Acknowledgements: A plethora of thanks for all my readers and reviewers.
Your patience with my delayed installations is indeed impressive. I
apologies for not updating in a timelier fashion, but I am working on very
limited personal computer time. Metaphorically speaking, my life is a
hurricane tempered by periods of organized chaos. I am hoping that fall
and winter favour me a tad more in my time management department, with far
less unplanned distractions. But again I ramble.
Special thanks to my reviewers! I know how difficult it is sometimes to find time to do so. I owe a few reviews myself and am hoping to steal some personal PC time on off days to catch up. Thanks!
DibMagician, I am very glad you are enjoying it. Thank you! Your question concerning designing should be answered soon. If not, I will definitally answer it in an A/N. Maran Zelde, Your faithful reviews always bring a smile to my face, and your tales, laughter to my soul. Thank you! I know for a fact that your questions will be answered during Dib's Q&A. Thank you, DoomDib777! ^-^ Hopefully things will make even more sense after the Dib chapter. At least concerning some of the Neplotn issues. ^-^ Linka, Thank you! You honour me! I will do my best to keep this awesome. Youkai Umi, (Sea of Happiness!?) Beautiful name. I apologies for causing you a momentary laps of sanity, but am grateful for your flattery. Thank you! Invader Ari, Please squeeze time in for writing. For while late postings are tolerable, and understandable, no postings are not! Avid Agreement! The TRIAL would have made a Great show.
A/N: I realize that there were many questions that went unanswered in this first section of the Q&A chapters. Do not fear, however, for most of the questions asked will be answered in the Dib chapter and those that aren't will be answered by the end of the story. After I started to write the Zim chapter, I realized most of the questions seemed a tad to OOC for him, but right up Dib's alley. I hope that Zim's queries did answer some questions however. Dib's chapter may not be up for another 3 weeks. I am attending a family reunion in two weeks and have to prepare a mini biography, complete with pics, for the records. I'm not totally satisfied with how Dib's chapter is going and won't be updating it until I have something worthy of submission. I do not wish to do you any injustice by updating with a shoddy draft.
Ya huh! Long winded as usual. Well, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own IZ. Boy, these disclaimers keep getting lamer with each chapter, don't they?! Heh!
Zim Yuifa Novekt, nazre trem
Time Unknown.
"Since you both tend to ramble, I have decided to let you ask your questions one at a time." The Professor began as Zim ran a tongue gingerly across his sore lips. "Zim. You will begin."
Zim heard Dib groan beside him and smirked. He, the Mighty Zim won. A small victory in a game he didn't even know he was playing, but he still won. Dib would have to wait to have His questions answered.
With GIR near by, even though he didn't see, hear, or even feel him, Zim felt better. The horrible feeling of the all consuming energy was gone. He felt like Zim again, and despite his situation, he was feeling pretty good.
"Well, Zim?" Professor Membrane prompted, "Do you have any questions?"
"Oh, I have questions!" Zim began. "And what ponderous questions Zim has!"
"First," Zim said, narrowing his eyes, " Why? Why me? Why Zim? What have you done to meee? Tell Zim?"
"The Neplotn designed you to be the tool to contain and control the awesome powers of chaotic probability." The professor began, "Gaz put a lot of energy into keeping you alive, healthy and safe. You are better than your average Irken, really. We gave you the best genetic material Irkens, Vortans, and the Meekrob have to offer. Not to mention your cybernetic enhancements. They are the best in all of the universes. Really, you should feel honoured. You have a destiny most Neplotn would die for."
"Honoured?" Zim practically screeched. "You are saying that I'm not really Irken. I'm not even a defective Irken. I'm not a member of the Irken species. But if I'm not Irken then, What.What am I?"
The Professor chuckled again. "Why you are Zim of course!"
Zim heard the sound of snickering around him. He flaring and flattening his antennae in anger and annoyance. He so hated being made fun of.
The professor began again, his smile all to evident in his cheerful voice. "You are mostly Irken, Zim, with a few added bonuses. And you belong to a collective that is better than the Irken Empire, greater than any species the universes have to offer.'
