Chapter 10 – The Egg Grows…Some More…
The next morning, when Zim left for Skool, Zia wasn't with him. He had left her seated comfortably in the living room watching TV and munching on a plate of waffles GIR had made, watching TV. GIR sat next to her, and APU practiced his stealth mode throughout the base.
As Zim was approaching Skool, Dib fell into step beside him. "15 days, eh, Zim?" he said.
Zim jumped, not realizing his nemesis had come up beside him. His eyes narrowed, "What're you talking about?"
"I was right all along, wasn't I?" Dib answered with another question, "This was the reason she came here in the first place, wasn't it?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Zim cried, "Her landing here was a complete accident and recent events…have just…happened."
Dib's smirk dissolved to a more puzzled surprise as he looked at Zim. Was he really blushing? It didn't seem possible, but it was right in front of his eyes. But he shook of his surprise and continued his taunting, "Well, leaving her home is a good idea. But it won't keep your secret safe, Zim. I'm gonna expose you both for the entire world to see!!"
Dib started to laugh maniacally, but Zim tacked him to the ground. As he had the human pinned to the asphalt of the playground, he leaned in menacingly and said, "I don't care what you do to me, filth-beast, but heed my words: if you so much as go near my mate…you'll regret it."
Then Zim stood up, dusted himself off, and continued up the steps of the Skool as if nothing had happened. Dib sat up and straightened his glasses, which had been knocked awry, staring after Zim in amazement. He didn't think he'd ever seen Zim sound so serious before. Then the bell rang and he dashed inside, knowing he'd be late if he didn't hurry.
* * *
Dib kept quiet for the rest of the day, so Zim was in a fairly good mood when he got home that afternoon. He was surprised, however, to find the living room littered with pizza boxes. On the couch, Zia was still watching TV and GIR was fast asleep on her stomach.
She looked up as Zim came in, "Oh hi!"
"Hello," Zim said, "Looks like you, uh, made out all right today."
Zia nodded, "Yeah. I can't explain the mess. I just had the wild craving for pizza!"
"I see," Zim said, "Well, I think these craving-things aren't going to go away. We'll have to have your APU get us some more Earth money, if we're going to last two weeks of them."
Zia moaned, "Two weeks of this…I guess it only gets worse, huh?"
Zim shrugged, "Probably."
* * *
The first week went by with everyday being just about the same (or sometimes worse). The egg was growing nicely, according to APU. Needless to say, this didn't thrill Zia, who was already getting tired of it. And her cravings were ranging from things like ice-cream to grape fruit. And GIR's new sleeping-place was getting bigger, to his delight.
By the time the weekend rolled around, both the Irkens had had enough. But the robots were always willing to do work around the house. GIR helped with Zia's cravings just because he got to share all the food, and APU helped with just about anything because of his programming.
By Sunday morning, it was time for another ultrasound check. Down in the lab, it took a bit of effort to get Zia up onto the operating table, but they managed it.
APU stuck the stethoscope-thing to his Mistress's belly. "Hmm…well, the egg is progressing right on schedule. I expect growth should stop some time around Saturday morning," he told her.
Zia sighed.
Zim tried looking on the positive side, "Well…um…only one more week to go!"
She nodded, and then slid off the table, wobbled a bit and grabbed Zim's arm for support. She smiled weakly, "I tell you, I'll be glad when this is over," she said.
"Won't we all?" Zim said, "Well, come on, let's get you back upstairs."
They had barely gone five feet when an alarm rang out and a red light began flashing. "WARNING!" Computer said, "UNKNOWN INTRUDER!!"
In an instant, APU disappeared, rushing to find the threat.
"It's probably Dib," Zim said, "I thought I told him to keep out of this!" He took a step towards the elevator, then turned back, "GIR, help Zia get back upstairs. I'll be right back."
GIR nodded and Zim hurried to the house level. When he got out into the front yard, APU was standing on the grass, the guns in his right arm extended and smoking. "What was it?" Zim asked.
