Chapter Twenty Six~ After Party

"This little guy really is a miracle," Embry said, speaking softly and even despite the obvious excitement. "I can't thank you enough for bringing him to me."

Minimoose hovered within a few feet off the floor, now encased within a red orb that kept him afloat. Right above a pile of books and a few curious bees ignoring the flowers growing in old pots, he had drawn Embry's attention for most of the cold evening.

"But I must let you know that Minimoose is still my property," Zim said. "Even if I may not be able to physically interact with him."

Embry turned on her heel and sat back down in her chair with crossed legs. "Of course, Zim. Minimoose is much more important to you than he must have been to the Headmaster. Feel free to check up on him while he's here."

"No need for an invitation," Zim said, staring intently at the hovering moose that spread its mouth into a broader smile. Gir returned the expression, his metallic face stuck into a twisted smug with the gum still clinging to him.

"So," Embry began, refilling Zoe's fifth glass of wine. "How was the dance?"

"The whole thing was a train wreck," Zoe said, quickly gulping down her drink. "I was lucky I could get out in time before anything happened to me. So much…Ugh, more!"

"Giving this much to a minor can be dangerous," Embry said, pushing the bottle further away from Zoe's outstretched hands. "Who knows what else could be in this liquor. It certainly won't be good for you."

"I don't care," Zoe groaned, head thumping loudly against the table, glass still vertical in her hand. "I need this. My mom only lets me take shots of Tequila on my birthday and that doesn't even give me a buzz."

"You've had enough for one night," Embry said, squinting her eyes at the label. "I've had this bottle for a while but I can't seem to remember what was put into it."

"You are such a killjoy," Zoe looked back at her glass, finger making rounds along the edges. A thin tongue protruding stiffly from Zim's mouth barely lapped at the warming wine in his first glass. His ungloved hands had yet to touch his beverage, staying firm on the fine wood of the table with his fingers making digit shaped dents. He sniffed at it briefly only to scowl and push it aside.

"This liquid doesn't appear to be safe for consumption." Zim said.

Embry sighed, "Purchasing alcohol from a grapevine colony wasn't one of my best ideas. It was mostly populated by trolls so that should have been a warning sign."

"Oh my gosh, you're giving me a migraine!" Zoe said, face still smothered into the table.

Embry worried her lip with her teeth as she turned her attention to Yuck. "Did you enjoy your time at the dance?"

"Take a good guess."

She chuckled softly, lightly patting Yuck's hand. "Not one for social events. It's fine, I'm quite the introvert myself."

"He's pissed 'cause he didn't get to lay Yin," Zoe said, looking over her shoulder only to spit into a nearby plant. "I guess some people have more luck, right?"

Yuck glared only to get a casual shrug and belch from Zoe.

"What happened?" Embry said.

"Some freaky fruit perfume got out and made everyone horny," Yuck explained quickly. "I dunno, none of it got on me."

"People were makin' babies…" Zoe added, puckering her lips up at the ceiling.

"My, that sounds dangerous," Embry said. "You especially don't seem all that fond of it, Yuck."

"No, I just don't care," Yuck looked away, still feeling Embry's eyes on him.

"Yuck," she said, the creek of the chair growing as she leaned in. "Are you wearing lip gloss?"

"What?"

"Your lips look pink…" He felt Embry's finger touch his bottom lip, making him flinch away involuntarily. She studied the smear of glossy coating along her extended finger. "I swear this is the type Yin wears, 'Strawberry Burst' I believe it's called."

"Oh, you and Yin made it to first base?" Zoe said, craning her neck away from the ceiling. "Or is kissing only second base? I don't remember the terms."

Embry clapped her hands together, grin growing wide across her face. "A kiss? How romantic!"

"It wasn't like that-"

"Did you feel her up?" Zoe said. "I swear I saw a little lump along her chest the other day, she's small but perky."

"No-"

"No wait, she does wear a sweater over her shirt. Maybe it was crafty layering."

"Can it, Aves!" Yuck slammed his fist into the table, a crack forming into the worn wood.

Zim squinted as he leaned into the table. "I could sense you had affection for the pink one. Tell me, does your species regenerate the same way humans do?"

"Why do you care?"

"There's no need to be so defensive, Yuck," Embry said. "I can't say I've had any romantic interests over my life, but I understand how a boy your age can develop interest in a young lady. Especially someone like Yin."

"Yeah, she seems like your type," Zoe added. "Smart, cute, bathes-she could give you a few pointers."

"I am ten seconds away from throwing this whole table at your drunken ass."

Zoe laughed, an ugly chortle that ended with a heavy gag into her palm. Clearing her throat, Zoe replied, "The only drunk one here is Yin. She'd have to be to wanna kiss your infected ass!"

"Zoe, that is taking it too far," Embry said, her expression unusually cold. "I suggest you leave if you're going to make more brash statements like that."