"You're better than any of your Irken brethren." The Professor stated, sounding closer, "You are Zim!"
Zim leaned towards the professor's voice and offered a slight smile, "Yes I am." He agreed. "I am ZIM!"
Zim heard the professor chuckle with amusement. "Truth be told Zim, you are a success story. Gaz was propositioned to create a containment unit capable of maintaining a symbiotic relationship with one of the most unstable and unpredictable energy sources available. And you Zim, are the only one who has not just survived, but seem to be able to fully function, if not thrive, in this codependent relationship. Gaz finally found the appropriate combination of genetic and mechanical engineering to attract, contain and potentially control the illusive sentient energy waves effecting and controlling the outcome of future events, and that winning combination is you. It is almost as if the energy chose you to be its host."
"Symbiotic energy source?" Zim puzzled, his brow wrinkled in confusion. "You put a living energy source in me? I am some sort of power battery thingy?"
This time the Professor laughed outright. A general chuckle resounded around the table. Even Gaz let out a short laugh.
"Stupid Irken." Zim heard Gaz mutter under her breath, but decided to wisely ignore it.
"No Zim, you're not a battery, but you are the vessel we can use to contain and channel this energy through. You see, chaotic probability is one of the most unstable forms of energy in existence. Every action creates a series of events, which in turn affect other events until a final, future defining event has occurred." The Professor paused for a moment of reflection before adding." And perhaps even beyond."
The room was silent for a few moments, as Professor Membrane seemed to gather his thoughts. Zim used this silence to reflected upon what the professor had said.
The professor lost him again. But he got the just of it. The power he felt inside him was alive. And he, Zim, was only alive because it liked him.
Zim let out an involuntary shudder. He didn't know if he wanted it to like him, especially if it used him to change the future to it's doomed liking.
Zim's mind traveled down the path of the past. So many things he did, seemingly little and at the time insignificant inevitably led towards disaster. Like when he created the infinite energy absorbing thingy. Zim didn't expect it to eat Tallest Miyuki or Tallest Spork, but looking back, one event lead to another and ultimately, Zim was responsible for their deaths, even if it was indirectly. If only he hadn't.
"Here is an example." The Professor said, interrupting Zim's thoughts and causing him to jump slightly. "Remember when you visited the lush green and flowery meadows of Fieldtopia? It was for a brief stretch of the legs and a refueling of your voot on the way to your new assignment at the Vort research station 9."
Zim offered a weak nod, remembering what happened to the doomed planet.
"It was a beautiful planet," Professor Membrane continued. "One of the nicest in the Irken Empire. It was the best relaxation spot for weary travelers to take a break. "Do you know exactly what happened during your visit there? What sparked the explosions and lit the fires? What eventually caused the whole planet to explode?"
Zim shook his head in confusion. In the back of his mind however, Zim suspected it was something he did. He remembered feeling the rise of the energy monster inside of him shortly before leaving the planet, and the almost euphoric feeling of energy when the planet exploded behind him, but he didn't remember really doing anything, not like when he destroyed half of Irk.
"They said it was my fault, but I didn't do it." Zim confessed weakly. "They couldn't prove it was me who destroyed Fieldtopia. The Tallest just said I did it because I left shortly before it blew up, but I didn't. It wasn't Zim."
"Well, Zim," The Professor stated. "I hate to tell you this, but you did cause the destruction of Fieldtopia, albeit inadvertently. You were supposed to deliver a shipment of Rustanian powdered lithium salts to your supervisor on Vort. It was the stuff in the purple box. You remember it don't you?"
Zim nodded in affirmation. He still didn't see how he destroyed Fieldtopia.
