(a/n: i hope you enjoy this. Please review!)
Act 11: Nightmares on Memory Lane
After what seemed like hours, Lucas and Marceline emerged from the darkness.
The two found themselves standing on a sidewalk near a busy city intersection.
The sun hung high in the clear sky above. Cars rushing past, birds chirped and people walked past the vampire and the red haired man. Marceline stared at the people with wide eyes.
It had been a thousand years since she last saw a human being, besides Simon and Finn.
Marceline reached out to touch a man who was passing by but her hand went right through him.
Marceline pulled back her hand in shock "What the heck?" she tried to touch another man but her hand went right through him as well.
Marceline turned to Lucas "Why can't I touch them?"
"They aren't real," said Lucas, he shoved his hands into his pockets, "Remember, this is all in your head. These people are long gone. These are just echoes, faces of those who passed on from this sphere of existence long ago"
Marceline sighed, "Right".
Her eyes drifted around at her surroundings. The buildings, the cars, the people, even the warmth of the sun, it all looked and felt real.
Marceline glanced to Lucas "Where are we?"
"How should I know?" said Lucas, shrugging "Its your memory, you figure it out"
"You said that you were going to guide me out of this labyrinth" said Marceline.
Lucas sighed, "I said I can guide you but I don't know what specific memories we are going to encounter"
"What dose that mean?" asked Marceline.
Lucas looked up at the sky "The shortcut I'm currently leading you through will get you out of the maze but it is blocked by some of your oldest memories, in order to get through I will have to take you through each one and you must put them to rest in order to exit the labyrinth and get back to consciousness"
"How?" asked Marceline
Lucas shrugged "You'll figure it out, but for now focus on your surroundings and remember where we are".
Marceline sighed and she began to focus on her surroundings.
The street looked familiar, very familiar. In fact, Marceline had a strong sense of Déjà vu.
After a moment, something clicked "I know this place" breathed Marceline.
Lucas smiled "Now we're getting somewhere"
Marceline turned to the redhead "I used to pass this street on my way to school" "Uh huh, and?" said Lucas, nodding slowly
Marceline hesitated for a moment then said "I also walked home this way, I think I stopped to get an ice cream here once"
"Indeed you did" said Lucas.
Marceline's brows furrowed "How do you know that?"
Lucas jabbed a thumb over his shoulder.
Marceline glanced over Lucas's shoulder and she gaped at what she saw. Across the street stood a younger Marceline and a very human looking Marcus buying some ice cream from an ice cream truck.
Marceline looked at the scene then to Lucas, who just looked completely bored.
Lucas turned and noted the two on the other side of the street "Ah, yes well this is your memory after all"
"No… its not that" said Marceline, she stepped past Lucas and walked to the edge of the sidewalk to get a better look of herself and her brother.
Marceline shook her head "Its just…Its like some weird dream, seeing him and myself" she glanced back at the redhead "I remember two different versions of this. I remember that I was alone and I remember that" she nodded to the two.
Lucas smiled a little "You're remembering. Your brain is trying to decide which is real and which is fake. Once you decide which is real, then your brain will delete the fake" Lucas shrugged "Its like removing corrupted files from a computer hard drive."
Marceline turned to the other her and the other Marcus. The two were holding hands and Marcus was listening to Marceline talk as she licked the ice cream cone in her hand. Marcus smiled and said something that made the young Marceline giggle. Something about the scene felt…right.
Marceline nodded "This is real, I know it"
"Good" said Lucas.
Suddenly the ground beneath their feet shattered into a million pieces like fragile glass, revealing an endless black void. Marceline let out a terrified scream while Lucas just hooted with laughter.
For what seemed like hours, Marceline and Lucas fell through eternal darkness.
Marceline thought the nothingness would ever end but suddenly she landed on hard, solid ground and she found herself staring up at a cloudy afternoon sky.
Marceline sat up groaning and she looked around at her new surroundings.
Marceline saw that she was on a sidewalk in front of a row of houses. Marceline blinked and she got to her feet. The vampire looked around for the red haired man "Lucas?" she called out.
Her eyes darted about but she couldn't see him. She began to feel panic. Without Lucas, she was going to be stuck in a coma forever.
Marceline raised her voice "Lucas! Lucas where are you?"
"Here I am!" said Lucas.
Marceline glanced around but she couldn't see him "Up here!" he called.
She looked up and saw Lucas above her, slowly floating to the ground. He landed next to Marceline, brushing dust off his suit.
Lucas saw the look of surprise on Marceline's face "What?"
"How did you do that?" asked Marceline.
Lucas shrugged "I can do anything, even in the mind of a lowly creature such as yourself" his voice dropped to a mutter "well, almost anything".
He coughed "So, where are we?"
