Opening Up
Epic Nine
Written by Cartman's Girl and Poe

A good week passed before Ivy was dropped off in town. They had found a 'Blue Light' Disco, for folks under 20. She wasn't exactly thrilled, but wanted to get it over and done with. She glanced up at the sign and muttered, pulling her coat around her; she'd borrowed one of her brother's long black coats, and stepped on in. Her scythes folded back, wincing at all the loud music and flashing lights; or maybe moreover at the stench of all the socializing humans.

"Just stay for a half hour, then you can leave," she reassured herself. All the humans were sober, so no worry about that since it was one of those under age places. Girls chatting together, guys laughing over some peverted joke... you know, usual stuff. The bar was pretty empty, despite one guy sat at the table sipping a lemonade. She glanced at the bar. Well, she might as well have something to drink while she was here. She ordered a root beer and glanced around, surveying the crowd for anyone that looked.. Well, not like the typical assine human. The guy sat on the stool looked pretty normal. Silver hair falling over his eyes, where black raybanz hid them. A denim jacket with a black shirt and ripped denim jeans over chunky black boots. He turned his head to stare at her, then back at his drink. She felt the stare and returned it, her lip twitching, and she pulled the jacket around her more tightly. She then frowned, remembering her mother and grandfather's words, then glanced around.

"Um. Hi." She greeted eloquently. The responce she got was a grunt, sounding like a 'hello' at least. She then noted the male had black gloves, which shown off the guy's fingers. He coughed, glancing at her for a second.

"New here huh."

"Y.. yeah." She sipped her drink, hiding behind the glass and wondering if she should've just stuck to her original plans and kept to her self, "Family thinks I need to get out more.." she muttered, despite herself.

"I see." he replied, turning his glass over in his hands. "People think you look weird, so they want nothing to do with you and when hey do, it's to aggrivate you?" She blinked when he hit the nail on the head, then raised her shoulders,

"Maybe," she said defensively, "What makes you think that?"

"Not every day I see a green skinned girl with no ears." he pointed out, folding his arms onto the counter. She scowled at his logic and shook her head,

"So what if they do. I don't need them." She glared into her own glass.

"Don't need anybody but yourself."

"Exactly," she said curtly, taking a sip, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"So no reason to give out your name or mine." he nodded, glancing around at the other people at the disco. She paused.

"Well.. yeah. Right." She coughed and shook the ice around in her glass, looking up as well, "I don't understand why these humans are so dependant on social contact anyway."

"If they have none, they think it's unhealthy. Quite sad... and what else, is that this planet is so bright." he adjusted his raybanz, then wiped away some gunk from one of the lenses with his sleeve.

"Huh, really, they just don't know how to be happy by them-" She blinked and looked over at him, "'This planet'?" It seemed odd, no human she knew of had ever been to other planets.

"U-huh." he nodded slowly, then looked at her again. "Far too bright for it's own good." She raised an eyeridge.

"I've never been to any others for comparison."

"...oh. Forget I said anything then." he turned back, facing his drink. Too late, she was curious now, whatever instinct she inherited from Dib kicking in,

"Have you?"

"I said forget." he glared at her through his glasses.

"You just said it, how am I suppose to forget it?" She glared right back. He snarled slightly, but said nothing now. She glanced around,

"Humans don't normally wear sunglasses indoors." She looked back to him critically, "What are you, some kind of alien?"

"What are you, some nosey investigator?" he asked.

"I asked first." She folded her arms.

"I say nothing until you answer." came his reply.

"Fine then, no." She set her glass down, "Call it curiousity."

"Yes." She blinked, furrowing her brow,

"Are you serious?"

"No." A look of confusion crossed her face,

"So are you an alien or not?!" He smirked, enjoying seeing her all worked up. He then nodded.

"Yes." She clenched her fists,

"It's not a yes or no question!" Some of the crowd started to glance at the two, as Ivy had been steadily raising her voice. So much for manners. He turned in his seat, and lowered his glasses at her. His eyes, were pure white. He wasn't blind, but they were white. Then a second pair of eyelids, ones that blinked 90 degress instead of normal, blinked at her. With that he replaced his glasses. She jerked back, startled. She didn't seem all that freaked out though,

"Huh." She glanced around as the crowd went back to ignoring them, "I suppose it'd only be fair.." She reached up, taking out her left contact, blinking her compound magenta eye, though she still had the brown pupil. He raised his eyebrows.

"Must say you're the first one I met on this planet." he said.

"I'm not the only one." She put her contact back in with some difficulty, never had liked the things, "My whole family is Irken.." She said, not knowing that her species wasn't one of the most popular ones in the universe. He stared at her for a while, remaining quiet.