"Well, the box wasn't sealed properly and when you put the box on the pilot seat for a second so you could dash back out and get a snack before you left Irk, some of the lithium powder leaked out. You didn't notice the powder when you put the box into safe storage so you didn't dust off of the seat when you went to sit. Some of the powder clung onto the seat of your pants. When you made the refueling stop at Fieldtopia, you left your vehicle to stretch your legs. You went into one of the famous Fieldtopian meadows. There, two of Fieldtopia's rarest and most dangerous borrowing insects were foraging for food near by and one of them decided to taste you to see if you would make a good meal for the colony. When you scratched your butt, the powder from your pants just happened to fall on top of the insect mere seconds before it bit you. The powder caused an unexpected reaction and the insect began to sizzle and hiss. Frightened the second insect burrowed into the ground, heading towards its colony's nests. Its sizzling companion followed scant seconds behind it. You left the field, paid for your fuel, and left the planet. Shortly after you passed the planet's twin moons, the sizzling insect reached the nests and by the mere act of touching each other infected the entire colony, one of the largest colonies we had discovered there so far. All of the insects started to sizzle and panic. In less than an hour, the entire colony of these rare insects were sizzling. Then the first infected insect exploded, spreading its deadly acidic guts on its companions. In a panic, the insects started borrowing into the planet's supposedly well-protected underground network of gas pipes. Before nano-bots could repair the holes the borrowing insects created, a few borrowing insects had made it inside of the pipes and exploded causing a chain reaction of explosions. The planet laterally blew itself apart. So you see, the mere act of scratching your dust covered butt caused the unexpected destruction of a single planet in a series of seemingly random events. That is how the Chaotic Probability Enhancer was designed to work, by harnessing the unpredictable, seemingly improbable, and highly unlikely energy connections in the web of reality."
"How do you know this?" Zim asked, interrupting the Professor. "How do you know what happened?"
'Oh, that's easy." The professor answered, his enthusiasm getting the better of him. "We have monitor spies on every inhabitable planet in your known universe and some in your unknown and less traveled sections of your universe. We study all of the inhabitants of the occupied planets. And when you're on one, we monitor all of your actions, interactions and their effects on that planet. It helps us find ways to control you, and more importantly, control the energy that resides within you. If we can come to harness this energy, and control the direction and influence of each series of these improbable 'cause and effect' events, the outcome of any given reality would be ours to control."
Zim gave the professor a blank stare. That last sentence lost him.
"Huh?" Zim questioned after a second. The professor was talking over his head and he really didn't like it.
'It must be his height.' Zim consoled himself. When he finally became tall, Zim figured he would know everything but for now, he was feeling rather lost.
The professor spoke again, a smile evident in his voice. "You see Zim, you have the ability to control the future simply by your actions. If we can learn to control the sentient energy residing within you, we can successfully control and predict the outcome of any event. You, Zim, are our key to effectively controlling the future."
Zim absorbed the information for a moment.
Maybe he could learn to control the energy monster living inside him. If he could learn to do that, he could free himself of these horrible, controlling, dominating Neplotn and Zim would be free. Free to show the Tallest what he was made of. Perhaps even be able to become Tallest himself. Could the power inside him make him grow taller? It was worth asking. The Neplotn didn't seem to be mind readers. They didn't act like they knew what he was thinking. That he wanted to destroy them and free himself.
"If you 'created' me, and I am suppose to be better than an average Irken, then why am I..." Zim swallowed then started again.
"Why is Zim." Zim's voice trailed off.
He hated admitting he was short. Even though he knew he was. In his mind he was taller than most Irkens. His height rivaled that of the Tallest. In reality, he was almost as short as a server drone. Less than a millimetre kept him from being server drone material. He was the shortest Invader known to Irk.
Yes, he was once an Invader, despite what the Tallest told him. After all, he did pass the Invader test.
"What?" It was the Professor's turn to be confused, then comprehension set in "Oh, you mean why are you so short!?"
Zim nodded, embarrassed.
"That's easy." The Professor stated. "If we made you tall, we wouldn't have been able to control and monitor you as easily as we have. Tall Irkens are placed in higher positions, such as Royal Guards, Slave Drivers, Technicians and Communications officers. Plus, your size gives you the advantage of maneuverability. Not to mention being able to hide and fit into spots someone taller wouldn't be able to. Besides, we gave you speed and strength to compensate for your diminutive stature. In a fight, your enemies will undoubtedly underestimate you."
