backed up. Zim had fallen still, though his eyes were still open, and he didn't move for several moments after the PAK was reattached. When he did, he struggled onto his side, curling inward so as to stare up at Dib.
"Recognize me…" the human whispered. "Zim you jerk, talk to me…"
"… Stupid Dib-worm…!" Zim rasped, coughing weakly. "What in the Tallest are you… staring at…?"
Dib went weak with relief, but gathered himself quickly, producing the syringe. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"And why would you do that?" the Irken spat feebly, his crimson eyes glowing with hatred.
"Because this is wrong!" Dib snapped. "This isn't how it's supposed to be, and you know it!"
Zim fell silent and allowed the human to take his thin wrist; it may have been acceptance or simply weakness. Slipping the needle into the deep blue vein, Dib took a deep breath before plunging the liquid into the Irken's bloodstream.
Zim's eyes widened sharply, and for an instant his body convulsed, just as the computer had said it would; though he had been expecting it, Dib was undeniably frightened by the display, unconsciously clutching the green hand tighter. Then the Irken fell still, his eyes flashing with surprise. Slowly he sat up; Dib undid the restraints with quick, gentle hands, unhooking the various machines in a similar way. The heart monitor was the last to go, plunging the pair into silence save for their breath.
"Can you walk?" Dib asked.
The alien scoffed. "Of course, foolish worm-baby," he spat, slipping off the table; his legs buckled almost instantly, and he grabbed at the lip of the bed for support, just managing to keep himself upright.
Silently, Dib draped his jacket around the Irken's shoulders, using the movement to disguise the way he took Zim's arm. The Irken chose to ignore the later, neither speaking as they made a slow and difficult trip across the room.
"GIR," Dib called softly, and the little robot skidded up beside him. Almost reluctantly, the human let the alien slide to the ground, making sure he fell with his thin arms around the SIR unit's neck. "GIR, take Zim home. I have to make this look like a break-in. Straight home, GIR, no stopping for tacos."
GIR saluted briefly, then powered up his rockets. Zim stared at the human with curious scarlet eyes, all but begging for an explanation.
Dib, however, chose not to give him one, saying instead, "I'll catch up. I'll be at the base before dawn."
Zim opened his mouth, looking as if he were about to say something; before he could, though, GIR chirped "Okeedokee!" and rocketed away down the hall, leaving Dib staring somewhat sadly after them.
Ah well, he thought with a sigh. I'll just ask him what he was going to say… when I head back to the base.
… … …
After a rather enjoyable hour or so of smashing windows and lab equipment- setting off the alarm as he left –Dib trotted back to Zim's house, certain that everything was set right. He had put together quite the regimen to get the Irken healthy again. And after he is, the human thought happily, things can go back to the way they were. Just as things should be.
Perhaps he didn't know Zim as well as he thought he did. But he knew the little alien better than anyone else, so it was more likely that he was ignoring what he already knew.
When he rounded the corner, there was only a gap between the two human dwellings; there was only a deep hole in the ground where Zim's base had once taken up residence. Staring down into the great fissure, Dib felt a similar hole open up inside him, nearly bringing him to his knees with the sudden weakness that the sweeping emptiness brought with it.
For with Zim, the earth boy's whole reason for living- his mission, his motivation, his validation –had returned to the stars.
(A/N) Please leave a review! I would love to hear your thoughts on this pivotal chapter (went out on a couple of pretty thin limbs…). If you do, I can tell you… what? I can't think of any good incentive. So I'll give you a good ol' fashioned hint of some sort about the next chapter. ^^
On another note, I couldn't get that last sentence to sound as… non-mushy as I intended. P: