A/N: hello again! I'm back at last after seven months. So much has happened to me. I went back to college to do a MSc, but then I dropped out before xmas as the learning style didn't suit me, and it was expensive. That's irrelevant information, but my going back to school was one of the reasons why I took so long in updating. Since the last update in July of 2015, I started editing Clairvoyance... again (and it will be the last time). I am really not lying when I say it can take several months to update. Even within two months I think I was up to chapter 19 by the time the academic year started. That doesn't seem so bad, but as soon as my classes started and the work load came up, it took me another three months to finish. To cut the story short, it took me five months to edit. Near the end I was getting harsh, I had to make sacrifices. I really did write too many scenes that had nothing to do with the story. The Beatles' wannabe ghost guy Zim met at Café le Prick, or whatever, has gone, as well as the drunkard who Nny cut the hand off of (off of, is that right?). If you want to be an author, like I do, it's a sacrifice we all need to make. General rule: if it adds nothing to the plot, get rid. I still have those scenes safe somewhere. Why not. They may inspire a novel... or a scene in a novel. I also finished my novel too in all that time. It's... I think it's finished... still a WIP (work in progress).
Truth be told, I was just so fed up of editing. I actually cried when I finished. But then I told myself I also had to re-read/edit Recyclable before I even attempted to write new chapters, as I needed to get back into the flow of the story. I'd forgotten half the content. See, I know Clairvoyance off by heart, but reading Recyclable again after so many months was like reading something written by someone else. I actually lol'd at one scene. I wasn't expecting it. Laughing at your own writing seems vain, but I did. For shame...
Waffle again. This is also something else you can't really do when writing. No body wants to read something before they actually start reading. Not even acknowledgments, but they're compulsory out of respect. I also cut out chunks of the author's notes from Clairvoyance and Recyclable. Moving on now...
...
The explosion took out half of the left side of the planet…
Irk's high security prison, a place where the majority of alien refugees find themselves at the mercy of the Irken race, was now in ruins.
That large vessel flew away from the wreckage, and out into space at last. A small, goat-like creature watched as the burning planet disappeared in the distance, tears forming in his eyes. Lard Nar was no longer a prisoner of the Irken Empire...
The rescue came just in time. They were going to send him back to Vort to become a prisoner on his home planet once again. After he sacrificed himself back over to the Irken Empire in exchange for his crew member's lives, he dreaded the worst. Military research had been his whole upbringing, like all Vortians, but to be forced to do it for the Empire was more than he could bear. There were still fellow Vortians back there...
A purple cone thing appeared on his right hand side next — his second-in-command.
"Whoohoo, we did it! Take that Irken scum! You will find no mercy at the hands of the Resssistttyyy!" The cone stopped when he received that curious look from Lard Nar. "Uh, sorry, Cap'n. While you were gone, I took up your place as commanding officer. So I thought it only natural, ya know, that I took up your lines…"
"That's perfectly all right," Lard Nar replied. "You are second-in-command; it was to be expected of you. Now, report crew status update. What has happened while I've been away?"
"Well," the cone thing started, whose name was Shloonktapooxis, but that's beside the point. "After you were captured, we all split up for a while. It was horrible! Spleenk joined the circus, since he always has good ideas, and Ixane joined a secret spy agency. Purple Matter sold his left arm, and Vomita nearly choked on her vomit! Snippersnapper gnat, luckily, won this ship in a bet! That's when we all re-grouped, and planned your rescue! Turns out Vomita's vomit is made from real acid, and it burned half the Irken guards alive... Ixane learned some cool ninja moves at her secret spy club, and Spleenk distracted the guards with his juggling while we set everyone free. We got some new recruits along the way, but all the other prisoners escaped. They all helped us out!"
"What of Tak?" he asked next, remembering that he saw her that day walking to her execution.
"Well, there's good news and there's bad news..." Shloonk said.
"What's the good news?"
"The Tallest spared her after all, and now she lives!"
"And the bad news?"
"Now she's met an even worse, horribler fate. She's being held prisoner on Earth, yo."
"Earth? The home planet of the human Dib?"
"Yeah… she's Zim's prisoner."
"Zim? That Irken scum who had us sentenced to death is now holding our fellow Resisty member captive? This is an outrage! We must save her! He was responsible for the deaths of the Meekrob and the human Dib. We cannot let Tak meet the same fate."
Lard Nar pointed dramatically at a big-headed, hooded alien sitting at a console. "Activate the homing device in Tak's brain, and set course for Planet Earth!"
His crew member did as he was instructed, and the coordinates for planet Earth came up on screen. Lard Nar looked up at an alien with a floating purple brain, and he set the course into the computer's system. Hopefully, they can get to Tak as soon as possible.
His green goggles were handed back to him then by one of his crew members, a large, three-headed beast with green, flame like hair.
"Thank you," he said, placing them back on. The guards at the prison took his other pair, but his crew always had some spare.
Next, he was led to a high chair by Ixane, a cloaked female crew member with glowing blue eyes.
"Thank you, Ixane," he told her.
"Your most welcome, Captain," she replied. "It's good to have you back. Life on the ship has not been the same without you…" She gave a respectful bow.
"It's good to be back. Nothing could ruin this moment now."
"I got an idea!" Spleenk pushed through a crowd of smiling, creepy aliens, and several of the new recruits, wearing a clown wig and makeup.
He got out his juggling balls, and entertained the crew with his exquisite skills. Shloonk wiggled his tail and laughed, until Spleenk tripped on one of his balls and ran off crying. Lard Nar put his hand over his face. He spoke too soon. Spleenk's ideas were still stupid as always…
...
"I'm just saying that I don't think it's fair that Goofy got to wear the pants..."
