Haiiii ! ! ^_^ Thank you SO much for coming back to read another chapter of my story ! ! If you haven't been able to tell just yet , this story means the absolute world to me 3 3 as do the characters in it . Omg I am beyond excited to take you all to another world ! ! In this chapter , you can expect to see things from Zim's perspective as well as Zim and Dib spending some quality time together . You'll also see how Zim's been processing his relationship with Dib . Let's keep count of how many times this chapter alone depicts that he is clearly down bad for this human haha XD ! ! This chapter title literally comes from Suit & Tie by Justin Timberlake for the sole reason that I found it funny . That's it LOL . No symbolism here . Just corn . NOW ! ! Without further ado ! ! I sincerely hope you enjoy this update ! ! Any comments would be greatly appreciated ! ! ^_^
Suit… and Tie
"Can I see it?"
"No." I reply for the millionth time. The majority of the wind shield is taken up by my open transmission with Skoodge but he's not just on the screen. He is on Zim's last nerve, I swear to my Tallests..
"Are you sure it's still alive? You've been traveling for days and I still haven't seen it." Skoodge inquires in the most annoying whiny tone. He's sitting in front of the usual white wall that is always behind him when we speak and I'm staring at it instead of him.
"It's - He's alive. I see him everyday. You'll see him when we get there." I say through gritted teeth.
"But I'll be shocked about what it looks like and I don't want to be rude." He insists.
"Then you've got three more days to practice your reactions so I'd suggest-"
"Wait- who is that?" Skoodge asks, eyes wide looking past me. I turn around and even I'm taken aback. It's The Dib but who would even know that? "I thought it was a human traveling with you…." Skoodge continues. I'm still staring in surprise as my hand automatically ends the transmission, and Dib idles near the hallway while I stand up.
"Playing dress up?" I laugh.
"I could be." He replies in Irken, laughing and walking over to where I'm standing. Skoodge did a phenomenal job on his Invader uniform, it looks exactly like my own except his gloves have room for all four of his fingers. "Well. How do I look, oh creator?" He asks, turning in a circle and holding his arms out.
"Stop that." I scold but I'm still just staring. He looks completely Irken with every single piece of his disguise in place. Veridian skin, wide blue oceanic pupiless eyes, long antennas relaxed backwards, PAK attached behind him, translator in place around his neck. "I do have to admit you look like a perfect invader. Excellent work, me!" I reply and he rolls his eyes.
"I can definitely see why you love this uniform so much. What is it made out of? It's the most comfortable thing I've ever worn!"
"Invader Uniforms come from our military planet Vort. They're made for conquest."
"Oh okay." He shrugs.
"Any reason you're playing in your disguise?" I ask, squinting at him before returning to my seat.
"Not really. Just something to do. Where is GIR? And Minimoose?"
"They're likely down in the storage unit." I reply, taking the ship off autopilot and entering in a detour. He walks over to the copilot seats and sits down, gazing out the window. "Sit next to me."
"Uh, how?" He asks. Poor confused human. This is our fourth day out here and I was assuming he actually preferred sitting over there with GIR, turns out, he just has no idea what he's doing.
"Place your hand over the armrest and use the arrows underneath to direct the chair." I explain and a moment later he seems to get the hang of it and pulls up on my right. I'm looking over information on the planet I've selected for the detour and it sounds like it'll do.
"Okay that was kind of cool."
"If you say so. Now, Dib-Monkey, you mean to tell me you're bored already?"
"No! Of course not." He replies, looking down at the main controls.
"You're ugly when you lie."
"Well right now, I look like you so…"
"You don't look like me at all!" I hiss.
"I mean if the only difference is our eyes then-"
"Are you saying all Irkens look alike?!"
"Well when you put it that way it sounds awful." He replies.
"It is!"
"You're right. Plus, I'm taller than you, so there's that." He shrugs.
"Don't talk about my height!" I shout tugging one of his antennas downward.
"Alright, fine! Let go!" He says and I do, even though I'm still glaring at him.
"If you're quite finished being thick headed, I have something uh… 'fun' for us to do."
"I already told you, throwing me out of the airlock would only be fun for you."
"Yes I know that. And it isn't what I'm talking about but we will revisit that another time." I declare.
"We won't."
"What I'm talking about is Suittie." I continue, ignoring him and turning back to the controls.
