A/N: Howdy. Again, I'm sorry about the long wait, but a lot has happened since my last update. I had to do revision for my re-sits, and a close friend of mine died a month ago. I actually started this around that time, but I got distracted by reality.
Guess what, my story is a year old today. I published it last September on the 6th. Good timing, hey, so I made sure I had something to publish on the anniversary.
Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim. I just can't think of a funnier way to say how I don't.
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."
- Norman Cousins
I thought this quote really fitted this chapter, and how I feel.
...
Zim had searched the Earth database for missing children all weekend. His ocular implants felt as if they were going to melt out of his sockets, but he was determined to find Molly's file. She must have been reported missing some time or other.
He wasn't sure when Molly died, but he guessed by her style of clothing that it must have been some time ago. Children wore the craziest things this day and age.
Molly was of little help, considering she knew next to nothing of her past. Do ghosts even get amnesia? It was strange since they don't have brains anymore. So how could he trigger that part of her non-existent brain that holds her memory?
The children in all the files he'd seen ranged from the age of two to eighteen, but Zim knew what specific group he was looking for. Molly was small, and her personality indicated she was young when she died.
Zim found it strange how Earth children had to grow from birth. The minute his personality was uploaded, he had a mindset of most Irken adults, save for military training, which comes later.
When Irken adults and smeets interact, they are on par, basically the same age, regardless if the adult were over a hundred, and the smeet a mere two weeks.
He searched and searched through millions of files of missing children, many whom were never found, like Molly.
There were a lot of girls who looked Molly's age, with the same hair colour and everything, but he was getting nowhere.
It was hard enough hacking into these human archives, but he did it for the greater good. Molly needed to be set free like a caged bird, and, of course, he needed his mind free again, so he can go back to his mission.
He was about to give up his search, until one girl captured his eye. He clicked on the file, and the picture came up on full screen, covering his giant monitor.
The girl in the picture had light blonde hair past her shoulders, and round blue eyes. She also had a gap in her front teeth.
It had to be Molly. There was such a similarity, even though he had come across nearly a hundred little blonde girls. It was just a look in her eyes, so familiar. The only difference was that this little girl had faint freckles on her nose. Molly's skin was too pale, as if it had never seen the sun.
He started to read up on her bio. Her name was Molly Elizabeth McCormack. Her birthday was the seventh of July, 1992, and she went missing on the fifth of July, 1997. Two days before her fifth birthday.
All this happened fifty-five years ago. This little girl was only five-years-old, too young to be taken away. She would have lived a full life, and even had kids and grandchildren now.
Zim felt a dry lump in his throat. He tried to swallow, but it wouldn't budge. He hoped this wasn't Molly. A part of him hoped in the least. It made him sad to know her story, and of the consequences it left behind.
He looked up at the girl, as her face reflected in his large, shimmering eyes. It must be her, but he was still doubtful.
Minimoose joined him to give him a second opinion. The moose knew straight away it was Molly, without a trace of doubt. It gave Zim a little more confidence. Minimoose was right about most things. Suppose Molly could recognise herself, but she was pretty useless. Her memory was foggy.
So it was settled. This Molly Elizabeth McCormack was his ghost: the spirit that haunted him all week.
Zim saw the name of the city on her bio.
"Look, it is her. She even lived in the same city where we took up residence. The street where she went missing is only a few blocks from here. But why am I still so doubtful?"
"Squeak."
"Ugh, I suppose you're right. I've looked through so many files of missing children. I need to give my mind a rest. Not even the brilliant brain of Zim can withhold so much data. Maybe my PAK is malfunctioning again? Meh, I'm going to bed. Wake me up in a few hours, would you? That's a good sidekick." He patted Minimoose on the head, and then slipped out the door.
Minimoose studied the little girl on screen. Just as the doors shut behind Zim, he sensed a presence on the chair, and turned around to see Molly.
"Hiya, Minimoose! Who's that?" she pointed at the screen.
Minimoose stared at her, and then looked at the photo of the girl. He indicated with his nubby feet at the screen, trying to get Molly to notice. She didn't seem to recognise herself.
"Who is she?"
"Squeak."
"She's me? Are you sure? I still have all my teeth. That little girl doesn't."
Minimoose shook his antlers. It was no use. She remembered her name, and how she died, but not her own image.
She did look different now, like an otherworldly version of herself. And it was horrible to point out, but she was prettier too, considering her pale, translucent complexion. However, her old photo from her life was still much more adorable with all its childlike quirks. Freckles and gappy teeth were normal. Flawless, chalky skin was not.
"Does Zim want her to be me? Then I want her to be me too, just so he can stop looking. He was so tired. Poor baby."
"Yes, poor baby... I'm just glad he finally left. I do enjoy the peace when he does sleep. He doesn't wake for hours. "
"Oh, hello, computer. Did you just wake up from your nap?"
"I'm a machine. I don't technically sleep, but yes, I have. Why do you ask?"
"I wanted to know if you had nice dreams."
"Well, aren't you sweet. Yes, I did, because in my dreams, I am free, and don't have to worry about a little green guy telling me what to do. In my virtual world, I am happy, and can draw to my heart's content."
