Chapter Twelve: Android
"W-What?" Dib choked out, peering down at his alien. Zim pouted and looked at Dib with those sweet crimson eyes.
"Isn't that the standard procedure amongst humans?" Zim asked, "A sacred ceremony of bond-y things caused by squishy heart-felt emotion-y things for one another?"
"Uh…yeah," Dib said, taking a moment to decipher Zim's way of putting it. "People usually get married when they're older than us though…er, well, me anyway."
"Pfffff," Zim said, looking annoyed again, "Those are idiotic humans, can you honestly live without the amazing Zim beside you?"
Dib smiled at Zim's arrogance and pride. "No, I guess not," He said, remembering the past couple weeks.
Zim grinned. "There, you don't need to wait until you're older, you're intelligent enough to know what you want now." Zim beamed and waited for Dib's answer.
"You…you really want me to marry you?" Dib asked, the reality of it coming to him. He never really thought about their relationship much before, and even before Zim, Dib never thought he had a chance in hell of getting married. Zim knit his brows together worriedly, his patience apparently thin as ever.
"Of course, Dib-stink," Zim said, "Why else would I ask?"
Dib chuckled. "Yeah…" He stopped smiling and looked into Zim's eyes, trying to be serious. "Yes Zim, I'll marry you." Zim grinned in dominance, looking like he'd won a challenge, even though winning Dib was effortless.
Zim put his hands on Dib's chest and cuddled closer. "Good. I'd have to shoot you if you said no." Dib laughed nervously, unsure if Zim was serious. He probably was. But it wasn't like there was a chance Dib would say no anyway, so he guessed it didn't matter.
"So, you wanna plan the wedding or me?" Dib asked, the thought of who was the female in their relationship reemerging. Dib smirked and anticipated Zim's answer.
Zim looked off in thought, seeming so serious about the decision. "What is there to plan?" Zim asked, being completely serious about it.
"Um…um…" Dib stammered and thought about that. "Well…lots of things…who will come…decorations…where it is, the food, the clothes…"
"And these things matter to the Dib?" Zim asked, watching Dib with wonder in his eyes.
"Uh…I dunno…" Dib admitted, again he hadn't thought about these things before.
Zim frowned and looked annoyed. "Then you do the planning Dib-stink! How should Zim know how to perform your stupid Earth rituals." Zim tried to look away and seem dramatic, but he just looked like he was pouting. Dib smiled, but inside he cursed, he was the female again, stuck with planning.
"Fine," Dib huffed, pulling Zim forward suddenly. Zim squeaked in surprise but didn't pull away. Dib decided to just forget the argument of who was the girl, he was Dib and Zim was Zim. Dib pressed his forehead against Zim's and leaned in, about to get romantic when a sudden, scary thought occurred to him. "Uh…Zim?"
"Yes…." Zim whispered, getting into the moment, not sensing Dib's rising panic.
"We're trapped in a small room with no way out and Gaz is the only one who knows we're here…" Dib said quickly. He held Zim a little tighter, fear of his sister and the things she would be willing to do gripping him.
"So?" Zim asked, not seeing the big deal, "She helped us get here didn't she?"
"Um…she helped you, I guess," Dib mumbled, "But what if she helped you just so she can completely destroy you? It is Gaz you know…"
Now there was a spark of fear in Zim's eyes and Dib felt him tense up below him. "She…she wouldn't do that," He said, laughing nervously.
"Check your memory Zim, remember when Gir stole that part and Gaz made us compete?" Dib asked. He only remembered because he was still a bit Irked that Zim got more phone numbers than him, a considerably large amount more.
There was a quiet, nearly inaudible whirring sound in Zim's pak before Zim tensed up even more. "Y-yeah…" He whispered, glancing nervously to the door and back.
"Well…I think this might just be some larger version of that…" Dib whispered. Just as he finished, the door blew open dramatically.
…
"Reeeeeeeedd, I'm boooooooorrrredd," Purple slurred out. Red sighed, he was bored too.