"Am I supposed to know what that is?" He asks.
"With your pitiful brainmeats, I suppose not. It's a planet. We're going there."
"Oh… Like now?" He asks, trying and failing to hide the fact that he is indeed excited. Especially in disguise, his antennas tell me everything I need to know.
"Like now."
"Okay well, what can we do there? Where is it? Have you been there before?" Ugh. He's off with the questions. It's so annoying.
"Dib-Human."
"Huh?"
"Bring me a snack."
"Wha- you didn't answer any of my perfectly reasonable-!" He begins to exclaim.
"Bring me a snack." I repeat, guiding the ship through the Zerargh Galaxy.
"Seriously?!" He asks incredulously but I ignore him. "You are annoying as hell." He huffs and gets out of his seat, heading towards the storage room. I sigh for a moment because the cockpit is finally quiet for once. I'm focused on piloting but my mind keeps drifting.
This has got to be the absolute weirdest thing I've ever done. Everything else Zim has ever done has made perfect sense and this does not. I brought GIR. Of course. I brought Minimoose. Makes sense. Dib? I have no idea what I was thinking! I need complete focus on the task at hand and he makes me feel anything but focused. And now, not only do I have to worry all the time about what GIR and Minimoose are up to, I have to worry about a pathetically fragile human! And don't get me started on how he's always looking at me. And I should be used to it, right? Especially considering he's basically been staring at me for eight years now, but this is so much different. The way he stares at me now is just full of all those romancey feelings and it makes me feel all different types of twisted up inside.
My thoughts are interrupted when there's an incoming transmission request. It's likely just Skoodge calling back to try and get a look at the human again. Initially, I reject the transmission but just as quickly as my finger lifts from the button, the transmission request reappears. Figuring it must be urgent, I finally press down on the rapidly flashing button in front of me and wait as the call is connected. When it is, I don't see Skoodge in front of his usual blank white wall. Instead, it looks like a large room on the Massive and no one is there.
"My Tallests?" I ask aloud, immediately standing from my seat and placing my fist over my chest. I immediately feel on edge and my blood circulation quickens with a sudden burst of adrenaline. I stand at attention for a moment or two but I don't get any response. I stand there for a moment longer before moving to end what must have been an accidental transmission and when I hit the button, the picture gets a little grainy, like the signal is weak, before it becomes clear yet again. "Um…" I say, scratching my head. I press the button again and the picture rolls for a few seconds but again returns to the same view of the main room on the Massive. I sit back down in the pilot's seat and glance around the cockpit but it's empty aside from me and when I drag my eyes back to the screen, Tallest Spork is staring back at me through narrowed eyes. Warning bells sound loudly in my mind as I slam the transmission button multiple times but nothing happens.
"Zim, calm down, I just want to chat." He says coolly.
"I don't." I growl, holding a finger down on the button but it's in vain.
"Well let's talk anyway."
"About what!?" I hiss, squinting at him.
"Let's say by some insane miracle, these new Tallests grant you invader status again."
"I don't need them to grant me anything, I am an invader."
"Sure, sure. Now if you join Operation Impending Doom 3, what then?" He asks, taking a seat on the huge purple couch positioned in front of the camera. I don't respond though. "I'm not sure how that nonexistent brain of yours works, but I'm asking about that weird thing you've been so preoccupied with." He says with a grimace.
"Get off my screen." I sigh. I don't need this from anyone, especially not Spork, the least accomplished Tallest in all of Irken history.
"Honestly, it would be funny how lost you are if it weren't such a disgrace to Irkens."
"Computer, end this transmission!" And I don't know why I always try that because it never works.
"Zim. Let's look at the facts here." Spork laughs, "You can't go native and be an invader. The two just don't mix and-"
"Zim will do as I damn well please and I don't need you or anybody else JUDGING me for it! I'm sick of it! Now get off of my screen." I command.
"That's such a defective response." Spork scoffs and looks as if he'll continue speaking but stops abruptly and glances up past me.
"Zim?" I hear over my shoulder and I hop out of my seat, whipping around.
"Dib!" I exclaim.
"Who are you talking to?" He asks cautiously, still standing near the hallway and I turn back towards the screen but I'm only met with my usual view of the stars.
