Two hours passed.

Dib had searched Zim's lab, knowing he had to have some way of learning the English language. He eventually found a disc with all the Earth languages on it. Zim had somehow programmed it to translate into his own language, using human technology.

Dib now sat on the edge of Zim's bed, searching through the disc for a reverse-translator. When he found it, he used his personal scanner to scan over the first page in Zim's journal and imput it into the computer.

The results took several minutes, but eventually he was able to read;

'Today I set out on my journey to my assigned planet. I am finished packing, and GIR and I have assessed the ship and tweaked it for the journey. I do not know how long it will take. Although I should be resting now, I am too nervous to do so. I will be meeting my Tallest at sun's peak. They seem very excited to see me off.

I am going to try to rest now.'

Dib turned a few pages and noticed that several months were skipped. He wondered just how long it did take Zim to get here.

He scanned one entry, six months from the first.

'I have just tonight arrived at my assigned planet. It is much smaller than Irk, yet far more populated with life forms.

I have set up my base, formed our disguises, and am now working on wiring the computer. I will set up the security system tomorrow. I have spent most of my night studying the human race. I am not impressed, to say the least.

There is much work to be done, so I write my last for tonight.'

Dib scanned through the next several entries, reading about Skool, the children and teacher, and even himself. He also read about Zim's progress in completing his security and base, upgrades to GIR and the computer, and conversations with the Tallest.

He finally came to the sixth day of the present month, which read,

'I am not too pleased with the way things are going. The human race is stupid, the Tallest never have anything important or even productive to tell me, and I am making no progress here, partially thanks to the human Dib.

Dib thinks he is saving his planet, but he really has no idea what goes on when he is not around. Foolish boy, to think he could stop me. He is but an annoyance to my mission.

As for my lack of progress; it is due to the upgrades and technology I am forced to make myself. My Tallest refuse to send me any new equipment, and will not even provide me with better tools than the ones I was provided with at graduation.

I have halted work on my newest weapon because the depression I am enduring is hindering my progress. I long for my planet and my people. I am completely isolated here.'

Dib skipped ahead a week.

'Today I requested of my Tallest that I may return home. They told me that I must first finish my mission, although I could tell they were laughing at me.

I am growing very weary of being here.. This place is nice, but it is not home. GIR has been my only companion, and he is more of a pet than anything else. I cannot hold conversation with him or do anything with him other than watch stupid human television.

I am considering my own destruction. I believe the humans call it suicide (this word being written in English) or Hara-kiri (this being Japanese). It seems painless enough. I was showed videos of self-destruct when I was very young. When they were teaching us how to use it. Perhaps things will turn around before I come to that point.'

Dib now set the computer down and turned towards Zim. He wondered where such a self-destruct mechanism would be on an alien. Taking up Zim's hands, he slid the gloves back from each wrist and saw, on his left arm, something like a watch strapped around his narrow wrist. Dib unstrapped it to get a closer look.

Its face held a timer, three small buttons, and a level of something. Dib snapped open the cover on it and scanned the Irken inscription beneath each of the buttons.

'Timer', 'Start', and 'Stop/Pause'.

He pressed the start button cautiously. Immediately a small needle shot out from the bottom of the device, narrowly missing one of his fingers. He turned it over and watched as small drops of a dark liquid dripped from the needle. He quickly pressed stop and the needle retracted back into the device.

"How horrible.." he said quietly to himself, also noticing that the level had gone down a bit. He set the device on the desk and returned to his studies of the journal.

He skipped to the last entry.

'The Earth month of September is drawing to a close. It is getting colder, as it does every year-end. I can hardly believe I have been here an entire five Earth-years.. It seems like it has been much longer, yet also much shorter. My Tallest have not contacted me in over a week, and I cannot seem to get through to them. It would not surprise me if they have blocked my calls.

I have not seen the human Dib in a few days. Today is the Earth-day Sun-day, one of the two days when there is no skool. Yet Dib was not at class Fri-day. I wonder if he has taken ill.

Another year and I will no longer be required to attend the skool in order to seem as any normal Earth-childe. I am, by their standards, nearly eighteen Earth-years old. My life-day was yesterday. The humans call it a birthday, and celebrate it every time it comes about. I wonder if possibly the Irkens would take on such a celebration of life. It seems like a good idea.

I am now seventeen, by Earth standards. 0f course, on Irk we do not keep track of such things.

I have decided that self-destruct may be the way for me. I will have to destroy my base as well, though. I do not want to endanger the Irken race. GIR, too, will have to be deactivated and destroyed, although it pains me to think of such a thing..

There is still time though..'

Dib closed the book and set it, along with his computer, onto the desk. He looked at the sleeping alien, frowning deeply. He had no idea Zim was so.. depressed. Depressed. That was the reoccurring word in his journal.

Dib watched his enemy sleep, more confused yet understanding more than ever.