Dlbn: Hey, everyone! Welcome to another chapter! Word is being a pain today, so it's a miracle this is working enough to post.
Nbld: To write the beginning portion and post, anyway. The rest is already written, as I think we said before. Over 400 pages in Word so far. Prepare your bladders for imminent release, and hold on for the ride.
Dlbn: This is my last chapter at my current age, since tomorrow is my 27th birthday. 27 on the 27th. Heh. Funny.
Nbld: No, it's not. Weirdo. Review corner! Thank you to Zim'sMostLoyalServant and Invader Johnny for chapter three reviews, and Kelsey Raine for reviewing chapter two. Birthday cake for you all!
Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Thanks! Only one other sibling will appear since the other Halen sibling is just a baby (well, she's four, but they call her a baby because she's youngest and there's so many years between her and Lahna) There's going to be a bit of hilarity with them not telling one another the truth about his mission. Or, at least, I hope its hilarity. It was ot me and a friend that was semi-beta reading this. Thank you, more to come!
Invader Johnny: He really does. You know, what with canon Zim killing two Tallest and being hated by everyone and all. Here just…just because he was a jerk as a kid. But that's Zim, ego and all.
Kelsey Raine: I probably would too, honestly. The siblings' computers are two of my favorite things to write for XD
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and a ton of OCs. Currently the only ones appearing are Lahna and Gram (Todd/Squee doesn't count since he's ripped out of Jhonen's JTHM comic). Everyone canon belongs to Jhonen C Vasquez. I make NO money off this work of fiction.
Dedication: Since there's a lot of the theme of this fic focused on family and friendship, I dedicate this chapter to my cousin Bri, who's birthday was the twenty-second. I didn't get to see her, but her dad told her happy birthday for me, so it counts, I think.
000
Lahna twirled around in front of a large mirror in her ship as she tried on a holographic version of a dress she'd wanted to buy online with her monies. It was black, grey, and white plaid with barely visible red stitching in it and black leather chains attached to metal rings. She wore a pair of knee-length, fur lined boots over black stockings with bejeweled skulls on them.
"So cute!" She laughed. "I love it. Computer, make the purchase!"
"Lahna, you've bought seven outfits-including two dresses-a cell phone, a laptop, some jewelry, batteries, and liquor. Shouldn't you use your monies to buy food instead of more clothing?" Computer wondered.
"Last outfit, I promise. How many monies?"
"80."
"Sounds good. Ring it up!" Lahna clapped her hands and giggled. "Oh! I'm going to need makeup, too. Can you pull up a selection of black, grays, and navy blues?"
"Lahna, you should really buy food. You only have 4,920 monies left."
"That's plenty of monies for food each month." Lahna waved her hand. "Besides, I'm going to get a job here so I can buy Earth things! I'll have plenty of money for food and clothing and anything else I want." She giggled. "Oh, I've never had this many monies in my life!"
The computer sighed and pulled up the makeup selection Lahna had requested. The hyperactive teen picked several different forms of makeup out and made her purchase.
"Okay. Now that we have all that covered, let's move onto food." Lahna smiled. "Computer, bring me up a list from Cadence Grocery Store from Seoul. That's where mom and dad…er Bene and Victor…did shopping back home, so I know that place best."
"You shouldn't refer to your parents by their first names, Lahna. It's very disrespectful."
"So is taking an innocent statement from your teenage daughter and turning it into something more, and then ditching her at the military base to be tried for treason and raped to 'tame her' and not caring whether or not the government decides to kill her after a trial with no basis other than your word against hers and no witnesses, when you know that your name has so much bearing it will ensure you are the victor. And, mind you, all because you hate your son so much and you think that your daughter is becoming another him and you can't handle it because you're control freaks who crave obedience and respect and lose control of yourselves when you don't get it." Her voice got darker in tone with every word she spoke. "Don't talk to me about respect…I could never respect them after what they did to my brother…after what they did to me!" Lahna wiped away the tears. "He was only sixteen…he was my age…and they kicked him out on the streets because they'd rather get rid of him then try to connect with him…and now…they've done the same to me." She sunk to the floor to her knees. "It's not fair." She pounded her fist against the floor in despair, leaning forward so her forehead was touching the floor. "Not fair!" She beat her hand against the floor once more.
