/N: I'm back! It's been four months since my last update, but I was busy with coursework and exams. I'm finally free, so I'm going to try to have this story finished this summer.
It may be important to note that I haven't watched IZ for nearly a year. So I don't know how it will come out. I might have forgotten minor details which I would have noticed when I was a crazy, avid Zim fan.
Disclaimer: For the fourteenth time now, I don't own Invader Zim.
...
Two figures stand before the small pink ship of Invader Zim; one no more than four and a half feet, and the other three. The taller of the two edged closer to the alien vessel, rendered obsolete by the more up-to-date spittle runner.
With its globular-shaped windshield, large purple pods, and two small lasers at the front, it was hardly a marvel. The one reminder that this machine was truly malevolent in any case was the Irken insignia emblazoned across the face. Its ominous grin spread in a cruel sneer.
The smallest tilted her head to the right, trying to figure out what she was looking at. Was this the great and powerful vessel she heard so much about during that marvellous but enduring elevator ride up to this here attic? Whenever she would refer to their destination as the 'attic,' her company would snap, telling her it was the 'hangar', where all Irken spacecraft is stored.
She couldn't help but think it was cute. It was like a child's ride by the entrance of a supermarket, where you deposit a coin in a slot, and the magic begins...
"So, this is your ship? How cute," Molly said.
"Cute? This here is a brilliant example of Irken engineering," Zim said. "Though when I say Irken I mean Vortian, but still. That is no way to refer to a vessel of the Irken Armada. If the Tallest were here now, you would be executed on the spot!"
"But it's so puny looking, and round, but that doesn't mean it's bad. I like that it's small. I was expecting bigger and scarier..."
"If it were bigger, it would defeat its entire purpose. Invaders' ships are supposed to be small and stealthy. Any bigger and I would be too conspicuous. Besides, your human mind should perceive it to be none other than puny. It's really a powerful death machine in disguise."
Molly smirked. "Just like how GIR is a powerful death machine, too?"
Zim slanted his large alien eyes. "Don't you use that smart mouth on me, young lady! And yes, I am speaking to you as if I were your mother. Haha!"
"I guess you are just a boring grownup after all."
"You've sure changed your tune. What happened to that frightened little girl I had to drag up here? Now you're talking like someone twenty years your senior. What's gotten into you?"
"I said I could be brave, and I am. Being a smart-mouth makes me feel older than I am. Grownups are never afraid of anything."
"I highly doubt that's true. I could succumb many a mature human to a ball of nerves, releasing the contents of his bowels as a result... Mwahahaha!"
"Eww, that's grose. Why would you think of something so icky?"
"It may be 'icky' but true, and amusing might I add."
"Could you make that evil man poop his pants too?"
"Is that a wager I smell on your tongue?"
"Smell?" Molly asked, defensively. She don't smell.
"Then it is settled. If I can reduce your 'killer' to a shrivelling ball of faeces, then you have to promise me that you won't freeze up in that way you do when you're scared. Deal?"
"Okay, it's a deal."
Molly wasn't sure to what she just agreed to exactly, but a small part of her was rooting on the 'soiling of the pants' process that usually comes with acts of revenge.
Zim took note of the time. "Well, the time is almost upon us. There's no point in waiting any longer. This is happening tonight! Go on, make your way into the Voot." He readied the ship.
Molly hesitated, peering up at the windshield as it opened outwards, revealing a cockpit with a comfy moon-shaped seat.
"I don't know... I'm not so sure if this is a good idea. What if he hurts you?"
"He's a hyoomen, and a very old one at that. There is nothing he can do that can frighten me. The very thought makes my heart chuckle, but I'm all laughed out now, so I'll 'laugh' later."
"No, I mean it. I can feel that something bad will happen. We can't do this."
"You and I both know that is not going to happen. Of course we're doing this. Do you think I'm all talk with no action? You insult me!"
"I don't want you to get hurt!"
"Get in the cockpit!"
"... Fine, I'll go. But please promise me you will be careful. He's dangerous."
"As am I. Now please make your way into the cockpit. I think I can hear the clicking of GIR's feet, so hurry."
Molly vanished and reappeared in the Voot's interior. She looked around smiling, agreeing with the upholstery.
"Oh, yes, I forget you could do that. Well, our journey awaits us. En route to revenge!"
"Ooh, where we goin? It is Candy Mountain? Please tell me it's Candy Mountain!"
And there he was, GIR, making his presence very well-known.
Zim slapped his forehead."No, GIR, you have infuriated me with your insane outbursts for one last time. Go away. And how many times do I have to tell you that Candy Mountain is not real!"
"But I—"
"You're not coming!"
"You did not give me a chance to explain myself, master Zim. I am aware that Candy Mountain is of a fictional realm on the Worldwide Web, and I am also aware of the delicacy of your and young Molly's situation. So I bid you farewell. I will sacrifice my opportunity to come along on this perilous journey. It has been an honor serving you, sir." GIR saluted.
Molly's jaw popped open, and there was a sound of bemusement from the computer's interface nearby.
Zim stared awestruck. "Well, thank you, GIR, for your... understanding. You changed your mind rather abruptly, but your praises are well received."
"Aw shucks, mastah. Now you sweet little things move along, and go have fun. Don't be back too late!" GIR shouted in his own voice again.
Zim smiled awkwardly, showing off a little too much teeth, and jumped up into the cockpit. The windshield shut downwards as Zim stared ahead, unsettled by GIR's madness.
GIR waved them farewell, as Molly returned the sentiment.
