Chapter 8 – The Morning After
The sun came up the next morning, but the chamber where Zim and Zia were sleeping was far enough underground that the bright morning rays did not penetrate their solitude. The sun, however – would not stand for this – so one of its rays broke right through the ground and found their chamber. It couldn't break through the walls, but it gave a boost of energy to the crystals on he walls that had faded out a while ago.
The crystals brightened, simulating sunlight, and Zim stirred. He woke up with a start and sat up. He glanced around, trying to remember what had happened the night before. Then he saw Zia, sleeping beside him, and he smiled to himself. He felt himself blush again – the events of last night becoming clear. He stood up, the blankets falling off of him. He looked down at himself and hurried to find a bathrobe. But before he could reach one, he heard a sigh behind him and turned around. Zia had woken up and was propping herself up on her elbows, smiling at him.
Zim stood where he was awkwardly. "Um…good morning," he said, grinning embarrassedly.
"Morning," Zia said, "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I've slept in months," Zim said, pulling the bathrobe on, "Thanks to you." He knelt down and kissed her, "Why don't you go back to sleep? I'm just gonna go upstairs and make sure GIR hasn't ruined anything while we've been…uh…busy."
Zia grinned sleepily and pulled the blankets up closer around her. "All right then," she murmured, "Hurry back."
"Oh, I will," Zim said, and left. As he rode the elevator up to the house level, his antennae sparked with blue electricity. He glanced up at them curiously, and realized it was one of the give-aways of what he and Zia had done last night.
But he didn't have any more time to worry about it, because the elevator had brought him up to the living room. His jaw dropped when he surveyed the area – the place was an absolute wreck!! In the middle of the room, the floor opened up and APU and GIR emerged. APU looked furious, and GIR looked exhausted.
GIR perked up when he saw Zim. "Master!!!" he cried, running to Zim and hugging him around the middle, "We missed you!"
"GIR! What have you done to the base??" Zim demanded.
"It wasn't me," GIR protested, "It was him." He pointed at APU.
Before Zim could say any thing else, APU strode over to him. "Protocol requires that I know my Mistress's whereabouts at all times," he said, "This was not the case last night. Why was this?"
"Um…er…" Zim stammered, not wanting to talk about it, especially not to a robot.
GIR looked around, "Where's Zia-lady?? She's Mistress now, isn't she?"
Zim felt his cheeks go violet again, and he nodded slightly.
APU looked Zim up and down, noting the lack of uniform and the sparking antennae. He stuck his arm under Zim's chin, and four blasters popped out from his cuff. Zim gulped.
APU poked Zim with the guns, "You should know that both Invaders and Diplomats are forbidden to have mates when on missions," he said, "It says so very clearly in your basic training manual. Why has this code been broken?? Do you wish my Mistress's mission jeopardized??" as APU ranted, he continued poking Zim with the guns, "You know someone's going to be blamed for this – and it won't be my Mistress!"
Zim's eyes widened as APU forced him backwards while he spoke. He'd never considered any of these things last night, but you really couldn't blame him.
As his Master stammered, trying to find the words that wouldn't come, GIR stepped between him and APU. "Stop! Leave Master alone! Zim's your Master, too now – so you gotta listen to 'im!"
APU turned on GIR angrily, but before he could say anything, the videophone flickered to life, and Red and Purple appeared on screen.
As soon as he saw the Tallest, Zim screamed and ran out of the room. There was no way they could find out about this – his mission would be revoked for sure!!
Red and Purple watched him run off and glanced at each other in confusion. "What was that??" Purple asked.
"That was Master!" GIR said, "We found him."
"Oh, well…that's good…I guess," Red said.
"Why'd he run off?" Purple asked, "I mean, we're awe-inspiring and all – but Zim's never been scared of us before."
"Um…" GIR started, but APU cut him off.
"My new Master is just realizing the consequences of his actions last night," APU said, "It seems his hormones were raging a bit too much for his own good."
"Wait…" Purple said, "Why would Zim be APU's Master?"
Red raised a finger, about to reply, then a thought struck him and his eyes bugged out. "You don't mean…?" he began, turning back to the screen.
