A/N: so here's chapter fourteen. How long has it been? Three weeks? This only took a week to write in total, but not all in one straight week. I had to write it every several days. Even if it weren't for the job, I'd still find it hard to write. You just can't rush these things. It took about a week till I had the motivation to write more. Plus, you need to give yourself a break.
Hint: there will be a return of more characters from the prequel. Read on to find out :)
Happy reading.
...
Why had it turned so quiet?
Zim woke up at last, and found himself inside a surreal landscape.
It was like a computerized limbo: some parts appeared spiritual and others virtualised.
The grass beneath him felt like grass should, but it was simulated. The sky above also looked like a hologram. This was messed up. There was a buzzing, live energy around this place, and it made him feel disoriented, though he could still sense a strong, spiritual force. The two were at odds; the spiritual and the virtual...
Where was he exactly?
Open country spread out around him, and if the leaves of trees were anything to go by, it was autumn. Though there was no wind or crisp scent in the air. The air tasted kind of metallic. Maybe he bit his tongue. Could you bleed in virtual limbo?
It was silent, apart from the constant humming in the background, like a distant swarm of locusts.
Next, a sweeping wind spread across the landscape, blowing red-brown leaves his way. He caught a leaf in his claws and stared at its veins. It was detailed like a leaf should be. He crunched it up in his fingers as the dust blew away with the wind.
He sensed a presence in the air. It was the essence of someone he knew. So he turned around, and saw a figure up ahead by a tree. He was uncertain. Should he approach?
His feet decided for him, as he started walking towards the figure.
The figure was just a thin, two-dimensional shape, but the closer he got, he saw it take on the form of an Irken. It wasn't until he walked around in front that he saw it was Tak.
"T-Tak!"
She looked on at the landscape ahead. Zim noticed the land over there looked scorched, as if a fire burnt it down. There were missing trees, but a few blades of grass poked through the ash-covered floor.
Tak didn't hear him. She was lifeless, just a two-dimensional shape. Zim walked back around her, and saw that she was in fact flat like a cardboard cut-out. What is this?
"Tak? It is you, right?"
Tak blinked at the landscape. Her lids had slow, fluid movements.
Zim touched her shoulder, and gave it a gentle shake. He couldn't touch her, as she wasn't really there—his hand disappeared through her paper-thin shoulder—but someone else was. He could sense another spirit, and it wasn't this Tak-like form.
This was only a likeness of Tak, which was inside her PAK — the PAK he was supposedly inside of too. Well, it's programming anyhow.
But this place was also part spiritual, which was why he could sense that limbo atmosphere. That's why Tak's personality was two-dimensional. Compared to a spirit, a reflection of one's personality was artificial. It was just a record of memories after all.
Zim's mind had travelled here, as well as that spirit. Of that much he knew.
"Show yourself! I know you're here too..."
He heard that shrill laugh, and tuned an antenna to the right. Then he felt that energy buzzing to life beside him. So he turned around.
A small, green-eyed Irken stared back. Her stare was long and penetrating, regarding Zim with apathy. Her eyes no longer glowed, returning back to that dark, forest green, but they held no shine.
She wore a strange grey uniform that Zim had never seen before, with a badge stating 'Irken Laboratories'. Irk had based all its scientific research on Vort for hundreds of years. It never had a laboratory.
"Hello, Zim..." she purred.
Her voice was nothing like Tak's, yet she had been talking with her vocal chords all this time, Zim didn't know why he expected her not to sound like anyone else. Her voice had a harsh rasp, nothing like Tak's smooth, polished dialect.
"Green Eyes..." he said back.
She wasn't much to fuss about. She was short with an arched back, and her leg stretched out at an odd angle. It was no surprise why she said she preferred Tak's stronger, more able body. Green Eyes was crippled.
"How did I get here?" he asked.
"My PAK latched onto you, desperate for a new host to sustain it. Unfortunately, it's how I'm still here now. Your putrid body is preserving my spirit, and this cybernetic world we now reside. Disgusting. I'll get her back..."
"No you won't, I'll stop you. You're nothing but a crippled, washed-out Irken!"
"And there it goes. I almost missed it: the distorted attitude of a corrupt race obsessed with perfection. I guess by now it's ingrained deep in Irken society. You know, I had a hand in forming your generation. What's it like to have fast-healing bones? If only my generation had that ability, it may have saved my crippled leg..."
"What are you talking about?"
She slanted her dark green eyes. "Like I'm going to tell you."
Zim growled. "You won't be able to feed off my energy for long. It's only a matter of time till my PAK senses the invasion, and diverts the attack!"
"And of course when that happens, you'll wake up again, with just enough time to place Tak's PAK on her spine where I'll just take a hold once again. I've looked inside your head; it's not pretty. You won't do. You're too... flawed."
"Pfft, I'd like to see you try and possess me. I'm too strong."
"Well, can you stop me doing this?" Green Eyes pushed the cardboard cut-out of Tak, as it shattered to the floor like glass. Had it been a mirror all this time? Reflecting back Tak's personality?
"Stop!" he yelled.
"When she wakes she'll have no recollection of everything that's happened; she'll cease to exist without her precious memories..."
"Stop it!" He watched with dread as Green Eyes crunched the fragments of Tak's memories beneath her feet.
