rancoeur-the-unfortunate

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 29)

(Hello everyone, Rancoeur here. I know it's been a while since I last updated this book and I am truly sorry about that. But it's been so long since I've seen Zim or have even read fanfics about it. So in a way I sorta fell out of love with it. This doesn't mean I'm going to stop updating this though. This book is a monument to how my writing has evolved over the years and is my pride and joy. I will finish it, even if it kills me. It will be awesome and I can't wait for it. Thank you for reading this and please accept this 3300-word chapter as my apology. I know it's a little short and I did want to add more stuff to it but then it just looked bloated and I didn't like that. I hope everyone is staying safe out there. Have a nice day.)

Monday morning, Dib slowly got out of bed and stretched as his alarm clock rang. The boy rubbed his eyes softly before grabbing his glasses from the nightstand and put them on his nose after turning off the said clock. He glanced outside, noticing the dark clouds coming in, and sighed.

"Already looks pretty gross out there," he muttered to himself before he started to get dressed for school.

Honestly, it felt weird to sleep on a bed after sleeping in a tent for a week. Aside from just being comfier it kinda felt... lonely. Like someone was missing.

The boy shook his head as he slid on his coat and began the trek downstairs to greet Gaz and his father. Another rare day of eating with the Professor.

"Hey dad, hey Gaz," he smiled a bit and went to the fridge to grab some juice. When he grabbed what he wanted he pulled back and shut the fridge, only to find his dad right behind him holding a new device to his head. He reeled back in surprise, "dad?!"

His dad smiled at him and waved him off, "no need to worry son, I was just testing out this new invention I'm making on you. Says here your serotonin levels are higher than usual. You must be in a good mood!"

Dib gave his dad a nervous smile and laugh before backing away to the table where his sister was eating with one hand while simultaneously playing her new game with the other.

"Yeah, you haven't mumbled about killing Zim all morning. What's wrong with you?" She spoke between bites of cereal.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just too tired to think about killing Zim," Dib shrugged as he poured himself a bowl.

"That's bull and we both know it. You talk about capturing Zim in your sleep, I can hear it in my room," Gaz tossed a glare his way before going back to her game.

Dib rolled his eyes, "whatever." He muttered as he began eating.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in his chest.

Zim tentatively stepped out of his home. The Dib had told him that the skool children had already forgotten about the drugs, but he still felt fear. Like there were still eyes following him as he marched down the sidewalk. A feeling of uneasiness seemed to wash over him.

Eventually, the blocky, grey building came into view. A few children were loitering about, waiting for the bell to ring. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Zim just sat on a bench and waited alongside them. Only observing them slightly.

Humans were weird on Mondays, Zim had no idea why though. Something about that particular day of the week seemed to drain all of the energy from the weird meat bags. One kid looked like he was about to fall on his face from exhaustion.

Down the street, he spotted the Dib and his little sister. A part of Zim was fearful. Now that everything had gone relatively back to normal, would Dib go back to trying to expose him?

When the two entered the skool's grounds, they separated. Gaz went to sit on the steps, playing her video game. While  Dib glanced about, when he looked his way, the human... smiled at him.

Causally Dib stepped closer and closer until the two were only a few feet apart. There was a moment of silence between them, both of them just staring at each other. It was obvious they both wanted to say something but neither knew how.

Eventually, Dib sighed and spoke a little quietly, "hey uh... can I sit here?" The boy gestured to the spot on the bench next to Zim.

Zim looked surprised for a moment before he crossed his arms and looked away with his usual snark before quipping a quick, "you may."

Dib chuckled to himself, "same old Zim." He said as he sat down beside the green alien.

With that, the two sat in silence once more, the two of them just looking down at the skoolyard. Humans shuffling about like zombies, waiting for something to happen. Eventually, Zim slumped out of his uptight posture and looked down in his lap, fiddling with his thumbs.

It was Dib who once again broke the silence, "so, what evil plan is it this time?"

Zim looked up at the human in surprise, "eh?"

"You know, to take over the world and all that?" Dib smirked and leaned close, "or did you forget your mission."

Zim immediately perked up and sneered in disgust, "of course not! And to answer your first question. WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW!" He shouted that last part accidentally as he pointed an accusatory finger at the boy.

Dib just laughed, clutching his stomach as Zim tried to regain his composure. Zim couldn't help but giggle to himself slightly.

"In all seriousness," Zim started once the two had calmed down. "I don't know... I know I have a mission. But at the same time, that mission was given to me by them." Zim found himself glaring at his own hands. He clenched them into fists.

"It feels so strange, to have a purpose one second only to realize that purpose was only given to you to get you out of the way. And now that I see past all their lies I... I don't know. I have no idea what I should be doing, or what my purpose is now or what I'm even still doing on Earth." Zim sighed and closed his eyes, he knew Dib was looking at him, either pitying him or laughing at his distress.

Instead, he felt a hesitant hand on his shoulder. Zim looked up at Dib who was giving him a comforting yet awkward smile before pulling his hand back and sitting properly.

"If we're being truthful right now I guess I'll be straight with you," Dib spoke as he laid back on the bench and looked up at the sky. "The main reason why I wanted to help you was because I was hoping you'd leave once you realized what your mission was." Dib hummed to himself.

"But now that you're off your drugs and ready to leave... I..." Dib paused, "Don't get me wrong, I still hate your guts." He huffed but then frowned, "but the thought of you leaving now... it just doesn't sit well with me." Dib admitted.

"Funny how the one I considered my worst enemy could become someone I might even call my..." Dib paused again and looked at Zim with an emotion ZIm couldn't decern, "friend."

Zim stared at Dib in complete silence, 'friend?' Dib smiled slightly before going back to looking at the cloudy sky.

Three minutes passed before Zim opened his mouth, "Dib I-" Before he could finish the ever-piercing sound of the bell rang, cutting him off. Simultaneously, Zim was both annoyed and grateful for the interruption.

"Well I guess we'll finish this talk some other time," the human spoke grabbed his bag, and got up. "I'll see you later Zim," Dib gave one last smile before waving goodbye and walking away towards the school building.

It was then that it hit Zim, he'd never seen Dib smile so much before. The boy seemed genuinely happy in Zim's company. It felt so strange, a foreign feeling, a feeling he hadn't felt since, "Skoodge."

Suddenly it felt like all the air had left Zim's respiratory organs and he fell to his knees on the ground. Tears were building in his eyes until eventually, the dam broke, and he started sobbing loudly. Trying and failing to gasp for air. His cardiac spooch felt like it was being squeezed like a stress toy. It hurt and Zim was just figuring out why.

All alone in the Skool courtyard, Zim was crying. Crying like a long-forgotten smeet. Eventually, the Irken just laid down on his side curled into a ball. How could he? What was wrong with him?! How could he have hurt Skoodge like that?! His best friend! His partner! His mate!

How could he have hurt someone so close to him, so one who had seen him at both his best and his worst?

The tears wouldn't stop.

Eventually, his thoughts went back to Dib, the human who even despite their mutual hatred for one another still sought to help him. To get him off those horrid drugs and saw him as a... a friend.

Suddenly it felt like time itself had stopped. A friend.

Zim had a friend. Quietly the little alien stood up and whipped his eyes. He found himself staring up at the sky, just as Dib had. The clouds seemed to have gotten darker, it was likely going to rain soon.

He should probably get inside-

A hand came out from behind him and covered his mouth roughly, cutting off his thoughts as he went into a panic. That was before it all went dark.

"So uh... what is it exactly?" Tallest Purple asked a hand on his chin as he inspected the strange being before him, keeping his distance of course.

"A Murthen, my Tallest, female, foot soldier class." The Doctor spoke, his back upright and arms tucked neatly behind his back as he gave a quick bow.

They all stood on the bridge of the Massive. The two Tallest were near the controls while the Doctor and his captive stood at the other end of the bridge. Behind the Doctor stood Skoodge, the little Irken was practically sweating bullets as he clutched Raz's egg. He kept his mouth shut, but every time he even glanced at the Murthen or her collar it felt like another ton of weight was added to his shoulders.

"A Murthen?" Tallest Red gave a confused and disgusted look at the blue figure, "ok...but what's it doing on our ship."

"I believe she will be a great help to our mission to subdue Zim. Despite her lower rank, she is incredibly capable and has experience in both war and combat.

"I mean, so did Tak," Tallest Purple crossed his arms.

The Doctor actually laughed and it was the most haunting thing anyone in the room had ever heard. "Oh, my Tallest, Raz here, is certainly no Tak, trust me."

"I don't even trust the way you just said trust me," Purple muttered in the background as Tallest Red stepped forward.

"Murthen, Murthen where have I heard that name before?" He squinted his eyes at Raz as Tallest Purple stepped behind him, "was it a planet we conquered."

"I assure you my Tallest, Murth most likely will never be claimed," the Doctor hummed.

'He seems so sure of himself,' Skoodge thought.

"Why's that?" Tallest Red asked skeptically.

"This is why," the Doctor spoke as he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Before anyone had any idea what was going on, Raz raised her arm, showing a previously concealed weapon. She aimed it at one of the foodservice drones and fired and a blue beam-like laser shot out.

"AHHHHHH!!!" A scream ripped through the room as the service drone fell to the floor, the donuts he was carrying, splattering beside him. He had been shot in the lower abdomen and was clutching his melting chest in a frenzy. He was quite literally melting on the floor. Eventually, he fell silent as he collapsed on the floor, smoke coming off his body.

The two Tallest jumped back in fear, "WHAT IN THE US WAS THAT?!" Purple screamed.

"Show them," The Doctor gestured to the two with his head.

Raz held out the gun, displaying it in front of the two leaders. It was small and compact, not unlike the blasters the Irkens used. This one however was silver with a grey handle, on the sides of the round barrel were tempered glass that displayed a blue liquid.

"This is just a ground soldier-grade weapon. Yet it has the capabilities to destroy Irken armies. It's filled with a chemical compound known as H2O aka water. Due to our solubility when an Irken comes in contact with it, we tend to melt. However, that's not everything. The water is also mixed with a compound only found in Murthen waters, it is known as Gr4F8 aka Blue Gix. Mixed with water it lowers the boiling point to room temperature and creates energy in the form of light and heat. This creates the beam you just witnessed. This gun alone could destroy our entire empire and that's not even half of it." The Doctor nodded toward Raz and she lowered the gun.

"This is the kind of weaponry that can be expected on Murth, that is why we can not conquer it yet. I'm sure with a bit of studying we could find a way to make ourselves immune to this but until then. We'll just have to leave Murth unconquered. At the moment, however, I believe we should get back to the topic of Zim."

"R-right right, Zim," Tallest Red stuttered, trying to keep his composer. "Are you sure she's fit for the job?"

"Oh my Tallest, you have no idea," the Doctor smiled that irksome smile of his.

"Zim won't know what hit him."

The rest of the discussion seemed to fade out for Skoodge as he stared, wide-eyed at the dead Irken before him. He had just been shot, no warning, no nothing. He was just doing his job and he was shot and then forgotten about. Like his life meant nothing.

Already some of the cleaning drones had come over, collecting the body to be disposed of. Most likely going to be tossed out of the airlock like trash.

Skoodge looked to the egg in his hands, little Mur. Every time he looked at her he just felt more and more guilty. Her carrier was being controlled against her will and he was the cause of it.

Now he had to carry her around, an actual burden on his shoulders.

"Alright then, I guess it's settled, we'll be leaving the quadrant in a few hours to start heading for Earth," Tallest Red's voice cut into Skoodges thoughts and he felt panic run through him, that means they'll be leaving Murth and Raz's family.

Before Skoodge had a chance to voice his concerns, the Doctor was already leaving with Raz in tow.

Quickly Skoodge ran after them, once they were out of the bridge and in one of the Massive's many hallways he spoke up, "Doctor! What about the egg! There's no water on the ship!"

"Your pretty good at stating the obvious," the doctor hummed, not even bothering to look at him.

"B-but-"

"Look Skoodge, I already told you. If you want the egg, you can keep it. But that makes it your problem, not mine," the Doctor growled, getting agitated by the shorter Irken's nagging.

"But Doctor!"

Suddenly the Doctor spun around and pointed glaringly at him, "no! I'm tired of hearing your squeaky insignificant voice!" He shouted, "one more word out of you and I'll reveal the secret about your lack of pills to the Tallest!"

At first, Skoodge was terrified but one look at the child, strapped to his chest and he was quick to shoot a glare of his own. "And reveal yourself?! Fat chance!"

"Oh please! you don't think I don't already have the Tallest under my thumb?!"

Skoodge paused and stared up at the Doctor wide-eyed, "what?"

"You heard me, I've had them on my drugs since day one! I have nothing to fear from them. Just like I have nothing to fear from you! You short, intolerable, idiotic, service drone!" The Doctor raised his hand to smack Skoodge only to collapse to his knee in pain. He grimaced and gripped his right leg in pain, a new bump already showing through his pants.

"Damn it!" He snarled and began to roll up his pant leg, showing the ugly lump on his calf. To even the Doctor's horror, it seemed to be splitting off into two.

"Damn things are getting worse," he muttered to himself and looked to Skoodge expectantly.

Almost on instinct, Skoodge pulled out 4 syringes from his pac only to pause before approaching.

"What the hell are you doing, help me!" The taller Irken demanded.

"No! I will do no such thing until we return Raz and her egg back home!" Skoodge demanded himself.

"And ruin your chances of taking over the control brains and getting Zim back?" The Doctor sneered, gripping his leg tighter now.

"The ends don't justify the means, Doctor!" Skoodge snarled.

"Fine," the Doctor stammered out, already looking out of breath from the pain. "W-with friends like you, who needs enemies," he growled and snapped his fingers, and Raz, who had been standing beside him stoically this whole time, tackled Skoodge.

The scariest part wasn't those sharp webbed fingers, or those strong four arms, no it was those cold eyes. Raz looked completely dead on the inside like she was just a body heading the commands of something that wasn't her. It was terrifying.

She was quick and strong as he pinned his arms and legs down before grabbing the needles from his hands and kicking him away once she got what she was after. Not even bothering to be careful about her egg, thankfully Skoodge used his own body as a shield for the fragile thing.

After that, she knelt before the Doctor and began to siphon out more of that green stuff from the lumps. She managed to get one of the lumps to go down but it seemed the remaining two syringes weren't enough to lessen the larger one. Only reduce it, as Raz got up to get more from Skoodge she was stopped by the Doctor standing up.

"Leave it, this will do for now," he hissed as he pulled his pant leg back down, hiding the bump. "And you," the Doctor glared at Skoodge.

"You're lucky I'm far too busy right now to deal with you. I do however have this to say,"  he looked down on Skoodge the lighting making him look absolutely terrifying. "If you pull that again, I'll make you watch as I dissect that egg." With that threat, the Doctor turned around and left Skoodge on the floor, Raz following obediently behind him.

Skoodge felt sick to his stomach like he was about to throw up. He clutched the egg tightly, trying desperately not to cry. How was he supposed to go on? He needed to save Zim, but at the same time, just the thought of abandoning Mur and Raz left Skoodge feeling sick.

"Oh, what do I do," Skoodge held up the egg, staring at the little Murthen inside as if she could give him an answer. What worried Skoodge was just how developed she was now. Her four arms had all formed and little pink and purple spots decorated her body, soon to make the pattern of one or both of her parents. Her eyes were slightly open now too. Revealing dark purple eyes.

"Oh Mur, you're going to hatch soon aren't you?" Tears started to form in Skoodge's eyes, "and your carrier won't even be there to witness it." Skoodge covered his mouth with one hand as he scooted to press his back against the wall in revelation, "and it's all my fault."

"I'm a monster," he whispered in horror. Just as he was about to break down, crying. Skoodge felt a shift in the egg and looked down at the little Murthlet inside. She had moved her hands from the clutched position they had before to the shell of the egg. She had just placed all four of them there and it completely mesmerized Skoodge. Four little blue hands with little webbing in between, even tiny little claws on each finger.

Skoodge felt a small blush form on his face in surprise before a small smile crept onto it as well. He placed his forehead on the shell, ignoring the slight burning sensation it caused, and smiled.

"I know I've hurt you and your family. But I swear on my life, I'll keep you safe, I promise."

#pills #invader zim #invader zim zadr #zadr #zim x dib #Zim #Dib #Gaz #Skoodge #the doctor #Raz #Tallest red #Tallest Purple #drugs

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

(Chapter 28) Pills

It started dark. Like a vast nothingness that should be something but just wasn't. Then, as if summoned, the empty space was filling with little dots, stars. Billions upon billions of stars. It truly was a sight to behold. White specks of powder in the sky. Suddenly a new shape seemed to fade into the picture. It was magenta in color and was only getting brighter. A big circle, a planet. Suddenly the pretty picture started to get gruesome as the planet only got brighter and started to shake violently, bright orange cracks forming along the surface until it exploded-

Zim sat up suddenly mid-scream, knocking Gir from his place in his lap and onto the floor. Gloved fingers smacked his mouth and he attempted to calm himself. He pulled his hands back only to realize they were wet. His face was wet too. Had he been crying?

He wiped his eyes and attempted to shake off whatever it was he had just dreamed.

That couldn't have been Irk right?

Zim rubbed the sides of his head, calm himself down.

Without looking, he reached for Dib and grabbed a hold of Minimoose. She squeaked in response causing Zim to yelp.

"Oh yeah, Dib isn't here. Uh sorry, Minimoose." He scratched the back of his head, letting go of the little doomsday device.

"Mye?" She tilted herself to the side.

"No no, I'm fine just a little nightmare." Zim brushed her off and sat up.

He was laying down on the couch in the living room. The TV had been shut off and Gir was sleeping peacefully sleep on the floor. Minimoose hovered nearby obviously concerned for her master.

Zim rubbed his eyes and hopped off the couch. He figured talking could distract him from that awful dream.

"So uh what did you and Gir do over the week of my absence?"

Minimoose seemed to perk up a that, she floated higher and made a tilted gesture for him to follow her. Zim, followed after her.

They took the desk elevator to one of Zim's labs and moved into his main computer.

"Mi mu mye!" The little doomsday device squeaked happily.

"You did what?!" Zim's eyes grew wide as he rushed over to the keyboard and began to type.

"Computer! Run diagnostics on new upgrades!"

"Running..." The disembodied voice replied.

Zim turned to Minimoose, "why didn't you ask for permission before upgrading MY base Minimoose. His non-existent eyebrows nit together in disappointment.

"Myu meh," The moose defended her actions.

"So what if the Tallest threatened me?! That does not give you the right to poke around Irken equipment and using tools you have no business touching," Zim crossed his arms and glared.

"Kyu!" Minimoose frowned and turned herself downward slightly, small blobs of tears pricking in her eyes. Zim's stance immediately shifted from disappointment to concern.

"Hey hey, I didn't mean it like that," He said softly and reached out to cradle and comfort the deadly thing. "It's just that, Irken tech is dangerous, not to mention most of this junk is trash. You could have gotten hurt," Zim gently rubbed the moose's antlers and pulled away to look her in her slightly derping eyes.

"Weh mey?" She asked through soft sobs.

"Oh Minimoose, of course, I'm not mad at you," Zim gently wiped the tears from her eyes and held her to his chest. "Thank you Minimoose. I know you were just looking out for your master."

"Kew," she squeaked.

"Yeah yeah, I love you too. If only Irkens could grasp the concept of love yadda yadda," Zim smiled softly.

