Note: Hey, sorry, got slammed for a bit, also scheduling two writers can be tricky. Thanks for patience! Also I'll get to asks soon. Promise. I have three backed up…
…..
Zim's senses reeled as the wastes faded away, replaced by the empty lot where his base used to be, and then the living room of his base seconds later. He closed his eyes, attempting to readjust to his surroundings, as Riddick dragged him somewhere.
"Okay, are we all ready to regroup?" He heard Riddick ask.
Tom's voice was strung tightly, "Yes. It would be good to bring my wife back too if you would. I'll watch Zim."
Opening his eyes, Zim shifted his eyes around to find Tom. He was standing next to Zim's TV monitor. The screen showed Della, tending to Tunaghost in the wastes. Zim's spooch clenched a little, remembering that everything had been transmitted here.
Riddick set him down on the couch, pulling a nearby blanket over to cover him, then vanished in a flash.
Zim's eyes scanned the room, searching for his sisters. In the farthest corner, toward the kitchen, Gloria leaned against the wall, expression blank. Tom maintained his position, staring at Zim with a wary look that stung. Mikko and Tiana were nowhere to be seen. He dropped his gaze to the floor.
Another flash, and Riddick returned as Della and Tunaghost sprawled on the floor. Tom hurried over to help Della up, as Riddick brushed off his cloak and addressed the ceiling. "There we are. See, talking robot house child? The Red Tie loophole worked."
The speakers crackled with unease. "Masta not right. Where's PAK?"
"GIR, you can run a DNA scan on me if you must," Zim said tiredly, "I am Zim. Just… some changes have been… deals were…" his eyes flicked away as Tunaghost groaned on the floor. "Tunaghost requires medical attention please."
As wires descended from the ceiling toward her, Tunaghost bolted upright, flailing. "He was-! He was-!"
He could only wait for the words to label his crime. He saw Della crouch by her, trying to calm the woman, who shoved Della back and pointed at Zim in a panic. "He was eating another Irken!"
The words felt like they were sinking into his skin, branding everywhere they touched. He shut his eyes, focusing on the fact that he was alive, that he was home, that he would sort out and fix whatever he could as he was able. Anything but the memory of that guard's terrified screaming.
"And he shot light out of his hands!" She was still going. "The same kind of magic as that creep magician, what's going on?"
"Thanks for the creep magician comment," Riddick's voice was terse. "Maybe next time I won't save your life."
"WHY IS HE HERE?" Tunaghost's voice rose shrilly.
"Tunaghost, please. We have to catch you up with what's going on." Della's voice was like a balm. He opened his eyes, still scanning for his sisters. Della seemed to have come to the same realization, and turned to Tom. "Where are Mikko and Tiana?"
Tom's arms were folded tightly across his ribcage. "I sent them to another room. They're to keep clear until I'm assured Zim can keep himself under control." Tom glanced at Zim. "Understand something, Zim. If I had a son, and he pulled what you just did, I would be doing the exact same thing. This isn't like the Eyeball situation. I don't know how you came to the choices you did, but they weren't forced on you this time, and I have to be convinced you won't snap at a moment's notice."
Nearly inaudible, Zim answered, "Understood."
"What did happen?" Now Della turned to him. "In your mind, you said something about having to do something for the rest of your life."
"Ah, yes." Riddick cleared his throat. "That. Well, these powers come with a price."
"How did he get them to begin with, though?" She insisted. "He was just shouting at the sky."
An image flickered in Zim's mind, faintly. "No, someone was there." He frowned, trying to steady the image but failing. "I don't know who he is, but I heard his voice in my head. He said he could make it so no one would ever hurt me again. That I could kill them all and never look back. I agreed…" He fixed his eyes on the ceiling, his chest aching, unable to look at Tom or Della. "He must have known I'd never do it sane."
Riddick sighed. "Look, Zim, everyone knows you lost it. They know you didn't agree to this of a sound mind. Don't be ashamed, your idiot brother did it first."
