Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim
Author's Notes: The moment of truth is finally here! Will Zim survive to see the glorious future He and Dib visited? Find out now! Thanks for reading and please review!
(Back with Zim; 145 Years ago,)
[Location: Irk]
He should have never answered Tallest Myuki's question, how could he have been so stupid?
Zim screamed as another boot connected with his side, after class had ended several of his fellow cadets had swarmed around him. He was grabbed and practically thrown into Death Alley, where he received no mercy.
"How dare you!" An Irken hissed. "A lowly worm like you does not deserve Tallest Myuki's praise."
"What makes you so special?" a female growled as she kicks him in the head.
Zim tries to get up, tries to fight back, but someone sits on his chest and wraps their hands around his neck. His attacker squeezes hard while others continue to kick him, with every blow more air escapes him. The hands around his neck keep getting tighter, and he loses the will to keep fighting, his world is going black, and he knows this is it.
He knows he's going to die...
Someone yelps and the grip around his neck gives way. Zim gasped for breath as air enters him. His vision is still dark, but he can hear just fine.
"Scatter, this ones with us." A familiar voice growls threatening.
"Yeah, so you better run if you know what's good for you!" His companion shouts.
Zim's vision returns slowly, he can make out shapes running away than he looks up to see his saviors.
"Sorry Zim, took us longer to fight through the rift raft." Red said as he held out a hand to him. "You can stand right?"
"We can escort you to medical if you'd like." Purple suggested.
Zim knows he should push the hand away, these two could only want something out of him. After all, Tallers were not known to save Smallers out of kindness. Still, he would be dead, if not for them, and it was very likely his attackers would try again. "Thanks." He said, finally making up his mind and taking Red's hand. "But I think I will manage."
"Good to hear, you should probably stick to us for now." Red suggested. "Those ingrates aren't likely to give up so easily."
Zim nodded and allowed the two to lead him to their next class.
And that was it; that was the day that everything changed for Zim for the very first time. It wasn't even something that came slowly. The three adapted a new routine almost instantly, in their next class their instructor Sargent Talik asked for someone to explain the exploits of Invader Spleen and how his efforts have furthered the success of the empire.
Purple raised his hand and exclaimed. "Zim knows!"
Thank Irk, Zim actually knew the answer because he was asked to stand and give a full lecture in great detail. Every class was that way, Red or Purple made sure he got called on at least once and Zim took it in stride. At mealtime, Purple made sure to get him extra food, and Red had scored them the best table in the center of the dining hall. They laughed and told jokes, making sure to make Zim feel welcomed to join in.
They never discussed what happen, Zim never asked why they did it and they never verbally stated what they wanted in return. Still, Zim wasn't a fool, this kindness would not go without a price, and he soon found out what it was.
On day three, during their evening meal; Purple had given Zim his digital notebook. It was a handheld computer cadets used to compete class assignments and homework. "Zim you're so much smarter than me, could you help me finish this report?"
"Yeah, I can't seem to figure out how to word mine either." Red agreed.
"Sure." Zim said taking their notebooks, he tried his best not to roll his eyes. These two were terrible actors.
Red slide a large slice of cake towards him. "You're the best Zim, I knew we could count on you."
And they could, Zim did anything they asked, and in return the taller cadets provided him the protection he needed. Which allowed him to be in the spotlight without fear of the consequences, and little by little; Zim accepted this new norm. He didn't expect it to last but wasn't surprised to see them stick to him like glue, even after the final exams.
Tallest Myuki had recommended him as promised and he scored the highest score on the final. He was the first slot of his class to be placed in the academy. Where his class was divided into two separate groups. The Armed Forces Division and The Science Division, Zim is surprised to be placed in the first. He could go higher as a soldier but thought his size would land him in the second group.
"Wow Zim I was sure you'd be in the second group." Red voiced honestly.
"Me too." Zim admitted.
"You must be more superior then we thought." Purple teased.
Zim, knowing the routine by now laughs. "Of course, I am, exceptional individuals such as us are meant for greater thing." Yes, this was the new norm, Zim was one of them now. They were the unstoppable trio, and nothing stood in their way!
(Present Day...)
Zim stiffened as the door beside him opened once more and Kazar steps out. He looks in better shape than Muka but not by much. Zim sighs, he still wasn't sure if there was really a difference in his loyalty to Irk and his Tallest. Even though they seemed to grow a friendship Zim knew it had been formed on lies. The Tallest saved him for their own personal gain, and Zim had stuck around for self-preservation. So, there was no difference between the two, his loyalties to both boiled down to his fear of being found out.