"...you're Irken?"

"..for the most part." Her lip twitched, flicking the hair that belied her human ancestory away from her face.

"I wouldn't exactly be proud of my heritage if I were you." he replied.

"Why not?" She glared at him feircly, as he treaded on the edge of insulting the one thing she held dear, her family, "For your information one of my grandfathers was going to conquer this filthball!"

"Because of that." he pointed out, "Irkens pretty much destroyed my home planet, casting my species into a species who just float through space in ships. But we found a planet again, luckily." he got another drink, "And I'd try to control your temper miss." She paused, then shrugged,

"Well, I'm sure it was for a good reason. And what's wrong with my temper?!"

"You have no control over it." he replied, "Learn to take deep breaths before snapping."

"What's that going to do? I have plenty of breath!"

"It helps to relax you."

"I'm perfectly relaxed!" She snapped; though it was rather obvious the new social situation had her on edge.

"It's obvious to me, you have a anger management problem." he said calmly, sipping his drink.

"I do not!" She hissed, "What do you know?!"

"Being a species who senses that sort of stuff, a lot."

"Are you saying Irkens are insensitive?" ..which was like saying the sky was blue.

"Some of them are." he said, then sighed. "But, every species has it's flaws."

"Huh.. I guess so. Like my.." She frowned. She'd gotten out of the habit of insulting her brother after he'd saved her from the muggers, but she never could understand in attutide, "My brother's really un-Irken-like.."

"You have a brother?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Ragde. He looks mostly like me, but much shorter and with longer hair." She made a motion with her hand to indicate where Ragde came up to, "He's quiet and shy, too, and he.. likes.. a human." She made a face.

"I thought Irkens rarely showed affection." he said, more like asked but it sounded like a statement. "From what I know."

"They don't?" She blinked in surprise, "My parents and grandparents are all over each other.."

"They must be outcasts then for being different." he shrugged. "Species do that. You don't act right, they kick you out."

"Outcasts.. well.. sorta." She glanced to the side, remembering that all of her grandparents were Rejects or Exhiles, "What, did you get kicked out too?"

"Yep. S'why I'm here." he nodded, scratching his hand.

"Oh. What are your species, anyway? You just look like a human to me, except for the eyes."

"I doubt you know of my species." he sat up, stretching his arms out.

"You obviously know about mine," she retorted.

"What alien species doesn't?"

"What do you mean?" She raised her eyeridge; she knew about the whole planet conquering thing Irkens did, but not how wide spread they were.

"Irkens can be found all over the galaxy conquering planets every single day of the year. They never give up. Species have become enslaved, some even extinct, homeless and everything else. They've been around for a long time, and are still out to rule the whole universe." he replied, scratching his index finger's nail on the bar. A look of.. dare we say, pride? crossed her face as he read off the charges, her Zimmy side kicking in, before she shook her head.

"Well.. I can, uh, see how some species might not be so appreciative," she admitted, murmuring. He just stared at her, frowning. He then finished his drink and got to his feet, showing he was pretty tall - probably taller then she was. Most definetly.

"Yeah whatever. My species sucked anyway." he muttered before leaving some cash on the bar and walking off. She blinked up at his height, certainly not use to having someone to look up to besides her grandfather, which was only just barely.

"You're not proud of your species?" She wondered, following him, still having that cursed.. well, curiousity due to her human side.

"No." he replied, stepping outside and securing his raybanz.

"Just because they kicked out out?" She stepped out as well, glad to be away from all the humans.

"Murderous species bent on surviving off the death of other planets. That's why I was exhiled."

"Because you're not like that." She guessed, and raised an eyeridge.

"Spot on." he nodded.

"Huh. You remind me of my brother." She smirked, "He's an utter pacifist."

"I wouldn't call myself a pacifist." he muttered, making his way down the street.

"What are you then?"

"Anzto. That's all I am."

"Anzto?" She paused, holding her chin as she wondered what it meant, "..oh, that's your name."

"Bingo." Anzto nodded. She waved her bangs out of her face.

"I'm Ivy." She glanced around, "I've never seen you around here before, don't go to skool?"

"...nope." he paused, thinking what 'Skool' was.

"Bah, lucky." She stuffed her hands in her pockets, "Parents make me go. I hate it," she growled, "And they wonder why I don't care if I'm expelled or not!"

"Why not just drop out then?" he asked.

"Mom would kill me," she glared at the ground, "I don't know why they think getting a useless human education is so important when Irken sciences are so much more advanced anyway."

"Why not ask her then?" he shrugged, crossing the street. "It'd be easier."

