Chapter 16: " A Day anew "

Next Wednesday

Dib tapped his fingers against the desk. The sun shone through the windows with bright rays and partially blinded half the room with an unbearable light. It was fall still, however he hated how some days it could be comparable to a hot summer day. Even if it was nearing to November. He let his mind wander whenever things in class drawled out into long days with emptiness to fill in the stretches. Into the expanse, he would daydream and allow himself to miss the education. He blinked and his mind resurfaced. His eyes watched the projector.

He watched as Ms. Pamela was teaching how to factor equations. Dib sighed as he watched with apathy. He already knew this. A lot of the math that was being taught he already learned about. Mainly because of his advancement through engineering required him to do so, as well as his past development of which his father required him to study math at an earlier age. Dib didn't mind engineering too much; His proficiency at it was stellar, but it was just a hobby. Despite he could make functional mechanisms and possibly even start selling them for a profit, He made everything out of boredom.

He sighed once more and began on the worksheet that was given to them at the beginning of class. It would at least give him something to think about. Something to do with the remaining time that he had.

After a few minutes, everybody else began working once Ms. Pamela was done with the demonstration. She turned the lights back on and she sat back down at her desk. Quiet whispers were still exchanged between a few students, and some of them were even asleep. Dib only took note about the other students in class whenever he had nothing better to do. In fact, It was his only way of keeping his mind entertained by observing details around him, letting him absorb the information to keep his brain on a production of thought processing and study.

Dib finished the paper and sighed. He brought his palms against his chin, and rested his elbows against his desk. He scrutinized his answers and mentally reconfigured and recalculated the problems for any errors. But after doing that for a few seconds, Dib began daydreaming again. He pondered about how he was going to inform the Swollen Eyeball Agents about his disappearance. How he was going to make up for it.

In that moment. Dib also noticed that a kid was constantly glancing over his shoulder. He saw him in his peripherals, and confirmed without looking that it was the same kid who'd thrown the pea at him. Why in the world is he looking at me? Dib asked himself. However he remembered yesterday, when Gaz informed him about his apparent regret. He sighed again and looked back outside the window.

Today was going to be long if this 45 minute class was beginning to feel like the entire afternoon.

• • •

Zim kept his head down. Living here was beginning to wear against his patience and his energy. Making him tire through the days and loathe the events of having to be in this situation. Being in this room was starting to feel like an alleviated prison. Once that deceives with the outlook of it's disposition. However it still held fervently to the supportive feelings of being surrounded. Trapped. Hopeless. At the same time, Zim wasn't. He was freely allowed to do whatever he pleased. He could leave this room right now; the door wasn't locked. Zim wanted to force his legs into submission, and allow himself to carry out of here, and go home. He was able to do it before

Then again, right now? Able wasn't a word to use. He desired to do it. Other factors were at play here. Ones of identities that had been shared with ambiguity and enigma. They imposed feelings upon him that gave him difficulty in trying to resist. Silencing the form of chaos of which they created. Ms. Everett wasn't here presently. There was now too much that had potential. Even those anonymous factors had constitution upon it. They relished in the fact they did. An ecstasy unmatched...

Who exactly were these other factors? His unnamed, trivial emotions. That controlled him to feel a sense of guilt for wanting to leave. An emotion that frequented him more than anything else nowadays. He'd even feel guilty if he'd just insulted a kid who deserved it. Zim thought it might have something to do with him visiting his test experiments. But at the same time, he couldn't conclude it to be an exact answer. But whatever it was, it was starting to bother him more than these visits for ' Getting to Know Each other! '...not really.

Zim lifted his head. If he were to look a little to his right, he would be looking at Dib in his eyes. Something that proved even more discomforting than being near water. And that was an unbelievable situation itself. His shoulders wanted to cringe just by the proximity of his sworn enemy. It was already hard itself having a few classes with the abominable thing, luckily being at the separate sides of the room, but Zim was positive he would go mad if this continued on, having to sit only a few feet away from him. He liked to muse in his thoughts that they were like magnets. Despite the fact they did prove to be opposites, they didn't attract each other at all. Not one bit. Much the opposite.

