Cognitive Dissonance
An action packed romantic Invader Zim epic
By LejindaryBunny
A/N: Meet an Irken rebel! More angst, this time from Zim's end.
Disclaimer: I own Kiir and the IU. Everything else belongs to
Jhonen Vasquez, including all of our immortal souls.
Chapter II... In which there is a flashback, we meet an Irken rebel,
good things happen to bad people, and Zim learns some really awful news.
Planet Militia, Six months ago...
"High Commander," a nervous and hesitant underling spoke, "the scanners
are picking up something... odd."
The rebel leader looked up sharply, her antennae bobbing, and glared
at him. "What do you mean, odd?" she snapped.
"Er, well, you see, there are these...funny...wavy, things," he
attempted to explain.
The half Irken rose irritated from her command chair and stalked
over to the guard's post, a little irritated by his incompetence. She
stared over his shoulder at the small scan screen.
It showed small vibrationy things around one edge of the planet's
orbit.
"What the skragg?" she muttered. "Put it on the main display," she
charged.
"Yes Commander," he pushed the button.
A large, full color image of the blackness of space filled the front
wall of the command base, the very edge of the puce planet Militia
visible in one corner.
"Orbital view established," the monitor guard told her, out of some
deep primal urge to state the obvious.
High Commander Kiir watched the screen, non-plused. There was
absolutely nothing there.
Until an entire armada of Irken warships decloaked.
The whole of the command center stood still, staring at the
spectacle. One timid Irken fainted.
Kiir, amethyst eyes several sizes larger than even they usually were,
turned to her inferiors and shouted, "Well, don't just stand there! Go
to red alert! Prepare the defenses!"
Someone pressed a button. An alarm began to scream, and red lights
flashed on and off. Beings scrambled around, giving and carrying out
hurried orders. The Irken Underground was under attack.
Perhaps a little explanation is necessary at this point. The Irken
Underground, or IU, was a radical political movement, or rather a
subversive revolt against the Empire, started around thirty years
before. Its long term mission was the deposition of the Tallests and
usurpment of power for itself, for the good of the people, of course.
Its short term goals however were more modest, subvert the disaffected
youth, break stuff, blow up buildings and generally cause the Empire
a big headache. They were actually very successful at this. The
organization was headed by its founder, High Commander Kiir, a job that
mostly entailed eating large meals, shouting at people she disliked,
and picking which major cities to blow up. But it wasn't all fun and
games, bombs and alcohol, oh no. There was a serious side to her
revolution, a reason behind her loathing for the empire.
Kiir was a half-breed in an Empire that 'encouraged' racial purity.
Her father was an esteemed Irken Invader, but her mother had been a
Horling, one of the short lived, not quite bright, but highly
attractive races in the galaxy. Their daughter Kiir, was thus a mixture
of traits, looking mostly Irken with her green skin, large eyes and
black antennae. She however did not have an ID pak and did have wiry
violet hair on her head. So she was at a disadvantage her entire life.
Sneered at, looked down upon, not eligible to become Tallest despite
her greater than average height. She'd been intentionally flunked out
of Invader academy. So she was a little bitter. Now disgusted with the
established authority she turned her ambition in a new direction. She
vowed to overthrow the Empire's tyrannical dictatorship and install her
own, more pleasant and appealing one. She'd then proceeded to quickly
and effectively weed out the other troubled members of society and
turned them to her cause with promises of justice for the downtrodden
and high governmental positions.
And it had all been going so well for a while. They had their secret
base on Militia, they were a pain in the Tallests asses, they had a
decent amount of subtle public sympathy and support. But now it was all
over. Commander Kiir was intelligent enough to know that they were so
severely out-numbered and out-teched that anybody who stuck around to
defend the place was going to get either captured or more likely,
frakked outright. She knew even if she was to be taken alive the trial
would be a scam, she'd be publicly denounced and executed.
She wasn't going to wait around for that to happen. Let her
underlings fight and die for The Cause, minions were replaceable, she
was not. And so while everyone was busy she slipped out and down to the
docking bay. If the entire Imperial police was going to be out for her
blood, which they were, she wanted a head start, the bigger the better.
