A/N: I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update T_T I promise I haven't given up on this story. I've been unusually sociable of late and just didn't get any hermit time to do my writing in. I was also admittedly a bit stuck on this chapter. I had a real bit of writers block getting it going as I prefer writing the domestic stuff rather the action parts, so I really hope this doesn't suck too bad x_x
Chapter 10
Dib's heart pounded as he lay frozen under the bed. He heard the footsteps gradually fade to nothing, but still he couldn't move. He felt his head swim nauseatingly, his mind whirling in panic. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? He couldn't go up against the Irken armada single handed!
He was so tense that the sound of his own choked out sob startled him, causing him to jump and hit his head on the underneath of the bed. It brought him to his senses. Trembling furiously he pulled himself out from under the platform, falling dizzily onto the bed as he tried to stand. For a moment the room continued to spin sickeningly and he screwed his eyes tight shut, desperately trying not to throw up.
"Calm the fuck down Dib." He whispered to himself taking several deep, cleansing breaths until the dizziness subsided. "Calm down. Zim needs you." That did the trick, and suddenly he was full of adrenaline again but this time it was the kind that powered him into action.
Dib leapt to his feet and rushed over to the console at the side of the room, hands typing frantically and his eyes scanning the various screens for information. There were no other life forms registering within the base so they must have left. They had most likely used one of the teleporters to arrive, so he quickly did a scan for which one had been most recently used and sure enough he was right. He swiftly identified the teleport tube they had used and began decoding the data to find out where they had teleported to and from. Another screen popped up with the co-ordinates - there was a large ship positioned not too far from Earth. It was surrounded by lots of smaller ships which Dib presumed meant that it was the Massive supported by the whole armada. His stomach roiled. He knew he had to get aboard, there was nothing he could do from here. He was so screwed.
Dib took a moment to think. He could use Tak's ship to get there. It was fully functional now and he knew how to fly it, but he hadn't had that much practise. He didn't like the thought of flying into space in something he wasn't 100% sure about, never mind into a fleet of alien warships armed to the teeth. They'd shoot him down before he got within miles of them for sure.
So he'd have to take the teleport. He looked again at the Massive's location, and was shocked to find it had already moved a little. How long would it be before they went out of range? His pulse quickened. He didn't have time to think about this anymore, if he didn't go now he wouldn't have a hope in hell of ever reaching Zim. He bolted to the door, running as fast as his shaking legs would carry him down the corridor and towards the teleportation room.
This was a nightmare. Was he really doing this? His heart thumped painfully hard in his chest. He tried to reassure himself as he ran that at least if the armada was leaving then that might mean the Earth was safe. It was one less thing to worry about, but it was hard to find comfort from it right now. Since when was Zim more important to him than the Earth? He shook his head of that disturbing thought.
Dib paused against the doorframe as he reached the teleportation room, panting for breath. Was he going to go into this unarmed? He panicked and looked around the room for something he could use as a weapon. Whether he'd be brave enough to use it, he wasn't so sure. However Zim didn't just leave super weapons lying around (almost surprisingly) and he growled in frustration. He didn't have time for this but he couldn't go totally empty handed. He grabbed a large metal tool lying nearby, feeling marginally comforted by its heavy weight in his hands. At least he could knock someone out with this.
He quickly moved to the control panel to check the co-ordinates and powered up the teleporter. Dib stood before the opening, hesitating before stepping inside. How was he going to get back? They, he corrected himself. How were they going to get back. He shook his head at his own stupidity. He was worried about this one small detail? Barging into a place like the Massive, the flagship of the Irken military, conquerors of a vast part of the galaxy, with no plan and no real weapon. He was insane. What would await him? Hordes of guards? He could only pray not. This was his only choice - it was that or let Zim go.
It was then that he noticed the droplets of blood around the teleporter. Zim's blood. He frowned resolutely, clutching tighter at the cool metal of the tool in his hands, and stepped inside.
Zim blinked his eyes blearily. Pain sparked in the back of his head fiercely, and for a moment the pain was so intense he thought he'd gone blind. Slowly but surely light began to filter into his vision, blurry shapes swimming about in front of him. Bit by bit he became aware of various sensations returning to him. Cold hard metal against his cheek – no, his whole body. Sideways. He was lying down. Tightness around his wrists. Painfully tight. His arms ached. The taste of blood in his mouth. Cool air. Murmuring voices. Colours… red, and purple.
Zim could hear his pak whirring angrily, working harder than normal in an attempt to bring him to his senses. He could cope with the pain better as his pak gained control filtering the worst of it out, but his lack of coherence was what was really disconcerting. What had happened? Where was he? His mind groped for his most recent memories.
