A/N: Hello again! Is anyone actually reading this? Do people actually read the author's notes? I do, but I was wondering if the average person does...
Thanks to EVERYONE for reviewing my story! I REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it! You have no idea how much your feedback means to me (yes, even if they are stinky flames). Also, thanks to Guardian Diesel (on ff.net: Diesel) for the help with the idea for how Zim's drink should look (^^) and to Amethyst Soul for beta reading this (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU multiplied by the highest number you can think of). As I said, these chapters will now be shorter than the first, for my sanity's sake... I can't put out long chapters with my schedule.
If I get enough reviews, I may write a prequel... oo, that'd be fun!
Now, on with chapter two!!
---
Dib sat near the door of the gray building, hugging his legs to his chest. God, it was cold. From under the overhang he could see the rain coming down in thick sheets. His stomach grumbled in protest from lack of food, but he ignored its complaining. The lone boy buried his face further into his knees and closed his eyes, trying desperately to fall asleep. He didn't need this now; what he did need was the alleviating state of unconcsiousness. His head throbbed from where he had hit it on the door. Images of the past still raced around his mind, the building in which he was under simply a part of them. This place held both good and bad memories: it had been the location of some of his greatest triumphs, and the location of his most horrible defeat- Zim's escape. This concrete construction could be marked as the birth of the new era... this era of terror and destruction upon which the High Invader reigned.
A clank of metal on the pavement made Dib sit upright in alarm. He strained to hear the foreign sound.
Clank-clank-clank.
The noise grew louder with each beat. Dib stood, preparing himself for an attacker. He identified the sound as coming from behind the right wall and tensed.
A small head with huge eyes poked out from the side of the building.
"HI!" it yelled in happiness. Dib stood, bewildered. The robot came under the overhang and shook the water off itself like a dog. It dropped the rubber pig it had been carrying and pounced upon Dib, hugging him in glee.
"Aw, I love you!" it purred, nestling it's head in Dib's chest. Dib sat once more, unsure as of what to do. He blinked a few times and awkwardly patted the machine's head. It hopped away from him and did a strange little dance, looking eerily familiar. He watched the strange creature's movements, pondering it's origins. It seemed intelligent; intelligent enough to move around on it's own, and it didn't appear to be controlled by anything...
"Master always say to 'obey da fist', hee hee!" it giggled, prancing around like a horse. It picked up its pig and began tossing it around. "You!" it said, pointing to the pig. "Obey da fist!"
Dib's eyes opened wide at this all too familiar phrase. He approached the bouncing lifeform cautiously from behind. This robot could only be- "Gir...?" he asked quietly.
"Yeeeees?" Gir responded. Dib froze in astonishment. Gir smiled. "Aw, whassa matter, Dib? You look like the Scary Monkey when he's scared." Reminded of this, Gir bounced happily up and down. "Ooo, the Scary Monkey! Can I see the Scary Monkey?"
Dib shook his head.
"Please?" Gir added.
Dib shook his head again.
"Awww." said Gir, then continued to bounce. Dib knelt down to the ground and put a hand on the SIR unit's small shoulder. Gir stopped moving, then turned. "What is it, Dib-human?"
He paused, then spoke slowly. "Where is Zim?"
Gir cocked his head to the side and thought. "Oh, you mean Master?"
"Yes, your Master."
A silence came over the both of them. Gir's joyful mood faded with each passing second. "Master? Master is gone..."
Dib's shoulders sagged in disappointment.
"Master left," Gir continued in a solemn tone. "Master went home without me. Does he hate me?"
Gir sniffled. Dib looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I can't answer that."
He suddenly hugged Dib's leg for comfort. "You'll be my Master now, right?" Gir innocently looked into his eyes. Dib didn't see any way he could refuse.
"Okay," said Dib, smiling. "I guess I'm 'Master' now."
---
A blue-eyed Irken maid briskly walked down the metal corridor with a tray in hand. On it lay two pills and a clear glass of thick liquid- a purple substance with black swirls, spinning around the container as if it were alive.
She made her way to a door and knocked softly, straightening her uniform, steadying the tray, and putting on her brightest smile.
