"I think we're finally ready," Gaz remarked, staring up at the ship - she had painted it a lovely shade of deep purple - and holding a large, fluffy pillow, "Are both of you guys entirely prepared for a journey to Yew Nork? We're not going back until we find your alien friend, after all."
"We have everything, Gaz...I think," Dib responded, also holding a pillow, "I guess I'll be the one driving, okay?" Gir, who was also holding a pillow, only nodded. Dib took one look back at Zim's house, feeling a smile come to his face as he remembered the many times Zim had invited him over.
We're coming, Zim, Dib thought happily, and we can return to what we used to be like. We can return to being friends. The ten-year-old boy climbed into the ship and sat in the front seat, hoping he was awake and alert enough to drive a ship. He didn't want this one to be ruined like the last one.
Gir, carrying the same pack of playing cards he had brought with him during their last trip to Yew Nork, got in as well, sitting in the back seat and resting his head on his pillow. Gaz entered as well, putting the pillow down next to her because she knew she wouldn't need it for the time being.
Gir's body practically radiated excitement. "We're going to save Master!" he sang cheerfully, "And everything will be okay!" He giggled childishly and watched as Dib started the ship's engine. Gaz watched as well, her expression stoic and unreadable.
"That's right," Dib responded, "Everything will be okay." He couldn't help but smirk as the ship's engine roared - completely under his command. Everything was working out perfectly. They were going to find Zim, and they could get back to being friends again.
"So," Gir began, legs dangling off of the edge of his seat, "what game do you want to play?" Dib found it hard to believe that Zim's SIR robot and his sister could possibly get along, but he supposed that they were getting along quite well. He pulled a lever and the ship shot up into the air.
Dib knew that the drive was going to take a while, but he, Gaz, and Gir had all taken naps after they had finished building the ship. Plus, they had all brought pillows in case they needed to rest for a while. The trio was completely prepared for the upcoming search.
"How about Hearts?" Gaz asked, "Do you know how to play?" Gir shook his head. "Okay, then," Gaz told him, "I'll teach you how." Dib took a deep breath and tried to focus on driving the ship. It was hard to pay attention, though - he kind of wanted to see Gir learn how to play Hearts.
As they cruised along, Dib wondered if Zim would be impressed with his airship-driving skills. He felt like he had improved, but he wasn't too sure - after all, he had helped to build this ship. He hadn't followed the blueprints exactly, so it wasn't a perfect Irken vehicle.
Dib heard Gir's laughter in the back of the ship as he learned how to play what was probably one of Gaz's favorite card games. For once, he thought rather suddenly, Gaz isn't playing a video game. She's actually...engaging in some sort of activity with someone. That's just not like her.
While the ship sped farther and farther away from its starting point, Dib caught a quick glance of what was going on behind him. Gir was giggling happily and shuffling the deck, probably preparing to start an actual game. However, it was Gaz that caught his eye - she was smiling.
Wow, Dib thought, kind of shocked, I definitely didn't expect that. I don't think I've ever seen her smile before. He couldn't help but laugh quietly as he thought about this. Things were going great, and at the rate they were going, they would arrive at their destination a little while after the sun rose over Yew Nork.
?
The ship touched down in almost the exact same spot as before. Dib felt a pang of sadness as he remembered what had happened when he had been there last. His eyes instinctively darted over to where the thorn bush he had jumped into stood. For a moment, he thought he saw blood dripping from one of the thorns.
Dib paused, making sure that the ship had completely shut down before unlocking the doors. He expected Gaz to immediately push her door open and slip out, but she didn't. Instead, she gently tapped Gir's shoulder in an attempt to get him to wake up.
Gir opened his bright blue eyes and noticed Gaz. "...Hello," he began softly, "So...we're here now?" Gaz smiled a bit and nodded. Dib opened his door and quietly jumped out of the ship, feet landing on the wet grass. He closed his door behind him, waiting for Gaz and Gir to get out.
Gaz exited the ship a little while later, carrying Gir on her shoulders. He looked only half-awake, which made Dib wonder if he had ever seen a tired Gir before. Well, he can't have that youthful energy all the time, he told himself, Everyone has to rest once in a while.
Gir weakly lifted his head and noticed the government's alien research facility nearby, its chrome surface gleaming. "Why did we stop here?" he asked almost-inaudibly, clinging to Gaz as though his life depended on it, "Why would Master be here? Didn't he...didn't he leave here?"
