Chapter Five - Earth's Recruit
In the hard, metal craft, Yuki realized how Zim had known of her disobedience. Monitors had been hidden in everything-Gir, her backpack, her watch, and even in the logo on her military uniform. Microphones had been concealed as well, and Zim must've heard every word of what had happened between them.
"Zim, please, spare her!" Dib was suddenly shouting. "She didn't do anything wrong!"
"Of course she did something wrong, Dib-monkey. She allowed you to live."
"It was all my fault! I forced her to save me. I kept a knife on her neck! I threatened to kill her if she didn't stage this whole thing!" Yuki stared in disbelief as he blatantly lied to try to protect her. He continued, "And I knew you'd be monitoring, so I mouthed everything out while holding her to make sure that the cameras didn't see! And I fooled you! Ha!"
"Okay, then. Since you're guilty, I'll make you suffer by brutally murdering her right in front of you."
"No! No! I lied! I won't...I won't stop you from invading Earth, if that's what it takes. Make sure that she's alive and well."
Zim began to cackle evilly. "Do you really think I'll let you go with a warning and your word of promise? No, Dib...you would break that promise as soon as I blink."
"Not if I promise it to Yuki! She wants Earth to be taken over, and if I promise to her, I can't break it."
"I'm afraid I'll need more confirmation than your repulsive love. The only way I'll be satisfied is the only way I can truly be rid of you...you have to die, Dib. And to torture Yuki as punishment for her disobeying, she will have to kill you herself."
"No, Zim," Yuki began, "this is where I draw the line. If you want Dib to be killed, do the dirty work yourself. If you kill him...I'll hate you. I'll hate you for the rest of my life and wish for your insides to explode with the worst pain possibly imaginable. I refuse. I WILL NOT KILL DIB."
"Yuki, would you rather I killed your mother and father along with you and Dib?"
"No! You wouldn't! Why are you doing this?! I thought you said you loved me."
"Pitiful human. Who'd ever waste time with love but a fool?"
"Zim, I won't let you get away with it. I won't let you get away with killing him."
"Then as you said, I'll kill you." Zim extended a long, laser-sword from a metal sheath, and charged toward his former supporter. Yuki winced, preparing for the laser to penetrate her stomach. Dib watched in horror, and pushed her out of the way. As she turned her head back, she saw Zim thrust the weapon into Dib's chest.
He fell immediately to the ground, and Yuki rushed to his side. Though he looked dead, his heart was still beating faintly. She whispered in his ear, "Dib, please, be alive. I love you..." Zim, however, seemed pleased with himself, and wore a smile upon his face. "Dib...don't give up...please...for me? I can't let you die now. I won't. You still have a purpose in life. You have reason to exist. And if you die at Zim's hands, the Irken Empire will no longer be my ally. As a matter of fact, I've decided to give up the Irken citizenship I hold! I won't let them do this to you! We're on the same side, now."
At these words, he breathed, "Thank...you...love..."
"I love you, too." She kissed him briefly, and then felt the rise and fall of his chest die away. He no longer breathed. Panicking, she checked his pulse. None. With tears streaming down her cheek, she arose, and faced Zim. "The pain that he endured...that was for me. Zim, I vow to never again speak a word of praise for you or the Irken Empire. We are enemies now, and as enemies, we shall remain.
"You lied to me. You pretended to love me, but you didn't. You used me to lure Dib here, and you only caused more pain. Why? Why go through all of this? Why did you have to involve me in it? And look...I cannot leave him now. You speak of love as something to recoil at. The only thing to recoil at here is the sight of you.
"Please, I ask you, from the depths of my heart, to the reaches of my soul, please, save him. I will do anything. Anything you want. Just save him."
"The only thing I could want of you, Yuki," Zim said menacingly, "is your loyalty to me."
"Revive him, and that's what you'll get."
"Fool! Did I say I'd give you his life in exchange for your loyalty? Nothing you could give me would be greater than Dib's demise."
"Zim, if you ever did care about me, then please, this is how you can show it. I'll still support you if you save him. Please! If you care about me one little bit, this is the one thing I want." Zim looked at her with sad eyes as he saw her pain, and reluctantly agreed. Yuki helped carry Dib's lifeless form to a table, where Zim would begin medical procedures to bring him back. He attempted everything he could think of, working for almost an hour.
"I can't revive him. He's too far gone."
"No! He's not! I know he's not! He can't be!"
"I'm sorry; truly, I am. I do love you, but there's nothing we can do for the Dib-worm now."
"Call him by his name."
"Who, the Dib-monkey?"
