A reference image (link to DeviantArt) for the creature mentioned in this chapter is available in my profile

Song of Inspiration – Che Cosa Strana…Quasi Arcana by Gigi D'Agostino


The Immortals
We're Not Alone

Zim had become nervous and unsettled as they continued to drive into the night. If they were to find another survivor, were it to be human, Zim couldn't hide his ambition any longer. He hated nothing worse than the homosapien species. And what would the Ultimate Life Form do to him if he saw him as a threat? The thought was eating away at him as he continuously eyed the hedgehog, who was monitoring the radar.

KITT came to a stop at what use to be a town. Shadow grabbed Clank and strapped him to his back as he and Omega got outside of KITT.

"It would be best if you stay put Zim. You may still be suffering from the heat stroke. Besides, it's well below zero out here now that it's dark. Hypothermia wouldn't help your case." Shadow stated to Zim as he closed the driver side door. As soon as the three disappeared into the ruins, the Irken began to open the door on his side. But KITT immediately shut it and locked him in.

"Where are you going?"

Zim looked at the dash board nervously. "I-I was just…"

"Going to run away?"

"No! No-wait! How did you know that?!"

"I didn't, but I do now. Tell me…does it have something to do with Shadow being the Ultimate Life Form? Or maybe about the fact that you were concerned about him protecting the Earth?" Zim became frantic. This car obviously read his expressions earlier.

"Well…" He paused for thought. "KITT? Can you…keep a secret?" He regretted what he was about to do, but somehow he felt that he could trust KITT.

"It is in my programming to do as I am asked…so yes."

"Alright…" He sighed. "I…was sent here long ago to conquer the Earth…and I still wish to do so…"

"Why? When there is no one left to control?"

"I don't know…but how do you think Shadow will react?"

"I am not sure. Most likely he will not react positively."

Shivers ran through his body. "Then open the door!"

"But with the temperature as low as it is you will not-"

"Don't lecture Zim, just do it!!! I can't stay here!"

"If you insist…" The door on Zim's side flew open. Still a bit weak the Irken staggered out and walked in the other direction as fast as he could.

"Be careful." Zim paused in shock at KITT's request, but continued onward.

--

Back in the town ruins, Shadow and Clank searched through many piles of debris, to no avail. They were about to give up when Omega requested the two come to his position.

As the two arrived at Omega's location, they noticed red liquid on Omega's claws.

"What is that?" Shadow questioned.

"Blood." The robot replied. Shadow and Clank looked at each other. "It is fresh." Shadow rushed passed Omega only to spot a gruesome sight. A man with a gas mask lay on the ground, most of his body eaten away; the rest had deep claw marks and gashes. The marks damaged the ground as well. Mortified, he backed away.

"Telling by the wounds…and condition of his skin and…organs…" He looked away, disgusted. "This man was only attacked in the last twenty four hours…"

"What could've done this?" Clank asked.

"I don't know…but what ever it was, it couldn't have gotten far…" He turned to Omega. "Gather DNA from his body, KITT can analyze it…"

"Affirmative."

"I just hope the air contamination doesn't interfere with the results…" He sighed.

--

"Rgh! I can't see anything! It's so dark…and cold!" Zim whined as he attempted to warm himself, KITT's internal heater would truly be a blessing right now.

His thoughts traveled back to what the car said before he left. "Why would he-" In the corner of his eye, he spotted a silhouette. One similar to what he saw when he regained consciousness. But as he jolted around, the figure vanished. Fear over came him as he backed away.

"Okay…keep it together Zim…the last thing we need is for you to-" He jumped at the sound of a close by demonic howl. There's no way that it came from a regular mammal. He scanned all around the best he could, but his vision was limited in the pitch black darkness.

"M-maybe I should've stayed…" A shrill growl came from behind. But there was nothing there as he turned around.

"This is getting cr-AH!" He was slapped to the ground by a pair of claws. He rubbed his face as blood drizzled from the deep claw marks. Before he could make a move a creature with yellow glowing eyes stood over him. It had him pinned down tightly. Any attempt to use his PAK was futile. There was no way to escape it's hold.

He was paralyzed with fear as it's eyes stared right back at him.

--

Shadow and Omega walked through the ruins, heading back to KITT. Omega stopped and walked towards some rubble.

"Omega, this isn't the time for souvenirs…" Shadow scolded. But Omega sifted through the rubble anyway. Shadow sighed.

The robot finally pulled something out and walk towards Shadow. The hedgehog gazed at what he held.

"Well…at least our trip wasn't a total loss…" He chuckled.

The hedgehog's ears shot up at the sound of a painful scream off in the distance.

"Omega! Clank! Get back to KITT ASAP!!" Shadow commanded as he dashed off in the direction of the scream.

--

Zim gritted his teeth as the creature dug it's fangs into his left shoulder. The creature immediately jolted back and yowled in pain. It slashed its claws at him, scraping over his wounded face once more. Before the creature could strike again it was tackled by none other than Shadow. A swift, powerful punch to its ribs forced it to back off.

The creature chattered at the two and bared it's fangs. Zim stared into its eyes intensely.

