Sorry for the obnoxious delays XP

Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it!

Chapter 6

"No, no. They're cool. Really!" Dib turned to face the clone sitting next to him. "Let me see them again."

With a sigh, Remorse removed his wrap-around sunglasses for perhaps the fifth time in an hour. Silently he hoped it wasn't too much farther to their destination. He never should have taken them off in the first place...

"And you said you can see perfectly in the dark? How about during the daytime? Do you still see color and stuff?"

"Not a very wide variety, but yes, I do see a few hues. Mainly the primary colors...."

"Interesting! Do you..."

"Dib, shut up!" Gaz swiveled in the driver's seat to glower at her brother. "Did you ever stop to think, maybe some people like to be left alone for more than five minutes?" It was hard enough to concentrate on driving with the chatter of the other three clones, and Zim's impatient kicking of the dashboard to her right. Now she remembered why she avoided large groups. The necessity that her kind felt to yap all the time was lost on her. Returning her eyes to the road, she elbowed her boyfriend roughly in the side. His eyes could slaughter, but at least he stopped mutilating the car's interior. Thankfully it was only about a half a day's drive left. After four days of similar atmosphere, she was more than happy to pass through the border into her birth state. Finally...

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Dr. Jade stopped in front of the flashing monitor. He gazed at the three-dimensional map of the United States, eyes fixated on the movement of a tiny green speck crawling its way across the state boundary of New York. Now, this was unexpected...Why would his creations be heading so far East? Why would they have left the state, for that matter?

Not that it was of dire consequence. He had openly dismissed them. Traitors. They had no idea what he had done for them. What he could have done for them...if they had merely cooperated and performed their little duties. Arrogant things! Eyeing him like he was he scum of the universe. As though what he asked of them was wrong. How dare they treat him in such a disrespectful fashion. And with such open contempt! Vile, insolent creatures. It wasn't like he'd asked them to murder innocents. Competitors, maybe. But none of them were remotely innocent, each and every one deserving of their well-planned out fates...

Ah, well. Let them run off like the spineless things they were. They were of no threat to him now.

Nobody was.

"Sir?"

The doctor turned at the familiar voice behind him. He smirked down at the young girl. So very like her weak counterpart, she was...

Minus the weakness.

"Yes, One?"

One grinned up at her creator, large gray eyes twinkling unpleasantly. She tossed an untidy black strand over her slim shoulder.

"Three has awoken. Would you like me to perform the procedure? I know how, now. I watched it being administered to Two." She hoped he'd let her. Three looked like she'd be a good candidate for what awaited her. What awaited them all. She was pleased to have been told first. To be the most helful and fullfilling in her creator's eye.

She was well aware that the one before her, identical in all but loyalties had been a failure. Weak. Treasonous. But she would not be so. She wouldn't let him down, no matter what the cost. And there would indeed be a cost. But that was irrevelant. As long as she proved herself to him.

Dr. Jade eyed One speculatively. She was deffinitely proving herself as the proper lap-dog she was. So she knew about the procedure. She must also have realized that it had been done to her as well. That all chances at insubordination had been eradicted. Along with the majority of her free will. And she didn't seem to be having any qualms with it....

"Yes. I would like you to adminster the procedure personally, One. That would please me greatly." He gave her a slimy smile. She beamed back at him.

"Yes, sir!"

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Medea saw the familiar vehicle pull onto the street. It's headlights lit up the ice-glaced asphalt, sending shafts of gold glinting at the houses as it passed by. It wasn't long before it reached the house and pulled into the driveway with a mechanical purr.

More than three forms began piling out onto the snow-blanketed lawn.

The long-violet haired woman jumoed down from the rooftop railing and skipped over to the frosty metal door. Pulling it open, she raced down the stairs to the landing on the second floor. It wasn't long before she was padding down the stairs to the front door, curiosity ablaze.

It had been less than two weeks. Why would they be coming back so early? Had something gone wrong? Most likely her two boys had gotten into a spat once again, and needed to get away from eachother. Yes, that was the most likely occurance...

But who were the new kids? She knew very well it wasn't like her children to be social. Not that she opposed such a concept...

"Dear! The kids are back!"

She heard a muffled response from the kitchen before she was at the door, pulling it open.

Gaz stood in the doorway, hand outstretched. She blinked up at her mother.

"Ha! Beat ya," Medea grinned, stepping back to let her children and their companions inside. Gaz shook her head, but was smiling as she passed through the doorframe. She was followed by a testy-looking Irken and a grinning Dib.

"Hey, Mom." Dib lugged in his suitcase, glancing over his shoulder at the clones. "We brought some friends..."

The four clones stepped into the house, eyes taking in every detail of the dwelling. It was pretty common-place for such a renowned scientist, but they found it more comforting than any place they had ever stayed at. They smiled shyly at the woman holding the door. The wife of THE Profesor Membrane. And there she was, in a simple polka-dot dress and jacket and rainboots, holding the door for them, eyes gleaming kindly. Needless to say, none of them could think of a suitable introduction. Luckily, Dib seemed all to happy to do the job.

"Mom, I'd like you to meet Dementia, Eith, Ritz and Remorse. They're from Denver. We..."

"They're clones!" Professor Membrane exclaimed, strolling into the room. Everyone turned to look at him. The clones were looking a tad bit uneasy, as was Dib. Zim just watched the scene from the couch, arms crossed. Gaz raised an eyebrow, then nodded to her mother in response to an inquisitive glance.

"Yes, Dad, we..." Dib started, but soon realized his father wasn't really hearing what he was saying. He was peering at each of the clones in turn, a hand at his chin.

"Mhhm. Hmm. Fascinating..." So these four were what the rucus in Denver was about. Impressive. He had to admit that each one was seemless. If he had not known their appearances from certain science magazines, he wouldn't have been able to tell them apart from anyone else. He bent to touch the black-haired one's cheek. She looked the least foreboding. Would their skin feel like any other human's?

"Ow."

Prof. Membrane stood up to look at his wife questioningly. She raised an eyebrow and looked from him to the clones, and back at him. Then she stomped on his foot again. He laughed and faced the clones once more.

"I'm sorry. I admit you are very captivating. I didn't mean to be rude, though. What did you say your names were?"

"They didn't. Stop acting like a government drone and let them speak, you big dork." Medea returned her husband's bemused expression before turning and smiling at the clones. They couldn't resist grinning back.

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So, whaddaya think so far? Good? Bad? Spiralling down the drain?

Please review! :)