Phase 7: Reconstruction

"They're leaving, Devi. We won." - Dib

After the horrible resounding shriek of every dying parasite faded, Dib surveyed their surroundings. Most of the Irkens around them were passed out from the instant death of the parasitic aliens. But many were dead. It was difficult to tell the two categories apart.

Once Pepito arrived, the battle was easier. The antichrist kept the Irken fire from actually hitting them by using another one of his spooky evil powers.

Once they deemed that the danger was over and they no longer needed to blow the core of the ship, they hurried to the bridge to check on Johnny.

That's where they found him. Johnny was curled up on the floor; an old Bub's Burger Boy toy was lying near his head. Dib bent down to check on Johnny.

But Johnny wasn't breathing.

Dib ran from the room, his tears streaking from behind his glasses. "Help! Pepito! Gaz!" Dib screamed.

"What's wrong, Dib?" Gaz asked.

"It's Johnny. He's he"

*

Zim helped his leaders off of the floor and back into their command chairs. Red blinked and put a hand to the bleeding gash on his forehead. Purple blinked down at Zim for a minute and tried to think of the correct etiquette for the situation.

"My Tallest," Zim said bowing to his leaders, "Are you okay now?"

"Zim?" Purple asked.

"Yes, it is I, Zim," said the small Irken.

"You're so very small, Zim," Red said tiredly.

Zim dropped his head and nodded.

"Zim you and these Earth monkeys rescued us," Red said.

"Yes, my Tallest," Zim replied.

"As a reward for your heroism, Zim, I'm promoting you from Invader to ambassador. You're the new Irken ambassador to Earth. Congratulations!" Red said, winking at Purple.

Zim stood as tall as he could and saluted his leaders, happily accepting his new assignment. GIR then decided to jump on his head and stuff a rather large piece of cake in his mouth.

"Hey! Where did that tall guy go?" Purple asked, indicating Johnny.

The Irkens looked over to the skeletal man on the floor and Dib looked up. He shook his head and draped his coat over their fallen friend.

*

Devi paced the living room in the old shack. She had been a nervous wreck since Dib and the others left that morning. Tenna was oddly quiet and had been looking at Spooky for the last hour. Squee started cooking dinner so that when the other got back, they could eat.

The sudden noise of a ship landing shook the rickety house. Devi ran to the boarded up window and peered through the crack.

Dib, Pepito and Gaz were pulling a hover cart with a covered form on it. Zim was waving at the ship as it took off in the sky. The wind picked up and blew the cover off the hover cart.

Devi ran out the door and saw Johnny's peaceful form lying on the cart. Dib's coat covering him.

He must've gotten sick on the ship, she thought.

But when they came closer, she saw the solemn look on their faces.

When they reached the door, she could see Nny's ashen face and blue lips. Johnny was dead.

"H-how?" Devi stuttered.

"He just died," Dib said.

"Whatever illness he had it must've caught up with him. Maybe somewhere we can find something, but I doubt it. It's like Johnny never existed," Gaz said.

"They're leaving, Devi. We won. Zim is staying as Ambassador and they promised that they wouldn't touch Earth ever," Dib said.

"Why did they just let us go like that?" She asked.

"Johnny killed the parasite's queen. The rest of them must've been linked to her they all died shortly after. Irkens associate height with power. Johnny is was as tall as Tallest Red. They respected that," Zim filled in, clutching a case in his arms.

"What's that Zim?" Pepito asked.

"Surveillance and data tapes from the bridge of the Massive. I thought the rest of you wanted to see what happened," he said.

Devi and the others stood quietly at the threshold of shack #777. The odd funeral procession went inside and the heroes of the day mourned.

Is it right to mourn the passing of a homicidal maniac? Devi thought.

Johnny saved the Earth. He did it.

He isn't the same man that killed all those people.

Johnny died a hero.

I hope he finds his answers.

*

Dear Diary,

I went over the stars today. It was different than the last time. I didn't get to sit in a chair in heaven. I didn't get to go to hell with the stupid assholes. I just went over. This really nice lady smiled at me and hugged me. She said that she missed me. I told her that I didn't remember her. She said that was okay.

I think that I'm finally happy.

I think that everything's going to be okay for once.

*

END