"What did…you say?" The creature ran off into the darkness. Shadow kneeled down to the Irken.

"Are you alright?"

"I don't know…it burns…where it bit me!" He clutched his shoulder in agony. "I-I can't move!"

"What the hell were you doing out here anyway!? You should have stayed in KITT!"

"I…" Before he could speak, KITT drove up and halted.

"KITT! Open the doors!" Shadow commanded as he picked Zim up. The passenger door swung open as the hedgehog raced towards it. He sat the Irken down in the seat.

"Omega filled me in on your findings…" KITT informed as Shadow entered the driver's side.

"Yeah, yeah. KITT…"

"Yes?"

"We're definitely not the only life forms left…I say that in a bad way…"

"Why is that so?"

"I feel that whatever killed that man was what attacked Zim…" Shadow pressed his finger to Zim's shoulder, causing him to wince in pain.

"I need you to analyze the DNA from Zim's wound and what Omega collected." Shadow pressed his bloody finger onto a pad that slid back inside of the dash board. Clank also placed a vile of blood collected from the body onto a similar pad. After a few seconds KITT listed the contents onto his windshield screen.

"Hmm…surely the creature was not a mammal…" Clank stated as he gazed at the contents.

"I felt it, it had flesh, fur & bones…enough features to be considered a mammal…" The hedgehog replied.

"Intriguing…both saliva samples have traces of venom and acid…as well as the chemicals that are contaminating the air."

"WHAT?!" The Irken fearfully exclaimed.

"However, your DNA is working against it…or destroying it." Zim sighed in relief at Clank's analysis.

"After analyzing the DNA breakdown, I believe it is a half breed…of more than five species." KITT stated

"What…the hell? Really?" Shadow questioned.

"Yes…it is a probable result of the explosion…"

"So…this creature's a mutant…"

"Correct. Also, Clank's analysis wasn't one hundred percent…the creature's saliva also contains a mutagen…" Zim's relief immediately faded. "Not to worry, Clank was correct about your DNA eliminating it. You should not experience any side effects."

Shadow stared at Zim as he relaxed once more. His eyes widened as he recalled the incident with the creature. "Wait… you asked it something before it ran off…"

"Yeah…I asked it what it said…because it sounded like a threat…"

"Of course it did…chattering is usually-"

"It chattered?" The hedgehog stared in shock at his question.

"It seems I have made a misconception." KITT interrupted. "This was after the creature bit you, correct?"

"Y-yes…" The Irken replied, concerned once again.

"The mutagen isn't changing your body…but perhaps your mind…" Zim gulped. "For right now, the only symptom is that you can understand this creature."

"Zim…what did it say?" Shadow asked in concern.

"It was muffled, I really didn't fully understand. I only heard it say 'get you' and something about a Lord Arcathius…"

"So the mutagen hasn't fully begun to-" He stopped to think as he pulled a out a bandage wrap. "KITT…how is the mutagen reacting with Zim's DNA at this moment?"

"It appears as if though it has been isolated. I believe the ability to understand the creature is the only side effect he will experience…"

"Interesting…but now I'm even more curious to find out what that explosion was all about…" Shadow stated as he bandaged Zim's shoulder. "Best if we head straight for the site. With that creature ahead of us, it will probably devour any remaining survivors…"

As Shadow and KITT discussed the topic, Zim gazed down in the back seat and noticed disassembled robot parts laying by Omega.

"G-Gir?"

"What?" The hedgehog's attention snapped to the Irken.

"That's Gir! Where did you find him?"

"Omega found him in some rubble. I take it he's your friend?"

"His my m-! Uh…yeah…friend…" Shadow, Clank and Omega stared at the Irken as he grabbed the parts. "Amazing that he was taken hundreds of miles away…"

"You'll be able to fix him?" The hedgehog asked as he gazed at the mess of metal.

"Of course! I'm a master at technologic engineering and stuff." Zim proudly boasted.

"I see…then perhaps you'd be interested in helping us build a shuttle…" The Irken stared at him in confusion. "You see…I know of some planets in another galaxy…where Clank's from…they'd be more than welcoming. It would be better than this wasteland of a rock."

"I…I don't know…" He replied in deep thought.

"I have finally found the location of which the explosion occurred…" KITT announced.

"Great…head there immediately." Shadow acknowledged as he turned to Zim. "There's plenty of time for you to consider my offer…" He stated as KITT sped off.

Zim's gaze fell to the floor as his feelings became unsure. He didn't really feel comfortable around the Ultimate Life Form, then again he didn't want to be left on this dreadful planet any longer. Though he could always part ways with them when they reached the new galaxy. But he couldn't return to his home planet…not after ultimately failing in what he 'thought' he was sent here for. His thoughts trailed over his limited options as they traveled to their next destination more than ten thousand miles away; a long deserted city forbidden to civilization. A city constructed of only labs and research facilities- surely there they would find some answers.


Dramatic chapter! This is where the plot finally kicks off and gets interesting. The prologue & first chapter were rather slow in getting into the story's real plot. Although the writing isn't going to get any better -_-;

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