"Don't give him any eye contact! Just stare ahead lest he changes again. His personality is more split than a fat man's pair of pants!"
"He is weird, but kind. I like him very much."
"He's still waving... Let's warm this thing up then, shall we."
Zim started the ship's engines, and they were soon airbound. Molly waved GIR goodbye as GIR continued to wave until the small dot of Zim's ship disappeared behind the moon. In fact he even continued waving long after that.
...
The journey was long and tiring. Zim had entered the address in the ship's coordinates, and the interface, much like a human sat nav, led the way at every turn. It was similar to the computer's voice, but lacked any sort of life. It left Molly feeling empty inside, since it was not her dear friend.
"Continue 100 yards to the next cloud…"
"Why does it tell you to do every little thing? It's so annoying!" Molly snapped.
"Be quiet. We'd be lost without it."
"But you even had it on by your house. I'm sure you knew every turn there."
"The air is very different to the road. Clouds are constantly shifting."
"I don't care. I hate it. I miss computer..."
"Why? I'm sick of that monotone drawl seeping through the walls of my house, always putting a damper on the things I do."
"Well you make him unhappy. He told me so himself."
"Unhappy? He is without feeling."
"He is not. He's really nice in real life. I met him."
"You... met him?"
"Yeah, he looks just like any normal person, though his hair was a funny shade of red."
"So you're telling me that my house's brain is a red-headed human? Impossible! If he had any face it would be Irken since he is of Irken origin, or Vortian... Why do I keep forgetting to say that?"
"Well he was human and very friendly. You should be kinder to him."
"Ha, your sense of humor knows no bounds..."
Molly sulked and stared out the window, watching the lights of the city go by.
"It's so pretty up here. The city lights looks like little fireflies. I wonder if the view from heaven is like this."
"How poetic. You know I always doubted a place like heaven existed. Humans living on as winged creatures? Pah! There are no six-limbed vertebrates, at least on Earth anyway... Besides, wings are the product of millions of years of evolution. They don't just appear instantaneously. Humans are so inferior in their intelligence. But since meeting you, I guess all that has changed somewhat."
"Well I believe in angels, and so should you. Most people don't think aliens are real, and there you are." She pointed at him.
"My race is older than every creature on this planet. Of course I am real! Though it's possible we may have come from the same ancestral source. Your Earth amino acids are similar to the ones that existed on my planet before it became devoid of life. Maybe some survived and made their way to Earth while it was newly formed."
Molly stared perplexed.
"Yeah, you're probably a little young to comprehend that. Continue with your belief in fairies..."
"Angels!"
"Sure, sure, angels, that's less implausible."
"You're wicked. I think hell is missing a demon!"
"Demons? Oh, you're just killing me now. If it's not humans with wings, then its humans with horns."
"But they're not human!"
"No, they just look human since they're conjured from the minds of men. Ms Bitters' real form doesn't look human in the slightest, whatever she is."
"Well you look a little human, explain that?"
Zim paused, "I have two arms and legs, forward-facing eyes, and a bone structure similar to that of any Earth Vertebrate. But it's mainly a coincidence that we share similar traits. Life doesn't evolve for a reason. No one decides which creatures have what. It just happens."
"Well someone must have created those traits on you and other Irkens, and realized they liked them, so gave them to humans, too."
"That's just it. There is no 'creator'. Though Irkens are the result of genetic engineering, so in a way, I guess you're right."
"I know I'm right."
Zim stared out at the black void beyond, trying to ignore those last utterances from Molly's mouth. Why did she have to be so persistent, even in the face of fact?
But despite what Zim thinks, nobody can really say for sure why we're here.
…
The Voot descended back towards the Earth, due to the build-up of a nasty-looking cumulonimbus cloud. There was going to be a storm tonight; the perfect atmosphere for such a momentous, dangerous occasion.
The trip took forty-five minutes, which felt longer for both Zim and Molly.
There was a remarkable change in the human settlements below. The houses were larger and grander in appearance compared to the suburbs where Zim took up base. The gardens were huge, which seemed to go on for miles with giant pools.
There appeared to be—from Zim's vantage point—large, dense animals as black as the night. Upon closer inspection, he realised it was just human topiary, playing on his imagination.
There were elephants, giraffes, rhinos, a whole menagerie, and in others, human dancers across a dance floor. That one had floodlights, making the effect quite enchanting, Zim had to admit.
He noticed the houses had long streams of electric running around their exteriors. These were the generators belonging to the famous Professor Membrane. In a way, it was like Dib was teasing him again, preventing his actions from going any further. Zim won't let them thwart his mission.
Before long they found Cadence Close inside a large, gated community, and from there house number 333. Zim could feel insects flapping around inside his spooch, making him nervous and excited. He was anxious once again, but he was reminded of his will for justice, and then all those feelings of doubt soon paled in comparison.
Sadly, the same could not be said for Molly. She hadn't spoken since their debate of sorts, which ended twenty minutes ago. She only stared out at the starry sky and city lights, appreciating the beauty of all life whether it intelligently designed, or the result of natural force. Either why, it was still wonderful. Such a shame she was taken from this world so abruptly.
The city looked really pretty, and the clouds were like giant pillows. And then there were the stars and the moon as they ascended above the clouds. It was so peaceful and serene, like an entirely different world.
But now as they neared their destination, she grew apprehensive. Her expression was similar to the one she wore during her earliest encounter with Zim, with her pallid complexion and dark-shadowed eyes.
"Well, there's Cadence Close," Zim said. He shifted his eyes to watch her reaction. She didn't make a sound, or even acknowledge his words.