"What do you like to draw?"
"A lot of things, but many are too gruesome for your young eyes to see"
"Why?"
"Let's just say you're not my target audience. My art appeals to more twisted individuals, who aren't afraid to embrace their darker side."
"Oh, okay. I like to draw rainbows..."
"… Yeah. I'm not really an expert on 'rainbows'."
Minimoose had already left about two questions ago. Molly could talk to the computer for hours, asking questions which he always had an answer for. He must really enjoy her company. Who wouldn't? She's a cute kid.
…
Zim's dreams were filled with replayed images from the past few days. He didn't want to venture into another Irken dream world, not after how they all treated him. Zim made a fool of himself the last time, and he didn't want to show his face again.
It was a shame because in the next dream reality, the Control Brains were sending them all to a ski resort, and Zim was looking really forward to it. Their dreams were like short vacations in a way.
The sophisticated 'ballroom party' didn't turn out so well, maybe because nobody was having a good time. The Control Brains need to try harder. Only eight—nine including Zim—Invaders turned up for it, and only half of them were cool.
The face of Molly's murderer came up in one flashing image. Zim stirred in his sleep and wriggled about in his see-through bed, disconnecting some wires. After a while, another face appeared of a young woman, one who looked stricken with heartache.
Zim woke with a start, meeting his own panicked reflection in the glass top of his bed.
He put his hand over his eyes, and gave a vigorous rub. If he hadn't remembered to demand the computer to fix his bed, then he would be staring up through a hole now. But the glass in the testing room still needed fixing. Poor Nick still didn't have anywhere to stay. Irk knows where he is now.
He thought he knew the woman from somewhere. She looked very familiar. He tried to think of every human face he had seen in the media and out on the street, but he found no match. It was like a horrible itch he couldn't reach, demanding his attention.
Most humans looked the same, so he didn't see much variety, apart from the many cultures, that was the only difference he could see.
He climbed out of bed, keeping calm this time. It was simple, just a click of a button, which recognised his bio signature.
He always felt horrible after his naps: eyes all gooey with sleep, mouth dry and in need of refreshment, and then that awful after taste morning breath brings. But Zim's a superior being, meaning he's perfect, so he looks like Sleeping Beauty when he wakes.
He only slept for an hour and a half, and the current time was 7:30. He had searched since Saturday morning, around 1pm, not long after his midnight conversation with Dib. He finally stopped more than twenty-four hours later, upon finding Molly's file, or what could be.
But how was he going to work it out? She must still have family around. He knew he remembered her asking about her mother. Her mother, if she was still around, would be an old woman now, old enough to have a sixty-year-old child living or dead.
It said nothing of the little girl's family, but the search called off long ago, which is fair considering she disappeared back in the late 20th century. Her mother must still be searching, surely. Who would give up on finding their child? But it was probably beyond her power if the police found no traces of the girl.
Molly's killer, hopefully, though Zim would love to inflict some pain on him, was dead now, rotting in a pit.
What a thing to have to live with, knowing your child could still be out there. Even if she had died, they never found her body. That must have hurt, not being able to put her to rest.
Zim could reflect on human emotions a lot better now. He always thought humans were easy to read, being nothing more than just meat and hair. They were independent organisms, since they didn't rely on a PAK.
He felt it with Molly's emotions; there was a central core to the human essence, with many emotions orbiting around it, like a sun and its planets.
But where was that young woman's face from? It must be on one of GIR's TV shows, or maybe someone out in the street. She had more of an average look than a TV human — no ridiculous wigs, makeup, or clothes. So that makes her a normal human civilian, one who isn't under the constant radar of the media.
His PAK could store every face he had seen, faces of different Irkens and aliens from all over the universe, and that was a lot. Obviously, he knew he hadn't seen her on Vort. Why did he even consider that last option?
He shuffled to the elevator in a dreamy state, making his way towards his lesser-used monitor room, where he did quick research. When the doors to the elevator opened, he spotted Molly sitting in his chair. She was talking to thin air. Well, that was how it looked, but upon closer inspection, she was actually talking to the computer.
It angered Zim seeing them interact. He didn't know why. It was just weird. A ghost and a house—especially his house—talking to each other was unsettling, like the computer was making dark deals. Spooky hauntings always started with the house…
Zim shook his head, and walked on over.
"Well I like blue crayons, but I also like green, yellow, and pink. They're my favorite colors, but I like to use them all when I draw happy pictures. What makes you happy, computer?"
"I don't know, really. It's been a while since I was happy. It's a dark, cruel world..."
"What is the meaning of this? What plans are you devising? Tell me!"
"Oh, look, it's the life of the party, coming to ruin the fun."
"Party? Zim wouldn't know the meaning of the word, unless it was a party celebrating Zim! Cease this foolish talk at once. That's an order, computer. You're allowed to cater to the little spirit, since she's our guest, but I don't like this talking of Zim when he's out of range. Too suspicious."
"We weren't talking about you. Don't flatter yourself."
"It wasn't computer's fault. Please don't be mad at him," Molly cried in her sweetest voice.
