Regret

Dib paced along the halls of the labs with his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. He glanced over at the many rows of abandoned machinery lining the walls. Each piece of equipment was stowed away carefully, tucked under ghostly sheets to prevent the ever persistent dust from collecting on their delicate circuits.

Why bother covering them at all? he wondered, venturing down the passageways curiously. Their technology was far too outdated to be of any use, and they would likely be ignored until it came time to clear up space.

He kept his head down and passed by the night crew as his ID card dangled loosely around his neck. They ignored him as they went about their nightly routine, emptying trash cans and changing out supply boxes without so much as a word. They continued on with their work, whistling impassively while scrubbing windows and polishing the floors until they reflected back with a lustrous shine. Not one of them seemed to care what a lone twelve-year old was doing wondering around late at night.

Dib wasn't entirely sure what had compelled him to visit his father's labs either. Not at this hour. Normally, he would be sitting at home, researching some new paranormal conspiracy or toggling with the complex controls on Tak's ship. But thanks to Zim, he no longer had a ship. And as far as conspiracy theories went, he couldn't concentrate enough to make it through a single article.

He stopped pacing at the end of the hallway and stared up at the heavily barricaded door in front of him. It was large and metallic, almost like the entrance to a safe hidden beneath a bank. He realized he had reached the end of the walkway, and stumbled upon the very location Zim was being held captive.

He stared at the door like a clueless game show contestant, hesitant to see what was on the other side. It should have been straightforward. All he had to do was side his ID card through the security slot and step though the barrier to confront his arch nemesis. He wanted to ask him all the burning questions that had been swimming around in his mind over the past few weeks, but he remained where he was. Stationary. Like a doormat.

In the midst of all the chaos, Zim had been eventually transferred to his father's labs. The Eyeball needed the additional security, and they were getting far too much attention from the media with the autopsy on everybody's mind. The organization quickly decided it would need the help of an actual scientist to do a proper job, and Professor Membrane had been more than eager to take on the task. It wasn't too surprising given that the shocking discovery had practically shattered all certainty of his scientific knowledge, but along with his help came a major drawback.

Unlike the eyeball, the Professor wasn't as eager to slice the Irken open the first chance he got. Being a man of science, he insisted on following proper protocol and learning as much about the creature as possible before any invasive work could be done. Consequentially, the autopsy had been set back several weeks, and Dib had been given plenty of time to reflect on the growing controversy swirling about in his mind.

He had thought about much how his life had changed since Zim's capture and how quickly it had all progressed. Finally free to do all the things he wanted, he attempted to go about his old hobbies, chasing ghosts and exploring haunted houses without the stress of trying to prove aliens were real. It was refreshing at first, but soon the media caught wind of his extravagant adventures and followed him around. He was more than thrilled to give them a tour of any haunted house he was examining, but when he always turned up empty handed, they simply lost interest and refocused their work back on the alien.

News of Zim's reveal spread like wildfire, and soon it had consumed the globe and every major news station in every major city. Absolutely besotted with his own act of heroism, Dib had made a point to include his name in every interview as well as his self-proclaimed job title, but the response was overwhelming. People wanted to talk to him, and every reporter wanted to ask him questions about the alien. He couldn't go anywhere without someone interrupting him or stopping him on the street for a picture or an autograph. They sometimes dressed like him, mimicking his hair style and coat length in the hopes that they could question him about his discovery. It was flattering at first, but eventually he found it annoying. And not long after that, just plain creepy.

Unfortunately, the reality of being famous eventually reared its ugly head. It wasn't necessarily him or Zim they were interested in, but boosting their own status and excitement. The news reporters were always desperate for any new juicy story they could get their hands on, and the public mostly wanted pictures to show off to their friends. Anytime he would start talking about actual research, the reporters would simply interrupt him and ask about something far more idiotic, such as whether the alien could read minds or do insane things like spit acid. He had insisted that Zim was, for lack of a better term, a normal alien, but they only ignored him and went on to make up whatever headline suited them best.

At school, things fared no better. The other students took a sudden, impetuous liking to him and he become the immediate center of attention. The popular kids went out of their way to stop him in the halls, draping arms over his shoulder like they were the best of friends. They invited him to sit with them at lunch and even fought over picking him for PE and other class assignments. He declined the offers of course, knowing it was all because of the fame, but that didn't stop them from trying. He found it depressing that the actual message he had tried to get across had totally gone unheeded, and not one of them seemed the least bit interested in what had become of their former classmate with an apparent 'skin condition'.