"It was… Nothing. No one." I reply, still looking at the scene but moving to sit back down. He walks over and sits down beside me again. I don't even have to look his way to know he's staring at me but I can't look at him because of the way my stomach is already turning.
"Zim. What is going on?" He asks quietly. And it's so calm and gentle that it makes me feel even sicker. His concern just grates on my nerves. I don't need it, I'm perfectly fine on my own, I choose to keep him around. He needs me, not the other way around. And I can do whatever I want, I don't need Spork or anyone else to tell me what to do. Even if… Even if I think I might be losing my mind…
"It's none of your business!" I snap, grabbing the collar of his tunic and tugging him forward. "I am not the weak one here! You are! You! Do you understand that!?" I ask, shaking him and he tugs my hands away.
"Stop it! Is that what this is about?" He asks and I huff out a breath, crossing my arms and glaring out the window. "That was DAYS ago and I only said that to make you upset. I didn't mean it."
"What are you talking about?" I ask, still staring forward.
"…What are you talking about?" He asks.
"Just give me my snack!" I command. He lets out a long sigh and hands me a bright yellow box. "Ooh! My favorite! Good choice!" I reply, feeling my mood lift instantly as I tear the top off and start eating the cookies. They're all cone shaped and filled with acaer honey and dusted with powdered sugar. He's quietly watching me eat for a while and I know he's still hoping for some form of an explanation but that is too bad.
"Listen-" he starts but I don't give him the opportunity.
"Suittie is in the Zerargh galaxy. 15 million light years away from earth." I explain and I know I've got him. He still wants to prod but he's way too interested in this now to bother me anymore. At this moment, at least.
"I don't think I've heard of that." He replies thoughtfully, pulling out his journal seemingly from thin air..
"Because humans refer to it as Messier 83."
"Oh my God, are we really that far away from the earth right now?!"
"Yep. And getting farther." I smile, continuing to eat. "We're landing soon."
"Okay. Are we bringing GIR and Minimoose?"
"Absolutely not. They're driving me insane. They were arguing all day before I sent them to the storage room." I reply and he just laughs but for some reason the sound calms my nerves even more and I smile again too. "So…" I start, just watching him for a moment before continuing. "On this planet, it's likely we will be able to communicate with natives because many of them should speak Irken."
"Have you been there before?" He asks.
"No. But I know about it. It was marked for conquest but their leader established a negotiation with Tallest Miyuki." I reply.
"I've never heard of that Tallest. Actually, you've only talked to me about Red and Purple. Who is Miyuki?"
"Well obviously she was Tallest a long time ago."
"How long ago?"
"Centuries ago. Why do you always ask so many questions? Is that gargantuan head of yours not filled with enough knowledge already?"
"My head isn't that- wait a minute… Did you just call me smart?"
"If I say yes, will you be quiet?"
"No. And actually, stop distracting me."
"You're the one distracting me!" I exclaim, throwing a cookie in his face. "I'm the pilot!"
"Okay okay, one more question." He insists and I shrug. "How long can someone be Tallest?"
"Until someone taller comes along to succeed them."
"And what happens to them after that? Where is Miyuki now?" He asks.
"They become a noble. And I… I thought that was your last question!" I sneer.
"I lied." He shrugs. "So Miyuki is like a member of some sort of aristocracy?"
I finish off my cookies, sitting the trash in his lap, and stare out the window, preparing to land the ship. "She's… I have no idea where she is. Now shut your noise tube, I'm trying to land."
"Sorry. It's just your voice is like nails on a chalkboard, it soothes me." He replies with a smirk. I shoot him a glare before I refocus on the controls. Once we've landed and I've given GIR and Minimoose orders to stay put, Dib and I head down to Suittie, Dib with a camera attached to some string he put around his neck. It's evening when we leave the docking area which, although it's cramped with various different types of ships, is generally empty. "Where… where is everyone?"
"I'm not sure." I say back.
"This is a little creepy."
"Would you like to turn around?" I offer.
"Yeah right, I love creepy." He replies. Just outside of the landing yard, there's rubber ground creating walking paths in all the royal blue colored grass. The entire planet consists of various shades of blue actually. The sky is the same royal blue as the grass, the rubber padding on the ground is a sort of turquoise color and the trees are a combination of both. Tall, dark blue trunks with a mess of bright blue leaves so shiny they resemble ice sickles. We're walking along the narrow path when Dib ventures off to the side.
