The Almighty Error.

Sector Eight.

Dibs' Perspective

"What's going on, Zim?!" I ask sternly, but was afraid to know the answer.

He starts by showing me a hologram map of the location of the Irken armada, thousands of blue orbs representing planets surrounding us.

"They changed course.. Here is the Irken armada. And there," he paused, his finger following a straight line far down before pointing at one specific blue orb quite far away. "Is earth.. They are coming."

He scans my face for a reaction, all I can do is stare back at Zim in disbelief. Then, absolute anger. "You mean to tell me our—no, my planet is going to get blown up for real this time because of you?! Is this why you were nowhere to be seen after the Florpus?! Because you were hiding from—"

"I was not hiding from anything!" He snaps. "And why do you like this planet, Dib-brain?! Are there any human worms here that even respect you?!" He squints his eyes, walking closer to me. "Doesn't it hurt not to have respect?!"

"Well..." I stop. He's right. My secret society has no respect for me, neither does my family nor my classmates. Why was I protecting my—this planet from Zim in the first place?

"I told you this because Zim has a proposition." He looks away now, debating whether or not to continue. "If you really want your precious earth to be saved, we will have to stop the Irken armada."

"We?" Was all I could mutter. Does this mean he and I would be working together? "What's in it for you?"

"Listen carefully." He starts, keeping arms folded behind him. "My... former leaders, have told me I was a joke to them. That I was not a real invader. They are disgusted by my efforts to earn their respect." Zim looks away now, I watch his antennas continue to lower down the more he speaks.

I open my mouth to say something, but quickly close it. Thinking back to the transmission from months ago, it was information I wanted to keep to myself for now.

"Why would you even want to save earth anyways, Zim? Isn't this what you wanted all along?! You didn't answer my question. What the hell is in it for you?" I narrow my eyes now, remembering how we almost got killed because of his last scheme that involved mini moose and the membracelets.

He hesitates. "I could care less about Earth, you scum. But..." Zim looks at me vaguely before averting eye contact again. "Erhm, Gir would be upset if his favorite rock were to be destroyed.."

"Uhuh.. Is the real reason because you've turned against your leaders and saving earth would defy them?"

"Look, are you going to help Zim or not?! I could just leave the planet and let the Tallest destroy it thinking I am still here, but Zim doesn't want to give them any sort of satisfaction." He scoffs likely in disgust over the two Irkens he used to practically worship. "They won't take what belongs to Zim." He was looking at me now, giving me vibes that the Former-Irken Soldier was referring to something other than earth that belonged to him. He's still masking a sheet of emotional or mental pain that his leaders must've inflicted on him, but I find it hard to focus on that.

My mind can't make a life-altering decision like this so quickly. Having the fate of the literal world in my hands? I'll need some time to process everything. "Give me time to.. wage all of the information you told me. This is a lot to take in."

"Understandable. Your human brain can't comprehend things as fast as the amazing Zim~" he eyes me with a proud smirk now, as if everything was fine. "You know the way out."