Membrane and Dib stayed outside for a while. Dib looking at his Dad with worry as his whole world was just thrown for a loop. Membrane held his head and continued his ranting " There has NEVER been any proof of alien life! Not any clear cut evidence!"
Dib rolled his eyes as he showed his father evidence time and time again. "Dib… I'm sorry! I always thought you were insane and that it was my fault for not giving you the attention you needed… that maybe these delusions of the paranormal were a coping mechanism…" Membrane confessed and slowly his voice started to crack. "All this time… you've been begging me to see the truth! And I was too blinded by science and possibly my OWN fears… I'm so so sorry son!" he started to sob.
"Aww Dad… don't cry" Dib said softly rubbing his Dad's back. "After all this time he finally believes me! I've wanted this for so long and it's finally happened… but at what cost? He's devastated! Is he even mentally stable right now? What does this mean for Gaz? And the babies! Or smeets? What are they? My head hurts" Dib thought to himself before his dad grabbed him and held him tightly.
"I love you son! I'll never doubt you again! I don't deserve to be your father!" Membrane continued sobbing now into Dib's chest.
"Oh come on Dad! You're a great Dad! No parent is perfect!" Dib shouted.
Membrane got up and turned away as he wiped his tears. "I have to get it together… like it or not I'm a grandfather now" Dib stared at him wondering how he felt about that… having Irken/Human hybrid grandchildren.
"Dad…I'm gonna go check on Gaz okay?" he said hesitantly. "Maybe you should get rest Dad" Dib suggested.
"It sounds nice Son… maybe just an hour or two " Membrane said while yawning. They both went inside, Membrane heading to his bedroom and Dib went to the kitchen where Zim and Gaz were. She was sitting at the table and Zim was giving her a foot massage.
"How is he Dib?" Gaz asked worriedly.
"Well… as good as can be expected… he's shocked and he feels guilty… I told him to get some rest" Dib explained.
Gaz looked disappointed but she understood. "Well I guess there's nothing we can do until he gets up" she sighed. Zim got up and washed his hands with some "cleansing chalk" he had on hand.
"Was that satisfactory Gaz Mate?" he asked.
"Very much thank you" she answered.
"I'll order you some food but then I'm afraid I'll have to go… I'm working on some things I can't afford to have Gir destroy" Zim regrettably explained "Believe me I'd much rather be here with you but" he stopped and looked at Dib suspiciously "I… have plans" he finished.
"I understand just come back okay! I want you around in case these smeets do something weird in me!" she ordered.
Zim held her close "Of course! I love you Gazlene" he whispered that last part in her ear. He only used her real name when he was being serious. It made her blush. She really didn't want him to go but seeing how happy he was to be a dad… knew he probably had a plan in place that he was working on.
Dib just stood there awkwardly… Before this news he was determined to kill Zim once and for all but now, seeing him be so attentive to his baby sister…seeing how ecstatic he was about his future children… the desire to kill him has regrettably lessened. Besides now his father finally knows that he isn't crazy! He actually has his Father's respect! Maybe that's what he's really been after all this time.
He zoned out but snapped back to reality before catching Zim at the door. "Diiiib! I don't have time for this! Get outta the way!"
"I'm coming with you! Gaz told me to help so I am!" Dib demanded.
"I don't trust you Dib shit! But I suppose if you start anything I will finish it!" Zim said venomously .
"he's annoying but I can use him to distract Gir from destroying anything valuable and if he gets out of line I'll have no choice but to vaporize him!" Zim thought to himself walking back to his base with Dib in tow.
"Gaz really wanted Dad to help you… I hope after he rests he'll be willing to" Dib worried.
"Zim needs no help! If he wants Gaz to raise the smeets alone that's on him!" Zim snapped hating that he probably would benefit from Membrane's assistance. Zim disabled his lawn gnomes and they both entered the base… Gir made a mess again but nothing was broken just covered in taco meat!
Zim growled and then deeply sighed knowing he'd have to clean all the filth before he could start working. Gir emerged screaming happily when he saw Dib. "Gahhh! Get off me!" Gir tackled him and covered him and his glasses with taco meat juice.
"The BIG HEAD BOY!!! I MISSEDED YOU!!! Let's dance! Dance with meeee!" Gir squealed.
Zim ignored them and turned to mini moose "nya!"
"Thanks for protecting the Voot Cruiser mini moose! Is the space suit I've been working still in tact as well?" Zim questioned.
"Nya"
"EXCELLENT!" Zim grinned and made his way to the kitchen where his cleaning supplies are. "Hey Dib Head! If you're going to be here you're going to help Zim clean this FILTH!!!"
