I ... Don't remember what I was going to say...
...
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Year 2024, January 28th, Sunday, 20:39pm, Planet Irk, Somewhere in the Forest
Zim blinked, surprised to ever see this particular Irken again.
"Skoodge? Why are you not dead yet?" he asked. Not that he minded Skoodge being alive. He just thought the moron had gotten eaten a long time ago. Skoodge and Zim had known each other since they were smeets and lived with their mothers.
"Well, apparently it was easier to survive on my own than with you", Skoodge said happily. He did like Zim, but truth to be told, since they had departed, Skoodge hadn't found himself in the centre of danger just as often.
"You LIE! Obviously you're here for my flashing light-thingy! Well YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!" Zim declared.
"Wow, you haven't changed at all, Zim", Skoodge chirped," Though I don't know what a flashing light-thingy is, so don't worry about it!"
"YOU CAN'T HAVE IT! It belongs to ZIIIM!" Zim literally screamed in Skoodge's face, leaving his antennae with a painful throb.
"Actually, I just wanted to check up on you", Skoodge said shrugging. Zim blinked.
"Oh. Well, I guess no one can stay away from Zim's charm for long, can they?" The smaller male grinned, stretching to his entire length, which wasn't very impressive. Skoodge shrugged, but couldn't help smiling slightly. Zim just wouldn't change, would he?
"It's good to see you", he said. Zim nodded approvingly. Off course it was, Every one should feel honored to meet him! Though, Zim didn't bother by returning the compliment.
"Skoodge! You have to see the flashing light-thingy I stole from the hideous creatures!" he said instead. Skoodge raised an antenna curiously and followed as Zim jumped from branch to branch.
"What creatures?"
"Those who landed here eight days ago! You haven't noticed? They're filthy!" Zim said loudly, making sure Skoodge could hear him. Skoodge's antennae shivered in worry. Three spooch-beats around Zim, and he already smelled trouble.
Zim grabbed a vine and gracefully elevated himself to the ground before his nest. Skoodge attempted to do the same but fell in the mud.
"Behold!" Zim shouted. Skoodge looked up and was blinded by an intense light. He cowered for a few steps. "Amazing, is it not?"
"I can't see!"
"Silly Skoodge, that's the point! It's used for self-defense against Tallers", Zim explained, turning off the flashing light-thingy. The slightly bigger Irken looked at the device dubiously.
"I think it's used to see in the dark", He suggested.
"Lies!" Zim looked offended. Half a spooch-beat later, he seemed to realize something and perked up again. "You have to see the creatures!" He took Skoodge's arm and dragged him towards the handmade bird. Skoodge tried his best to keep up with Zim, but ended up falling again. "Stupid Skoodge! Get up!" Zim stopped and waited for Skoodge impatiently.
"You're too fast, Zim", Skoodge sighed, now covered completely in mud. Zim grinned, looking proud.
"Yes, I sure am. Now hurry", this time, Zim didn't run, but simply walked with his head held high. Skoodge got up and followed.
They came to an abrupt stop when Zim pulled them both under a bush.
"Look!"
Zim had gotten into all kinds of crazy situations before, from riding an imnÃaur to falling down a water fall to fighting a bunch of Tallers. But if Skoodge was to make a list with the craziest situations highest, this would be probably get a well-deserved third place.
The creatures were tall and pale, with weird fur on their heads. They truly were hideous. Skoodge lowered his antennae nervously.
"Ew! Where did those come from?" Skoodge whispered.
"Have you not been listening? They landed here a while ago!" Zim said, probably loud enough to call for their attention.
"Don't be so loud!"
"Pah! These stupid creatures are oblivious to whatever I do", Zim said and yawned dismissively. Skoodge didn't think anything could be oblivious enough to NOT hear Zim, but none of them acknowledged the two Irkens. How could something so tall be so stupid?
"Well, better safe than dead, right?" Skoodge said. Zim looked at him, confused. Oh right, that sentence had never meant anything to him.
"You speak dookie! Now, there is one of them who is smarter than the rest. As brilliant as I am, the Dib has managed to find Zim's amazing nest! That's why I stole his water-carrier", Zim said.