"I don't wanna get lectured. Besides.. it'd be weak," She glanced to the side, "If Ragde can handle skool, I should be able to!"

"He should help you then." he said bluntly.

"Help?! He's my little brother, I can't ask him for help!"

"Siblings are there to help out Ivy. I had a sibling. Till a ferocious Sclobar ripped his throat out." She blinked, then shook her head,

"But.. blah." She hunched over slightly, "I don't know what to do. My two family lines keep telling me to do different things."

"Family lines?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. My grandfather Zim is the one who's told me the most about the Irken race.." She looked up in thought, "He told me I ought to be proud of my Irken heritage, and not shame it. But my other grandfather and grandmother.. they aren't too fond of their species."

"Ah, I see. Well, just be your own Irken then. Don't do what people say."

"I don't know what kind of Irken I am though!" She exasperated. The joys of teenagerhood.

"Oh." Anzto blinked, then shrugged. "I can't help you out there, miss."

"I know," She stuffed her hands back in her pockets, "No one can, but most of my family seems worried about me.. I don't know why, I'm fine."

"Family worry, it'll always happen. I guess."

"Bah." She then looked up at the street, "Uh.. where are we going?"

"I dunno, I don't really live anywhere." he shrugged, "I mainly walk around a lot."

"You're homeless?" She tilted her head, "What's it like?"

"I'm fine. I sleep when I can.. my species usually sleeps for an hour and that's it." Anzto blew up at his silver bangs, "But finding something to do at that hour, that's annoying."

"An hour?" She sounded impressed, living on Earth she'd gotten acclimated to human sleep cycles. "That must be nice, being able to do what you want, not having to answer to anyone.."

"Lonely tho." he snorted, "That's the one downfall. And, I can't be my true self."

"Your true self? What do you mean?"

"This is a disgusie." he replied, pointing to his face. "I'm much bigger and nastier." She blinked and examined him, edging away slightly,

"Oh.. um.. what do you look like?"

"Legs of a dinosaur with large claw sticking out, furry back with wings... hard to explain." Anzto shrugged, "But sharp teeth and claws is a major thing."

"O-oh." She didn't look too certain now, glancing to the side. "Maybe.. I should go home, it's getting late.."

"Better." he replied.

"I hope you don't think I'm scared of you or something, because I'm not," She huffed, then looked around, realizing she'd followed him to an unfamiliar part of town, "..where are we?"

"West side of town. Where do you live?" Anzto asked, looking down at her.

"North.. in the suburbs." She seemed to pale suddenly as she recognized the area as the one she'd gone through before, where she'd been attacked, and backed away. Anzto turned around, looking slightly concerned.

"You all right Ivy?"

"Fine!" She snapped, her nervousness really putting her on edge, "It's just, last time I was here.." She shook her head quickly, backed up against a wall.

"..I can take you home, you know. If you want." he said calmly, glancing around at the surroundings.

"No.. no, I think I'll take myself home," She was suddenly highly distrusting of him, "Just point the way to north.." He stared at her for a while, then pointed.

"That way."

"Yeah.. thanks." She pulled up her coat and started off, the streets dark by now. Anzto frowned, looking concerned for the girl and once she was out of hearing range, he started after her just to make sure nothing happens. She tried to remember what path they'd taken, but she hadn't been paying attention, too busy being nosy. Pretty soon, she found herself in an unfamiliar alley.

"ARGH!" She cursed aloud, and kicked a dumpster, "..ow."

"The offer's still up, if you want me to take you home." Anzto said, coming to a stop a way back from where she was. She jumped at his voice,

"You followed me?" She looked mildly distraught, starting to think he might turn out to be some kind of attacker afterall.

"I was worried about you. You're scared." he shrugged, leaning against the wall.

"I am not!" She snapped, then looked around, holding onto her coat sleeves, "Okay, maybe I am, but.. Worried about me?" She looked confused. No one outside of her family had ever been worried about her.

"Sure. I wouldn't want to be in a place like this, not knowing where to go." Anzto claimed, "Besides, could you find a better body guard?"

"I can take care of myself.." She said her mantra quietly, but it even seemed she was starting to loose faith in it. "How do I know you aren't going to turn on me?" She looked up at him, probably giving him an idea of what'd happened the last time she'd been here.

"You can only trust me. But I wouldn't do that." he said, then smiled slightly. "The first alien being I've come across besides humans, and I have no urge to attack." She stared at the ground, then sighed,

"..fine." She scratched the back of her head, "I don't know where my house is from here, though.."

"Come on, follow me." with that he turned and walked back she way she came. She did, reluctantly, her hair-scythes folding back at the sounds of the city life. Sooner or later, the two arrived at Ivy's house. No problems along the way either. Anzto grinned at her.