"They're just a storage of memories after all — a backup file. I'm sure her brain will function without them. Oh, I forget, what part of the brain's responsible for memory again?"
"Irken brains are useless without a PAK!"
"So stop me..."
Zim hesitated.
"Ooh, I know what this is. You want Tak's memories to disappear. You want to take away her memory of you so she has no reason to hate you anymore. You caused her great suffering, and you can't stand it. It fills you with guilt. Who knew you were even capable of such a feeling. I also sense something else, but it's foreign to me. What is it?"
Zim looked over Tak's fragments sadly, squeezing his eyes shut.
"What is it indeed. Does my tongue want to form the word love?"
"Friendship!" Zim shot back, opening his eyes again. "Tak is my friend; I won't let you destroy everything that makes her who she is. I'd never let such a selfish need take that away!"
"And you think she feels the same way about you? She despises you, Zim. Trust me, I felt her emotions. They gave me life."
"No, she doesn't," he said, hurt.
"Oh, yes she does. She wishes you were dead, but I guess that's the case for you both now. Hey, where is Tak's spirit?"
"She's not dead!"
She smiled. "I love how your eyes light up when you're mad..." Green Eyes stopped and looked at something ahead. "What in the—?" She was pinned down by a black-and-white dog as it bit into her shoulder. She screamed.
Zim jumped back, feeling his spooch twist when he stepped on one of Tak's fragments. How could he be so careless.
He bumped into a tall figure, and flipped his head around to look up into those warm, brown eyes.
"Hey, Zip!"
Zim stared, dumbfounded. "R-Robert...?"
There that dashing man stood in a fancy shirt, loose tie and pants. He looked elegant, but casual at the same time.
"So, how's it going?" he asked.
"What... what are you doing here?!"
"Reinforcements. We couldn't have you facing that alone."
"I don't—"
"Save it, kid. Just stand back and let us get to work." Zim was shoved out the way as another form appeared, an older man in a pinstriped suit. Well, it looked like he finally got rid of that robe. He and Robert followed the dog. Billy, that was Billy. He had on a bejewelled collar. They dressed well on the other side...
"George? Billy? Wh-what... what is going on?!" Zim screamed.
"They're here to help. I traced their souls to let them know that you were in trouble."
Zim looked ahead, and there She was. She looked older now, at least twenty-five, as She stared at Zim with those cool, blue eyes.
"You?" he said.
"Well it was only a matter of time till I showed up..." She replied.
"What is this? Who are these freaks?!" Green Eyes yelled. Billy finally let her go.
"We're the freaks? Seriously, take a look in the mirror first," Robert said.
"I'm not afraid of any of you!" she spat.
George eyed her, fiercely. "You will be when we're finished with you. You think you can just come to our planet without a ticket? You need a pass before you can haunt the Earth, little green man..."
"Little green woman!"
Robert laughed. "I think you've annoyed her, George."
George snorted. "Who cares. Let's just hurry up and trap her."
Green Eyes took a step back. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Roh, re rould..." Billy growled, or however else dogs talked. Dog speech was hard to understand.
"Yeah, what Scooby Doo just said..." Robert folded his arms. Bet he never thought he'd say that sentence.
They all started laughing, apart from Zim. Green Eyes looked terrified. They were so creepy.
"What are you going to do?" Zim asked, looking up at Her.
"Just watch..." She said.
So Zim watched as his old, spiritual clients hovered before the frightened Irken ghost. Just a ghost. She had nothing on them. Spirits from the other side...
Her gave a nod, and they all got to work.
It happened in the blink of an eye. They formed an invisible barricade as it pushed Green Eyes down to the ground. She couldn't move as she became paralysed. How did they do it? Were they combining their energies?
"It's an angel super power; their powers have been heightened, all thanks to you. Without your help, they'd still be lost and confused, like Green Eyes..." She told him.
"But she can be helped too, right?" he asked, hopeful.
She closed her mouth into a straight line. Her eyes bored right through his. He took a step back.
"I'm afraid that's not the case this time, Zim. This creature only wants suffering. Her soul can't move on..."
"It can. I can help. Irken souls can be fixed!"
"Not all of them. It's okay; there are also human souls that can't be fixed."
"But they reincarnate, recycle... At least let her start afresh! It's not right. You can't trap her."
"She won't be trapped for long. Just long enough for you to get back and save Tak. By keeping her locked away, for now, it gives Tak enough time to build a resistance."
"So, she'll escape, eventually?"
"Yes, so you must help Tak as soon as you get back. In this way, she'll lose her power over her..."
"But I'm supposed to help spirits, not the living. Certainly not living Irkens..."
"Some don't want help."
"I have to know more of her. Who was she? She said she formed my generation."
"Her memories are coursing through you right now as we speak. As soon as you wake, you'll find the answers you seek. I'm sure your PAK will save a backup file."
"Maybe then if I can learn something about her past, I can help her. What turned her like this?"
Zim looked back at the crippled form as she lay on the ground. She stared back at him, hatefully, but he thought he almost saw regret. Well, he hoped he did in the least. His eyes fell on her injured leg next. What made her leg go lame?
"I'll come back for you, and her..." she hissed.
