A/n: Thank you all for your awesome reviews.

This is the last chapter. Well, story chapter, anyhow. The next one that I put up will be the epilogue and final note, like I did with FPL. This one is a bit shorter than the others, but I think that it says what needs to be said.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Zim.

You Only Live Twice

PART TWELVE: In which Dib's journey ends.

Main Entry: human
Function: noun
a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) : MAN; broadly any living or extinct member of the family (Hominidae) to which the primate belongs

CRITICAL ERROR:

PROGRAM: DIB.EXE

TERMINATE? Y/N?

…PROCESSING………………………………..

…RETRYING PROGRAM: DIB.EXE……..

CRITICAL ERROR:

PROGRAM: DIB.EXE

ABORT SUGGESTED.

TERMINATE? Y/N?

…PROCESSING…………………………………………..

…RETRYING PROGRAM: DIB.EXE………………

CRITICAL ERROR:

PROGRAM: DIB.EXE

TERMINATE? Y/N?

……PROCESSING…………………………………….

oooIIIooo

The hallway I found myself in was impossibly long, making the door at the end look like the miniature one that Alice had to try and fit though after falling into Wonderland. Part of me wondered if, as I got closer, the door would actually become larger in my perspective, or would it stay the same size, leaving me doomed to stay in this empty, pale white hall unless I ate the correct magical cake, or drank from the right bottle, which would conveniently spring from nothingness. The uncertainty of what I would find once I reached the door made me want to almost stay where I was, for fear of being disappointed—to let my tired legs and mind rest, sleeping away this nightmare that I had found myself immersed in until, when it came time for me to wake, I would find that my eyes would no longer open. My soul was tired from its journey, and had almost decided that death would be a better option than succeeding at my task only to find that it had all been for naught.

Some small voice shouted for me to go onward, however; cried and shook at my mind that I had come So Far, and I was So Close that there was no use giving up, now! I had faced insurmountable odds, and I was going to let this primitive fear of the unknown stop me when I was only feet from the finish line? The unknown was what had always, before, driven me onwards, it was my only purpose in life. How was I to be beaten by my own most desperate desire?

Pushed by this voice, by this urging notion that I Could Not Give Up, and I Must Not Give Up, I moved forward, moving down the blank hall at a quick walk, and then a jog, watching the small door bob in my vision, focusing only on my goal: the way out of this crazy Dream; the way home.

"Well, Professor, It's been three months."

A voice, coming out of the whiteness that surrounded me, seemingly coming from both everywhere and nowhere all at once. For some reason it was slightly familiar, though I couldn't quite place from where.

"Yes, yes it has."

A second voice: my fathers. Three months had passed in the Waking World. It must be time. They were going to pull the plug. They were going to take my body off life support and then it was Good Night, Gracie, how about another round of applause for our guest, this is Dan Rather, signing off, the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

I quickened my pace, wanting to sprint at full force towards the door that still sat what looked like miles away, but holding myself back, needing to pace myself, not wanting to use up all my energy at once. I had a long way to go, panicking would get me nowhere.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Professor? As slight as the chance may be, studies have shown that a full recovery is possible with patients in comas lasting longer than three months. I would think that you would want to give your son—"

"Every chance, yes I know, Doctor. But you see, his mother…his mother's death was a drawn out, painful one, mostly because of the artificial means that were used to keep her alive past her time. I don't want to make that same mistake, twice."

"Yes, of course, Professor, I understand. This sort of decision is never an easy one to make."

Inch by inch, the door seemed to grow larger as I moved closer. I was beginning to be able to make out the details of it as I ran, a bit quicker, now. It was formed from a plain, dark wood, the knob heavy and brass. Randomly placed here and there were stickers showing UFOs and aliens. I realized that it was the door to my bedroom back home, a heavy iron key in the lock beneath the knob. This realization made my insides feel as if they were going to explode with homesickness, and I stumbled, my feet becoming tangled in themselves with surprise at the intensity of the emotion. Quickly, I righted myself and pressed onward.

"We will proceed at the top of the hour, as you have directed. I assume that your daughter will be here, as well?"

"No, no, she is staying at home. I'd rather spare her these proceedings."

"Oh, would you, now?"

A third voice joined the others. Feminine. Angry. Gaz.

"I thought you weren't going to kill him until tomorrow, Dad."