Taking in a deep breath, Dib decided it was best to stow his insecurities and enter the daunting chamber. He held up his ID card to the scanner and the security system unlocked the bolts. Once the opening was clear, he stepped through, but stopped shortly just after the door hissed shut behind him.

He gazed around the room and immediately noticed the large, dimly lit prism in the center. It looked like a high-tech glass container, similar to the one Gaz had been put in when she had been cursed by the hog demon. But this one was far more sophisticated than that one, and contained a real live alien.

The chill of the air penetrated his lungs as he approached. He heard a low voice greet him from the other side.

"So you've finally come to announce your victory."

Dib approached the edge of the glass and stopped as his rapid breathing caught the barrier as he exhaled.

"I just wanted to ask some questions," he stated, trying to come up with some sort of excuse for being there.

The Irken's piercing red eyes glared into him from afar. "You and half your wretched population," he answered hoarsely.

Dib watched as he got up from where he was sitting and made his way over to the glass.

"Suitable a detestable human like you would take the time to gloat," he spat, finally stepping into the light.

Dib was surprised at how raw the alien's voice sounded, almost like he had been screaming for hours. And his uniform was tattered and worn, like he had fought uncooperatively every step of the way.

What has the Eyeball done to him? he wondered, his stomach suddenly churning at the idea. Had they tried to question him without a scientist? What had they done when he refused to answer?

He dismissed the questions, not liking the images that followed.

Shifting his focus back to the topic at hand, he tried to continue the conversation. "The autopsy is tomorrow," he stated, trying to hide the discomfort in his voice. "Anything you wished to say before they get started?"

Zim's face wrinkled in disgust. "You talk like you have no part to play in this human," he snarled, shooting Dib a nasty glare. "Might I remind you that YOU'RE the reason I'm locked up in here?"

"No Zim," said Dib crossing his arms over his chest. "The reason you're in there is because you tried to take over Earth, remember?"

"You keep telling yourself that Earth-stink," Zim replied darkly, "But you know as well as I do that those were no longer my intentions."

"Well, whatever your intentions were Zim, there's no way I'm falling for any of your tricks again," said Dib rolling his eyes. "You would never just give up on your plans so easily. I've seen you bounce back countless times before."

Zim's expression narrowed. "How many times do I have to get it through your massively gargantuan head, Dib-human?" What I speak is the truth!" He through his arms out in frustration. "I wish to conquer your miserable little planet NO LONGER! Why is that so hard for your kind to believe?!""

Dib rolled his eyes in contempt. "Uh huh. Sure Zim. And my sister is going to give up video games and join the Peace Corps. Come on."

Fuming, the Irken stared at the human vexingly. "Fine. I didn't want to have to do this, but it seems I have no choice."

Dib watched and prepared for the unexpected as the Irken reached into his pocket and pulled out a miniature flash drive. He tossed it toward the boy.

"What's this?" Dib asked, kneeling down to study it from the other side of the glass.

Zim glared at him. "It's a partially segmented copy of my memory drive," he explained, trying his best to keep his voice under control. "At one point, I wished to remove those accursed memories of Tak from my mind, but my PAK deemed it too compelling to do so. If you DO manage to make your way through my base's defenses, you should be able to decode them and see for yourself."

Dib eyed the device skeptically. "You think handing me some sort of stupid memory drive is going to get me to change my mind? You must be dumber than I thought. I bet it contains some sort of brain scan to wipe my memory or virus to corrode your base doesn't it? How did you hold onto it all this time anyway?"

Zim scoffed at the human. "I no longer care what happens to you OR my base, filth-stink. Do with it what you will."

He turned around stiffly and shifted his glance off to the side. "The Empire's already abandoned me, and I have resided myself to my gruesome fate. Why should I care if a bunch of sniveling little Earth monkeys get their filthy hands on it?"

Dib's eyes widened at the new bit of information. Abandoned? That was a word he hadn't expected to hear. And what was with the tone? The Irken sounded almost depressed.

Knowing better than to be reeled back into conversation, the boy hardened his stare. "No way Zim," he replied, snapping his eyes back up. "There's no way it could be that simple. You'd never let me win that easily."

