"Sleeper Agent"
'Chapter Twenty-Six'
Dib had started to become aware.
His whole body felt relaxed; almost like he was hovering, bathed in a protective layer of warmth though Dib couldn't comprehend why.
…was he…dead?
Memories slowly fluttered to the surface of his mind; harsh cruel images attacking his waking brain and he wanted more than ever to curl back in on himself. He wanted to go back to sleep, to sleep forever, he wanted to be dead but he couldn't be dead if he was thinking, right?
Dib's breathing was even and firm as if he were still sleeping; barely aware of how thick the 'air' seemed to be but not having enough mind to comprehend why.
Everything felt so strange.
His fingers twitched, trying to grab at something only to be met with nothing; the sticky feeling coating every inch of him causing his curiosity to mount.
It was…almost familiar.
This warmth, this weightlessness, but for the life of him he couldn't grasp at why.
His muscles felt like jelly and even the effort to blink his eyes open was more than he wanted to exert. However, the moment he did his breath caught and his heart increased its beating ten fold.
He was looking out into Zim's lab.
He was then aware that he was floating in purple gel; suspended in one of the many large tubes that lined the dark hallway of Zim's lab. Dib took note of his expression in the curved glass, seeing the many wires that were hooked up to his body.
Dib couldn't move, for some reason his body just didn't respond as he remained floating, unsure if his body was severely damaged in some way – or perhaps the wiring as well as the strange violet goo played a part in that.
His mind was working a mile a minute trying to make connections, trying desperately to pick up the pieces of the previous battle but unable to come up with anything that would lead to why he was there now.
Dib had seen Zim fall; had heard the sparking of his Pak, had seen when those blue eyes lost the light of life.
Zim couldn't be alive.
Then did Keef…?
Had he missed?
But then, why would the Synak drag him back to Zim's base? On top of that, why would Keef heal him? How would he even know how to do that?
Dib was becoming frantic, he needed answers, he wanted them so badly to quell this horrid fear that caused his heart to feel close to bursting.
He needed out of this tube.
His amber eyes darted here and there, trying to find movement in the dim part of the lab but his eyes couldn't find purchase. There was nothing there; no other signs of life aside from himself and his nerves were getting further frazzled.
Dib mouthed useless yells, trying to form words, trying to make sound penetrate the glass barrier but knowing it wouldn't work; all he managed to do was create thick bubbles that obscured his expression as they floated towards the surface of the container.
Beyond Dib's tube the rest of the lab remained quiet, the gentle thrum of machinery and computers a constant and hardly abnormal backdrop. Screens blinked with files of data, all written in long lines of Irken text, none of it clearly visible even for a human with good eyesight.
Dib's verbal struggles were met with the continued hum of technology and the unusually lifeless base, until the small clank of little feet came from a more lighted portion of the lab, gaining volume fast.
"DOOOOOOOM~!" GIR sped down the dark hallway screaming at his typical ear-piercing pitch, a burrito bobbling in one tiny hand while a small piggy plushie occupied the other. The small android-like whirlwind went screeching past Dib's tube, already almost at the other end of the corridor went it paused and whipped around, appearing to JUST register the human's conscious state.
"HEY MARY!" The SIR-unit waved his burrito up at Dib as he back-tracked towards the tube, cyan eyes dancing with obvious elation. Of course, whether said elation stemmed from seeing Dib awake or just for the sake of being elated, even the robot himself couldn't be sure. "You's back! Did joo have a nice long nappie in the tooooob?" He giggled before turning his head to something down the hall, waving his burrito captive more wildly in Dib's direction, flicking bits of beans and rice against the glossy glass cylinder. "MASTER! Mary's here! Can we go make pudding to celebrate?"
Footsteps thudded down the hall towards GIR, the sound of boots contrasting greatly to the clinking noise that the android's feet made along the floor. "No, GIR, for the last time, no pudding."
