"So uh… What exactly does this thing look like? I mean, I'm assuming you know- because I've never seen a Quantum Actuator, nor do I know what it does…" I said, aiming my flashlight in the dark corridor of the building. Zim scoffed his annoyance, waving me off. "Do not concern your pathetic little mind with such matters" he said, earning a frustrated growl on my part. "Okay- fine, I mean I didn't just get up at four in the morning to ride you all the way over here, get you inside and destroy my bike- nope none of it happened. Screw Vi right?" I huffed, fists clenched as I aimed the flashlight down one of the empty halls.

"You talk too much" Zim said, highly annoyed. Well, he wasn't the only one. "His lab's this way," I motioned for him to follow, turning down a hallway. I racked my brain for the memories of the tour I took of the lab last week, but this entire building looked different in the empty darkness. At least I had a vague idea of where I was going. "Are you sure?" He asked skeptically, earning my harshest glare. "You wanna lead the way to my dad's office you've never been to?" I asked, flipping a strand of hair out of my face. He scowled, but kept his mouth shut.

"Das what I thought- hey what's- oh no" I grabbed Zim and yanked the both of us behind a pillar. The clacking of heels was audible, growing in sound as it neared. I bit my lower lip, peeking my head out as I spotted an intern passing by- only, she wasn't alone. Beside her was none other than the professor Membrane AND his son Dib. Because his dad wasn't bad enough. I frowned, pulling my head back. "What is it? Who's out there?" Zim asked- in what I assume was an attempt to whisper- which failed. "Professor Membrane and…" I paused considering my next words. "And?" He asked impatiently. "And Dib…" I gave a sheepish grin. "It looks like they're headed in the direction of my dad's lab- Zim?" I raised a brow at the look of pure hatred he was giving the wall. What'd the wall ever do- oh, he was thinking. Right.

"Maybe we should call it quits and go home-" Before I could finish the thought, he'd grabbed my wrist and started pulling me out after the trio. I began to voice my protests when he hushed me, muttering something under his breath and leading us right behind the three. I held my breath, waiting for the worst as we neared them. The three simply kept walking- and I almost squeaked when we brushed past and continued walking past them. "Wha-" I whispered my confusion, staring behind us at the three as we picked up pace.

"The key card" Zim demanded, holding his other hand out. I used my free hand and dug into my shirt, tugging it loose and scanning it, wincing as the door let out a ding, and clicked open. Wordlessly, we slipped inside and shut the door behind us. Zim tossed my hand away as if it were disease ridden and I scowled. "What was that?!" I whisper yelled. "We just walked past them- how- wha- Zim?" He walked past me, eyeing the lab cautiously. "AHA" He reached out for the actuator and I huffed my annoyance, freezing in horror the second I heard it. The door behind me- it was unlocking.

I whipped around and ducked behind a counter at the speed of light, letting out a squeak right as the door swung open. I heard the clacking of heels and held my breath, wincing as the lights flickered on. I glanced over to where Zim was, finding the actuator still there- without Zim. I nearly sighed in relief, choking on the air and biting my lower lip as the intern walked past. She walked straight up to the actuator and I tensed. "I believe this is it?" She asked, and I couldn't help but search for the other two, looking for a shadow or something to hint where they were. "Yes it is. Now! Time to get to work, my boy you must go home and get some rest!" I heard the professor say dramatically. "I'm okay dad, really- and school's in a few hours. Let's just knock this out real quick" I heard Dib plead, and I caught sight of Zim. He scowled at me and I shrugged in response, a look of worry etched across my exhausted features.

If we got caught here… My dad would get fired and I'd be grounded for life- I looked up to find Zim gone and a sense of panic settled in. Did he leave me here? Ohoho if he did- I let out a gasp as I was pulled backwards. "What was that?" The intern asked. I held my breath, glancing at Zim as he held an arm around my chest. I considered sliding his arm down to my stomach, but decided against the attention it would draw. So, instead, I held my breath as the three talked, and waited for something to happen. A moment passed and then, to my surprise, something hoisted Zim, and consequently me, up into the air- supposedly in plain sight. I stared wide eyed for a moment as Zim shifted his arm, and the next thing I knew we were slipping into the vents.

"Let's go- we mustn't waste any more time doddling" I heard the professor say, and the three finally left. I breathed a sigh of relief then glanced over my shoulder at Zim- who was hilariously squished by my weight. "What just happened?" I asked, trying to shift my weight to the side so he could free himself.

"That STUPID Dib-stink left with my actuator! Oh the wretched-"

"Calm down- we can get it back… I'm sure they're just borrowing it. But we can't get it back now so we might as well go home before we're caught." I reasoned, seizing his rant before it could start. He let out a long frustrated whine and pushed me aside. "Follow me stink bag" He pushed on his hands and knees and started crawling away, leaving me perplexed and annoyed beyond belief.

"You gonna tell me what just happened there? We just waltzed right past them! And how did we get up here? Zim?!" I spewed my questions as I fought to keep his pace. "SILENCE" He snapped, his voice carrying down the vents and quite frankly startling me.

