Disclaimer: These characters belong to the Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jhonen Vasquez.

May God bless you all.

Dib waited outside with Chewy.

"Now remember, don't get my mom or dad to talk about any old stories." He warned the child.

"Okay." Dib said.

"Also, just mention your father as little as possible." Chewy said. "That's like an automatic story."

"Did they really go to college together?" Asked Dib.

"Yup… almost every time your dad's on tv I get another unwanted glimpse into my father's past." Said Chewy.

Just then the door opened and an older woman came bursting through.

"Aw… you look just like your father." The woman shouted as she gave Dib a hug.

"Um… thanks?" Said Dib.

"Come in, come in…" She said as she practically dragged him inside.

"Bring him here honey, let me see this." Said who Dib assumed was Mr. Rodriguez.

He seemed a bit older than Dib's dad but like his father was in shape. Not as muscular but still for his age he looked like he hit the gym quite often.

"Yup, the spitting image." Said the older man as he gestured for a handshake.

Dib returned the gesture and realized, he definitely hit the gym.

"Except your father has a much bigger cowlick." Mr. Rodriguez pointed out.

"Yeah, well haven't gotten there yet." Replied Dib jokingly.

"Guys, give the kid some air." Said Chewy.

"Okay honey, I'll go check on dinner and Chewy don't forget to say high to papa." Chewy's mother told him.

"Oh, don't worry mom…" He replied.

"…We won't."

Tenn watched as the earth children played. This planet was very different from hers. Playing outside was rather unusual, even for smeets. At least the way earth children did it anyway. Just running around half the time, getting dirty while their parents barely paid attention and seemed more wrapped up in their own conversations with each other.

It was chaotic for sure, but also… kind of nice. The freedom they enjoyed could be admired. As she sat on the bench in her disguise she found herself… almost jealous. When she was a smeet it was more about training and preparing for whatever you were going to do for the empire. Most of these kids didn't seem to have a care in the world.

"Nice weather we're having huh?" Asked someone nearby.

Tenn turned.

"Eh, it might rain." She responded as Tak sat next to here on the bench.

"And remind me why we needed that passcode again?" Asked Tak.

"Just in case anyone's listening we need to appear like we are just having a normal conversation." Tenn assured.

"Pss, you sound like Zim, I've come to learn that most people on this planet are quite oblivious to what's going on around them." Tak said.

"Anyway." Said Tenn. "I talked to the big-headed one."

"I know." Said Tak. "Finally realizing how useful he can be?"

"Just tell me what you two discussed." Said Tenn.

"Why should I?" Tak responded.

"Because this is my mission." Tenn Replied. "I should be briefed on any sort of development."

"Then ask him." Said Tak.

"I did, but I know he's hiding something from me. Now spill!"

At this, Tak stood up.

"I don't know what you're talking about. All he told me was the same thing he told us all, about the Roswell incident which was actually Spork crash landing on earth." She told her.

"You're lying!" Tenn accused as she too got up. "There has to be something more. You should have seen him last night all..."

"Last night?" Tak interrupted. "You talked to him last night?"

"Yeah, why?"

Tak scratched her chin. She then pulled out her tablet.

Tenn looked over and saw a small beeping dot.

"What… do you have a tracker on him?" Asked Tenn.

"Of course not…" Replied Tak.

"It's on his glasses."

"Come on now really!?" Zim asked his student.

"I can… I…"

"Game over." Said the Narrator.

"How!?" Asked Gaz as the simulation ended around her.

"Zim's thoughts exactly. How are you still unable to even get to the level 4 boss?

Gaz shot a look at Zim, causing him to flinch slightly.

"Those things just swarm over you like and there's almost no way do dodge or destroy them." She protested.

"You don't dodge or destroy them you activate the paks tablet and obscure their ability to locate you. They can't see you so they are reliant on sounds and smell!" He told her.

"Whatever…" Gaz said as she walked past him to the elevator.

