Chapter 9 - The Visitor
"No!" Vehn shouted when Nodac announced her engagement to Dib for the second time. "You can't do this!"
"I find your motives for keeping me apart from Dib suspicious."
"Yes, Vehn," Laena said, "I sometimes think that you still want Nodac available."
"No! That's not what I've been doing. I just don't want her to be in danger. If she marries him, Zim will kill Nodac brutally and Dib will have to watch just before his own death, like Shaya and my brother."
"What?" Nodac asked.
"Dylan proposed to Shaya just before we encountered Zim. I had planned the same for Laena, but decided against it that day. Us meeting Zim was no accident. Zim knows where we are and what goes on. He's trying to get you two to marry in order to speed up his ultimate revenge on you. That's why he only slit Nodac's neck a little bit, but made it seem horrifying. That's why he wrote a note in Laena's name reminding me to pack the first-aid kit and to include the materials for a slit neck, and that's why he made it consistent: killing both Shaya and Dylan by cutting their necks open, in order to make the note less conspicuous. It's an elaborate plan to kill you, Dib, but it's not going to work, because I've got him figured out."
"But why would Zim only kill after someone's married?"
"I don't know."
"Lnixq rhe kodi. He is dishonest." Laena was indignant.
"How dare you accuse Vehn of lying!"
"No, not Vehn...Zim. It's too convenient. He's trying to make it seem like that."
"But why?"
"To get Vehn to unknowingly carry out his wishes-that Dib and I don't marry."
"Why would he want that?"
"Maybe the same reason you suspected Vehn was trying to separate us-to try to keep me available."
"No way. You're a human, and he's a disgruntled, insane Irken invader who despises humans!"
"Yes way. Why do you think he captured Shaya?"
"Captured? Don't you mean killed?"
"Maybe not. Remember how when Dylan screamed and he gave that devious smile? It's as though he was bragging. Dylan had been threatened with Shaya's life before, so it was a sort of hostage. However, when he realized that Dylan would tell us about him and his plan would be ruined, he killed him later that night. He's not after you this time, Dib. He's after me."
"But why do you think Shaya's alive?"
"Simple. Like I said, she's his hostage. He plans on Dib and I not to get married, capture Laena as a second hostage, and make Vehn believe Dib killed her. Vehn would kill Dib, and his vengeance is complete."
"But you said he was after you."
"Well, then I guess that means I'm off the mark in my theory."
"Nodac?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Could you teach me some more Kareire words?" A smile appeared on her face.
"I'd be delighted." A laser beam sounded, followed by Zim's screechy voice instructing his robot.
"Nodac! Dib! Hide!" Vehn shouted. Dib grabbed Nodac's hand, and they ran into their room. Zim was there, waiting for them.
"Hand the girl over." Dib glared into his enemy's eye.
"Stay away from her!"
"I'm afraid I can't, Dib, for she is what I came for."
"You'll have to kill me first."
"I'd be glad to." Zim withdrew a long, laser that resembled a light saber, and aimed it at Dib's throat. He ducked under, and dashed across the room. With sudden horror, he realized that he had left Nodac where Zim was, and he now threatened to cut her neck open with it. "Goodbye, Dib!" Zim said. He put the laser away, replaced it with a small device, and transported them back to his base. Dib reached them just a second after they disappeared. He darted out to the room where Vehn and Laena were.
"He took Nodac!"
"We've got to find his base. You've known him for longer than us. What kind of place would Zim hide out?"
"Someplace obvious."
"But where?" Laena said.
"Maybe the Whitehouse," Vehn joked.
"That's just the kind of place he'd be! Hurry, get you're things, we're going to the Whitehouse!"
"Wait-I was only joking. Let's not jump to conclusions. Imagine if we were wrong. Taking a trip all the way to the Whitehouse, and by the time we'd realize that he's not there, she'd be dead. We've got to think logically."
"Let's try his old base. His robot was sentimental before Zim fixed him up. Maybe he's still there."