Silence reigned in the room. A robotic arm came from the ceiling and wrapped around her shoulders in an awkward embrace.
"I'm sorry, Lahna…" Computer spoke softly. "I didn't know…"
"No one knows…" She sniffled. "No one outside of the family and our friends and the gang my brother was in know about it…"
"Gang?"
"Yeah, my brother was in this gang back home; Riot." Lahna sat up and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "They were all so nice, too. Especially Sila, the leader. She let Zim leave the gang when he wanted to, no questions asked, and didn't punish him for leaving. She took me in when my parents kicked me out for a week when I was fourteen. She said, 'as long as you're Junior's sister, you always have a place here with Riot, hear? You don't have to join us, either. For all his faults, your brother is a good man. Don't let no one convince you otherwise, mishame?'." Lahna smiled. "I know she's a dealer and all that stuff, but she's really cool when you get to know her. She treats you like family as long as you don't cross her or join Covert. That's their enemy gang. Though, I admit, their leader, Caleb, is drop dead hunk-a-rific." She giggled. "Oh, Aiyies would flip his lid if he heard me saying that."
"Aiyies?"
"My brother, duh. I call him by his middle name. Well, half of his middle name. It's Aiyies-Victor, but Aiyies means miracle, so I call him that. It's a miracle he's alive with all the shit he's gone through, so it fits." She giggled.
"Does he know you call him that?"
"Yup." She nodded. "He calls me Little Lahna. Only he calls me that."
Computer made a noise of agreement. "Understood, Lahna."
She smiled softly. "We understand one another…Aiyies and me…no one else can."
000
Zim didn't know what to expect from school the following Monday. All he knew was that it was sure to be another Monday; boring and full of people who hated the world and didn't give a damn. As he boarded the city bus, he spotted the only empty seat left and walked over to sit.
"May I?" He asked Gretchen, who was sitting next to the open space.
She blinked up at him. "Oh, hey, Zim. Have a seat." She offered, patting it.
"Thanks, Gretch." Zim sat as the bus began moving.
"Any time."
Neither spoke for a moment.
"Are you ready for the Chem exam?" She wondered.
"I think so." Zim nodded. "What about you?"
"I'm having some issues with bigger equations, but I think I'll be alright. I'm expecting a C out of this, at least."
"I'm sure you'll do well."
"Thanks. What about you? You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. I predict at least a B- out of this one." He nodded. "Though bringing home an A for once would be rather nice…"
"Wouldn't it, though?" Gretchen smiled, showing off her braces before quickly hiding them from view. "My parents expect C's and B's from me. They decided I'll never bring home an A, so they're not going to keep prodding. Some parents, huh?"
"My parents don't expect anything but F's and D's out of me." Zim replied. "Talk about having faith in your kid."
"Oh, I'm sorry…I didn't realize…"
"Don't worry about it." Zim smiled softly.
She gave him a smile back as silence passed between them. "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Well, you know that girl that sits with us sometimes? Dee, I think her name is?"
"Dee Sanders? The freshman? Yeah, I know her. Why?"
"What's the deal with her and Dib?" Gretchen looked down and rung her hands between her knees. "I mean…one minute they act like a couple, the next they want nothing to do with one another…so what is it?"
"Complicated." Zim laughed. "Dib likes her, and she likes him, but neither are ready to commit to a relationship yet."
"Oh…so the feelings are mutual, then…did you tell him?"
"No. That's her problem. I have bigger fish to fry." Zim leaned back in the seat to lounge on the ride.
"Staying out of it? Good idea…"
"Yeah…"
Silence.
"Do you like Dib?"
"Huh?"
Zim turned his head to face her. "You know what I said, Gretch. Don't play innocent."
The violet haired girl blushed crimson. "Would you tell him if I did?"