The Irken turned around and looked at him tiredly. "You sound disappointed Dib-stink."

Dib frowned and grit his teeth in response. "I'm not disappointed! It's just-"

He paused, not entirely sure what it was he was trying to say.

"I want to know why you stopped trying Zim!" he added, hoping to finally get some answers from him. "Why did you just give up on your mission so easily? Huh?! Was it because of Tak?"

Zim paused. "Tak?"

He turned his head away, his expression twisting into a sad, ironic smile.

"My mission was a farce from the start Dib. The Tallest sent me here never expecting to conquer Earth. They intended for me to die on this horrible, filthy planet and Tak was only sent here to finish the job. There was never any mission to begin with."

"Then why steal my ship?" Dib asked, still hungry for answers. "Why did Tak need it so bad if she could have just taken yours?"

"I gave Tak her own ship so she could return to Irk. She refused to make the journey in mine, so I returned her own."

Dib paused before crossing his arms again. "Uh huh. Sure Zim. I could see you wanting to steal Tak's ship to try and impress her, but to just give it back? That's just stu-"

"WHY I did it is none of your business you FILTHY, WRETCHED EARTH WEASEL!"

Zim calmed himself and shot back defensively. "Not that I would expect a lowly human like you to understand, Dib. You couldn't even master the machinery when it landed in your own backyard!"

Dib crossed his arms in response. "See. There you go again," he muttered, calming his tone. "Always going on how much better you are than us humans."

He stepped forward, trusting a thumb into his chest. "Well guess what Zim? This lowly human is the reason you're sitting in that cage right now. And you know that little device you picked up back in the park? I built that. All on my own."

Zim glared at him angrily. "So are you expecting praise from me as well human?" he asked facetiously.

Dib's expression hardened. He knew the comment was meant to be an insult, but he chose to ignore it.

"Why can't you just admit it Zim?!" he shouted, stepping forward. "Why can't you just admit that I won fair and square!"

"The method of how you went about capturing me was never in question Dib-stink," Zim replied stiffly, turning his head away.

Dib squeezed his fists. "Then why can't you just say it?!"

Zim held his tongue and glared back at the boy curiously. "What is the real reason you've come here Dib-worm?" he asked calmly. "It couldn't be just to argue with Zim."

A little thrown off by the question, Dib paused to think it over. Why HAD he come? It certainly wasn't to argue all night. And it seemed as his feet had led him here all on their own.

He searched his brain hoping to drum up a feasible answer, but when nothing came to mind, he decided to change the subject.

"When you said the Empire's abandoned you," he asked, hoping to keep the Irken's anger under control, "what did you mean by that?"

Zim was about to question why the human had diverted back to the topic, but instead, he let out a heavy sigh.

"The Armada will never come Dib," he answered halfheartedly. "The Tallest banished me here and threatened to kill me if I ever returned. I have nowhere else to go."

Dib stared at him cold. Don't buy into it. Don't believe it. He's just trying to trick you. He's just trying to get out of trouble like he always does.

"Then why help me with my inventions?" he questioned, hoping to get some answers. "Why bother improving them instead of sabotaging them like you normally would?"

Zim straightened up. "By aiding you, I thought I could gain your trust and utilize your labs to take over Earth," he explained, "but it wasn't until the problems arose with Tak that I realized my efforts were in vain."

He paused a moment, knowing what he said next would probably seal his fate.

"I planned to offer your planet to my Tallest as a bargaining chip in exchange for my reinstatement as an invader, but I was a fool. My leaders want nothing to do with me OR this miserable planet. Even if I did take it over, they would probably just leave it to rot."

Dib stared at him in disbelief, contemplating the information. Could it really be true? Could Zim's leaders really have abandoned him? And what was that bit about Tak? What had SHE done that was so bad?

He attempted to process the information given to him, but no matter how much many times he wrapped his head around it, it just didn't make any sense. Zim was an invader, sent here by his leaders to learn the planet's weaknesses and take it over for the Irken Empire. There was no way they would just let one of their own soldiers go unaccounted for.

"Wow..." he muttered, letting out a long drawn out pause. "You'll say just about anything to get of here won't you?"

Zim shot him a confined look. "I no longer wish to discuss this further human. Take from it what you will." Feeling exhausted, he went back to rest in his original spot, far away on the other side of the prism.

