I forgot to mention that when Gaz is pretending to be her mother, she will become a bit more patronizing. I'm not making her mom to be some sort of "witch," but with having to prove some rightful things after you been so wronged in the past. I thought it would be more suiting at the moment. Would you be a sweet person with all the lovely things that are happening? I know I never have been when I've been wronged.
Just thought I mention all that. When you are tired, you tend to forget things.
Your reviews are very appreciated. :)
"Professor Membrane, how do you know this will work to our favor? They came to our planet enslaving most of the inhabitants, and you believe these weapons will make us allies in the end? Sounds pretty damn absurd if you ask me." The President questioned from the conference table surrounded by his cabinet.
"Well I understand completely why you would think this, but even I met the one in charge and this was his plan in the first place." Membrane said as he stood erect with his shoulders back and his arms behind him. "With the help of my son and Tak." He indicated both Dib and a disguised Tak with a simple wave of his hand.
"Yes, but it is highly doubtful if this is what they want. What is to stop them from simply killing the President and the rest of us, once they get close to us?" Asked the Treasurer.
"Look, I know all these questions are valid, but even I known this alien a long time, and I have to admit he does seem truthful in all this." Dib interrupted.
"You known about him a long time, yet didn't bother to report him?!" The General asked. "Poppycock!"
Rubbing a hand from his forehead to his chin in frustration, he spoke tiredly. "How many times I have tried but was ignored. They thought I was crazy."
Patting his sons head, Membrane jumped back in. "Now now all of you. To his credit he has, and no one believed him."
Gaz and Zim watched the exchange. While Zim was preparing himself on what to say, even though he knew he was always perfect, but still he needed the proper moment to blink in. Gaz though had a misgiving.
"I'm worried that they will hurt you and your own kind will also do the same." She said.
"Gaz, you know I will be excellent in all this."
Standing in front of him, she forced him to look into her eyes. "When you dial back that ego of yours, you think a lot better, and your plans succeed. When you make your ego get the best of you, well... Need I give you a laundry list of failed missions of yours?"
"I don't know what 'laundry' has to do with any of this, but you know I will be fine. Have faith."
Groaning internally she instead gave him a hug. "Heres hoping then."
Tak wanted to explode at them not listening to them, but she just stood there being silent. Although, with Dib getting so angry at times he would shout something that would make her reach for his hand to try to calm him. Dib would shoot her a look that she couldn't quite decipher, until he gave her a hopeless looking smile.
"What is bad is that we haven't faced the United Nations yet. Well I know they are monitoring this exchange, but still, just imagine them climbing all over us." Dib whispered to her.
"If I could, I would go with Zim, if he would allow me, I just feel there needs to be some level of protection for him." Tak grinded out through her teeth. In the back of her mind, she laughed so hard at how she is willing to protect him now, when before she wanted nothing more then to destroy him. "Perhaps after this transmission has ended, before the next one happens, we open up the line to him to talk to him."
Nodding his agreement there, Dib whispered. "Gaz is normally pretty solid, but seeing her show her softer side more often since she has gotten older, I'm sure it is worrying her." Feeling another squeeze of his hand from her, he smiled briefly to her, before returning his attentions to his dad and that idiot cabinet.
"We will confer in an hour, Professor Membrane after we speak to the U.N, then we can all gather to speak about all this." The President haughtily informed him, before cutting off the transmission.
Meeting his sons gaze, Membrane for once lowered his goggles. "We best be talking to, Zim."
"I'm right here." Zim said popping in with Gaz by his side. Zim was obviously very confident. Gaz held the look of apprehension in her eyes as she quickly let go of his hand, and strode over to her brothers side.
The Professor faced Zim. "As unfond as I am about this whole alien invasion thing in the first place and seeing how you want us as allies, you gotta admit it is still pretty... How do I say it?"
"Clever?" Zim put in happily.
"Insane." He replied deadpanned. "This all could of been accomplished without all this pomp and circumstance that you put forth."
"Yes, I understand that, but I will tell you this, I spent many years on this planet as a joke. A defective. According to everyone's opinion. My mission was a lie, as they told me. They sent me here in hopes that I will die. Yes, they wanted me to kill myself. When they told me all this, I was naturally depressed and did pull the plug on my own pak." Zim explained.
Dib, Tak and him didn't know about the last part. The only one who knew and kept it a secret to the point of pretending it didn't happen was Gaz herself. Dib glanced at his sisters retreating backside as she wandered into the nearest room. Near enough to hear anything if need be, but far enough for her to hide her face.
