Two chapters in one night, what is happening? This was a tough chapter to write because I initially had a different plan, yet it ended like this. Tallest Red has no idea how to handle this new bout of information. Zim is feeling new feelings and he doesn't know how to react towards them. Amelia is expanding as a character- it's interesting to flesh her out and her part in this, because I definitely see her taking on more than the role of wife and mother. I would love your feedback on this matter.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: I wonder if I matched your suspicions on Zim's parentage, and who the Tallest were sending!

InvaderJohnny: Zim is definitely expanding on his feelings. He's growing and maturing, it's definitely interesting to tap into. I'm honestly loving delving into the Irken aspect. And we're still only halfway through!

Chapter 14- Non-Stop

Tallest Red paced the Massive, looking again at the file Purple had given him. In his claws was information he would have rather go on not knowing about. But, now that it was present, Red could not ignore it. He opened the file. He saw in big, bold lettering the names of Zim's biological life givers:

TALLEST RED

TALLEST MIYUKI

How that could have happened, he'll never understand. Surely, he was powerful, but to father one of the most dangerous invaders to exist. He groaned. Comparable to a sperm donor, Red wanted to donate and not know about it. He was doing his solemn duty by Irk in giving his essence. At one point, it would have been Zim's, as well, to continue the Irken line. He sighed and closed the file before opening it again. The facts were not going away.

"I feel this is as bad as the night I got drunk with that cheap dancer on my birthday."

"Well, congratulations, it's a boy," Purple said cheekily, popping blue confetti in his partner's face. Red glared at him, but assumed Purple was getting his payback from when he teased him earlier about the Lab Aid, whatever her name was.

"And Miyuki, who died too soon."

"I'm assuming she gave her eggs to store," Purple replied.

Red didn't respond to that. Instead, he looked outward towards the depths of space. Now, he was forced to take action. He was forced to have a part in this catastrophe. After a pregnant pause, he looked at Purple and gave an almost helpless stare. He felt no parental emotion towards Zim after this release of information. He was still the same old fuck up he had always known.

Purple hovered over and placed a clawed hand upon his shoulder. "Now do you understand what I was referring to, earlier?"

Red's lips thinned and tightened before releasing the breath he had been holding. "Then we do what we have to. I will stop at nothing."

Purple wondered if the information fully sank in. Whatever way they chose to approach the situation, a stop needed to be put forth.

Back on Earth, Gaz showed little signs of improvement. Her vitals fluctuated with each cough and each graze in temperature. Zim frowned and refused to lose hope. Still, Zim continued to grow both internally and externally. There was more to this than taking over a planet. He wanted to do right by his family, he decided. Zinovia had taken over all thought in his brain. He wanted a life for her to breathe in. He never wanted his daughter to ever hold her breath or pause because of her social stance in life.

He would take over Earth for her.

Between watching Gaz's vitals, Zim continued to work. He barely slept and hardly ate, to which Gaz admonished him when he appeared thinner than usual. His eyes trailed along her weak form and he shook his head. Would he have to learn to cope without Gaz? How would he explain such to Zinovia?

One afternoon, he sat at Gaz's bedside. The color had just begun to return to her cheeks, battling this illness for a little over a week. This showed promise. Perhaps she would overcome this, otherwise, wouldn't the illness have taken her by now? Or, just maybe, the higher-powered beings were toying with him. He turned his head to face her as she opened her eyes and placed her hand over his own. He gently squeezed her hand and looked back at the floor.

"Are you feeling any better?"

Gaz couldn't answer him. "Have you heard from Amelia about Zinovia?"

Gaz seemed to never give a complete answer these days, which led Zim to begin to think the worse for wear. "Amelia says that Zin listens very well. She asks for you often."

Gaz lightly coughed, looking around at the dimly lit room. She almost wished for the sun, some fresh air to filter in. Although the room was self-filtering, so she was never breathing in the same sickly air, she felt like she hadn't seen the outside in so long.

"I'd like to see her."

He shook his head, "Not until you're better."