"Molly, you're going to have to buck up. I know you're frightened, but we need to be at our best and utmost condition. I can't have you breaking down on me again. Remember our deal?"
"Okaaay…" she droned ghoulishly.
"Yeah, that's very encouraging. There's no point in any pep talk now. We just have to get on with this. When the time comes, we'll know what to do. Let's park this thing."
Zim rode over the grand houses to a patch of woods at the edge of the community. He disguised the Voot as a giant bee, so no humans would get suspicious. It was springtime now, anyway, when all the bees are active.
He parked the Voot behind a house with lit up dancers, just three doors away from 333. This house was numbered 339. Thankfully inside was dark, apart from one large window on the second floor. There may or may not have been a figure leaning over the balcony. Zim hoped in the least there was not.
Next, he saw a small orange orb floating in mid-air. The figure drew it up to its mouth.
Upon closer inspection, when his eyes adjusted, he detected the silhouette of a woman, scantily clad in what the humans call 'bedroom clothes'. The small orange orb was the lit up end of a cigarette.
A male voice called out from the open patio doors. She threw her cigarette over the balcony and into the pool to join the male inside. Hopefully it was her husband, as there may be another murder story tonight at Cadence Close when her real husband shows up.
Zim got out the Voot as Molly followed behind, still as silent as a snowy winter's day. She was just as cold as one too, and pale.
He parked the Voot behind a few shrubs, and then carefully concealed its presence with a few branches. It was too dark out here anyway, and the woods were empty. He supposed this was where all the rich humans of the community took their walks.
"It should be fine for now. I doubt any human will go for a midnight walk, especially with that psycho living in their midst."
Through a small gap in the hedge, Molly saw the topiary dancers, illuminated with lights. The sight eased her somewhat, turning her eyes soft and sweet again.
"It's so beautiful..."
"I think the word you are looking for is 'creepy'."
"But it looks just like a fairy tale ball, and that's not creepy."
"Come on, we're wasting precious time. That lady's gone, so let's move."
They moved through the trees silently, passing a house with a topiary menagerie, which made Molly giggle. It was like a silent zoo.
Eventually, they reached house number 333. Peering through the thick hedge, they could just make out a yard with topiary children, dressed in Victorian clothing to give it a grander effect.
There was a small girl nearest the hedge which reminded Zim of Molly. He put the thought out of mind. One topiary child for every victim... He felt his innards gurgle threateningly.
Zim recited Gaz's words, seeing her father's generator surrounding the house. Time to get to work.
He turned to Molly, who looked bewildered by all the children.
"You have to go on before me. Once inside the house, you must switch the security off. A ghost walking through walls is a little cliché, but we have to go with the easier option. No point in trying a harder, more complex plan for originality's sake. Besides, I think I can smell Rottweiler... or is it Doberman? If there are dogs, then my work really is cut out. Stupid Gaz was right."
"I... I can't go in his house alone. You have to come with me."
"I can't, Molly. It fills me with remorse to say, but you have to do this one alone. I will join you inside once you switch the security off."
"How will I know where to look?"
"There will be a control room, similar to mine in the lab."
"And you promise to come after me?"
He put his hand on her shoulder. "Of course I promise. Do you really think I came this far just to ditch you now?"
"I was just making sure."
He patted her cheek, and she made her first move through the hedge. Zim found it unnerving. He remembered one more thing.
"Oh, before you go on, you have to signal to me if there are dogs, hopefully asleep, but I could probably sedate them before they sense I'm here. This is the signal," he waved to the right.
Molly nodded, still half way through the hedge, and disappeared. Zim peered through the branches, seeing Molly's pale figure on the other side.
She did look terrifying: a single, ghostly silhouette in a large yard, surrounded by all those topiary children.
The ominous atmosphere scared Zim a little, taking away his confidence, but all that vanished once a warm, yellow light lit up the yard, leaving the shadows of children everywhere.
The light behind the large glass doors switched on, revealing the interior of the house.
Molly froze. Zim could see how frightened she was, replacing the fear he had for her previous with sympathy. Hopefully she won't freeze up, because Zim could not risk going in that yard now. Things were not going to plan.
He wished he brought Gaz; she would know what to do. Too bad his newfound morals got in the way of his seeing sense in bringing her along. She could have created a diversion, by pretending to be a Girl Scout selling cookies at midnight...
Zim regretted those thoughts, and once again his morals came back. He could never bring himself to put Gaz or Dib in a dangerous situation, despite how much they would want to. He just couldn't.
So it was all down to him now.
...
A lone, mature man entered a beautifully furnished room, switching on the lights as the bulbs of the great chandelier shone like diamonds.
He had a long, tiring day as he walked briskly through the room to his adjoining kitchen for a good old glass of wine. He always drank fine juice before bed, which helped him forget his troubles, and sleep the night off.
Hopefully, his housekeeper remembered to let the dogs out and give them their evening meals, since this man would most likely forget before he goes to bed. Poor dogs; let's just hope no intruder breaks in. Those dogs would be pretty hungry...
It was just before he entered the kitchen, when he thought he saw a white figure in his yard. He stopped, thinking it was a trick of the light, but upon closer inspection he saw that he must have imagined it. The shape had disappeared, if it ever was there.
He shook his head, thinking he was turning weary in his old age, and made his way to his cellar for some foul-tasting juice.
...
Molly stood motionless once the occupier of the house returned, seeing that shock of white hair atop his head. She may not have a heart, but she swore she heard hers pounding throughout her ears with all the wetness of a living organ.
The man peered outside, and she hid behind the topiary of a boy dressed in an old-fashioned sailor's suit.
