Thought you were done, eh? Well, you're not! Not until you finish this chapter! I would like to thank Invader Zim for the idea and the use of the song "I Am A Rock." Dunno who wrote/sings/owns it, but it sure isn't me. All I own are Merana and Jendai. Not Zimmy, although I'd kinda like to...
Chapter Eight
Escape, Drive of Hell and Dib
"We need to get out of here."
The sudden, insistent sentence snapped Zim out of his daze. It felt like hours had passed since his arrival, but there was no way it could be. They would have been dead by now. He looked up. Jendai was carrying Merana's body, using his one good arm and one of his robotic legs. He'd moved to the back door. Zim stood, collecting the weapons scattered on the floor from the dead humans. He followed the tall Irken's lead, sweeping the targeting sight over the human bodies, in case any decided to wake. They didn't.
"Hurry up Zim," Jendai ordered, his voice contorted. "We don't have time to make sure Frank is going to stay dead." Wobbling on three legs, he slid out into a hallway identical to the one the Invader had fought in, albeit this one was dark. The Irken eyes easily led their owners through the dimness. All around was the sound of clicks from their legs, human footsteps and Jendai's pained breaths. Zim stayed in front, watching out for any enemy. "You know where we are?" he asked his companion.
Jendai shook his head marginally. "No," he hissed. "Just keep looking for a way out..." He stumbled and caught himself, although this save was far less graceful than his other had been out in the forest. Zim doubled back in case his living ally needed aid. He hadn't noticed how severe his beating had been. "Who shot you?" Zim asked, indicating the circular wound.
"Not important," Jendai slurred, wobbling slightly. "Frank pissed."
"If the projectile is still inside your leg," Zim continued, not missing a beat. "we need to get it out." He gestured to his shoulder. "They have found a way to put water in them, as I found out in battle." Stopping Jendai's forward progress, he examined the injury closer. The round hole still oozed blood, but a faint, charred scent came from within. "We need to get it out soon, or you might lose your..." He trailed off, remembering.
A growl. "Leave it." And Jendai started forward once more. Merana's head rolled slack on her neck, a sight Zim shuddered at. He missed her. Missed a lot about the Djemy. Her voice, her laugh, her strange eyes. He knew Jendai missed her a great deal more, even more so now that he knew about her feelings towards him. Zim couldn't imagine how much it hurt; to lose something, or someone, you cared about so deeply. He'd never had anything he cared about before. And probably never would either.
Jendai shoved a door open with a shoulder, sending a blast of arctic chill into the hallway. A few bits of white powder blew in. The stuff missed the Irkens by an antenna's breadth. He leaned against the sharp wind, clothing whipping. "How do we know there's no one out there?" questioned Zim, ducking through an opening to get in front of the tall mechanic. "It could be an ambush."
"Going to take that chance," was all the answer he got. "Have to get her out of here."
He was talking about her like she was still alive.
The realization startled him. Denial. That's what it had to be. Sighing, Zim trudged out first, elevating himself above the snow once more. Any contact with the frozen water would be painful; the paste had worn off long ago. He heard the subtle crunch of seven legs in the light snow. A shiver flowed through him. This was dangerous. His head whipped around, the targeting sight from the two lazers he now carried swept the frozen landscape for any sign of life. Mentally, he berated himself for forgetting about the spares. One of Jendai's assault rifles was strapped to his back for use in tight situations. The little Invader looked every inch the competent Soldier he had been trained to be back on Irk. "Come on, monkeys," he whispered to himself. "Come to Zim and face the wrath of the Irken Elite."
They paced a few yards away from the building, keeping alert. So far, nothing. Zim was tense. The humans were planning something. He knew it. They always kept you in suspense until you were within sight of your goal, then, attacked and slaughtered you. Zim would not let them win. Not again. The moon glittered down, coating everything in a sheen of silver-white. Briefly, both Irkens glanced up at the stars. Each pair of eyes located Irk's sun, and turned away, one thinking of the glory he'd receive once he completed his mission, the other remembering the horrors of his life there. One reacted with a shiver of pleasure, the other a shudder of revulsion. Even in his moment of relaxation, Zim refused to let his guard down. The slight crunch of a far-off foot against the snow caught his attention. Swinging the blasters around, the targeting sight picked up on life-forms, many of them, standing at intervals around the perimeter fence. "Jendai!" Zim hissed. "They have sentries posted! Around the fence."
No change of face. "Can you take them out from here?" he asked, choking slightly on the words.
Zim turned to him, noticing the small spots of sliver-pink staining the snow. "Most likely. I need a few moments." He turned back to the fence, peering through the scopes at the targets. A few rounds later, most of the sentries nearest them were downed. "Gone," the Invader declared, switching off one of his blasters. Jendai nodded, pushing ahead of Zim, intent on his task of getting Merana's body out of this place.
Afterwards, Zim was never quite sure of what happened. It would come to him in little bits, pieces, sometimes, but never in the whole sequence of events. From what he could recall, Jendai walked ahead of him a few paces, staggering now under the load he carried. There was a muffled blast from someplace off to the right, far to the right. Zim hadn't thought to look that far into that direction. He was only aware of what happened when Jendai suddenly cried out, falling into the snow with a low moan. The Invader spun around locking in the target and taking it out with easy precision. He cleared any more sentries down that way, and to the left as well. He wanted to take no chances.
It was only after he was assured of their temporary safety that he went to Jendai's side. The tall Irken lay on his back in the cold snow, eyes shut tightly, Merana's body lying across his chest. On his right side, a large bloodstain showed horrifically against the whiteness. Gritting his teeth, Zim pushed Merana off Jendai, his need to examine the damage to his ally overpowering his respect for the dead. He'd been shot again. This time in his right side, a few inches above the waist. To Zim's surprise, Jendai wasn't wearing his back brace, which had probably been the reason the humans were able to attack him and why the projectile had not merely been deflected. The projectile had penetrated deep. He was unable to determine whether any organs were harmed or whether it was simply embedded in the flesh. Zim hoped it was the latter.
Gently, he shook Jendai, attempting to wake him. No response. The mechanic's breathing was raspy in his throat, barely visible in his chest rising and falling. He could hardly hear Jendai's pulse. He had to get him away from this place! There was no telling when more humans would arrive. Not to mention the snow. Zim had to bind the wound somehow. Already, an unhealthy amount of Irken blood colored the snow. Working with the tear from the shot, he ripped off the hem of Jendai's shirt for a bandage, exposing more olive-green skin to the freezing air. Carefully, he wrapped up the injured area, tying it tightly enough to try and stop the bleeding, yet loosely enough to come off once they reached safety. Now he had to get Jendai awake.
Shaking didn't work, pleading never worked anyway... maybe snow. Zim scooped up a handful of snow, trying to ignore the burning sensation in his palm. Quickly, he shoved it against Jendai's face, hoping the burn would wake him. There was a subtle hiss in the air, but no response. Afraid now, Zim fought to keep himself from panicking, which would only have made the situation far worse. He knew he could have just fled, leaving Jendai alone to probably die and suffer the same fate Dib insisted he would inflict on Zim. In fact, a few months ago, he probably would have done just that. That little voice in his head, the one that had instructed each of his Soldier missions before, arose once more to order him around. "Who would know?" it hissed. "He's a banished Irken. Everyone expected him to die anyway. They wanted him to die. Let him suffer the fate he was intended to."
