The Scientist

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He watched her sadly. All the good feelings that Zim had brought back were wiped away by her expression, making him feel guilty for being able to forget for one moment. For one moment he had been able to slip from their father's chains.

Not that he knew they were there.

He headed upstairs to his room. He had not gotten any sleep the night before, finding himself just staring up at his now blank ceiling. With his eleven o'clock job, he would have to get some sleep if just to give a good enough impression. Dib had no idea how long it would take for the labs to be repaired, the people were still doing damage estimates. Not that Dib was in much of a hurry for it to be back in business. The scientists that worked there were busy enough making sure other tests and chemicals were fine and moved until it was safe to bring them back. But there was some things that could not be moved, the place needed to be fixed. And Dib was apparently the only choice for taking the leadership of the Membrane Corporations.

Just to think, in a bit I'll be condemned to spend my life in real science, just what you wanted. Real funny, Dad.

He lied in bed, staring at the ceiling. He did not even bother trying to go to sleep. He was too busy trying to figure out what he should do next, what he would be forced into doing.

Tomorrow, he would go to the labs.

He had not gotten any sleep, rushing out a few hours later to be picked up by Bill. By early the next morning with the cold of snow, he only managed to collapse on the couch to fall asleep. A trickle of water falling on his face was what woke him up.

Gaz stood over him with a glass of water. She put it upright when she saw his eyes were open.

"I'm going out," she said plainly and without waiting for an answer, left him there. Dib wiped the water off of his face and glasses while sitting up. He smoothed his hair over as he looked over at the clock. Two thirty-eight. He did not even want to think of how he was going to deal with his schedule when skool started up again.

Even though he had a sneaking suspicion that he wouldn't be going back there.

He made it to the site of rebuilding by three. The scientists who once ignored him and did not know who he was, swarmed him with questions and probabilities of this and that. It was almost as if he was Membrane.

Which he wasn't.

Please don't do this to me.

Finally getting rid of his self-placed escort by giving them other things to do, Dib wandered down past the safely marked areas, down into the still destroyed areas. There was no one else there, Dib finally was alone. Funny, how he didn't want it when he finally had it. He had thought it would be good to have attention.

Not this way... no...

He figured that he might not have wanted to be there, where his father died, but for some reason that was not the thing that was bothering him.

"Why did you die Dad? Hasn't it been worse before?"

Dib gingerly set his foot down on the charred black floor. Sliding it back, he made a dark streak on the grey dust. He started shaking, but willed it away. He had to stay strong. Strong for Gaz.

Hell, when have I ever been strong for Gaz? Why should I be strong for Gaz?

Because...

Despite that fault, or maybe because of it, the shaking continued. Dib set his foot back down, only to be echoed with another.

"He died because he was far from careful," drawled another voice. Dib started, wheeling around to face the person who spoke. He was wearing the scientists garb, but Dib recognized his face. "And far from honest."

"Mr. Fortif?" he asked, wondering what he was doing here. Dib felt suddenly cold as he brought out a gun.

"To you, maybe," the scientist sneered. "Others, like your father, might know me as Simmons, Membrane's right hand scientist. But I became weary of him taking more credit then he deserved."

"You-" Dib grasped for breath as he took one step back. He became weary...? His dad's death was not... an accident? "You mean you..."

"But he had it that YOU would take over," Simmons spat, stepping forward. "I'm tired of being second, no one ever notices second place!" And with that, he shot off a few rounds, Dib breaking for it. One of the bullets made it's mark in his shoulder, nearly making Dib pitch forward. But he was used to running, if not running away, and continued with the gun shots coming up from behind him.

Dib headed up the stairs, feeling shots nearly hitting his legs. The pain was becoming unbearable. He was nearing the top of the staircase when he tripped on a loose board. Instantly, the ground went out from under him. Splitting pain shot through his body as the shots stopped and Dib found himself tumbling down into darkness.

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