Dib watched as the Irken rested his back against the wall, the next few words causing a disturbing feeling to slither down his spine.

"I just hope that Tak will be alright," said Zim, laying his head against the glass. "I suppose I was never worthy of her in the first place."

The Irken's voice trailed off with a hint of sadness and Dib caught himself squirming with uncomfortable sensations rising in his gut. He was disgusted that the Irken would resort to such trickery, sinking so low as to come up with such a pathetic sob story.

Did Zim really think his arch nemesis would be stupid enough to let him go free? Well, he was determined to prove him wrong.

Dib tempestuously scanned his ID card and retrieved the data drive through the teleportation chamber. He pocketed the device and stormed out without another word.


It was late by the time he made it back to Zim's base. He ventured under cover of the night, avoiding any fans or paparazzi that may seek him out as he made his way down the all too familiar neighborhood. Normally the eerie green house would be swamped with picket lines and cop cars by now. They usually kept the yard lined with armed guards to ward off alien rights activists and other crazy nut jobs, but due the complaints from neighbors not being able to sleep at night and the general declining lack of interest in the situation altogether, the city decided it was best to redistribute its resources and move its officers elsewhere.

Dib shook his head at the idiocy. Because of the cutbacks, the street went unguarded at exactly the same time every night. 8:30 PM. If someone really wanted to break in, they could just do so after hours.

Why even bother having the cops show up at all? he wondered, pacing down the familiar houses.

Not that it mattered much anyway. Most of the bases defenses were still online and even Gir managed to scare a few off a few onlookers with his incontrollable level of insanity.

He reached the front door and turned the knob, knowing it would be unlocked. The security systems were still in place, but he computer no longer recognized him as a threat. And thanks to the countless spy bugs installed around the base, he could walk in anytime he pleased.

He opened the door cautiously and was less than surprised to see Zim's crazy robot lounging about on the couch. As usual, it was buried knee deep in chips and nacho cheese and fully intrigued with whatever insane TV show it was watching on TV.

"HI MARY!" Gir shrieked in excitement, the cheese dripping down his tiny, claw-like hand. He waved at Dib in the air.

"YOU HERE TO WATCH THE SCARY MONKEY SHOW WITH ME?!"

Dib winced and glanced around the room. "Uh...not exactly." He sensed the smell of rotting cheese coming from somewhere off in the distance. "Listen, is there any chance you could show me where to decode this?" he asked, holding up the formulated memory drive.

Hopping down from the couch, Gir scampered over to the device. "Ooooo," he cooed, eyeing it like it a piece of candy. To Dib's surprise, he suddenly snatched it directly out of his hand.

"Hey!"

Dib took chase as Gir sprinted off with the device. The little robot dashed over to the trash can built into the side of the kitchen and the lid lifted up automatically as he dove in. Dib followed after.

Feeling his stomach drop, he fell head-first into the passageway. Yelling the entire way down, he struggled to stay upright and tumbled head over foot over down the long passageway. He thought he was going to fall forever, but eventually his body decelerated and he flipped over to land feet-first into the center of a small, circular chamber.

He grunted as he flopped down promptly on the soft cushioned seat. Gir followed shortly after, crashing down next to him with a thud.

The little robot stood up giggling.

Dib glanced around the ovular room, awed by the spectacle of gadgets. It seemed to be some kind of spherical viewing chamber, one where the various monitors were set up around for observation. He took in the display, trying to figure out why the robot had led him here. At the center of the room was an interface, conveniently placed in arms reach. He looked down at the foreign apparatus. Using his limited knowledge of Irken tech, he eventually found the connection and managed to get the files up and running.

He sat back as Zim's memories began to replay in front of him.

"I love this show," Gir chimed in mindlessly.

Dib ignored him and continued to watch the footage. There were moments where he and Zim were fighting, and others when Zim and Tak were arguing. There were struggles with Gir that led to many failed experiments, and moments of joy the Irken experienced when he was having fun. He tried tweaking with them to get more detail, but files were heavily jumbled, and some even seemed to have parts missing with fragmented information.

He must have had difficulty removing which ones he wanted, Dib concluded, trifling through the databanks.

He continued to study the images as they mirrored off his glasses, each one dispensing a goldmine of information. The most intriguing were the ones based around Zim's homeworld and other glances of the Irken race. They were limited, but with the ability to pause and slow down the footage, he examined each one carefully, taking note of the intimate details.