"Awwww, but it'll make 'im better! I heard it on TEEVEE~."
Dib felt a sense of relief the moment Gir made an appearance, watching the hyper-active robot as he flailed his little arms and appeared to be talking at him but the words were all muffled.
He tried to discern what was being said, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't figure out what Gir was saying.
However, as he noticed the robot wave at something further out of his sight he looked off in the direction of the darkness; waiting to see what would appear only to find his eyes resting on the form of Zim.
Zim…
Alive.
Dib had started to make the hopeful assumption the invader wasn't dead – if only because he had no explanations on how he would have made it to his lab, let alone be placed in the regeneration containers; it was obvious Gir wasn't capable of such a feat.
But even though he had been semi-prepared with the notion that Zim wasn't dead…
It was still sort of a shock to see the Irken standing so proud as usual, stepping into the light and showing no visible damage that the ordeal had even taken place. He noticed when Zim spoke, watching his lips move but he couldn't make out sound.
He was caught up in a new whirlwind of feeling and he wanted so desperately to be let free if only so he could sweep Zim up in his arms and feel just how real the invader truly was.
He couldn't be dreaming.
This had to be real.
Dib didn't think he could take it if this reality ebbed away to something worse; fearing that he might still be passed out at the circus; his mind merely feeding him a sweet dream before he woke up to the previous nightmare all over again.
Outside the tube GIR continued to plead his case about the benefits of pudding for unhappiness—which apparently ended with him raving about painting the toenails of chickens—but Zim dismissed the robot with a glare, not that it mattered as GIR ran off screaming down the hall anyways. The echo of the SIR-unit's departure haunted the area for a few moments after, but finally there was no shred of the android's presence, leaving Zim in peace for a while.
The Irken's brow furrowed, remembering what the robot had been yelling about. Had GIR been telling the truth when he said…?
Maybe, maybe not. There had been a few false alarms in the last few days, leaving a thick disappointment, and more than a little concern. But it really would be wrong to not check just in case.
Zim marched forward, stalking the last few feet over to where Dib was still recovering from his injuries. He approached the tube with a bit of reluctance, not wanting to be met with nothing again.
Nothing. No waking, no sign of active brain-wave patterns… not a thing to indicate if the human was ever going to return to consciousness. It had been nearly an entire week by Earth time—he had to be healed enough to be functional by now… he had to.
The more time stretched on, the more likely chance that Dib's mind had ceased to be preserved after the circus ordeal… making his body nothing but a lifeless but working shell.
Zim finally lifted his gaze up, claret eyes expecting to be met with pale eyelids and a motionless human form, just like what he'd seen the rest of the week. It took him a while to register that he was staring into amber ones instead, which were gazing right back at him.
His eyes widened, heart skipping a whole row of beats with the realization.
"Dib-human…" With almost something akin to cautious delicacy Zim brought a gloved hand to touch the glass barrier between him and Dib, eyes still locked with the gold ones he hadn't seen for an entire earth-monkey week. Not that he was really all that worried. Of course not—why would he ever doubt that such amazing Irken technology could bring the stubborn child back to the world? If anything it would be Dib's big-headed idiocy that would most likely be to blame for his inability to wake up.
None of that stopped Zim's pulse from quickening though, or his eyes from removing themselves from Dib's gaze.
Dib had been stricken by those large ruby eyes; staring intently at the Irken who didn't drop his gaze. Dib didn't know exactly what he saw in those eyes when Zim raised his hand to touch the glass between them, wanting desperately to lift his own and touch the same but his body still refused to move in its gel prison.
Before he knew the purple ooze started to bubble and hiss, Dib's attention averted from the Irken due to the alarm that he felt in that moment; his sluggish mind slowly processing what was happening as the levels of the ooze started to drop.
Slowly but surely the gel drained out the bottom of the container; the wires popping out of Dib's frame with wet 'pops' as the purple goop sucked over his body before it finally drained completely in a harsh gurgling sound.