"Told ya I'd get you back." She nodded, having had remained silent the whole time.

"Um, thanks." She looked up at him, then went over to the door, knocking on it loudly.

"So I'll see you around then?" he asked as the door was slowly opened.

"Uh.. yeah, I guess." Zib opened the door, looking up at his daughter,

"Ivy! We were worried sick! You were suppose to be home an hour a-" He blinked, looking up a bit further.. "..er, who's your friend?"

"He's Anzto, Daddy… I met him at the club and then kinda got lost afterwards. He.. helped me get home." It wasn't easy for her to admit needing help afterall.

"'Lo sir." Anzto nodded at Zib, then looked at Ivy. "I'll see ya then." he smiled slightly, then walked off. Enid walked up behind Zib, just seeing Anzto leave.

"Ivy! Where have you been?" Ivy waved and Zib watched him go, looking slightly disturbed.

"I got lost, Mom.." She wandered in, pulling out her contacts.

"Well.. it's nice to see you made a friend afterall." Zib raised his eyeridge skeptically, though.

"A friend?" Ragde entered the room, looking pretty surprised. "Well... good for you Ivy." he grinned.

"What's his name?" Enid glanced out the door, watching the tall Anzto walking away.

"Anzto," Ivy repeated, taking off her coat, giving Ragde the evil eye should he dare and start teasing her. "He's not.. really a friend.. I just talked to him."

"Neat." Ragde didn't really show any intentions of teasing her, heck if that'd happen the world would probably explode.

"Hmm.." Enid murmered, but shrugged.

"What's the matter, Daddy?" Ivy looked over at Zib, who seemed to be pondering,

"I just guess, uh, you'd come home with someone shorter.."

"How tall was he?" Ragde asked,

"Taller then your Grandfather Poe, that's for sure.." Enid replied.

"Wow, that's tall." course, anyone taller then Ragde he viewed as tall.

"Why was he wearing sunglasses at night?" Zib wondered,

"Oh, he's not human," Ivy added, folding the coat up. Zib did a double-take,

"What?!"

"..yes, what?!" Enid asked, staring wide eyed at Ivy, before looking back outside again.

"Wow, there's other aliens on Earth?" Ragde looked impressed.

"Yeah, he.. wouldn't say what his species was, but he had this pure white eyes with double eyelids." She set the coat down on the couch, "And he said that was just a disguise, that he really had wings and dinosaur legs.."

"...trust out daughter to make friends with another alien species..." Enid thought to herself. "Well!" she said aloud, "He sounds very... interesting."

"Sounds neat." Ragde said.

"I.. guess." She scratched the side of her head, not one to trust a male that easily, especially one that was apparently some breed of highly predatory aliens, "He didn't seem too fond of Irkens, though.."

"Whys that? Besides our race being power hungry?" Enid asked, turning to face her daughter.

"He said his planet was destroyed by them.. er.. us." She glanced up at her mom, "He said he was outcast, though, so he didn't care about them." Zib was holding his chin, murmuring to himself,

"That disguise technology is incredible.. I wonder if he's a hexapod? I've never seen a wing-and-arm arrangement in Earth zoology.."

"Daddy, you're not planning on experimenting on him are you?" She scowled at Zib somewhat, who snapped out of it, waving his hand silly,

"Oh, no, just pondering! Eh heh.."

"What's a hexapod?" Enid asked, looking confused.

"A creature with six limbs, an, em.. A dragon would be an example." That seemed the most appropriate facsimile, and Ivy shook her head,

"I think I just want to go to bed.." Her little excursion having left her drained.

"Oh, right." Ragde glanced at the clock, it reading nine o'clock. "I better too. Night Mom, Dad." he nodded to the two, then left the room. Enid looked like she was musing over the whole situation, giving a slight nod.

"Yes, night..."

"I have to say I'm surprised," Zib said, once the two were out of hearing range, "First night out socializing and she comes back with a bo.. er, friend," He coughed, trying to fight back his protective instincts.

"...boyfriend?" Enid asked, looking shocked. "You don't really think...?"

"Well, no," He waved his hand, his other arm folded, "I'm just saying. It's a good thing, really." He paused, ".. I think, at least."

"Should we run a check of alien life forms that fit his description, so we know what we're dealing with?" she asked, "I wanna know what Ivy's hanging out with, and what he's capable of." He nodded,

"I'd say so." He started towards one of the doors that lead to the lab, "On one hand, I'm glad he's not human, but on the other hand.."

"Hmm-mm..." Enid muttered. Once down in the lab, Zib started typing in the features Ivy had explained. Enid was reading them off, "Dinosaur legs, wings, sharp teeth... but why the glasses?"