I recognized that tone. In my mind's eye I pictured her shaking with fury, her small hands tight knots at her sides.

"No, Daughter, I didn't want to unnecessarily upset you. I thought that it would be kinder for you to think that he had died naturally before the set date."

"You just didn't want me to hate you for killing him."

"Professor, should I—"

"No, no, Doctor, everything is fine. My daughter here is just a little upset, is all."

"You lied to me."

Moving a little faster, now. Keeping my mind focused on my breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Nose. Mouth. Nose. Mouth. Along with the incessant beeping of the heart monitor, I could hear the faint ticking of an unseen clock, each second growing louder, filling my ears as I ran. I unconsciously began to match my footsteps to the beat.

"I just didn't want you to have to face any more unhappiness in your life. You've already seen too much death, Daughter. After watching your mother go, I didn't think that seeing your brother die as well would be very beneficial."

"What is his name, Dad?"

More vicious fury in my sister's monotone voice, though her words startled me enough that I almost tripped myself, again.

"What?"

"Professor, it's almost time."

"Yes, I understand., Daughter, if you would like to stay you will have to—"

"What is his name, Dad?"

"Daughter, I—"

"What. Is. His. Name? Hell, for that matter, what's mine? Do you even know what your children's names are? Do you even really care?"

The voices above me were silent for a moment; a pregnant pause. After a tense minute, I heard my sister let out a satisfied breath.

"You don't even know our names, and you expect me to believe that you give a damn about Dib's mental state or about the possibility of my being scared by watching you just give up on him? Just like you gave up on her?"

There was a sharp crack. The sound of a hand encased with rubber hitting skin.

"Professor!"

"Never speak to me that way again, do you understand me? I am only trying to do what is best for you and your brother, just as I tried my hardest to do what was best for your mother. Like it or not, I am still your father, and you will still respect me and treat me as such. I will have no more of your insolence, little girl, do you understand me?"

Another pause, as tense and uncomfortable as the last. Finally, my sister's voice answered, strained as she spoke through an angrily clenched jaw.

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, now then, you may remain here as long as you agree to behave yourself. Another outburst like that and I will send you into the waiting area. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. Doctor?"

Close, so close. The door was growing larger as the beeping and ticking of that damned clock grew louder in my ears. Just a little further, now, not long at all, just a little more…

"Ye…yes, Professor?"

"What time do you have?"

"I…a minute till, Sir. Again, I must ask you if you are sure about this. There is still a chance that—"

"I am sure, Doctor."

"Yes, well, then. I suppose we should proceed. Would either of you like to say anything before…"

Another pause. Come on, Dib, move faster! Push! My legs were burning, the muscles crying out for rest, for relief. The noise of the heart machine and the clock ringing in my ears, threatening to drive me insane, the door still just. Out. Of. My. Reach.

"Well, then…I guess….we should proceed. Nurse, take this down: Disconnecting Dib Membrane from all life support on this day, June 31st, time: 12:00AM."

There was a click, and sudden silence as I tumbled forward, my side becoming enveloped in white hot pain. I held my hand over the stitch, trying to massage it out as I stumbled back to my feet, the silence being replaced once again with noise, this time being wet, living: the sound of my lungs and heart as they struggled to continue on their own.

"Now, I guess, all there is to do is—"

"WAIT!"

Another voice, a fourth to join the crowd of invisible people above me. I winced and smiled at the same time at the grating familiarity of it as Zim burst into the room. I could imagine the startled looks on my family and the medical personnel's faces, focusing on that in an attempt to lesson the pain in my side and tune out the slowing beat of my fading heart.

"Zim, what are you—"

"WAIT! STOP! YOU MUST WAIT! ZIM HAS DONE IT! ZIM HAS GOTTEN THROUGH TO THE DIB! YOU MUST NOT UNPLUG HIM! HE WILL—"

"Oh, you must be my son's little foreign friend."

"NONSENSE!"

"Zim, it's too late."

"Too late? No, not too late, you told me that he wasn't going to be unplugged until tomorrow! Your mouth is full of LIES, Dib-sister!"

"No, Zim, really. …It's too late. They already unhooked the machines. He's…he's only got a few more…"

"But…but…NO! He should have woken up! I hacked into his Dream! I talked him out of staying in his lies! I made him wake up! HE SHOULD WAKE UP!"

So…close…my legs wanted to give out from under me as I heard what seemed to be a struggle from above me.

