A/N: hello. I'm back already. This was the chapter I said that was half-way finished. I managed to finish it this week. The last part was written less than twenty-four hours ago. I hope it reads well.
Enjoy :)
...
Tak looked down at that lifeless body in shock. Irken blood poured out of the side of his shoulder. She had to look away. The smell of it got to her. It was more powerful than any scent in this alley.
She refocused her attention on that drunken shape to her right. She had no idea what occurred here tonight, or why Zim was arguing with a rotten drunk.
There was yelling, and then she heard Zim's voice in the next alley behind a chain-link fence. She wasn't sure what came over her. His life was in danger, so she acted immediately, and climbed that fence with little effort.
At least she used a low setting. She hoped she did, or the man would never wake up again. There was the smell of fried meat, which could be his brains. Though she only hit the first layer of skin. The smell of charred human flesh was nauseating.
It was hard to remember how she came to this very spot tonight. Some time ago, she had woken up from the strangest of dreams. Although it had not been a dream. Of that much she was sure. She could only wish it were a dream...
There was something not right with her, and these blackouts were just going to persist unless she got help. Is that why Zim was here? Did he mean what he said earlier? Was he even capable of such compassionate behaviour?
She looked down at him once again. There was a softness to her eyes as she glanced at his wound. There was a time in her life where she dreamed of seeing Zim in such pain, but she always wished that it was her who had inflicted it. Not some sorry excuse of a human being. It just wasn't the same.
But she found that it was not the reason why she looked over him now. Could it be pity? He must have been out here looking for her. He had stuck to his word after all. He was willing to help her overcome this disease that had taken over her. Was it possibly a ghost? There was a chill in the air as that thought haunted her mind.
Was there more to life and death?
She kneeled by Zim's side and checked his wound. The wound seemed to be healing nicely, but his grazed skin was coming into contact with the grimy floor. Highly unsanitary. There was the smell of human bodily fluids all over this place.
She saw that bottle in the drunk's hand and grabbed it, pouring a small amount of whisky over Zim's wound. A primitive disinfectant at best, it must burn like heck. Lucky Zim was asleep. That was until he woke up screaming.
Tak yelped and dropped the bottle, grimacing when the whisky splashed on her uniform. That was not the smartest plan. A little hasty for her. Whisky on a wound? How sloppy. It should kill off any infection though.
Zim's eyes rolled back into his skull, as he passed out again from the intense pain. If it could burn a wound like that, then why on Irk did the humans swallow it? These creatures always confused her. It was a shame she never got to destroy them. All because of this pathetic Irken lying beside her.
As much as she tried, she couldn't find it in her to be angry with him now. Not until later at least.
She stood up and wiped her hands over her uniform. What was she going to do now? She couldn't just leave him out here. She would have to carry him back to the base, but he was probably heavy. It was the only option. The base was the last place she wanted to be right now.
She jumped once Zim started to sing. No, it was not Zim, but something inside of his pocket. The song was irritating, and the lyrics were redundant. The humans had strange music.
With caution she picked the thing out of his pocket, and found that it was some remote form of human communication. The music still played. "Incoming call from Dib," was written on the screen.
Tak took a deep breath, and slid aside the button to answer the call. It wasn't hard to figure out.
"Hello?" she said in a clear voice.
She heard the boy gasp on the other end of the phone. "T-Tak? Why... why you answering Zim's phone?! You are Tak, right, and not—?"
"No, it's me, Dib. Nobody else, for now. Zim is unconscious. I guess you were both out looking for me, but then I found him instead..."
"Unconscious? Oh no. What—?"
"It was by no fault of my own. Well, I may have momentarily revived him with some whisky, but then he passed out again. It happens."
"What are you talking about? Where are you?"
"I'm not entirely sure. My surroundings are strange. It's a small, narrow segment between buildings. There's rubbish and the scent of human fluids, and an unconscious, drunken man. Oh, and a rat too..." Tak said as a rat scurried out from beneath the dumpster and into the adjacent wall. "The drunk is the one who attacked Zim."