It took more willpower than Zim had expected to push it away and rise back up on his robotic legs to keep watch until his ally decided he would wake. It was a long vigil. More sentries appeared, only to be taken out once more. He wasn't surprised they didn't try another full-on attack. Every so often, he returned to the unconscious Irken to check the wound and try to wake him once more. Jendai remained in the same state. The moon fell lower in a sky that was beginning to lighten in the east. He frowned and hoped the blue eyes would flutter open soon.
He wasn't alone in the darkness. That was a shock. Apparently, things hadn't changed so much since he was young.
"Kas?"
The purple eyes locked on him.
"What happened to you Dai?"
"Got shot."
"Oh."
They were silent for a long time.
"Never expected to see you again, Jendai."
"You either."
"Missed you."
"Same here."
More silence. They weren't sure what was going on.
"Are we dead, Kas?"
"Don't know. Listen Jendai..."
The blackness surrounding them wavered. He never heard Kas's words. It was time for him to wake...
Zim shivered. The cold was getting to him. They were running out of time. If the sun rose before they could make it into the woods, they'd be found for certain. He chewed his lip. He'd try the snow once more. It just might work this time.
As the frozen water was pressed against Jendai's skin, the Invader heard a change in his breath. "Kas...? No... Zim...?"
His antennae pricked as the sweet feeling of victory swelled in his chest. "Right here," he said crisply, appearing in the blue-eye's range of vision. "Are you well enough to move? We need to get away before the sun rises."
"I'll be fine," the hoarse voice declared, although the way his eyes crossed when he struggled into a sitting position proved his lie. He winced, moaning quietly. For a long few minutes, he sat still fighting off dizziness and collecting his thoughts. "How far away is the fence?" he slurred. When Zim didn't answer, he somehow got up on his robotic legs and collected Merana's body. The strain of staying upright against the pain was etched into his face.
Zim darted ahead to clear their path. "Not much farther," he assured. "And once we get into the woods, it's downhill so it will be easier for us." Jendai barely nodded, just followed the little Invader's lead. At the fence, there failed to be the gap Zim had cut earlier, forcing him to cut a new one. He made it tall enough so that Jendai would not have to duck, harming himself possibly further. Now came the most difficult part. The darkness of the thick woods made it almost impossible to see anything. Both Irkens were constantly tripping over things. Not to mention the cold. The blasting, relentless cold in the air. Every few minutes, Zim looked behind him to reassure himself that his ally was still following him safely. "Not much further," he would always say to the gasping breath behind him. Jendai would never reply. Once, he fell, crying out in agony. It seemed like hours before he rose again. Now, his breath was much more labored in the dark, coming in short wheezes. Zim found himself massaging his aching shoulder in sympathy.
A thought struck. What was to stop them from heading in the wrong direction? And why hadn't he thought of this before? The communicator emerged from his back pod, sliding into his hand. "GIR!" he called.
There was static. "Yyyyyyess?" the robot answered finally.
"We're coming back to the van-"
"YAY!"
"-turn on the headlights so we can see our way back!" Zim finished.
"...How?"
"Button with a picture of a lightbulb on it..." Jendai murmured for the first time. Zim could hear his harsh breaths. He frowned before relaying the message to GIR. Faintly, both could see the dim sheen of headlights off to their left. Altering their course and increasing their pace brought them to the van before GIR could discover how much fun the lights where when turned off and on.
The Irkens collapsed inside, relieved to finally be somewhat out of danger. Jendai gently lay his burden on the roll-out mattress in the back and covered her with a tarp before almost fainting in the passenger seat. "Hi Master!" GIR squealed, bouncing into Zim's face. Its overwhelming joy was hard for the Invader to take at the moment. He pushed it aside, ordering it to play with the Rubix cube some more. "But Master," it complained, holding up the cube. "I finished it..."
"So do it again!" Zim snapped. He sighed as GIR's eyes welled up with tears and its antenna drooped. "You can do it outside where it's more fun. You can play in the snow once you've finished it a second time." There was a job he had to do without GIR's presence. At the mention of the white powder, GIR bounced outside, proceeding to make snow angels or just roll around in the stuff. Zim locked the doors behind it. "Okay," he said, dusting off his hands. "Let's see if we can repair you somewhat."
"My arm," Jendai hissed, twitching his right shoulder to correspond with his statement. Obediently, the Invader came over for an inspection. Every Soldier had some degree of medical training for use in times when help could not be found after a battle, whether or not they remembered it was the thing. Zim had always wanted to be the best, despite his size, and thus had remembered more than his taller peers. He prided himself on that. The mechanic's powerful arm had, from what he could tell, been snapped in two pieces, the easiest form of a break. "We'll leave this for last," he told his patient, then moved on to the side wound. Zim tried to be careful when he removed the bandage, but Jendai cursed softly and let out a low hiss of pain. "Sorry," he muttered. While the injury hadn't gotten obviously worse, there was no way it was better either. The bleeding began again once Zim pried away the shirt holding it back. Again, the same charred scent as from the leg. "Be right back," Zim said and headed into the back of the van. A few minutes later, he returned, thoughts making war on each other in his mind.
There were no medical units in the van.
Not a single one. He didn't have any, and had thought not to bring one. There was no way to repair the damage to Jendai's body in the time frame they had without one. Zim looked hopelessly at the other Irken from his position on the passenger side door's armrest. The blue eyes watched him, hazy and barely focused on anything. His breath still came in those awful gasps that sounded too shallow, too sharp, to be of any use. Beneath the ragged shirt, the scarred and muscular chest barely moved. It was a tragic sight. The little Invader remembered his first meeting with the tall mechanic. The two Jendais, this broken, beaten thing struggling to breathe, and the proud, powerful Irken who had always been a mystery, were so utterly different that it was hard for Zim to believe they were the same Irken. Wait. Why was he sitting reflecting as if his only ally was going to die? Invaders never gave up! Even if the outcome looked bleak!
He set his jaw. "Okay, Jendai, listen to me. Both projectiles need to come out. They're leaking earth water and will eventually kill you." Zim sighed. "What I am about to do will hurt, possibly more than how much you hurt now, but it must be done." There was no audible response. Zim dropped down to the floor, so that the wound was level with his chest, and swallowed heavily. One of his robotic legs slid out from his pod to be grasped in a gloved hand. Slowly, precisely, he cut into the skin around the wound, penetrating down deeper as he went. There was a muffled cry of pain. Zim concentrated harder. He had to get the projectiles out. He couldn't worry about the possibility of infection now, although with what he was doing, it was high. Now, he had his hand in the hole he'd made, carefully searching for the smooth, cylindrical object. He tried to ignore the sounds Jendai tried to stifle by biting his lip. Every so often, one of his cries escaped and became a scream that nothing could cover. They were mere distractions. Zim had to keep concentration so as not to damage any organs. One fingertip brushed something solid, solid and cool, not warm like the rest of the flesh and tissue. The familiar sting of water told him everything he needed to know and a slightly deeper plunge allowed him to actually grasp it, pulling it out. Hissing, Zim threw it to the floor, clutching his bloody hand. With that accomplished, he turned back to the wound. Thanks to his small size, it hadn't gotten much larger. He just had to find a way to close it...