The two sat in comforting silence only to have it ruined by the sound of tiny clinking footsteps that were only getting faster and closer. "OOOH, WE HUGGIN' NOW?!" Gir screamed and jumped up to join them. Effectively tackling the two to the ground.

"Gir!!" Zim growled, trying to shove the little robot of his person, not that it worked. "Let go! Minimoose help!"

Zim watched as Minimoose slipped from his grasp and floated up into the air, "Weh ha." The Moose squeaked out an evil laugh that sounded more like a squeezed rubber duck.

"No! Minimoose you trader!" Zim laughed as Gir wrapped his arms and legs around Zim's chest and held on tight, nuzzling him affectionately.

The fun was ruined when the computer's voice rang out, "Scan complete."

Gir, startled by the sudden loud noise, loosened his grip just enough for Zim to get him to let go.

Zim stood up and read the computer screen displaying the results of the scan.

Upgrades: Complete

Base Integrity: 100%

New Anti-Air Weapons: Online

Base Transformation Parts: Operational

Long-Distance Communication: Online

Even Longer Distance Communication: Online

Advanced Secondary Weapons: Online

Fuel Storage: Max

Snack Compartment: Full

"Huh," Zim hummed a little befuddled. "Good work Minimoose."

"Kuy!" She squeaked, excited.

"How long are you going to stare at her?"

Raz's calm but stern voice woke Skoodge from his daydream.

"Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to I... must've dozed off..." Skoodge trailed off looking a bit ashamed.

Raz didn't even look upset, but rather curious.

"What's going on with you?"

"N-nothing!" Skoodge's eyes went wide as he leaned away from the bound Murthen.

"You're worried, and it's not about my egg or you're own wellbeing," Raz stated.

"Wha-? NoI'mnot!" Skoodge averted his eyes.

"Don't lie to me Skoodge I can see it in your eyes. I know what worry looks like, I have a mate. And if you're not worried over whether or not you could die today or if my egg will make it back to the nest. Who ARE you worried about?" Raz sneered, but she sounded genuinely concerned.

"Well you see it's..." Skoodge looked away for a moment before turning back to face the blue alien.

Skoodge sighed and looked the Murthen in the eyes and whispered so the Doctor couldn't hear, "it's Zim. The other Irken who lead the rebellion. I'm worried sick about him. Irk, I haven't seen him since Hobo 13 and we didn't necessarily leave on a pleasant note." Skoodge practically folded in on himself.

"I don't even know if he ever escaped those awful pills," Skoodge whimpered pathetically. He placed his hands to his face and wept quietly.

Raz looked at Skoodge for a moment. She had no reason to console this Irken, he stole her child and put her family in danger. But at the same time, he was carrying her egg. Maybe it was just the new mother in her but she felt the need to comfort him.

"Skoodge," her stern voice caught the attention of the shorter boy. Skoodge looked up at her with puffy eyes. "Just..." She paused and took a breath, "put your hand undermine."

Skoodge looked confused for a moment, "wha-?"

"Just. Do it." Raz bit.

Skoodge looked startled but placed his hand under Raz's. She gripped his hand gently but firmly. She refused to look at him, but she reassured him with her strong grip.

"Look, whoever this Zim is, I'm sure he's fine. He must be strong if he could lead a rebellion. I believe, whatever happens, you two will make it out, together."

Skoodge smiled, he felt-

"Alright, everyone. We're here!" The Doctor shouted from the cockpit.

Skoodge pulled away from Raz and started to undo his straps. Once up he began suiting up in his hazmat gear.

The Doctor approached and started to unstrap Raz barely dodging the swipe of her claws once her upper left arm was free. He chuckled in amusement and gripped her wrist tightly.

"Cute," the Irken continued to unstrap her while Skoodge kept his distance from the two. He kept a small hand on the top of the egg as if to calm the little Murthlet inside.

Once Raz was released, the Doctor shoved her out of the ship. Skoodge could tell he was getting impatient with his increased aggression towards the Murthen.

The surface of Bleech seemed almost softer than Cloric. The ground was a pale white and the sky lacked clouds just like Cloric, the ground almost seemed to almost bounce when stepped on. The ground was also littered with small craters each about the size of Skoodge's body.

Upon further inspection, i.e. fell in, Skoodge discovered some of the craters were a lot deeper than they appear or were straight up invisible at first glance. Skoodge was trying to avoid another crater when he slipped and fell into another. A smaller one, about the size of his waist, and sadly, got stuck.

"Uh, Doctor?" Skoodge called.

Said Irken hardly even turned to look at him.

"What IS it Skoodge?" He asked, annoyed.

"I'm stuck," Skoodge whimpered, shamefully.

Raz started to head over to free him only for the Doctor to aim his blaster at her, stopping the blue alien in her tracks. "Get yourself out," he kept his eyes on her as he spoke.

Skoodge sighed and tried to pull himself out, only to find the stretch surface had sucked him in and created a vacuum with him inside.

"Uh Doctor I don't think I can-" Skoodge was cut off when the Doctor suddenly pointed his gun toward him.

"Get. Yourself. Out." If looks could kill Skoodge doubted he'd be alive right then.

Skoodge tried to break the vacuum by tucking his arms in and pushing the rubbery surface away as well as kicking his stumpy legs. The action was tougher than it looked, but once his pak was out the Irken extended his pak legs and braced them around himself. He pulled with everything he had until he was released and shot out like a cannon. Hitting the ground with a bounce.

The Doctor didn't even spare him a passing glance as he kept walking with Raz.

Skoodge pushed himself up and dusted himself off only to be disgusted by the clear fluid now sticking to his suit.

"What is this stuff?" He asked no one in particular.

"It's bleach," Raz stated matter of factly.

"Oh," Skoodge finished whipping himself off.

The three continued forward, walking in relative silence. The sound of squelching breaking the silence once in a while.

Skoodge continued to observe the terrain, the Bleech almost looked like a wasteland with little to nothing on it as far as the optic could see. Where could Raz possibly be hiding weapons?

Raz suddenly came to a stop leading the Doctor and Skoodge to stop with her.

"Why did you stop?" The Doctor asked.

"Because we're here," Raz turned around to face the two Irkens.

At first glance the space around them was completely identical to the area they landed on. But it was Skoodge who noticed the only change.

"The ground it's not squishy anymore," he commented.

"I guess being lower to the ground has its advantages," Raz smirked a bit.

The Doctor only raised his gun towards Raz. "Enough! Show us the weapons," he hissed.

Raz simply glared and tapped her foot: three hard times, three soft times, and three hard times again. Then, the ground below them started to shift, before descending into the ground like some sort of elevator. Skoodge found himself subconsciously grabbing the sides of the egg as he steadied himself.

As they descended, Skoodge could see the multiple layers that made up the crust of Bleech. It was so strange, it was like the elevator was a clean-cut square carved from the surface of the moon.

Suddenly the elevator stopped, and four panels opened one on each wall. Out of said panels came a camera with a red laser and gun attached to it. All four cameras trained on the three of them.

"Halt!" A tiny, robotic voice reverberated through the shaft. "State your designation or prepare to be fired upon!"

The Doctor glared at Raz, "call it off."

Raz stood quiet.

"Identify yourselves immediately!" The disembodied voice rang, "Identity in 5..."

Skoodge looked at Raz panicked, but her gaze was focused on the Doctor's a look of pure disdain in her eyes.

The Doctor lowered his gun from her and pointed it at the egg on Skoodge's chest. "Now!"

"4...3...2..." Skoodge curled around the egg in a panic.

"Zya, it's me," Raz stated.

"Oh! Raz I did not recognize you! Come on in!"

The elevator began moving again until the walls giving way to a large room that wasn't unlike a storage room. Racks and racks filled with crates filled with Irk know what. Skoodge wondered for a moment why one Murthen would need all of this stuff.

Zya's voice interrupted his thoughts, "so Raz who are your friends? Why are they green?" The voice seemed to almost take a playful tone as it observed them. Skoodge found it kind of cute, while the Doctor just found it annoying.

"What's that?" He spat.

"That's Zya, she's a guard AI I picked off an abandoned Vort weapons cache," Raz explained without even looking at the Doctor.

"Well tell it to be quiet!" He hissed as the platform hit the ground. The three stepped off and began trekking through the room.

Skoodge couldn't help but look around in awe at just how big this place was. So much so that he started to fall behind. By the time he noticed, he was now alone. He looked around and called out for the Doctor but got no response. The short Irken shivered and began to run in the direction he thought they went.

He only stopped when he came across and a small water fountain. He smiled and dripped the egg bag in to refill it. He couldn't help but feel proud of himself for how well he was taking care of this egg.

The egg he stole.

From two new parents.

Parents he was currently stealing weapons from.

Skoodge didn't feel proud anymore.

Raz led the Doctor to the very back of the warehouse, where a large stack of guns sat.

"Here," she spat. "There are your weapons. Now give me back my egg."

The Doctor looked at the guns, then back to her before lowering his gun. He turned his back to her and started heading for the guns. Only to be stopped by one of Zya's gun arms. It lowered from the ceiling quickly and pointed it directly at the Doctor. "Put 'em up, green boy!" She ordered.

The Irken gasped in surprise and glared at Raz. "You didn't think I'd bring you down here and not have a plan, right?" The Murthen laughed in triumph and grabbed one of the guns from the pile. "Zya and I have tones of secret codes, the one you heard was 'there's an intruder with me'." She pointed the gun at Doctor. "Now. My egg." She glared.

The Doctor raised his hands and shrugged. "It's with Skoodge, I'm sure you can keep up with him." Raz looked around for the little Irken only to groan in annoyance. "Gah! Fine but I'm getting rid of you first." She fired her weapon, dead on to the Doctor's chest. A bright light shot from the gun and before the alien's eyes, the Doctor's skin started to bubble and melt.

He screamed in pain and collapsed onto his knees. He grasped at his chest as steam started to come off of his body. The pain was excruciating and his screams only seemed to get louder before he fell down and went silent.

Raz barely regarded him before reloading her gun and turning to face the hallway they came from.

"D-Doctor?" Skoodge's voice cut through the silence, not too far away. She dashed in that direction climbing up the shelves. She was getting her egg back, and nothing was going to stop her.

"Doctor?" Skoodge called again, feeling hopeless. He hoped the taller Irken wasn't going to leave him behind. Up ahead he saw a shadow, the low lighting obscuring his vision. "Doctor?"

The shadow got closer revealing itself to be Raz. She raised her gun at Skoodge, "the egg, hand her over".

Skoodge gasped in surprise frozen in fear.

"Now!" She demanded.

Skoodge jumps out of his stupor and starts to slowly pull the back the straps of the sac. A look of surprise marking his face.

He reached his hand out, offering the egg. "H-how did y-"

"The Doctor is not as smart as he makes himself out to be," Raz grabbed the egg from him, cradling it in her upper arms with care while her lower left held the gun. "Oh thank murth, you're ok!"

Skoodge took a step back, hoping to distance himself from the volatile Murthen. She glared at him and pointed her gun directly in his face.

"You! You broke into my home, smacked around my mate, and stole my child!" Raz snarled and stalked closer.

Skoodge stood silent, a look of fear on his face. He wanted to defend himself, but could he really? What Raz was saying was true. He DID do all of those things. And for what? Some dangerous weapons? Skoodge had no right to defend himself. He shut his eyes and waited for the impending shot.

Only to be met with silence. Skoodge opened his eyes only to see Raz, standing completely still eyes blown wide. Around her neck was a thick metal band. A collar.

"Not as smart as I make myself out to be eh?" The Doctor's voice cut through the silence like a knife. He stepped out from behind Raz.

She started shaking as she opened her mouth to speak. "B-but how-"

The Doctor chuckled and opened his coat revealing his chest. The bubbles that had formed were slowly simmering down and healing. "They call me the Doctor for a reason," he laughed as he closed his coat.

Raz shakingly raised her upper right hand as if to strike him but struggling to do so.

"Now now, enough of that, you don't want to strain yourself too much." He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a remote before pressing one of the buttons on it.

Raz stopped moving entirely, her eyes growing distant.

"What did you do to her?!" Skoodge shouted.

"Well originally I was going to use this collar on Zim but I think its uses are best served here. Now Raz, come with me." Raz turned to walk with the Doctor letting go of both the egg and her gun.

Skoodge quickly caught it and rushed after the Doctor. "What are you doing?"

"Didn't I tell you we were going to use Raz?"

"No!"

"Mm must have slipped my mind." The Doctor shrugged as they approached the guns.

"What happened to Zya?"

"What, the AI? I unplugged that junk right before I went back to save you."

Skoodge looked down at the egg in his hands. "Wh-what do I do with-"

"That thing? Leave it." The Doctor made an off-handed gesture.

"What?! No way!"

The Doctor sighed, "fine, keep it but if it hatches it's your problem."

"Aren't we going to return it?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes, "don't you get it?" He pointed to the guns and Raz began to pick up the weaponry and carry it back to the elevator.

"You were never going to give back the egg were you?!" Skoodge shouldn't have been shocked but he was.

"Of course not." The sighed and patted Skoodge's head, much to the shorter Irken's dismay. "Think about it this way, with Raz's help we'll have Zim back before you can say Irk." The Doctor laughed before walking away Raz in tow, all four arms stacked with guns.

Skoodge looked down at the egg in his hands. The tiny, blue Murthlet inside looking back at him with half-opened eyes. Despite being not even a hatching, Skoodge couldn't help but feel like she was disappointed in him.

"What have I done?"

#Pills #fanfic #Zim #minnimoose #Gir #The Doctor #Skoodge #Raz #Egg #mind manipulation

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 27)

(This kinda goes without saying but both Raz and Wer, as well as the Murthen race, were created by me (technically so are the Doctor and Agent Callus but they were made specifically for this story so I don't count them as OCs). I was getting kinda tired of just using the Vort people so I used a race I created a long time ago when I was like 10. I promise this story won't shift focus to them. Also here are a few pictures of Raz in case my descriptive terms weren't good enough. Wer is pretty much the same only pink and has dragonfly wings.)

Agent Callus knew his mom would kill him if she found out about this. But right now he didn't see any reason to care. This was for the betterment of mankind, so what if he snuck out at an ungodly hour, during a thunderstorm, on a skool night, to meet a stranger he met online. He needed to get this data to the Swollen Eyeball and he knew he could trust Agent Grub Grub.

The teenager sat near his window sill and watched the rain droplets flow down the glass, waiting for him mom to fall asleep so he could sneak out. He already had the evidence he was going to give the SEN packed up and a meeting spot with Agent Grub Grub already arranged. He was excited, to say the least. He was finally going to expose Zim for the alien he was and manage to complete the one task Dib couldn't.

Ok so maybe Agent Callus was going a bit too far with this whole rivalry thing. If he was being honest with himself, he never technically met Dib. Everything he knew about the teen was either from rumors from his fellow classmates or stories told by other members of the SEN. Others to him all the time the Dib was crazy or unhinged in some way. That he was only seeking attention from others that he couldn't get from his dad. But to Callus he was something of a role model, someone he could look up to. Nobody except Callus had noticed, Dib was trying to save the world.

But now, Callus wasn't so sure. Dib spent a whole week hiding with Zim; talking, laying in the grass, catching fireflies of all things. Was Dib working with Zim now?

Agent Callus shook his head and tried to not think about it. Dib couldn't prove to the world that Zim was an alien, so he was going to succeed where Dib had failed. Despite the fact of how god damn nervous he was.

The agent looked down at his watched and noted the time, his mom had to be asleep by now. Caleb took a deep breath and began to open his window while being as quiet as a church mouse. Once open he threw his bag out into the grass and then began to climb out himself. He opened his umbrella and grabbed his bag after he shut his window. Now that he was out Callus looked to the street and began to head down the road towards his meeting spot.

Dib was watching the rain from his kitchen window, it was Gaz's turn with the TV and he didn't feel like sleeping at the moment. Too many things to think about at the moment.

His train of thought quickly derailed though he Gaz's voice nearly knocked him out of his seat.

"You know you never got me that video."

"What video?" Dib gave his sister a curious look from the kitchen.

His sister was hanging on the back of the couch upside-down, her legs resting on the front of the couch. She was playing on her new console whilst facing him.

"And you're not even using the TV!"

"It's my background noise and I'm talking about the video you promised both me AND the ship. You know the one of Zim spasming out or something on withdrawal or whatever."

"Oh... yeah." Dib scratched the back of his head, a little uncomfortable. To be honest, he was so freaked out and drenched with worry at the time that he didn't even think to record Zim. Not that he could if he did. Zim may have been his worst enemy but the idea of recording him during his most vunerable and terrifying moment. During which Dib was actually worried that Zim would die.

"I ah, didn't get it." Dib looked away.

"Whatever, but you know there's only one thing that'll make up for this." Gaz offered.

"You're kidding! It's pouring out there!" Dib exclaimed, exasperated.

"Yeah, so you better get a move on before the streets flood."

Dib let out a long tired sigh.

"Can't it wait till tomorrow?"

Gaz looked up from her game at him with a look that Dib knew promised death.

Dib sighed again and got up. "Alright! Fine, I'll go."

Gaz nodded and looked back to her game. "Dad left us some spending money on the counter."

Dib rolled his eyes and grabbed said money and slid on a raincoat and boots. "I don't understand why Bloaty's doesn't deliver anymore." He whined as he grabbed an umbrella.

"Pretty sure Zim's robot thing had something to do with it."

"I'd believe that." Dib chuckled to himself in a small moment of mirth before opening the door and looking back to Gaz.

"How am I going to pay back the ship though?"

Gaz only shrugged, not really caring.

Dib rolled his eyes and shut the door behind him.

When the two Irkens found themselves out of the cave, Skoodge couldn't stop looking at the egg in his hands. He could clearly see through the blue translucent shell and to the little Murthlet inside. She was curled up in the fetal position her eyes shut tight. It was kind of like a smeet in an incubation chamber.

Skoodge couldn't help but feel sad at that thought. Irkens were already pretty developed mentally as smeets. But Skoodge had a feeling the same couldn't be said for Murthlets. This was a defenseless creature and he was snatching it for his own personal gain.

Skoodge ran his hand across the side of the shell. It was hard yet squishy, like a thick gelatin. It was moist to the touch as well but was becoming increasingly less so.

"I swear if we are the cause of this child's death-!" Skoodge glared to the Doctor.

"Don't even finish that threat Skoodge. Because I guarantee if that Murthlet dies we wouldn't even make it out of this planet's moon orbit." The Doctor spoke so casually about this whole situation that it was starting to really unnerve Skoodge.

"Are we leaving or not?" Skoodge jumped at the sudden voice and turned around to see Raz now wearing what appeared to be a suit. It was skin tight and covered only her chest, and legs. Her arms and neck had small skintight covers over the area where her gills were. Her body was also covered in bright blue tubes that connected all of the pieces of the suit together. On her back was a water tank filled to the top and on her legs were braces, most likely to help her walk on land. On her first set of shoulders and knees were arm and kneecaps.

       She turned her glare to Skoodge and threw something to him. He caught it and looked it over, it looked like a knapsack of some kind. It also had those blue wires sewing into it.

"Put her in that." She gestured her head to the egg before turning to the doctor.

Skoodge quickly did as the Murthen said and pulled the straps over his shoulders so the egg was resting on his chest.

"That bag will keep her moist for at most 3 Murth rotations." Raz practically spat those words.

"Then I suggest we get a move on then, yuhi." The Doctor returned, his cocky yet calculating stare never left the Murthen as he gestured towards their ship.