"Good plan." They each grabbed a weapon-Laena, a sword, Vehn, a gun, Dib, a laser-and hopped in the car. As they neared the house, the saw an enormous telescope sticking out of it, along with high-tech security cameras everywhere. They followed the car with their lenses, but they stopped the engine and got out of the car halfway to the house.
"Zim!" Dib yelled. "How about a fight! Just us three against you! What, are you scared? Aren't you supposed to be the 'superior being'?" The door opened, and Zim instructed Gir to wait for him.
"Fine! You'll have a fight! But tell your friends to go! I want to kill you without any hindrances."
"Sure. Just give Nodac back!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible. And don't try to sneak into my base while fighting, either! I programmed it to vaporize any human being that steps inside!"
"Then where's Nodac?"
"Oh, she's in my Voot Runner-" Zim clasped his hands over his mouth.
"Head for his Voot Runner!" The three ran towards his Voot, but Zim stopped Dib.
"You wanted a fight. Here it is." Zim pulled out his laser gun and aimed it in between the eyes. "Say your prayers, human..." He shot it, but it didn't do anything. "What? I didn't set it to strengthen! Piece of junk!" Zim tossed it to the ground in anger, and Dib picked it up. Hastily, he adjusted it to kill. He aimed it at Zim, ready to blow his brains out.
"Say YOUR prayers, ALIEN!"
"Wait! You can't kill me!"
"Shove it, Zim. Nothing's going to stop me now from doing what I should've done a long time ago! You killed my father, you killed my sister, two of my friends, and I have the suspicion that you were involved in my mother's death as well! You've killed everyone and everything in your path that I ever cared about! Now, act like a man and die noble!" His hand that held the gun quivered, as he prepared to pull the trigger.
"If you kill me now, you'll be killing Nodac, too. She's brainwashed, just like Shaya. She thinks she loves me, and will do anything for me...including kill you. I saw you and your Earth friends pitifully trying to guess my plan, when it was right there in front of you the whole time. I was trying to hypnotize those that you love to kill you, making your deaths even more painful and full of suffering. Now, if you don't pull that trigger, I can bring her out of it and figure out some other way to kill you."
"How do I know?"
"How do you know what?"
"How do I know that you'll save her? I can't risk her life, too. I need proof."
"I can give no proof! Hold the gun on me the whole time, for all I care, but don't pull that trigger! If you want to marry her, you'll have to trust me. Just once. Don't pull that trigger, or you'll regret it."
"I can't do that. I can't trust you."
"Not even for Nodac? The one you claim to love beyond anything else? I've been spying on you for some time now, and I know where you're life's gone. You depend on her. You need her. Just don't pull that trigger. You won't find any other way."
"I'll make her remember me. I'll find a way. She can't forget me. She loves me just as I love her."
"You are a sad, pitiful thing, Dib. She won't be able to remember, no matter how much she wants too. It would be hopeless."
"I can't trust you. You have to die. You have to die!" He pulled the trigger, and Zim fell down to the pavement. Not a twitch. Not a single motion. He was dead. In merely a second's time, before he could say anything of importance. He was dead. There was no way to revive him had someone aimed wrongfully.
"Help!" Laena and Vehn came running out from where the Voot was concealed, followed by Nodac, attempting to attack them. Dib ran to where they were, and tried to restrain her. She fought, despite the fact that he was reassuring her.
"What have you done to Zim?" Nodac jumped out of his arms and lifted Zim's lifeless body. Dib had to endure a sickening, horrifying moment-Nodac kissed Zim. "What have you done? What have you DONE? He's DEAD!" She ran, carrying him, back to his base.
"Nodac! Nodac! Wait! You'll be vaporized!" Dib tore after her, and when he neared, tackled her. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?" She struggled, kicking and screaming; whatever she thought might work, she tried. It was a constant effort to hold onto her, and he needed the assistance of Laena and Vehn to get her sitting down in the car. Vehn drove, while Dib and Laena attempted to calm Nodac down.
"Nodac, Zim just tried to kill Dib! How could you love him for that?"
"Dib is the enemy! He's trying to kill Zim! And he did! Please, let me go, please!"
"Nodac, Zim brainwashed you. You're engaged to Dib. Look at your ring finger." Nodac looked.