"Maybe Goofy's just more evolved than Pluto is?"
"So, I just find it ironic that Goofy never stopped to tell Mickey that he shouldn't treat a fellow dog like a pet."
Nny and Molly walked through the plaza, holding a slushy each. Molly seemed to have grown a few inches — what was in the food on the other side? A year makes all the difference in some young kids. Her face wasn't as round and chubby anymore. Nny had noticed too; she was growing.
"Sometimes Minnie also had a pet cat," Molly said now.
"See, that's just messed up!" Nny shot back.
The debate stopped soon enough, since talking about Disney characters was highly immature, but still; it was over now.
Nny took a deep breath and then let it all out again. "It's good to get out of the hospital every once in a while. I'm sure you feel the same about babysitting..." A large blob made of green goo squirmed past them next. Nny could see its innards.
"I love little Johnny, I do, but he's a hand full at times. He hasn't even started crawling yet..." Molly swirled the contents of her drink with her straw, looking troubled. Nny noticed.
"You're still worried about Zim, aren't you? He woke up again. Cheer up."
"I know. I just wish I could have been there for him..."
"They trapped Green Eyes in the end. But I hear she's ready to escape again soon."
"She was scary; I hope I never meet her again. Alien ghosts are so creepy."
Up ahead, they saw those tall Irkens floating towards them. It was Tallest Miyuki and Tallest Spork deep in conversation.
"Here come some of them now. Keep quiet," he said.
They stopped talking as the Irkens neared. Spork recognised Nny at once as he always stopped to say hello now. Miyuki just glared. She always scared Molly.
"Hello, human creatures," Spork said.
"Yeah, you too... S-Spork..." Nny still couldn't pronounce that word without wanting to laugh.
"Why must you speak with these lowly creatures?" Miyuki was heard saying next. "You were a respectful leader of Irk; you shouldn't have to concern yourself with them."
"Well, things are different now, Miyuki. Maybe if you stopped to say "hello" too they may come up with a decision faster. Your soul can't linger here forever."
"I've told you countless times you are free to go over there whenever you wish. There's no point in you waiting around too. It could be an eternity before they come up with a decision."
"No, I already told you I'll wait..." Spork seemed to remember something then, as he looked back at Nny.
"Human," he said.
Nny stopped and turned around. He didn't like to be referred to as human, but what did it matter. "Yesss?" he asked, showing his teeth.
"I just remembered; I saw your peculiar friend making funny sounds on a bench. She was alone. She seemed... sad."
"What peculiar friend?" Nny was curious now.
"The one with the feathery, blue creatures at her shoulders. High-pitched, cheery voice?"
Nny finally realised who he was talking about, and then he felt his stomach grow tight. "Oh, of course. That's Julia. What kind of noises was she making?" Dare he ask?
"A horrific, awful wailing. She sounded like a wounded beast."
"That sounds a lot like crying..."
"Though I could be mistaken. I hope for your sake it was crying. I would have approached her, but the sounds were off-putting. Plus, Miyuki said to leave her be, as she's just a whining, inferior lifeform begging to be destroyed." Spork gave her a pointed look then.
"It's true. Someone needs to put the creature out of her misery," Miyuki said.
Spork shook his head. Why couldn't she see the reason why they were taking so long to decide her fate? She looked down on everyone. Her past deeds on Irk could be forgiven if she just changed her ways. Her karma levels were low. Many other Irkens here still feared her, and she gladly took advantage. She felt it was her right as their former leader.
Nny sighed. "Okay. I'll go and see what's wrong with her." He knew he would regret saying that later. "Thank you, Spork."
"You're welcome, human creature." Spork carried on, and continued his conversation with Miyuki. It was all they did around the plaza: float, talk and eat. The cheese blob wasn't the only one now who had nowhere important to go.
"What's wrong with Julia?" Molly asked now.
"That's what I'm about to find out."
They walked up the public path, squeezing through crowds of strange beings, until they came to a clearing with a water fountain.
There were many other life forms around, namely a T-rex and a giant bobblehead that just freaked Nny out, but there she was sobbing on a bench. She was shaking uncontrollably.
"Aw, she looks so sad... and a little crazy," Molly pointed out.
Nny rolled his eyes. He really didn't want to do this. "Why don't you go over to the water fountain while I see what's up with her?"
Molly gave a mocking smile. "Will you hug and kiss her till she's all better?"
Nny produced a sarcastic laugh. "Here's some change to throw in the fountain. Now go and make a wish!" he yelled, eyeing her evilly till she walked over to the fountain.
He braced himself, and went over to the moping girl. Spork wasn't exaggerating; she really was making odd sounds. Her voice may be sweet and feminine, but her crying was just plain awful. She sounded like a dying orca. Her bluebirds perched on the bench close by, looking all droopy and sad. They sang no more...
He hovered over her next, while she covered her eyes. Those orca crying sounds soon stopped once she felt that shadow blocking her light.
Juila looked up. Her eyes were red and swollen. She tried to fake surprise, but the effort proved too much as she bawled once again.
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Nny. I should get a hold of myself."
"No, that's fine. Everybody cries... sometimes."
"Funny seeing you here. It really is a small world," she said, making small talk.
"Not really. We both come here all the time, though I am convinced this place is getting bigger." Nny looked around, suspiciously.
"They put in that amusement park just outside. That's probably why."
"Oh, yeah. I should go check it out sometime. I hope they have the spinning teacups..."
Nny looked down at her again. More tears formed in her eyes. He sighed and sat down on her right.
"What's wrong," he finally asked.
"Nothing, I'm fine. I have allergies."
He narrowed his eyes. "So, you don't want me to call a bunch of woodland animals to cheer you up then? Since you have allergies."
