Behind The Tube Glass

By alien freak And Xmimi89eR

story may contain gore/blood/violence/strong language

rating: T

ZaDr/ZaDf


This chapter is weird, i have to admit that... lmao okay enjoy!

English is my second language, my apologies if there are any mistakes.

disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim.


--

EXPERIMENT TWO IS IN HIGH DANGER!

EMERGENCY ACTIVATING.

NO ISSUES HAVE BEEN FOUND.

ACTIVATING...

999999

Zim laid on the chair, in the darkroom like every night the human leaves. Gir sat on his lap as he watched TV, and because it was the middle of the night, some horror movie was playing. Zim for some reason, found it hilarious. Those stupid humans going inside scary-looking houses or hotels and thinking that they're gonna have a peaceful night's sleep- that was just too stupid, even for them.

He felt Gir move every now and then, sometimes laugh with him, or maybe would hug his master's chest till the scary moments end.

"Ooooh, what that do???" Gir asked suddenly making Zim flinch. He jumped from the irken's lap and went to press every button he saw on the keyboard- as if NOW he knew there was a keyboard...

"Don't touch that-!" Zim snapped and tried catching the robot before he does any damage- but it was too late. Whatever movie they were watching was replaced by a desktop. It had the same wallpaper he saw before- the same 'family' of Dib, him smiling. The purple-haired girl who he assumed was named 'Gaz'. And of course... the lab man himself- Professor Membrane.

"What have you done?" He hissed at Gir, looking at the weird files then at the keyboard. He wasn't gonna spend the night hearing Gir talk about pigs- he leaned down to look at the keyboard, and remembered that the screen works with touch, something like his voot-

Straightening himself to be tall enough, he went on reading the names of the files, not realizing that they had nothing to do with 'TV mood'. Every file was named after something the professor had made, from 'super toast' to 'PEG'.

Oh, he knew what PEG was, Dib already talked about it- 'her', the Perpetual Energy Generator. Its purpose was to create a source of energy that did not require fuel to continue working. It was- amusing to say the least. He had to admit that. No irken had made such a thing. Maybe he would talk to his tallest to create something similar.

The professor had put a lot of time and effort into PEG when Dib was young, he was hopeful he'd finish it by the time they get to middle school, though, luck wasn't by his side and it took longer. And surely, the lab man got distracted after finding that aliens life exist- and PEG was never finished.

Dib said something about how dangerous it is. If it failed, it would destroy Earth, kill all humanity.

But even so, the idea of fixing it still danced in the boy's head, maybe then, people would see him as a hero... that was what he said.

Zim clicked the file. Inside was pictures of PEG, more files, records, tests.

He forgot completely about Gir who was drawing pigs on his bandages.

Zim closed the file, curiosity filled him and he kept looking into more files. Every small creation the professor made was there, in a file, every little detail about it, its ins and outs, its flaws, good and bad. He clicked in the file named 'ENTRIES'. In there he felt like puking and immediately closed it- he already knew what was in that file...

A file after the other.

He was bored from the endless creations of the professor, they all were the same- so without thinking, he plugged another wire into his PAK and decided to make it do the work for him, to find this 'TV mood' thingy, it would be easier than wandering around-

He closed his eyes and searched deep down in his PAK, in the Computer itself. But the PAK only hummed and kept searching deeper into the computer system, somewhere far away from what Zim wanted, he should have known not to plug a broken PAK into a system full of files- but it was too late.

He knew he had to stop right there, he knew he wasn't supposed to see secret files- something blocked from him, but his PAK kept searching.

Then it stopped at one file. It was blocked with a password. The file was well hidden deep in the system, as if he didn't want anyone to see it- and something told him that Dib didn't know about this. He felt an unsettling feeling in his spooch. Something was off with this, he knew it.

The PAK unlocked it.

Zim unplugged the heated wire from his PAK and tossed it aside, he hissed at how hot his PAK was, then looked back at the screen. Greeted by a note file...

Dear my children.

I'm so sorry for this- for this secret i kept hidden from you, both of you. No one knows about this, and i'm planning on telling you when you're both fully grown, and if I didn't make it till then, this note is for you. I can't tell you how sorry i am, how i feel... shameful with this- but i had to, i'm a scientist, and this is the result of me being a workaholic.

