Amongst The Reeds

The Hideous New Recruit

Yay! Now that I've gotten the main background out of the way, I'm hoping to continue with the longer chapters like this one. We get a new addition to the Paranormal Squad!

Thanks to Esthyradler for Beta reading and thanks to you guys for reading this as well! Let me know what you think so far! I love reading comments.

Summary: Although Dib still has skool, he's not gonna let that stop him from finding out what's wrong with Zim. At this point, he's desperate to figure out how to fix this. Desperate enough to ask her for her help.

Awareness returned slowly to Dib. His eyes felt heavy and sticky as he stretched from where he had fallen asleep against Zim's bed. "Augh, that was a bad idea. My back hurts like crazy..." The computer had to have been the best helper ever right now. The AI had brought out a chair for each Membrane to use while they watched over Zim. But it seemed like even super-advanced AI's couldn't make chairs that were comfortable to sleep in. He leaned back in his seat as he pulled out his phone. 7:32 am.

"Shoot! I'm going to be late for skool! GAZ!" He looked around the room, but his sister was nowhere to be seen. "Why didn't she wake me?" He scrambled for his bag. "Computer, would you be able to get me a bowl of cereal or something? I'd appreciate it. I need to eat breakfast before I leave." Dib shouldered his backpack. He quickly walked over Zim to check on him before he left. "Yes, human, I will prepare a bowl of cereal for you on the table. And because you asked so nicely, I won't put milk in it so that it's not soggy by the time you actually get to it."

Dib nodded and pulled out the portable scanner Computer left out for them. He wanted to check on the Irken one more time before he left. Zim was still pale, but he didn't seem to be as feverish as he was earlier that morning. As Dib booted up the scanner, the little alien shifted in bed. "Augh, what happened?" Zim mumbled. He slowly sat up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "Zim! Oh, thank goodness you're awake!" Dib smiled at him while the scanner ran a check up on Zim. His friend lowered his lekku in confusion before he realized Dib was in his chambers. Then they raised in anger. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!" Dib almost dropped the scanner from the loud shout in his ears. "Chill, Zim! Computer called us early this morning because you collapsed. We came to check on you."

Zim sighed quietly, leaning forward slightly to cross his arms over his knees. Even though he just woke up, he still felt drained. But Tallest help him if he willingly showed his exhaustion in front of the pathetic worm baby. A little ping sounded from the device in Dib's hand, revealing the diagnostic results. "The tests showed no physical injury or any sort of disease. No problems found in the Pak either. His fever is gone, and so are the other symptoms that occurred during the last scan." The AI summarized for them. Zim stared at Dib in confusion as his friend started going over the results. "Maybe it really is a curse..." His lekku stiffened in fear. If Zim had the strength, he would've lunged at the human.

"What do you mean by a curse, Dib-stink?" The human sighed and scratched the back of his head in nervousness. "Well, I don't know if you saw it, but you have a... handprint bruise on your shoulder. Where the hand is on the photo." Zim held his gaze for three seconds before he hastily unbuttoned his shirt enough to see the bruise. He ground his teeth in anger as he whipped around and grabbed Dib by the collar of his shirt. "YOU'RE STUPID GHOST HUNT GOT-?!"

The Irken let go of him, immediately doubling over in a fit of painful coughs. Dib winced at the harsh sound. The computer brought out a glass of juice from the wall, using robotic limbs to guide it to Zim's hands. "Geez, Zim! You're going to rip your throat if you keep yelling. Anyway, I don't have a clue why you're sick. It could be a curse or something else completely." Zim tiredly glared at Dib as he handed the glass back to his computer. Dib fished the photo out of his pocket and showed it to Zim.

"All we know is that it's in the same place as the hand in the photo. We'll figure out how to solve it, though! I'll keep researching this whenever I get the chance." Zim scoffed and pointed a claw at the picture. "Didn't I tell you to burn that?" Dib deflated a little in a mix of guilt and disappointment. "Yes, you did. Fine! If I really can't think of anything, I'll try burning it. I'd rather keep it as evidence, but if I have to, I will. I've gotta go now, or I'll be late for skool. Call or text if you need anything, okay? I'll tell you what we've decided to do when we get back."