He tried to sit up and found it difficult – of course, his wrists were bound behind his back. He then discovered his pak too had been restricted as he instinctively made to use his spider legs to help him get up, and nothing happened. He managed instead to roll onto his knees and took a moment to let his insides settle at his sudden uprightness.
"Ew look, it's waking up." Zim heard a voice sound from nearby and looked up in uncertainty. That voice sounded familiar. His squeedily-spooch jolted as his eyes finally focused on the figures before him, and realisation slammed into him.
"M-my Tallests…" Zim uttered fearfully as he looked up into their smirking faces. "Why… what's the meaning of this?" He asked, trying not to sound as pitiful as he felt kneeling before them beaten and cuffed. Red snorted.
"What were you expecting? Honestly Zim, if you really aren't defective any more then you should have known we'd never accept you back." He scoffed.
"But…" Zim began feebly.
"But what? Did you really think we were going to forget everything you've put us through?" Purple exclaimed loudly, shuddering at the memories. "He can't be telling the truth, I refuse to accept it." He sulked, folding his arms.
"Zim is fixed!" Zim called out desperately. "I am fully functional now, and… and tall," Zim tried to stand, wanting to show them his newfound height. He had barely got off the floor before he felt something slam into his back, throwing him back to the ground. He coughed, winded. Glancing over his shoulder he spied a guard looming over him. He knew that he would be just taller than this Irken if he could stand, that was the worst part. He felt sure this Irken knew it too, he looked distinctly uncomfortable to have struck someone above his height.
"You can't just stop being a defective Zim." Red sneered.
Zim spat blood as he struggled back into a sitting position. "I told you… I didn't just stop. I fixed it." He said between coughs, wincing as the motion jerked his now tender back.
"How could you possibly have fixed such an intricate piece of technology with your level of malfunction?" Zim cringed as Red hit the nail on the head, looking down in shame. He couldn't possibly tell them that the Dib had fixed it. "Mmm? See, you haven't got an answer have you?" Red smirked as Zim remained silent.
"So… he is still defective?" Purple asked nervously.
"It hardly matters. It's Zim." Red said waving a dismissive hand in Zim's direction. They chuckled together.
"What are you going to do with me?" Zim asked in a tiny voice, not able to look them in the eye.
"Mmm. The usual probably. A bit of punishment, maybe some torture. Then a standard execution." Red spoke as if he were reciting his plans for a boring day.
Zim flinched. The Dib… he'd been right all along. Shouldn't he have been smarter than this? If the human had seen that he was walking straight into a trap then why hadn't he? He already knew of course, it was because of his damned sense of loyalty. For the first time in his life he saw his devotion for his Tallests for what it really was. There was no mutual respect, it was just servitude. And now his unwavering trust had been betrayed, just as it had been by the Dib. Even with his inhibitor on there was no escaping the misery.
Dib. He couldn't believe after everything that had happened, even after how badly Zim had treated him the boy had still tried to warn him about the Tallests. He had thought they would accept him now that he was functional, but the truth was they just didn't care at all. The Dib cared. At least Zim was fairly sure he did, but he clearly wasn't so good at interpreting these things.
He felt a strange shift then. All this time he'd spent around the Dib he'd been fighting to win back his Tallests, but now that he was here he felt the need to get back to the Dib. That mysterious loyalty. Maybe he'd do better just to ignore it, look where it had gotten him this time. Zim hung his head. Why was he even thinking like he had a choice? This was the end for him. None of it mattered now, he'd never see the boy again. He'd never felt more thankful for his emotional inhibitor as he did in that moment. He was sure the grief would have killed him otherwise.
He wondered absent-mindedly whether the Dib would be safe now. It didn't seem like the Tallest were interested in the Earth at all, but he never could tell. His was base was probably the safest place the boy could be, unless of course the guards had discovered him there after knocking Zim out. He took a shaky breath – he had to know.
"What about Earth?"
"What about it?" Purple asked impatiently.
"Will you still destroy it? I set my device to begin the process."
"Too much effort." Purple shrugged. "That planets not even worth blowing up. I can't believe you lived there so long." Purple pulled a disgusted face.
"Your machine has been deactivated and teleported aboard the Massive. It's our property now." Red said smugly. Zim frowned in irritation. It was the best thing he had ever made and he'd made it for them. He seethed at the unfairness of it and his own stupidity, but he supposed it was the least of his worries right now.
Zim was forgotten momentarily as the Tallests talked over which poor unsuspecting planet to test the device on, bickering over which one had annoyed them more. He hoped that the Dib had stayed hidden from the guards. He couldn't ask directly because that would probably put the boy in more danger, but they hadn't mentioned him so that must be a good sign. Zim wondered how far away from Earth they already were, glancing about to see if there was a window in the room. He saw nothing but cold metal walls.