"It's pretty."
"It used to be Dib's mother's. Remember how when Zim attacked you by slitting your neck, he slipped it on your finger. The next morning you discovered it, and accepted. Don't you remember all that?"
"No! Stop trying to mess around with my mind!"
"She's not," Dib said. "I really do love you." He kissed her, but she pulled away.
"What are you doing? You're my enemy!"
"I'm sorry, I thought you'd remember."
"Get away! Go! Don't hurt me!"
"That's the last thing I want."
"Let me go! Get me out of here!" Nodac thrashed about violently, in hopes of heaving herself out of the moving car and getting away.
"Nodac, don't! Everything's going to be okay!"
"Don't fool me! I know you're just after Zim!"
"Nodac, that's not-"
"I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD!" She sat there, sobbing; they could only watch, unless they wished to perturb her more. When at last they reached home, they managed to get her to stay put on her bed.
"Dib, what are you, INSANE? The only person who could help us get Nodac back you blew the brains out of! What were you thinking?" Vehn yelled furiously at his actions.
"I...don't know. He's destroyed so much...my life, my family..."
"He's done that to ALL of us!"
"Yes. But you didn't know him when you still had the chance to stop him." He approached Nodac, and took her hand. She slapped him. They stood there long into the night, waiting for Nodac's memory to come back.
"Why don't we retire for the night?"
"Go on. I'll stay here." Laena and Vehn left, and Dib turned to Nodac in the darkness. "Nodac? Nodac nle?" When he called her "Nodac nle", ("Dearest Nodac") something sparked in her eyes. They shone with the light of the moon and a passion for life. Seeing this, he proceeded. "Nodac nle, Adi adius acliadius." Her eyes widened, and she fell backward, landing on her pillow. "Nodac! Nodac nle! Are you okay?"
Her eyes fluttered open, and when her vision came, she shot straight up. "What? What's happened? Dib?"
"You're okay. You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay!" He hugged her, and when he let go, Nodac said,
"When's the wedding going to be?"
"As soon as you like."
"How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, then. Let's tell the others."
"No!" Vehn shouted when Nodac announced her engagement to Dib for the second time. "You can't do this!"
"I find your motives for keeping me apart from Dib suspicious."
"Yes, Vehn," Laena said, "I sometimes think that you still want Nodac available."
"No! That's not what I've been doing. I just don't want her to be in danger. If she marries him, Zim will kill Nodac brutally and Dib will have to watch just before his own death, like Shaya and my brother."
"What?" Nodac asked.
"Dylan proposed to Shaya just before we encountered Zim. I had planned the same for Laena, but decided against it that day. Us meeting Zim was no accident. Zim knows where we are and what goes on. He's trying to get you two to marry in order to speed up his ultimate revenge on you. That's why he only slit Nodac's neck a little bit, but made it seem horrifying. That's why he wrote a note in Laena's name reminding me to pack the first-aid kit and to include the materials for a slit neck, and that's why he made it consistent: killing both Shaya and Dylan by cutting their necks open, in order to make the note less conspicuous. It's an elaborate plan to kill you, Dib, but it's not going to work, because I've got him figured out."
"But why would Zim only kill after someone's married?"
"I don't know."
"Lnixq rhe kodi. He is dishonest." Laena was indignant.
"How dare you accuse Vehn of lying!"
"No, not Vehn...Zim. It's too convenient. He's trying to make it seem like that."
"But why?"
"To get Vehn to unknowingly carry out his wishes-that Dib and I don't marry."
"Why would he want that?"
"Maybe the same reason you suspected Vehn was trying to separate us-to try to keep me available."
"No way. You're a human, and he's a disgruntled, insane Irken invader who despises humans!"
"Yes way. Why do you think he captured Shaya?"
"Captured? Don't you mean killed?"
"Maybe not. Remember how when Dylan screamed and he gave that devious smile? It's as though he was bragging. Dylan had been threatened with Shaya's life before, so it was a sort of hostage. However, when he realized that Dylan would tell us about him and his plan would be ruined, he killed him later that night. He's not after you this time, Dib. He's after me."
