Waking up almost instantaneously, Cypher jumped up when she found Kais body was no longer next to her. She looked around the house, scanning the shadows for her master, but could not find anything.

"Kai?" She put a paw forward, and quickly withdrew it as it touched a green puddle. She knew what it was even without scanning it - irken blood. Kai must have re-opened her wound. Knowing her, shes gone off to train...sometimes shes so thick headed. Cypher turned, turned on her disguise without a thought, and began following the trail out the front door. The green drips were not too large nor frequent, so she wasn't that badly hurt. Her master healed fast, anyway.

Keeping to the shadows, the dark pelted jackal pounced quickly along the dark streets awaiting the coming sun. Kais trail had led to a cliff overhanging the city, where they had stashed their ship, the Reza. It meant reaper, as that was what it was originally supposed to do. There was no sign of Kai among the trees at first, and Cypher began to feel worried. Feeling things was new for her, just happening recently after Kai added more programming, and this concerned her more. Then, she heard a small whimper from the edge of the cliff. Padding over, her masters body came into view, hunched over on the edge. She was probably brooding Larx fate again. She did that alot. Padding up, Cypher began to remind her about what dwelling on memories did, for the hundredth time.

"Kai, are you still plotting his..."

She fell silent, noticing the shuddering way that her master was breathing. That usually meant problems getting oxygen, which meant problems with internal organs. Cypher walked up behind her, putting her ears back.

"Kai?..." She walked closer, and saw the silvery streams of tears down Kais face. Cypher ran all the way up to her, now very worried. Her wound must have hurt really bad if she was crying.

"Kai, come back to the base so we can fix your wound."

"I'm fine, Cypher. Its not that." Cypher looked down at her masters chest. No blood was flowing. That would have to mean she was hurt internally. Cypher did a scan on her master. No injury. The little robot was completely confused. Her master wasn't hurting anymore...yet she was crying. Kai never cried...What was going on? She scanned her once more, desperately looking for a problem. Kai smiled slightly, then leaned forward and picked her up, holding her close to her body. Cypher looked at her master with a very confused look.

"Whats wrong? Are you hurt or something?"

"No, Cyph. Just thinking is all." She sighed. "Maybe I should just give up. Surrender, accept my fate. I just keep getting hunted down, and I'm so sick of putting us in danger..."

Cypher perked up, looking at her master with a very lost look. "Kai...this isn't like you...whats-"

"I don't know what to do anymore. Maybe Larx will-"

"Stop it Kai!" Cypher pounced at her, pinning her down by the shoulders. "What happened to you? Your always the last one to quit, and your so stubborn...now your just giving up?" Cypher shook her head. "Larx wont give you a second chance. Larx wont fix things. Kai, we are on our own. Always have been, always will be. And we are staying here. Maybe well have to relocate, but we are not running anymore. And you're not giving up. This is the closest weve come so far to having a home. I don't know whats gotten into you, but I wont let you give up. Not now, not eve-"

Her words were cut off as Kai tightened her grip, wrapping her arms tightly around Cyphers body. Cypher was quite confused, not sure what was happening as her master clung to her, crying. She did, however, decide that pulling away would be a bad course of action. So she curled against her, watching the sun rise and trying to be comforting.

When I regained most of my composure, I finally let go of my death grip on Cypher and sat up straight. I had no idea what had happened, why I started to cry. But I felt much less sick now. How the notion to quit ever got in my head...quitting was for the weak. No...Cypher was right. I turned my glittering eyes towards the coming sun, then flicked my disguise on and stood up. Cypher followed suit, still giving me a lost look. I smiled.

"Lets see...how could I explain this...That was what you would call an emotional breakdown. Kind of like a computer virus, but different."

"So you were sick."

"No. No, I was just sad. It happens sometimes. You cant really understand yet." I began walking, turning my head towards my cloaked stealth ship. Designed the Reza from scratch, I did. Was supposed to be one of Tallest Miyukis ships. Mine now though.

"After Skool, I think Ill come up here and fix up the crash damage."

"You cant go to Skool! Your-"

"Fine. I feel alot better. Must thank that Zim guy." I smiled. "Almost all healed. Now, lets go and get back at that horrible child for the muffins." I began walking towards the Skool, Cypher following with a lost look.

The walk was peacefull, but that lasted a short time.

"So, feeling any better, alien? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Hearing Dibs voice again on my way to Skool, I just kept walking. He persisted to poke me and try to get my attention. He was also holding something, but I didn't really want to find out. After about ten minutes of "Huh? Huh? Huh?" I finally spun around, staring at him.

"Do you ever shut up! I mean, seriously, you've been going on for-ooh, whats that?" I noticed the silver, gun like object in his arms. Looking down, I went to grab it from him, but he took a step back.

"For your information, its a demoleculizer designed to destroy Irken DNA." He smiled. "It can make ice-cream too."

"So, it basically destabilizes cells to whatever state you want, weakness to death?"

"Mmyep."

"How did you get your hands on the DNA for the tracking anticells?"

"Your blood from two nights ago."

"Wow. I mean...I'm actually impressed. Thats pretty cool. But, does it actually work..." I stared down at him, then regretted what I said as the dangerous end was pointed at me. I put my hands up, smiling.

"Whoa...now I didn't say 'Test it on me!" did I now!"

"I was planning to anyway."

I shook my head, backing up. "Look, I don't want to do anything to hurt you..."

"Yes you do. I know what other invaders like Zim do."

"Hold it, kid." I dropped my hands. "Did you just call me an Invader?"

"Yes. Your here to help Zim enslave the human race and kill whoever tries to stop you...aren't you?"

I began to giggle, soon laughing at the point where I needed to use a nearby fence for support.

"Oww...my chest...an..I-Invader? Enslave?" I sunk to my knees, laughing so hard it hurt. Wow...it had been a long time since I was called that... Dib sunk the end of his pistol and walked slowly over to me.

"Why are you here then?"

"I'm...hiding...honestly. Enslave?" I got my footing, and grinned at him. "No, I like it here. Beats Irk any day. I can nearly eat your food, too!"

"So...your not like Zim? And your not denying being an alien?"

"No. Kid, even if I did, its kind of pointless. Your too smart to fool anyway. Now, are you still going to try and kill me?"

"I guess not...so your not-"

"No, for gods sakes!" I laughed weakly, but choked it off. The slit under my chest was beginning to hurt again, and I did not want it to start bleeding again. Dib grinned back at me weakly, and I smiled. "Look. Your race is safe. I'm not here to kill anyone, and as long as IBM here Ill try and be good. Happy?"

"Uh...I guess." I looked down at the gun he was holding, and started walking. He followed.

"So, what is this icy-cream substance you speak of?"