Chapter Four: Falish Colony
"Where are we going?"
"Planet Fali."
"Really? How'd you swing that? Dad HATES the Falish."
"Yes...I know that. I got him to trust me."
"He always says, 'they should just kill off all that ika garbage and rid the universe of them.'"
"Kiana! Don't use the 'i' word!"
"Dad uses it all the time, though!"
"Still, it's not good. You'll have to be nice."
"Aw! Why do I always have to be 'nice'?"
"Because that's what's best. If you start saying that word everywhere you go, you're going to be public enemy number one."
"Are you going to be my mother?"
"What? No, not really. But I will be taking care of you."
"How long?"
"Well...until the Irkens change that law where any non-Irken can't be on Earth."
"Is that going to be long?"
"I don't know that, Young Kiana. I just don't know." 'I feel a strong bond with this child somehow. She's connected with an external energy source, the same one as I. Perhaps that is why she knows some of my past and has my name.'
"You're guilty, Mom," she said. These words reverberated in her mind, and she thought to herself that the child was mistaken, but she knew otherwise.
"How is it that you are my daughter?"
"You've known it the whole time."
"Yes, but how?"
"Irkens are born in tubes, am I correct?"
"Yes."
"He probably tampered with DNA or something."
"What about his wife, though?"
"I was born a year after her death. I was genetically engineered."
"Then why don't you have an ID PAK?"
"I've got human genes in me, and I would not live with a PAK."
"I see...how did he get my DNA?"
"Easy. He got it from the bloodstained knife he tried to kill you with."
"Why me?"
"He could tell that you were not the one from the ancient prophecies, so he tried to produce the one who was told of. He knew that if I were to have the name Kiana, I'd have to descend from you."
"To what planet are you a Kivoc?"
"Irk. I've much distaste for my kind, as you know. They'll train me to be an invader, and I will be--I'll invade them right off their planet!"
"Why do you hate the Irkens?"
"Simple. My father manipulated you to kill your friend, and he will try to manipulate me into making it worse for you so you can't interfere."
"That's not true! Zim is sensitive to me!"
"It's not his doing. It's the Irken officials. They're forcing him to do this." She swore.
"We're going to Fali. There are some nice humans there, and I need to know something."
"Does this concern your friend?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, it does."
"You're shaking. Why are you shaking?"
"I'm afraid I will not be able to succeed." They traveled the rest of the way in silence, and they landed by the end of the day at the Human Colony. They entered, and were directed to stand in the cafeteria room. It was vast, with sky blue walls surrounding them. Most humans had been given new clothes, and they now looked healthy. Among them, Mel saw a boy of about eleven years with black hair, glasses, and familiar eyes. Tears coming down from her eyes, she tore past the other people and embraced him. A swish of metal was heard, and the tip of a sword met Mel's neck. Looking up, she saw an adult Gretchen scowling down at her.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you."
"Because I'm the only person who can save your son." Staring her down, she slowly withdrew the blade and hid it away.
"Why did you kill Dib?!"
"It's not as it seems!"
"Then how is it?!"
"I killed him because I could not allow him to live in the pain and torment he was going to live. He told me to kill him! Zim told me to release him of his misery! Everyone was screaming at me to kill him, and it was what I felt right!"
"How dare you let personal feelings determine whether someone lives or dies!"
"I was young! I had no idea of what my Kivoc powers could do to me! They gave me the ability to kill, but I did not want it! I was manipulated!"
"No excuse! You're responsible for what you did, and only you! Murderer!"
"True. That I am."
"Then you admit it?"
"I cannot deny that I killed him. But you must understand my reasons. I wanted to break that barrier between life and death. To be able to prove to myself, once and for all, that I would not let the limitations of this physical world fool me! I know that he's dead on this level of reality! The challenge is knowing that he's not truly dead! Just his form. I spoke with him just recently."
"Don't get near my son!"
"I need to know him! It is because of his father that I am alive! We would both be dead if it weren't for him!"
"As you well should be!"
"Please, don't cut me out! I came here to visit him and save his life! If I messed up with his father's life, I at least want to help save his!"
"All right. Tell me of this danger."
"I do not know exactly what it is. I must...I must stop it...the snacks...the...the...death...KIANA!" She collapsed, and awoke with Young Kiana slapping her face.
"What's wrong?"
"I just had a vision. Where's Gretchen?"
"Her and the boy went into their room."
"Do you know what room?"
"839-A."
"Then that's where we're going. Come along!" Dragging her
behind, they headed for complex A and searched for room 839. Knocking did not
work, so she took the Lizaq knife out and stabbed at the lock. It broke, and
she marched inside. "Where is your son?"
"Dib Jr. went to the library again.
Now, what's this urgent matter?"
"It is a vision I just had, depicting--"
"The little tokage is leaving," Gretchen said, pointing to Kiana.
"Don't call her that! I can see that you've picked up some of the language that's thrown about in space. Besides, she can take care of herself. I'm sure that my Lizaq knife is already gone."
"But she can't use it."
"Oh, but she can. We share the same name."
"Quit stalling and tell me how my son is in danger."
"The same threat that's been lurking for the past twelve years."
"You mean...?"
"Yes. Invasion."
Kiana searched the library, finally coming across Dib. He was reading out of a history book entitled "Earth: Ocean Waters and Snowy Peaks" and didn't look up to acknowledge her presence.
"Dib?" He didn't look away from his book. "Dib. Look at me." Lowering it slowly, he stared into her eyes with resentment.
"You horrible tokage." In spite of these words, he couldn't help but notice her eyes. They gleamed metallic silver, and no Irken had ever been known to have silver eyes. Penetrating deep into his thoughts, he felt uncomfortable and shifted in his seat. "Do you have a reason for being here? This is a human colony. The likes of you are not welcome."