"Ah yes giving up, that is what humans do isn't it?" Zim said mockingly but he wasn't prepared to deal with the results.

"Ack!" He yelled as she grabbed him and threw him on the ground.

"You're one to talk Mr. noninvader. Look at how many times you gave up since hearing the news. If it wasn't for me you'd probably be sitting around eating snacks all day, crying wo is me…" She said.

"Yes…" Said Zim as he rose. "…And yet here you are Gazlene still running away."

"What? Running away?" Gaz asked Confused.

"It's why you don't want to use the time machine…" Zim went on. "…It's why you distract yourself all day playing these video games. Let's face it your life is pretty much running away! You run away from the reality that your father figure is too busy to take care of you two! You run away from having friends! And now you are running away even from what you so tried to convince Zim to train you. Running away, perhaps that's just a Gazlene thing."

At this, the room went silent for a few moments. Zim crossed his arms and turned away from Gaz, satisfied that he had actually done some damage and sure she may kill him but that would only prove that he actually had gotten to her.

However, when nothing came, he opened his eyes and saw that she had entered the elevator.

"You going to cry again little Gaz?" Zim asked her.

"You're going to after I destroy that time machine of yours!" She yelled and after giving the command she shot down.

"What no!" Zim yelled as he ran after her.

Upon reaching the floor where the machine was he found Gaz angrily ripping it apart.

"Stop! Computer stop her!" He commanded.

"Warning, Time machine unstable any interference could result in dire consequences." The computer said.

"Get away from there!" Zim yelled as he rushed her.

He grabbed and yanked her just as she was pulling on some wires.

"Warning energy levels surging, power levels unstable… time machine…"

That was all Zim heard before both he and Gaz were thrown backwards…

…Then everything went black.

"And we thank you God for these we are about to receive and for the company we have to enjoy it with. Amen."

"Now, dig in." Said Mrs. Rodriguez

Dib looked at the spread. It was… quite a lot. Chicken, rice, beef, pork, potato salad, potato hash, corn… there was just a lot of food. However, as he took his plate and watched others do the same there was… something about this. It felt good. Like around 15 people sitting down together and eating a meal. He almost never had this at home.

Everyone also had been so nice. Though mainly because he "rescued" Chewy from the cursed chicken costume. Still, he'd take it where he could get it.

"So Dib, you're padre ever tell you me and him were on the basketball team together?" Asked Mr. Rodriguez.

"Basketball?" Dib responded. "Dad… reall… oh actually no, that makes sense." Dib realized given his father's height and fitness level.

"Yup, me and him they used to call us brothers from different mothers…"

"Who called you that dad?" Asked Chewy.

"The other players due to our similar height and physique." He pointed out as he flexed his right arm.

Chewy sighed. However, Dib didn't mind hearing about his father's history. It was something the man rarely discussed.

"Anyway, it is good to see that my old friend has such a responsible child." Said Mr. Rodriguez.

"Thanks." Said Dib as he ate.

The rest of the dinner conversation went as expected. Many of the family members wanting to know more about Dib, the mother being so thankful for what he did and the father using every chance he had to bring up past memories of him and Dib's father. All the while Chewy seemed to be slipping between boredom and annoyance like he had heard these stories a million times before.

In the end, however Dib wondered, where was this grandfather of his. Everyone at the table were either children, nieces and nephews or siblings of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, and Mr. Rodriguez seemed to be the oldest here.

Afterward, the children began playing outside while most of the adults went to watch the game. It was then that Chewy pulled Dib aside.

"Okay, it's now or never. Once the game reaches halftime most of the adults and their children make a beeline for the door, so they can get home before the start of the second half. If we don't see grandfather now, we may not catch him before his evening nap.

"He has an evening nap?" Asked Dib.

"Yeah, he's semi-nocturnal which is why he wasn't at family dinner." Said Chewy.

He then signaled for Dib to follow him. The two went upstairs and Chewy slowly opened the door to what Dib assumed was his grandfather's room.