He glanced away. He couldn't watch what would happen next. A tree rose up from the ground, and twisted around her. Now she was trapped, for now...
"A tree?" Zim asked.
"It fits with the pretty scenery, but they're also good for trapping evil spirits," She said.
"How did you all get here? This is Tak's PAK; it's a cybernetic world, like software. But it's connecting with the spirit world somehow."
"I think you just answered your own question, Zim." She smiled down at him, proudly.
"So, Green Eyes made the connection?" Zim's voice seemed to echo about the land.
"Not exactly. The spirit world opened its doors for her, yet she chose not to enter."
"I see. What happens if she never enters?"
"Then a time will come when the choice is no longer hers... " Her voice was grave.
Zim seemed to understand. Who was the new reaper of souls? Johnny would have got a kick out of the job, but the title was no longer his, because he saved a baby. Kind of messed up.
"Well, our work's done." Robert approached them at last, with George and Billy in tow.
Zim looked grateful for their help. "I never thought we'd ever meet again, but thank you. I'm glad I helped you all out after all."
"Like you had a choice. We would have just haunted you to no end..." Robert said, smiling.
"That's enough, Robert," She warned.
"Nah, I kid. You're welcome, Zim..." He finally got his name right.
Zim met George's gaze next. "Let Maggie know that I'm watching over her, and our new grandson," he said, warmly.
"And you know the drill with Belle," Robert chimed in. "Make sure she's doing all right."
Zim pulled on his collar and swallowed. "Huh, yeah, it's not like I've not been stalking her for the past nine months..."
"I hear wedding bells for her soon," Robert continued. "I knew she'd hit it off with the science guy. I'm still trying to find the one for my little bro though."
"Lisa was a terrible choice," Zim said. "I did warn you..."
Next, there came the sound of a pathetic whimper, and he looked down at Billy. The dog bowed his head as he gazed up with those sad puppy eyes.
"Oh, all right. I'll let Aaron know that you miss him too."
Billy jumped up and licked Zim's face. His breath smelled like a fresh spring meadow now. No more dog breath.
"Down, Billy!" he ordered.
Billy sat back down, and stuck his tongue out of his mouth.
"Well it's time to leave, fellers, and Billy," She announced. She approached Zim. Tak's fragments scattered before them, as he gave them a sad, longing look.
She waved her arm, and all the shards came together. Tak was whole again.
Her personality was full and solid this time, as it looked up at Zim surprised. He expected one of her older memories to come through, and curse him for the wrong he did.
"Zim..." she said, "you're okay?"
He glanced at Her confused. His eyes glistened as he seemed to comprehend. "No... she... she can't be..." He couldn't form the words. He had failed her.
She held Her hand out. "No, no. It is Tak, but not Tak, if you understand. Her soul is still with her body. Her memories, however, are free. That spirit had a hold on them for too long. This artificial void is her space once again."
Zim sighed with relief. "Thank you for setting her free..."
"It was my pleasure, Zim. Anything to put a smile on your face," She grabbed his chin and gave it a squeeze. "Now you must get back. You should be coming to anytime soon; your PAK is fighting back at last. It took only a minute."
"Only a minute has passed since I entered this place?"
"Yes, you should know how it works by now..."
"I guess so," he said, rolling his eyes. "Well so long, everyone. Have a good time in heaven." He gave a salute.
"Well why would it be anything other than good?" George asked. "It is heaven."
She smiled and put a hand on George's shoulder. "Well let's get back to that good, wonderful place. This plane is too synthetic for my taste. I can't stay any longer."
"I second that," Robert said. "Can you imagine living on in this? Just a backup of your memories. We're more than just software..."
"How hollow. There's no soul in it," George remarked.
Now She grabbed a hold of Robert's shoulder, as Robert held onto Billy. George was allergic.
And then they were gone. Now Zim was finally alone with Tak's memories. He met her gaze next. She was just staring at him, waiting...
He shifted his eyes. What does he say?
"I'm sorry for ruining your chance to become an Invader, truly," he decided to say. "You would have made a great Invader..."
Memory Tak folded her arms. "You're only saying that because you think I won't remember once I wake."
"Yeah, you're right. If I ever have to say it, I'd rather say it to your backup rather than to your face."
She smirked. "How do you know I just won't store it away?"
"Don't be silly, you... you're just a backup of Tak. You won't have any memory of this... You're not the real Tak!" He looked nervous now. Shoot. He should have kept his mouth shut.
Memory Tak tapped the air above her head as a virtual file opened up. She clicked on the edit box below and changed the words "New folder" to "Zim's Apology..."
She met his gaze and smiled once again. Zim looked up at the sky. There were more boxes floating in a neat, chronological order. Of course, now the Autumn landscape made sense. It was Tak's desktop.
"Saved right onto my desktop. I won't miss it now..."
Zim growled. "Yeah... well... your desktop wallpaper's stupid! Default settings? Seriously? How boring! My desktop has a cute picture of baby leopard cubs. At least if this was my PAK, we'd have adorable leopard cubs to play with. Well, giant leopard cubs. It's a pretty big picture..."
Memory Tak put her palm to her face. "Just get back, Zim. I'm afraid you'll give me a virus or something. Don't make me activate my firewall!"
"Fine! I'm going. My PAK is finally fighting off yours. See you on the other side, I guess."
