Return (Invader Zim Fanfic)

16

Finally, after long hours of sitting in awkward silence in the ship-hours that felt like years-they arrived. Asteroid 18479B. A small space rock, probably not on most maps, slowly and unassumingly drifting through space.

Tak set the ship down with precision and got out, stretched her arms and cracked her knuckles. Mimi hopped out, staying behind her and keeping a slight distance.

Zim and G.I.R. followed suit except with far less grace and far more energy. "Let's go see this mysterious resistance!" Zim curled his fingers dramatically to emphasize the mysteriousness.

"--- -. .-- .- .-. -.. ... -.-.--" Mimi paced back and forth.

Tak glared at her. "Let's go." She started walking. Zim and G.I.R. followed behind with Mimi bringing up the rear.

I was not too long before the small band of defectives made their way to a small, but industrial-looking building.  What it lacked in size, it made up for with its sturdy architecture and togetherness.  Although it appeared to have been built in a hurry, whoever built it knew precisely what they were doing and cared greatly about detail.

Tak paused.

"-- .- ... - . .-. ..--.." Mimi stepped forward an infinitesimal amount.

Tak placed her hand on the large metal door. She knocked.

Time almost seemed to freeze while they waited. Then, the door swung open. The voice happily and loudly exclaimed. "Yay! You've done it!"

Zim and Tak jumped slightly at the sudden vocal intrusion. Tak growled. "Shut up."

"Aw jeez you're so rude..." the voice pouted. 

G.I.R. gasped, "She's a meany butt!"

"-.-- --- ..- .----. .-. . / .- / -... ..- - - .-.-.-" Mimi grumbled.

"Okay, just go inside, please." the voice sounded a bit annoyed.

They stepped in, lead by Tak, who stepped carefully, keeping herself steady. Her nerves were starting to catch up to her.  She glanced behind her, catching Mimi in her peripheral. No, you're mad at her.  Tak thought.  As much as she wanted to be close to her S.I.R., she was establishing her boundaries. 

As the band of characters made their way down a hall, they came on a door from which the only source of light emanated.

"This must be it..." Zim mused. 

Tak swung the door open with ease, it seemed the door was not only unlocked, but it was not even latched into its place. 

The room was lit with a soft yellow glow and smelled of industry.  What few surfaces there were in the room were covered with tools and spare parts as well as a few terrariums with spiders, bees or other mixed insects in them.  In the center towards the back of the room, there was one main desk occupied by a figure hidden behind his chair, which was turned around to face the wall, waiting for a dramatic reveal.  

They paused for a moment to take in the new environment before taking a few steps closer to the desk.  The figure in the chair spun around slowly to reveal a yellow-eyed Irken in a yellow and black striped shirt.  In his lap he was petting a robotic bee.

Zim gasped loudly. "MY ROBOT BEE!"