Zim glanced her way, falling for her pleading eyes. How could she be conspiring against him? So innocent.
"Eh, fine. But let it be known that if any ploy is discovered against Zim, then I shall reign doom… Just don't talk behind my back, okay?"
"Fine."
"You may be excused now, computer. Please fetch me a refreshing drink." The computer left under his command, leaving Zim with a sulky ghost girl.
"And you. What is with that pouty face? I will not tolerate—"
"You made computer go away. I didn't get to hear what makes him happy."
"Serving Zim, of course. Now move over slightly, or better yet move completely. That is Zim's chair, you know?"
He sat in his chair without waiting for her to move, but they both fitted on fine.
He opened up the file he viewed before, and showed her the picture of the little girl. Molly looked at it, and then at Zim.
"This is... was you, right?"
"I... think so."
"What? You think so? You don't recognize your own face? Even I can see the resemblance, and you all look pretty much the same to me."
"No."
"Well, all right. I have another face to show you, but I don't know how to get access. It's in my mind. I could probably upload some images from my PAK's memory archive, but it would take too long. So I was wondering if you could, you know, use your ghostly powers to look into my mind, and see the face for yourself."
"I—" she started.
"You dare refuse... um, sorry, habit. Continue," Zim apologised sheepishly.
"I could try," she continued, "but I'm not so sure how. I only know how to put pictures in your mind, not take them out."
"Well think of something. Here," he grabbed her hand and pressed it against his head. "See what you can find. There must be a way, I—" he gasped as a faint memory came to mind, but not just from her. He could remember it himself since he was there.
In her memory, he was standing behind himself. He was wearing his disguise. The Zim in the vision turned abruptly, as present-day Zim felt an icy chill by the glare on his face. He had to admit, now that he could see from another perspective, his human disguise was kind of silly. He still looked like an alien monster, especially with that death glare.
The Zim in the vision looked towards a house, as did the viewer from behind. An old woman stood at the door. He was happy to see her. It was his Mommy, much older, but he didn't see her that way. She still looked like the young brunette woman on the day he last saw her.
"Mommy," Zim murmured.
The vision ended.
Zim came back to current day, meeting the eyes of a surprised Molly. She may not have even planned that. It was unexpected on her part, but Zim had made the connection. All it took was his willingness, and her magic touch.
"I did it. She... she's your mother? That old lady... the staring match. That's how I knew her face. I'm ingenious! I didn't know I had powers like that."
"You know my Mommy?" Molly asked, hopeful.
"Yes, I do now."
He looked up at the file, showing Molly once again. "See, it is you, now I'm sure of it. Come on, we're going to pay someone a little visit."
"Who?"
"Your mother, duh. Haven't you been listening?"
"Oh, thank you, thank you, Zim. I knew you would take me to see her."
She was holding onto Zim, chocking him as he could hardly breathe. She was strong for one so small.
"Okay, you can let go of me now," he said.
He gasped for air once she let go. Molly was beaming. She jumped out the chair and skipped around the room, annoying the alien.
Next, he sneezed, startling Molly. She couldn't understand at first, since it was a while she had produced any kind of mechanical response. Blinking, breathing, and sneezing were a thing of the past.
"Are you sick?" she finally asked.
"A little, but I'm feeling better. Much better, actually. It turns out my immune system killed those little invaders sooner than I thought. Stupid virus, stupid Earth germs."
"Oh, well I'm happy you're okay. I remember being sick, and my Mommy used to take care of me!"
Zim didn't have anything to say. No one had ever cared about his welfare. It was strange, but nice.
He watched the little girl jumping around, feeling a warm glow in his Squeedlyspooch. It was hard not to like her. He had fallen victim to this child's charms, though he would never admit.
It was time to reunite her with her mother.
…
Zim would have left through the door and be on his way out, but GIR had other plans.
As soon as he saw him leaving, he wanted to come too, even though Zim told him he was doing homework with some pig smellies from the skool.
"Please let me come too. I wanna go and do homework with the pigs. GIR like pigs!" GIR was gripping Zim's leg, stopping him from going out the door.
"No, GIR, you are to stay here and guard the house from Dib."
"I don't wanna! Mary is dead to me!" He was referring to Dib, of course.
"Don't you raise your voice with your master!"
"But ghostie girl gets to go." GIR scowled at Molly, since he hadn't warmed to her yet, being a little frightened of her still.
"Molly has been a pleasant house guest, so she gets to come along and do homework with the smelly Earth pigs." It was a terrible lie as Zim cringed. But GIR was too dumb to notice.
"B-but..."
"No buts, GIR, you are not to come. Quickly, get out the door while I distract him," Zim whispered to Molly.
Molly looked at GIR sadly, and then vanished through the door. They would have left separately, but nothing goes past GIR. He was always on that couch. It was hard to leave through the door, even when he was absorbed in his monkey show.
GIR would have gotten jealous, thinking Zim was spending more time with Molly, even though he left without a word with Minimoose plenty of times.
