Chapter 9: The Iron Giant
...
From the day Zim had been brought into the world of living, it has been ingrained into all young Irken smeets that sleep is ill advised. Their PAKs were engineered so that as they work their way up to become promising soldiers, the most they'll feel is the need to rest and replenish on food. Sleeping isn't needed.
There had been a lengthy lecture explaining why sleeping is actually dangerous for all Irkens, but Zim hadn't bothered to listen at the time, too busy jotting ideas on what inventions he should create to impress his dear Tallest.
He did sleep a few times, but the images conjured up in his mind were terrifying enough to not want to experience it ever again. But even so, he didn't quite understand why sleeping was such a big deal when each time he wakes up unharmed.
The habit picked up again while he was on Earth, though he's tried his best to avoid it. On this planet he's learned that the images he sees while unconscious are called dreams. Humans cocoon themselves in this sleep ritual every night and is a health requirement for them to do so. How weak and dependable they must be for it.
He learns that dreams can be pleasant, and the unpleasant ones are called nightmares. There are subcategories such as lucid dreaming, sleep walking (Zim has witnessed Gir do it a few times), night terrors and such. For Zim, his has mostly turned dreamless and what he does dream he forgets the moment he wakes, something that is very common for humans as well.
But in the past few days since enrolling in Death's academy, he's become so exhausted that he actually uses his apartment bed and knocks out instantly. During those nights is when it starts happening.
Zim has concluded that this must be lucid dreaming, because he is all too aware of his situation. Only, even when he's aware, the environment he's in doesn't bend to his control like his research provided.
What's even more unusual is for the third time, he's in the same space. He'd find himself on his back, floating on top of water. Feeling no pain. Above him, he stares at nothing but the blackness that's become all too familiar to him now. This time, it is dotted with clusters of stars that glitter and twinkle now and then. But two stars, yellow and violet, shine next to each other, becoming the biggest and the brightest amongst the rest.
The water beneath Zim doesn't submerge him when he moves. So he's able to sit up and take in more of his surroundings. Green lily pads and flowers float on the water surface with him. Beneath the surface is nothing but black and the reflection of the stars above. And that's all he's able to see clearly.
So he listens instead, and like before, the air chimes softy. The bells and plucks of strings seem to come from the smaller stars, all of them harmonizing together. They all connect, like constellations that meet at the center focal point, the yellow and violet stars.
The feeling is hard to describe, but if Zim could he would sit here and listen to the tranquil stars forever. But Zim stands and pats his clothes (even though he's completely dry) and looks around.
He should arrive at any moment.
"How odd."
Zim hears the voice from behind him and turns.
An old looking owl with reading glasses and dressed in a vest and blazer sits on a branch unrooted from the water below. The owl doesn't immediately send Zim away this time, which in turn wakes him up to the rising sun of a new day. Instead the owl rubs his chin methodically, regarding the Irken fully.
"Tell me trespasser," he speaks finally. "Do you realize where you are?"
Zim feels a tick of annoyance and shouts. "I've been trying to ask you that TWICE you stupid bird-smelly!"
"Watch your tongue young man! And I do not smell," counters the bird. He clears his throat. "I'm sure your kind is well-informed about the history of our world and the incident that happened all those years ago."
"Can't say I recall."
The owl hums, and something he sees makes him believe Zim's telling the truth. "Well then, allow me to explain. This place-" He gestures the area with both his wings. "-is called the Sacred Pool. The stars above you represent every conscious mind from all walks of life. And together, they create two of the brightest stars, the worlds of Nightiopia and Nightmare. Here is where we view the inner-workings that encompass what you see before you, the Night Dimension. The land of dreams. And you-"
He points to Zim. "You are committing something treacherous for entering here. Did your leaders not inform you of the consequences should you in any way jeopardize our agreement? "
"What agreement? Zim still doesn't know what you're talking about!"
The owls stares at him, becoming more ruffled and speechless. "The device attached to your back prevents you from falling asleep, isn't that correct?"
"Yeeesss…" Zim answers slowly. Carefully. "How do you know that?"
"It is the aftermath of what took place eons ago," the owl explains. "Back then, your kind attempted to break into the Sacred Pool as another way to further your efforts in universe conquer. Wizeman, the god of Nightmare, put a stop to this and destroyed your forces until they were made to surrender. He swore that if this were to ever happen again, every nightmare they have will be more physically painful than the last. Until then, every Irken will only experience the unpleasantness of these nightmares. To accommodate this, your kind found it much safer not to sleep at all."
"Oh. So then…"
"Unfortunately, the moment you trespassed the first time, you have already angered the god of Nightmare. For you to do this the third time will probably seal the fate of your entire race. Escaping subconsciousness will not be enough when it comes to his wrath I'm afraid."
"But I don't even know how or why I keep coming here!" Zim reasons to the old owl. "I assure you Zim has no control of his dreams despite the fact that he is aware that he is dreaming! So tell your god there is no scheme!"
The owl crosses his arms (wings?), his eyes closed and contemplates hard before answering. "Even if you are telling the truth, I hold no influence over Wizeman. But this development seems to hold a deeper meaning than we initially thought and needs to be looked into further."
Zim seizes up in alarm as the owl starts to raise his wing, knowing what's about happen next. "Wait! What do you mean-"
"No time to further explain young man. The Night Dimension is in bigger disarray than ever before. And it seems, for whatever reason, you may be part of that equation. You have something that may either benefit us or destroy us. So for your sake…"
Zim's his vision distorts while his body dissipates, gravitating skyward towards the stars.
"I'd advise you not to give Wizeman a reason to be your adversary."
Zim jolts wide awake, breathing rapidly like he's just ran a marathon. His eyes scan rapidly around, seeing he's in his heavily sparse room. The morning sun's rays peek its way through the window blinds.
The invader groans, rubbing his face. He doesn't feel well-rested at all.
A series of knocks interrupt the silence.
"Zim are you up yet? We gotta meet up with the others soon."
At that, Zim groans again and buries himself within the blankets. It is at this point, he wants to be nowhere near those meister kids. Especially that Star Monkey. And now, learning that he may have potentially doomed his Irken race by unintentionally breaching a contract instilling peace between dimensions, that has killed whatever tiny bit of motivation left for him to move out of bed. His Tallest will no doubt be furious.