Zoe laughed again at this. "You're serious? You've really grown soft if you're gonna defend our tar-"

"Miss Aves, that's enough. Now, I want you to lie down for a bit. You're sure to have a hangover at this rate and I know the perfect remedy," Embry said, her face softening as she turned to Zim. "Do you think you can bring Zoe upstairs? The second room on the right."

Zim curled his lip, passing a disgruntled look over to Zoe who was sporting a bizarrely colored line of drool down her chin. She laughed again, stretching her arms out only to sway them around in the air.

"She possess two legs for a reason," Zim replied. "If not, I'm certain she can crawl her way there."

Embry shook her head as she grabbed the bottle, pouring her first glass to the brim. "Are you sure you don't want a little? It might help you loosen up after a stressful night."

Yuck licked the remains of gloss off his bottom lip, a part of him wanting the taste gone though another willed for the feel of Yin's mouth to permanently linger inside of him. He couldn't help the shiver that overtook him as the artificial sweetness ran along his tongue. Yuck grabbed a turned over glass on the table, tipping it close to Embry's face. "Fill 'er up."

"If I were able, of course I would already have him," Zim said, eyes narrowed and focused on the mess of wires still slightly disorganized from the previous night. "We've both made that clear, Gir."

"Aww," Gir groaned. "I already miss him."

"You should be in Sleep Mode at this hour," Zim said, avoiding the somber gaze the SIR was giving him over his shoulder. "Enough rest and you'll forget he's even gone."

"But I don't wanna sleep," Gir said. "It gets dark and scary."

"A lot of things are at the moment, Gir. Now, if you don't mind…" Zim tugged at the cord with the pliers, triggering a sharp jolt from the robot before he ultimately collapsed with a soft hum. Zim shut Gir's head closed and slipped the pliers back into his PAK. He had gotten the hang of only using one hand to deal with Irken mechanics. His species was ambidextrous after all and a bit of creativity was enough for him to commence any work he was behind on. Not that it mattered at this point.

Zim departed into the bathroom and couldn't help the shiver that overtook him as he saw the faint glow that surfaced beneath his clothing. He held his breath as he unzipped the clingy, velvet fabric deemed traditional for his kind during formal occasions. Next came the pants and boots, both black and still coated with snow.

The tattoos had already made their rounds beyond his arm and down his chest. It treaded down his stomach and crisscrossed along his crotch until it ran in elaborate circles down his legs and toes. He bent down and ran his finger along his center toe, bits of gold dust clinging to his finger as he pulled away. He grit his teeth, flicking his hand and making the dust spiral into the air until disappearing.

"Mother of Irk…"

"Talking to yourself in the bathroom again, Zim?"

Zim gasped, staggering back as he attempted to grab the pile of clothes off the floor. "You presence is not required, Dib-worm. Depart immediately!"

"I'm not even inside the bathroom, genius."

"Shouldn't you be downstairs?"

"Opening presents doesn't take long when you only get one," Dib said, followed by the muffled sound of an object hitting the floor. "I know you're looking at that tattoo, Zim. No need for you to hide it from me."

"Zim looks at nothing! Be gone!"

"You do realize you can't handle this on your own, right? This is something you brought on yourself and it'll only get worse the more you neglect the privilege of my help."

"You speak rather haughtily of yourself, Dib-worm. I am capable of handling this singlehandedly. The same way I will conquer your puny existence through…" A sudden tightness clung to his throat, like sap building up in his chest and trying to slip through his teeth.

"Through what? You may as well finish your threat."

Zim clung onto the sink for support, heat surfacing beneath his skin and searing his bones. He could hear running water and something sharp and jagged being molded beneath his skin. The pain ran along his back, forcing him to arch and suppress the screams building in the pit of his stomach.

Dib seemed to take the silence as a warning and began to knock on the door. "Zim, you being quiet isn't normal. What's going on?"

Zim drove his nails into the counter, his back continuing to curve and break beneath the weight of his PAK. He could hear the sound of a crack, long and drawn out as though the PAK was merely weak, rusted metal. From the thin opening was a beam of light, bright enough to consume the corner of the wall behind him. His life source, possibly in danger. "No, no…"

"Open up, Zim," Dib shouted, the door beginning to shake with violent knocks. "I can easily use the stylus to pry this thing open"

"I wouldn't encourage it, Dib-worm." Zim snarled, his voice low and grating. Dib sighed and rustled with a few objects far off, pacing around briefly before returning. Soon a light traced along a small section of the door, forming the shape of an indigo key. There was a dreadful sound of the door unlocking and sliding open.

Dib's expression went blank as he stepped inside, slipping his stylus inside his pocket. "Wow, it's gotten even bigger."

Zim held the fabric to his chest as he stepped away. "I advise you leave, Dib."

His voice was still hoarse, practically a growl at this point. Dib didn't take the warning, the imbecile, and stood between Zim and the doorway. Zim gripped the clothing tighter, eyes going sharp as he was cornered between the shower and the human boy building the most immense hatred deep in Zim's gut.