Before Dib could say anything, Gaz answered the question. "Yes, he did," she responded, "but we think the soldiers might have some information about him. Come on, let's go." She walked away, carefully avoiding the thorn bush and stepping out into the parking lot.
Dib followed his sister, unsure about what was going to happen. Even though he had seen the building before, its appearance seemed rather sudden. He cringed, remembering Zim's words...I'll never be your friend, Dib. Never again...no matter how many times you apologize.
He stared down at his feet, wondering if Zim would forgive him for everything he had done. Judging from what he had said, he probably wouldn't...Perhaps this was all in vain, Dib thought sadly. Maybe Zim won't come back with us...or maybe we won't find him all...
He sighed gloomily, still walking through the parking lot. An eerie silence had fallen over him as he recalled the previous events. Gir's attempted suicide would probably weave itself into his nightmares, and the things Zim had said to him still hung around him like cobwebs.
Dib closed his eyes for a brief moment, imagining Zim's words woven into spiderwebs. He stopped walking and imagined himself standing in a dark, cold attic, with spiderwebs hanging all around him. However, he was so distracted by this vision that he didn't notice the guards running up to Gaz and Gir.
"Hey!" one of them cried, "You're those kids who took off with Z99!" Dib looked up and gasped - they were carrying guns. One of them could get shot...and die. He immediately snapped back to reality then, rushing up to his sister and the SIR robot clinging to her head.
"Stop!" Dib screamed, "Don't hurt them! They didn't do anything!" Both of the guards immediately pointed their guns right at his apparently "abnormally large" head. Dib whimpered slightly and took a step back, tripping over a rock and collapsing onto the pavement.
"Yeah, of course," one of the guards muttered sarcastically, "Of course they didn't do anything. They totally didn't leave with our newest capture. Do you want our planet to be destroyed, kid? You probably worked with this girl, so I guess we'll just take you, too."
Dib sighed, silently cursing himself for his clumsiness. "That's what I'm trying to tell you," he told the guards flatly, "We didn't leave with...with Z99. We...just came to visit. We let him out because we thought we could capture him again, but...well, all this happened. Z99 isn't with us."
The guards seemed to believe Dib's lie, as their tightened muscles seemed to relax slightly. "Fine," one of them told the ten-year-old boy, "After all, you're just kids, so I guess we can't arrest you." Neither of the two guards seemed to notice that Gir wasn't even human.
"Thank you," Dib responded, although he certainly didn't feel like thanking the two people that had just scared him out of his wits, "We'll just be going now." He shakily got to his feet, motioning for Gaz to follow him. She walked behind him, not making a sound as they left the parking lot.
Dib was about to approach the ship, but stopped abruptly. Gaz halted right behind him at almost the exact same time, which was kind of creepy. "Maybe Zim went to the city," he thought aloud, "Do you think we should look there? After all, not many people should be awake at this time, so we can search unnoticed."
"Sure," Gaz replied, "We can't have people seeing Gir and questioning us...speaking of that, are you okay, Gir?" Gir had fallen asleep and was now barely holding onto Gaz. If Gaz hadn't gently lifted him up and into her arms, he probably would've fallen off of her head.
"Okay, then, we just lost a member of our team," Dib murmured quietly so he wouldn't wake Gir up, "Great. I guess we should get going before everyone else wakes up." He and Gaz made their way toward the streets of Yew Nork in complete silence, not entirely sure about what to say.
The city had an ominous feel to it in the early stages of the morning. Dib shivered slightly as he and Gaz walked along the sidewalk, looking up at the skyscrapers around them. Dib had never seen such wonderful pieces of architecture before, but now was not the time to marvel at buildings.
"Looks like we have a long way to go," Gaz commented softly, still carrying Gir, "We should probably start searching before we get noticed." Dib nodded, and the two of them began their search...their search for a friend. They were going to find Zim, no matter how long it took.
The streets of Yew Nork were surprisingly empty - even at this time, the city was usually much more lively and exciting. However, the only sign of life they saw was the occasional car cruising by. The driver would always look tired, with dark circles under their eyes.
"...Zim?" Dib called quietly, "Zim? Are you anywhere nearby?...It's me, Zim. It's Dib. I...I came back for you." Gaz said nothing, only watching as her brother called out to someone who probably wasn't anywhere nearby. She thought about this for a while, but then her mind drifted to other locations.