"Oh… it's still here. What shall we do with it?" Purple abruptly noticed Zim, his attention drawn back by the smaller Irkens movement.
"Oh yeah. Mmm." Red moved over towards Zim, towering over him. Zim flinched nervously, gulping as he stared up at the enormous Irken. Suddenly Red glowered fiercely. "Who said you could look at me you pathetic smeet?" He brought his arm down, backhanding Zim hard across the face. Not having his hands free to catch himself Zim fell heavily to the floor, the uninjured side of his face smashing into the cold metal. His vision swam drunkenly and he felt his stomach heave. Red couldn't contain a smirk from spreading across his face, and Purple giggled nastily behind him.
"I think I've had enough of looking at him for now. That was just a taster, you can think on what's to come from a prison cell." Red said as he nodded to the guards, turning away and not even bothering to look back as the guards dragged Zim out of the room.
Dib cracked his eyes open as the blinding light of the teleporter faded. His heart was in his mouth as he peeked out of the tube, half expecting to be shot dead before he could even blink. He exhaled heavily as he saw the room was empty, barely able to believe his luck. He stepped out on shaky legs, gazing around the enormous chamber he found himself in.
There were far more teleporter tubes than there had been at Zim's base, and there was a huge console opposite adorned with screens. Dib crept over to it, thankful when he found he recognised the controls. They seemed more advanced than the ones at Zim's base but the basics were the same. He was about to try his luck when the sound of laughter suddenly reached his ears. He panicked, his heart racing as he looked about wildly, but he soon realised the sound was coming from another room.
Cautiously he followed the echoing noise a short way down a corridor, creeping close against the walls. The metal tool was clutched in his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He located the room that the amused sounds were coming from and slowly peered around the corner. It was a much smaller room than the previous one, mostly consisting of a vast array of screens. Two Irkens sat at the console and a third stood behind them, all of them viewing one monitor in particular.
He couldn't see what they were watching from his position so Dib slipped silently into the room behind them, ducking hastily behind some machinery before he could be noticed. He peeked out from the other side and found the screen was no longer obscured from his view. His stomach lurched as he realised what they were watching.
"I am fully functional now, and… and tall," Zim's voice reached his ears, and Dib watched in horror as he saw his beloved Irken struck forcibly to the ground once again. He shuddered as he saw Zim plead to them, spitting blood from his mouth. The Irkens laughed again, obscuring Dib's hearing. He scowled at them in frustration, hating them intensely.
"-hardly matters. It's Zim." He caught one of the leaders saying contemptuously, and Dib's stomach churned in disgust and hatred. Zim was so precious to him, it tore Dib apart to see the Tallest treating him as though he were nothing more than litter cluttering their floor.
"What are you going to do with me?" Zim's voice was barely audible, and Dib waited with bated breath for the response.
"Mmm. The usual probably. A bit of punishment, maybe some torture. Then a standard execution." Dib's heart nearly stopped at hearing these words, even though he'd known the answer was more than likely. He saw Zim recoil and his heart broke. He must feel so utterly alone right now, if only he knew Dib was coming for him. The Irkens in the room began to woop and cheer at the Tallest's response, before chattering excitably about what they thought might happen to Zim.
"Ooo maybe they'll feed him to a Slarpax?" One gabbled excitedly.
"No way that's too kind! I bet they'll drop him in Taplarian acid and dissolve his insides." Another chuckled spitefully.
Dib clenched his utensil tightly, biting down on his lip and scrunching his eyes closed as he tried to block out their voices. It was making him so mad he thought he might jump out and murder them all with his bare hands, but somehow he managed to restrain himself. If he got caught he couldn't rescue Zim. He took a deep breath and turned back to the screens, trying to focus himself.
He heard the Tallest admit that they were leaving the Earth alone, but Dib found he didn't get any relief from this news. He'd already guessed as much anyway and right now he didn't even know if he'd ever see Earth again. He'd left it all behind to come after Zim.
For a short time the Tallests seemed to forget that Zim was even there, kneeling silently on the floor with his hands bound behind his back. Dib could make out blood stains where he'd be struck, and some still trickled from the alien's mouth. He suddenly had a sickening thought – what if they killed Zim right now? What if he never even got a chance to get to him? His pulse quickened as he saw the red Irken move right up to him, and for a moment he felt sure that it was all about to end. The Tallest struck Zim hard, another blow to his poor face which sent him flying at the floor so fast Dib saw his head ricochet off the ground. Even with his inhibitor on Dib could tell how much it hurt as Zim swayed and his body convulsed. Dib couldn't believe he managed to stay conscious at all, though he didn't seem entirely with it.