I can't explain how i did it. But make sure that I always loved you.

i had no choice. Please forgive me, i love you.

Zim was confused, the file was created almost twenty years ago- so it had nothing to do with him. He closed the note window and looked at the file name:

'THE EXPERIMENT'

"Huh..." he narrowed one eye and clicked the first file, a video almost two minutes long:

"...-honey, haven't you found someone yet?" A woman with a lab coat and black hair, having something like a hair-lock on her head- something like Dib and Membrane also had, spoke.

"Me and your mother are together since middle school!" A man with purple hair cheered, holding his 'wife' by the shoulder.

"I'm a man of science! I don't need such a thing, she'll only distract me." What appeared to be the professor in his early adulthood spoke, he didn't seem happy with this conversation as the camera in his hands was slightly shaking with annoyance.

"We know that. But you need to have someone to carry your work after you're- well, too tired or, you know..." the woman said.

"And i also want to see my grandchildren!" The man cheered,

"I don't get this whole 'making a family' thing. It's not necessary." Membrane said with a serious voice.

The two parents shared looks.

Then the woman sighed, "fine then..."

Membrane didn't wait and walked away, turning the camera off.

The video ended.

Zim gazed at it, so these were the 'grandparents' he saw on TV. Though Dib never mentioned them,

He clicked the next video:

The camera was shaking till it got still on a table, Membrane walked to face it, he seemed annoyed yet determined, "i don't need such a thing- this whole 'needing a mom and a dad to make children' thing, it's so, so weird, i don't think i'll ever get it,"

He folded his arms, and started spinning in his chair, "but! There is nothing impossible, i can prove it to them, to mom and dad! They'll be proud!" He got up and held the camera with clumsy hands, pointing it at some papers, "see? I'm working on it! I've spent ALL night on this idea, i'll show people that making children and having this 'family' thing isn't that hard! I'll make the perfect family!"

He sat the camera aside and held a paper, pointing it at the camera, "i know i'm a male, but mom's DNA is still in my blood, that means i could also create a girl!" He laughed at how good the idea was, "this is gonna be easy! I'll be the first to clon--" his voice was cut off by his mother,

"Dear, stop talking to yourself, diner is ready."

Membrane looked at the camera as he stood up, "i'll show you all--" and then turned it off.

"A clone...?" Zim murmured as he made himself comfortable on the chair, and clicked the next video:

Membrane backed away from the camera and stood in front of a big board, papers hanged from it- a lot of papers, "it's been a few weeks, and i think I've figured this DNA thingy! But i should research it more, maybe do some tests on our cat, yeah... but it will work! I'm sure of that."

He held a tube fall of his blood.

"With this- my DNA, and my parents lab, i will show humanity that's nothing is impossible!"

"I'll film more when i start this- eh... experiment! Yes. Yeah-..."

The video ended.

Zim put the videos on autoplay...

The camera showed the young adult's feet as he stood in front of the tube, he balanced the camera in his hands and focused it on the tube, "see? It's already starting! No issues for now. This 'kid' is in a good growth inside... mom would love it- him... i'm sure."

The video ended.

Another one played:

Membrane's face was the first thing to be shown, he seemed excited as he filmed himself standing before the tube, "it's been a few months, i've lied to dad and mom that i've meet someone- i kinda feel bad for this, but it's not my fault. I don't know how they'll react when they see this, what I've created- but that's not what matters now-"

He turned on heels, pointing the view at the tube again, in there, was something... someone what appeared to be a child on his first development- it was too blurry to see.

"It's the fifth month. No issues till now, which is good, i also noticed high energy being built in his brain! I guess he'll be as smart as i am! Good."

"See you-... whoever is watching this-"

The video ended. Zim just blankly staring with... shock? Confusion? He wasn't sure, but he couldn't seem able to get that image off of his head...

Another video played:

A blurry figure appeared, after a second the camera focused, revealing Membrane. He was panting, trying to form words, his hair messy, sweat ran down his forehead,

"I did it..." he huffed, shaking his head, "i did it!" He yelled happily, using his clumsy and shaky hands, he turned the camera...

"See?? A baby! A child! A healthy newborn child made by one parent, just a father- a father."