The young female waited a minute, then, upon hearing no answer, knocked once more. Another minute passed and no response came. Her antennae stiffened in annoyance as she glared at the door, moving towards the number keypad and punching the code in. The double-doors automatically slid into the walls, revealing the High Invader sitting on a chair, facing the window. The navy-eyed maid smiled once more and spoke. "Sir, where would you like this?"
He didn't answer, but continued staring out the window, his ruby eyes reflecting the stars outside.
"Sir?" she asked.
"Huh?" he grunted, turning towards her. She desperately tried to look her prettiest: fluttering her eyelashes, blushing, twirling her antennae with a finger, and giggling girlishly.
"Oh, yeah... just put it over there." he said, lazily gesturing towards the corner or the room and turning to the window again. She frowned and put the tray upon the table. "Would you like anything else, Sir?"
No answer came.
"Would you like anything else, Sir?" she repeated, not used to being ignored.
"Leave me be!" he responded sharply, motioning for her to leave.
She harrumphed and walked out of the room, head held high in the air. The doors closing quickly behind her. Zim sighed, rolled his eyes, and continued to stare out into the void.
The maid ran down the hallway towards the kitchen. She burst through the entrance and stomped towards her mother.
"All those Soldiers were right!" she yelled shrilly. "The High Invader is a rude Irken and is a disgrace to our kind! He should be executed immediately!"
Her mother's cyan eyes smiled at the daughter. "Meh! Just five minutes ago you were spouting love poems about his beautiful face and wonderful personality! What happened, dear?"
"He happened, that's what!" Meh pouted, unaware of her mother's mocking statements. "I'm GLAD the Rebellion has started. That meanie old High Invader can kiss my squeedily spooch!"
Her mother inhaled deeply and let her breath out slowly. "With his ways, I'm surprised the rebellion hadn't happened a long time ago..."
---
"Come on, Red, lay off!"
"Ahahahaha! I got you now!"
"You know I'm not as good as you at this stuff!"
"You shall feel my wrath, Purple!"
"You're mean!"
"Die die die!"
"Gah!"
"Heh heh, I'm winning!"
"STOP!! It hurts!"
"I WILL NOT STOP!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Get off me!"
"You are my slave!"
"NO!!!!"
"YES!!!!!"
The words 'Game Over' flashed on the monitor. Underneath the bright letters read 'Red 10 wins - Purple 0 wins'. Purple threw down his video game controller in frustration. "ARGH! I'll never win!"
Red sat back sipped some lemonade through a straw. The glass held a small pink paper umbrella at the top. "Ah, you're right about that one. I am the master of all video games!" he said, raising the arm with the glass into the air.
Purple stuck out his lower lip. "No fair, You-"
His accusation was cut short by the flat voice of the computer: "Incoming transmission from warship JV-737.". The two Tallests immediately stopped bickering to stare intently at the message screen. The face of a young Irken appeared, his eyes shining with excitement. He bowed too deeply and hit his head to the floor. The magenta-eyed male rubbed his skull and flushed with embarassment. "Many a good cycle, my Tallests," he recited the formal greeting. "Soldier Seb, of JV-737, ship of the Highest Invader, at your service, Sirs. You two look very well, Sirs. Very well. Have you grown taller, Sirs? All living must tremble in your shadows, Sirs. You are most forboding, Sirs. I am humbled in your presence, Sirs. Allow me to-"
"Shut up already and report, Soldier Seb!" spat Red.
Seb winced at the sudden outburst, then regained his composure. "A-hem," he cleared his throat and began. "You shall be pleased, Sirs. The rebellion has been successful so far, Sirs. Rumors are spreading like a plague in a crowded city, Sirs. The High Invader is also unaware, Sirs. It has been most pleasing, Sirs. Most pleasing. The High Invader sits in his room with no idea as to what goes on past the walls of his quarters, Sirs. You-"
"How long, Soldier Seb? How long until the High Invader is overthrown?" interrupted Purple. "We need a time estimate so the builders can get ready to construct Nacho-ia."
"Well," Seb continued. "It is almost impossible to give a time estimate, Sirs. Such things are so unpredictable, Sirs. So many factors, Sirs. Different things could go wrong, Sirs. Different things could go right, Sirs. A time estimate is almost impossible at this time the the operation, Sirs. Most impossible. I cannot answer that question, Sirs."
Red gritted his teeth. "How... much... TIME?!"