"I think I've had enough of looking at him for now. That was just a taster, you can think on what's to come from a prison cell." Dib breathed a sigh of relief as the Tallests finally dismissed Zim. This had to be his chance, he just needed to locate the cells. His eyes tracked Zim's progress carefully across the screens as he was hauled down various corridors, until at last he was taken into what must be the prison.
The Irkens in the room soon lost interest after the spectacle was over, and one by one they returned to whatever they had been doing. After what felt like a painfully long time Dib finally found himself alone in the small room. He nervously crept out from his hiding place and over to the monitors, quickly bringing up a schematic of the ship and using it to work out how far from Zim he was. Thankfully it didn't look too complicated a route, though he could hardly bear the thought of how he was going to manage it without being seen.
His eyes lingered on the image of Zim lying in his cell. He wasn't moving, he could already be dead for all he knew. Dib shook the thought from his head and hurried from the room. He found his childhood coming back to him as he slunk stealthily down the halls. Years of sneaking into Zim's base had equipped him surprisingly well for this task. Well, it was good to know his childhood hadn't been a total waste.
He didn't encounter many other Irkens until he came to the entrance of the prison cells. His stomach flipped when he saw the guards. How was he supposed to get in there? He could slip past one or two – they didn't seem too interested in what they were doing, in fact they looked downright bored. Dib speculated that trouble was probably quite rare, after all who would be stupid enough to try and break in to the Massive? Perhaps that was how he had managed to get so far relatively easily. Their technology probably did most of the hard work anyway. If the cells were anything like Zim's they would be impossible to break out of.
He'd have to create some kind of diversion. Dib glanced about quickly and located a control panel on the wall. He'd seen similar things in Zim's lab, but realistically he had no idea what was going to happen when he messed with it. Oh well. He took a deep breath and prised the covering open, revealing a mass of colourful wires and buttons. Cringing he grabbed a fistful and pulled, just praying he didn't get electrocuted. He felt a rush of adrenaline as lights went out further down the corridor in the direction away from him, and several alarms began to sound.
Dib couldn't believe his luck as all but one of the guards went rushing off and out of sight. He was sure his fortune was going to run out soon. The remaining guard stood a little apart from the entrance, staring in the direction his colleagues had run. Dib didn't waste a second and swiftly darted behind the Irken's turned back and into the prison.
He couldn't believe the size of the place. There were rows upon rows of tube-like cells in varying sizes, all quite reminiscent of the one Zim had locked him in. He shivered in revulsion as he thought of that maddening confinement, but swallowed back the queasiness rising up his throat. This was no time to chicken out, he was so close now. There was hundreds of cells if not thousands, all filled with wretched looking creatures in every shape and size imaginable. If he had been there in different circumstances Dib would have been thrilled to see them all, but now he just fretted that a single one could raise the alarm. Thankfully they all seemed much too disinterested, or possibly too ill or wounded to even notice him walk by. A couple gave him brief curious stares, their eyes focusing on him for a moment before zoning back out despondently. Many he felt sure were dead.
Dib gulped, feeling his body tremble at the scale of it. He had only ever heard Zim talk of the Irken's galactic conquest, but getting a taste of it up close was a different matter entirely. Of course with half the galaxy invaded they were bound to have this many prisoners. He didn't have time for this though, finding Zim here would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. He looked around for the nearest control panel and sure enough it wasn't long until he came across one. He managed to pull up a list of the prisoners and found Zim's entry right at the bottom, the newest inmate. He made a mental note of Zim's cell number and began navigating the aisles.
Dib's heart pounded anxiously as he found the right aisle, and at long last he could make out Zim's slight figure slumped against the glass wall of his cell. It was strange to be on the other side looking in after what Zim had done to him but he felt no satisfaction, only sick to his stomach as he saw the sorry state his alien was in. Dib knelt down next to the tube and tapped softly on the glass.
"Zim! Hey Zim, can you hear me?" Dib whispered urgently, trying to be as quiet as possible. Slowly the Irken's eyes cracked open, one of his eyes puffy and swollen. They soon widened as Zim realised who it was.
"Dib? But… what? How?" Zim struggled to crawl over to where Dib knelt, his legs and arms trembling.
"How do I get you out of this thing?" Dib ignored his questions, desperate to be out of this place.
"Y-you can't! How did you get in here? It's not possible!"
"Give me some credit." Dib gave a small smile despite the situation. "It doesn't matter how, I'm here to get you out."
"You shouldn't have come, you'll never get back!" Zim's voice was panic stricken.
