Sorry this chapter took so long. I was lazy.

(Dib POV)

We were FINALLY heading back to the ship. Gir and I searched everywhere and couldn't find any form of life that wasn't plant related. Admittedly though, some of the plant life here was rather interesting. Some flowers I found were constantly changing colors and I saw trees that had pink and yellow bark. I rustled my hand into my pocket to feel the leaves from said trees that I had collected. I would do some testing when I came back home.

Trailing behind Gir, I moaned. God, I seriously hope I won't have to wear this leash thing much longer. Gir dragged me around so much that I have no doubt that there were red marks all around my neck. The worst part was it itched and I can't get to the skin to scratch it. I really hope I'm not allergic to whatever type of bark these sticks have. I shifted my head around to try to make myself more comfortable, and looked about as I did so.

We were about three to four hours away from the cruiser. I could tell by the familiar surrounding. It took us about three to four hours to get to here from the ship yesterday. Suddenly, I felt a drop of cold hit the top of my head and slide down the side of my face. Great, it was going to start raining soon and we still had a long walk ahead of us.

Wait. Raining? "Hey Gir?"

"Yeas" He replied without looking back and kept his pace.

"Is Zim gonna be alright in the rain? Cause, back on Earth, I know that his body doesn't react well to the water." A couple more drops landed on my head.

"Ummm." He stopped and I nearly ran into him, considering we were at such close range because of the leash. "I think he'll be okay." Gir turned now to face me. "Zim will prObably find shelter. Like a twee or something." Gir shrugged, turned back, and proceeded walking.

"Let's hope he finds a big enough tree."

"What was that Dib?" I didn't say anything.

"I didn't say anything."

"You said you hope Zim finds a big tree, I think." Oops ... Did I say that out loud?

"Well, I mean. I can't see space or get back home without him, so, he needs to be alright. I have no idea how to fly that ship of his." I could see a smirk appear on Gir's face from the side of his head. What was he smirking about? My answer was totally legit. I really can't get back home if he's injured too badly. That's all I meant. The wriggling, happy-faced Zim flashed through my mind once again. Why do I keep remembering that?!

"You know, I broughted us here, so I's could bring you through space AND back to Earth."

"Uhh, that's true I guess, but YOU are Zim's minion thing. So, you can't just leave him, right?"

"Dats true."

"... So, I need Zim to get back home, 'cause I need you to get back home, and you need Zim to tell you when to leave and what to do, and ... yeah."

"Okie-dokie! If that's what you say!"

(Zim POV)

Funx! Rain?! Really? This planet's more like Earth than I thought. I didn't know it rained here! I thought the plants got their water through some underground root system that lead to water sources. Erg. I had paste back at the ship, but non with or on me at the moment. I felt my skin sizzle and some slight pinches on the top of my head. I needed to find shelter but ... I looked all around me from where I stood. There was nothing in sight but grass. I knew that my only chance was either the cruiser, which was around four miles away, or the forest by the ship, which was also far away. "Might as well try." I shrugged my shoulders and began to make a mad run for the Voot. I knew it was stupid and completely pointless, but there's no harm in trying.

As I ran, the sizzling on my skin became more constant and the pinching had fuzzed into more of a burning. Yeah, I'm in some deep trouble. ... I wonder if Gir could hear me from here. I'm most certain he can't, but here goes nothing. "Gir! Your master requires emergency assistance!" The burning started to become more and more intense. Sequels were escaping my mouth because of the pain. I placed my hands on my head, still continuing to run. The burn was still painful but it was mostly on my hands now, which was preferred as compared to my head. But I knew that soon, the water would reach more places on my body.

I probably got about a mile in before I collapsed face down on the ground. (I'm a trained soldier, so it only took me about four minutes to run it.) The rain had now started to completely pour down. And hard. The burning pain had blended with stinging and throbbing pain. It was all over my body, except for my eyes, which I had shut by now. I could feel the rain seeping it's way into my flesh. I attempted to activate my PAK legs, but my PAK wasn't responding. It was, most likely, too filled with water to respond properly.

Dig. Dig. Dig. I began ferociously tearing at the ground, throwing aside the black, mushy dirt. My pace quickened, and soon, there was an indentation in the ground just big enough for a small body. I nuzzled myself into it and began to cover myself with the dirt I had flung away until I was buried. I took in deep breaths as the pain had started to subside a little. The dirt itself was damp, but it was a lot better than being poured on.

This wasn't going to hold up forever. It would start leaking through at any moment. I grounded my teeth, still in immense pain. I shortened my breaths and tried to relax as best as I could.

_"Zi-Zin! Is that you ... Here, let me get closer!" (Zim ran closer to the figure standing in the distance. The whole area is predominantly black, as if it were night time. He runs until he is standing directly behind the figure, who turns around.) "Dib!? But, I thought you were ... where is-"

"He's gone, Zim. You are never going to find him."

