A.N. Well, here's another first, writing the second chapter out on notebook paper, and planning to type it when I get back from work. You know, managers don't listen to a damn thing employees say. I ask to work Mondays nights, so what do they give me? Wednesday nights! Anyway, here is chapter 2. Enjoy. -
Disclaimer: Still don't own it. I'm not funny enough… Sigh
Project D.I.B.
Chapter: 02
Zim stalked down the long hallways of the Massive, with a purposeful stride, making his way to the bridge, a scowl on his face. It had been a while since Red had called for him directly, and the last time had not been pleasant.
In the name of Irk, why would I, Zim, attack our own ships when the stink-beasts are there! Zim thought with another scoff. At the moment he hated the earth-beasts more than his deceiving Tallests.
Besides, he had a debt to repay.
For both of us…
Zim's face and expression softened, eyes lightening from their usual ruby color to an almost pale pink, a sorrowful glint to them. It had been a long time since he'd last thought of his other, nearly eighteen years.
It still hurt.
Another soldier bumped into him, and Zim jerked back to reality with a snarl, looking down at the smaller Irken.
"Sorry, commander Zim… I—I didn't notice… I mean I wasn't looking—" the small Irken continued to simper and Zim was again reminded of how tall he'd become over the years of fighting with the human-filth.
He was still far from Red's height, but he now stood a good head taller than his fellow Irkens. His growth had given him the respect he'd always craved, at long last, and Red had confided to him, that his growth must have been due to his loss.
Again, Zim frowned, giving a merciless laugh as he shook his head, patting the small Irken's head has he passed. He remembered how it had felt to be treated with the lack of respect that he deserved, and didn't wish to make the same mistakes that Red and Purple had.
Not too long ago, Zim would have enjoyed flaunting his power, but things were different now.
He was different, had changed.
He was right all along… the stink-beasts aren't as stupid as I had thought. They don't go down so easily, not with out a fight, even with out their precious earth.
Zim felt a twinge of pain, his mind bringing back painful memories.
His earth…
The image of golden eyes and dark hair filled Zim's mind before it was, once again, lost, and Zim returned to his glowering.
It's over with, Just forget it! It would never have worked in the first place… You couldn't even touch without pain…
The large red doors with the Irken invader symbol on the front, gave a hiss as it opened. The inside was alive with sound. Soldiers working at computers, multiple connections opened up, reports flowing in from several stations and Invaders as they searched for the slimy stink-pigs that were, surprisingly, still a threat.
Zim could see Red, standing on his raised dais hands gripping the bar tightly. The once proud ruler now looked haggard in appearance. His body was slumped forward, more than usual, and his crimson eyes had lost their initial bloodlust long ago. What had once been a god in Zim's eyes, was now nothing more than a tired, old, wounded, giant.
Zim's eyes narrowed in dislike, disgusted with himself, that he had once looked up to the broken, lying, Irken. Sending me on a false mission… if it wasn't for him, I, Zim, would never have found that dirt ball. Zim's anger fled slightly with the thought, his insides twisting with painful guilt. Would never have known… him…
Scowling, as a particularly loud transmission told of the latest weapon the stink-beasts had come up with, Zim stomped his way to the dais, trudging up the stairs and coming to a halt just beside Red.
Zim no longer cared that it was disrespectful to approach his tallest and not bow before him. Knew that he should feel foolish to come to his side at all when he was addressing others, but he simply didn't care. He'd been a mockery to his race his entire existence before this stupid war. And since his return, and Purple's demise, it had just become a sort of routine between himself and Red.
Zim gave no false praise.
Red made no attempt at fake kindness.
"My Tallest, we need more soldiers!" another Invader cried through the screen, and Zim vaguely recognized him from the day that Impending Doom II, had begun nearly two decades ago. "There is no guarantee that we can hold the enemy at bay!" The invader sounded worried, and Zim scowled more deeply, wondering just how much more trouble they'd have been in, had the Dib-stink survived.
Zim shivered, and harshly threw the thought from his head. He'd been thinking of the Dib for a while now, and quite often. Zim wondered why, even as he cursed himself for being so weak.
This is not the time! Di— … Zim found he still couldn't think the name, and bit his lip, cursing himself in Irken, and clenching his hands tightly.
"Zim!" The growled out voice brought Zim back, and he noticed that the transmission had been cut, and that Red was now giving Zim his full attention.
"You called, Red?" Zim said coldly, and watched as Red made a distasteful face. They both hated each other, and loathed to admit it, understood each other. After all, they'd both lost someone important to them. At the very least, Red now saw Zim as a competent leader, perhaps even as an equal though that was stretching it a bit, proof shown in the fact that Zim had been taken from the Smeet runs, to lead his own troop. Of course this position had opened up shortly after his old commander Rak, had been killed in another smeet run battle.
Zim was still smarting from that.
"Yes, Zim, I did." Red snarled, and Zim folded his arms looked bored. The Tallest continued to glare at him for a whole thirty seconds before turning away with a tired sigh. "There is a new weapon. This one attacks us biologically, rendering our PAKS useless!" Red said, sounding burdened. Zim's shoulder's slumped a bit as well, understanding with out having to be told where this was headed.
"So, you are assuming that they found something useful from the dead smeet?" Zim questioned, straightening up, waiting for his Tallest to turn and blame this new turn of events on him. After all, it had been his smeet run ship that had lost the premature embryo, and Red generally found one way or another to pin a crime to Zim's name.
"Yes, Zim, I'm thinking exactly that." Red returned with another sigh, and a little ounce of pity crept into Zim's heart for the sad and weary leader. Losing Purple had a large affect on the poor Irken.
"So, what do you need me to do?" Zim asked, a bit more politely than he had in a long while. Red seemed to notice it, for he stood, and gave him a questioning stare before, raising to his full stature, the mask of the Tallest once again in place.
"We believe that the human-filth have a base hidden on a nearby moon, and are storing these weapons there." Red stated calmly, "But, we seem to need more troops."
"I'll ready Tak and the others. We'll head out immediately." Zim clipped out, turning to leave, still wondering why Red had called him all the way down to the bridge to send him and his troop out on a simple mission.
He could have sent anyone to inform me… Stupid Red, probably just wanted to vent! Like I care about his problems… Zim knew that that was a lie. Red's problems were the entire Irken race's problems.
"We've located the Membrane, Zim."
The sentence froze Zim's insides, and stopped his movements cold. The room seemed to become empty of sound, save for the breath that escaped his lips, and the hopeful thunder of his heart.
Blood, crimson, dark, sprayed up from the falling form in an arch of red. The body fell backwards, arms turning slack as golden eyes dilated in shocked agony. Thick, round glasses reflected the artificial lights of the lab as they tumbled free from the boy's dirtied face, the smooth surface cracking as they struck the ground.
"Dib!" The cry tore from a hoarse throat in horror and denial, as the small boy lay upon the ground twitching every so often as he fell into shock. The thick substance pooled up and dribbled out from the corner of the pale mouth slipping to hide in the black hair. "DIB!"
Crimson eyes hardened, and his hand clenched in hate. He didn't turn, he didn't have too. "Where?"
A single question, that held no room for argument. It was his right, his end of the bargain, and not one Irken would dare to oppose him in this matter. And the only one who could, understood him too much now.
Zim, was going hunting.
A.N. Well, another chapter swiftly finished. Insane, yes? Are the pieces starting to fall into place, or am I only confusing you more? Don't worry it all ties in, and yes this is past AND future ZADR. You have been so warned. Please drop a review in the review box, because, well, it's nice to know I'm not writing this for no reason. - Other than for my own sick amusement.
Mora