Sword of Damocles: Chapter 2
Written by Maniacal Dragon (Lynne Stephenson)

-------- Dib --------

Stupid alien. Stupid, arrogant, nasty alien. I shut the door roughly against the night and leaned against it with a sigh. For a moment, utter silence filled the room, broken only by the beeps and taps of my sister's GameSlave. She was seated on the couch, leaning back against the cushions, oblivious to everything but her game.

Where was Ivy? I looked around, and spied her going into the kitchen. Well, I had been busy with my electromagnetic sensors up on the roof, but I could spend time with Ivy until Zim came back to get her. I would never begrudge her that I felt bad for her, having to live with that power-mongering jerk, as well as the tall leaders, at least one of which seemed to do nothing but fight and hurt the poor kid with bad feelings

I called, heading after her. I stopped in the doorway. She was half in, half out of the cupboard, maybe just exploring or actually, she was probably looking for the cereal box she'd left last time there, she'd found it. One gloved hand dug eagerly into the depths of the box, spilling Cocofang Cereal everywhere but not unearthing what she was looking for—the prize'. I remembered doing that when I was very little but being forced to eat all the cereal I'd dumped into my bowl trying to reach it had quickly made the novelty wear out.

I grabbed a sweeping brush and pan from another cupboard and hurried to clean up the mess Ivy was leaving. If Gaz came in here for soda and there was cereal crunching under her feet, I would be the one to pay for it.

A new wave of chocolate cereal poured from the box onto the floor as Ivy somehow managed to get her head in there along with both hands. I might have been annoyed if it hadn't looked so cute. I resignedly set myself to sweeping up the cereal while my young pal searched.

I's found it! Her triumphant cry made me look up, and I saw her, holding up a plastic spaceship, one hand still in the box, and her gloves, face, dress, and antennae covered in the cereal. I laughed. She smiled happily, and a moment later noticed the huge mess she'd left, and me in the process of cleaning it up.

I's sorry Dibby, she said sincerely, green eyes widening. Your sister dun like messes

I agreed. I paused in my sweeping to look her over. You're covered in chocolate cereal here I got up and went over to help her brush herself off. We pulled them off of her dress and wiped them from her face, but she flattened her antennae when I reached for the ones there.

No touchy, she murmured, looking nervous. That was another intriguing thing about Irkens their antennae. I'd learned a lot about how they showed moods and sensed things just by being around Ivy, but I'd never had occasion to touch the things. From what I could tell they were extremely sensitive; not something to mess with. So I had no compunctions about leaving them alone.

I said. I'll let you keep those. She smiled and proceeded to remove them herself, carefully. Then, forgetting her plastic spaceship on the floor, she wandered back out to the living room and up the stairs towards my room. I remained to sweep up the last bits of Cocofang cereal and throw them away, then gaze regretfully at the severely diminished cereal. Gaz was going to be mad oh well, I'd go out tomorrow and buy some more. I left Ivy's prize on the counter and ran up the stairs after her.

I called. She was already at the door to my room, but she turned around when she heard me call her.

She always called me that. It was not a nickname I really liked, but I didn't mind it. At least I had a name to someone

I gave her a smile and stepped past her to push open the door to my room. She followed me in, looking around with large, curious green eyes. She'd seen my room dozens of times before, but the glow-in-the-dark posters, pictures of various paranormal phenomena, and my array of field equipment never failed to capture her attention.

Didn't you used ta have pictures of Zimmy up there? she asked, pointing to the space above my desk now occupied by a starfield chart.

In his disguise, I said regretfully. They've been relegated to the closet. The real stuff—that's over here. I walked over to the wall across my bed. Behind this wall was where I kept everything important a glance behind me, however, told me that Ivy's attention had been distracted by something else.

You gots a new issue! she said, picking up the latest special edition of my Crazy Spooky magazine from the bed.