She couldn't move away from her hiding place, no matter how much she tried. She knew he saw her, and any minute he would come out to his yard and hurt her again. She thought she heard a sharp hissing behind the hedge, and remembered that Zim was watching her, feeling all the more ashamed.
How could she let him down like this? That poor alien, risking all he had to help her, and this was how she thanked him.
The light in the house soon went out, and the entire yard turned black. The darkness frightened her, as she wondered why she felt afraid now that she was a ghost. She could remember, though it was like trying to remember a dream within a dream, that she was once frightened of ghosts just like her.
It was horrible lying awake at night, thinking there was a figure of a girl in the corner of her room, pointing at her... she always pointed… Molly would hide under her quilt, and then the girl would disappear. But where to?
Now that she was a ghost herself, she had a very good idea: to a netherworld of only which there was sorrow, dust and wind.
Poor girl, and to think of all those times she ignored and feared her when she needed help, just like how she did with Zim. Maybe that little girl was still in her old house with her mother.
Molly found her courage, and walked towards the large, lonely house. See saw the long bundle of chains on the back porch, attached to the leather collars of two slumbering dogs. They were almost identical, except one was fatter with flopped ears, and the other skinnier with ears erect.
They were sitting inside matching kennels in a sphinx position. By their mouths were empty bowls. Hopefully, they had their food, because they wouldn't sleep so soundly if it weren't so.
One dog grunted loudly, and then rolled over onto its side in dreamful bliss. Molly turned back to the hedge, and gave the signal.
...
Zim saw Molly's signal, though it wasn't the exact one they agreed to, which was a single wave to the right, not left, but it didn't matter.
So there were dogs... Great. His least favourite Earth animal. He reckoned if he were human, he would be a cat person. They were easier to look after, and they buried their own stools rather than leaving it in the street for all to tread on, like what happened to Zim that one time.
None of that mattered now, because there were two large dogs guarding the house of that monster like hellish hounds.
He pulled out a thin vial of gooey liquid, his very own concoction, which he kept inside his PAK at all times to render Dib or any other threat unconscious. There was enough liquid to sedate a growing boy in the least, but two full-grown dogs?
He did know it worked through all those lab trials he did with mice with minor side effects. The powers that be won't mind if the dogs start dancing to the Charleston...
A drop of rain hit his skin, and Zim felt the sting of its burning molecules. The sooner he was in the house, the better. The effects of his paste were wearing off, giving him more motivation to best those hell hounds.
...
Molly watched the dogs cautiously, wondering if they would be able to see her.
They were kind of adorable when they slept. The Rottweiler reminded her of that Beanie Baby she used to have when she was a living girl. She wondered if he was just as soft.
She approached the guard dog, foolishly, and gave its head a soft pat. Her hand went through its body. The dog whimpered from her chill, and squirmed around until it fell back into a deep sleep.
There was a sound of exasperation from the hedge, and Molly guessed that Zim wanted her to get a move on. She grumbled, and focused her attention back on the house.
She walked to the back doors. All was dark inside. She saw the faint reflection of a girl in the glass, realising it was her. She gasped in fright. Who knew she could look so scary? It was like she was there but wasn't. It was horrible being that startling.
She put it out of mind, and made her first attempt at breaking and entering. She put one hand through the glass, as she could see it on the other side. Then she put another arm through, and then her whole body.
Going through a solid surface was strange. For a moment, she could just see the interior of the glass, and then it all vanished. Well at least it beat the old 'walking through the wall' trick. Solid brick wasn't as smooth and easy as walking through glass.
The room was dark, and all around her she could see shadows of strange creatures. They were just shadows of the decor, which were of the creepiest animals she had ever seen.
On the mantel was a brass statue of a chimera that looked as if it couldn't decide on what animal it was. But it was just an illusion, a fabrication of the mind.
She had to find the control room, which hopefully was empty. Maybe his night watchman goes home.
She tried to not think about the fact that this house belonged to the man that she feared. Instead, she marched on, trying to tell herself that she was scarier than him and all his creepy statues.
She walked out in the hall, standing right in the centre to look up at a spiral staircase. It looked like a coiled seashell from her view down below.
"He must be up there..." She shook that thought away, and moved along the spacious hall with soundless feet.
There were pictures on the walls of tribal people from all over the world. It looked as if he had helped out in some charitable cause, which was odd and very uncharacteristic.
In one long photo, he was posing with a tribal village beside manmade huts. It was a nice photo, but something about it didn't feel right.
There were also pictures of baby elephants, as he was bathing one in a pool, and in another he held a young orangutan. They looked too innocent. He had done charitable work all over the world, yet he was a killer. It didn't add up. From these photos, he looked like a good person.
She was studying a photograph of him playing with a baby panda, when she noticed a glowing, red panel. There were buttons on the panel, which required a code, but Molly had no need for them. The panel was next to a locked door, and from there she walked through.
The room was empty, but there were monitors displaying various images of the entire house. In one she could see the dogs sleeping outside, and in another she could see the hedge at the back of the yard. She wondered if they recorded any feed of her, and she felt frightened again. Maybe he saw her...
She must find a way to switch them off. There were switches on the control panel, but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to touch them. She tried her luck, but nothing happened. That didn't stop her trying a second, third and fourth time.
Angry and frustrated, she attacked the buttoned panel with one hard slap, and then a buzz went out.
One of the screens cracked, and the images of the back yard went out. That was strange. Did her anger just do that? It was kind of cool, and it made her feel powerful. Unfortunately, it didn't work a second time. Well that leaves one less camera to worry about.