She came to the nearly empty bay and stopped, there was exactly one
ship left, as the rest were being flown in what was sure to be the IU's
last stand. She briefly wondered how the Empire had found the base, but
pushed it out of her mind as momentarily irrelevant. The ship was a
modified Voot Cruiser that looked like it had recently undergone major
repairs. Well, she hoped they were done because she did not have time
to skragg around.
Planet Earth, Now...
For a moment Zim could just stare at the crashed vehicle in his yard.
Then he quickly ran over to see if there were any survivors and what
someone from home was doing all the way out here. He forced the door
panel open, it had come loose on impact and stepped in cautiously. He
looked around the cockpit, there was one occupant, slumped over the
control panel.
"KIIR?" Zim demanded incredulously.
The violet haired Irken looked up with a pained grin across her
bloodied face. "Hey Zim, would you like to get this crossbeam off of
me?" She passed out.
Zim, still not sure if this was really happening rushed over to her
side, heaved the girder off of her and picking up the limp body carried
her out of the wreck. He hurried across the yard and to the door,
greeted by the parent bots which he hastily shoved away.
"Master!!" Gir shouted as Zim headed towards the lab, "whatcha got
theeeeeeeeeeeere?"
"Didn't you see that ship crash outside?" he growled tensely.
He blinked. "No."
Zim sighed and shook his head. In the medi-bay he set Kiir down.
"Computer, run diagnostic for serious injuries."
"Analyzing...no serious injuries detected. "
"Can you wake her up?"
"Affirmative." The machine administered a rather larger than
strictly necessary shock to her body.
She flew up into a sitting position, eyes wide. "Holy foon!"
Zim took a step back. After her initial shock she seemed to deflate a
little, her eyes grew tired and she put a hand to her forehead. "OOoh
skragg that hurts," she laid back down uneasily.
Zim looked down at her. He hadn't seen another Irken in almost four
years and he hadn't seen this particular half-breed in a lot longer than
that; not since their mutual days in the Academy. He hadn't expected to
ever see her again at all in fact, not in person anyway, though she and
her organization had been big on the news before he left. She and Zim
hadn't parted on particularly good terms.
"What on Irk are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Zim? S'at really you? Hn, so I ended up on Earth have I?" She
chuckled blearily. "Kind of ironic, that."
He rolled his eyes. The Tallest damned space pirate was being her
typical cryptic self. He tapped his foot, crossing his spindly arms.
"So what, did they finally catch you? Are you running?"
She struggled to sit up, propping herself against the wall. "No!...
yes," she admitted grudgingly. "Nn, they found my base, somehow, sent
an armada to deal with my bad self." She grinned, and shrugged. "So I
got the frakk outta there."
Zim snorted. That was just like her, she hadn't changed at all. Still
no responsibility, not to the Empire, not to any one but herself.
Kiir smirked. "So. It's been years, what have you been doing out on
this forsaken little rock?"
Zim grinned. He just knew his special mission would make the Invader
reject insanely jealous. ""Conquering."
She burst out in gales of laughter.
Of all the reactions he had been expecting, that was not one of them.
"I'll have you know I have this planet right where I want it," he said
huffily.
She was still laughing, struggling to speak. "No, ha-ha, it's not, heh,
not that!" she was giggling so hard there were tears in her purple eyes.
"You actually! You don't mean?"
The Invader stood there, an expression of deep irritation ingrained
on his features. "You dare laugh at Zim?"
She took a few deep breaths. "Eeee, whooo. It's just...you actually
took...them seriously?"
He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. "Explain
yourself, outlaw!" he commanded.
She snickered again, then looked almost...concerned? "Do you really
think this is a mission Zim? The Tallest lied to you, you're in exile,
considered as much of a public enemy as I am."
For a second Zim just stood there, dumbfounded. Then he realized how
impossible that was. The Tallest, lie? Never. "You lie, rebel scum! You
seek to trick me and turn me against my leaders!"
Kiir shook her head. "Poor Zim, always the adamant loyalist. It was
all over the news when they finally got rid of you."
If possible, his gaze darkened even further. "I will listen to no
more of your deceptions! I will contact my Tallest and they will send
troops to arrest you."