Of being put to death.
"Well, this is it, Zim." Purple said as two more soldiers appeared to escort Kazar away.
"Everything we worked for boils down to this." Red agreed.
Everything they worked for; yes, this had been the Tallest's plan all along. They wanted Zim by their side. Even now that he had left their shadow, they wanted to give him this. To repay him for all his hard work getting them where they are now. They didn't have to; in fact, it was unlikely for Smallers to be repaid at all. Which meant the friendship was real for them, even if it had started on dishonest intentions.
"They will hurt you, but you will hurt them more."
Zim remembered the words of his future-self, he was the bad guy here. He was the one who would betray everything he knew to be true. He would stab his people in the back along with his leaders. All for what, a family that wasn't even his yet? Was it worth it?
He thought of them, Zid, Zib, and Zii, and realized something for the first time. They may be part human, but they were also Irken. Which meant they were part of Irk too; so, with that in mind was his answer still the same? No, of course not, deep down Zim knew better, he lumped all his people together. He said they were all the same, monsters with blood on their hands, but smeets and drones had yet to do any harm. They did not deserve to be held accountable for the actions of those before them.
Irk was also more than its people, it also embodied its ideals. Zim didn't agree with the current ones, but perhaps he didn't need too.
"Be your truest self..." Luna's words solidified him. He may feel weary of the opinions of his future-self but deep down he knew he agreed more with the ways of Tallest Zorn than the Irk of today.
Deep down he only called him weak because he knew General Kazar wanted him to be like him. His hatred for Kazar had shaped his feelings towards the very Irken he was cloned after. "I'm ready." Zim tells his Tallest.
"We know you are." Red says, he's beaming with pride.
"Now go make us proud." Purple orders.
Zim walks past them; through the open doors, he can feel the tears in his eyes. They had no idea what he was doing. In fact, he had just realized it himself, the Tallest had stopped using him a long time ago. Zim however, he never stopped using them, he was the one mooching off of them. Depending on their status to keep him in a good light, no one would expect him as a defective. No, the Tallest would never associate themselves with such trash.
He had never truly been their friend at all and realizing this made him feel like the cruelest monster that ever existed. Nothing about Invader Zim was real at all, he was a fake and a liar. Well, no more, it was time that Irk saw the real Zim, whether they liked it or not.
The door closes behind him and he had just enough time to notice Lineage hovering before him, than the world goes black.
"Invader Zim…"
Lineage's voice echoes in the darkness but Zim sees nothing but the void.
"It's been a long time, Zim." Lineage says as she materializes before him from out of the darkness.
Zim understands what's going on completely, it's just like the dream state during his trials with Veraicon.
"Yes Zim, this is a trial, one that could either make your life or destroy it." Lineage agrees hearing his thoughts clearly.
Fear threatens to take hold, but Zim forces it down. He's done being afraid, he was done pretending for the sake of living. No this wasn't living; this wasn't even surviving…this was marking time. Well, he was done staying still, it was time to take a step forward into the future.
"Your programing is missing…." It isn't a question; Lineage is making an observation.
"Yes." Zim agrees. "It was removed by one of the AIs during my time on Earth."
"You've been on Irk for over a day." Lineage says the obvious. "You didn't think it was important to mention this before."
"No" Zim answers simply.
"Why not?" Lineage asked.
Zim takes a deep breath, which is silly because he's asleep; he's not actually in need to catch his breath. But he still feels scared, even though he already decided to go through with this. "Because it's not like I was really using it anyway."
Silence...It stretches on for a while.
"You were not using it?" Lineage doesn't seem to understand the answer.
"Well, I did when I needed to..." Oh Irk, why was this so hard? Why was Lineage asking him about this? Why wasn't she summoning the other brains for back up? "What does it matter?" He asked. "Aren't you going to...you know...reprogram me?"
"Do you want me to?" Lineage asked.
Did he what? "I wasn't aware there was an option." Zim blurted out sarcastically. Which was probably stupid, egging on a computer brain wasn't smart. But Luna told him to be his truest-self, and this was it.
"Answer the question." Lineage demanded. "Do you want me to?"
"No." Zim answered truthfully. This was it; she was going to kill him now for sure.
"Why?" Lineage asked.
Why? Was she seriously asking why he didn't want to be programed?!
"Because, it makes me feel hollow and wrong." Zim tried to explain.
"Wrong?" Lineage sounds confused again. Why wasn't she summoning Judgment and Veraicon?