The door creaked open and finally Mrs. Everett entered the room. The door closed behind her with a quiet click and she remained in thought. She sat down at the table, stacked her papers and aligned them. She place them down and kept her eyes upon the documents; thinking. Her hair shaded her face, and glimmered brightly.

Her eyes finally met theirs.

" I apologize for my...unprofessional behavior yesterday...I shouldn't have reacted out of my anger, and for that I am deeply sorry for the insults." She said, her face solemn. Zim watched her, as her eyes stared down at the table the next moment later. Everett was being honest. She was indeed...remorseful, for the lack of a better word. Why? Her indignation was justified; He and Dib had ruined part of her life. To feel guilty for being justified...it was just illogical. To extend a sense of contempt and anger towards those who wronged you was to be expected; She shouldn't be sorry that they had ruined her life. Everett stacked the papers again, removed the glasses that were on her nose bridge and wove her fingers through her hands, as she placed them against her chin.

" Let's begin." She said simply. Her voice containing a solemn character within it.

Zim tightened his fists. The familiar feeling of pity had risen within him. Sympathy. And even guilt. Why did this keep happening?

Dib meandered in the hallways, avoiding the contact of other students as he sifted through the large, uncontrolled crowds. It was finally the end of the day, and the students filed in the hallways like a disorderly wave. The talking was enough to deafen him from anyone who would try to call to him, however nobody ever did, so it wasn't much of a problem to him. He eventually made it to his locker and received his backpack. Closing it, he walked with the flow of the people, like a wave heading towards a waterfall, and exited the front doors into the vestibule.

He walked a few more feet underneath the entry canopy and bridged off to the side, where he usually waited for his sister. Dib leaned against one of the flag poles, and immediately flinched off. The heat of the sun rays had made the metal surface hot to the touch. He groaned quietly to himself, and shoved his hands in his pockets. At that moment, he noticed Zim walking away. He didn't notice him yet, however Dib was going to change that.

Despite his utter contempt for the being, he would usually betray his own discomfort if it meant making Zim angry. Or shocked. Either way, it was what he was planning to do in the moment. Dib approached him slowly, as he traversed through the crowd of kids around him. And as soon as he got close, he tapped his shoulder, which in turn his nerves in his hand spiked as well. Zim turned around and his faced immediately stiffened, and a small scowl formed. He smiled blissfully. One obviously manifested from fake emotions.

" Hey Zim. Do me a favor and say hi to Nick for me." He said casually, and even removed his hands into his pockets again. Zim's eyes considerably widened. Dib loved getting this type of reaction from him. Whenever he would dumbfound him beyond belief. It was riveting to see him stumble on his words! He made an effort to almost walk away, but turned back as if he remembered something important. He pointed at Zim, who was still watching with astonishment.

"I know he must be going through hard times. And the others. Darcy...Gale...Sa'id. Jane." Dib sighed, expressing a fraud disappointment. " Going through the torture of constant experimentation...that can do a number on a person." Dib shrugged. " Well, tell them I said hi, and that I hope they get well soon." A smile emerged, one that showed understanding. Or so he attempted. Dib nodded his head, waved good bye, and began walking away. His sister came out of the school just in time, and they both left for home. Dib couldn't help but muse in his thoughts.

This is only the beginning, Zim. Soon, I'll find out everything.

• • •

Zim entered into his house and closed the door behind him. His heart was racing in his chest, and it pulsed blood through everywhere in his body, becoming audible to his ears. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. It was anxiety again. Stress. Fear. Trudging through his system with familiarity. A process way too common and frequent. Zim didn't want to label it normal. It would become even more stressful if he thought of it that way.

His muscles began weakening, and became frail. The trembling was trying to start. He wasn't supposed to be afraid. His emotions were becoming stronger and stronger by the day. Growing inside him like a mold. Expanding it's structure into every crevice into it spoiled the identity and host. How could this happen?

" Is everything okay sir?" Computer asked. His hands tightened into fists.

" No! Everything is wrong!" He exclaimed and turned around. His breathing was becoming rapid. Releasing his anger would only result in more unwanted outcomes. But he was no longer in control of that fate. He began pacing again. His throat began constricting, and it made him want to scream.