"This is awkward for both of us, Zim. Get yourself dressed and we can talk."

"Zim has nothing to share with you."

"It seems like those markings have plenty to say."

"Silence," Zim said, a hiss passing past his tongue.

Dib folded his arms, an amused half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Looks like you'll need my help, space boy. If we want to figure out what's going on with this marking, we might have to see what's happening beneath your skin…" Dib chuckled as he turned away. "Oh, won't that be fun?"

Zim gripped Dib from his shoulders, making the still grinning boy face him directly. "This is not a mere cry for help, Dib-monkey. What makes you think I'll take up your offer so easily?"

"Because you have no choice," Dib said. "Either this tattoo keeps morphing you into some sort of monster, or we use my brain power and…whatever it is you have to figure it out."

Zim curled his lip in disgust, embarrassment from his own helplessness certainly putting his years of training to shame. Once again, he was dependent, someone weak and in need and only capable of achieving his goals through human assistance. Such mockery. He would never speak of this to the Tallest-whenever they decided to answer his numerous calls, that is. His life could have easily been in danger here. His PAK was vulnerable at this point and whatever havoc the marking was doing to his bones wedged indistinguishable fear into the crevices of his brain. Back straightening into a respectable pose, the sound of his PAK's shell bending from pressure sending a shiver down his spine, Zim stared directly into his enemy's arrogant visage.

He spoke quietly, unable to help the anger forming a burning pain along his own mouth and tongue as he forced himself to say the words, "I will allow you to help me, stink beast, but only for my personal benefit."

"Then I guess we're on the same page."

"It went something like this," Frida quickly ran her pick down her guitar's strings, the sound a lot more abrupt and awkward than she had intended. "No, no, that's not right."

"I don't know why you're using a guitar," Manny said. "That song was definitely a trumpet. Like, lots of trumpets."

"Well, I heard a harp," Frida said. "And I guess a guitar is like the harp's cooler cousin. So, I'm using this baby to remake that song."

"Trumpet," Manny retorted. "You need trumpets."

"It was a sad song," Frida said. "Why would a trumpet be in it?"

She rolled her eyes and placed her guitar back on the bed, her own instrument seeming to grow defeated at her multiple attempts. The memory wasn't the clearest, but certainly there. Frida knew a song when she heard it, and the noise that had traveled from the Royal last night was a harp's tune, no matter how bizarre the circumstances. Strangely enough, she couldn't remember much else. Her collarbone was feeling strangely sensitive at the moment and she couldn't get the taste of apples out of her mouth for some reason. Or maybe it was apricots. No, definitely apples, with a pinch of ginger.

"Isn't it weird that the Royal can suddenly create noise?" Manny said.

"Isn't it weird that this school hasn't dealt with a lawsuit yet?" Frida followed Manny's stare out the dorm window, the looming presence of the statue still standing erect and open-handed.

Zoe was gone, aside from her body odor, which gave Frida a makeshift studio for her most recent project. So far it was a few hours worth of tuneless strumming, humming, and quitting midway to watch television. She didn't even have a name yet though "Sad Song I Heard from a Forgotten Drug Trip during Christmas Eve" was a likely contender.

"This school is pretty wealthy," Manny said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "They probably have to buy themselves out of legal trouble all the time."

"Ugh, rich people," Frida grabbed her guitar again and set it back into her lap, plucking mindlessly at the strings with her fingers. "I don't know it isn't coming to me yet."

"What, is the dorm I share with Zoe Aves not enough inspiration for you?"

Frida softly punched Manny's arm and returned to her strumming. "Our elective classes will be back in spring, I can probably use the instruments there. Maybe I can pull a band together here if I find someone for bass."

"I don't know why you're so worried about it," Manny said. "It's just a song."

"Yeah, but a song made from that freaky statue. A statue of that goddess thing New Eden loves so much."

"Alright, alright," Manny said, hands in front of him defensively. "My only problem is that I think we're biting off more than we can chew. We haven't figured out half of our problems and we're already deciding to jump into a new one so easily."

"So what you're saying is…?"

"I'm saying that we try to figure out everything before trying to decode this song. There are seven of us total and like…" Manny took a minute to count on his fingers. "Five things we don't understand yet."

"Really?"

"Well it's about that number. You know I'm not good at math."

"Alright, so where should we start?"

"I say we try to figure out what these Soul things are," Manny said. "Like what the Headmaster said we had in that one message."

"It was probably metaphoric," Frida said. "Like what Yin said."

Manny shook his head. "Nope, it was capitalized. Who capitalizes a common noun?"

"The Headmaster apparently," Frida said, shrugging. "Don't you think you're over thinking this?"

"Deciding to look deeper into the messages and Visions is the only way we've learned anything, Frida. There's double meanings everywhere and I think we need to squeeze the answers out of her ourselves."

Frida chuckled, "Okay Manny, what kind of genius plan do you have for us?"

"That maybe you and I should give the Headmaster a private visit."