"No, no. I'll only make them sad too."
"Fair enough." He glanced over her again. She never looked him in the eye. It felt awful seeing her like this, since she was always so cheery. He remembered all the times she was there for him when he was down. It was the best he could do to cheer her up.
"You can tell me. If there's anyone who understands misery more than others, then that's me. I'm all ears."
She looked up at him now. There was a faint hint of a smile, but he knew he saw it in her eyes.
"Okay." She gave a deep breath. "I lost my latest client. I thought I could make him turn it all around, but it wasn't enough. He lost... I failed him..."
Nny seemed to understand as he gave a slow nod. "Well, you can't give everyone a happy ending..."
"I know!" she shouted, and burst out crying.
Nny jumped, startled, and then looked around. Everyone was staring. He hoped they never thought he was making her cry.
"What's the point in being destiny if I can't help people?" she continued. "He was almost reformed. He hadn't stabbed or choked anyone in a while. I already had a perfect destiny planned out for him, but then he took it all away..." There was almost venom in her voice, but Nny saw that it was mostly fear.
"He?" he asked.
Julia looked him right in the eyes. He moved back a bit on the bench. "They say he's even worse than you were..."
"Who is he?"
"You don't know? They already appointed a new death. Your old job has been filled, Nny."
Nny almost felt his heart sink, but then he remembered he gave all that up in the end. "Oh," was all he could say. "It was only a matter of time, I guess. Is he really worse than I was?" he asked, hoping it weren't true.
"Much worse. He doesn't even take them somewhere private. He'll rip their souls out and terrorize them in pure day light. And in front of children!"
"Oh, I can assure you I was much worse on Earth, but I was always more subtle as a reaper. There's a time and place."
She started to shake. "He cut his arms, his legs and then... and then..." she couldn't finish.
He laughed good-naturedly. "It's all right. It just sounds like a little bit of decapitation. Nothing to worry about."
She looked at him genuinely shocked. He should have kept his mouth shut.
"I forget at times that things like that are horrifying to most other people..."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I know you only mean well." She smiled then. "You're getting good at this. I can see I've taught you well."
"It's okay. Sometimes we can't stop these things from happening. You tried your best, that's all you need to remember, Julia. You told me the very same thing when I lost my first child at the hospital. I never would have thought his death would have such a huge impact on me…"
"Yet it did, because you are changing in here," she pointed at his chest.
"Yeah, but let's hope I don't change too much. I always was a funny maniac..."
She laughed then, thinking he was joking, even though he was deadly serious. He didn't let it bother him as it was good to hear her laugh again. It was as musical as ever.
"Finally, there she is. The happy idiot we all know and love..."
"Thank you for cheering me up again. Who knows what I would have done if you hadn't arrived."
"Hopefully nothing stupid..." He leaned in closer then. "So, tell me about this new death? What's he got that I haven't got?"
"Well, for one, you have a face..."
"So he hides it? I did that too."
"No. You still had glowing eyes, but he has no face to be seen. It's horrible."
"What else can you tell me about him?"
"This may sound a little strange, but he had long, scraggly hair..."
"Maybe he likes it long."
She looked at him now. "It was blond."
Nny seemed confused. "Blond is a popular choice..."
"Maybe I'm just exaggerating. I wasn't sure what I saw, really."
Nny couldn't place the look. A dark, brooding reaper with no face and long hair that was blond? He shook his head, then glanced curiously at Molly. She was throwing money into the fountain as it spat it back out. It hit her in the eye.
"Ow!" she snapped. Nny suppressed a laugh.
"Please, no more. I can't take any more of your stinkin' loose change!" the fountain cried. It was a talking water fountain. That seemed normal.
Nny looked back at Julia. She seemed so much better now. The birds had perked up just a bit.
He stood up and reached his hand out. "Come on, you can join Molly and I. We can go to that new amusement park."
"Yeah, we can go on the new roller coaster!"
"No, much too scary. The teacups will do." The teacups were relaxing. No need for adrenaline there.
She grabbed his hand. Her touch made his skin tingle. Too much adrenaline, he had to calm down. Adrenaline had only ever made him crazy…
He let go of her hand. "Did you feel that?" he asked, laughing nervously.
"No. What did it feel like?"
He wanted to say like electric coursing through his veins, but he thought better of it.
"Nothing. Let's go. I think Molly has upset the local water fountain."
He made a step towards Molly's direction, until Julia grabbed him and gave him a hug. He went limp in her hold.
She looked up at him again. She was inches from his face now. He felt his face burning.
"I'm so lucky you were here," she said.
He swallowed hard and nodded his head. She leaned in and gave a quick kiss on his cheek, and finally let go. She walked up towards Molly. Her face was bright pink.
She left Nny standing alone like a frozen statute. It all happened so fast. Next, he felt his heart in his ears, as the adrenaline was coming back. He shook his head and regained his composure, by taking deep breaths. When he looked up again, people were staring. He bowed his head and followed Julia. It looks like the teacups were on the agenda for today.
...
Zim had spent the past few days locked inside his lab, procrastinating to the extreme. There was just nothing else to do while he waited for Green Eyes' inevitable escape. Tak had disappeared since they last talked about Green Eyes' final memory with Tallest Miyuki. She just got up and walked out the room. He knew something was up with her; he will find out soon enough.
He entered the living room, and there sitting on his couch was Her. He jumped back and screamed. She just sat there all neutral, while he had a full blown panic attack. Just seeing Her sitting in his base in pure daylight was too much. She looked so… surreal. She had a weird glow about Her.
"I was wondering when you would resurface…" She said.
Zim stared at her, speechless. "How… how are you even here?!"