"For fuck's sake, Zim. I want to see my daughter."

He cracked a small smile at that. She was returning to herself. The flash of anger caused color in her pale cheeks. He reached out to feel her forehead. The fever was dying down, which was a relief to him. Still, he didn't want to take chances in risking exposure to Zinovia.

Gaz glared at him before sinking back into her pillows.

"Rest up, I'll be in the next room if you need me." He passed her a book as she closed her eyes again. He walked out of the room and into the next to pen some notes down, dipping the quill in the inkwell and scribbling his thoughts. He felt like he never stopped; couldn't stop; didn't want to stop by any means until his plan was complete. Ideas threaded together more clearly than they had when he first began, all of these changes overcame him. He felt a surge of power course through his body, sending jolts from his brain to his hand as he wrote.

He was a man on a mission.

As was Dib. Between making arrangements for his business and trying to think of a way to take Zim down, he was almost always holed up in his office. Amelia brought him tea and cakes to tide him over before tending to the children, who were rolling a ball between one another in the next room. Zinovia was advanced for her age, which caught Amelia off guard, but intrigued her all the same.

One morning, Amelia advised the children play together after breakfast. While, to most children that would mean play and have an adventure in the yard, for her niece and son, it meant Zinovia sitting down with Joshua and Diana and read to them, even teaching Joshua words from his picture book. The mother's mind raced with prospect of this young woman beyond her young years. She sat up, pin straight, in a lacy and frilly dress, pointing to words and sounding them out to Joshua, who hung onto Zinovia's every word. The two were connected to one another and found it to be a shame that when Gaz got better, that they would have to separate.

"How are the reports coming along?" She asked after bringing Dib his lunch.

"I'm not working on the reports right now," he said softly. "I'm tending to Gaz's affairs on the off-chance she…"

"O-oh," she choked and rubbed his back softly. "You don't have to finish that sentence."

Amelia began to conspire an idea of visiting Gaz herself to see how she was doing. Dib was far too distraught at the moment and someone would have to watch the kids. Playing with the children would be a good break for her husband and distract him for a bit.

"I'm going in town for a bit. Maybe you should play with the kids and get away from your desk," she suggested.

"Maybe you're right," he sighed. Although he didn't feel up to playing, his children always brought about happier times for him. He continued to stare at his desk and tore away from it, forcing himself up and away from the desk and into the other room where the children were huddled around a book.

"Hi, Uncle Dib!"

"Daddy!" His children chimed in unison.

Amelia covered her mouth with her handkerchief and walked along the streets. Many of the kiosks were closed, apart from the apothecary and Dr. Hooper, who seemed nearly there themselves. She continued to trudge along, her boots carrying her through raw sewage in the streets from neglect. These were hard times, these times of sickness. She nearly vomited from the stench.

"Mrs. Membrane," the apothecary called out to her. "You really shouldn't be out here."

"My family and I have been taking our herbs. I-I have to see my sister-in-law," she explained.

"Very well. Take care, ma'am." He tipped his hat to her, she nodded, bade him the same well wishes and continued along her way. She searched for the large warehouse in town, wrapping her arm around her waist with one hand and covering her mouth with the other, her eyes scoured. She took in her town, recognizing the florist, the butcher, and then noticed the warehouse tucked behind the blacksmith.

She knocked on the warehouse doors, her first banging against the wood.

Zim perked a brow as the alarm sounded in the basement, cursing whoever was on the other side. The bell continued to tinkle in his ear until he slid his wig and lenses on, ascended the stairs to open the warehouse doors and see Dib's wife on the other side. He quickly scanned around her to see if she was followed by anyone.

"What are you doing here?"

"How is Gaz doing?"

"You couldn't have sent a letter asking that? You're letting the germs in, get inside." He hissed and closed the doors behind her and looked her up and down. She removed the handkerchief from her mouth, smelling the alcohol inside the warehouse, inhaling the sterility.

Amelia opened her palms. "I had to see her for myself. Dib is a mess."