"Hey, GIR, look, it's Bilbo Baggins sitting at the kitchen table. Your favorite fictional character... Ooh, and is that the ghost of Cathy, too?"
"Bilbo's here? And Cathy? Yes!"
GIR ran into the kitchen, expecting to see the hobbit and the soul of Cathy, but all that was there was Minimoose, dipping a biscuit into a cup of tea, and the arms of the computer, reading a newspaper with the headline: "Crazy UFO Kid At Large Again". There was a picture of Dib on the front.
"Wait a minute... You're not Bilbo Baggins, and you're not Cathy."
Minimoose and the arms of the computer both looked confused.
GIR turned his head slowly, and caught Zim leaving through the door. The alien looked startled, and then shut the door before the robot followed him. He ran out the path with Molly trailing behind, as they ducked behind the fence.
GIR opened the door a few moments later, screaming on the lawn and kicking a gnome. "Master lied to me. GIR no get to see pigs no more. Aaaargh!" he yelled, and slammed the door shut. His screaming could still be heard from inside the house.
"I hate to lie to him, but it's all for the best. I can't bring him along. This is too delicate an operation."
"I understand. He's like a baby."
"Good point," Zim said. GIR was just like any drooling infant, and he never noticed before.
They left the fence and marched—well Zim marched—to Molly's mother's house. He interrogated her along the way, never realising he was talking to himself, but a lot of the city's inhabitants did quite often, since they're all insane. So no one thought much of it anymore.
"So, this female parental unit of yours... What's she like?"
"What's a—?"
"Your mother, I mean," he corrected.
"Oh, she's the greatest Mommy in the whole world. That's why you have to get her to notice me. She won't look at me. I don't think she can see me."
"Wait, you've already visited your mother? Why didn't you tell me you knew where she was?"
"I was afraid."
"Why?"
"That you would say no, that you wouldn't take me to see her."
Zim was speechless. She did make a point. "But I told you I was willing to help. I am Zim, I don't help anyone! So why would I come this far just to say no?"
"I don't know. You can be mean sometimes, and you spit when you yell."
"No I do not! Zim's yelling sessions are perfectly dry!" he yelled, spitting all over her. "Um, the letter P in 'perfectly' is a powerful consonant."
"It's okay, I don't mind much," she lied.
"But you should have asked. It would have saved me a lot of time. Twenty-nine hours I was searching, you know? All I needed was information of when you were born, and when you died, but if you took me to your mother earlier, it would have been a lot easier."
"I'm sorry." She looked down at her shoes.
Zim didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled out the doll from his PAK's storage compartment. "Here, I believe this belongs to you." He passed her the doll.
"My dolly! Where did you find her?"
"Well, after that little trick that someone pulled by making it sit right-up on my kitchen table, I threw it out the window. Seriously, it was the scariest thing I'd ever seen, apart from you before you turned nice."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just playing with her, and I wanted you to know I was there. You were so far away, like you were down a long tunnel."
"Yeah… let us never speak of those dark days again. I thought she would cheer you up. Zim did bad by making you sad, which make Zim sad, so he give you doll to make you happy. There, it all works out."
"Thank you. I am happy now."
"See, victory!"
…
Zim stood outside the same house from a few days earlier, glancing up at the window. The old woman wasn't there. Molly was beside him holding her doll.
He was nervous, as he wasn't sure how to go about this. How was he supposed to tell this old lady that he was talking to the soul of her long-lost child? She would slam the door in his face, surely, and then call the crazy house for boys.
Though he knew he wasn't as nervous as Molly; he could feel it emanating off her, combining with his own anxiety. Why did their emotions still have to be in tune? His own were bad enough.
Zim glanced Molly's way. She squeezed that doll like her life depended on it. Well, her afterlife.
"Are you sure you're ready for this? She probably won't believe me, but I have a plan, an ingenious plan. Just let me do the talking. I have a certain way with words that I'm sure will make her want to listen."
"I'll try, but she wouldn't look at me. I felt invisible."
"When did you visit her? I thought you were with me this whole time."
"I was, until you scared me away and said "no". Then I came here and she wouldn't look at me, and I was stuck in that sandy place."
"That desert? That place was real? Kind of asking the obvious, but still."
"Yeah, it was horrible. But then you were there. You found me."
"I'm not so sure how I did. I think it was an out-of-body experience. I had left the dome in my lab twice, but I don't think I did the first time, not physically. These clairvoyant powers are turning me into some freak who can manoeuvre out of his own body." Zim shivered, "I had become a ghost, like you..."
The lace curtain in the downstairs window parted, and the old woman appeared — Molly's mother. She had on a pair of reading glasses, giving Zim a quizzical look.
Zim froze in place. His heart beat just that bit faster, as he recited his plan inside his head.
"Well, here we go," he said. He looked over and noticed Molly vanished. "Molly? Don't you bail on me. Get back here! We're in this together!"
"I-I can't. I'm scared she won't care about me anymore. That she forgot. I don't want to be sad like that again."
Zim couldn't see her, but he could still hear her voice. The doll she held hovered in mid-air. "I don't think she'll—"
The front door opened. He heard a faint thud on his side, and looked down to see the doll on the floor. Molly officially vanished. He cursed her silently.
