Authors Note:
I'm back! Review so I know what you like or don't. Constructive criticism is
appreciated though just saying 'this sucks man.' Isn't really helping my writing
skills. That's right I'm looking at you! You know who you are, you were thinking of
writing it!
Warning: this chapter is very long mainly because it's professor membranes POV
and contains a flashback.
Chapter 6: Shri-Lakshmi's sickness
Professor Membrane couldn't feel the steering wheel under his gloves. He couldn't feel the cushions in the car seat. All he could feel was exhaustion. He couldn't do this anymore. He physically couldn't do it. It was too emotionally draining. Professor Membrane sighed and looked at his two kids in the back seat. Gaz was playing her GS2 while Dibs head hung dejectedly. Professor Membrane sighed. God he loved them so much but. .. he felt an involuntary groan come from his chest. Why did Dib have to be so ... difficult?
"Son? You still haven't answered me." Membrane asked looking into the rearview mirror. Dib looked up from the floor in surprise.
"What?" Dib asked. Membrane let out a small sigh. His son was like him in most ways, like his mother in others. His head was always in the clouds or somewhere in La La land. He repeated himself. "Oh uh well. Oh how do I explain this hmm- HE'S AN ALIEN! I was gathering proof!"
Membrane finally snapped.
"Enough Son, ENOUGH! Enough with the monsters, zombies, werewolves, vampires AND ESPECIALLY ALIENS! No one has ever found proof, no one has ever found anything conclusive and no on ever will because-THEY-DO-NOT- EXIST. You will drop all this nonsense, GROW UP and STOP DRIVING ME CRAZY! God its like your-OHMYGODAMIME!" He jerked the steering wheel sharply to the right. A body flew over the hood of the car and over the side. Professor Membrane slammed on the brakes. Everybody in the car was completely silent. Gaz and Dib turned around in their seat looking out the back window both eyes wide open like moons. Oh my god I killed a mime. "Is he dead?"
"I don't know Dad ... he's too quiet." Dib said softly.
Professor Membrane turned in his seat to face Dib. He raised his eyebrows, "Really? A mime joke?"
"Dad, the mimes alive." Gaz plainly stated as the mime got up and started walking away.
"Yes I can see that Gaz." He turned in his seat and drove off. Ah Gazette, you're so beautiful. You're so much like your mother. They drove in silence until they pulled into the driveway in their small suburban neighborhood. Their houses deep blue paint contrasted nicely with the now orange sky. He opened the blue car door strode to the doorway, his children following like ducklings. Professor Membrane twisted open the knob and hummed a little as he walked in to the house. He remembered why he was so mad before in the car.
"Son, go to your room until the shrink gets here. Honey, be a good girl." ProfessorMembrane then walked out of entryway, into the kitchen and down the basement steps. He walked past the bare brick walls to a filing cabinet near the steps. He pulled open the top most drawers and reached for the file in the back. He read the file in the back, O. O. Oh god how he missed Devi so much. He'd been meaning to call her for years now to see how she was doing but. .. he truly couldn't bring himself to do that either.
What if she is still crazy? What if she's moved on?
He sighed taking the file upstairs to the round table in the middle of the kitchen. He flipped open manila folder, pulling a chair up behind him. On the first page was a snapshot of a pale woman with natural purple hair, piercings and heavy black eyeliner. Her eyes were brilliant amber shells in a sea of white foam. He picked up the picture gingerly with his black gloves. Even though it had been 10 years since she had rejected him he could still remember the day they meet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Sir, maybe we should just give up."
"Nonsense you infernal intern! We will not 'give up' because she's out there ... somewhere", Professor Membrane sighed looking at the folders. Not one woman had shown up that would have good genetic material. They were either stupid, had a prison record, or were crazy raving lunatics who came in and told him that he was violating the greatest rule in the bible or whatnot. He wasn't trying to be picky but SCIENCE demanded a perfect biological mate. Plus he was creating his children. It would be nice if the mother played a part in their lives. The few good ones that showed up were either horrible in social etiquette or wouldn't be compatible with his DNA. "How many more are left?" he asked the intern with the blue lab coat whose name he couldn't remember. The intern looked down at his clipboard.
"We've done 36 and that leaves us with ... 67 left." The intern replied looking up from the clipboard he held. Membrane put is face in his hands. "Cheer up sir! It'll be over soon. I mean some guys would dream of meeting women who deliberately wanted to have sex with them."
Professor Membrane gritted his teeth, "I'm not having sex with them. I'm reproducing genetically similar clones of me and the woman of my choosing."
The intern blinked, "You mean ... like sex?"
Professor Membrane just pointed to the door in the small square office opposite of the desk. "Just go get the next woman and leave me the hell alone."
The intern walked over to the door and hollered out into the waiting room. "15? 15, your up!"