"Yeah, yeah, now go away. Having you inside my PAK is nauseating..."
Zim cursed to himself, and then left the surreal landscape. He pixilated out, taking all his pixels with him.
Tak's memories were alone at last. No other memories to take over her own. Let's just hope the tree can hold Green Eyes back long enough.
...
Skoodge watched over his smeethood friend. It can't end like this. They've been through so much. It only felt like yesterday when Zim used Skoodge as a diversion back in training, kicked him into a Hogulus pit back on Hobo 13, and then sent him to the Hawaiian Islands to be boiled alive by a volcano. Such good times.
"Hang in there, Zim," he said.
Bob was curled up against Zim. Despite what they say, not all cats eat their owners when they die.
Tenn watched him sadly. He didn't need to go through this. She felt terrible now for being so angry with him before, especially over something so trivial.
She held Tak in her arms. The Irken was muttering complete gibberish as she tried to soothe her, but to no avail. Tak was slipping away.
She looked over at Skoodge again. "Skoodge..." she said.
He didn't turn away from Zim. "Yes," he replied.
"Whatever happens, I just want you to know... to know that..."
"What?" he asked, looking her way now.
Tenn met his gaze. His eyes were so shiny; it hurt to look at them. "That you'll always have me." She glanced away again.
Skoodge stared speechless. "I-I..." he started to mumble. It was hard to ignore the throbbing of his own heart. It was so loud, drowning out everything else, even the warning beep of Zim's PAK.
"Warning, PAK self-defence mechanisms activated. Please stand back, foreign object detected; warning..."
"Skoodge, move out the way..." Tenn warned.
Skoodge seemed to be on cloud nine (it's a real place). His eyes went all sickly sweet. Despite his best friend's possible demise, he couldn't stop that smile forming on his face.
Next, Tak's PAK popped off of Zim. The Irken woke screaming. "Giant cub's gonna eat me!"
"Watch out!" Tenn pushed Skoodge out of the way as Tak's PAK almost knocked into his head. It had its suckers out, waiting to attach itself to the next lifeform it could find.
Zim's PAK had secreted an antigen into his bloodstream, which was what detached the PAK by stimulating his immune response. The best way to get rid of a troublesome parasite.
Skoodge found himself looking up into the surprised eyes of Tenn. He met his own startled gaze in her bright, shiny orbs. So shiny and pretty... His face flushed a strange colour.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Uh, I think so..."
"Well, that's good to know..." She stood up and helped him to his wobbly feet. Every nerve shook in his body. He felt like jelly.
They stared down at Tak's PAK wide-eyed. It crawled about on its limbs like a crazed crab.
Bob growled as he fluffed up his fur. His Irken caregiver was still delirious.
Skoodge knelt by Zim's side. "Zim, are you okay?"
"Autumn leaves... autumn leaves... Baby cub's gonna eat me!"
Skoodge had no idea what he was talking about. At least he was alive and safe.
He looked up at Tenn again. "What should we—?" he stopped, eyes wide.
Tenn had grabbed the PAK as its legs writhed in her hold. Her face was strong and determined, a far cry from the cowering creature she was back on planet Judgementia.
"Tenn, no! It's too dangerous!"
She was already on her knees, pushing Tak onto her face as she attached the PAK to her spine.
Tak's clock was on its last minute, but she jolted back to life within seconds. Her PAK's data flashed past her eyes once again.
The momentum raised her into the air, creating a pretty light display. Everyone watched slack-jawed. Skoodge and Tenn had never seen anything like it, but Zim had experienced this himself. He seemed to finally come to as he watched Tak in awe. She was back.
Tak landed back on her feet but her legs gave away beneath her. Now she met the floor once again (Zim was more graceful when his PAK brought him back to life).
Skoodge and Tenn rushed to her side.
"Tak, are you all right? Say something!" Skoodge shook her violently. She sat up and pushed his hand away.
"I'm okay! What is it with you and shaking?"
Skoodge turned to Tenn happily. "She's okay!"
Tenn looked back at Tak. Her face was stern but curious. "What were you thinking? Detaching your PAK like that?"
"Put yourself in my shoes; I had to take the risk.." she said.
Zim was still in a state of shock. He was sitting on the ground. Bob sat on his right.
Did it all really happen? Was Tak truly back and Green Eyes locked away in a tree?
He closed his eyes, and looked into his PAK's data files, finding any recently saved archives. There they were; Green Eyes' memories had been stored. He saw his desktop wallpaper next, and shivered. It was cute no longer. Those baby leopard cubs had to go...
He opened his eyes again, and saw the others staring at him. Tak seemed embarrassed. She rose to her feet, and looked away.
"Zim... you feeling okay?" Skoodge asked hesitantly, hoping he wasn't crazy anymore.
"Me? Never better." He finally got to his feet. His eyes fell on Tak again.
"What happened?" Tenn asked. "Was... was she inside you?"
"No, but she was inside of Tak. She's still there, but she's trapped. For now."
Tenn continued. "Did you trap her yourself?"
"No, no, I had help..." Zim saw Tak turning his way, surprised.
"Help?" she said.
"Yes, from some friends on the other side..." Zim wiggled his fingers.
"No way..." Skoodge muttered.