Skoodge could sense the tension from a mile away and instinctively placed a hand over the egg in worry. If a fight were to break out between the two, Skoodge wouldn't have the ability to help nor hide. He just hoped they would get those weapons soon enough so he could return this child back to her mothers and save Zim.

He also wanted to get to that ship sooner rather than later so he could take his hazard suit off.

Once they reached the ship the Doctor sat Raz in a chair and strapped her to it; her first set of arms chained above her while her second set was strapped to the arms of the chair. Leaving Skoodge to have to sit beside her because that was the only seat left, while the Doctor moved to the cockpit and began to start up the ship.

"Try anything yuhi and the egg will be tossed into space." He threatened once more before they took off.

Raz never stopped glaring at the back of his chair with the malice only a threatened mother could have.

Skoodge fiddled with hands for a second trying to avoid looking at her, feeling incredibly guilty.

Bleech at the time was on the other side of the planet and Murth was huge so the trip could take awhile.

"So uh the Doctor keeps calling you yuhi, what does that mean? Ifyoudon'tmindmeaskingofcourse!" Skoodge blurted out but instantly shrank in his seat when Raz cast her glare down him. He didn't know what it was but something about those dark, glassy eyes unnerved him terribly.

"It's a Murthen slur." She moved to adjust her sitting position. "It means mud dweller or crippled fish."

"You're crippled?" Skoodge asked.

"No, the insult isn't that literal. It just means I'm a lower class. He's referring to me being a foot soldier in the Murthen army." She spoke with bitterness but then paused.

"Hey, while we're tapping into each other's personal business. What's a stompy guy like you doing with a tall scumbag like him. I thought Irkens were segregated according to height or something."

"Yeah, we're uh trying to stop that..." Skoodge scratched at the back of his head nervously.

"By kidnapping eggs?" Raz almost looked curious before turning away.

"No no of course not!" Skoodge shook his hands wildly. "I had no idea the Doctor was going to do any of this!"

Raz cast one more glance at him, a judgemental one. "Really? What did you expect him to do?"

"I-" Skoodge cut himself off as he thought about that. In reality, he had no answers and he knew that Raz knew he knew that.

The Murthen looked away once more and Skoodge sat there in shame and silence.

It took Skoodge nearly 30 minutes to work up the courage to look up at her once more.

"So um... have you thought of any names?" Skoodge tried to make polite conversation. Maybe if he got on her good side he might survive if she chose to betray them.

"My son's name is Lur, the one you are holding is Mur." Raz explained, but this time didn't face him.

"Oh? How old are they?"

This time Raz looked at him but for the first time with fondness and not anger.

"Mur is 3 months and 2 days old and Lur is 3 months 2 and a half days. I had complications laying that one." She almost smiled as she looked to her egg. Her hand closest to him reached for the little Murthlet.

Skoodge's cardiac spooch twisted at the sight. Raz was clearly distraught about her Murthlet being torn from her and was trying to hide her fear. Gently he removed the straps from the sack and moved the egg to her hand.

Raz, in turn, rubbed the shell with her webbed hands and smiled contentedly.

Skoodge looked down in thought for a second then looked back to Raz.

"Raz I swear no matter what happens, I'll make sure you make it back to your nest safely with Mur." He promised.

Raz looked at him almost gratefully. "For both yours and my sake I hope you're right." Raz sighed and sat back in her seat pulling her hand away from the egg. Skoodge nodded and zipped the knapsack and slip the straps back on.

The rain had only gotten worse as the storm progressed through the night. Agent Callus tried to not let it bother him but his small one person umbrella was hardly cutting it. He sighed as he stopped at the bus stop to head to Bloaty's. The meeting location was hardly ideal but Callus WAS meeting someone he met online and having a few people nearby couldn't hurt.

He was about to pull out his phone and play some games when he was interrupted by a familiar face.

"Hey, Caleb." Dib greeted as he stood beside him at the stop.

'How the hell does he know my name?' Callus thought to himself.

"Oh um hi Dib." The younger of the two stumbled.

"Where are you going so late?" Dib smiled gently, making small talk.

"Oh um, Bloaty's. I'm kinda meeting someone." Callus tried to keep his cool but in his head, he was freaking out. This was the first time, Dib and he actually had a real conversation.

"Heh, so am I. Heading to Bloaty's that is. Gaz is forcing me to get her pizza." Dib chuckled to himself.

"But doesn't Bloaty's deliver?"

"Not anymore." Dib chuckled a for a second and looked away.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes before the bus they had been waiting for, drove near, and stopped for them.

Dib stepped on first and dropped his bus fare in the payment box. Callus had to stop and almost smacked himself for his stupidity. He had completely forgotten about the bus fare. He looked away in embarrassment and was about to walk the rest of the way when he was stopped by Dib.

"Hey, where you going?"

"Oh um, I forgot my bus fare." Caleb spoke nervously.

"Don't worry about it I'll pay for you." Dib smiled.

Agent Callus couldn't help but smile back as he got on.

"Thanks, man. I owe ya one."

"Don't worry about it. It's not a problem." Dib shook it off as the two sat down. Aside from a few other teens and an old lady in the back, they were the only two on the bus.

The two sat in silence but on the inside, Callus was having a mental breakdown. He was going to talking to agent GubGrub to talk ABOUT Dib! Now how was he going to do that?!

'Alright, calm down. All he did was pay for your bus fare. You are trying to take care of a potential threat!'

Yeah, a threat, definitely.

Callus sighed and looked out the window to the rainy street. Dib wasn't a bad or insane person. He was just trying to save humanity from an evil space alien. But now Callus wasn't so sure. Maybe Zim had been brainwashing Dib? All the more reason to report Dib to the Swollen Eye.

"Hey, Caleb you alright?"

Dib's voice cut him from his thoughts.

"Wa-huh?"

"We're here, dude." Dib was standing and gesturing to the restaurant with his head.

"Oh, sorry. Thanks." Callus shot upwards and the two walked off the bus.

The two opened their umbrellas, and of course Callus' was complete crap. Dib smiled and moved his much bigger umbrella over and cover the two of them. Callus smiled back nervously and nodded as the two began to walk to Bloaty's.

'Dib is oddly sociable today and nice?'

Callus looked away for a bit debating on that question before looking back to Dib.

"Hey, Dib. If uh you don't mind my asking. You seem I don't know more... friendly today. Is there some good news?" Callus tried his best to word the question without seeming like an asshole, but he had a feeling that he failed.

Dib gave him an odd look before shrugging and nodding. "Eh, that's fair." Dib closed his umbrella as they entered the restaurant.

"I guess. Life's been good to me lately."

He continued forward to the counter to order his food, leaving Callus by the door. Callus glanced around and spotted agent GubGrub in a corner booth, obviously waiting for him. Caleb looked back to Dib for a moment before sighing and heading towards that corner. He slid a piece of paper towards the older man, saying he was agent Callus of the SEN.

GubGrub read it over before handing Callus a paper saying he was agent GubGrub of the SEN. They both then ate their respective papers. To both hide evidence and prove they both know the code of this meeting.

Callus then sat down in the seat across from the older man and nodded.

"So you ready to make your case on Dib's valuation."

Callus bit his tongue for a moment and nodded.

"Then let's begin."

(2876 words :D)

#Pills #invader zim #invader zim zadr #zim x dib #Dib #Agent Callus #skoodge #ocs #kinda feelsy

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Chapter 26 (Pills)

Skoodge shuffled nervously behind the Doctor, the Tallest had called a meeting in the war room and that was the first time he'd gotten to participate. The Tallest didn't ask for him specifically but the Doctor had allowed him to come. Skoodge knew that he had been near the Tallest before, many times in fact. But those were all times that the short Irken had been on drugs. Now he'd have to keep up his stupid act tenfold.

Currently, both he and the Doctor were walking in one of the many massive hallways away from the war room and back to the lab. A hallway that was empty for some reason, quiet too.

"So uh..." Skoodge coughed. "What exactly is your plan?"

"Huh?" The Doctor looked away from the file in his hand.

"Your plan for... you know, destroying the C.B," Skoodge whispered that last part, whilst looking from side to side worriedly.

"Oh simple. I don't have one."

"WHA-" The Doctor quickly cut the short Irken's cry off by covering his mouth.

"-But, I know someone who does." The Doctor removed his hand and showed Skoodge the file he was holding. On the screen was a digitized hologram of a big icy blue planet with only a few tiny continents/island things and a purple ring wrapped around it as well as three moons.

"Familiar?" The Doctor smiled.

Skoodge paused trying to remember when it hit him. That dream he had! Skoodge blushed and stammered out.

"M-Murth? B-but I don't understand, w-why would the Murthens help us? I mean, the only reason they helped the rebellion in the first place was that we promised not to conquer them and we lost! They hate us!" Skoodge explained with a panicked tone in his voice.

"It's not the Murthens I need, but rather one Murthen. You may know her." The Doctor opened up the file and another hologram appeared. This time a deep blue alien with four arms appeared. The alien's skin was decorated with black dots as well as black glossy eyes, not unirken like. Three tentacle-like feelers protruded from the aliens head all three pulled back behind said head. The mouth was also abnormally small. The alien was clearly built for water: the fingers and toes were all webbed and scally yet the rest of the skin looked smooth, as well as strong arms and legs. The Murthen was also dressed up with what looked like a foot soldier's uniform.

Skoodge cocked his head to the side. "I don't understand. Who is this?"

"Ah, incredible huh? She's so average looking that you wouldn't even guess that she's one of Murth's worst criminals. Skoodge my friend you're looking at Raz, the most diabolical Murthen to ever walk on land." The Doctor smirked.

"You lost me. How can SHE help us?" Skoodge gestured with his hands.

"Tell me Skoodge what's the main chemical formula that covers the surface area of Murth."

"H20 commonly known as water. Why- oh wait a minute." Skoodge asked.

"Exactly, Raz keeps an arsenal of advanced Murthen technology, weapons with the ability to turn water into large bullets of energy stronger than anything our weaponry can produce. All we need to do is get her to hand over those weapons and the Control Brains are as good as dead."

Skoodge gasped. "So THAT's why you told the Tallest to stop by their quadrant."

"Exactly!" The Doctor snapped his fingers and stood up to keep walking.

"But uh how do you intend to find Raz?" Skoodge asked as he trailed behind.

"Simple, I know where she is. She's on Murth's third moon 'Cloric'."

"How do you know that?"

"Skoodge, tell me. When I approached the Control Brains with my proposal for drugs, did you think I didn't bring them a sample?"

Skoodge stopped whilst the Doctor continued.

"I traveled across the galaxy, collecting samples of various drugs, cataloging their uses and side effects. When you travel as much as I do, you come across certain 'information'." The Doctor made an air quotes gesture with his hands before he looked back to Skoodge

"Apparently Raz has quite the bounty on her head. It wasn't long until aliens started to hunt her down. However, none have been able to get remotely close to her, she has that moon locked down tight and whoever wants her, wants her alive."

"So what are we going to do, break-in?"

"Precisely." The Doctor smirked. "You're smarter than I thought."

"Hey!" Skoodge scowled.

"So what your telling me is that we're going to break into this ex-convict's homes in hopes of enlisting her help to destroy the Control Brains?"

"Mmhm." The Doctor nodded turning his attention back to the folder. Finally, the two made it inside the lab. Skoodge was about to sit down for a break when the Doctor through a hazmat suit onto his face.

"Ow, what's this for?"

"We'll be arriving soon, get dressed."

"Wait, what? I thought you said we're going to Murth's moon. Why do we need these?" Skoodge pulled the suit off and looked at the Doctor confused.

"Skoodge, the planet is completely covered in water, not to mention rouge. Can't be too safe." The Doctor spoke whilst putting on his suit.

Skoodge sighed and nodded as he looked down at the suit. He had a bad feeling in his chest as he started to slide on the outfit.

Once the Massive was close enough to Murth both the Doctor and Skoodge were moved into one of the ship's escape pods. The Doctor pointed to a huge yet small compared to Murth, rock on the far right side of the planet.

"That's Cloric when we land we'll need to be extremely careful, who knows what kind of traps she's laid down there."

"Doctor are you sure we're doing the right thing. Breaking into her home like this?"

"Skoodge. Do you want to kill the Control Brains or not?" The Doctor sneered.

Skoodge sighed and looked down at his feet. "Yes, sir."

"That's what I thought." With that, the Doctor stood up and sat down in the cockpit and began navigating the pod towards Cloric.

Skoodge looked out the window and pulled his knees to his chest.

When the two arrived on Cloric in their suits their first observation was how deserted the place looked. There were aircrafts everywhere, all destroyed and torn apart for parts.

"I don't get it. If she's in hiding why would she keep all these out?"

"Because what use is hiding when everyone already knows where you are. These ships aren't out here because she neglected to collect them, they're out here as a warning." The Doctor began walking forward through the debris.

Skoodge shook in fear and ran to catch up staying close to the Doctor's legs. He turned on his flashlight and tried to hold it steady in the dark.

They walked for a while, the isle of ships seemed to go on forever. When in the distance the two could see a cave entrance.

"That must be it." The Doctor cut the silence as they approached.

"Wow." Skoodge shined his flashlight inside and was surprised to see that the cave seemed to move downwards, steeply too. "How far do you think it goes?"

"Only one way to find out." The Doctor remarked before stepping inside the steep cave.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Do you have any other ideas?" The Doctor turned his head back to Skoodge.

Skoodge paused and looked away.

"I'll take your silence as a no. Now come on."

Skoodge gripped his arm and whimpered as he began to step inside.

But as he began walking he tripped over a rock and began rolling down inside the cave. He screamed in both pain and panic.

"AHHHH! Ow! AHHH! HELP!" Skoodge rolled for about 5 minutes before he hit the ground with an "Unf." He whimpered and gripped his arm in pain.

Meanwhile, the Doctor slid down beside him. "Huh, now would you look at that?"

"Is it that bad?"

"Not you. That!" The Doctor pointed deeper into the cave.

Skoodge turned around and gasped. The cave opened into a huge cavern that was lined from floor to roof in blue bioluminescent algae, which lit up the whole area. It seemed like the area was being used as a living space. There were deep pools of water everywhere as well as bits of metal shaped and molded to look like furniture. In the corner sat a Murthen space ship and at the far back of the cavern was an egg-shaped raft made out an unknown material that sat in the middle of the biggest pool in the whole cave. There were webs connected to the 'egg' that connected it to the nearest walls keeping it in the center of the pool. Near the front of it was a small hole, the entrance most likely.

The Doctor smirked and elbowed Skoodge. "Best guess, she's in there." The taller Irken then began to start walking forwards.

"Wait Doctor don't-" Skoodge reached his hand out to try and stop the Doctor but the taller Irken wouldn't listen.

From his pak, his legs extended and allowed him to walk across the shallow water to the 'egg' raft. He then climbed raised one of his limbs and sliced at the material. In one swipe the cacoon, raft, egg thing now sported a large gash making its opening much larger. The Doctor then proceeded to shove his hands in said gash and rip it open wider to see inside only to be met not with the form of a Murthen but rather that of two small translucent eggs one blue and one pink respectively.

Skoodge gasped and covered his mouth with his hands.

"Huh, interesting." The Doctor reached inside and picked up the pink one and watched as the small underdeveloped Murthen inside slowly shuffle about in its shell.

"What on Irk do you think you're doing?! Put that down right now!"

The Doctor ignored him as he inspected the egg even turning it upside down as he took in all of the Murthlet's features. It couldn't have been more then a couple of months old.

"Do you have any idea of how much danger we're in right now?! We need to leave!" Skoodge extended his pak legs in an attempt to reach the Doctor only to be stopped when a loud high pitched scream filled the cavern. Skoodge grabbed at his antennae and shut his eyes tightly in pain. Once the scream ended Skoodge slowly peaked up and saw the one who made the noise.

There near one of the ponds was none other than Raz as well as another pink Murthen. The pink one also had large dragonfly-like wings on her back which were spread out in a very intimidating way. The two looked thoroughly and, in Skoodge's opinion, understandably pissed off.

"Put him down, NOW!" Raz shouted she looked to be out for blood.

The Doctor smirked.

"Raz! What a pleasure it is to finally meet you." The Doctor spoke casually as he turned around to reveal the blaster he was now holding to the egg he was cradling in his arm.

Skoodge gasped at the same time as the Murthens. "What are you doing?! This isn't what we came for!"

Raz took a step forward but her partner held her back. Fear and anger marking their eyes as they watched the Doctor with intent.

"What do you want?" Raz snarled.

"We need your weapons." The Doctor's casual expression turned to one of malice and hate.

"Awht eaowpns?" The pink one asked in Murthen.

"What weapons?" Raz translated.

"Don't play coy. You know exactly what I'm after, Yuhi. Give me what I want or I WILL kill it." The Doctor spoke could as he placed his finger on the trigger with purpose.

Raz jumped back in fear. "Fine fine! I'll tell you just please let my son down!" The Murthen pleaded.

"Not until you give me the weapons."

"Erethy ont ereh!" The pink Murtheb exclaimed.

The Doctor looked to Raz expectantly.

"They're not here!" The blue Murthen translated.

"Then where are they?" The Doctor sounded inpatient.

"On Bleech, Murth's second moon. We moved them so that the kids couldn't get to them. Take them!"

The Doctor thought for a bit before turning his gaze back to the egg in his arm before looking at Raz. He then held up the egg over the water and dropped it.

The Murthens screamed and rushed over to save their egg only to be stopped when the Doctor grabbed the second egg and held his gun to it just as he did its sibling.

"Ah ah ah." The Doctor taunted.

Murthens, being an underwater race, were incapable of crying but instead released a small high pitched sob.

"Eaepls ihs iglls aehv ont eyt eeoedvlpd! Elt us aesv ihm eaepls!" The pink Murthen sobbed and reached out desperately for the water as Raz held her back to keep the Doctor from shooting their other spawn.

"I want you to take us there and show us. Got it?"

"What? And leave the nest?!" Raz exclaimed in somehow more panic then she was already in.

The Doctor only responded by tightening his grip on the trigger, not firing but getting close to it.

Skoodge was in such a state of shock that he couldn't say a thing throughout this whole ordeal in fear of setting off the Doctor even more.

"Fine! Fine, I'll take you. Just please let us save our son. His gills haven't developed yet, he'll drown." The Murthen pleaded.

With that, the Doctor smirked and gestured with his gun for the pink Murthen to get in the water and save her egg. "I knew you'd see things my way."

Said pink Murthen lurched into the water and pulled the egg out. She brought it back to her mate and pressed it to her chest. Raz took the egg and gently ran her head feelers over it, checking to over to see if it had been harmed. After a moment she smiled and the pink Murthen nodded back in relief. They both then turned to face the Doctor who still held their other egg hostage.

Said Doctor stood up on his pak legs and stood tall over all three of them he then dropped the egg towards Skoodge who practically juggled the egg for a bit before getting a solid grip on the thing.

The Murthens looked ready to attack but were stopped when the Doctor aimed his gun at the egg once more.

"We'll be taking this with us as leverage." He stated calmly.

"On! Ouyll ikll ehr!"

"The egg won't survive outside of damp conditions for long!"

"Then I think it would be in your best interest to make this trip quick." The Doctor snarked nastily.

"Ok ok. Just follow me I'll take you there." All four of them headed toward the entrance only to be stopped by the Doctor.

"She can stay." The Doctor spoke threatening towards the pink Murthen.

The two looked at each other with pained expressions. Raz gave the pink egg to her mate gently ran her feelers over her mate's.

