ALRIGHT SO. This chapter was written very quickly, I'd say in just about an hour, so I'm really sorry if it comes out as being rushed but the good news is that the next chapter is already done! Yes this and the other chapter were written basically back to back in one long session so... yeah. It is going somewhere though I promise and it'll make more sense once the other chapter is added next week.

Thank you to everyone who left feedback on the last chapter! You guys and galls are the best, fo reals yo.

ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

It had been on his mind all week. Dib had been focused entirely on that strange device that was attached to Zim's back like a limpet. Throughout the week Dib had watched Zim quietly from out of the staff room windows during recesses. Zim didn't really talk to or interact with the other kids.. He had seen the irken play some games like kickball, though usually it was to try and best whoever it was he was against and then laugh maniacally about it.

That backpack though... he had seen Zim take things out of it, usually weird little alien devices to scan things, then quickly put them back before anyone noticed. So was it just some kind of container? No. Dib was sure it was something more than that, something far more important.

The time had rolled around again for another session and Dib had to admit he was eager to see exactly what Zim had taken from the book of myths he had given the small alien. But even more so he was eager to see if he could get anything out of Zim concerning the device on his back. The more Dib had thought about it the more he recalled that even during his call to the Tallest he had seen similar devices on their backs too. This was something that every irken seemed to have, no matter their station in life. Something that was important to their entire race.

Something Dib needed to understand if he was to move forward with Zim.

So lost in his thoughts that even as Zim walked in and sat down Dib didn't look up from the notes he had been making. Notes concerning possible theories on what that thing was. The big one was 'bio-mechanical computer', which he had circled several times.

"Are you going to ignore me today, human-stink? Can Zim go early and continue with this horrible day?"

"Wha- Zim! Oh, right, sorry." Dib shoved the notebook away, though he saw that Zim had certainly noticed his sudden action. The irken however said nothing else and so Dib started on his usual greeting routine.

"Hello Zim, how are you feeling today?" He adopted a smile and linked his fingers together on his desk. He had long realized Zim very much appreciated this routine. Stability seemed to be a lacking factor in the irken's life so this repetitive greeting helped ease Zim into the session.

"Zim is bored, human. This so-called winter season on your planet has ground several of my amazing plans to a halt." He huffed and crossed his arms. He hadn't removed his puffy coat but the moose-hat was certainly missing today.

"Oh? Why's that?" The counselor leaned forward a bit. "Does your equipment not work in cold weather?"

"It works fine," the invader huffed, "But Gir has been infected by some virus. He calls it the Christmas spirit. I don't understand it but he refuses to do anything but place stupid lights and silly nonsense all over the house. Without his assistance I cannot continue my usual plans."

"So what are you doing with your time then?" Dib had to ask. He had the sneaking suspicion that Zim could certainly continue with his plans if he wished but that perhaps, just perhaps, Dib's counselling was finally taking some effect and the alien was beginning to calm down a little on the whole 'invading the earth' thing.

"Research." Zim mumbled. "I'm working on several things right now. Top secret stuff. Very science-y. You're too big headed to understand the details." And he added a dismissive wave of a hand, as if just to put salt on the insult.

Dib sighed. This was no time to get irritated over the age old insult that had followed him since childhood. Really his head was not that big.

"Right, well, did you read the book I gave you last week?" He leaned back into his chair, pressing his index fingers together. "Because that was your homework you know."

The alien shot Dib with a sharp look. "Do not underestimate Zim! I studied the pathetic book of human lies and now I rule it with an IRON FIST!"

Dib wondered how anyone could rule a book with any kind of fist but he decided to press on. "So what was your favorite story?"

Zim paused at this and looked suddenly hesitant to give the counselor his answer. He looked down and away then back to Dib as if studying his face. Dib didn't press him. He knew Zim could do this, he'd done it before just last week in fact. He knew he had to let Zim continue to open up because it was important that trust was built. Zim was only now starting to allow his true feelings to be shown to Dib and as his counselor Dib could not simply demand that trust whenever it suited him. He had to respect Zim's own attempts to open up.

Thankfully it seemed the respect was paying off. After a minute Zim seemed to steel something within himself, his right hand clenching into a fist and then relaxing again as he spoke.

"I... I liked the one about the human called Promethus." He wouldn't make eye contact with Dib as he spoke but Dib was glad. Zim didn't get to see Dib's eyes widen at the answer.

"Prometheus? The man who stole fire from the Gods?"

"Yes, that one. I... admire him." The moment he admitted so however he snapped a sharp pointing finger to Dib and growled. "But he's still PATHETIC! Like all humans!"

Dib however pushed past the last comment completely. "What do you admire about him?"

The alien lowered his finger and again there was a strange hesitation to him. "He was brave.. He stole fire from the so-called Gods, if they were even real to begin with, and he did it because he knew he could. Because he had the intelligence and will to defy them." There was a pause and Dib swore that Zim seemed to pale just a little. "Then he was punished for all eternity with constant unending pain inflicted upon him."

