Hello all. This is something I wrote which was inspired by the song "Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. The rating on this might go up due to content, but that is for me to decide with later chapters. Enjoy!

Also, I do not own any of the characters. They are (c) Jhonen Vasquez and Nickelodeon Studios.

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Author: Tigeress08

"You can't do this to me!"

"Oh yes, yes I can. You're about to find out what I really can do."

"They'll find me, you know! They'll find me, and then they'll find you!"

"By the time they find you, there won't be enough of you left to be recognizable; and by then I'll be long gone. So struggle against those restraints all you want, it won't help. Those are made out of some of the strongest material in the universe. You aren't going to escape."

"…What are you doing? What's that?!"

"It's a tranquilizer. It's to make you shut up. You're giving me a headache."

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I HATE YOU! I swear to God…. When I get out of here….. when I… you're going to… you…"

Dib awakened several hours later in a dark room. He couldn't make out where he was, or what time it was; all he knew was that his head hurt. He could tell he was in an upright position, but was unable to move his arms or legs. The darkness that surrounded him was eerily silent, and for a moment he wondered if he was blind and deaf.

Frantically, he twisted his body in an attempt to escape whatever was holding him. No matter what he did, Dib couldn't break free of the restraint. A few moments later, sweat perspiring from his forehead, he finally surrendered his efforts and attempted to look around. Darkness hung in the room like a think blanket of fog, and nothing could be seen.

Finally realizing his attempts were futile, Dib pressed his back against the backboard that was behind him and dropped his head. His hair fell in his face and matted itself to his forehead. He took a deep breath and waited. After all, what else could he do?

Zim sat at his computer, staring at the screen. Unbeknownst to Dib, he was only a mere one-hundred feet away, and had heard the human awaken. During the many hours that Dib was unconscious, Zim had contacted his leaders; the Almighty Tallest. Up until this point, Zim had actually believed that he had a purpose on this planet. He had taken immense pride in being an Invader, and had gone to great lengths to impress these so-called 'almighty' leaders. The last transmission back to Irk left him speechless and emotionally void.

It was only a few hours ago that Tallest Red had finally told Zim that he was a disgrace to the Irken Empire, and that his mission was no more than a method of getting rid of him for good. They had never expected there to be a planet "Earth." They thought Zim had been sent into the vast emptiness of the universe to die. He had never had a mission; he wasn't wanted. He could never return home… but then again, he never wanted to now anyways. Everything he had worked for, everything he had accomplished was absolutely meaningless, and he was letting it all sink in.

Zim had been on Earth for nearly five years at this point. And now he realized it was all just a ploy, all a waste of time. If he wasn't an invader, then what was his purpose here anymore? Obviously he couldn't take over the planet. And even if he had, he highly doubted that the Tallest would ever send the Armada anyway. It was all for not.

Zim let out a sigh and looked down at his hands in his lap and twiddled his thumbs deep in thought. He had changed over the years, which he found surprising. He actually grew taller, and back in Skool he blended in with the other students. Well…. at least height-wise anyway. He was amazed at this. As old as he was, when he was living on Irk, he only grew to a certain height, and then no more. Zim figured it must have something to do with the planet's atmosphere, and how the gravitational pull was much less than it was back on his home planet. Due to there being less pressure on his body, he came to the conclusion that it allowed his bone structure to loosen, thus permitting him this additional few feet of height.

Although he wasn't wearing his disguise at this time, he had altered that as well. The hair had become longer and almost shaggy. His clothes were the same, although now they were bigger to allow for the additional growing that he had done over the years. He still wore his pac, simply due to the fact that it provided him with fluids vital to his survival. The Tallest had disabled more than half of the pac from Irk, leaving Zim with only the essentials he needed in order to stay alive, and his spider legs. The shut off the weapons option, and the ability for him to make calls back to the planet from it.

Sliding the chair back, Zim rose from his computer and wandered towards the room that Dib was in. He reached the door and removed the glove from one of his hands. He then placed his bare hand over a panel, which scanned it and beeped. He entered a password on the number pad, and then the mechanical sound of the steel doors opening was heard.

Stepping into the room, Zim flipped a switch to his right, causing several iridescent overhead lights to flicker to life.

Dib, overhearing the doors open, clenched his eyes shut to keep the invading white light from entering too quickly when they lit the room. With his eyes shut, he flailed his body from side to side unsuccessfully cursing Zim's name. He managed to open his eyes and squint at the blurry figure standing not far from him. He didn't have his glasses on, but he knew who it was.

"Fuck you, Zim! FUCK YOU, you alien scum!" Dib screamed, fighting with the restraints some more, "I'll kill you if I ever get out of this!"

Zim sighed and walked over to a small table. Without a word, he picked up Dib's glasses and placed them on the boy's face. He then walked to the far corner of the room and grabbed a folding chair. Bringing it over towards Dib, he placed it on the floor and sat in front of him. Sitting backwards in the chair, Zim crossed his arms on the back and rested his head on it, staring blankly at the human.

Dib, now being able to see, looked around at his surroundings. He was in a plain white room with no windows, one small table, and the chair that Zim was sitting in. It looked much like an empty doctor's office. He looked at what was holding him captive next. He was sprawled upright on a metal table, with shiny metal clasps holding his wrists and ankles to the surface. He then looked back at the alien.

Zim was still sitting in the chair, staring blankly into the corner of the room. An awkward, heavy silence hung in the air of the small room.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Zim broke the silence.

"I know you're wondering what will happen to you, Dib-stink," the alien said in an oddly calm voice. Dib merely glared hatefully at the alien. Zim then stood up from the chair, and walked slowly over to Dib. He paused for a moment, then stated, "I'm going to let you go, Dib," his voice emotionless and hollow.

Dib, who had started struggling when Zim had gotten up from the chair, managed to hear this, and immediately paused, shooting him a questioning look, "What?" he asked, actually sounding somewhat disappointed.

Zim merely pressed a button on his pac, and a spider leg delivered a remote to him. He took it and pressed the large red button, causing the restraints to retreat back into the table. Dib slid onto the ground, landing in a crouching position. He stayed there for a moment before inspecting his wrists, and then glancing up at Zim.

"This is a trick of yours, isn't it?" Dib asked the alien, still crouching on the floor. He moved his hand to his ankle where he always kept a knife hidden.

"No, Dib. It's not," Zim said as he turned to walk towards the door, "You are free to go," he gave a waving gesture with his hand.

Dib sat there for a moment, dumbfounded. He watched as Zim walked towards the door.

"Hey, wait!" he called, standing up suddenly, taking a step towards Zim, acting as though he were going to reach for him, "Aren't you going to….. I don't know… do horrible, alien things to me?" there was a certain amount of disappointment lingering in his voice.

Zim stopped and placed his hand on the doorframe. His shoulders slumped, and he looked down at the ground. Without turning around, he said, "No. There will be no need for that. Not anymore. You may return to your pathetic Earth-life," and with that, Zim walked out of the room, leaving Dib alone in wonderment on the floor.

Ok, well that's chapter one. It feels funny writing something again since it's been about five years since I actually sat at this computer and was able to come up with a story. Anyways, please read and review! Chapter two will be up shortly, I'm sure. Thanks!