She looked around the room. There must be a way she can turn off the generator that ran around the house. On the far wall was a long panel of emergency buttons. 'Membrane Laboratories' were engraved across the top.
She couldn't understand what many of the buttons were for, which were labelled for their purpose, but she went ahead and pressed the first that read 'Electric Generator'. A hum went out, and she wondered if it worked.
She would have to wait and find out.
...
Zim waited until the blue stream of electric went out around the house.
"Well done, Molly."
Grabbing a secure hold of the vial, he burnt a hole through the hedge in the shape of a square, and made his first entrance into the yard. He was anxious of any cameras, but he could just destroy them, and remove all evidence after tonight's ordeal.
All around was darkness, and the black silhouettes of the topiary children disheartened him, but he edged on. If that little girl could do it, then so could he — an Invader.
He was lucky all these topiary children were present, because they provided good coverage as he passed through the yard. If he was caught on any camera, then at least he might just hide from view.
As he neared the house, the stench of dog got ever stronger. But he tried to keep his cool, and not let their odour assault his senses.
Zim was able to tell the breed of most dogs, since he had encountered many a canine during his time on Earth. It provided an advantage on his part. If he knew what type of dog he was up against, then he was better prepared.
Poodles, Pomeranians, and other 'plushy-type' breeds were tougher than they looked, as he witnessed first hand. But the real and most obvious dangers were the German shepherds, pit bulls, and, of course, the Doberman pinschers and Rottweilers of this world.
He directed his attention to where the smell was most pungent, and there they were, two slumbering bodies in the night.
They snored like there was no tomorrow, and the sound satisfied Zim. At least they were fast asleep, but hopefully they stay that way.
Getting all his wits together, he made his first move, emerging from behind his hiding place of a topiary boy dressed as a sailor. They did not detect him. Some guard dogs they were.
He extended his PAK legs, giving him an advantage from a higher level, and watched the dogs' reactions. They were still sleeping. Maybe these dogs were just plain useless. He advanced closer but nimbly, so not to make any sudden movements.
It didn't take long till he was at the dogs' sides. The Rottweiler whimpered a little, and rolled over onto its other side.
Zim rolled his eyes, wondering why he'd ever feared these beasts, and grabbed a hold of his vial. He pulled out two syringes, realising he had enough time to deposit the anaesthetic properly and carefully, and filled them with the gooey liquid.
He needn't have to bother; he could just slip through the house, since the dogs were fast asleep. He put his PAK legs away, and moved towards the glass doors.
It was just as he had one more step to go, when the sole of his boot pressed on something soft and squeaky. He looked down to see a rubber toy in the shape of an alien.
Appropriate choice, but why not a bone or a newspaper for crying out loud.
The dogs woke in an instant, as they looked up at the strangest creature their noses ever smelled. They thought it was another squirrel, except this time it was a squirmy little Irken named Zim.
They pulled back their ears and revealed large, white teeth like floating jaws in the night.
Zim staggered back as a snarl escaped their throats. Their eyes were wild and fierce, exposing their whites like half-moons as they cornered him to the wall.
He still held the syringes...
He lunged for one of the dogs as it bit into his shoulder. Its jaws relaxed once the liquid seeped through its veins, and then it fell back into a deep sleep.
Then the second dog, the Doberman, attacked his right arm. He dropped the syringe as the dog ripped into his flesh, tossing him around like a helpless animal.
Zim zapped the dog's head with a pointed end of a PAK leg; he used a low setting, so it wasn't enough to kill the beast.
The dog squealed and withdrew its teeth from his Irken flesh.
He grabbed the syringe off the floor, and when the dog prepared for another lunge, he plunged it right into its neck. The light vanished from its eyes, and then it fell down next to its fallen comrade. Once again they slept like pups.
The Irken winced. He had deep wounds to his left shoulder and right arm, and he was trickling with blood. He would have to remember to remove all traces of his flesh from the dogs' mouths, which should be pleasant and not smelly in the slightest.
His alien blood dripped onto the pavement, but he could remove that too.
The Doberman had a slightly singed head, but other than that he was able to put both dogs to sleep without too much damage.
He retrieved an antiseptic formula from his first-aid kit, and applied it to his wounds. The substance was more powerful than any Earth equivalent, and killed off any disease in the dogs' saliva.
His uniform was torn. He gave the dogs one last look of disapproval, and moved to the glass doors.
He used his PAK legs to cut through the glass, creating a door like he had done with the hedge. He grabbed the cut glass, placing it to one side carefully, and entered the house victorious.
Finally, phase two can begin — GIR's favourite.
...
Molly listened to Zim's scuffle out in the hall, peering up at the stairs in case he'd wake. He didn't.
Then everything turned silent until she heard the familiar sound of Zim's lasers doing their fine work. She ran out to greet him.
She hugged him before he could say "hello" or "well done for all your hard work". Her force hurt his wounds, and he winced in discomfort.
"I'm sorry. I was just so glad to see you. I never thought we would make it this far."
"I know. I was glad to see you too before you squeezed the breath out of me, but Zim is fine." He patted her shoulder.
"Did those dogs hurt you?"
"Me? Of course they did not. I am Z—!"
She put a cold hand against his mouth. "Shhh! He's upstairs..."
A wicked twinkle appeared in Zim's eyes. "And so he is. Finally, his day of judgment has arrived..."
"What do we do?"
He opened his mouth then closed it again, and put a gloved finger on his chin. "Like I said, we will know what to do once we arrive."
"And do we?"
"... No, not yet. First, take me to the control room."