BACK AT HOME
3 hours later the Professor got up and rubbed his tired, dry eyes. Even after his nap his eyes hurt from all the crying he had done earlier. He stretched and took off to the bathroom to take a shower to wash the stench of shame off of him… and of course stress sweat. Gaz was eating again, this time Zim ordered her everything off the menu of a Italian restaurant! She was scarfing down her food but cringed when she had to drink water… she wanted a soda SO BADLY but now she was trying to be healthy. It was hard though… she hates water. She continued eating but kept looking at her phone periodically to see if Zim or Dib texted her and simultaneously looking up the stairs to see if her dad woke up. Feeling annoyed she grumbled and pulled out her gameslave for the first time in what felt like years. In reality it was only 3 days. She needed an escape from the world right now!
Zim's Base
The two former enemies finished cleaning the base. Zim was anxious to get to the real reason he came here. He headed towards the new elevator he invented a couple years back and motioned for Dib to follow. He did slowly as Gir was wrapped around his leg. The elevator went down to the underground base which was much more elaborate than Dib remembered. He stared star struck at all the upgrades he made.
"Impressive isn't it Dib Stink?" Zim asked smugly.
Dib snapped out of it. "Why did you upgrade all your stuff if you're not taking over the earth Zim! Huh? Huh?"
"Foolish human! My upgrades would be wasted on this stupid dirt rock! No I have bigger plans… taller plans!!!" Zim yelled.
He made his way to the computer and a blueprint for his space suit appeared on screen. "Almost done… it just needs a name… how about the ultimate stealth suit omega!" he declared.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW! With everything going on you're worried about naming your space suit?!" Dib shrieked.
"Yes Dib! It's an important factor! An Irken software issue not that YOU would understand that!" Zim yelled back.
"What is all this for Zim? This doesn't look like it's for your PAK! What's really going on!" Dib shouted again
"ENOUGH! You STUPID human! Not that it's any of your business Dib worm… but I have to make a trip to Irk! There I'll infect the control brains and take whatever life sustaining substance remains in them! Not only will that expand my time… it may even make me IMMORTAL!" he roared. "Irk is unguarded but I still need to be prepared for anything so that's why I'm putting the final touches on my stuff" he continued.
"Irk? Your home planet? How long will that take?" Dib asked
"With my genius modifications to my Voot Cruiser it should only take four hours!" Zim proudly explained. "Now make yourself useful Dib monkey! Go stand into that machine over there!" he ordered pointing to a circular area while walking over to his "stealth suit omega" to put it on. Dib raised an eyebrow. Zim sighed getting sick of explaining himself over and over again "It's not a trap Dib! Its actually something I was making for Gaz a couple years back… she wanted robot arms like your Dad's!" He informed the annoyingly suspicious human.
"The ones that shoot crazy powerful lasers!!! WHY would she want that? And you were gonna make it for her!" Dib screamed
"OF COURSE! Only these are removable… I was going to give them to her for her day of birth but I've decided to let you try them out… because you're coming with me!" Zim smirked.
Dib wanted to argue but the thought of having robot arms like his dad overruled. Besides Gaz did tell him to help Zim. He stepped into the circular area and stood still. Zim activated the machine and slowly but surely lasers wrapped around his arms forming the cold steel gauntlets.
"Whoa! You made them materialize! That's awesome!" Dib said excitedly as he stared at his new weapons.
"Of course it's awesome! I made it! Now lets test out some weapons! COMPUTER! Begin training mode simulation 2!" Zim commanded.
"UGHH FINE! Hurry up and die and already sheesh!" Computer complained. The two of them were teleported to another room which was empty at first before the room changed into what looked like the inside of the massive.
"WHOA…okay Zim? I'm kinda freaking out…" Dib panicked.
"You're so annoying! It's just a realistic simulation of the massive! I'm going to test out the weapons I've been working on as well as my suit and your arms!" Zim said quickly as he was pressing buttons on some device on his wrist.
Two holograms appeared of Red and Purple and then a hologram of Zim. Dib looked at Zim confused but before he could begin to open his mouth to ask why he answered.
"Because I know you've been dying to shoot me and this is the only way you'll be able to! Let's just hope your aim isn't PATHETIC!" he taunted. Dib growled and looked at his arms seeing a blue button.
"Yes press that and it will warm up, charging the laser to whatever power setting it's set to, right now you're at level 5! If you look at your left arm the power can be adjusted from there! Once your charged all you need to do throw a punch and the laser beam will shoot out from your knuckles!" Zim informed.
