Dib watched the ship get smaller and smaller and only when it wasn't even a dot anymore, when he couldn't make it out from the rest of the darkening sky did he almost fall to his knees. No. Not right now. Not until the world is safe.
Running from the wreckage of his backyard to the door, he was surprised when it was unlocked. Inside, well, everything was normal. It was like stepping back in time. Back several months, back a year, back when he was a little boy and the kitchen was the same, the light glowing from the living room, the same. It was so clean it sparkled.
Now the speed was gone, in favor of treading into the living room. The tv, something he hadn't seen in what felt like forever, droned nearly on silent. A purple head was bent over, hiding behind the couch, playing some video game he was sure. Hadn't she heard the ruckus outside?
"Gaz?" His voice felt un-naturally loud. The head didn't even flinch.
"Hey, Dib. Welcome back."
And that was probably the nicest thing she had ever said to him before. "Thanks." He replied, just before running up the stairs, nearly tripping twice (the gravity was hard to get re-used to) and throwing open the door to his bedroom, afraid to look. What would he see?
And that was the same too. Except dustier. Nothing had moved. It was all there. The science equipment, the ten little lab kits he had. Posters of famous inventors and space plastered on his wall and hidden in his closet, books upon books about the paranormal. He had only been in there a few minutes and already wanted to tear it all down. This wasn't him. This had never been him.
So, he didn't change clothes. Dib left the dirty space suit on because that was more like himself than he'd ever been before. A quick glance in the window showed how a few months had changed him. A more defined jaw, dark whiskers on his chin, his hair was much messier and he looked darker in that suit. So out of place in such a plain room.
Dib grabbed his computer and ran back down the stairs and out the front door, racing hell for leather towards the biggest building in town, Membrane Enterprises. Along the way he spotted a paper sign that hung haphazardly on a lamp post. It was falling off and water damaged but, it was there. A bright blue poster with his face on it. "Have you seen me?"
Dib figured he was about to give his father the surprise of his life, as he skidded down the street, crashing into a car and nearly falling more than once. The security had only increased and Dib was afraid they wouldn't let him in. But, maybe they could sense his determination or maybe he looked authoritative. Or crazy. Or maybe he just looked like his father. But, whatever it was the two guards in the front let him pass without a word.
With each second that ticked by, Dib felt the weight of the Alien menace looming over them and every single clock in the building was ticking their doom.
People stared at him as he sprinted by, panting heavily. He paid them no mind. It was when he shoved the door open to what he knew was his father's personal laboratory that Dib suddenly cared about everything all too much. There were more than ten people in the room with Membrane and they all turned to face the dramatic entrance.
Dib's chest heaved with exertion and he searched each of their faces until he met eyes that matched his own, that were widening. "Son?!" He yelled, muffle behind his collar, voice cracking as if he couldn't believe it.
"Dad." This would be where an emotional reunion could happen. It might've happened. It would happen later but, he knew that hugging and spilling their souls wasn't the most important thing in the universe at the current moment. "Look, I know how weird this is gonna sound but—"
"You're alive!" Membrane cried, pushing past all the other scientists who were beginning to mumble to themselves about how the kid had gotten taller, his hair was crazy, he looked dirty, darker,as though he'd seen something that none of them had before.
The tall man, slapped both hands down on his son's shoulder and squeezed tightly with joy. As it was, being a scientist…well, expressing emotions wasn't so easy when you knew exactly where they came from. But, at that moment he could've danced. His son was home. A million questions begged to be answered; where have you been? Why did you leave? What happened? Are you okay? But, none of them came out as he sensed that Dib had something important he had to say.
"Yes…I am." Dib replied, nodding to reassure, reaching up and squeezing one of the oversized, rubber covered hands. "And I have so much to tell you but…right now, you really need to listen to me."
Zim cursed that wretched planet with every word he had in his vocabulary, and maybe some that didn't exist anywhere but in Zim's head. He spewed expletives at the shrinking planet, the one that took Dib away. Though he was angry, he couldn't say that he hated the planet; not like he used to. While it was covered in ignorant life forms, begging to be ruled, it held one jewel. One tawny colored jewel.
