21

Saturday, 10:50 am. Charlie.

I sat for another moment, before finally requesting the computer to pull up blueprints of the ship's interior. What I thought about the size and shape of the ship was actually right, it was all one big space, with the rounded seat facing the panel near the front end. In the blueprints, I could see the parts of the ship that were still repairing themselves illuminated in red. It looked a lot better than it used to, at least how the hull was. But this room still had rubble littered throughout it, and the smell of smoke still hung in the air.

Still, I'm sure Dib would be glad to hear that the ship's repairs were coming along. Wouldn't he? I mean, he had told me how excited he was when Tak's ship was ready for a flight. I bet he and his "people" could get a lot of information about alien technology from it, especially if it worked. Maybe they could even take the ship out into space! Imagine, the first trip to space in an alien spacecraft! And it would all be because of me...

I shook my head, not able to keep a smile off my face. I probably looked like an idiot.

... I probably looked like Dib did when he was excited.

It was an exciting prospect... I would be world famous by helping Dib capture Zim. Heck, I had ALREADY helped Dib capture Zim. I had left the black-haired boy in charge of watching him while I was exploring the— OH DEAR GOD I LEFT HIM ALONE.

I froze, one hand still reaching for the star-map-windshield, a bolt of horror zipping through me.

I left DIB, the half-crazy kid, in charge of watching HIS MORTAL ENEMY! How could I be so stupid?! He could be dissecting Zim while I was just sitting here playing with controls!

It only took me a second to race out of the hole in the ship and back onto the blackened grass of my backyard. The hole was smaller now, apparently already starting to be repaired. I didn't stop to wonder exactly HOW it was being repaired, I was frantic! Who knew what Dib could be doing to him in there! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him, to get his worst, most hated enemy unconscious, ripe for dissection or any number of other horrible things.

"Dib," I hissed as I ran toward the back door, "You better not have done anything stupid!"

A strange voice coming from inside the house made me freeze in my tracks. It was a man's voice. No... it was SEVERAL voices, all coming from my house! I finally reached the house, pressing my back against the brick wall beside the door, but out of sight of anyone standing at the windows.

Letting out a ragged breath, I stole a look into the living room. There were at least five people there, dressed all in black, in what looked like armored suits. They didn't seem to notice Zim yet, they were busy making their way around the house, and toward the hallway. They must be checking all the rooms, not seeing the alien couch on the other side of the wall. In other circumstances, I would have snickered at their stupidity and obliviousness. Now I was stony with fear. Fear and anger for that matter.

How dare he?! Dib promised to wait until Zim recovered! That two-faced, lying...

Then I paused... Dib was just doing his job. These people were on my side! Even if they were here to collect the alien without my permission... that was what Dib and I had planned, later on. It was just speeding up the result. And here I was, sneaking around like a guilty raccoon. I reached a hand toward the door, but paused before I opened it and made my position known. These people were on my side! Dib was just doing what he thought was right...

And so was I.