" How the hell did Dib know about my test subjects!" Zim yelled. He needed an answer. There couldn't possibly be any way Dib could've found it by circumstance and sheer luck. Not in those stories, where a little bird would secretly gossip in deceiving tones of chirps and tweets...Could it have been? No, that's stupid.

" W-What? Dib knows...How does he—"

" I don't know! You tell me!" He retorted.

" M-Me? How would I know about Dib—"

" Because you watch the damn surveillance! You monitor this house! How does he know what's in my underground base!" He yelled. He breathed a few moments longer in the silence that began to emerge. He awaited his reply. His reciprocated voice in response to his. A comeback. Anything. But nothing came but silent stammers. Computer didn't have a coherent grasp to answer with anything. He truly didn't know. He had no intelligence on the subject. He was just as astonished as his superior.

Zim shook his head, and grasped his skull and fell upon his couch. If Dib was able to enter his house, without triggering his alarms, without triggering his security system, without Computer or even himself seeing him... He was vulnerable. He was pliant. His security, his secrecy...His privacy. Now in the hands of his sworn enemy. And it contorted his mind to think that; causing his spine to send fluent signals of fear into his nervous system. His shaking was evident. His breathing became shaky.

Zim was no longer safe. He felt he was being watched by eyes he couldn't see, feeling the burning attention centered upon his body. Heard by people who he couldn't even behold. Whispers that exchanged his information of which he tried to keep underneath the radars.

"..Sir?" His computer called.

" They're going to find me, Computer. Dib has access to my base...to my accounts, and information...They're going to find me." Zim murmured, and shut his eyes.

" Sir."

" I don't know what to do...I can't think properly...I can't even—"

" Sir...Listen to me." Computer said gently. Zim stood up and paced around again, covering his face.

" By the gods, they're going to hunt me down! They're going to find out everything!"

" Sir!"

" I'm going to die—"

" Invader Zim! Listen to me!"

He jumped at the raise of his voice, and looked at him. His eyes were enlarged.

" You need to calm down...If Dib found out about your test subjects, then the first thing you need to do is find out how. Investigate underground, and search for any cameras or systems that don't identify with my coders. Find any device that doesn't seem authorized. I'll look in my past surveillance accounts and see if I can spot anything unusual. I most likely was having an update when the event occurred, which would've caused my attention to be averted from the cameras and monitors." Computer said, calmly. He said his sentences slowly, and structured. Zim sat back down.

"...Computer...I-I..."

" Zim...I'll find out everything I can. Right now, I need you to—please—look down in the base. As soon as I have something, I'll notify you, alright?" He said. Zim wished he could be calm. He wished in dire situations he could handle his composure. However that wasn't the case. He was shaking again.

He nodded his head. And after a few moments of regaining his concentration, he stood up, and quickly made his way to the underground basement.

Zim made his way quickly through the dark hallways. He shivered from the cold and his fear. His gut was beginning to wrench, and he swore to himself that he was going to be sick. The thought of Dib...walking into his home, and placing a camera, all the while being undetected. Sly to watch his every move, without making a sound. Without making an appearance. Zim knew that he would be prideful in his achievement. Of entering into his house as if it were power play. To show dominance. The bastard...

He could've possibly been watching them to time this right. To make sure they were all asleep...The thought unsettled him even more.

Dib...Watching them...asleep.

He retched, and stopped against a wall. Blood rushed to his head, and made him nauseous. Nothing came up. But the event made his stomach loosen, and then tighten again. He coughed and a few cold waves passed through his torso. Zim closed his eyes and covered his mouth, regaining his breath. He was going to need to make it a habit to not get sick at everything. His eyes watered, and he removed the contacts that he'd forgotten to take off. In the process, he removed his wig, exposing his bald head to the open air. It was slightly cooling, but Zim didn't focus on that. He continued on.

He entered into the iron enforced door, and turned on the lights that flickered a moment before powering. His eyes fixated on his test subjects and immediately felt his gut drop. He blinked and willed himself to look down.

I'm here to look for cameras. Devices that are...unauthorized. Zim reminded himself, taking a deep breath after wards. He closed the door behind him, letting it shut slowly. He observed his surroundings. His mind was trying to diverge. To flee. He shook his head and reset his thoughts, thinking upon what it was he needed to do.

