WantSome Yaoi RP Forum
The Crypt => Boulevard of broken dreams => The Sweetest Goodbye => Fandom => Topic started by: Dangerwolf1 on June 30, 2021, 08:39:01 am
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2 years in the past
A huge gathering on the Massive took place and every available irken stood closely together. Even on the Massive the sheer numbers of the irken race made it near impossible to not be stacked on top of each other. Every irken stood at attention mumbling among each other trying to figure out what the big announcement was. The irkens unable to be present on the Massive were all watching on communication devices. Zim and Skoodge had both taken stops above the stage where the Tallest were going to be standing. Zim was an out cast deemed an defective by his emotions but his pak protected him from being deactivated and his fighting skills kept everyone away from him. Skoodge was his friend and was the only Irken that Zim was comfortable with.
The calm crowd suddenly burst with excitement as the tallest appeared on the stage a light show with loud noises made the crowd get hyped up. Red enjoyed the attention as Purple had his arms crossed not seeming to enjoy the loudness of everything. It took a moment for the two to get everyone to calm down Once everyone was calm Red started out with explaining they were going to be invading another planet that was nothing new as the irken empire invaded all planets they came across. Purple adding one simple word to this shocked and confused everyone 'together'
Zim tilted his head at this leaning forward a bit to catch the details as Red went on to explain Irk was falling apart and it was estimated that in 2 irken years it would be no more. They had sent out scouts to check out many planets and had finally chose the one they would be making into the new Irk. The planets name was Earth. Earth had a lot of natural resources and perfect areas to make real sugar. The creatures there controlling the planet currently were called humans and they were a very dumb species deemed as easy to over throw and make into slaves. The planet did have some dangers including it's polluted water but it would be an easy fix. Jobs were assigned to groups and everyone got to work to ready themselves for the massive group invasion.
(Present)
Running through the streets the invasion had finally came to an end. Zim's pak legs sprung out and he climbed up a tall building to see a large group of irkens gathered in one spot. Skoodge was quick to follow his friend and came to stand next to Zim.
"This isn't right...It doesn't feel right to Zim" He growled out as a fist hit the brick of the ledge of the building as he watched many humans that had been surrounded on the center of the Irkens one he knew as Professor Membrane. A human that his Tallest wanted because of his abilities to create things. To the side a purple haired female human had been restrained not before taking out a few irkens herself. This female was the reason the professor had finally been caught. His magenta eyes ran over the shadows. "Where's the boy? Zim is certain 'that' boy is related to these two" He said as he searched for the human that had caused such confusion in Zim.
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Skoodge was excited to be paired with Zim on their shared invasion mission to Earth. He'd been looking forward to it and did very well with his friend as they gathered up most of the humans during the invasion up until the end. The Irkens had been successful in retrieving the tall human known as Professor Membrane and one of his children. Skoodge followed after Zim, his antennas twitching this way and that and frowned as Zim was already being too impatient. "We'll find him but it'd be good if you keep it down, Zim. If he's hiding nearby, he'll hear us if you're being too loud," he said, quietly.
Dib had been hiding out in an alleyway not too far off from where the humans were gathered. He hated running away. He didn't want to leave his family behind but what else could he really do? His eyes narrowed as he heard voices and pinned himself back against the wall to stay out of sight as best as he could. The last few times he's taken out some Irkens, he'd been lucky. He had figured out pretty late during the invasion that the Irkens didn't do well with Earth water and he had even made a weapon for himself to wield, a kind of advanced water gun. The only problem was, he would need to refill it when it emptied and as it was now, he'd already ran out.
Dib turned his head to the other exit of the alley he was in and was about to head toward it when two Irkens approached from there and spotted him. "There! Get that human!" one shouted and they headed in. Dib scowled and charged forward to at least try knocking them aside to make his exit instead of running to the more crowded exit where most of the humans were being rounded up. He successfully shoved one aside but the other snagged onto his coat. He whirled around and grabbed an antenna, giving it a harsh enough yank, causing the Irken to yelp and let go. Dib jumped back and scowled. "Let that be a lesson to you, you nasty roaches!"
He ran to head out while the Irken was recovering from his antenna being pulled and the other one moved from the wall to chase after the human, glaring behind his back at Zim and Skoodge. "What are you two doing? Come on!"