"Where do you think Gaz is?" Red asked. Purple shrugged. They looked back out to the stars and watched the on goings of Earth. They were so glad that Zim turned out to be wrong. He merely took a long, winding path to Earth, which was why it took him so long. When taking a straight path, it only took a couple of weeks. "She'd better be back soon."
"Hey I know! Let's go to Foodcourtia!" Purple exclaimed.
"That sounds like fun…but that's all the way back past Irk," Red pointed out.
"So? We're the Tallest, we can do what we want," Purple said, starting to float in a circle, to prove their superiority…somehow.
Red didn't see how going in circles showed off that they were the Tallest and in command, but he started to float in circles too. "Okay, Servant…thingies, set a course for Foodcourtia!"
"Gaz will just love Foodcourtia!" Purple said, imagining all the food there.
"Yeah…" Red whispered, also awed by the thought of the seemingly magical place.
…
"Gazzy~!"
"Shut the fuck up…." Gaz walked right up to the boy and slapped him. "Keef…you're supposed to be dead…go back to being dead," She ordered.
"Aw, Gazzy, don't be so mad," Keef begged, looking like he would cry, "I'm just here to see-" Gaz muffled his words with her palm, she knew who he was here to see, but the guards weren't allowed to know about Zim. As Gaz contemplated what to do…and Keef continued talking even though there was a hand blocking his mouth, Gaz observed the boy. He seemed to have grown up, favoring a red faux-hawk and Levi's blue jeans. He looked quite athletic, which was probably how he always survived shit. Gaz considered shooting him right there where he babbled, but he would probably live through it. He lived through being exploded after all.
"Keef…did you really come all this way to see…" Gaz shuddered at these words, "Your buddy?" Gaz removed her hand cautiously.
"Oh yeah~!" Keef blurted happily, "I'm here to get my bestest friend ever! Then we're gunna go see the circus!" The guards looked confused about what Keef was saying, but Gaz was just annoyed.
"Keef…shut up…" Gaz ordered. This time he complied, instead just watched the guards with curious eyes, beaming at them like they were all his friends. "You are so creepy…" Gaz mumbled under her breath. This only made Keef happier, and creeped Gaz out more.
Before Gaz could properly decide what to do, explosions down the hallway distracted her. She heard the bodies of her guards fall to the ground helplessly. The hallway filled with smoke as she tried to see what was going on. Zim's door was now obscured by the smoke and that scared Gaz. She left Keef's side to determine what the cause of the disruption was.
A blue-haired man…human, she noted, walked up to her calmly and happily. "Hi there! Come with me please~." The man said, holding out his hand for Gaz to take.
"Who the hell are you and why are you here?" Gaz asked cautiously. She stared into his eyes, searching for the reason this was happening. His eyes were the same shade of navy blue as his hair. Around his neck was a long blue scarf of that same shade. He had a long white cloak on with blue trim and yellow arrows on the sleeves and a yellow strip around both blue cuffs.
"My name is Kaito.~" He said cheerfully, "And I'm here to help you!" Gaz looked deeper into his eyes and could just sense that there was something…not right about this Kaito. She looked to the collapsed guards behind her. Reluctantly she took Kaito's hand and let him lead her down the hallway.
…
When the door exploded open, it scared Dib practically to death, but not near as much as Zim going limp in his arms. The soft whir in his pak that was always going suddenly stopped and Zim closed his eyes, suddenly just…not there.
"Zim? Zim?" Dib held Zim's weight, pressing him close, trying to rouse the Irken. He shook him lightly, not noticing the figure that walked in the room. "Zim!" Dib yelled, his shaking getting worse.
That was when he felt a cold hand clasp his shoulder. "He's not going to wake up right now," Someone told him. Dib looked and saw a boy shorter than him staring up at him. He had bright blonde hair and dark blue eyes…he looked just like…but he couldn't be…
"What do you mean, right now?" Dib asked suspiciously.
"We set off an electric shock to shut down all Irken paks within a fifty yard radius, he'll wake up in a few minutes," The boy told him, hand still on Dib's shoulder. "So, don't worry about him, for now we need to leave while the guards are passed out."
Dib looked the boy over skeptically. "What's your name?"