"I think this is my old neighborhood" said Marceline, glancing around at the surrounding houses.
Lucas nodded "Good, now what else?"
Marceline looked around and at the quite neighborhood. Everything was dead silent; nobody was out in the street. Marceline frowned. This scene was very familiar and her gut started to form a knot "No…" she breathed.
Lucas's eyes glinted and he smiled "Ah, so you do remember this. Good, because I surely do"
Marceline turned to the man "How?"
Lucas didn't answer.
They heard a siren wail. The two turned and saw a white ambulance race up the street towards them. Instinctively, Marceline dived out of the way while Lucas just stood there. The emergency vehicle zoomed right through him and Lucas came out unscathed.
Lucas looked at Marceline who was lying on the ground beside him, looking surprised "What? Its just a memory, remember?" said Lucas.
Marceline blushed a little "Right, sorry" she got to her feet and she watched the ambulance race down the empty street.
Marceline watched and silently prayed that it wasn't going where she thought it was going.
In the distance, she could see that the ambulance had skidded to a halt in front the house on the corner.
Her heart sank into her gut.
A few paramedics hopped out and unloaded a gurney from the back. Lucas glanced to Marceline and he smiled, "Lets get a closer look" he grabbed her hand and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the two were standing a few feet away from the ambulance.
Marceline glanced back at where they were standing before. It was ten houses away and they had crossed that distance before she could even react.
Before she could ask Lucas how he did that, she heard a small voice cry "No!"
She turned towards the source of the voice and her heart stopped.
Marceline watched as two paramedics wheel a dark haired woman out of the house and she saw her younger self standing in the doorway, crying for them to not take her mother.
Marceline watched as her younger self tried to run after them but she saw her father stepped in her path and stopped her.
His face completely ashen and he looked at a loss for words. Hunson knelt down and tried to find words to comfort his daughter.
The younger Marceline was still crying and tried to get free of her father's grip.
Hunson nodded to Marcus, who just scooped up the sobbing, little girl and carried her back inside the house.
Marceline squeezed her eyes shut "no more…please"
"No can do" said Lucas, solemnly "You chose to come along and now your going to have to rough it. So shut up and take it like big girl" She heard her younger self scream for her mother.
Marceline tried to block out the flood of emotions that came racing back to her but it was too much.
Tears leaked out and ran down her cheeks.
Images flashed before the vampire's eyes. Her mother and herself were in the kitchen.
Her mother was making chocolate cookies and was congratulating her on having perfect grades.
Suddenly her mother dropped the pan of cookies and clutched her heart. Her breathing became ragged and she sank to the cold, tiled floor gasping for air. Marceline screamed for her father and in an instant her father came running in. His face became white as a sheet and he quickly called for an ambulance.
Marceline sniffed and her eyes opened. The vampire croaked "Why?" she turned to the redhead.
Lucas sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance, "I warned you. I said the way out was going to be filled with your oldest memories, this among them. I didn't say that it would be painless but you would have to assume that revisiting your old memories would bring back the pain".
He waved a hand "Just make peace with this memory or whatever, I want to get out this emotional train wreck as soon as possible" he turned and walked away from the scene, leaving Marceline alone with the other dad.
She and her father watched as the paramedics open the back of the ambulance.
The paramedics prepared to load Marceline's mother into the ambulance but her father told them to stop. Marceline watched as her father takes his wife's hand into his and he whispered something that sounded like an apology. He planted a kiss on the woman's forehead.
With that, the paramedics loaded Marceline's mother into the ambulance.
Once she was inside, the paramedics hopped into the front seats and the emergency vehicle took off like a shot, racing towards the nearest hospital.
Marceline and her father stood there and watched as the emergency vehicle disappear from sight.
Marceline took a deep breath and whispered "Goodbye".
Suddenly everything around Marceline became blurry and the scene melted away like ink in water.
The scene around her shifted into the familiar endless black void.
She stood there alone in the darkness for only a few moments then suddenly the darkness was replaced by light and warmth.
Marceline shielded her eyes from the intense light with her hands. Once her eyes had adjusted, Marceline lowered her hands and saw her new surroundings.
The vampire saw that she was standing on a hill that overlooked the city where she once lived in.
Marceline saw that the sun was slowly sinking beyond the horizon, giving the sky an orange color.
"What are you doing here?" asked a familiar voice.
Marceline turned and she saw Marcus standing there. He was dressed in a jet-black suit with a matching bowtie. His hair was long and shaggy with no trace of grey.
Marcus gave Marceline a questioning look "well?"
Marceline stammered for a moment. Could Marcus see her? Marceline shook her head. Of course not, it was only a memory.
She heard sniffling "I-I want to be alone".
Marceline turned and saw her younger self, sitting on ground.
