It was time to set the plan in motion. May equipped them with powerful laser guns. Yam and Gir would go in, distract the guards while May, Amber, and Dib would sneak in and split up. "Ready guys?" Amber asked, Dib smiled and nodded. "Alright, operation rescue part 2 commences now!" May said, opening the door for Yam and Gir. Gir ran in, giggling while Yam followed, an irritated expression on her face. They waited a while then sneaked in, each going down different halls. Amber peered in each cell, seeing every species imaginable, but no Zim. She was hoping Dib and May were having better luck. A few of the aliens stared at her as she past, each having a vacant look. "Zim! Zim answer if you hear me!" Amber whispered.
Dib walked down his hall, peering in the cells as he went. He peered in the last one, seeing a small figured at the far wall. It seemed to be chained up, its arms raised and its head drooping. He pulled his walki talki he had "I think I found him. I'm at the end of the second hall." He whispered. "Alright, be right there." Amber's voice came from the device. "Stay there, I'm on my way." May's voice came right after. Dib put his hand on the cold metal door, the figure raised its head slightly. It must have opened its eyes because ruby slits formed, looking up at Dib. Amber and May ran up to Dib. "He's in here?" Amber asked, pointed to the door and looking in, seeing the ruby eyes staring back. She aimed her gun and shot the lock off the door. This got the Irken's full attention. He stared at them, wide eyed. Just seeing the two tall figures silhouetted by the door he started to freak out. He pulled at the chains. "D-Don't kill Zim! Zim is sorry! Zim is sorry! Don't kill! Zim wants to go home! Zim wants to be free!" Amber ran in, putting a hand to Zim's mouth. "Stop yelling!" She whispered harshly, causing Zim to squeak and flinch. Upon close inspection Amber saw the full extent at the horrible condition Zim was in. The floor under him was covered with blood and vomit. Zim had deep scars on his face and arms. His uniform torn at the bottom and the sleeves, his gloves were missing as well and his antennae were bent in a few places. Zim stared up at her, terrified. "We're here to get you out of here." Amber told him, examining the cuffs on his wrists, blood dripping down his arms from under the cuffs. They were way too tight. A few gun blasts brought Amber from her thoughts. "Amber! We have trouble!" Dib yelled, shooting his gun. She looked at Zim. "I'll be back.." She ran out to join them, shooting at a few Irken guards.
Zim watched, figuring out they were here to get him out. He waited silently until the tall male walked in the cell and up to him. He seemed familiar in some ways yet Zim couldn't figure it out. His hair was messy but had a lightning bolt shape at the top. Then it hit him. This was Dib! Has it been this long? How long was it when they were separated? Dib knew something was wrong when tears started to slip down Zim's face. "We have to get him out of here, pronto." Dib said. May walked in, up to Zim. She used a pak leg to break the lock on the shackles, Zim collapsed in a heap on the dirty floor, too weak to stand on his own. Dib carefully lifted him up, seeing his wrists were rubbed raw and bloody. Zim gripped onto his shirt, trembling. Dib walked out, May following him. Amber took Zim from Dib, holding the injured Irken like a child. "Now to find Gir and Yam and get back to Earth." Amber said as she walked over the still bodies of various Irken guards. Gir and Yam were waiting by the door. Gir looked up seeing Zim in Amber's arms and jumped up and down. "Master!" Zim's antennas lifted at Gir's voice. "G-Gir?.." he whispered, looking over at his robot minion, a faint smile forming on his face. Amber let Gir crawl into her arms to sit with Zim. They got out of the building and to the docking bay to search for another ship. May pointed to a larger voot. "Found one! come on!" She ran to the ship, the others following. It was larger but still cramped. May started it and got it into the sky and flying. "We should be home soon." She told them.
A few hours passed, Zim, Gir, and Dib were sleeping. Yam had found a first aid kit and Amber got Zim's wrists and arms wrapped up in bandages. Amber knew Zim had been tortured during those three years, some scars were old, others were newer. The ship beeped, informing them they were coming into Earth's atmosphere. Zim slowly opened his eyes. "Zim..home?" he asked quietly. Amber looked at him. "Almost there." Zim nodded, leaning his head on her shoulder. Dib shifted in his sleep as the ship flew towards Zim's base. Zim watched as he remembered the city, remembered the base. "Home..Zim is home.." he laughed as May got the ship in the roof port. Amber stood up, shaking Dib awake. "We're here, wake up." She told him, hopping from the ship and downstairs to the kitchen, after looking through the fridge and cabinets she found something that looked like fun dip. She grabbed one of the sticks and dipped it in the red side, holding it up to Zim's mouth he gratefully took it. Amber set Zim on the couch with his candy and set a still sleeping Gir next to him. Dib walked in a few minutes later with May. May smiled when she saw Zim was looking around with the fun dip stick in his mouth.
Night was falling and again, Dib and Amber stayed at Zim's base. They were gathered around the tv, watching horror movies. Zim had his hand clamped tightly to Amber's arm, screaming whenever someone got a limb cut off. Amber knew this would be a long night, but yet didn't want to leave knowing they all needed to get used to having each other around again. She could shake this feeling, but she felt their adventures were only beginning.