Part Three: Twice in a Blue Moon
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- Herodutus
Dib and Katherine were racing against time. Soon the whole place would be blocked off, leaving them trapped. Dib had the light peach folder clutched protectively against his chest. Inside were all sorts of passwords and undeniable evidence of Zim's tyranny and contempt for humans. With this shown to the public, maybe then would they stop following their leader blindly into humanity's end. It was their last shred of hope. This one overstuffed, old folder had to be saved.
Zim was strutting down a corridor, bodyguards at either side of him. The pitiful Dib had stolen the secret file, along with releasing another prisoner. Damn him, Zim thought, clenching his zipper like teeth. But it would be okay in the end, Zim reassured himself. Dib was just a minuscule threat. Nothing more than a dirty animal. Zim grinned maniacally at the thought of revenge.
"We're getting close to the exit, just a little further."
he called out to Katherine.
"I can see the door ahead, it's not guarded yet!"
she cried back.
Together they ran down the hall, urging their legs
forward. Finally they burst through the heavy doors, which had been left
unlocked by careless guards in a hurry. They were home free. They had escaped.
Darting in and out of empty alleys, the two worked their way out of the
deserted city. Again, they stopped and rested, sitting behind a stack of
boxes in an narrow corridor between buildings.
"Looks like we're gonna make it after all." Dib
stated, smiling weakly.
"Yep. This'll make for quite a story to tell the
rest of the resistance" Katherine said, managing a grin.
"There's still a resistance movement going on?"
he asked, taken aback.
"Uh-huh. Inspired by you. I know because they tried
to break me out several times."
"Wow. I thought maybe we were dying out. I mean,
I've been in hiding for awhile. I wasn't quite sure. And Zim told me.."
"Zim's one giant lie...but so long as people can
think for themselves, someone will speak out." Katherine interrupted.
Dib paused for a moment, and then spoke. "We should
get going again." And so they did.
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Big german shepherds sniffed throughout the gray
city, hot on the trail. One of the larger dogs lifted his shaggy head high
and a long growl rumbled from his throat. He had picked up the scent of
the enemies. Barking furiously, he tugged on the leather leash. Gaz held
on tight, and patted the enthusiastic canine on the head affectionately.
"Good boy, King. Good dog. Now hush." she whispered.
King's tail wagged at the praise, shaking his whole,
tan body. His keen ears pricked forward and his pink tongue lolled out,
eager to finish his job. A fellow officer walked over to Gaz.
"Did he pick up their trail?" he asked.
"No. He simply saw a stray cat, that's all." She
said, lying quickly. Hopefully that'd buy her brother some time.
"Hmm, well, keep us informed." he said gruffly,
then walked away. Gaz sighed in relief. But it wouldn't be long until someone
else picked up their trail.
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Dib and Katherine kept making their way towards
the outskirts of town. Dib urged his legs on, which were shaking beneath
him. Every step, they were one step closer to giving out, needles of pain
stinging up and down with every forced movement. His breaths were more
like gasps, but he had to press on. Katherine on the other hand, wasn't
used to much physical activity, what with being in a cramped, dark cell
for around two years. Her legs didn't ache as much as Dib's, but she was
having a hard time keeping up. She panted and plodded one foot in front
of the other.
"I can see the woods ahead!" Dib exclaimed.
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"How's everything going?" Zim asked.
"We've picked up a trail, sir!" a soldier replied.
"Excellent..we'll have them in no time."
The military's dog trainer released a pack of dogs,
who fervently tore off into the direction Dib and Katherine were heading.
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Ten minutes later Dib's sharp ears picked up barking
in the distance. "We're being followed.."
Zim rushed after the dogs, a long, magenta cape
flowing behind him. He would see to it the escapees got what was coming
to them. A group of soldiers followed him, guns ready.
Dib tried running on, but his legs just quit working
and he fell hard onto the concrete. He staggered up, numb all over.
"C'mon! Just a little further!" Katherine urged.
"Here, take the folder, I'll catch up." He handed
it to her.
"I won't leave you behind, you're our leader! Now
let's go!" She said, taking the crumpled file.
Wincing, he stood shakily up, but it was too late.
Zim stood defiantly before the two.
"Thought you could escape the iron grasp of Zim
did you?" he cackled.
Dib realized how hopeless the situation was. He
was surrounded, with at least ten guns pointed at him. Dib had to stall.
He quickly picked up a rock when Zim wasn't looking.
"Stand back, Zim! I'm warning you, don't take one step closer. I...uh..have
a bomb! One step and I'll blow us all into smithereens!" Zim looked a little
worried.
"You're bluffing. Let me see." Zim asked nervously.
"No..no I'm not. I swear, I've gotta bomb." Dib
said, not noticing the pair of soldiers standing behind him..
"Um, sir? The fugitive is holding a rock behind
his back, not a bomb." a soldier reported.
"Eh..heh. A bomb disguised as a rock..?" Dib tried,
sounding like an idiot.
"Enough of these games, Dib. We're not children
anymore." Zim said, transforming once more into a businesslike negotiator.
"I'll spare you and the girl if you submit to me and hand over that folder.
Your choice." Zim very well knew what would be Dib's answer.
Dib sent a questioning, pleading glance over to
Katherine, seeking help. She shrugged. Dib knew what he had to say. "Never."
he whispered.
"Come again?"
"I said no. Do what you want with us." he repeated.
"Fine. But first you watch your friend die." Zim
said, smiling sadistically. He pulled out his personal laser and aimed
it directly at the folder, which Katherine held over her chest.
----------------------------------------------------
"No!" Dib yelled.
Zim pulled the trigger, with deadly accuracy.
But Dib leapt in front of Katherine and the folder,
saving her. Everything was in a dizzy blur for Dib, instantly he felt piercing,
white-hot pain somewhere in his chest. The force of it hammered him to
the ground. Katherine looked wordlessly on in horror, Zim looked down at
the fallen Dib with a mix of disdain and glee.
Dib looked at Katherine painfully. He touched his
wound gingerly, his hand coming back dark red, and then he realized he
was lying in a pool of his own blood. His vision was blurred, muddy and
fading, but he could make out a green patch standing in front of him, snickering
happily. He looked up at Zim hatefully. Then to Katherine again "Run, now,
please." he gasped. And then he saw her disappear into the woods, and he
hoped to god that she could make it and deliver the files. Now the ground
was spinning around, and all the colors were fading to black, all he could
hear was Zim's cruel laughter. Dib was tired. Of fighting, of war, of ridicule,
of running. So he squeezed his eyes shut one last time.
"There we have it. The last leader of the Resistance,
forsaken by his family, forgotten by his friends, at his enemy's feet,
dead." Zim said a-matter-of-factly.