"WAKE UP, YOU FILTH! ONLY ZIM CAN DEFEAT YOU, NOT YOUR PATHETIC BRAINS! WAKE UP SO YOU MAY BE DESTROYED BY THE ALMIGHTY ZIM!"

"Somebody grab—"

"Will you hold—"

"Zim, calm—"

Only a few feet away….I felt my legs finally give out, and I pulled myself forward, combat style, on my elbows. So close…so….

Above me was more sounds of a struggle, more voices joining the chaos, but it was fading, slowly fading out, along with the other noise; that wet, meaty noise, the sound of my life.

Slowly.

Fading.

Finally, I touched the door. Painfully, I reached up, bringing myself to my knees as I slowly turned the key in the knob, hearing the faint 'click' as the tumblers fell out of place.

My hand touched the knob.

All sound ceased.

My world went white.

oooIIIooo

Open your eyes.

Mom?

Dib, you need to get up, now. Time to open your eyes.

Mom? But I'm so warm….

You will still be warm. Open your eyes.

But…

Open your eyes.

oooIIIooo

Light. Blinding. Hurts. Blurry. Where are my glasses? Can't…why won't my arms move? What's this…hair? Purple? Gaz? She's asleep. Her head…on my stomach...heavy. Glasses. Still can't….damn. Look around. Anyone in the room? Shouldn't wake Gaz. Not pretty when she's woken up. Can't move. Won't be able to defend myself. Blind.

There. In the corner. Green? Green. Moving. Zim. Zim. Here. I'm defenseless. I can't see. Oh shit oh shit oh….

…wait.

Noise. Door. The door is opening. Someone is coming. Must…can't talk. Tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. Must have been asleep.

Sleep?

Z?

No.

Gaz. She's moving. Person in the room. Red? Smaller person. Brown. Shapes. Coming close, need to warn them, Zim will, Zim is…

Talking to red person. Voices. Sound. Can't make out what they're saying. Muffled. Tones. Clearer, still, nonsense.

Words.

Want my glasses.

So tired, still. Muffled sounds making it hard to focus. Noise. Buzzing.

Tired.

Brown person coming close.

Purple. Gaz.

Eyes….

Light….

oooIIIooo

I opened my eyes, blinking in the dim morning light. Fumbling blindly on the table beside my bed I searched for my glasses, coming up empty handed. I frowned and squinted towards the night stand. They were always right—

It was then that I realized that I wasn't in my room. That this wasn't my bed. Instantly the smell of the room assaulted my nose: cold, clean antiseptic. The sterile smell of a hospital. I sat there a minute, thinking back, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing I remembered was sneaking into Zim's lab…something about an evil kitten and a Suck-Munkee.

And a dream.

The door to the room opened before I could think any harder, and I turned my head instinctively toward the sound, squinting at the people who walked in, making out only colours: purple, red, brown.

"What's going on? Who's there?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. I hated being without my glasses. It made me feel weak.

"Nice to see you to, Loser." Gaz's voice though the haze. She came close enough that I could almost make out her features and she pressed something into my hand, "Here. I grabbed your spare pair. The other ones…got broken."

Was it just me, or did her face get a bit darker as she said that? I smiled in thanks and placed the new pair of glasses on my face, blinking a bit as the world finally came into focus. I was surprised to see a smile playing across my sister's lips instead of her usual frown.

"Gaz, what---"

"Well, let's see how the patient is doing, shall we?" one of the people who entered with Gaz broke in. I looked up to see a young doctor sporting shockingly red hair and oval shaped glasses leaning over me, checking the chart in his hands, which were wrapped in white gauze. He had Band-aid on the side of one cheek. There was something about him that seemed so familiar…

"Nurse?" he continued, seemingly ignoring my stare.

"Yes, Doctor?" the nurse answered, coming out from behind the privacy sheet. She was a small girl with choppy brown hair, a white bandage taped across her nose. Guess she had broken it somehow.

"Check his blood pressure, please." the doctor asked, still pouring over the chart, turning pages in a professional type manor that looked slightly out of place.

"Sure thing, Doctor J." the nurse answered, moving towards me.