"Bu- the Tallest, they said he-"

"You are never going to find him._

We're never going to find him! ...which is bad, cause then I'll be stuck here!"

I bit my tounge and freed my mind from the daze it was in. Whatever I had daydreamed about was already forgotten. Was that, Dib's voice out there? I heard another sound. It was the noise of falling rain and ... the Voot! Gir must be landing the ship over here! I jerked a bit to try and free myself from the hole I made for myself, with little success. I attempted to claw through, but my hands were to sore to move. I even tried to yell, but when I opened my mouth, damp dirt entered my mouth. Please find me.

My wish was, fortunately, answered within a few minutes. I heard some metal clicking from Gir walking around and then soon after, felt the dirt around me shifting as I was being dug up. The dirt was finally all cleared off of me and hovering over me was Gir, who was using his head to block the rain. I noticed his eyes were glowing red. He must have heard my command from earlier! Thank Hort for his enhanced hearing!

"Emergency assistance in action, sir!" Good Gir. He lifted me into his tiny arms and carried me to the ship while hunching his body over me. We entered the Voot, completely blocked from the evil sky water. I was sat down into the passenger seat. "Emergency assistance deactivated. Hiya Zim!" I smiled, just happy to be out of the downpour. My smile, however, was short-lived and replaced with a grimace. I felt terrible. I eyed about the ship. Where'd Dib go? I looked through the windshield and saw my answer. He was running towards the ship.

He made it and entered, momentarily letting in some water, which stung. "Gir, you found Zim!"

"I did!? Hurray!" Silly Gir.

"Yeah. Good job!" The Dib scootched towards me and frowned. "Zim, are you okay? You, ... don't look so great." I wasn't expecting that.

"Zim will be fine by tomorrow if my PAK gets drained. It'll heal me faster." I made a signal at Gir to do just that. I felt Gir go towards my backside and I heard a chik as he opened my PAK up to allow it to drain. "Why does the Dib care if Zim is okay?"

"Well, I can't exactly zoom through a space adventure or get home without you." I see. I looked up towards the Dib's face. His eyes grabbed a hold of mine, but before I was totally lost in them, my peripheral vision caught something. "Where's your leash!?"

"Uh, Gir took it off of me. When he got your command, he unleashed me so I could help find you. Honestly though, I didn't do much but look around here. He's the one who super flew us to the ship and then flew us over here, and then actually found you. I have no idea how he knew which area to find you in, though."

"He knew because he has a sort of tracking scanner built into him. He only didn't completely know where I was because the signal was probably weaker from me being buried."

"Hmm, well, is there anything you need that can help? You look like your in a lot of pain." Wait, I thought he only cared about his stupid adventure and getting home. Why does he care if I'm in pain? As long as I heal, he shouldn't care.

"Zim requires nothing as of now ... just be silent and allow me to rest."

(Dib POV)

As he slept, he looked awful. I, I felt bad for him. I didn't want to, but I did. Erg! He's my enemy! Why do I feel bad that he's hurt! I tried to brush it off as me just hoping he healed quickly so we could get going but, gah! I couldn't help but feel so sorry for him. His skin was a brighter green from being burned and his breathing seemed uneven. I inhaled slowly to calm my, whatever I was feeling.

This is all because he's in a lot of pain right now. No moral person could look at him and not feel bad. As soon as he is better tomorrow, I'll go right back to disliking him.

Morning came quick. I opened my eyes as dark orange light flooded in through the windshield. I noticed that the rain had stopped. I looked over at Zim and saw that he looked much, much better. Completely healed even. After a couple of hours, Gir and Zim had woken up, too and we were off for the next planet with Gir at the controls again. As we left the planet's atmosphere, I asked Zim, "So, do you plan on searching EVERY planet out here?"

"No Dib-worm. Just planets with little to no intelligent life and planets that are enemies of Irk. My brother is wanted, so he will automatically be sought out on other planets."

"Uh-huh. So, what happens if another planet finds him?"

"I'll probably be informed, considering I'm the Ace of this operation, and bring him to my Tallest."

"... Where are we headed next?"

"Planet Hedrit. Another ball of vegetation, ... and water, which I will be more prepared for."

We flew through the ateroid belt once more and past planet Flubdrit's dark orange Sun. It would apparently take us only half a day to get to Hedrit. Man, Irken ships were fast.

We zoomed through space and this time, I was able to enjoy the sights, as I wasn't in the trunk this time. I was sitting on my knees in front of the passenger seat, where Zim sat. This planet trip should be my much more interesting. Zim promised not to place anything around my neck.

As I enjoyed the sights of distant stars and planets, I mentally slapped myself. My feelings for Zim hadn't changed since yesterday. I still felt bad for him, and I had no idea why.