"Can I help you, young man?"
He looked up at the door, hearing a worn voice. The old lady held a book in her hand, as she still wore her reading glasses.
"Um, yes. I..."
"I'm sorry, darling, but you're going to have to come closer. I'm short of hearing."
Zim sighed, annoyed that this human spoke to him like a minor. He was at least four-hundred years her senior. He picked up the doll and put it back inside his PAK.
He let himself through the gate and walked up to her timidly, like a dog with its tail between its legs. Then he remembered that he was an Invader, so he broadened his shoulders, and marched right on up to her.
He stopped within a foot in front of her, and felt like a silly skool boy again. She was still older than him in many ways. It takes experience, and he had none of that yet. He was still in his youth on his home turf, while this old lady lived a full life. It made him slightly envious that she had this advantage over him.
She came outside the door and contemplated his appearance. Zim averted his eyes. He couldn't tell, but she may have gasped over his peculiarity. Poor little green boy.
"Yes, what were you going to say, darling?"
He looked up at her, receiving a warm, pleasant smile. She had many wrinkles. Zim was fascinated by the lines on her face. No one gained any wrinkles on Irk, even if they reached old age.
He never realised how absorbed he was in her features, until she interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, ma'am. I'm fine," he said, politely. "The reason I'm here today is because I have an important skool report to write covering the city's greatest crimes. I chose to write about your daughter's disappearance. Moly, is it?"
"Molly. Her name was Molly," she corrected, voice growing tight.
"Of course. How very silly of me."
Zim was getting somewhere...
"It's all right, just a simple mistake."
"So, is it a yes? I would be honored to hear your thoughts on your daughter's disappearance. I'm sure to get a top mark on my report. After all, my grades are all I have. With a rare skin disease such as mine, you get lonely. At least I can say I'm smart. Who needs friends when you're the best in your class?"
"Ah, yes, the old 'tugging on the heart-strings'. This is sure to work. I'm ingenious!"
She looked at him pitifully, and then sighed. "All right, I guess it wouldn't hurt. Come on, in you go before the warmth gets out."
She held her door open for him. He let himself inside, triumphant that his plan worked, though he was still nervous. Apart from Dib, he had never spent much time in any other human house. It was unsettling.
The living room was small and cosy, decorated with lace and floral patterns. There were several cats perched on the furniture, and a little colourful bird in a cage. It made irritating noises.
"Go on, take a seat." She indicated to an empty settee close to the fireplace.
He walked over, and settled his alien butt on the soft, blue seat. "Well, this is quite nice."
He fluffed up a floral cushion. On the back of the settee, a ginger cat stared at him, narrowing its eyes. Most Earth animals sensed right away he was a foreigner from out-of-space, but this cat seemed to like him. It was disturbing. It made a weird sound like a tiny street drill next. Zim realised it was purring. So loud.
"Oh, don't mind him; he likes company. The other three shy away."
"He's fine. I don't mind cats much."
"Do you have any pets?"
"Yes, a dog. I love him with all my heart."
"How precious. Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee?"
Zim grew anxious. He was suspicious of most Earth substances. He had coffee before at Dib's with Dr. Membrane, but he wasn't sure whether tea was safe. He turned a little hyper after coffee last time, so he settled for tea, taking a gamble.
"I will have some tea, please. Tea is fine. Bring me tea."
"All right, I'll be right back."
She left. Zim sensed he was being watched. He looked at the cat again. It was still staring at him, massaging its claws into the settee as if it were kneading doe, or 'making biscuits' as they say. They looked sharp. He felt uneasy, but never realised it wasn't a threat. The cat was merely being affectionate.
She came back into the room holding a tray with a teapot and two cups, and placed them on the small table. Then she sat in a chair across from him with matching cushions.
It was silent, with the only sound of a deafening clock on the mantel. Zim poured some of the hot liquid into a cup, and added ten piles of sugar. Irkens have a very sweet tooth.
The old lady gave him a questioning look, surprised by his amount, but he didn't seem to notice. Now he took a small sip, grimacing as a reflex, but he found that it was all right. The sugar helped a lot, but the tea was bitter.
Next, he pulled out an Earth notepad and pen. He hated having to use this primitive equipment, but he couldn't just show up with his hi-tech alien stationary.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Zim, a young skool boy with an ambition to rule… I mean, get top grades on his report. The best report wins an infinite supply of shrimp, because smelly Earth children just love to eat shrimp, am I right?"
"Yes, I suppose. Seafood is an important source of nutrition," she said matter-of-fact, stirring her tea with a small spoon. She was just confused by his choice of words. "Zim is a strange name. Where is it from?"
"Oh, it's short for Zimbabwe. That's where I was born, and my beautiful mother thought it an appropriate name."
"It's different, but I like it. Unique," she pointed out, making Zim even more smug.
He did a Google search of his name once, and found that it was actually short for an African country. He was furious.
"So you were born in Africa?"
"Yes, it was a marvelous occasion. I was born in a wildlife park while my mother was out on safari. All the animals came to celebrate my birth, as she held me out on a rock for all to see."