"Take good care of him, Wer. I'll be back with our daughter soon."

"I iwll. I oelv ouy." Wer smiled softly and the two held one another for a second longer.

The Doctor rolled his eyes and began to trek his way up the slope and motion for Skoodge to follow. The short Irken starred at the two for a moment. The way they felt each other's feelers reminded him of Zim. He looked down at the egg in his hands and felt a strong sense of shame consume him. He knew this was for the best but was this the best way?

"Skoodge! Hurry it up!" The Doctor demanded from the slope.

Skoodge sighed, extended his pak legs, and began to climb

Zim woke up from his sleeping position when he felt something heavy hit his lap. That's funny he didn't even remember falling asleep. He looked groggily at his lap and smiled when he saw Minimoose hugging him. Well, the closest thing she could do to a hug.

"Hey there, Minimoose. Did you miss Zim?"

"Mye mi mey!" The moose squeaked as it nuzzled him.

It was long until Zim felt yet another weight, this time on his head and GIR jumped from the ceiling and onto his head.

"MASTSA!" The robot screeched at the top of his 'lungs'. "I hads no idea you was even home!"

"You were the one to greet me first."

The robot only turned his head a bit in confusion. Zim shook him off and ignored it, not really surprised at his SIR unit's bad memory chip. By the Tallest he had to get that fixed.

Wait... he probably shouldn't say that anymore should he? Zim sighed in frustration.

"Miu?"

"I'm fine Minimoose, I'm just a little tired. That's all."

"Nyah?"

"No, I don't need the relaxation room right now. Uh, why don't we just watch some TV for a bit ok? I've just got a lot on my mind I'd rather not think about right now."

Gir jumped up and screamed. "Floopsy bloops Smoopsy!"

"No Gir, not after last time." Zim winced at the memory of the skeletal raccoon family.

"Awwwwwww" The robot started crying. "B-but but puggy likey that shoooooww ow ow!" Gir then shoved a stuffed dog-thing in Zim face as he sobbed.

Zim sighed and caved.

"Alright, just this once."

In a split second Gir went from sobbing to screaming in joy to complete silence as he turned on the TV, put on his show, and sat on the couch.

Zim smirked a bit in amusement and resigned to watching the show with Gir beside him and Minimoose in his lap.

"How many episodes did you say were in this season?"

"5 hundred," Gir responded.

Zim groaned to himself and absentmindedly stroked Minnimoose's head as he watched one pink blob bloop another blue one with a strangely deep voice.

Tallest, who comes with these ideas for kid's shows.

Irk, he said it again. Zim mentally scolded himself.

Old habits need to die a lot faster if he ever wanted to stop being the Tallests' puppet.

"I bloops you Smoopsy!"

"Aww Floopsy."

"When is Smoopsy ever gonna bloop Floopsy back?" Zim asked only to be shushed by both him minions. Normally he would scold them for doing so but right now all he could do was laugh in mirth.

(You didn't forget the Doctor isn't a nice person, did you?)

#invader zim #zadr #zadr fanfiction #Pills #zim x dib #Zim #gir #minnimoose #skoodge #the doctor #the tallest #original alien species

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 25)

Skoodge looked down at the Doctor's hand, was this the route he wanted to take? On one hand, the Doctor had all the power he could easily tell the Tallests that he was off his medication and there would be nothing Skoodge could do about it. On the other, joining him meant siding with the Irken who caused this nightmare. The rebellion, Irk, Zim all things Skoodge believed he would be betraying if he shook the Doctor's hand right now.

Zim... the same Zim who was currently out of his mind right now and probably doesn't even remember their time together.

Skoodge looked back up to the Doctor's face.

"Before I decide anything, I want to know. What do you plan to do with Zim?"

"Well, the original plan was to change Zim's drug formula and make it so that instead of being an insane megalomaniac, he would become my head general, Zim can be made into a very powerful weapon if controlled by the right hands." The Doctor explained.

He paused and gazed into Skoodge's hurt filled eyes.

"But since that would most likely make me lose the support I need in this matter, obviously I need to change said plan." The Doctor sighed and pulled his hand away for a second to pull up his goggles onto his forehead, revealing his now blue again eyes. As Skoodge looked into those eyes he couldn't help but feel uneasy by the tired yet sincere look in them.

"My quarrel was never with the Irken race, Skoodge. It was the Control Brains who I wanted to destroy. They made me, I wouldn't be alive right now if it wasn't for them and I can never forgive them for that. Considering all I've done, I've been nothing but a stain on Irken society. All I ask is your help in their destruction and I swear no living Irken will ever have to see my face again. I'm sure you and Zim will gladly fix Irk and make it better than it ever was before." The Doctor reached his hand out once more to Skoodge.

Skoodge once again looked back down at that hand. As he weighed his options he noticed the Doctor's arm began shaking, he could see the lump beginning to swell within his forearm. He gripped his shaking limb and fell to his knees in pain. He hissed and a look of panic filled his eyes. Slowly, Skoodge could see it as the pain-filled those orbs so did something else. The Doctor's eyes were slowly turning into a shade of lime green.

The Doctor's groan in pain snapped Skoodge out of his stupor and he dashed to the table to grab some syringes. He knelt beside the Doctor and forced the bigger Irken to lean on him as he got to work on siphoning out the green liquid.

The Doctor winced at each injection and tried looking away but eventually found himself gripping Skoodge's arm for comfort. After five injections the swelling had finally gone down. The Doctor gently squeezed Skoodge's arm.

"That'll do Skoodge."

The short Irken nodded and helped the Doctor to his feet as said Irken pocketed the syringes.

"So... do we have a deal?" The Doctor spoke between pants.

Skoodge sighed but nodded.

"Yeah. we have a deal."

"You know Dib, I won't lie when we started this, I was a little more than skeptical about this trip," Zim spoke as the two were making their way back into their neighborhood. They were still holding hands amazingly enough.

"Heh, same here. I was almost certain you'd try to kill me in my sleep." Dib smirked as they started down Zim's street. The plan was to drop Zim off at his house and Dib would walk back to his place after. He'd probably have to set up more cameras in this area (more than he already had) just to be sure the Swollen Eyeball wasn't still poking around.

"Foolish human, Zim would never kill you in your sleep. Zim would kill you while you were awake, that way I could watch the life bleed from your eyes!" Zim smiled with a look of pride.

Dib sighed and shook his head but a small smile remained on his tired face. Same old, same old.

"Well if I wanted to kill you, I'd make it on an operating table. Cutting you open and exploring your insides." The two went silent for a bit with Dib holding his head up and Zim giving the human a worried glance before the two broke out into laughter.

That laughter and mirth remained until they met the front door of Zim's house, where they both turned to face each other.

"So uh, we're here."

"Um yes, yes we are." Zim averted his gaze for a moment before turning to look at Dib once more. From the flower crown that sat on his head to dirty worn shoes. With a quick breath, Zim snapped his finger and pointed downwards. Dib tilted his head in confusion before taking the kneeling position in front of Zim once more. Before he could ask what this was for Zim grabbed both sides of the boy's head, pushed their foreheads together, and gently yet quickly ran his antennae through Dib's hair and along his sythe. He soon pulled back and ran inside his house before slamming the door behind him. Leaving a blushing and confused Dib in his wake.

It took the human a few minutes to gather enough of his thoughts to stand up and smile slightly to himself and turn around and head home. He had next to no idea what had just happened but it felt amazing for some reason and he just could stop smiling.

As soon as Zim slammed the door he slid down it almost in awe of his actions. But before he could think about it he was immediately tackled by his robot subordinate.

"MASTER IS HOME! MASTER IS HOME!" GIR screamed with sheer delight as he held Zim's waist in an almost death grip. "I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN 34 GAZZILION YEARS!" The robot then started crying and rubbing it's 'face' into Zim's tunic.

Zim groaned and wriggled a bit trying to get out of the tiny robot's grasp.

"Yes yes GIR, I'm home now let go of me." The Irken sighed in annoyance.

"Not until you hug me back!" GIR squealed from his spot in Zim's lap.

Normally Zim would tell the robot no and would just use his pak legs to escape. But Zim felt generous so he gave the robot a light-hearted pat on the head. Gir smiled and ran off screaming as he went down the trash can "MASTER HOME! MASTER HOME! MAster ho-" his voice disappearing as he went further in the lab.

Zim couldn't help but smile as the little robot ran off to let everyone else know of his arrival. He sat down on the couch, exhausted both physically and emotionally.

Agent Callus knelt back down behind one of Zim's neighbors' bushes. He made sure to snap as many photos as possible of Zim and Dib's interaction. Eseaspically with strange antenna thing. Was Dib bonded with this alien? This was the last thing he expected from the guy. Then again those moments Agent Callus had managed to capture did seem pretty intimate.

The brunette then focused his attention back to Dib, normally he'd stay at Zim's house but something told him he'd get more information at Dib's house. So he followed the other while remaining at a distance. For someone who is well known as paranoid and on edge, Dib seemed pretty distracted at the moment.

Once at Dib's house Callus hid behind another bush across the street and pulled his tablet from his bag. He spent a good amount of his savings on the bugs he placed throughout the bottom floor of the Membrane house. Courtesy of Professor Membrane letting him in to talk when he asked where he was. While the professor was in the kitchen preparing tea the teen had managed to place a bug under the coffee table and when they sat at the kitchen table to chat, he placed a bug under the said table too.

Callus turned on his tablet, plugged in his headphones, and listened in. Hoping he could get something to help further prove Zim to be an alien.

Once Dib was inside his home the first thing he did was drop his heavy backpack with a sigh of relief before glancing about the room. Dad, of course, was nowhere to be seen and Gaz was sitting on the couch playing her Game Slave 2. The boy smiled a bit and went to the fridge to grab a juice box and sat on the side of the couch opposite his sister.

"Dad at work?" He asked while grabbing the remote to turn on the TV.

"Yeah." Came the short response.

The two were quiet for a moment as the theme for Mysterious Mysteries started to play. Yes, despite the age Dib still watched the show. Call it a nostalgia thing.

Surprisingly, it was Gaz to break the silence.

"How was your trip?" She asked, her eyes never leaving her game.

"Oh um, it was... interesting to say the least."

"You spent the week with your worst enemy Dib, of course, it would be interesting. Anything else?"

"Well, I fell into a river and almost died via a waterfall."

His sister chuckled.

"What about you? How'd you spend your week without your annoying brother to bother you? Bet you didn't look up from that screen once." Dib teased.

"Actually I spent the majority of it at your boyfriend's house," Gaz smirked as Dib's face went red with blush.

"Zim isn't my boyfriend Gaz!"

"I never said it was Zim's house." Gaz's evil smirk never faded.

Dib shook his head and waved her off. "Whatever, what were you doing at Zim's house anyways."

"Well as I said before. Zim's moose thing made come over and said you guys were in trouble and it needed my help. At first, I was gonna say know but the Moose offered to buy me one of the alien game machines and I swear to god Dib if you dismantle it just to look at the 'alien parts' I'll kill you." She tilted the game his way to show him that it wasn't, in fact, her Game Slave but something else entirely. The colors were different as well as the symbols on the buttons, the graphics on the screen were upgraded too.

"Wait so what did Minimoose need you to do?"

"Help build upgrades for the house as well as keep intruders out. I got Keef in a cage in one of the sub-labs."

Dib smirked for a second at the thought of Keef having to deal with his sister. But that smirk quickly went away.

"Wait, upgrades?"

Gaz cocked a brow at his late of regard for Keef but brushed it off.

"Yeah, the moose wanted the house's defenses to be stronger. Zim's Tallest are still after him you know."

Dib sighed as he slouched against the couch.

"I know, not to mention the Swollen Eyeball might try to kidnap Zim as well."

"You know, you never told me why you were doing all of this."

"Huh?" Dib turned to look back at his sister, who in turn actually PAUSED her game to look him in the eye.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you going through all this trouble to protect Zim? Hell, a week ago you would have been pretty set on letting the Swollen Eye thing take Zim in a heartbeat, but now? It's like your whole deal has changed. What happened over there?"

Dib looked away at his feet for a moment, unsure how to answer his sister's question.

"...If I'm being honest Gaz, I honestly don't know. It's like these past few months I did nothing but try to get everyone to focus on Zim enough to notice the alien beneath that crappy human disguise. But when people started to finally pay attention long enough all I could feel was anger and... GAH I don't know. Ever since we were in elementary Skool, Zim was MY alien and just the thought of others trying to catch him, I don't know it just pissed me off. So I tried to get everyone to leave Zim be and for the most part, I was right. I checked the Skool's forum and pretty much everyone has forgotten about Zim's 'drug addiction' but the Swollen Eyeball I know won't let up that quickly. I'll have to find a way to convince them Zim is normal."

"Why don't you go back to trying to convince them he's an alien that seemed to do the trick."

"Haha very funny," Dib replied sarcastically.

Gaz smiled for a bit before unpausing her game and turning her attention back to it while Dib went back to watching Mysterious Mysteries and to fell back into a comfortable silence.

Callus smirked a made sure to record all that was said on his tablet.

Withholding information about an alien from the Swollen Eyeball.

Befriending said alien.

Mentioning the Swollen Eyeball to a nonmember of the group!

Dib could get kicked out of the Swollen Eyeball for good if Callus released this recording. Even though that wasn't Callus' end intention it would definitely be a bonus. Callus smirked and begun to pack up belongings and made his trek home.

(Hello everyone, I'd like to take the time to thank all of you for reading this story and having the patience to wait for each chapter to come out. As some of you know I live in Florida and live under constant quarantine and where I live I can't go to certain places without a mask on, as well as, leave my home after curfew. It sucks and I hate it. But that's the way it is now and we have to adapt to the new changes. At least until this whole Corona thing goes away. I hope all of you stay safe and healthy. Remember to stay inside unless you absolutely have to and wash your hands to help stop the spread of Covid-19.)

#invader zim #Pills #zim x dib #Zim #Dib #skoodge #gir #gaz #kissing(sorta) #cute #but emotional

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 24)

(5178 freaking words!!!!!!!!)

Michelle Baker smiled as she finished setting the up table for dinner. That smile, however, soon faded when she looked in the direction of her son's room. He didn't come out when she called out that dinner was done and she was starting to worry again. She hummed softly as she approached her son's door and knocked softly.

"Honey, are you ok? I haven't seen you since yesterday."

"I'm fine mom. Go away. I'll be down to get dinner in a bit." Her son called from within his room.

"Sweetie you haven't seen the sun in days. Are you sure you don't want to come out?" Michelle asked. She was a frail woman, a single mother with a single introverted child. She leaned against the door with a sigh.

"Yes, mom! Now leave me alone."

"Caleb ple-" She was cut off by her son's shriek.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

The woman sighed once more and gave up as she turned to walk back to the kitchen. This was a common occurrence with her boy, he just didn't have the time to eat with his mom anymore. That's when the door behind her opened and out came her little boy. Of course, he wasn't really little but in her eyes, he would forever remain her little Caleb.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you mom. I've just been a little stressed lately." Agent Callus fiddled with his fingers, despite his attitude he really did love his mom and forcing her to eat with herself didn't sit well with him.

"Oh, honey." She knelt and pulled her son in a hug.

Callus held onto his mother and relaxed into her embrace. He couldn't remember the last time he hugged his mom like this. It wasn't like he meant to, it's just that all this Zim stuff, he just kept getting tied up and he knew he made his mom worry.

Ever since his dad died passed away, Callus was all she had left and only seeing him now and again made her more worrisome and Callus didn't want that.

"I love you, mom."

Callus' mom smiled and ran her fingers through her son's hair, gently playing with the ebony curls. "I love you too." With that, she waited until he let go first before releasing him from her embrace, you never know how much a child needs a hug.

She stood and the two headed for the kitchen for dinner. It felt nice to eat with her son. He could be fussy and distant sometimes, but no force in the galaxy could ever stop her from loving her boy.

"Are you going to help?" Dib turned his head to face Zim while taking down the tent.

"I am," Zim answered from his crouched position in the grass. He had been there since Dib woke up and refused to show Dib what he was doing.

Dib rolled his eyes and began to pack the tent into his backpack. He made sure to clear the campsite of any trash they may have left behind. We don't litter in this house! Once he was sure everything was packed up, Dib stood up and approached Zim to see what he had been doing.

"Alright Zim, we got to go. I texted dad and told him I'd be home by 6."

Zim huffed and stood, up to finally show Dib what he was working on.

It... was a flower crown, made up of wildflowers of varying colors.

"It's not done." Zim hissed. "But since you're so adamant about leaving, you'll just have to receive it at the beta stage." The alien then snapped his fingers and pointed down.

It took Dib a bit to realize Zim had wanted him to kneel. He did so with a slight blush on his face and watched as Zim placed the crown lightly on his head.

Zim clasped his hands together and smiled at the site. His human, kneeling before him where a crown of flowers from his planet.

"Can I stand up now?" Dib almost chuckled at the site.

"You may."

Dib stood and made sure not to jostle his crown, partly because he knew if it fell off he wouldn't hear the end of it; but also because he kind of liked it.

"Ready to go?"

"Yes."

With that the two turned and left the campsite, walking down the path they took before. Zim throughout the walk kept his gaze on Dib. He couldn't help but feel a strange connection towards him. One he had not felt for anyone in a long time. Slowly his gaze moved from the human's face, down his arm, and to his hand. Zim looked at his own hand for a moment before quickly snatching Dib's and looked ahead.

Dib turned his head to face Zim in surprise but the alien refused to make eye contact. The teenager smiled a bit and turned to look forward and let the two of them fall into a peaceful silence.

2 hours into the trip, and Zim decided to break the silence.

"Dib-human?"

"Yeah, Zim?"

"I uh... Zim wanted to thank you for taking me on this 'camping' thing. I really enjoyed it." Zim refused to look at the human as he spoke.

"Oh? You're welcome, Zim. Yeah, I had a nice time too." The human couldn't help but giggle internally at the Irken's sudden shyness.

"Do you think the skool and your swollen eye thingy has forgotten about my pills?"

"Zim, the entire skool Populus has the attention span equivalent to that of a goldfish. They've probably forgotten that you even existed by now. Also, I hacked into the skool's webpage and deleted your name on the skool's victims list, so you won't have to worry about being targeted. The Swollen Eyeball, however, is another story." Dib's thumb brushed over Zim's hand almost in reassurance.

"Hey, if you could just remove names off the list, how come you never removed your own."

"I have, several times. But someone just keeps putting me back up. I just gave up over time."

"Huh. So what are we going to do about the Eyeball?"

"I'll think of something, don't worry." He tossed Zim a small smile, Zim returned it, and both of them went back to their comfortable silence.

The Doctor stood alone in one of the labs, Skoodge was off running some errand while he worked. He had been testing some chemicals to use for his collars. He'd been down there for days and was getting somewhere with this batch and he wasn't going to stop now.

He started up the burner under the flash and watched the liquid inside, bubble. He watched as the liquid inside went from green to blue. He turned off the burner and pulled the flask off. He began pouring the liquid only to see it had turned solid. He growled and set the beaker down. This happened, more or less each time. The liquid either evaporated, burned to a crisp, solidified, became corrosive or poisonous, etc. Despite how close he knew he was he just could figure it out, and despite his patience, he felt as though he was going to lose it.

He sighed and reached into his safe and pulled out another syringe and began starting the process over again, making more adjustments this time. Everything was going ok at first. He set it on the burner once more, only for the liquid to turn red this time and solidify. The Doctor growled and threw the flask at the wall and watch it shatter. Just in time for Skoodge to walk in a shriek at the projectile to shatter right beside him. The little Irken was carrying a tray with one of the Doctor's cans on it as well as a small snack for Skoodge.

