A long way

chapter 2

Dib was in his room typing away at his computer. It was Friday and Dib planned on spending his entire weekend looking over his UFO research. He had compiled an entire database from following Zim around. His spycameras had been a blessing, especially since Zim hadn't found all of them. He was hoping that by getting everything down in one paper in front of him that Dib could think to fill any and all loopholes so the Swollen Eyeballs -and the public- couldn't refuse his work.

It was already well into the evening when Dib was finally broken from his work by a knock at the door. "Come in!" He hollered, still typing like mad.

He had been expecting maybe Gaz to come in and yell that dinner was on the table or something, but instead he heard a masculine voice. "Hello, there, son,"

Dib perked, turning to see his dad moving to sit down on the edge of his bed. "Um..hey? When did you get home?"

"Just now," Membrane answered. "Say, what are you working on?"

Dib frowned, knowing that his dad hadn't liked his talk of UFOs and such in the past. "Ah...nothing, really. Just...stuff..."

"Alien stuff?"

Dib sighed, expecting a lecture. "Yeah," he mumbled, dejected.

But Membrane just chuckled. "Would you be willing to come down to the lab and see something? I think you might find it interesting,"

"Dad, you know that 'real science' stuff bores me," Dib reminded his dad as getnly as he could.

"Indeed I do. Actually, I would like you to come down with me. I need your assistance and its very important,"

Dib, knowing his dad wouldn't drop it, shrugged. "Yeah, okay,"

oo

It seemed to take forever before Dib was walking in the front door with his dad, wondering what he was supposed to be helping with. "So...Dad, what's this project you're working on right now?"

"Actually it's not something I'm making. More something my employees found and brought to me," Punching in the clearance code for yet another door, Membrane led his son down a large metal hallway before standing in front of a glass window along one side. He turned to Dib, a smile hinted on his face.

Dib, confused, looked past the window and gasped loudly when he saw what his dad was so excited about showing him.

An...alien! Not just an alien...An Irken! Just like Zim! In an instant ideas were flooding in on how Zim had possibly contacted someone to come and help to take over the Earth. "Um...Dad...H-how long have you...had him?"

"A few days. He's starting to speak English pretty good. His name is Spork,"

"Spork..." Dib gazed at the creature thoughtfully. He knew enough about Zim's kind to know that tall Irkens were high status and this one was really tall...maybe as much as Zim's leaders. But why would such a high-ranking Irken come to Earth to help Zim after so long? "Can we...talk to him?"

"Of course! That's why I brought you here. To help and...as an apology," Membrane gave his son a meaningful look.

Dib didn't press the issue. He was already overwhelmed enough. His dad was basically saying his son was right and that Dib knew was a really hard thing for his dad to admit. "It's okay, Dad," Without waiting, he calmly stepped to the door beside the window and went to stand beside the scientist questioning the Irken.

"So...tell me again why you came to Earth?" He asked, holding a clipbaord and pencil.

"Again: to find someone," Spork replied calmly.

"Is this someone another alien?"

"I could say yes or no to that," Spork shrugged.

The scientist huffed. "Please, be clear with the questions,"

"He can't," Dib spoke up. The gaze of both the scientist and the Irken immediately went to Dib, making the young teen figet under the stare. Those eyes...they were gold. Not at all like Zim's pink. "He can't because you aren't being clear with the question," Dib clarified. "He could say yes because the one he's looking for is an alien to us, but he could say no because to him we're the ones that are aliens,"

The scientist scoffed at that, about to protest, but Spork smiled softly. "Yes. Exactly,"

Dib returned the smile and the tense air was broken with his father's laugh as Membrane slapped on Dib's back. "Ha! I knew my son with his para-science would be able to help!"

Dib rolled his eyes and pulled up a chair in front of the Irken. "Hey. I'm Dib. I heard your name is Spork,"

Spork nodded once in confirmation. "A pleasure, Dib,"

"Tell me...Are you Irken?"

Spork narrowed an eye in thought. "Why yes...How did you know?"

"There's already another Irken here on Earth," Dib explained. "But...you don't act like him...Are you here to help him take over the Earth?"

"Honestly? I hadn't thought that far ahead," Spork replied, smiling. "But that may just be the one I'm looking for,"

Dib nodded. "I see...Who are you looking for?"

Spork gazed at Dib thoughtfully before a smirk came across his lips. He leaned forward a bit making Dib nervous. He'd had plenty of experience with PAK legs... "Why don't we do this instead: You bring the one here that you believe to be my fellow Irken, and I will tell you if it's the one I'm looking for. If it is, you will know not only who I came for but why I'm here. If not, then I'll remain here until you're done with your questioning, even if it takes years. Sound fair?"

Dib quirked a brow and looked to his dad who was musing it over. "Interesting," Membrane mused. "We'll have to be sure there are no weapons on the other, of course,"

"You may use whatever security you wish. So long as no harm comes to them," Spork replied cooly.

"Very well. Dib, do you know where this little foreign friend of yours is right now?"

"Probably at his base," Dib replied. "I'll head there now. But it's best I go alone so he knows he's not going to get gutted on an autopsy table,"

"Good idea," Membrane said, pride in his voice.

Without wasting another second, Dib rushed out the door.