The door to his room creaks open slowly and Rev's head pears in.
"Zim? You okay?"
"Go away Revy. Leave Zim be," was his muffled response.
Quietly, Rev's bare feet tiptoes across the wooden floors and towards his blanket cocoon. She kneels at his bedside, her arms and head resting onto the mattress.
"Did you have a nightmare?" she asks, her voice even and soft.
"What makes you think that?" the other grumbles. Rev smiles at him.
"Experience." She shrugs her shoulders. "Or this could be you not wanting to put up with Black Star for another day."
Just hearing the name puts Zim on edge worse than all the years he's known Dib. Where Dib is an annoying bug that constantly gets in your face, Black Star is something ten times worse, something that stings and continues to sting terribly and no matter what you do, you can never get rid of it.
"Still, you can't deny he's done a lot to help us," Rev says. She squeaks, tumbles and falls on her butt when Zim abruptly rises to stand on the mattress, blanket shrouding his form like a cloak.
"I don't see why I need help from that horrible HORRIBLE creature!" he growls out. "The only thing he's ever done is piss me off!" Zim hops off and paces back and forth, beginning his rant. "Every day it's ambush after ambush, fight after fight! And he never shuts up! His soul grates my antennas! And to top it all off, that monkey made me so mad that I basically blew my cover! Now he, that Maka girl, and their weapons know my PAK's functions! Now all Dib has to do is tell them I'm an alien and they'll believe it!"
"Wait really?" Speaking of, Dib had appeared at the doorway, resting his back against it in his pjs and apron, curious as to why Zim was being so loud so early in the morning. "So that's why you were looking so depressed yesterday-"
"SHUT YOUR FACE I'M NOT FINISHED!" The invader rages at him. When Dib obliges by gesturing his mouth zipping shut, Zim nods in approval and continues. "And I swear to my dear Almight Tallest, that if I have to hear another 'Yahoo!' from that bastards mouth one more time, I'll makes sure he meets the Earth sun in the most excruciatingly painful way imaginable!"
There was a stretch of silence between the three of them until Dib coughs. "Not that I don't get it, but didn't Professor Stein say that…"
"Just so you understand, if anything happens to Maka, Black Star, Soul, or Tsubaki while they become your assigned personal tutors, Lord Death has given me permission to punish you in any way I like, so long as you don't die. That's perfectly fine. You don't need certain body parts in order to continue breathing, isn't that right?"
Rev gravely nods. "Yeah, sending Black Star to the sun won't be worth it if that's the case."
"At all. But by all means you can go ahead and try!"
"Dib!"
"I'm kidding." Dib pats her shoulder. "Seeing you get a taste of your own medicine is way too entertaining for it to end so soon!"
Rev rolls her eyes. Zim simmers.
"The Star Monkey may not face his doom yet, but you soon will Dib. Soon you will know suffering!"
"I've already known suffering since the day I met you but sure. Alright." Dib shrugs. "But know that if you destroy me, you can say goodbye to chocolate chip waffles in the morning. Or any waffles made by me for that matter!"
The invader gasps, but Dib wasn't done.
"Speaking of, I promised Gaz that if you're not at the table in the next five minutes, she could have your portion. Right now you have about one."
The threat of having his waffles stolen within the maws of the terrifying Membrane sister works, the invader shoving Dib aside and speeding out the door to the kitchen.
"You're welcome!" Dib sulks, arms crossed.
Rev is at his side, gives him a comforting pat, unable to suppress her giggles. "We all love your cooking Dib. We just express it differently."
"Sometimes I wonder why I even bother," he remarks halfheartedly. His expression seems far off when he then adds, "I never thought much of my skills until all this began. The fact that even Zim likes my food, it's weird."
Rev tilts her head to the side curiously. "Weird in a bad way or good way?"
"I… don't know." A tinge of pink spreads on boy's pale cheeks. "I know it's stupid and not really a big deal. I guess it's because I don't really get appreciation for the things I do? I mean I've always been treated as a nuisance or a disappointment, so I tend to expect that a lot more."
"That's horrible. You have good qualities; people just don't take the time to see it!"
Dib takes a moment to look bewildered before laughing. He genuinely ruffles the girl's head, making her whine about just having tamed her hair. "I could say the same for you too Rev. I'm more than used to it, but I'm glad you think so."
Why is he brushing this off? It's like he doesn't believe what I'm saying. Rev mentally questions as the hand leaves her head. She silently follows him to the living room, wondering with concern for her fellow friend.
Dib and Gaz have been a little odd lately and at first Rev believed it was due to long hours investigating the witch's wearabouts with Sid and Nygus. But two important leads came up yesterday, one from a student and the other from a branch in Western Europe. A meeting with Death is set today to further discuss a plan to infiltrate a possible base of operations somewhere in Ireland.
That should've lifted some stressful weight off the Membrane siblings' shoulders, Rev had thought, but not really. For some reason, Dib appears to look more down than usual despite trying to hide it. And Gaz's anger towards him leans more towards confusion rather than her trademark sibling hatred. Try as she may to figure out what's wrong, both play it off as nothing when Rev attempts to get them to talk.
Meanwhile, Zim doesn't take notice, or rather he's too tired and invested in his own problems to focus on them. Or maybe there was nothing to take notice of at all. Rev really hopes this is all in her head.
…
"Professor Membrane Sir! I'm sorry to bother but someone wishes to speak with you," his secretary announces over the intercom. The scientists in the lab barely pause in their work as she speaks. "She has not scheduled an appointment but insists she sees you at once…"
"Another loyal fan?" one mutters, hands elbow deep in a sea of wires.
"More like a rabid one buy the sound of it," says another. "Poor Lauren, always having to put up with those types of people."
"What happened to security for situations like this?"
"Women are crazy. Simple as that."
Professor Membrane, nearly finished with his mug of coffee, serving as his lunch during his short break, goes to press a button on the wall panel and speaks into the built in mic. "Lauren, have the lady scheduled for any open spots I may be freely available and tell her to please come back then."