"Um, Doctor?"

"Yes? What is it?" The Doctor kept his gaze on the chemicals, both hands on either side of the table as he leaned over it.

"I got dinner." The short Irken stumbled as he walked in, trying to avoid the glass on the floor. He set the tray on the table once he was close enough.

"Thank you, Skoodge." The Doctor took the can and quickly opened to take a sip.

"Trouble in the lab again?" Skoodge tried to make small talk.

"You don't know the half of it." The Doctor snarled, not at Skodge but at his situation.

"Don't let it get to you." Skoodge offered a small smile. Don't him wrong, Skoodge hated this Irken, but if he appeared friendly he also appeared harmless. That's how he got the privilege of free-roaming the Massive. While the Doctor sent him on his 'errands', Skoodge was mapping the place out.

The Doctor avoided his gaze. "I just don't get what I'm doing wrong."

"Well, what are you trying to do?"

The Doctor eyed him for a bit as if contemplating whether or not to tell his assistant.

"You that...green stuff that causes my body to swell at times?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"I am trying to create a neutralizer. Something to stop the cells from multiplying as fast as they do." The Doctor took another sip of his drink.

"Why don't you just remove the stuff? I'm sure you could come up with some sort of cure for whatever this thing is."

The Doctor chuckled and shook his head. "I wish it was that simple, my stumpy friend."

"Well, I can't help if I don't understand the problem." Skoodge crossed his arms in a pout.

The good Doctor paused once more then sighed. "Alright, you win. Follow me." He made a motion with his hand for Skoodge to follow him and began to head towards a deeper part of the lab; apart Skoodge was forbidden to go near.

Skoodge smirked internally and followed the Doctor's lead. This was perfect! A chance to learn about the Doctor's main weakness. Maybe even find a way to exploit his main weakness. Heh if Zim could see him now. Zim...

Well, that killed his mood.

Skoodge soon found himself following the Doctor into a pitch-black room, the darkness only being spat by florescent green tubes that were literally everywhere. Long pillars of the stuff rose to the ceiling lined a path for the two to follow.

Did the Doctor produce all of this?

At the end of the path was a door which led them to an even smaller room. This room was so dusty it was almost hard to breathe. In the center of the room was an only vidscreen with a box full of slugs beside it.

"What is this Doctor?"

"My curse. If you truly want to know the extent of my 'problem' then you need to know the origin of it." The Doctor grabbed the first slug from the box and motioned for Skoodge to sit down as he plugged it in.

The old Vidscreen lit up and a black and white commercial played.

A disembodied voice spoke while pictures of sick Irkens were being displayed.

"Tired of those pesky illnesses? Are you feeling like you might just give up on life altogether?"

A cartoon picture of an Irken with a face twisted in agony as he was removing his Pac was displayed.

"Bent antennae? Crusty eyeballs? Chapped hands? Well not anymore! Thanks to our amazing Tallest Zewya and ever knowable Control Brains we now have a cure for any kind of infection, virus, or disease you could ever hope to encounter."

Pictures of said problems were being displayed and when the names of the past Tallest and Control Brains their pictures were shone respectively. Zewya had long antennae that went past her shoulders, her left eye was crunched a bit, and from what Skoodge could see in the black and white picture she at least a foot on the current Tallest in regards to her height.

The next picture was in color surprisingly enough. It was a jar labeled 'The Doctor' it a fancy label and dark purple lid. It was also filled with that green stuff inside the Doctor.

"Introducing the new wonder cure! The Doctor! This little miracle can fix any old wound, scar, and as said before any and all kinds of diseases!" The cheery voice spoke as videos played of injured or sick Irkens rubbing that stuff on themselves and like magic all of their wounds were healed within minutes.

"Got an itch or rash? The good old Doctor works on that too!"

More videos of Irkens rubbing the jelly-like substance over themselves, and being cured of their problems.

"The Doctor cures and heals all, so what are you waiting for? Head on down to your local medical planet and get yourself a jar today!" The commercial cut off with the jar as its last picture and then it cut to black.

Skoodge looked to the Doctor with an understandably confused expression. Skoodge opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

"I'll answer your questions once we get through these."

Skoodge closed his mouth and watched as the screen as the Doctor unplugged the slug and plugged in another.

This time instead of a commercial, there was an Irken in a lab coat with a nametag that read Dr. Weder. He sat at a desk with his hands folded in front of him, very formal. His desk had the typical stack of papers on one side and computer on the other. The doctor himself had bright blue eyes and antennae that rested at his shoulders. When he talked, Skoodge could see the guy was had a few capped teeth. Skoodge also noticed in the corner of his eye the Doctor was glaring at the Irken on the vidscreen.

"Hello, my Tallest." He dipped his head.

"My name is Dr. Tue Weder. I am the head scientist and researcher of project Delivering, Operations, Critical, Traumatic, Of, Resources or Doctor for short. I am making this video to document the process and eventual success of the project. We have just received your smeet donations and will begin testing as soon as possible. Once the tests begin we will start injecting the smeets with chemical [redacted]" Dr. Weder's voice was cut off by static. "...at different stages of their lives and with different amounts to see how much they can take. Once more I would like to thank you for this chance to take Irken medication to the next step. I promise not to let you down."

The Doctor pulled out the slug and pugging in another, this one was labeled 'Subject 1'. Whilst Skoodge's mind only filled with more questions.

The beginning of the video showed a picture of a smeet still in its incubation chamber. It had to be at 50% completion. It had antennae and legs but its arms were just nubs and it hadn't opened its eyes yet. Underneath the picture was the label 'Subject 1'. The disembodied voice of Dr. Weder accompanied the picture.

"Day 2# Subject 1 has been receiving chemical [redacted] for the past 2 days. It is looking healthy and is growing normally aside from that there is currently nothing to report. There is currently [redacted] subjects in our care currently, we plan to test each one with different amounts and at different stages of their life. I will continue to make updates on this one."

"Day 7# Subject 1 has begun showing signs of negative effects from chemical [redacted]."

A picture was displayed of the previous Irken but it was different. The color was off, instead of green, the smeet had turned yellow and had small lumps all over its body.

"As of now, we have yet to figure out why the growths have started appearing on Subject 1's skin. We have no reason to believe that these growths will cease and it is highly unlikely that the smeet will survive its emergence. We have decided to terminate it, hopefully, the autopsy will reveal the cause of these growths."

The next clip was of Dr. Weder, he was at his desk and was holding a stack of papers in his hands.

"Day 8# the autopsy reports just came in. It appears that chemical [redacted] did not agree with Subject 1's blood cells and its body tried to expel it. Causing the change in skin and eye color. As for the growths we have yet to find the origin of them. We will soon begin testing on subjects 2 and 3."

The video ended and like before the Doctor removed the slug and plugged in the next one labeled 'Subject 2 and Subject 3'.

Right away a new picture was displayed of two smeets in two separate incubators. The one on the left was at 70% while the one on the right was at 30%.

"Day 10# we have begun giving the subjects doses of chemical [redacted]. They both are receiving the same amount and have thus far shown 0 signs of change. We think that the results of Subject 1 are the result of subject 1's age. If we try to infuse chemical [redacted] with Irken DNA early on or later on maybe the blood cells will more susceptible to fusion."

The picture cut to black and then another picture of the smeets appeared. The one on the left had turned white with cuts and bruises all over its skin. The right side of its skull had completely caved in. It could have been more than 82%. The one on the right was looking a lot better compared to the other. It kept its green complexion and only had a few minor lumps on its body. It looked like it was at 50% now.

"Day 19# Subject 2 has died." The voice showed no remorse. "Chemical [redacted] had completely attacked the subject's immune and skeletal system. The autopsy reports tell us no more then what we already guessed. It appears that chemical [redacted] bonds better with younger cells as shown with Subject 3s growth. We think that if we start a little earlier say maybe 5% we might be able to create the being we're looking for. We will continue to study Subject 3 as it grows and hopefully, we can keep it alive long enough to emerge. Afterward, maybe we can finally figure out what's causing the bumps to form."

The next picture was of Subject 3 now at 78%. Its skin was bumpy but otherwise appeared healthy.

"Day 25# the subject appears to be bonding well with chemical [redacted] and with only a week left until emergence we're crossing our fingers."

The picture disappeared and was replaced with a video of Dr. Weder. He was at his desk like before still holding a stack of papers.

"Day 52# Subject 3# expired 10 minutes after being administered a Pac. We think it's because chemical [redacted] hasn't had any time to get accustomed to the Pac. Unfortunately, we can't give the chemical anymore to adapt due to the increased mortality rate the older the subject gets. We tried administering chemical [redacted] to Subjects: 4, 5, 6, and 7, while they were in earlier stages of development and it seems like 35% is the 'hotspot' as the others have begun calling it. To clarify, when we administer the chemical before or after 35% the subjects usually die within their incubators or die minutes after receiving their Pacs. But if they start to receive the chemical at 35% their mortality rate minimalizes as we have observed from Subjects: 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12."

Pictures were displayed of each smeet as they were mentioned, all at individual states of growth.

"However, none of the subjects survived a day after emergence. But we think we have a solution to this problem. We'll take the DNA of one of the subjects, the one that lived the longest, and use it to create more subjects. These subjects will already be bonded to the chemical and hopefully, the chemical will play nice with the Pac and the chemicals it induces to keep the subject's body alive."

The video cut off. Skoodge jumped in his seat went the voice of the Doctor cut the still air like a knife.

"It didn't work, you know."

Skoodge turned to face him. The Doctor was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and sipping his drink.

"The DNA wasn't bonded enough so they took the smeet that lived the longest and used that DNA to make more smeets." The Doctor walked back to the box and pulled out more slugs with different labels on them.

"Subjects: 13, 14, 15, 16, Subjects: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Subjects fucking: 34, 35, 36, 37." The Doctor was seething at this point.

"They got one to last up to two days after Subject 47. Subjects, that's all they were to them."

"W-what happened to the rest of the original smeets?" Skoodge squeaked out.

The Doctor turned with a harsh glare in his eyes. When had he taken his goggles off and were his eyes always green?

"What do you think?"

Skoodge looked away a little ashamed of himself.

The Doctor let out a harsh sigh before pulling out one final slug. The slug looked like it had been label once but the label had been heavily scratched out and replace with a white piece of tape that simply said REDACTED. The Doctor plugged it in and sat beside Skoodge to watch.

"Day 238# My Tallest I believe we have finally done it!" Dr. Weder was beaming as he appeared on screen.

"I believe we have finally succeeded project DOCTOR. Subject 237 shows great promise for this project. Not only did it survive its first week after emergence but it's also displaying some form of cognitive recognition. As we speak it can currently walk and babble like any other newborn smeet."

A new video appeared while the doctor's voice accompanied it. The video was of a smeet sitting on the floor wearing a hospital gown and had a tag that read 'S. 237 property of project DOCTOR' on its left antenna. Its skin was a healthy shade of green and its eyes were like emeralds. The smeet was playing with a rubber ball and seemed to be having the time of its life.

"The best news of all is that apart from the occasional mishap, the smeet has shown no signs of growing those growths that the other smeets had. Though that's not to say it's all pros. The subject like its shall we say 'relatives' can not properly digest Irken food and so we have come up with a concoction that carries nothing but the bare minimum. The subject seems to have been taking this well."

Skoodge found his eyes drifting the drink that the Doctor was holding and then looked back to the screen.

"We will continue to study the subject and hopefully with a bit more test and breeding, we'll finally be able to create the specimen we've been looking for and thanks to our previous findings we have finally figured out what has been causing the growths. The cells that mixed with chemical [redacted] multiply too fast and form cancerous growths over the body. With any luck, this will be bred out in a few generations' time."

The screen went black and for a moment Skoodge thought the video was over before the screen was lit up again with a video of Subject 237 in what looked like its room. The room was small but was enough for a smeet its size. It didn't have any windows but it had a bed and some toys. The smeet was currently on the floor stacking wooden blocks. It was chirping and clicking as smeets typically do. Once it used all of the blocks the smeet stood up and kicked the tower over and fell in a laughing fit. It was kind of cute until the smeet's right leg started shaking. Suddenly the smeet started to panic and scream in pain and worry. It cried not knowing what was wrong as its leg began to swell up. Doctors rushed in and tended to the smeet and tried to figure out what was wrong. Eventually, they decided to give the smeet a sedative so they could figure out what to do without a wailing smeet in the room. A small injection later and the smeet was out like a light. Meanwhile, its leg continued to swell. Eventually, the doctors decided to try and suction the stuff out like one would a growth. All they got in the syringes were plungers full of that green goo. Just Dr. Weder walked and inspected the syringes before smiling.

"I do believe that Tallest Zewya would be pleased to hear of this interesting development."

The video then cut to black again, this time of the smeet lying on a bed with tubes sticking out of all of its limbs. The poor thing looked extremely malnourished and would have a coughing fit every five seconds. It then looked at the camera and smiled as if recognizing the person behind the camera it weakly raised its hand to the Irken recording and a much bigger hand met it. Gently the hand caressed the side of the smeet's head, giving it just enough comfort to make the smeet forget where it was and all of its troubles. It squealed and held onto the hand like it was a lifeline. Suddenly a voice outside of view shouted at the cameraman.

"You're here to document the subject not play with it."

"Hey, he is a he, not an it" The cameraman snapped, most likely to the off-screen voice. Meanwhile, the smeet had fallen asleep, still clinging to the cameraman's hand.

"Back off it will ya! We got a job to do." Someone else said.

"Sorry." The cameraman said and gently pulled his hand away from the smeet.

Once more the screen cut to black and once more a new video played. It was a video of the smeet, he was looking much older now, probably an adolescent. He looked uncomfortable as he stood in front of the camera fully naked. He looked at someone beside him off-screen.

"Duwcter Wber, do I haf ta be naced?"

Someone spoke off-screen but it was too muffled for the camera to pick up. Whatever was said though visibly frightened the smeet and it flinched and went back to looking at the camera. He stayed there for a while, sometimes he'd get tired and sit on the floor for a bit before standing up again looking more visibly distressed and then finally whatever they were waiting for happened. Subject 237's arm started to shake and he soon began crying out in pain. He gripped his arm as it began to swell. Tears ran down the smeet's face as he looked into the camera as if calling for help.

The video then cut off. Then the last video on the slug played and just like before it was the smeet. He said in a chair wearing a hospital gown once more and sitting in a chair. His one, still swelling arm was strapped to the arm of the chair. There were monitors all around him and there was a long tube in his arm, suctioning out the liquid in his arm. The smeet looked exhausted and nearly fell over twice.

"Can I go to sweep now?" He asked someone off-screen. He must have gotten the answer he wanted because minutes after he laid his head down onto the other arm of the chair and fell asleep in what had to be the most uncomfortable sleeping position ever.

The Doctor then unplugged the slug and put it back.

"They discontinued the project a few months after that." The Doctor spoke offhandedly.

"Why?"

"Tallest Zewya died and the Control Brains had more important things to do at the time then foresee the project. So like most test subjects at the end of a project... I was to be terminated." The Doctor stared into the floor.

"Just like that. But one of the assistants, I think his name was Haeman, saved me. He started a fire in the lab and rescued me. I remember the day so vividly. Haeman was so kind to me. He was the reason why I had all of those toys. I am truly grateful for him, he raised him as his apprentice on another smaller planet. He taught me everything I know about medicine and chemicals. He snagged the recipe for my 'formula' before we left so he could feed me and for a while we were happy. Until one day we were found out. Haeman was on Irk, shopping when they grabbed him on the streets. He was recognized as one of the scientists from Project DOCTOR and they killed him. I was barely a teenager at that time. Haemen didn't want to name me, he said that would make it seem like he was my master. So I just named myself after the label on my tag, The Doctor. I ripped off that tag soon after hence my missing antennae." The good Doctor paused.

"That's when I decided to get back at the Control Brains. They were suffering from the sudden uprising of short Irkens and were looking for a quick and easy solution. So I gave them one."

"Y-you created the drugs?"

The Doctor directed his gaze to Skoodge.

"Yes. But I think you already knew that. After all, you were the second in command of the rebellion."

Skoodge gulped and immediately he tried to act ignorantly.

"W-hat are y-"

"Don't pull that with me Skoodge. I've known you long enough not to fall for that. Besides I knew you were off your meds the moment you got on this ship."

Skoodge gulped.

"But that doesn't matter. Because I have a proposition for you."

"Proposition?"

"Yes. We both want the same thing Skoodge. We both want to get rid of the Control Brains for what they did to us."

"Well, the Control Brains never would have wronged me in the first place if hadn't given them those pills." Skoodge glared.

"I needed to get them to trust me. Similar to you giving me fake sympathy so that you can figure out my weaknesses."

Skoodge went silent.

"Look, all I'm asking for is a truce. Help me take down the Control Brains."

"Why so you can rule Irk yourself?"

"We'll work out the details later. So what do you say?" The Doctor stook his hand out for Skoodge to shake.

"Partners?"

(Hello everyone! Thank you for reading thus far. In this chapter, I thought I'd focus a bit more on the side villain, some fluff, and of course our main villain. I read somewhere that the best way to give a character depth is to show a side of them that no one expects. I hope that shows for Agent Callus and the Doctor in this chapter. Thanks again for reading and have a fantastic day.)

#invader zim #Pills #zim x dib #zadr #Zim #Dib #the Doctor #Agent Callus #fluff #backstory #cute but dark

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 23)

(2187 words (not to happy about that))

To say the Tallest were surprised the see Skoodge would be an understatement. Not only were they startled to see him, but they were astonished to see him in one piece.

Not that it mattered, Skoodge was alive and now they had to deal with him.

"We could just throw him out the airlock." Purple suggested as the two laid in the lounging room.

Red, who was resting vertically on the couch, a bag of chips in his lap, shook his head.

"That's your solution to everything."

"Yeah but it's a good solution. Quick, effective, and easy to forget." Purple shot back. The purple-clad Irken was laying on his back in a mess of pillows and blankets, staring up into the ceiling.

"Yeah, it also completely terrifies the crew. You DO realize how apprehensive everyone is around us right?" Tallest Red glanced at his co-ruler.

"So? They should be."

Red shook his head. "Irken's are supposed to strike fear into the hearts of OTHERS, not other Irkens."

Tallest Purple rolled his eyes. "Sound's stupid."

"Whatever, we're getting off-topic. We still need a position for Invader Skoodge." Red spoke with a mouthful of chips.

"Yeah, airlock!"

"No!" Red sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Why not just turn him into another food-service drone, oh why not a butler?! I've always wanted one of those!" Purple chipped.

"You have six." Red droned.

"Yeah, but it never hurts to have more."

"Irk, sometimes I wish you would just take these things seriously!" Red tossed the bag of chips at the other.

"Hey! I take DO take these things seriously! Not my fault that my methods are superior to yours!"

"Do you even know what superior means?"

Purple sputtered. "Uh duh! It means 'Tallest Purple is the coolest and Red is stupid'!"

"Now that's just the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Red sat up and crossed his arms.

"You're face is the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Purple picked up on a smaller pillow and threw it at Red, smacking him back.

Said Tallest snarled, "That's it!" He lounged out and grasped his purple compadre by his neck and smacked his head against the floor.

"Hey! No fair!" Purple shrieked and grabbed a hold of Red by his ribs and pinched causing the Tallest to let up just enough for his counterpart to escape from underneath him and pin him down on his chest with his arm forced behind him.