Another search of the van struck gold. Thread and a slim needle. Irkens hadn't used this technique in centuries, yet it was still taught to medical teams, and thus to Invaders as a course of action to save their life in an emergency. He didn't know if it would stop the bleeding, he hadn't used it before, yet he had to try something. Even if the wound became infected, they weren't more than a few days from the base. Once there, the superb medical programming of Zim's master computer could take over, correct any mistakes the Invader had made. He threaded the needle with some difficulty and then turned his attention to getting the wound closed. Jendai made a few noises with the pain before subsiding into an unconscious silence. His face had turned a very pale shade of green. After knotting the end several times, Zim began the process of retrieving the projectile and closing the wound with the leg. This went much faster. Next came Jendai's arm. Once again, Zim searched the back of the van and came up with two bottles of ketchup. Not exactly ideal, but desperate times called for these odd measures. He lay one bottle on each side of the break, tying them together with all the thread he had left. It was the best splint he could come up with. Lastly, he redid the bandage on his own wound, using more strips from his uniform.
"GIR!" he shouted out the window. "Get in here! We're leaving!"
From far off in the distance there was the sound of rocket jets. In moments GIR had returned to the interior of the van. "Hi Big Master!" it grinned at Jendai. When it received no response, it bounded over to Zim. "Big Master won't talk to me... why?"
Zim frowned, trying to figure out how to start the van. He'd folded down the driver seat to ensure that he could see out the front window and would use his robotic legs once again to work the little pedals. "He's sick, GIR," he said simply. "Very sick. He's asleep so he will heal."
"I understand..."
One good thing about GIR was that it didn't ask questions. Too many at least. Zim finally located the device that started the van, a small, metal key inserted into a slot behind the wheel. He turned it smoothly. The van roared to life, headlights glaring into the dark like two overly bright eyes. Zim carefully edged it forward, mind and eyes alert for trees. Many long minutes finally got him back onto the road. He knew the way from here.
GIR suddenly bounded forward, deciding the van needed some music to lighten the tense mood. Zim allowed this for a few moments. Then his face contorted in anger at the song that played.
"I've been lost
In a fortress deep and wide
That none may penetrate
I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am a island..."
"Turn that off at once GIR!" he shouted. "It's distracting me!" But GIR was too busy dancing to listen to its master.
"I have my books
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock, I am an island..."
Zim glared at the radio. This song was bringing that voice back. That was one thing he didn't need right now.
"And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries."
"That's not true!" the Invader snapped, narrowing his eyes. "We feel pain! We cry! Silence you stupid wormstink! You speak lies!" He gritted his teeth in anger. "LIES!" Amazingly, GIR turned the radio off, seeing its master's rage. Zim drummed his gloved fingers against the steering wheel, trying to drown out that voice in his head. He would NOT leave Jendai behind. He refused to abandon an ally. It defied a great deal of his Soldier training but, who would ever know? Did that matter here? He was on a mission, a mission far away from anyone who could ever find out. As long as he completed his mission, his actions during it did not need to ever be found out. No one would know that he, Zim, a Soldier hardened by battle and Impending Doom I, had broken the barrier of one of the biggest things that separated Soldiers from Students.
There really wasn't an adequate way to describe it. His eye twitched. What had he become now? Of course, he was still Invader Zim, still an Irken, still bent on the destruction of Dib and the rest of the planet. But there was something new, something no Soldier should know. Was it camaraderie? Mother of Irk, it was too confusing to think about right now. Tightening his grip on the wheel, he drove off into the night.
What followed that moment was what Zim later christened, "The Drive Of Hell." GIR's high voice was thankfully quiet most of the way, but this made way for a horrible word to make itself known to the conscious occupants of the van. Zim had heard it many times in battles, once he'd heard his own being spoken, and had hoped never to hear it again. Accompanied by a sudden crackle of energy, it was a very feared thing in the Irken world, as it usually foretold death.
"Reactivate."
Again and again the word and the sizzle of life-giving, blue energy was heard in the van. It wasn't from his pod. Each time, Zim glanced over at his half-dead Irken passenger. He remained the same, if not paler with every fleeting look. Zim was unsure how frequently this occurred, but it eventually got so bad that he pulled the van over to inspect the wounds. The edges were swollen, and had turned a bright, angry red. Zim winced. Great, just what he needed. Infection. Superstitiously, he checked his shoulder, pronounced it clean, then re-bandaged it. There was nothing he could do about the other Irken's wounds except for get back to the base alive.
Thankfully, there was little traffic once again. Invaders always knew where they were going; ensuring that directions were one thing Zim didn't have to worry about. He remembered the way from the previous trip.
The lack of other cars and the fact he needed no directions were the only things that were in Zim's favor. He was exhausted. He'd had no sleep for days. Normally, this wouldn't have had the same effect, but battle, tension, grief, pain and fear took a heavy toll on one. Occasionally, he found himself nodding off, brought back only by GIR singing the Doom Song or the Scary Monkey theme. It got so bad he ordered GIR to keep it up, a task that the robot fell on with more joy than usual. That worked on his fatigue, but did little for the other problems plaguing him.
He barely knew how to drive this human vehicle. At times he could barely stay on the road, swerving terribly to avoid the other traffic. The act of keeping an even pace was taxing on his already tired brain. Finally, he retracted one leg and used only one to both brake and accelerate. He wove all over the road, angering the various human drivers around him.
To make matters worse, Jendai began to "wake" for small periods. He would talk about, or even to, various Irkens Zim had read about, like his love, Leeri or his old teacher, Daske. One name he called most frequently was, "Kasden" or simply "Kas." It was unnerving to hear the hoarse voice slur such familiar words. Sometimes he would just mumble indiscernible things before twitching slightly and sinking back into unconsciousness. These incidents scared Zim. While he spoke to the invisible Irkens, Jendai's antennae would prick forward, as if he were listening to a reply. To Zim, someone who was blacked out should stay silent until waking. It had to be an effect of the infection that had taken hold on his body. As was his shivering and sweating. Zim knew from experience that the mechanic couldn't last many more days.
To add to his list of troubles, he was only a day from the base when an infection of his shoulder began to set in. It stung, and after inspection, was turning the same painful red color as both Jendai's were. Although not as bad, Zim was slowly beginning to feel the effects of it. His head was spinning. Every so often, he felt like he was about to throw up. Valiantly, the Invader fought it off. He'd made a promise to himself not to let the humans win once more. Soldiers kept their promises, whether they were good or bad. He owed this Irken a lot; Jendai had saved his life, it was his turn to repay the debt.