"So," Della hedged, "What is this price?"
Riddick didn't pull any punches. "Once a month, you must consume one of your own kind, or you die." The silence in the room was deafening. "It can be dead or alive, but you have to do it." He cleared his throat. "That being said, Zim, we need to talk. I was going to say this in private but since they all know… if you use too much of your power—as you just did—it leaves you exhausted, and basically unable to perform any duty. Rest could lead to a full recovery in a few days, but you used so much of your power in such giant bursts, you wouldn't be back to full power naturally for at least a few days, especially as a beginner. There is a loophole around that, however."
Zim could feel blood draining from his face as the guard's screams sounded louder in his mind.
"I know this is going to be difficult, and I don't want to rush things, but given the situation, Zim… the clock is ticking. We still have people in danger, and we still have to do things, and do them urgently. An Irken feeding, at any time, will restore your power and energy like filling a gas tank. We need you at a hundred percent, and we can't wait. The longer we do, the more our chances of survival drop."
Panic clawed at Zim's gut, and he shut his eyes again, his breath whistling through clenched teeth. He had told himself he would be strong, that he would survive. Others were depending on him. He could do this. He would do whatever he had to.
A hand rested on his shoulder, and Riddick said, "You won't be alone. I promise, I'll be there."
"If… If this has to happen, I'd suggest less talking about it." Della sounded strained. "Whatever has to be done..." she trailed off.
"Yes," Riddick agreed. "I'll take him to a private room." He glanced up and across the room. "Maneem, are you alright?"
Zim glanced up to see Gloria cross the room, pulling Riddick into a hug. It was like needles stabbing his spooch to see her embrace him, and to hear her say, "I'm sorry you had to go through these things." She'd seen everything, heard all Riddick had done, and it didn't make any difference to her.
While he, after all he had tried to do to make up for his errors, had been shunned at first realization.
Riddick leaned into the hug. "It's alright Maneem. I'm still here, that's what matters. I'd go through hell again if I knew it meant I'd find you."
She released him and turned to Zim. He could see by the bent of her arms, the yearning on her face, that she was going to hold him too. Hold him like she never had up to this point. The way he'd secretly hoped she would, at least to acknowledge him as her biological child if not his "true parent". And yet, as she bent over him, he shut his eyes, throwing up a green wall between them.
He could hear Della murmur something about giving them some privacy, and opened his eyes to see her tugging at Gloria's arm, leading her away. The expression on Gloria's face was hollow and broken. Tom scooped up Tunaghost, as GIR softly instructed him where the medbay was, and they all filed out of the room, leaving Zim with Riddick, who stood tapping his foot.
He knocked on the green wall. "You know, I know you've accepted the Loud Frizzy Frying Pan as your Maneem, but that doesn't mean you get to act like that toward our mother, who wanted to console you a bit before you go through this. I'm not telling you who to love, I understand what Della has done for you. I saw it in your head. I'm just saying, don't shut our mother out completely. In the long run, that would kill her more than knowing the rest of her children are dead."
"But she did choose you." Zim said bitterly. "I was right. I know why, it makes sense. You can't hide a crying smeet. But it doesn't change what happened after. I will accord her all the respect she deserves, but I can't look at her right now. Especially when she could barely stand to look at me all this time."
"She didn't choose me, Zim." Riddick rubbed his face. "Honestly now, switch you and me and tell me it would have been different if she found out I was her son first. She had more time to adjust and accept before she even knew me. You just had unfortunate timing." At Zim's snort, he allowed. "All the unfortunate timing. It wasn't about choice, just learning to be able to love us again. Just think about that, alright? I know your mind's going to be on a lot of other things right now, but keep it for later." He knocked on the wall again. "Also, drop the wall. The last thing we need is more of your energy wasted."
Zim's antennae twitched, but he nodded in acknowledgement, dissipating the wall. Riddick was right. There were other, more distasteful matters at hand.
