Disclaimer: These characters belong to the Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jhonen Vasquez.
May God bless you all.
Hey guys sorry for such a long wait in between updates. I've been busy actually getting a new job so pray I will be successful. In any case here is the next chapter. Should be more consistent now that I'm back home.
"Well, Professor it's been a while." Said Esmarelda.
"Yes… ummm… it these are my kids." Replied the Professor slightly less composed than he usually was.
"Oh, I know. I met Dib when he was visiting my mother and stepfather's home." She replied.
"Oh, yes, your friend Chewy… he's… so you like this place?" The Professor said still not fully settled.
"Of course. It's space-themed. You know how much I am into space." She said.
"Yes… of course… um… would you like to join us?" He asked.
"Oh boy." Said Gaz.
"Uh… yeah… I mean these tables are always meant for 4 anyway." Said Dib.
"I guess." She replied.
"So, professor, I see you are working on some kind of renewable energy engine?" She asked as she moved to the seat directly across from the professor.
"Wh… oh yes, well still very much in the alpha phase, but God willing we will make travel much more environmentally friendly." He replied.
"So, you're Chewy's aunt huh?" Asked Gaz.
"Yes, I'm the baby of the family." Esmerelda replied.
"Great just what I needed, Chewy of all people as part of the family." Gaz said under her breath.
"What was that honey?" Asked the professor.
"Nothing important… So you two went to college together?" She asked.
"Oh… yes both majoring in Science!" Said Esmerelda in a way the professor would.
"Wait… just science?" Asked Dib. "Not, biology, or astronomy or chemistry…"
"Nope, just Science." She replied.
"Ah…" Replied Dib.
"You know I think I need to use the restroom." Said the professor shortly after they had ordered.
Dib watched… the way his father was walking… he could tell he was distraught.
"Um think I'll go wash my hands before the food comes." Dib said leaving the two ladies by themselves.
In the restroom he found his father staring at the mirror. There was no one else inside.
"Okay dad, what's up?" Asked Dib.
"Oh, son… ever since I saw Julio I knew I would most likely run into her again… but I didn't expect it to happen so soon." He said.
"But dad, it's been what about 15 years?"
"More like 20, but *sigh*, she was always something special." The professor said. "Not, as much as your mother but…"
"…I get it dad… but… actually we better get back out there or this is gonna look weird."
"Yes, son!" The professor answered. "Thanks for the peptalk."
"Peptalk?" Dib replied as they left the bathroom.
"We ordered for you." Said Gaz as the two returned to her seat.
"What, why?" Asked Dib.
"Don't worry." Said Esmerelda. "I got you the chef's choice and he says if you don't like it it's on the house."
"Oh… well I guess that's okay." Dib replied.
"Don't be afraid to try something new son." Said the Professor.
"You're one to talk. Who always had to have egg white, mozzarella, spinach." Omelet for breakfast every time before discovering Science!" Said Ezmerelda.
"Ah yes, good old College days." Said the Professor, though Dib could sense some nervousness in his father's speech.
"And your famous porterhouse the night before a ball game." Esmerelda added.
"Cooked medium-well." The professor added.
The two laughed.
"Oh, yeah, time does sure fly." The Professor said. "So… what have you been studying lately?"
At this Esmerelda's laughter simmered out.
She appeared to be unsettled as she began avoiding eye contact with the professor.
Dib realized where the unease came from almost instantly. She didn't want to tell the professor about her work.
"Well, I'm, still in Science!" She answered.
"Wonderful!" The Professor replied.
Just then the food came and Dib observed Esmerelda breathe a sigh of relief.
Dib looked as the waiter placed his food in front of him. It appeared to be three rather large meatballs floating in some kind of soup.
"It's the moons of Saturn." Said Esmerelda. "Wagyu meatballs, ravioli, and mystery sauce."
"Thanks." Said Dib as he ventured into the unknown. It was actually pretty good. Dib was glad she had ordered for him. In fact, this whole situation was… nice. It was cool to have someone around who was almost as interested in aliens as he was.
However, there was still the twitch in his chest. He knew exactly why it was there too. Sure she was smart, funny, and into aliens which was a huge plus.
But…
…He just couldn't get over…
…It was her…
…He didn't think what they had seen in the future…
…Would begin to unravel so close in the present.
"And it has five different hyperspeeds!" Zim yelled as he ran through the ship's specs.
"Yup, the Meekrobs sure know their stuff." Said Spork.
"Oh, yeah, our enemies." Said Zim. "How could you consort with Irken's sworn enemies?"