Seb cowered, then spoke quickly. "Um... after we reach the planet Earth. Once the High Invader has captured this rival he so seeks, he will be distracted. By then, I will have the whole JV-737's crew ready to go against him. We can leave him on Earth. It is a wasteland now, he will not be able to get off of it once we depart."
"But then we can't have Nacho-ia because ZIM will be there!" complained Red.
"Don't worry," comforted Purple. "The next one can be Nacho-ia, I saw another planet that looked just like Earth!"
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good," sighed Red "I didn't want to have to fight a full scale war against Zim, it's all just so time consuming!"
"PLUS we'd lose half of our army in the process. It's better if they just come over willingly. That equals less problems." added Purple. "That will be all, Soldier Seb."
"Yes, Sirs. It has been a pleasure to converse with you, Sirs." Seb bowed, hitting his head on the floor again. The screen went blank.
Red blinked. "Remind me why that guy's such a high-ranking soldier again?"
"I don't know, maybe he was switched at birth on accident." responded Purple.
"We should make a policy against that."
"Like what?"
"Maybe the... 'No-Switching-At-Birth-On-Accident' policy?"
"Sounds good, we should call a meeting with the 'Society of Rules and Regulations' about that."
"Is Thursday okay?"
"NO! That's my loofa rub day!"
"You and your loofas..."
"You and your nachos!"
"You and your curly fries!"
"You and your- um..."
"Ha! I win!"
"I hate you."
---
Zim stared out of the dome-shaped window at the planet before him. The mass of blue and white swirled in strange patterns. Earth was quite a beautiful place from far away, but once you got close it was disgusting. It reeked of human stench and waste. Ugly half destroyed buildings cluttered the skylines and smog dirtied the air. The clouds were white from the viewpoint in space, but were gray when on the surface. It was such a convincing illusion from above... an illusion of pleasant patterns and colors... but illusions were, in reality, only that: a cruel deception, a misleading image.
Zim sighed and turned to face his quarters. Unlike the Tallests, he did not desire fancy royal splendors. He favored large spaces, and his living areas showed that. So much power, and yet, all there was to do was waste it on constructing planets like 'Hotel-ia' and whatnot. His whole existence was one big mass of bowing heads and wiggling antennae. Everyone knew who he was; they would kill masses to be in a position of a mere half of his power. Yet, he was not satisfied. What point was there in having such strength, then sitting around, using it for nothing? It was boring.
His eyes wandered to the far corner of his room. There sat the tray the maid had left. He got out of his chair and moved towards it, dreading the effect of the disgustingly thick purple and black drink. He took the two red pills and put them in his mouth, holding them there until he could get the glass to his lips. He poured the liquid in, clamping his mouth shut and gulping down hardly. The pills slipped down easily, but the drink did not. It crawled slowly down his throat, burning all the tissue and muscle as it went. Zim's Irken equilvalent of a stomach rebelled at the thought of the searing liquid in itself and his passages tried to force it out into the open again. Zim doubled over, resisting the urge to scream and stubbornly kept his mouth closed. He clutched his chest in pain, sharp gloved fingertips digging into his flesh, trying to force the liquid down.
Finally, the burning subsided and it all slid into his body.
Zim collapsed onto the floor, his eyes wide with a blank stare.
No sound could be heard.
His body lay, unmoving. His chest did not rise and fall with the steady rhythm it should have. The whirring of the ship's motors quietly vibrated through the walls.
Then, the silence was broken by Zim's sudden gasp for breath. He clenched his eyes shut and wheezed heavily, inhaling the glorious air in huge gulps.
Every day this was the struggle. Yet, it was necessary. It was necessary if he wanted to break the dreary repetition of every day of his life.
This wasn't just about the medicine: it was about what the medicine could do.
Zim curled up into a fetal position, having finally regained his breath. He opened his eyes to find himself facing the large window once more. The Earth drew closer and closer.
"Sir!" the doors slid open noisily to reveal a soldier. The magenta-eyed male eyed Zim, still lying on the floor, then continued. "We will reach planet Earth shortly, Sir. I would advise that you ready yourself for the occasion, Sir. Are there any preparations you would like made, Sir?"
"Yes," Zim said grabbing hold of the table edge and slowly getting to his feet. "I would like you to prepare the special torture room for one inhabitant. I think it will finally get some use."