She heard Dib sigh on the phone. The sound was grating on her antennae. "You're in an alley. The city has its fair share. What part of the city are you in?"
"Maybe about west from where I built my large weenie stand. You remember that, don't you, Dib? Of how I almost destroyed your planet?"
"I need more specifics, Tak!" She seemed to have angered him. The boy heard enough of it from Zim, but Tak's jibe got to him more. Maybe because Tak actually had a chance at taking down his race, and she knew it.
"You do realise who you are talking to, Dib? I am not Zim. I will not be soft with you..." Her voice was deadly.
"Uh, okay... Are there any more clues you can give me?"
"There is a large warehouse to my right."
"It may be the abounded tobacco warehouse. It got shut down because of that drug scandal a few years back. I've had several meetings in there with my secret organisation..." She sensed that he was boasting about that. She didn't really care.
"That would explain the earthy, residual scent. Why exactly do you humans inhale plants, Dib? Too bad I never got to pump out the Earth's magma..."
"Hey, only the messed up humans smoke that stuff! I'm still just a kid!"
"Well, are you coming to find me? Do make it quick. Zim is bleeding profusely. It smells of strawberries..."
"Okay, you're starting to creep me out. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Dib hung up.
Tak placed her head into her hands and gave her antennae a rub. This alley was doing strange things to her mind.
She should really cover up Zim's wound, lest his strawberry-scented blood leaks out all over the floor. His Irken cells weren't cloning fast enough.
She looked inside his PAK's storage compartment, picking her way around his extended spider legs, and pulled out his first aid kit to cover the wound.
It turned out she didn't need to douse him with the whisky after all. There must be some Irken disinfectant in here. Her first aid kit was taken away from her before she was sent to the prisons.
Zim also had a rubber duck stored in his PAK, and a half-eaten donut, but she didn't question it any further.
She found something to cover his wound, as she dressed it nicely. How awful it was to be kind to Zim, but it was necessary. He said he could help her. She somehow thought she could believe him.
...
Dib walked all the way to the alley in his stealth suit. The city was dangerous at these hours; it was best he was invisible. He just had to get home and put it on before he went out again. That was where he dropped off Gaz. He didn't care how tough she was, she was not going out into the city. Gaz didn't put up a fight. She just went upstairs and locked herself in her room. Strange.
He soon reached the abandoned warehouse, and then the alley. There he saw three shapes in the darkness, and tip-toed over.
"Hello, Dib..." Tak greeted upon his arrival. She didn't even turn around.
"Aw man, you knew I was here?"
"Even with the stealth suit on," she said, facing the direction of his voice now. "A word of advice: don't breathe so loud."
Dib pulled off the top part of his suit, and glanced at Zim.
"You dressed him?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes. You don't make any attempts to hide your disbelief, do you, Dib?"
"It's just... you and Zim aren't the best of friends."
"And yet you remind me of how painful of a task it was."
Dib looked over at the drunken human and gasped.
"What did you do?!"
"Did it not occur to you that he may have passed out due to his compulsive drinking? Two bottles, Dib. You have to assume the worst in everyone... "
"He smells like burned meat!"
Tak blinked. "That's what happens when you stun someone with lasers, even if just slightly."
"Stun?"
"Yes, stun. I've checked him. He still has a pulse, though he will have an excruciating headache when he wakes."
Dib walked over to the drunk. He gasped so loud: Tak's antennae perked up like the ears of a dog. She looked at him, irritated.
"Why have you just inhaled that loud breath?"
"That's... that's Peter Fruadstein! And he's unconscious!"
"We already established that... "
"He's an old psychic, well, fake psychic. Man, he hit rock bottom. That's what you get for making a mockery of paranormal research!" Dib barked.
Peter stirred. Dib jumped back, landing in defensive mode. It was pitiful; Tak decided she never saw it.
"Paranormal what?" she asked now.
"Research," he replied. "That's pretty much my thing. It's not solely restricted to aliens and space monsters, Tak."
"You mean like... ghosts?" Her eyes lit up at that question.
"Yes."
She watched him with steady, cool eyes. "You know a lot about this stuff?"