"Either to hide his unusual eyes, ooor.." He added 'ultra-violet sensitive eyes', and hit the 'search' button. After a few seconds, the computer came up with 1 Known Match. There stood a pretty nasty looking character. The face of what looked like a doberman but with teeth far too big to accomodate, so they stuck out. It had a 'punkish' style hair do, with black horns sticking out above it's pure white eyes. Around the base of the neck was tuft of fur, then everything further down was scaley. Black leather wings jutted out of it's back, and massive black claws were on it's feet and hands. And patterns of black stripes now and then on it's body. Enid stared for a while, then cringed.

"Holy cow." was all she could say. Zib stared, slack-jawed, then shook his head,

"Why does it not surprise me that Ivy would befriend something like that.. Computer, how large are these.. er, creatures?"

"Known height estimated at around ten feet fully grown adult." the computer replied.

"10 feet?!" He yelped, "That's taller than.. than.. the Tallest!" He looked at Enid, "Maybe she should find an, er, another friend.."

"I don't know.. if we tell her she can't see the only friend she really has... that wouldn't be good." Enid said, looking up at the alien known simply as 'Beast'.

"I know, but I mean, good grief." He glanced to the screen as well, "That's one thing Ivy couldn't defend herself against.."

"Well... he seemed nice, didn't he?" she asked, never had spoken with Anzto.

"I didn't really talk to him.. he just nodded his head at me with a greeting and left." He tried to remember the impression he got from him, "He did lead Ivy home, though, when he had all the opprotunity in the world to do otherwise.."

"...or maybe to see where the rest of us live..." Enid murmered, then looked up at the computer. "Computer, give us some information on 'Beast's."

"Yes'm. 'Beast', are known as travellers of the galaxy. Having their home land turned into Food Courtia, they now travel the galaxy searching for fresh meat. They eat off of destruction and chaos, but are known to be vicious towards other species. If one should approach a Beast, you're pretty much wanting to die." Zib's hair-scythes fell to the sides of his head limply at that, staring at the computer blankly.

"..we're doomed." he said, finally.

"Computer, how do you suppose they're able to blend in so well?" Enid asked, wanting to know as much as possible about the alien.

"Some Beasts are known to carry the genetic coding of altering their DNA to suit surrounding life forms. This is if a Beast is seperated from it's family group, or exhiled."

"So they can shapeshift too?" Zib looked dumbfounded, "That's just great.." He groaned and sat down in a covienent chair.

"Only some, sir." the computer replied.

"Well, this one apparently can." He ran his fingers through his hair, then wondered, "Computer, do you have any individual records for these 'Beasts'? If you do, look up.. what was it.." He recalled the name, "Anzto?"

"Searching.... found. Anzto. Son of known 'Ruler' of the Beasts. But, upon refusing his entrance to manhood by slaughtering a hexapod, he was outcasted from his family group. Last known whereabouts recorded, one of the Moons of Neptune seeking food." the computer came up with an image of Anzto, his fur around his neck was silver; most of the species had brown and other fur colours.

"So that's Ivy's friend." He put his chin on his palm, "You know, in comparison Allison seems much less dangerous.. We should've known the problem wouldn't have been that easy to solve."

"So what do we do?" Enid asked, leaning on the control panal.

"That.. is a good question. Maybe we should wait and see.. or meet him ourselves, first. Or," He shrugged, "She might never see him again, who knows."

"If she does, we talk to him." Enid said sternly, "I don't want my daughter to be around something that dangerous, especially if he shows signs of turning on her." He nodded,

"I don't know, I didn't get a bad feeling about him, but still. And.. he might be the only chance she has for a friend."

"Well.. refusing to kill is a good sign, right?" she asked, sounding slightly worried again.

"I would think so.. but something that big has to eat something." He winced, "I imagine he might make your dad look like a vegetarian…"

"I'll say..." she sighed, then walked over to him and put her arms around his shoulders. "I just hope nothing goes wrong.."

"Yeah, me too." He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her, "Things are starting to look up, so.. who knows."

"Who knows indeed... should we tell her about him though, what we know?" Enid asked, looking up at the image again. He chewed his lip,

"I would say yes, but over time I've learned that not everyone seems to be as comfortable around the facts about things.." He sighed, "If we tell her, she might get too scared to talk to him again, which I wouldn't blame her for.. Putting our minds at ease, but she'd be friendless again."

"Hmm... well..." she stood up, taking his hand into hers. "We'll see won't we Zib? We'll see.." He nodded, holding her hand tightly,

"That's all we can really do."

[To be continued]