The little girl was dressed in white shirt and black overalls. Her eyes were red and puffy and tears were running down her cheeks.
Marcus sighed, "Marcy, you can just go running off like that. Everyone's worried sick about you"
"I don't care" mumbled Marcy, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
Marcus raised an eyebrow "Why?"
"I miss mom" said the younger Marceline.
Marcus sighed sadly "Me too" he walked over to his younger sister and knelt down "But that doesn't mean that you should go running off like that. Dad was worried sick".
Marceline sniffed and mumbled an apology.
Marcus sighed deeply and said slowly "I know how you feel. I miss mom too but just because she's gone, it doesn't mean you should be sad"
"It doesn't?" said the young girl.
Marcus shook his head "No, because you still have dad and me"
Marcy sniffled "But what about mom?"
"She's in a better place now" said Marcus.
Marceline remembered this memory. It was a few hours after the funeral for her mother. After they had buried her mother and said their goodbyes, Marceline ran away. Eventually Marcus found her and managed to cheer her up.
The younger Marceline perked up "Really?"
"I think so" said Marcus "In this crazy life, I try to be optimistic. If I don't, then life would be pretty bleak. Just remember that even though she's gone, she's probably in a better place than here ".
The little girl wiped her nose on her sleeve "Thanks Marcus"
"No problem, kiddo" said Marcus, patting the young girl on her head.
He scooped her up in his arms and the two made their way back home.
Marceline heard her younger self ask, "Can we get ice cream?"
"Sure" said Marcus
"And some pizza from Bloaty's?" asked Marceline.
Marcus chuckled "Don't push your luck".
Marceline smiled and watched as they slowly vanish from sight. "He's not wrong you know" said a familiar voice.
She glanced to her left and she saw Lucas standing there with a half eaten hot dog in his hand.
He nodded at the small, distant form of Marcus "Your brother, he's not wrong about your mother, she definitely is in a better place I guarantee you. Your father on the other hand-"
"Where were you?" asked Marceline
"Getting some food" answered Lucas as he took a bite out of the hot dog, "and trying not to lose my lunch over all this mushy crap".
Marceline's eyebrows rose "Where did you get that?"
Lucas shrugged "Popped out of here and got it from a hot dog stand, where else?"
Marceline scowled "You can teleport out of my mind and get food? Why didn't you just pull me out that way?"
"I didn't want to" answered Lucas, taking another bite of his hot dog
"Why not?" asked Marceline.
Lucas sighed in annoyance then explained, "Your mind would've been scrambled and you would live out the rest of your immortal life as a drooling vegetable."
Marceline was going to ask him more questions when suddenly the ground beneath them shook.
The silence around them was interrupted by a series of muffled booms that sounded like distant thunder. Once the ground stopped shaking and the booming stopped, Marceline frowned "I don't remember that happening"
"That's because that is not part of any of your memories" said Lucas.
Marceline looked at him and she watched him roll up his sleeve a little, revealing a small, expensive watch.
He looked at the watch then muttered, "Huh, they're a little early"
"Wait, who?" asked Marceline, feeling confused.
Lucas glanced at her and said, "If I were a betting man, which I certainly am, I would say that Zim has just begun his little bid for world conquest"
"What!" exclaimed Marceline.
Lucas tapped his chin thoughtfully "I would also say that we're getting close to the exit, considering that we can hear what is going in the real world, but we still have some memories left in our path"
"Well lets go" said Marceline.
Lucas's eyebrows rose a little "Somebody's a little eager" he raised one hand and he snapped his fingers and everything went dark.
The world around them dissolved and was replaced by the familiar scene of Marceline's old home.
The two were standing in the main living room. It was bright and sunny outside, golden sunlight spilled into the empty room.
Lucas nodded a little in approval "Nice place you have here".
Before she could speak, there was a loud thud coming from behind them.
The two turned and saw Marcus standing a few feet away with his back to them.
Marceline's eyes widened. Marcus was wearing the standard green uniform of the military.
At his feet was a duffel bag. Marceline's heart sank into the pit of her stomach.
Marceline's father walked in and helped straightened his son's uniform "Thanks dad" said Marcus
"It's the least I can do" said Hunson. He looked his son in the eye and said quietly "Why?"
"Why what?" said Marcus
"Why did you enlist?" asked his father.
Marcus sighed, "You know why, I want to do my part for my country. I have nothing left for me here"
"Its madness" said Hunson "Have you seen the news? Have you seen what is going on?"
"Yes dad" said Marcus "Its war"
"It's Hell on Earth!" said Hunson, his voice growing a little louder "Its every nation for itself and each nation is unleashing a horrifying new weapon every week and each nation is ready to toss a bunch of poor bastards into the fire to keep this war going"
"I know" said Marcus, brushing off his father's concern.