"What are you doing?" I ask as he walks through the grass and then kneels down.
"This is the softest grass I've ever felt." He marvels.
"We're on a brand new planet and you're fascinated by what is growing out of the dirt?" I glare but walk over to where he is anyway.
"No seriously, this grass feels like… I don't even know, like warm ocean water. How is that? And where is the sun?" He asks, still running fingers through the grass.
"It has likely set by now. I'm sure the moon is visible somewhere with fewer trees." I reply and he nods. Even with the contact lenses in, I can see the wonder and excitement in his eyes as he continues ruffling grass and staring up at the sky which is totally clear, making the stars all the more visible. He sighs contentedly and I'm just observing him. We've only been traveling a few days but he seems different somehow. Those dark circles under his eyes were still visible last time he wore his disguise on earth, but they seem to have faded away almost completely. He even appears to be less pensive but that could also be because GIR and Minimoose keep him busy. Too busy to get lost in his head like he always does. Overall, I don't think I've ever seen him as happy as he has been since this trip started…
I'm still watching him take photos of the grass, trees, bushes, and a few bug-like creatures, musing to himself while I'm considering my own feelings about this trip. I was absolutely positive that he would grate on my nerves this entire trip but so far, his presence has been pleasant. Even during the long hours that he's asleep in his room, I find myself missing his incessant questions and the annoying sound of he and GIR giggling over the stupidest things. Even when the three of them are racing around the ship, I feel this weird peacefulness. Almost as peaceful as it is in the middle of the night when he wakes up and comes to sit with me so we can eat snacks together.
"Why are you smiling at me like that?" He asks and I immediately avert my eyes.
"I'm just fascinated by how easily entertained you are. There's dirt and bugs on earth, too, remember?" I hiss and he continues taking pictures.
"Wait, Zim, look at this." He calls from where he's stopped, next to a tall bush. It's such a light shade of blue, it's almost white and it looks deceptively dangerous with tons of sharp looking points sticking out of it. Like an earth cloud with needles sticking out of it. When I walk over he points to a part of the bush and there's a long thin creature resting on it, it's almost totally transparent but appears to have innumerable legs under it. He moves to get a photo of it but it spreads these flat white wings on the sides and takes off.
"You didn't get your picture." I comment and he laughs.
"It doesn't matter." He says, touching the feathery bush lightly. It shakes a little and a few more creatures similar to the first one take off, sending debris into the air and of course Dib-Thing sneezes.
"Gross."
"I'll take that as a 'bless you' so thanks." He replies, sniffling a bit. I walk over to one of the trees, looking up at the turquoise leaves as they sway in the breeze overhead. I extend my PAK legs so I can grab onto one of the branches and then hoist myself up.
"Come here." I tell him and when he walks over I lean down and offer a hand which he takes without hesitation. Once he's on the branch with me he teeters a bit but steadies himself. "Hold on" I advise and when he grabs onto my side, I continue climbing until we're on the highest tree branch. I retract my PAK legs and although he's less sure about letting go, he does. "There's the moon." I point.
"It's…"
"Blue?" I ask.
"Well yes but it also looks like… Like a star. It's sparkling and moving like a ball of blue fire." He says, holding onto the trunk of the tree as he looks up.
"Yeah. It kind of does." I reply, not even looking at the moon. I'm watching him getting his camera ready to take a picture.
"I know this picture might not come out right but I made some modifications to the camera so it could work. I won't know until I have them developed but it's worth a try." He explains, snapping away, but I don't respond. He lets the camera fall around his neck again and then looks over at me and I clear my throat.
"Are you ready to go?" I ask.
"Back to the ship?"
"Not just yet if that isn't what you want." I reply and he looks excited again. "We can explore some more if you don't get so caught up on the little things."
"You have to learn to appreciate the little things." He replies looking out over the tops of the rest of the trees. I can't believe it but I am still staring at him, noting all the fascination in his movements and I don't know how to tell him that I'm already starting to appreciate 'the little things'. "Zim, look!" He gasps and when I look over, way off into the distance, I can just barely make out what looks like the very top of an all White Castle. There are eight different tips I can see from here all emitting light straight up into the sky. "What do you think that is?"