'Except for Dib.' Zim muttered to himself. But then Dib was a member of the collective too, wasn't he.
But that didn't answer Zim's question so he decided to rephrase it.
"Can this energy thingy inside me Make Zim TALL?" Zim asked with a mixture of growing impatience and frustration.
A general sound of amusement circled the table as the Professor exclaimed. "Oh! You want to know if this power can make you any taller. Sorry to disappoint your Irken idea of Ideal height, but it is rather unlikely you will grow any taller than you already are."
Zim lowered his antennae in disappointment and frustration.
"However," The Professor chuckled, causing Zim to perk up an antennae, "With the chaotic probability enhancer, one can never be sure. You may end up taller than me."
Zim smiled.
Then frowned.
"What about the Dib human?" he queried. Zim couldn't stand the idea if Dib growing to normal human height while he, The Mighty Zim, remained, well, short.
At this, the Professor and those around him laughed.
"Don't worry your little green Irken head." The Professor answered with a chuckled. "We designed Dib to have every advantage in a fight, and that includes keeping his diminutive height is part of that. Now if you don't have any more relevant questions, I think we'll give Dib a chance to ask a few."
Zim's eyes widened in fear.
"NOOO!" He practically screeched. "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT AN AURA IS YET, OR HOW DIB CONNECTED HIS TO MINE, OR HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO TALK THE TALLEST INTO SENDING ME HERE OR HOW I AM SUPPOSE TO HELP THE DIB BEAST FIGHT THESE NOSFEROTZ AND STUFF."
"Ok, Ok!" The Professor laughed again. "I will answer these questions, but then Dib will have his turn. We need to deal with this new threat soon, and I still have to give you your injections and allow time for you to recoup."
Zim blinked, the fear of not having his questions answered quickly became the fear of being injected with some unknown substance, one that required him time to recoup.
"WHAT INJECTIONS?" Zim screamed even louder. "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO MEEEE?"
Zim barely heard the Professor order someone to tape his mouth shut again. The slap of the tape across his already tender mouth caused him to pull back hard and hit his head against the back of the chair. But the tape did its job well, and he was a captive audience again.
"Now." The Professor spoke in a quiet voice. "I'm not going to tell you about the injections on the off chance it may interfere with the end results. The CPE could easily interfere with the outcome. I will however answer your final questions."
The Professor paused for a moment.
"First," Professor Membrane began, "An aura is the energy patterns emitted by all living creatures. Some are stronger than others. Yours and Dib's are quite strong. When we designed Dib, we incorporated a select portion of your genetic code to ensure an attraction between your auras, much like the invisible attraction of auras between twins. You are like brothers and the bond between you is likely to grow stronger as time goes on. Like you have already experienced, you two will be able to know exactly what the other is experiencing, almost to the point of what the other is thinking. You two will become a weapon of one."
Zim recalled feeling the pain in his neck and how Dib somehow caused it. He didn't really know if he wanted to share this Bond with the Dib human, especially if it meant feeling everything the human went through. On the other hand, however, if it meant he could read the human's thoughts, it might be worth it. He had to admit, Dib have some interesting thoughts and clever ideas coming from that big head of his.
"As to how you got here," The Professor continued, "We merely taped a drawing of an unknown planet to the side of the star map they were using to show the Invaders where to go. When the Tallest saw it, they knew just where to send you. We really didn't have to influence them much."
Zim would have frowned if he could but settled for furrowing his brow instead. His Tallest were so eager to get rid of him that they didn't even question the appearance of a drawing on the star map before they assigned Zim to it? Why hadn't he seen it before? But he already knew the answer. He didn't want to see it. He couldn't stand to face the rejection of his own people.
"And to answer your final question," Professor Membrane concluded, "You and Dib are going to have to figure that out yourselves. After all, that was what you were designed for. Well Dib was in any case. But being a member of the Irken Military Elite, Zim, I'm sure you'll do just find."