"But why do you think Shaya's alive?"
"Simple. Like I said, she's his hostage. He plans on Dib and I not to get married, capture Laena as a second hostage, and make Vehn believe Dib killed her. Vehn would kill Dib, and his vengeance is complete."
"But you said he was after you."
"Well, then I guess that means I'm off the mark in my theory."
"Nodac?"
"Yes Dib?"
"Could you teach me some more Kareire words?" A smile appeared on her face.
"I'd be delighted." A laser beam sounded, followed by Zim's screechy voice instructing his robot.
"Nodac! Dib! Hide!" Vehn shouted. Dib grabbed Nodac's hand, and they ran into their room. Zim was there, waiting for them.
"Hand the girl over." Dib glared into his enemy's eye.
"Stay away from her!"
"I'm afraid I can't, Dib, for she is what I came for."
"You'll have to kill me first."
"I'd be glad to." Zim withdrew a long, laser that resembled a light saber, and aimed it at Dib's throat. He ducked under, and dashed across the room. With sudden horror, he realized that he had left Nodac where Zim was, and he now threatened to cut her neck open with it. "Goodbye, Dib!" Zim said. He put the laser away, replaced it with a small device, and transported them back to his base. Dib reached them just a second after they disappeared. He darted out to the room where Vehn and Laena were.
"He took Nodac!"
"We've got to find his base. You've known him for longer than us. What kind of place would Zim hide out?"
"Someplace obvious."
"But where?" Laena said.
"Maybe the Whitehouse," Vehn joked.
"That's just the kind of place he'd be! Hurry, get you're things, we're going to the Whitehouse!"
"Wait-I was only joking. Let's not jump to conclusions. Imagine if we were wrong. Taking a trip all the way to the Whitehouse, and by the time we'd realize that he's not there, she'd be dead. We've got to think logically."
"Let's try his old base. His robot was sentimental before Zim fixed him up. Maybe he's still there."
"Good plan." They each grabbed a weapon-Laena, a sword, Vehn, a gun, Dib, a laser-and hopped in the car. As they neared the house, the saw an enormous telescope sticking out of it, along with high-tech security cameras everywhere. They followed the car with their lenses, but they stopped the engine and got out of the car halfway to the house.
"Zim!" Dib yelled. "How about a fight! Just us three against you! What, are you scared? Aren't you supposed to be the 'superior being'?" The door opened, and Zim instructed Gir to wait for him.
"Fine! You'll have a fight! But tell your friends to go! I want to kill you without any hindrances."
"Sure. Just give Nodac back!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible. And don't try to sneak into my base while fighting, either! I programmed it to vaporize any human being that steps inside!"
"Then where's Nodac?"
"Oh, she's in my Voot Runner-" Zim clasped his hands over his mouth.
"Head for his Voot Runner!" The three ran towards his Voot, but Zim stopped Dib.
"You wanted a fight. Here it is." Zim pulled out his laser gun and aimed it in between the eyes. "Say your prayers, human..." He shot it, but it didn't do anything. "What? I didn't set it to strengthen! Piece of junk!" Zim tossed it to the ground in anger, and Dib picked it up. Hastily, he adjusted it to kill. He aimed it at Zim, ready to blow his brains out.
"Say YOUR prayers, ALIEN!"
"Wait! You can't kill me!"
"Shove it, Zim. Nothing's going to stop me now from doing what I should've done a long time ago! You killed my father, you killed my sister, two of my friends, and I have the suspicion that you were involved in my mother's death as well! You've killed everyone and everything in your path that I ever cared about! Now, act like a man and die noble!" His hand that held the gun quivered, as he prepared to pull the trigger.
"If you kill me now, you'll be killing Nodac, too. She's brainwashed, just like Shaya. She thinks she loves me, and will do anything for me...including kill you. I saw you and your Earth friends pitifully trying to guess my plan, when it was right there in front of you the whole time. I was trying to hypnotize those that you love to kill you, making your deaths even more painful and full of suffering. Now, if you don't pull that trigger, I can bring her out of it and figure out some other way to kill you."
"How do I know?"
"How do you know what?"