Marcus turned to leave but Hunson grabbed his son's shoulder and spun him around "Listen to me damn it!" growled Hunson.
Marcus stared at his father coldly "Why should I?"
"You know damn well why!" spat Hunson "You know how much I sacrificed for this family! What I had to do to ensure our future!"
"Yeah and we both know how well that's working out" sneered Marcus "Just look how that turned out for mom".
Hunson snarled and tightened his grip on his son, "Don't. Ever. Talk. About. Her"
Marcus let out a cold, humorless laugh "Why? After what you've done, I'm glad that she's gone. I'm glad that she's not here to see that deal that you have made. If she was here, she would be ashamed of you and she'd be pissed that you've damned us all to-"
There was a loud crack and Marcus was on the ground with blood oozing out of his nose.
Hunson stood over Marcus with a clenched fist and his body was trembling with fury.
Marceline gaped at the scene. She had never seen her father that furious before.
Lucas cupped his hands around his mouth and said in singsong "Drama!"
Marcus pushed himself up from the ground and wiped the blood from his nose. He looked at the blood on his hand then to his father.
Marcus muttered, "That's how it's going to be? Fine"
Hunson didn't say anything but he looked rather shocked at what he had done.
Marcus wobbled to his feet and he scooped up his duffle bag. He wiped away the last of the blood from his nose and walked out of the room.
Hunson, Marceline and Lucas followed.
Marcus threw open the door and said without looking back "Tell Marcy I said bye" he slammed the door shut, leaving Hunson alone with Marceline and Lucas.
Hunson unclenched his fist and his furious expression faded. He clutched his head moaning "Oh God" he walked away.
He made his way to the kitchen and he sat down at the kitchen table. Hunson buried his face into his hands.
Marceline looked at Lucas "I don't remember this at all, even with all my old memories, I don't ever remember that"
Lucas scratched the back of his head "Yeah well this is your memory but I had to borrow this from your dad"
"Why?" asked Marceline
"Zim deleted the old one by accident when he was installing the memory suppression chip" answered Lucas.
Marceline shook her head; Zim was beginning to be a real pain in the neck. Marceline took one last look at her father.
This was the last time she's seen him as a human being.
The kitchen around them melted away and Marceline found herself standing in an empty street.
The buildings around her were now mountains of rubble.
The once clear sky was now polluted with thick clouds of black smoke.
She spotted a large red-bricked school building that had a sign that said "Skool".
In front of the school building was a row of busses lined up with at least several soldiers standing guard around the buses. Marceline watched as a bunch of exhausted teachers heard their students into the buses.
She heard a familiar voice growl, "Move it you useless sacks of pus!" the vampire's eyes landed on a tall elderly woman dressed in black.
The old woman watched as the children slowly boarded the bus.
the woman's eyes narrowed, "not that it will make any difference, we're all doomed anyways. We might as well sit here and wait for our impending deaths and- what is it Dib?"
Marceline saw a small boy with a large head waving his hand in the air "Miss Bitters, have you seen Zim?"
"No Dib, I have not" growled Miss Bitters.
Marceline distantly remembered Miss Bitters from school. She always found the old woman to be terrifying and very gloomy. Dib was vaguely familiar. She remembered hearing people at school talk about Dib and his crazy theories about aliens and monsters.
Marceline heard Dib exclaim "Exactly! Where is Zim? Huh, anyone?"
"What are you whining about now Dib?" grumbled an annoyed girl with purple hair.
Dib turned to the girl "Gaz, its Zim! He's probably hatching some scheme to use the confusion of the war to his advantage"
"Why should you care?" said Gaz "He'll probably get himself killed anyway"
"But what if he doesn't?" prompted Dib
"Then he'll be stuck in an nuclear waste land, with only a bunch of cockroaches and corpses to rule over" answered Gaz
Dib's mouth opened a little then closed. Eventually he said "Good point"
Miss Bitters growled "Enough talking and get on the bus, unless you want to be vaporized by the next bombing raid"
"That sounds pleasant in comparison to this" remarked Gaz, nodding to Dib who just kept rambling on about Zim and his evil schemes.
The last of the children boarded the bus and the buses departed.
Marceline noticed that Lucas was smiling "Why are you smiling?" she asked.
Lucas just shrugged "I don't know what it is, but I find you humans so amusing"
"Why?" asked Marceline, her eyes narrowed.
Lucas shook his head "Don't know, it might be because you silly creatures slaughter each other for trivial matters and misguided ideals. Or how easy it is to manipulate you. Then again it might be how you all try to avoid meeting me or my father after the reaper comes for you"
"What are you talking about?" asked Marceline in confusion.
Lucas shook his head "Never mind" he nodded over to some bushes near the front of the school "Look".
