Lovely cover artwork created and owned by Couchy. After inadvertently learning the truth about Zim's mission, a now fifteen-year-old Dib comes to a moral crossroads. Now, he must make an imperative decision to help Zim after an attempt on his life leaves the Irken in dire need of medical attention.

Irken smeet Zim has been bullied and called defective all his life. After one particularly nasty beating, Zim loses everything when he's betrayed by a friend and launched into space. Alone with no way home, Zim loses all hope of ever breathing fresh air again until he crashes on Earth. Hope's restored until it starts to rain.