"How do I know that you'll save her? I can't risk her life, too. I need proof."
"I can give no proof! Hold the gun on me the whole time, for all I care, but don't pull that trigger! If you want to marry her, you'll have to trust me. Just once. Don't pull that trigger, or you'll regret it."
"I can't do that. I can't trust you."
"Not even for Nodac? The one you claim to love beyond anything else? I've been spying on you for some time now, and I know where you're life's gone. You depend on her. You need her. Just don't pull that trigger. You won't find any other way."
"I'll make her remember me. I'll find a way. She can't forget me. She loves me just as I love her."
"You are a sad, pitiful thing, Dib. She won't be able to remember, no matter how much she wants too. It would be hopeless."
"I can't trust you. You have to die. You have to die!" He pulled the trigger, and Zim fell down to the pavement. Not a twitch. Not a single motion. He was dead. In merely a second's time, before he could say anything of importance. He was dead. There was no way to revive him had someone aimed wrongfully.
"Help!" Laena and Vehn came running out from where the Voot was concealed, followed by Nodac, attempting to attack them. Dib ran to where they were, and tried to restrain her. She fought, despite the fact that he was reassuring her.
"What have you done to Zim?" Nodac jumped out of his arms and lifted Zim's lifeless body. Dib had to endure a sickening, horrifying moment-Nodac kissed Zim. "What have you done? What have you DONE? He's DEAD!" She ran, carrying him, back to his base.
"Nodac! Nodac! Wait! You'll be vaporized!" Dib tore after her, and when he neared, tackled her. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?" She struggled, kicking and screaming; whatever she thought might work, she tried. It was a constant effort to hold onto her, and he needed the assistance of Laena and Vehn to get her sitting down in the car. Vehn drove, while Dib and Laena attempted to calm Nodac down.
"Nodac, Zim just tried to kill Dib! How could you love him for that?"
"Dib is the enemy! He's trying to kill Zim! And he did! Please, let me go, please!"
"Nodac, Zim brainwashed you. You're engaged to Dib. Look at your ring finger." Nodac looked.
"It's pretty."
"It used to be Dib's mother's. Remember how when Zim attacked you by slitting your neck, he slipped it on your finger. The next morning you discovered it, and accepted. Don't you remember all that?"
"No! Stop trying to mess around with my mind!"
"She's not," Dib said. "I really do love you." He kissed her, but she pulled away.
"What are you doing? You're my enemy!"
"I'm sorry, I thought you'd remember."
"Get away! Go! Don't hurt me!"
"That's the last thing I want."
"Let me go! Get me out of here!" Nodac thrashed about violently, in hopes of heaving herself out of the moving car and getting away.
"Nodac, don't! Everything's going to be okay!"
"Don't fool me! I know you're just after Zim!"
"Nodac, that's not-"
"I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD!" She sat there, sobbing; they could only watch, unless they wished to perturb her more. When at last they reached home, they managed to get her to stay put on her bed.
"Dib, what are you, INSANE? The only person who could help us get Nodac back you blew the brains out of! What were you thinking?" Vehn yelled furiously at his actions.
"I...don't know. He's destroyed so much...my life, my family..."
"He's done that to ALL of us!"
"Yes. But you didn't know him when you still had the chance to stop him." He approached Nodac, and took her hand. She slapped him. They stood there long into the night, waiting for Nodac's memory to come back.
"Why don't we retire for the night?"
"Go on. I'll stay here." Laena and Vehn left, and Dib turned to Nodac in the darkness. "Nodac? Nodac nle?" When he called her "Nodac nle", ("Dearest Nodac") something sparked in her eyes. They shone with the light of the moon and a passion for life. Seeing this, he proceeded. "Nodac nle, Adi adius acliadius." Her eyes widened, and she fell backward, landing on her pillow. "Nodac! Nodac nle! Are you okay?"
Her eyes fluttered open, and when her vision came, she shot straight up. "What? What's happened? Dib?"
"You're okay. You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay!" He hugged her, and when he let go, Nodac said,
"When's the wedding going to be?"
"As soon as you like."
"How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, then. Let's tell the others."