"Who's there?" Asked an elderly man.

"It's me, Papa." Chewy Responded.

"Oh… Chewy you no better than to sneak up on… oh well another generation of membrane… this must be important." Jorge said.

"How'd you…" Dib began but the old man cut him off.

"It's the cowlick… dead giveaway." He responded as he put his hand out.

Dib shook it and the old man had… quite a grip.

"So, my boy what is this about?" He asked though Dib wasn't sure if he was asking him or Chewy.

"Well… you were at Roswell right Papa?" Asked Chewy.

At this, the man shifted slightly in his chair.

"Hmmm… I assume you were the one who brought this to my grandson's attention." He said to Dib.

"Um…"

"It's okay Dib, he was actually the one who got me into all this stuff." Said Chewy.

"Oh… well I believe I know the alien that landed there and… well me and some other… we've been trying to track him down." Dib told him.

"Spork… his name was Spork." Replied Jorge.

"Wait how do you know that?" Asked Dib.

"Sit down." The man said. "This is a rather long story and I'm not going to be able to repeat myself if you two want to beat the halftime rush." He told them.

Dib and Chewy both sat on the floor as the only chair in the room was occupied by Chewy's grandfather and neither seemed interested in sitting on the bed.

"General Vox… yup let's start there."

"Oh, my ack!" Zim screamed as he was yanked up and promptly thrown to the ground again.

"What are you doing!?" He yelled as Gaz towered over him.

"ME!? Look what you did." Said the pink/purple-haired girl.

"What did Zim do!?" He said as he got up. "You were the one… the time machine. What happened?"

"Like I know, you yanked me off it." Gaz replied. "When are we anyway?"

Zim took out his tablet.

"Hmm ah, this is nothing, just a few months ahead of our present time." He said.

"Where are we?" Asked Gaz as she looked around.

Zim looked around as well and found himself also unfamiliar with this… ship. It was a ship mind you, but it didn't appear to be irken in design. Zim wasn't sure what species had designed this ship.

"Marvelous!" Shouted a voice nearby.

"Wait I know that voice." Said Gaz as she ran towards it.

"Wait I thought you didn't want to find out things!" Zim yelled as he chased after her.

"I know, right!" A different voice said.

Gaz kept on going, ignoring Zim's protest until they finally reached…

"Dad?" Asked Gaz.

"Wait, I know that human." Zim said.

"Of course, he's my dad." Said Gaz.

"No, the other one… he… oh of course!" Zim exclaimed.

"Of course what?" Asked Gaz confused.

"Plookesians!"

"So, you're telling me these portals can be opened at will?" Asked the professor.

"No, you need what's known as empty space." Replied Mr. Dwicky. "Basically there just can't be too much interference in the atmosphere but fortunately we're in space."

"Plooke… what?" Asked Gaz.

"Mr. Dwicky escaped with the Plookesians last time they visited earth. This must be their ship, but why are we here?" Zim pondered as he looked around.

"This will be a massive!" Said the professor.

"Hey, dad." Called a familiar voice nearby.

"Hello, son." Replied the professor as Dib approached.

"Zim and Gaz are done." Said Dib.

"Oh, goody!" The professor exclaimed. "Come on let's go see."

With that, the three headed off to a different part of the ship, with Zim and Gaz on their tail.

They arrived at the bridge, where their future selves were.

"Greetings humans!" Shouted Future Zim. "I the mighty Z… oof." He went as Future Gaz elbowed him.

"We…" Zim went on. "…Have repaired the navigational system and should be ready to jump soon!"

"Well done kids." Said the professor.

"So better strap in everyone." Future Gaz said.

"Ah yes, almost feels like Star Trek!" Mr. Dwicky exclaimed as he and the others strapped in their seats.

"Are we ready?" Asked an unknown voice in the captain's seat.

"Who's that?" Asked Gaz.

Zim didn't answer.