She smiled playfully. "Do you think I only limit myself to the realm of spirits? I come to Earth all the time. I have several other clients after all."
He blinked a few times, then shook his head. "Fair enough, but you should have at least pressed the doorbell. You almost gave me a heart attack. Barging into someone's home like that!"
"I did; your computer let me inside..."
"He… what?"
"Was I just supposed to leave Her outside?" the computer interjected next.
Zim growled. "I'll speak with you later!" He glanced around the house curiously. "How can you even see her?"
"Don't you remember? I see all…"
He gripped his face and brought his hands down to his chin. "I just need a little time to adjust to this."
"I'm afraid that's something we don't have. Green Eyes will soon escape her temporary prison."
"It was only a matter of time, I guess… I have to warn Tak." Zim made a start out the door. He'd find her...
She held her hand out. "There will be no need for that. You must come with me now."
"But... so soon?"
"Yes. We are running out of time. Once she escapes, there will be no telling what she will do to Tak. Revenge consumes her thoughts."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"I sense most things. Now come."
"But how? I can't go back inside Tak's PAK again. It's connected to her now as it should be."
"We can take a short cut. You've had an outer body experience before. That's all you need to do now."
Zim looked like he wanted to go sick. The last time he left his body he was suffering from a really bad cold, and then he ended up in that desert. So he wasn't so eager to do it again. Besides, that had not been by his free will. This time would be different. How does one walk out of their own body like that? It takes years of training.
He rubbed his temples. "I'm not sure if I can do this."
"You will. Just lie down and relax. The house is empty; it shouldn't be too hard."
Zim gave Her a doubtful look, and then released a sigh. So he lay down on the couch and rested his head on a pillow.
"Do I think of rolling waves or something?"
"If it helps you relax."
"No. Water makes me anxious."
"Then what sounds do relax you?"
Zim thought about it for a moment. "Fire burning," he finally said. "And I don't mean like a huge inferno, enough to cause an explosion. I just mean like a small fire. The sound of the kindling popping, it's soothing. I do have experience with more aggressive flames, but there's something about fire..."
"It represents a large portion of your personality, but that's beside the point. All right, fire burning it is."
He wasn't so sure how She did it, but there soon came the sound of a burning fire. He felt his eyelids droop as he focused on nothing but the fire. He could almost feel the heat of its flames licking his skin.
Across the fire, he saw faces hovering in the dark. One was of his spirit guide, but the other was someone he had never seen before, yet they seemed familiar. He had red hair and glasses. He stared coolly.
"I think he's finally out. Thank goodness. A little bit of peace for once." It was the voice of his computer.
The blonde head of his spirit guide gave him a pointed look. "Come now. You know you care for him deep inside."
"Whatever. I'm going back to my desk. I need to get these creepy images out of my mind."
The red-headed human got up and walked out of his head. He wore a long trench coat. Zim finally recognised him; he had seen him around the city, drinking slushies and eating burgers at McMeaties…
She looked back at him then. Zim found that he was sitting in front of the fire now as his eyes were finally awake. Or were they? Where was he?
"It's time," She said. "I think you're finally ready, Zim. See, I told you it wasn't as hard as you think."
The fire disappeared, and the darkness around them turned to light. The scenery was bright. They were in a long, white corridor. There were glass doors that seemed to illuminate.
"Where are we now?" he asked.
"This is a crossroads between spirit realms. We'll soon be at our destination."
She walked over to a door and pressed Her finger on it. An image appeared like a hologram. It showed the image of the tree where Green Eyes was trapped.
"How do we get there?"
"We're already there..."
Zim looked around. He was inside of Tak's PAK again. It messed with his brain meats. He had just been standing in the long, white corridor…
She still had the same default settings, he noted. There were no giant leopard cubs to be seen. How disappointing. Even now as a spirit, he could truly feel the artificial atmosphere of this place. It really was cybernetic. It made him disoriented. Before, Tak's PAK was attached to him as his mind could easily travel here. Now he was here as a spirit free of his body.
Tak's personality was sitting at the base of the hill where Green Eyes' tree stood proud. MiMi was with her. At least a memory of MiMi. She looked at ease as the robot consoled her.
"You did a good thing for her there," She said next, coming up beside him. "Even when Green Eyes escapes again, Tak will be stronger now. You healed that festering wound between you. Your act of kindness has led Tak to forgive you. She no longer hates you, Zim. She was bitter for so long, but now she is free from that hatred. Hate never has done anyone any favours. Forgiveness is the key to a pure heart and mind. Always remember that."
Zim smiled, watching Tak at the base of the hill. She was laughing, a sweet, musical sound. He had never heard her laugh like that. In her mind Tak was free to be who she truly was. Not an evil maniac, but someone who loved to smile and laugh with those closest to her.
Next, images of him, Skoodge and Tenn appeared. Tak smiled at them. They all looked like smeets, which was strange. He felt like he was observing a dream, although Irkens don't dream in the traditional sense. He wasn't sure where Tak was now, but she may as well be sleeping. The images almost resembled wish fulfilment. Since Irkens don't get true childhoods, friendships are seldom formed. Here Tak was as free as a smeet again.
"It looks like she has found some new friends," She observed.
"That's reassuring to know," he replied. "She hides it well, but I think I have grown on her. Even Tenn and Skoodge."
The image disappeared again, as Tak changed into adult form. She was with the Resisty. Zim watched the dream closely. She looked happy to be with them again. She was even kneeling before the Vortian Lard Nar. It seemed she respected him; Tak hardly bent the knee for anyone. The stupid goat dismissed her bow, and told her to rise again. They shook hands like equals. Zim looked away. He'd seen enough.