Marceline turned and she saw a small shape dart out of the bushes and hurry past them. Marceline saw that it was her younger self.
Lucas whistled, "That kid can run" he turned to Marceline and grabbed her hand saying in a singsong voice "Next scene!"
the scene around them blurred and the two reappeared in an abandoned shop.
The inside of the shop was bare and void of items. All that was left were some shelves and a counter where the clerks used to work.
Sitting in a lawn chair by the front door was Marcus with his rifle lying across his lap. Marcus looked different. His hair was much shorter and his skin became extremely pale. Dark circles were prominent under his eyes. His face was gaunt and was devoid of cheer and joy that was usually present.
Marcus's eyes were alert and he looked a little panicked.
The front door opened and Marcus jumped to his feet with his weapon at the ready.
Standing there was the younger Marceline. Marcus sighed a little and he lowered his weapon "Marcy, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you," said Marcy.
Marcus frowned "Why?"
"I missed you" said Marcy. She ran over and hugged his leg.
Marcus said nothing. He knelt down and hugged his younger sister.
Tears ran down Marcus's cheeks "I missed you too" he pulled away and looked Marceline in the eyes "You should go, its not safe here. Find dad, go to one of the evacuation points, get out of the city and get to a bunker"
"I can't find dad" said Marcy.
Marcus's features grew dark and he muttered, "So he went through with it"
"Huh?" asked Marcy
"Nothing" said Marcus.
Suddenly there was a crackling sound and a voice spoke "Corporal Abadeer, this is Captain Riley, respond, over"
Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small communicator "This is Corporal Abadeer, go ahead"
"Williams and McPherson missed their scheduled check in. Investigate their last known location in sector alpha three, three six" said the captain
"Got it" said Marcus and the radio went dead.
Lucas glanced at the real Marceline and saw fear creep into her features.
He grinned maliciously "Ah, I see that you remember this one as well"
"Yes" said Marceline, breathlessly.
Marcus got to his feet "I got to check this out" he picked up his helmet and placed it on his head. He went to the door and stopped.
He turned to his little sister "When I get back, I expect you to be long gone"
"But-" began Marcy but Marcus held up a hand "Please, just go. Promise me that you'll go home".
Marcy promised.
Marcus smiled "Good" he turned and he walked out the door.
The real Marceline began to tremble in fear. She remembered that during the war, enemy nations would drop squads of soldiers during bombing raids to sabotage the war effort and to kill as many enemies as possible. So the government decided to have some reserve units stay in major cities to protect them from any sabotage squads.
Among them was Marcus's unit.
There were a few skirmishes' in several cities where he had been apart of but this one is the one that Marceline always remembered with dread.
A few minutes after Marcus had left, the younger Marceline snuck out after him.
Lucas and the real Marceline followed. They followed Marcus at a distance down a ruined avenue.
Buildings had large gaping holes in them like bullet wounds; the street was filled with abandoned cars, rubble, glass and charred items.
Discarded wrappers, newspapers and old paper drifted around on the wind like spirits in a graveyard.
Marceline wanted to leave but she couldn't. She had to relive this memory in order to wake up.
Marcus spotted a streak of blood on the pavement that lead into a cramped alley.
Marceline breathed, "Don't go in there"
"Too late" whispered Lucas, who looked like he was enjoying himself.
Marcus leveled his weapon and he stepped into the alley. Marceline wanted to do something to help Marcus but it was futile.
She had to relive this horrible moment all over again.
Lucas walked over to an abandoned SUV and he sat on the hood of the car. He snapped his fingers and a bag of popcorn appeared in his hands. Lucas snapped his fingers again and the popcorn became coated with melted butter and salt in the blink of an eye.
Lucas shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth. Marceline looked at the man in disbelief. Lucas offered the bag to Marceline "Want some?"
The vampire declined.
How is he doing all that and why is he acting like he was about to watch an entertaining spectacle?
Suddenly a gunshot shattered the silence.
Marceline turned and saw running out of the alley was Marcus. He raised his weapon and fired a steady stream of bullets into the alley.
The bullets bounced off of a large dark shape. The dark shape burst through the opening of the alley, destroying the two buildings that formed the mouth of the alley. Marceline's eyes widened in shock and a familiar sensation of fear spread through her.
Towering over Marcus was a massive, metal robot. The robot was a deep red color. It had no arms, only legs.
A loud speaker came to life and an eerily familiar voice spoke "Puny human! You think that your weapon can harm my new and improved Megadoomer?"
"Can't blame a guy for trying" said Marcus as he jammed a fresh clip into his weapon.
He reached for his communicator and tried to call for back up but the only reply he got was static.
The voice in the Megadoomer chortled "Ha, ha, ha! Don't bother, I have jammed all communications, nobody can help you now!"
