Hi folks, it's been a while, I know. Sorry, but I've been busy lately doing nothing. Gamecube ate my soul(again) and that's all I can think about. Anyone else have Sonic Adventure 2 Battle? Yeah, anyway.
I'm gonna try and hurry with the next chapter but I may be slowed with school and everything. They changed the schedule so we have 10 periods. Yay. Okay, I'll be quiet now. Let's get going.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my stuff.
Chapter 12
Enter Dr. Conway
Zim laid flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling, not really focusing on anything. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. He no longer cared about anything. His only hope was that all the pain would go away soon.
"Hey there, buddy," said Hulk, looming over Zim and blocking his view. "Are ya thirsty?" Hulk had been trying to be kind towards Zim, for he could see that he'd lost the will to live. Zim blinked slowly and shook his head. Hulk frowned. "Oh, all right then. Just tell me if ya need anything."
Chuck sat at the other side of the room, eating a chocolate donut while looking over some test results. "Oh please, Hulk, you make me sick. Dib said not to show compassion for the specimen. It'll confuse him. Besides, he don't look like he's gonna live much longer anyway." He opened up a cabinet shelf and started shuffling through files. He pulled out a folder and pulled out a picture.
Hulk raised an eyebrow. "Those are classified files you realize?"
"You're point?" asked Chuck shrugging. He finished off what was left of his donut and gave the photo to Hulk. "See? That's the subject when we first brought him in. Compare the photo to the subject now. He looks like a zombie."
Hulk eyed the photo, then looked back up at Zim. "Oh...how horrible..." he gasped, and forced the photo back into Chuck's hands. "Put it away, put it away!"
Chuck rolled his eyes. "You're way too sensitive. Just think of the alien as an overgrown lab rat." He put the photo back in the folder.
"Dib is gonna kill you if he sees what you did to that folder," said Hulk, pointing. Chuck looked down and saw the big brown stain from his donut. Chuck shook his head and sneered.
"You know, if Dib even tried to fire me, I'd just bust a cap in his-"
"AHEM."
Chuck turned around to find Dib staring at him crossly, tapping his foot.
"H-h-hey! Been there long?"
"Long enough. I see that you've been looking through some classified files there. Would you mind telling me why?" Dib said, still tapping his foot.
"S-sir, I was merely-" Chuck started.
"No. Just leave the room without a word. We'll talk later." Dib pointed at the door.
"Yes, sir," growled Chuck, and he exited, slamming the door behind him.
"Well." Dib cleared his throat. "I just came by cause I wanted to check up on our lovely little alien. How is he?"
Hulk looked down at his clipboard. "Uh, his temperature is above normal and steady, his breathing is irregular, and I think he's sick. He won't eat or drink either, and he won't talk. I think his throat might be infected with something. He coughs in his sleep and once and a while he-"
"I wasn't asking you, Hulk. You may leave the room if you please."
"Oh. All right then. I'll just sit the clipboard down on the table if you need it. See you later, sir." Hulk sat his clipboard down on the table and headed toward the door.
"Hulk, before ya leave, could you take the restraints off the subject? It would make things so much easier," Dib said. Zim cringed, a little frightened by Dib's tone of voice. Hulk nodded and undid the restraints. "Thank you Hulk. You can go now," Dib said as a grin grew on his face. Zim trembled slightly as he saw Hulk leave. Dib saw this and his grin grew.
"So Zim. Subject A," Dib said, walking slowly towards Zim's table, "I believe I see a little fear in your eyes. Am I correct?" Zim tried to stand up but was crippled with pain. He barely managed to sit up. "I also see frailty. Am I correct on that as well?" Dib snickered, coming still closer. Zim watched him with dread. "But something is missing. Yes, there's definitely something missing." Dib suddenly stopped. "Tell me, would that something be..." Spider legs shot out of the backpod, raising Dib high in the air and flinging him towards Zim. Dib landed gracefully over Zim, two robotic legs beside Zim's head, two longer ones on the ground, and two just to the side of Dib's head, ready to attack if Zim dared to move. Before he could even tell what happened, Zim was staring up at his enemy. "...hope?"
Zim cowered below Dib, petrified. He panted, feeling the sweat going down his neck and back. Although he knew he was sweating badly, Zim felt horribly cold and shivered. Dib smiled and raised one of the robotic legs near his head high.