He peered over at the tree now. "So, when will she escape?"
"In a matter of time..."
Zim rolled his eyes. "Great."
"So I haven't missed anything? Thank god. I have to see this."
Zim flipped his head around. It was Johnny C. "What are you doing here?" he growled.
"I came to see the show," Johnny replied.
"This isn't a show!"
She put a hand on Zim's shoulder. "I promised he could come. Apparently, he wants to see the new death in action."
Zim turned pale. "A new death? Why would they be here?"
"To take your green-eyed friend to the other side, obviously," Nny told him. "I hear he's quite brutal."
Zim stared at the tree, horrified. "So, she won't go peacefully after all?"
Nny released a high-pitched giggle. "You're honestly holding out for that?!"
The Irken snarled at him. "She at least deserves a chance!"
"She will get a chance," She reassured. "But that's only if she decides to take it. If she refuses and continues to pursue control of Tak, then that's when death will come in."
"It's so weird that it's not me anymore," Nny remarked, all giddy like.
Zim smirked up at him. "Do I sense a hint of jealously?"
"Pfft, please, why would I want to be a slave again?"
"You know deep in your heart that murder and torture will always be a part of you!"
"Not now, boys. It's about to begin..." She looked over to the tree.
They heard the sound of snapping wood next. The tree started to break in half. Zim felt his heart racing. His spirit was still attached to his body, so he knew it only came from there.
The tree twisted and bent, until it turned black and withered to dust. A crouched Irken form lay in its place. She looked around bewildered, till she caught the sight of Zim. Her mouth pulled up into a sneer.
"You… I told you I'd come back…"
Zim sighed, and pinched the skin between his eyes. "This has to stop, Green Eyes, or should I call you Scree... You can't go on like this. Leave Tak alone and move on. It's over now. She's strong, so you won't be able to seize control of her this time."
Scree smirked, showing off her zipper teeth. "So you finally figured out my real name? How smart of you. But we'll see about that. I think I can still control her somewhere… "
Scree looked down at Tak's memories at the base of the hill. Memory Tak's back stiffened once she felt those green eyes boring into her. She looked up. Her eyes were dark.
"Go away. You have no place here anymore. This is my PAK now," she said.
"You're wrong!" Scree yelled. "This was my PAK before I was wrongly murdered. Before you were even spawned!"
"Exactly. You're dead now. Now hurry and leave before I come over there and do something we both regret."
"Never! I will never leave you alone, Tak. You're mine!"
"We'll see about that..."
Tak rose to her feet. Zim didn't know how he could tell, but it seemed like the real Tak was here now instead of her memories. Was she dreaming after all?
She looked up at Zim then and smiled. He had a sense it was her. She had MiMi at her back, as well as him, Skoodge, Tenn and members of the Resisty. They were all rooting for her, and she knew deep down. She found strength in the support of friends.
"Don't worry, Zim. I've got this now..." she told him.
Zim blinked. "Oh... okay."
Tak smiled up at Scree. "So what are you waiting for? Here I am. I'm all yours…"
Scree screamed as she jumped out and attacked her. But she was pushed back. She looked up confused. "What's going on?" she asked.
Tak laughed. It was creepy again. "Don't you see what's going on? You can't control me anymore. I'm free now. I'm different to you, Scree. Whereas I am strong, you are weak. You give in to your hatred and let it consume you long after death. So I suggest you do the wise thing now and heed Zim's advice."
Scree laughed back. Her laugh was raspy, like her voice. "Please. You know you still hate Zim deep in your heart, Tak. You don't just forgive so easily. All you have ever known is hate. It makes up every ounce of your being."
"Not anymore. And besides, it was you anyway who was feeding me all that hatred. It was always you for the most part."
"But it was also you too? You still admit to it."
Tak smiled again. "Of course. Acceptance is just the beginning. Knowing you were wrong from the start truly helps."
"I was never wrong. My life was taken all because I had a crippled leg. My life was unfair, so I will never forgive. You don't know what it was like. You think your life has been hard? Look at you. You're the perfect image of a soldier: beautiful, strong and fearless. That's who I should have been, but fate was cruel. So don't tell me how to forgive when you had it so easy."
"Fair enough. We can all admit that my life wasn't as hard as yours. But I forgave the creature who messed up my fate. I think you need to look deep inside yourself too and forgive the monster who crippled your leg."
"Never. It was never about the monster. The true monsters can be found in the face of every Irken. My own race cast me aside because I was imperfect. Any glitch in their society, and they are thrown out like rubbish. That's why I live on. I wasn't finished with them. If I had it my way, you would have finished what I had tried to start, by crippling every living Irken until they were equal. I dreamed of a society where everyone was the same in their abilities. No one ever again will feel inferior..."
"So, your logic is that you'd hurt every Irken so they would be happier? Well, what would happen to the smeets who were spawned 'perfect' as you say? Would they be considered the freak then? You can't have it both ways. Truly, if you wanted to change the prejudice in our society you would strive for a race of diversity rather than equality. Teach others to be accepting of others differences."
Scree cackled loud and raucous. "Do you honestly think our race will ever be accepting of differences? It will only deteriorate further until it eventually destroys itself. All the Irkens care about is destruction. It's a universally known fact. By making everyone equal will stop the prejudice. No one will have it better than anyone else..."
"Apart from the occasional smeet who was spawned 'perfect'. Will he be destroyed? You completely glossed over that. Typical." Tak sighed over her ignorance.
Scree bared her teeth. "Shut up! It is the only way for everyone's true happiness!"
"Your happiness," Tak corrected. "Remember, your happiness does not equate to everyone else's, but you're against differences anyway. It seems only fitting. If everyone is like you, you are happy. You're a selfish creature. You need to see that."
