Return (Invader Zim Fanfic)

22

Skeeto watched Tak pilot the ship with expertise, ignoring Zim's constant eccentric complaints and G.I.R. cooing to his toaster.  Mimi sat next to him, staring.

"- .... .. ... / .--. .-.. .- -. / -... . - - . .-. / .-- --- .-. -.- --..-- / -... . . / -... --- -.-- .-.-.-" she threatened.

"understood Meems."

"-.-. .- .-.. .-.. / -- . / - .... .- - / .- --. .- .. -. --..-- / .- -. -.. / .. / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .--. . .-. ... --- -. .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. . . -.. / .- / - .. -. -.-- / .--. .. . -.-. . / --- ..-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ..-. .-.. . ... .... / . ...- . .-. -.-- / -.. .- -.-- / - --- / --. .-.-.- .. .-.-.- .-. .-.-.- / ..- -. - .. .-.. / -.-- --- ..- / -.. .. . / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . / -... .-.. --- --- -.. / .-.. --- ... ... .-.-.-"

"But I let you call me Bee Boy..." Skeeto said sadly.

Mimi hissed.

Skeeto held his tongue, knowing that she would not appreciate the 'Cattitude' pun that he was impulsed to say. He let out his breath and stared out the window instead. "Tak?" he asked.

"mm." Tak, more interested in the space in front of her, barely acknowledged Skeeto.

"Whats our ETA?"

Tak looked at him for a moment, thinking. When she opened her mouth to reply, she was promptly interrupted by G.I.R.

"ARE WE THERE YET PURPLE LADY!?" he vehemently asked.

"Damn it GIR!" yelled Tak. "I will literally take you apart piece by piece and shove each one into that damn toaster before plugging it in to the wall and throwing it into the bath! Do you understand!?"

"Not Toasty!" GIR hugged his precious toaster close to his chest.

"The shut the hell up you literal piece of actual garbage!" Tak was finally out of patience and the stress was really beginning to get to her. She returned her attention forward, gazing out at the space ahead and watching their destination grow closer on her tracking system.

She looked over at Skeeto. "It will be another half hour most likely."

Skeeto nodded, a silent gesture of gratitude.  He watched Mimi stare intently at Tak. Entertaining his eyes by flitting them back and forth, following Mimi's tail.

——

Finally, Tak expertly set the ship down, hidden away in a valley.  "Alright." She turned to Skeeto. "Where are the terrifying rat-monsters?"

Skeeto reached into his PAK, pulled out a small GPS device and extended its antenna before turning it on. "We want to find an isolated Estapistian, I don't like our chances with more than one." His eyes scanned the device with nervous energy.

Suddenly, from behind him, Zim reached over Skeeto's shoulder and wrenched the device away.

"Let me see that!" Zim began looking at the dots moving about on the device's screen.

"Wha- Hey!" Skeeto looked at his now empty hands. "You don't even know what-"

Zim interrupted him. "I am the greatest invader who ever lived! I know what I'm doing!"

Tak growled. "I don't think that you've ever known what you're doing! Since the moment you took your first breath, you've been nothing but incompetent and oblivious!"

"You lie!" Zim pointed a melodramatic, accusatory finger at the pilot.

"Guys, please..." Skeeto begged, "we have far more pressing matters than your Irken egos!" Everyone was quiet for a moment as Tak and Zim silently challenged each other with loathing glares.

G.I.R, no doubt unable to stand the pressing sounds of hateful silence, pipped up. "When do Toasty and I git to do my super special mission!?" He held up Toasty proudly, as if to display her skill and prowess.

"Right." Tak did not take her eyes away from Zim. "Bee Boy. Do these monsters travel in herds?"

"Swarms, actually." Skeeto corrected.

Tak glared. "Semantics."

"Touche." Skeeto nodded. "But, there's very little chance of isolating one that's already in a swarm.

"Dammit..."

Skeeto turned to Zim. "Do you see any isolated Estapistians on the locator?"

Zim shook his head. "All of them seem to be gathered in one place..."

"That complicates things."

"There's nothing complicated about it!" Zim's voice brimmed with confidence.  "GIR!! Go distract these horrible mutants with your unbearable annoyingness!!"

Gir hopped up excitedly and saluted. "Yes sir!"

He picked up Toasty, holding the kitchen appliance over his head and ran out of the ship making various animal noises.

"W-wait! But-" Skeeto stuttered, his protest stopping before it left his mouth entirely, startled and shocked by the sight of Zim leaping into action and running towards the now highly alert and highly agitated Estapistain swarm.