"Too much!"
"Do you know how to rid one of someone's," she swallowed, "body?"
"Yeah, but you would need a priest to perform the exorcism." He regarded her curiously now. "Is this about... you know..."
"I don't want to talk about it. Let's just get Zim back to his ridiculous base."
"Okay, but we'll have to be quick; I'm on a curfew tonight. I need to be back by eight. My dad is going on a date tonight. Only just told me before he has dinner reservations..."
"Why do you have to be home? Is it because of your terrifying, younger sibling? I'm sure she's capable of looking after herself."
"No, I have a new sister now. Despite how smart my dad thinks she is, she's not able to look after herself just yet."
"You have a new sister? How... how... I'm struggling with words. What is a new human child supposed to be?"
"Precious. Sweet. Wonderful. You don't have to try, Tak. I know you're a heartless alien..."
Tak looked taken aback by that; she seemed to deflate a little. "I suppose. Well, you've just given me a reason not to go back to that insipid hole that Zim calls a base. We'll go to yours instead, since you're on a tight curfew."
Dib raised a brow. "Have you just invited yourself back to my house?"
"Yes."
"No way. You're a ticking time bomb! Who knows when you'll explode again."
Tak growled. "Listen, Dib, I've spent too long now in confinement, so forgive me for wanting a little extra freedom. By my estimation, Zim should wake in another hour once his cells have finished multiplying, and then we can discuss things. I refuse to make any further arrangements until I can speak with Zim. I will not be confined again."
"But you're dangerous."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, that much is true, but only by my own command! I will not let this thing control me. Now that I know what is happening, I may stand a better chance."
"You could only hope for that. I saw it take over you. It wasn't pretty."
"I don't need to concern myself with the opinion of a human child..."
"But both of my sisters are in that house. Forgive me for not wanting a dangerous, unpredictable space monster around my month old sister."
"It's a chance I'm willing to take."
"Well I'm not! We can make it to Zim's base if—"
She grabbed his shirt. He yelped. Tak was kind of strong for a space chick.
"We are going to your house, Dib. No more arguing. We can make this simpler than it has to be. If you want, I can wait outside until Zim wakes. That way you can ensure that both of your sisters are safe."
"All right. We won't go back to Zim's base since you hate it so much. Now let go of my shirt. You're creasing it up."
Tak let go of his shirt. Dib brushed himself off. Irkens could be jerks at times.
...
Gaz was watching TV at home. It was just getting to the part where the bats eat the cow — her favourite.
Professor Membrane paced by the window. She ground her teeth several times, and then made a small growling sound. He never stepped in front of the TV, but he was like an annoying fly.
Her father's girlfriend was applying lipstick in front of the mirror. She may be a nerdy science chick by day, but she brushed up well. She was wearing a classy black dress and her hair out. It was long and red. Membrane wore a fancy suit, which just looked like a black lab coat.
"Confound that boy! I told him to be home by 8pm precisely and it is now fifty-seven minutes passed the hour. Where is he, Gaz?" Membrane asked, wringing his gloves in front of her. Now she couldn't see the cow.
"How should I know? We're not exactly in sync," she said, moving her head to see the cow.
"But he is your brother! You share genes! Twenty three of my chromosomes and twenty three of... of an unspecified lady I hardly remember..." Membrane added after a look from his girlfriend in the mirror. "I love you now, dear..."
She smiled and continued applying her lipstick. Gaz eyed him evilly. He was such a kiss up to his new girlfriend...
"Did it even occur to you that I could look after the baby, Dad?" she asked. "I am twelve in a couple of months. She'll be okay for three minutes. No go out already; the bats are about to carry the cow off to their cave..."
Membrane laughed good-naturedly and ruffled Gaz's hair. It stayed in place, as usual... "Daughter, I know you mean well, but there is a reason why Dib is the eldest."
"Because he was born first?" she said.
"Exactly! By rules of nature, the oldest child must be left will all responsible duties while the home providers are away."
"Well what about when I'm sixteen and the baby's four?"
"Not even then!"
"But I'll be in hi-skool?"