Oh! Yeah! I turned around to face her. They've got a great article in there on the kelpies. And someone had a yeti sighting in Siberia somewhere and look.. I walked over, took the magazine from her and flipped through it, then pointed to where a photograph of brightly glowing lights in the night sky covered nearly a whole page.

Ivy giggled. Dat's swamp gas! she said brightly. Aren't all bright glowing lights I thought to myself regretfully.

I was thinking it might be St. Elmo's fire, I said, turning a couple more pages. It was another moment before I realized Ivy wasn't saying anything. I turned around to see her standing rigidly, eyes blank and distant. Her antennae were perked almost straight up, and one gloved hand clenched into a fist.

Ivy? What's the matter?? I didn't get an answer. I hated it when she got like this it had only happened a couple of times, and something different happened every time. I stood there uncertainly with the magazine in my hands, watching wide-eyed. I didn't have very long to wait. She went limp, and her eyes rolled shut, before she sank to her knees and I dove to catch her.

Irkens are a pretty skinny race, which was a good thing because I wasn't all that strong. It scared me how limp she was as I tried to keep her in a sitting position. It didn't help that she was taller than me holding her up was a bit awkward.

At the sound of her name her eyelids fluttered. she murmured.

She was shivering slightly. I had to stretch to reach the blanket on my bed, but I managed to do it without letting her fall. I tugged the blanket around her, bracing her against the side of the bed so she had something solid to lean on. She kept leaning on me though. Not that I minded, though I generally preferred not to be pinned down

I saw things she murmured, as she leaned her head on my shoulder, her frail body curling up. She might be taller than me, but she was still nearly a baby! I hugged her comfortingly. I could remember, vaguely, hugging Gaz like this when we were very young no older than Ivy was now, certainly. When our mother died I pushed the thought from my mind. Ivy was what was important now, not that.

What did you see? I asked her. She was slow in replying. Her mouth moved faintly, and her eyes remained closed. When she did speak, her voice was a startlingly clear monotone.

Everyone is running and.. there's.. dark humans everywhere they chase us, and they don't ever fall behind. They might even be getting closer Her brow furrowed in concentration, her eyes screwing tightly shut. A.. a.. he Damocles

I was confused. That guy with the sword over his head?

Her eyes opened now, and they weren't blank anymore, but just gazed across the room. I's guess so she said, almost thoughtfully.

That's an old Greek story I said. why's it in your your vision?

The direction of her gaze did not change. Tell me the story.

I struggled to remember the story it had been a while since I'd read old myths. Some kind of analogy about the luxury of being a powerful leader but also the danger.

Well, this man named Damocles got invited over by a king for a day. The king gave him all kinds of rich food, along with music and wine and robes and everything Damocles wanted. But, there was a sword suspended above his head by a horsehair the entire time

So's he couldn't be happy.. Ivy murmured, her eyes drifting shut again.

I nodded. he was nervous, and panicky, because that sword could drop at any moment!! He couldn't enjoy all those.. those things I paused as she curled closer to me, shivering again. Without much thought I tucked the blanket closer around her.

Dun make sense, she said quietly. She was right about that.. it didn't make sense why was she having visions about some old story that was probably a myth, besides? Where did she get her precognitive powers? That had always fascinated me about her from the moment I first learned about her in my—I admit—obsessive note-taking and observation of Zim. I knew exactly when she and the two leaders arrived. I'd always assumed they were all like Zim and didn't treat them any differently Ivy would have definitely been a useful tool to me, but I couldn't look at her like that. Not anymore.

She spoke again. Who're all those people she said softly.

I.. don't know.

She almost sounded sleepy, now.

FBI? She meant the government, most likely if it were them I felt an icy knot form inside my stomach. Sure, I wanted to see Zim exposed, see his ugly arrogant face melt in defeat for once, but neither did I want all my hard work to go to waste. And neither did I want anything to happen to Ivy. She lived with Zim, and if anyone went after him she'd be caught along in the entire mess. I hugged the little Irken closer. She was more than just my link to the stars, which I'd always wanted to fly out and see she was a friend. She didn't care that everyone thought I was crazy. She didn't say my head was big. She didn't hold against me the things I'd done to her before before she was anything more than another Zim. She didn't get upset if I got too excited about one of my paranormal studies and talked constantly about things I knew she didn't understand. She even made fun of Zim with me sometimes

she murmured again.