"Yes, I do believe you've given up. Rightfully so. I'm glad you've finally come to you're senses. But it would help a lot if you'd admit it for me. You think you can do that?" Dib glared at Zim, waiting for an answer. Zim just stared up at him, frozen. "Fine. I suppose I'll just have to persuade you!"
The raised robotic leg rushed down at Zim, striking him hard in the left shoulder. Zim yelped and rolled to his side, cradling his bleeding wound. "Well? I'm waiting." Dib looked down at his watch and waited for 10 seconds. He sighed. "Why must you be so stubborn Zim? You're only hurting yourself." A second leg came down, this time striking Zim on the side of the head with great force, causing him to fly off the table and crash into the wall.
Zim's head throbbed horribly and he whined in pain, letting a few tears slide down his face. He was dizzy and felt like he'd cracked open his skull. Dib laughed loudly. "Oh Zim! I'm so very sorry!" he said in a high, mocking voice. "Did I hurt you? Here, let me help you up!" A dark purple wire flew out of the backpod towards Zim. It wrapped around him and pulled him up to Dib's eye level.
"Say it." Zim was limp in the wire's grasp, confused and only half conscious. Dib shook his head. "We can't be sleeping now. Here, wake up." The wire tightened, squeezing Zim and cutting off is air. Zim heard his bones cracking. The squeezing stopped, and Zim breathed in deeply. He coughed slightly as he tried to get his air. Dib watched and beamed. He was greatly enjoying Zim's pain.
"I wouldn't rest just yet Zim. Look."
Zim heard a buzzing noise and wondered if he was hearing things. He looked down at the wire and saw it had become a lighter color and it seemed to glow. He lowered his antennae, confused.
"Say it, or be shocked," Dib said coldly, glaring at Zim with disgust. "You don't have much time - tick tock, tick tock." Zim shook his head and strained to say something, but it was too raspy and soft for Dib to make out. "Can't ya talk Zim? Aww...too bad!"
Zim felt a deep burning inside his skin as he was electrocuted. He couldn't scream or close his eyes. It seemed to last forever, the pain just wouldn't stop.
"Annnnd....now." Dib stopped the electric current, and Zim went numb and blacked out. Dib sighed and shook his head. "What a waste of time. Oh well." He unwrapped Zim's limp body and let it fall to the floor with a thud. "I suppose it wasn't an entire waste. At least it was mildly entertaining."
"Well, I never would have guessed how right Agent Blink was!" said a woman's voice behind Dib. Dib dropped to the ground in alarm and spun around. He glared at the woman.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?!" Dib demanded pointing at the woman. She was tall and skinny, with long brown hair that was braided down her back. She had light purple goggles with dark purple gloves and boots to match. She had a white lab coat on with a pin on the left side of her chest that said "Dr. Conway."
"My name is September Conway, but you will know me as Dr. Conway. I was a former agent here, Agent Braid, but I quit to become a real doctor. Agent Blink - one of the higher up agents - called me the other day, saying that a young boy - you - had brought in an actual alien. He told me that you weren't handling the experiments that well and that somebody more professional should take over. He also said that he thought you were torturing the poor thing and that a doctor might be needed to help the specimen to recover. I offered my assistance, and here I am."
"But, I've been getting nothing but compliments from Agent Stone and Agent Oak! You can't just come in here and expect me to believe your every word! You could be lying!" Dib said, refusing to let his discovery be taken away from him.
"Here's my ID," replied Dr. Conway calmly, handing Dib a black card with blue letters. "If you still don't believe me, we could go to Agent Blink and have a little chat - and maybe we could discuss the steel thing on your back. Hiding discoveries, aren't we now?" she said, smiling.
"But...," Dib stammered in disbelief.
"Get over it kid. You lost your chance. You still might be able to work on studying the subject, but I think being able to control everything went to your head. We'll be taking the alien down to Office 18 for recovery. You're welcome to take notes, but you won't be allowed near the subject anymore."
Dr. Conway went over to Zim and gently lifted him up over her shoulder, cradling his limp body. "I'm going to need all the test results and files on the subject. Could you get them out for me?" she asked Dib kindly.
"ZIM'S MY ALIEN! MINE I TELL YOU! NOBODY ELSE'S! MINE!" Dib yelled hysterically.