One memory in particular stood out more than the rest. It was Zim on his home planet, and he seemed to be in a giant death robot having the time of his life. He was destroying everything in his path, paying little mind to the civilians that ran scared for their lives as the missiles and lasers descended upon them.

Dib paused the playback and restarted it to get a better look.

"But Sir! We're...still on our own planet!"

"Silence! Twist those knobs! Twist those knobs! And you! Pull some levers! Pull some levers!"

His underlings seemed particularly disturbed with their orders, but they continued doing as they were told. The rampage rolled on until everything around them was nothing more than dust and echoes.

Moving on, Dib fast forwarded to a more recent entry that showed Zim's leaders standing behind him, and above them was a large, glowing alien mass of talking machinery. The Irken was being lifted by what appeared to be a set of attached wires. They fed into his PAK and glowed a strange color as the screen in front of him changed from INVADER to FOODCOURTIA.

Dib's eyes widened. "So he was banished for destroying his home world?" he muttered, trying to make sense of the imagery. "Geez, and here I thought he was stupid."

He fast forwarded to the point of the Great Assigning and watched as Zim escaped his fate simply by walking out the back door. Dib observed how he interrupted the ceremony, demanded his own mission, and was cast off into the far reaches of the galaxy. He skipped through the scattered bits of their countless battles together and after a few more hours, eventually got to where the Tallest finally admitted their hatred of the former Invader. He watched intently as they laid into him, tearing him into pieces. And watched again as Zim's anger unraveled while the truth finally sunk in.

It can't be true, Dib thought, a disturbing feeling taking hold of gut. He HAS to be lying.

He saw the time at the science fair and the moment of Tak's arrival for the second time. He saw how she nearly killed him and witnessed how he hesitantly saved her life. Dib watched as their relationship slowly progressed, changing from pure hatred to growing admiration. He saw the great lengths Zim went to care for her and how she distanced herself after telling him about the smeet. And lastly, he witnessed the moment where he selflessly returned her ship.

Unable to take anymore, Dib switched off the feed and sank back into the soft cushion.

So he was telling the truth this whole time?

He let the information sink in for a moment, not really knowing what to think of it.

He wasn't lying about his leaders abandoning him? They really DID want him dead? And he let Tak go because of a smeet. What was a smeet anyway?

Feeling a knot twist inside his stomach, he thought the scenario over.

So he let Tak go to save her life. He actually CARED about her...

It was hard to believe, but seeing the evidence himself, he knew he couldn't deny it. He wondered for a moment if it was possible that Zim had somehow pre-programmed the memories as a trick, a way fool him into feeling sorry for him. But somewhere deep down, he knew they were real. Zim would never allow access to such personal or embarrassing information, even when the Irken had nothing left to lose.

Dib's brow furrowed.

But Zim isn't the type to care about anyone, he thought, trying to convince himself otherwise. I saw it first hand! He destroyed his home planet and everything he ever put his hands on. He would have destroyed Earth if I hadn't stopped him.

"But he is so bad at it," Gaz's words echoed in his mind.

It was true. Despite Zim's attempts at world domination, he WAS bad at it. There were only a handful of moments where he might have actually succeeded, and even those had always managed to backfire in the end. Most of the time Dib had simply been able to step out of the way and the Irken had failed completely on his own.

Could it really be true? he wondered, still fighting the sickening feeling in his stomach. Could Zim's whole reason for Earth be nothing more than a sham? A joke? A lie?

Not having the mental fortitude to wrestle with it further, he ejected the disk drive and stood up.

Maybe a good night's sleep would help him clear his mind.


The next morning

Dib sat up on his bed, head propped up on his knees. He hadn't slept a wink since the previous night and was still struggling with the plethora of information he had gathered the night before.

'My mission might not be as exciting without you around to annoy me, but it will be more...pleasant.'

Still trying to process the data, he tried to fight off the nagging feeling eating away at him. It all just seemed so surreal. If it really was true, then Zim truly had nowhere else to go. He was stuck here on Earth and would be forced to live out the rest of his days on a planet he claimed to hate. Even if he did take over the world, it wouldn't do him any good. His leaders had already abandoned him and didn't seem to notice or care if he succeeded.