She leapt up, and then winced in obvious pain, her antennae hanging
low over her face like her hair. "No! Don't do that! They'll have me
executed, Zim. I know we didn't part on very good terms but you
wouldn't really want me DEAD would you?"
He pondered this. She was an outlaw, a traitor, and she was lying to
him. True, they'd been friends in the academy, until Kiir had gone all
anti-establishment, but wasn't it his duty to turn her over to the
Tallest?
Ah, said a small voice in the back of his mind. But what if she's
telling you the truth?
Seemingly sensing his confusion she spoke before he could give an
answer. "Look, Zim, old friend," she said, obviously trying calm,
rational and caring, "why don't you go ahead and contact the Tallest.
Ask them about your mission. If I'm lying to you then you can go ahead
and turn me in. But if I'm not, well, I don't think you'll want to
anyway."
He thought about it. It seemed the perfect solution. He could turn her
in without feeling terrible about it. But would the Tallest be angry at
him for doubting their sincerity. And Kiir sounded so, sure of herself.
What if what she said was true?
"Done," he said sharply, eyes narrowed. He turned to the screen and
tapped a few buttons, opening a transmission to the Massive. He drummed
his three gloved fingers on the control panel, waiting. What would he
say?
After a moment the Irken Insignia was replaced by Tallests Red and
Purple.
"What is it Zim?" Red sounded vaguely exasperated.
"Err..." he began uncertainly.
"This had better be important," Purple told him.
"My Tallests, I uh, heard a rumor. I mean no offense," he said feebly,
not at all his usual self. "My mission, is it...was it just to get me
out of the Empire?"
The two Irken leaders gave twin glances of astonishment.
"Huh," said Red, "And I thought he'd never figure it out. Guess I owe
you that... thing."
Purple smirked at him and then turned back Zim. "Yes, yes it is. So
don't contact us again and don't come back to the Empire, or we'll
shoot you."
"With lasers," Red added, just before the transmission screen went
dark.
Again , he stood there, stunned and blissfully unable to form a
coherent thought. Ruby eyes wide, mouth hanging open, he collapsed into
his chair. His mission, his entire life had been nothing but a lie. He
wasn't on a glorious secret mission, he was in exile. How could they do
that to him? He wasn't some criminal, he was an Invader! He lived his
life for the Tallest, every moment waking or sleeping spent for the
Empire, which had now rejected him.
Zim doubled over, slumped with his chin on his arms on his knees. He
would not cry, he would not show weakness. His mind futily made a last
ditch attempt or two to rationalize what he'd just heard. His leaders
must be testing him, testing his loyalty. That had to be it. Yet now
that the words had been spoken, the doubt that for years he'd refused
to realize lurked in the corners of his mind had been freed. It
explained a lot. It explained everything, in fact. The remoteness of
the planet, Gir, his lack of new equipment, the planet jackers, the
Tallests' reluctance to hear his reports, the reason the Armada never
came. They hadn't wanted the Earth, they had wanted him out of their
antennae. And for years he had been duped, blinded by his own arrogance
and fanatism.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
The simple, comfort-meaning gesture made him insanely, irrationally
angry. It made him want to scream. How could she be sorry?! How could
she even begin to imagine what he was feeling?! He stood up, suddenly
and sharply. "Get out," he hissed. "Get OUT!!"
She took a step back. "But-"
"I said leave!" he took his laser pistol from his side and pointed it
at her, finger on the trigger. He didn't care that he was turning her
out on to the strange, isolated planet with no help and no supplies.
She would just have to deal, because somehow this was all her fault.
"But, I don't... have any place to go..."
He scowled, then sneered struck but a nasty, terrible vindictive
thought. A thought that could be cruel or merciful depending on how she
played the card he would deal her. He punched up a map and address on
the view screen, and printed it out. He handed her the paper. "Go here.
Tell him Zim sent you."
***
Dib sat at his computer, typing away at a description of the strange
new aliens and their craft. The encounter had washed away all but the
dregs of his depression. True, they were some really scary things, and
true as well that he had no idea who they were, what they wanted or how
they'd managed to simply disappeared like that. However it was the fact
that he didn't know these answers that buoyed his spirits, that and
the verbal sparring with Zim. It all gave him a goal, and left him with
no time or extra energy for angst. It could probably be truthfully told
that when he wasn't obsessing over something he was depressed. A
psychologist probably wouldn't be far off the mark labeling him manic-
depressive and obsessive compulsive. But that wasn't the point. The
point was there was paranormal activity afoot, and that was what Dib
was equipped to deal with.