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Zim let out a huff of air as Skoodge said he was being to loud. His antennas flicked catching the commotion and glanced down to what was going on seeing the human that had caused him to question what he was doing. He had been such a good soldier in gathering humans at the beginning till he met this human. At the beginning humans still doubted the invasion thinking it a prank or something. He had landed in this town with Skoodge and worked hard to gather humans. Coming upon a scene he had witnessed the boy being called names and beaten the shit out of by another human. Zim had waited for the commotion to calm before rushing in to gather up and restrain the other humans. Caught off guard he had not expected the hurt human to attack him. To defend those that had hurt him. This human had so quickly forgiven the ones that attacked him like it had never happened. And in Zim's stupid shock and confusion he let the humans escape him. These humans were eye openers for Zim watching parents try to protect their children. Animals protecting the humans they had a strong will and it was hard to break it unless you took something they really cared about and threatened it. Zim glanced back at the other irken who had taken off after the human before looking towards Skoodge and as his antennas fell back he slowly shook his head. "Zim can't do this anymore...Sorry Skoodge" He said offering an apologetic smile before he leaped off the building roof landing between an cornered Dib and other irkens. His eyes locked on the human's a moment antennas twitching a bit in curious matter before he turned his back on the human to turn against his own kind with a loud growl. Antennas back, Pak legs out he was ready to fight "Back off! Zim will kill you" He snarled out.
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Skoodge followed Zim to where the human was cornered and looked to him as he apologized. "What? What do you mean? Sorry?" He watched Zim jump down to fight against his kind. His eyes widened. "Zim?!"
This wasn't good. Dib didn't expect to run into a dead end. He turned and glared at the smaller beings as he pressed himself back against the wall as more Irkens joined the two that had been chasing him. Was this really where he'd finally be captured? Right at the end? He counted five Irkens and he looked up to see two more approach. There was no way he could get himself out of this without his weapon.
Dib flinched but quickly braced himself when the one jumped down from the building roof and he glared when their eyes locked though it turned into quick surprise when the Irken turned against its own kind. The Irkens were just as surprised as the human was and the main one that had chased Dib to a corner growled. "What is the meaning of this insubordination?" His eyes flicked up and down at Zim and he sneered. "Oh, you're the defect Zim, aren't you? Kill us?" He glanced back to see the rest that had joined him run away, not wanting to deal with the Irken that was known to bring death and destruction due to the last Impending Doom. "Cowards!" He glared at Zim. "I'm not scared of you, I'll gladly kill you!" he shouted before surging forward to fight Zim.
Skoodge looked on from above, still in shock. Zim was really turning his back on the rest of the Empire? He knew they weren't exactly... kind but they needed this planet to keep thriving. He was still loyal even if he was treated inferior due to his short and stout stature.... He frowned and turned away to head back to the others, not wanting to be thrown under the bus with Zim if he were to get into trouble.
Dib stared as the Irkens fought, unsure why. The taller one had called the smaller one a defect... He swore he's heard the term around during the invasion but- He shook his head. The two were distracted with their fight and the others had run away scared. With less Irkens around, he would be able to make his escape and so not to waste his time, he made a run to get out of the dead end through the way they all came in from.
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"Just cause Zim has the ability to think for himself doesn't make him a defect" Being called a defect only angered him more. He smirked as he saw the other irkens run away. "An idiot like you could never kill Zim" He growled out and rushed the other irken to quickly engage in fighting him fully intending to either massively harm or kill the other. Zim's eyes did at one point glance up to see Skoodge was gone. It was for the best as he hoped he wouldn't have to fight his friend and maybe talk some sense into him if he got the chance later. An antenna flicked as the human ran past them and out of sight. When the fight ended Zim made his own escape not caring to see if the other irken was knocked out or dead. He let out a sigh as he slipped into the shadows of another ally his pak opening as he swiftly changed into non blood stained uniform and used cleansing chalk to clean his hands. His antennas flicked hearing the rumble of thunder and shouts of Irkens to take shelter as rain was coming. Zim walked the nearly vacant streets till he let out a hiss as a rain drop landed on his shoulder smoke coming from the spot as it burned followed by a lot more as it started to pour on him he bolted for the closes house and out of pain jumped crashing through the window and rolling across the floor clenching his teeth as he hissed out in pain mumbling a few irken curse words as well.