The small 'newborn' baby was covered with the tube goo, wrapped with a dark blue towel, he was trying to get the sticky goo off of his face with clumsy hands, almost crying when that didn't work.

"I did it... i'm- i'm the first man to create a clone! Hah! I'm the first!" He laughed making the camera shake with him,

"Now... what should i call you?..." he got himself under control and recovered the towel on the baby's chest, he kept thinking, not realizing the hanging camera in his hands. suddenly, his phone rang,

"Hey, mom." He answered,

A pause...

"Yeah, she's about to- uh... give birth yeah!"

The woman murmured through the other end,

"I will visit her- yeah sure i will, maybe-"

The mom snapped,

"Okay fine i will! I told you this whole family thing isn't suitable for me."

Another pause...

"Okay i'll tell her you said 'hi'-... sure-... bye"

He sighed after hanging up,

"I know laying to my parents isn't a good idea..." he moved the camera away from the child who was at the edge of crying, "but you're worth it," he took the towel from the small baby's hands and cleaned his face, enough for him to finally able to open his eyes,

Big watery amber eyes gazed at Membrane, he blinked, then blinked again. looked around. Shifted his hands in the air and moved them. Then cried.

"Dear God-" the camera fell at the table, ending the record.

The next video played:

"Oh, dear..." the mother looked at her son. Membrane who was holding the camera and also holding the wrapped baby in his other hand-

"You're holding the baby wrong!" The mother snapped and ran to get the clumsy baby that was at the edge of falling-, "dear god..." she shifted him in her arms, then moved her arms slowly back and forth, she caught the blue clothes he was wearing, "it's a boy, right?" She looked at the camera,

"Yeah." Membrane replied, taking a few steps closer.

"He looks just like you..." she murmured, smiling at the small baby in her arms. Membrane just stood there, dumbfounded, not understanding a thing.

They heard someone gasps, the camera turned to the father, who was also standing, staring at the boy in his wife's arms, "is that?" He asked, finally moving closer,

"It's your grandchild, just like you wanted." Membrane answered him.

"Where is she? His mother, what was her name?..." the father asked,

"She should be here, to feed her child..." his mother murmured, still amazed by the small hands of the baby that moved in the air-

"Uh- eh... L-.. Lily! She's too sick to come... still in the hospital,"

"Oh, my..." the mother finally looked at her son, then at her husband, "you need to get milk from the pharmacy then..."

The father nodded,

"Wait..." his mom stopped Membrane before he could leave the room- as if the child was never his-

"What's his name?" The asked,

Membrane paused, "we... uh- didn't know what to call it-- him, so she said you can name him what you want!" He laughed nervously,

"Aww that's so sweet of her..." his mom looked back at the baby,

"You know, if we had another kid what would we call him?" The father asked, looking at Membrane, then at his wife,

"Dib." The mom whispered.

"Such a wonderful name, don't you think, son?"

"Oh- yeah, of course, Dad."

the record ended.

Zim paused the next video before it starts. He took a deep breath, wishing he had something to drink.

After watching a lot of TV with Gir, he knew that humans are created by two humans, a mom and a dad. Not cloning... not like how irkens did it.

Did Dib know about this...?

He clicked the video again:

"- it's okay, we'll take care of him till your girl gets ready to leave the hospital, but you'll have to get a house by then you know that." The father said, he was feeding Dib as sat on the table, playing with a spoon.

"A house?" Membrane asked,

"I'm sure his mom will want privacy. She can't just live with us, you have enough money, and we will help you. That's a big step for you honey, you're still twenty-two." His mom walked into view.

"Huh..." was the last thing Membrane said before ending the video.

Another one started:

A weird-shaped house was into view, the camera focused, "a big house!"

He got inside, at the fresh new house, "it has everything a house needs. Rooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a garage, a back and front yard." He wandered around, filming every little detail, "and i made sure to install the best security system ever!"

He walked to the kitchen, "i've made a robot to cock! And i'll make another one to remind them to wash their teeth! And maybe one to say that i love them- yes."

Silence...

Another one:...

Dib was sitting at the table, trying to read a story about vampires, he was around eight months old or less. Already mumbles the words as he tried to read,

Membrane slowly took the book from his small hands, he put it aside and looked around, his parents weren't home yet.