Dib did as he was told and fired a laser beam at Zim… the real Zim! He grinned as the laser was quickly eaten up by an invisible shield that was around Zim.
"Did you really think I would give you such a weapon without a contingency plan? FOOL!" Zim snarled as he pressed a button on a remote he had on hand , causing Dib to be electrocuted!
"AAAAHHH!!!!" Dib wailed in pain and passed out.
Zim sighed "Inferior lifeform!" he spat.
Membrane House
The Professor gathered himself and his thoughts and prepared himself for the uncomfortable situations he was about to face. He began to walk downstairs surprised at how quiet everything was. He saw his daughter playing her videogames as if nothing had ever happened. Upon seeing him however she quickly put her gameslave away, something she would never normally do.
"Dad! I'm glad you're awake! Come on let's talk!" she said quickly patting the couch cushion next to her. Membrane complied and took the seat next to her but didn't look at her. Gaz frowned at this. "Look I know this is a shock! How do you think I feel? I have four living creatures inside of me! And I don't know anything about being a mom since mine was never around! I'm scared and I've always supported you in everything… I need your support now" she ranted hating how pathetic she sounded, but it was true. As much as she hated relying on others this time she really had no other alternative.
Membrane looked at her and hugged her gently "I know honey…of course you have my support I just… for the first time in my life I don't know what to do! Your children aren't completely human…. And neither is your… boyfriend… your brother says he's evil what if this part of his plan?" he rambled
"OH MY GOD! DAD you sound just like Dib now! Zim didn't plan this! His computer said that we shouldn't have been able to conceive! We didn't know this would happen!" Gaz shouted frustrated.
"Calm down Gaz! It's not healthy for you to get so worked up in your state!" he informed. "Regardless of what happens now, your health is what's most important! And of course my ….grandchildren" he softly stated.
Gaz wanted to ask if he was happy or disappointed but decided against it afraid of the answer besides she needed to get to the point. "Actually Dad I have a much bigger problem! The real reason I needed you here was really for Zim!" she began
Membrane looked at her puzzled. "It's hard to explain but basically he's going to die unless you help him with his PAK…" she explained
"His PAK? That shiny metal device on his back that Dib stole that one time?" He asked
"Yes and in doing so he almost killed himself and Zim!" She laughed "They're both so stupid it's funny they're probably killing each other right now"
Membrane jumped up "OH NO WHERE ARE THEY?"
Zim's base
Dib opened his eyes opened and closed his eyes slowly as he regained consciousness, the first thing he sees is a happy smiling robot inches away from him.
"HIIII!!!" Gir screeched
Dib groaned in pain finding himself strapped to a gurney with his vitals displayed on a monitor.
"Master! Big head's awakkeee! And he smells like burnt cheese!" Gir reported.
Zim entered the room and stared down at the ungrateful human worm with malice and resentment! His glowed red on the dark room and teeth were bares. Dib hated to admit but he was legitimately in fear as it had been the first time he had seen him without his disguise in years. He seemed to forget just how formidable his enemy is. Dib gulped as Zim got closer.
"Stop trembling you DISGUSTING human! If I wanted you dead you wouldn't be hooked up to this machine!" he snarled.
"I guess you have a point… but did you HAVE to electrocute me! You couldn't have just hit me or something?" Dib questioned
"You tried to kill me Dib! You had no chance whatsoever of succeeding but you still tried!" Zim snapped back.
" I was just testing out my new arm gauntlets like you told me too!" Dib defended with a whiny voice.
"It is my own fault! Zim assumed that with the knowledge you now possess that you would be willing to help me destroy the Irken empire. That would ensure the survival of your FILTHY planet… well at the hands of hostile life forms anyway… BUT NO! You still only care about your own bug headed ego!" Zim ranted enraged that this is taking even more time and energy he didn't want to waste!
Dib could see it now… Zim was trying to keep his cool, to make it seem like he had everything under control but he was losing it! He was panicking inwardly and Dib finally saw that. "He really is desperate! He really is scared that he's going to die! We've had close calls before but this… this could really be it" Dib thought to himself feeling stupid.
"ALERT SOMEONE'S AT THE FRONT DOOR" computer blared
"On screen!" Zim ordered
"It's Dad! Zim unstrap me!" Dib shouted
"Fine! At least I don't have to wear a disguise now" Zim smirked.
A/N: Happy Holidays everyone! Thank you all for your reviews! They keep me motivated. Sorry if this chapter is confusing I kept getting interrupted but it is filler I suppose. I appreciate everyone who reads this thank you all so much and Im sorry this chapter wasn't as fun as the last one but I have something in store that will hopefully make up for it.