Molly led the way, as Zim looked at the photographs on the wall.
"These are clearly the result of photo editing. Look how his head sits on that body next to those Pachyderms. They are not a match. The whole picture is crudely edited."
"So they're not real?"
"No. These are of some other charitable human whose pictures he has stolen, and disgraced with his disgusting image. And it's easy to see why. He looks like a perfectly good member of society. Every human likes a friend to animals. Observe his picture with those baby Pachyderms."
"What's a Pachyderm?"
"A nineteenth century term to describe a large bodied, rough-skinned animal..." Zim said, reading off a wiki page from his PAK's computer. "I'll admit, the picture is very adorable. Then there he is helping that community of underprivileged humans. Pah! I may not be what humans call a 'saint', but at least I'm not a liar. I know I'm bad, and let the whole world know it. I wonder if this is even his house."
"You're not bad, Zim."
Zim eyed her sharply. "Let's not lose track of time, and get on with our mission. Now where is the control room?"
Molly pointed to the door of the control room, where there was a red light on a panel. How could he have missed that?
He walked over with ninja-like agility, and cut a hole through the door. He checked over the monitors, taking note of every section of the house so he can locate the cameras later.
Molly watched him through the hole in the door, wondering what he was doing. He was just standing there.
He rolled his eyes next, and blasted every monitor with his lasers. Soon the entire room melted away, leaving no traces behind.
"Let's see if they try to find any evidence now. Hahaha!"
"You could have used a quieter, more sensible way to remove the evidence."
"Nah, Zim prefers to do things the illogical way. Besides, this way's more fun. I could have removed the feed from the system, but at least it's gone now. Victory!"
"Quiet, or he'll wake!"
"I want him to wake..." he whispered darkly, releasing a raspy laugh.
"Well I don't."
"So, you want to end him while he sleeps? Most impressive, Molly, you are certainly coming around, but no. That way would be too easy. We have to make him suffer first."
"No, I don't want to kill him. How could you think such a thing?"
"You're just going to let that man—?"
"No... I don't know. I think he should admit to what he did and apologize."
"That beast is beyond negotiation. Of course he won't apologize. He's gotten away with it this entire time, so why would he suddenly have a change of heart?"
"He at least deserves a chance."
"Yeah, and when he ruins the only chance he gets, we'll destroy him."
"You don't know that."
"I do, I know how an evil mind works. I'm not like you. I don't see the good in everyone."
"I see the good in you..."
"Stop that! This isn't about me, Zim, the greatest Invader, anymore."
"Even if you say there isn't good in you, I created some."
Zim grumbled and moved out of the melted control room, which was starting to smell.
He stopped in the hall. "I know what to do. You go up to his bedroom. Wake him up, rattle chains if you have to, and frighten him. Then when he confesses to the authorities, we'll kill him and make it look like suicide. Though I doubt many human suicide stories involve laser scorches to the head, but we can make it work."
"I'll wake him, but I won't harm him."
"You won't have to. I can do it for you."
Molly shook her head in disappointment, and made her first move to the spiral stairs.
Zim hid behind a naked statue, and there he was with a stone butt in his face—cheek to cheek—not pleased in the slightest. He didn't even bother deliberating the front of the statue; he didn't even know what the heck that thing was.
As Molly took her first step, he said, "No, this won't work. I need to find a different location."
"Where?" she asked, impatiently.
Zim's eyes settled on the spiral stairs as he followed them to the top. It was like looking at a long strand of DNA, when he did those splicing techniques in the lab. Human DNA was fun to mess with...
His eyes fell back down to the bottom step. He smiled, giving a dark chuckle. "Oh, I found a place."
...
A most restless sleep the occupier of the house had that night. Even in his drunken slumber, he dreamt of strange voices.
The voices were like that of children, except one sounded completely deranged. Then there was the sound of an explosion, and he thought he smelled smoke. What a strange dream.
He swore he woke to the sound of his dogs scuffling in the yard. But they were always fighting and asserting their dominance over one another, nothing worth getting out of bed for.
Then all sounds ceased, as he fell back into a deep sleep.
Soon he woke to the sound of tapping. He sat up and looked around the room. It was probably nothing, as he rested his head on his pillow again.
The tapping sounded again, but this time it ended with a loud, solemn thump. His heart jumped out of his chest, and he looked around the room again. There was still no sign of the sound's source.
He swung his legs out of bed, and grabbed a bat from beneath the mattress. Whoever was in his room would get a serious pounding. He wondered if this was another dream since he still felt drunk.
How could there be someone in his room? His fortress was impenetrable, and he possessed all the latest, high-tech security as courtesy of that nut job scientist Membrane. Unless that watchman forgot to switch the generator on. He never thought to check himself before he went to bed.
Why did he tell him he could go home that night? He didn't care if it was his thirtieth wedding anniversary. And that housekeeper, forgetting to walk his dogs and feed them; he should fire her first thing tomorrow.
It should be noted that the poor woman did feed those wretched animals. He had never given the dogs names, since forming any kind of attachment to a pet was pointless.
There was a shadow beneath the door, and he definitely knew he wasn't dreaming, unless he was still drunk.
He walked to the door, and ripped it open with bat in tow. He was in a pretty good shape for a man of eighty-five, and many thought he was at least sixty-seven. If his hair was of a more youthful colour, he may have even passed for fifty. But he was a gentleman, who liked to grow old gracefully.
He stopped in the middle of the landing, noticing that smell of smoke once again. Was that not a dream before?
There came the patter of feet on the stairs below, and he descended at once. Half way down his staircase, he noticed the air was off. It was oppressive, and hard to breathe. He clutched his throat and began to sweat.