"Isn't it a little ... oh I don't know ... demeaning to be called in like we're in line at Giant Eagle?" a woman voice answered back.
"Look do you wanna come in or not?" the intern replied impatiently.
"To be honest I don't but my friends pressured me into this." Professor Membrane heard the clicking of boots as she got up and walked towards the door. Professor Membrane spun around in his swivel chair so that the girl couldn't see him. The intern did as he was instructed to do and closed the door loudly as soon as the woman walked through the door. As soon as he heard the woman jump he would spin around for "big reveal" as he liked to call it. It didn't really affect the way they looked but it did make the process more interesting. He waited for the jump or squeak of some kind but it never came. Instead he heard the woman make an annoyed "huh." then sit down in the chair in front of the desk. Now or never, he thought. He spun around in his chair.
His first thought about the woman? Oh, look her hair is purple. His second? Holy shit. If he had been asked to describe the woman in front of him he would've said supper model meets that-creepy-goth-punk-that-hangs-out-behind-the-ma ll. Her body was slender but not ridiculously skinny like that super model had been earlier. Her skin was an ivory white until it reached the cheekbones where the subtlest of rose pink bloomed underneath her skin and swept towards her cheekbones before slowly fading. She had an angular face with angular features and two piercings on her ears. Her hair was a deep purple and was cut into a pixie bob. Her eyes were masked with heavy eyeliner. Her eyes were brilliant amber brown that flashed and taunted him even as he was staring. But what really set her apart was her poise. Even sitting on a lowly folding chair she held herself with a certain stature; politely stiff yet perfectly at ease. She wore a purple top with a black tank underneath with black pants and black boots. She was a queen. She was an angel, a Gothic Angel.
Oh. My. God. Is this what love at first sight is? What it really is?
"Uh hello? If you're done staring at me I'd like to go now." The woman said in atone that indicated she was used to being extolled. Membrane jerked back into reality. Membrane flipped through the papers on the clipboard embarrassed.
"What? Oh yeah." he coughed scanning over the resume. "So ... Devi Durga? That's Hindu right?"
"Why yes, yes it is. It's funny ... you're the only one who has ever got that." Devi's eyes widened in surprise with what looked like a smile crept into her face. "Are you a Hinduist?"
"Oh no. I read myths and things like that for a dose of culture and entertainment. I can respect that people have their beliefs and things like that but science is my religion. It isn't good to believe in things without proof. It leads to delusions and a loss of better judgment." Professor Membrane explained. She had 2 goddess names in her name ... was she a-? He narrowed his brow. "Are you a Hindu-ist?"
"No but my great grandparents were. Personally I have no true religion. All religions are guidelines for how to be a better person and are all interconnected in some way or another. To belong to one is to belong to all in a way so you could say I believe everything and nothing." Devi explained nodding.
He decided to make a list of positive and negative things about her on her resume. Just because she has a fascinating ... well everything doesn't make her a good person. Professor Membrane told himself, Wait and see it through to the end Membrane. Nevertheless he found himself enjoying her company. "So how do you feel about this?"
"How do I feel about this as in the situation we're in right now or how do I feel about this experiment?"
"Hmm both I suppose." Professor Membrane responded, leaning forward in his chair. The more this woman talked, the more intrigued he felt towards her. Also the more puzzled he became as to why this woman was interested in this sort of work.
"Well as for the situation we're in right now I think that it is degrading to be called in like we're waiting for a pizza instead of coming in to talk about creating a child with another human being. As to how I feel about the experiment well ... " She paused with a shrug before continuing, "I think it's amazing to think of creating another human being. However I think it'lIlead to designer babies. It'll be a sad world where babies are made to order instead of imperfect and beautiful like they should be."
Membrane gave a small whistle, "Wow. Wait if you personally feel this way, why are you here? No offense but, you don't seem like the type of person that could be forced to do something she didn't want to do."
He thought he saw a flicker of fear flash in her eyes but as soon as he saw that it vanished. "I don't know actually. Anything's better than staying at home. My friends Tenna and Tonja both thought it would be fun thing to do. Personally I think my conscience talked me into it. My conscience has been speaking out a lot lately." Devi drifted off silently. She gave a small chuckle, "You know what my friend-Tenna, thought reproductive cloning was ... sex. I had to explain to her for five minutes straight that it wasn't sex. Can you believe that?"
"Yes." Professor Membrane said flatly. Devi gave him a quirky look. "But what do you mean 'better than staying at home'? You say that like you don't want to go back."
"Maybe I don't. I really don't know what's what anymore." Devi droned out dismally in exasperation and -what sounded like- defeat. She gave out a small sigh and hung her head. "If I told you the truth you'd think I was insane."
"Well, you put down you're an artist right?" He asked.