"I have given her that option Sir, but she says this is urgent and cannot wait."
"I see… Has she given you her name?"
"One second sir."
Membrane waits patiently, about to take another sip of his caffeinated drink when Lauren returns.
"She says her name is Marie Mjolnir."
The sound of glass shattering reverberates through the spacious and bustling laboratory loud enough for the other scientists to pause what they're doing. Shards of the mug and a puddle of coffee lay a mess on the once spotless floor as the headmaster's gloved hand collects into a fist to keep it from trembling. The high collar of his lab coat as well as his goggles effectively shields his expression. Fighting quickly to regain composure, he responds to his secretary.
"Please escort her to my office. I'll be right over."
"R-Right away sir!"
The employees quickly remain diligent in their projects when their boss turns to them, not wanting to allude to being nosy or curious at his behavior.
"Make sure nothing is out of place while I'm gone or I will find out."
It is only when Membrane is out the door and out of earshot do his employees hunch together, like teenage girls engaging in a hot gossip topic.
"Any idea who that is?"
"Maybe she's someone he's seeing."
"Doubt it. He hasn't been on a date since-"
"Don't say it man. He may not be here but that's just asking for trouble!"
"My point still stands. Heck, he rarely spends time with his kids! I just heard he got into a fight with his son. The poor kid found out…"
"Really? Harsh."
"Yeah."
…
Membrane is stiff as a board in his leather office chair, feels sweat accumulate in his clasped palms. Across from him sits Marie with one leg over the other under her long skirt. She calmly sips her tea, politely offered by Lauren. One caramel eye opens, the other is concealed behind an eyepatch with a thunderbolt design. It stares at him directly when she's done, and whatever words Membrane had prepared himself to say while on his say to meet her were up in smoke. What does one say to someone you intentionally broke contact with for years? And that's only the tip of the iceberg of the mistakes he's made.
She stands, causing the man to flinch, her bright strong eye never leaving him.
"Take me to Madeline." Her voice is even and gave nothing away, but somewhere within Membrane knew there was no room to oppose her request.
Not that he has any right to oppose her.
…
The two make their way to a flower shop first before stepping through the gates of the cemetery.
Tears begin to fall down the woman's cheek when she sees the gravestone. Membrane doesn't dare interrupt when Marie steps towards his wife's burial place and quietly sets her knees onto the grass.
"Hi Maddie. It's me." Marie clutches her batch of lilies to her chest, smiling. "I'm sorry it's been so long. I wish me and Azusa and Stein and Spirit and the others could've been here for your funeral. No; scratch that." She hisses angrily through her tears. "I fucking should've been at your first baby shower!"
Membrane tenses behind her, but says nothing.
"But even so, I'm happy," she continues. "I'm happy you were finally able to have two beautiful children. It was what you always wanted, more than anything. I can't wait to see them. By the way, Stein and I are engaged now as you predicted. We also fostered a child. Stein's still learning how to be a father, but I could never be more proud of him." She gently places her bouquet of lilies before her friend's stone. "Farewell Maddie and may you rest in peace."
Marie stands and wipes her eye. Membrane steps forward cautiously.
"Marie. I know you're upset with me, but there's so much I need to explain-"
"Upset doesn't begin to express how I feel Rosario. You kept this from all of us. For years! What excuse justifies that? Are…" Tears well up again as she stares at the man she used to grow up with, who used to motivate her to push harder in combat practice. This man used to uplift everyone's spirits when times were dark, always there to poke into someone's business in order to help out. He became Stein's closest friend as well as Marie's brother, sometimes having to put him in line when he crosses it.
"Are we not important to you anymore?" she chokes out.
Arms envelope her desperately into a tight embrace. The woman stills in shock.
"Of course you're all important to me! I just…" Membrane's head falls on her shoulder. For the first time, he finally pays attention to his health. He feels heavy, exhausted, and his stomach twists painfully inside thanks to his careless diet. He feels defeated. "I'm so so sorry Marie. I just feel so lost without her. Since the day she passed I've made nothing but mistakes."
As much as she wanted to, Marie knew she couldn't stay mad for long. Her arms lift to wrap around the man's back, fully taking in his height. He grew so much. It made her smile, thinking back to when he could barely tower most girls his age and how he would get insecure when people mention it.
That's all in the past.
"This isn't why I'm here," she starts, pulling away, garnering his attention. "Demon Weapons are under attack. I'm here to warn you that you're not safe and that it'd be best if you come to Death City. Lord Death also asks for your help."
"I…" Membrane pauses. Hesitates. "I can't. My kids-"
"Have already traveled there days ago. Stein's told me they're active in the investigation and just found a lead thanks to one of the surviving students. On my way from Oceania, I was asked to take you with me."
"But- But how? Why?!" Membrane presses, inwardly feeling his pulse rise out of fear. "Why are my kids there-"
"Rosario!" Marie clasps his gloved hands firmly. She looks into his eyes and Membranes muscles lax. Marie always had this gift of calming people to their sanity. It's what makes her a powerful and reliable weapon.
"Please." She begs, her emotions raw and pleading, another thing that sometimes scares him. Not once was he ever able to immune himself from it. Not even now unfortunately.
Just then, the moment between them was ruined by an explosion, so loud and powerful that it shook the earth for miles. From where they stood, it was close enough to see the clouds of smoke rise heavily.
And for chunks of debris to land. One hunk of metal lands on the grassy hills nearby.
"OUCHIE." It talked.
This surprises Marie enough to run to it. Before Membrane could stop her, something hard lands directly onto his face.
"Ouch!"
"Nya!"
He pulls it off, wincing at the sting and in his hands was a very familiar toy moose. Damaged and dented, but appears to still be functional.
"Rosario!" Marie rushes back to him with a dismembered robot in her arms.
"I can't feel my legs!" the head talks with a dopey smile, its tongue sticking out.
"What happened?" Membrane asks the machine.
"Master's home went BOOOOM!" It giggles with glee and then starts whistling.
"Nya!" The moose helpfully adds.
"Who's Master?" Marie asks while gazing down inquisitively at the tiny talking robot, never seeing one before.