"...You're an ass. I just want answers" I huffed, stopping right behind him as he did the same. He looked over his shoulder and I gave a pout.

"You talk too much" He hissed.

"Okay wow, well SOMEBODY has to ask the obvious- I mean, You sneak into my house, put a gun to my chest, force me to ride you here, nearly kill me, kill your dog, and walk us right past those three- You can't really blame me for questioning this all considering I met you yesterday-" I stopped in my tracks upon noticing his face was now inches from mine. I frowned, meeting his gaze and fighting the heat in my cheeks as he glared into my soul. "None of this even matters since you won't remember it tomorrow" He growled. "Why wouldn't I- what is tha-" I recoiled in horror, scooting backwards and away from the various metal limbs protruding from his back. His eyes seemed to burn red as he neared closer and I felt a sense dread run down my spine.

"Ohmyglobwhatthefu-" I was cut off by the vent collapsing in on itself, sending us both tumbling a dozen feet to the ground. The breath was knocked out of me with a grunt- biting my tongue and choking on the blood as I rolled onto my stomach. I coughed up blood, wheezing at the newfound pain trickling down my back. "Hnnn" I whimpered, feeling blood rush down my chin. I glanced at Zim through blurred vision, watching him jump up to his feet and seemingly yell something before running off.

What was happening? I pushed upward, pressing a hand over my mouth and staring in a daze at the set of feet in front of me. "Zin?" I asked through blood, a sense of confusion overwhelming my senses. "Are you okay?" A muffled voice asked through the ringing in my ears. I squinted and raised a brow. "I bit mah tongue" I whimpered, spitting up more blood onto my chin with little grace and feeling around for my glasses.

Oh? You didn't know I wore glasses? I forget sometimes too- I forget to even mention that I put them on sometimes- but hey, who cares? I couldn't see now so there was little point. "Here" I squinted at a blurred hand, spotting my glasses and reaching out lethargically for them. After a few missed attempts of reaching for them, another hand finally steadied mine, placing the glasses in them. I clutched them tightly, sitting up a bit more and flicking them open before sliding them back on.

"Thanks" I said with a mild lisp, eyes focusing on the figure- oh. It was Dib. I gave a sheepish smile upon seeing his frown. "What are you doing here?" He asked, offering me a hand. I took it with a small hidden smile, climbing to my feet. "Thas' a long story" I said, feeling more blood gush past my chin. At this point I was certain I looked crazy- blood oozing out of my mouth, a slight limp in my step, and in my PJ's.

"The infirmary's this way. You can tell me once we get you cleaned up" He said entirely too tiredly for me to want to argue. I could tell he'd had a long night. I followed him through the darkness for a few minutes, entirely silent save for the sound of his boots and my bare feet hitting the tiled ground. Finally we reached the infirmary and Dib opened the door, holding it and gesturing for me to enter. I gave an appreciative nod, hand still covering my chin.

I sat on the bench inside, wincing as he turned on the lights and I was once more bombarded with blinding rays. I squinted, watching him dig around for some paper towels. He grabbed at least five, then came over and pressed the first against my face and offered another for my now blood soaked T-shirt. I took it and pressed it against my shirt.

"We have clot gel we can apply to stop and numb the bleeding. Are you allergic to bacitracin?" He asked, voice nearly monotone. I shook my head and watched him file through a small cabinet before returning with a small bottle of gel. He motioned for me to open my mouth and I did, revealing the huge bite mark across my tongue. I winced as he started to apply it, averting my gaze to the cabinet and eyeing it thoroughly. Yep. It was a cabinet.

"There, that should do it" He gave a weak smile and capped the gel, turning to put it away. "Thanks," I said, fighting the lisp. "Care to explain why you were breaking in this place at five in the morning with Zim of all people?" He asked, a tinge of suspicion in his voice. I tapped my chin in thought.

"Well, I woke up and he was in my room- with his little dog thingy. So long story short he was looking for something in my dad's lab and he put a weird looking gun thingy to my chest and was all "Take me to the Quantum Actuator" and I was all "ok don't shoot me"- so we snuck in and I helped him look. Then you guys came in and we climbed in the vents and I was really confused 'cause we just floated right past you guys and he was all "you won't remember this so shut up" And I was really confused then he pulled out these weird metal sticks from his back and I started to back away- then- yeah, we fell." I took a breath by the time I finished, pausing before speaking again.

"So how'd you know we were there?"

"I heard Zim's voice through the ducts- I thought I was going crazy until you both fell from the vents. Then he cursed at me and ran" Dib explained with a tired shrug. "Oh… So, what's up with Zim?" I asked with a brow raised curiously. He took a deep breath, seemingly considering his next words carefully.

"Zim is…. An alien."

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DUH DUH DUHHHHHHH- *DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS* It's actually five in the morning here, and I've written two chapters in one night, so I'm kinda sleep deprived. Please excuse any bad grammar as I have not grammar checked this chapter at all. Still running pretty low on reviews.. I've got like one more chapter to live before I run out of motivation so please leave a review if you like or don't like- just lemme know, ya know? Until next time!~ -V117