Dib trotted downstairs and, passing his sister, went to the fridge and took the milk container out. He poured himself a glass as he mulled over what to do.
"What is Zim doing here?" Gaz asked, not looking up from her toast-eating.
"What?" Dib replaced the milk in the fridge and turned to her in surprise.
"You heard me."
"How did you know he was here?"
She munched her toast and stared at him.
"His house, eh, is out of power. He needs somewhere to stay for awhile," Dib said slowly. "But don't tell anyone."
"Whatever." She rose and left the room. Dib watched her, wondering how she did know so much. Shaking his head, he put his glass in the washer and returned upstairs.
Zim was peeking out the window. He glanced at the boy, then back outside.
Dib picked up his computer and brought up one of his security cameras poised outside Zim's home.
"Damn. They really found you out.."
Zim turned to him. "What?" He stepped over and leaned over to look at the screen.
Police officers and those researchers were surrounding his home. Men were going in and out of his house, taking things out. Most of them wore masks now, as if some kind of toxic substance were going to be inhaled by going in the alien's home.
Zim shook his head and snarled angrily. "Fucking humans.."
"You are an alien, Zim." Dib closed the computer and looked up at him.
"You are trying to destroy our world. What the hell do you expect them to do?"
Zim returned to the window.
"How did they find me, Dib?"
Dib stared at him, already knowing what he was getting at.
"Well? How?" Zim clasped his hands behind his back.
"It wasn't me. Not this time."
"You are the only one who is aware of my true form." Zim turned to him, anger glowing in those crimson eyes.
"It wasn't me," Dib rose and set him computer on the desk. "I have been trying for years, and to be honest it kinda pisses me off that somehow they found out on their own."
Zim growled and wanted so badly to attack the human. "Why, Dib? You see what this has done to me.. why would you want that?"
"Why would you want to destroy my world?" Dib retorted. "You would kill countless lives, including my own, if you could."
"No," Zim said slowly. "No, I was only planning on enslaving this planet for my Irken leaders."
Dib shook his head. "You are playing on my territory now, Zim. Expect shit to go down. It would be the same if I were invading your planet."
Zim knew that was the truth. He peeked out the window again and saw a few policemen with dogs making their way through the backyards. They were drawing close to Dib's house.
"I think we have trouble.."
Dib stepped over and looked out at them as well.
"Fuck… this is not good.." Dib grabbed his computer and moved towards the door. "Follow me."
Zim did so, following him into the basement. Dib led him to a small door where he entered a security code. The door opened and Dib indicated that Zim go inside.
"What is this?" Zim asked warily, peeking inside.
"It's a panic room. It can withstand most bombs, nuclear attacks, earthquakes, tornados, and fires. Now get in." Dib glanced up the stairs as someone rang the doorbell.
Zim crawled in and the boy quickly closed and locked the door behind him. Rising, he felt for a light switch and turned on the dim light. The room was stocked with boxes upon boxes of food, gallons of water, and a chest full of clothes. Looking around, he also saw stacks of books on top of a filing cabinet, a small curtain blocking the view of a toilet, and a computer.
With a sigh, the alien sat against the cabinet to wait.
Dib pushed a cabinet in front of the door and dashed up the stairs. Smoothing his hair back, he opened the door and looked out at the officers.
"Yes?"
"We are tracking an escaped fugitive in the area," one of the officers said. "0ur dogs led us to your back door. Have you seen anything odd recently?"
Dib nodded quickly. "Yes! Someone was knocking on my door last night. I asked them what they wanted through the upstairs window and they said they needed a place to stay."
"Then what?" The other officer was taking notes. Dib glanced down at the two German Sheppards they had. The dogs were straining to get into his house.
"I let him in and he stayed the night. I didn't like the looks of him, so I made him leave early this morning. He was wearing some odd contacts and some kind of costume or something. I don't know."
They glanced at each other and the speaking officer nodded.
"Where did he go? Did he say anything to you?"
"Not much, just that his power was down and he was cold," Dib scratched the back of his head and peeked around the officers. "I don't know where he went, either. He left when I wasn't looking."
"Alright, thank you. We may come back to you, so be ready to provide your information to someone else."
Dib nodded. "Thanks. Hope you find him."
They nodded and pulled their dogs away. Dib watched them go, then closed and locked the door.
He hurried back down into the basement.