"You can say he's my son's… foreign friend," Membrane supplies. Sirens blare across the streets as fire trucks, police cruisers and ambulances rush to the scene, which was apparently Zim's destroyed home. "Is your master still inside?"
"Noooo. He went on an adventure with Mary, scary girl and dolly girl."
"But… I'm right here?" Marie is lost as she looks to Membrane.
"He's referring to my son. I don't know the origin of the nickname. Did Stein mention others traveling with him and my daughter?"
"Oh! There were two. So their master is with them." Her eye shifts to the smoke still rising and further darkening the grey skies. "Do you know what caused this little robot?"
Gir doesn't answer. He falls asleep. Mini Moose soon malfunctions and powers out.
…
"Mistress, we have something to report," Dutchess transmits as the three dolls look before the wreckage of Zim's home, discreet and unnoticed from high on the rooftops.
"Speak," Gaz responds from the doll's earing.
"The alien's home has just been destroyed."
"Cause?"
"Two figures of the same species as the alien have emerged from the wreckage and have since left on ships two minutes prior to this call. Compass indicates they are heading towards your location. Permission to follow?"
"Yes. And another thing."
"Yes Mistress?"
"If they decide to harm Zim, my brother, or Rêver, show no mercy."
"Understood."
…
Zim feels cornered.
Maka and Black Star, experienced meisters, two of the strongest in the academy according to Professor Stein, the reason they were chosen as his tutors, tilt their bodies toward him with expectant looks on their faces; Maka with her hands together behind her back while Black Star's muscled arms cross over his chest.
Zim stands his ground of course, arms crossed as well, his glare showing his displeasure.
"Sooooo," Maka breaks the silence.
"What?" Zim grits between clenched teeth.
"Are you gonna do it or not?" Black Star follows next.
"Do what?"
"I don't see why you're getting so defensive-"
"ZIM IS NOT BEING DEFENSIVE!" The undercover invader shouts through the trees, the depths of the city's local park.
"Come on Zim," Maka pouts. "How are we going to teach you anything if we don't know what you're capable of?"
"Knowing about my PAK will accomplish nothing!" He realizes his slip too late and frets when the technician's eyes shine and sparkle.
"So that's what it's called?"
At this point it would be wise to incapacitate the both of them, drag them into the depths of his base where they will never see the light again, but Stein's threat still lingers strong. Against him and possibly Death, it really isn't worth it.
"No," he lies instead. It comes out weak and neither of them were buying it. Frustrated, he throws his arms up and stomps away. "I don't have to explain anything to you inferior humans! Zim is leaving!"
Zim makes it three steps and really, thanks to dealing with many scenarios similar to this for the past few days, he was able to anticipate Black Star's incoming punch from behind. He didn't have time to physically dodge so he quickly raises his arms to block.
Black Star hits the shield activated and though unharmed, the force knocks Zim back a few yards. His PAK legs extend and skid on the dirt floor, keeping him up from impact.
"Don't think I'll just let you look down at me Freak. Don't forget who you're talking to." The assassin grins, wide and crazed while cracking his knuckles. "From this day forward, I'm gonna make you expose all your little tricks. A small price to pay for thinking you can underestimate me!"
Normally Zim would like to put others in their place, but he is pretty much done with this kid. He knows he can't escape the others persistence so he figures the next best thing is to entertain him.
"Careful what you ask for Monkey," Zim taunts, arms and legs crossed, letting his robot spider legs carry him. "My tricks may end up frying your small monkey brain. And then what?"
Black Star bursts into laughter and to Zim's upmost confusion, it wasn't condescending, like he was told a funny joke instead of an insult to his intelligence.
"That's it!" The meister thumbs at himself, eyes and smile open an bright. "No holding back! Throw everything you have at me!"
The tune in Black Star's soul changes. It's still loud and obnoxious, but it's no longer deafening indiscriminate noise. There is a song playing in his soul, overwhelming in a way that it takes time consume it piece by piece.
And the scary thing is, hearing it makes Zim want to do exactly that, to prove himself to the other not for the sake of his ego or to make him shut up, but for the sake of not wanting to disappoint him.
But why? Why would he want to seek this idiot human's approval?
It's not part of the mission. He is the enemy. His opinions don't matter.
Only his leaders. His Tallest. The Empire. Those are the only things that matter.
"Fine." Zim pushes the noise of his wavelength from his main focus. He'll play the boy's game, but that is it.
Maka watches from the sidelines as the two begin to duke it out. Again. Her shoulders slumped. She sighs, wondering why she's even needed if she's only going to be the third wheel in these teachings. Then again, someone level-headed like her does need to be around in case things get too hectic and out of control, but she feels she could do more than just that…
But while Maka may not have done much to actively contribute, she does use her time watching to study Zim; his behavior and his soul. And what she finds intrigues her.
She still can't figure out what he is, despite doing tons of research as well as further questioning Death the Kid (despite saying he knows just as much as she does, she feels the Shinigami's son is hiding something). When Stein assigned her and Black Star to tutor Zim, he revealed that Zim has a history of not wanting to work with others and will only do so at his convenience. That is pretty much his relationship with Rêver as partners which at most times won't work. A strong meister-weapon duo means a strong bond.
"It could be that he has trust issues," their professor theorized to them in their empty classroom days ago. "From what I gather, Zim's companions aren't exactly on friendly terms, with the exception of Rêver. She may be the only one to ever show him genuine kindness and patience, but they still hardly know each other to go farther than accomplices."
Stein also points out that though Zim isn't shy of boasting his self-worth like Black Star, one major difference is if you squint, you'll notice his reservation around other people. He'll hesitate when someone approaches in any way that isn't confrontational, part of his lack of trust.
And as each day passes, Maka would begin to see it and she believes Black Star could too with how much he's pushing Zim to open more through confrontation, since he responds the easiest through that.
But what strikes as odd to Maka is when she reads Zim's soul. His soul is as odd as ever, with wires and circuits implanted that are so foreign and beyond her understanding. Inside, Zim is fighting his feelings, is conflicted with them not just out of fear. She isn't all too sure herself, but it seems like something is forcing him back, to act a certain way and do certain things instructed to him.