"Yes way. If that's even possible to say..."
Tenn rolled her eyes. "Here we go again. The ghost thing..."
"Well, you did see Molly," Skoodge pointed out.
Tenn looked on in the distance. "Yes, how could I forget the little girl in the mirror..."
Zim finally approached Tak, though he still kept his distance. "I'm guessing you have no recollection of what happened. I mean, you weren't really there after all, but still. Green Eyes is trapped. You're finally free. For now."
"For now?"
"You have to build a resistance to her. That tree won't keep her locked away forever..."
"Tree?" said the confused voice of Tenn. Zim never looked her way. He only kept his eyes on Tak.
"I think Tak knows what I'm talking about, don't you, Tak..." he narrowed his eyes.
Tak never answered him, but she could feel that Green Eyes was confined. But only for a small time. How does she build a resistance?
"It was rather foolish of you to detach your PAK like that, but it worked anyhow... Just don't pull anything like that again; you almost put our lives at risk!"
Tak looked at him then. "I had to do what I could, no matter the consequences."
"You would willingly sacrifice yourself like that?"
"Yes. If you had gone through what I had, Zim, then you may have done just the same."
"I'd like to think I wouldn't."
"Of course you would; you're even weaker than I am. You'd have never survived."
"Is that so? Well, tell that to the freak living inside your PAK! She could have easily taken me, but she knew I was no match for her."
"Please, don't flatter yourself. She merely let you go as you're too messed up."
"No more messed up than you are. Ripping off your PAK like a careless idiot, while endangering everyone's life around you?"
Tak growled. "It was my life to take! Why do you even care? At least you would finally be rid of me!"
"Now, now, let's not descend into anarchy..." Skoodge said.
"Quiet!" they both shrieked.
Skoodge dropped his shoulders. "I'm only trying to bring the peace."
Tenn smiled at him. "It's okay, Skoodge. You mean well."
"Thank you."
Zim glared at Tak. "You really think that little of me? So much that I'd just let you destroy yourself?"
She folded her arms. "What do I know, but let's be honest. All this time, we tried to hide it, but we've never really forgiven each other. I mean, you have yet to apologise..." (she obviously hadn't checked her files yet).
"Well if that's how you feel, Tak. Now that you're free again, why you wasting any more time here?"
"Maybe I'll just leave now!"
"Then go! But before you leave, don't forget to take this with you!"
Zim opened a closet door, and threw a metal object across the floor. It landed at her feet.
The room turned quiet as Tak stared at that familiar robot on the floor. "MiMi..." she whispered. "How... how is she...?"
"I requested her parts off the Tallest. I thought it may make you feel better. At the time, I was only concerned about ridding you of Green Eyes, but I saw the pain in your eyes. I know what it's like to miss something. It consumes every bit of you. You can't stop thinking about them, hoping that wherever they are they have found peace. Well, there she is. I'm done here now."
Zim made to leave, but he stopped just before the door. He glanced back at Tak.
She knelt beside the silent SIR. Tak felt her innards sinking. No, not her innards, her heart. Her heart was sinking. MiMi looked dead.
"I can't believe she's really here... Why would you do this?" Her voice was soft.
"I don't know. You don't deserve it, really, but—"
"Thank you, Zim. I'll never forget this. And I'm sorry... sorry for putting you in danger."
Zim stopped, swallowing a dry lump. "That's not what I was worried about. I thought I lost you... I never would have forgiven myself."
Tak stared at him. Her eyes glimmered. This was a whole new Zim, and one she thought she could really like, or feel strongly for. The thought didn't even sicken her.
She looked back down at MiMi. She met Skoodge's gaze next, as he gave her a thumbs up. Should she switch her on?
Tak took a deep breath and pressed MiMi's button. It didn't work. Confused, she tried once again.
Her face turned livid. "What trick is this?!"
Zim approached the robot and re-examined her. He looked troubled.
"She should come on. I rebuilt her myself."
Tak looked him in the eye. He was genuine. He honestly thought she would come back too.
"I'm so sorry, Tak. They... they mustn't have sent all the parts... How could I be so foolish?!" He gripped his face.
"Forget it." Tak's voice was thick."You tried at least, that's all that matters. It just wasn't meant to be. MiMi's gone."
Zim could hear it in her voice. It almost sounded like she wanted to cry. He knew he saw that tear. He never should have brought her hopes up. He should have just left her in the cupboard, or not even have tried to re-build her in the first place.
"I... I have to leave..." Tak ran out the room.
"Tak! Wait! Don't go!" Skoodge ran after her. Zim grabbed his shoulder.
"No, leave her be..."
"But the poor thing's heartbroken!"
"And it's all my fault..." Zim kicked the table. "I knew the Tallest couldn't be trusted! How did we ever revere those sly and conniving... Argh!" Zim couldn't finish. His words were too disloyal and disrespectful to his Tallest. So his PAK got to work at once, leaving him tongue-tied.
Skoodge and Tenn didn't even look worried that he spoke disrespectfully of their leaders. It was hard to care anymore, after everything they'd gone through.
"It's not your fault, Zim," Tenn said. "You didn't do anything wrong, and that's a first for you. I never thought I'd hear myself speak so positively about you."
"Wow, thanks, I guess. Very touching."