Zim leaned forward in his seat, turning the ship around so that Earth was no longer in sight. The space ahead of him harbored the fate of Zim's future. The Massive. Still a ways from Earth, but as its name surely gave away; it was an impressive ship. It could be seen days away, floating in space as the harbinger of ill fate to anybody who laid eyes on it. Its color a stark contrast in a bold statement of confidence. The Irken empire has no need for stealth; its raw power was enough to overcome any foe.
Zim felt his chest swell with pride, only to shrink back almost instantly. Any other time he would have been more than happy to bask in the Irken glory. But the planet that lay behind him, while utterly useless and otherwise of no interest to him, held his lover, his mate, his husband. Any planet he stepped on was deemed priceless by default. With a click of his tongue, he coaxed the ship forward. No doubt the Tallest had questions for him. He'd try to buy Dib time, but that was all he could do at the moment.
The ride to the Massive was dreadfully long and uneventful. Until the Invader had to swerve past the cavalry. The Massive was swarmed by the smaller vessels; a ship on a sea of…smaller ships. They were but dots compared to their mother-ship. Truly an armada if Zim ever saw one. They weren't holding anything back. Dib's speech must not have affected them in the way they had planned; but it did affect them, after all. They must really be looking for a fight. Unfortunately all they were going to get was…Earth.
Dib didn't stand a chance. Zim already knew that but…looking at what the Tallest had brought to the table now. It was incredible.
After what felt like eons of wading through his brethren, Zim finally came to the docking area. The ship opened for him, inviting him in as it had done only a few times before.
A sense of déjà vu, and Zim was rubbing his head as he jumped out of the ship he had come to call home, into the one that he had wanted to be so long ago.
Winding hallways zoomed past him, a sense of urgency pushing his muscles without his consent as he made a bee-line to the Tallest's chamber. He didn't even wait for the guard to get a word in before Zim pushed passed him and hit the control panel.
"My Tallest!" He barked as he entered, not waiting for the doors to slide open all the way.
"Forgive me," The guard trailed in after him. "My Leaders, he pushed by, I tried to stop him." He groveled.
The two, rather colorful Irkens sagged visibly at the sound of Zim's voice. "What are you doing here, Zim?" One of them spoke up, but neither turned to face him.
"My Tallest, isn't this a bit much?" Zim asked, holding his palms forward. "It's just a miserable little spec! W-heh-Well I could take it out myself!" He laughed, nervously. "Is there really a need for the entire armada to lower to such a meager task?"
"Meager!" Red laughed. He swung his arm out as he turned. "And yet you couldn't even manage to scout for information! Instead you bring back a human and promises! Worthless!"
Zim drooped, rubbing his hands together as he shrank away.
"I-I..It was…I didn't…" His wide eyes darted around, looking for something. Anything. "I served you well! I only wanted what was best for you—us! Earth is more valuable as an ally, I assure you."
"Not this again!" Red growled. "What! To protect you little love-pig!" Red's eyes narrowed as Purple turned to face the small invader as well.
"We know about your little stunt, Zim. Creating a union with him. What did you exactly hope to achieve?"
Zim opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. His mouth seemed as though it was lined with cotton. He smacked his lips, taking a step back. "My leaders, you don't understand." Zim tried again. "Earth has resources. At the very least, you don't need to destroy it."
"We weren't going to." Red smirked, wickedly. "Not until you expressed such an interest in it, anyway."
Zim felt his spooch come up to his throat. This was his fault? The Tallest must have sensed something great in the planet if Zim wanted to keep it so badly. Surely they are looking to snuff out any threat to the empire. Of course!
But he couldn't let this happen. He loved his leaders, but he loved Dib more. Turning on his heel, he didn't dare a salute as he ripped out of the room like a bat out of hell.
"Should we stop him?" Purple asked, taking a few strides towards the door.
"Let him go." Red scoffed, turning back to the window. His army lay in front of him, willing to do what it took until there'd be nothing left of the puny planet ahead of them. And with it, Zim. "There's nothing he can do, anyway."