A/N: I changed Jessie's name to Jessica since she's becoming a more important character 9.9; And nothing interesting can happen to somebody named Jessie. u.u;; .... Don't ask me why. o.o It just wouldn't've worked... anyway, here is the next chapter (I think I am going to be going with the first plotline.. though I might write something with the second cuz it's cool, and all that). Enjoy! :D
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Jessica's eyes fluttered open, and she tried to reach a hand up to massage the bleariness from them. A moment later, she froze. It was dark. Way too dark. Soft sounds thrummed around her, processing noises, barely audible beeps, clicks, rushing sounds all of it a lot quieter than it should have been if she'd somehow gotten locked in a boiler room or something. She sat up quickly, looking around.
She could see the faint glow of indicator lights, screens, in a faint purplish iridescence, covering the walls. Cables crisscrossed the extremely high ceiling, and walls, ran under the counters and benches like huge pythons. Jessica shivered, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them tightly. She was still dressed in her rather flimsy Christine costume and it was not warm.
she ventured weakly. A shadow darted across the light from some of the screens, and she stifled a scream. Dib? Melvin? Gaz..? Z-zim?
giggled a high-pitched voice at her side. Jessica did scream, then, cringing away from the voice as she turned wildly to look at it. She squinted in the darkness, only able to make out a vaguely dog-like shape with large bright eyes that gazed up at her.
Di-did you just talk? Jessica said weakly.
I speak like the Bard! the little dog crowed loudly, waving its small black arms. And wherefore, sweet Christine, dost thou turn from yon beauteous affection!!
Jessica stared at the dog, unable, somehow, to find any fear in her of it. This place she was in, on the other hand Where am I? she managed to squeak out.
The little dog opened its mouth to speak, but a dark shadow fell across it, and it looked up in surprise, ears perking.
You are in the AMAZING base of ZIM, of course, a haughty voice crooned above them. Jessica quilled the sudden jolt of fear that lanced through her.
Jessica ventured, her voice quaking. what are you doing? What are you talking about? Why am I here? This is just a play! Tears threatened in her throat as she gazed up desperately at the green kid. He's still wearing his deformity' makeup she thought. It's really creepy looking. She shuddered in horror and revulsion as the two thin appendages on his bald head twitched. And those eyes they glowed and they burned with a hideous red light. She wondered just how he'd managed to get himself to look like that.
I helped him practice his liiiines, the little dog whispered to Jessica, leaning closer to her. Still staring up at Zim in terror, the girl wrapped her arms around the animal, hugging it tightly. It provided some small measure of comfort, especially when it giggled and returned the hug.
Zim snapped, turning that terrifying gaze towards the dog. Release the filthy stink-child at ONCE!! I do not wish to have to sterilize you again!!
the little dog said regretfully, but it squirmed out of Jessica's grip and trotted across the room to pick up a rubber piggy and stuff it in its mouth.
Jessica fought back a sob. she said desperately. Why am I here?? Is this some some warped what are you doing? You're n-not the Phantom! You're just a kid l-like us!
he whirled on her, and Jessica shrank away from the burning red orbs that burned into hers. DO NOT QUESTION THE MIGHT OF THE PHANTOM!!! FOR I AM ZIM!!! A grimace of disgust crossed his face, and he glanced upwards. he said imperiously. Restrain the human child. Pivoting on his heel, he stalked off back into the darkened shadows of the room. Jessica could do nothing but stare in terror as cables quickly bound her limbs and lashed her down tightly. He'd gone mad. Absolutely mad. Okay, he'd probably been mad before but not this mad. Hot, panicked tears streaked their way down Jessica's face.
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Honestly, Dib!! June said in exasperation. This is not worth chasing him down and rooting him out of where ever he's hiding—
Dib held up a hand quickly, straightening as he measured a practiced gaze on the alien's green-glowing house. He's here! I know it As he watched, another lawn gnome slowly surfaced through the grass, its blank eyes staring straight at Dib.
June stared, as well. she started.
I told you!! he cried. He's not just a deformed kid! He's an alien!
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Intruder alert, the computer droned, as several red lights flashed warningly. Zim's crimson eyes squinted into the relative darkness.
Illumination on the first two levels, the Invader muttered under his breath, gloved claws tapping impatiently against the console he sat before. Lights obediently flicked on somewhere far above, and monitors blinked on holding images of the perimeter, house level, and nearby area.
The DIB!! Zim snarled as one monitor focused on the image of his nemesis. He stood up quickly, slamming a fist onto the keyboard. How DARE that foolish, pathetic Dibbish.. Raoul-stink he means to turn the human authorities on me! The Irken whirled to face the girl bound on the other side of the room. Jessica stared back wide-eyed, in fear. Even in the theroes of his displeasure, her fear of him brought a smirk to his face. Being feared made him feel powerful. The Dib did not properly fear his might, and neither did the rest of the human race yet. They thought he was just a normal human like themselves. But when they knew the truth, they would fear Zim laughed coldly and strode towards one of the lifts in the room.
The big-headed human gots a FRIEND! GIR squealed, as it attempted to leap ahead of Zim towards the lift.
the Invader howled, as he stumbled over the anxious little robot, landing in a sprawled heap on the floor. The sound of his crashing reverberated through the room, and he felt a strong spike of annoyance with his robot slave. Twisting around, he made a grab for GIR, but the unit squirmed away and ran over to Jessica, who looked bewildered. Zim growled under his breath, got to his feet, and lifting his head in the air, continued his haughty march to the lift.