Zim heard Dib gasp in pain as someone apparently ripped the tape off of his lips.
It was Dib's turn to ask some questions. Zim leaned forward as Dib began asking questions he never even though of. Zim was eager to know the answers.
******
Special thanks to my reviewers! I know how difficult it is sometimes to find time to do so. I owe a few reviews myself and am hoping to steal some personal PC time on off days to catch up. Thanks!
DibMagician, I am very glad you are enjoying it. Thank you! Your question concerning designing should be answered soon. If not, I will definitally answer it in an A/N. Maran Zelde, Your faithful reviews always bring a smile to my face, and your tales, laughter to my soul. Thank you! I know for a fact that your questions will be answered during Dib's Q&A. Thank you, DoomDib777! ^-^ Hopefully things will make even more sense after the Dib chapter. At least concerning some of the Neplotn issues. ^-^ Linka, Thank you! You honour me! I will do my best to keep this awesome. Youkai Umi, (Sea of Happiness!?) Beautiful name. I apologies for causing you a momentary laps of sanity, but am grateful for your flattery. Thank you! Invader Ari, Please squeeze time in for writing. For while late postings are tolerable, and understandable, no postings are not! Avid Agreement! The TRIAL would have made a Great show.
A/N: I realize that there were many questions that went unanswered in this first section of the Q&A chapters. Do not fear, however, for most of the questions asked will be answered in the Dib chapter and those that aren't will be answered by the end of the story. After I started to write the Zim chapter, I realized most of the questions seemed a tad to OOC for him, but right up Dib's alley. I hope that Zim's queries did answer some questions however. Dib's chapter may not be up for another 3 weeks. I am attending a family reunion in two weeks and have to prepare a mini biography, complete with pics, for the records. I'm not totally satisfied with how Dib's chapter is going and won't be updating it until I have something worthy of submission. I do not wish to do you any injustice by updating with a shoddy draft.
Ya huh! Long winded as usual. Well, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own IZ. Boy, these disclaimers keep getting lamer with each chapter, don't they?! Heh!
Zim Yuifa Novekt, nazre trem
Time Unknown.
"Since you both tend to ramble, I have decided to let you ask your questions one at a time." The Professor began as Zim ran a tongue gingerly across his sore lips. "Zim. You will begin."
Zim heard Dib groan beside him and smirked. He, the Mighty Zim won. A small victory in a game he didn't even know he was playing, but he still won. Dib would have to wait to have His questions answered.
With GIR near by, even though he didn't see, hear, or even feel him, Zim felt better. The horrible feeling of the all consuming energy was gone. He felt like Zim again, and despite his situation, he was feeling pretty good.
"Well, Zim?" Professor Membrane prompted, "Do you have any questions?"
"Oh, I have questions!" Zim began. "And what ponderous questions Zim has!"
"First," Zim said, narrowing his eyes, " Why? Why me? Why Zim? What have you done to meee? Tell Zim?"
"The Neplotn designed you to be the tool to contain and control the awesome powers of chaotic probability." The professor began, "Gaz put a lot of energy into keeping you alive, healthy and safe. You are better than your average Irken, really. We gave you the best genetic material Irkens, Vortans, and the Meekrob have to offer. Not to mention your cybernetic enhancements. They are the best in all of the universes. Really, you should feel honoured. You have a destiny most Neplotn would die for."
"Honoured?" Zim practically screeched. "You are saying that I'm not really Irken. I'm not even a defective Irken. I'm not a member of the Irken species. But if I'm not Irken then, What.What am I?"
The Professor chuckled again. "Why you are Zim of course!"
Zim heard the sound of snickering around him. He flaring and flattening his antennae in anger and annoyance. He so hated being made fun of.
The professor began again, his smile all to evident in his cheerful voice. "You are mostly Irken, Zim, with a few added bonuses. And you belong to a collective that is better than the Irken Empire, greater than any species the universes have to offer.'
"You're better than any of your Irken brethren." The Professor stated, sounding closer, "You are Zim!"
