Dib watched as Gaz was carried off in the arms of his nemesis, in the arms of her… alien lover. That thought made Dib sick to his stomach- a part of him wanted to believe what his sister said to him earlier was a lie. Some cruel joke meant to get under his skin. He knew now that it was true, maybe he always knew.
All the times she would stalk his locker, the days she would come home late at night smelling of sweat and metal, the glances he would catch them making towards one another, "talking about her personal life"? When she said she was still "in". It was all starting to make sense. He wondered how long they had been seeing each other.
And as Dib stood dumbfounded in the doorway he knew it was the result of his negligence that pushed her away. He should have been there more, Gaz was right, he spent so much time with Dad, he didn't stop to think of her.
He rushed to the window, calling out Zim's name, but it was too late. Zim had disappeared with his sister into the darkness down the street. Tears welled up and spilled out onto his face, his heart was hurting and confused, he knew he should have been there but why did she choose Zim of all people to be with? Dib sprinted out of her room and into his, maybe he could catch them at their base, maybe there was hope.
He slid into his chair and powered up his computer, the fans whirled and the screens flashed white as they booted up. It had been so long since he stalked his foe, "I guess I've been neglecting some upgrades…" Dib sat frustrated waiting for the cameras to load.
As they each flashed on one by one he managed to see Zim and Gaz entering the house. He watched with a fire in his eyes as the alien opened the door for his baby sister. He then softened seeing Gaz smile as Gir hugged her leg. No wonder Gaz picked them.. Dib continued to survey the base, hoping to see her walk out and come home.
He would run out to meet her, to hold her even if she would fight, to tell her he was sorry and that he knew he should have been there, but he was selfish. He would tell her how much he cares about her, how much she means to him, and that she wouldn't have to be alone. Maybe he could convince dad to let her in the lab. Maybe if he talked to dad, let him know what was happening to Gaz, he would come home. They would be a family again, he didn't want to lose Gaz. Not like mom- this time he could protect her and he was going to make sure he would.
But for now he watched, he wanted to give Gaz some time to cool down, and give himself some time to reflect and formulate his next steps.
The sun was starting to peek its way through his window and into Dib's eyes. They were bloodshot, wide open and staring at the screen, still waiting.
Suddenly on the top corner camera he saw something rise up out of the roof- was that- was that a ship? Dib took no time in springing out of his seat, out of his room, down the stairs and into the garage. A million thoughts racing through his mind.
Why is there a ship? Where are they going? Where is Gaz? Where is Gaz? Gaz- I'm so sorry. Gaz how could you do this? Where is that ship?! I knew I shouldn't have let Dad stop my upgrades on this. How did this all happen? When? Why? Maybe they're going on a joy ride? Yea… then no harm in me trailing behind.
Dib kicked his ship, one he's been working on since after the florpus, and brushed the dust off. He hopped in, relying on his muscle memory to get this thing into gear. He then burst through the door of the garage, he would fix it later. He zoomed all the way to Zim's base hoping to catch them- to stop them- to stop Gaz.
As he passed all the houses, dogs barking after him, he didn't even realize he was crying. He could only focus on getting to Gaz, ignoring the pit in his stomach that knows it's too late. He turned down a familiar corner and could see the "I love Earth" sign that marked Zim's base.
He went full throttle, fully prepared to crash into his house, but once he got to his lawn he realized not only was he too late- they were never coming back. The green house was gone, only scraps of trash left behind. This was not just some day trip to get the stress off of Gaz's mind, it was a move. And Dib had no clue where they could be heading.
After a moment of grief Dib pulled out his cellphone and tried to call his sister. Then he tried again, and again, and again. Straight to voicemail each time, "Well... Either she blocked me or there's no cell service in space." He looked up at the sky, searching and scanning for anything that could be them.
Nothing.
Suddenly he heard a familiar woop woop! And from the corner of his eye he saw the flashing red and blue lights. He looked over at them with a sad sullen stare before putting the ship back into drive and flying off back home. He would have to deal with the charges later, for now he needed to be alone, maybe it'll give him an idea of how Gaz felt.