"You dare call yourself a scientist, boy? You have much to learn. Look at the test subject, just look at it. It's sick and hurt, and Agent Blink said it has lost the will to live. How many experiments has it been through?! Three. This is what it looks like after three experiments! This is inhumane in every way possible. I think you were a little too anxious for the autopsy, Dib, cause real scientists would not let their test subject get this badly hurt. Now, I need those papers. Kindly get them for me, or I will be forced to call Agent Blink."
Dib stared at her blankly for a few moments, then got out the papers. "You can't take my award away," Dib said angrily. Dr. Conway smiled and nodded.
"No, that's yours to keep. Now, I must be on my way, so please open the door." Dib sneered and opened the door, letting Dr. Conway out. He slammed the door as she left.
Later...
Zim regretted waking up. Every muscle burned in pain, every bone ached. It hurt staying still, but it hurt even more moving. He was cold but still sweating, with a sick, clammy feeling all over his skin. He coughed several times in an attempt to clear his throat, but it only caused a bad taste to come to his mouth.
'I need sleep, sleep eases pain, sleep is good, nice..' Zim thought, and he pulled the soft covers over his shoulder and snuggled deeper into his pillow. He yawned and almost drifted back into his slumber when he realized that he was in a bed.
'Wha..?!' he thought, sitting up immediately. He ignored all his aches and looked around. He was in a nice, big room with dark blue carpet and white wallpaper. The right side of the room had a very long picture of a deer standing near a waterfall. Beside the picture was a door, but it could only be opened with an I.D. card. Zim's bed was in the back of the room, stuck in the left side corner. It was a large bed, probably meant for two people, with white silk sheets and a warm white comforter. There were many pillows, all white, some with frills, and in all sizes and shapes. It was a nice change from the rock-hard table Zim was used to. Next to Zim's bed, there was a large recliner chair, a bookcase beside it.
In the front of the room was a refrigerator, a table surrounded by four chairs next to it. There was a clipboard sitting on the table, probably with notes on Zim's recovery. In the center of the left wall, there was a medium sized T.V. with what looked like a video game console in front of it. Zim also noticed that the lights weren't nearly as bright as he'd become accustomed to. They were at a comfortable brightness, not too dark and not too bright. Zim studied his surroundings for a few moments, dumbfounded by how much things had changed. He scratched his head, thinking, and noticed a clunky band around his wrist. It was labeled 'Subject A.' He looked down at himself and was surprised to see he was wearing a shirt and new shorts. Both were baggy and a light, periwinkle blue. The shirt had buttons down the front and short sleeves. The shorts had a string tied to keep them secure and fit comfortably.
Zim plopped back down into the pillows, thinking about all he'd just seen. 'Could this just be a hologram? Is this just another experiment?' he thought, completely perplexed. He was getting a headache, his head starting to ring slightly.
"Are you still awake?" whispered a voice to the right. Zim forced himself back up and looked over at the door. There was a tall woman in a lab coat staring at him. She smiled, seeing him look her way. "Hi there, little guy," she said, waving at him. Zim ducked under the covers, worried that this new scientist would hurt him.
"Now, now, don't worry. Nobody's gonna harm you in any way. This is a recovery area, and I'm the doctor, Dr. Conway, but you can call me Dr. C," she said, walking towards the bed. She sat down beside Zim. "Come on out. I'm here to help you."
Zim didn't believe her. All people in lab coats were not to be trusted. Zim pulled the covers tighter over his head. Dr. Conway shook her head and sighed. She grabbed the covers and quickly threw them off the bed. Zim yelped and fell backwards off the bed, shocked at his sudden exposure. He landed on his back with a thud.
"Sorry, buddy, but you can't hide. Let me help you up," Dr. Conway said gently, reaching down to pick Zim up. Zim panicked and tried to flee, but he was too clumsy and was quickly seized. He kicked and twisted to get loose, but Dr. Conway's hold was secure. "Don't fret little guy, Dib isn't around anymore! Please, settle down!" she said, holding the struggling Zim away from her.
Zim kept twisting to get loose, still not believing the doctor. He struggled as hard as he could, but was stopped when he felt his insides gurgling. He felt something creeping up his throat, and quickly put his hands in front of his mouth.
"Do you need a bucket?" Dr. Conway asked, and Zim nodded. The doctor sat Zim down on the bed and opened up the fridge, pulling out a bowl. She rushed back to Zim and put it in front of him.
"Bllllleeeaaaaaahk!" Zim heaved. Dr. Conway patted his back as he coughed up the last of it. Zim wiped his mouth and eyes.