Zim leaned towards the professor's voice and offered a slight smile, "Yes I am." He agreed. "I am ZIM!"
Zim heard the professor chuckle with amusement. "Truth be told Zim, you are a success story. Gaz was propositioned to create a containment unit capable of maintaining a symbiotic relationship with one of the most unstable and unpredictable energy sources available. And you Zim, are the only one who has not just survived, but seem to be able to fully function, if not thrive, in this codependent relationship. Gaz finally found the appropriate combination of genetic and mechanical engineering to attract, contain and potentially control the illusive sentient energy waves effecting and controlling the outcome of future events, and that winning combination is you. It is almost as if the energy chose you to be its host."
"Symbiotic energy source?" Zim puzzled, his brow wrinkled in confusion. "You put a living energy source in me? I am some sort of power battery thingy?"
This time the Professor laughed outright. A general chuckle resounded around the table. Even Gaz let out a short laugh.
"Stupid Irken." Zim heard Gaz mutter under her breath, but decided to wisely ignore it.
"No Zim, you're not a battery, but you are the vessel we can use to contain and channel this energy through. You see, chaotic probability is one of the most unstable forms of energy in existence. Every action creates a series of events, which in turn affect other events until a final, future defining event has occurred." The Professor paused for a moment of reflection before adding." And perhaps even beyond."
The room was silent for a few moments, as Professor Membrane seemed to gather his thoughts. Zim used this silence to reflected upon what the professor had said.
The professor lost him again. But he got the just of it. The power he felt inside him was alive. And he, Zim, was only alive because it liked him.
Zim let out an involuntary shudder. He didn't know if he wanted it to like him, especially if it used him to change the future to it's doomed liking.
Zim's mind traveled down the path of the past. So many things he did, seemingly little and at the time insignificant inevitably led towards disaster. Like when he created the infinite energy absorbing thingy. Zim didn't expect it to eat Tallest Miyuki or Tallest Spork, but looking back, one event lead to another and ultimately, Zim was responsible for their deaths, even if it was indirectly. If only he hadn't.
"Here is an example." The Professor said, interrupting Zim's thoughts and causing him to jump slightly. "Remember when you visited the lush green and flowery meadows of Fieldtopia? It was for a brief stretch of the legs and a refueling of your voot on the way to your new assignment at the Vort research station 9."
Zim offered a weak nod, remembering what happened to the doomed planet.
"It was a beautiful planet," Professor Membrane continued. "One of the nicest in the Irken Empire. It was the best relaxation spot for weary travelers to take a break. "Do you know exactly what happened during your visit there? What sparked the explosions and lit the fires? What eventually caused the whole planet to explode?"
Zim shook his head in confusion. In the back of his mind however, Zim suspected it was something he did. He remembered feeling the rise of the energy monster inside of him shortly before leaving the planet, and the almost euphoric feeling of energy when the planet exploded behind him, but he didn't remember really doing anything, not like when he destroyed half of Irk.
"They said it was my fault, but I didn't do it." Zim confessed weakly. "They couldn't prove it was me who destroyed Fieldtopia. The Tallest just said I did it because I left shortly before it blew up, but I didn't. It wasn't Zim."
"Well, Zim," The Professor stated. "I hate to tell you this, but you did cause the destruction of Fieldtopia, albeit inadvertently. You were supposed to deliver a shipment of Rustanian powdered lithium salts to your supervisor on Vort. It was the stuff in the purple box. You remember it don't you?"
Zim nodded in affirmation. He still didn't see how he destroyed Fieldtopia.