Dib parked his ship in the bulldozed garage and headed back into the house- to his surprise the Professor was standing right there, in the middle of their living room, his back turned towards him and the garage door.
"Dad? What are you… doing here?" Dib gave an awkward chuckle.
The Professor turned towards his son with his big gloved hands resting on his hips, he stared down at his son and spoke, "Well son, I received a phone call saying some ship had crashed into my garage and was flying off. I came home to see what the hit and run was all about when I noticed my favorite lab partner was out! But here you are!" He extended his arms out wide as if he were about to give Dib a hug, he did not.
"Say- that ship wouldn't have happened to be the one in the garage I told you to stop tinkering with wasn't it?" The Professor laid a hand on his chin in thought, and although he could not see his dads' eyes, they were glaring into Dib's soul.
Dib started to sweat profusely as he straightened up and wrung his hands together before saying, "Well I did stop tinkering with it! It's just- you see-"
"Ah bup bup bup bup!" The Professor held up his gloved hand in Dib's face, "Son, you promised me you would stop chasing after these aliens!"
"But dad! You don't understand- Gaz is DATING an alien! She's- She's with him right now!"
"Well good for your sister! I'm sure she gets lonely sometimes. And Dib, what did we say? There are no aliens!"
"Dad- you've SEEN aliens! Don't you remember all those years ago? The Florpus? Worlds colliding?!"
"Mass hysteria."
"DAD!" Did slammed his hands onto his face and gave an exasperated sigh, "I took the ship because I saw- I saw on my computer Gaz and Zim, the ALIEN, board onto his ship and fly up into space! I was trying to stop him!"
The Professor looked at his son and noticed Dib's red eyes and the dark circles forming underneath, frizzled hair, and the hoarseness in his voice. He gave a soft sigh and shook his head, put a hand onto Dib's shoulder and softened his tone, "Son, I can tell you haven't slept. I'm sure all of that was some sleep deprived hallucination. I don't like seeing you like this again Dib. It's time to put all of this 'paranormal', 'alien' stuff behind you. Once and for all this time. Throw all of it out- I don't want to see anything remotely paranormal in the morning."
Dib looked in shock at his dad, throwing his hand off of him, "Dad, don't you care at all? About Gaz?"
"She'll be back, Son. Don't worry. I'm sure her and her boyfriend are off playing hooky. Your mom and I used to run off together all the time in college. This is normal. Your sister can take care of herself." The Professor patted his son's head.
"That's not true! I saw them dad! I can show you his house- it's gone! It's the same carelessness that killed mom!" Dib had let the steam blow out of his ears and balled up his fists.
The Professor's eyes went cold, they stared down at Dib with a new distance and sharpness that were not there before, "Do not ever mention her again. You are a child Dib you do not know the complexities of what led to that day. You could not imagine the sequence of events that caused the worst string of events in my life. They are nowhere close to some paranoid delusion of aliens kidnapping your sister." His own fists were clenched now.
Dib did not back down from his stance, "Well then you must be blind." The Professor was taken aback, "Even if this was some delusion this is my sister's, your daughter's life at risk. What kind of a parent won't even be of SLIGHT concern?! Especially when they've already lost someone." Dib spat.
The Professor clenched his fists even tighter and returned to his cold stare. Dib and him remained like this for another few seconds before The Professor spoke up again, "By tomorrow morning Dib. I want it out of this house." He then opened the door that led to his basement lab, and walked down the steps, slamming the door behind him.
The still air surrounding Dib was heavy and deafening. A sob sneaks out before wiping his face and storms back into the garage.
Boxes filled with rusted pipes, jagged slatts and as much spare tech that Dib could find surrounded the boy as he loaded up his ship. Trip by trip he carried his supplies to Zim's old plot of land. His father said he wanted it out of the house, not destroyed. He would just have to cut hours back in the lab. Something told him though that his dad wouldn't mind.
The last piece to move was his monitors. His homestation, and for a six month period, his bed/bathroom/office. As the Professor worked in the lab downstairs he sneaked each of the ten monitors, the thirty feet of cables and the two PC units into his ship and back to his new base.