"Did you not hear a word of what I said, Gaz? Dib is the eldest, so by default all baby-sitting duties fall onto him."
"Fine, I don't care. I don't wanna be looking after some snotty four-year-old anyway when I'm in hi-skool. I'll be too busy getting drunk and pregnant, like the teenagers on TV!" She tested him next.
"Ha-ha, always my funny child!" Membrane ruffled her hair again.
Dib finally entered the house. He talked to someone outside for a few seconds and shut the door. He came into the living room next to meet his angry father.
"And what time do you call this?" Membrane demanded.
Dib looked at the clock shaped like his father's head. "Seven fifty nine?"
"Yes! Well done, Son. You have failed to disappoint me. Now come along, honey, we have a dinner reservation to make."
She walked over to him and linked his arm, and then they were out the door.
"Goodbye, children!" their father called out.
Dib rushed to the window and saw them leaving down the path. He looked for Tak. She was nowhere in sight. Zim was hidden safely in the bushes. Tak must be hiding.
As soon as his dad was out of sight, he opened the door and dragged Zim inside the house. The alien was covered in leaves and twigs.
Gaz looked up, but she wasn't surprised in the least to see an unconscious Zim. It wouldn't be her first time...
"What happened to him?" she asked.
"He got caught up in a fight with a rotten, lying drunk," Dib replied.
"We really shouldn't have left him alone, should we?" she said.
"I don't think we shoulda. You're gonna have to move off the couch. Zim needs somewhere to lie down until he wakes up."
Gaz got up without protest. Her show was over now once it hit the hour.
"Did you find Tak?" she asked.
"Um, yeah. It's a little weird. Gaz, she's normal again..." he said, eyes widening.
She stared without trepidation. "So where is she now?"
"Outside. I wouldn't let her come inside. I don't trust her to remain in control."
"What's the worst she can do? I still have a can of poop in the fridge."
"I'm thinking of the baby; you know, our little sister, Gaz?"
"Whatever." Gaz went outside to see Tak.
Dib was confused. Why? Catching up with an old friend perhaps?
He shrugged it off and placed Zim on the couch, wiping the sweat off his forehead. The Irken was heavy. Dib had to put his PAK legs away lest they stabbed him in several places. It wasn't easy since they were stiff due to Zim's lack of consciousness, like the legs of a dead spider... He shivered.
...
Tak moved out of the bushes, pulling a twig off her uniform as she went to sit on the front step. There she met those burning eyes of Gaz.
She startled, but soon relaxed once she saw it was just her. Nothing to be afraid of.
"Oh, it's you. I guess I should have expected to see you here."
Gaz never said a thing. She just stared at Tak.
"So... I heard you recently lost your status as youngest child. Congratulations. Middle child status is much better, I've heard."
Gaz's eyes narrowed as she continued to glare.
"Are you going to say anything?"
Gaz looked her over, noticing the blisters on the back of her neck. They were healing pretty nicely. A smirk came over her face next.
Tak finally grew suspicious. "What are you smiling about?"
"Don't you remember? I finally exacted my revenge on you."
"What?"
"Feel your neck..."
Tak groped at her neck and winced. Her eyes lit up. "What did you do to me?"
"Why don't you figure that one out for yourself? Well, I'm going back inside. I'm starting to feel pretty pooped..." Gaz made a start for the door.
"Am I supposed to take some hidden meaning from that last phrase?"
Gaz whirled back around. "I threw poop soda all over you, and then you burned like it was acid rain!"
Things were quiet after that. A dog barked in the next house.
"You horrible child..." Tak growled. "Why exactly did you feel the need to exact revenge on me?"
"You sucked out the magma of my planet. So you better not try anything this time. I'm watching you, Tak."
Gaz gave her a few more intense stares, and then finally re-entered the house.
Who knew Gaz took Tak's mission to heart. Little did she know, it was the fact that she had to get involved in the first place. Kissing GIR was no fun.
Tak sat down at last. Zim better hurry up and wake. There was a lot she wanted to discuss. She hoped she could remain Tak in the next hour, in case of another blackout. She really couldn't remember a thing of her escape. Just vague memories, like a dream.