"I got in didn't I?" Zim simply shook his head in despair.
"They're going to kill you Dib."
"And you, that's why I had to come. I couldn't just let them take you could I?"
"Of course you could. You could have been safe, they're not touching the Earth. You've thrown your life away… for what?"
"I know you can't understand it right now Zim, but you are my life. And as long as I'm able I'll give everything to try and save you. If I lose my life trying to save you then so be it, at least I tried. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't." Dib spoke passionately, but Zim just stared back at him in bewilderment.
"You fool." Zim muttered through clenched teeth. He felt so frustrated at the human for doing this, there was no way they'd get out of this alive. After everything he'd done to Dib, here he was risking his neck to save him. It was unfathomable. It just wasn't a concept an Irken could grasp, to risk so much for what he deemed to be so little. Zim wasn't important, what on Irk did Dib see in him?
He was secretly quite impressed by Dib's strength of character. It had taken a lot of skill and intellect for the boy to get this far, and no small amount of bravery. Or perhaps that was stupidity.
Dib faltered as Zim's eyes dropped and his antennae wilted. He put his hand against the glass, desperately wishing he could reach out and touch Zim.
"Zim, you have to tell me how I open this thing." Dib said sternly. Zim met his eyes doubtfully, but sighed in defeat. They were both dead now anyway, it had to be worth a shot. Zim opened his mouth to respond but no words came out. His eyes went wide and Dib swore he saw his skin turn a paler shade of green.
"Run…" Zim barely managed to choke out, but it was already too late. Dib turned to see three Irken guards standing behind him, all pointing menacing bladed spears at him and advancing cautiously. His blood turned to ice in his veins.
"Halt alien! Don't move!" One of the guards ordered him.
Dib glanced frantically around for an escape but it was useless. He was totally backed into a corner and the Irkens were only getting closer. The metal tool in his hand felt ridiculous as the blades glinted horribly sharp at the end of their staffs. He looked back over his shoulder and met Zim's eyes one more time. He'd failed him, this was it.
"I'm sorry Zim." He said despairingly. Instinct made him attempt to dart past the advancing guards but he didn't stand a chance. The nearest easily reached out and knocked him to the ground with the blunt edge of his weapon, and the others instantly rushed in to cuff Dib's hands together behind his back.
Zim gritted his teeth in frustration, unable to do a thing as the human struggled fruitlessly against his captors. He'd already come to terms with never seeing the boy again, but that was when he'd thought Dib was alive and safe. Who knew what they would do with him now? Zim slumped miserably to the floor of his cell as the guards dragged the boy out of sight, unable to do more than wait.
Zim wasn't sure how long he lay there waiting for something to happen. It felt like a lifetime but it could have been only a few hours. At long last he heard footsteps break the awful silence. He tensed as they approached, waiting to find out if they would continue past him. He wasn't sure if he wanted them to be coming for him or not, but somehow he knew they were.
One of the guards tapped a device on his wrist and energy suddenly jolted through Zim's body, knocking him senseless. When he came to he realised he was being hauled along by the guards, his arms cuffed once more behind his back. His legs dragged painfully along the ground but he didn't feel like he had the strength to try and pick himself up. That shock had knocked him sick, which he guessed was the point.
Finally they reached their destination, and Zim found himself in one of the main decks near the front of the ship. Once again he was thrown down at his Tallest's feet, and he cringed as he glanced up at them. What did they want this time? They both lounged before him in floating recliners, munching casually on a plethora of snacks. A look of amusement spread across their faces as Zim was plonked before them, which didn't exactly fill him with confidence.
"Is this yours?" Purple smiled smugly as he pointed across the room. Baffled Zim followed their gaze to his left. He felt acid rise in his throat when his eyes landed on what they had gestured at.
Dib lay sprawled on the floor, his skin stained blues and purples and his torn clothes covered in blood. Zim wasn't completely certain the boy was still conscious as his eyes were shut, but he could see his laboured breathing from where he knelt across the room. What the hell had they done to him?
The Tallests of course had noted Zim's shock with glee, but still awaited his answer.
"Well?" Purple prompted him.
"I don't understand what you mean my Tallest." Zim replied, his voice cracking from the shock and betraying him.
"This thing followed you from Earth. You had it in your base. Why?" Purple asked sternly, patience tested by Zim's blatant denial.
"It's not mine. I don't know where it came from." Zim remained stubborn. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by Dib's actions. He had worried about his Tallests finding out about the Dib all along, they'd never understand. He barely understood himself. Purple looked enraged as Zim continued to lie, but Red just laughed wickedly.