His relief in seeing the familiar lights of the street where his base sat was voiced in a single, heaving sigh. Recently, his vision had begun doubling, his head spinning until he could barely see anything. The fever had begun as well, burning his little body with all its might. Jendai had been silent for the past day. His face was gray and you could hardly hear him breathe. Zim slowly pulled up alongside his base, filled with the knowledge that he had prevailed over all. After killing the engine, he chewed his lip for a moment, trying to figure out a way to get everyone inside safely. Jendai was too heavy for him to lift... but perhaps if he dragged him on the tarp...
"GIR!" he called. "Bring me the tarp!" He was hesitant to do this. Once you were dead, your body tended to decay and the tarp was probably the only thing keeping the smell from reaching the rest of the van. But when his SIR brought the blue plastic sheet to him, there was nothing. Puzzled, Zim looked back at the body of the Djemy. It was in perfect condition, looking exactly as it had the moment she'd died. He blinked, then passed it off as another mystery of the now-extinct Djemy race. "Good work, GIR. Now, go inside and watch television."
The robot squealed with delight, bouncing off to enjoy its shows while Zim struggled to bring both himself and his ally inside. He exited through the passenger side, spreading the tarp on the cement walkway. Now he had to figure out how to get Jendai out of the van. "Long time no see, Zim," the least welcome voice in the universe hissed from around the other side of the vehicle. "Where were you?"
"Come any closer Dib-monkey and I will destroy you," Zim retorted. "Why are you here?"
There was silence for a moment as the human peered around the front of the van. "You get called out of class suddenly and disappear for a week. Of course, I thought you were planning something. And it's five at night, where else would I be?"
"That's correct, you watch me obsessively, I forgot," he snapped mirthlessly. He narrowed his eyes threateningly. The blaster was still safely inside his boot. "Get out of here! I have work to do."
Dib dared approach the Invader. "No disguise. Pretty vulnerable, eh Zim? Letting your guard down. This is almost too eas-" The stupid human eyes blinked. "What happened to you?"
The Invader took an involuntary step back. "Nothing, pitiful worm, simply battle scars. Now leave!" he ordered, taking an aggressive stance. "Or I will call the gnomes on you!" His threat made Dib back up a few paces, glancing nervously around him at the said gnomes. Seeing the enemy retreat, Zim relaxed slightly, wiping the sweat from his feverish face with his good hand. His shoulder's pain had suddenly moved down the length of his arm as well. "Leave, stinkmonkey," Zim snapped again when he noticed his nemesis's hesitation. Dib didn't move, just leaned against the side of the van, arms folded over his chest.
"What's gonna make me?" the human said calmly. "I'm outside your gnomes' perimeter."
Zim growled. "If you're going to stand there, move!" He walked proudly towards the open door of the van's passenger side. It was incredible Dib hadn't noticed its occupant. "I said I have work to do, and I do!" Now he stood no more than six inches from Dib's ugly self. "Get out of my way, huuuuuman." Surprisingly, Dib moved.
Now began the process of getting one tall, unconscious Irken mechanic out of his seat and onto the tarp. Zim knew Dib would see. He didn't care. One quick glance at close range had shown no camera, or other photo-taking device. Both of them were safe. Climbing back into the van, Zim pulled the seat's armrest up to allow Jendai to slide out once he was ready for that part. He pretended he didn't hear Dib's exclamation of shock at what was inside the white van. "It's... it's..." the human stuttered.
"Shut your noise tube, Dib!" Zim barked, turning his head to face the human. "This is a mechanic who was injured the same place I was. I am taking him into my base for treatment. There is nothing you can do to stop me. And don't even try." His voice took on a hissing note. "It is not vital to my mission of doom that he survives, as he has no part in it whatsoever, but I do owe him a great deal for saving my life after your pathetic attempt to destroy me." He started pulling on Jendai, trying to get him onto the tarp.
"So... he's not trying to help you take over Earth," Dib began, pondering all this aloud. "He's just here... why?"
Zim was having problems. Why were tall Irkens so heavy? "None of your business, earth worm!" He tried pushing.
"He has no part in your plans at all? He's an innocent in all this?"
"Have you the brain worms?" Zim snarled, finally looking up from his task. "Of course he's an innocent! He's a mechanic who was shot! Now leave me alone so I may get him out of this van alive!" To Zim's complete surprise, his enemy climbed up in the van and began pulling on Jendai's other side. "Get out of here! Don't touch him with your filthy human hands!" the Invader shouted. "What are you doing, Dib-human!?"
The human shot him a look as if what he was doing should be obvious. "It's called helping, Zim," he said flatly. "I don't like it that I'm doing it for one of your miserable kind, but..." Dib got a torn look on his face that almost made Zim laugh in how pathetic it was. "if I don't do anything, then an innocent... something dies. And then I'd be just as bad as you, Zim."
"If you are going to aid me in this then stay silent."
"Whatever. Okay, when we get back to skool, none of this happened. I still try and expose you, you still... do whatever you always do."
Zim narrowed his eyes once again. "Agreed, earth stink."
The two enemies managed to get Jendai down from the van and onto the tarp without much difficulty. Once there, Zim took the side facing his doorway and Dib the side closest to the van. They lifted in unison and after much arguing, managed to get the Irken safely inside.
"Remember that this never happened, filthy worm," Zim called to the hastily retreating Dib. "And I may go easier on you when skool returns. Oh, and close the van door."
"Yeah right," the human retorted, slamming the door. "You'll forget this whole thing in a few hours." He left, trenchcoat waving behind him in the dim glow of twilight.
The base had never felt so much like home in the sense that Zim had never been so glad to see one place before. He sent Jendai down to the lab's medical bay for treatment, eventually following. The various mechanical things got to work repairing the damage, regenerating tissue and bone and curing his infection. Zim watched them for a few minutes, feeling weak all of the sudden. "Computer," he breathed. "There is a white human van outside the perimeter with a body inside. Bring the body to the lab and put it in stasis." There was a beeped comply. "Register mechanic Jendai Kaalae into security system. He is same importance level as Zim." Another beep. "And prepare a second medical table for Invader Zim." It appeared before him. Zim slowly climbed on, laying back as the various instruments got to work on his shoulder. They didn't hurt.
Zim relaxed for the first time in a long while, feeling less weak and more drowsy than anything. Once Jendai was fully recovered he would ask the tall one to stay at the base. He doubted the mechanic would want to continue living in the place where he'd stayed so long with Merana Sali. Too many possible memories, too much possible pain there. And once that matter was settled, he would show Jendai what he'd done with Merana's body and let him do what he wished with it. Then there was the mission to get back to. It had been disturbed for so long, and now he could finally return to it. If Jendai agreed to stay, the mission would go much smoother with the knowledge of someone who had lived with humans as long as the mechanic had. He could finally complete the mission and be a true Invader! Once he got back on track of course.
But somehow, the thought of returning to the mission had a much more hollow feel to it than Invader Zim had thought it would. With a sigh, he relaxed fully, and slipped into a sleep filled with dreams of glory.
END
To Be Continued in the next installment of the Kaalae Name Trilogy...