...
Zim opened his eyes, as he was met with the sight of Membrane's ceiling. Nothing too exciting there.
He groaned, putting an arm over his eyes, and then groaned some more. There was a sharp, throbbing pain to his left shoulder. He felt at the Irken dressing.
He commenced with sitting up next, seeing those three figures in the room at last. Two he recognised as Dib and Gaz, but the one looking out the window was Tak.
"T-Tak!" he called out, wincing.
She continued to gaze out the window, but her antenna moved in his direction.
"You ignore Zim?!"
She seemed to be having some inner battle with herself, resisting the urge to turn around and answer him.
Gaz thought she looked constipated, wondering if her face looked just as bad from the back.
"Tak, I didn't bring you all the way here just to stare out the window. Now face Zim like the viscous Irken you are!" Dib yelled.
"All right. You don't have to yell."
She turned around, looking at everything but Zim. She finally fixed her eyes on him, but then glanced to the left again like a shy skool girl.
Zim was petrified. Who was this imposter Irken? She looked like Tak, but failed to act like her.
"Hey, Zim... what's up?" she said. She really wasn't herself. For one, she was using a high-pitched American accent, like the one she used when she first arrived in class. Her powers of manipulation were wavering, as she was now becoming a shy excuse of her former self.
"What is up with Zim?!" he asked. "Who are you? What have you done with Tak?!"
"I am Tak!"
"No, you are someone else. Not Green Eyes in the least, but you are not Tak either. "
She turned silent, and then glanced the other way again.
Zim seemed to understand. "It's okay. I know you are Tak again. You don't have to convince Zim..."
"Okay?" Tak said. "It's okay that I can't even look my former enemy in the eye, but instead shy away like some stupid skool girl?!"
"Well at least you've finally nailed the 'skool-girl' act," Dib remarked.
"I was always nailing it!" she pointed at him.
Gaz pulled a disgusted face. "Nailing sounds wrong. Stop saying it, or else."
Tak glared at her, and then pulled on her antennae. It looked like it hurt. "I just don't know what is wrong with me anymore. I'm falling apart..."
Zim gave her a wretched look, and then grimaced once he tried to pull himself up off the couch. He staggered on his feet and walked over to her.
"Tak... I won't ever forget what you did for me tonight..."
She put her hands on her face and made a groaning sound. "Oh, save it, Zim."
"No, you will listen to Zim. Without your help, I'd be a... a dead version of myself." Words failed him now. This really was awkward. It was hard to connect with Tak. And sure, the feeling was mutual.
Tak pulled her hands away from her eyes, and watched him strangely. "What?"
"Yes! Dead Zim! Zimmy Zim... all gone... no more!"
Tak sighed and moved away from him. The space between them was already three feet apart. Now it was six.
"Okay, I think we've established Zim's near death experience," Dib said, "but why can't you two just talk to each other like normal people, or Irkens... How do Irkens normally talk?"
"Not like this, I can assure you," Tak replied. "I'd prefer it if we never mentioned this night again. It was just this once, Zim. Keeping you alive is the last thing I want to do."
"So why did you do it?" he asked.
"Because I need you alive. Apparently, you seem to have developed some connection with the paranormal workings of this world, and... you may just be able to help with my illness."
"You claim it was for a selfish reason, but I'll take it as a kind gesture."
"Do as you please; it doesn't change the fact that I still hate you. You're an annoying little creature, Zim, though, unfortunately, we'll have to... work together..." Tak made a hissing sound in disgust.
"Yes, we do..." he said, narrowing his eyes as he watched her heave back vomit, or that was what she was trying to do by the looks of it. How insulting. He should just leave her to suffer. But he won't. He's all about 'morals' now.
"Okay, then it's settled," Dib said, clasping his heads. "Don't we all feel better now that we've talked things through?"
Gaz looked at him, irritated. "What are you now, some cheap therapist?"
He sighed. "I was just trying to make light of the situation. This is pretty awkward. The last time we were all together, we were inside of Tak's giant wiener stand."