Gaz glanced down at Gir, who was sleeping peacefully. I'm not sure what makes me like that little robot so much, she thought, Is there just something about him that makes me instantly act friendly toward him? It seems like I've been living on impulse a lot these days...
What's up with Dib, though? He and Zim were such good friends, and now...we're wandering throughout the streets of a city we hardly know. I'm carrying Zim's robot servant in my arms, and Dib is calling out to someone who he used to hate more than anything else.
"Gaz?" Dib asked softly, freeing his sister from her trance, "Are you okay?" Gaz looked up at her brother and shrugged silently. She wasn't sure what her definition of "okay" was any more. Things had really changed...and not for the better. She sighed sadly as she thought about this.
"I guess so," Gaz responded almost-inaudibly, "It's just...everything's so confusing now. I can barely understand it all." She stared down at the pavement below her, suddenly feeling strangely...small. She felt like she didn't really matter. She felt...unwanted.
At that very moment, Gir's large eyes opened. "...Gaz?" he asked quietly, "What's...what's going on? Where are we?" Gaz couldn't help but smile when she noticed that the little SIR robot was now awake. She stopped walking and gently put him down on the sidewalk, getting him back on his feet.
"You fell asleep during our confrontation with those guards," she explained calmly, "We're in Yew Nork, and we're searching for Zim." Dib turned around, having walked ahead of them, and noticed Gir. He smiled and waited for them to catch up with him before continuing on his search for Zim.
"Yay!" Gir cried happily, "We're going to find Master!" He danced ahead of Dib and Gaz, skipping along as though someone had just given him an entire refrigerator of chocolate...or tacos. He squealed cheerfully, occasionally hopping on one foot. Dib and Gaz watched, still smiling.
Gir's back to his usual, positive self, Dib thought, and Gaz is actually smiling for once. We're going to find Zim. We can get back to being friends. We're going to patch everything up, and things will turn out okay. When was the last time I was this happy? When was the last time everything was working out fine?
I hope you forgive me, Zim. I know I've been an idiot, but I can't bear to see Gir cry anymore. He misses you, Zim. You don't even have to talk to me - as long as you stay with Gir, I'll be reasonably happy. I just hope...I just hope nothing stands in our way of finding you.
?
Zim slowly opened his ruby-red eyes and found himself staring up at the star-filled sky. He had the feeling that the sun would soon rise...which meant he would just get noticed again. People would stare...and yet nobody would help him. Nobody would even approach him.
"How can this world possibly be so cruel?" Zim whispered to himself, "How can humans just ignore someone who needs help? How can this race survive in a world of disease, accident, and war?" He found himself crying again, whimpering softly as his tears burned his pale green skin.
Thin streaks of dried blood ran down Zim's face. His Irken uniform had been torn in a few places, and his leg was bent in an odd way. Not only was he in pain, he also felt weak - as though someone had just sucked the energy out of him. He wondered what he could possibly do to end it all.
Dib will probably forget about me, Zim thought, He has probably already moved on. He probably has better things to do with his life than look for his former friend. Maybe he's somewhere far away, enjoying himself...being happy. He probably found happiness...without me.
I can't get out of here alone. I don't know the way, and even if I did, who would help a freak like me? After all, I'm...well, I don't even know what I am. All I know is that I'm not human...am I alien? Is that what they called me? Am I...extraterrestrial? An outsider?
Zim moaned in pain and struggled to his feet. The world around him was almost completely lifeless. He remembered some things about which areas were safe to walk through and which areas weren't, but it didn't matter much. No matter what, he would still run into trouble somewhere along the way.
"What can I do?" Zim asked the sky, "How can I free myself from this world? Is there anything I can do...anything at all?" The sky didn't reply, although the stars within it twinkled merrily. Zim burst into tears, burying his face in his hands. He couldn't...he couldn't just...stay.
An idea came to him then. It seemed to be one of the only ways he could possibly set himself free. At first, he couldn't believe what had just come into his head, but then he realized it was the only way. Perhaps the only thing he could do was accept it.
Zim slowly staggered away from his hideout in the alley. He wandered away in the darkness, knowing there was only one thing he could do. There was only one path to follow, one way to go. He made his way toward the one place he swore he would return to again.
It was time to end it all.