"Alright..." he put the camera aside on the table, adjusting the view to meet his kid, "i have to see some things here..." Membrane murmured, he took his son's tiny arm, then got out a small needle.

"Turn around," he said. Dib gazed at him, then at the needle, then back at him. Membrane sighed and pointed something on the comic book his son was trying to read, "look here," Dib gazed more at his father, then slowly looked back at the book,

Membrane took the chance and pressed the thin needle in his son's wrist, the needle sucked a small amount of blood, making the kid shiver in surprise, Dib snapped his head back, looking at the blood that was on inside the needle. Membrane took it out of flesh and studied it with his eyes. Dib's frowned, his eyes began to water as he sniffed,

"There, there," Membrane patted his son's head and stood up, he ran to his room, leaving Dib sniffing and rubbing his wrist,

He stayed like this for a moment, then his gaze went to the camera, he gazed at it for a long moment before reaching out to grab it in his clumsy hands. The camera was pointed everywhere till it got steady, it was pointed at the fridge in the kitchen, the view was blurred as the kid's hands touched the lenses, he moved it to the other side, filming himself as he studied it.

He tapped the glass twice, shook it, and tried removing the lenses.

Membrane came back and took the camera from his son's hands and replaced it back on the table, "You're growing healthy little one!" He cheered out, patting Dib's head again, making his small body go slightly backward, Dib frowned more, tears gathered back in his amber eyes, he held his hands into small fists on the table, not meeting Membrane's gaze.

The professor sighed, he leaned and took the book in his hands, he frowned at the 'paranormal' things he saw in the comic, but he wasn't ready to hear his kid's loud cries, he was so bad at calming him, "uhm- uh... can you..." he looked much deeper into the book, "find the word 'vampire'" he said it with disgust, looking at his son,

Dib stopped for a second to look at his dad, then at the book, he blinked, then leaned to take to book in his own hands. He buried his face in the papers, squeezing his eyes to see, then after a minute of trying to read the word, he pointed at it.

Membrane moved the camera at the book, where Dib was pointing, his small finger just right next to the word, Membrane shook his head and fixed where Dib was pointing, but he stubbornly kept pointing next to the word and not at it.

Membrane started at him for a second, "where is the word 'world'?"

Dib got the book close to his face, squeezing his eyes as he tried reading, then pointed beside the word.

Besides it, not at it...

The professor put the camera back, and lowered the book from his kid's hands, he got closer to Dib's face. Holding the boy's chin, he got out a small flashlight, making Dib open his eyes, he studied it more than he should, making the kid at the edge of crying again,

"Oh," He finally said, "how couldn't I notice that before?" Maybe because he was rarely home?-

He got up and ran to his room again.

Dib rubbed his eyes, trying to hold his tears.

Membrane got back, he sat down in a flash and held a pair of old glasses in his hands, "those were mine when i was young, but I prefer goggles," he said tapping his goggles, then leaned to put the big glasses on the boy's pale face.

Dib closed his eyes, he didn't seem to like the weight of the glasses as he tried removing them, "open your eyes," Membrane ordered.

He slowly blinked his eyes open, then let out a small gasp as he looked around, at everything, then he looked back at the book, he pointed with his eyes wide at the word 'vampire'. No longer needs to look too close or squeeze his eyes to see, he smiled, and tried reading again, this time with much ease.

Membrane just kept staring at him.

Not saying anything.

And another one:

"It's been a while since i filmed anything-" he huffed, "and i forgot to film that i-" he looked around in his lab, "i made another clone, this one was hard since i want it to be a girl, i had to take a lot amount of my blood just to get all the feminine DNA my blood had from mom,"

He pointed the camera at the same tube Dib was once in, showing a small body, blurred behind the tube glass, "it's the sixth month, i could have made her faster, but female needs nine months to create these babies, so I guess, no need to hurry,"

And another:

Membrane was panting, he looked so tired, sweat all over his face, for the first time, his goggles were on top of his head, and his lab coat was half-open, showing his neck and half of his chest, he looked just like Dib, but different, he was so different, yet they looked so similar... his hair was much shorter with a fade at the bottom, and his scythe-hair lock was much longer.

"I-..." he huffed, trying to take some breaths, "I didn't know how unstable the tube was..."