The moment Dib's feet touched the platform on the bottom of his tube he immediately fell sideways into the glass wall. He made a noise of displeasure as he leaned heavily against that clear wall, trying to gain his bearings.
His body wasn't sore, there didn't seem to be any lasting damage yet his body had been stuck in that coma-like state for who knows how long and his muscles needed a moment to adjust to carrying weight again.
After a moment though Dib had finally gained control of himself, standing to his full height, still using the wall as some support. Dib was aware of his lack of clothing because the chill had descended on his flesh the moment the warm ooze was gone, goose bumps prickling along his white skin – and also, he was aware of his lack of glasses because everything was still a fuzzy mess of colors, though Zim was still in focus because he was still standing so close.
"Zim?" Dib questioned, raising his hand to touch the glass, wanting to get out but he couldn't see a visible door anywhere.
The Irken didn't bring his eyes back to Dib for a moment, removing his foot from the large button around the base of the cylindrical tube. He toed a switch beside it to open the chamber, and the machine instantly responded as the glass sank down into platform beneath it, and in turn into the floor. The roof of the container still remained above Dib's head, hanging by a series of cables that disappeared into the darkness of the ceiling.
The metallic scent of the purple goo wafted about the air despite the fluid's absence. Zim could hear the humming of machinery, a sound he was so familiar with for the last few days.
He could also hear breathing. A sound he had been unable to hear. A sound that made his heart beat a little harder.
Slowly he drew his eyes up, not really seeing until he reached Dib's face. The striking shade of amber glowed against the ashen skin that framed it, the infamous antenna-like cowlick still upright even when soaked in goo.
The invader continued to stare wordlessly at the human, a plethora of emotions twisting behind his eyes before he finally took a slight step towards the naked boy—
-and smacked him on the side of the head as hard as he could.
"Stupid ungrateful pig-smelly!" The words were flying out of his mouth with the subtlety of a semi-truck. "What were you thinking? Do you know how long Zim has been waiting for you to wake up? Hm? You waste space in my lab for a whole Earth WEEK and show no signs of human consciousness and WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN LIKE ZIM TOLD YOU TO? Zim told you to go shoot the Keef-thing but you go and kill ZIM instead! And get yourself hurt! And I had to heal your pathetic human meat sack! You have less brain goo than a Blorch beast! You pitiful—vile—insignifigant… you made Zim WAIT!"
The Irken finally ran out of ammunition for his sudden tirade, breathing heavily as glared at Dib. "…well, say something, Dib-worm! Your subservient vocal cords still function, yes?" Anger still bubbled in Zim's tone, though his tone flitted to worry towards the end of his inquiry.
Dib had kept his gaze on Zim; following the Irken's every little movement, still sort of flabbergasted they hadn't died and all this was truly real.
His heart was hammering painfully against his ribs as the glass tube sunk down around him; the smell of sterile lab air dashing into his lungs with every breath, the lingering scent of the goo adding a pleasant jolt to his brain.
Dib was beside himself; so many emotions parading through his system. He was still trying to comprehend then and now; his brain desperately trying to catch up with everything it was experiencing all at once. The intensity of Zim's eyes, the expression on the Irken's face.
Dib felt as if he had a head rush; his eyes instantly tearing up with the assault of feelings and he made a move to embrace the alien he had thought he murdered—
Only to have Zim's fist connect with the side of his head instead; sending him instantly off balance and nearly falling over entirely; a yip of surprise and pain emitting as he tried to figure out what the hell just happened.
Zim's angry voice stabbed into his barely-aware brain and it took him a whole few minutes to even process and comprehend what he was screaming about; having thought that Zim might actually be upset—only to catch the waver in his tone.
"A whole week?" Dib managed to murmur, sort of put-off by his voice at first; his cords out of practice and giving his tone a huskier octave. Dib nursed the sore spot on his head, though he couldn't help but smile. The dull ache merely added to the fact that this wasn't a dream or an illusion; it also meant Zim cared, quite a bit due to his yelling fit.