"Oh come on Zim. Give it up." Red snapped his fingers and the guards began to lay into Dib once again, kicking and striking him with their staffs. Zim turned away from the sight, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor and trying not to hear the pained sounds Dib was making. What did the Tallests want from him?
Red ignored the gruesome scene occurring before him with ease, instead watching Zim intently for any signs of a reaction. Seeing that he wasn't going to get one he snapped his fingers once more, and the guards backed away from Dib. Zim heard him splutter and gasp, but still kept his gaze fixed on the ground.
"You could have saved him from all that you know. We already know you have an… association." Red said the last word with distaste. At this Zim's head finally snapped up and Red smiled at finally having gained his attention.
"We don't-" Zim began but Red cut him off.
"Enough." Red silenced him sharply, no longer finding amusement from Zim's stubborn denial. He spun his chair around to face the large screen on the wall behind them. "As well you know all Irken invader bases are fitted with surveillance cameras that we have access to." Red pressed a button and footage of Zim's 'bedroom' came up on screen.
Zim shuddered in humiliation as he saw himself lying in bed with the Dib human cuddled up to his side, clutching at his arm. He knew he shouldn't have done that. Why? Why had he? He mentally kicked himself but the video kept playing, drawing his attention back. The Dib had awoken in the video while he still slept and was now clasping Zim's hand into his. Zim cringed – he hadn't even known the Dib had done that. How dare he touch him whilst he was unconscious? After allowing the boy to sleep in his own bed instead of a cell! Suddenly Dib's voice came through the screen, quiet but clear.
"Zim… I wish you knew how much I love you." The words meant little to Zim, but it was what happened next that truly shocked him. The human leaned over and pressed his lips to Zims, just like he had tried to do when he had trapped Zim in those damned cables. Zim felt the anger and shame bubble up horridly inside him, but just when he thought it couldn't get worse it did. Somehow in his unconscious state Zim saw himself begin to kiss the boy back, their lips and tongues sliding wetly over each other's. It was like having an out of body experience, and for a moment Zim felt the room spin. His Tallests could not be seeing this, he'd never felt so mortified in all his life. This just couldn't be happening to him.
"That's enough of that." Red said with disgust, turning the screen off. Purple looked down at his snacks queasily, setting them aside. "As you know Zim any kind of relationship with species outside of the Irken race is strictly forbidden, and as for physical contact… well." He chuckled, looking down at Zim darkly. "That's treason." Zim tried desperately to calm his boiling blood, focusing hard to make his voice stay level.
"I can assure you my Tallest, I had no idea about this. As you can see I was sleeping… the human took advantage of me." Zim struggled, knowing how feeble it sounded.
"Oh puh-lease. Is that the best you can do Zim? Why was that thing even in your base in the first place, never mind in your bed! Your security defences should have annihilated it before it got within a mile of your labs."
"I…" Zim had no idea what to say. Why hadn't he just killed the Dib when he had the chance? He still didn't really know himself so how could he explain it to his Tallests?
"Honestly Zim I know you must have been lonely and desperate, but I wouldn't have put even you down to this. You're crazier than we thought. Developing feelings for an alien…" Red shuddered in revulsion.
"I haven't! I feel nothing for him!" Zim cried out desperately, but he already knew he'd slipped up by saying 'him' instead of 'it'. Red grinned smugly.
"Fine, we'll just have him shot then." Red held up his fingers to snap them.
"NO!" Zim yelled out before he could stop himself. He cringed his eyes shut, furious at himself.
"Pfff, knew it." Red said reclining in his seat.
"Ughh… it's just so… ugggh!" Purple shuddered, clasping his claws to his mouth. "To think that you let it touch you… and you liked it!" Red burst out laughing at this.
"I guess we really did do a number on him abandoning him on that grimy planet for so long. Long enough to make those things start to look attractive to him!" Red teased nastily, and Purple joined him laughing. "That's only one bit of footage too, can you imagine what else they might have got up to?"
"Ugggh don't! I'm trying not to be sick here!" Purple exclaimed as Red held his sides from laughing so hard.
Zim seethed as his leaders mocked him cruelly. He felt so betrayed. Betrayed by his leaders. Betrayed again by the Dib. It was more than he could stand. Legs trembling he got awkwardly to his feet, forcing them to work.
"I'll shoot him myself." Zim hissed bitterly, his voice low.
"What?" Red turned back to him, barely able to hear Zim's small voice over his own laughing. He looked Zim up and down curiously as he stood shakily before them.
"I said I'll do it myself. I'll kill him." Zim's voice trembled with rage.
"Fine, prove it." Red snorted, nodding to the guard. The Irken moved over to Zim and undid his cuffs, hesitantly handing him a laser.
