To Which Our Future Holds (A ZaDr Story)

Chapter 34

Zim gave a satisfactory smile as he lifted the goggles from off his eyes. "There all repaired" he said aloud to himself as he inspected the newly repaired, and now fully functional shield tower. Pulling up a holographic screen Zim checked the shields. "Hmm, this already took Zim more time than expected, Zim will just have to repair the other towers on a later date." With a whistle Zim called over the lighter orange lacequbus female who happily trotted over to see him. On her back was fastened a smooth saddle which was strapped between the front two pairs of legs and across her chest, and carefully designed was a head strap that allowed for comfort and steering. "Come on girl, let's get back so we are not keeping Ash smeet waiting." Swinging up on the saddle, Zim led the lacequbus back around home, the creature's speed almost blinding.

After returning the lacequbus to her pen and taking off her saddle, Zim headed inside. "Ash smeet Zim has returned!" Zim called. With no response Zim called again "Ash smeet?" Zim twitched his anteni "Computer where is the Ash smeet?"
"Down in the lab," the computer replied. Zim widened his eyes "Ohh, the Ash Smeet must just have been so busy with his research that he didn't come up for food." Zim purred "Very well computer, Zim shal go retrieve the Ash smeet." Zim walked onto the elevator and descended down into the research lab. When the door opened Zim walked out "Ash smeet, the computer told me you were down here. how is your research-" Zim stopped mid sentence as he saw Ash, head buried in his knees, his glasses on the floor in front of him. Zim walked over and placed a clawed hand on his shoulder sitting down next to him and leaning his head against the Ash smeet.
Ash blinked in surprise as he felt Zim lean against him "Do you want to talk or is this just good for now?" Zim asked, eyes closed and his tone soothing. Ash gripped onto Zim and hugged him tightly, the two sitting like that in a calm silence.

"I couldn't do it." Ash whimpered eventually. "I never realized how far away Earth was, I'm almost too scared to find out how long it's been. Because what if it's been too long, what if they aren't there anymore, what if they forgot about me." Zim rubbed Ash reassuringly, "Ash smeet it's not too late." With a soft smile Zim closed his eyes in thought. "Here let Zim tell you a secret." He said, his voice soft and reminiscent.
"When you truly love someone, there is no amount of time that could pass that you wouldn't wait for them. And Zim can assure you that there is no greater love than the one a parent holds for their smeet." Reaching up and placing a gentle hand on Ash's cheek Zim smiled "So trust Zim when I tell you this, if you chose to go back Zim promises that your mother and father would hold you in their arms, and they would tell you, no matter how upset they might have ever been for you leaving, that they still love and remember you."
Ash felt tears start to fall down his cheeks as he looked into Zim's eyes the truth and promise behind them unquestionable and reassuring. Ash gripped onto Zim, his shoulders shaking as he cried.
Gently stroking Ash's hair and setting aside his personal feelings Zim softly asked "Are you ready to go back home now Ash smeet?" With a shaky nod Ash agreed. "Okay then, as soon as you are ready Zim will take you home."

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Ash woke up in his nest a warm blanket wrapped around him. Remembering the events from last night he assumed he fell asleep and Zim brought him to bed, and so without much thought Ash got up and began his morning routine. After exercising, showering, brushing his teeth, and doing his hair, Ash took the elevator to the main floor where Zim awaited.
The smell of fresh pancakes wafted through the room reminding Ash he'd fallen asleep without dinner. "Good morning my Ash smeet Did you sleep well?" Ash nodded, sitting down at the table. "Are you still excited for today?" Ash looked down at the empty plate in front of him "I'm actually still feeling nervous." Zim nodded before placing a stack of golden pancakes, drizzled with pink honey and Starberries, and topped with a slice of Night Lemmon. "Don't worry, Zim is sure all will go well."
Ash took a bite of pancake "How can you be so sure?" He asked. Zim raised a brow, "Do you doubt Zim?" Ash shook his head "Well no." He said, almost doubtfully. Zim smiled softly, understanding his smeet's fear. "Then trust Zim and eat your breakfast."

The two ate their food talking on and off about the far when Ash asked, "Are we going to have to do our chores before leaving?" Zim shook his head and took a bite of pancake. "No Zim re-installed some modifications on the base last night, to be fair it's working how it's supposed to now, since it's invader tech it's designed to do all manual work to allow the irken invader to focus on their mission." Ash took the last bite of his food "Then why didn't we have it do that stuff before?"
Zim sat up in his seat and purred. His voice changed to a confident, calm, and kind tone, as he looked proudly at his Ash smeet. "Because Zim's mission has been to raise you into the strong and intelligent soldier you've become." With a flutter in his chest Ash felt the strength of that phrase. sitting himself up straight Ash saluted Zim with a wide smile across his face. With an equally proud smile Zim saluted his soldier back.

Ash walked behind Zim through the base finding himself growing more nervous as they walked towards the voot cruiser, it humming slightly with their approach.
With one last farewell to the planet Ash hopped in as Zim took the controls and they flew off.
Ash watched in a wistful way as the planet Renata-Jayr slowly shrunk behind them, its large crater seeming to become a speck along with the planet.
Ash watched until the stars began to blur past them, his mind wandering as the streaks became faster knowing with just a blink he'd miss millions if not billions of systems with planet's just as beautiful as Renata-Jayr was. After a while of watching the stars Ash leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes knowing they were going to be here for a while.

Ash felt a tap on his shoulder as Zim pointed ahead of them, Ash watched in awe as they approached Earth. Where the sun hit she seemed to glow her vast blue oceans and green lands shimmering in the sun, and where the shadows fell she lit up with millions of spiderwebs of lights from humans all across the globe. Zim typed some things in and commanded his ship to locate Dib.

Turning to the smeet, no the soldier, who sat behind him Zim gave his best smile "This is your call Ash" Zim said gesturing to the screen.

Ash looked down at the console. Written in irken letters was the command, this was it. All he had to do was say and they would either go back to Renata-Jayr, or move forward to Earth. "Awaiting Command Procedure." the ship echoed. With a deep breath, Ash narrowed his eyes, opened his mouth, and spoke.

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-The End-

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