"Well, the box wasn't sealed properly and when you put the box on the pilot seat for a second so you could dash back out and get a snack before you left Irk, some of the lithium powder leaked out. You didn't notice the powder when you put the box into safe storage so you didn't dust off of the seat when you went to sit. Some of the powder clung onto the seat of your pants. When you made the refueling stop at Fieldtopia, you left your vehicle to stretch your legs. You went into one of the famous Fieldtopian meadows. There, two of Fieldtopia's rarest and most dangerous borrowing insects were foraging for food near by and one of them decided to taste you to see if you would make a good meal for the colony. When you scratched your butt, the powder from your pants just happened to fall on top of the insect mere seconds before it bit you. The powder caused an unexpected reaction and the insect began to sizzle and hiss. Frightened the second insect burrowed into the ground, heading towards its colony's nests. Its sizzling companion followed scant seconds behind it. You left the field, paid for your fuel, and left the planet. Shortly after you passed the planet's twin moons, the sizzling insect reached the nests and by the mere act of touching each other infected the entire colony, one of the largest colonies we had discovered there so far. All of the insects started to sizzle and panic. In less than an hour, the entire colony of these rare insects were sizzling. Then the first infected insect exploded, spreading its deadly acidic guts on its companions. In a panic, the insects started borrowing into the planet's supposedly well-protected underground network of gas pipes. Before nano-bots could repair the holes the borrowing insects created, a few borrowing insects had made it inside of the pipes and exploded causing a chain reaction of explosions. The planet laterally blew itself apart. So you see, the mere act of scratching your dust covered butt caused the unexpected destruction of a single planet in a series of seemingly random events. That is how the Chaotic Probability Enhancer was designed to work, by harnessing the unpredictable, seemingly improbable, and highly unlikely energy connections in the web of reality."
"How do you know this?" Zim asked, interrupting the Professor. "How do you know what happened?"
'Oh, that's easy." The professor answered, his enthusiasm getting the better of him. "We have monitor spies on every inhabitable planet in your known universe and some in your unknown and less traveled sections of your universe. We study all of the inhabitants of the occupied planets. And when you're on one, we monitor all of your actions, interactions and their effects on that planet. It helps us find ways to control you, and more importantly, control the energy that resides within you. If we can come to harness this energy, and control the direction and influence of each series of these improbable 'cause and effect' events, the outcome of any given reality would be ours to control."
Zim gave the professor a blank stare. That last sentence lost him.
"Huh?" Zim questioned after a second. The professor was talking over his head and he really didn't like it.
'It must be his height.' Zim consoled himself. When he finally became tall, Zim figured he would know everything but for now, he was feeling rather lost.
The professor spoke again, a smile evident in his voice. "You see Zim, you have the ability to control the future simply by your actions. If we can learn to control the sentient energy residing within you, we can successfully control and predict the outcome of any event. You, Zim, are our key to effectively controlling the future."
Zim absorbed the information for a moment.
Maybe he could learn to control the energy monster living inside him. If he could learn to do that, he could free himself of these horrible, controlling, dominating Neplotn and Zim would be free. Free to show the Tallest what he was made of. Perhaps even be able to become Tallest himself. Could the power inside him make him grow taller? It was worth asking. The Neplotn didn't seem to be mind readers. They didn't act like they knew what he was thinking. That he wanted to destroy them and free himself.
"If you 'created' me, and I am suppose to be better than an average Irken, then why am I..." Zim swallowed then started again.
"Why is Zim." Zim's voice trailed off.
He hated admitting he was short. Even though he knew he was. In his mind he was taller than most Irkens. His height rivaled that of the Tallest. In reality, he was almost as short as a server drone. Less than a millimetre kept him from being server drone material. He was the shortest Invader known to Irk.
Yes, he was once an Invader, despite what the Tallest told him. After all, he did pass the Invader test.
"What?" It was the Professor's turn to be confused, then comprehension set in "Oh, you mean why are you so short!?"
Zim nodded, embarrassed.
"That's easy." The Professor stated. "If we made you tall, we wouldn't have been able to control and monitor you as easily as we have. Tall Irkens are placed in higher positions, such as Royal Guards, Slave Drivers, Technicians and Communications officers. Plus, your size gives you the advantage of maneuverability. Not to mention being able to hide and fit into spots someone taller wouldn't be able to. Besides, we gave you speed and strength to compensate for your diminutive stature. In a fight, your enemies will undoubtedly underestimate you."
'Except for Dib.' Zim muttered to himself. But then Dib was a member of the collective too, wasn't he.