Marcus sighed and he returned to shooting the Megadoomer.
The Megadoomer began to stomp towards Marcus. Marcus slowly backed away. His eyes darted around the robot's body trying to find a weakness.
Marceline watched helplessly as the Megadoomer tried to stomp on Marcus, as if he were an insect. Marcus threw himself out of the way at each attempt, firing a few shots at random angles in a vain attempt at killing the robot.
Lucas, meanwhile, was munching on popcorn and watched with interest.
The voice in the Megadoomer grunted, "Stay…Still!"
"Never!" said Marcus.
After several minutes of continous stomping, the Megadoomer came to a halt and the pilot was grumbling something over the loudspeaker.
Suddenly the belly of the massive machine opened and a small green figure, clad in light red, dropped out and fell on his face. The miniature figure jumped to his feet and he began brushing himself off.
Once he finished, the stranger extended a hand "I decided that you are a worthy adversary and I hereby surrender to you"
"Uh oh, that's not good" said Lucas, looking anxious.
The redhead covered his eyes with one hand "I can't watch, the suspense is killing me" two of his fingers parted enough to allow one eye to see.
Marceline ignored the man and remained focused on the scene.
Marcus studied the short stranger saying "Really? That was kinda easy, just a moment ago you had me on the ropes, now you're surrendering to me?"
"Yes, yes" said the green stranger "Now shake my hand!"
Marcus's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He knew that something was wrong but he was too tired to think clearly. He extended his hand and took the strangers hand and shook it.
What happened next was burned into Marceline's memory forever.
The short green alien began to laugh and Marcus began to frown in confusion.
Suddenly a wave of blue electrical energy washed over Marcus's body. Marcus let out a scream of pain and he crumpled to the ground.
The little alien nudged Marcus's arm with his foot then he declared loudly "Victory for Zim!"
Marceline's eyes widened "Zim?"
"In the flesh" said Lucas, stuffing another handful of popcorn into his mouth, he nodded at the diminutive alien "All four feet of him".
Zim spun around and barked "Gir! Get down here and prepare the subject for transport!"
A small, silver robot dropped out of the opening and landed on its head. The robot scrambled to its feet and saluted "Yes sir!" the small robot ran over to Marcus and slapped a small, purple computer chip on the back of his neck.
Marcus groaned a little but he didn't awake.
Zim pressed a button on his wrist computer and a par of metal coils slithered out of the Megadoomer and they slowly wrapped themselves around the unconscious Marcus.
Once he was completely wrapped up in the coils, Zim pressed another button.
The coils lifted Marcus off the ground and they slowly hoisted him up into the massive war machine.
Zim rubbed his hands together like a mad scientist "Excellent, with this new test subject, my latest plan for the ultimate warrior will be realized"
"No!" cried a voice. Marceline recognized it and she saw her younger self emerge from her hiding place.
The little girl sprinted over and she kicked Zim in the stomach. Zim yelped and groaned "Ow! My squeedily spooch!" he sank to his knees.
Zim glanced to Gir "Attack!"
Gir's eyes turned red and he leapt into action. He jumped in-between Zim and Marcy.
The tiny robot shifted into a fighting stance but his eyes turned blue and he began dancing and skipping around the two screaming "Doody, doody, doody, doo!"
The little girl frowned in confusion while Zim scowled at the tiny robot and groaned in annoyance.
Zim rose to his feet and he glared at Marcy "What do you want little girl?"
"Give me back my brother!" demanded Marcy.
Zim scowled "No! I need him for my experiments"
"Well he's my brother and I want him back!" said Marcy.
Zim stepped forward and jabbed a finger at the girl "Look here you little brat, I-" but suddenly he was cut off by the screams of sirens. The sirens echoed all around them and in the distance the two could hear the rumble of aircraft engines.
Zim's eyes widened "Oh no"
"The bombers" breathed Marcy.
Zim spun around and he grabbed Gir. With that he made a beeline for the Megadoomer.
Marcy hurried after him; she wasn't going to let him take her brother away.
Zim pressed a button on his wrist computer and he began to rise from the ground. Marcy jumped and grabbed hold on Zim's leg, causing him to descend a little.
Zim glanced down and screamed, "Get off!"
"NO!" screamed Marcy "Give me back my brother!"
"Get off of me you stupid child!" grunted Zim, he thrashed about and kicked his leg but Marcy held on for dear life.
Within a minute, the two were sucked up into the Megadoomer.
Marceline turned to Lucas who just nodded "I know, I know" he snapped his fingers and the Megadoomer became translucent.
The two could see Zim and Marcy wrestling each other, with Gir dancing around in the back seat with an unconscious Marcus lying in a messy heap.
The struggle lasted about twenty seconds, in which Zim gained the upper hand and he placed a small purple chip on Marcy's neck.