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"Ha, that's not what makes you a defect and you know it!" The Irken had said before they finally clashed together. No, Zim was a defect in their eyes for numerous reasons. Not only because he thinks for himself but because he's always caused mayhem in one way or another on Irk. Unfortunately for the one who went against Zim, he had underestimated the defect too much and wound up being heavily wounded in the alley, dropping to the ground and bleeding while his Pak whirred in order to heal him.
Dib kept running, now on the open street. A few Irkens had caught notice and even chased him up until the rumbles of thunder sounded out, warning of rain. Dib breathed in a sigh of relief. That meant the Irkens would be retreating and he'd be safest out in the open in the rain. That was fine. He had a lot of ground to cover not that he wanted to leave. He grimaced as he glanced over his shoulder, his family in mind. Tears sprung to his eyes and he turned to face forward again. He needed to come up with a plan although he didn't have high hopes in succeeding when he was alone.
He reached his house, a one bedroom, one bathroom sort of house that he had moved to two years prior to the invasion and slipped in away from the rain. He took off his coat and shook water out of his hair as he made a move for the nearest furniture to use to block the windows but he froze in place as one window shattered and an Irken came tumbling through. Dib could hardly tell most of them apart but there was something about this one that said it was the one that had been called a defect earlier. How it had reached him this quickly, he didn't know. Or maybe it was a dumb luck sort of coincidence.
Dib snarled and grabbed up the nearest weapon he could find, that being an umbrella from where he'd been hanging up his coat. He pointed it threateningly at the smaller being. "Get out of my house if you know what's good for you, Irken scum!" He felt kind of silly, using an umbrella but he didn't have anything sharp and pointy, not too nearby anyway.
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Zim barely paid Dib any attention as he was in pain. He reached around yanking an throw blanket off a couch and using that to quickly dry off his antennas before moving to the rest of his uncovered skin. "Idiots absolute idiots the whole lot of them. Damn planet and it tainted water" He grumbled and checked the burned skin parts of his body before finally glancing up as he was sitting on the floor. An antenna perked up at the umbrella being pointed at him. Following the umbrella to the human holding it before his eyes widened in shock before they rolled with a huff "Irken scum, what a nice thing to call Zim after he saved you...Though been called a lot worse. Zim will leave when the rain stops" He said and hissed out in some pain as he forced himself to stand and walk over to a window that was not broken trying to see if there was an irkens hiding out near by. "Name's Zim...If you care anyway..." He said with a shrug.
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Dib's eyes tracked the Irken's movements, his body tense and his shoulders slightly hunched up. How dare the stupid little bug use his throw blanket as a towel. He bared his teeth not that they were very threatening in comparison to an Irken's. His bared mouth quickly turned to a frown when the Irken- Zim?- brought up that he'd saved him. He couldn't help but roll his own eyes. "Yeah right. Saving me and for what? What's this little act? You really think I should believe an Irken can be nice? After everything they've done? Fat chance."
He shook his head, glaring at the Irken. "Like Hell you're staying here. This is my house and you're NOT a welcome guest." Dib looked quickly to the window Zim walked over to before they landed on the other again. "No, I don't care. Amazed you all even have names given how disgustingly hive-like you seem to be. I'd prefer if you left me alone. I don't trust any Irkens let alone one who seems to be smart enough to try lulling me into a sense of security by playing hero."
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Zim let out a sigh seeing that getting this human to have some Sorta trust in him was going to be hard. He really didn’t pay much attention to his threats as he stared out the window. Pak whirling to finally work on healing Zim’s body administering pain meds to ease the pain from the burns and the fight. He glanced back at Dib before turning around to face him all the wounds that had been covering him was gone. ”Zim has already been deemed a traitor by helping you and attacking an Irken taller then him. If Zim gets caught that will be the end of him. So what are you going to do anyway? Your by yourself and have little to no knowledge about irken’s. Wouldn’t it be better to have an alliance with Zim then try to make an enemy of one that a group of Irken’s just ran from?” he questioned with a tilt of his head. ”Zim has no clue why he wants to help you humans but he does. This doesn’t…feel right. Irken’s shouldn’t have feelings but Zim does and is tired of pretending he doesn’t”
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Dib scowled. The alien had been damaged but the thing attached to their backs, their Paks as he had learned, was something that was quick to heal them. So very quickly, too. Irkens weren't easy to destroy even if Dib has been able to get them off his back long enough not to be captured. Zim doubting his knowledge made him bark out a laugh. "It's funny how you assume I haven't been at least trying to study you nasty little pests. I know that machine on your back is keeping you alive, taking it off for, hm what is it? Ten minutes? And you're dead. I used to have a damaged Pak but it kind of exploded when I tried to tinker with it to learn more. I know water burns you which reminds me..."