"You're welcome, Zim. You deserve all my praise."
Zim rolled his eyes. "I should go and find her, in case she does something stupid."
"You go get her, Zim!" Skoodge cheered.
Zim ran out the room, ignoring his encouraging cheer.
Skoodge knelt beside MiMi, and picked her up in his arms. "Let's put her in a more dignified position."
"Good idea, " Tenn said.
Skoodge placed her on the table and put her arms over her chest. No, won't do. What do they do with a dead robot?
"Skoodge, about before..." Tenn started. "I want you to know that it doesn't change things. I'll always be around... you won't ever be without me..."
Tenn left the room, leaving Skoodge to ponder over what she just said. What does it mean? He will always have her as a friend, or something more. Dare he even think to go there? It was dangerous, as feelings can get hurt, especially his feelings. He had to be cautious. But there was something in Tenn's voice that told him he needn't worry about any of that.
No, 'just friends' and that is all. But then he remembered what destiny said. This was tearing him apart. So he pulled on his antennae, and squeezed his eyes shut till the thoughts went way.
Why does love have to be such hard work?
...
Zim ran out of the house as it was dark outside. He arrived upstairs to find that the front door was left open, meaning only one thing. Tak had made yet another daring escape.
His eyes scanned the entire yard, looking for any sign of her, and the streets beyond. Tak would be far gone by now. What was the point?
Maybe he should just let her come back on her own. He hoped that she realised he weren't serious before when he ordered her to leave. He was just angry.
He heard a sniffling sound next, and looked up at the roof. Could it be?
So he climbed up with his PAK legs, and saw that shadow sitting with its arms around its legs.
He pulled his body up to the roof, then put his PAK legs away. Tak looked up and sighed.
"Go away. I can't let you see me like this."
"Why? There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I fell apart after Molly went away. It was for the best, but still. I've not been my Zimmy self since."
"I haven't cried since I was a smeet!"
"So, it's only natural to feel sad. I never knew MiMi personally, but I know how easy it is to get attached to your assigned SIR. I don't know where I'd be without GIR today."
"MiMi wasn't assigned to me; I found her myself and gave her life again."
Zim scratched the back of his head. "Well, GIR was made especially for me..."
Tak looked up at the sky where a few stars blinked through the clouds. It was just a tiny portion of the universe — the humans honestly thought the Milky Way was all that.
There was obviously more beyond this galaxy, but Tak had come to realise that there was even more than the known universe. Maybe to the left, or maybe to the right, who knows, but it was there, looking down at an infinite number of universes...
If the spiritual essence of all living things lived on in another place, then where did robots go? They're not living per se. So was there a robot heaven?
"I hope she's happy, wherever she is. If it's even possible. She can't be gone..." Tak sighed again.
Zim sat on her right, keeping a fine distance, as he dangled his legs over the side of the roof.
"I've often given it thought myself. I can't just have GIR in this life. I have to have him in another too."
"SIRs are certainly sentient, but I don't know if it's enough to grant them a soul."
"I'm told everything has a life force. Even trees in some way."
Tak scoffed. "Now that's just ridiculous."
"Why? They have living tissue, DNA, cellular activity. Why wouldn't they possess an energy force?"
"Where are you hoping to go with this, Zim? SIRs are artificial. They mimic living creatures. They don't have DNA, just a binary system that makes up their programming."
"Your PAK has a cybernetic portal to the spirit world. The two can merge, I've seen it."
"So MiMi is stuck in some cybernetic limbo?"
"I don't know. Her systems have shut down. But when you think about it, aren't all living things machines? We require food for energy, like battery power. Why should the right to possess a soul stop there?"
Tak regarded him from the corner of her eye.
"And Irkens are part machine, yet I've traveled beyond the universe to places you could never have imagined existed."
"Maybe the only soul they have is a backup of all their memories, living on in a cybernetic limbo."
Zim's eyes popped open. "Of course."
Tak watched him curiously.
He got to his feet and looked at her excitedly. "I still have MiMi's old memory disc!"
"You mean the one you stole? That was how you found out about my plan to destroy the humans," she remarked.
"A plan which you totally stole from me anyway, but don't you realize what this means?"
"Yes. It contains her soul..."
"Exactly!"
She rubbed her temples. "I don't know. What if it doesn't work."
"It has to. Right now, MiMi is just an empty shell. What is she without her memories?"
"She's not MiMi. Well, not the one I knew..."
"Out of curiosity, what kind of personality did she have? She was very competent and loyal, not erratic like GIR, which in comparison made her seem boring, standard, or default."
"MiMi wasn't default! If you must know, she was very, very funny. She could tell a joke at the best of times... but she was always ready when I needed her, which may be why she seems boring to your stupid SIR!"
"All right. I was just curious, hence why I said "out of curiosity". I never realized she could talk, anyway."
Tak folded her arms, and looked on at the skyscrapers ahead. Her head was shaking.
"Come on. Let's get back inside before the bats come out. They like to feed on your blood!"
"If you say so, Zim," she said.
Tak climbed down from the roof without waiting for him, but what did he care. So he climbed down after her, and followed her through into the house.
...
Everyone stood in a circle in the living room. The procession was as follows: Zim, Tak, Skoodge, Tenn, GIR, and lastly Minimoose. The computer was there too, but he listened in on the interface.
