Thank you to all of the reviewers of my other stories. Its because of you that I have the nerve to write another one. :)
It seems i've become addicted to writing, and couldn't stop at a short one shot...So, here's another one. I'm going to try to add more depth and personality to this one, to make it more interesting :P
This is set about seven years after "A mother's Love", so the characters are older and more mature, which means the language might be a bit more...approachful...as well. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Invader Zim, or the universe in which they exist. Only the plot and Dementia come from me. -grins- Dementia's my rag doll in real life! ;
Prologue
Dementia set down her mock wineglass of tropical blue liquor, enjoying the melodic clink it made upon contact with the countertop. She hopped off the bar stool, sauntering through the sleazy pub of red vinyl and mirrors, gaudy neon lights and filthy tables. She flipped off a drunk asking her to dance. A torrent of smoke was blown in her face, the toxic stream of someone's breath. Waving it angrily back in their direction, she stomped on the red ashes littering the slick floor in her haste to leave. Suddenly disgusted and disoriented by her surroundings, she slipped out the front entrance and into the cool, brisk night.
Sighing, Dementia leaned against the rough outer wall, practically deserted at this time of night. She let herself fall gently to the ground, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. She ignored the monotonous whine seeping from her faux fur coat pocket. Lighting up, she blew vaporous tendrils of gray-white smoke from her nostrils. They reminded her of the rings made when you place a fingertip in water, swirling slightly.
It wouldn't be long before they came looking for her. They never left her alone for very long...
The ink black cruiser pulled in front of the worn-down pub, as sleek and menacing as a well-sharpened blade. The windows rolled down simultaneously. A dark-haired man with a reddish complexion leaned out, fixing the lone female with beady-grim eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.
"Don't say you didn't hear the beeper, because I know you did."
Dementia blew an impudent cloud of smoke in his direction before returning to her wistful gaze of the moon. Twin smoldering white circles glistened in two very striking eyes.
"Get in the car." It wasn't a request.
She didn't care. Knowing if she didn't cooperate she'd be taken by force, she remained sitting, wishing to cause a scene for the repulsive lab- guards. She smirked as they got out of the car, stepping with their expensive and freshly polished shoes onto the crusty sidewalk. She elected to ruin their fancy suits.
Smirking she stood up, stepping up to the nearest jerk-drone in mock-surrender. He reached out to place the high-tech cuffs on her wrists with an arrogant smile.
When the cuffs were mere centimeters from her unnaturally pale skin, she spun on her satin heels, planting a swift kick on his chest. He was knocked back, clanging into the nearby disease-infested trash can with a satisfying thud. She elbowed the next approaching man in the face, watching him fall, hands cradling his jaw. The last one fell prey to her iron-grip as she hoisted him a few feet into the air, before throwing him into the gutter. She smiled, flattening her chiffon skirt with a graceful hand and turning to pick up her purse.
"You will pay for your insolence." The red-faced man seethed, applying the electric paralyzer to the back of her long neck. He let her fall in a vacant heap to the grimy cement. He motioned for the other men to get up.
Three dangerous-looking men hauled the snowy-haired beauty into the vehicle as roughly as they could. A few bystanders paused to watch the commotion, but none would have stood up for the strange girl who had sat, pale and alone, on the dingy sidewalk in front a crummy pub, in the middle of the long-since rundown and festering city.
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"Dib, are you ready yet?" Gaz hollered up the dark stairway, tapping a shiny high- heeled boot. She pulled on the magenta velvet coat hanging from her arms, turning to her boyfriend. He bore the same slightly bored, highly annoyed expression."Will you go get him and drag him down here? I'll start the car..." Gaz stalked out the front door, leaving Zim to huff up the stairs and across the hall to Dib's room. He didn't knock.
"What is taking you so long, DIB?" He inquired nastily to his almost- friend's back. A faint blip emanated from the screen in front of the human's face, words racing across the screen.
"It's almost done. Just one more file to transfer..." He didn't turn around.
Zim snorted, not even wanting to know what strange phenomenon or ghastly creature his ex-rival was currently hounding. He looked around the darkened room scornfully.
A pile of papers here, some funky-looking device there. A bunch of clothes strewn about the floorboards. The walls were painted a starless-night black, lit up only faintly by a few measly, childish posters. The bed was unmade, and various computer parts and junk were scattered about as if their sole purpose was to form this messy sort of décor.
"Done." Dib grabbed the thin stack of papers from the printer, tucking them beneath a well-worn trench-coat sleeved arm. He turned to Zim proudly, leading the way out of his room.
"What exactly was so important as to delay you so much, human?"
"You wouldn't realize the significance of this, Zim."
"Try me." He narrowed his eyes, already regretting his mild curiosity.
"Well, for many years the government has been working on creating genetically-altered life-forms. Pseudo-humans created to do the government's bidding. Clones, if you will. They mix genes of all the favorable traits they would like a human to embody and create one, personifying them all. Once they have created the "perfect" being, they then clone this being, altering the sex or hair and eye colors as they like. This is an article about a female clone. It lists her unnatural capabilities such as extraordinary strength and high intelligence..." He paused to hand a picture to Zim. "Isn't she pretty?"
Zim continued down the stairs, having stopped paying attention after the first few words. Did these humans really think they even possessed a single 'favorable trait'? Pathetic. If they were to clone him, however...
He pushed the paper away. "Yes, yes fascinating..." He could see Gaz at the foot of the stairs, catering to an unpleasant expression. Her long reddish- violet tresses stood out in the dim lighting, her dark lashes glimmering with a glitzy-shadow. She looked no less than striking in her vivid soft jacket over the cute maroon dress and black lace tights. Her face broke into a reluctant smile as she caught his roaming eyes.
Prof. Membrane and Medea walked into the room as Dib and Zim reached the first floor, making their way to the front door.
"Are you kids leaving now?"
"Yes. We're going out to the car now." Dib folded the papers, stuffing them into one of his coat pockets. He turned to his parents. "We'll see you in a few weeks."
"Be careful driving in the snow." Medea said, kissing her son lightly on the forehead. He was taller than she was now.
She stepped over to her daughter and almost-son. She stood on tiptoes, planting a kiss on Zim's cheek. "All of you." He nodded, grinning. It looked like she wouldn't soon forget his rather sloppy attempt at driving the Membrane car not too long ago.
Gaz wrapped her arms around her mother, an embrace that no longer involved stooping. Medea grinned at her, gently knocking a porcelain forehead against hers. She gave Zim a quick glance out of the corner of her eye, whispering to her nearly-adult daughter. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do..."
Gaz laughed. "Mom, you're supposed to give me guidelines, not ideas!"
They stepped into the calm, clear night, silver-sparkle moon high and dinner-plate round above them. Climbing into the car, they waved out fog-frosty windows before driving down the dark, deserted street. The streetlamps were dim and stark as they passed, like silent, listless, steel beings afraid to take a single step into the death-tar pavement they lined for eternity.