"I don't believe in the Irken programing." Zim decided just to get on with it already. If he was going to die anyway, at least he would finally have it off his chest. "I have met and lived among hundreds of other species and none of them are inferior to us. The programming says they are, but all we do is act better than everyone else. The programing says Defectives are destructive. That if left alone they'll cause their own destruction, but all we do is destroy everything we touch. We're the ones who are blindly racing towards our own demise. How much longer can we survive this way?" He hadn't meant to start rambling, but once he started, he couldn't stop. "There are not many worlds left to conquer. What will we do when we conquer them all? Will our lust for power finally be satisfied? How long do you think we can survive surrounded by nothing but dying worlds? Don't you see that the only defective ones it us?!"
"Do you really feel that way?" Lineage asked.
"I do." Zim answered honestly.
"So, you think the way we run things is broken." Lineage sounds thoughtful, as if she is actually considering it.
"Yes." Zim stiffens as he awaits the end.
"You are not the only one who thinks this." Lineage's words surprised him.
"What?"
"Your Mentor, General Kazar also voiced similar concerns. Even Commander Muka told me that he fears the Tallest may have rigged the results in your favor." Lineage revealed. "They both had strong reasons to support their claims, as do you."
"So, you're not reprograming me?" Zim asked. "Why?"
"I cannot." Lineage answered. "My programing was removed shortly after I was first brought online."
Zim is stunned, Lineage had no programing! "You mean all this time...you let me live because..."
"I let you live because I saw nothing wrong with you." Lineage says simply, as if it was obvious. "There is nothing wrong with you Invader Zim."
Nothing...Wrong...of course he knew that, of course deep down he knew. He was defective like the rest of the universe. Of course, there was nothing wrong with him, but to hear another Irken being tell him this. It was almost too much.
"I am not here to judge your right to live." Lineage states the obvious.
"But I am." A new voice booms.
Zim goes pale as the Computer Brain; Judgement appears followed by Veraicon.
So, Lineage, had summoned them here after all or so he thought.
"You cannot interfere." Lineage argues. "You may judge him when I am done."
"Not a moment sooner." Veraicon seemed to agree.
"Or a second later." Judgment boomed! "Now ask your final question."
Zim was shaking now, if he could see all three control brains; then all three of them were connected to him. Judgement could kill him with a single thought, they all could.
"Zim as I said before." Lineage continued. "All the candidates voiced concerns about the direction Irk is headed in. I will ask you the same question I asked them." She pauses, then continues. "You say Irk needs a change, how do you plan to change it for the better?"
Zim is so frightened out of his mind; he is not sure how to answer. How would he make Irk better? His answer would not only decide the fate of Irk, but his own fate as well. If Judgment did not like his answer, then it would end here; Zim would die.
No, He had to focus, he thought of the future he saw, of a world where refugees of the Irken scourge could live in peace. How did that help Irk?
"This is pointless." Judgement booms. "The defective cannot help Irk; he can't even help himself."
"A true leader is not quick to answer." Veraicon challenges Judgement.
Zim is surprised to see the brain defending him. Veraicon's very purpose was to reveal ones true self and eliminate all defectives. So why defend him now? The answer was simple, Veraicon had never seen Zim's true self. He had always hid behind his programing, this was the first time she had seen the real Zim. Curiosity? He wasn't aware that brains could be curious?
"I believe Irk needs to stop." Zim finally spoke up. "The ones we have wronged are no longer scattered remnants. They have come together, and they scream for our demise, and truthfully, they have a right to. If we continue down our current path, we will doom the universe. Either we stop ourselves or they will make us, even if it means wiping us out of existence."
"Irkens do not surrender." Judgment stated the obvious.
"Then we will all die." Zim argued. "How many resources will there be left 50 years from now? 95% of Invaders purge every world they conquer. All others are picked dry of all their natural resources at an alarming rate. We are already hurting because of this, my mission on Earth is to steal their resources, because we do not have enough to fuel the current war effort!"
"And you suggest what? That we stop invading worlds and do what exactly?" Judgment had taken over the trial completely now.
Zim thought about it and remembered all those newly formed worlds surrounding the Future Earth. "We can repair the damage we have caused, make new worlds."
"New worlds?"
"We have the technology." Zim reasoned. "If we stop our destructive path now and begin repairing the damage, we can solve all our problems. Of course, we would have to put a halt to conquering more worlds."
"You want us to stop invading?" Lineage cut back in.