MiMi lay in the middle of the circle. It was like some freaky séance amongst aliens and robots. Shame Dib couldn't be present. He'd love this. He still wasn't happy about Tak sneaking into his baby sister's bedroom the other night.
Zim held MiMi's memory disc up in his hands. This was it. The moment they were all waiting for. MiMi's resurrection.
He sucked in a breath, and just before he was going to let out all that air, Skoodge interrupted.
"Shouldn't we be holding hands? I feel like we should be holding hands..."
"No! No hand holding. Highly unnecessary." Zim looked kind of sick.
"But wouldn't it help if we spread the spiritual energy around the circle?" Skoodge continued.
"He has a point," Tenn said.
"What would you know?" Zim spat at her.
Tenn sharpened her eyes as she gave him the 'death glare'. He had to remind her that she was the only one who held no spiritual power in the group.
"If it helps to bring MiMi back, then I'm all for it," Tak finally said.
Zim stomped his foot. "We're not having a séance! If anything, this resembles necromancy at best!"
"Then shouldn't we draw a funny-looking circle, and put MiMi inside?" Skoodge asked.
"Someone's certainly been reading their books on the occult, or performed a quick Wiki search on their PAK's internet! But no. No funny circles, and no holding hands! But we must never break the circle by all means. Once I insert MiMi's disc, we must resume our positions."
"I can't believe I gave up a night of staring into the abyss for this…"
"Silence, computer. Negative energy will only foil our attempts to speak with the spirit world!"
"It's a backup of her memories. There's nothing spiritual about it. It should all be there, stored away safety. Just slot it in."
Zim made an irritated growl, wondering why he was taking orders from his computer, and opened the latch that fastened MiMi's head. All he had to do was place it inside.
He took another deep breath, and put the disc back in place, connecting it to some wires. He refastened the latch, and stepped back into the circle.
Everyone waited with bated breath. Zim, reluctantly, grabbed onto the hands of those beside him — Tak and Minimoose. Everyone else followed suite. Minimoose had to hold on with his nubby feet.
"Maybe the joining of living organisms and robots will help increase the energy," Zim mused.
"Yeah, except the only living creatures here are part machine," Tak pointed out.
"Shut up, and help spread the energy through the circle!"
Tak sighed, and held on tight to Zim's hand. Skoodge's palm felt sweaty even with the gloves on, but she didn't let it bother her. How could she even feel the sweat on his palm? She had on her gloves too? She noticed she had gained an extra sense of touch. So she looked around the circle.
Are all their energies merging? So much she can sense the sweat of Skoodge's hand? Zim needed to use more moisturiser; his hands were dry and rough. Tenn had soft hands, like a girl should. GIR's were just sticky, and Minimoose's were, well, nubby...
She thought she could even feel the extra hand of the computer. It seemed to have five digits, like a human. Odd.
There was something pulsating through their linked arms, and it glued her to her spot. This was so weird. Maybe Zim was right. Maybe robots do possess something more...
So she closed her eyes and waited. It seemed silly, but maybe it would work. MiMi had to power up again. Things hadn't been the same without her. She missed her jokes. MiMi's jokes were always the best.
Several minutes passed, and there was still no sign of MiMi. It had to work; she had been so positive of it before. She had taken too much comfort in Zim's confidence.
She opened an eye, and noticed everyone else had theirs shut. Zim seemed to be struggling, trying to find a connection. He looked like he was on the toilet.
"What's taking so long? Shouldn't the SIR be powering up by now?" Tenn asked.
"Silence, outsider. Patience is vital here," Zim said.
"Don't call me an outsider!"
"Stop!" Skoodge snapped. "This negative energy won't bring MiMi back."
"Well she started it..." Zim mumbled.
"Enough!" Tak yelled.
They stopped on her command. Everyone listened to Tak. She was, respectfully, the only one who had everything at stake. She just wanted her old companion back.
But it was taking a while. What was the hold up? How long do these things usually last?
Zim seemed to sense her unease, and held onto her tighter. Was he trying to reassure her in that affectionate way humans do? How disgustingly sweet.
More time passed, and Zim was getting really agitated. He couldn't crush Tak's dreams twice. Well, it would be for the third time; their first encounter still counts.
"Boy, what I'd do for a refreshing can of Poop right now…"
Zim exploded at that."That's it! This just isn't going to work. I at least expected this behavior from GIR, but not you, computer!"
GIR was stood stock still with his eyes on red. Maybe he wanted to help out a fellow SIR.
"I only said I wanted a can of Poop. No, make that a cherry-ice sucky instead."
"You interrupted the circle!"
"I've had enough. I'm leaving now. I apologize, Tak, but I can't work like this. Zim is being a moron, like always!"
The computer broke the circle at last, and the energy severed. Next, his footsteps could be heard on the interface and then a slamming door. He went out to go flying again.
"Computer! Get back here! Don't you run out on me!" Zim yelled.
"Why was there a slamming door?" Tenn asked, quite disturbed.
"Leave it, Zim. I guess it just wasn't meant to be after all." Tak let go of his hand and stepped out of the circle. Her antennae drooped, a sign of true sadness.
Zim watched her with wet, trembling eyes, and pulled on his antennae. It had to hurt.