"Water-carrier?" Skoodge raised an antenna. Zim nodded.
"Didn't you see it by my nest?"
"You had blinded with the flashing light-thingy!"
"Oh, right", Zim suddenly looked really proud of himself. Skoodge shook his head and turned towards the creatures.
"What is that big pink rock?"
"It's their handmade bird! That's their nest, but it's stupid. It wouldn't let Zim in", Zim said. To Skoodge, that didn't sound stupid, but rather really clever. A nest that didn't let intruders in. Suddenly, he realized what Zim had said.
"Why would you want to get in there? They'll eat you alive!" Skoodge gasped. Zim laughed nonchalantly.
"Off course they won't! I am Zim!" That didn't make any sense.
The creature got into the handmade bird. Skoodge relaxed visibly and stood up.
"I'm all muddy. I'll go to the lake and wash myself off," He said.
"Lies! Zim will get there first!" with that, Zim pushed Skoodge are ran to the lake. Skoodge stumbled and landed in the mud for the third time that day.
"Zim! That's cheating!"
As Skoodge followed, he felt a wave of happiness hit him. It was a miracle that Zim managed to survive on his own, being both short and reckless, but Skoodge was glad he had. That way, Skoodge had someone o visit when things got dull.
Year 2024, January 29th, Monday, 09:03am, Planet Irk
"Why do you have to leave?" Zim asked. Not that he enjoyed to Skoodge's company or anything, but he could at least meet the Dib before he left!
"I know you rather be on your own, that's how you are, Zim," Skoodge replied," And if I stay too long, you'll drag me into something dangerous again." Zim squinted an eye at him. Stupid Skoodge, who just showed up and left just as suddenly!
... Not that Zim wanted company or anything!
"Ha! You'll come back to me soon enough! I am simply too amazing to avoid!" Zim raised his chin, daring Skoodge to go against him. Still, Skoodge just laughed.
"Sure you are", he said playfully", I better get going." He really was leaving!? Zim's antennae vibrated in annoyance.
"Fine. Zim will see you around!" He crossed his arms and looked away. Skoodge laughed slightly again, then Zim heard how he disappeared into the forest. Walking on ground level. Skoodge was going to get himself eaten if he kept on walking by foot! Zim should have warned him. Oh well. Too late now.
Zim stomped away angrily, certainly not regretting letting Skoodge go! That stupid Irken could go do whatever he wanted, for all Zim cared!
Zim went straight to the handmade bird, that was once again unguarded. He stood before the opening.
"Stupid Dib-thing! Zim demands you to come out! I AM-"
His rant got cut short when the opening actually opened, and Dib stepped out!
"Freedom!" Dib sighed in relief. It took one step outside before he stumbled over the tiny Irken, falling straight into the dirt.
Zim gasped as he got tackled into the ground. The heavy weight of filthy Dib-creature fell over him, effectively crushing his squeedily-spooch and other fatal organs.
"Dib-thing! You're crushing my insides! Get your filthy body off Zim!" he squeaked.
"Zim! Cool, I just about to go find y- ... Oh, I'm sorry", the teen got up and tried his best to brush off the mud. Zim sat up and glared at the boy.
"Stupid stink-smell", Zim muttered and stood. Dib had no idea what Zim has said, so he just shrugged it off.
"Hey, Zim. I thought I'd try to teach you English! How do you think about that, huh?" Dib asked. It was Zim's turn to not understand and just shrug it off as unimportant babbling.
"Zim demands you teach me you language", Zim said instead. Dib raised an eye brow at the alien, then sighed. Obviously this wouldn't do. He scratched his back in thought, getting mud inside his jumpsuit as an outcome.
Okay, he'd just assume Zim could take a hint when he started teaching. With that in mind, Dib pointed at The Piggie and said, loud and clear:
"Space ship."
Zim's antennae raised in pleasant surprise. The Dib couldn't possibly have understood him! He decided to not dwell on that and put his hand at the handmade bird and tried to imitate Dib's sounds.
"Spaaace sheep", was what came out.
Dib raised an eyebrow. This might be easier than he thought. He nodded eagerly and pointed at a tree close by.
"Tree!"
