Chapter Four: We Need to Talk

Dib and Zim arrived back at Dib's home around three o'clock that afternoon. Zim hadn't taken out the extra thing Tanki had placed in his bag yet, and Dib was curious to find out what it was. Apparently, Miyuki was curious as well. She hadn't expected Zim to buy something, because he first showed her his new 'threads', as Dib put it.

"But this is the real thing," Zim said. He pulled out two parcels, each labeled in Irken. Zim read them, then threw one to Dib.

"Open it."

Dib was hesitant, but did as he was told. Inside the parcel was a 'Miyuki-blue', spandex-like material in the form of a long shirt. It was almost like Zim's red uniform, only a few inches shorter, stripe-less, with a strange icon on the bottom of it, on the left side. The logo looked like a splice between an elongated letter R and number 2. It was the most beautiful symbol from another planet Dib had ever seen. Crop circles, photographs, drawings and videos suddenly seemed to crumble and blow away in Dib's mind as he gazed upon the sign.

"That symbol," explained Miyuki, "means 'universal love, peace, devotion and selflessness to all' in Irken. Everything we fight for. This is our standard uniform."

""Th-thank you," Dib stammered. Wow. He was going to wear an Irken uniform. This was all too incredible, even for Dib. He bowed gratefully, but mostly to hide his face and the huge smile accompanying it. He was beyond happy, even though he knew he might possibly die in that uniform he now held proudly.

That night, tensions were growing high. Dib could feel it. Both Zim and Miyuki were extremely quiet. Neither of them spoke: Miyuki continued to write her ideas and plans, while Zim made up a small list of Irken manners, phrases, and common words for Dib to practice with.

The meeting was taking place the next night. Dib was also quiet. He didn't know what he could, or should do. No one needed his help. Even GIR was almost lethargic.

Tomorrow night, Dib would meet some hundred thousand Irkens. He would be accepted into their ranks and become one of them. He would go into a battle for a planet he had never known existed until a few years back. He would fight a species he knew a very minuscule bit about. He would be fighting alongside an ally who was once his most devious, wicked and stupidest enemy ever. It felt so unreal, and yet it hadn't even happened yet.

Holy shit.

Dib suddenly felt the urge to talk to his sister. He may never see her again. She wouldn't care, but he did. He stood up slowly from the couch and walked up the stairs, turned to his left, and faced her closed door. He could hear the small, high-pitched mechanical beeping of the Game-Slave II through the door. It sounded like "Massacre at the Movies", a sleeper-hit game that came out three years before.

Knock. Knock.

The music stopped, as though the sound of a hand against wood could kill.

"Who is it?" came her voice, mixed with fear, nervousness and anticipation.

"It-it's me, Gaz. I want to talk to you. It's important."

"Why? I don't believe you." Dib sighed, and answered,

"Look, I really gotta speak with you."

"And you can hear me just fine from where you stand. Go on." This was the closest Dob would get to her, and even though he wanted to say it to her face, he knew he wouldn't.

"Gaz, I'm really sorry. I really am. I never meant to hurt you. I wish I could take that moment back and replace it with, I dunno, us watching a movie or chilling out at Bloatie's, I really wish I could. I couldn't stop myself from blacking out that night, and wish I could've. This may be the last conversation we ever have. I'm going away for a real long time, and I may never come back."

Silence. Then...

"Where are you going?"

"I can't say."

"Are you going to the hospital?"

"No."

"Then tell me."

"You won't believe me. You'll tell me I'm fucking insane."

"Does it have to do with Zim and Miss Sanchez?"

"Yes."

"Are you going into space?"

"...Yes. To fight. For their people." Dib waited for it, for the laughter, for the insults, for the threats to call the hospital.

Instead, something else happened. Dib nearly passed out when...

You probably already know what's going to happen next. Anyway, it feels good to be back. I type on my laptop, which is connected to the internet in one location, and disconnected from it in another. I can't upload jack. The next chapter is headed your way, and then a bit of another break to follow.

-Juana