"Son, when trying to make peace often an enemy is one of the best people to start with. If one makes peace with their enemies then friends should be easy peasy." Replied Spork. "Plus the Meekrobs already have so many alliances."
"Yes, but still you would be deemed a traitor if the tallest found out." Zim warned.
"I am the tallest remember?" Replied Spork.
Zim laughed slightly at the remark. He was the son of not just one but two Tallest. If only his fellow invaders could know. They would treat him with the respect he truly deserves.
"Listen, son." Said Spork as he rested a hand on Zim's shoulder. "I know I owe you a lot more than just an explanation…
"…Zim requires no explanation." Zim replied. "Zim knows that you and …Miyuki."
Spork smiled. "You can call her mom you know."
"Let Zim call people what Zim wants!" Zim yelled.
"Okay, okay." Said Spork. "In any case, I don't really have as much time as I'd like to… well… guess I'll just come out and say it."
Zim looked away from his father the entire time. He knew what was coming and in all honesty, he was curious but at the same time like really?
"The ambassadors…"
"Zim is an invader! Not an ambassador!" He shouted.
"But… this was basically your idea." Said Spork.
"Zim was young and foolish. He did not yet realize why the great Irken Empire rejected Speck's plan." Replied the shorter irken.
"Speck's plan would have weakened the empire. Our empire must expand to the entire Universe!"
"The empire is weak. Our invaders are spread too far out and other alien factions have rebelled and in some cases even winning out right. All the while the tallest remain in the Massive without so much as a care about whether they succeed or not." Spork told him.
"Wait how… oh… it's the medical drone isn't it?" Asked Zim.
"Gem? Yes, she relays me messages from time to time." Replied Spork.
"The empire simply needs more qualified invaders like Zim!" He said. "Then perhaps the planets could be conquered and added to the great irken nation!"
"Yet you haven't conquered earth." Said Spork.
"Grrrr… Zim is simply biding his time… just trying to see the best way to conquer this planet." Zim replied.
"mhm…" Replied Spork with a smile.
"…Or perhaps… it's just your pak instincts kicking in."
"What pak instincts, my pak is built to help Zim conquer!" He yelled. Arms raised and face looking upward.
"Well, the closest you came was with florpus…" Said Spork. "…Yet even then why did you try so hard to keep everyone alive?"
"What? That's not true." Zim protested. "Who cares if a few humans die while this world is conquered."
"If that were true you would have just killed Professor Membrane rather than ship him off to Moo-Ping 10." Spork pointed out.
"Shut up!" Zim snapped. He turned away from his father and folded his arms.
"You could have just killed Gaz and Dib so they wouldn't be able to foil your plan."
"Zim said Shut up!" He snapped again.
"You could have simply imprisoned the earthlings in pods or something like that using the Membrane facilities."
"Silence!" Zim said as he began jumping up and down.
He calmed down after a while and eventually leaned against one of the corners of the ship.
Spork walked over and kneeled to be eye level with Zim.
"It's about time to know what we did to you." He said.
"I know, you erased Zim's memories…"
"No…" Spork interrupted. "…Not that."
"Something more… subtle."
Tenn sat behind her console. She had been playing "just do it." For the last hour. Her hand constantly going over the call button before retreating back to her faster than a child retreats to a parent at the first sign of a threat.
She sighed. It shouldn't be this hard. She was on a mission after all. The Tallest personally gave it to her and yet… she was struggling to report her findings. Something was holding her back, and she pretty much knew what it was.
See the Tallest were responsible for her failure at Meekrob, however, that wasn't the only thing. Spork and Miyuki were well known to be one of the greatest set of leaders the Irken empire ever had. Now that he was alive…
…Could she really report that to Red and Purple? How would they react? What would they order her to do? Would they even believe her?
All these questions ran through her mind as she continued to battle with what was her duty and what…
…Well what she believed to be right.
"Ackkk!" She yelled in frustration as she got off her chair and walked a few feet away from her console.
"Everything alright?" Asked her computer.
"NO! It is not alright. If it was alright I wouldn't be yelling now would I!"
"Apologies mam." Said the computer.
"No… sorry." Tenn replied. "…It's not your fault."
She sat down in frustration and put her back on the left side of the computer console.
After a bit of contemplating, she rose and activated the comm.
"Hey." She said as the person on the other end picked up.
"Um… hey…" He said obviously surprised to be getting a call from her.
"I have…" She said but hesitated slightly as the nerves kicked in.
"…A proposition for you."
Thank you for all who made it to the end. Don't forget to leave a review.
May God bless you all.