But that didn't answer Zim's question so he decided to rephrase it.
"Can this energy thingy inside me Make Zim TALL?" Zim asked with a mixture of growing impatience and frustration.
A general sound of amusement circled the table as the Professor exclaimed. "Oh! You want to know if this power can make you any taller. Sorry to disappoint your Irken idea of Ideal height, but it is rather unlikely you will grow any taller than you already are."
Zim lowered his antennae in disappointment and frustration.
"However," The Professor chuckled, causing Zim to perk up an antennae, "With the chaotic probability enhancer, one can never be sure. You may end up taller than me."
Zim smiled.
Then frowned.
"What about the Dib human?" he queried. Zim couldn't stand the idea if Dib growing to normal human height while he, The Mighty Zim, remained, well, short.
At this, the Professor and those around him laughed.
"Don't worry your little green Irken head." The Professor answered with a chuckled. "We designed Dib to have every advantage in a fight, and that includes keeping his diminutive height is part of that. Now if you don't have any more relevant questions, I think we'll give Dib a chance to ask a few."
Zim's eyes widened in fear.
"NOOO!" He practically screeched. "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT AN AURA IS YET, OR HOW DIB CONNECTED HIS TO MINE, OR HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO TALK THE TALLEST INTO SENDING ME HERE OR HOW I AM SUPPOSE TO HELP THE DIB BEAST FIGHT THESE NOSFEROTZ AND STUFF."
"Ok, Ok!" The Professor laughed again. "I will answer these questions, but then Dib will have his turn. We need to deal with this new threat soon, and I still have to give you your injections and allow time for you to recoup."
Zim blinked, the fear of not having his questions answered quickly became the fear of being injected with some unknown substance, one that required him time to recoup.
"WHAT INJECTIONS?" Zim screamed even louder. "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO MEEEE?"
Zim barely heard the Professor order someone to tape his mouth shut again. The slap of the tape across his already tender mouth caused him to pull back hard and hit his head against the back of the chair. But the tape did its job well, and he was a captive audience again.
"Now." The Professor spoke in a quiet voice. "I'm not going to tell you about the injections on the off chance it may interfere with the end results. The CPE could easily interfere with the outcome. I will however answer your final questions."
The Professor paused for a moment.
"First," Professor Membrane began, "An aura is the energy patterns emitted by all living creatures. Some are stronger than others. Yours and Dib's are quite strong. When we designed Dib, we incorporated a select portion of your genetic code to ensure an attraction between your auras, much like the invisible attraction of auras between twins. You are like brothers and the bond between you is likely to grow stronger as time goes on. Like you have already experienced, you two will be able to know exactly what the other is experiencing, almost to the point of what the other is thinking. You two will become a weapon of one."
Zim recalled feeling the pain in his neck and how Dib somehow caused it. He didn't really know if he wanted to share this Bond with the Dib human, especially if it meant feeling everything the human went through. On the other hand, however, if it meant he could read the human's thoughts, it might be worth it. He had to admit, Dib have some interesting thoughts and clever ideas coming from that big head of his.
"As to how you got here," The Professor continued, "We merely taped a drawing of an unknown planet to the side of the star map they were using to show the Invaders where to go. When the Tallest saw it, they knew just where to send you. We really didn't have to influence them much."
Zim would have frowned if he could but settled for furrowing his brow instead. His Tallest were so eager to get rid of him that they didn't even question the appearance of a drawing on the star map before they assigned Zim to it? Why hadn't he seen it before? But he already knew the answer. He didn't want to see it. He couldn't stand to face the rejection of his own people.
"And to answer your final question," Professor Membrane concluded, "You and Dib are going to have to figure that out yourselves. After all, that was what you were designed for. Well Dib was in any case. But being a member of the Irken Military Elite, Zim, I'm sure you'll do just find."
Zim heard Dib gasp in pain as someone apparently ripped the tape off of his lips.
It was Dib's turn to ask some questions. Zim leaned forward as Dib began asking questions he never even though of. Zim was eager to know the answers.
******