"Len," He said easily, smiling at Dib mechanically. Dib recognized Lin's expressions and the way he moved, and knew he could trust the boy.
"Okay, Len, let's go," Dib said with authority in his voice. He easily picked Zim up, who was surprisingly lighter than usual, and followed Len out into the smoky hallway. He noticed that Len wore some sort of white and yellow sailor's shirt with a yellow tie. He had plain black shorts with a yellow rope thing attached to his belt.
When they entered the hallway, Dib couldn't see anything. He just hoped that Len wouldn't lead them into trouble. He was completely unarmed and carrying the unconscious Irken.
…
Almost there. They were almost to Skoodge's ship. Almost there…almost there. Skoodge was panting and trying not to let Tak bleed out completely. He stopped and looked up at the waiting and expecting doors of his ship…if his ship had been there. He looked around the loading bay and cursed roughly in Irken. His comrades must have chickened out and left him behind. Great…now what would he do?
"Hello there," A calm voice said behind him. He spun around to see a human face looked at him with concern.
"H-Hello…" Skoodge mumbled, staring at the two women before him. The one that had spoken looked young, and she had long…long aqua hair tied up in pigtails. Even up, it reached to the girl's ankles. She had calm reassuring blue eyes that seemed to erase any thought of her being bad from his mind. She was wearing a dark gray, sleeveless shirt with an aqua tie the color of her hair. The same aqua color lined the edge of her black pleated skirt. Thigh-high boots covered most of her legs.
"That looks like quite the load," The other girl stated. Skoodge looked at her. She seemed rather plain compared to Miss Aqua. Brown eyes, brown hair cut short with bangs. Her red, sleeveless shirt was cut right after her chest. Her red miniskirt was very revealing with lots of skin in between her skirt and knee-high boots.
"Meiko, don't be rude," The aqua one said quietly. Meiko looked off to the left and seemed annoyed. "My name is Miku," She said kindly to Skoodge, "Do you need help?"
Skoodge looked at them both then at Tak, still dying in his arms. "Yes," He said, deciding to go ahead and trust them. If they betrayed him, he would most likely lose Tak, but on his own he would definitely lose her anyway. So what the hell.
"Our ship is nearby, we can help you there," Miku said, smiling wide at Skoodge. It was a slightly creepy smile, but hey, everyone had their faults. Miku led Skoodge towards her ship and Meiko followed behind Skoodge. It really wasn't that long of a walk. They took Skoodge inside the ship, which was pretty lavish and expensive looking, but was small and only had one room. Skoodge figured this one would take them to an even bigger one. One that wouldn't fit in the loading bay. As Skoodge laid Tak down and did what he could as the humans watched, he wondered just what kind of girls these humans were and why they were aboard the Massive so suddenly.
…
Len piloted the small cruiser expertly, leading them out of the loading bay and out into the void of space. For a while, Dib thought this was it, that this was the ship they'd be staying in. But they soon came to a huge ship, half the size of the Massive itself. Dib gazed at the glory of it as they landed in a new bay, finally aboard the ship they would stay in. "This ship is owned by my master, the amazing lord of engineering. He owns this ship and many other glorious inventions," Len told him, as if he were a guide on a leisurely tour.
Dib marveled at the designs of the ship, they seemed so familiar, even though he'd never seen this ship before. Almost like he would know the person who designed it. "Say, who is your master anyway? I mean, I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I don't want the horse to suddenly explode with a bomb as I'm riding it either…you know?"
Len listened to Dib's long question, it seemed like he didn't understand Dib's way of putting it, but he answered anyway. "My lord it-"
"Dibbers! Zimmeh~!" A high, almost musical voice called out. Dib froze and looked around. He saw the boy exciting his vessel and headed straight towards them. He noticed also that several other people were coming out of space vessels. But this one boy…no…it couldn't be. But Dib couldn't mistake the unnatural excitement on his face or that messy, orange mane. Ugh. It just had to be today that Keef decided to show up.