"Hm. Only one way to find out." I reply, shoving him from the tree but catching him with a PAK leg before he hits the grass, then lowering myself down as well.
"Zim, what the hell!" He gasps for air.
"You are so pitiful." I laugh and he glares at me for a moment before shoving me. "Calm down, at least I didn't let you break anything. Now let's go."
We start off on the path again, him glaring at me the whole time, and before long it gives way to a road that looks like a street made of pure ice.
"Do we walk on that?" He asks when we stop in front of it.
"No idea. You try first."
"Will you stop trying to sacrifice me!"
"Well you're the-" I'm interrupted by the sound of something approaching down the street from the right. It stops in front of us and almost looks like an earth bus except the wheels on the bottom are sideways as the spin and the entire thing is hovering above ground. The entire side of the bus fades away, revealing two rows of seats and at the front is an electronic operator. It turns towards us and opens its mouth, emitting a bright blue light and Dib flinches.
"Irken and unspecified life form." It announces in Irken and Dib tugs at the neck of his uniform.
"Did that thing just scan us?" He whispers to me and I squint at the operator again.
"So what?" I ask.
"Everyone's presence is required at the royal palace immediately. Have a seat and keep all your limbs inside the vehicle at all times." The robot replies, returning its gaze to the road ahead. I move to step onto the bus and Dib yanks my arm back.
"What are you doing? This could be a trap!" He whispers harshly. I look at the operator for a moment and then give Dib a skeptical look.
"I doubt that very much. And aren't you curious about where it's headed?"
"A little, but-"
"Then let's go!" I hiss, tugging away from him and boarding the bus. He follows close behind me and we sit down in the seats right next to the operator. The side of the bus fades back into place and then we're moving. We're driving for about 15 minutes before Dib finally seems to relax beside me. Although there was no one else on the streets, we can see the castle coming into view and within a few more minutes, the bus is coasting to a stop in front of an incredibly large fountain and we're hopping out.
"How are we going to get back to the ship?" Dib asks loudly as we walk around the fountain. It's extremely loud over here with a strange sound emanating from within the castle. We make our way towards some huge double doors at the center of a tall crystal gate. Before I respond, we notice they're wide open and just beyond them are hundreds of… people? "Whoa…" he says, watching the crowd.
Firstly, I've never seen a Suittie until now. They're hard to even describe, they're all different heights but everyone is lanky with long necks and inverted triangular heads except the edges are more rounded and they too are all different shades of blue. All of them though have wide, slanted eyes, white as earth snow and no noses. Secondly, Everyone is dressed up and this looks like some sort of special event. They are all chatting animatedly with one another in their native tongue, wearing what looks like earth tuxedos and gowns. Smaller Suitties are running about in fluffy ball gowns and a few of the older ones are dancing to what must be their form of music.
"Is this a party?" Dib asks and I snap out of my reverie.
"Looks like it." I reply and a very small Suittie shoves through us, running towards the fountain, another small Suittie giggling and hot on the firsts' heels. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" I yell but they're too busy to notice and then a taller Suittie joins us where we're standing, calling out to the two at the fountain. When they return to the other side of the gates, the apparently adult turns to the two of us. It's wearing a long sleek gown, grey in color with a velvety appearance and a long train in the back. It says something to us, dipping into a curtsy and then looking down at us it must be about six feet tall but Dib and I just shoot each other confused looks.
"We speak Irken." I state and the Suittie nods.
"I speak Irken as well. I said good evening." It replies with another quick curtsy.
"Hi…" Dib replies and the Suittie grimaces.
"What deplorable manners." It says.
"I uh, I'm sorry." Dib replies, face turning red.
"We've never been here before." I state.
"Yes, that much is clear. No one would attend a soirée in that attire." It replies, clicking its tongue. "No bother. I am sure the Elle won't mind, given the day."
"Who is the Elle?" Dib inquires and the Suittie perks up, flashing a smile, showing it has teeth similar to humans.
"The Elle are our ruling family. They're hosting us in celebration of the birth of their son."
"Oh. I-I, I'm sorry, my name is Dib. This is Zim. What's your name?"
"Ti. It has been lovely meeting the two of you, however, I must find my children again before they get into any messes." She curtsies again before walking off.
"Are we a little underdressed?" Dib asks me.
"Who cares?" I ask, starting through the crowd and he follows me.