Keef was dead then, wasn't he?
They were free, right?
Dib didn't even care what had happened to get them here, or why they were alive, just the fact that they were alive mattered enough.
Dib decided to sort of dis-regarded half of Zim's questions, "I did shoot him," He started, his memory not as fuzzy as it started out to be now that he was becoming more consciously aware, "I didn't want to shoot you, I just thought it was the only choice, I mean…" Dib faltered, "Keef is dead isn't he? I remember shooting him, but I don't remember anything after that…"
His brows furrowed in thought a moment, trying to keep his emotions under control, still fighting the urge to just cling to Zim and never let him go again. It felt so strange just standing there; being alive basically when he had truly thought they both were going to be dead after that fight.
His gold-brown eyes smoldered with too many overwhelming emotions as he kept Zim's gaze; finally reaching out to touch the Irken, cupping Zim's cheek as he ran his thumb tenderly across the smooth skin, "Zim…" His tone broke, "I'm sorry I didn't, I didn't want to—I thought—" He moved forward, finally scooping up the petite alien in a desperate embrace, burying his head into his shoulder, "God Zim…" He took in a shuddering breath, inhaling the Irken's scent as he nuzzled his head into his neck, "I thought…I thought I killed you, I thought…I was going to die," Dib continued in a hushed tone, "I thought it was really the end."
Zim tensed up when Dib gathered him in his arms, listening to the human's strained words as his breath tickled along the exposed part of his neck. The warmth of the boy's embrace soaked into his clothes, making him realize just how chilled he'd been feeling the last few days.
Warm. So warm. He hadn't felt so warm since Dib had cuddled him in his sleep last week. So safe. His breath hitched, his throat tight and dry and he felt…pain.
Zim grimaced, placing his hands on Dib's bare arms and forcefully pushing the teen away from him. "You are getting Zim's uniform covered in goop," He said coldly, scowling as he stiffly took a step away from the nude human and turned away from him, facing the rest of the lab. "And you almost did kill me. The damage done to Zim's PAK was critical—you disintegrated several of my programs, many of them vital. It was only with Zim's pure amazingness that I reactivated at all."
Reactivation—just remembering the moment was painful. His flesh had been covered in acidic burns from the over-exposure to Earth precipitation, and he had barely been able to breathe. It had been luck that his communicator hadn't been destroyed, and Zim, with the small bit of strength he had, contacted GIR to bring the Voot cruiser and retrieve them. He could remember barely being able to lift his head, but when he had… when he had he could see all the blood, human and Irken, soaking the dirt.
A pool of it had surrounded Dib's body—Dib's unmoving body.
The memory was so vivid in his mind.
"You… were almost dead too," Zim said, the deadpan of his tone just enough to be a mask. "You might have been dead at one point, but not for very long. You've been unconscious for the last seven Earth days. This is the first time you've shown consciousness."
Zim would know. He'd been watching, sitting in front of the tube for the first few days as he had his computer patch up his PAK and heal his burnt skin.
His red eyes had never left Dib's form until it was completely necessary…or until it hurt too much to keep looking, and doubt began to creep in.
Healing had given him—no, forced upon him—time to think. And all he could think of was his nemesis, and about how he couldn't let him die.
For days, and it just became a wish: please don't die.
Please… come back.
Zim's frowned deepened, making his face dark as he vehemently pushed the thoughts—and what came with them—away. He couldn't think any of those things. He couldn't. It was a moment of weakness; it wasn't something he needed to exist. He didn't need… it.
Dib tried not to show the hurt he felt when Zim pushed him aside; but he knew he failed at hiding it. Confusion settled for a moment as Zim continued to talk; noticing the irritation flooding back into his tone and he wondered if the worry he had thought he heard earlier had even been there at all.