"No, we can try again later! I know I almost got something..."
"I just don't understand. It should have worked. Her memories are all there," Tak cried. Her voice was lost and hopeless now, and very smeet-like.
"It will work! Who needs the computer? We can do this!"
"Save it, Zim. You did all you can. I appreciate it. Just stop, before you hurt yourself."
"Maybe if we stood in the sequence of robot, Irken, robot, Irken, robot—"
"It's too late!" Tak screamed. "She's gone. I'll never see or hear her ever again! It's over."
She broke down at last, and ran out of the house.
"Not again. Tak! Don't leave!" Zim ran after her. He stopped just at the door, and looked at the other two.
"Well, aren't you both coming? I can't do this by myself!"
Skoodge and Tenn looked at him stupidly. "You mean us?" Skoodge asked.
"No, GIR and Minimoose. Of course I mean you two! Now come!"
Skoodge and Tenn exchanged a nervous glance, and then ran out after Zim.
Now all that was left was GIR and Minimoose. The moose watched his companion strangely. He was still in duty mode. He snapped out of it next, and returned to his old self.
"I love dookie!" he shouted.
Minimoose shook his antlers, and flew out of the room. Now GIR was alone with the unconscious MiMi.
He knelt beside her and drew a smile on her face. She always lacked a mouth. Maybe it would give her life again.
Those vacant grey eyes of MiMi's lit up, and there was Tak's faithful companion at last.
GIR's chin hung loose as he gasped. "Hi!" he yelled.
MiMi grabbed his neck with her large claw, and lifted him off the ground. GIR laughed hysterically.
"Who are you?" she asked. Her voice was deeper than GIR's, but it still had a female tone, and a very sexy one at that.
GIR stopped laughing instantly. Her voice caught his attention indeed, as he stared into those red eyes. The pencil smile on her face just killed her angry stare though, or maybe improved it.
He heard Chris Issack's "Wicked Game" as you do, and then turned limp in her hold.
"Wooooowww. You is pretteh!"
MiMi threw him across the room. He hit the wall, and cheered for more.
"Again!"
MiMi glared at the Irksome robot, and flew out of the house, creating a hole in the wall.
GIR's eyes zoomed out as he watched her fly away. At least his head didn't fall off this time.
It remained intact, just like his new love for something that wasn't a pig, a taco, monkey, cupcake, Mary, Gazzy, pizza delivery boys, pizza itself, and headless clowns...
GIR loves a lot of stuff.
A/N: Wicked Game is a song about unrequited love. I think it's a great song, as I have a guilty pleasure for 80s music. Though I think it came out in 1990, but who cares.
"No IIIIIIIIIIII don't wanna fall in love, with you..." That's the lyric GIR should be hearing. I wasn't planning on writing a romance between GIR and MiMi. It just happened. It's a fanfic cliché in the IZ world, but who gives a poo. Just feel the love!
I think Dexter's computer from Dexter's Lab always sounded kind of sexy. That's how I wanted MiMi to sound here. GIR is swooned...
The cybernetic limbo is based off... I don't know really. I know I got the tree thing from the Legend of Korra. The Matrix maybe? That franchise has been parodied far too much though, it's annoying (though I once watched my cat run along the fence like in the movie, because something spooked her).
In the series, the minds of Irkens live on in the Control Brains, so in that way they live forever. I'd hate to live on as a backup of memories. The idea creeps me out, because it's not you. You're not experiencing things anymore. As a firm believer in the afterlife, and souls, I think that is the true you that lives on.
Think of the Dibship. That weren't Dib. It was just a copy of his personality. You can't exist twice.
It appears that Tak's PAK is similar to Microsoft. I don't own Microsoft because I'm not rich. Proof. Bill Gates does.
I should mention that it was Zim's mind that travelled to Tak's PAK and not his soul. Are they even two different things? Again, it applies to my little argument above. Zim's soul never left his body, as he never died. His body just got overwhelmed with all the data.
My desktop wallpaper is of two clouded leopard cubs. It's huge and cute, and takes up my entire screen (the way I like it). That's why Zim had the same one.
If I recall correctly, Zim lands on his feet after his PAK revived him. Tak just collapsed again. That scene reminds me of Beauty and the Beast when the Beast turns human again and he floats and stuff. Though I'm one of many who preffered him as a Beast...
I repeat again that I don't plan on a romance between Zim and Tak, but it seems to be going there. They're really not a good match, but they still have something. A reluctant friendship maybe.
Just one more question. Do you all like Tak as a character? Invader Johnny's review got me wondering. I like every character, I can't think of anyone I hate. Maybe the girl that looks like a nun with blue hair, Sarah, but no, I like everyone! The skool kids are horrible though. Dib should have let them die on the bus...
It was fun writing out Robert, George and Billy again. And Her is back. Remember she looked like a teenager, but now she is in her mid-twenties in appearance because Zim is maturing with his powers.
Also, look up Siberian Husky saying "I love you" on Youtube, or should I say "Ri Rove Rou!" Dogs really can talk. Kid on bus: "That's a great dog..."
I wonder who else will come back now? Nearly everyone from clairvoyance has. Stay tuned. At least you all now know that Zim and Tak never died.
Cheerio!