"Yes and?"
"Lets assume its all part of the artistic process or what not." Devi made a small sad smile at that, making him feel warm inside.
"Professor Membrane, its time to switch." The intern walked in surprisingly perkily. "Ma'am, I'm afraid you have to-"
"No. Leave us." Membrane found the words leaving his mouth without ever remembering thinking them. Two faces stared back at him both with mingled surprise. "Tell the rest to go home that is Devi, if you want to do this. I won't force you to if you don't want to." Please let her say yes, please let her say yes. He silently begged the universe in his head.
Devi shifted awkwardly in her chair. She stared at the floor, then at him, then at the painting that hung behind him. Her eyes took on a blank expression as she spoke. "Yes. I want this. Lets get started."
"Great! I'll tell everyone else to go home then." The intern said smiling. He turned and strode through the door, "Ladies who wants to come home with me tonight?"
Professor Membrane face palmed and turned to Devi in annoyance. He froze when he saw her face. "I know what to do. Thank you Professor Membrane." Her voice had a soft oily edge to it. She stood up eyes fixed upon the painting.
"Devi. Are you all right? Devi!" Professor Membrane walked around the mahogany desk, reaching for her wrist. As soon as he touched her she exploded. She grabbed his wrist and twisted pulling him down. He felt her elbow in his back and suddenly he was on the floor. He groaned, heaving himself up. Oh my back. Note to self:Never surprise Devi.
"What? OH MY GOD! ARE YOU OKAY?" Devi gasped in ... shock? What that didn't make any sense. She had her hands cupped over her mouth. She bent down next to him trying to help him up. "It was me wasn't it? I am so sorry. I just. .. ugh this is why I don't go out. Bad things happen. Ever since I met him."
"I don't want to put a damper on your soliloquy but I think you dislocated a disk. Ow." Professor Membrane half hauled, half dragged himself into the folding chair. He looked up at Devi. Devi was leaning against the desk, her cheeks a burning crimson, eyes downward.
"I am so, so sorry." She softly whispered. Devi looked up. Her heavy mascara was starting to drip from the tears that were flowing from her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling biting her lips. "I-I thought that since it had been a while that maybe I wouldn't be sick but-" She bit her lips and looked down. "Don't worry. I'm not going to bother you-"
"Devi. Enough." He had to interrupt before she burst out running. Devi froze. He leaned back into the chair. He couldn't keep the slight disgust from his voice. "Clearly you've got problems. Don't dwell on them like this. It always leads to the worst of things. It creates a delusion that you are the center of the universe but no one is. There are people worse off than you Devi. There will always be. I don't know what's been going on Devi, but instead of acting like this help yourself, do something about it. You're better than this
." He slowly stood up, wincing all the way to Devi, where he offered her a tissue. "Now calm down, take some deep breaths and wipe your eyes. You're starting to look like a clown with your mascara running like that."
Devi took the tissue and wiped her eyes. Wiping made it worse however, and ended up making her look more like a raccoon. He couldn't help but laugh, earning him a deadly glare on Devi's part. But that only made it worse.
"What exactly is your problem? Do you have personality disorder or something?" she spat crossing her arms. He could hear her tapping her black boots against the carpet. "Well? You going to laugh at my pain some more?"
"What no, no just. .. do you have a mirror?" he was able to wheeze out when he was calm enough. Devi pulled out a small makeup mirror from her pocket and flipped it open. Her face went slack.
"Oh my god. I look like a fucking raccoon."
That was it. He couldn't hold it back. He collapsed to the floor clutching his sides. Soon Devi joined him on the floor from laughing so much.
He wished it had ended there. He wished they hadn't continued to see each other. He wished he hadn't told her he loved her. Maybe she wouldn't have left without a trace. Maybe ... she would've come to the lab and been with him instead of at her apartment when... Enough membrane. Don't make yourself a hypocrite. Membrane pulled himself out of his funk. He flipped to the back where a small business card was paper clipped. Unhooking it gently, he studied it. Devi had disappeared from his life but one of her friends hadn't. Maybe she could help Dib.
I should probably go see if he's okay. He tucked the business card in his pocket and strode out of the kitchen, leaving the file on the kitchen table. He headed through the arch and made his way up the steps. He gazed down at little Gazette playing her video games in the living room. Maybe she'll be a designer. He moved his way down the hall to the second door on the left. He found Dibs room deserted with the window open. Panic flowed through him. "SON!"
"Yes?"
Membrane whirled around and saw nothing. He took a few steps into the room hands behind his back. "So you finally finished that invisibility serum, have you now?"
"What? No that was a dead end. I accidently discovered a cure for liver spots though. I'm on the roof."
"Son, nothing good comes from being on top of roofs. Get off the roof and into your room." Membrane ordered shaking his head at the ceiling.
