Note: I forgot to repeat last chapter, but this was a fanfic challenge from a great writer on this site, Invader Sideos, and I am eternally grateful for the chance at writing for this awesome idea, and do hope that if I'm butchering it he'll let me know so I can fix that. He also wrote the Invader's Oath, at the bottom of the page.
Dib staggered into Skool the next day, sore all over. The only thing worse than the beating Gaz had given him was the dull throb in his head that had kept him awake all night. Stumbling into class, he headed for his seat.
"Late, Dib?" Miss Bitters sneered. "What happened this time, A) Bigfoot attacked, B) Ghost attacked, or C) man-eating gerbil attacked?"
He frowned and opened his mouth to reply, but catching sight of a beetle crawling up her neck, he ducked his head and muttered an apology. Miss Bitters' beetles always warned when she was in an extra-foul mood.
Taking his seat, he rubbed his temples and tried to relax.
"As I was saying, class, we are discussing the structural weaknesses of this school building."
So much for relaxing.
"Turn your attention to the blueprint I'm pulling out."
As she turned to pull the drawstring that would reveal the blueprint, something hit the back of Dib's head. His eyes narrowed as he turned and spotted the eraser which had been thrown at him. His head snapped up and he scanned the mass of schoolchildren, most of whom were snickering. In seconds he calculated where the eraser had been thrown from, based on the angle, velocity, trajectory, and analysis of guilty features.
With a feral snarl, he sprang from his chair and launched himself at the guilty party; Torque. Torque's grin froze, and Dib noted a small flash of fear in his eyes with grim satisfaction, half a second before the collision. Torque's desk splintered as he and Dib toppled into the aisle, each fighting to get on top of the other.
Straddling Torque's chest, Dib raised his fist to bring it down. He froze.
What am I doing?
A dark shadow flowed between them and lifted them off their feet by their collars. "Enough! You two, go to the office." Growled Miss Bitters.
"But Miss Bitters, I didn't do nothin'." Torque pleaded. "Dib just up an' attacked me for no reason!"
"He lies!" Yelled Dib, swinging his fists madly.
"Silence, Dib! Torque, you may take Dib's desk. Go sit down." Released, Torque scampered over to his new desk and beamed possessively.
"Dib, to the office, NOW!" Miss bitters let him drop to the floor and his knees slammed into the hard tiles. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he limped out of the classroom and started down the hall.
Dib.
He started and glanced around the empty hall, searching for the source of the faint voice he had heard.
Dib.
His heart thumped. Maybe a ghost of some tormented child haunts this hallway. What luck! I gotta come back. Aloud he called, "Um, yeah, ghost-child, don't leave, okay? Just keep moaning to your poor, tormented self, I'll be back to listen to you tonight."
I'll be waiting.
Dib dashed down the hall. The sooner detention was over, the sooner he could work on this new case.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Too dark! He tripped, dropping his tape-recorder. It clattered in the dark hallway, painfully loud. Wincing, he stooped, picked it up, and checked the mechanisms. Not broken, good.
Glancing around, he called softly, "Tormented ghost-child? I'm here, you can talk to me if you want. I'll be more than happy to listen." He clicked the record button and set the tape down in the hallway.
"Hello, dork." Dib whipped around and there stood Torque and his three goons.
"Wha--? Why are you here?" Dib demanded.
Torque smirked. "Jus' thought I'd settle the score about that little incident earlier." He leaned forward and sneered, "Nobody tries to hit Torque, ya got that, dweeb?"
"Y-yes Torque, whatever you say, I'm sorry!" Dib quailed, scooting down the hall. The bullies closed in.
"Sorry don't cut it. You's gotta be punished, taught a lesson." A meaty fist reached out and caught the collar of Dib's trench coat. "Dweebs gotta learn their places."
Hand up, arm bent, slam down.
A splintering crack. Torque howled and released Dib, holding his arm in agony. "Get 'im!" He bellowed. Instantly the others lunged for Dib.
Dodge, stick out leg, hold out arm.
Grunts and yelps. One goon slammed into the wall as he tripped over Dib's leg, the other ran into Dib's outstretched fist and flipped backward. The third goon rushed him.
Stand. Wait. Wait. Drop!
The goon tripped over Dib's crouched form and slammed his head into the corner of the wall, cracking his skull. Blood trickled to the floor, forming a small puddle.
Horror seized Dib. Where did that come from?
From me.
He gulped. "G-ghost child?" The bodiless voice laughed. "Wher-where are you?"
That is for me to know and you to find out. Leave now.
"B-but I wanted to-to ask you—"
LEAVE NOW!
He didn't remember running from Skool screaming like a maniac. He didn't remember dashing through the house, oblivious to Gaz' threats. And he certainly didn't remember running head-on into his closed door.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Pulsing, throbbing crowd, all gathered to watch. Excitement fills senses, cannot contain. Dropping to knees, pride and joy possessing. Cries out,
"I swear to thee, my Tallests,
As leaders and commanders of the Irkin Empire,
Loyalty and Bravery.
I vow to thee and to superiors
Whom thou shalt appoint
Obediance unto death,
With all my heart, mind and soul."
It has been done. Invader, finally, an Invader!