"Don't insult him in my presence. Now, if you can't do anything about him, drop me off at his residence. I need to inform his family of his passing. And I'll be sure to include that YOU are responsible. But, before I leave, I need to hear you compliment him."
"What?"
"Compliment him. Say something of one of his good qualities, and don't insult him in any way. Say nothing derogatory of humans, Earth, or Dib. And Zim, for once in your life, say something nice and mean it."
"Well...okay. Dib was...good."
"Be specific."
"Dib was...um...dedicated...in defeating me, because he...he was a...good...person..."
"And...?"
"...and he...he...he deserved..."
"He deserved what, Zim?"
"...and he deserved to live!" Zim choked out.
"There. Was that so hard?" The little Irken nodded.
"Why did you make me do that?"
"Because you need to admit the truth. Now, say it all again, in one normal, non-stuttering sentence. And be respectful."
"Dib was dedicated to defeating me because he was a good person and deserved to live."
"Zim, I just had the most wonderful idea. How about YOU read the eulogy at Dib's funeral? You WILL be giving him a decent funeral, won't you?"
"All right! All right, I'll give him a decent funeral and read the stupid eulogy, whatever that is."
"Of course you will, that is, if you live long enough."
"What do you mean; I'm not old!"
"Maybe not, but your life is in danger so long as I'm here..."
"Stand back! Get away!"
"What's the matter, Zim? Afraid of a human?" Yuki leapt up and stomped on his hand. She grabbed his shirt and made sure he didn't get away. One of the mechanical legs extended and tore the cloth of his shirt she clutched. He batted her away with it, and the claw gave her a deep gash along the face.
"You're no match for an Irken invader. You'll die trying to kill me."
"Then so be it." Yuki removed a laser from her backpack and aimed it at Zim's forehead. One of the mechanical legs knocked it to the ground, swiped it into Zim's possession, and sliced into her side. The spider-like talons retracted back into his ID PAK, and Zim approached her fallen figure.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pitiful human female. How would you like to join your dearly departed Dib?" Yuki twitched from her spot on the ground, and groaned. Zim's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the craft, and she opened her eyes wide in fear.
"Zim...please. If you kill me, as you plan, then bury Dib and I on Earth. Please. I'm sure he would want to be buried on the planet he was born on, and I'd like to be buried beside him."
"I'll take your wishes into consideration." Zim lifted the laser to her head, poised to strike. His hands quivered as he held it in midair above her. "I can't. Here. I'll help you up."
"W-what?"
"I can't kill you. Now, get up off the ground, before I reconsider." Yuki stood weakly, and looked up to Zim with loving eyes.
"Zim, would you like to be my ally, *officially*?" She rested her head onto his shoulders. "What do you say?"
"Sure...I'm surprised at this..."
"Well...don't be. Now, close your eyes, and I'll give you a great surprise." Zim did so, puckering his lips. While he was caught off guard, Yuki punched him in the jaw and threw him to the ground, headfirst. He was unconscious, and blood trickled out of the side of his head.
At her victory, she rushed to where Dib lay silent. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she brought his face to hers. Not knowing what else to do, she hooked him up to life support and an IV. She cleaned his wounds, hooked him up to a respiratory device, and tried to get his heart beating again. A half hour passed, and he still showed no signs of recovery.
"Don't worry, Dib, you're going to be okay. And if not...Zim will meet his death. I swear, if you die because of this, I'm going to kill him." Yuki squeezed his hand firmly, hoping for his life signs to improve. They didn't. Ten more minutes gone by. Zim, who was now awake, approached where she stood and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Yuki, he's dead. You have to accept it."
"I WILL NOT accept it! Zim, you callous filth! How can you do this? How can you do this to him, to...me...?"
"I'm so, so sorry..." Zim gently rocked her back and forth, and kissed her on the forehead. She was too deep in remorse to care.
"I just can't believe he's gone...I hadn't gotten to know him...please, tell me about him."
"Well...um, he was really into the paranormal... He didn't have friends... His favorite show was something called 'Mysterious Mysteries'..."
"Just look at him... So sad... Did he have any family?"
"His sister, Gaz, and his father, Professor Membrane. Some Earth- scientist."
"What about his mother?"
"I don't know...I never saw his mother."
"I wonder...could she be...?"
"I'm sure she isn't, Yuki; you're just jumping to conclusions."
"I must go now. Please, beam me to his house. Bury him on Earth, please, and when I die...please bury me beside him. I can't stand the sight of him."
"Are you...are you sure? Do you want to stay here with me?"
"No, Zim. You're his killer, and for that I will never forgive. I could never love you. Besides...I need to see Earth. I'm going home."