The camera was shaking in his hands, "this is the beginning of the eighth month, almost the seventh-... it not supposed to- to come out now..."

A muffled voice was heard.

"I ran some tests on her, she's okay, she's underweight- but that's okay..."

He laughed slightly, shaking his head, then pointed the camera at the table, there was another baby, this one did look smaller than a healthy newborn child, her hair was weirdly purple, and unlike Dib who was quiet, she screamed as high as her lungs could handle, making Membrane flinch,

He put the camera down and held the baby who was warped in the same dark blue towel, "shhh..." Membrane tried his best to calm her down, moving his arms like he saw his mom do with Dib,

And he was lucky enough as the girl stopped, but kept sniffing.

"My dad, in high school, when he knew that mom liked the color purple, decided to change his DNA so his hair would be purple as well. I would have been impressed if it wasn't about this 'love' thing." Membrane said all of the sudden, patting the girl on the head,

"I guess his changed DNA was already in my blood."

He sighed.

Membrane reached a hand to turn off the camera.

Autoplay:

Membrane walked from his car, getting out a stroller out of the backseat, opened it, then put his girl in it, " i don't think i've said this in front of the camera," he wrapped the little girl in her blanket.

"But I named her Gazolene." He started, "my dad burned his car in the gas station when i was young, and because both her and dad had the same hair color, i thought this name would fit, they have a lot in common." Membrane whispered the last part,

He closed his car, "my dad was so happy when he saw her, calling her Gaz." He bushed the stroller closer to the door, "i told them my 'wife' died,"

He got out his keys, "she's one month old, i had to make sure she's healthy enough to meet her brother, though i had to create super milk for her body, she'll be strong, i wish i did the same with Dib, but ah well, he is strong anyway, i made sure of that." he realized the door wasn't locked,

Membrane opened the door to the living room, in the middle, next to the couch, was Dib on the floor, drawing or maybe even writing, next to him was a young man, almost as old as the professor, with a taller frame, and blond hair,

"Finally, Membrane!" The man snapped. Membrane closed the door behind him, leaving the stroller where it was, the man didn't seem to notice it behind the couch, "i'm not a babysitter for your kid."

Membrane gazed at what they were doing, math.

They were doing math.

"Though, i have to admit," he smirked, "your kid is super smart!" He held some paper from the floor, "i gave him math only kids in middle school knows, and he literally solved them!"

"Dad!" the kid cried happily, he stood up and hugged his father's leg, "i missed you!"

"You stay in your labs for forever Membrane, you need some time with your kid." The blond man said seriously, "i don't think i can take care of him much longer, i have work as well."

A small cry caught their ears.

"What was that?" Asked the man,

Dib snapped his head, then ran to the stroller, he stood on toss holding the edge of the stroller as he gazed, he gasped.

"I was about to tell you this..." Membrane murmured. The man stood up and walked to the stroller, slowly, he stared at it, at her.

"Membrane... how is tha-? Dib is still eight months old if not nine, how could she--?"

"She was born in the seventh month in the- eh pregnancy... my wife is dead, she died during-.. giving birth-... yeah,"

The man looked at him, really looked at him, His blue eyes gazed at Membrane, "oh," he looked back at Gaz, "uh- sorry for your-"

"It's fine."

"No i mean it--"

"I said it's fine, Dale, don't make big trouble of it,"

Zim paused the video on the young adult's face, at Dale's face... so that was Dale, or at less, him twenty years ago.

He looked deep into the other's bony face, he shifted and put the towel over his lap, then clicked again the video...

"As you say," he stared down at the girl, then sighed, "let's hope you know what you're doing." He walked to the door, "see you at work Membrane." Dale closed the door behind him.

Silence...

"Dad," Dib snapped Membrane out of his thoughts. He was still staring down at the baby,

"Hm?" Membrane answered, "yes, what is it?"

"Is that...? A- a... sister?"

"Yes, this is your new baby sister, her name is Gazolene,"

"Gazo- Gasolin--"

"Call her Gaz if that's easier."

"Gaz!" His eyes were wide as he stared from his father, to his new sister, he leaned down, touching her soft purple hair, the girl shifted and snapped her hand at Dib's hair lock, snatching it hard making Dib gasp and tries to get her hands off of his hair,

When he couldn't, he cried.

