Chapter 3:

Departure

(In open space)

The Vortian leader smiled as he watched yet another Irken ship go down. This war had been going on for about 18 years. He and the rest of the Vortian race were ready for it to end.

The door behind him opened and he listened satisfied to the clink, clink, clink of his best soldier's footsteps. He turned and let the grin of approval spread across his face.

"Well done ESO…"

Two glowing white eyes blinked as the metal covered head nodded acknowledgement.

The Vortian's secret weapon was going to put an end to this war.

(On Earth the next day)

I stood with my luggage next to me.

One suitcase.

That was all I had.

I was standing in front of the front door, waiting for him to return. I had summoned up all my courage for this one moment. Now that it was almost here, I didn't think I could do it. Dib stood next to me, also worried.

"Belle…" he was at a loss for words.

I simply turned and smiled up at him before giving him a hug.

"I'll miss you…"

He hugged me back awkwardly.

"I'll miss you too. Take care of yourself now."

I nodded and then turned back to the door just in time for it to open.

There he stood.

The Almighty Tallest Zim.

He looked at Dib then down at me. He didn't speak. He didn't even look angry. He looked confused and sad and even a little curious. But then it turned into a glare and I could feel my heart jump into my throat terrified.

"Everything's set?" he asked Dib who nodded.

"Good. Hatchet?"

Then HE walked in.

I had never seen Hatchet before. Maybe once when I was a child, but he was wearing his human disguise then and I could barely remember. Today he didn't have any other business on Earth so he didn't bother. He was tall, at least taller then most other Irkens I had ever seen. He came to about the Tallest's shoulder and carried himself proudly. His black antennae had a two sickles pointing up to the ceiling at the end with two smaller antennae protruding out of the base that only ended in a sharp point. His skin was green like all the others, and his eye was yellow and orange like amber. But that was it. He only had one eye. Where his right eye should be was simply a black hole. His eye socket. The skin around it was torn and his white bone was showing as if his eye had been ripped out. He wore an Irken uniform. But it looked modified in some way. It was orange and black and hugged him tightly, accenting his slim muscular body. Around his waist was a silver belt that hung loosely and I knew it would be filled with weapons he could use to kill me in seconds.

He glared down at me with his one eye making him look menacing and terrifying before walking past Uncle Dib and to the basement door. He entered without a word. When he came back up, he was carrying the energy supply that the Irken came for every 6 months in one arm as if it was nothing and I knew that the case weighed about a ton.

He must be genetically enhanced, or just really, really, REALLY strong…

Tallest Zim watched Hatchet carry the case out the door before turning to look at me. I looked up at Dib who nodded and then I grabbed my one suitcase and followed the Tallest outside. I turned to take one last look at Dib. He stood there, watching me leave. He raised a hand in farewell and I returned the gesture as tears filled my eyes.

I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I would never see my guardian again.

The ship was large and intimidating. The second I stepped foot on it I turned to bolt out back to Dib. But the door closed and latched shut and I knew there was no way I could go back. Not now.

I turned and looked around me, scared out of my mind. The small Irkens around me looked up and stared at me, curiosity and confusion on their faces. Some even looked disgusted. I was taller than most of the Irkens, but still about an inch or two shorter than Hatchet who was walking in front of me. The Irkens got out of his way faster than I had ever seen, making a path for him. I decided to follow him, not knowing what else to do.

He led me through a maze of hallways, multiple doors on each side, leading to who knows where. There was no possible way I'd ever find my way around this place.

He finally led me to a very large room. The second I entered I knew instantly that it was the bridge. The Tallest stood not too far away on a raised platform above everyone so he could see everything. I looked out the windows and saw to my horror Earth below us and gradually drifting further and further away. I stood away from everyone, not wanting to get in the way. I couldn't go back though. There was no way I could remember even which door to go through. I stood there awkwardly, watching the little Irkens around me. Hatchet went directly to the Tallest. They talked, but they were too far away for me to hear anything. When they both turned to look at me, however, I figured out what they were talking about.

Hatchet glared down at me, looking at me as if I was trash and not worth the trouble they were going through. I could feel my antennae fall flat like a dog's ears when it knows it's done something wrong. I stared up at him, terrified, the empty eye socket was like a black abyss, threatening to suck me in. I knew without a doubt that Hatchet could kill me easily if he wanted to.

When I looked up at the Tallest, I felt a little better. He wasn't glaring, he was staring at me curiously. But in his ruby eyes I could see the pain and anger he felt towards me. I don't know why, but he seemed a little cautious and skeptical of me. He gave one of the drones near him a look before hissing, "Rya, take her to her quarters."

The Irken he had called Rya stepped forward and bowed to me before turning to lead me away. She was very small, smaller than most of the other Irkens. Her eyes were lime green and she wore the simple black service drone uniform. Her antennae zigzagged before ending in a scythe at the tip. She led me away from the bridge, back into that labyrinth of halls and doors. When she finally stopped at one door and opened it, I saw a small little room that would accommodate for my needs.

"Do not leave until I return for you," she ordered in a small frail voice. "It is very easy to get lost in this ship."

I believed that.

She walked away then, the door shutting behind her. When I looked around, I saw it was nothing more than a simple plain room with a bed, a closet, and a small bathroom. It was quaint, but it would work. It would have to work.

Because I knew there was no going back.

Zim's POV

I saw her. Everywhere I turned, her beautiful face was there, smiling at me, beckoning to me. Those emerald eyes burning into my membrane, her red lips, that wintry cream skin… I had shoved these memories into the dark remnants of my mind, the areas I refused to access. So why, WHY was this pathetic half-breed bringing all of them back? She had stood there, inches away from me, her two entirely different eyes staring up at me, blinking, terrified. I knew Hatchet had wasted no time in making sure she knew he was the top dog and he wasn't one to be trifled with.

But she was so similar, she was even same age she was… The young half-breed even had her body shape, something that puzzled many of the male Irkens. I could tell as she got many weird looks. Her eyelashes even framed her eyes exactly the same way hers did. Was it possible that this was the reason she had behaved so strangely before…

The memory was too unbearable. I had Rya take her away before anything else happened. I spent the rest of that time trying to shove those memories away again. It wasn't an easy task that was for sure.

And I knew that I would never be able to forget like I had tried to do before. I would never forget the love of my life.

Belle's POV

I lay on my bed, just gazing up at the picture Uncle Dib had given me. Her bright smile, his wary expression. They looked so beautiful, sitting together on that porch swing. I had lost complete track of time until the door opened and I nearly leapt off my bed in surprise. When I looked up expecting to see Rya, my heart jumped into my throat.

It wasn't Rya.

It was the Tallest.

I scrambled off the bed, stood hurriedly and bowed as was protocol. When I looked up, he wasn't staring at me, he was looking around the room.

"Being a teenager, I had expected to see you put all kinds of decorations up," his voice was calm, level. My heart slowed down a bit. Only a bit.

"I-I don't really have much of anything to put up," I answered timidly.

His eyes darted down to me at the sound of my voice, his ruby eyes wide. The shock disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

He didn't respond. We just stood there, staring at each other from across the small room. He seemed to be fixated on my eyes, his own darting back and forth between them, his expression one of puzzlement, as if not believing. Finally, he spoke again.

"Has Rya brought you your dinner?"

As if on cue she walked in. When she saw the Tallest, she quickly bowed and then hurried past him to me, carrying a tray with food.

"Well now she has," I answered, smiling sheepishly.

His expression remained blank.

"Good. Tomorrow, you'll start evaluation."

And then he left.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared down at my dinner.

What the crap was evaluation?