One of those people who can concentrate on more that one thing at
once, he, while typing his report, sat wondering what the beeping thing
Zim had was. Why had it made him run off in such a hurry? Under normal
circumstances the taunts, threats and insults should have gone on for
almost another half hour. Could it be that Zim was lying and he had
gone to meet the orange things? But the little green alien had seemed
pretty surprised and worried when the thing had gone off.
Which brought Dib to another, random, point. Was it just him or had
Zim gotten, well, taller? Not over night, but gradually. He realized it
must have been going on since the alien had reached Earth, but it had
been so slow he never really noticed before. That was odd since he had
been under the impression that Zim was fully grown, and yet, now when
he thought about it, Zim was nearly his height, not a great
accomplishment of course, since a lot of people wee taller than Dib, but
still... Maybe it had something to do with Earth air, or sunlight.
He finished putting in the details about the oranges' ship and called
up a different file. This one was Zim's, his longest one, to which he
added his new observation.
He heard somebody knock on the door. Was he in a sufficiently good
enough mood to answer it yet? Hmmmmm, no. Who'd be coming over so
late at night anyway? They pounded on the door a few more times, but
after a moment it stopped. he supposed they must have given up and left.
Then he heard Gaz call up the stairs, irritated.
"DIB! One of you freak friends is here to see you!"
Dib blinked. he could think of only one person who it could be, but
why on Earth would Zim be at his house?
To be continued...
Well, whadaya think, hmm? Is it okay? Poor Zim, what's he going to do
now? They crushed his little squeedly-spooch, nasty mean Tallests.
Just kidding, I love Red and Purple. But what's Dib going to do when
he finds yet ANOTHER alien, this one at his door step, asking to spend
the night? What's up with Kiir, anyway? And what do you think of her
by the way? I'd love to know!
Read it? Review it!
An action packed romantic Invader Zim epic
By LejindaryBunny
A/N: Meet an Irken rebel! More angst, this time from Zim's end.
Disclaimer: I own Kiir and the IU. Everything else belongs to
Jhonen Vasquez, including all of our immortal souls.
Chapter II... In which there is a flashback, we meet an Irken rebel,
good things happen to bad people, and Zim learns some really awful news.
Planet Militia, Six months ago...
"High Commander," a nervous and hesitant underling spoke, "the scanners
are picking up something... odd."
The rebel leader looked up sharply, her antennae bobbing, and glared
at him. "What do you mean, odd?" she snapped.
"Er, well, you see, there are these...funny...wavy, things," he
attempted to explain.
The half Irken rose irritated from her command chair and stalked
over to the guard's post, a little irritated by his incompetence. She
stared over his shoulder at the small scan screen.
It showed small vibrationy things around one edge of the planet's
orbit.
"What the skragg?" she muttered. "Put it on the main display," she
charged.
"Yes Commander," he pushed the button.
A large, full color image of the blackness of space filled the front
wall of the command base, the very edge of the puce planet Militia
visible in one corner.
"Orbital view established," the monitor guard told her, out of some
deep primal urge to state the obvious.
High Commander Kiir watched the screen, non-plused. There was
absolutely nothing there.
Until an entire armada of Irken warships decloaked.
The whole of the command center stood still, staring at the
spectacle. One timid Irken fainted.
Kiir, amethyst eyes several sizes larger than even they usually were,
turned to her inferiors and shouted, "Well, don't just stand there! Go
to red alert! Prepare the defenses!"
Someone pressed a button. An alarm began to scream, and red lights
flashed on and off. Beings scrambled around, giving and carrying out
hurried orders. The Irken Underground was under attack.
Perhaps a little explanation is necessary at this point. The Irken
Underground, or IU, was a radical political movement, or rather a
subversive revolt against the Empire, started around thirty years
before. Its long term mission was the deposition of the Tallests and
usurpment of power for itself, for the good of the people, of course.
