Chapter 11- You are the Enemy
Baby: 12.8 weeks; 90 days
ETA Irk: 140 days
The computer lead them to the coordinates they were given and they touched down on a large landing space. The area was a disaster. Buildings with smashed windows and holes in the walls were everywhere. Smoke could be seen rising from the horizon. The sight terrified the three travelers. Kam clung to Zim's arm. Her hands felt cold.
"What could have happened here?" She asked, her voice shaking.
Zim squinted and glanced around out of the windows. Then he turned to the computer and ran a scan for signs of life. There was only one within a 20 mile radius of them.
"Maybe we should just go." Dib was looking around worried as well.
Zim opened up the main hatch and jumped out.
"Zim! What are you doing? This isn't good we should just leave here." Kam yelled after him as he started walking away. In the end she and Dib must have jumped out to follow him because they caught up to him before he had gone too far. "Zim! Are you out of your mind! They could be waiting to attack us…"
"Shush." Zim hushed her and stared at the scanner he had extended from his PAK. Once they were quiet the humans were able to hear what Zim's antennae had picked up from farther away. It sounded like a child crying. Zim rushed off to where the sound was coming from with Kam and Dib close behind. They came to a pile of rubble. The crying was coming from underneath it.
"Oh my god… Hello! Is someone in there?!" Kam ran up to the pile and tried to move stuff out of the way."
"Help! Is someone there!? Please Help! I'm trapped!"
"Move." Zim pushed Kam out of the way and with the help of his PAK began shoving aside the rubble. Searching with his scanner he found the fastest way to get the child out. "Dib when I lift this one reach in and grab the child." Dib nodded and moved in closer. It took all 6 of Zim's robotic arms to budge the rock. As soon as there was enough space Dib jumped in to grab the kid.
There was an explosion and Dib was thrown from the hole. Zim and Kam looked in horror as he slammed into the wall behind them and crumbled to the ground. A second later a SIR robot leapt from the hole, dragging a small Flerkosian by the back of its shirt. The robot's weapons pointed right at them.
"Scanning…. Irken life form detected…. Irken Master, step away from the alien target." It said to Zim.
"STOP! This life form is not a threat to your mission! Neither is that child! Put it on the ground now!"
The SIR unit stared at Zim for a moment. "Negative." It said. Its red eyes thinned into an aggressive glare. "Phase 3 has been activated! Eliminate all non-Irken life in preparation for arrival of the Fleet. This Flerkosian adolescent is the enemy. The life form behind you is the enemy. Stand aside Irken Master or you to will become the enemy."
"Zim… Now what?" Kam stood behind Zim who had his robotic arms extended, ready to activate a shield at a moment's notice.
Zim looked around desperately. Coming up with a plan was never his strong point, but he needed one… Now!
"Irken Master! This is your final warning. Step away from the enemy." The robot pulled a laser from its head and pointed it directly at Kam.
"Wait!" Zim yelled. "This one isn't the enemy! It's my… My Alien Slave! Yeah that's it… and that child there. I was going to make it my slave also. So if you could be so kind as to release it to me."
The robot paused. Kam gave Zim a look that clearly said 'this plan had better work or you're dead for calling me that.'
"Sir protocol does not permit slaves to be taken until after completion of the mission."
"Of course I know that. However this is different. The Almighty Tallests sent me here directly to bring them a new slave. You don't want to get your master in trouble with the Tallests do you?"
The robot stared at Zim and Kam for a while. Right when they were sure it wasn't buying their story, it tossed the child down in front of them. "My master has ordered a sweep of this area. Irken Master, you should return to your vessel and leave."
"Yes. Yes I will do that." Zim and Kam shared a sigh of relief when the robot flew away. Kam ran to the child while Zim went to grab Dib. He had gash on his forehead which Zim used his PAK to quickly seal. They grabbed the two and fled back to the ship. Once on board they wasted no time in taking off. They were a safe distance from the robot when Zim set to work back-tracking the Flekosian signal they had received earlier. He hacked it and connected to the one they had talked to prior.
"What? You!? How'd you get through to this line?"
"That's not important right now. We have one of your children aboard. It's injured. Send coordinates for the nearest medical facility."
She sat straight upon hearing this. "Injuries? How?"
"I don't know." Zim lied. "The whole place is in ruins. I scanned but there are no other signs of life in the vicinity. Now are you going to help us save this child or not!?"
"And let you find another city to destroy? I don't think so! If you think I'm that stupid then you…" They heard a voice speaking to the communications operator. She turned back to the screen calmer, "Alright I'm sending you coordinates."
Soon as he saw them, Zim turned the ship and hit the throttle, a thought haunting the back of his mind. I was sent to do that to Earth.
Things keep getting more and more intense!
Zim has seen the final result of an Invader's mission. This is what he had tried to do. How will this thought change Zim? Omg the tension is killing me!
Dammit! This is why I havn't been getting enough sleep lately!