I stared at her a few moments as she pulled out a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. The moment she touched my skin, however, I felt a jolt of something akin to electricity, hitting me like a bullet. Flashes of images flooded my brain as I pressed my head into my pillow, scrunching my eyes closed with the force. Seven different lives passed before my eyes, Seven different versions of my friends and family; of myself, seven different moments, seven different life or death decisions with seven different results. I could barely hear my sister's voice above the rushing of the blood in my ears, crying out that something was wrong, that I needed help. Mixed with her voice were the voices of the doctor and nurse, assuring that everything was alright, that this was normal, a side effect of the nerves I my body becoming used after being dormant for so long.

Finally, the wave of emotion and images ceased, and I lay there against the pillow, breathing heavily, staring that the faces floating above me, identical masks of concern.

I focused on the faces of the doctor and nurse. Of J and Erin. "You! I know you! Does this mean…wait, wait, did I pass? Am I alive? Did I make it? I touched the door and then everything went white and I…did I pass the Tests? Am I free?"

Gaz looked at me as if I were crazy, her face screwed up in an expression of concern. The doctor and nurse—J and Erin—both just smiled.

Erin chuckled a bit as she adjusted the blood pressure cuff, "Sounds like you had quite a dream." she stated, glancing up from her watch and into my eyes, meaningfully. She smiled again, slightly and returned to her work.

"Dream, what is she—" Gaz started.

"It's not uncommon for coma patients to become stuck in a sort of 'dream loop'. Their brains create elaborate worlds and fantasy for the patient to go through, adventures for them to partake, as a way of coping with the body's injuries." J answered.

"A dream loop…that's what Zim said: that Dib's mind was stuck in some sort of loop that kept him from waking up. That's how he—" she stopped herself, thinking it wise to not continue, possibly knowing that the adults in the room wouldn't believe her, anyhow.

I was curious, though, "Zim? What happened? Where is he?"

Gaz looked at me, her expression torn. "He's…he's at home. He said that he….he had a dream and you two were talking on the roof of the house. You said that you were stuck somewhere and wanted to leave, but didn't want to leave…to leave our mom behind." She looked away, slightly. I was surprised. This was a side of Gaz that I hadn't seen in years, at least outside of the Tests. "He told me that he said that he would come with you if you left, and you were able to make your decision, and then that part of his computer blew up, because the dream simulator he was using became corrupted. Said it will take him weeks to repair and that you should be grateful."

I had to smile at that.

"He left right after your vital signs stabilized, though," she continued, "saying that he needed to make a call. He had to ask a few questions of his superiors regarding…well, regarding why he's here."

So that was it. The Zim that I spoke to in the final Test was the real Zim. That was probably why the Test had such a dramatic reaction whenever I made my decision—it noticed that there was in intruder. Zim had not only saved me, but, in realizing his place in that version of Reality, perhaps realized something about his own mission. The questions I had about his mission being false in the Waking World as it was in the Tests seemed to be answered. I would have to remember to go see him when I got out of the hospital.

I chuckled, "Gee, Gaz, you look like you've actually been worried about me."

She glared, though it held none of its normal malice, "Yeah, well…whatever."

I had to laugh, shaking my head.

"Well, looks like everything is in order," J stated, breaking into Gaz and I's little moment, "a few months of physical therapy to get your atrophied muscles back into shape, and you should be good as new." He moved towards the door, Erin following up after sneaking me another small smile. I wanted to ask her what happened to her nose and how she got out of jail, though I had the sinking feeling that the two were related.

J paused for a moment in the doorway, turning back to face me, "It's very rare that we see a recovery like this, Dib. I think that proves that you're destined for something great." That said, he gave me one last parting smile and disappeared into the hallway after Erin.

I smiled to myself, wondering what great adventure was planned for me.

Whatever it was, I knew I wouldn't face it alone.

"You only live twice, or so it seems—one life for yourself and one for your dreams."

FIN

A/n: Whew. There. All done. Well, kinda. There is still the epilogue to do, which I actually have mostly written, but will keep from posting for a week. Why a week? Because I want to give you guys time to review with any questions that you might have that I haven't answered. I don't want anyone to be confused, and all that.

At any rate, I wonder how many people reviewed to the last chapter wanting to be number 100? (grin) The winner was Dibmagician, by the way, cos she rocks. Yup. Thank you all for your awesome review, though. Considering all the stuff that's happened within the past 6 or 7 months that I've been writing this, having that positive response to this random bit of brain vomit made all the crap a little more bearable.

Page count: 401.

I'll make the final update in a week. Till then.

-j