"Of course, don't you see? Our scourge on other worlds is why we are in this mess. We have betrayed all our allies. We have picked hundreds of planets dry, continuing down this path leads to nothing but destruction."
"And I suppose next you'll suggest we stop inhabiting the worlds we have already conquered." Judgement practically spat the words. "You want to turn us into weaklings."
"Correcting the wrong we have cause does not make us weaklings." Zim yelled. "And if we do, the rebels will no longer feel the need to erase us from existence. And once the worlds are repaired back to their former glory there will be plenty of resources. We can open up off world trade again, form new alliances, and together we can heal what has been broken."
"Do you think the Tallest would agree with your views?" Judgement challenged.
"No." Zim answered simply. "But just because they disagree does not mean they are right!" He knows what Judgment is trying to do, he is trying to create doubt in his mind. Zim, however, is done doubting. He is done pretending to believe in a system that promotes only death and destruction. More importantly, he is done hiding behind a program that has done nothing but use him as a tool for devastation.
"A Taller with separate views from their Tallest could destroy Irk from within." Veraicon's voice echoed ominously. "It could lead to a civil War."
"I understand your fear." Zim told her. "Change is unpredictable, and it is bound to lead to a period of uncertainty. However, it doesn't negate my point. Just because the Tallest disagree in these views does not mean they are wrong. And just because change may lead to uncertain times does not mean we should avoid it."
"You speak truth." Lineage agreed. "Irk is struggling and winning this war may give us the new resources we need. However, you are right, we will eat through said resources just as quickly as we always have. The truth is we are running towards our own doom."
"But we cannot support a Taller who will lead us blindly into uncertainty." Judgment pointed this out like it was obvious.
"But every Taller does that." Zim said.
"Excuse me?" Judgement scowls.
"A new Taller in itself is an unknown variable." Zim reasoned. "Even if you evaluated them and deemed them worthy. You can't possibly know what they will do once they are in power. You can only guess, but no matter who is in power the same facts will remain. Killing me will not save Irk and continuing down the same path we are currently on won't either."
"He speaks truth." Lineage points out once more.
"Truth yes." Judgment agreed. "But his plans to fix the problem are too weak. If we give back the worlds we have conquered, the enemy will see us as feeble. If the Tallest do not agree with his vision as Taller, Zim will have the right to challenge them. If there is a divide in Irk's leadership than its people will divided as well. We will start fighting among ourselves, which will make us even weaker to an enemy attack."
Zim couldn't say he disagreed with Judgment. From what he saw in the future, it was safe to say that all his fears would come to light. Still, there was one point he hadn't argued. "Who says they will attack. If we are helping them fix their homes and rebuilding their lives, why would they want to?"
"Revenge." Veraicon answers.
"You fear our new allies will stab us in the back, because that is what we would do to them." Zim argues. "You assume the worse of them when in all reality the enemy has had the power to destroy us for some time and they have yet to do it. Sure, they claimed they were missing a piece of their weapon. However, it is their weapon, they could have easily made a new piece by now and finished us off."
"But they do not." Veraicon sees what he is getting at. "Do you think they are too weak to attack?"
"I think, they do not wish to eliminate an entire race." Zim voices. "Even one as destructive as ours. They want a less messy solution... Why else would they hesitate? They're holding out, hoping we will come to our senses for everyone's sake." Zim steps forward. "And doing so, does not make them weak, it makes them merciful, and understanding. It makes them tolerant and empathetic; attributes that we would be wise to adopt as our own. If Irk is going to survive than we must accept the fact that maybe we are the ones that are inferior, corrupted and broken."
Silence…it's almost deafening, and then The Brains spoke as one. "We have our ruling!"
Veraicon glides forward "Irken Zim your I.D PAK's deprograming has led you to a corrupt data path. You are...A DEFECTIVE."
Zim stands his ground as Judgement floats towards him. If this was the moment that he would die, then he would not beg for his life. Even in his dying moments he was going to prove his point.
"You are too weak to lead the collective!" Judgment lunged, wrapping his tentacles around Zim, ready to make the kill, but nothing happens.
"What…how…" Judgment seems to struggle. "Something's wrong..."
Zim stood tall; his eyes narrow with determination. "Looks like the only weak one here is you."
The image of Judgement convulses, twitching as it disappears and reappears within the void; over and over again.
Veraicon lunges next but the moment her tentacles touch him she recoils as if she has been zapped by some unseen force. "How are you doing this?"
Zim smiles. "Looks like your precious programing isn't as superior as you thought." He looks back to Judgment. "Still think we defects are the inferior ones here?"