It was similar to the one that Gir placed on Marcus.
Marcy froze and she twitched for a moment and in an instant she went limp.
Zim shoved her aside and he took control of the Megadoomer "Lets get out of here!" he moved the controls around and the massive robot spun around and it stomped away from the scene.
Once the Megadoomer had vanished, Lucas jumped to his feet and clapped "Bravo! Bravo! Great performance everybody!" the bombers moved into position above Lucas and Marceline.
They unleashed a hailstorm of bombs down on them.
Marceline ducked and Lucas held up a hand saying "Aaaand…End Scene!" before the bombs could hit the ground, Lucas dropped his hand and the memory faded to darkness.
The scene around them shifted and changed till it settled on the interior of a high-tech laboratory.
Marceline looked around at the lab "This place…"
"Yep, its alien" said Lucas, he leaned against a nearby console "All the way from planet Irk".
Marceline glanced around the laboratory. All around her were pieces of advanced machinery and equipment. On the far side of the lab was a large glass container that rose up out of the floor and connected to the ceiling. The container was filled with purple liquid and it contained a single occupant. Marcus.
Marceline shivered. Marcus floated in the purple liquid, completely still and quite. He still wore his uniform but he was also covered from head to toe in wires.
Placed on his face was an oxygen mask so that he could breathe. Marceline tried to place a hand on the glass but her hand went right through it.
On the other side of the room, the two heard the doors slide open. They turned and saw Zim marching into the room, followed by a floating gurney that carried Marceline.
Zim and the gurney came to a halt by the glass container.
Zim pressed a button on his wrist and a small metal trey descended from the ceiling. On it were several surgical tools and a small, maroon chip.
Zim smirked "What do you think of my lair little girl?"
"Its ok, I guess" said Marcy.
Zim's smirk changed into a scowl "Well enjoy it while you can". He began typing a series of codes into his wrist computer.
Marcy swallowed "What are you going to do to me?"
"I'm letting you go" answered Zim.
Marcy blinked "Really?"
"Yes", said Zim.
Marcy nodded to Marcus in the glass container "What about my brother?"
"He's mine now" said Zim "You're going home alone"
"No" said Marcy, she shook her head "I won't leave him"
"Too bad" sneered Zim "You're going home and this time, you won't even remember that you even had a brother" Zim let a menacing cackle, Marcy's eyes widened in fear.
Zim pressed a button and a large canister attached to an oxygen mask descended from the ceiling.
Zim twisted some knobs on the canister saying "Take one last look at your brother little girl, for this is the last time you will ever see him"
"No!" cried Marcy.
She struggled against the restraints but it was useless.
Zim placed the oxygen mask over the girl's face and within a minute, Marcy drifted off to sleep.
The scene dissolved and Marceline and Lucas were again in a barren street.
This time it was night. Thick grey clouds blanketed the sky. It was several hours after the bombing raid and the two saw that the city was now in an even worse shape.
A large section of the city was reduced to rubble and ash.
All across the darkness, they could see the faint orange glows of fires. Cold rain began to pelt the earth and doused some the fires that burned through the ruined city.
Marceline remembered this street. She remembered that she awoke with no memory of how she got there.
She was lost and confused. The vampire remembered wandering around the ruined city for a few days, trying to find other people but it the city was deserted.
A week later she eventually ran into somebody. A kind antiquarian named Simon Petrikov.
Lucas nudged Marceline's arm, "Watch, this is my favorite part"
Marceline followed Lucas's gaze and she spotted Zim and Gir emerging from an alley carrying a burlap bag.
The alien glanced around and he muttered, "Here is good"
Zim dropped the bag and he opened it.
Zim and Gir lifted Marcy out of the bag and gently laid her out on the cold, damp street.
Zim turned gathered up the burlap bag and he retreated into the alley.
Gir stared down at the unconscious Marcy and said "Bye, Bye!" he turned and took off after Zim.
Several minutes passed and the little girl slowly awoke.
Marcy sat up and rubbed her head. Her eyes blinked open and she glanced around at her surroundings.
Fear appeared in the girl's face "Hello?" she called out. The only reply came from the falling rain.
Marcy got to her feet "Hello? Anybody?" she turned around and she spotted the distant glow of a fire. The little girl took off running towards the nearby light.
With that, the memory faded and Marceline and Lucas were left alone in a dark abyss.
They stood in complete blackness for several minutes.
After a few minutes of nothing, Marceline turned to Lucas "Where's the next memory?"
"There isn't any, that was the last", said Lucas, he shoved his hands into his pockets "We're done. We have reached the end of our little journey"
"We are?" asked Marceline
Lucas nodded.