The young paranormal investigator felt his face collapse into a frown and stared vehemently into the freshly vacuumed carpet below. The autopsy was scheduled for that afternoon, and he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. He had always assumed he would be ecstatic for this day. It was something he used to fantasize about, envisioning the endless praise and recognition from his peers while his enemy's body was mercilessly torn to shreds. But despite his success, the enthusiasm just wasn't there, and he just didn't feel right about the whole thing in general.

He sat on his bed as images of their countless battles began to fill his mind.

'You shouldn't interfere with a superior force Dib! You'd have been better off just staying on your planet and getting squished just like everybody else!'

'Well you shouldn't have bothered coming to Earth! Because I'll stop you at every turn.'

...

'We don't have time for this Dib. Your world might be in very great danger.'

'Well, yeah... You're trying to destroy the human race. Remember?'

'Hehe. Oh, yes. But this is different. It's something else entirely.'

He groaned and massaged the side of his temple. He tried to tell himself that he wouldn't miss it, that he could do without all the blood-pumping adrenaline running through his veins while stopping the Irken at another ill-fated attempt at taking over the world. But he knew it was a lie. He had grown to live for Zim's adventures, and killing him off just seemed so lack luster in the end.

'You're nothing Earth boy! Go home and shave your giant head of smell with your bad self!'

'Okay...There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.'

...

'Behold! The doom cannon!'

'I can't. It's invisible.'

'But you can see me?'

'That's what I said.'

'Oh that's stupid!'

'Reeeally stupid.'

'You dare agree with me! Prepare to face your horrible doom!'

"Why do I feel like this?" he muttered, digging his palms into the soft fabric of the covers. It was strange, but for all the hatred he felt toward Zim, there was a hint of remorse that he just couldn't shake. This would be the final nail in the coffin, the last time he would ever get a chance to rub his success in his enemy's face. He wondered if he would be okay with it, going back to his old life and closing the chapter on the 'aliens are real' scenario once and for all.

He fought the sickening feeling in his stomach.

No! This is Zim we're talking about. He's the enemy! The one who would have enslaved all of us! He wanted to make us bow down to his stupid evil. Without me, the Earth would have been doomed. I did what I had to.

He continued to fight the battle with himself until he heard the faint clattering of kick-knacks trailing down the hall. He lifted his head just in time to see his father appear in the doorway.

"Something wrong son?" the professor asked, carrying a box full of old household decorations.

Dib hung his head in defeat. "I don't get it Dad. I just don't get it. I caught Zim fair and square and saved the world. I proved to everyone I'm not crazy and got everything I ever wanted. I should be happy right?"

Saying nothing, the Professor set down his collection of items and took a seat next to the boy. Dib felt the weight of the bed shift as his dad sat down next to him.

"Are you saying that you are not satisfied with your discovery son?" the professor asked, somewhat curiously.

Dib shook his head. "No, I AM happy. It's just..." Unable to come up with an answer, he grunted in frustration. "I thought this whole thing would change everything, you know? I wanted people to see the truth, for them to realize that all the things I have been saying were actually right. I never thought they would get bored with a real alien so quickly. It's as if they don't even care!"

The professor looked up at the ceiling before answering. "Yes, I suppose that is an unfortunate circumstance," he responded, stroking the base of his collar. He turned back to his son. "But are you sure that's the only thing bothering you son?"

Dib paused and looked up at his father. "What do you mean?"

The professor stood up. "What I mean is, did you make this discovery for yourself, or for the good of the public?"

Dib dropped his head back down, already knowing the answer. "Myself...I guess. But I don't see why that's such a bad thing."

The Professor chuckled and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Son, do you know why I work so hard to come up with new technologies every day?"

Dib glanced up at him sarcastically. "So you can sell them to pay for the house?"

Dr. Membrane ignored him. "It's because I feel I have a responsibility to make this world a better place. Not just for you, but for your sister and for all mankind. Don't you think it would be a bit silly for me to apply my talents to say something like...I don't know...proving that ghosts were real?"

Dib turned to look up at his father. "But you would never have taken me seriously if it weren't for Zim! Because of him, people are now more open minded to the paranormal! They are seeing things that only I've seen and instead of writing me off as crazy, they are actually paying attention!"

"But studying the paranormal ISN'T very scientific son," the professor toted, holding up a finger in response.