Scree lashed out at her again but that invisible wall was too strong. Tak had never looked so smug.
"Don't look so smug, Tak. I will have control of you again. And don't think I was going to stop at Irk. I would have purified the whole of the universe. Even your precious Earth. The people there are more messed up than the Irkens. All the wars they have caused each other? Think about that a moment. Irkens at least see the benefit of forming as one culture. The humans deserved it the most!"
"Earth was never precious to me, but since it is the home of a close friend, I must stop you. You won't win, Scree."
"Watch me!" Scree attacked the wall again, but she was thrown back. Tak broke through the wall next and pressed her boot on her chest. Scree couldn't move. MiMi, Zim and all the others stood around them.
"It's over. I'm afraid it's too late for you now—"
"Wait!"
The voice came from the glass door behind. Everyone turned. There an Irken stood. Zim recognised him instantly.
"Hey, I know you…" he said.
The Irken met his gaze. He was no longer blind. His eye didn't have the white, clouded speck anymore. It was full, shiny and red again.
"Bren! You're her friend from the memory..."
Nny sighed. "And here I was thinking it was death."
Zim glared at him. "He's just as important!"
"It's good to meet you too," Bren told him. "I guess the last time I saw you, you were a tiny, developing smeet. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her in time…" He looked away.
Zim looked confused. He knew what he was talking about, as the memory revealed that he was the one smeet out of a billion to be infected by the drop in Scree's super pollutant. He was here to try and coax his old friend to the other side. She hardly deserved it, but it seemed he remained loyal all this time.
Her approached Bren with a generous smile. "I was wondering when you'd show up. You're right, Zim. Bren's presence here is very significant. A part of her still cared for him deep down, but she was too twisted with revenge by the time of her death."
Zim gave Bren a sorry look. "She never shed a tear when you were killed. I felt it. I was experiencing her memories."
A wretched look played over Bren's face. Zim felt his pain. Irkens in his time still formed strong bonds, so he couldn't relate in the sense that she was Irken like him, but he had since formed strong bonds on Earth. He'd be heartbroken if Dib was to betray him tomorrow and turn him in to the Earth authorities. A friend's betrayal was a hard one to forgive. But Bren was pure of heart, as he always was. It wasn't hard to figure out why he was granted access into the afterlife. It was more than he deserved after the life he lived.
"Well, I know there's still a part of the old her inside her somewhere…" Bren said hopeful next.
"I hope you're right. I can't bear to see a spirit slip away. After all, she is no different to Molly in my eyes. My mission is to help all spirits, no matter what form they come in."
"So, death won't show then?" Nny asked now.
"Quiet, Nny. Now isn't the time," She scolded.
He shook his head and folded his arms. He knew death would show in the end. Green Eyes was pure sick. They could all see it.
Bren came forward at last. Scree looked up. Her eyes widened.
"Bren? I... I never thought I'd see you again..." she seemed to choke slightly. Her eyes shined.
"It's good to finally see you too. It's been a while, Scree."
She couldn't bear the look in his eyes. She turned away.
Bren looked at Tak, and gave a nod. She removed her boot.
He helped her up to her feet. She staggered on her leg, but he held her up in time.
She noticed his eye then. "Your eye. It's healed…" she observed, staring in wonder.
He touched his eye. "It seems so..." He gave a forced smile next. "You could be healed too, you know. There's so much to experience over there." He pointed to the glass door. "Come with me, and you can be happy again, truly."
Scree stared, dumbfounded. She couldn't believe he was fixed. It seemed too good to be true. She looked at the glass doorway. A bright light shone from the other side. It beckoned to her, as it seemed to call out her name.
She pulled on her antennae next. "Make it stop!" she yelled.
"It won't stop calling your name until you give in. This is your last and final chance to be happy. Life was unfair, as it was for me. Please, come with me now and we can live the life I once promised. Let go of the hatred, Scree. It has never gotten you anywhere."
"I can't. It's hard. I don't know of anything else..."
"Of course you do. You were once a happy and bright Irken with so much potential."
"Potential that was taken away!" she countered.
"You can't think like that. It will only rot inside you until it's too late."
She stared at the door again. The light shone brighter and brighter. It was terrifying, but compelling all the same. Was there really a light at the end of the tunnel, like they say? Was she strong enough to even go there?
She was torn. What path to choose...
Next, she became very aware of Tak on her left. She was watching... they all were. She noticed how Tak had let her guard down. She should take advantage before it was too late. She had to give it one more try...
Suddenly, Scree grabbed a hold of Tak's throat. Bren tried to pull her away, but he was thrown back by a powerful force.
Bren looked up, and then that cry of horror escaped his lips. It was too late. A dark mist materialised around Scree as it formed into a tall, cloaked shape.
The sky turned dark as the autumn scenery turned to winter. Everyone stared, slack-jawed, especially Nny. It was him; the new reaper...
Tak had also been thrown back. She watched in horror as the cloaked creature reached out a hand, and pulled Scree close.
She screamed as she writhed in the creature's hold. "No, no, let go! I changed my mind! I'll go through the door!"
"It's too late..." the form rasped. Its voice was low and harsh, but clearly female.
Nny stared, curious. Why did Julia assume it was male? He thought he saw that long, scraggly blonde hair hidden amongst the mist. It wore a hood so its face was hidden, but its hair draped along its sides like old curtains.
"Tell me, do you still find me pretty?" the form asked.
Scree answered with another scream.
The form sighed. "I guess that's a no. Come, you missed your chance, little alien..."
"No!" Bren shouted. He ran over to save his friend for one last time, but the form pushed him back. Tak went over and helped him to his feet.