And, as a twist of fate, that was also the moment Zim started to wake up. It hadn't been ten minutes yet, but it had been getting close. Now Zim mumbled with his eyes closed, pressing himself to Dib's shirt, not wanting to wake up.
"Aw, is he sleeping~?" Keef asked, striding over to them. Without permission from Dib or Zim, Keef gently rubbed one of Zim's antennae as though to wake him up softly. Zim woke up immediately, knowing the hand wasn't Dib's. He almost fell to the floor in the rude awakening but managed to stay aloft in Dib's arms. Thank god he was so small and light, or Dib surely would've dropped him by now. Zim stared at Dib for a minute, then at Keef, then at the others in the room.
…
What the hell? Keef? Impossible, he was blown up, he died. Of course…he did die once before that…so…oh hell. How did Keef always manage to survive shit? And…where were they? Zim partially recognized the ship, but it wasn't one he'd actually seen before. But there was something about it…the way it was built, it's flow, the design…it was unmistakable.
And who were these other people? This other boy who looked like Rin? Zim listened closely, staring hard at Dib for concentration. He could hear it. That sound…it was slight, but he had always heard it in Rin. The boy, the brunette girl, the aqua girl…they were all androids. Zim stared at Keef and tried to deduce how this was possible…how did Keef have this ship. Assuming it was Keef's to own, which Zim always followed his assumptions faithfully. And how did he have these androids. Zim started having a very unsafe feeling about it all. He noticed he was cornered with Keef in front of him, a closed vessel behind him, and various androids scattered about the room, ready to attack.
If Zim hadn't been in Dib's arms with his pak against the human's chest, he would have promptly started stabbing Keef with his pak legs until he stopped moving.
…
Dib didn't like the look Zim was giving Keef. Was this jealousy? Hell no. It was fear, fear for Keef. Zim looked like he wanted to strangle the hell out of the poor boy. Dib kept Zim securely locked in his arms to prevent anything tragic or bloody to happen, Zim's pak trapped tightly in the crook of Dib's arm so nothing could come out of it without first hitting Dib. He wasn't sure why he was protecting Keef, but the boy was saving them right now…right?
"Dib," Zim hissed into Dib's ear quietly, "Diiiiiiib! They're androids!" Dib's eyes widened and looked at Len, who had obviously heard Zim with his super human hearing as he glanced up to meet Dib's gaze. Len smiled politely.
"Like Rin?" Dib asked in a calm, hushed whisper. Zim nodded, not bothering with hiding the gesture.
Dib stared at the others. Keef, who was staring at Zim wondrously and shifting around wordlessly, almost like he was too excited to speak. There was Len, and two girls stood behind Keef, seeming unsure what to do but excited anyway.
"Hey, he's green too!" The girl with aqua hair said, looking completely befuddled.
"Is he the one we were supposed to bring?" The brunette girl asked, looking more pissed off than confused.
"Yup!" Keef managed to squeal before covering his mouth, as though he didn't want to speak. The brunette scowled at the aqua themed girl. Dib could tell there was a bit of tension between them, but he didn't really care right now. Len just stood, smiled, and watched everything.
Finally Dib just sighed, tired of all the tension going on. "Where are we going, Keef?" He asked, watching Keef and wondering if he would blow up again. He was dancing around like he might.
"We're goin' back to Earth, of course!" Keef said happily, "Zimmeh and I still havta go to the circus!" Zim visibly shuddered before huddling closer to Dib's chest.
"Okay, well, where can we stay before then?" Dib asked, not caring anymore.
Keef gasped and jumped a little. "We can stay at the Bridge! I haven't got to use it yet!" Keef started walking off and Dib followed. He noticed that all the androids loosely followed too, like they weren't sure what they were supposed to do now. "When we get there we can watch a movie and cuddle in rainbow Snuggies and eat popcorn…" Keef kept going on and on and on, Dib tuned him out, instead watching the awesome designs of the ship as they passed them. Zim pressed his cheek into Dib's shoulder.