Zim had a feeling the Dib was happy with the result, because he continued with the act. Zim grinned and ran to the tree the Dib pointed at.
"Treeeeeee!"
A wave of excitement hit Dib and he grinned, following the Irken in a jog. The mud splashed from his steps, which made him bend down and point at it.
"Mud!"
"Mude!"
Dib shrugged - they could work on pronunciation later - and nodded. Happy that Zim could make human sounds, Dib continued to point on things and tell him their names. Zim would make pretty good imitations on the first try. Mostly.
Dib caught sight of one of those big ladybugs a few meters away and pointed at it.
"Bug", he said. Zim looked at it and bent down into a hunting position.
With a leap on all four, Zim suddenly had it in his hands. His tiny hands didn't even reach around the bug, which squirmed around to get free. It tried to open its wings, but Zim's thumbs held them firmly in place.
"Bug!" The Irken grinned up at Dib. Dib took a moment to take in what had just happened. Zim had actually caught that bug without problem! From experience, Dib knew it was practically impossible to catch one. When they just landed, he'd wanted one for experimenting, but he hadn't managed to get one.
"Wow", he breathed.
What happened next wasn't expected either. While Dib thought Zim would let it go, Zim actually dug his claws between its shields and pressed. A crunch could be heard and the ladybug tensed and went limp.
With a triumphant grin, Zim pried it in half and handed one half to Dib. Dib hesitated before taking the dead bug. Zim's part was already half devoured by the petite alien.
"... Ew", Dib managed, but then his stomach growled. Hey,wasn't it dinner time by now? Once again, Dib hadn't kept track on time.
Huh. Was this poisonous for him? Would he fall down in cramps afer one bite? Or maybe it would burn him from the inside out! Suddenly, Dib regretted not bringing a food scanner.
Great, Zim looked at him as if he was offended that Dib hadn't eaten. Warily, Dib licked the green phlegm that sipped through the bug.
... Well, he didn't explode or anything, and the taste wasn't half bad. It tasted foreign, but actually kind of good. For being the inside of a bug. Dib dared take a bite, chewing and swallowing.
An idea hit him. Zita said the crew needed a more varied diet. Couldn't they just eat bugs? No biggie, right? Okay, kinda gross, but better than dying. Dib took another bite, then shoved the rest inside his pocket to analyze later. The fact that his pocket was now filled with green goo didn't occur to him.
"That was good, Zim", he complimented. Off course, Zim didn't understand, but he figured that Zim would learn easier if Dib kept talking. Zim grinned proudly.
Dib pointed a rock and the game of teaching Zim English continued. Zim always moved, climbing up and down trees, running away for brief moments, then returning and always wanting Dib to keep up with him. And Dib did his best. He avoided climbing trees, though.
There wasn't many things to point at though - fruits, trees and mud - so Dib found himself teaching Zim body parts pretty soon. When the day was over, Zim could sing along to 'head and shoulders, knees and toes'.
Dib was the first one to teach an alien how to sing kids' songs! How cool was that?!
When Dib was back inside by dusk, he scanned the, now completely crushed, leftovers of the bug, and got pleasantly informed that he wasn't poisoned. It was eatable, and stuffed with the right nutrients.
"Zita! This is the answer to all of your problems!" he called. The only one who heard was Gaz.
"Everyone's asleep", she murmured.
"They are? Crap, I lost track of time again, didn't I?" Dib groaned. Gaz sat cross-legged on an autopsy table, the light from her GameSlave5 lighting up her features. She grunted.
"I'll go to sleep too, then. It's been a long day, and tomorrow's gonna be just as long", Dib yawned", G'night, Gaz." Gaz shot him a glare but didn't move as Dib got up and left. If they were still on Earth, Dib would've made her go to bed, but this was Irk, and he figured she was to be treated like an adult and not a little sister.
Bed felt like a sanctuary as Dib fell into it, his exhaustion finally sinking in. Zim had been on the move the whole day and since Dib was studying him, he'd had no choice but to follow. There had been a lot of running indeed.
Dib sighed and let sleep take over.
TBC
I'm not really happy with how this chapter turned out asjfgk
Remember, if there's anything you find confusing, or bothers you in any other way, never hesitate to ask me!
/Saga