Long chapter woooooooo! Also, I've got next week off! Hopefully I'll write a lot during these coming days!
This was really fun to write!
Chapter 9:
2024, March 32nd, 09:00am, planet Vort, the Royal castle, the Queen's eating chambers
"I'm very tempted to do this", The Vortian Queen said," but I contacted Earth, and professor Membrane had two children who should get a chance to take part, if the project was to be restarted."
"Then we'll contact him immediately! I don't mind working with another specie and you know that", Sev En said. He was getting excited!
"That's the problem. They're both on Irk", she said gently. Sev En stood perfectly still for about half a second, then he threw his hands in the air.
"Then they're dead! There's no way they're still alive", he exclaimed. The Queen shook her head.
"No. Last time Earth's government heard from them two weeks ago, everyone in the crew was still alive", she said, curious about her friend's reaction. Sev En's small eyes grew bigger than possible and his jaw dropped.
"But they've been there for what? Two months? That's impossible, our own men barely manage two weeks!" he said. The Queen shrugged.
"I don't know how they did it, but they're alive and they need a chance to continue their father's work." Sev En nodded.
"I understand. I'll send a message to them", he said. The Queen nodded. With a bow, the scientist left her chambers.
Storming into the lab, the Vortian barked at Lard Nar," call the Piggie, I need to speak with Membrane's kids."
"The Piggie?! Isn't that the ship that the Humans sent to Irk?" Lard Nar asked," the crew is dead by now!"
"No, they're all alive, now call them!" Sev En said and looked into the screen. Lard Nar stared for a minute, but caught himself and contacted the ship. It took about a minute for someone to answer.
"What is it?" a hoarse voice croaked as an old Human female showed up. Her aura shone of someone who was used to being in charge and Sev En shrunk. He quickly regained his posture, though. He cleared his throat and answered:
"This is Sev En. I'm responsible for the Vortian Defensive Project. I wish to speak to the offspring of professor Membrane."
"I don't care about who you are! Dib is out, But I'll get Gaz for you", she said in an unfriendly tone. Sev En tried to hide his shudder, but Lard Nar noticed. The female disappeared from the screen. Shortly after, another dangerous looking female appeared, this one much younger.
"What?", she snapped. She looked dangerous, with eyes squinted into a frown and messy, purple hair. The Vortians wondered how she could see anything.
"Are you professor Membrane's daughter?" he asked politely. The girl, Gaz, opened one eyes slightly, showing a bright brown pool filled with anger.
"Yes", she growled," and I'm not interested."
"But I haven't said what this is about yet."
"I'm not continuing his old projects. Ask Dib", she said.
"O-oh. Can I talk to this Dib?" The Vortian asked.
"Call back later", Gaz said and cut the transmission by slamming a button with a closed fist.
The two co-workers sat in silence for a while.
"None of those were Human, were they?" Lard Nar whispered.
"No", Sev En breathed," they were demons!"
March 32nd, Monday, 09:54am, planet Irk, in a tree
It was inevitable, Dib guessed when Zim finally made him climb a tree. Zim jumped gracefully from branch to branch, like this was this second elemtent. How it went for Dib was another story. He tensed every muscle to keep from falling down and crawled forward slowly.
"You're horrible", Zim commented from the branch in front of him.
"This is madness! If I fall from here I die!" He gasped.
"You only fall if you let go", Zim said," It does not look like you'll let go." The Irken walked easily over his branch to Dib's.
"Sit up. Stop acting like a new-born smeet!"
"Easy for you to say! You're barely half my body weight", Dib said hysterically. Zim's antennae wrinkled at the base, which Dib had learnt meant he was annoyed.
"Sit up!" he demanded. Dib didn't trust him, but admitted he'd never get anywhere like this. So, he relaxed and tried not to look down at the faraway ground.
Given the time, Dib would've gotten into a sitting position himself, but Zim wasn't known for having patience.
"Hurry, Dib-stink!", he said and bent down. He might have the body of a ten years old, but he was far stronger than that. He grabbed Dib by the armpits and lifted him into a sitting position.