AFTERMATH
Summary:
The death of Merana has devastated Jendai Kaalae. Old demons from his past return to haunt him as now he has no way to escape them through his beloved. After a lengthy mental debate, the Student sees only one way out of this torment... can anything Zim do stop him from using the ultimate solution?
Chapter Eight
Escape, Drive of Hell and Dib
"We need to get out of here."
The sudden, insistent sentence snapped Zim out of his daze. It felt like hours had passed since his arrival, but there was no way it could be. They would have been dead by now. He looked up. Jendai was carrying Merana's body, using his one good arm and one of his robotic legs. He'd moved to the back door. Zim stood, collecting the weapons scattered on the floor from the dead humans. He followed the tall Irken's lead, sweeping the targeting sight over the human bodies, in case any decided to wake. They didn't.
"Hurry up Zim," Jendai ordered, his voice contorted. "We don't have time to make sure Frank is going to stay dead." Wobbling on three legs, he slid out into a hallway identical to the one the Invader had fought in, albeit this one was dark. The Irken eyes easily led their owners through the dimness. All around was the sound of clicks from their legs, human footsteps and Jendai's pained breaths. Zim stayed in front, watching out for any enemy. "You know where we are?" he asked his companion.
Jendai shook his head marginally. "No," he hissed. "Just keep looking for a way out..." He stumbled and caught himself, although this save was far less graceful than his other had been out in the forest. Zim doubled back in case his living ally needed aid. He hadn't noticed how severe his beating had been. "Who shot you?" Zim asked, indicating the circular wound.
"Not important," Jendai slurred, wobbling slightly. "Frank pissed."
"If the projectile is still inside your leg," Zim continued, not missing a beat. "we need to get it out." He gestured to his shoulder. "They have found a way to put water in them, as I found out in battle." Stopping Jendai's forward progress, he examined the injury closer. The round hole still oozed blood, but a faint, charred scent came from within. "We need to get it out soon, or you might lose your..." He trailed off, remembering.
A growl. "Leave it." And Jendai started forward once more. Merana's head rolled slack on her neck, a sight Zim shuddered at. He missed her. Missed a lot about the Djemy. Her voice, her laugh, her strange eyes. He knew Jendai missed her a great deal more, even more so now that he knew about her feelings towards him. Zim couldn't imagine how much it hurt; to lose something, or someone, you cared about so deeply. He'd never had anything he cared about before. And probably never would either.
Jendai shoved a door open with a shoulder, sending a blast of arctic chill into the hallway. A few bits of white powder blew in. The stuff missed the Irkens by an antenna's breadth. He leaned against the sharp wind, clothing whipping. "How do we know there's no one out there?" questioned Zim, ducking through an opening to get in front of the tall mechanic. "It could be an ambush."
"Going to take that chance," was all the answer he got. "Have to get her out of here."
He was talking about her like she was still alive.
The realization startled him. Denial. That's what it had to be. Sighing, Zim trudged out first, elevating himself above the snow once more. Any contact with the frozen water would be painful; the paste had worn off long ago. He heard the subtle crunch of seven legs in the light snow. A shiver flowed through him. This was dangerous. His head whipped around, the targeting sight from the two lazers he now carried swept the frozen landscape for any sign of life. Mentally, he berated himself for forgetting about the spares. One of Jendai's assault rifles was strapped to his back for use in tight situations. The little Invader looked every inch the competent Soldier he had been trained to be back on Irk. "Come on, monkeys," he whispered to himself. "Come to Zim and face the wrath of the Irken Elite."
They paced a few yards away from the building, keeping alert. So far, nothing. Zim was tense. The humans were planning something. He knew it. They always kept you in suspense until you were within sight of your goal, then, attacked and slaughtered you. Zim would not let them win. Not again. The moon glittered down, coating everything in a sheen of silver-white. Briefly, both Irkens glanced up at the stars. Each pair of eyes located Irk's sun, and turned away, one thinking of the glory he'd receive once he completed his mission, the other remembering the horrors of his life there. One reacted with a shiver of pleasure, the other a shudder of revulsion. Even in his moment of relaxation, Zim refused to let his guard down. The slight crunch of a far-off foot against the snow caught his attention. Swinging the blasters around, the targeting sight picked up on life-forms, many of them, standing at intervals around the perimeter fence. "Jendai!" Zim hissed. "They have sentries posted! Around the fence."
No change of face. "Can you take them out from here?" he asked, choking slightly on the words.
Zim turned to him, noticing the small spots of sliver-pink staining the snow. "Most likely. I need a few moments." He turned back to the fence, peering through the scopes at the targets. A few rounds later, most of the sentries nearest them were downed. "Gone," the Invader declared, switching off one of his blasters. Jendai nodded, pushing ahead of Zim, intent on his task of getting Merana's body out of this place.
Afterwards, Zim was never quite sure of what happened. It would come to him in little bits, pieces, sometimes, but never in the whole sequence of events. From what he could recall, Jendai walked ahead of him a few paces, staggering now under the load he carried. There was a muffled blast from someplace off to the right, far to the right. Zim hadn't thought to look that far into that direction. He was only aware of what happened when Jendai suddenly cried out, falling into the snow with a low moan. The Invader spun around locking in the target and taking it out with easy precision. He cleared any more sentries down that way, and to the left as well. He wanted to take no chances.
It was only after he was assured of their temporary safety that he went to Jendai's side. The tall Irken lay on his back in the cold snow, eyes shut tightly, Merana's body lying across his chest. On his right side, a large bloodstain showed horrifically against the whiteness. Gritting his teeth, Zim pushed Merana off Jendai, his need to examine the damage to his ally overpowering his respect for the dead. He'd been shot again. This time in his right side, a few inches above the waist. To Zim's surprise, Jendai wasn't wearing his back brace, which had probably been the reason the humans were able to attack him and why the projectile had not merely been deflected. The projectile had penetrated deep. He was unable to determine whether any organs were harmed or whether it was simply embedded in the flesh. Zim hoped it was the latter.
Gently, he shook Jendai, attempting to wake him. No response. The mechanic's breathing was raspy in his throat, barely visible in his chest rising and falling. He could hardly hear Jendai's pulse. He had to get him away from this place! There was no telling when more humans would arrive. Not to mention the snow. Zim had to bind the wound somehow. Already, an unhealthy amount of Irken blood colored the snow. Working with the tear from the shot, he ripped off the hem of Jendai's shirt for a bandage, exposing more olive-green skin to the freezing air. Carefully, he wrapped up the injured area, tying it tightly enough to try and stop the bleeding, yet loosely enough to come off once they reached safety. Now he had to get Jendai awake.
Shaking didn't work, pleading never worked anyway... maybe snow. Zim scooped up a handful of snow, trying to ignore the burning sensation in his palm. Quickly, he shoved it against Jendai's face, hoping the burn would wake him. There was a subtle hiss in the air, but no response. Afraid now, Zim fought to keep himself from panicking, which would only have made the situation far worse. He knew he could have just fled, leaving Jendai alone to probably die and suffer the same fate Dib insisted he would inflict on Zim. In fact, a few months ago, he probably would have done just that. That little voice in his head, the one that had instructed each of his Soldier missions before, arose once more to order him around. "Who would know?" it hissed. "He's a banished Irken. Everyone expected him to die anyway. They wanted him to die. Let him suffer the fate he was intended to."