Red may have been the more critical thinker of the two, but Purple was definitely stronger.

Their brawl was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door.

Wanting to keep their dignity, Purple stood up as did Red. They straightened up and dusted themselves off before glaring at each other. They only stopped when Purple noticed Red's left antenna what bent awkwardly from the scuffle.

"Hold still." Purple grabbed Red's chin and forced him to look down while he straightened the appendage.

"Hrk!" Red was surprised at first but when Purple released him and noticed what he had done and smiled.

"Thanks, Pur."

Purple smiled back, but their moment was interrupted by another burst of harsh knocks.

"Who is it?!" Tallest Purple screamed.

"My Tallest, I hope I am not interrupting." A gruff voice came from the other side of the door.

"Oh, of course not Doctor, please come in." Tallest Red had a look of relief on his face.

The double doors opened revealing the good Doctor.

"My Tallest." He greeted.

"Any updates on that project of yours." Tallest Red asked.

"Sadly, progress is pretty slow due to my lack of help but I should have a defiant answer soon enough." The Doctor nodded.

"That's a shame. We were just talking about what were are going to do with Skoodge and-"

"Wait. I apologize for interrupting my Tallest but did you just say Skoodge? Invader Skoodge?" The Doctor nearly squealed.

"Uh yes? What about him?" Purple didn't like the look in the Doctor's eyes.

"My Tallest, if it is no objection to you, I'd like to have Skoodge be my personal assistant."

"Skoodge? Really? What about those dozens of other scientists you got in your lab?" Red inquired.

"Please my Tallest. I ask so little of you..." The Doctor bowed his head. "Invader Skoodge is just the Irken I need."

"Eh alright. If it gets him out of our antennae." Purple shrugged.

"Yes, thank you my Tallest. You truly are the most generous beings in the universe." The Doctor bowed once more, partly to show respect but mainly because he needed to hide that smirk on his face.

"Yeah, yeah, you can leave us now." Purple made a shooing motion with his hand.

The Doctor nodded and obliged. As soon as the room's number was back to two the Tallest let out a pent up shake.

"Irk! That guy gives me the creeps!" Purple exclaimed.

"I know what you mean." Red agreed.

The two, with a sigh, went back to their places on the couch and floor respectively.

Unknown to them as the Doctor was walking away from the door, hands behind his back, a dark smirk crossed his lips.

The Tallest were idiots, the drugs that the Doctor had been mixing in with their food didn't help but all the same. They were morons and had just given him a just edge he needed. Control the Tallest and you control everyone.

Now in his lab, the Doctor began to tidy up. Not for the sake of his guest mind you, but for the fact that he didn't need Skoodge poking around and seeing something that he really shouldn't.

"Doctor? He's here." One of the guards informed him.

"Ah yes, send him in. You can leave us." The guard nodded in acknowledgment and left the room.

Less than 2 minutes later Skoodge opened the door nervously.

No, he was not afraid of this monster but being so close to him was nerve-wracking. Calm down Skoodge, try to act like your drugged up self.

"Um? D-Doctor?"

"Hello, Skoodge." The Doctor turned to face him.

"Wha-what am I doing h-here?" Skoodge's uncertainty was bleeding through his act.

"Why, because you're my new assistant now."

"What?!"

The Doctor smirked and walked around the stumpy Irken.

"Yes, so we'll have lots of time to get to know each other." The Doctor's tone was terrifying, how could Zim have dealt with this as long as he had?

Skoodge gulped.

"Now, let's get started shall we?"

"Uh, Doctor are you sure I'm right for this job? I've never really had experience in a lab." Skoodge wanted to shrink away from the sudden glare he received from the Doctor that was quickly replaced with a soft but sinister smile.

"Oh don't worry. I promise you'll do just fine."

-Back to the present-

Skoodge stood beside the Doctor as he worked, holding a tray of tools for him. The Doctor was hunched over his station tinkering away and occasionally picking up a tool from Skoodge's tray. On the Doctor's workbench was a collar and a remote, the devices he had been working on for the past hour. Skoodge had no idea what they were for but at this point, he was too scared to ask.

Skoodge was pretty sure that the Doctor knew he wasn't on his medication. But if that was the case, why hadn't the doctor put him back on it? Was it just to watch him squirm? Skoodge wouldn't put it past the guy. The good Doctor was always a shifty guy. Who always got his way.

Skoodge would run if he didn't think the creep was up to something.

"Gah! This isn't working. Skoodge hand me my drink."

Skoodge was snapped out his thoughts and set down the tray on the desk and rushed to the minifridge to get the Doctor's drink. The taller Irken hardly ever had the time to go out and get some sort sustenance so having a minifridge a nice convenience. Setting the drink on the Doctor's desk, Skoodge picked up the tray.

The Doctor, taking a break from his task, takes his drink his drink from Skoodge. He gives him a curt "Thank you" before picking up his notebook and began to read. Skoodge had no idea what was in the unmarked, blue cans that the Doctor was always drinking, but they seemed to provide him with all the nutrients he needs because he never eats or drinks anything else.

The Doctor takes a sip and sets the drink down to turn the page of his notebook before looking forward, away from the notes suddenly.

"Skoodge?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I need you to get my-hnk!" Before he could finish the Doctor's left arm started shaking, knocking his drink off the desk, spilling its contents.

"Gah!" The Doctor gripped his arm his breath hitching in fear and panic.

"Sir are you alri-?"

"I'm just FINE!" The Doctor cut him off with a snarl.

Skoodge took a step back, while the Doctor tried to regain control of his arm by grabbing it with his right hand.

"Skoodge." The Doctor was talking through his teeth in obvious pain.

"Go get me my syringe. Now."

Skoodge bolted out of the room to fetch said tool. In the back room was a box full of syringes. Skoodge grabbed a few and rushed back to the taller Irken and got to work. The Doctor had these 'problems' often and had taught Skoodge just what to do.

If Skoodge was anymore sadistic he would have left the Doctor to suffer, but he wasn't. He helped the Doctor time and time again and tried to keep his curiosity at bay to keep his head on his shoulders.

When he got back in the room the Doctor was now on the floor curled up in a back with a swollen arm clutched tight to his chest.

Skoodge helped the Doctor sit up and held his arm out. He turned it so that the underside was up and grabbed one of the needles.

Ignoring the Doctor's growls and whimpers Skoodge injected the needle in the inner elbow, where many other previous holes occupied. He then pulled the plunger back and began to suction the fluid that had been making his arm swell. It was clear and lime green. It thick like jelly and there was a lot of it. Once the first syringe was full Skoodge stuck in the next one. He did this 5 more times before the doctor told him to stop.

"But there's still some in there." Skoodge tried to but in, but the Doctor simply held his other hand to stop Skoodge.

"The swelling is gone. That is all we need, just clean the wound please." He asked softly.

Skoodge sighed and grabbed his medkit from his pak and began to tend and bandage the wounds.

Once he was done, the Doctor grabbed the syringes and placed them in a safe on one of the higher shelves Skoodge couldn't reach.

"Now, where were we?" The Doctor sat down at his desk and began to tinker once more as if nothing happened.

If you asked Skoodge would have no answers for what just happened. This was the third time this week.

The Doctor would be fine one minute, then the next he was shaking and swelling up and Skoodge would have to help him. But the Doctor never let him get all of it out for some reason. What also concerned skoodge was the fact that the Doctor never bled during these procedures. All that came out was that thick stuff.

What was that stuff and why did the Doctor keep it in a safe? More importantly, why was his body producing so much of it?

Skoodge sighed, not expecting the answers to come to him any time soon and takes his spot beside the Doctor, holding his tray of tools.

Gaz sat on the couch with her dad, the TV was on but Gaz was too immersed into her GS2 to watch. When the theme for Mysterious Mysteries started playing.

"Say your brother is coming back today isn't he?" Her dad asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." She responded apathetically not looking up from her game.

"I do hope he had a nice time with his little green friend."

"Eh. I'd be surprised if they both came back alive."

"Oh, honey. You always were the funny one!" The Professor laughed and rubbed his daughter's hair in the process.

"Yeah, whatever." Gaz swats his hand away and stood up. "I'm going to go get a snack."

"Alright, honey." The Professor watched his daughter leave before turning his attention back to the T.V., he then reached down for the remote and changed the channel.

(Hello, I'm really sorry for this late AND short chapter. But with school, homework, and family life I keep losing time to continue writing this. I promise to keep updating this but the spaces between might be longer than usual. Aside from that, I'd love to receive feedback and theories about this book. It's the comments that keep me writing this emotional rollercoaster of a story.)

#invader zim #Pills #invader zim zadr #zadr #skoodge #gaz #Professor Membrane #really disappointed in myself

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 22)

(Fair warning this chapter is heavily based off the episode Hobo 13, so it might be best to watch that before reading this.)

Hobo 13 was a small baren planet designed to be used as training grounds for alien soldiers throughout the universe. A long time ago when Tallest Miyuki was in rule, she had found the planet and was originally going to destroy it. However, the residents of Hobo 13 managed to convince her that they could help her train her army if she spared their planet. So she called off the attack and watched from afar as the generals down below trained her men.

Even Miyuki had to admit the training was a little unorthodox but it worked. Her soldiers were faster, stronger, more preceptive, but most importantly they worked together.

The army was knocking down planets one by one, and with the ever-growing population of Irkens, there were plenty of soldiers to keep watch of said planets.

When Tallest Miyuki died and Tallest Spork took over, he was going to do the same thing. However, when Zim's blob attacked and Tallest Spork died. No one knew what to do. There weren't any Irkens tall enough yet; no one was superior enough to rule over the Irkens.

Years went by with no Tallest, and without a Tallest, there was no one left to control the Massive and that meant no concurring until someone reached the right height.

This didn't sit well with many Irkens and so the shorter, less superior ones did what thought to be impossible. Using the knowledge they gained from Hobo 13 they worked together. Planet after planet, the army was taking down faster than ever before.

Those short Irkens were an inspiration to short Irkens everywhere. They fought the taller Irkens declaring that they no longer wanted to slaves. They could be soldiers, they could be engineers, they could be doctors. Why the hell were they being treated like they were mindless drones? They were just as capable as any tall Irken. So they fought and rebelled, the short Irken populous now had a voice and it was screaming.

This was a problem for the Irken economic system, the taller Irkens were used to the short ones doing everything for them for little to no pay as well. But with this rebellion sprouting up like a weed, the stock market, as well as everyday life, was changing. Short Irkens were boycotting anything overpriced for them, quitting their jobs, even going as far as to claim that they were equal to the taller Irkens.

However, despite the rebellions large quantity of Irkens, it had no leader to guide them.

That was when a small but very loud Irken named Zim made himself known. Zim had been the smallest and shortest Irken of his generation heck maybe in all Irken history. He was alive during Miyuki's rule and had even personally served her before he was drafted to become an Invader where he met his Second in Command Skoodge.

At first, the rebellion was a little apprehensive about having Zim as their leader. But Zim had made it clear that he would lead them to victory.

'We may be the smallest but we are not incompetent! We are not lesser beings! We are not slaves! WE ARE IRKENS!' Zim screamed to the crowd. They cheered for him, they cheered for Skoodge, they cheered for small Irkens everywhere.

With this new advancement, flyers were put up.

'JOIN US OR FIGHT US!'

'THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL!'

'THE TALL CALL, THE SHORT RETORT!'

Thousands upon thousands more, not even the cleaning drones could clean them away fast enough.

More Irkens joined short, tall, skinny, stout. Until eventually 2/3 of the of Irken species were apart of the rebellion. Some fought for more than just equal rights, some fought for the right to choose their occupation, some fought for the right to breed, some even fought for free speech among all Irkens.

They shouted they screamed they marched. The Control Brains tried to detain them but there were just too many. Zim had trained them to be the best, no one could stop them.

Then another Irken made himself visible, known only as The Doctor.

He approached the Control brains with a plan. A plan that would get rid of all of their problems forever, or at least until they find a new Tallest. That was when he introduced the drugs.

After that everything went to hell. The rebellion, fearing for their lives took those damn pills. Zim and Skoodge tried to warn them. Tell them that they were fine and the drugs weren't what they seemed. Soon the rebellion's numbers dwindled.

'Life is perfect.'

'We have work to do.'

'Sorry for the fuss.'

Was written on the flyers.

Only half of the rebellion remained after that. They stopped getting recruits.

Hope was dying.

But Zim would not give up, not without trying. So he gathered what was left of the rebellion and told them to hide.

'Those slaves out there are not one of us anymore. We can't let them see us or else they'll force us to take their drugs.' He warned them.

'Hide from them, don't let yourself be seen. If you have to go out, pretend to be one of them. Don't make eye contact. Don't stay out for long.' Zim taught the rebellion with the help of Skoodge and began plotting their first attack.

This wasn't supposed to get violent, but it's too late for peaceful protests now. This was war.

The rebellion's attacks were well thought out and well-timed as well. Zim wouldn't let a single mistake slip by him. They gathered equipment from the Vort people who were happy to aid the war if it meant crossing their name off the concurring list. Quite a few other alien species were pretty quick to help with the promise of not being destroyed.

That didn't stop the rebellion's dwindling numbers, however. Either by death or capture, more and more rebellion troops were taken down. Even Zim had his doubts, but that was what he had Skoodge for.

The two were inseparable, they took care of each other and kept the other running. Even someone as confident as Zim needed a shoulder to lean on and Skoodge was happy to provide. He happy to provide many things for Zim and Zim was eternally grateful for him.

So after Zim disappeared, it was safe to say Skoodge's spirit shattered. He'd sit in his and Zim's room for hours just crying. It felt as though his world was ending and it was. The rebellion was now limited to only 10 Irkens including himself. They'd be found out soon and this whole fight would have been for nothing.

Bob, Lieutenant Commander tried his best to convince Skoodge that he had to pull himself together and that Commander Zim wouldn't have wanted him to give up. But that was all Skoodge could think about. Just give up and let go. He had already failed Zim, he should have been there to protect.

Bob stayed with him that night, letting Skoodge cry and cry until there were no tears left.

"If you're done crying, I think it's high time we get back to work," Bob said sternly.

"And how do we do that?" Skoodge nearly shouted.

"We do what Zim said and contact Lord Narr. He's been making a second resistance since day one remember. Then we call 777 and figure out a to get our commander back." Bob offered his hand to Skoodge.

"Come on sir, for Zim."

Skoodge smiled and took Bob's hand allowing the stumpier Irken to help him stand.

"For Zim."

Skoodge awoke with a start. He was a mess of sweat and tears.

He sighed and laid back down in his cot, he rubbed his arm over his forehead. Even after the withdrawal, those damn dreams won't leave him be. Skoodge took a moment to calm down before getting up to check on his progress to Hobo 13. He had a few hours until he'd enter the planet's atmosphere.

Skoodge was well aware of the fact that the Tallest were sending him to die and he was ok with that. He'd show those tall bastards who exactly they were dealing with.

When Skoodge had landed, he was greeted by the guards who, after a brief scan, identified who he was and put his pac in a sort of lock so he couldn't use his legs or other defenses. Afterward, they gave him his gear and he was led to a group of diverse looking aliens. No other Irkens, that's good.

That was until Skoodge heard the unmistakable screaming. There was only one being in the known universe that screamed like that.

Skoodge stepped out into the front of the crowd and there he was.

Commander Zim and he was screaming at the very big alien in front of him. Who Skoodge soon found out to be their trainer.

"-I AM THE TOOL OF DESTRUCTION, VEGENGENCE, AND FURY!!!" Zim screamed.

"I ONLY ASKED FOR YOUR NAME, NEXT!" The larger of the too glared down at Zim. It seemed like Zim must have been screaming for a while.

Skoodge could already tell this was going to be a long day. He could feel his spooch pull at the thought of what Zim had become.

"I AM THROBULATOR! I AM A CREATURE OF PURE HEADACHE! AARGH! MY HEAD!"

The trainer was only getting more annoyed it seemed.

"YOUR NAMES! THAT"S ALL I WANT! GAH!" Skoodge decided it would be best to do what the big man said.

"Invader Skoodge!"

The trainer turned to him. Skoodge raised his right hand in a solute.

"Sir!"

"Skoodge? I thought the Almighty Tallest killed you." Zim's voice was surprisingly calm at the rumor of Skoodge's untimely death. That hurt.

"Yeah, but I'm ok now." Skoodge tried to play it off. Zim wasn't on his side right now, the friend of my enemy is also my enemy.

Skoodge placed his hands on his very wide hips.

"They say they'll promote me if I pass the evaluation."

Zim just laughed at him.

"Ha! Foolish, gullible Skoodge."

Skoodge chose not to hear that.

'That's not your Zim, that's not your Zim.' He repeated in his head.

Their trainer hollered at them.

"Your first task, you scum-pudding skwagdoogies, is to choose a leader! Anyone who disobeys the leader will be eliminated!" He paused.

"Think carefully. This is the most important-"

He was cut off by Zim.

"I CHOOSE ME! ZIM SHALL LEAD!"

Zim pointed to the rest of the group.

"Object and taste my revolting vengeance of power!!!"

Skoodge wanted to object, Zim was in no shape to lead anybody. But it seemed like everyone else was completely fine with it. Pushovers it seemed. With any luck, they will survive long enough to know just what they did wrong and learn from their mistakes.

"Just remember, with leadership comes great responsibility! You take care of your team and you survive with honor!" Their trainer warned Zim.

Zim brushed him off though.

"Yes, yes, get on with it. My battle tanks await."

Battle tanks? Wasn't Zim set to be an Invader? What would he need battle tanks for?

After being promptly warned about the holding pen of pain. Which really didn't have to be they were set to move out. Their trials awaited them.

Their first assignment was to cross the molten pit of hideous screaming pain.

As soon as Zim opened his mouth all Skoodge wanted to do was cover his antennae and curl up in a corner.

'That is NOT your Zim!' He reminded himself.

"Child's play! We will stand on each other's shoulders and fall forward! Forming a bridge to safety!" Zim pointed to the other side.

Already Skoodge wanted to punch this imposter dressed in Zim's uniform. What the heck kind of stupid idea is that?!

When one of the other soldiers propose a much better and safer alternative, Zim was quick to glare and threaten the other. Drugged or not, Zim was dangerous. It was probably best to do what he says. Though Skoodge couldn't help but cringe. His Zim would always listen to his soldier's comments and suggestions.

'That isn't your Zim though.'

Maybe ten minutes later they had managed to form a tower-like form and were promptly pushed backward by Zim, forming that bridge he wanted. The bridge he walked over and then left them to gather themselves, losing three soldiers in the process.

"Victory!" Zim exclaimed.

It became apparent how much the team was starting to resent Zim. But they marched onward to the stinking canyon of the ferocious meat-thirsty Hogulus.

Their trainer threw a steak into the canyon and instructed.

"It's simple! Navigate from this end to the far end! Alive! Good luck." With that their trainer flew off with his jet boots, leaving the team to figure themselves out.

Of course, Zim was the first to talk.

"I have a plan! But I will need a volunteer to distract the hog-beast."

Skoodge already knew what Zim was going to do. He'd most likely leave the poor sob that spoke first to the mercy of that hog thing. It would probably be best if he did it considering he was more likely to survive out of the rest. He could take on this Hogulus, and afterward, when he beat the Tallest and got Zim off the drugs he would smack Zim upside the head for being so stupid.

"Yes, sir! I am your loyal-" Before he could even finish Zim kicked him down the trench.