"Are you crazy?" Purple turned to Red looking very concerned, but Red seemed unfazed.
"Stop fussing we're totally safe." He batted the flapping Purple away. "I want to see him do it." Red leaned in curiously.
Zim took the weapon confidently and marched over to where the Dib knelt, determined to be able to do it this time. The boy had managed to pick himself up a little, and knelt hunkered over in a puddle of his own blood. Dib looked up pleadingly as Zim approached him, towering over the pathetic form.
Zim could feel Dib's eyes desperately searching his own for some kind of emotion or recognition, but he held a scowl firmly on his face. He felt no sympathy as he gazed down at the wretched face covered with blood, his glasses cracked. His anger for the human had been relit, and it burned in his gut furiously.
He could do this. He had to. He wanted to. Zim lifted the gun and held it point blank at Dib's face. He watched as Dib closed his eyes in resignation, and waited for the inevitable. His claw hovered over the trigger.
"Tell you what Zim." Red began as he saw Zim hesitate, "If you do this we'll pardon you for your treason. All you have to do is shoot it." Purple opened his mouth to protest but Red shushed him, muttering something quietly to him and they both sniggered.
Zim went rigid when he heard Red's offer, his claws trembling around the gun. Why couldn't he do this? Why couldn't he hate the Dib enough? How could he feel this loyalty towards him even now, even after this fresh betrayal? He took a deep breath and tried to reason with himself. His anger clearly wasn't strong enough to make him do it, so he had to try it from a different perspective. Wouldn't it be kinder to just shoot the boy now? They'd never get away, and even though they'd already hurt him so much he knew they'd only just scratched the surface of the kind of torture they were capable of. His finger twitched over the trigger.
But then Dib opened his eyes once more, those shining golden irises staring into his. His gaze was gentle, forgiving even, and Zim felt like Dib was saying it was okay to do this. That should have been enough, but it was that exact look that had Zim knowing that he couldn't do it. Zim lowered his arm, dropping the gun to the floor forgotten. His eyes dropped away from Dib's and he stared at the floor emotionlessly.
"You see, I told you so. That'll be 5 000 monies!" Red snickered and Purple sulked. "Oh we are gonna have so much fun with this."
Dib looked up longingly at Zim - he was so close but so far. He reached a hand tentatively towards him but was too slow. The guards snatched Zim away roughly, throwing him down and replacing the cuffs on his wrists. Red got to his feet, a serious expression adorning his face now.
"Irken Zim you have been found guilty of consorting with an alien, with undeniable proof. As an act of treason consider yourself imprisoned and awaiting execution." Red said. "Take them both away."
Dib winced as he was grabbed under the arms and pulled forcefully to his feet by the Irken guards. He wobbled unsteadily, pain lancing through his many injuries. One Irken prodded him roughly in the back with his weapon to urge him forwards and he stumbled on dizzily. It was all he could manage to focus on Zim's back as they were marched back down to the cells.
It felt like it took an eternity to reach the prison once more. He never thought he would be happy to be thrown into one of those damn tubes, but he was just relieved to be able to sit down and be still. He didn't want to try and assess his injuries, he was sure it wouldn't make him feel any better.
Dib propped himself up against the glass as best he could, wincing at the pain it caused. He looked over into the tube next to him where Zim sat, hugging his legs into his chest with his head rested atop his knees, staring dead ahead in silence. Dib had never hated glass so much. He couldn't bear that it was the only thing between him and Zim when all he wanted was to wrap his arms around the Irken. Words weren't going to go down too well he knew, but he couldn't stop himself.
"Thank you for not shooting me." Dib spoke softly.
"You will wish I had." Zim snorted, not turning to meet Dib's gaze.
"We're both still alive for now, that means we still have a chance."
"Don't be stupid. Look at us, we have no chance." Zim snapped bitterly.
Dib didn't really have a comeback for that, they were in pretty bad shape. Silence hung in the air thickly.
"Why did you do it?" Zim asked suddenly, and catching Dib off guard.
"What?" He asked confused.
"If they hadn't seen that…" Zim drifted off, and Dib knew he meant the kiss. He'd been questioned by the Tallests himself before Zim was brought in, and tricked in the same way. He hadn't known they had seen the footage – how could he have? He'd never regretted anything more. He knew that one selfish kiss had given the Tallests the perfect excuse to have Zim executed, and it killed him.
After the interrogation his memories had grown a little foggy, a blur of pain. He'd had his fair share of beatings in the past so he could take a hit, but this was something else entirely. These Irkens were stronger than those dumb kids by far, and not afraid to use their full strength in every blow. They were utterly merciless. He knew the Tallests had only done it to see Zim's response, and that just made him feel even more guilty. Dib was just a tool now that they were using to hurt him and he couldn't stand it. Why did he always manage to make everything worse?