It's quite similar to how Medusa forced her influence onto Crona, by injecting her Black Blood project inside her child's body and corrupting their mind with her magic snakes. The memory still disgusts Maka even though her dear friend is now safe and has a new caring and loving family.
And what if Zim's situation is similar? What if something or someone is taking him down a wrong path.
Maka may not know the full story, may not have all the details yet, but she never turns her back on someone in need if the signs are in front of her. So if it really is the case, then she'll do what she can to help him. More than just help him to become stronger, it is important for him to see that he can rely on others. That way he can fully rely on his weapon.
…
"Alright. Is everyone present for this meeting?" Spirit speaks before the group in Death's room. Death looms patiently behind him.
Dib and Gaz stand attentively next to Sid and his weapon partner/the academy's nurse, Mira Nygus. Bandages cover most of her dark skin, making her look mummified and while not dead, it matches the theme with her partner.
They're not the only ones to attend this meeting. Stein is with them, next to Dib, and at his other side stood a chunk of Death's students. All of them were Zim and Rev's classmates of Crescent Moon.
"Hmm, looks like everyone's here…" Death hums mostly to himself. He bounces. "Alrighty! Then let us begin! Sid, if you may be so kind to start and get everyone up to speed of the leads you've found thus far."
"Yes Lord Death Sir." The zombie steps forward with files ready in one hand. He clears his throat. "Our breakthrough was at approximately late afternoon yesterday. Meister Kimal Diehl and Weapon Jacqueline O'Lantern have recently recovered from injuries sustained by the mutated Keshin Eggs. And it is really thanks to Kim's heritage that she is able to not only identify the kind of magic used on them, but to also name the source responsible. I will let my apprentices explain in detail on who we are dealing with."
Dib had never met a witch (a legit one) before so he had to contain his inner geek when they had gone to visit her at a hospital.
On a mission, though Kim had been grouped two other meisters, their target was aggressively violent and Jacqueline took a serious hit. Kim's healing magic saved her life, but it took a lot out of the remaining strength she had left. Ox and his partner Harvar seemed to have never left their bedside since the incident, with faces that tell you they've failed as teammates. Meanwhile Kilik, their leader, had been punishing himself through hours of training. He stands among the group now, attentive with his twin weapons Fire and Thunder and Dib had no idea children so young could also enroll in this school. They look to be at least five or six!
Other students include Death's son, who calls himself Death the Kid. He may be the spitting image of his father, but no one knows so long as the god continues to hide behind his cloak. He too wields twin weapons, the Thompson sisters Liz and Patty.
Last is Crona, timid-looking and the type of person you wouldn't think could fight. Zim has been ranting a lot about his classmates, and apparently their weapon is… inside their body? And the creature, Ragnarok, has grotesque eating habits that could rival Gir's. If Dib could get her (or is it him?) alone, he would like to ask them questions about it.
"Okie Dokie then! Dib and Gaz, the floor is yours!" The headmaster snaps him out of his thoughts.
Sid hands them the files as the siblings step forward in his place. Dib tries to not let the many pairs of eyes fixed on him lose his focus. If his younger self were to find out that in the next five years, he'd be in a situation where people would actually take him seriously for once in his life, his years leading up to it would've probably been easier to handle. That or it would sound too good to be true in his eyes. Dib had been let down so many times from sources that turned out to be from either delusional people or scammers looking for a quick buck, that he found it best to find the truth on his own.
Gaz violently jabs his rib. Her snarl indicating that he's stalling and making them look like fools.
"R-Right! I-I mean yes Lord Death Sir!" His sister gives him the stink eye. Dib clears his throat and tries to salvage some professionalism as he opens the files. Now's not the time to act like an idiot.
"Alright." He starts. "The meister, Kim, told us that her source is based off of an old folk tale of a witch who lures people to her service by using her voice. This magic would allow her to obtain anything she wants from whoever, no questions asked. It is said that her hypnotic magic is so strong that she even convinced a god to make her immortal. And because she's lived for so long, she was given multiple names, but the most common one among the witches is Pfau."
"Peacock..." Death mutters.
Gaz follows next. "And while this is just an old story, Pfau did exist a long time ago, it's just no one knew much about her nor has any historical record of her life. Just her abilities. No one knows if she's dead or still alive, and if she is alive, she'd be way too old to cause the amount of damage we're seeing."
"And yet she's the person we're looking for?" the student who spoke first was Death the Kid, his arms crossed as he stares at the ground critically.
"Then how could she still have so much power if she's that old?" asks Kilik.
"We came up with two theories," Dib answers, holding up two fingers. "The first being the possibility that Pfau is immortal. However, our only source comes from a folktale and though there are other versions that tell a similar story, about a god turning a peacock witch immortal, without any evidence we can't make this conclusion."
"So what's the second theory?" Liz Thompson asks nervously.
"Well, it's a bit of a stretch, but this theory makes the most sense," Dib starts.
"Pfau may have turned into a Keshin," Gaz finishes. The air feels heavy as everyone listening tenses in alarm. The students comprised a mixture of intense expressions, Spirit looked fearful and angry while Stein and Death are eerily silent.
"As her life hangs on a thread, she may have thought consuming souls was the solution to sustain it." She continues.
"From what we've gathered on how a Kishin is born, the process requires the merging of a demon weapon and non-demon weapon souls, plus the consummation of an untold amount of pure souls," says Dib. "The fact that Pfau's targets are demon weapons are alarming in itself and it brings to question just how many she needs before she's satisfied. And who's to say she hasn't eaten only demon weapon souls?
"Pfau is an old and dying witch and these crimes, if done by her, means that she's desperate to survive. But in turn, her madness consumed her and thus turned her into a Kishin. That is our second theory."
"Motherfu… dammit!" Kilik hisses harshly, his hands clench and unclench as if he desperately wants to punch something. "So then this ain't gonna be a simple hunt-and-kill is it?"
Fire and Thunder cling their tiny hands onto their meister's baggy pants, looks of worry etched on their faces.
"Let's just hope we're wrong," Dib mutters. If Keshins are as deadly as they say, then he'd rather not encounter one, as fascinating as learning about them are.