In the hard, metal craft, Yuki realized how Zim had known of her disobedience. Monitors had been hidden in everything-Gir, her backpack, her watch, and even in the logo on her military uniform. Microphones had been concealed as well, and Zim must've heard every word of what had happened between them.
"Zim, please, spare her!" Dib was suddenly shouting. "She didn't do anything wrong!"
"Of course she did something wrong, Dib-monkey. She allowed you to live."
"It was all my fault! I forced her to save me. I kept a knife on her neck! I threatened to kill her if she didn't stage this whole thing!" Yuki stared in disbelief as he blatantly lied to try to protect her. He continued, "And I knew you'd be monitoring, so I mouthed everything out while holding her to make sure that the cameras didn't see! And I fooled you! Ha!"
"Okay, then. Since you're guilty, I'll make you suffer by brutally murdering her right in front of you."
"No! No! I lied! I won't...I won't stop you from invading Earth, if that's what it takes. Make sure that she's alive and well."
Zim began to cackle evilly. "Do you really think I'll let you go with a warning and your word of promise? No, Dib...you would break that promise as soon as I blink."
"Not if I promise it to Yuki! She wants Earth to be taken over, and if I promise to her, I can't break it."
"I'm afraid I'll need more confirmation than your repulsive love. The only way I'll be satisfied is the only way I can truly be rid of you...you have to die, Dib. And to torture Yuki as punishment for her disobeying, she will have to kill you herself."
"No, Zim," Yuki began, "this is where I draw the line. If you want Dib to be killed, do the dirty work yourself. If you kill him...I'll hate you. I'll hate you for the rest of my life and wish for your insides to explode with the worst pain possibly imaginable. I refuse. I WILL NOT KILL DIB."
"Yuki, would you rather I killed your mother and father along with you and Dib?"
"No! You wouldn't! Why are you doing this?! I thought you said you loved me."
"Pitiful human. Who'd ever waste time with love but a fool?"
"Zim, I won't let you get away with it. I won't let you get away with killing him."
"Then as you said, I'll kill you." Zim extended a long, laser-sword from a metal sheath, and charged toward his former supporter. Yuki winced, preparing for the laser to penetrate her stomach. Dib watched in horror, and pushed her out of the way. As she turned her head back, she saw Zim thrust the weapon into Dib's chest.
He fell immediately to the ground, and Yuki rushed to his side. Though he looked dead, his heart was still beating faintly. She whispered in his ear, "Dib, please, be alive. I love you..." Zim, however, seemed pleased with himself, and wore a smile upon his face. "Dib...don't give up...please...for me? I can't let you die now. I won't. You still have a purpose in life. You have reason to exist. And if you die at Zim's hands, the Irken Empire will no longer be my ally. As a matter of fact, I've decided to give up the Irken citizenship I hold! I won't let them do this to you! We're on the same side, now."
At these words, he breathed, "Thank...you...love..."
"I love you, too." She kissed him briefly, and then felt the rise and fall of his chest die away. He no longer breathed. Panicking, she checked his pulse. None. With tears streaming down her cheek, she arose, and faced Zim. "The pain that he endured...that was for me. Zim, I vow to never again speak a word of praise for you or the Irken Empire. We are enemies now, and as enemies, we shall remain.
"You lied to me. You pretended to love me, but you didn't. You used me to lure Dib here, and you only caused more pain. Why? Why go through all of this? Why did you have to involve me in it? And look...I cannot leave him now. You speak of love as something to recoil at. The only thing to recoil at here is the sight of you.
"Please, I ask you, from the depths of my heart, to the reaches of my soul, please, save him. I will do anything. Anything you want. Just save him."
"The only thing I could want of you, Yuki," Zim said menacingly, "is your loyalty to me."
"Revive him, and that's what you'll get."
"Fool! Did I say I'd give you his life in exchange for your loyalty? Nothing you could give me would be greater than Dib's demise."
"Zim, if you ever did care about me, then please, this is how you can show it. I'll still support you if you save him. Please! If you care about me one little bit, this is the one thing I want." Zim looked at her with sad eyes as he saw her pain, and reluctantly agreed. Yuki helped carry Dib's lifeless form to a table, where Zim would begin medical procedures to bring him back. He attempted everything he could think of, working for almost an hour.
"I can't revive him. He's too far gone."
"No! He's not! I know he's not! He can't be!"
"I'm sorry; truly, I am. I do love you, but there's nothing we can do for the Dib-worm now."
"Call him by his name."
"Who, the Dib-monkey?"