"Zim?" Asked Gaz, but the young irken seemed to be frozen in place.

"Zim!?"

"All set!" Replied Future Zim.

Gaz looked over at the person handling the controls. She couldn't see his body but it was she could tell he was…

"Wait is that!?"

"Time machine destroyed." Said the Base A.I. "Requires new irken temporal core to fix."

"Oh, my head…" Said Gaz.

Zim seemed to be disoriented as well.

"What was that!?" Asked Gaz. "We're we on some kind of mission?"

"It was him." Was all Zim said in reply.

"Yeah, I get that, and you said that was just a few months away?" She asked.

"Little less than 4." Replied Zim.

"Well, it appears my work is done." Said Gaz. "Good luck finding another temporal core." She said sarcastically.

"It doesn't matter. Now we know that Spork was found." Zim replied. "It's only a matter of time."

"Whatever." Said Gaz as she turned to leave.

Zim didn't say anything to her. However, he couldn't help but ponder exactly what all of them were doing on a Plookesian ship in seemingly the middle of space. Even the professor was there. But that wasn't the only thing he was wondering about. The humans clearly knew who he was in just a few short months. He already seemed to be on friendly terms with the Membrane children. Even all that took a backseat to what he was really concerned about.

"Computer!" He yelled.

"Yes?" The Computer Groaned.

"Contact Skoodge!"

"Really that's everything?" Asked Dib as the old man finished with his story.

"Pretty much… well except…" Jorge replied as he pointed to a shelf.

"On the top, a purple box." He said.

Chewy stood up and retrieved the box that his grandfather had pointed out to him.

"What's this?"

"The scientists at the base were never able to open that." Replied Jorge.

"Really? Why not?" Asked Dib.

"It's apparently DNA locked. Which means it opens only when the right irken touches the box." Jorge replied.

"Take it." Said Jorge as he got in bed. "Perhaps one of your alien friends can open it."

"My alien frie… Chewy you…" Said Dib.

"Of course, I pass off most of the information I get to my Abuelo here." He told Dib.

"All right that's enough for today you two." Said Jorge.

*Yawn*

"Gonna take my evening nap."

"Okay, thanks." Said Dib but the man seemed to have already dozed off. Dib even heard him snoring as they left the room.

"Alright, do you think you can handle this mission Agent Mothman?" Asked Chewy.

"Okay, I just have to figure out how to get them to touch this box." Replied Dib.

"Good, let's get out of he…" Said Chewy before bumping into Mr. Rodriguez.

"Watch where you're going son." His father told him.

"Oh… Hello Mr. Rodriguez." Said Dib. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I better be heading home."

"Of course!" Said Mr. Rodriguez. "Come on, I'll drop you off."

"What? Um no need dad we took the bus here so…"

"Nonsense come on the game's pretty much a blowout anyway… Let me just tell your mother." Replied the much larger man.

"Oh boy." Said Chewy.

"What?" Asked Dib. It didn't seem to be that big of a deal that Chewy's father was dropping him home.

"You'll see." Was all Chewy said in reply, as the boys headed downstairs. Dib noticed that pretty much everyone was gone.

"Wow…" Said Chewy.

"…It really must have been a blowout."

"Where are they now?" Asked Tenn as the two hid in a nearby tree.

"Oh, there they come." Said Tak.

Dib, along with two men came outside and got into a car.

"Oh my…" said Tenn as she took a tablet out of her pack and read the data.

"What is it?" Asked Tak

Tenn's goggles had picked up on something Dib was carrying. Something strange.

"Yup…" Said Tenn in response to Tak.

"…The boy definitely has some irken tech with him."

"Why would these humans have irken tech?" Asked Tak.

"I think that's something for you to ask him." Tenn replied. "Just don't be too obvious when questioning the bigheaded human."

Tak scoffed.

"Don't worry…

"…I know how to handle Dib."

Thank you for all who made it to the end. Don't forget to leave a review.

May God bless you all.