Dib started backing up toward his kitchen while keeping the umbrella pointed at Zim. He needed to refill his water blaster but he wasn't going to allow the alien in his house to knock him down before he could. "Spare me your little charade. I'm sure your little bug friends are in on this fake act to try to capture me. I've been avoiding you monsters since the invasion happened and I'm not about to stupidly fall for this 'I'm a defect and I feel bad' crap."
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Zim listened to him ”impressive, not completely right though the Pak doesn’t just keep us alive it is us. Our bodies are created as useless clones empty except our squigglyspooch a massive organ the keeps the inside working. Ten minutes is basic it’s a death counter to keep Irken’s from messing with their paks but there are some without that death counter that are more powerful from upgrades to their paks.” he watched him back into the kitchen sure he was after water. His antennas flicked back not wanting to be burned again. His Pak opened as Pak arms brought out a few gun type weapons looking them over a moment before choosing one as the others returned to his Pak. ”not sure how to gain your trust but maybe a peace offering is a good start?” he questioned dropping the gun to the floor before kicking it across the floor and to Dib ”Zim can either be your Allie of enemy your choice”
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Dib narrowed his eyes and took in the new information. The Paks were the Irkens? Not the bodies? That rubbed him the wrong way. Clones, empty of any sort of personality until the machines were attached to them. Why? Some of them didn't have a death counter and possibly could live without them. Why was that? Dib was guessing they were all of a hive mind of sorts but it seemed that wasn't necessarily true. "Why are you telling me-?" he asked before stopping himself. They could be lies. Lies to make him more afraid than he already was, not that he'd show it.
He reached the kitchen and it didn't look as if Zim was going to lunge at him but instead the Pak opened and brought out several gun weapons, one being kicked over as a peace offering. Dib laughed at the hilarity of it. Did Zim think he was stupid? Clearly, he must. "And what about all the other weapons in your Pak? Including those limbs inside?" He hated the choice given to him. Ally or enemy... an Irken. The very race that had just pretty much ruined Earth, enslaved most of the humans, captured others. His family.
"You have no idea how it feels. You have no idea how THIS feels! How many more planets have you and your kind destroyed out there? Millions? Billions? I have absolutely NO reason to trust you after everything that's been done. Don't you think it's a little too late for an 'I come in peace' line? Why didn't you do anything at the beginning, before this infestation started? You're just like them, 'defect' or not. Get OUT of my house. I'm not making any of those choices because it's not fair to me."
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”because Zim has given up and is fully turning his back on the Irken empire . The more info the humans have the more likely they can find a way to stop the others…Zim has not participated in capturing planets the one time he was going to he destroyed part of Irk and killed many of his own…though it was a accident” he raised an antenna in question as true human pointed out that Zim still had weapons on him. ”Zim was just giving you a weapon to protect yourself not disarming himself. Zim still has to defend himself" His eyes fell to the floor as he was thinking how to get this humans trust. Clearly he would have to do something big to pull it off. "Zim can help release Professor Membrane and the female human with him"
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Dib lowered his umbrella as he listened to Zim continue his possible act. Really, there was no reason Dib should trust anything the Irken was saying. They all very much could be lies. "I'm just one human. Most of them have been captured and enslaved. How do you think one human could possibly stop a whole army of evil alien roaches?" He tilted his head as Zim confirmed he'd destroyed part of his own planet. "Right and that's why you're called a defect? Because you fucked up but then how haven't they killed you for that?"
He looked down at the gun that Zim had kicked over and knelt down while keeping his eyes on the Irken. He picked it up and paused, staring at Zim as he offered to help get his dad and sister back. Dib narrowed his eyes. "And how are you going to do that? You're one ant and I'm one human, not exactly good numbers to go against the rest of your kind. Besides I still don't trust you, this still very much could be a trap to capture me by making me think I could trust you."