Dib stood awkwardly where Zim left him, looking towards the Irken but not truly seeing him in complete focus anymore(mainly due to his lack of glasses, though his misty eyes didn't help much either).
He felt a mess of things; from hurt, to guilt, to regret.
Zim seemed truly upset over what had happened in the circus; but it didn't seem justified. Zim had been under mind control, Keef had ordered Zim to kill him. He couldn't have run away, even if he had been in better health at the time, he wasn't going to leave Zim no matter how dire the situation was.
He thought that would have shown something; same with him having to resort to killing the Irken. It had been for the best – or, he tried to justify it that way. Zim wouldn't be a puppet if he was dead; and if he had died in turn, they had given their all trying to save Irken and Human kind alike.
But, for some reason all this just wasn't good enough; Dib started to doubt everything again, and the upset Zim was exerting wasn't helping his personal self-esteem or his own ideals.
"I don't know what you expected me to do," He finally started, though his tone wasn't as hard as it normally was when he defended himself; it sounded almost weak, desperate to a point but he attempted to curb it as he continued, "I just," He faltered, "You're really mad at me over it? What did you want me to do?" Finally he gained some ground, his brow furrowing in obvious upset as his tone rose in pitch, "I couldn't run away, there would have been no running from you anyway, what—what did you expect? Did you want me to leave you? Let him keep you as his puppet?"
"You don't have a right to be mad at me." He stated, righting his shoulders and attempting to be his usual formidable self; but he still felt sort of weak from his coma-like state from before, and he forced himself to ignore his lack of clothing. "You can't think I wanted to kill you," He said, "It was the only choice I had, I wanted to save you." Dib knew that killing someone wouldn't really be considered 'saving', but he hoped Zim would understand, but at the same time he knew he wouldn't.
He just wanted the Irken to show something – anything, his lack of care was starting to throw Dib off and he was starting to feel lost all over again. He needed Zim; more than he had ever needed him, and the alien was just coldly brushing him off.
"Why did you bring me here then, huh?" Dib finally snapped, "Did you just heal me so you could yell at me over nothing?"
Zim gritted his teeth, but he couldn't find the words to scream back at the human. A faint tightness claimed his chest but he resisted the recent habit of placing his hand to his heart, instead smoothing his features and turning back to Dib. "Zim yells at you because you're a big-headed worm-monkey. What I wanted you to do was kill Keef. Instead you almost got us both destroyed." He turned his gaze away, glaring at the floor. "Zim could have gotten control again. I did not need to be saved."
The Invader spun on his heels back to the glowing hub of monitors a little ways off, gesturing up towards the ceiling. "Computer, hand the Dib-beast his fresh clothing and a cloth to dry off with." He cleared his throat as he stopped mid-way to the screens. "You will follow me when you're done changing, Dib. Don't take long."
Dib numbly took the clothing and cloth given as the Computer dropped it in his hands. His gaze remained on Zim a moment too long before he finally averted his eyes towards the floor.
Wordlessly he toweled himself off and shrugged into his clothing; his mind too distracted to even care where Zim got new the clothes from, that being the least of his cares right now(though they were his, a new trench coat, a pair of jeans, and a plain black t-shirt – obviously all came from his house).
That was…it then.
Dib wanted to continue their verbal battle, but at the same time he was just too tired to press on. He already felt his emotions too close to the surface and he feared an all out verbal assault on Zim's part would finally push him over the edge and into tears.
He didn't want to be a broken mess on top of being screamed at; so he decided for now to just let it go. He still felt hurt, the ache in his chest growing with each passing minute; wishing that for once Zim wasn't being an asshole and would just hug him, or look at him, or act even the least bit happy – just something, anything to make him feel like he wasn't a complete failure.
But, the Irken gave nothing, not even looking in his direction anymore.
Dib fingered the edges of his new glasses before he finally replaced them on his face, having grasped the main issue at hand – Keef wasn't dead.
He had to have missed.
Chalk up another failure on Dib's tab.