"Yes," APU said, while behind him, GIR flailed his arms frantically, "Zim and my Mistress mated last night."
Red looked shocked beyond words, but was brought back to his senses when Purple fainted a few seconds later. "What the – now look what you've done!" Red cried, "Purple – get up! Um…hold on a second." The screen switched to a stagnant 'Please Hold' sign.
GIR looked at APU angrily, and APU glared right back at him.
Zim ducked his head in the doorway from the kitchen. "You squirmy little tattletale!!" he cried angrily.
"You deserved it," APU retorted.
GIR began pushing Zim out of the living room, "Hurry Master! Before they come back! Hide!"
"Zim will never run!!" he declared, but just then, the Tallest came back on screen.
"All right – where are you, Zim?" Red called.
Zim screamed and took off again.
Red turned to Purple. "Let's split up and search the place."
"Right," Purple nodded. Then they both walked off screen in different directions. The big screen shut off, the walls on both sides opened up and two smaller screens floated out. One screen had Red on it and the other had Purple. These screens would allow them to travel all through the house – just like Professor Membrane did.
Their search began immediately. Purple drifted into the kitchen, and Red headed down below to the lab. "Hello?" Purple called, glancing around at all the appliances. From the cupboard under the sink, Zim hugged his knees and held his breath.
"Zim – if you come out now, this will end up a lot better for you," Red said.
Purple tried to peak in the keyhole of the cupboard where Zim was hiding, "Anyone in there?"
"Um…" Zim said, "There's no one here but us delicious human potatoes," he said lamely, wanting to kick himself afterwards.
"WOW! Hey Red! Check out the talking potato!!" Purple yelled off screen.
"What?!?!?!" Red said, his screen floated into the kitchen, "Are you crazy? Potatos don't talk."
"This one does," Purple insisted, "Hey Potatos – say something!"
Silence. Zim bit his bottom lip, trying not to breathe.
Red looked at Purple as if he were a moron.
"But…I heard him…" Purple said helplessly, "Watch, I'll show you he's here." He floated over to the door and a wire extended from his screen, attached itself to the handle. He pulled the door open, and Zim tumbled out onto the floor. "Hi Zim," Purple said, then floated into the cupboard, "Potatos?"
Disgusted, Red shut the door, trapping Purple inside. Then he turned to face Zim…only to find that he was fleeing the area once again. "Damn it, Zim! Get back here!!" And he floated off again.
A minute later, Purple's voice could be heard from inside the cupboard, "Hey…it's dark in here…Red, let me out! C'mon!"
On Irk, Red walked over to where Purple was using his remote control to bang his screen against the door. "You're mean," Purple said.
"Give it up. They're not fast enough anyway," Red said, "Let's check the stagnant screens." So the two of them headed over to the large screen in the center of the room. In the corner was a heat-seeking map of Zim's house.
"Hey look," Purple said, pointing at the mini-map, "There's an Irken right there. It's probably Zim."
"Only one way to find out," Red said, and pressed a button on the rim of the screen.
In the chamber where Zia was still sleeping, a screen flashed to life. "Hello?" called Purple.
Zia woke with a start, and seeing the Tallest in front of her, pulled the covers more tightly around her. "M-my Tallest!" she gasped.
Red and Purple both stared at her in shock for a minute, then Purple said, "Um…are you naked?"
Zia blushed profusely. "Um…yes…" she muttered.
"Ok, Zia," Red said, "We're trying to sort this whole thing out – and Zim's being no help whatsoever. You're both in big trouble – you know that, right?"
"You know…about last night…?" Zia said quietly, "But…how?"
"Your APU told us," Purple said.
"Oh, that squirmy little tattletale!!" Zia said.
"Don't blame him," Red said, "We would've found out anyway."
"How?" Purple asked quietly.
Red elbowed him in the ribs and continued. "Anyway – this will go a lot smoother if you both would cooperate."
"Yes, sir," Zia said, "If you could give me a minute to change, I'll meet you up in the living room."