If I were a questionable, displeasing little creature called Dib, where would I set up my impish little devices to watch my enemy? Zim thought to himself, allowing his mind to be partly amused, as he inspected his own research facility. He looked atop the counters of his lab tables, and individualized the chairs to make sure there weren't any traceable details that shouldn't be present. When he didn't spot anything, he searched around the plant area and watched the condition of how they lived.

He made sure there wasn't any mis-growths, or orthogonal deformities in their structure, which would've showed him evidence of a camera being enforced upon them. Zim blinked, and looked around again. His mind became muddled, and he tried to think of any other places he needed to search. However he knew he was avoiding contact with his human test subjects. Even though the entirety of his purpose of venturing down here revolved around the event of them being known amongst the ground above, he avoided their contact. His eyes skimmed over their existence, and he examined elsewhere.

"Dammit." Zim said to himself and forced his legs to move in the general direction towards the humans. As he approached them, nervousness swelled in his gut. It was a while before he was able to look up from the ground, and face them again. He searched quickly. He payed no heed to their details, and appearances. He received a nervous pick in his moving, and once he felt satisfied that nothing had occupied the residence among them, hurried along to the door, and caught his breath. He'd been holding it again; once of his ways of preventing himself from accidentally heaving.

Speaking of which...

Zim looked back to the area where he'd vomited. He grimaced as he saw the stain left on the clear tiled floor. The brownish spot that had been discolored from drying. It was a distance away, but it managed to make it's appearance discomforting. He shook his head again, and became reluctant. He knew he was going to have to clean it eventually. However, after becoming so aware of the presence of germs, his mind couldn't stand the thought of going near filthy items and materials. Although his phobia had generously decreased, he'd still receive an anxious needle in his nerves whenever the thought crossed his mind.

Zim sighed and scratched the back of his head. He had no leads. He didn't know what he was doing, and his mind was constantly trying to diverge his train of thoughts from his objective. He growled to himself, and annoyance rose within. Soon, it swelled into anger. Dib, having the nerve to invade his home. Trying to impose his dominance. The weasel had the identical amount of superiority of that of an ant.

He turned around, and began leaving. It wasn't until something stood out in his peripherals that he stopped and glanced towards it. There lied a peculiar shamble of seemingly black plastic. He approached it. Because of the breadth of the room, it was plausible for him to walk pass this without noticing. It wasn't took big, it seemed like. He picked up a shard, observed for any noticeable details, and then glanced back down at the rest of the pile. It was a...camera.

Zim remembered it now. It was a camera Gir had. He'd brought it down, claiming all sorts of jargon as if it were to be a documentary he was recording, and even so much as filmed the test subjects themselves. Zim only caught him because he was messing with the plants in the back of the room, and he'd dropped it beside him to beleaguer the organisms. He'd reprimanded him, and then questioned why he had the device with him. As soon as Gir had said Mary/Dib had given him the camera, He destroyed it.

He picked up the demolished mechanism. It's sturdy frame had been bent excessively, and the contents inside was crushed in the process of it's malformation. The lens were scattered on the ground. He observed this as well, taking in the damage. It would be logical to think that Dib had received the information be the contents of this particular device, but Zim completely destroyed it. How could he have retrieved anything?

He watched the details closely. It must've been a hefty steam that he let off if the camera was this wrecked. He tried to open the lid for the internal storage compartment, but figured out the part he was prying at wasn't the internal storage. It was the battery, which had been decked, and was piercing through the interior. That explains why it was so difficult to open, he thought to himself, looking at the deep indentation. He saw the storage compartment was actually missing it's own cover; Zim presumed that to be the screen's receptor. He grabbed out the SD card...

For a moment, Zim was baffled. Then his mind came out with confused questions. Then again, this was an upgraded camera device, one of Dib's own creations...it was more sturdier than other cameras so it would make sense.

" Shit..." He hissed. Anger increased within him. He dropped it, and stomped upon it with a forceful boot, crushing it.

The SD card had still been intact when Zim tried to destroy the camera in the past. That was how Dib knew about Nick and the others...and he had the data now.