"Whatever, I'm going to my room. This conversation is boring now anyway." Gaz stormed off. She hardly noticed Tak bent over in discomfort. Not that she cared anyway.
Zim chuckled, as he put his good arm around Dib. "Heh, heh, such good times, hey, Dib. It flatters me that you remember our first connection as human boy and alien..."
"You threatened to feed my brains to your robot!"
"Such good times..."
Dib shook his head. "So, what happened in the alley? What was Peter doing there?"
Zim let go of his shoulder. His face turned serious. "He was up to no good. Promise me, Dib, that you will never take to alcohol. Not even when you are of age. Seeing what it can do to a human is terrifying. Peter was probably already a sociopath, but just promise me. Think of your sister!"
He was gripping onto his shirt. Dib was getting taller, so they weren't on eye level anymore. It worried Zim — he had to make sure his human boy turned into a satisfactory adult.
"Which one, I have two now?" Dib said.
"Your new one. She needs a good role model. Let's face it, Gaz will never fit that role..."
"Okay, I promise. Now let go of my shirt. That's the second time an Irken has gripped my shirt today. Your claws are sharp."
"Who—"
"Skoodge, of course... It was Tak, Zim. Who else?"
"Oh." Zim pulled away at last.
Dib's eyes fell on the window where Tak previously was. He turned the colour of a sheet.
Zim followed his gaze. His heart almost stopped.
"W-where is Tak?" he asked.
"That's exactly what I want to know!" Dib yelled.
"She's probably outside. I wouldn't worry too much, Dib..." His voice sounded nervous.
Dib heard the nerves in his voice. He was up those stairs in a heartbeat, taking Zim by surprise.
"Wait—!"
He was already out of earshot. So Zim ran after him. What was he doing? Tak wouldn't go up there. Would she?
...
The baby's eyes looked around the room, trying to focus on all the shapes around her. The world was finally coming into one, but it was still strange. Life so far seemed okay; she didn't know who or what she was yet. But she knew she was comfortable. That's all that mattered.
The door creaked open next. The baby stirred. One of the larger creatures had finally entered the room. Was she due another feed? She had only just opened her eyes.
She made a small sound as they neared. Her eyes met that larger creature at last. So far all the shapes and faces she had determined were not like this one. It had forward-facing eyes like the rest of them, but there were strange growths coming off its head. And that bright colour; the glow of it hurt her eyes.
She didn't like this shape as it stared down with those gleaming eyes. It reached its hands into her cot, as she felt those sharp, cold hands lift her up.
It pulled her up to its face. Its glowing eyes hurt; she cried out for it to stop.
It started to speak. Its voice was soothing, but unfamiliar. Was she supposed to feel comforted, or afraid?
Though she never understood the words, they went like this: "Don't cry little smeet. I'm not going to hurt you... yet. Ugly little creature, aren't you? So weak and vulnerable. Disgusting."
Next, the baby released a high-pitched wail. The creature stirred as those glowing eyes disappeared. Now they were a soft colour again.
Tak found herself in another room, holding a plump, fleshy baby. Its cry grated on her antennae, but she remained frozen.
The door opened, and there was Dib.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" he screamed.
He was about to run towards her, until Zim stopped him.
"Dib, stop. It's fine. Look at her eyes..." he pointed at Tak.
"I don't care. She's not supposed to be up here! Why is she holding Rae?"
"She's in shock. Just stay here, I'll handle this."
Dib gave in, putting all his trust in Zim — the alien monster who once tried to take over his planet. How could he let these aliens near his baby sister? He didn't care if they were good now; it just didn't feel natural.
"What's happening?" Gaz came up behind him. She stopped. He could feel the shocked, angry stare on her face; he didn't have to look at her. "What... what is she doing in the baby's room?" she asked, calmly.
He knew Gaz cared as much about Rae as he did; no one lays a finger on her kin after all, except maybe her.
"It's okay. Zim has this under control. Well, he better, anyway." Dib glared at the Irkens. Gaz folded her arms and waited.