I hope not I said, my nervousness pretty apparent in my shaky tone.

She was still sleepy I guessed she didn't understand exactly what the government would do to her and the other aliens if they found them. How to explain that to a little kid you just didn't. But Ivy was different

humans don't like things that are strange to them. They ignore them, or try to get rid of them. That's why paranormal investigators are so important to have around we prove their existence, we disprove the frauds, and we show people that there's nothing to be afraid of! Or if there is, we show them how they can deal with it!

She didn't seem to be paying attention to my little speech. She was gazing into the distance again, as if with some sudden thought. The dark humans she murmured.

I kept my hold on her, just in case. this is the future you're seeing? I asked warily. I had no idea how accurate or changeable her visions were, but in my limited experience with them I had never seen them be wrong. She merely sighed, curling up closer to me like a cat that's found a ray of sunshine on the floor.

Hope not she murmured.

Me too I agreed numbly. She opened an eye at that. A green eye which studied me curiously. I'd always been fascinated by Irken eyes they were shiny and cloudy at the same time, and from what I had seen they also glowed in the dark. Perhaps they used a crystalline rod structure with light emitters to trigger the optics or, maybe they were just synthetic. I hadn't made a close study of Irken eyes no, they couldn't be synthetic, not if they reacted that way to—

Ivy asked me, I guess in response to my statement. Zimmy's bein chased

I had to grin a bit at that. Well, that's something I would like to see except I don't want to see it happen to you, and if it happens to him they'd probably find the rest of you.

She studied me for a long moment, then unexpectedly buried her face in my shoulder and hugged me. You care she murmured.

I was a bit flustered. well of course I care, I said. You're like a little sister to me.

'Bout Angel..? she said, her voice still muffled by my coat. And Reddy, and Purry..?

Angel? Oh, Jendai. The mechanic. He was nice enough another of the aliens I'd assumed to be just like Zim. But despite my attempts at using him various times as bait and as a lab test subject, he'd always been decent to me. Even after helping to destroy my carefully gathered research on Zim he'd wanted to talk to me and find out if I was alright. Upon learning that he wasn't on Earth to cause any harm, I'd left him alone, even tried to help him out sometimes. The two tall leaders though, Red and Purple I heard them called they didn't seem to be much better than Zim. Especially Red.

I wouldn't want to see them get Jendai, I agreed to Ivy's question. I kept my mouth shut about the other two, in what I considered quite a wise move. Those two were her teachers of sorts, and she loved them.

Pur's nice, she murmured sleepily, as if aware of my thoughts which she probably was, now that I thought about it. I nodded absently. She turned her head slightly against my shoulder and sighed. Worn out, probably

Are you tired? I asked. Want to sleep on the bed?

was her response, her face still buried in my coat.

I was confused. Maybe she really was out of it I got up carefully, tugging her with me to a standing position.

Coat.. taco-y she insisted blearily, swaying sleepily on her feet. My coat? Smelling like tacos?? Oh. Me and Gaz had ordered out from Taco Smell across town for dinner, and I'd learned the hard way that critical comments about Gaz's favorite nature show ended up in my being pelted violently with Mexican food. Although I still honestly didn't see who would watch a nature show that showed nothing but the blood and violence of the ecosystem well, except for Gaz I really did not understand her at all

Of course, I didn't understand this kid, either, but she was much more approachable. I sat her down on the bed now, hoping maybe she could sleep off her vision until Zim came back to get her. And maybe I could get a little more work done in the electromagnetic field I started to slide off the bed, only to find she'd latched onto me and wasn't letting go.

she mumbled. Geh I had to clean my coat. The paranormal studies could wait a few mintues while I threw it in the washer if Ivy ever let me go, anyway.