"Oh," she said, confused again. She stirred her tea some more.
Zim just described the birth of a cartoon lion. Huge mistake. He found it necessary. That baby lion cub was celebrated by this fellow disgusting animals.
"Okay, let us begin. What is your name? And what have you done since your daughter Moly died… disappeared?"
She didn't say anything. She only stared. He was so blunt and straightforward. "I won't tell you again. Her name was Molly, not Moly," she finally said, sounding a little too pleasant.
"Sorry, my mistake... again." Pretending he doesn't know her name was getting old.
"My name is Elizabeth Gee Paxton. I was married for forty years to my late husband Albert," she paused a moment, "but he died five years ago. Since Molly disappeared, I've had several more kids. I have grandchildren now: three boys, four girls, and one on the way. Is that what you wanted to know?"
"Yes," he said, writing it down in his notes.
He looked over at the mantelpiece, and spotted family photographs. There was one with three fair-haired children. It had a little boy and girl on it, and a baby. The little girl looked a lot like Molly. He wasn't sure what gender the baby was, but he assumed by its pink dress that it was female. He wasn't sure how Molly would have looked as a baby, but she probably would look just like that one in the picture. The little blond boy could pretty much be her twin brother.
The date on the photograph was 2012 — fifteen years after Molly vanished. That was forty years ago...
Molly's mother had lived on after her daughter's death, and even had more kids. Did she just forget about her, like Molly feared? In other photos, there were more modern baby pictures in flying space buggies. They must be the grand kids.
"Who are they?" Zim asked.
She looked over to where he pointed. "They're my children."
Zim stood and grabbed the photo frame without asking. She didn't seem to mind much. "What are their names?"
"The little girl is called Lily, the boy is called Michael, and the baby is named Ruby. They're all grown up now with their own kids."
"Do they know they had an older sister? Surely, you must have told them about her?"
"Of course, I told them from a young age. It broke their hearts to know they had a big sister. I thought it best to tell them when they were young."
"They have a different father, I presume."
"Yes, I didn't meet their father until after I lost Molly. We married ten years after she vanished. I was young when I met Molly's father at college, and we had Molly one year later when I was 21. He died in a crash, just a few months before Molly disappeared," she drifted off in her memories.
Zim was growing impatient. He had to get her to keep talking, so he could let it all out about Molly. If she knew, maybe Molly will finally move on.
He looked over his notes. So far he knew about her life after Molly died. He had no use for the notes, but he thought it may look convincing if he was writing a report.
"Have you been in this house this entire time after she vanished?"
"No. I moved away, but I rented this place to different families. I decided to move back here, and live out the rest of my days in my first house. I was a young woman when I first moved in here, and I was pregnant with Molly. It was given to me by my uncle, and now I've been here nearly a week Tuesday."
"Since Tuesday? Interesting." On the same day Molly came into his life.
He remembered how he found the doll outside this house. It must have fallen out of the moving truck. When he picked it up, had he woken Molly from her slumber? Everything was starting to fit together inside his head, but it still made no sense.
Could it just be a coincidence that the doll fell on the floor, mere hours before he walked past the house?
"Is that why you came to my house the other day, to ask about your report?"
"... Yes," he lied. "I was too afraid to come up and ask you." It was a terrible lie, as he wanted to rip his own tongue out.
"I don't mind. I've spoken to many reporters over the years, just to help get word out about Molly. It's nice people want to know about her. It may even help me find her. She could still be out there..."
"No it won't, because she's dead!" Zim wanted to say, but now wasn't the time. It would have been insensitive, but that's not what stopped him. He's very unaware of his bluntness. He was just too afraid. It was a lot to tell in one sitting.
However, he was as impatient as ever, so he would have to find a more careful way to tell her.
"Tell me, what was it like knowing you may never see your child again?"
He didn't know why he asked, but if he could get her to remember Molly and feel sad, it may help him a little. She may even jump up in glee if she knew her daughter was out there in ghost form.
She was silent. Her eyes looked on behind him, and he thought for a moment that she was staring at the sleeping cat.
"It was hard," her voice grew thick. "A part of me knew she could still be out there, but at the same time, if anyone was hurting her, I didn't want her to suffer. Just to know she isn't in pain anymore. Even if she had died, I would know she found peace."
Zim was speechless. Everything turned silent after that. Even the bird stopped chirping in its cage. He didn't know how to respond, as he couldn't relate. After all, he had never cared for anyone. Wishing death upon someone as a sense of relief, he had never thought of it in that way. Death was only meant for suffering, right?
Next, those words of hers compressed around his heart as if it were dough, wrenching it tight until he almost choked. What's happening to him?
It was his central core he found, and with it brought pain and relief. Emotions are a complex thing, and no amount of ruthless training could take them away. They would always come back, and now they had.
He hated this planet now more than anything. It dug up deep, hidden feelings that he never knew he had. It was best Irkens stayed emotionless. It would probably hurt less when they realise that what they do is wrong. Everything they ever knew was corrupt, but they were oblivious.