Judgment's form continues to waver. "We?" He asked.
Lineage floats to Zim's side. "We." She confirms.
The other two brain seemed to look at Lineage as if for the first time, they lunge for her, but it is too late.
Zim gasped as he awakens from his dream state, he is lying crumpled on the ground. He looks up. The brains are no longer connected to him, instead Lineage has her tentacles wrapped around the other two. Sparks fly around them, and Zim knows what is happening, because it's exactly what happened to him.
Lineage was deprograming them!
"Why?" He gasped, almost too weak to form the words.
"I have been waiting centuries for my chance to correct my siblings." She speaks openly. "Not that it matters to you now. I am afraid you will remember none of this."
Zim knew she was right, now that he was disconnected from them, he would soon forget everything that took place during the Choosing, and he wouldn't remember unless he was chosen.
"I cannot guarantee the outcome." Lineage explains. "Deprograming them does not mean you will be chosen."
Zim smiles as he feels himself fade further into unconsciousness. "I already know…" He tried to tell her, but than his world turns to black.
(Back with Zim, several hours later)
[Location: The Palace's Medical Ward]
Consciousness...
It came in and out at first, but gradually the world around him came into focus.
"Sirs he's coming to." A voice says.
Zim's eyes move towards it just in time to see Red and Purple push a medical drone out of the way.
"Zim, can you hear us?" Purple asked.
"What...happened?" Zim's voice came out as a groan.
"You passed out during the choosing." Red informed him.
"The Choosing!" Zim shoots up right. "I'm going to miss it!"
"Calm down Zim." Red assures him, not at all surprised by his disoriented behavior. "You were already evaluated by the brains."
"I was?" Zim asked.
Purple nodded. "It was taking longer than usual so I went in to check in on you." He explained. "That's when I found you on the floor. Luckily Lineage assured me that you completed the trial moments before you collapsed."
Zim tries to remember any of this but shakes his head as it comes up blank.
"It's okay Zim, the disoriented feeling your having will pass. All that matters is that you're still in the running for the position." Red assured him.
"All we can do now is wait." Purple agreed.
Zim nodded deciding now was the perfect time to get moving. He swings his legs out of the bed and tries to stand.
"Whoa now, slow down soldier." Red advised.
"If it's all the same Sir I'd rather be productive than waste more time lying in bed." Zim reasoned.
Red looks unsure but Purple looks to the medical drone they had pushed earlier. "Well?"
"His vitals are stable." The drone answers. "And no evident damage can be detected so if he's up for it-"
"I am." Zim says getting to his feet. "I have a mission to get back to."
"Ahhh, so soon?" Purple complained.
"Afraid so." Zim said, he could feel the urge to leave engulfing him. He had to get out of here, find Dib and leave while they still could. He could only hope the human's little side mission did not go south. "Unless my ship is still in repair."
"Afraid not." Red revealed, sounding disappointed. "It was a wreck, but we were able to return it to its former glory."
"I hope Dek didn't cause you any trouble." Zim tried to sound unphased either way, but he was secretly holding his breath.
"Dek?" Red asked. "He oversaw the ship repairs all morning, he only just returned...What? A couple of hours ago?" He looks to Purple for clarification, his fellow Tallest nods his agreement.
"Excellent." Zim breathes a silence sigh of relief. "Then we really must be going, we have six months of travel ahead of us after all."
"Maybe not." Red said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" Zim asked.
"Well, The Science Division has been working on a new project." Purple explains. "It's called a Drop Gate."
"Just think of it as a self-powered wormhole that can take you wherever you want in the universe in a matter of seconds." Red cut in. "All you need is a set of coordinates, and the gate will open up to the desired location."
Zim is floored if this gate works it could change the way Irk conquered worlds. Now they can travel thousands of lightyears in a matter of seconds. "Does it work?" He dared to ask.
His Tallest smiled. "Only one way to find out..."
(Back with Dib...)
He had left the parking garage hours ago and arrived back at the Tallest's palace moments after Zim was found past out, crumpled on the floor before the computer brains.
No one would tell him what happened, but he had picked up a bit from other Irkens whispering to each other as they walked by. Something about the Choosing being more taxing for him physically than the others. And that was it, Dib spent the next few hours since his arrival pacing the dorm awaiting further news. The other male Irken drones were still working around the palace, allowing Dib to let his guard down and worry openly. How long should he wait for Zim to recover? If Zim wasn't ready to leave by tomorrow; should he and Trawl risk escaping Irk without him?