Something was very off about his grand house that night. Maybe someone broke in and switched the gas on. Was that why he struggled to breathe?
The sound of a child's cry sent a shiver down his spine, and there, a few feet below, was a girl sitting on one of his marble steps. How in the world did she get inside his house?
She buried her head on her lap. He lowered the bat. She was crying, a sound so lonely and hopeless that even he reconsidered using his brute weapon.
This was a little out the ordinary. A strange girl sitting in the middle of his staircase, crying by herself...
"What... How did you get in here?" he asked.
Her body stiffened, and slowly she turned her head. All he could describe was a girl with pallid, see-though skin, and eyes as dull as glass.
He choked on his words as the girl rose to her feet, and walked up the stairs. He attacked her with his bat. It went right through her torso, but that didn't stop him hitting her a second, third and fourth time, until his bat slipped out of his sweaty hands and all the way down the steps. He had seen enough horror movies and read enough books to know what she was.
"Stay away!" he screamed.
She continued to ascend, and he noticed, too, her hostile expression. But behind that scary façade he could detect fear in her eyes, and it started to fit together in his twisted mind. Did he know this child, whatever and whoever she was?
As he stared into the glassy depths of her eyes, he saw a reflection of a hanging spider, and before he could turn around, he was kicked down the stairs.
He tumbled all the way down until he hit the bottom step, landing conveniently on a pair of cushions (someone must have bribed that they be placed there).
He didn't stand for a while after that, and he may have heard a gasp, but his mind was spinning like a globe. Surely this was a dream...
It was surprising he hardly had a bruise after that, but whatever kicked him sure left him in pain. It definitely felt like hard footwear.
There was movement at his side. He gazed up to see a dark shape with glowing red eyes. His skin paled, as a sound escaped his throat.
The figure seized his jaw with a bone-crushing grip, and lifted him into the air with surprising strength.
He swore it stood on silver stilts, but he was flung across the room before he could look a second time, hitting the wall as a portrait came crashing down. Again, he didn't even break a hip, which was a miracle.
When he landed on solid ground, he saw the black shape stalking closer like a dreadful nightmare. If only it was a dream.
From the tall, drawn windows, the moon shone bright and blue, and it was there that the shape materialised from the shadows, like a panther in the night.
The most peculiar creature occurred before his weary eyes. Dread swept through his body, sending a chill to his bone.
It wore red garments, and black boots like a small man. But it was no man in the very least. Whatever it was, it belonged to a world of which giant insects roam, like something from a classic sci-fi movie — his least favourite genre.
In that moment of confusion and fear, he had forgotten about his familiar friend on the stairs.
The beast's eyes narrowed, and then a sound of amusement escaped its mouth where jagged teeth grew.
"Well, look at you, rendered speechless, just like how I imagined you'd be."
"You... you talk?!"
"Of course I can talk! And I only have words of the most cruellest kind for you. "
"What do you want with me?"
"You hurt a friend of mine a long time ago, and I've come to return the favor..."
"I've never seen another creature like you."
"She's isn't of my kind, she's a little girl!"
The old man put a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on strong. Seriously, he has to stop drinking before bed, or these crazy dreams will persist. He decided to play along with this nightmare. Something from his own mind couldn't hurt him, right?
It was the first time he felt in control of his dream. Maybe he can finally get a hold on these nightmares.
"A 'little girl' you say? I've known quite a few..."
"I know you have, you filthy scourge! Exactly what part of the human brain possessed you to do all those things? There are many aspects of this planet that I don't understand, but this one goes straight past me."
"Planet? So are you some type of space alien? I've had weirder dreams."
"This is no dream, my friend..."
"So, this isn't my subconscious guilt, manifesting in some other warped image? The other night you were a talking sponge. You were a lot smarter too."
"I'm not a conjured image from that sick, twisted mind of yours. How dare you insult me!"
"Sure you're not. This is all real... I think I get the alien part. I'm having feelings of alienation once again. I guess the sponge represents my ability to store so much guilt, until I'm squeezed tight, and it all seeps out the tiny holes of my flawed soul... "
"... What?"
"Who is rendered speechless now?"
The creature growled. "I'll squeeze your skull until all that guilt seeps out of your eyeballs..." He stopped, and looked out the window. The old man followed his gaze.
The guard dogs passed by, dancing lithely around the yard with slow, fluid movements — an effect of the anesthetic. The mice did the Charleston, and so it was that the dogs did the Foxtrot.
The alien shifted his eyes, and the old man noticed. He smiled.
"Well, would you look at that," he said. "My favorite kind of dance of times long past. Are you still sure I'm not dreaming?"
"I will prove this isn't a dream!"
"If you wish, my dear subconscious..."
The creature snarled and jumped out, gripping his head like an iron vice.
"Do you feel my claws piercing your worthless flesh? Embrace the pain, tell your mind that this is most certainly not a dream..." The creature's eyes flashed red.
The old man kept his swollen eyes on the monster before him. His expression changed from one of amusement to shock, and then fear. The pain was as real as the creature's hot breath on his face...
"Zim!" a voice called out.
The old man couldn't tell where it came from, as the blood drained from his face.
"Stop, you're gonna hurt him!"
The creature, Zim, pulled his head towards the staircase, where a small girl stood. The girl froze in fear.
"Do you recognize her? Do you see the girl whose life you took?!"
A small squeak oozed from his lips. The alien tightened his grip.
"Are you speechless yet again? Tell me, does her face not ring a bell in that ugly head of yours?"