"I don't know," APU said, eyes narrowed, "But I didn't like the look of it. The security cameras probably got a picture of it." And he turned and headed back inside, with Zim on his heels.
When they got inside, GIR was helping Zia up onto the couch. "What was it?" she asked.
"We'll know in a moment, Mistress," APU said.
"Computer!" Zim said, "Bring up a display of the security camera photos from the last intruder-sighting."
A few photos came up on the TV screen, there wasn't much on the first through, but as they scrolled through, APU pointed at the screen and yelled "Stop!!" The image froze and in the corner of the screen, a small black probe droid could be seen flying away. "That's our intruder," APU said with certainty.
Zia gulped, "That's a probe droid, isn't it?"
"Probe droid – Federation Class," APU said, "Model ZS-567. A few years outdated, but still functional."
"But what would the Universal Federation want with us?" Zim asked.
"It was probably stolen," APU said, "The Federation wouldn't use an old model if they had access to newer ones. The most likely source…" he turned to face the group, "…would be a bounty hunter."
Zia and APU exchanged a knowing glance. Bounty hunters were an expected danger for Diplomats, and APU was well-equipped to deal with one, or so it said in his programming.
Zim looked from Zia to APU, confused, "A bounty hunter?? But…why…?"
APU turned to Zim, "I could be wrong, of course," he said, "Probe droids older than a few years have been known to malfunction and wander the galaxies, causing unnecessary worry."
"Still," Zia said, noting Zim's distress, "We should tighten security and program the houses defenses to recognize the droid."
"Right," Zim nodded, "You heard her, Computer?"
"Programming in process," Computer said.
"Good," he said, climbing up on the couch next to his mate and taking her hand.
She smiled at him, "You know what I could use?"
"What?"
"Something from MacMeaties."
* * *
Monday went by smoothly and Tuesday morning rolled in, and around ten o' clock, the alarm went off again. APU went to investigate, and came back looking grim.
"The droid again?" Zia asked.
"Yes," APU said, "But I managed to damage it this time. It shouldn't be bothering us for a while."
"Well that's good," Zia said.
Next to her, GIR held a big bowl of popcorn and a video disk. "Don't be sad, Mistress," he said, "I got movies!!"
Zia clapped her hands in glee. APU sighed and started patrolling the house again.
* * *
That afternoon, Zim came home to the usual seen, Zia watching TV while GIR slept on her ever-growing stomach. He smiled, relieved that everything was looking normal – so to speak.
She glanced up as he came in. "Hi," she said, "How was Skool?"
"Horrible, as usual," Zim said, "Anything happen here?"
Zia shrugged, "APU got a good shot at that probe droid."
"It came back?!?!" Zim cried.
"Relax," she said, "It won't be coming back as willingly anymore. Besides, we have some more important things to worry about." She pointed at her stomach.
"Oh yeah."
Zia laughed, "Oh, Zim, you're such a dumb-ass, but I love you anyway."
Zim put a hand behind his head sheepishly, "How's it coming anyway?"
"Just fine," Zia sighed, "But it's starting to rotate now…and that hurts."
Zim hopped up beside her and kissed her gently, "If anyone can handle a little pain, you can."
"Thanks," she said, "But I'm sure this is just the beginning."
"And we'll get through it together," Zim assured her.
She reached out and squeezed his hand. He leaned in to kiss her again…
And then GIR woke up. "Master! You're home!!"
"Yes, GIR," Zim said, annoyed, "How about you go get us something to eat?"
"Okie-dokie!" GIR said, and ran off towards the kitchen.
Zim watched him go, and then turned back to Zia, "Now…where were we?"
"I think, we were right about here," Zia said, putting a hand on Zim's collar and pulling him in for a kiss.
From the kitchen door, APU and GIR watched, unnoticed.
GIR grinned.
"I guess…they do…make a nice pair…" APU said reluctantly.
Overcome with joy and hyperactivity, GIR hugged APU, who pushed him off with a quick, "Don't touch me."