"OhmygodI'msodeadstopitZimI'llfalltomydoom", Dib rambled, but realized the Irken hadn't dropped him to a certain death.
"Now stand up and walk to Zim", Zim said as he backed to the other tree. There he sat, leaning against the trunk.
"... No. I'd rather do it my way", Dib said and lifted his body with his arms and moved half a meter. Then he moved his arms forward and repeated the process.
"You look stupid, Dib-stink", Zim huffed at sat down on the branch.
"Shut up, you oversized bug", Dib muttered and slowly got to where Zim was sitting. Out of breath, the teen leaned on the tree and ran a hand through his messy hair.
"You're pathetic", Zim commented," even a smeet would do better than you."
"Shut up", Dib hissed. For once, Zim actually shut up and they sat in silence for a while. After some time, Dib started hearing sounds. Rainforest sounds. Other inhabitants dared come closer to them, until they were all in hearing distance. Bugs buzzed and birds screeched. Irken birds never sang beautiful melodies like those on Earth, But Dib didn't mind.
"Wow", Dib said finally," All these sounds. I didn't hear them before. The jungle always seemed so quiet, opposite to Earth."
"You never were high enough to hear the birds before. Everything is quiet at the ground," Zim commented.
"I see", Dib said. for some time, he was silent again. "It's weird how there aren't the sounds of water flowing though. I guess that's because it never rains. The water is always still."
"Dib!"
"Gretchen?" Dib looked down. Far down there, Gretchen looked around, calling for him," I'm up here!" For some time, she looked around frantically, but then turned upwards.
"Dib!? What the heck are you doing? You'll get yourself killed!" she exclaimed.
"I'm just taking a look. What do you want?"
"You got a call. Bitters told me to get you", she said, pretty loudly to be heard properly.
"What's a call?" Zim asked with one eye narrowed, an expression Dib had gotten used to by now. The teen ignored the question.
"For me? I'll be there in a minute!" he said instead and sat up straight.
"Fine, I'll tell her", Gretchen said," be careful!" she disappeared from Dib's view.
"What is a call? Tell me, tell Ziiiiim!" Zim said, now standing in a demanding pose.
"Someone wanted to talk to me through a transmission", Dib explained. He'd learned that if Zim didn't understand the explanation he would drop the subject. That's what happened this time as well. Zim stood silent for about three seconds, which was enough for Dib to realize something else.
"How do I get down?"
"The same way you got up, stupid Dib-creature", Zim said and easily jumped to a lower branch," it's not like someone will come and help you."
"Wait! You've gotta help me", Dib said. Zim stopped, already several metres down.
"Hurry!" The alien shouted from below.
"Wait!" Dib repeated and carefully lowered his body downwards. The kicked around until his feet touched a branch.
An hour later, Dib finally touched the ground. It had been an hour of Zim shouting insults and laughing over his clumsiness. He would've fallen into the mud in exhaustion, if his clothes hadn't been cleaned recently.
"I don't think they're still waiting for me to answer", he sighed and headed towards the Piggy. Zim had disappeared as soon as Dib hit the ground. Useless bug.
"What took you so long?", Bitters asked when he arrived.
"I couldn't get down from the tree, Ma'am", Dib muttered.
"That's a ridiculous excuse! If this was Skool, I'd punish you for your incompetence!" She barked.
"Yes, Ma'am", he sighed.
"You got a call from Vort. Go call them back", Bitters made a dismissive hand gesture.
"Yes, Ma'am", Dib said and hurried away. Vort, huh? He didn't know any Vortians, what could they want? In his lab, he told the Computer to call the ones who called him and show them on his screen.
The two Vortians were hiding behind a floating office chair when he called. They looked scared.
"Uh ... hello? You wanted to talk to me", Dib said carefully. He hadn't prepared a speech and didn't know what they wanted. One Vortian, the one with green goggles, peeked out from the cover.
"You're not as dangerous as your sister or the old lady", he stated wryly.
"Gaz and Bitters? No, they're both demons", Dib said nervously. Now the other one stepped forward and coughed to get his attention.