"Ok," Purple nodded and walked off screen. "Red!" he said, noticing Red's lack of movement, so he reached out and shut the screen off. The screen went black just as Red started to protest.
* * *
"Do you two realize the seriousness of this situation??" Red demanded. He and Purple were on the screen on the living room wall again. Zim and Zia were standing in front of the screen in their bathrobes, both looking a little ashamed. Zim's antennae sparked every few seconds and Zia squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Yes, my Tallest," they said together.
Red looked surprised. "Oh…ok…then I guess I don't have to lecture you…damn…I really wanted to…"
Purple looked down at the new couple. "What're we gonna do with them?" he asked.
"Oh, I dunno," Red said, "According to Invader and Diplomat protocol, both their titles should be revoked."
"Not really," Purple said, he held the Invader and Diplomat manuals in his hands and was scanning through them, "According to the mission manuals, they're only not allowed to mate with others in their field. It doesn't say anything about inter-class mating."
"What?? Lemme see that!" Red leaned over Purple's shoulder, his ruby eyes scanning the pages Purple had them opened to. "Damn it…" he said, "You're right…"
Zim and Zia both looked up, happily surprised. Behind them, GIR grinned at APU, who was tugging on his antenna and blowing steam in frustration.
"So…we're not in trouble?" Zim asked hopefully.
"Well…" Red said, "Not as much trouble. There's still the fact of the matter to deal with – that you mated without the proper paperwork."
"But the system sucks!" Purple said, "The paperwork takes years to show up!"
"Why are you on their side?" Red hissed, "It doesn't matter anyway. There's no way of changing the system, so you'll just have to wait for the paperwork to show up. In the meantime, just…stick to your mission…I guess…I need a drink…" With that, Red floated off screen.
"Yeah, just stay there," Purple said, "And um…keep us updated on how things are going…or something…wait up, Red!" As Purple zipped off screen, the transmission ended.
"Woo," Zim said, putting his hands behind his head, "That went a lot better than I thought it would."
Zia just smiled and kissed him.
Behind them, APU was chasing GIR around in circles angrily.
The sun came up the next morning, but the chamber where Zim and Zia were sleeping was far enough underground that the bright morning rays did not penetrate their solitude. The sun, however – would not stand for this – so one of its rays broke right through the ground and found their chamber. It couldn't break through the walls, but it gave a boost of energy to the crystals on he walls that had faded out a while ago.
The crystals brightened, simulating sunlight, and Zim stirred. He woke up with a start and sat up. He glanced around, trying to remember what had happened the night before. Then he saw Zia, sleeping beside him, and he smiled to himself. He felt himself blush again – the events of last night becoming clear. He stood up, the blankets falling off of him. He looked down at himself and hurried to find a bathrobe. But before he could reach one, he heard a sigh behind him and turned around. Zia had woken up and was propping herself up on her elbows, smiling at him.
Zim stood where he was awkwardly. "Um…good morning," he said, grinning embarrassedly.
"Morning," Zia said, "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I've slept in months," Zim said, pulling the bathrobe on, "Thanks to you." He knelt down and kissed her, "Why don't you go back to sleep? I'm just gonna go upstairs and make sure GIR hasn't ruined anything while we've been…uh…busy."
Zia grinned sleepily and pulled the blankets up closer around her. "All right then," she murmured, "Hurry back."
"Oh, I will," Zim said, and left. As he rode the elevator up to the house level, his antennae sparked with blue electricity. He glanced up at them curiously, and realized it was one of the give-aways of what he and Zia had done last night.
But he didn't have any more time to worry about it, because the elevator had brought him up to the living room. His jaw dropped when he surveyed the area – the place was an absolute wreck!! In the middle of the room, the floor opened up and APU and GIR emerged. APU looked furious, and GIR looked exhausted.
GIR perked up when he saw Zim. "Master!!!" he cried, running to Zim and hugging him around the middle, "We missed you!"
"GIR! What have you done to the base??" Zim demanded.
"It wasn't me," GIR protested, "It was him." He pointed at APU.