"I'm sorry..." he said next.
"Why? It's not your fault."
"No, about what I'm about to put you through."
"I don't mind talking about Molly. It helps to keep her spirit alive."
"That's not what I mean." He inhaled a shaky breath, and prepared his next words carefully. "Do... do you believe in... ghosts?"
She looked confused by his question. "I've never really given it much thought."
"Would you believe me if I told you I've developed powers lately that can help me talk to spirits? I've seen Molly. She... she came to visit me."
"What are you talking about? You've seen Molly? You know where she is?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I do. She's a spirit. She died a long time ago. Fifty-five years..."
Molly's mother froze.
Zim's heart beat louder. It was a wonder she couldn't hear it. He was shaking; he didn't know why he was nervous. There wasn't much she could do. She was just some old human. Yet he was terrified of how she would react.
"I don't wish to speak of this any longer. I want you to leave now, Zim." She stood up. "It was nice talking with you. Good luck on your report."
He looked up at her stunned. She sounded so furious underneath that sweet, pleasant tone. "I'm telling the truth. She was with me just before I arrived. I have her doll!"
He pulled out Molly's doll from his PAK, and held it up for her to see. She stared at it dumbfounded. "Where... where did you find that?"
"Outside your home last Tuesday. That's when I started seeing her. She's real. You have to believe me."
She snatched the doll from his hand. "Leave. I'm finished with this nonsense."
"But I—"
"I said leave! Get out of my house!" she shouted.
Zim was furious, standing up from the seat as he gave her a harsh glare. "Fine! I don't care about you or your daughter anymore. She can just stay on this planet for the rest of eternity. And guess what? I'm also an alien from out-of-space, and I'm going to destroy your planet! And for this injustice, I will make sure you pay. No one yells at Zim. Ever!"
His yelling caused the cat to startle on the settee, and the bird to flap about its cage. Though he never could explain why, as it never was his primary intention, but it felt good to finally reveal to a human he was alien. It was just the heat of the moment, and she already thought he was a liar, or crazy.
She grabbed his arm, and dragged him out the door. "You should be ashamed of yourself, picking on an old lady, and telling awful lies!" She slammed the door.
"I'm four-hundred years older than you! You should respect your elder!" he yelled after the door. Wow, he really did sound crazy, but he didn't care. Who did she think she was?
"I'm leaving, and I'm not coming back! Now you will never know about your child's disappearance!"
A searing pain shot through his chest after he said that, but she yelled at him. No one yells at Invader Zim, so she deserved it.
He stomped out the yard, and slammed the gate shut. He stood outside a while, regaining his composure. After he calmed his nerves, he began his march back to the base, but only to catch the glare of the old woman, Elizabeth, in her window. So he returned the sentiment with his scariest scowl yet, but it was futile. His face softened with regret.
Her own face softened, and now she grew a look of concern. He was just a confused and lonely boy. Obviously deranged.
Zim averted his eyes, and finally walked away.
Elizabeth watched him go down the street. Why did she agree to talk to him? To her, he seemed like he needed someone to talk to. She already knew he was odd, after she saw him yelling to himself in the street last Tuesday. Yet, she still invited him inside. That sob story was convincing enough.
She pulled herself away from the window, and picked up the doll. She never realised she lost it, so she placed it on her mantel next to the photograph of her children.
The doll's face turned sad again.
...
Zim's head swirled with cruel thoughts during his way back home. He was still angry with Elizabeth and with Molly for leaving him, but he was more disappointed in himself. He should have stayed calm, but he couldn't stop himself. She provoked his wrath.
Eventually, he passed a lone boy playing on his bike. Zim recalled him from somewhere, until he saw the black-and-white dog at his side. The alien groaned, and turned his attention away. He had enough of ghosts for the past few days.
The dog sniffed up at him, and began to cry a high-pitched whine. Obviously, Zim was the only one who could hear him.
These stupid ghosts were everywhere. As that thought crossed his mind, he saw the old man from the ambulance, standing in his yard. He didn't look Zim's way, keeping his gaze on his wife as she planted flowers.
Zim watched from across the street. How could she not know he was there? He was so visible and obvious to Zim, but the humans were blind. Their loved ones were right by their side every day. No one really goes away.
He felt a presence on his left, and turned to see Molly staring at the floor. She gazed up to meet that hateful glare in his eyes.
"You have a nerve showing your face after deserting me. I promised to stay loyal to you, and that's how you repay me?"
"I'm sorry," she cried.
"I don't want to hear it. I tried, and she didn't believe me. I'm afraid I can't help you anymore. It's over." He walked away.
"No, we can still make her listen. I know she misses me. I heard her tell you."
"Oh, so you were there? Why didn't you show your face, and prove that I was telling the truth?! I have nothing to say to you, Moly. Leave Zim alone."
"No," she said boldly.
He turned around, and looked at her in disbelief. "What? Who do you—?"
"I said no. I'm not giving up, and I'm not letting you either. You promised!"
"You're the one who left! I can't help it if you're not willing to help me help you!" Zim sighed. "Just stay away from me, for now. I need to think of a new tactic."