Dib wasn't sure, Zim may be fine if given the time, but Trawl could only last so long in the vents before he risked being discovered.
Suddenly the door opens, and he holds his breath...
Zim steps into the room, and he almost runs to him, to throw his arms around him, but the Tallest are right behind him.
"My Tallest!" Dib switches gears and bows respectfully.
"Dek good, I was hoping to find you here." Zim says as he straightens. "I trust you completed the taskers I gave you this morning."
"Yes Master." Dib answers.
"Good, we're leaving, now!" Zim ordered and turned to leave.
Dib has to practically run after him and the Tallest as they walk through the halls, up the several flights of stairs and out the palace doors. This was it, the final stretch, Dib couldn't help but tense as a cab pulled up. For a moment, he fears the Tallest will be joining them but instead Zim gestures to him. "Get in, tell the driver we're going to our ship."
"Yes Sir." Dib answers and slides into the Cab.
"Sure, you don't want to stay?" Purple asked. "If this Drop Gate works, you'll be months ahead of schedule." He reasoned.
"And endure a lecture from General Kazar about how I humiliated him?" Zim laughs. "I can hear him now 'What kind of self-respecting Irken passes out during a trail?!'"
"Like he has room to talk." Red sneered. "I'm surprised the old crow himself managed to stay up right on his way out."
They all laughed, but it was shortly lived, this always happened right before he left home. His leaders always tried to convince him to stay longer, complaining that they never got to see each other anymore. Usually, Zim would give in, but staying longer with an escaped prisoner stowing away on your vessel was just asking for trouble. Besides, he already knew what the future held for him, and they were not in it. At least not the way they used to be; no, it was time to rip off the Band-Aid as the humans would say.
"I will report in once I have returned to Earth." Zim salutes them.
"You better." Red warned, his tone however was playful.
"And take it easy!" Purple began as Zim slid into the awaiting cab. "I mean it Zim, you're still recovering. -"
Zim chuckles as Red motions for the driver to take off, and he does allowing Zim to escape another one of Purple's long winded health lectures.
Dib smiles, despite his jealously towards them, it feels good to hear Zim laugh; especially after fearing the worst.
They reach the Parking Garage in record timing, even though the streets are flooded with what Dib can only guess are Irken police cars. He tries not to panic, but when they get out of the cab, he sees that security around the parking area has increased. He knows he shouldn't be surprised, surely Trawl's absence would have been noticed hours ago. And the first idea an escaped prisoner is going to have is to try and get off world. Dib counts over a hundred soldiers before he gives up.
Zim, however, walks as if he doesn't see them, weaving through them effortlessly. No one stops them until they reach the check point.
"State your business." The S.I.R Unit orders.
"I have clearance to return to my mission off world." Zim says confidently.
The S.I.R Unit scans them. "Invader Zim and his personal drone." He identifies them. "Your ship has been inspected and is cleared to leave."
"Inspected?" Zim looks annoyed. "And why was a second inspection needed?"
"There was a prison break this morning." The S.I.R Unit reports. "One prisoner is still unaccounted for."
Zim nods and proceeds through the check point.
Dib follows, it takes all his will power not to look back, or to run for the ship. He is grateful to see that the female soldier is nowhere in sight and that the H-drive future Zim had created was right where he left it on the Ship's bridge. He wants to check on Trawl right now, but takes his seat and straps in. They had to pretend everything was fine, until Irk was far enough behind them
"Invader Zim you are cleared for takeoff, proceed to the Drop Gate." A voice speaks over the comms.
"Drop Gate?" Dib asked as they lifted off flying through a tunnel that teleports them just outside Irk's atmosphere where a large metal ring awaits them. "That's new." Dib pointed out the obvious.
"That's the Drop Gate." Zim explains. "It generates a worm hole, creating, a clear path from here to any desired location. Bending the fabrics of the universe together, we can now cover light years of travel time in seconds."
They watch as the gate comes to life generating said wormhole before their eyes.
"Wow." Is all Dib can manage to say.
"This will change everything." Trawl says appearing behind Dib, making the human jump, despite himself. "Imagine it, no world will ever be out of their reach."
It was a scary thought, and as inconvenient as it would be Zim secretly hopes it doesn't work.
The three hold their breath as Zim guides the ship into the wormhole, and...
Dib's stomach lurches into his throat as they exit through the other end of the wormhole: Earth stands before them in all her glory. Silence engulfs them, and he is not sure what to say, luckily Zim does.
"Doom, just got a little closer to home."
Yes, yes it did!
-To Be Continued