Invader Zim - Lost Chronicles of Doom! - Continuous Novel

Chapter Ten - Usual Suspects

Dib took off his black jacket and snuck something small into his closet. "Gaz, do you have my show ready?" he asked. "No, Dib, actually, I don't! You always think everything is yours, but it isn't, it just isn't!" his sister yelled back. The boy hid his sneaky smile as he sat down on the couch. "Jeez, Gaz, I didn't do anything yet." That was a lie--a big one, too. Not only had he been running away from home despite his fathers attempts to keep them inside, but he had also, sort of, done a felony. His mother would be proud. His father would be ashamed.

The news was on, as Dib hoped, and he saw there were no reports. "And as you see on the radar here, we have a giant thunderstorm heading down to Season County. If you are there, please avoid any windows and stay indoors. Ah, the storm will stay mild until it reaches around this area," the reporter announced, pointing to a house. Zim's house. "Gaz, Gaz!" Dib called, "Zim is planning something! I know it! I gotta go over there and stop him!" He ran out the door without thinking to grab a weapon. "I hate him," Gaz mumbled once he left.

"Gah, got to get there...!" Dib said, panting heavily. "Zim, so far...energy, so low...!" How was he going to do this? He was sprinting for fifteen minutes, it seemed, but he was only three quarters of the way there! The paranormal expert whipped out a protein bar and took a bite, hoping it'll restore his energy like it does in some video games. "What's a matter, Dib? Where's your fight? Where's your strength now? I've already unleashed the power of your weather...I am unstoppable! BWAHAHAHA!!" he heard Zim taunt in his head. He had to keep going, for the sake of the Earth!

But that was also a dumb move--if he was out of energy when he got there, how would he stop Zim? He would have to rely on stealth alone. Yet again, the storm wouldn't hit until an hour from then, so Dib had plenty of time. Besides, who said he can't walk? It was settled.

Must stop Zim! Got to get there NOW! his instincts screeched. No, wait and walk. I'll be useless if I go there in this condition! Dib fought back. He forced himself to walk, concentrating on his snack and how it tasted of honey and grains. He was almost there in around ten minutes, that means he would have fifteen minutes of preparation, thirty minutes to stop Zim. By then, well, he'll hope he wasn't too late with fingers and toes crossed. He needed to be fast and careful. Correction, he thought, Fast, careful...and lucky. Let's roll.

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Sam walked carefully down to the place where she left Zim. How could he do that? He was injured. He was weak. He adapted, Sam realized. She knew there was something up with him: Green skin, hot house, puffer fish and gnomes in his yard, he didn't even have a full set of hair. "It's a skin condition," he had said to Torque in the hall. "What's it called, then?" Dib intervened. "Uh...generotenitous. It is very uncommon."

Generotenitous my butt! I researched this, it's like an alien theory of some sort. Zim, I fear, is not human. Could Dub be right? Could Zim be from a different planet, a different universe? I need answers! And why would he try to kill me? Sam couldn't figure any of it out. Sure, Zim had an unknown accent, green skin, and he talked all weird, but maybe he was just a boy who was desperate for friends. If that was the case, Sam would be wrong to have her suspensions, and she doubted it'll help with her relationship. His parents died, after all.

She stopped at the sight of Zim's house. It was fully repaired and, if possible, even more green and beautiful than the last time she saw it. But how...why...? Sam thought. She put a hand to her head. How was it possible?! How could his house be nothing but ash and then turn right back into a lovely home?

The girl angrily knocked on his door loudly. "Zim! Open this door!" Sam yelled. She is no going to let him get away with almost killing her and the person that saved his life! Who does that?! I mean, who could have such a cruel heart?

Nothing happened as she knocked louder and louder, her hand suddenly burning from the impact. "Open your door now unless you're scared!" Still nothing. She heard deep breaths coming from behind his fence and brain waves hit Sam's head like a newborn child coming to life. She still didn't get why she obtained these powers.

"Step into the light," she said sternly. "I won't hurt you." The breathing stopped for a few seconds, and then it started again, harder this time. Sam cautiously walked over to the fence and squinted into the shadows. "Dib?" she asked. The brain waves came faster now, more precise.

"Dib, I know it's you. The brain waves are larger and I see the light on your glasses."

Oh, man, she is good! Hopefully...no, it can't be. I shouldn't think like this, she heard Dib think. It was someone, or something, else. Not her.

"Dib! Just come here," she ordered. "Okay, step back. I'm gonna jump the fence so Zim's sensors can't detect me," he replied. Sam took a few steps backward onto the rock trail leading up to Zim's green house. Sweet, now she can see how many skills I have... she vaguely heard him think. Sam resisted the urge to roll her eyes and stick out her tongue like a child who was way younger than her. Then, Dib hurtled himself over the fence and landed in front of her, their faces just inches apart, wind rushing at Sam. Dib smiled, but it died just as it was born and he blushed. "Uh..." He cleared his throat. "So, what are you doing here? I mean, you only came for a visit this morning, right?" he asked, backing up and rubbing his neck.

"No, I, uh...it's complicated. What are you doing here?" she asked, changing the subject. "Horrible storm heading over here. I think Zim's planning something," he said coolly. Sam hid her surprise at the fact Dib honestly thought Zim could control the weather. "Oh. That's nice that you'd be checking on Zim. He does seem a little wary around water," she lied. She hadn't stayed in his house long enough to see him around water, let alone see him at all. She wondered what was so powerful in his base that he had to stay down there for days. Was it a surprise? Will she find out when the time is right? She shook her head. All these thoughts made her dizzy.

"What? Oh, oh, yeah. I'm just checking on him..." Dib forgot he lied to her by saying they were friends. What kind of person does that? It's for a good reason, but still, he thought guiltily. I'll tell her when we're together. I promise. Sam pressed her lips together tightly. "Well, you should get home. It's late and a little boy like you shouldn't be out here alone," she said. Dib laughed. "You're younger than me! And you're a girl--uh, not that it's a bad thing. Remember, I'm a sophomore, you're a freshman." Sam looked down. "Yeah."

There was a moment of silence between them, and Dib stared at her with hopeful and longing eyes. She's so beautiful... Why can't she see I love her? Why does she love Zim, the green alien scourge, of all people? She's so...inhuman in a lovely way... Sam's head jerked up as if something threatening just ran a cold finger down her spine. "What? What is it?" Dib asked, his eyes scanning the area. It could be anything. Zim could've shot her with his gnomes! She didn't move, she didn't talk--part of him thought he saw her stop breathing. He refused to believe that.

"Bantuan, sila, membantu ..." she said weakly. "What?! I don't...I can't understand you!" He was almost screaming now as he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sam, talk to me! In English!" "Tidak, Dok, tidak! Hentikan! Saya tidak mahu pergi!" she screamed back. Her eyes turned green, solid green. They glowed as she lifted into the air magically. Zim suddenly appeared at the entrance of his yard as he looked up, clearly surprised. "What did you do, Zim? Tell me what you did!" he demanded. "N-nothing, smelly human! Though I wish it was, this is not my doing!" the Irken replied over the sound of wind being scattered everywhere.

"Saya minta maaf. Saya mesti pergi," she said, and then she was gone.