The counselor had never seen this kind of reaction from Zim. Was he... scared? Why was he scared of the myth, even though he just admitted to admiring Prometheus himself? Or perhaps it was something more. Perhaps he was scared because he saw something in Prometheus that he wished he had in himself. The strength to defy his Tallest.

"You said you admired him. Why?" Dib asked quietly, hoping that Zim wasn't about to close up all over again.

"He... he was different from the others in the book." The alien answered in a quiet tone. "The other figures in the stories were always doing things for stupid reasons. Icarus flew too high because of his pride. Odin let everyone die because he couldn't stop what he knew was going to happen from happening. Anansi hoarded knowledge because he wanted it all and then lost it. But Prometheus." He seemed to chew his lip a little. "He... he had no fear of defying his betters... and was punished eternally for it."

"Do you sometimes feel like that, Zim?" Dib asked quietly.

Zim didn't answer. Instead he focused on his own shoes and gripped his chair tightly. It took a moment but then, in a very quiet voice, Zim said. "I don't want to be punished eternally."

The young man had almost no answer for this. He never gotten this far with Zim before, not without the irken immediately back peddling or lashing out or simply trying to storm off. But this time he was staying still, he was being quiet.

"You're not, Zim. I assure you, you've done nothing wrong." Dib smiled softly. "It's not your fault."

Zim's eyes shot up to the human and for a second they were wide and staring, then they narrowed. "I've done nothing wrong."

"But you feel that way, right?" Dib pushed in a calm tone. "You feel as though you're being punished."

"... sometimes."

"Well I'm telling you, you've done nothing wrong. Your leaders don't get to tell you what you've done wrong."

"Yes they do. They are my Tallest. They cannot be wrong." Zim snapped suddenly at the human.

"Can't they?" Dib asked with a wry tone. "Who said they can't?"

"Well, I, they..." Zim stammered for a second. "They're my Tallest."

"That's not an answer and they can be wrong. Anyone can be wrong. Just because they're programmed to be your leaders doesn't make them right all the time, nor does it make them any better than you."

"The programming never fails." The alien responded in a cold voice. "It... it can't fail."

"Zim. Answer me something. Last week you told me you were programmed to do certain jobs." He took a deep breath. "That thing on your back, is that where the programming comes from?"

The alien's eyes widened at this question but just as quickly they narrowed again and he stood up on his chair. "What are you asking?"

"What's that thing called. On your back. What is it?" Dib pressed with a determined frown.

"Never you mind what is it!" Zim's reaction was a lot angrier than Dib thought it would be. Had he touched a nerve? More than ever Dib was becoming convinced that whatever that thing was, it was important to Zim's entire mental make up. "It's not important! Don't you dare come near it! EVER! SHUT YOUR STUPID PIG-FACE."

"I'm only asking-"

"THEN QUIT ASKING! IT WORKS FINE! STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS YOU STUPID, PATHETIC HUMAN!" Zim was off the chair and towards the door before Dib could even stand.

"Zim wait-"

"I will not disobey my Tallest. I admire Prometheus because he reminds me what happens to traitors." The alien's eyes took on an almost murderous look. "I will not end up like him."

And with that he was gone. The door slamming shut with such ferocity that the room shook and Dib's picture of his family fell over. Dib fell back into his chair. He was furious with himself for being so stupid. He shouldn't have pressed the issue like he did, now it could take months to get Zim to open up again.

However he was more convinced than ever before that something was deeply wrong with the thing on Zim's back. Whatever it was it was so important that he wouldn't even talk about it, not even to Dib whom he had admitted so much. What terrible secret was hiding in that thing?

What was it that Zim had said? 'It works fine'. That very sentence alone was highly troubling.

The counselor ran a hand through his hair and cursed under his breath. He had hoped that perhaps he wouldn't have to fall back onto his Plan B but now he had no other choice. It was an absolute betrayal of what he had been trying to build with Zim, but after such a horrible reaction he didn't know what other path to take.

He would have to go to Zim's home and learn directly from his computers just what in the blue hell that thing was.

OKAY SO YEAH. Did ya'll expect that coming, hum? Prometheus was chosen because yeah, I think Zim would admire someone who would tell the Gods they were wrong and then openly defy them by stealing their fire. Even if he was horribly punished for it. However as dear reviewer Polinia had noted Icarus was very high in the running for this one. However Prometheus won out because I don't think Zim would necessarily see himself as being prideful, even though he clearly is. He seems to admire strength and willpower more than pride. Sorry Polinia, but thank you for really making me think on the whole myth thing in better detail!

No references this week. I know. I weep for the lack of references. Next week has a TON of them though.

SO YEAH. That's all until next Saturday dear readers! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and make sure to leave nice feedback for me to respond to because I've been trying to do that a lot recently.

I'm gonna go play vidya gaems now! TOODLES!