"Yes, Sir," said the soldier, giving Zim a wary look. "Would you like anything else to be done, Sir?"
"No, that will be all."
"Good day, Sir." he said, excusing himself. He turned and walked out.
The Earth now took up the entire window view.
And for the first time since leaving it, Zim smiled.
---
"Okay, I guess I'm 'Master' now."
"YAY!" yelled Gir, letting go of Dib's leg and jumping around in circles. "I gotsa new Master!" He giggled and pranced around some more. Dib's mood lightened as he watched the robot do various imitations of animals. The rain had lifted, but the clouds remained. Gir hopped out from under the overhead, down the concrete stairs, and out into the puddles of mud. He splashed in them, yelling out a song about 'Mr. Moose and Mr. Piggy'. As he was belting it out in opera style, a large drop of water plunked onto his head with a resounding 'bong'. The robot stopped singing and squinted into the gray sky above. "Master?"
"Yes?" Dib responded automatically.
"No, not Dib Master. Master Master." he said, pointing up into the clouds. Dib followed Gir's hand. A large group of purple, pink, and gray voot-runners flanked one large ship which stood in the shape of a upright shark fin.
"Oh god..." said Dib. "Oh no, jeezus, no..."
Gir stood, eyes fixed on the sky. "Master is back? Master came back to get me?"
As the fleet came closer, the markings on the large ship became evident: the Irken symbol of war.
Dib was struck dumb in disbelief. All these years he had dreamed of seeking revenge... but the object of revenge had found him.
Gir now looked at the ground, torn between jumping up and down for joy and crying in sadness. Master was back, but what about Dib Master? Did he have to pick one? Could he have two Masters? Was having two Masters okay? Did anyone else have two masters?
While Gir pondered these 'important' questions, the fleet came closer. The 'shark fin' ship led the way, looking as natural in the air as a shark would in deep water. It also looked like a shark would feel in a school of huge tasty fish.
The foreign aircraft crawled towards the Earth's surface in an almost march. A buzzing sound from the ships engines made the ground rumble beneath Dib's feet.
Suddenly, the lead ship stopped. In a chain reaction, the smaller aircrafts halted as well, until they all hovered like a swarm of bees waiting to attack. Dib expected huge lazer guns to pop out and shoot down the entire planet, but, to his relief, many moments passed and the Earth still remained intact. In fact, he was so busy staring dumbfoundedly at the sky that he didn't notice the small transport vehicle ejecting from the cargo bay of the 'shark fin'. It quietly scooted out of Dib's sight.
Gir finally decided to do some combination of his two choices. He squealed happily, making Dib take his gaze from the fleet to watch him. He then pounded the ground with his fists, crying huge tears, yelling: "WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!".
Dib scratched his head in question. Had this sudden arrival reminded Gir of his old life, causing him to short circuit? Or was the machine always this spontaneous?
Gir stopped bouncing up and down in joy as he looked past Dib. His eyes grew wide and lit up in happiness. "MASTER!"
Before Dib could turn, all he saw was blackness.
---
Master just shot Dib Master with a metal thingie in his hand. It went ZAP and Dib Master fell asleep. I wonder why Dib Master fell asleep? Was he sleepy? Well, Master laughed (Master laughs funny, hee hee!) and told his friends to 'TAKE HIM AWAY!'. Master is also scary when he yells. I don't like Master when he yells. Master looks funny: Master looks bigger. Or am I smaller? Or is Master bigger now? I think Master is taller. Yeah, that's it. Dib Master got dragged away by Master's friends into a little mousey-colored ship. Master went into the little ship. I am on the ship too 'cause I followed them. I am sneaky, hee hee! This is a fun game, like 'following the leader' 'cept sneakier!
Now the ship is all rumbly and bumpy. I am hiding in a brown box 'cause I don't think I'm supposed to be in here. I don't want to be yelled at, I don't want Master to get angry at me and leave again. That wasn't very fun.
Oh, the ship stopped bumping around. I heard lotsa footsteps and voices.
Ooo, Master just said to take Dib Master to the torture room 666. I have to remember that. 666. 666. 666. 656. 654. Um, no! I mean 666. Yes, Dib Master is in torture room 666. What's a torture room? I don't know. Torture room 666. Will Master be there too?
I don't hear any more sounds. I am going to try to sneak out now and find torture room 666.