"Feel better?" Dr. Conway asked kindly, still patting Zim's back.
"Hnnng...," Zim moaned, feeling sicker than before. He coughed a few times, then went quiet.
"I'll be right back, stay right there," Dr. Conway said, picking up the soiled bowl and heading towards the door. She left and was back in a few minutes with a pack of crackers. She sat back down beside Zim. "Want any?" she said, offering the crackers.
Zim shook his head. He was feeling really dizzy and queasy, not to mention weak. He sat cross-legged, holding his ankles and rocking from side to side. Dr. Conway wrapped her arm around him and made him lay across her lap.
"Now that you're calmed down, I can explain a few things. Okay, once again, my name is Dr. Conway, but since you can't talk all that well at the moment, you can call me Dr. C. I took over for Dib. Anyway, this whole room is made just so you can recover. You're free to walk around, watch TV, eat or drink, read, and even play video games. The only downside is that every few hours, you'll have to get a shot. It'll help you recover faster. There will always be somebody in this room with you, sometimes me, sometimes my partners. We're here to help you."
"You'll be going through some therapy for speech and walking. The therapy could take a long time, but since it's probably just injury and sickness keeping you from doing those things, we don't expect it to go that long." Dr. Conway picked up Zim's wrist with the band around it. "See this? It's sort of like a shock collar, but it goes around your wrist instead. If you really start to rebel or misbehave, we can shock you. There are three different settings. The first setting is just a little sting. We'll just give ya a little zap if you won't get up or something. The second setting hurts. If you still won't cooperate after a few first setting zaps, we'll turn it up to the second setting. The third setting will knock you out. We'll only use that if you attack one of the helpers or if you try to escape. Hopefully we won't be needing that."
Zim nodded slowly, understanding that he had more freedom than before, but not as much as he first thought he had. He moaned quietly, his insides still gurgling inside him. He yawned, drowsy and worn out. Dr. Conway gently lifted him up and tucked him in. He snuggled deep into his pillow and fell asleep.
Dr. Conway left the room, looking to the left to see how many people were observing the subject. She smiled, glad that the alien hadn't suspected it was being watched. "Now remember, people. No tapping on the glass or lighters, the subject thinks that there's a picture here, not a window." Happy about how the day went, she left one of her helpers in charge and headed to the lounge room.
At the Jail
"CHEESE SEA LEPRECHAUNS!" yelled Gir as he had his picture taken. He was in an orange uniform with 'Convict 1234567' on his right.
"Turn to the left!"
Gir turned upside-down.
"For the last time, are you sure you're not legally retarded?" asked the warden, annoyed.
"Got donut?" Gir replied happily. He was enjoying himself veddy much. He'd never worn orange before and thought it matched his green doggy skin perfectly. He also enjoyed the photo shoot. It made him feel like a star. He smiled insanely as another picture was taken.
"You know, sir, I think this convict of yours should be in the pound, not the jail," said a zitty teenage janitor. The warden sneered.
"Get mopping, junior. I think I can tell the difference between a convict and a puppy dog, thank you very much."
Gir was thrown in a smelly cell with a clogged up toilet. There were roaches crawling around and a dead rat hanging by its tail on the ceiling. The mattress on his bed had springs sticking out of it, and what looked like a severed arm under the pillow.
"Don't I get a phone call?" Gir asked, jumping up and down on the bed.
"You choose for either a phone call or a free harmonica," replied the guard.
"HARMONICA!" Gir screamed, and the guard threw it at him. Gir instantly began blowing into it, making a horrible noise that could break glasses. The guard cringed.
"You listen here, mutant convict boy dog. You either play better, or I will MAKE you play better!" the guard said
"Temper, temper," said a familiar voice. The guard immediately straightened up and was silent. Gaz glared at him for a moment. "Leave." The guard ran away as fast as he could.
"Hey! You're that...You!" Gir said. "What are you doing here?"
"They pay me to kill the rats. What are you doing here?" Gaz said, glaring at the convict dog.
"Ya know, I really have no idea. Could you get me out? I'm a man on a mission," Gir said, hitting his chest on the last part.
Gaz thought a little bit. "Only if you give me that severed arm under the pillow."
"Deal!"
Yay! Dr. Conway burst Dib's bubble! Good for her! ~woot~ Yeah. Expect the next chapter within 3 weeks, give or take a few days. Hope you weren't disappointed.
-Crystal