But she's wearin' black lipstick, GIR's voice wafted after Zim. It was speaking to the stinky human child, obviously, unless it was talking to itself again. I've got red!! But no black! Black is a perdy color huh!? Like a shiny marble!! I like marbles my master dun like them he tells me I can't leave em all over the floor so's they sparkle.
The only sound from the girl was a choked intake of breath.
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Dib, really, June said, rolling her eyes. If he's home, I'm going to walk up and ask for him.
Dib said desperately. He can't know we're here!! Can't you see this is a trap!? He grabbed ahold of her arm, gazing up at her with determination. You can't go up to that house!!
Why not? Come on, Dib! We need our star, June said in exasperation, and pulled her arm out of his grip before striding up the walkway, past the gnomes. Dib stared, gripping the edge of the fence in one hand. The gnome's eyes were glowing. The lasers. Fighting down a spike of fear, Dib watched June's progress. The gnomes eyes' followed her, but she took no notice and rang the doorbell. A long moment of silence passed then the door was flung open by a very irate Invader. To Dib's shock, he wasn't wearing his disguise. The alien's burning red gaze locked onto Dib's own. He took no notice of June, who jumped noticeably at the sight.
Can't you see he's an alien!? Dib screamed desperately from the fence.
snarled Zim. He looked more haggard, and on the verge of insanity, than Dib last remembered. Your despicable presence will not be a bother to me much longer, filthy stinking Raoul, he hissed. The last word was spoken with a glance up at June.
The girl laughed nervously. Wow, you're really into your role, I guess, she said, her voice wavery. But we've got to get back to the skool and finish the play!
Zim said heatedly as June grabbed his arm. I have business to attend to HERE!! Uh MOM! DAD! Tell her I'm sick today!! June hauled him out to the sidewalk, as Zim craned his neck desperately to look back into the house. All that was apparent to Dib was a shower of sparks and a puff of smoke from either side of the room. At least the robot parents seemed to be malfunctioning.
Dib cried suddenly, as he found himself faced with a struggling alien, disguise-less, in plain view, and away from his base, out of the gnome perimeter. His chance for stopping the alien once and for all had dropped unexpectedly into his lap. Dib grinned evilly at his nemesis, who fixed him with a furious glare. Let's get him back to the skool, he said.
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I dunno what's wrong with Maztuuuur, the little dog said, tipping its head to one side as it regarded the girl sitting across from it. Jessica sucked in her breath, struggling for a little more room against the restraining cables.
He keeps tryin to contact me, the dog giggled. Seyz some stuff about an odd-top-zee. He went with the kid with the big head and the lady with the black face paint! I want to go ORDER A PIZZA!!! It waved its arms excitedly. I'm not allowed to use the phone!! With this comment, its eyes went wide and mournful, as if its entire world had been shattered.
Jessica murmured under her breath. That kid Zim must be horrible indeed to—wait, what was she thinking? This was a talking dog? She struggled again. The room was still dark, lit only by glowing indicators and random apparatus scattered around on the counters near the walls. But without Zim there, it was much less frightening. do you think you could help me get free here? Jessica whispered to the little dog.
MY PIZZA!! it wailed, and floods of tears dripped from its eyes. But the command seemed to register somewhere and it tipped its ears in her direction before getting up and, with amazing strength, pulling the cables off of her. Now dance with me! it chirped, kicking its little back feet in the air.
Prevalent on Jessica's mind as she struggled to her feet was getting out of this frightening place before Zim returned. Do you know the way out? she said to the little dog. It didn't seem to hear her, totally absorbed in leaping around her in a circle, kicking its feet in the air with its little black forepaws clasped together.
it giggled. Suddenly, the top of its head popped open, revealing the shining glint of metal, and a set of speakers thrust outwards, playing a peppy club tune. Jessica stifled another scream. This wasn't a dog at all! It was some sort of machine! A robot suddenly afraid again, Jessica found her feet moving in time with the tune and she twirled around with the little dog, a laugh managing to escape her despite her fear of the situation she was in.
June didn't let go of Zim's arm until they were back behind the stage at the skool. Dib stayed behind all the way, keeping a very close eye on the Invader.
We've been gone twenty minutes, June said, finally releasing Zim's arm. The play is finished as well as it's going to be, at this rate She sighed, gazing up as the stage lights dimmed above. Penny, the new lighting person, gave her a thumbs up from the lighting box. June nodded to her. Zim, Dib, you two help me here. And take off that makeup, Zim. You look hideous. Although she paused to regard him for a moment. After all, he was ugly and weird-looking enough without the makeup on, and it somehow seemed to fit him. Good look, June said after a moment. You know what? Keep the black cape.
Zim glared at her, but then started helping to drag set pieces back into their cardboard box. Dib helped, but kept most of his attention on the alien. So they thought he was only wearing makeup? He'd show them he'd find a way to reveal to them that this wasn't makeup, it was Zim's real face and real head. But how? There was hardly anyone around, now maybe during the cast party after the cleanup. June had said they'd have one and no way was the star' going to be allowed to miss the cast party. Dib grinned.