"But now that we have an identity to focus on, all that's left is to find her," says Kid.
"Precisely!" Death states, but there was a notable lack of exuberance to his tone. "As previously stated, Justin Law of the eastern european branch believes he's found her hiding spot in a small island town in Ireland. He notes that the atmosphere in this particular town is... oddly suspicious."
"How so?" Nygus asks.
"According to his report, there has been an odd number of deaths in the area, but despite this, no investigation was held by local authorities. What's more, no locals have reported anyone missing, not even from loved ones or anyone close to these victims. In Justin's words, 'It's as if to them, they've never existed.'."
"And to top it all off, a good number of the victims were confirmed by Justin to be demon weapons," says Spirit.
Everyone is silent at this revelation. A thought conjures up in their minds based on everything they've learned in this investigation, but it is Stein who speaks up for the first time since the start of the meeting.
"If this town's population is so small, then there shouldn't be a reason for the locals to not voice any concerns. That is, unless they were convinced not to."
"And carry on with their lives as normal," Sid adds with a tinge of disgust. "Except now they've become puppets."
"So what now?" Dib asks the god of death. "We're going there right? I mean, there's no way we're gonna let this continue, especially when massive clue is right before us."
"He's right. The sooner we get this done, the better," says Kilik. Fire and Thunder nod their heads.
"If an opportunity has shown itself, we may as well take it Father," Kid follows.
"I… I too want to help," for the first time, Crona the timid meister speaks up. Little sparks of determination flash in their eyes. "I-I'm tired of seeing my friends get hurt. If there's a way for us to stop her… then… I w-want to…"
Patty giggles as she throws her arms around the stuttering meister, earning a high pitched squeak from them. She pumps her fist in the air while repeatedly chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"It's nice to hear all of you want to throw yourselves out there for the sake of your friends." Steins says while gently patting Crona's pink hair. "But this is merely a scouting mission. Regardless of the clues found, you'll still be stepping in unknown territory."
Death nods. "Which is why your primary task is to see if the island in question is indeed the witch's stronghold. Justin Law cannot dig deeper himself without risk of getting caught. So Sid, Nygus and apprentices Dib and Gaz are to assist him. Meanwhile," He gestures to Crescent Moon's students. "The rest of you are to aid as manpower should things get out of hand."
"That's it? We're just bodyguards?" Kilik mildly shows his shock and disappointment along with Kid.
"Precisely."
"And what happens if the results are what we theorized?" Gaz questions.
Death answers, "Then you will not attempt to engage. You all will return here as soon as possible."
Sensing an uproar coming at this decision, Spirit cuts in quickly. "We understand you wish to end this once and for all, but just like with Asura, we can't rush in without a solid plan. If we truly are dealing with another Keshin, it's important that we take these measures cautiously. Otherwise we'd be sending you all to your deaths."
At that, the heat fizzles. The kids were still displeased that they could do nothing else, but they keep it inside, knowing the adults make a logical point.
…
"I think my father is hiding something," Kid speculates as the group descends down the steps of the academy.
"Oooh really?" Patty tilts her head curiously towards her meister.
"It does feel like there's something none of the adults are willing to tell us. But what could it be?" Dib wonders aloud.
"We'll find out for ourselves soon enough," Kilik says, walking a bit ahead as Fire and Thunder ride on his back. "They know they can't keep it from us for long."
Dib knows he shouldn't meddle, especially when the kids around him are nothing more than comrades on their upcoming mission. Even though he's managed to gain a friend from Rev, past experiences force him to not expect more from it.
His brain tells him. But it isn't the first time his brain gets ignored by impulses. Because Dib is an idiot.
"Kim and Jacqueline had been discharged today right? How are they?"
Kilik and his weapons glance back at him and for some reason, Dib feels stupid for asking. He was never good with socializing, but he tries his best. He likes to talk, there's just not a lot of people willing to listen.
"It'll be awhile before they're allowed to fight again, what with Kim's arm in a cast and Jacqueline in wheelchair, but the girls are tough." The meister adds while holding back a laugh. "The only thing they gotta put up with now is Ox and Harvar babying them constantly."
"That's… that's good. Glad they're okay."
"Hey." The meister grins back at Dib. "I know you and Gaz will pull through for us. You've proven as much. So just do your thing and we'll have your back."
The older Membrane blinks, eyes bugging behind his glasses. He wasn't sure what to say to that. "We, um…"
"We are a team," Death the Kid says, his smile calm, casual, and confident. "And as such, know that you can depend on us when you need it."
Everyone else gave their own respective nods and Dib doesn't say anything for a while until he feels that familiar jab from his sister, effectively bringing him to life.
"R-Right! You can count on us!"
Patty giggles maniacally at his flustered face. "His pale cheeks went super red. Cute!"
He groans, turning to face the floor while hiding under his hand, as if that'll make things better and no one will notice. Gaz mutters 'idiot' as his side.
"DIB-STINK!"
The group halts and finds Zim at the bottom steps, tapping his foot impatiently and looking incredibly pissed.
Dib in turn was about to ask what crawled up his alien butt, when he took notice of Rev and their tutors near him. Rev had on a strained smile that looked torn between wanting to laugh at Zim and wanting to slap him in the face. Soul and Tsubaki were the image of tired parents, both of them shaking their heads. Meanwhile, Maka smiled happily and Black Star was laughing his ass off.
Needless to say, this has everyone curious.
"What is it now Zim?" Dib asks and raises a brow when the alien abruptly turns away, seeming seconds from imploding for reasons he cannot understand. "Well?"
"DO NOT RUSH ME YOU INFALLIBLE WORM!"
"Well sorry! I'm just trying to figure out why you look like I did something that offended you!"
Rev had a piece of paper clutched in her hand. She waves it at Zim. Zim ignores it.
"Zim requires an important task from you, and like a good human, you will do as Zim commands!"
Rev smacks her free hand to her face. Black Star laughs harder.
"Zim what was that? You said you'd know what to say!"
Zim glares at his partner and her accursed paper. "I will not stoop to that level of negotiation Rev-doll! I REFUSE!"