"Oh dear-"

The video ended.

Zim was staring at the screen, if he wasn't surprised, he would have laughed at Dib.

Another video:...

"Happy birthday!" Dib screamed happily, standing on the chair of the kitchen table. Gaz was sitting, before her was a cake with number two on it, she was wearing a black dress, and a pink hair bow.

Dib tossed her a gift, wrapped in a small box. She took it with clumsy hands and opened it slowly then took out what was inside,

A necklace in the shape of a skull.

Her eyes went wide, she blinked at it then slid her head into it,

"I thaw how you liked it in the thtore, thoooo i brought it- well... with dad' money!" He smiled widely, shown a missed tooth which made every 's' sound comes out as 'th'.

Gaz slightly smiled, she then looked at her father, who handed her another small box, a little bigger than Dib,

She tossed the cake aside and opened the box, she got out a red-looking game, and flipped it open, a sound came out and her eyes were wide again, "yessss" she murmured, then looked back at the cake, no longer interested in it, "eat." She said, pointing at it then at her father and brother,

"I'm not--" Dib started, but was caught off guard when his eyes met with her, he swallowed audibly, then took a spoon out.

The camera hanged awkwardly for a moment before The video ended.

...

Zim could feel Gir already asleep beside him, it must be three in the morning...

Another video started:

Dib and Gaz, who looked in their six or five years old, were sitting around the same table, "alright, i want you to solve this," he gave them both a paper and a pen, "you have five minutes, and they start... now!"

Gaz tossed her game aside and began working on it. Dib stared at it, then at his father, "why are we doing this?" Dib asked, ignoring the time the was slipping from him.

"To test something."

"Why aren't you home? We miss you all the time dad!" Did whimpered and frowned his eyebrows.

"I have work, son. you have four minutes left." Membrane said flatly,

Dib looked back at the paper, he held the pen in his hand and started writing his answers, but then stopped, "hey dad,"

"Yes?"

"I think i saw a spaceship yesterday..." he said as quiet as possible, knowing his father didn't like this talk about the paranormal,

"There is no such thing as a spaceship."

"But i saw it! Maybe there is life form in space-"

Membrane sighed, "nothing is in space, i've already been in area51, there is no such thing as aliens. you have two minutes left."

Dib frowned more, he gazed hard at the paper in front of, knowing his sister was about to finish, he hissed and gritted his teeth, then started writing as fast as possible, not taking him a minute before he was finished, "done, i'll be in my room."

He tossed the paper closer to his father and got up, making his way upstairs.

Gaz seemed to stare the way her brother went, she frowned but continued to write, not taking her much longer, she also tossed the paper and got up, opening her game and started yelling at it.

The professor looked at the paper, he hummed as he studied it, "both a full mark..." he murmured before turning off the camera.

"Aliens are real..." Zim murmured, feeling slightly sad at how the lab man seemed to treat his children.

And another...:

Membrane sat down, frowning, he heavily sighed, "mom died today..." he started, "we are planning her funeral..." he got off his goggles and slid them on top of his head, "i don't get it, why Dib keeps-... talking about these paranormal nonsenses..." he huffed, "he was supposed to like science, just like me..."

The camera starts to shake in his hands, "i'll wait till he grows out of it,"

He sighed again.

Then turned off the camera.

The screen stopped playing any further videos, it came to an end, this was the last recorded video.

Zim stared blankly at the screen, speechless, not really knowing what he just saw, he hugged himself and the towel tighter, he leaned back in the chair,

Cloning?

He thought only irkens clones...

Did Dib know about this?

Should he tell him?

He was lost in his thoughts as sleep invaded his sight, he gave in to it, too tired, too shocked maybe...

What should he do?

He can't just tell the human, right?

They were too emotional.

Maybe he shouldn't.

Yes. He'll pretend he saw nothing, and they'll keep working on getting him out.

He can't tell Dib.


END OF CHAPTER FOURTEEN!

Alien freak: i had to credit my friend Mary with this story, she's the one who wrote this chapter, i liked the idea. I was planning on making Dib be the one to discover this, but Mary's idea was better!

Thank you!

This was alien freak, signing off.