M'scared, Dibby, she said. Dunno what's gonna happen s'all blurry

I know, I said with a sigh, giving her another hug. But don't worry! My dad has lots of connections, I'm sure he'd be able to contact the right people to keep you safe if something did happen. Although I wish he'd stop calling me insane

I flinched automatically hearing the voice and removed my headphones, walking over to the edge of the roof. Zim stood there, glaring all around himself superiorly as his stupid robot dressed in a vaguely puppy-like costume tugged happily at the leash, jumping up and down, hitting the doorbell repeatedly.

Gaz would get severely annoyed before too much more of that and while I was tempted to let her answer the door and vent her wrath on that evil alien, I knew she'd probably come for me, afterwards, as if it were all my fault. It was, after all, unofficially my exclusive occupation to act as door-answerer with a resigned sigh, I leapt from the roof, grabbing hold of the drainpipe and sliding down to drop through the kitchen window into the sink.

Just my luck, it was full of water. I landed, my boots skidding against the edges of the sink before I lost my balance and fell in with a splash. Geez, it was cold it'd been sitting here for a while, obviously. Well, so much for bothering to put my coat in the washer this would've done the job just as well. I clambered from the sink and ran to the front door, my feet pounding to the chorus of DING-DONGs' from the doorbell, which had never once ceased. I threw Gaz a nervous glance, and indeed the corner of her eye was beginning to twitch dangerously. I pulled the door open quickly, fixing the figure behind it with an angry glare.

Where is the Empath, DIB-uh?? Zim sneered, yanking back on his robot's leash to get it away from the door. I expect you have not done something so foolish as to perform odd-topp-zees on my Tallests' young one?? He leered at me, as if waiting for such an excuse to finish me off in spectacular, lasery doom with the support of his leaders.

Of course not, you imbecile, I snapped, and turned to call for Ivy. I neededn't have bothered, she was already on her way down the stairs, still looking sleepy. She knew, that's right. She knew things, even simple things like when someone had come to pick her up.

You DAAAAAAARE insult an Invader!! Zim was saying now, jabbing a gloved claw at me, his expression furious. YOU DAAA—

Le's go home, Zimmy, Ivy said, her voice slurred by her lack of energy.

Zim took a moment to compose himself, still glaring angrily at me. Of course, my Smallest, he said, his tone mincingly polite, although I'm sure his viciousness was entirely directed at me.

GIMME A POPSICLE!! The robot suddenly screamed, waving its costumed arms spastically. This right before it made a leap for my head. Predicting, this, however, I ducked, and the green dog-like thing flew over me, crashing into the table behind the couch and knocking over the lamp of my dad.

By this point, Gaz had had enough. she snarled. Be QUIET!

I said in disbelief. I pointed wordlessly to the green dog, which was delightedly chewing on the lamp's cord.

Zim screamed indignantly. Come to your Master!!

Come have a popsicle with MEEEEE!! it shrieked in reply.

Ivy called. We's gotta go home! You can see moosey!

The robot smiled, its tongue sticking out. it squealed, and immediately got up, trotting over to the two Irkens at the door. Zim snatched up its leash, looking furious, and then marched off, with that odd, haughty strut that usually caused me to either roll my eyes in disgust or call the world's attention to this difference. Lately, it had been the former more often than the latter

Bye Dibby, I heard Ivy say, and she hugged me. Dun worry about da visions, kay?

Huh? Oh, sure, I said, hugging her back. I waved as she followed after the moodily marching Zim, adjusting the floppy hat on her head that she wore for a disguise. No, I wouldn't worry about the visions.. I'd just keep an eye out for anything that looked dangerous. That was the only thing I could do, really, as a friend—

Why don't you ever go over to your idiotic friend Zim's house? Gaz snapped behind me. That way I wouldn't have to waste my time making you suffer so much

Actually, I thought as I turned to face Gaz with a gulp, maybe I really didn't have time to be thinking about that at the moment