Rarely has Dib or Gaz ever seen the girl look as annoyed as she does now. Goes to show how Zim has that effect on everyone. "This isn't up to you. Do you want his help or not?"
"Help with what?" Dib crosses his arms. "And why should I help you at all Zim?"
"You dare go against your superior?! I-"
"Zim lost a bet," Maka thankfully decides to move things along. "Black Star challenged him on wavelength control and lost."
"Proving once again that I'm the best of the best!" The assassin exclaims, wiping away tears and grinning smug. Tsubaki sighs.
"Shut your faces you-"
"And since he lost, his end of the bargain is to treat us with food," Soul says offhandedly, his arms behind his head.
Dib gives a blank stare. "But he's a terrible cook. I personally forbade him from the kitchen when he nearly burned our place down once."
Rev walks over and slaps the piece of paper against Zim's cheek. "Which is why he's going to PROPERLY ask for your help."
Zim snarls and swipes it from her. His heated glare shifts to his sworn nemesis until his contacts defeatedly travel to the paper in his hands.
"Dib-beast! You will help Zim…" The Irken takes a moment to visibly gag in disgust as he reads out the final word. "Puuleeeaaassssssse…"
…
Dib should've said no. He should've.
He swipes the cutting knife away from Zim's claws, all the while wondering why he thought it was a brilliant idea to give a sharp object to him in the first place.
"What kind of 'Superior Irken Soldier' doesn't know how to simply cut an onion-"
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ZIM?!" Zim had his eyes shut tight as tears run down his face. He attempts to rub at them, but Dib grabs at his wrists quickly.
"Don't! The liquid chemicals from the onion will only irritate your eyes more!"
"UNHAND ME EARTH-BOY!"
"Oh my GOD will you stop shouting?! One day you're going to pop my ear canals!"
"NEVER! NOW RELEASE ME!"
It's amazing how their landlord hasn't yet kicked them out due to noise complaints.
Gaz and Rev returned from the store with bags of groceries in each hand, just in time to witness a sub-par wrestling match play out, of Dib forcing Zim to run his hands over the tap in the sink. Gaz grunts and unceremoniously drops her bags on the table, the noise bringing the boys' attention to them.
"Oh, thanks guys! You got everything?" Dib lets Zim go to rifle through the contents.
"Everything on the list," Rêver says while setting hers down. She glances at Zim, watching as he furiously rubs at his eyes with his wet gloveless hands, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing more skin than he's ever shown.
"Nice. Do you mind helping this idiot cut the vegetables?"
"Zim can cut your primitive earth veggies just fine!"
"Please Rev?" Dib pleads.
"You got it," she solutes and waltzes over to the invader.
"Do you not hear me?! I said-" Rev silences him by taking his face in both her palms, squishing his cheeks and making him look like a fish.
"Zim don't you see? This will improve our teamwork!" she says to him. "Together we will cut the most amazing veggies Dib has ever seen, so amazing it will bring him to his knees! His knees Zim!"
Dib doesn't know how or when this happened, but somewhere during their training sessions, Rev was able to learn how to curb words to Zim's liking, getting him to do things he'd usually outright refuse to consider.
"Yes...YES! Prepare to fall to my greatness Dib-smelly!" His cheeks were still compressed under Rev's hands as he yells at his nemesis.
"Just cut the freaking vegetables Zim…"
…
Dib had no other simpler tasks for the others to do so while he busies himself in the kitchen, Gaz makes Rev live up to her name as a living doll by putting her in various outfits to find one acceptable for tonight.
And Zim wasn't free from this form of torture.
As far as disguises went, he's never fully adorned earth clothing before. He finds it far beneath him, material not worthy to fall on his superior Irken body.
Gaz throws a bunch of clothes at him and points to his room.
"Change."
Wretched Dib-sister. He'll soon find her weakness. Zim swears.
…
How odd it is to see Zim in a button-up. Gaz even combed his wig. The alien tugs at his collar, looking so much like a grumpy cat forced in a costume.
Rev looks warm and cute in her sweater dress, her long hair up in a ponytail. Gaz as usual looks punkishly cool, in her black sweater and plaid skirt.
Looking at himself, Gaz had thrown him one of his lighter-colored long-sleeved graphic tees and dark blue jeans.
Dib then realizes something. "Wait. Have we ever hosted a party before?"
"Zim doesn't recall you humans ever having any friends. So no," the alien grunts.
"You never had any friends either."
"Not true! I had Keef."
"Emphasis on had Spacejerk."
Rev plays with her ponytail. "Well, how hard can it be?"
…
Their complex just barely had enough room for everyone invited. Dib was almost worried he didn't have enough food made to go around.
He never stopped to think that the food was disappearing quickly for a different reason.
"You've got to give me the recipe for this pasta. The sauce tastes amazing!"
"What brand of chocolate did you use on this monkey bread? And how did you get its texture to be so light and fluffy? Tell me your secrets!"
"Can you tell me how you make your sliders?"
"Um…"
Maka, Liz, Tsubaki, and even Crona all gang up on him, asking for recipes and tips and Dib has never felt so lightheaded. He's never had girls (Dib still isn't sure about Crona) grab for his attention before so please excuse him if the moment feels too surreal.
"I'll go get some paper..."
Overall, the party rolls with little trouble.
One group crowds the television, Team Kilik cheering for Harvar as it was his turn to beat the currently undefeated Gaz in a fighting game.
Another group plays a guessing game on a whiteboard. There, Death the Kid breaks down dramatically at Zim's very poor and asymmetrical drawing of what was supposed to be a Canadian flag. Zim only looks confused while Black Star and Patty laugh hysterically.
Rev smiles as she watches everyone have a good time from her spot in the room's bay window sofa. Glancing outside, she sees the sun has long since set and the moon is full in the sky. Time sure flew fast without anyone's knowledge.
"Here."
A glass of sangria is handed to her. Rev looks up in surprise to see it come from Soul.
"Just thought you might be thirsty," he mutters, not looking at her directly. "Unless you prefer something else..."
Rev shakes her head and takes the glass. "Thanks Soul. You having fun?"
The demon scythe shrugs his shoulders, sipping into his own glass. "More or less. Foods pretty bomb."