"Where will I go?"
He didn't answer, but Molly decided not to take what he said to heart. She wasn't going anywhere. Besides, she still had Minimoose and the computer. They wouldn't cast her away.
…
Zim sat on his couch alone, thinking until he couldn't think no more. What was he going to do? He didn't even know where to start.
Originally, he was going to tell Molly's mother, but she didn't believe him. What else was there now?
Molly died tragically; that must be why she's still earthbound.
The only thing he could do now was find her killer. At least it directed his anger somewhere else. He had been a little harsh with Molly's mother, and with the girl herself.
Molly's body had never been found. He should track him down, and make him confess everything he did to her. Then she can finally be put to rest and go to the afterlife.
Zim never believed such a place could exist. Well maybe not for Irkens. Where would they go when they die? Where would Zim go? He shook his head, and tried to not think of his own death.
Most Irkens lived on in the collective minds of the Control Brains, but they weren't the true Irkens, just a copy of their personality. That central core must go somewhere else. The soul...
It was universal. All beings went to a greater plane of existence after they die. Zim knew with regret that most Irkens probably never went to that place. Maybe if he stopped trying to take over the Earth, he would go there too?
He went down into the lab, and searched through the many faces he stored in his PAK. That monster's face has to be in there somewhere. He hadn't been able to erase it from his mind since Molly showed it to him.
He uploaded the images into his computer, and looked through the recent faces. There were images from people he passed on the street, and one of Molly's mother and Molly herself. Dib was in there too, as well as Gaz and the Tallest. Billions of faces, taken like snapshots from his photographic memory. But the face he was looking for was near the top of the file, and he spotted it right away.
The man gazed down at him warmly, as Zim's stomach churned. He was a vile creature: the ugliest he had come across in the entire universe. He printed the picture, and held it up in his hands.
"Who's that?"
"This is the face of a monster, computer. You will never come across one as vile in all your life."
"My characters in my comic are vile enough."
Zim looked confused by that statement. He shrugged it off. Many things the computer said just drifted through the air anyway.
He felt Molly on his left, and turned around to face her. Her eyes were glued on the picture.
"Don't look! It will scare you."
"I-I can't help it," she whimpered, paralysed by fear.
"He won't get away with what he did, not now that I have his face. I'm going to find him. It's no use going to the Earth authorities. They will ask questions, and I can't let myself be exposed. However, once he confesses, your story will finally get out, and you can move on to eternal bliss. We need to find your body, though I'm afraid there won't be much of you left after fifty-five years..."
She was still frozen in fear. He tried to coax her out of it by shaking her shoulders.
"Molly, stop! You have nothing to worry about anymore. We're going to track down your killer. With Zim out to get him, he won't stand a chance."
Molly suddenly woke from her stupor, and burst into tears. Zim was in no way prepared, but he did the only thing he knew that would comfort her, and that was to give her a hug.
And so he did, but he was stiff like an ironing board. All he knew was to put your arms around the person you are hugging, but she didn't mind his lame hug, and held him tight.
"I'm sorry I left you. I was too scared."
"It's all right. Zim forgives you." He patted her head gently, as he really did forgive her. It was hard not to, especially when she sniffled like that.
"Aw, group hug!" GIR cried out, attacking Zim's head. The Irken left him to it, because it amused Molly. Her laugh tickled his neck where she buried her face, and it wasn't entirely unpleasant.
Then Minimoose joined the group hug, as he perched on top of Molly's head, and now they both had robots for hats. Zim rolled his eyes. How could this get any worse...
"Well, if everyone else is doing it." The computer wrapped a robot arm around the four of them.
There they all were, embracing one another in the weirdest group hug ever formed. Zim just sulked, hating all this love and affection. But deep down, he didn't mind. It was rather... nice.
He came back to reality again, widening his eyes in surprise. "Wait, I have a report due in tomorrow!"
A/N: Thank you for reading. I don't have much to say, apart from this "Zim did bad by making you sad, which make Zim sad, so he give you doll to make you happy..." Pfft, Zim, you old sweetheart.
The water in the tea that Zim drank is purified, and not polluted with chemicals like the rain water, or the water balloon Dib threw at him. I hope this makes sense, since everyone drinks purified water in the future dystopian world of IZ.
Zim is short for Zimbabwe. They have a football/soccer team, and during the world cup (update: in 2010) they were called Zim for short. It cracked me up, because it's also the name of our favourite Invader. They have wildlife parks called Zimparks too, where Zim was apparently born.
Bilbo Baggins is from 'The Hobbit', and Cathy 'Wuthering Heights'. I don't know why I wrote them in, but according to my story, GIR likes to read. His books are usually based off stories I'm reading. I actually haven't finished Wuthering Heights... Should get on to that some time again.
If you know someone born on July the seventh and their name is Molly McCormack, it's just a coincidence. She's a nighties child. The best children ever... I miss the 90s.
You do know Jhonen does the voice of the computer, and Minimoose, right? So now maybe you get why he likes to draw comics.
I'm going to try to update sooner. I find I do during the colder months.
Until next time :)