Invader Zim - Lost Chronicles of Doom! - Continuous Novel

Chapter Twenty-Three - Choices, Choices

Tak breathed heavily as her alien heart pumped like a wrecking ball. "It's okay, it's okay!" Gris said, helping her up off the ground. She looked warily at Odi, the greatly deformed Irken. Her arms were on her stomach, her feet on her knees. She had an extraordinary second head, while she only had one neck. "Oh my Tallest, what are you?" she said quietly. Odi's voice was hoarse and deep as she said, "A survivorrrr..." "Let's keep moving, Gris!" Macabre alerted, sticking something into the adobe wall. "Footsteps coming this way." The pilot jerked her head sideways, signaling for them to follow her as she ran down a dark hallway. Odi grunted and wings sprouted out of her Pak. "Lemme help y-you," she offered, wrapping her extremely long fingers around Tak's slender body. "Wait, what are you...?!" she exclaimed as she was lifted into the air, her feet just inches off the ground.

The elite chuckled as he caught a glimpse of her terrified expression. "First time flying?" Tak frowned at him as she said, "Shut your noise tube!" Macabre kept laughing as he dashed in front of her with great speed, making little zigzag trails of dirt flying up. "Whoo-hoo!!" he yelled when he half leapt, half spun off the edge of a cliff. He turned just before he fell to give her a taunting look, his antennae high with excitement. Seconds later, Odi dropped her over the edge. "NYAAAAAAH!" she squealed, her Pak arms coming out. Something caught onto her collar just before she reached the ground: a hand. "Shunk like new girl!" a fairly green monster said, coming around a corner. It took her from the robot hand and hugged her, Macabre sitting criss-cross on his big head. He smiled at her. "You have fun?" he joked. Tak gave him a look and squeezed her merry way out of Shunk's smelly arms.

Odi and Gris landed on their feet as they smirked at the three. "Alright, the new recruit reunion is off. We have work to do," the pilot said, wiping her dust-covered gloves on her pants. "Follow me, Macabre and Tak." Macabre tapped Shunk's head and he was escorted down the green monster's large body. He smiled at the janitor as he walked down the crystal hall with Gris. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." she muttered, following them with clenched fists. The pilot/leader stopped at a room full of screens, tables and keyboards. "This is the lab room. We're on a hunt to find all the survivors and then--" she tried to explain, but Tak interrupted. "And then what?!" she snapped, "Run tests on us to see how we didn't die?! Why do you still have Fatherbot 12 up and running still?!" Macabre jumped in front of her, defending Gris from what could be an all-out fist fight. "Please, Ilis, she meant nothing. Why are you so angry suddenly?" Tak's eye twitched. "Don't call me that name. Not now, not ever." She was upset because Zim was missing, but people were on the case before her. Don't they see that she loves him? Don't they see she deserves to save him, not them?

"Very well, Tak. We're only looking for survivors to make a group. The GMO Grenades," Macabre said. Gris elbowed him angrily. "I told you we don't have a name!" the pilot yelled. "We're just a group of misfits that no one wants that'll destroy th... ..." Her voice trailed off and she smiled nervously at Tak. "I'm sorry, would you like some tea?" Her eye twitched again. Destroy what? she asked in her mind. "No, no, please do not make my presence force you to stop in your tracks. Keep speaking." Gris narrowed her eyes. "It's not important, my dear," she protested calmly. "I said keep speaking...!" Tak ordered, a blue light flashing in front of her eyes. "Okay Tak. ...that'll destroy the planet and rebuild society." Macabre looked wide-eyed at the janitor in shock. "How did you do that?!" he squealed, pointing an accusing finger. "Talent."

"I'm not helping you. You guys sicken me. This is Irk, my--our--glorious home. Surely you cannot betray our Tallest so you can become the leaders. Just think, you'll have to wait generations to even get a colony!" Tak said. "Yes, but it'll be worth the wait. If you join us, you can be the Vice Tallest!" Gris pleaded. The purple-eyed Irken turned around, pausing before beginning to walk away. "Wait! We'll--we'll also get him for you! We'll make him love you!" the pilot tried again. Tak stopped dead in her tracks. She could choose to have a forced relationship...or, she could not have one at all. There was a small chance Zim wouldn't mind. After all, he didn't pull away from her when they kissed. But that was then. What if...what if he thinks the hypnotized me was the real me?

"I'm in." Gris and Macabre smiled at each other. "Great! We'll discuss the details until eight. Then, we'll be ready to get him back. Be ready."

■■■■

"Invader Zim, step up to the stage," Purple said. The alien walked quickly up the stage, enjoying the moment his hard word finally paid off. "Oh...oh, boy," Red said, "You're shorter than Skooge!" "He did pass the training, though," the other muttered quietly. "You've been assigned planet Moo-Ping 12, congratulations." Zim's organ leapt for joy as he reached for the slip, but something tugged him back. "Rrrngh! Come... on!" he grunted as he strained against the force. The Tallest stood there, unblinking, just like everyone else. What is going on?! he thought. He struggled harder, trying to fight the force with a mighty grasp on him. "Zim... Ziiiim..." a familiar voice called.

"Get away from me!" he cried, suddenly out of the grip of it. He forgot about the slip and ran, ran as fast as his little legs could take him. If he could just make it to his Voot, he could escape from the terrifying beast that chased him. "Zim..." the voice called again. "Get away from meeee!!" he screeched again, tripping over a rock. His body froze like ice was surrounding him, and he sat there, afraid and alone. Unblinking. Cold. Dead.