Before Zim could say any thing else, APU strode over to him. "Protocol requires that I know my Mistress's whereabouts at all times," he said, "This was not the case last night. Why was this?"
"Um…er…" Zim stammered, not wanting to talk about it, especially not to a robot.
GIR looked around, "Where's Zia-lady?? She's Mistress now, isn't she?"
Zim felt his cheeks go violet again, and he nodded slightly.
APU looked Zim up and down, noting the lack of uniform and the sparking antennae. He stuck his arm under Zim's chin, and four blasters popped out from his cuff. Zim gulped.
APU poked Zim with the guns, "You should know that both Invaders and Diplomats are forbidden to have mates when on missions," he said, "It says so very clearly in your basic training manual. Why has this code been broken?? Do you wish my Mistress's mission jeopardized??" as APU ranted, he continued poking Zim with the guns, "You know someone's going to be blamed for this – and it won't be my Mistress!"
Zim's eyes widened as APU forced him backwards while he spoke. He'd never considered any of these things last night, but you really couldn't blame him.
As his Master stammered, trying to find the words that wouldn't come, GIR stepped between him and APU. "Stop! Leave Master alone! Zim's your Master, too now – so you gotta listen to 'im!"
APU turned on GIR angrily, but before he could say anything, the videophone flickered to life, and Red and Purple appeared on screen.
As soon as he saw the Tallest, Zim screamed and ran out of the room. There was no way they could find out about this – his mission would be revoked for sure!!
Red and Purple watched him run off and glanced at each other in confusion. "What was that??" Purple asked.
"That was Master!" GIR said, "We found him."
"Oh, well…that's good…I guess," Red said.
"Why'd he run off?" Purple asked, "I mean, we're awe-inspiring and all – but Zim's never been scared of us before."
"Um…" GIR started, but APU cut him off.
"My new Master is just realizing the consequences of his actions last night," APU said, "It seems his hormones were raging a bit too much for his own good."
"Wait…" Purple said, "Why would Zim be APU's Master?"
Red raised a finger, about to reply, then a thought struck him and his eyes bugged out. "You don't mean…?" he began, turning back to the screen.
"Yes," APU said, while behind him, GIR flailed his arms frantically, "Zim and my Mistress mated last night."
Red looked shocked beyond words, but was brought back to his senses when Purple fainted a few seconds later. "What the – now look what you've done!" Red cried, "Purple – get up! Um…hold on a second." The screen switched to a stagnant 'Please Hold' sign.
GIR looked at APU angrily, and APU glared right back at him.
Zim ducked his head in the doorway from the kitchen. "You squirmy little tattletale!!" he cried angrily.
"You deserved it," APU retorted.
GIR began pushing Zim out of the living room, "Hurry Master! Before they come back! Hide!"
"Zim will never run!!" he declared, but just then, the Tallest came back on screen.
"All right – where are you, Zim?" Red called.
Zim screamed and took off again.
Red turned to Purple. "Let's split up and search the place."
"Right," Purple nodded. Then they both walked off screen in different directions. The big screen shut off, the walls on both sides opened up and two smaller screens floated out. One screen had Red on it and the other had Purple. These screens would allow them to travel all through the house – just like Professor Membrane did.
Their search began immediately. Purple drifted into the kitchen, and Red headed down below to the lab. "Hello?" Purple called, glancing around at all the appliances. From the cupboard under the sink, Zim hugged his knees and held his breath.
"Zim – if you come out now, this will end up a lot better for you," Red said.
Purple tried to peak in the keyhole of the cupboard where Zim was hiding, "Anyone in there?"
"Um…" Zim said, "There's no one here but us delicious human potatoes," he said lamely, wanting to kick himself afterwards.
"WOW! Hey Red! Check out the talking potato!!" Purple yelled off screen.
"What?!?!?!" Red said, his screen floated into the kitchen, "Are you crazy? Potatos don't talk."
"This one does," Purple insisted, "Hey Potatos – say something!"
Silence. Zim bit his bottom lip, trying not to breathe.
Red looked at Purple as if he were a moron.