He wanted to tell himself this whole mess wasn't his fault, he wanted to bump up his self-esteem at least a little, but he found himself drawing a blank on optimistic words.
In truth, this was all his fault.
Their…relationship-thing, to the botched battle with Keef, to Zim almost dying.
Everything.
Dib turned his eyes up to Zim's back, letting go of the last bit of hope he had that the Irken might offer just a little condolence, a little bit of positive acknowledgement.
"Keef is still alive," He said in a tired tone, more of a statement then a question, "Do you know where he is?" He asked, taking the first tentative step in Zim's direction.
Zim's hands moved in an inelegant dance along the keyboard he had before him, his large eyes reflecting the blue glow of the monitors. His antennae twitched as he heard Dib approach.
"Do you know for certain?" Zim countered, a slightly mocking tone coating the edges. "I have not been able to locate any trace of the Keef-stink, and he hasn't made another appearance since… before." Zim pressed another key, a large window popping up onto the screen just above where he was working.
Dib ignored Zim's tone, "I blacked out after I shot at him." He murmured softly, memories rushing in to his conscious only to be shoved roughly right back out again.
Dib turned his gaze towards the monitors, watching as Zim worked; trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "I don't know if I hit him dead on or not," He admitted, not making a move towards Zim's chair – keeping a foot or two of distance between them, "I couldn't really see, and I didn't have much strength to hold the weapon too high." He offered though was unsure if this information was even helping.
Keef had been so close; almost point-blank and he missed, or – probably missed, they didn't really know if Keef was alive or dead; Dib was merely assuming the worse.
Though, why Keef had left them there instead of finishing the job should suggest something.
Suddenly a memory jolted into his brain, "Keef was going for your Pak—I don't remember what he was saying, but he was close, and I shot at him. I must have hit him if he backed off, right?" He said, his tone flitting up into its normal range, the dull-ness erased in his moment of reminiscence, "I don't think I killed him, but I bet I wounded him enough to cause him to retreat." Or, he was hoping as much, but that was really the only explanation he had as to why they were still alive.
Zim frowned, knowing he himself didn't remember a thing after Dib fired the gun at him, only being conscious once his PAK reactivated. "That can't be verified yet," He answered, "though Zim doubts that you could have killed him with one shot. The Synak-worm must be planning something else then."
There was no possibility of Keef giving up for good just because of a little hit.
Zim remembered what the ginger had told him. All the things he had told him.
The full scope of that insane creature's plan…
"The Keef-beast revealed to Zim his plan." Zim's hands ceased their activity at the keyboard as he spoke. "The idiotic worm-smell intends to use Zim's face to infiltrate the Irken Empire, and gain access to the smeeteries on the home planet. He thinks he can use the superior Irken technology to clone his own people and bring back his race."
Zim gestured to the screen, where the large window covered in Irken text was still present. "This is what Zim found in my remaining PAK files you hadn't destroyed. It is a virus that Keef uploaded into my PAK—it allowed him control over much of my physical body by…doing some chemical things with the PAK. And stuff. Too complicated for your pig-smelly brain to comprehend."
In all honesty Zim hadn't been able to discern how exactly the virus worked himself. Several of the codes were not in Irken, and many had components that his computer couldn't even REGISTER properly. Synaks had been known for combining mechanical and organic material in odd ways that even Irken technology hadn't developed just ye (or so said the information the house's main database had given him, which was only so reliable).
Not that he was really concerned. Stupid details like that didn't really matter right now anyway.
"I have extracted as much of the program as possible from the remainder of my PAK system," the invader continued. "Zim should be safe from Keef unless he manages another upload, which won't occur again. But that isn't the problem. Zim suspects this will be what he uses to get the Irken Empire to…'cooperate'…with his plans. Even if he fails to get control of Irk, the Empire is in danger of the destruction he'll cause." Magenta orbs narrowed; the Keef-beast had way too many brain worms in his shifty head. If he got control over either of the Tallest—Irk forgive them if he obtained BOTH of the Almighty ones—then there was no telling what Keef would do with that kind of power.
