Zim decided to wait for the rest of the download...he understood now why the tallests had told him to contact the medic. After a moment, the Tallests appeared on his screen.

"Zim! we hust got a summary of your data... you've been busy! How did you manage to collect so much data?"

"I have enrolled myself in the Earth school system. There were many humans there. I inderectly collected data by automizing my pak, so that I could directly focus on the human of main interest. Also, drones of my own design were launched soon after arriving. Some have been lost, but their data is fed back to base in live time, and they are made to self destruct when compromised. They are solar powered, so will continue to travel and collect data so long as they are not compromised."

"Good work...Zim, are you ok?"

Zim sighed and leaned forward.

"Apologies my Tallests. I need to be at ease after today. Much has happened."

"No, we can see that just from your data ...But Zim, you're skin...were you burnt!?"

Zims antennai perked at this. He looked at his arm...he indeed looked burnt, his skin was flaking off in some areas and had weird patches where it was shedding. His hologram had hid this from even him through the day.

"The shower ...I almost forgot. Computer, take liquid sample from my pak and send it to the lab for tests. Analysis on the chemical makeup of this fluid. Also, the Earth foods...take care nit to destroy the packaging."

An arm came down and retrieved a vial from his pak as well as some of the food he had taken from the cafeteria. Pop tarts, a carton of milk, a protein bar and bag of chips.

"The humas cleaning chambers and some cleaning devices contain this liquid...when in liquid form of vaporized, it seems to Irritate my skin...however, the humans bathe in it, use it to clean, and also drink it without issue. So far, this is the only irritant to our kind that I have came in contact with. Other than odors, I have yet to find anything else directly physically irritating."

"You've made a great deal of progress for the first day...your base has also uploaded core samples while building itself...many useful minerals there. Your base harvested enough to build itself correctly?"

Zim scoffed and sighed.

"Correctly is questionable...but the base does appear to be whole at least."

"Good...so what is your take on this main subject, Jack Lynn? You were able to install nanobots... impressive. That data seems impressive, were you able to obtain bio samples?"

"Not yet, however, she is in my base as we speak. She is asleep and the AI is monitoring her."

Red and Purple looked up at this.

"She's in your base? You've captured her already?"

Zim shook his head as he took another pull on his bottle.

"No, she came willingly for the most part. I technically ordered her to come. Her domicile was damaged upon my base erecting itself. She made a trade with me, should she teach me her language, I would repair her base. However, circumstances changed, and she will reside with me."

"You've managed to gsin her trust and obedience already!?"

"For the most part, yes. She has agreed to let me begin courting her. We are in a...trial period of sorts. There is still much to learn about the human mating rituals."

"...Well done Zim...do be careful not to let your base be compromised by her presence though. Do you think she will be compatible?"

Zim nodded, swallowing another sip of his drink.

"So far she presents as such. I have also observed some...interesting things in my own responses to her. Does our kind respond to pheromones?"

Red and Purple looked up.

"Uh...well that is probably better asked of the medic. Have you reviewed the download?"

Zim shook his head.

"I glanced. Decided to wait for it to finish" He said pointing to the cord still connected to his pak. Red nodded.

"Well, I can tell you that yes, we do respond to pheromones...you believe you've had responses to this female's pheromones?"

"I do...I find myself feeling protective and posessive of her. Her scent seems to influence this. I find it...pleasent as well."

"Interesting! I have to say Zim...so far, you're the only invader who has been at all successful. Most of the others have had to be reassigned planets as the life forms have been incompatible. The others haven't even gotten data enough to determine anything. But this...this looks promising."

Zim sighed and sat forward.

"Thank you my tallest...I have a small issue though. Earlier, Jack Lynn was ...preyed on, sexually by an elder male."

"Was the female compromised?"

"Emotionally, yes. But she is fine. She is still considered a minor here...their age difference...she was but a smeet when he was well past the age of maturity."

"Disgusting."

"Indeed...My tallest, Zim is also older than her. By Earth aging, I am approaching my 20 years. She is 17. I have yet to figure the conversions from Irk time to Earth...But I find this to be a...moral dilemma."

"This may be a part of your defect...The female is able to reproduce?"

"All data collected points to the affirmative."

"You are close enough in age. It should be a non issue. From what we can see here, there are no other compatible females within...50 miles of your base. Continue your progress with Jack Lynn. As far as your moral dilemma, do the conversion from Earth time to Irk and see what that looks like."

"Understood" Zim sighed. He took another glug from his bottle.

"Are...you ok Zim?" Red asked.

Zim groaned and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees and scratched his bald head.

"Eh?...I am ok...just tired, and there is much work left to do."

"Take tomorrow as a day to process. Collect more data on your subject. You've done well Zim. Report your findings tomorrow. For tonight, review the data download and transmit to the medic."

"Yes My Tallests."

With that, Zim stood, tipping his bottle back as he walked into the kitchen, the dowload cord extending to allow him the movement. He threw the bottle into the recycling shute and grabbed another from the refrigerator along with a nutrient bar. He joined Gir at the kitchen table who had fsllen into sleep mode slumped into a pike of Earth cereal... Apparently hed been on an outing. Zim took notice of all the Earth foods slthat Gir had somehow obtained and stuffed onto the shelves in the kitchen.

"Computer, download data from Gir. See what hes been up to in my absence."

Anither wire attatched itself to a port in Girs head. The robot giggled in his sleep and turned over onto his back, snoring. Zim shook his head and ate his nutrient bar as he waited for his download to finish.