"Wait, how is Zinovia?"

"Oh! Well, she's just fine. Just fine, I promise. I figured coming here would-"

"I hate to disappoint you; however, I cannot let you see her. You'll contract the virus, and then you'll bring it back to Zinovia; and the whole reason why I left her with you was so that you would protect her. Now, you're a carrier."

Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose, losing her patience. "Dib is writing out her damn will, Zim. How is she doing? He's a wreck."

"She's showing little improvement, spicy worm beast."

She knitted her brows together. "Spicy…what?"

Zim crossed his arms over his chest. "I am uncertain what will satisfy you so that you leave." He approached Amelia. She never noticed before how tall he was and how he began to tower over her. She backed against the warehouse doors as Zim leaned a hand against the door, brushing just past her shoulder.

"You need to leave and return to my daughter. Now. That is not a request."

Amelia looked at his hand, then turned her head back towards Zim. "I came here to ease my husband's mind. I'm not leaving without an answer, Zim. Zinovia is perfectly safe in my husband's care until my return. While she's your daughter. She also happens to be his niece."

Zim then heard a bell sound. A bell that was to be sounded when Gaz felt her condition worsening, or if she needed something. He hoped it was the latter before tearing away from Amelia and returning downstairs to his mate. "Leave," he hissed to her before disappearing.

Amelia had two choices, one was to follow orders and leave. Or, she could follow and see what lied beneath the doors. She assumed the living quarters also stunk of alcohol to kill the unwanted bacteria that lingered.

Purple and Red eyed one another before Red decided to implement the plan he had stored in the back of his PAK. The duo hovered down the long and desolated hallway, hearing the beeps and clicks of the operation of The Massive. Red entered the control room and flipped a switch, watching the black screen lower.

Tallest Red had a son. Tallest Red had a defective son. Was all that seemed to play in the back of his mind. Purple frowned, understanding well that all of the inputted information was tough to swallow. He continued to watch Red process the call and to see a female Irken on the screen.

The curl of her antennae bobbed as she turned her head towards the camera and screen, her purple eyes glimmering with hope of exacting her revenge on her terms. It would be delicious, and it would be deadly. She wanted it messy and desired it slow.

"My Tallest?"

"I'm assuming you want me to continue to carry out my work here?"

Red placed his hands behind his back. "I told you to stay behind on Earth for a reason, Tak. I believe now is a good time for you to act. You yourself have some unfinished business to attend to, I believe."

"On my terms," she stated.

"In whatever manner you have in mind. You have full authorization to fulfill the mission as you see fit."

"Very good," she replied. "I won't fail you, My Tallest." She signed off with a salute after Red nodded in affirmation to her and the screen fell to black once more. He flipped the switch and sent the screen back up from where it came from.

"I thought you would want to have a hand in stopping him yourself," Purple said. "After all, he is your-"

"Don't. Just don't say it." He cringed. "I promised Tak. I keep my word."

"I think this whole thing is a mess."

"And how would you do it, smart guy!?" Red snapped. "I don't see you doing anything but giving me useless information! No one is to know about this, do you understand?"

Purple nodded solemnly. "The Lab Aid has also sworn to secrecy."

"Good. Tak will report to us on her progress. We'll wait for her word."

Zim hurried down into the basement with now this human hot on his heels. He cringed, wondering if this was Dib using his wife as bait. That would be a low move, even for him. If his base was exposed to the wrong people, then everything went to hell. But, he couldn't think of that now. Gaz took priority, he had to keep her alive.

Zim found Gaz writhing in bed, her fever spiking. Amelia climbed onto the bed and attempted to hold the woman down as one mother held onto the other. She was thankful to see another face.

"Tell Dib I'm sorry," she whispered, almost sounding like she was choking on her words. Amelia felt sweat and determined that she was soaked with it. She began to undress Gaz, shaking her head as Gaz attempted to push the other off in protest. She sank back into the bed, her burning skin unbearably painful as she looked to Zim, who took her hands. He asked her to not leave him, his voice almost pleaded.