"I was born after the invasion. I can't help what species I am. I hate the Irkens just as much as you do."
"Have they killed your entire species and rendered you planet-less?
"If they killed my species, I'd be happy about it. I don't like the Irkens, remember?"
"Well, you know what I mean."
"No, I don't. Perhaps you should explain it in more detail."
"I don't have to talk to you."
"Then why are you?"
"Just go away."
"I feel for you."
"You're just saying that to trick me."
"No. I have no reason or motivation to trick you."
"Prove that you are on our side."
"How should I do that?"
"Cut your hand off."
"Which one?" His eyes opened wide at this. That was not the reaction he expected.
"Whichever one is your knife hand."
"All right." Kiana unsheathed the Lizaq holding it in her left hand; then she traded it to her right. "As you probably know, the Lizaq can only work if one wants it to work. I must truly desire to cut my hand off for me to do it. You'd better shield that book of yours. It'll get messy." Putting her hand on the table, she began to saw through her wrist. She yelped out in pain, but did not stop. Blood seeped out and stained her glove and the knife.
"No, wait, stop!"
"Don't you want me to prove my loyalty?"
"You've done that already. Now go get that healed."
"Okay." The knife absorbed the blood and looked as though it had never been used. Pressing the tip to her wound, her severed wrist joined back together.
"You're a Kivoc, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"There aren't too many of those around these days."
"Yeah...if there were, the universe would be destroyed."
"It would, wouldn't it?"
"Look, I'm sorry about Earth being destroyed, but that's not really your only home planet."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your father was a Falen/Seraul hybrid. Your mother is, however, allegedly human. So you're half-human, one-quarter Falish, and one-quarter Seraul."
"Irkens don't have hair. Why do you?"
"I'm an Irken/human hybrid."
"Any Falish in you?"
"No...why do you ask that?"
"I guess it's because of the eyes."
"Oh. My father would have a fit if he heard you say that. He hates the Falish. I think they're nice."
"How did you get those eyes, though?"
"Dad says it's due to some kind of accident, but I don't think so. I think my mother was a Falen/human."
"Do you have antennae under your hair?"
"Yeah, I do. Wanna see?" He nodded. Parting her hair another way, she showed him an antenna.
"Wow..." Dib felt the antenna and inspected it. Kiana squealed
and pushed him away; he fell backward onto the table. "What was that for?"
"I'm not sure...It just doesn't
feel right."
"What's wrong with looking at your antennae? I've always been intrigued by the Irkens."
"What about you? You look so strange...I mean, what are these things?" she asked, pointing to his ears.
"Those are ears, Kiana. I hear with them."
"How'd you know my name?"
"I don't know...it just came out."
"Interesting. I hear with antennae. I can hear conversations going on down the hall from here!"
"Do you know much about Earth's history?"
"I know it was inhabited by humans."
"It's a fascinating planet. It has forests, and lakes, and oceans, and the bluest skies you've ever seen! Fluffy white clouds and yellow sunlight, rivers and...and most of all..."
"What?"
"Most of all...the plants and animals! Beautiful ferns, oaks, and willows! Livestock, fowl, and...people! It's such a wonderful place."
"I've lived on Earth all my life, and that doesn't sound anything like it."
"What is Earth like now? It can't be that much different."
"The area I live in is a metropolis. Buildings and factories are everywhere, and the parts that aren't industrialized are barren wastelands. Almost nothing lives there. That's in the northern regions, where the Phantom Wandering continues."
"The Phantom Wandering?"
"Yes. When a species is destroyed, their ghosts remain, haunting the place. Most of them stop after a while, but a few stay for decades or centuries. Now most of them are farther north than where we live."
"It sounds desolate."
"It is. I'm so sorry. The Earth you read about is gone."
"I guess it is." He looked miserable, and she felt a little droplet of moisture burning down her cheek. She was crying.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is! If I didn't exist, I...I...you would live!"
"What are you talking about? I'm alive."
"You won't be soon enough, and it's because I exist! It's all my fault!"
"No, it's not. How could you think that?" He put his hand on her previously injured wrist, and the Lizaq glowed milky white. "What's happening?"
"I don't know...it's never done this before!" They disappeared from sight and found themselves outside of Zim's base.
"Where are we?!" Dib yelled out.
"This is my house...what are we doing here?" They peered into the window, where they saw Zim pacing around. "That's my father." Before they knew what was transpiring, Zim opened up the door and pulled them in.
"DIB?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
"What? Dad, he's not dead! What are you talking about? And where's the Global Council building?"
"Who are you?! Why do you refer to me as your father?"
"Dad, don't you remember me? Kiana?"
"You're not Mel!"
"Mel? You mean Mom?" Zim screamed.
"Who are you?!"
"I'm Kiana. Your daughter. Your wife is a human called Terri, and she died a year before I was born. You genetically engineered me. Remember?"
Dib whispered into her antennae, "Look at that calendar in back--it's dated twelve years ago."
"Either Dad's become an eccentric historian, or we're in the past."
"You!" Zim yelled, pointing to his daughter. "Tell Zim all that Zim wants to know!"
"Uh...could you tell me a few things? First of all, how old is Mel?"
"Thirteen, I think."
"What about Dib's father?"
"I don't know how old Professor Membrane is!"
"No, I mean Dib."
"Uh...I don't know. Twelve or thirteen, but he's dead now anyway. And good riddance! Mel was too attached to that filthy ika..." Dib punched Zim hard in the squeedily spooch, and he toppled to the ground. When Zim finally came to, they were gone, and he didn't remember a single thing.
Kiana and Dib found themselves back in the library, and she gasped for breath. "Dib...in my hands, this Lizaq can travel through time..."
"My father."
"What?"
"I can save my father."