Operation: Incentive - Invader Zim fanfic (ZADF)

Graduation Day

Zim ran the brush through his wig one last time.

He couldn't stand germs and tangles, especially not today. Things had to go perfect today, the  last day of Urthling Primary Skool. He'd finally graduate, and... and... Well, he weren't sure what his plans were, to say the least. Was he to... he pushed the matter out of his mind. His plans were so genius, sometimes even he didn't know what was going on! He was Zim! Of course he was a prodigy!

Gir ran in and interrupted this line of thought with a squeal. 

"Master! The Boreding Skool and the Hi-Skool are both prepared to take you if you want to go! Can I haz tacos now? Tacos, tacos, tacos..."

Zim nodded absent-mindedly.

"Yes, Gir, we could get tacos after Skool. And I think I'd fancy some nacho cheese..."

Zim pushed open his front door, and walked out without elaboration.

School had been unbearable the last couple of days. The Dib-Stink did not talk to him, and worse, didn't even look at him once! How was he to enjoy domination of Urth without witnessing his suffering, or his smile?  It was getting a little boring now, so Zim would be glad to leave. He just had a horrible feeling about today...

He walked onto Skool property and into the classroom, then promptly
down. Dib's seat was empty, and his stomach dropped. Mrs Bitters stared at him.

"Zim, Dib wants a word with you in Room 114." she hissed finally.

Zim said nothing but got up and left.

Room 114 was directly next to their class, Room 115. He made to open the door, but it swung open in front of him. He was stunned for a second, then walked in anyway. Dib was sitting on a desk in the very front of the empty classroom.

"Close the door behind you, Zim."

Zim obliged and then turn to face Dib.

"What is the meaning of this, Dib?" he asked angrily. Dib interrupted him before Zim could elaborate.

"Zim, do you want to talk? Are you ok?"

"What do you mean by-"

"It must have been a shock when you found out the Armada wasn't coming."

"Lies! Filthy lies! Of course the Armada-"

"While I was in your lab, Zim, I downloaded some of your files. Those files included information on the Massive." Dib said.

"How DARE you-"

"But," Dib cut in again, "you hadn't opened all the information on the Massive yet; including the flight plans.  The same flight plans that showed that the Tallest never planned to come to Earth."

Dib pulled a small gray orb out of his pocket and proceeded to throw it on the floor. A hologram spewed out of the top. An Irken hologram. An Irken hologram, signed by Tallest Red, detailing the flight plans, on which Urth wasn't even visible.

Zims knees buckled, and he stabilized himself on a desk.

"I thought you wouldn't believe me," said Dib, "So I brought the proof. Ill ask my original question again. Are you ok?"

Zim was shocked, but he bounced back.

"Am I ok? I took everything away from you, and you're asking if I'M ok?!" His voice was wavering, and he seemed close to tears.

"Zim, you took a lot from me, but you gave me a lot too. My genius wasn't appreciated here." Dib sounded almost bitter. "If being a human means being an ignorant pig, then maybe I don't WANT to be human! What have they ever done for me? You coming to Earth confirmed my theories; your existence proved I wasn't mad. I want to know whats out there," he continued, "and isn't being alien the best way to do that? I can finally see the universe! Plus," he added, a little hesitantly, "you're not as bad as I thought you were, Zim. Don't get me wrong, you're still an idiot and all, but you're not that bad. I just needed some time."

Dib's last word faded, and silence thickened between them.

And all of a sudden, Zim started to weep.

Not loud, wailing noises, but quiet teardrops hitting the floor.

He stumbled towards Dib, and stuttered as he walked.

"You were al- always a formidable opponent," he sniffed, "and I thought you could be a gr- gre- great ally too. I was never really ac..accepted. I was a genius among Irkens, but they must r-r-really hate me to send me here... They must still blame me for Miyuki's death... How could they not, when I still blame myself!" he cried out.

"Miyuki?" Dib asked. "Is that the blue Tallest?"

Zim looked up.

"How do you know that?"

"I kinda may have accidentally seen your memories..." Dib explained, embarresed.

Zim nodded. Of course he did.

Dib walked forward.

"I have an offer, Zim. I saw in your memories that the Resisty have ownership of a planet. There's an army faction, home faction and lab faction. We could go set up home bases, and do some good for once in our lives."

Zim had stopped crying, but his eyes were shining, and when he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper.

"What about my mission? What about the Almighty Tallest? It's...just kind of hard to accept..."

"Oh, come on, Zim!" Dib said, ever patient. "Do they really deserve you?"

Zim thought about this for a while.

"No," he said finally. "No, they won't. They'll be nothing without me."

"That's the spirit, spaceboy," Dib smiled. "But before we go, I need to have a talk with my dear sister."