Its short term goals however were more modest, subvert the disaffected
youth, break stuff, blow up buildings and generally cause the Empire
a big headache. They were actually very successful at this. The
organization was headed by its founder, High Commander Kiir, a job that
mostly entailed eating large meals, shouting at people she disliked,
and picking which major cities to blow up. But it wasn't all fun and
games, bombs and alcohol, oh no. There was a serious side to her
revolution, a reason behind her loathing for the empire.
Kiir was a half-breed in an Empire that 'encouraged' racial purity.
Her father was an esteemed Irken Invader, but her mother had been a
Horling, one of the short lived, not quite bright, but highly
attractive races in the galaxy. Their daughter Kiir, was thus a mixture
of traits, looking mostly Irken with her green skin, large eyes and
black antennae. She however did not have an ID pak and did have wiry
violet hair on her head. So she was at a disadvantage her entire life.
Sneered at, looked down upon, not eligible to become Tallest despite
her greater than average height. She'd been intentionally flunked out
of Invader academy. So she was a little bitter. Now disgusted with the
established authority she turned her ambition in a new direction. She
vowed to overthrow the Empire's tyrannical dictatorship and install her
own, more pleasant and appealing one. She'd then proceeded to quickly
and effectively weed out the other troubled members of society and
turned them to her cause with promises of justice for the downtrodden
and high governmental positions.
And it had all been going so well for a while. They had their secret
base on Militia, they were a pain in the Tallests asses, they had a
decent amount of subtle public sympathy and support. But now it was all
over. Commander Kiir was intelligent enough to know that they were so
severely out-numbered and out-teched that anybody who stuck around to
defend the place was going to get either captured or more likely,
frakked outright. She knew even if she was to be taken alive the trial
would be a scam, she'd be publicly denounced and executed.
She wasn't going to wait around for that to happen. Let her
underlings fight and die for The Cause, minions were replaceable, she
was not. And so while everyone was busy she slipped out and down to the
docking bay. If the entire Imperial police was going to be out for her
blood, which they were, she wanted a head start, the bigger the better.
She came to the nearly empty bay and stopped, there was exactly one
ship left, as the rest were being flown in what was sure to be the IU's
last stand. She briefly wondered how the Empire had found the base, but
pushed it out of her mind as momentarily irrelevant. The ship was a
modified Voot Cruiser that looked like it had recently undergone major
repairs. Well, she hoped they were done because she did not have time
to skragg around.
Planet Earth, Now...
For a moment Zim could just stare at the crashed vehicle in his yard.
Then he quickly ran over to see if there were any survivors and what
someone from home was doing all the way out here. He forced the door
panel open, it had come loose on impact and stepped in cautiously. He
looked around the cockpit, there was one occupant, slumped over the
control panel.
"KIIR?" Zim demanded incredulously.
The violet haired Irken looked up with a pained grin across her
bloodied face. "Hey Zim, would you like to get this crossbeam off of
me?" She passed out.
Zim, still not sure if this was really happening rushed over to her
side, heaved the girder off of her and picking up the limp body carried
her out of the wreck. He hurried across the yard and to the door,
greeted by the parent bots which he hastily shoved away.
"Master!!" Gir shouted as Zim headed towards the lab, "whatcha got
theeeeeeeeeeeere?"
"Didn't you see that ship crash outside?" he growled tensely.
He blinked. "No."
Zim sighed and shook his head. In the medi-bay he set Kiir down.
"Computer, run diagnostic for serious injuries."
"Analyzing...no serious injuries detected. "
"Can you wake her up?"
"Affirmative." The machine administered a rather larger than
strictly necessary shock to her body.
She flew up into a sitting position, eyes wide. "Holy foon!"
Zim took a step back. After her initial shock she seemed to deflate a
little, her eyes grew tired and she put a hand to her forehead. "OOoh
skragg that hurts," she laid back down uneasily.
Zim looked down at her. He hadn't seen another Irken in almost four
years and he hadn't seen this particular half-breed in a lot longer than
that; not since their mutual days in the Academy. He hadn't expected to
ever see her again at all in fact, not in person anyway, though she and
her organization had been big on the news before he left. She and Zim
hadn't parted on particularly good terms.
