Dib guided Zim back down the halls to the docking bay where he'd left the ship and the rubble from Golgion's attack. As he hurried through the connecting door, he caught sight of Gaz inside the ship. Already, a multicolored bruise was forming on the side of her face, and she was holding her stomach, wincing. The Professor leaned against the side of the ship, looking worriedly at his watch. Nearby, Klitia and GIR talked animatedly about tacos, squirrels, and everything in between.

"Why are they acting so… uncaptorlike?" Zim muttered. "Well, are we going?"

He had just reached for the ladder when GIR screeched, "MASTER!" And bolted past Klitia to latch onto Zim's head. Zim staggered back, shouting at GIR, oblivious to the red flash behind him.

The light disappeared, leaving in its place Riddick, gripping a still paralyzed Lurich's shirt.

"YOU COULD HAVE JUST LEFT ME THERE!" Lurich shouted. Riddick ignored him.

"Ah, my tall friend." Membrane lit up. "Don't worry, a few more hours and it will wear off entirely. Ah… and you might want to destroy that remote if it's still in the lab. No telling what those nanobots will do if left to their own devices for more than a day."

Lurich gave an uneasy chuckle. Behind them, Mutan, Golgion, and Lorelie shuffled in, the latter holding Cranic.

Riddick stared hard at the little rescue party. "So. You went through all this… for Zim? You care that much for him?"

The Professor coughed, but Dib crossed his arms and planted himself between Riddick and Zim, glaring.

Waving a hand dismissively, Riddick continued, "Don't worry. You have proved yourselves. I could kill you all right here, but you all seem to have bonded in a strange way…"

Zim noticed Lorelie standing behind Riddick, holding Cranic. He lifted a hand and gave a tiny wave. She waved back as Cranic giggled. Golgion stared at Gaz, whining sadly as Mutan gave a nod to Dib. Gaz opened one eye toward Golgion, then turned away. Dib nodded back to Mutan with a smile. Klitia grinned insanely at GIR, who laughed, clinging to Zim.

Slowly, Riddick shook his head. "I have never seen this before."

Lorelie smiled. "I guess, Master Riddick, friendships sometimes come in strange ways."

Riddick just stared.

Nervously, Zim cleared his throat, edging toward the ship's door. "We really should go."

"Before you do," Riddick flashed over to the ship's door in the blink of an eye, "Promise me something. After all, I spared you from the Tallests, and we have come to a mutual understanding."

Dib frowned. "Can't promise until we know what we're promising."

Riddick lifted his head. "Just that if we are ever in trouble, which I doubt, you will help us. And we will do the same for you."

Dib blinks. Everyone was a bit taken aback by that. Dib nods. "Absolutely."

Membrane dipped his head. "My arsenal is at your service."

GIR cackled, "KLITIA, REMEMBER THE POOPY DOGGIES!"

Zim just scowled, but wiggled his antennae affirmatively. Gaz crossed her arms, glaring at her lap, still sore over being beaten.

Riddick nodded. "Well then, I am sure we will see each other again. Until then, farewell." With that, he moved away from the ship door.

Zim stared. "Just like that?"

Dib shoved him. "Shut up Spaceboy, don't push your luck today." And with that, the small company loaded into the ship.

The renegade crew waved as the ship pulled away, except for Cranic who flailed his arms at them, and Golgion—still sad to see Gaz leaving—and Lurich, for obvious reasons.

Dib, the Professor, and GIR waved back. Gaz still stared at her lap, and Zim, well… he didn't want them all to see him waving. It wouldn't be Invaderly. But he nodded at them.

Klitia glanced up at Riddick. "Ya think we'll see 'em again Master Riddick?"

As the ship disengaged and turned back to Earth, Riddick responded thoughtfully, "Something tells me…we will."

THE END.