"How do I know you're not going to hand me over to some white suit crazy people? I'm not crazy," he stated defiantly. Professor Membrane sighed and leaned his head out the window. He could see his pale face reflected in Dibs glasses. Dib scowled and disappeared. Membrane sighed. "You're going to make me come up there, aren't you?"
"Alright I'm coming up." Membrane started climbing out the window. He balanced himself precariously on the window sill.
"Woah, wait seriously?" Dibs head popped up out in disbelief. He calculated the distance from the sill to the the gutter. His son pulled a white rectangle out and held it camera lens forward towards him. Membrane froze eyeing the device with what was curious confusion.
"Son, what is that?" Membrane asked his brow narrowing.
"My iphone."
"Well yes but what are you doing with it?" Membrane asked impatiently.
"Oh I'm videotaping this. Youtube." Dib answered nonchalantly.
Membrane raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Son. So glad to see you care about my well being." Leaping, he grabbed the side of the house and used the momentum to swing his legs over the gutter, rolling onto the roof.
"Hey, I was concerned." Dib protested looking at his phone slightly disappointed. "I had 911 on speed dial." Dib sighed putting the phone into his pocket. He rose from his knees heading over to the center of the roof. All around there were papers, charts, and even something that looked like a microwave with a radio antenna attached to it. Dib sat in the middle of the mess, pulling his waistcoat around him.
"Son, what is all this?" Membrane pulled himself up and walked over. The papers were littered with complex equations that seemed to be calculating coordinates. He sat down next his son and picked up one. This one seemed to be the finished equation. The answer was RA 2h 31m 49s. Dib took the paper from his hands.
"I've been trying to figure out where exactly planet Irk is. I was able to retrieve some information from Taks ship before it went AWOL on me but not all of it." Dib pushed up his glasses. He pointed towards the spot near the Polaris star. "I think that I got it right this time. I've done so much research. It should be in the same solar system as Polaris."
Oh, my poor insane son, Professor Membrane thought. He pulled Dib into the crook of his arm, pulling him close. "Son? Why on earth do you believe all this nonsense? Your smart enough to skip grades, even work with me in the lab yet you believe all THIS."
Dib pulled himself out of his embrace and began pacing back and forth before standing hands on his hips while Membrane dialed the number for the shrink, barely listening to a word his son said.
Dib began to pace back and forth before standing hands on his hips while Membrane dialed the number for the shrink. "Dad ever since I was born, I've noticed everything. I've seen and heard things that nobody else notices and when I try to explain they think I'm crazy! I'm not crazy Dad. I know I've got something big planned for me. I'm the earth's only defense against enemies from beyond. My destiny's not on earth, Dad, its beyond that, over the stars!" Dib gestured dramatically at the star-studded sky while Professor Membrane talked on the phone. Closing it, he took Dibs hand and pulled him close so that their faces were an arms length apart.
"Son, I really need you to listen to me. You can not keep doing this." Professor Membrane stressed. He grabbed his sons' shoulders. "The consequences will be dire! I won't be able to get you out."
Dib gave his a doubtful look. "Dad, with you everything's dire."
"Ugh." Membrane drawled. "Just promise me you'll at least try to keep it down. Okay?" he squeezed his son's shoulders, begging him to understand. Dib looked sadly at the grey shingles beneath their feet. For a long while they just stood like that. Membrane patiently kept his face a mask of concern, while silently begging for him to understand and follow through. Finally he was rewarded with a quiet,
"Yes Sir."
You have no idea how happy I am that you're going to try. Now lets get off this roof." Membrane stood up pointing to the sky. He turned on heel and headed towards the gutter. He looked over his shoulder to see Dib following after him, looking down. Good idea too, since the roof was a slippery place. He lowered himself down, gripping the sides, landed on the narrow ledge and stooped through the window. He leaned out just in time to see Dib slip from the gutter. He stretched out his arms and caught his screaming son by the neck of his overcoat. "And that son," he said dropping Dib on his bed, "is why we don't play on the roof. The therapist will be here in a few minutes, Son. Try not to break your neck while I'm not here."
"Wait you mean," Dib hopped off the bed, disappointment laced his voice, "n-not staying?"
Membrane turned in surprise. "Why no. I'm needed back at the lab. Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Dib looked down at the floor. Membrane went over to him and ruffled his hair making the scythe like piece of hair stick up like a porcupine.
"Alright. I'll be back soon. And Son ... stay off the roof."
Authors note: Did you like it? Don't worry we'll be seeing Zim next chapter ... he might not
be alive but don't worry you'll be seeing him. And now a quote from JTHM to entertain
you: "You are all zombie thigh-fat people brought into reanimation by some evil force of
forceful evil!" Later gators. Remember to review.