Dib grunted in frustration. "How can you say that Dad? After being shown a real live alien? How can you claim to be a man of science when real proof was right in front of your eyes?"

Membrane brought a finger to his chin. "Yes, I have to admit that even for me, that one was a bit of a shock." He knelt back down to place a hand back on Dib's shoulder. "But you have to understand son, just because one of your outlandish theories was proven true doesn't mean the rest of them will be. That is the way of the scientific method after all."

Disappointed, Dib shook his father's arm off him. "Gee...thanks Dad," he muttered bitterly.

There was a brief pause before the professor looked back at his son. "This isn't just about the fame is it?" he asked, wisely. "What is it that is really bothering you?"

Dib sighed and figured he should just go ahead and get everything out. "I thought that exposing Zim would fix everything, that it would make people see that I'm not crazy." He stopped and looked down at the floor. "But I guess I was wrong. Now I just feel like I've made a horrible mistake. Like I've...messed things up somehow. Haven't you ever felt this way Dad?"

There was a brief pause and the professor smiled with a deep understanding. "You're worried about you're little green friend aren't you?" he asked reassuringly.

Dib's eyes went wide. He stared up at his father in disbelief. "Friend? FRIEND?! Haven't you been listening Dad?! Zim is the enemy! He was sent here to destroy Earth and enslave all of humanity! How can you be so calm about all this?"

Membrane stood up and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Listen son, I think it's marvelous that you've finally opened the world's eyes to the reality of life on other planets, but as with anything in science, possibilities are limited if you don't consider the moral and ethical dilemmas."

"Moral and etherical dilemmas?" Dib asked, giving him a confused look.

The professor nodded. "You still have a few more hours to think about it, but for now, why don't you get some rest." He patted Dib on the head and turned to exit the room. "You've got a big day tomorrow! I know you'll do me proud!"

Dib watched him go, not really sure what he meant, but deciding he was too tired to think it over, he climbed into bed. He slid under the silky covers and was barely able to hit the pillow before the world around him crashed into oblivion.


Meanwhile, back on Irk

Tak's eyelids fluttered open at the sounds of collective movement. She stirred awake, fighting off the lingering grogginess that filled her vision. Instinct taking over, she pushed her body up, casually groaning at the searing pain radiating from her freshly cut midsection. Grabbing the area, she fought the nauseating sensation as she hunched over in pain.

She felt like she was going to vomit. Just like the time back in Zim's base, she had likely been given a heavy dose of pain killers to keep her from feeling anything during the surgery, but now they were starting to wear off. She supposed she should be grateful, given the amount of insurmountable torture she could have received, but still, it did leave the nasty side effects to deal with.

One of the medical staff noticed her moving and immediately rushed over.

"No, no, no," she chanted as she ushered Tak back down on the gurney. "It is far too soon for you to get out of bed miss. You must not move until we complete the necessary calibrations."

"What about the smeet?" Tak asked, muttering through the groan that escaped her as she proceeded to defy the nurses instructions. "What happened to the smeet?"

The nurse gently nudged her back down. "She's has been taken to the incubation chamber for now," she explained, disconnecting the proper tubes and mechanics that hooked her patient up to the monitor. "You will get the opportunity to see her once you are cleared."

Tak's antennae perked up. "Wait a minute. Her?" she asked curiously.

The nurse smiled. "That's right. The smeet is a female. Most natural borns tend to be."

Tak settled back down as the nurse continued about her work. She stared up at the ceiling in a daze.

A female? Like me?

She let her imagination run wild at all the possibilities of various outcomes.

What would she be like? Would she be smart and cunning, or loud and chaotic? Will she take after me? Or be more like Zim...?

She allowed the nurse to examine her body while her mind sorted through more possibilities.

What am I supposed to do now that she's born? Will I be required to care for her? What will happen if I'm sentenced to prison? Will they ever let me see her?

The nurse finished up her routine and scribbled down something onto the data pad. "There," said said happily, taking a step back. "You are free to move around on your own, but you may find you are a still a bit dizzy, so be mindful to avoid agitating your stitches."

Tak nodded and then pushed herself back up slowly. She swung her legs over the side, letting them dangle a minute before pressing them against the cold surface of the floor. Taking it slow, she allowed her mind to recalibrate with her motor functions. She was about to ask the nurse where she was to report to next when she noticed a pair of soldiers standing guard nearby.