"But…I heard him…" Purple said helplessly, "Watch, I'll show you he's here." He floated over to the door and a wire extended from his screen, attached itself to the handle. He pulled the door open, and Zim tumbled out onto the floor. "Hi Zim," Purple said, then floated into the cupboard, "Potatos?"
Disgusted, Red shut the door, trapping Purple inside. Then he turned to face Zim…only to find that he was fleeing the area once again. "Damn it, Zim! Get back here!!" And he floated off again.
A minute later, Purple's voice could be heard from inside the cupboard, "Hey…it's dark in here…Red, let me out! C'mon!"
On Irk, Red walked over to where Purple was using his remote control to bang his screen against the door. "You're mean," Purple said.
"Give it up. They're not fast enough anyway," Red said, "Let's check the stagnant screens." So the two of them headed over to the large screen in the center of the room. In the corner was a heat-seeking map of Zim's house.
"Hey look," Purple said, pointing at the mini-map, "There's an Irken right there. It's probably Zim."
"Only one way to find out," Red said, and pressed a button on the rim of the screen.
In the chamber where Zia was still sleeping, a screen flashed to life. "Hello?" called Purple.
Zia woke with a start, and seeing the Tallest in front of her, pulled the covers more tightly around her. "M-my Tallest!" she gasped.
Red and Purple both stared at her in shock for a minute, then Purple said, "Um…are you naked?"
Zia blushed profusely. "Um…yes…" she muttered.
"Ok, Zia," Red said, "We're trying to sort this whole thing out – and Zim's being no help whatsoever. You're both in big trouble – you know that, right?"
"You know…about last night…?" Zia said quietly, "But…how?"
"Your APU told us," Purple said.
"Oh, that squirmy little tattletale!!" Zia said.
"Don't blame him," Red said, "We would've found out anyway."
"How?" Purple asked quietly.
Red elbowed him in the ribs and continued. "Anyway – this will go a lot smoother if you both would cooperate."
"Yes, sir," Zia said, "If you could give me a minute to change, I'll meet you up in the living room."
"Ok," Purple nodded and walked off screen. "Red!" he said, noticing Red's lack of movement, so he reached out and shut the screen off. The screen went black just as Red started to protest.
* * *
"Do you two realize the seriousness of this situation??" Red demanded. He and Purple were on the screen on the living room wall again. Zim and Zia were standing in front of the screen in their bathrobes, both looking a little ashamed. Zim's antennae sparked every few seconds and Zia squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Yes, my Tallest," they said together.
Red looked surprised. "Oh…ok…then I guess I don't have to lecture you…damn…I really wanted to…"
Purple looked down at the new couple. "What're we gonna do with them?" he asked.
"Oh, I dunno," Red said, "According to Invader and Diplomat protocol, both their titles should be revoked."
"Not really," Purple said, he held the Invader and Diplomat manuals in his hands and was scanning through them, "According to the mission manuals, they're only not allowed to mate with others in their field. It doesn't say anything about inter-class mating."
"What?? Lemme see that!" Red leaned over Purple's shoulder, his ruby eyes scanning the pages Purple had them opened to. "Damn it…" he said, "You're right…"
Zim and Zia both looked up, happily surprised. Behind them, GIR grinned at APU, who was tugging on his antenna and blowing steam in frustration.
"So…we're not in trouble?" Zim asked hopefully.
"Well…" Red said, "Not as much trouble. There's still the fact of the matter to deal with – that you mated without the proper paperwork."
"But the system sucks!" Purple said, "The paperwork takes years to show up!"
"Why are you on their side?" Red hissed, "It doesn't matter anyway. There's no way of changing the system, so you'll just have to wait for the paperwork to show up. In the meantime, just…stick to your mission…I guess…I need a drink…" With that, Red floated off screen.
"Yeah, just stay there," Purple said, "And um…keep us updated on how things are going…or something…wait up, Red!" As Purple zipped off screen, the transmission ended.
"Woo," Zim said, putting his hands behind his head, "That went a lot better than I thought it would."
Zia just smiled and kissed him.
Behind them, APU was chasing GIR around in circles angrily.