"I don't know." Dib admitted ruefully, unable to find words to justify his actions. "I'm sorry, I just… wanted to. You seemed to be enjoying it."
"I was unconscious," Zim growled at him, shooting the boy a death glare.
"I know I shouldn't have. But you were different when you were asleep. It was like before you turned your inhibitor back on."
"Do you realise how stupid you sound?" Zim began, but Dib was losing his patience.
"Just stop okay! You just don't get it! You need to turn that damned thing off I'm sick of it! I know that you feel something for me, you just won't let yourself!"
"What would be the point now?" Zim gestured at the cells.
"If this really is our last little bit of time to live, then all the more reason. Make the most of what's left."
"If I already feel this miserable and angry at you now how is it going to make me feel any better with the inhibitor switched off? It'll just be ten times worse! That's why I switched it back on in the first place!"
"You're always so mad at me. Shouldn't you be mad at your Tallests? They betrayed you worse than I did, and they're going to kill you!" Dib turned his back on Zim, angry tears filling his eyes. Could they never have a conversation without it turning into an argument? He heard Zim sigh heavily.
"There's no point in me being loyal to anyone is there, all I ever get is betrayal. I can see that now. Both you and the Tallests, you've left me in ruins." Dib's stomach turned at Zim's brutal words.
"Don't compare me to them… it's totally different." He replied in a small voice, filled with shame at all the mistakes he'd made.
"How is it?"
"Well for starters, I'm really sorry for hurting you. I'm sure as hell that your Tallests don't give a crap." Dib cringed at his own wording, he could sense Zim flinch at that. "The difference is that you are loyal to your Tallest, but they're not loyal to you. I am, I'd do anything for you. I came here didn't I?"
Zim pondered that for a moment – the boy was surprisingly right, he couldn't argue with that logic. He may have made mistakes but he was still trying. He was only a dumb human after all, it had to be expected that he was a bit useless. The magnitude of his decision to try and rescue Zim still overwhelmed him a little. He couldn't have been so stupid that he didn't know there was a good chance he would die trying, and yet he came anyway. It was still something he couldn't comprehend. The Tallest had given up on their pretence altogether. What had they ever done for him?
"I was." Zim said simply, and Dib looked around, confused.
"You were what?"
"I was loyal to them." Zim didn't look up from his knees as he spoke the truth he had only just himself realised. It was strange to speak such treasonous words aloud, and he felt a little giddy at the rebelliousness of it. Not that it made any difference now.
"Woa... really? I wasn't sure that was even possible."
"I'd have to be pretty stupid to still be loyal to them wouldn't I? I'm not defective any more remember?" Zim replied tersely. Dib thought for a moment, a question he almost wasn't brave enough to ask lingering on his lips.
"Do you still feel loyal to me then? After I betrayed you?" Dib waited tensely as the silence stretched out, fearing the worst.
"Yes." Zim eventually answered. It was the truth whether he tried to deny it or not, whether it made sense or not. He still did.
"I'm glad." Dib sighed in relief. "It isn't all bad you know. Loyalty," Dib wanted to say 'love', but he knew Zim wouldn't grasp this concept. "It can be the best thing in the world, when it's with the right person." Zim remained silent. His anger still seethed just beneath the surface, but he hadn't the energy nor the will to argue any longer.
"Is there anything I could ever say that would convince you turn your inhibitor off?" Dib asked futilely.
"….no." Zim turned away from Dib now, making it clear he'd had enough. He was so mad at the boy that he wanted to hate him, and it frustrated him that he couldn't. He just wanted to be alone.
Dib sighed in defeat. It was a strange feeling, knowing that they would both soon be dead. A human would want to make the most of his last moments, but Dib could tell that Zim just wanted it all to be over. He was resigned to his fate, and there would be no getting through to him. Dib shifted himself trying to get comfortable, and eventually drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
A/N: Well I hope that wasn't as bad as it feels it was. I figured security would be relatively lax on the Massive, as no one would usually be stupid enough to attempt to break in, that and Irkens being so cocky. So that's how Dib got as far as he did without being detected, I know it's a little farfetched but at least he's had a lot of practise.
I will do my utmost to not let the next update take so long, I do have ideas about where this is going but it is less well planned than the previous bit of the story was, so I do need to take some time to think it through.
Also random bonus, I just thought I would share this – I heard this song the other day, 'White Tiger' by Our Last Night, and it made me think of ZADR right away and now I can't get it out of my head ._. You should go listen to it! Thanks for reading (and waiting) XD