"Don't insult him in my presence. Now, if you can't do anything about him, drop me off at his residence. I need to inform his family of his passing. And I'll be sure to include that YOU are responsible. But, before I leave, I need to hear you compliment him."
"What?"
"Compliment him. Say something of one of his good qualities, and don't insult him in any way. Say nothing derogatory of humans, Earth, or Dib. And Zim, for once in your life, say something nice and mean it."
"Well...okay. Dib was...good."
"Be specific."
"Dib was...um...dedicated...in defeating me, because he...he was a...good...person..."
"And...?"
"...and he...he...he deserved..."
"He deserved what, Zim?"
"...and he deserved to live!" Zim choked out.
"There. Was that so hard?" The little Irken nodded.
"Why did you make me do that?"
"Because you need to admit the truth. Now, say it all again, in one normal, non-stuttering sentence. And be respectful."
"Dib was dedicated to defeating me because he was a good person and deserved to live."
"Zim, I just had the most wonderful idea. How about YOU read the eulogy at Dib's funeral? You WILL be giving him a decent funeral, won't you?"
"All right! All right, I'll give him a decent funeral and read the stupid eulogy, whatever that is."
"Of course you will, that is, if you live long enough."
"What do you mean; I'm not old!"
"Maybe not, but your life is in danger so long as I'm here..."
"Stand back! Get away!"
"What's the matter, Zim? Afraid of a human?" Yuki leapt up and stomped on his hand. She grabbed his shirt and made sure he didn't get away. One of the mechanical legs extended and tore the cloth of his shirt she clutched. He batted her away with it, and the claw gave her a deep gash along the face.
"You're no match for an Irken invader. You'll die trying to kill me."
"Then so be it." Yuki removed a laser from her backpack and aimed it at Zim's forehead. One of the mechanical legs knocked it to the ground, swiped it into Zim's possession, and sliced into her side. The spider-like talons retracted back into his ID PAK, and Zim approached her fallen figure.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pitiful human female. How would you like to join your dearly departed Dib?" Yuki twitched from her spot on the ground, and groaned. Zim's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the craft, and she opened her eyes wide in fear.
"Zim...please. If you kill me, as you plan, then bury Dib and I on Earth. Please. I'm sure he would want to be buried on the planet he was born on, and I'd like to be buried beside him."
"I'll take your wishes into consideration." Zim lifted the laser to her head, poised to strike. His hands quivered as he held it in midair above her. "I can't. Here. I'll help you up."
"W-what?"
"I can't kill you. Now, get up off the ground, before I reconsider." Yuki stood weakly, and looked up to Zim with loving eyes.
"Zim, would you like to be my ally, *officially*?" She rested her head onto his shoulders. "What do you say?"
"Sure...I'm surprised at this..."
"Well...don't be. Now, close your eyes, and I'll give you a great surprise." Zim did so, puckering his lips. While he was caught off guard, Yuki punched him in the jaw and threw him to the ground, headfirst. He was unconscious, and blood trickled out of the side of his head.
At her victory, she rushed to where Dib lay silent. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she brought his face to hers. Not knowing what else to do, she hooked him up to life support and an IV. She cleaned his wounds, hooked him up to a respiratory device, and tried to get his heart beating again. A half hour passed, and he still showed no signs of recovery.
"Don't worry, Dib, you're going to be okay. And if not...Zim will meet his death. I swear, if you die because of this, I'm going to kill him." Yuki squeezed his hand firmly, hoping for his life signs to improve. They didn't. Ten more minutes gone by. Zim, who was now awake, approached where she stood and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Yuki, he's dead. You have to accept it."
"I WILL NOT accept it! Zim, you callous filth! How can you do this? How can you do this to him, to...me...?"
"I'm so, so sorry..." Zim gently rocked her back and forth, and kissed her on the forehead. She was too deep in remorse to care.
"I just can't believe he's gone...I hadn't gotten to know him...please, tell me about him."
"Well...um, he was really into the paranormal... He didn't have friends... His favorite show was something called 'Mysterious Mysteries'..."
"Just look at him... So sad... Did he have any family?"
"His sister, Gaz, and his father, Professor Membrane. Some Earth- scientist."
"What about his mother?"
"I don't know...I never saw his mother."
"I wonder...could she be...?"
"I'm sure she isn't, Yuki; you're just jumping to conclusions."
"I must go now. Please, beam me to his house. Bury him on Earth, please, and when I die...please bury me beside him. I can't stand the sight of him."
"Are you...are you sure? Do you want to stay here with me?"
"No, Zim. You're his killer, and for that I will never forgive. I could never love you. Besides...I need to see Earth. I'm going home."