Skoodge screamed as he fell and hit the side of the trench before having his body slam against the floor. He bounced once more before coming to a halt and he hit something round and rough, like a pillar. When looked up, he quickly realized his mistake, it wasn't a pillar, but in fact, was the hoof of the Hogulus.

A terrifying, huge beast with 6 eyes, horns and sharp, scary teeth.

Of course, his first thought was to run screaming, after all, Zim still thought he was on drugs. He couldn't look competent in front of him. So as soon as Zim turned around, Skoodge took more precise turns and twists to keep the creature away. But he continued to scream to keep up the appearance.

They were running for so long, and Skoodge was getting tired. But he knew Zim would leave him for dead if he didn't keep up.

'That is not your Zim.'

"Somebody help me please!" He screamed as he saw the end of the trench.

However, from his angle, they were already leaving him behind.

Skoodge never took himself as an over-emotional Irken but at that moment of abandonment, Skoodge felt like crying. He would have started crying too if it wasn't for the Hogulus getting ever so closer.

'Scratch what I say about hitting Zim, if I survive this I'll that bastard!'

He didn't mean it, but that was a nice thought.

'Just keep running Skoodge, just keep running.'

When he reached the end of the trench Skoodge immediately tried to climb out. But the walls were steep the creature didn't want to give up its next meal. So it rammed it's head into the wall, just below Skoodge, causing the poor Irken to fall. But before he could land in the creatures awaiting maw, he hit the Hogulus' teeth and leaped managing to land on the creature's back.

Instantly, Skoodge grabbed its neck and pulled up. The creature went into a frenzy and kicked and jumped. But Skoodge wouldn't let up. Clinging on for dear life. The creature jumped up once more and Skoodge climbed up the neck and jumped from his head and onto the edge of the cliff. The creature had barely missed a snap at his foot before he landed. Skoodge laid there for a bit, listening to the Hogulus' squeals and screams whilst catching his breath.

Slowly Skoodge got up and began jogging to catch up with his team.

Finally, he made it to the Fortress in pain just in time it seemed.

"Zim! I escaped from the canyon! I made it! I'm alive-oof!"

Just in time to see Zim hurl their leader at him and promptly crush him.

"Where am I?!" He called out.

"What am I seeing?"

However, the darkness that blanketed him was soon gone when the Leader was grabbed by the Hogulus.

How did it get out?

Must have followed me here.

The Hogulus then shook their leader around like a dog toy. Skoodge was going to back up when his arm was grabbed and he was smacked against the creature's head before they were dragged off.

Zim made no move to stop it of course.

'Not your Zim.'

Zim did nothing at all.

'Not your Zim.'

Zim was quite cruel to him.

"Not Zim.'

Skoodge wasn't proud of how he escaped when the creature returned to its home to eat its meal. Skoodge could feel his trainer's grip on his arm weakening. Skoodge guessed it was chewing him up on the inside. Skoodge managed to slip away as it tore his trainer apart.

Skoodge made it out, only because the creature wanted it's bigger meal first and Skoodge felt horrible. But it was already too late to do anything about it. He managed to get back to the entrance, he threw off his gear and went inside his ship. He set it to autopilot, he was getting on the Massive no matter what the Tallest said. He then crashed onto his bed and fell asleep.

When Skoodge opened his eyes he already knew where he was. It was one of the many hideaway planets the people of Murth had given them; another alien species who offered to help the rebellion for the promise of being spare the Irkens' might wrath. The Murthens were very seclusive and usually refused to talk with them, so they wouldn't be much help aside for providing hiding spots.

The planet they were currently hiding on was a dessert planet called Gitq.

Gitq was a pretty small planet, but it was far enough away from Irk to be the optimal hiding spot. The small group was camping out for the night Zim and Skoodge sharing a tent, happily chatting away.

The two were pretty close together, laying on their sides with their legs intertwined. Zim's antennae clicked together as he presses himself to Skoodge's chest.

"I'm so proud of you!" The smaller of the two chirped.

"Proud of me?" Skoodge cocked his head to the side.

"Yes! You did so well today. I want to reward you!" Zim moves himself to Skoodge's neck.

It was at this point Skoodge realized he was dreaming, and yet he didn't ever want to wake up. Zim was purring happily urging Skoodge to join in on his passion.

After a minute of Zim's whines and pleas, Skoodge finally gives in and gives in and gives Zim what he wants.

-For those of you who want to read this NSFW https://archiveofourown.org/works/21185144-

When Skoodge awoke he was in a cold sweat. Out of all the damned things to dream about, it had to be THAT. Skoodge covered his eyes and tried to pull himself together. He felt sick and dizzy, deciding now that it would probably be best not to stand up for a bit.

What was wrong with him?! Dreaming of his Commander like that! He felt disgraceful, what would Zim think?!

Skoodge paused.

What would Zim think? You haven't heard from the real him in so long. Was he gone for good or was there a way to bring him back.

Skoodge managed to come back, so surely the same could be said about Zim.

Skoodge whipped his forehead and sighed.

'I miss him.'

#Pills #invader zim #Zim #Skoodge #Hobo 13

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 21)

(4127 words bitchs!!!)

Dib waited about 10 minutes before he decided to go find Zim. It took a bit of searching before he spotted the Irken near the river.  He was sitting about ten feet from water, his legs hanging off the cliff his back to Dib.

Dib took a deep breath and approached the Irken, sitting down beside him.

"Heh, I've never seen you willingly, close to water before." Dib tried to lighten the mood however, he knew it was a fruitless attempt.

One look at the Irken was all Dib needed to know Zim had been crying. Zim was staring off into the water down low. 

"Dib human... have you ever had someone you care about, betray you?" Zim spoke with a hushed voice.

Dib paused for a bit. The only person that came to mind was his dad. But at least he knew his dad loved him. But that wasn't what Zim needed right now, he needed someone to relate.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What's it like?"

Dib looked to the Irken. Zim had this look of pure despair like he was just about to break and for the first time in his life that wasn't what Dib wanted.

"It's lonely." Dib looks down into his lap, his shoulders slumped. "It makes you feel as though you could never trust anyone again and that you'd be better off by yourself."

Dib pauses, then looks to the Irken.

"Do you feel like that Zim?"

"That's just the thing. Zim has always felt that way. But now... Zim doesn't know what I'm feeling."

The human didn't know how to respond to that. It was obvious that Zim was lost and scared, but could Dib help him pick himself back up?

With that in mind, the teenager takes a deep breath and opens his arms out to the Irken. At first, Zim gave him a weird look, not yet understanding the gesture before it clicks. He'd seen humans do this before. It was a display of affection and companionship. As always Zim was apprehensive at first but when he saw that Dib wasn't going to hurt him, Zim slowly slid closer and into Dib's arms. Dib wrapped Zim into his embrace whilst Zim hugged Dib's middle. The two sat like that for a while, sharing their first-ever real hug.

Zim couldn't name the feeling that erupted in his chest, it was warm and fuzzy. A side effect of the drugs maybe? Whatever it was, it made Zim feel all tingly inside. As if everything was going to be alright if he just held on for dear life. Zim could feel some sort of dependence growing for Dib. Of course, Zim could never be too reliant on another being, but it was different with Dib. He felt truly safe.

Dib was practically swimming in his mind. If you had told 12-year-old him that in the future he'd be hugging his worst enemy Zim, he would have called you insane and ran for the hills. Yet, it felt right to hold the Irken in his arms. Ever since Dib could think properly, all he ever wanted to do was help others even if he got hurt in the process and right now it was Zim who needed his help. Softy, he stroked the aliens head, whispering meaningless words. He hoped he could at least help the Irken cope.

Dib looked up at the sky, bright blue with only a few passing clouds, it was a beautiful day.

Unbeknownst to the couple, another teenager wearing all camouflage was hiding in a bush and currently spying on them. The kid was covered in fake leaves and twigs as though they would help conceal him more.

Agent Callus licked his lips and pulled up his camera with a quick snap he took at least three pictures of the two before going back into his dormant state. He had to wait for them to leave before he could move. In the meantime, he continued to watch them. It wasn't hard for Callus to find them, he knew of Dib's obsession with Zim.

-About a month ago-

At first he, like the rest of the world Dib was insane and that Zim was just a strange sickly child. However, Callus like Dib was born with a strange power most humans lacked, perception. He noticed Zim's strange mannerisms and dialect. He also noticed Zim's inability to eat anything that the Skool lunch provided him with. After a while Callus started to believe Dib, there was just something not right about that green boy. After combining all of his evidence against Zim, Callus had finally decided. He was going to ask Dib if he could join him. Agent Callus didn't want to go against Zim until he was sure Zim was an alien. Plus, the two could accomplish so much more if they worked together. Not to mention Callus would very much like to gain the favor of Professor Membrane. 

Finally, Callus took a deep breath and grabbed his briefcase full of evidence. He planned to approach Dib and ask him to be his partner after showing him his evidence. However, Dib seemed to be preoccupied the whole day. All he did was stare at Zim like a deer in headlights. The only time Callus got to talk with him was when he caught Dib running down the main hallway. The Agent stood in his way trying to talk but Dib had just brushed him off and rushed past him.

Callus stood in the entrance of the Skool, in front of him were Zim and Dib. Zim looked nervous while Dib had the most sadistic look of satisfaction Callus had ever seen on a teenager. He was screaming accusing Zim of being a drug addict eventually causing Zim to run away. Callus didn't know what to think at first, so he just walked home. It wasn't long until posts of the incident were up online. One blog made by someone with the username 'TheTruthSpread' which was Dib obviously. The blog was chock full of evidence against Zim, nothing that blatantly said "Zim is an alien!" but a lot of it entailed that Zim was not what he seemed. 

A week later the blog was filled to the brim with pictures and videos of people recording Zim. The was one of Zim attacking Zita in class after she called him a drug bug. One of Zim sitting on a bench talking with that strange ginger boy Keef. Even one of Zim walking home. Callus recognized that street he was only a few blocks down. If he could just get in there and snap a few pictures he could the Swollen Eyeball interested. Imagine the publicity he'd get if he could just catch that alien.

With his mind made up Agent Callus tugged on his black catsuit and night vision goggles. Money wasn't a problem in his home. That being said Callus was nowhere near as rich as the Membrane family. 

Callus ran to Zim's house, the house itself was alien, with its neon green walls, huge satellite, creepy lawn decor, and huge tubes that seemed to be connected to the other two neighboring houses. Was Zim stealing power from those houses? Callus quietly crept up to Zim's home and peeked inside the tinted windows. The place seemed empty with no one in sight. The agent tried the window and to his dismay, it was locked. So he ran around the side and found a window leading to what appeared to be a kitchen. The large sign shouting kitchen helped him infer. Callus took his time inspecting the place. To the wallpaper, to the toilet in the kitchen, to the picture of that freaky monkey on the wall the entire place sent waves of shivers down Callus' back. 

The agent shook his head and began looking for any secret entrances to the base. He pulled out a device from his case and become checking every corner of the very small 'house'. The device would send out little vibrations and look for hallow structures and Callus found lots of those and as convenient as that was, he couldn't find any entrances until he got to the toilet. When the handle was pulled a trap open and fell into a tube. Callus took in a breath and stepped into the bowl and pulled the handle and fell down the tube. He fell for a few seconds before landing into a sphere. The chair he tossed to wasn't the comfiest thing in the world but it felt pretty weird to be in. However, Callus completely forgot about the chair when he noticed what was right in front of him. Screens filled his vision, the cameras of the base were on full display to him. The base was a lot bigger then Callus could have ever imagined. 

To the right was what Callus had to assume was the lab wing of the base and on the third screen was the green alien himself, arms crossed and laying on a counter, sleeping peacefully without his disguise. 

Callus quickly pulled out his camera and quickly snapped as many photos as he could.

"Just wait until the Swollen Eyeball sees this, I'll be in the higher ranks for sure." Callus smiled at the thought.

"Intruder alert!" Shouted a disembodied voice.

All Callus managed to say was a short "Oh no." before being grabbed roughly by a grabbed a robotic arm and being tossed outside onto the lawn. Was this what Dib had to put up with? Before Callus could even get up he was being shot at by the lawn gnomes. He shrieked and jumped out into the road, they wouldn't stop shooting until he was out of sight behind another house. 

What Callus couldn't believe was that no one heard anything, there were at least six houses on this street within earshot. Callus brushed it off and ran to his house with his evidence. Ready to send it the Agent GubGrub.

-Now-

Figuring out where Dib had taken Zim was a way to easy. All he had to do was ask Dib's dad. For being the smartest man in the world, the guy was pretty negligent when it came to privacy.

The two left after a while and Callus finally crawled out of the dirt. More pictures were a start but if he wanted to impress the Swollen Eyeball, he'd need to find a way to contain the alien. Callus made his way back into the woods, he'd think of something.

-About 2 years ago on a very distant planet-

(WARNING this part is a little graphic, no gore but definitely pain)

When Skoodge was shot into Blorch during the canon sweep all he could feel was terror and worry. With the planet getting closer and closer Skoodge closed his eyes and tried to block it all out. His entire body was engulfed in a blue flame as he entered the atmosphere. His skin was on fire and it felt as though his antennae were burning off. All he could hear was screaming and the sounds of lasers firing in the distance, it took Skoodge to realize it was he who was screaming. Eventually, the Irken had fallen through the clouds of Blorch and hit the dirt with a thud, it didn't end there though. Skoodge's round body bounced on the ground for two more times before hitting large rock's side and falling on his front.

The pain was excruciating, attempting to lift so much as a finger was painful. Skoodge whimpered and tried to ignore the upcoming tears. He had to get up and inspect the damage to his person. So with a deep breath, Skoodge placed his hands on the dirt and pushed up. Skoodge screamed when he tried to move his legs, so he turned himself over to get a batter look at them. 

The tibia in his right leg was sticking out of his skin, blood decorated his legging. Skoodge whimpered, he did not want to set that. He had to set it though if he wanted to keep his leg. 

On the bright side, Skoodge's arms seemed to be working fine. His right arm might be sprained but he could still use it. The cuts and scratches would need treating though.

Alright now for the antennae, gently Skoodge dragged his fingers over his antennae, looking for any tears or breaks. Bends and twists in the antennae could be treated. Any cuts or rips though and the antennae must be removed. His antennae didn't seem to have any tears but the were bent to hell and back.

Aside from the broken leg, the sprain, and what most certainly is a concussion in his head, Skoodge deemed himself alright. He then reached back and opened his pac to get his medical supplies. His pak was unharmed and that was a Tallest sent. 

'Alright Skoodge, let's get started on that leg. Don't want to bleed out do you?' The invader muttered to himself in Irken.

Skoodge took in another few deep breaths and hoped the adrenaline would keep him up long enough to take care of the bleeding. He set himself up against the rock he had previously hit. The Irken grabbed his leg and grabbed a stick off the ground and put it in his mouth so he could bite it. He then pushed until he heard and loud CRACK and even more pain gripped him and wouldn't let go. He screamed into the stick and sobbed. He mended the wound with gauze and made sure to apply enough pressure. He then used the sturdy stick as a splint, wrapping it up in gauze. Skoodge's sobs soon dwindled as he tended to rest of his wounds.

As it turns out Skoodge's skin wasn't as burned as he thought it was, that was a relief. Finally, done dressing his wounds, Skoodge's adrenaline had run clean and soon he could no longer keep his eyes open. Before he knew it, the Irken was out like a light.

Skoodge woke up to the sun rising on the horizon. He was parched and still in a lot of pain. The Irken took it slow as he used the rock behind him to get up. He looked up and spotted the Massive hovering overhead, along with the Armada. Still shooting lasers into the planet. No doubt they'd be sending down a construction vessel to get to work on building the parking structure once all the life on this planet was destroyed. Maybe Skoodge could hitch a ride on one of those? The short Irken nodded to himself. All Skoodge would have to do was wait until the vessel arrived. Happy with his new plan, now was the time to focus on surviving.

Step one to survival, find a water source. 

The thing about Blorch was that it had really short days and really, really long days so the planet was usually wet, dark, and damp. The perfect habitat to the planet's inhabitants. Skoodge looked around, he was in one of the more wooden parts of Blorch. A river shouldn't be too far away.

As Skoodge walked, he straightened his antennae to help him listen for any flowing water.

The Irken must have walking for a little over an hour because the sun was already setting. Skoodge was about to stop for a break when he heard the soft sounds of water running over rocks. Skoodge smiled and ran to the sound, and immediately regretted it because of his broken leg, He chose to walk to limp the rest of the way.

The water was a murky black and most likely poisonous. Skoodge knelt beside it, pulled out his water purifier from his pak, and filled it to the brim with the inky liquid. He sat by a tree and waited for the purifier to filter the water. He looked up at the Massive partially obscuring the starry night.

'Why did they shoot me down here? Did I do something wrong?' Skoodge asked no one.

'how will I get my medication?'

The Invader shuttered at the thought.

'No, this is a test, they'll get it to me I'm sure.'

Skoodge made a small shelter out of sticks and leaves by the river and sipped the 'water'. He used the rest to clean his cuts that weren't serious enough to require gauze. He collected more water to filter and laid in his shelter. Good thing he made his shelter too because a few minutes later the rain started to pour.

About a week on Blorch, eating nasty things and drinking inky water. Skoodge was starting to experience the effects of withdrawal. He'd spend hours of his time starving because he had already finished his rations. Skoodge was exhausted all the time, but no matter what he tried he just couldn't sleep and his body wouldn't stop aching. On the nights he could sleep however, his mind was filled with nightmares. Nightmares that were so graphic, Skoodge almost thought they were real.

Two weeks on Blorch and Skoodge felt like he was going mad. He could hardly stand without his pak legs for aid. He slept a lot more now, but he wished he didn't. He hated the nasty things he had to put in his mouth to survive. He sat by the river, he hated the water it tasted horrible and never kept him hydrated long enough. He was starting to hate a lot of things. Which was incredibly weird. Since when did Skoodge ever hate things? 

Every day that he could, Skoodge would leave his camp and look for any construction ships they may have landed while he was asleep. So far, none have. 

Week three on Blorch, Skoodge spent every day curled up into a ball. He'd get these horrible headaches, headaches that prevented him from moving without excruciating pain. This made looking for nasty things to eat and looking for construction vessels a lot harder. Skoodge was starting to get homesick. He didn't want to be on Blorch anymore.

Week four, Skoodge had his first 'dream'. 

He was on his knees in a dark room. He scanned the area around him but found nothing. Until suddenly a spotlight turned on and Zim appeared next to him, also on his knees. The other also had this look of pure anger on his face.

Skoodge wanted to ask Zim what was going on when another light turned on and the room was illuminated. Three taller Irkens stood before them and two behind them, holding his and Zim's heads down. The three in front couldn't have been more than adolescent smeets wearing training gear. Skoodge wanted to demand the meaning of this, but he wasn't in control of his body right now. He turned to look at Zim only to see he too was an adolescent smeet, they both were.

'Puny shorties!' One of the smeets in front laughed crossing his arms.

'What do you think you're doing wearing invader training gear anyways?' The one to the right sneered.

'We ARE invaders!' Zim shouted fighting the Irken holding his head down. Zim was a lot smaller the Skoodge in his adolescence, but he was still a strong fighter.

'Yeah! Our height has nothing to do with it!' Skoodge heard himself yell.

'You're wrong there.' The one behind him taunted. 'Your height has everything to do with it.'

'You're way too weak to handle invading, you two fit more into the category of foodservice drones.' The smeet in the middle smirked her hands on her hips.

