When Zim awoke he was back in the dark cell on Irk. He looked around, terrified and confused. He tried to call out for Amber, or Dib, or May but found he couldn't. The door opened and Zim blinked at the light. Dib stood in the doorway, a taser pole in hand. Zim froze at the mere sight of the weapon. Why would Dib, of all people, have one of those? Dib walked over, aiming the pole and jolting the small Irken with electricity. Zim's screams were bone chilling as he writhed against the shock. Dib stopped, dropping the taser and shaking Zim. "Wake up! Zim, wake up!"
Zim woke up to see Dib hovering over him. Dib frowned, moving away. May was beside him, a worried expression on her face. "You ok?" She asked. Zim sat up, looking around to confirm he was in his base. "Yes..." he nodded, standing up. He noticed Amber wasn't there. "She went back to her house for some stuff." Dib said as if reading Zim's thoughts. Zim wondered what 'stuff' Amber needed. The tv was still on and static danced around the screen. Gir was sitting in front of it. Zim shook his head. Poor Gir, poor delusional Gir.
Amber was at her house, packing a few things in boxes. Her mother stood at the doorway. "So, where the hell were you these past few days?" Amber rolled her eyes. "With some friends.." She replied, putting the paranormal book and a box of donuts in a backpack. "I'll be staying with them for a bit.." She walked past her mom and started for the door. "And what about collage?" her mom asked. "..I think being with my friends is more important right now..they need me.." she answered, her mother said nothing. "I'll be back when I can.." with that she was off down the street.
She walked through the door of Zim's base. "I'm back guys!" The three were in a circle, talking. Amber smiled, digging through the bag. "I got you guys something!" She pulled out the book, handing it to Dib, who had the biggest smile Amber had ever seen. Zim looked over, wondering what Amber got for him. Amber pulled out the box of donuts. "Zim, these are for everyone. I'm sure everyone is hungry." She set the box in the middle of them and opened it. Dib reached over and grabbed one without looking away from his book. Zim stared as if the donuts were the best thing he's seen. He grabbed a few, chewing on them. May grabbed two or three, giggling as Zim got the frosting and glaze all over the place. Amber smiled, she figured Zim probably didn't have much to eat, and when he did it wasn't very good considering the area he was chained at was covered with both blood and vomit. Zim eagerly grabbed another, gulping it down. "Whoa, calm down there!" Amber took the box of pastries, Zim jumping up trying to get them back in his reach. Curse these humans and their tallness! He sat back down, pouting. Amber sighed, why must he be so cute? She handed him a donut, setting the box on the couch. Zim squeaked with joy and chewed on the donut. Dib casually reached back and took another one, chewing on it slowly as he flipped through the book. May walked over, moving the donut box over and sitting on the couch behind Dib, reading over his shoulder. Amber sat next to Zim, changing the channel on the tv. "Gir, hon, don't sit so close to the tv." Amber told the robot, he turned his head and nodded, flying up and sitting on her head. Amber laughed, grabbing a donut for herself and Zim. Zim leaned against Amber, watching whatever it was on the tv, gnawing on the pastry thankfully. Soon after the Irken finished it. Feeling full and tired he nodded off, curled up like a kitten. Amber looked over, smiling. "Rest up Zim, you deserve it." she pulled a blanket from beside the couch and pulled it over him. He twitched a bit as the fabric brushed against his arm.
Zim awoke back in the cell. He wasn't chained this time though. He looked around. The door was opened, soft light coming into the dark room. He slowly crept out to the hall, to scared to make a noise. He was tortured for making the slightest of noises. He wrapped his arms around himself and glanced around. "A-Amber? D-Dib? M-May?" he called softly. As he said this he was surrounded by guards. One of them prodded him with a taser staff. He screeched and fell to the ground. As he was dragged back to the cell he saw Amber standing a few feet away. "Good bye Zim." she said, no emotion on her face. She turned and started walking out of the building, ignoring Zim's pleas for help. Zim was thrown back in the small cell, wincing as his Pak made a sickening cracking noise as it impacted with the concrete wall behind him. He curled up helplessly as he was kicked and electrocuted. "MAKE IT STOP!" Zim screamed, trying to squirm away. He eventually passed out, this world melting into another. He sat up a bit, covering his face and trembling. Everyone was looking at him worriedly. Amber pulled his arms away from his face gently. "You ok there?" she asked softly. The small Irken was on the verge of tears but he nodded. "y-yeah..Zim is fine.." he muttered, pulling away and walking down the hall and shutting himself in a room. Amber frowned at this, but she knew it would take time for Zim to adjust back from the three years being locked away. Dib was the same way, timid and not used to much contact, but he wasn't afraid to speak up. Amber sighed and stood up, walking to the room Zim had shut himself in. Best to check on him now than wait until he did something he'd regret later on. She knocked on the door. "Zim, you alright in there?" she waited for about five minutes then decided something was wrong and went inside. The room was rather dark, but she could see it was some kind of bedroom. A pod like thing was in the corner of the room, it was glowing a soft red color. Amber looked around, not seeing Zim anywere. "I could have sworn he came in here.." she whispered, walking over to the glowing pod. The top was see through. Amber peered in, seeing Zim sprawled out on his back, his arms tucked close to his chest. He opened his eyes slightly and looked up at the girl peering down at him. He smiled contently and waved lazily before going back to sleep. Amber laughed, waving back before walking back out, shutting the door behind her, and going back into the living room. Dib and May were talking about something from the book, smiling and laughing. Though it was true Amber wasn't all into paranormal anymore she sat by them anyway, joining in the conversation about vampires.

"Sirs, we have a slight problem involving the defect." a rough voice echoed through the vast ship. A tall purple eyed Irken's antennas perked up. "Well find the problem and fix it!" The smaller Irken fumbled his hands nervously. "Well..we can't..he's not there.." An equally tall red eyed Irken frowned. "What do you mean not there?" The Irken guard swallowed hard. "He..escaped..we have the security camera footage of the people that broke him out." He motioned for someone to bring the screen down and put the tape in. There was static at first then black and white footage of Yam and Gir distracting some guards with a strange little dance. Then Amber blasting the door and running in, covering Zim's mouth and Dib and May shooting some guards down, followed by Dib breaking the shackles and handing the small Irken to Amber. Finally them running out of the building to get a voot. Red slammed a fist on the table, causing the jumpy guard to flinch. "Find them and throw them all in the prison." he sneered coldly while Purple munched on some popcorn. The guard saluted. "R-right away m-my Tallest." With that he scurried off to gather the remaining guards to discuss the Tallest's request.