"What on Irk are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Zim? S'at really you? Hn, so I ended up on Earth have I?" She
chuckled blearily. "Kind of ironic, that."
He rolled his eyes. The Tallest damned space pirate was being her
typical cryptic self. He tapped his foot, crossing his spindly arms.
"So what, did they finally catch you? Are you running?"
She struggled to sit up, propping herself against the wall. "No!...
yes," she admitted grudgingly. "Nn, they found my base, somehow, sent
an armada to deal with my bad self." She grinned, and shrugged. "So I
got the frakk outta there."
Zim snorted. That was just like her, she hadn't changed at all. Still
no responsibility, not to the Empire, not to any one but herself.
Kiir smirked. "So. It's been years, what have you been doing out on
this forsaken little rock?"
Zim grinned. He just knew his special mission would make the Invader
reject insanely jealous. ""Conquering."
She burst out in gales of laughter.
Of all the reactions he had been expecting, that was not one of them.
"I'll have you know I have this planet right where I want it," he said
huffily.
She was still laughing, struggling to speak. "No, ha-ha, it's not, heh,
not that!" she was giggling so hard there were tears in her purple eyes.
"You actually! You don't mean?"
The Invader stood there, an expression of deep irritation ingrained
on his features. "You dare laugh at Zim?"
She took a few deep breaths. "Eeee, whooo. It's just...you actually
took...them seriously?"
He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. "Explain
yourself, outlaw!" he commanded.
She snickered again, then looked almost...concerned? "Do you really
think this is a mission Zim? The Tallest lied to you, you're in exile,
considered as much of a public enemy as I am."
For a second Zim just stood there, dumbfounded. Then he realized how
impossible that was. The Tallest, lie? Never. "You lie, rebel scum! You
seek to trick me and turn me against my leaders!"
Kiir shook her head. "Poor Zim, always the adamant loyalist. It was
all over the news when they finally got rid of you."
If possible, his gaze darkened even further. "I will listen to no
more of your deceptions! I will contact my Tallest and they will send
troops to arrest you."
She leapt up, and then winced in obvious pain, her antennae hanging
low over her face like her hair. "No! Don't do that! They'll have me
executed, Zim. I know we didn't part on very good terms but you
wouldn't really want me DEAD would you?"
He pondered this. She was an outlaw, a traitor, and she was lying to
him. True, they'd been friends in the academy, until Kiir had gone all
anti-establishment, but wasn't it his duty to turn her over to the
Tallest?
Ah, said a small voice in the back of his mind. But what if she's
telling you the truth?
Seemingly sensing his confusion she spoke before he could give an
answer. "Look, Zim, old friend," she said, obviously trying calm,
rational and caring, "why don't you go ahead and contact the Tallest.
Ask them about your mission. If I'm lying to you then you can go ahead
and turn me in. But if I'm not, well, I don't think you'll want to
anyway."
He thought about it. It seemed the perfect solution. He could turn her
in without feeling terrible about it. But would the Tallest be angry at
him for doubting their sincerity. And Kiir sounded so, sure of herself.
What if what she said was true?
"Done," he said sharply, eyes narrowed. He turned to the screen and
tapped a few buttons, opening a transmission to the Massive. He drummed
his three gloved fingers on the control panel, waiting. What would he
say?
After a moment the Irken Insignia was replaced by Tallests Red and
Purple.
"What is it Zim?" Red sounded vaguely exasperated.
"Err..." he began uncertainly.
"This had better be important," Purple told him.
"My Tallests, I uh, heard a rumor. I mean no offense," he said feebly,
not at all his usual self. "My mission, is it...was it just to get me
out of the Empire?"
The two Irken leaders gave twin glances of astonishment.
"Huh," said Red, "And I thought he'd never figure it out. Guess I owe
you that... thing."
Purple smirked at him and then turned back Zim. "Yes, yes it is. So
don't contact us again and don't come back to the Empire, or we'll
shoot you."
"With lasers," Red added, just before the transmission screen went
dark.
Again , he stood there, stunned and blissfully unable to form a
coherent thought. Ruby eyes wide, mouth hanging open, he collapsed into
his chair. His mission, his entire life had been nothing but a lie. He
wasn't on a glorious secret mission, he was in exile. How could they do
that to him? He wasn't some criminal, he was an Invader! He lived his
life for the Tallest, every moment waking or sleeping spent for the
Empire, which had now rejected him.