Dib remained an awkward foot or so from Zim's chair, quietly listening as the invader spoke; the Irken's tone sounded almost off but Dib couldn't entirely place why. It was almost like he was trying to pitch his words just right, but at the same time such a notion sounded stupid.
He was probably looking too far into things; barely even listening to most of Zim's words as his mind once again wandered towards their other problems. Maybe there was no point in pursuing anything; it obviously wasn't the main problem right now.
Besides, it was his fault he even began to think Zim held him in a higher regard. Obviously after the Keef fight Zim had stewed on all his upset and was just waiting to toss it all back at Dib.
Maybe Zim was right to be upset at him; maybe he could have done better, maybe trying to kill Zim wasn't a good plan. Maybe he should have let himself be killed and banked on the fact that Zim might be able to gain control again and kill Keef himself.
Dib ran a hand through his tangled goopy hair in an attempt to gather all his wandering thoughts. He really didn't feel like over-thinking anything, especially since he felt so drained and all this added mental stress wasn't helping him focus.
He tuned back in towards the end of Zim's conversation, grasping Keef's main plan. "Do you think he already headed to space then?" His tone was a little more distant than usual; everything had begun to feel like the old days. Zim putting up a fifty foot wall between them despite a temporary truce they might've had in place to defeat Ultra Pepe or other such mutated monster destroying the world; and Dib didn't like that sickeningly familiar feeling at all.
He had become too comfortable with how they had started to be. How he could be as close to Zim as he wanted; how he could touch Zim's antennae just to throw him off when he was working or thinking, having enjoyed the new abilities he had to shove Zim off his high-horse.
But, that was gone now, wasn't it?
"If he has headed to space, and he is wounded, maybe we still have a chance to catch up to him or something?" Dib offered, trying to throw himself back in the now, "It has been a week…but," Dib frowned, "Maybe we can at least get to the Irkens before he uploads the virus and does too much damage." Dib absently leaned his hip against the computer consol, his hands tucked into his pockets as his gold eyes stared off into the darker side of the lab.
Zim's eyes flicked over to where Dib was before sliding them back to the computer, hands flying away along the keyboard in an instant. "Hmph. Do you think Zim hasn't already considered that?" He pulled up a window on the monitor, a loading bar at the bottom still blinking at fifty percent. "Keef needs to be eliminated before he can try this pitiful scheme of his. I needed to leave DAYS ago, but no. I've been STUCK here, wasting time on this dumb planet when I could have had Keef vanquished by now."
The screen continued to show a lack of connection speed, until it faded out and hissed with white noise, the monitor displaying a bunch of Irken text. Zim glared at them, frustrated, harsh pops and clicks vehemently rolling off his tongue as he cursed the obviously unwanted response from his computer. "Grrr! Why NOW?"
"Stuck?" Dib repeated, "You didn't have to do anything, you could have just continued after Keef." He said in a tone sharper than intended, though he didn't bother to look back over to Zim.
However, Dib cut himself off before his tirade got too personal; too martyr-like, instead just offering a frustrated huff to the silence that had settled before Zim got distracted by his computers again, the alien sounding none-too-happy about whatever he had seen.
Dib turned his eyes to the monitors then; unable to read Irken, but allowing his gaze to roam over the expanse of text. "What?" He asked before he could stop himself. He then pointed to the blinking load bar, "What is that for?"
Zim's brow furrowed, hands clenched into fists. "I have been trying to contact my leaders so as to warn them about the Keef-beast. The connection is sometimes a little hard to obtain but… Zim hasn't been able to get a signal for several days." The Irken stood up from his seat, too frustrated to even look at the screen. "Keef might have done something to the networking systems of my base, anticipating my survival."