It took more willpower than Zim had expected to push it away and rise back up on his robotic legs to keep watch until his ally decided he would wake. It was a long vigil. More sentries appeared, only to be taken out once more. He wasn't surprised they didn't try another full-on attack. Every so often, he returned to the unconscious Irken to check the wound and try to wake him once more. Jendai remained in the same state. The moon fell lower in a sky that was beginning to lighten in the east. He frowned and hoped the blue eyes would flutter open soon.
He wasn't alone in the darkness. That was a shock. Apparently, things hadn't changed so much since he was young.
"Kas?"
The purple eyes locked on him.
"What happened to you Dai?"
"Got shot."
"Oh."
They were silent for a long time.
"Never expected to see you again, Jendai."
"You either."
"Missed you."
"Same here."
More silence. They weren't sure what was going on.
"Are we dead, Kas?"
"Don't know. Listen Jendai..."
The blackness surrounding them wavered. He never heard Kas's words. It was time for him to wake...
Zim shivered. The cold was getting to him. They were running out of time. If the sun rose before they could make it into the woods, they'd be found for certain. He chewed his lip. He'd try the snow once more. It just might work this time.
As the frozen water was pressed against Jendai's skin, the Invader heard a change in his breath. "Kas...? No... Zim...?"
His antennae pricked as the sweet feeling of victory swelled in his chest. "Right here," he said crisply, appearing in the blue-eye's range of vision. "Are you well enough to move? We need to get away before the sun rises."
"I'll be fine," the hoarse voice declared, although the way his eyes crossed when he struggled into a sitting position proved his lie. He winced, moaning quietly. For a long few minutes, he sat still fighting off dizziness and collecting his thoughts. "How far away is the fence?" he slurred. When Zim didn't answer, he somehow got up on his robotic legs and collected Merana's body. The strain of staying upright against the pain was etched into his face.
Zim darted ahead to clear their path. "Not much farther," he assured. "And once we get into the woods, it's downhill so it will be easier for us." Jendai barely nodded, just followed the little Invader's lead. At the fence, there failed to be the gap Zim had cut earlier, forcing him to cut a new one. He made it tall enough so that Jendai would not have to duck, harming himself possibly further. Now came the most difficult part. The darkness of the thick woods made it almost impossible to see anything. Both Irkens were constantly tripping over things. Not to mention the cold. The blasting, relentless cold in the air. Every few minutes, Zim looked behind him to reassure himself that his ally was still following him safely. "Not much further," he would always say to the gasping breath behind him. Jendai would never reply. Once, he fell, crying out in agony. It seemed like hours before he rose again. Now, his breath was much more labored in the dark, coming in short wheezes. Zim found himself massaging his aching shoulder in sympathy.
A thought struck. What was to stop them from heading in the wrong direction? And why hadn't he thought of this before? The communicator emerged from his back pod, sliding into his hand. "GIR!" he called.
There was static. "Yyyyyyess?" the robot answered finally.
"We're coming back to the van-"
"YAY!"
"-turn on the headlights so we can see our way back!" Zim finished.
"...How?"
"Button with a picture of a lightbulb on it..." Jendai murmured for the first time. Zim could hear his harsh breaths. He frowned before relaying the message to GIR. Faintly, both could see the dim sheen of headlights off to their left. Altering their course and increasing their pace brought them to the van before GIR could discover how much fun the lights where when turned off and on.
The Irkens collapsed inside, relieved to finally be somewhat out of danger. Jendai gently lay his burden on the roll-out mattress in the back and covered her with a tarp before almost fainting in the passenger seat. "Hi Master!" GIR squealed, bouncing into Zim's face. Its overwhelming joy was hard for the Invader to take at the moment. He pushed it aside, ordering it to play with the Rubix cube some more. "But Master," it complained, holding up the cube. "I finished it..."
"So do it again!" Zim snapped. He sighed as GIR's eyes welled up with tears and its antenna drooped. "You can do it outside where it's more fun. You can play in the snow once you've finished it a second time." There was a job he had to do without GIR's presence. At the mention of the white powder, GIR bounced outside, proceeding to make snow angels or just roll around in the stuff. Zim locked the doors behind it. "Okay," he said, dusting off his hands. "Let's see if we can repair you somewhat."
"My arm," Jendai hissed, twitching his right shoulder to correspond with his statement. Obediently, the Invader came over for an inspection. Every Soldier had some degree of medical training for use in times when help could not be found after a battle, whether or not they remembered it was the thing. Zim had always wanted to be the best, despite his size, and thus had remembered more than his taller peers. He prided himself on that. The mechanic's powerful arm had, from what he could tell, been snapped in two pieces, the easiest form of a break. "We'll leave this for last," he told his patient, then moved on to the side wound. Zim tried to be careful when he removed the bandage, but Jendai cursed softly and let out a low hiss of pain. "Sorry," he muttered. While the injury hadn't gotten obviously worse, there was no way it was better either. The bleeding began again once Zim pried away the shirt holding it back. Again, the same charred scent as from the leg. "Be right back," Zim said and headed into the back of the van. A few minutes later, he returned, thoughts making war on each other in his mind.
There were no medical units in the van.
Not a single one. He didn't have any, and had thought not to bring one. There was no way to repair the damage to Jendai's body in the time frame they had without one. Zim looked hopelessly at the other Irken from his position on the passenger side door's armrest. The blue eyes watched him, hazy and barely focused on anything. His breath still came in those awful gasps that sounded too shallow, too sharp, to be of any use. Beneath the ragged shirt, the scarred and muscular chest barely moved. It was a tragic sight. The little Invader remembered his first meeting with the tall mechanic. The two Jendais, this broken, beaten thing struggling to breathe, and the proud, powerful Irken who had always been a mystery, were so utterly different that it was hard for Zim to believe they were the same Irken. Wait. Why was he sitting reflecting as if his only ally was going to die? Invaders never gave up! Even if the outcome looked bleak!
He set his jaw. "Okay, Jendai, listen to me. Both projectiles need to come out. They're leaking earth water and will eventually kill you." Zim sighed. "What I am about to do will hurt, possibly more than how much you hurt now, but it must be done." There was no audible response. Zim dropped down to the floor, so that the wound was level with his chest, and swallowed heavily. One of his robotic legs slid out from his pod to be grasped in a gloved hand. Slowly, precisely, he cut into the skin around the wound, penetrating down deeper as he went. There was a muffled cry of pain. Zim concentrated harder. He had to get the projectiles out. He couldn't worry about the possibility of infection now, although with what he was doing, it was high. Now, he had his hand in the hole he'd made, carefully searching for the smooth, cylindrical object. He tried to ignore the sounds Jendai tried to stifle by biting his lip. Every so often, one of his cries escaped and became a scream that nothing could cover. They were mere distractions. Zim had to keep concentration so as not to damage any organs. One fingertip brushed something solid, solid and cool, not warm like the rest of the flesh and tissue. The familiar sting of water told him everything he needed to know and a slightly deeper plunge allowed him to actually grasp it, pulling it out. Hissing, Zim threw it to the floor, clutching his bloody hand. With that accomplished, he turned back to the wound. Thanks to his small size, it hadn't gotten much larger. He just had to find a way to close it...