Hee hee, I am being sneaky again.
---
to be continued... (please review)
Thanks to EVERYONE for reviewing my story! I REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it! You have no idea how much your feedback means to me (yes, even if they are stinky flames). Also, thanks to Guardian Diesel (on ff.net: Diesel) for the help with the idea for how Zim's drink should look (^^) and to Amethyst Soul for beta reading this (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU multiplied by the highest number you can think of). As I said, these chapters will now be shorter than the first, for my sanity's sake... I can't put out long chapters with my schedule.
If I get enough reviews, I may write a prequel... oo, that'd be fun!
Now, on with chapter two!!
---
Dib sat near the door of the gray building, hugging his legs to his chest. God, it was cold. From under the overhang he could see the rain coming down in thick sheets. His stomach grumbled in protest from lack of food, but he ignored its complaining. The lone boy buried his face further into his knees and closed his eyes, trying desperately to fall asleep. He didn't need this now; what he did need was the alleviating state of unconcsiousness. His head throbbed from where he had hit it on the door. Images of the past still raced around his mind, the building in which he was under simply a part of them. This place held both good and bad memories: it had been the location of some of his greatest triumphs, and the location of his most horrible defeat- Zim's escape. This concrete construction could be marked as the birth of the new era... this era of terror and destruction upon which the High Invader reigned.
A clank of metal on the pavement made Dib sit upright in alarm. He strained to hear the foreign sound.
Clank-clank-clank.
The noise grew louder with each beat. Dib stood, preparing himself for an attacker. He identified the sound as coming from behind the right wall and tensed.
A small head with huge eyes poked out from the side of the building.
"HI!" it yelled in happiness. Dib stood, bewildered. The robot came under the overhang and shook the water off itself like a dog. It dropped the rubber pig it had been carrying and pounced upon Dib, hugging him in glee.
"Aw, I love you!" it purred, nestling it's head in Dib's chest. Dib sat once more, unsure as of what to do. He blinked a few times and awkwardly patted the machine's head. It hopped away from him and did a strange little dance, looking eerily familiar. He watched the strange creature's movements, pondering it's origins. It seemed intelligent; intelligent enough to move around on it's own, and it didn't appear to be controlled by anything...
"Master always say to 'obey da fist', hee hee!" it giggled, prancing around like a horse. It picked up its pig and began tossing it around. "You!" it said, pointing to the pig. "Obey da fist!"
Dib's eyes opened wide at this all too familiar phrase. He approached the bouncing lifeform cautiously from behind. This robot could only be- "Gir...?" he asked quietly.
"Yeeeees?" Gir responded. Dib froze in astonishment. Gir smiled. "Aw, whassa matter, Dib? You look like the Scary Monkey when he's scared." Reminded of this, Gir bounced happily up and down. "Ooo, the Scary Monkey! Can I see the Scary Monkey?"
Dib shook his head.
"Please?" Gir added.
Dib shook his head again.
"Awww." said Gir, then continued to bounce. Dib knelt down to the ground and put a hand on the SIR unit's small shoulder. Gir stopped moving, then turned. "What is it, Dib-human?"
He paused, then spoke slowly. "Where is Zim?"
Gir cocked his head to the side and thought. "Oh, you mean Master?"
"Yes, your Master."
A silence came over the both of them. Gir's joyful mood faded with each passing second. "Master? Master is gone..."
Dib's shoulders sagged in disappointment.
"Master left," Gir continued in a solemn tone. "Master went home without me. Does he hate me?"
Gir sniffled. Dib looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I can't answer that."
He suddenly hugged Dib's leg for comfort. "You'll be my Master now, right?" Gir innocently looked into his eyes. Dib didn't see any way he could refuse.
"Okay," said Dib, smiling. "I guess I'm 'Master' now."
---
A blue-eyed Irken maid briskly walked down the metal corridor with a tray in hand. On it lay two pills and a clear glass of thick liquid- a purple substance with black swirls, spinning around the container as if it were alive.
She made her way to a door and knocked softly, straightening her uniform, steadying the tray, and putting on her brightest smile.
The young female waited a minute, then, upon hearing no answer, knocked once more. Another minute passed and no response came. Her antennae stiffened in annoyance as she glared at the door, moving towards the number keypad and punching the code in. The double-doors automatically slid into the walls, revealing the High Invader sitting on a chair, facing the window. The navy-eyed maid smiled once more and spoke. "Sir, where would you like this?"