"It's too late," she said. "You tried your best."
Tears formed in his eyes. "I… I can't watch." He turned away.
Her approached him and put that arm around his shoulder. Zim was frozen in fear. He couldn't move from his place. There wasn't more he could do now but watch. Scree was a lost cause. He tried his best at least too.
Nny, however, was captivated. He wished he brought popcorn...
The form took a hold of Scree's throat next, and gave it a tight squeeze. Scree withered away, growing older and older by the second till she was nothing but dust. She scattered through the air for a moment, until she was sucked back out through the door. She had left Tak's PAK for good. No particle remained.
Everyone stared in silence. It all just happened so fast.
"So where did she go?" Nny finally asked.
The form glared at him then. "That is of no concern of yours, but if you must know I had no need for her soul. She was not going to change. It's best she disappeared altogether…"
Zim felt that harrowing lump in his throat. "So, she just... stopped existing?"
"Not exactly, little alien… Her dust particles will travel through the spirit realm till they find a new home. In that way she'll live on in many forms. It's very much like the universal carbon cycle. She could be a star tomorrow or a newborn next year."
"Cold," Nny said. "I like it."
The form gave him that pointed look. Nny thought he almost saw her eyes narrow. "Of course you would, you maniac."
He bared his teeth. "Don't call me a maniac! Who are you anyway?"
"If I tell you, I'd have to kill you…"
He stared, deadpan. "No, seriously now. Who are you?"
"In time…"
The form brushed past him next. She stopped and looked him right in the eye. He saw that creepy smile beneath the hood, and those crazed blue yes. They burned like electric. He truly looked terrified.
"The monkeys give you their best regards, Nny," she said in a voice all high and perky. "They miss you. Those tunnels are lonely without you there anymore..."
He stared speechless. Now the blonde hair made sense... He looked at her feet next. They were just like his boots, steel capped with the tie up laces. This wasn't real...
The form released a high-pitched giggle and walked through the glass door. "Finally, I need a taco. Reaping takes it out of me."
Nny only stared after the door once she left. He could, no, he would not believe it. He swallowed hard.
Zim approached his side. "Who was that?" he asked, disturbed.
Nny never met his gaze. He couldn't take his eyes off the door. "I'll be kind and won't tell you. It will only make you sad…"
The Irken looked confused. He shook his head. "Okay. I won't ask again."
Zim looked back at Her again. She was comforting Bren.
"I really thought I had her for a moment…" he sobbed.
"It's all right. I truly thought it would work. That's why I called you here. Don't dwell on it now. She's not gone forever; she will exist in another form."
"It's just not the same..."
"Cheer up. You will meet her again, I know it. Now let's go." She pulled him towards the door. She looked back at Zim. "Well, aren't you coming? It's about time you woke soon. It's finally over. Green Eyes has gone. Tak is free at last…" She smiled at Tak.
Tak smiled back.
Zim glanced at Tak. "Hold on. I just need to talk to her a moment." He approached her at last.
"Yes?" Tak asked, folding her arms.
"Well, we did it. Mostly you, but we got her in the end."
"She picked the wrong Irken to mess with..." Tak told him.
"How are you here now?"
"I'm dreaming somewhere. I'm having one of those lucid dreams where you know it's a dream, yet you can't mould things to your will. It sucks."
"So that's where you've been these past few days? Sleeping somewhere in my base?"
"I guess so. I put myself on shutdown once I got the call from the…" Tak stopped short.
"A call from whom?" Zim eyed her sharply.
"None of your business. Now off you go. Leave me and my dreams in peace." Tak waved him away.
He continued to watch her suspiciously, until he followed Her, Bren and Nny through the door.
Tak watched after the door when they left, and then looked around at the surreal landscape of her PAK. She was finally alone, as she should be. The door finally vanished. The link between her PAK and the spirit world was broken.
So she went back to her dreams, and dreamt about the good times ahead. It was long overdue.
...
They were in the bright white corridor again, and it was there they met Molly. Zim was surprised to see her, but Nny seemed to give her a wide berth. He gave her that suspicious look then.
"Molly! You're a sight for sore eyes!" Zim ran up to her and gripped her tight. She only hugged him with one arm though as she was holding a giant lollipop.
"Where did you get the lollipop?" Nny asked curiously next.
She met his gaze, and smiled with those baby teeth. "The scary lady. Here I was, minding my own business, until she appeared from the door. She stared at me for a while till she smiled and then pulled out this giant lollipop. Isn't that nice!" Molly licked the lollipop again.
Nny shifted his eyes. He didn't know what to make of it. "Uh, yeah, sure is…"
"She had the same pair of boots as you, Nny! I think she may have been your long lost twin sister."
He stared off into the distance. "Well it certainly beggars belief..."
"What are you doing here?" Zim asked her now.
"Well, I wanted to come and support you, but I couldn't make it through the door; I was too scared. Green Eyes really scared me last time. So I decided to stand here and wait."
"Oh. Well, I still appreciate it all the same. Green Eyes has gone now, Molly. You can take comfort in that."
"I bet she already knows that…" Nny scoffed next.
Zim and the others all looked up at him. "Why would she know that? She was here all this time," Zim said.
"Or was she…" Nny looked back at Molly, narrowing his eyes. Molly acted all innocent, and continued licking her lollipop.
"I think this conversation has run its course," She said. "It's time to take you back now, Zim."
"Actually," Zim glanced back at Molly again, "I would like to hang out in the spirit realm for a little while."
"All right. Where would you like to go?"
"I… really don't have the slightest clue. Can I see heaven again?"
"No. You are merely visiting," She told him.
Molly gasped next. "We could take him to the plaza. Me and Nny hang out there all the time."
