Chapter 10: Hmmm, What to Do?

Dib watched as the leaders of the world arrived at Membrane labs one by one. His father had sent out the fastest jets the military had agreed to let him use to get them here on such short notice. The plan was for Dib to sit with his father in the meeting and think of a speech with all the reasons he could come up with as to why there was no threat, while the leaders took turns talking about what a threat aliens were. The thing was, Dib's mind was so clouded with worry that he couldn't think straight. He was worried about Zim's well being. He was worried about what the leaders might say in the meeting. He was worried about what the leaders might plan to do about this. He was worried that he wouldn't be able to convince the leaders that Zim is no threat. Heck! He was worried that he was worrying too much! To try to clear his head, Dib thought he'd take a walk down to the office.

Gaz walked down the hallway to the office to talk to her father's secretary and find out what was happening. She quietly opened the door and slipped inside. She watched her father's perky redheaded secretary, Elizabeth, shuffle paper after paper around on her desk, still not noticing Gaz had come in.

"Hey there Liz!" Gaz said to announce her presence.

"GAZ! Oh my goodness, I didn't notice you! Oh it's been so long since I've seen you! I almost didn't recognize you!"

"I know, it's been two years."

"So what can I do for you kiddo?'

"Well, you can start by telling me what all the hub-bub is about. What's going on here?"

"From what I've heard your father and brother have discovered aliens! All the world's leaders are coming for a meeting in about two hours to discuss aliens and the threat of invasion and interplanetary war."

Right after Elizabeth had finished speaking Gaz heard the door click open behind her. She whipped around to find her brother standing in the door frame, face pale and eyes bloodshot.

"Gaz, what are you doing here?"

Gaz grabbed hold of Dib's shirt and pulled him out into the hallway so Elizabeth couldn't hear them.

"Dib! You turned Zim in? How did you manage to get Dad to believe you this time?"

"Gaz I didn't turn him in! Dad found him on his own! You may not be able to believe this but-"

"-You and Zim are together. Dad found him in your bed this morning and called his team to take him."

"How in God's name did you know that?"

"One: I can see that you love Zim. It's in your eyes. Two: I had to walk home from my sleepover since Dad didn't come for me. I was looking for you and I found you room completely torn apart."

"Well, now you know what kind of a position I'm in here! I have to give a presentation to the leaders to convince them there is no threat in less than two hours! I can't even think straight let alone come up with a goddamned presentation!"

"Oh come on, this is ridiculous! Zim has to be the universe's biggest screw up! How is there any way in Hell that he's a threat?"

Dib immediately perked up upon hearing this, and got that glitter in his eyes that signaled he had a plan.

"Gaz! You're a genius!"

"Huh?"