But that wasn't likely, since Zim had been having this same connection issue for the past several months. He'd attempt to make contact with the Massive only to receive the same message—CONNECTION WAS TERMINATED.
There had to be something disrupting the signal. Maybe the solar-y flares that hit this planet occasionally were to blame, or the Massive was too far away, or…or something.
The Tallest would always have a line open for him, probably a special, secret, top-priority communication line, all ready for whenever he made his triumphant calls. They must have. They wouldn't be blocking his signal or anything of that nature.
They wouldn't.
Zim crossed his arms in front of his chest. "If I cannot warn my Tallests ahead of time, then it is up to Zim to defeat the Keef-worm." That would be a victory he could show off to his empire. Defeating a dangerous Synak! Not only would he be an excellent invader, but also a true hero to the Irken race!
But the excitement of such a grand victory wasn't finding him.
"Computer, are the preparations to the Voot cruiser finally finished?"
Communication connection issues?
As Zim didn't delve too far into details, Dib decided against asking. He was still sort of caught up in his own thoughts, only half paying attention to the situation around him; though the mention of the Voot cruiser caught his attention once more.
Well, if they couldn't warn the Massive, then it was truly a race against time to beat Keef. Though, Keef already had a head start, who knows how far away he was – how close he was to the Massive.
Dib was starting to wonder if this new mission would even work out, if they even had a chance to change anything. But then again, they had to try, if they didn't Earth and the Irken Empire alike was in danger of being destroyed.
The weight of the entire situation fell heavily on Dib's shoulders; once again thinking of his past mishaps and how irritated Zim was – still is. His eyes drifted towards the invader who once again didn't seem to be paying attention to him.
He was starting to wonder what exactly he could even bring to the mission, if he was even an asset right now. Zim said he could do it all by himself, so why doesn't he? It was obvious Dib wasn't a match for an Irken, or a Synak – he was too weak, too slow.
Dib leaned up against the console, his attention drawn to the vacant side of the room, a frown tugging his lips – unable to pull himself out of his current funk. But, staying behind would be trusting Zim not to attack the Earth after Keef was destroyed; giving Zim complete control of whatever situation might befall him after the Synak was dead.
Then again, what control did Dib really have over Zim anyway?
It was obvious from the battle at the circus that he wasn't a match for the Irken; if Zim wanted to kill him, he could, and then he could claim Earth all for himself anyway. Whether it was then or now wouldn't entirely matter, would it?
Ugh.
Dib hated when his mind analyzed everything but he couldn't help it; it just seemed to happen and he couldn't make it stop. "So," Dib cut into the heavy air around him, "Are you going to space alone then?" He had originally wanted to tell Zim to go alone; but a small part of him still wanted to tag along.
He felt pathetic for wanting Zim to want him; even if he only wanted him to go to battle to be a shield or something, since he was useless in combat anyway. He turned his eyes towards the invader, half-expecting rejection and feeling a little uncertain if he should have said anything at all.
"All diagnostics have been run over the ship, as demanded," The computer finally droned lazily in response, not seeming the least bit interested in the matter. "And the new features have been added successful. Everything is ready for when you embark."
Zim nodded. "Good." He didn't offer any thanks as he turned back to look at Dib. His red eyes met the amber ones gazing at him and his antennae twitched absently.
He didn't answer the boy's question for several seconds, just watching him, until finally he spat, "No. Leaving you here while I go into space would mean leaving my base completely open to you and your infernal spy equipment. It is something Zim will not risk." He turned away again, heading towards the elevator as the sound of his boots echoed noisily in the cavern-like lab. "You're coming with me, Dib-human. Make sure you have everything you need before we leave."
A/N:
Chapter is late. Lots of personal things have been happening lately and I hadn't had too much time to really sit down and edit. But, that aside, we hope you enjoy this chapter and tune in for the next one. They'll be launching into space soon in an attempt to stop Keef. Thanks for reading and hopefully you'll feel inclined to review.