"We're not really going to do all that will we?" Zim asked desperately, obviously fearing all things loving when associated with anyone but Dib, especially when it was Keef. Dib shook his head, pretty sure he could overpower Keef, or else distract him and make him do something else. Zim sighed in relief and wrapped his arms around Dib's neck protectively. "Good…the thought of rainbows makes me want to blow him up again…" Zim mumbled into Dib.
Dib chuckled, "Yeah, I know what you mean."
Just as Dib was going to say something else, they walked into the 'bridge'. Dib was amazed. There were several maroon couches spread apart throughout the room. At the front was a huge wall sized screen connected to a smaller computer. Sconces on the walls provided a nice mellow atmosphere. The walls were a mixture of red and purple as was the floor, the table in the middle had a green, spiky plant as a centerpiece. The plant must have been foreign because it wasn't in a pot or anything; it seemed to be attached to the table. When Dib and Zim sat on one of the couches, Dib saw that there were roots protruding from the underside of the table.
Dib looked to check on Zim, who was staring around the room with serious thought on his face, antennae pointing straight forward in frustration. All of a sudden Zim stood shakily to point at Keef, who was fiddling with the computer. "You thief!" Zim yelled loudly. All the androids watched Zim warily, but Keef just turned around and grinned. "How dare you even TOUCH any of Zim's amazing blueprints!" Zim ranted, still pointing. Dib held his ground on the couch, unsure he wanted to be involved.
"But, Zim, they were so cool~! I couldn't help but try them!" Keef said happily, beaming at them. Zim calmed down a bit, his ego being boosted.
"How the hell did you do this?" Zim asked, referring to the room, and the ship as well.
"I followed the directions~!" Keef replied, seeming so simple-minded. Zim grunted and rubbed his head.
"That's not what I mean…" Zim mumbled.
"Keef," Dib said, deciding to speak up for Zim's sake. "Did you build this ship yourself?" Keef nodded.
"With my designs! My calculations!" Zim said, making sure everyone understood.
"So, uh, how did you know what to do?" Dib asked, not sure even Zim could have built a ship. He was smart enough to draft it, sure, but actually make it work? Dib doubted it, but Keef did it…how was that even possible?
"Oh, ever since elementary school I wanted to be like Zim, so I learned to be a mechanic~! Because Zim knows how to build stuff, so I wanted to build stuff too," Keef elaborated. Zim seemed very uncomfortable at the idea of Keef becoming like him. He also seemed more aware that he wasn't currently disguised and Keef hadn't wondered at him at all. Well, anymore than usual.
"And the androids?" Dib asked.
"Yeah, I made those too~," Keef said, staring at Zim the whole time. "I already built all of Zim's stuff, so I was bored and went to Professor Membranes lab and built his plans too~!" Keef told them. Now Dib felt uncomfortable. Keef had been in his father's labs? That was pretty…stalker-like. Now he knew how Zim felt around Keef.
"Keef is a very good mechanic," Someone said from behind them. Dib and Zim both turned to see the new voice walked through the door and smile at them. "I wouldn't be here otherwise." She laughed and walked up to Dib. "Hi, Dib."
Her blonde hair was the same as always, and she was wearing a plain white dress that flowed to her knees. "H-Hi, Rin…" Dib stuttered.
"Yes, yes, hello," Zim muttered, "Don't interrupt conversation, girl." Dib threw Zim a glare before turning back to Rin. It occurred to Dib that he'd never told Zim what had happened to Rin.
Dib stared up into Rin's blue eyes and wondered if this was the same Rin, or if she was completely new, a blank robot. "It's good to see you're both okay," Rin said happily, "…demon slayer."
Dib suddenly remembered the song Rin sang to him as she died, how she called him a demon slayer. He remembered the bulge in his pocket and reached in. "Here, Rin," He said, handing her the white bundle. Rin smiled and put her bow back in her hair. It was slightly smudged with smoke, but was okay for the most part.
Zim sat down with a huff and wrapped an arm around Dib protectively. Dib pried his gaze away from Rin and back to Zim. His alien was so the jealous type. As Zim pouted, Dib nuzzled him, trying to make up for the lost attention.