He didn't answer, but continued staring out the window, his ruby eyes reflecting the stars outside.
"Sir?" she asked.
"Huh?" he grunted, turning towards her. She desperately tried to look her prettiest: fluttering her eyelashes, blushing, twirling her antennae with a finger, and giggling girlishly.
"Oh, yeah... just put it over there." he said, lazily gesturing towards the corner or the room and turning to the window again. She frowned and put the tray upon the table. "Would you like anything else, Sir?"
No answer came.
"Would you like anything else, Sir?" she repeated, not used to being ignored.
"Leave me be!" he responded sharply, motioning for her to leave.
She harrumphed and walked out of the room, head held high in the air. The doors closing quickly behind her. Zim sighed, rolled his eyes, and continued to stare out into the void.
The maid ran down the hallway towards the kitchen. She burst through the entrance and stomped towards her mother.
"All those Soldiers were right!" she yelled shrilly. "The High Invader is a rude Irken and is a disgrace to our kind! He should be executed immediately!"
Her mother's cyan eyes smiled at the daughter. "Meh! Just five minutes ago you were spouting love poems about his beautiful face and wonderful personality! What happened, dear?"
"He happened, that's what!" Meh pouted, unaware of her mother's mocking statements. "I'm GLAD the Rebellion has started. That meanie old High Invader can kiss my squeedily spooch!"
Her mother inhaled deeply and let her breath out slowly. "With his ways, I'm surprised the rebellion hadn't happened a long time ago..."
---
"Come on, Red, lay off!"
"Ahahahaha! I got you now!"
"You know I'm not as good as you at this stuff!"
"You shall feel my wrath, Purple!"
"You're mean!"
"Die die die!"
"Gah!"
"Heh heh, I'm winning!"
"STOP!! It hurts!"
"I WILL NOT STOP!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Get off me!"
"You are my slave!"
"NO!!!!"
"YES!!!!!"
The words 'Game Over' flashed on the monitor. Underneath the bright letters read 'Red 10 wins - Purple 0 wins'. Purple threw down his video game controller in frustration. "ARGH! I'll never win!"
Red sat back sipped some lemonade through a straw. The glass held a small pink paper umbrella at the top. "Ah, you're right about that one. I am the master of all video games!" he said, raising the arm with the glass into the air.
Purple stuck out his lower lip. "No fair, You-"
His accusation was cut short by the flat voice of the computer: "Incoming transmission from warship JV-737.". The two Tallests immediately stopped bickering to stare intently at the message screen. The face of a young Irken appeared, his eyes shining with excitement. He bowed too deeply and hit his head to the floor. The magenta-eyed male rubbed his skull and flushed with embarassment. "Many a good cycle, my Tallests," he recited the formal greeting. "Soldier Seb, of JV-737, ship of the Highest Invader, at your service, Sirs. You two look very well, Sirs. Very well. Have you grown taller, Sirs? All living must tremble in your shadows, Sirs. You are most forboding, Sirs. I am humbled in your presence, Sirs. Allow me to-"
"Shut up already and report, Soldier Seb!" spat Red.
Seb winced at the sudden outburst, then regained his composure. "A-hem," he cleared his throat and began. "You shall be pleased, Sirs. The rebellion has been successful so far, Sirs. Rumors are spreading like a plague in a crowded city, Sirs. The High Invader is also unaware, Sirs. It has been most pleasing, Sirs. Most pleasing. The High Invader sits in his room with no idea as to what goes on past the walls of his quarters, Sirs. You-"
"How long, Soldier Seb? How long until the High Invader is overthrown?" interrupted Purple. "We need a time estimate so the builders can get ready to construct Nacho-ia."
"Well," Seb continued. "It is almost impossible to give a time estimate, Sirs. Such things are so unpredictable, Sirs. So many factors, Sirs. Different things could go wrong, Sirs. Different things could go right, Sirs. A time estimate is almost impossible at this time the the operation, Sirs. Most impossible. I cannot answer that question, Sirs."
Red gritted his teeth. "How... much... TIME?!"