"Gaz found me and plugged me back in. She told me to keep on living and that there will be that one day in which they will regret what they have done to me." Zim continued. "No, this whole thing wasn't her idea, and trust me when I say she was angry at me for a while. I just want you to know this, Professor."
Membrane glanced up for a second to see his daughter leave the room, before glancing back at Zim. By the sound of the door closing again, he had a feeling it was Dib following her.
"I was naturally laughed at here for years, but after so much looking back and reflecting, I have to admit, I might laugh too, but as I grew older and my friendship with Gaz became stronger, I started reflecting on Irk and the Tallest that were in charge. How they treated everyone, including myself, how those few visits with the Elders made me think that they are nothing like the Elders I was taught about. The ones they actually have legends for. Well most of those stories were bull compared to the truth, which is what I recovered soon after I became a Tallest myself." Looking over at Tak. "I hated her at first, but as years went on that was pretty stupid really. When I was busy gathering everyone before the invasion, I was seeking her out pretty heavily. I needed someone just as passionate as myself. Thank Irk she came and here we stand."
Putting his hand on Zim's shoulders, Membrane felt there was still holes here. "It explains a little more, but I do have lots of questions for you."
"Which you may ask. Hell if I confused you right now and before, talk to Gaz and Dib, they know much better that often times I have a short attention span. In fact your own daughter will lightly slap me on the back of the head or just say something that makes me snap back into reality."
"Why don't you ask me as well. When I first spoke to you as myself, you wouldn't listen to me, you kept interrupting me." Tak said putting her two cents in before adding. "He has gotten a lot better since then though."
Meanwhile in the other room, Gaz was wiping a stupid tear from her eye when she heard the door click behind her. She knew it was Dib. She always knew her brothers presence, but didn't yell at him to leave her alone.
Past experience still made him nervous to touch her even if she stopped yelling at him or hitting him when did do that now. "Gaz? Do you want to talk?"
"I blacked it out of my own head, Dib." She replied softly with her head down. "I had some small tiny dreams of it when he just left, but not before. I blocked it from my own head because I just don't want to remember that image again." Sniffling she went on. "To see him in that state made me think of mom when I saw her lifeless body, so as quickly as I can think, I reactivated him. Oh how he cursed even as weak he was. He meant something to me. I care about him. But at that moment, I didn't realize how much I loved him. That crazy poorly disguised alien with A.D.D and some crazy ass plans. With me he was always genuine. With me, actually loving and understanding. When I'm upset, he will put everything else aside to think of me."
Crying more with thinking of her mom and then him like that, she didn't realize, Dib placed his arms around her until she her head buried in his chest. "I know you don't like him, but he is not who he was long ago, Dib."
"I'm starting to see that now. I didn't know all the details of moms death, but I knew it affected you more, what is horrible is that I didn't know you witnessed it first hand. Dad made up an excuse. I guess he didn't want me going even crazier."
"Too late." She sniffled after trying to make a poor joke. She still felt his polite laugh.
"I know I've been a pain in the ass, but I do care for you, Gaz. As your brother, I just want you safe."
"I know you care, why do you think I softened up towards you over the years?" Taking a step away from him, she smiled. "I know it wasn't fair that you ended up having to act like the primary caretaker of both of us. I know I was a brat. I was so angry for so many years. Wanting to get the bastard who murdered mom, but ending up finding him until years later."
Eyes wide, he asked, almost insanely. "Who? Who is it?"
"Someone hired by the old Tallest and Zim and I found out who it was." Seemingly the tears dried up quickly. The look in her eyes was something of mirth. "Zim and I have been doing things to insure that he goes down. Of course I think Zim will be doing the final call there. I believe he is worried about me even when he is trying to act otherwise."
Dib was gonna respond but were interrupted by a knock, and Tak poking her head in. "Sorry to interrupt you, but we need you."
Nodding both their heads, they walked back out. Zim focused on Gaz's face in which he looked like he wanted to be by her side, but held off. Standing next to him directly was their dad. Gaz and Dib noted silently how their dad's hand was around Zim's shoulder.
"I'll be heading over to them personally with Tak by my side, to speak to your United Nations and of course the President of here." Zim informed them all. "Tak made a good argument there on why I need her there. All the nations leaders will hear what we have to say, and Computer will make sure that our broadcast isn't heard to our own troops." Walking to Gaz to gently take her hand, he watched as Dib gave Tak a hug, before she took Gaz's hand. "I'll have her back to you soon." Zim assured Dib before blinking out back to base.
"Computer we have to increase our parameters when it comes to this broadcast. Are you prepared?" Zim inquired.
When am I ever not prepared, my Tallest? Computer thought sarcastically, before replying. "Yes."
"Let's start then."