"What's the plaza?" Zim asked.
"A strange place. You should like it," Nny said. He made to leave next.
Molly looked at him curiously. "Where you going?"
"I need to be alone for a while. I have just learned a pretty bizarre revelation about someone I know. I'm still trying to fix my head around it."
Molly pulled a face. "Yeah, well, me and Zim will have fun without you!"
"I'm fine with that!" Nny called back, walking down the long, white corridor.
Molly looked down sadly. So Zim lifted her chin up. "It's okay, Molly. We will have fun without him!"
She smiled. "Of course we will. Let's go!" Molly dragged Zim through another door, and everything turned white all at once.
She shook Her head, since they left without saying goodbye, and accompanied Bren on his way home.
What would Zim find on the other side of the door?
A/N: I was so glad to finally write the Resisty, as I was also nervous. It was like when I started writing Nny's character. I had to get them right. I was trying to make it silly like in the show, but come to think of it, they were funny because they were the Resisty. They were lame. By this point in the story, they've fought a war and survived... I thought they ought to grow up a little and become more 'sophistaced '. It was actually Shloonktapooxis who was hard to portray. Those one liners in the show can't be replaced. I'm not as funny as Eric Trueheart, or whoever else wrote the script. Maybe Jhonen. Trueheart wrote Zim Eats Waffles... There's a reason why he was paid money by Nickelodeon and I'm writing fanfiction... Maybe one day...
I made up names for the other Resisty members. It's pretty much Lard Nar, Shloonk, Spleenk and Ixane from an internet search I did. There's nothing recorded for the others. Oh well. I gave them my own because I'm crazily inventive like that. Vomita is the little alien that looks like the mascot for Sizz Lorr's restaurant. She vomits purple acid. Vomita is a little predictable, sorry, but she's obviously a girl so leave me alone! I called the three-headed one Kerberus like the dog in Greek mythology, but I used a K instead of a C. It's pronounced with a kicking K. Again, predicable, but he has three heads! The guy with the floating brain is Purple Matter... his brain is purple... need I say more? (rolls eyes). My personal favourite is Snippersnapper gnat, who is the bug-like one with the open mouth. I'm personally proud of that name (I shall call my dog that one day... ) There's one alien who the editor on Zim wiki thinks looks like an Irken, and that he may be the smeet who Zim shoved up the chute in The Trial because he got all messed up. I don't see it... For that reason I called him chute (pulls poker face). He does have Irken-like eyes, which are green, and these weird, robot arm things... All the creatures look weird in IZ and seriously messed up (even some of the humans do). I called the robot looking ones with blue arrows on them Arrow Pointing Down 1 and 2. Yeah... The weird, smiley ones with the striped shirts, and who kinda look like those inflatable toys you used to punch as a child and they fell back and giggled, I decided to call Teepy, Tippy, Toopy and Timmy (don't laugh!) And last of all the big-headed aliens who, again, the editor on Zim wiki things the tops of their heads look a bit like Dib's cowlick (I suppose they kinda do) are called Moop, Mip, Map, Meh, mOO Blah Blah! If you must now, one of them activates the Shrinky Self Destruct Button. I have pictures for reference while I write this, so you may have already forgotten half the background Resisty members by now. Unless you've seen Back Street Drivers that many times, which I wouldn't blame you. I think it's the funniest episode. Pure IZ gold that just made the show what it was... awesome. Sigh.
I always wondered why Goofy got to wear the pants while Pluto remained on all fours. There's an adult cartoon series by the name of Drawn Together (highly offensive, watch at your own risk) that parodies famous cartoon/game characters while they live in a Big Brother style house/reality show. There's a scene with Pluto holding Goofy at gun point as he shouts "Why does he get to be the dog who wears the pants. I want to wear the pants!" and then he commences with shooting Goofy and then himself. See why I warned you about it? Not for the faint of heart... Minnie's cat was also Figaro from Pinocchio... strange again.
Good to get that off my chest... Oh, just in case, I don't own the monetary rights to any Disney character, no more than the living descendants of A. A. Milne own Pooh Bear...
I feel that Molly will still grow on the other side, maybe on a yearly basis. It just seems fair given the circumstances of how she died. Sure, we all start off cute, but we grow up and become adults. She more or less has the mind of an adult already, but I want her to grow up eventually.
Now I wonder who the new reaper was who took up Nny's old job? Very questionable. We'll never know... stay tuned for the next chapter to find out.
I think I caved in and finally shipped Nny with little miss sunshine. I hate smiley people, so I can only imagine how Nny feels. I smile too, but I mean smiley to the point of insanity. Snow White reincarnate, etc. I suppose she would grow on you eventually... I see them like candied bacon. They are not two things you'd conventionally put together, sugar on bacon, but it tastes great.
Nny is the bacon and Julia is the sugar. Separately they don't go, but together... yeah, yeah...
I wasn't sure what I was going to do with Scree, but honestly it was never going to end well for her. I think it would be boring if she just went through that door, even though it seemed so, so simple. Yet she was still holding onto... I don't even now. I try to understand my characters, but I think she just lost sight of what was right and wrong (it seems I see my characters like children). Tis sad, but her spiritual energy has broken apart and scattered across the spiritual realms, or universe, pretty much like the carbon cycle. I did that because I have a friend who doesn't believe in the afterlife. Just the carbon cycle. Fair enough. It's her head not mine. We do live on as energy after we die, proven by physics, but I believe a little more of us live on because I just want to. Some people are happy enough with the carbon cycle. I wonder where the conscious mind goes. The soul...
I should say I don't think we, humans, are worse than Irkens. Irkens are a fictional alien race, but in general we are not. They do far worse.
This time next Friday. See you then...