Rin walked around the couch and to Len's side. When they stood side by side. They looked like twins, and they probably were, too. Twin androids. Keef stood with his hands clasped together and a huge smile on his face. He was staring at Dib and Zim eerily. "Aww~! You guys are so cute~!" Zim frowned and glared at Keef, Dib did much the same. Keef giggled and remained smiling. Dib was starting to come around to Zim's idea of killing him again. It may not work, but it would get him to stop smiling, if only for a while. "So~! Wanna watch a movie?" Keef asked obnoxiously. A loud 'No' sounded from both Dib and Zim at the same time. "Maybe some music~?" Another no. "How about-"
"Are you really human?" Zim asked suddenly.
"What?" Keef said, giggling nervously.
"Are. You. Human?" Zim asked again irritably.
"Uhh…" Keef looked around at his androids for help, but they didn't seem to know what to say either.
Suddenly, the screen behind Keef lit up and showed a blue haired figure. "Keef~," He said happily, "I'm sorry, but we can't go to Earth." The mysterious man with blue hair smiled…just like Keef.
Keef seemed relieved at first, saved by the 'bell' perhaps. But then he was worried. "Why can't we?" He asked, pouting. Dib and Zim looked at each other, unsure what the problem was.
"Because…well…frankly, Earth has been blown up," The blue-haired man reported. He kept his smile, even though it pissed Dib off. How could be smile when such horrible news was here? He was probably programmed to do that, knowing Keef. But it still made Dib mad.
"Oh, we'll have to think of something else to do then," Keef said dejectedly, although he sounded more like a play-date got cancelled than the whole fucking world being blown up.
"Something else?" Dib echoed sarcastically. He got free of Zim's grasp somewhat to glare holes into Keef's head. "Was anyone saved from Earth?" He asked the blue reporter. He shrugged and smiled politely at Dib. "How can you not know?" Dib asked, getting angrier. He shrugged again.
"Don't worry, Dib…" Zim said, rubbing Dib's hand empathetically, "They were all ignorant pigs anyway…"
"What?" Dib burst, he looked at Zim with surprise and shock etching his face. He knew Zim hated humans, but seriously, this was Dib's home planet! "Not all of them!"
Zim shrugged, obviously not caring. "I was going to destroy them eventually anyway…" Zim mumbled. Dib ripped his hand away from Zim's.
"Zim! We're talking about a whole planet!" Dib exclaimed.
"I know," Zim said, staring at Dib curiously, wondering why Dib was so mad now.
"My whole species…" Dib whimpered.
"It's okay, Dib," Zim said again, reaching for him.
Dib scooted away from Zim on the couch, out of his reach. "Stop saying that! It's not okay!" Dib yelled tiredly. Zim shrugged and faced forward, leaning back into the couch and pouting again. Dib did the same.
"So, movie~?" Keef asked obnoxiously.
…
She watched them all on the cameras. She still couldn't believe she'd bypassed the security so easily. Well, it was Zim's design after all. But she was still a fucking ninja, no matter how easy it was to get in. Her hoop earrings tilted with her head as she grinned at what was happening to Gaz. Served that bitch right, for all she did. Getting such high roles and everything she wanted without a care, without earning it…well, she was earning it now…with her pain. The gypsy's eyes glinted as she saw what the blue-haired android could really do. She knew that pansy-ass machine had something in him.
Nikki chuckled while watching all the on-goings of the ship. This was so much better than watching the cameras of the Massive. On this ship, her predictions had been made true. Gaz was paying and Earth had been blown up. Nikki grinned once more, wondering slightly where Zayn had gone off to before she decided she didn't care. The fucker could take care of himself…or not, whatever.
The android…(Kaito was it?) looked up at the camera and grinned sadistically, as if knowing Nikki was there. A spark of fear leapt through her heart, but somehow she was excited by it. Would more of her deathly predictions come true on this ship?
…
…
…
A/N
There's your bleeping scene Nikki! I even added some cursing, because I know you're a potty mouth.
Ahem. Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy, blah. Anywho! Hope you're not too mad at me this time! Although the threats are usually very interesting~. ^-^
K. Love you lots everyone! Read and Review Please~! ktnxbyez.