"No, you're breaking this fever," Zim uttered. "You were breaking it earlier!"

Amelia left the room to return with water and a rag, resting the cloth on her forehead as it quickly warmed up. Zim felt his eye twitch.

"We've tried everything, human stink. Nothing works."

Amelia ignored Zim and wrung out the cloth and dipped it again, placing it to her forehead. She was attempting to draw out the heat. "Stay with us, Gaz. Zinovia needs you. Zim needs you. Your brother needs you."

Gaz closed her eyes, taking in heavy breaths for air. Her attempts to respond were short as she practically gasped for air. The fever was taking over, going the way her mother left this Earth. She fought, fought for as long as she was able, and it just overpowered her. The heat consumed her, the lacy pitch of death greeting her as she could see the reaper extend his hand towards her. She reached out for his hand, feeling one respond.

Amelia watched Zim take her hand into his, desperate to bring Gaz back. She stilled, her breath shallow as the bathing flames licked at her form.

"Zinovia…Zin…" She whispered, Zim tapping her hand almost aggressively.

"I cannot allow you to leave me."

The life had left her eyes, as the reaper curled his fingers tantalizingly. Gaz reached for it, feeling the weight shift and the heat leave her. She parted from her body and looked down at the bedridden corpse, the useless lump she had become. Her face had thinned, black hung beneath her eyes and she shook her head. While it pained her to be away from her daughter and mate, it was better this way.

Zim shook Gaz, wanting to wake her and keep her with him. There was nothing more that could have been done. He looked down, then up to see the tears streaming down Amelia's face. Her eyes met with Zim's. Perhaps tears were contagious, because he began to feel wet prick at his eyes. He wanted to throw something against the wall, break something.

"Why are you here?" He asked Amelia.

"For Dib," she replied.

Zim shook his head, uncertain if he believed that reason. He got up from the bed and ushered her out of the bedroom, needing to let her know that she wasn't going to be lingering around.

"I require a moment."

Amelia turned and touched his cheek consolingly, Zim initially yanked away from her touch as her hand slid from where it rested. He grasped her wrist and stared at her fervently, flicking a stray tear from her cheek before pointing towards the door.

"Dib wants her buried in a plot half way between the house and here. It's a quiet area and she has her own tree. He paid extra."

Zim winced at that, comprehending that Dib had this planned out. Did he have little faith that she would make it? Well, he appeared to be right. Amelia left the warehouse and leaned against the doors after they closed behind her, taking a moment to absorb that Gaz was really gone.

She took her time returning him, the sun having set as she made the long trek home. Her mind buzzed with conflict, feeling it was both necessary and unnecessary to be present. What compelled her to go? She stopped and looked up at the sky, eyeing a shooting star and wondered if that was Gaz letting her know that she was alright. That was something she would like to think.

"Where have you been? I called Alexander to look for you," Dib admonished as he greeted her at the door, seeing the state she was in. He furrowed his brows and hurried down the stairs, taking his wife in his arms. "What happened?"

"Dib…she….Gaz she…"

Dib held his wife at arms lengths as she fought to complete her sentence. He shook his head.

"No. No. Really, where were you?"

"Dib, I'm so sorry. I went to see her, and-"

He tightened his hold on her, embracing her fully. They remained that way for what seemed like hours. Joshua looked at Zinovia as she held onto the door, watching the two. Her eyes widened, tears streaming heatedly down her cheeks and she shook her head. Joshua reached out for her and pulled her away from the scene as she collapsed in her cousin's arms.

Zim returned to the bedroom he shared with Gaz, looking at her body. He stood there what felt like hours, feeling the cold seep into the room. A cocktail of emotions surged through him, balling his hands into fists as he slammed it down against the wall as he slid down and onto the floor, leaving a cracked drywall behind him. He flexed his hand and picked the shards of drywall from his skin, watching his blood trickle down. He didn't flinch and assumed some there was varying degrees of pain and some hurt worse than others.