"Very well. Dib Membrane, am I right?" He said. Dib nodded.
"Yup, that's me", he said. The Vortian smiled.
"I'm pleasantly surprised to see that you've survived so far on Irk", he said," My name is scientist Sev En and I'm the leader of the Vortian Defensive Project, VDP. This here is Lard Nar and we wanted to talk with you about one of your father's projects." Dib nodded silently, but inwardly got really excited. He was very interested in his dad's work and had always wanted to be like him.
"Do you know of the VDP from before?"
"No, we don't have much time to keep up with what's happening outside of Irk", Dib said.
"I understand. We're trying to create a new war machine - a robot that can take care of itself, but still be loyal towards our empire", Sev En explained. Dib nodded.
"Oh yeah, dad tried to make something like that once."
"Exactly. He tried to make a cyborg, right?" Sev En asked. He knew that was correct, but asked to sound polite.
"Yeah. He used dogs, since they're known for their loyalty", Dib said. The teen's posture dropped slightly at the memory," but one dog-cyborg tore him to threads." Sev En nodded sympathetically.
"I'm sorry for the loss", Sev En said.
"It's okay. Thanks. It was a while ago", Dib took a deep breath.
"Now, we're really interested in continuing his studies and wanted to give you a chance to help us", Sev En finished. Dib frowned and thought about it for a long time. He's always wanted to continue what his Dad had started, but was now really a good time?
"I don't know. Would I have to leave Irk?" He asked. He didn't want to do that. He liked it here. Sev En looked surprised.
"Off course. You'd get your own lab here on Vort. In the Royal castle, even!" he said, shining happily. He looked like he took for granted the the teen wanted to leave. Dib bit his lip.
"I don't think I can leave right now. My work here is important", he said. His work as in studying a crazy alien and getting thrown into wild adventures. Sev En looked even more surprised and Lard Nar seemed irritated.
"Hey, kiddo", Lard Nar said," whatever you're doing there, it's not more important than your duty to the Vortian empire! You might know that you're part if it, too!" Dib raised his hands defensively. Sev En put a hand on Lard Nar's shoulder and shook his head like a mother would do to a child.
"I know, I know! But I was supposed to work here for six months, and it's only been two", he explained. Lard Nar was going to say something, but Sev En was faster.
"I'm sure you could leave earlier if you wanted, and I'm sure you want to! By now, you must have encountered the dangers of Irk", he said.
"Irkens? Well, yeah, but-"
"Then you'd want to leave the place before you get killed!" Lard Nar said. Dib thought about Zim. He didn't doubt that the small being could kill him without effort, but he didn't think he would.
"I've managed so far", the teen shrugged. With some hesitation, he added," I befriended one that's saved me multiple times." Two pairs of small Vortian eyes grew out of their sockets. At least, that's what Dib thought. Lard Nar wore goggles, so he couldn't tell, but judging by his posture, Dib drew that conclusion.
"You ... you actually befriended one? An Irken? One of those killing machines?!" Sev En asked dubiously.
"Yeah! I stumbled into his nest and it turned out we'd landed in his territory", Dib said. Both Vortians looked even more surprised now, if possible.
"You what!? And you still alive!" Sev En exclaimed," you're either very lucky or very foolish."
"Heh. I guess so", Dib said awkwardly.
"Either way, I now respect your choise to stay, if that's what you want. We could ask for permission to put the project on hold for now", The Vortian continued. Dib felt a rush of joy.
"You could? Cool!" He said with a large grin.
"I'll hear from you later then. Scientist Sev En, signing off!" the screen went blank. As this sunk in, he came to a realization. He'd never thought past these six months. He took it for granted that whatever happened after this mission, his life would be better than it was before. Maybe he'd get noticed for helping saving Humanity.
But he never told Zim they'd leave.
TBC
Hahahahaha soooooo fun to write!
Anyway, who of you will celebrate Halloween? As a Swede, I don't, but I'll throw a small celebration with my friends anyway. What'll you dress up as?
/Sagapaga