Seb cowered, then spoke quickly. "Um... after we reach the planet Earth. Once the High Invader has captured this rival he so seeks, he will be distracted. By then, I will have the whole JV-737's crew ready to go against him. We can leave him on Earth. It is a wasteland now, he will not be able to get off of it once we depart."
"But then we can't have Nacho-ia because ZIM will be there!" complained Red.
"Don't worry," comforted Purple. "The next one can be Nacho-ia, I saw another planet that looked just like Earth!"
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good," sighed Red "I didn't want to have to fight a full scale war against Zim, it's all just so time consuming!"
"PLUS we'd lose half of our army in the process. It's better if they just come over willingly. That equals less problems." added Purple. "That will be all, Soldier Seb."
"Yes, Sirs. It has been a pleasure to converse with you, Sirs." Seb bowed, hitting his head on the floor again. The screen went blank.
Red blinked. "Remind me why that guy's such a high-ranking soldier again?"
"I don't know, maybe he was switched at birth on accident." responded Purple.
"We should make a policy against that."
"Like what?"
"Maybe the... 'No-Switching-At-Birth-On-Accident' policy?"
"Sounds good, we should call a meeting with the 'Society of Rules and Regulations' about that."
"Is Thursday okay?"
"NO! That's my loofa rub day!"
"You and your loofas..."
"You and your nachos!"
"You and your curly fries!"
"You and your- um..."
"Ha! I win!"
"I hate you."
---
Zim stared out of the dome-shaped window at the planet before him. The mass of blue and white swirled in strange patterns. Earth was quite a beautiful place from far away, but once you got close it was disgusting. It reeked of human stench and waste. Ugly half destroyed buildings cluttered the skylines and smog dirtied the air. The clouds were white from the viewpoint in space, but were gray when on the surface. It was such a convincing illusion from above... an illusion of pleasant patterns and colors... but illusions were, in reality, only that: a cruel deception, a misleading image.
Zim sighed and turned to face his quarters. Unlike the Tallests, he did not desire fancy royal splendors. He favored large spaces, and his living areas showed that. So much power, and yet, all there was to do was waste it on constructing planets like 'Hotel-ia' and whatnot. His whole existence was one big mass of bowing heads and wiggling antennae. Everyone knew who he was; they would kill masses to be in a position of a mere half of his power. Yet, he was not satisfied. What point was there in having such strength, then sitting around, using it for nothing? It was boring.
His eyes wandered to the far corner of his room. There sat the tray the maid had left. He got out of his chair and moved towards it, dreading the effect of the disgustingly thick purple and black drink. He took the two red pills and put them in his mouth, holding them there until he could get the glass to his lips. He poured the liquid in, clamping his mouth shut and gulping down hardly. The pills slipped down easily, but the drink did not. It crawled slowly down his throat, burning all the tissue and muscle as it went. Zim's Irken equilvalent of a stomach rebelled at the thought of the searing liquid in itself and his passages tried to force it out into the open again. Zim doubled over, resisting the urge to scream and stubbornly kept his mouth closed. He clutched his chest in pain, sharp gloved fingertips digging into his flesh, trying to force the liquid down.
Finally, the burning subsided and it all slid into his body.
Zim collapsed onto the floor, his eyes wide with a blank stare.
No sound could be heard.
His body lay, unmoving. His chest did not rise and fall with the steady rhythm it should have. The whirring of the ship's motors quietly vibrated through the walls.
Then, the silence was broken by Zim's sudden gasp for breath. He clenched his eyes shut and wheezed heavily, inhaling the glorious air in huge gulps.
Every day this was the struggle. Yet, it was necessary. It was necessary if he wanted to break the dreary repetition of every day of his life.
This wasn't just about the medicine: it was about what the medicine could do.
Zim curled up into a fetal position, having finally regained his breath. He opened his eyes to find himself facing the large window once more. The Earth drew closer and closer.
"Sir!" the doors slid open noisily to reveal a soldier. The magenta-eyed male eyed Zim, still lying on the floor, then continued. "We will reach planet Earth shortly, Sir. I would advise that you ready yourself for the occasion, Sir. Are there any preparations you would like made, Sir?"
"Yes," Zim said grabbing hold of the table edge and slowly getting to his feet. "I would like you to prepare the special torture room for one inhabitant. I think it will finally get some use."
"Yes, Sir," said the soldier, giving Zim a wary look. "Would you like anything else to be done, Sir?"