'Fuck off! I'm not in the mood for chit-chat! If you're going to beat me up, then get it over with so I don't have to listen to your annoying voices!' Zim screamed.

The one in the middle, the leader it seemed snarled and reeled her fist back.

The smeets took their time in hurting the two of them, however, their first mistake was underestimating Zim. Midbeating, the smeet hold Zim down had lost her grip and Zim took advantage of it. He kicked her in the face and grabbed Skoodge's arm. They ran down the hallway making twists and turns eventually they ran into a janitorial closet. Once inside the to collapsed on their sides, facing each other trying to catch their breaths. Zim had multiple bruises and cuts all over his body as well as a broken arm. Skoodge wasn't any better, now sporting a black eye and missing a few teeth.

'You.. know... that was.. pretty brave.. what you did.. back there.' Skoodge panted in between words.

'I... know.' Zim smirked only to wince in pain.

'Are you alright?' Skoodge looked concerned.

'I will survive... I liked what you said back there. You know, about how our height has nothing to do with our abilities.'

Skoodge smiled.

'Well, it's true.'

'Do believe that? That a short Irken can do the same things as a tall Irken?' Zim almost looked hopeful.

'Heck yeah, the only difference is our height. They're not smarter than us. They're not stronger than us. We could rule just like any Tallest could.'

Zim smiled at that.

'My name is Zim.' The smaller of the two then offered his hand.

'Skoodge.' Skoodge shook his hand and the two laid like that for the Tallest knows how long. Just holding hands and staring at each other in contentment. 

Skoodge sat up in a start and nearly screamed when he jostled his injured leg.

Week five, Skoodge didn't need his splint anymore, he was feeling better. But the nightmares never stop.

Week six, Skoodge remembers everything. He remembers the drugs, he remembers the resistance, but most importantly he remembers Zim. He remembers just how close they used to be and how the Tallest had used drugs to keep them apart. They ruined Zim, just like they had ruined him. But now, he'd be sure to get revenge. The massive had left weeks ago, Skoodge guessed the Tallests were bored to the terrified screams of the slaughtering rat people. But a few sub ships of the Armada remained and just as Skoodge had predicted and construction ship landed nearby.

Sneaking on was the easy part, staying hidden onboard was the challenge. The construction drones would come in and go out frequently, gathering supplies for building. They'd be here for a while too, which was also a problem. But Skoodge couldn't possibly fly this thing. He'd never flown anything other than the standard voot cruiser.

That not true, you used to fly much bigger ships then this with Zim all the time remember?

He did remember, he did remember flying with Zim to cause mischief before they came up with the idea to form a resistance.

Skoodge waited until all of the drones were outside before sneaking into the cockpit. It was like a puzzle at first and eventually, Skoodge found all the pieces and managed to get the thing in the air and out of the atmosphere. 

Now, to get to the Tallest.

The plan was simple, act as though everything was the same. Act as though you're still on your pills.

Contacting the Tallest from the ship was easy. 

'We thought you were dead!' Tallest Red looked disappointed.

Yeah, you'd think that you sick fuck.

'Yeah, but I'm ok now.' Skoodge fake smiled.

No thanks to you assholes.

'Wait, how are you contacting us? We don't remember giving you a communicator.' Tallest Purple crossed his arms with a look of suspicion.

'Oh, the construction drone lent me their ship.'

Please buy it please buy it please buy it.

'Uh-huh.' Tallest Purple kept his look of skepticism.

'Anyway, I'd like to report back to duty my Tallest.' Skoodge even soluted to seal the look.

The Tallest looked at each other and then looked back to Skoodge.

'Could you uh give us a minute.' The Tallest then turned away from Skoodge and whispered amongst themselves, then turned back to him.

'Great news uh Invader Skoodge we have decided to uh promote you Skoodge.' Tallest Purple was suppressing a laugh.

'However, in order to do that, you require more training.' Tallest Red continued.

Training?

'That kind of training only comes from one special train facility.' Tallest Purple pushed Red behind him and again tried to suppress his giggles.

"Hobo 13!' The two shouted at the same time and covered each other's mouths to stop giggling.

'Ahem, do you think you can handle it, soldier?' Tallest Red asked.

If that's what it takes to get to you bastards.

'If that's what it takes sirs.'

'Alright, we'll send the coordinates to you now, good luck.' Tallest Purple waved and feed cut off.

#invader zim #invader zim zadr #zadr #zim x dib #zim #dib #Callus is back #Skoodge

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Pills (Chapter 20)

(2878 😌)

GIR laughed, the little robot sat on the couch watching one of his favorite shows. The Angry Monkey Show of course! In his lap sat his popcorn kernels extra salty, just how he liked them. The little robot always did this when he had a lot of things on his mind. However, because of how scattered his mind was, it was hard to grasp onto a singular thought. So instead he'd rather distract himself with the TV.

One of those scattered thoughts was about his master. He had been gone for so long and yet for no known purpose that even GIR was concerned. The little robot could feel himself drift in out of reality, mentally of course. GIR's mind was a weird one, to say the least. If he wasn't careful his thoughts could consume him and all that was left was a sleepy GIR. One could say this was GIR's sleep mode, though he wasn't too sure. Then again, GIR wasn't too sure of most things. Like where did his food go after he ate? 

GIR shook his head turning his attention back to the TV. Suddenly GIR didn't feel like watching it anymore... GIR missed his master. He missed being yelled at for doing the things his master told him not to do. Like bringing stray animals in the house or making unnecessary noise. Now it was just him and the moose and that weird purple-headed human.

When was master going to come back?

It was at this time did GIR wished his inner clock was working properly. He never had a good grasp on time. It seemed useless to him and yet it meant so much to his master. Maybe he should have told his master about his mental clock?

What was he thinking about again?

Did he remove his memory chip again?

Maybe.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang along with several knocks at his door.

Now, what was it his master said about letting people in the base?

Before GIR could think about it, he was already at the door. Already in his dog costume, he opens the door.

"Heya GIR!"

That fun ginger kid, Keef stood in front of him.

"Meow," GIR responded with a smile, hugging the human.

"Yeah yeah, I missed you too Buddy." The ginger hugged him back while patting his head.

"So, have you seen Zim around. I heard he and Dib went somewhere and I was hoping he told you where."

Master never did tell him where he was going so GIR shook his head no.

"Aw, that stinks. I was hoping to find them it's been lonely at skool and I hate to say this about Dib but I have a bad feeling about his intentions."

Keef looks down for a bit but then turns his attention back to GIR.

"You don't think he plans on hurting Zim do you?"

GIR paused. No, he was certain that Dib wouldn't hurt him. Besides GIR was just now finding out that Dib was with his master. Yet, he knew the human wanted to capture his master. Maybe it was a trap set by his master or maybe for his master.

"GIR?" Keef snapped his fingers in front of his face causing the robot to shakes his head in surprise.

"You know maybe we should go looking for Zim. Ya know just to be sure." Keef allowed himself inside one hand on his chin.

"But where would they go GIR?"

He turned to GIR who just stared at him with a look of bewilderment. It was standard for SIR units to have trackers connected to their master's PAC and yet he couldn't think up anyway to get it to work. Maybe Keef could fix it?

Without saying a word the little robot took Keef's hand and took him to the desk elevator.

"Wow. What is this GIR?"

The little robot helped Keef into the lift. Which then sent the teen and GIR into one of the sub labs.

Understandably, Keef's eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"Wait, what is all this?" Keef stopped in his tracks while GIR continued to try to pull him.

Keef may have been dense sometimes but he wasn't downright stupid. This technology wasn't human it couldn't have been or maybe it was and Keef was just being stupid. But now that Keeef thought about it, it did seem plausible. Suddenly, Keef's mind went back to what Dib had been saying all these years.

'Zim's an alien!'

But that couldn't be true, could it? Zim seemed so real, just a weird kid with a skin condition. But slowly it did make a little more sense. Zim's weird mannerisms, his allergies to both water and meat, the fact that he and Dib had it out for each other since the very start.  

"Zim is an alien."

GIR stopped pulling him as if just now realizing that he had pulled the enemy into his masters base.

"Wow." Keef let go of the little robot and wandered around. His eyes were filled with so many shades of reds, purples, and magentas. Keef approached the computer and stared at the strange keyboard.

"GIR did you know about this?" Keef, not looking up, spoke.

"BARK." Came the robotic voice from somewhere behind him.

"It's so weird." Keef being the curious teen he was pressed a random button and by some miracle, the screen lit up. If Keef's eyes were any wider they'd fall right out of his head. The screen was filled with files all explaining Irken anatomy and brief descriptions of medicines Keef had never heard of, surprisingly all in English.

"What was Zim doing down here GIR?"

"Masta was tryin' ta recreate one of uh his pill thingies."

"Pills? So Zim... really was on drugs?" Keef couldn't believe it, to say the least, but he had to. All the evidence was against Zim and yet Keef could feel the denial creeping up his shoulders like insects.

Keef shook his head. He couldn't dwell on such things, he had a best friend to look out for.

"Alright GIR how are we going to find Zim?"

"You don't."

Keef spun on his heels with a shriek. Behind him, just ten feet away stood a girl with purple hair and gothic-like clothes.

"Hey wait, I know you, you're Dib's little sister!"

"Unfortunately for you, that's the case."

"What are you doing down here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I'm here so I can find my best friend. Right GIR?"

The small robot was currently standing on the wall and nodding his head vigorously.

"Well give up then. Zim and Dib are hiding right now."

"Hiding? Why?"

"Pssh. Like I'd tell you."

"Why not?" Keef was getting tired of this.

"Because what if someone follows you, you moron. What if you give away their position?" Gaz had her arms crossed above her chest and had a bored look on her face. 

"Yeah? Well, what if that insane brother of yours does something to Zim?!"

Gaz uncrossed her arms, hands curling into fists.

"Shut up Keef you don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh don't I?! How many times has Dib tried to hurt Zim huh? How many times has he tried to expose him to the world like some kind of freak?!"

"He wouldn't be too far off."

At that Keef snarled. How dare she insult Zim like that.

"You take that back! Zim is amazing and to even insinuate otherwise is proof of how much of a jealous. incompetent, loser you are!"

At that, Gaz raised a brow and smiled a bit before cracked up laughing. Keef couldn't believe this, all this time he'd never heard so much of a giggle from the girl and now she was laughing at him. Her laugh, dear god, her laugh was the most terrifying thing he had ever heard. He was like a crows caw mixed with a raccoon's screech and it made Keef's blood boil. 

With that in mind, Keef charged her whilst screaming hoping to end her horrible muse. However, as soon as Keef came within range he was socked, hard. He practically spun in the air before he finally hit the metal floor.

"Computer!"

"What is it?!" The computer sounded as though it had just been woken up and wasn't too happy about it.

"Intruder alert cage him."

"I don't want to!" Came the defiant moody teenager voice.

Gaz rolled her eyes and pulled out a remote from her pocket. The remote only had one red button on it, labeled 'Restart!'.

With the push of the button, the computer's voice shrieked a bit before the light's started flickering before going back to normal.

"Yes, ma'am." The computerized voice seemed to lack all the emotion it once possessed and instead seemed to be nothing but an empty husk.

With that, robotic arms came out from the floor and ceiling, grabbing the now unconscious Keef and throwing him into a nearby cage.

GIR, now done with his nodding finally noticed Gaz and ran over. Grabbing her legs, and pulling her into a hug.

"Ugh. Computer, make sure Keef stays in that cage. We can't risk him escaping."

"Yes, ma'am."

Gaz smirked and turned around to head deeper into the base.

"Wait, why bother caging him at all? No one would believe him if he were to tell." The computer inquired.

"I know, but fuck that guy."

Minnimoose floated around the lower levels of the base, barking order after order to the computer to as she tried her best to install the new upgrades to the base's defenses. Carrying things had quickly become a challenge due to her nubby arms. So she could hold small things like wires, nuts, and bolts with her antlers. But that was just about it. 

"Mie meh ge mh yu me!" The moose barked.

"I'm tired!" The computer complained.

"Mes yu aw geh!"

"I know I'm a computer! But I don't want to do this anymore!"

Minnimoose was starting to regret giving Gaz that Restart Remote she needed it right now.

"WE GY MEH MAS!" The moose glared at the ceiling, knowing the computer was watching her.

"I know this is for Master! I don't care!" The computer raised its artificial voice.

Gaz came down the elevator, juice box in hand, and GIR in tow.

"Sup Moose. Robot giving you a hard time?"

The moose let out a squeak, which by now was a sigh.

"Yu."

GIR ran out of the elevator and up the wall to the ceiling there he knelt and screamed,

"HI COMPUTER!"

The computer let out an annoyed sigh.

Gaz stood beside Minnimoose.

"What are you trying to build?"

"Muu mo we."

"Huh sounds kinda cool." Gaz shrugs and presses the Restart button on the remote causing the computer to, like before, shriek, shut down, and power back on. 

"Yes, ma'am." 

With that, the computer went back to work on the upgrades.

Minnimoose let out a 'sigh' of relief.

"Mas we by saf."

"Yeah, with these upgrades. He better be."

"Uh, Doctor I have a few questions about this whole... plan of yours." Tallest Purple raised his hand.

The Tallest along with the Doctor and few other top-ranked Irkens were sat around a round table discussing the plan for getting Zim back on his pills. 

The said Doctor let out a sigh.

"Yes, my Tallest?" He tried his best not to lace every word with venom. The Doctor did not like being questioned.

"How do you plan on capturing Zim? You have read his file right? He's got more luck than any other being in the galaxy!"

"Yeah, we've tried to destroy him countless times and every time he always seems to evade the danger." Tallest Red added.

"That's simple. We'll set a trap for him. Zim's withdrawal should be going into full swing soon a few pills could be the perfect bait and if that doesn't work we'll just try something else."

"Something else? Like what?" Red asked.

"Oh I don't know, a personal item, a pet, a friend, a lover, etc, etc." The Doctor droned.

"Well there's always that big-headed child Zim is always fawning over," Red suggested.

"Yeah, just the other day Zim always talks about that big-headed kid. What did he call him?... Did or somethin'?"

"No no, Dib." Red corrected.

"Yeah, that's right, Dib."

The two now done with their mini conversation turned back to the Doctor. 

"Also how to plan to keep him locked up long enough to get him back on his medication."

"My Tallest, Zim may be able to escape your greasy fingers, sure. But he won't get passed mine." The Doctor's voice went deeper near the end of the sentence.

The Tallest looked at each other, then back to the good Doctor.

"Greasy?" Purple asked as if he didn't understand what the Doctor just said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tallest Red put his hands to his hips.

"Oh, nothing my amazing and all-knowing Tallest." The Doctor quickly bowed and motion for one of the foodservice drones to approach. He cupped his hands and gave his Tallest a little smile.

"Care for some confectionary?"

"Yes, please!" Tallest Purple immediately dove into the food.

"Heeeey If I didn't know any better I'd say you were just trying to distract us- oh they've got cupcakes." Tallest Red tried to but in before being drawn in by the sweet treats.

The Doctor continued to smile as his Tallest gorged themselves. He then turned to the rest of the group his smile a lot more sinister.

"Now then. Shall we begin?"

Zim sat up suddenly gasping for air he gripped his sleeping bag in a death grip as he starred forward. Beside him, Dib awoke, rubbing his eyes before sliding his glasses on.

"What is it, Zim? Another memory?"

"No Dib. A realization." Zim replied solemnly while sweat fell from his skin.

"Oh? What is it then." Dib sat up and turned to face the alien.

"I haven't contacted my Tallest in Days! They must be worried sick!" Zim gripped the sides of his head in panic.

"What?! Worried?! Zim, you do know they don't care about you right?"

That was the wrong thing to say because a second later Zim was on top of Zim with his claw gripping the front of his shirt.

"Don't you ever say such things about the almighty Tallest pathetic Dib worm!"

Dib eyes went wide before he glared back to the alien. He grabbed Zim's arms and forced him to let go and back off.

"Why are you defending them, after everything they've done to you?!"

"No those were only nightmares they aren't real." Zim put his hands to the side of his head and shuts his eyes tight as if the block out the noise.

"Wow, that Ventive really is strong."

Zim pauses and looks to Dib lowering his hands.

"What's... Ventive."

"It's one of the many ingredients that come in those little pills you care so much about Zim."

"What?! How do you know what's in my medication?!" Zim was shaking from both rage and fear.

"Tak's ship told me everything Zim. It also told me what each ingredient does to you. Ventive, for example, is what makes you so damn loyal to those deranged lunatics. It's a drug Zim, don't you ever wonder why the Tallest treat you so badly? It's because they know, no matter what horrible things they say or things they make you do, you'll always bounce back and be that good little Irken. They don't care about you Zim. I'm sorry... but they just don't."

Dib fell silent, he was prepared for Zim's backlash. He was prepared for Zim to scream about how wrong Dib was and how the Tallests love him ever so much. What he wasn't prepared for was Zim's quiet voice.

"Do you really think that's true?" Every word Zim spoke was laced with a false hope that maybe Dib was just telling a human joke but the longer he waited the more he realized.

Zim's lips we pulled into a thin line as his eyes drifted downward. He looked like he was going to cry.

"Uh, Zim are you ok?" Dib could feel the concern slashing onto his face like a bucket of paint.

Zim wiped his eyes into his face.

"Do they not care about Zim?" He sniffled.

Dib let out a sigh and told it to him straight, Zim deserved that much.

"No, they don't."

Zim nodded and wiped his eyes again. Dib could see the beginning of tears in the Irken's eyes.

"So they have been drugging me... and all those dreams did happen."

"I guess so." Dib took Zim's hand in his own.

"But, it's ok now Zim. You're not taking those pills anymore. You're getting better and soon you might even get your memories back." Dib smiled reassuringly at the alien hoping that Zim would at least feel a little bit better.

The Irken went silent for a bit.

"I... need some time to think, human." Zim stood and left the tent.

Dib couldn't explain why but for some reason the tent felt a lot colder after Zim left.

(Wasn't Enter the Florpus just great?!)

#invader zim #Pills #Zim #Dib #Gaz #Minnimoose #Gir #Keef #The Tallest #confessions

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Wait, TWELVE?! I thought it was only like 3!

best slime rancher character: 12 slimes in a trenchcoat

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

I don't like coffee or tea. Can I just have the bubbles and ice?

food discourse: bubble tea or iced coffee. you can only choose one.

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

I know it doesn't matter but...

I doubt anyone here cares but I just need to write this down. Sleep just isn't coming as easily as it's supposed to for me. I'm in pain from a stupid headache cause by the frustration and a toothache which I'm pretty sure is the cause of this horrible nightmare. I'm exhausted and angry but sleep just won't take me. I feel like crying. I don't have any medicine to take and I just don't know what to do. I just want to sleep like everyone else in this stupid apartment! I'm not an insomniac, why can't I just close my eyes and wake up in the morning. I don't even wanna dream I just want to sleep.

It's 5:02 AM right now. My mom wakes in an hour to go to work. I guess another sleepless night for me.

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Master Splinter?

*gently places a small mushroom in your hand*

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

To all my followers reading Pills

The book is currently going through an editing phase so I won't be able to post an update this month. Once all of the chapters are updated, you guys will get your chapter 20. Scouts Honor.

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

As a oldest sibling I must admit I've yeeted a few younge ones in order to get my chair back.

When you’re watching TV and your sibling gets out of the good chair to get a drink

[rancoeur-the-unfortunate]

Cat on lap