"I stay out of the romance department, especially where friends are concerned."
"Then yes, I do."
He nodded.
"Do you think I have a chance?"
"I don't want to…"
"I know…just curious…"
"You might, you might not. I don't know. Dib and I don't discuss that stuff. Something he has about dating friends and it ruining social circles if it doesn't work out. Doesn't seem to bother the popular kids, though."
She shrugged. "A different world than ours, Zim."
"You got that right."
If only she knew how different their worlds really were.
000
Lahna shifted from one foot to the other as she stood in a principal's office at the local high school. She had been caught roaming nearby by a hall monitor and they had brought her in for skipping classes. Realizing that she wasn't a student there, and after asking where she went to school and getting 'I just moved here' as a reply, he assimilated her into the school. She waited for him to print out a schedule for her, having put her in the sophomore class due to her age. When it finally printed, he handed it to her.
"Your first class begins in ten minutes. It's third period now, so you are to go to room 116 B. It's on the other side of the building, so I'd get moving." He informed.
"Thanks." She smiled softly. "I'll go quickly."
He nodded and turned around in his chair. Signifying it as her cue to get lost, she left through the office door.
"Bye." The secretary greeted.
"Bye." She agreed, before exiting the room to go find her class.
Thankfully, he had thought enough to include a map with her schedule. It stated 'you are here' in bold letters on one room.
"That's going to be confusing later on…" She muttered.
She turned the map around as she began to walk until it seemed to match up with the hallways.
"New kid?" Someone asked.
She turned to see a girl decked out in all black leaning on a set of metal lockers, playing a video game on a dark purple system. The girl's antennae things were purple as well, and she was squinting one eye shut while another brown one looked at her.
"Y-Yeah, I am."
Even though she had gang ties and considered herself to be a bit of a bad ass, Lahna was slightly disturbed by the young girl.
"What room are you looking for?"
"Room…" She looked to her schedule. "116 B, I think he said. Third period is next, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then that's where I'm going."
"I'm headed there too. I'll guide you…I guess…"
"Thanks…um…I'm Lahna…Lahna…er….Evans."
She didn't feel like giving her real last name to this intimidating girl. She wanted to detach from her family and family name, anyway, and had given the same name to the Principal.
"Gaz Membrane." The girl grunted. "Where are you from?"
"Er…"
"Don't want to say?" She snorted. "I don't blame you."
"Really?"
"Everyone has secrets." The girl shrugged and went back to her game.
"Yeah, that's true." Some bigger than others.
The girl nodded and shut her game off. "Third period, let's go. It's science so pardon in the advance for it sucking."
"Yeah, science isn't my best class…"
Gaz smirked. "Me neither. Ironic for the daughter of a scientist."
"Your parents are scientists?"
"Father is. Professor Membrane. Mom died."
"Oh, I'm sorry…"
"It's fine." Gaz shrugged. "Your story?"
"Dad's a counselor and mom stays at home and does nothing with her life, other than make mine miserable." Lahna replied. "My grandmother's pretty cool, though. She practically raised my brother…"
"Why didn't your parents?"
"Kicked him out."
"Sucks."
"Yeah."
Gaz walked up the hallway and Lahna followed her.
"Why did you move here?"
Lahna shrugged. "Needed to get a smaller house to save money."
"Taxes must be cheaper here than where you're from or something, then. I would think that moving would eat more into your funds then staying in the same place."
What were taxes?
"Yeah, they are."
Gaz nodded. "Any other siblings?"
"Another brother and a baby sister." Lahna replied. "You?"
"Older brother. When do you have lunch?"
"Sixth period?" Lahna stated, looking over her schedule to make sure.
"Then you'll meet him later." Gaz said. "You can sit with us I guess. We have a new kid at our table already anyway."
"Oh you do?"
"Well, three years ago 'new'. Haven't had a new kid until you."
"Oh okay." Lahna nodded. "Um…thanks, by the way…"
Gaz shrugged. "There's a lack of breasts at our table."
Lahna laughed. "Good to know."