The demon axe had to grin at that. "That's our Dib. He's amazing!"
"I'll give him that. Too bad the girls are going to hound him for recipes. Especially Maka," He sighs.
Pleasantries have been made. After that, silence stretches between them for a while.
"You had your eyes open the whole time."
Rev sputters mid-drink and behind her goggles, she looks back to Soul in surprise. He shrugs again. "May have fooled Tsubaki into thinking you can't tap into your soul. A few things stood out to me that made me think otherwise."
The girl quickly turns away, adjusting her eyewear out of habit and self-security. Inside, she was in a frenzy, realizing the boy does indeed remember her, how she nearly killed him when they were young, how she felt Wes had hated her since that incident even though he said he forgave her. So consumed in her panic, she hadn't noticed the other quietly move to sit next to her until his hand was on her shoulder.
"I've been wanting to say this for a while. And I'll be honest, though I was afraid at the time, I was also amazed. It was the type of excitement I craved for a long time and when I found out I was like you, I wanted to leave everything behind and start anew." Soul chuckles dryly. "Everyone knows I can't measure up to my brother so why bother sticking to it? My mind was set and now I'm here."
"How… is Wes?" Rev decides to ask.
Soul releases her shoulder to rub his neck. "Don't know honestly. I guess he's fine. We haven't contacted each other much since I left. And he'd be busy regardless." He swishes his drink that's nearly empty. The ice clanks when they hit the glass. "He did call me recently. Asked if I may have seen you in the academy."
The ice in her glass rattles under her trembling hands. "D-Did you-"
"I told him no."
"Why?"
The weapons look to each other, silently reading, searching for something unspoken.
Soul says, "It'd be uncool to jump into something I know nothing about. I don't know you as well as my bro, but it's clear to me now you have your reasons for disappearing and not wanting to be found. Telling Wes where you are will probably only complicate things for you. But he has his reasons too. You and Ulysses meant a lot to him."
Rev doesn't know what to say. The fact that Wes had been searching for her didn't surprise her too much, since she was important to her grandfather and her grandfather to him. She just assumed he wouldn't care as much whether he's found her or assumes her dead. Even if he was adamant in finding her, if he did and maybe offered her a place to stay with his family, it wouldn't help her seek the answers she needed about herself. In a place where people have already learned to shun her existence, she also wouldn't have gained any friends like she does now.
Soul breaks the eye contact, stretching and relaxing further onto the pillows. "Once all this is over and you've found what you're looking for, you should talk to him. Let him know you're okay."
Rev nods, agreeing. "I will. I... do miss him a lot."
The demon scythe grins casually to the ceiling. "Another thing you should know." He points to her goggles. "People will have their reactions sure, but nothing negative. We all got something unique about ourselves so no one will judge. Just think about it."
Rev lets her fingers linger over her eyewear, contemplating. She doesn't doubt him. Death City is a strange place, with citizens who have witnessed enough strange things to find it the norm in their everyday lives. But is she ready to tackle that milestone yet? Just the thought every person she passes taking a look at her eyes is enough to churn her stomach.
"Like I said, just think about it. Go at your own pace."
She looks back to the person she met when they were young, who she never thought she would meet again. Like him, she too doesn't know him well, but there was a comforting familiarity that reminds her of his older brother. She remembers Wes telling her once that Soul was like a caged bird, that though he's gifted, he rebels as a way to control his life. It's nice to see now he's found something for himself, something to claim as his own that isn't tied to his family's profession. She's happy for him.
"Thanks Soul. You didn't have to do all that for me."
"I know." He raises a fist up to her. "So, we cool?"
It took Rêver a few seconds to understand the gesture before smiling, bumping her fist with his. "We're cool."
"YO SOUL!"
Black Star skids to a stop before the two. He's got Zim trapped under his arm in a headlock, the invader yelling strings of what could be curses, Rev thinks. He probably doesn't realize he's yelling in his native tongue while struggling to free himself.
"Soul quick, you've seen The Iron Giant right?"
Soul blinks. "Who hasn't seen it?"
Black Star points to Zim under his arm. Zim screams louder in Irken.
"HEY!" Dib yells from somewhere in the room. "Watch your mouth! Don't forget I've spent three years deciphering your code of language Zim! Do NOT start or so help me the only thing you'll eat for the rest of today is soap!"
Zim reduces to a series of growls and clicks at the back of his throat. Black Star doesn't seem deterred at all by this and is instead more fascinated by the other's behavior.
"Dude you're like an abnormal house cat."
Rev could cue in when Zim just about has enough and would definitely start using his claws like an angry abnormal house cat. She politely asks the young assassin if he could release her meister. Black Star does thankfully and she stands to help adjust Zim's shirt, undoing the top two buttons so he could finally breathe.
Soul goes to the group surrounding the television to ask if they're up for a movie. They all agree due to everyone getting tired of losing to Gaz. When asked of what movie to watch, Black Star comes up yelling, "The Iron Giant, because Zim's never seen it!"
A series of gasps exploded.
"Dude that's a classic!"
"Sacrilege!"
"Um…" Crona raises weakly. "I've n-never seen it either."
"That settles it then. We're booting up Netflix," Maka decides.
Zim balks as he's forcefully dragged to sit uncomfortably close within the hive of humans, on the rug since the couches are filled with so many quests.
Zim had no interest in earth films. Briefly looking at a few of Gir's favorites during his years on the planet, he safely concludes that they are all mind-numbing and stupid. So he expects nothing less from this 'Iron Giant' everyone keeps praising like a masterpiece.
"You'll like it Zim. It's really good." He hears Rev whisper to him as the all the lights are off and the movie starts to play. "The Iron Giant is actually a gigantic robot from space. He's a lot like Gir when you think about it."
Zim befuddles at her statement and whispers back. "But Gir isn't a giant."
She giggles. "That's not the point. Just watch. You'll see what I mean."
Zim still had his doubts but says nothing more. In the back of his mind, he does wonder how Gir and Mini Moose are doing, if they're in the newer base here or are back at Detroit. He hasn't been down in a while so he should check both areas to see if things are in order.
First thing tomorrow, he'll check.
AN: And the plot thickens...