The old man nodded, agreeing to anything for mercy. The alien withdrew his hold on his skull.
"I want you to confess everything you did to her, and all the pain you caused."
He looked up bewildered.
"Now!"
"C-confess...? All right... con...confess…" He crawled to the living room.
"Get up. At least look like a man in your final moment."
He wobbled up to his legs, and walked to his telephone in the living room.
Zim followed behind, keeping a watchful eye for any sudden movement.
The man approached his telephone, but he just stared at it.
Zim grabbed the phone, and placed it in his hand like he were a child.
"Make that call," he hissed.
The old man stared at the phone in his hands. This was definitely not a drunken nightmare. That thing was real, and the little girl... who was she?
It came crashing back in his clouded mind. He may have harmed many a victim, but he never forgot a face.
And so it was that he began to laugh, a distorted and creepy sound that even made Zim wary.
"What is it that you find so amusing?" he snapped, impatiently.
"Of course. Now I remember... I never forget a pretty face!"
Molly peered from behind the door. The old man snapped his head in her direction.
"There she is! My girl! This is a special kind of reunion. It's not every day your long-lost victim comes back from the dead! How's life treating you... um... Sorry, I was always better with faces..."
He was completely deranged, and it seemed like his eyeballs were about to pop out of his skull.
Molly stared speechless, as she didn't know what to do or say. She gave a helpless cry next, and hid behind the door.
"Don't you talk to her! Call your Earth authorities, or I'll glue that phone to your ear until you scream for forgiveness!"
"Molly! I remember! It was my dear mother's name... That's why I took a shine to you. You were such a sweet, lovely girl, though you were a little rigid at first, but you came around eventually. I never forgot the way I made you scream..."
Zim tackled him to the floor, forcing his mouth shut before he does any more damage.
"You want to hear yourself scream?" he growled.
"It's not my birthday yet, but why not. I've done worse things..."
Zim snarled as a long trail of spit dripped from his mouth and onto the face of the maniac. He didn't even wince; he just seemed to enjoy it.
"You hold that vile tongue unless I rip it out!"
"What? Did I upset your little friend? Go on, kill me, and you won't get that justice you seek! I guess I finally got my just deserts, hey?" He released a dry laugh.
He glared up with wild, crazed eyes that even Zim was taken aback. No matter what, this human was determined to get the last laugh, and he didn't even seem troubled by his death.
"I'm not afraid of killing you," he finally said, "but I promised Molly I'd give you a chance, because that's what good people do!"
"And am I to assume that you are good, Mr Alien?" he asked casually, with a hint of hysteria. "I find that hard to believe, but it's lovely how you're indebted to your friend. Even after everything I've done, she still can't bear to see me hurt. I can see what I saw in her. Such a sweet, sweet girl..."
Zim aimed his lasers at the soft spot of his skull. He watched that look of pleasure growing in the man's eyes, seeing no soul, just the true face of a monster.
The alien let go and released his hold. The man scurried away and kneeled against the wall.
"No. I'd rather see you live out the rest of your life in human captivity. Killing you would be too kind, and you, sir, are not deserving of my kindness... So do the only honorable thing you'll ever do, and confess. Put her family at ease!"
"What would a creature like you know of family?!"
"Absolutely nothing!"
"... All right, I'll call. But one more thing I request before I do; let me have her for just one more night. I'm an old man, I deserve my last bit of satisfaction. I wonder if she has loosened up from last time..."
It was hard to suppress the urge to kill this petty excuse of a man, and he really pressed his buttons with that sick request.
Next, a long, unexpected scream rang through the night. That woman's real husband must have finally showed up three doors away, and now someone paid the price...
Zim was momentarily distracted as he looked out the window, and before he could detect the movements of the man, and Molly's warning cries, he felt a blow to the head.
The last thing he saw was a brass statue of a lion with a goat's head and a snake for a tail. An illusion of reality and confusion of the mind, as was the chimera...
Everything turned black, and the last thing he heard was Molly's cry of horror.
A/N: I'm sorry about the cliff-hanger. I don't mean to rip your heart out. And I'm also very sorry about Molly's murderer's words. I was too afraid to write them in, but I felt obligated to. You're aware of these things happening, but then you hear of real events in the news which make you angry. I just need a reason to antagonize him.
I knew my story was going to come down to religion v science at some point. Everyone has their own beliefs. I'm on the fence about it all, but I still believe there is a grand plan to life, and someone or something is behind it. Why did we evolve? What is the reason for the universe? My head hurts now... I also have strong beliefs in the afterlife.
Zim was a little cynical here. I just need to contrast his alien views with Molly's, which is why he's talking her down a little. He obviously must believe in demons from Ms. Bitters, but I guess he is still questioning what she is. And angels are a completely different thing... I suppose he is just not open to the idea of an afterlife just yet, because he can't bring himself to believe that such a beautiful, idealised place exists. Well, maybe for Molly, but not for him. Maybe that's why he's so close-minded? I like to leave this for the imagination of the reader, and let you decide. I hope this clears things up a bit. In a way, it's probably a little last act of defiance on Zim's part, a refusal to wholly believe, even when it's sitting right in front of him.
I'm still wondering where I got that cloud joke from with the sat nav. I think it was Futurama. It probably was, they have flying cars. And that Candy Mountain reference... I know that video is old now, but it was for old time's sake. I used to love Charlie the Unicorn, and laughed like silly.
What else can I talk about? Molly's murderer is quite the psycho, isn't he?
Until next time, folks. Thank you very much for reading and not taking offence to Molly's Murderer's words, or Zim's cynicism.