The next morning, when Zim left for Skool, Zia wasn't with him. He had left her seated comfortably in the living room watching TV and munching on a plate of waffles GIR had made, watching TV. GIR sat next to her, and APU practiced his stealth mode throughout the base.
As Zim was approaching Skool, Dib fell into step beside him. "15 days, eh, Zim?" he said.
Zim jumped, not realizing his nemesis had come up beside him. His eyes narrowed, "What're you talking about?"
"I was right all along, wasn't I?" Dib answered with another question, "This was the reason she came here in the first place, wasn't it?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Zim cried, "Her landing here was a complete accident and recent events…have just…happened."
Dib's smirk dissolved to a more puzzled surprise as he looked at Zim. Was he really blushing? It didn't seem possible, but it was right in front of his eyes. But he shook of his surprise and continued his taunting, "Well, leaving her home is a good idea. But it won't keep your secret safe, Zim. I'm gonna expose you both for the entire world to see!!"
Dib started to laugh maniacally, but Zim tacked him to the ground. As he had the human pinned to the asphalt of the playground, he leaned in menacingly and said, "I don't care what you do to me, filth-beast, but heed my words: if you so much as go near my mate…you'll regret it."
Then Zim stood up, dusted himself off, and continued up the steps of the Skool as if nothing had happened. Dib sat up and straightened his glasses, which had been knocked awry, staring after Zim in amazement. He didn't think he'd ever seen Zim sound so serious before. Then the bell rang and he dashed inside, knowing he'd be late if he didn't hurry.
* * *
Dib kept quiet for the rest of the day, so Zim was in a fairly good mood when he got home that afternoon. He was surprised, however, to find the living room littered with pizza boxes. On the couch, Zia was still watching TV and GIR was fast asleep on her stomach.
She looked up as Zim came in, "Oh hi!"
"Hello," Zim said, "Looks like you, uh, made out all right today."
Zia nodded, "Yeah. I can't explain the mess. I just had the wild craving for pizza!"
"I see," Zim said, "Well, I think these craving-things aren't going to go away. We'll have to have your APU get us some more Earth money, if we're going to last two weeks of them."
Zia moaned, "Two weeks of this…I guess it only gets worse, huh?"
Zim shrugged, "Probably."
* * *
The first week went by with everyday being just about the same (or sometimes worse). The egg was growing nicely, according to APU. Needless to say, this didn't thrill Zia, who was already getting tired of it. And her cravings were ranging from things like ice-cream to grape fruit. And GIR's new sleeping-place was getting bigger, to his delight.
By the time the weekend rolled around, both the Irkens had had enough. But the robots were always willing to do work around the house. GIR helped with Zia's cravings just because he got to share all the food, and APU helped with just about anything because of his programming.
By Sunday morning, it was time for another ultrasound check. Down in the lab, it took a bit of effort to get Zia up onto the operating table, but they managed it.
APU stuck the stethoscope-thing to his Mistress's belly. "Hmm…well, the egg is progressing right on schedule. I expect growth should stop some time around Saturday morning," he told her.
Zia sighed.
Zim tried looking on the positive side, "Well…um…only one more week to go!"
She nodded, and then slid off the table, wobbled a bit and grabbed Zim's arm for support. She smiled weakly, "I tell you, I'll be glad when this is over," she said.
"Won't we all?" Zim said, "Well, come on, let's get you back upstairs."
They had barely gone five feet when an alarm rang out and a red light began flashing. "WARNING!" Computer said, "UNKNOWN INTRUDER!!"
In an instant, APU disappeared, rushing to find the threat.
"It's probably Dib," Zim said, "I thought I told him to keep out of this!" He took a step towards the elevator, then turned back, "GIR, help Zia get back upstairs. I'll be right back."
GIR nodded and Zim hurried to the house level. When he got out into the front yard, APU was standing on the grass, the guns in his right arm extended and smoking. "What was it?" Zim asked.