Another search of the van struck gold. Thread and a slim needle. Irkens hadn't used this technique in centuries, yet it was still taught to medical teams, and thus to Invaders as a course of action to save their life in an emergency. He didn't know if it would stop the bleeding, he hadn't used it before, yet he had to try something. Even if the wound became infected, they weren't more than a few days from the base. Once there, the superb medical programming of Zim's master computer could take over, correct any mistakes the Invader had made. He threaded the needle with some difficulty and then turned his attention to getting the wound closed. Jendai made a few noises with the pain before subsiding into an unconscious silence. His face had turned a very pale shade of green. After knotting the end several times, Zim began the process of retrieving the projectile and closing the wound with the leg. This went much faster. Next came Jendai's arm. Once again, Zim searched the back of the van and came up with two bottles of ketchup. Not exactly ideal, but desperate times called for these odd measures. He lay one bottle on each side of the break, tying them together with all the thread he had left. It was the best splint he could come up with. Lastly, he redid the bandage on his own wound, using more strips from his uniform.
"GIR!" he shouted out the window. "Get in here! We're leaving!"
From far off in the distance there was the sound of rocket jets. In moments GIR had returned to the interior of the van. "Hi Big Master!" it grinned at Jendai. When it received no response, it bounded over to Zim. "Big Master won't talk to me... why?"
Zim frowned, trying to figure out how to start the van. He'd folded down the driver seat to ensure that he could see out the front window and would use his robotic legs once again to work the little pedals. "He's sick, GIR," he said simply. "Very sick. He's asleep so he will heal."
"I understand..."
One good thing about GIR was that it didn't ask questions. Too many at least. Zim finally located the device that started the van, a small, metal key inserted into a slot behind the wheel. He turned it smoothly. The van roared to life, headlights glaring into the dark like two overly bright eyes. Zim carefully edged it forward, mind and eyes alert for trees. Many long minutes finally got him back onto the road. He knew the way from here.
GIR suddenly bounded forward, deciding the van needed some music to lighten the tense mood. Zim allowed this for a few moments. Then his face contorted in anger at the song that played.
"I've been lost
In a fortress deep and wide
That none may penetrate
I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am a island..."
"Turn that off at once GIR!" he shouted. "It's distracting me!" But GIR was too busy dancing to listen to its master.
"I have my books
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock, I am an island..."
Zim glared at the radio. This song was bringing that voice back. That was one thing he didn't need right now.
"And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries."
"That's not true!" the Invader snapped, narrowing his eyes. "We feel pain! We cry! Silence you stupid wormstink! You speak lies!" He gritted his teeth in anger. "LIES!" Amazingly, GIR turned the radio off, seeing its master's rage. Zim drummed his gloved fingers against the steering wheel, trying to drown out that voice in his head. He would NOT leave Jendai behind. He refused to abandon an ally. It defied a great deal of his Soldier training but, who would ever know? Did that matter here? He was on a mission, a mission far away from anyone who could ever find out. As long as he completed his mission, his actions during it did not need to ever be found out. No one would know that he, Zim, a Soldier hardened by battle and Impending Doom I, had broken the barrier of one of the biggest things that separated Soldiers from Students.
There really wasn't an adequate way to describe it. His eye twitched. What had he become now? Of course, he was still Invader Zim, still an Irken, still bent on the destruction of Dib and the rest of the planet. But there was something new, something no Soldier should know. Was it camaraderie? Mother of Irk, it was too confusing to think about right now. Tightening his grip on the wheel, he drove off into the night.
What followed that moment was what Zim later christened, "The Drive Of Hell." GIR's high voice was thankfully quiet most of the way, but this made way for a horrible word to make itself known to the conscious occupants of the van. Zim had heard it many times in battles, once he'd heard his own being spoken, and had hoped never to hear it again. Accompanied by a sudden crackle of energy, it was a very feared thing in the Irken world, as it usually foretold death.
"Reactivate."
Again and again the word and the sizzle of life-giving, blue energy was heard in the van. It wasn't from his pod. Each time, Zim glanced over at his half-dead Irken passenger. He remained the same, if not paler with every fleeting look. Zim was unsure how frequently this occurred, but it eventually got so bad that he pulled the van over to inspect the wounds. The edges were swollen, and had turned a bright, angry red. Zim winced. Great, just what he needed. Infection. Superstitiously, he checked his shoulder, pronounced it clean, then re-bandaged it. There was nothing he could do about the other Irken's wounds except for get back to the base alive.
Thankfully, there was little traffic once again. Invaders always knew where they were going; ensuring that directions were one thing Zim didn't have to worry about. He remembered the way from the previous trip.
The lack of other cars and the fact he needed no directions were the only things that were in Zim's favor. He was exhausted. He'd had no sleep for days. Normally, this wouldn't have had the same effect, but battle, tension, grief, pain and fear took a heavy toll on one. Occasionally, he found himself nodding off, brought back only by GIR singing the Doom Song or the Scary Monkey theme. It got so bad he ordered GIR to keep it up, a task that the robot fell on with more joy than usual. That worked on his fatigue, but did little for the other problems plaguing him.
He barely knew how to drive this human vehicle. At times he could barely stay on the road, swerving terribly to avoid the other traffic. The act of keeping an even pace was taxing on his already tired brain. Finally, he retracted one leg and used only one to both brake and accelerate. He wove all over the road, angering the various human drivers around him.
To make matters worse, Jendai began to "wake" for small periods. He would talk about, or even to, various Irkens Zim had read about, like his love, Leeri or his old teacher, Daske. One name he called most frequently was, "Kasden" or simply "Kas." It was unnerving to hear the hoarse voice slur such familiar words. Sometimes he would just mumble indiscernible things before twitching slightly and sinking back into unconsciousness. These incidents scared Zim. While he spoke to the invisible Irkens, Jendai's antennae would prick forward, as if he were listening to a reply. To Zim, someone who was blacked out should stay silent until waking. It had to be an effect of the infection that had taken hold on his body. As was his shivering and sweating. Zim knew from experience that the mechanic couldn't last many more days.
To add to his list of troubles, he was only a day from the base when an infection of his shoulder began to set in. It stung, and after inspection, was turning the same painful red color as both Jendai's were. Although not as bad, Zim was slowly beginning to feel the effects of it. His head was spinning. Every so often, he felt like he was about to throw up. Valiantly, the Invader fought it off. He'd made a promise to himself not to let the humans win once more. Soldiers kept their promises, whether they were good or bad. He owed this Irken a lot; Jendai had saved his life, it was his turn to repay the debt.
His relief in seeing the familiar lights of the street where his base sat was voiced in a single, heaving sigh. Recently, his vision had begun doubling, his head spinning until he could barely see anything. The fever had begun as well, burning his little body with all its might. Jendai had been silent for the past day. His face was gray and you could hardly hear him breathe. Zim slowly pulled up alongside his base, filled with the knowledge that he had prevailed over all. After killing the engine, he chewed his lip for a moment, trying to figure out a way to get everyone inside safely. Jendai was too heavy for him to lift... but perhaps if he dragged him on the tarp...