Of course, she thought, rolling her eyes. As if they would let me to take two steps without being under their control.

Without resisting, she complied as they forcefully shoved her hands in another pair of lasered cuffs. Knowing there was no use arguing, she let out a grunt as they nudged her forward. She was far too weak to physically fight back, and even if she were at full strength, the facility they were in was littered with heightened security. It was impossible to escape.

They led her back to the chamber where the smeets were held with the control brain and dumped her off in the center of the room. She pushed herself up, her hands still cuffed, and looked back at them as they strode out.

"Ah, so I see you've returned my dear," the control brain spoke out as it lowered down.

Tak forced her body to kneel in respect.

"I was told I could see my smeet before I was transferred," she answered, biting through the pain that screamed within her.

The brain glowed a warm pink hue. "Certainly."

It illuminated one of the fluid chambers in the wall.

"She is very healthy. See for yourself."

Tak hurried over to the chamber and pressed her bound hands against the wall. There was a tiny, fleshy bundle floating inside, smaller than anything she had ever seen in her life. It looked a lot like Zim, but with a few of her own features mixed in.

How could something so small make me feel so weak and helpless, she wondered, fighting back her emotions. There was a small part of her that wanted to stay in that moment forever, standing there in awe as she gazed down at the miracle of life before her. But she knew it wouldn't last forever, and soon she would have to say goodbye.

"She's a lot like you you know," interjected the control brain, sensing her thoughts. "Intelligent, headstrong, and a bit stubborn if I dare say."

Tak stared at the smeet, fighting the lump in her throat.

"You forgot beautiful," she added, mesmerized by the small ball of flesh before her. It stirred, but only slightly and its fuchsia eyes opened briefly to take a quick look at the world before slowly closing again.

She placed a hand over the chamber, feeling the steady pulse of life beat gently against her palm.

"She's destined for a great life," she muttered, chocking back her tears. "As long as I don't mess it up for her."

"What do you mean by that my dear?" asked the control brain.

Tak lowered her head in shame. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier, about leaving my profile behind in the database." She turned away and looked back at the smeet. "I'm not sure it would be best if she knew who her donors were."

The control brain remained silent, processing the statement. "You certainly seemed eager to find out who yours were when you got here," it said curiously. "Are you sure you are willing to bestow the same fate upon her?"

Tak looked back at the smeet, and a sad expression filled her face. "She will hate me for it. Probably forever. But her life will be hard enough as it is." She raised a hand and stared at the embryo sympathetically. "She doesn't need me making it any worse."

Responding to the request, the control brain lowered a panel that came to rest within arm's reach. "Very well. If you are ready to make that decision, then I will allow you to enter your declination."

Tak stared at the panel in grief, deciding if it was what she really wanted. She promised she wouldn't abandon the smeet, but the alternative was just too risky. If anyone, especially the Tallest, found out it was related to Zim, they might try to have her killed. And as far as her own disgraceful title went, she couldn't bear the thought of her own offspring knowing what a failure she was.

She hovered her claw over the declination before pressing it to confirm. She waited a moment, running through any possible scenario that would convincingly talk her out of it. When she eventually clicked it, she heard a beep, and the information began digitally wiping itself from the database.

"It is done," the control brain announced, bringing the panel back up through the hole in the ceiling.

Tak watched as it was swallowed up out of sight. "Will I ever get to see her again?" she asked, foolishly already knowing the answer.

The control brain glowed a sad hue. "It is not likely considering you have chosen to erase your personal information, but I suppose it IS possible. If she ever manages to track you down."

Tak looked back at the smeet before another sad frown enveloped her face. She placed her hand on the chamber to feel its heart beat one last time. The steady pulse beat against her own softly, and it only lasted a minute or two before she was dragged off to her next destination.


Author's note: Wow, this chapter turned out a lot better than I anticipated! I really felt like I got the emotions across without making it feel too rushed. And it has officially become my new years resolution to finish this saga of a story, so I won't be giving up on it anytime soon.

I should mention that I was listening to a radio station the other day and the song "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty came on the rewind list. I couldn't help but recall what a perfect song it was for Dib and how it came out around the same time as the show. So of course I had to listen to it while writing this chapter. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend giving it a listen. You won't be disappointed.

Till next time!