Marceline sighed in relief "Good"
"That wasn't so bad, wasn't it?" asked Lucas, lightly nudging Marceline's arm.
Marceline smiled a little "I guess it wasn't".
Lucas sighed, "Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye" He extended a hand to the vampire queen and she took his hand.
They shook hands briefly and Lucas turned and began to walk away.
Marceline called after him "Wait! Where do I go? I don't see an exit"
"Don't worry, you'll wake up in a moment" said Lucas, without looking back.
He stopped and turned to face Marceline "Oh and before I forget, I have to tell you that-" but the darkness faded and Marceline's eyes flew open.
Marceline found herself staring up at the familiar face of Bonnibel Bubblegum.
The princess smiled "Oh thank glob, you're awake!"
"Did I miss anything?" asked Marceline, her throat was dry like sand.
The Princess shook her head "Not really" "How long have I been out?" asked Marceline
The Princess's smile faltered "Uh…well, you've been out for three days" "What!" exclaimed Marceline
Suddenly a massive boom rattled the entire room and there were some screaming.
The pink princess darted away and was trying to calm everyone.
Marceline pushed herself up and reality began to sink in. Her arms and legs felt stiff and sore.
The vampire's eyes drank in the scene around her. She saw that she was in a hospital in the Candy Kingdom.
The entire ward was filled to capacity with candy people, doctors and banana guards. There were candy people in the hospital beds, being treated by doctors and banana guards rushed back and forth carrying equipment and supplies.
The vampire's eyes drifted to the window, where she saw large black clouds rise from the city below.
Ignoring the stiff pain in her legs, Marceline forced herself out of bed and she went to the window.
Down below, a large chunk of the outer wall was gone and hundreds of shapes were flooding in like a swarm of ants.
In the sunlight, their armor glinted.
Marceline shielded her eyes. She turned to another part of the city where she saw flashes of purple and heard screams.
Marceline breathed, "What the heck is going on?"
"War" said a familiar voice.
Marceline turned and saw Lucas sitting on a small, wooden chair beside her bed, reading a book titled "War & Peace".
He slammed the book shut and he looked up at the teenage vampire "I told you, you could've stayed and enjoyed a rerun of the golden days"
"What are you doing here?" asked Marceline
"I just want to impart a bit of wisdom to you before I resume my holiday" answered Lucas.
He shoved the book into his suit pocket and rose to his feet. Lucas approached Marceline, his expensive black shoes clacked against the floor of the hospital.
Marceline gulped "What's that?"
Lucas's eyes gleamed, he leaned in close and he said softly "When the time comes, swing hard, don't hesitate and don't miss"
Marceline frowned "What dose that mean?"
Lucas smiled, he backed away and he straightened his tie "Oh you'll know when the time comes".
He glanced at his watch "Oh look at the time, I really must go" he snapped his fingers, a fedora and a pair of dark sunglasses appeared on his head and face "I got a supernova to catch. But don't worry" he winked "I'm rooting for you. See ya!"
Before Marceline could speak, Lucas erupted into a column of dark orange flames.
Marceline shielded her eyes and she could've sworn that she heard wings flapping.
When the light of the fire died down, she saw that Lucas was gone.
She glanced around to see if anyone saw that but no one seemed to have noticed. Marceline saw Bonnible walk by.
The vampire rushed after her and asked, "Bonnie, what the heck going on!"
Princess Bubblegum sighed, "I'm not sure but right now we're under attack"
"By who?" asked Marceline
Princess Bubblegum shrugged "I don't know, they just appeared out of nowhere and attacked the city, we're trying our best to hold them back but we're losing ground".
They heard the doors open and two figures walked in.
The first was Jake and the other, Marceline didn't recognize.
Princess Bubblegum and Marceline approached Jake "Jake, how goes the battle?" asked Princess Bubblegum.
Jake sighed "Not good, those metal soldiers are really tough, we lost two streets and three squads already. If only we had Finn with us"
"I'm not sure if I can be of much help right now" said the newcomer, sounding weary.
Judging from the voice, the newcomer was female. She was dressed in a weird, purple military uniform. She had a strange pack on her back. She had green skin and purple eyes, with a large scar on her face.
Marceline eyed the stranger suspiciously "Who are you?"
"I am General Tak" said the stranger, saluting Marceline "Commander of the armies of the Irken empire"
"You're from Zim's planet, are you?" asked Marceline.
General Tak winced "I am but I represent the authority of my people, Zim on the other hand is a wanted criminal".
A loud boom shook the hospital and everyone flinched.
Marceline's eyes narrowed "Ok, can somebody explain to me what the heck is going around here?"
Princess Bubblegum smiled "Gladly"
"This is going to take forever" muttered Tak.
End of chapter.
(a/n: well what do you think? sorry if its not very good. anyway, review!)