"GIR!" he called. "Bring me the tarp!" He was hesitant to do this. Once you were dead, your body tended to decay and the tarp was probably the only thing keeping the smell from reaching the rest of the van. But when his SIR brought the blue plastic sheet to him, there was nothing. Puzzled, Zim looked back at the body of the Djemy. It was in perfect condition, looking exactly as it had the moment she'd died. He blinked, then passed it off as another mystery of the now-extinct Djemy race. "Good work, GIR. Now, go inside and watch television."
The robot squealed with delight, bouncing off to enjoy its shows while Zim struggled to bring both himself and his ally inside. He exited through the passenger side, spreading the tarp on the cement walkway. Now he had to figure out how to get Jendai out of the van. "Long time no see, Zim," the least welcome voice in the universe hissed from around the other side of the vehicle. "Where were you?"
"Come any closer Dib-monkey and I will destroy you," Zim retorted. "Why are you here?"
There was silence for a moment as the human peered around the front of the van. "You get called out of class suddenly and disappear for a week. Of course, I thought you were planning something. And it's five at night, where else would I be?"
"That's correct, you watch me obsessively, I forgot," he snapped mirthlessly. He narrowed his eyes threateningly. The blaster was still safely inside his boot. "Get out of here! I have work to do."
Dib dared approach the Invader. "No disguise. Pretty vulnerable, eh Zim? Letting your guard down. This is almost too eas-" The stupid human eyes blinked. "What happened to you?"
The Invader took an involuntary step back. "Nothing, pitiful worm, simply battle scars. Now leave!" he ordered, taking an aggressive stance. "Or I will call the gnomes on you!" His threat made Dib back up a few paces, glancing nervously around him at the said gnomes. Seeing the enemy retreat, Zim relaxed slightly, wiping the sweat from his feverish face with his good hand. His shoulder's pain had suddenly moved down the length of his arm as well. "Leave, stinkmonkey," Zim snapped again when he noticed his nemesis's hesitation. Dib didn't move, just leaned against the side of the van, arms folded over his chest.
"What's gonna make me?" the human said calmly. "I'm outside your gnomes' perimeter."
Zim growled. "If you're going to stand there, move!" He walked proudly towards the open door of the van's passenger side. It was incredible Dib hadn't noticed its occupant. "I said I have work to do, and I do!" Now he stood no more than six inches from Dib's ugly self. "Get out of my way, huuuuuman." Surprisingly, Dib moved.
Now began the process of getting one tall, unconscious Irken mechanic out of his seat and onto the tarp. Zim knew Dib would see. He didn't care. One quick glance at close range had shown no camera, or other photo-taking device. Both of them were safe. Climbing back into the van, Zim pulled the seat's armrest up to allow Jendai to slide out once he was ready for that part. He pretended he didn't hear Dib's exclamation of shock at what was inside the white van. "It's... it's..." the human stuttered.
"Shut your noise tube, Dib!" Zim barked, turning his head to face the human. "This is a mechanic who was injured the same place I was. I am taking him into my base for treatment. There is nothing you can do to stop me. And don't even try." His voice took on a hissing note. "It is not vital to my mission of doom that he survives, as he has no part in it whatsoever, but I do owe him a great deal for saving my life after your pathetic attempt to destroy me." He started pulling on Jendai, trying to get him onto the tarp.
"So... he's not trying to help you take over Earth," Dib began, pondering all this aloud. "He's just here... why?"
Zim was having problems. Why were tall Irkens so heavy? "None of your business, earth worm!" He tried pushing.
"He has no part in your plans at all? He's an innocent in all this?"
"Have you the brain worms?" Zim snarled, finally looking up from his task. "Of course he's an innocent! He's a mechanic who was shot! Now leave me alone so I may get him out of this van alive!" To Zim's complete surprise, his enemy climbed up in the van and began pulling on Jendai's other side. "Get out of here! Don't touch him with your filthy human hands!" the Invader shouted. "What are you doing, Dib-human!?"
The human shot him a look as if what he was doing should be obvious. "It's called helping, Zim," he said flatly. "I don't like it that I'm doing it for one of your miserable kind, but..." Dib got a torn look on his face that almost made Zim laugh in how pathetic it was. "if I don't do anything, then an innocent... something dies. And then I'd be just as bad as you, Zim."
"If you are going to aid me in this then stay silent."
"Whatever. Okay, when we get back to skool, none of this happened. I still try and expose you, you still... do whatever you always do."
Zim narrowed his eyes once again. "Agreed, earth stink."
The two enemies managed to get Jendai down from the van and onto the tarp without much difficulty. Once there, Zim took the side facing his doorway and Dib the side closest to the van. They lifted in unison and after much arguing, managed to get the Irken safely inside.
"Remember that this never happened, filthy worm," Zim called to the hastily retreating Dib. "And I may go easier on you when skool returns. Oh, and close the van door."
"Yeah right," the human retorted, slamming the door. "You'll forget this whole thing in a few hours." He left, trenchcoat waving behind him in the dim glow of twilight.
The base had never felt so much like home in the sense that Zim had never been so glad to see one place before. He sent Jendai down to the lab's medical bay for treatment, eventually following. The various mechanical things got to work repairing the damage, regenerating tissue and bone and curing his infection. Zim watched them for a few minutes, feeling weak all of the sudden. "Computer," he breathed. "There is a white human van outside the perimeter with a body inside. Bring the body to the lab and put it in stasis." There was a beeped comply. "Register mechanic Jendai Kaalae into security system. He is same importance level as Zim." Another beep. "And prepare a second medical table for Invader Zim." It appeared before him. Zim slowly climbed on, laying back as the various instruments got to work on his shoulder. They didn't hurt.
Zim relaxed for the first time in a long while, feeling less weak and more drowsy than anything. Once Jendai was fully recovered he would ask the tall one to stay at the base. He doubted the mechanic would want to continue living in the place where he'd stayed so long with Merana Sali. Too many possible memories, too much possible pain there. And once that matter was settled, he would show Jendai what he'd done with Merana's body and let him do what he wished with it. Then there was the mission to get back to. It had been disturbed for so long, and now he could finally return to it. If Jendai agreed to stay, the mission would go much smoother with the knowledge of someone who had lived with humans as long as the mechanic had. He could finally complete the mission and be a true Invader! Once he got back on track of course.
But somehow, the thought of returning to the mission had a much more hollow feel to it than Invader Zim had thought it would. With a sigh, he relaxed fully, and slipped into a sleep filled with dreams of glory.
END
To Be Continued in the next installment of the Kaalae Name Trilogy...
AFTERMATH
Summary:
The death of Merana has devastated Jendai Kaalae. Old demons from his past return to haunt him as now he has no way to escape them through his beloved. After a lengthy mental debate, the Student sees only one way out of this torment... can anything Zim do stop him from using the ultimate solution?