HERE IT IS! I've been waiting for this chapter to happen. It's like when you're running and decide that you'll run past three lamp posts before resting. This is that third lamp post I've been aiming for this whole time.
For those who read the author's notes, you now have the chance to MAKE A CHANGE!
Here's the deal. Since skool is keeping me busy, I don't have as much time to write anymore. Tell me - PM or in a review - if you'd rather continue with weekly updates, but maybe a bit shorter chapters, or wait longer and get a longer chapter each time.
I might make a poll if I remember.
Fancykitty1123: Yes. Yes he is X3
Chapter 6:
Year 2024, January 30, Tuesday, 03:00am, Planet Vort
"Stupid, stupid experiment", the 777th Vortian born year 777, exclaimed as he washed himself off," it shouldn't be this hard! All we have to do is create the perfect AI! Why are we stuck like this?!" He took a deep breath and relaxed, sinking into his comfy chair. From across the lab, his co-worker sent him a glare.
"Relax, Sev", his co-worker said," there still time before the deadline!"
"I know that", Seven sighed and placed his head on the smooth metal surface of his latest project. As it turned out, they were stuck in their work.
"I think I'm onto something, Sev!" Lard Nar exclaimed, holding up a limp robot for Sev En to see," I call it a Standard Issue Information Retrieval unit, or a SIR!" It was small, probably only reached Sev En to his waist, and white with blue eyes. "Useful for spying and defensive combat! It also works as a thermos!" Sev En eyed it critically.
"Thermos? Who gave you that idea? Spleenk?" Lard Nar visibly flinched. Sev En sighed loudly. "Don't listen to that idiot. That'll get you killed one day."
"Hey! You aren't my Mother!" Lard Nar exclaimed," ... though his ideas are pretty stupid." Sev En laughed bitterly.
"So, does your SIR work?" he said, to change the subject. His co-worker sighed in frustration.
"Almost! I'm so close to figuring it out!" He said, brows furrowing under the goggles. Sev En sighed and replaced his head on the dome in front if him.
Year 2024, January 30, Tuesday, 09:07am, Planet Irk
Next next day, Zim waited on a branch beside the 'ship' and repeated everything he'd learnt yesterday. The most useful word must've been 'nose', which was the ugly, fleshy thing in the middle of the Dib's face.
Though, Zim wanted to make sentences! He wanted to communicate with the Dib to learn the secrets behind the flashy light-thingy! What use did he have of his current vocabulary, anyway? It was just the things from the forest anyway! Nothing useful at all!
His antennae perked up as the ship opened and the Dib stepped out. In his hands was a bunch of various items Zim had never seen before. They seemed pretty hard to balance though. Zim hopped down from the branch and sneaked up on the Dib. A push would probably be enough to make him fall. Zim could either help him or
...
Oooh, the temptation was just to big! Zim grabbed the Dib's foot, effectively making him fall face-first into the mud and all the stuff get spread all over the ground. Zim laughed loudly.
"Ha ha, that's funny", Dib muttered. Crawling around in the mud, he picked up the lost devices, among them a rubik's cube. "I brought some stuff, to check how smart you really are!"
Year 2024, January 30, Tuesday, 03:32pm, Planet Irk
"Oh my Gosh, he's so cute!" was Zita's first response to Zim. She smiled widely and knelt before him," hello there, cutie! How are you, little one~?" Dib wondered whether he should warn her or not. Zim squinted one eye at her, then, in a swift move, stole her hair band. Zita yelped in surprise.
While Zim held his price high and rambled victoriously in his own language, Dib started laughing at Zita's surprised expression.
"You shouldn't provoke him", Dib said, stifling his laughs.
"Uh, he's still cute", she mumbled," he can keep it, I guess."
Year 2024, January 30, Tuesday, 07:00, Planet Irk
Gaz stared at the alien angrily. Somehow, Zim felt threatened in the creature's presence, and wiggled uncomfortably.
"I hate his guts", the female decided, glancing at Dib before glaring at Zim again. Dib shrugged it off. After all, that was standard coming from his sister.