There he had a tent to start but given the previous tenant, it was nothing out of the ordinary to the neighbors. He had cables and wiring sprawled out all along the ground, connecting into the neighbors power lines and stealing their electricity.
His goal was simple: make contact with Gaz and convince her to come home. He just had to think, where in the universe would Zim want to go? And where would Gaz tolerate Zim taking her to. He set up a bulletin board where Dib sprawled out all of his ideas, fashioned with post-it notes and red string.
"This might take longer than I thought…" Dib pondered out loud, tapping his foot. As long as he brought his sister home, he wagered, the time spent and the sleep lost would be worth it.
Meanwhile Gaz was awakening after her first night on Irk. Zim pointed out to her that Irkens don't typically sleep so it would be best for her to get through the day with minimal sleep, to avoid suspicion.
Gaz was most devastated to hear that news, this was the best she had slept in a while. It's amazing how much stress can be relieved when you're lightyears away from your problem. Although, she nodded and recognized that Zim was right. This just meant she could take more naps, she was sure Gir would like that.
On cue, Gir walked in carrying a stack of pancakes on top of his head, mini moose hovering above pouring syrup so it's golden liquid drips over the fluffy discs and down to Gir's eyes and mouth. He gladly licked it up.
Zim gritted his teeth in frustration, "Gir- you can not keep making Earth food. How many times need I remind you we are back on Irk we do not eat that here."
Gaz waved her gloved hand nonchalantly, "Oh please Tez, one morning won't hurt. Besides, how are they going to tell what we eat?" She then plucked a golden cake off of the robot's head and shoved it into her mouth.
"Ugh…" Zim rolled his eyes, "Just this once. You're lucky Tez is feeling generous. Make sure to scrub down before we venture out today. I would not want the sugar stench to give you away Gaz-Partner."
Gaz kicked up her feet onto the table and shoved another pancake into her face before speaking, mouth full and open, "Sounds good." She swallows and looks back towards her partner, "So what are we doing? Boring paperwork?"
"Boring?! This paperwork is not boring!" Zim stood up from his seat to defend his home, just like he was trained, "Well yes it is boring. But better yet Gaz- I, Tez, will be taking you to the Tallest Headquarters. There we shall both obtain a position and you will get to live out your video game dreams."
Gaz rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say."
"Yes! Exactly- just do what I say and we will be fine." Zim beamed thinking Gaz was actually committing to follow him, "Now finish the pan-cakes and get ready!"
Gaz followed Zim with her eyes as he walked out of the kitchen to prepare for the day, she looked back to Gir and grabbed another pancake, "He can wait a few minutes"
Gir laughed and bounced up and down, "I like how you roll Gaz Lady!"
They headed down to the TMV, Zim seemed distracted as his eyes bounced around the voot cruiser, "Gaz-partner," He glanced at the purple cladded Irken, "Do you think that border squad Irken was right? Should we get a new cruiser?"
Gaz simply shrugged, "If you want. I don't care either way- as long as we don't have to walk."
Zim shot up in his seat, "You're right Gaz! Tez deserves a new voot cruiser! Afterall- what if someone recognizes this as my ship?"
"Riiiiight," Gaz sank into her chair, "Like they're gonna remember your ship."
Just then, they passed an electronic billboard that flashed a picture of Zim from six years ago, as well as a candid of Zim's voot cruiser spinning out of control with Gir and Zim inside. In bold letters read, "BANNED FROM IRK. SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING"
"Oh… Nevermind I guess I underestimated how much they hate you." Gaz turned to see Zim smiling awkwardly wide.
"It's fate my Gaz, after this we shall go SHOPPING!" Zim declared it like they were about to embark on a big adventure.
Gaz sank further down and rolled her eyes, "Yay… There's nothing I love more than a car dealership."
"Really?" Zim questioned, "Well then you'll love cruiser dealerships- there's twice as much paperwork!"
Ugh… I thought I was supposed to be living my video game dreams… Not playing Office Simulator… Gaz stared out of her window, contemplating.