"I don't know," APU said, eyes narrowed, "But I didn't like the look of it. The security cameras probably got a picture of it." And he turned and headed back inside, with Zim on his heels.
When they got inside, GIR was helping Zia up onto the couch. "What was it?" she asked.
"We'll know in a moment, Mistress," APU said.
"Computer!" Zim said, "Bring up a display of the security camera photos from the last intruder-sighting."
A few photos came up on the TV screen, there wasn't much on the first through, but as they scrolled through, APU pointed at the screen and yelled "Stop!!" The image froze and in the corner of the screen, a small black probe droid could be seen flying away. "That's our intruder," APU said with certainty.
Zia gulped, "That's a probe droid, isn't it?"
"Probe droid – Federation Class," APU said, "Model ZS-567. A few years outdated, but still functional."
"But what would the Universal Federation want with us?" Zim asked.
"It was probably stolen," APU said, "The Federation wouldn't use an old model if they had access to newer ones. The most likely source…" he turned to face the group, "…would be a bounty hunter."
Zia and APU exchanged a knowing glance. Bounty hunters were an expected danger for Diplomats, and APU was well-equipped to deal with one, or so it said in his programming.
Zim looked from Zia to APU, confused, "A bounty hunter?? But…why…?"
APU turned to Zim, "I could be wrong, of course," he said, "Probe droids older than a few years have been known to malfunction and wander the galaxies, causing unnecessary worry."
"Still," Zia said, noting Zim's distress, "We should tighten security and program the houses defenses to recognize the droid."
"Right," Zim nodded, "You heard her, Computer?"
"Programming in process," Computer said.
"Good," he said, climbing up on the couch next to his mate and taking her hand.
She smiled at him, "You know what I could use?"
"What?"
"Something from MacMeaties."
* * *
Monday went by smoothly and Tuesday morning rolled in, and around ten o' clock, the alarm went off again. APU went to investigate, and came back looking grim.
"The droid again?" Zia asked.
"Yes," APU said, "But I managed to damage it this time. It shouldn't be bothering us for a while."
"Well that's good," Zia said.
Next to her, GIR held a big bowl of popcorn and a video disk. "Don't be sad, Mistress," he said, "I got movies!!"
Zia clapped her hands in glee. APU sighed and started patrolling the house again.
* * *
That afternoon, Zim came home to the usual seen, Zia watching TV while GIR slept on her ever-growing stomach. He smiled, relieved that everything was looking normal – so to speak.
She glanced up as he came in. "Hi," she said, "How was Skool?"
"Horrible, as usual," Zim said, "Anything happen here?"
Zia shrugged, "APU got a good shot at that probe droid."
"It came back?!?!" Zim cried.
"Relax," she said, "It won't be coming back as willingly anymore. Besides, we have some more important things to worry about." She pointed at her stomach.
"Oh yeah."
Zia laughed, "Oh, Zim, you're such a dumb-ass, but I love you anyway."
Zim put a hand behind his head sheepishly, "How's it coming anyway?"
"Just fine," Zia sighed, "But it's starting to rotate now…and that hurts."
Zim hopped up beside her and kissed her gently, "If anyone can handle a little pain, you can."
"Thanks," she said, "But I'm sure this is just the beginning."
"And we'll get through it together," Zim assured her.
She reached out and squeezed his hand. He leaned in to kiss her again…
And then GIR woke up. "Master! You're home!!"
"Yes, GIR," Zim said, annoyed, "How about you go get us something to eat?"
"Okie-dokie!" GIR said, and ran off towards the kitchen.
Zim watched him go, and then turned back to Zia, "Now…where were we?"
"I think, we were right about here," Zia said, putting a hand on Zim's collar and pulling him in for a kiss.
From the kitchen door, APU and GIR watched, unnoticed.
GIR grinned.
"I guess…they do…make a nice pair…" APU said reluctantly.
Overcome with joy and hyperactivity, GIR hugged APU, who pushed him off with a quick, "Don't touch me."