Zim approached Tak carefully. The baby had stopped crying now, as it looked up at Tak with small, dark eyes.
"Tak, pass me the baby. It's okay. There is nothing to fear."
Tak looked at him next, but her eyes weren't there...
"I... I don't know what..."
"I know. Zim understands. Now please pass me the human smeet." He held his hands out.
Tak glanced down at the baby. Its eyes were like shiny marbles as it watched her curiously. She broke down. "I don't know what came over me. Was I... hurting it?" She almost sounded concerned. Dib was surprised.
"No, she's fine. Give Zim the baby..."
Tak passed her over and rushed out the room. Zim had no idea what to do with the baby. He at least knew to hold her head.
"Here, I believe this is yours," he said, passing Dib the baby. He held her close.
Zim followed Tak out the door.
"She's not invited here anymore!" Dib shouted next. "Make sure she stays far away from my house, Zim!" Any respect he had for Tak was now replaced with fear. She was just a bomb waiting to explode...
Zim had already reached the bottom step; he had no time to reply. Tak was already out the door.
He ran out the yard and then onto the sidewalk. There he saw Tak moving down the street. He caught up with her just in time with his PAK legs. Tak was on foot.
"Tak, stop!" he yelled, jumping in front of her. She bumped into him.
She bared her teeth. "Move out of my way!"
"But where are you going?"
She hadn't even given it thought. "I don't know. I needed to get away from there. This was a mistake; I shouldn't have come to Dib's house..." She buried her face into her hands again.
Zim didn't know what to say. Was she crying? Her eyes were glistening in the street lamp just now.
So he moved his hand over to her shoulder, and placed it down gently. Tak stiffened. She turned to glare at his arm.
He moved his hand again. That was a big mistake.
"It's all right. I know you wouldn't have hurt the baby..." he said, playing with his fingers.
"You think that's what I'm worried about? Something is wrong with me, and I'm terrified. This... this spirit is taking over me."
"Well that much is obvious, but not if we stop her first. Now come back with me to the base. I promise I won't lock you up. The Tallest don't have to know. You're safe."
"I don't care about them..."
Zim looked to the ground. "Me neither."
Tak stared at him. "You, Zim, don't care for the Tallest anymore?"
"Well what have they ever done for me?" His face was stoic. She was speechless.
"There may just be hope for you yet, Zim. It seems you've finally woken up."
"Yes, and it's my clear, level-head that is going to help you get through your ordeal. Now let's get to the base."
Zim marched off. Tak had no other choice but to follow. Though this was a whole new side to Zim that she never knew existed.
A/N: I know I said last week that I wasn't sure when I'd update, but keep an eye out for me. I doubt I'll be able to write something within the next week, but we'll see what happens.
Only Gaz has twenty three of the Professor's chromosomes. Dib will have Membrane's exact set of chromosomes, all forty six, since he's his clone. So that would be Membrane's parents' genes. Dib never technically had a biological mother. All of Membrane's genetic information was placed in a surrogate mother's egg cell, as it grew as a fertilised egg would. Gaz must have had a biological mother; could have been the same woman who was a surrogate mother for Dib. That's where she gets her twenty three other chromosomes. I have never mentioned their mother in these fanfiction series. I had it originally that she was an egg donor, but I erased that part out. It was just too much of an info dump, like this really...
All of this is just my own speculation for the sake of this fanfiction. Not canon in the slightest.
I don't know who their mother is, or if she were a part of their lives. The cast at InvaderCon said she was in a jar, as you see a jar in Membrane's lab with "Mom" written on it. I don't recall the jar, however.
This may be interesting to point out. Here it goes: Clairvoyance takes place in 2052. I pretty much picture that the valentines day episode with Tak happened in the February of that year. That episode aired in 2002 in our world, fifty years before Clairvoyance takes place. Tak mentioned that fifty years prior to the episode was when Zim ruined her life and caused the blackout, thus ruining her chances of becoming an Invader. So in these fanfiction series, that incident took place in 2002 when the episode aired. I love how that worked out. It was unintentional.
So, I guess this is goodbye. For now.