Zim doubled over, slumped with his chin on his arms on his knees. He
would not cry, he would not show weakness. His mind futily made a last
ditch attempt or two to rationalize what he'd just heard. His leaders
must be testing him, testing his loyalty. That had to be it. Yet now
that the words had been spoken, the doubt that for years he'd refused
to realize lurked in the corners of his mind had been freed. It
explained a lot. It explained everything, in fact. The remoteness of
the planet, Gir, his lack of new equipment, the planet jackers, the
Tallests' reluctance to hear his reports, the reason the Armada never
came. They hadn't wanted the Earth, they had wanted him out of their
antennae. And for years he had been duped, blinded by his own arrogance
and fanatism.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
The simple, comfort-meaning gesture made him insanely, irrationally
angry. It made him want to scream. How could she be sorry?! How could
she even begin to imagine what he was feeling?! He stood up, suddenly
and sharply. "Get out," he hissed. "Get OUT!!"
She took a step back. "But-"
"I said leave!" he took his laser pistol from his side and pointed it
at her, finger on the trigger. He didn't care that he was turning her
out on to the strange, isolated planet with no help and no supplies.
She would just have to deal, because somehow this was all her fault.
"But, I don't... have any place to go..."
He scowled, then sneered struck but a nasty, terrible vindictive
thought. A thought that could be cruel or merciful depending on how she
played the card he would deal her. He punched up a map and address on
the view screen, and printed it out. He handed her the paper. "Go here.
Tell him Zim sent you."
***
Dib sat at his computer, typing away at a description of the strange
new aliens and their craft. The encounter had washed away all but the
dregs of his depression. True, they were some really scary things, and
true as well that he had no idea who they were, what they wanted or how
they'd managed to simply disappeared like that. However it was the fact
that he didn't know these answers that buoyed his spirits, that and
the verbal sparring with Zim. It all gave him a goal, and left him with
no time or extra energy for angst. It could probably be truthfully told
that when he wasn't obsessing over something he was depressed. A
psychologist probably wouldn't be far off the mark labeling him manic-
depressive and obsessive compulsive. But that wasn't the point. The
point was there was paranormal activity afoot, and that was what Dib
was equipped to deal with.
One of those people who can concentrate on more that one thing at
once, he, while typing his report, sat wondering what the beeping thing
Zim had was. Why had it made him run off in such a hurry? Under normal
circumstances the taunts, threats and insults should have gone on for
almost another half hour. Could it be that Zim was lying and he had
gone to meet the orange things? But the little green alien had seemed
pretty surprised and worried when the thing had gone off.
Which brought Dib to another, random, point. Was it just him or had
Zim gotten, well, taller? Not over night, but gradually. He realized it
must have been going on since the alien had reached Earth, but it had
been so slow he never really noticed before. That was odd since he had
been under the impression that Zim was fully grown, and yet, now when
he thought about it, Zim was nearly his height, not a great
accomplishment of course, since a lot of people wee taller than Dib, but
still... Maybe it had something to do with Earth air, or sunlight.
He finished putting in the details about the oranges' ship and called
up a different file. This one was Zim's, his longest one, to which he
added his new observation.
He heard somebody knock on the door. Was he in a sufficiently good
enough mood to answer it yet? Hmmmmm, no. Who'd be coming over so
late at night anyway? They pounded on the door a few more times, but
after a moment it stopped. he supposed they must have given up and left.
Then he heard Gaz call up the stairs, irritated.
"DIB! One of you freak friends is here to see you!"
Dib blinked. he could think of only one person who it could be, but
why on Earth would Zim be at his house?
To be continued...
Well, whadaya think, hmm? Is it okay? Poor Zim, what's he going to do
now? They crushed his little squeedly-spooch, nasty mean Tallests.
Just kidding, I love Red and Purple. But what's Dib going to do when
he finds yet ANOTHER alien, this one at his door step, asking to spend
the night? What's up with Kiir, anyway? And what do you think of her
by the way? I'd love to know!
Read it? Review it!