Invader Zim - Lost Chronicles of Doom! - Continuous Novel

Chapter Eight - Trouble

Zim didn't notice the front door slamming, nor did he hear Sam flop down on the couch. He was concentrating as much as he could on the game codes. "Pay attention, Gir. If I can put the codes into the three-dimensional holographic device generator, I can turn all human games against them!" he said, laughing evilly. "My plan is so intricate, so flawless, even the Dib can't figure out what Project Beta is!" Gir ignored him and pretended that his piggy was flying.

Zim typed in the codes as he watched the screen carefully. "Downloading," the computer announced it its baritone voice. "Computer, once installed, send the codes to system two-nineteen," he instructed, turning away from the screen and walking over to Gir. "Now your part is simple, Gir, all you have to do is watch the hologram device for any fluctuations. If the light changes red, simply press the button right here." Zim pointed to the button that was labeled "÷?÷=^÷!"_" for "EMERGENCY" in Irken.

Gir stuck his pink tongue out and leaned back. Zim shook his head, saying, "Just pretend it's a taco. If it changes into a burrito, press the pepperoni." Gir saluted, his eyes red, and he stared at the system's LED light. The alien hesitated before using his spider-like arms to pull himself up to the generator panel.

"Download complete, sending files to system two-nineteen," the computer reported. "Excellent. Computer, turn on system override mode. I do not want to waste a second!" "But, Zim, there is a seventy-nine percent chance of causing an explosion in override mode. It would be--." Zim cut the computer off with a crisp, "I don't pay you to criticize me being ingenious!"

"You don't pay me at all."

"Do as I say! I am your creator and you will obey me!" he screamed. The devices turned on their override settings. Zim smirked arrogantly as he watched the data sent a lot faster. Yes, he thought, the sooner I finish this, the sooner I get to destroy this filthy planet once and for all. And then I shall fill it with snacks for my Tallest!

Gir's eyes turned blue and he abandoned his task, tapping on the test tube with Mini-moose inside. "Gir, progress report!" Zim said from the control panel. Gir didn't reply. "Gir, I said progress report!" he reiterated. "Waffles!" the malfunctioning robot replied optimistically. "This is not a joke, Gir!" Zim nagged, gripping the edges of his chair as he turned around. "Is the light red or green?"

Zim searched the area for his robot sidekick, but he was nowhere to be seen. Groaning, the invader leapt down the floating platform, landing squarely on the metal floor. "Gir, you had one simple job and you ruin it?!" He checked the light--it was still green. He turned around to look for Gir, unaware that it changed to red once he looked away. "Gir, are yo--" BAM!

Zim was knocked unconscious; Gir was screaming his little tin head off because Mini-moose said, "Hi," instead of, "Nyah." The robot looked at his leader who was on the floor, bleeding on his arm, his antennae curved at weird angles instead of straight and flat. "My master's dead!" he screeched. A moment of dramatic silence passed.

"WHEEEEEEHEHEHE!!!" Gir finally screamed, reaching in the test tube Mini-moose was in and playing with the cuddly robot thing. "Nyah! Nyah-nyah!" it said, nodding its head to Zim. "Nyah-hah!" It bounced up and down and Gir used his rocket feet to propel himself in the air. "Let's make biscuits!" Gir suggested. Mini-moose shook his chubby, brown head. "BISCUIIIIIIIITS!!!!" he screamed, louder than a male three-wattled bellbird.

"Nyah, nyah... Nyah?" Mini-moose asked, clearly agreeing. "Okayyy, we make biscuit pies!" The small moose smiled and floated upstairs with Gir. Sam gasped as she woke up thanks to the ruckus in the kitchen. "What's going on?! Oh, it's just Zim..."

The girl got up off the hot pink couch and peered into the kitchen, but what she saw was far more surprising. There were two robots (at least, she thought the one that looked like a moose was a robot) in the kitchen making apple pies with biscuits! "Hehehe, BISCUITS!!! I LOVE BISCUITS!!!" the grey and blue robot squeaked.

"Oh my word! Hey, where's Zim? Did he leave?" Sam asked, partially to herself. "Oh yeaaaah," Gir said. "He deaaaad in the laaab.... Wanna make some cake?" She had a petrified look on her face. "He's dead? As in dead dead? I still feel his brain waves coming from... the toilet." "That's the lab door thingy," Gir replied. "Nyah." Mini-moose nodded.

Sam looked in the toilet, or "lab door" as the robot had said. It was drained of its water and it was like a pan on the bottom. "Can I go down there?" Sam asked, pointing to the entrance. She hated the very thought of stepping into the toilet, but she had to do it. For Zim, she would.

"Biscuits! BISCUITS!!" the robot yelled. She took that as a yes. As she stepped into the entrance, nothing happened. She waited. Nothing. Sam waited longer, eyeing the delightfully scented biscuits. Still nothing. "How do you make this stupid thing work?!" Sam screamed, stomping on the panel. "Error, system shut down. Error, system shut down. Error..." a voice from the ceiling announced over and over again.

Smoke rolled out from under her and something smelled horrible. "Zim! Zim, are you okay?!" she screamed over the noises all around her. Tears sprang up behind her eyes and threatened to spill out over her face. "Zim!!"