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”there are still a lot of humans hiding and the more that stand up against the empire the more humans can be rescued. Zim is called a defect because of that. Speaking his mind. Starting fights with those higher in rank and other reasons. The empire has tried to deactivate Zim’s Pak but the control brain got damaged trying it and refused to try again after that many irkens tried to kill Zim but Zim fought back and either badly injured or even killed them. Zim really has no remorse in killing other Irken’s except one but…after being labeled a traitor Zim doubts that Skoodge is his friend any more. Zim’s taking a risk helping the humans so how about you try to take a risk too. You already helped protect others that treated you like shit”
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"There are more humans hiding? Hiding. Not fighting. Where?" Dib knew most of his own contacts from the Swollen Eyeball Network had been compromised. Hell, he was even sure some of them had been killed or went down by their own hands while trying to take out as many Irkens as they can. Agent Darkbootie had been one of them. "There's more Irkens than there are humans. It's still not a high probability that we would win. We can't heal fast at all, we're very easy to kill."
He didn't know what to think other than believing this to be some sort of act. Dib was sure he might be the only human left in this city that hadn't been captured. Zim mentioned a 'friend' and even that was hard to believe. Studying how Irkens acted, it wasn't as if they seemed to have any kind of friendships with one another either. They were here only to destroy and enslave, working together as one. Dib rose an eyebrow when Zim mentioned him helping others that treated him badly. "Oh. That was you that I fought? Yeah, I protected them. Because they're human, not nasty little genocidal bugs like your kind."
The risk. Should he take it? He still wouldn't believe this wasn't a trap. He might as well walk directly to the massive ship and surrender himself. That's how it would feel like if he took this risk with Zim. Dib chewed on his bottom lip, trying to think. What else could he do? He shook his head. "We're not going directly to that ship. You're going to take me to the other humans hiding if you know where they are and if you pull any funny business, you're going to let me end you by taking your Pak."
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Zim nodded his head ”Your planet is different from others Zim has seen most just look out for themselves and don’t care about others enough to throw their life’s on the line. After the confrontation with you Zim found some younger humans but before Zim could even touch them an older female ran up between Zim begging to spare them and take her instead…Zim couldn’t do anything and in his shocked state saw another Irken rushing forward Zim didn’t even think before firing a shot into the Irken’s head and quickly led the human and her offspring away to hide…Zim can show you where some other humans are hiding plus that might help ease your tension with Zim” he said and shook his head as the human talked about the Massive ”no Zim is not going to take you there that would not end well plus the humans are not kept on the Massive anyway”
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Dib scoffed at Zim saying most other planets only cared for themselves. He doubted that. "There has to be billions of planets with life on it. I doubt all of them are selfish and even if they were, why's it bad to want to survive being killed or avoid being enslaved? It's like you're blaming them for wanting to live, wanting to stay free. Not only the families but people who don't throw their lives on the line for everyone else."
Finally, he was able to settle down at least a little. Zim had many chances to attack him but hadn't taken it. "Are you going to agree to me ending you by taking your Pak if I think you're pulling any funny business or not?" He grabbed his water blaster from where it was and opened the window in the kitchen to hold it out to fill it. The best water to hurt the Irkens was rain water and anything else from the outside. His sink water was only a bit of a nuisance more than an actual threat.
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Zim gave a shrug not really having an answer to Dib’s question about other planets. ”No not blaming them but Zim has heard of and seen some terrible things in his life but that doesn’t really matter what matters is this planet right now. “ he tilted his head with an antenna up in question ”so you want Zim to agree to letting you kill him a slow and painful death if you think Zim is trying to do something bad…sounds stupid to Zim what if you think Zim is planning something bad when he really is not. You’ve got a weapon Zim made it himself it sends out an electric charge that will scramble an Irken’s pak it’ll take about 9 minutes for the Pak to reboot and the Irken to wake and another 20 minutes or so to be able to move after wards…but if the only way your going to take the risk is for Zim to agree to this then so be it”
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Dib nodded to confirm he wanted to be the one that ended Zim's life if he tried anything. "I'll be keeping my eye on you the whole time. I think I know what's suspicious or not." He looked down at the weapon when Zim was describing what it does. "So all I have to do is hit an Irken with it anywhere? Or do I have to hit the Pak specifically? Why do you have a weapon like this?"