"No, that will be all."
"Good day, Sir." he said, excusing himself. He turned and walked out.
The Earth now took up the entire window view.
And for the first time since leaving it, Zim smiled.
---
"Okay, I guess I'm 'Master' now."
"YAY!" yelled Gir, letting go of Dib's leg and jumping around in circles. "I gotsa new Master!" He giggled and pranced around some more. Dib's mood lightened as he watched the robot do various imitations of animals. The rain had lifted, but the clouds remained. Gir hopped out from under the overhead, down the concrete stairs, and out into the puddles of mud. He splashed in them, yelling out a song about 'Mr. Moose and Mr. Piggy'. As he was belting it out in opera style, a large drop of water plunked onto his head with a resounding 'bong'. The robot stopped singing and squinted into the gray sky above. "Master?"
"Yes?" Dib responded automatically.
"No, not Dib Master. Master Master." he said, pointing up into the clouds. Dib followed Gir's hand. A large group of purple, pink, and gray voot-runners flanked one large ship which stood in the shape of a upright shark fin.
"Oh god..." said Dib. "Oh no, jeezus, no..."
Gir stood, eyes fixed on the sky. "Master is back? Master came back to get me?"
As the fleet came closer, the markings on the large ship became evident: the Irken symbol of war.
Dib was struck dumb in disbelief. All these years he had dreamed of seeking revenge... but the object of revenge had found him.
Gir now looked at the ground, torn between jumping up and down for joy and crying in sadness. Master was back, but what about Dib Master? Did he have to pick one? Could he have two Masters? Was having two Masters okay? Did anyone else have two masters?
While Gir pondered these 'important' questions, the fleet came closer. The 'shark fin' ship led the way, looking as natural in the air as a shark would in deep water. It also looked like a shark would feel in a school of huge tasty fish.
The foreign aircraft crawled towards the Earth's surface in an almost march. A buzzing sound from the ships engines made the ground rumble beneath Dib's feet.
Suddenly, the lead ship stopped. In a chain reaction, the smaller aircrafts halted as well, until they all hovered like a swarm of bees waiting to attack. Dib expected huge lazer guns to pop out and shoot down the entire planet, but, to his relief, many moments passed and the Earth still remained intact. In fact, he was so busy staring dumbfoundedly at the sky that he didn't notice the small transport vehicle ejecting from the cargo bay of the 'shark fin'. It quietly scooted out of Dib's sight.
Gir finally decided to do some combination of his two choices. He squealed happily, making Dib take his gaze from the fleet to watch him. He then pounded the ground with his fists, crying huge tears, yelling: "WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!".
Dib scratched his head in question. Had this sudden arrival reminded Gir of his old life, causing him to short circuit? Or was the machine always this spontaneous?
Gir stopped bouncing up and down in joy as he looked past Dib. His eyes grew wide and lit up in happiness. "MASTER!"
Before Dib could turn, all he saw was blackness.
---
Master just shot Dib Master with a metal thingie in his hand. It went ZAP and Dib Master fell asleep. I wonder why Dib Master fell asleep? Was he sleepy? Well, Master laughed (Master laughs funny, hee hee!) and told his friends to 'TAKE HIM AWAY!'. Master is also scary when he yells. I don't like Master when he yells. Master looks funny: Master looks bigger. Or am I smaller? Or is Master bigger now? I think Master is taller. Yeah, that's it. Dib Master got dragged away by Master's friends into a little mousey-colored ship. Master went into the little ship. I am on the ship too 'cause I followed them. I am sneaky, hee hee! This is a fun game, like 'following the leader' 'cept sneakier!
Now the ship is all rumbly and bumpy. I am hiding in a brown box 'cause I don't think I'm supposed to be in here. I don't want to be yelled at, I don't want Master to get angry at me and leave again. That wasn't very fun.
Oh, the ship stopped bumping around. I heard lotsa footsteps and voices.
Ooo, Master just said to take Dib Master to the torture room 666. I have to remember that. 666. 666. 666. 656. 654. Um, no! I mean 666. Yes, Dib Master is in torture room 666. What's a torture room? I don't know. Torture room 666. Will Master be there too?
I don't hear any more sounds. I am going to try to sneak out now and find torture room 666.
Hee hee, I am being sneaky again.
---
to be continued... (please review)