Gaz bent down so she could glare at Zim with full effect.
"If you hurt Dib, you will face a fate worse than your puny little brain can comprehend", she hissed. Dib didn't bother to tell her that Zim's brain was just as evolved as their. His little exercises had proven just that.
Zim seemed heavily distressed by Gaz's presence. His teeth showed and he hissed lowly.
"Uh, Gaz? You're not making a good first impression", he said carefully. Her hair snapped to the side and she glared at him.
"Whatever", she muttered. The youngest Crew member got up and left, face already turned to her GameSlave5.
Year 2024, February 6th, Tuesday, 09:00, Planet Irk
One week later, Zim had stolen three screw-drivers, a spare gear, two sandwiches, a poop soda and four spikes. He'd also learnt his first sentence.
"I am ZIM!" the Irken screamed as soon as Dib left the Piggie.
"I know! Gee", he sighed. Zim danced around him as he carried today's 'game'. It was proven useless to bring smaller stuff, as Zim would just steal them. Therefore, Dib started to bring bigger, heavier things, that Zim either couldn't grasp or lift. Today though, he'd brought a bunch of pipes and a big plate, that were supposed to be fit together to form a table.
"You've got a new kind of task today, Zim", he started," Sergeant Mayor Bitters has decided that we need to be out in the fresh air more, so you're going to help us build some tables. This is what you're going to use", he dumped the bunch on the ground.
Year 2024, February 8th, Thursday, 01:23pm, Planet Irk
"Hand Zim the screw-driver!"
Zita tensed at Zim's words. She wasn't going to lie; it was really creepy when he talked. No matter what Dib claimed, the Irken seemed more like an animal than an intelligent being. He only formed easier sentences, but it was enough to give her chills.
"Here you go", she mumbled while reaching for the screw-driver. Zim didn't thank her. Did he even know how to say thanks? Zita sighed and continued helping Zim with the tables.
Year 2024, February 20th, Tuesday, 08.56am, Planet Irk
Zim had been around the humans for three weeks. He was quite happy about how much he'd learnt. On the days, the Dib would teach him the language as well as how to create brilliant creations! Zim also took every chance to steal tools as soon as Dib looked away.
This day though, something was off. As soon as Zim woke up at dawn, his tongue caught the smell of two other Irkens. Two. If they were together, then they were Tallers. He tensed, lips drawn into a snarl. He had a reason to defend his nest, as it was now filled with various interesting-looking Human tools and devices.
Maybe they'd leave, though. They might not be any problem at all. Zim stayed close to the nest until the humans awoke, and waited for the Dib to come for him instead of meeting him by the Piggie.
"Hey, Zim, why are you still here?" he (Zim had learnt how to tell their genders a week ago) asked when he arrived, slightly annoyed. He would rather meet Zim in the opening than find his way through the poorly used path where Zim lived. Also, he always got annoyed when he saw all the stuff Zim had taken.
"Something is around", Zim hissed, spying through the trees. Dib blinked; it wasn't always easy to understand what Zim meant.
"Around? Like, somewhere closeby?" He guessed. Zim nodded.
"Yes! Two Tallers!" He exclaimed in triumph," the Dib must be careful!" Dib felt a wave of excitement mixed with worry. One half of him - the scientific part - wanted him to find the Irkens and study them. The other helf - the Human part - worried for everyone's safety. Irkens were dangerous; that's why so little was known about them, after all. He didn't know if they would attack Humans, but he'd rather not take any risks.
"Okay. We'll warn the crew", Dib decided. Zim looked hesitant.
"Zim must guard his nest", he said. Dib sighed. He didn't want the tiny being to be alone if it was dangerous.
"... Why don't we just take your stuff and put it in the Piggie?" everything belonged to them anyway...
"Lies! Zim will stay here and defend his ..." Zim's schreech came to a stop as he tensed and looked to his right, anteannea high on alert. Dread filled Dib as he looked at the same direction, just barely noticing the flash of red eyes in the bushes.
TBC
Sorry for the short-ness.
/Saga