Zim huffed but nodded. "The Great Zim feels fine. A stupid curse by a stupid ghost is not enough to bring me down. Mark my words, ghost! This is a futile attempt to weaken me!" Dib deadpanned as Zim shouted at nothing. "Right... I have to go, so I'll see you later today." Dib stepped onto the platform, already typing 'curses' into the google search bar as he left.

It felt weird to have skool without Zim. He was so used to the annoying alien distracting him during all of his classes that he couldn't focus on his work without him. His phone hadn't gone off either, so hopefully, that meant Zim was doing well. Dib spent most of his day with his nose buried in his phone. He'd found several theories about curses, hauntings, and possession, but that only left him with more questions. Why Zim? Which method was the Grey Lady using? How many of these solutions actually worked? Obviously, psychics were out of the question. Should they try a séance or an exorcism? He still had that ouija board in his closet. He banged his head against his desk in frustration. But how could he know for sure this wasn't some weird alien sickness? As the final bell ring, he saw his answer walking out of the classroom. Dib rushed to pack his bag so he could catch Tak before she left.

"Tak! Tak, wait up!" The disguised Irken raised a brow in annoyance but stopped for Dib to catch up. "What do you want? And what happened to the runt? I didn't see him in class today." Dib motioned for her to follow, and they walked away from the entrance, just enough to not be heard by the other students. "Okay, are there any illnesses Irkens can get that involves fluctuating temperatures, chills, increased stress, and fainting?" Tak flashed him a toothy grin." Ha! So that's why the annoyance isn't here. He got sick!" Dib brushed a hand down his face. "So, is it an alien sickness? You didn't answer my question."

She rolled her eyes and started walking away from him. "Nothing that I've ever heard of. If you're done bothering me now, that'd be great." He growled and ran in front of her, cutting her off. "Not yet. If it's not an alien sickness, then the only thing I can think of is the paranormal hunt Gaz, Zim, and I went on yesterday. Ever since, Zim has been really sick. As much as I hate to say it, we need your help."

Tak stared at him in silence. Then promptly burst into raucous laughter." I can't believe it! The runt got himself sick because of a ghost? Hah! Serves him right." She stepped around Dib as she got her laughs under control. Dib brushed his hands through his hair in annoyance. "Come on! If you help, I'll let you slap Zim 10 times! I really have no idea if this is something Irken related or paranormal. He collapsed last night, and I'm worried he could die if we don't figure this out. You've gotta help us." Tak grinned as she thought about his offer. "Well, I like the thought of Zim in trouble, and I guess I could do with some entertainment. Make it 50, and beg on your knees, then we can talk about why I shouldn't just let him die!"

The human glowered at her before getting on his knees. "Fine. Please, Tak. Help us figure out what's wrong with Zim." She smiled as he rose to his feet. "Alright, lowly human. I'll help. Let me see this haunted photo you said you took. It could be an alien for all you know." Dib held out the photo for her, and she snatched it from him. Her smirk morphed into a frown as she pointed at something. Dib felt his heart rate pick up at the unsettled look on her face. Did she know what it was? Was it something terrible?

"I thought you said it was just a hand, not... This..." Dib peered over her shoulder. "What?" She shifted her grip on the picture so Dib could get a better glimpse. The photo no longer showed Zim with a hand on his shoulder. Instead, there were two arms lazily wrapped around his neck, one hand resting along his arm and the other across his chest.

Dib paled as he snatched his phone out of his other pocket. "I'm calling Gaz to check up on him right now!" While the phone was ringing, Tak pulled the photo to her again. "He looks terrible in this picture." Dib glared at her and ripped the photo out of her hand. "This is not the time to be petty, Tak!" The alien chuckled, "There's always time to be petty." He bit his lip when the phone went to voicemail. "Darn it. I hope that means she's already at Zim's." Dib stuffed his phone and the picture away securely in his bag before gesturing for Tak to follow. "Come on! We need to get to Zim's house. Now."