Because you guys seem to love this so much… and it's HAS been a while. I present the next chapter.
Dib's hands were trembling at his sides as his sisters cold gaze burned into him like one of ZiM's well aimed lasers. There was a dark silence surrounding all seven figures, but a loud cough finally echoed through the hallways.
Skoodge perked, "It's ZiM!! But where is he?"
Gaz said nothing as she began dragging Dib from the scene and back to the elevator.
Red stared down at the fat Irken, "You mean you haven't found him yet?"
Tak saw Skoodge's nervousness, "No, my tallests. ZiM's actually hid himself quite well."
Dib finally began to struggle under his sister's grasp, "Gaz!! Why do you care if I go home or not?"
They were both in the lift now and it started to ascend; Gaz glared at her brother, "Dad wants you home."
Dib tried to sink down to watch the Irkens begin to converse, but the lift finally got to the point where he was out of range, "You know he forgets after a while. So what's the REAL reason?"
The purple haired girl's hands shook with fury, "He's been asking for you for the past hour!! Don't test me Dib, he doesn't forget unless he really wants something."
Dib felt his sister let go of his shirt, "Ah… I see…"
Skoodge almost felt like a sorry sack of failed laser weasels. His tallests were badmouthing his efforts to find the egotistical, insane, hyper excuse for an Irken. Not too much of a job, right?
"Wrong," Red went on, "to think you could do such a simple job as to find him."
Purple tried to speak through a mouthful of popcorn, "Yeah."
Red glared at him, "Swallow first, Pur, or no more popcorn."
The co-tallest nibbled quietly after that.
Skoodge finally took a breath, "Look, when ZiM wants to be found, he can make a thumbtack shine like a spotlight. But… when he doesn't…" he trailed off.
"ZiM's just hard to find when he doesn't want to be," Tak finished for him, "I've wanted to see ZiM dead for the longest time since he ruined my chances on Devastis, but having him killed in bad health isn't the same as tackling him at full strength."
Both tallests stared down at her.
"Would it really be the same," she continued, "to have ZiM die this way rather than having the honor of taking him out when he's equally strong?"
The tallests held their gaze, but it was Purple who spoke first, "Uh, no. See, ZiM would be gone and one more problem would be eliminated from the universe."
GIR suddenly popped up from behind Purple's shoulder, "Where be the candy man?!"
All four Irkens stared in silent horror as another severe cough echoed throughout the halls.
--
"The TRASH?!" Dib roared.
He had just made it home to find his father was complaining that he hadn't taken out the garbage.
Dib massaged his temples, "Let me get this straight: you had Gaz interrupt one of nature's greatest moments to have me take out the TRASH?!"
The professor laughed heartily, "Now, Dib, this 'moment' you speak of. Was it scientific?"
Dib felt his right eye twitch uncontrollably, "Yeah, ZiM's alien body is dying!!"
The professor shook his head and began messing with his newest re-invention, the waffle-toaster, "Poor boy. Had the greatest listening skills though he possessed no ears."
Dib finally screamed bloody murder and scooped up the bag of trash that had been waiting for him, running outside to dump it into the can as he sprinted back to ZiM's base.
--
ZiM could hear them talking. He welded something together then wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. It had been a long time since he had sweat like this. His computer had a timer displayed on its screen registering 0 hours and 24 minutes.
The voices of his leaders echoed again and he distinctly heard the phrase 'one of the greatest opportunities to be missed'. That had to be Red speaking. And he knew it was about his passing.
ZiM giggled unsurely to himself and patted the lump of welded metals, "ZiM can try," he hoarsely whispered, "cause ZiM never fails to disappoint himself."
The voices were close he knew, but they weren't going to find him. Not until he was ready for them to find him.
--
Dib kicked ZiM's front door in, then slammed it shut. He was sure everyone in the base heard it, but he didn't care. He nearly slid into the refrigerator as he entered the kitchen but made his epic dive into the trashcan as it began its descent.
The boy had many mixed feelings at the moment. The realization that his worst enemy was dying was the most powerful one, however, seeing as he did nothing to cause it but was now deeply integrated within the event. Dib punched the passing walls. He felt the guilt.
The lift had barely passed the ceiling before Dib jumped from it, not wanting to wait for it to land on its own. Neither the tallests, Tak or Skoodge could be seen, but a scuffling of metallic feet could be heard. GIR walked out from the hallway corner sniffing sadly.
He looked up at Dib, "Fat master, purple eyes and skinny tall masters no find candy man…"
Dib gulped, "Uh… yeah… sorry about that."
GIR sniffed again, his antenna perking a bit, "You know where candy master be?"
Dib shook his head, "Uhh… no."
The robot sulked again, but Dib began leading GIR back to the direction from which he came, "But if we can start looking again, we'll find the… candy… master."
GIR brightened, "YAY!! Then master will give me candy!!"
The robot bounded ahead of Dib. The boy went to say something, but held his tongue. It was best to keep his mouth shut and his ears and eyes open.
Nothing new really given out, but now you know… ZiM's closer than led to believe…