At the time the Tallests' children had arrived at his front door, Zim was in his underground lab,
making some adjustments to an Irken battery that was to power his newest invention. By this
time the cable was back on, so instead of pestering Zim like before, Gir was now upstairs watching
the Scary Monkey Show.
"Almost done," Zim mumbled to himself as he made another sweep with the small laser he often
used to repair the smallest parts of his machinery. "Just a few more tweaks ought to do it..."
"Master, there's someone at the door," the computer suddenly announced, causing Zim to almost
drop the battery.
"You made me mess up!" the Irken shouted as he started to re-organize his workspace. "That battery
is an essential part of my newest doomsday device. It's also extremely fragile and extremely expensive.
Expensive!" He shook his fist directly in front of his face.
"Master, the door," the computer reminded its incompetent master.
Zim sighed in exasperation. "Can't you see I'm busy at the moment? Let the Robo-parents handle it,
that's what they're for, anyway."
"Yes, Master," the computer replied, sending out a signal to awaken the Robo-parents from their slumber
in the closets near the front door.
"Welcome home, son!"
Sheen jumped back in surprise as the door swung open. Standing in the doorway in front of her
was a poorly built robot resembling an adult human male. A few sparks shot out from the robot's
joints.
"Um, hello," said a very puzzled Sheen. "Is Invader Zim home?"
Another poorly built robot - this one resembling an adult human female - rushed forward to join the
robot-man at the front door.
"Awww, have you come to play with our little boy?" the robot-woman asked sweetly. "Zim sure
is lucky to have such nice friends. Why don't you come on in?"
Suddenly, the robot-man's hand shot out and grabbed Sheen by the collar of her soft
cashmere-like jacket. The young Irken girl screamed and tried to pull away, but the
robot-parents were already dragging her into the house.
Tark turned to Aiko and Ven. "Come on, let's go help her!" he commanded. The older Irken
kids grabbed the smeets and hurried into the house after Sheen and the Robo-Parents.
"No, I'm not coming with you! Put me down!" yelled Sheen as she struggled to get loose.
Robo-Dad was holding her upside-down by her left foot and swinging her back and forth
like a hypnotist's charm.
"Awww, this is so cute!" exclaimed Robo-Mom. "Let me get the camera!"
She started to head for the kitchen when Aiko began attacking her with a broom. A few
minutes later, Ven joined in the attack with a mop, while Tark deployed his mechanical
spider legs from his PAK and ran after Robo-Dad.
"Let her go, you demented tin-head!" he shouted.
"Let's go play in the toilet!" exclaimed Robo Dad, dragging Sheen toward the toilet in the
kitchen. He was about to stuff her head first into the toilet when Tark stabbed him with
one of his PAK legs, causing the arm that held Sheen to pop right off!
"No, not my squeezing arm!" screamed Robo-Dad.
Sheen jumped to her feet, with Robo-Dad's arm still attached to her own, and deployed her
own PAK legs. Eyes glowing quite fiercely, she assumed a fighting stance and turned to face
Robo-Dad.
"You want to play?" she sneered. "Alright then, LET'S PLAY!"
"ALERT! Something terrible is happening upstairs!"
Zim jumped back from his workspace, surprised at the computer's sudden announcement.
Before he could say anything, a television screen lowered itself from the ceiling, displaying
Robo-Dad stuffing Sheen's head into his mouth, while Robo-Mom waved her arms around
and squealed with delight.
"NOOOOO! THE MADNESS!" Zim screamed. The Tallests would never forgive him for this!
He dashed toward the elevator that lead to the kitchen and hopped out of the toilet. As
soon as his feet hit the floor, he scrambled into the living room and stopped suddenly,
gaping in shock at the scene before him.
Tark had pinned Robo-Dad to the floor and sliced off his head with one of his PAK legs. Aiko
had knocked one of Robo-Mom's eyes out with the broom. Gir was sitting on the couch with
the smeets, watching TV, while Ven was following Minimoose around the room. Sheen sat on
the floor a few feet behind Tark, rubbing her forehead.
"Hi!" Gir squealed when he noticed his master standing there. "The kids are here, so I let them
in." He grabbed Max and Sakura and snuggled with them. "I like babies!"
"Meep!" squeaked Mimimoose.
"Yes, so you do," Zim replied, clearly not amused. "Now go outside and fetch the children's baggage!"
Gir squealed and shrieked as he jumped off the couch, then he hurried out the front door to fetch
the bags that the kids had left outside. A minute later, he was back with several red and purple
parcels, which he deposited next to the couch.
Zim turned his attention back to his young visitors. "Greetings, my princes and princesses," he said,
grinning cheerfully. "Welcome to planet Earth, home of the stupid and smelly humans. I am your host,
the almighty and all-powerful Invader Zim!" He held his fists in the air and struck a stunning pose. "I'm
sure your parents have told you all about my great and incredible deeds."
"Yeah, Dad said you ruined Operation Impending Doom One," snapped Ven, pointing a finger of
accusation at his host.
"Yes, I blew up more than any other Invader that day," Zim said proudly. "I'm so glad you remembered,
Prince Ventus."
"Idiot! You BLEW UP all the other invaders!" Tark snarled. "Our biggest and most prosperous cities were
ruined that day, thanks to you!"
Zim just smirked and chuckled.
"And let's not forget the day you made that energy-blob thing that ate Tallests Miyuki and Spork," added Aiko.
"Yes, yes, I am amazing, aren't I," Zim replied. "Now, enough about me. I'm sure you are all hungry
after your trip here, yes?"
"Well, I am a little hungry," Sheen admitted.
"I had Gir make a special chocolate cake for you this morning. It's waiting for you on the kitchen table."
Zim turned around and headed toward the nearest elevator. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must report
your safe arrival to your parents. We shouldn't give them reason to worry about you, should we?"
As they watched Zim disappear into the toilet, the four eldest children exchanged puzzled glances. This
was going to be a very strange vacation!
For all of you who were eagerly awaiting Zim's first interaction with the kids...I hope I didn't disappoint.