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"As annoying as that is I guess it's whatever. Something or someone is going to end Zim's life anyway he's been to lucky to escape death so many times. Guess Zim would rather die at the hands of someone that is not Irken...Or Skoodge. Skoodge could kill Zim too" He said and gave a shrug. He glanced at the weapon and gave a nod "Yup just shoot as long as it hits the irken it'll have the same effect no mater where it hits...Zim told you the others try to kill him so Zim must protect himself." He antennas twitched and he jerked his head to the side to stare out into the rain. Narrowing his eyes he could see red lights in the distance. There was a slight shaking of the ground to indicate something large approaching. "...It's a doom bot..."
"Attention all remaining humans of the area this is a last warning to show yourself. We will begin flattening the area in one hour. This is your only warning." A loud megaphone voice boomed in the area.
There was a ringing noise from Zim's pak and a communication device pulled out as Zim turned and moved so the wall was his back ground.
"Zim where the Hell are you?! You little defective your in big trouble"
"Tak always a pleasure, not what does Tak mean Zim's in trouble?"
"Do not play dumb...No wait you can't your already dumb" The female snarled out.
Zim rolled his eyes "The only ones dumb around here are you all. Being controlled listening to orders without a second thought."
"We are soldiers Zim! Orders are normal. You are a traitor a dirty defective traitor. That deserves to perish" There was an explosion and laughter as Tak thought she attacked a building with Zim in it.
Zim's lips slowly pulled back as a mad laughter escaped him
"Huh? Wait how are you..." There was a much louder explosion before the connection was just static.
"Don't under estimate Zim. Good bye Tak" He chuckled out and glanced back out the window as he watching the now burning doom bot fall over and listened to shouts of irkens though it was raining they were running to the scene.
Zim brought a bracelet to his mouth "Gir did you survive that"
"Weee That was fun!"
"Return to Zim Gir"
"Yes Master!"
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Dib rolled his eyes and pulled his water blaster back in when it was filled completely. He closed the top and placed it back on his belt. "Your so-called friend would really be okay with killing you? I wouldn't be surprised." He placed the new weapon into his belt as well and looked to the window, having noticed the red lights. He ran over to shut the drapes so no one could look in and find them. He hardly ever used lights in the house for the very reason of not being caught. He listened to the announcement and frowned, hoping there weren't any more humans in this area but an hour... He would need to start packing what he needed if that were the case.
He looked to Zim as a ringing sounded out after and watched him take a call, staying where he was and staying as quiet as possible as he listened in. Dib glanced back as he heard explosions nearby. Dib scowled when Zim went back to the window and he moved toward him to pull him away. "Don't get us caught. What's that?" He looked down at his bracelet and heard another voice coming through. "No, no, no. Tell that thing to meet us somewhere else. It sounds way too loud and I don't want it leading them right to my place." He let go of Zim and looked around. "I need to pack and then we can move on."
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"No he wouldn't be ok with it but if he had to to survive then Zim would want him to" He said and shook his head as the human pulled him away from the window "Zim is not going to get us caught. The doom bot blew up because of a trap Zim set by using his SIR unit to bounce around Zim's pak signal with the call...Leave? But there are humans here...We can't leave yet. Gir is loud when excited but knows when it's best to be quiet. Your worrying a bit to much." He said but brought the braclet back to his mouth "Gir change of plans hide yourself out of sight and stay there till Zim calls for Gir"
"Are we playing a game Master?!"
"Huh? Uh sure its called stay and be quiet...If Gir wins he gets a muffin"
"Yay! Muffin" The call ended again with Zim rubbing at a antenna with a wince
"Gir can be loud at times...So pack up and Zim will show you where the other humans are...Also what's your name?"
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"And how tall is your friend because I've noticed also that you all respect the tallest ones over the shorter ones. I've even seen the bigger ones bully the smaller ones before. It's baffling how any of them can keep any respect toward the bigger ones at all. How hasn't there been a rebellion of unhappy Irkens yet not only the smallest ones but the so-called 'defective' ones too?" He tilted his head, listening to Zim talk about his SIR unit, those he knew as the robots most of the Irkens had. They were annoying to avoid since they had functions that could scan through walls and such. "There are still humans in this city? They're not all caught?"
Dib cringed as the robot on the other end of the call shouted again and he couldn't help but doubt it knew how to be quiet. "Whatever but I'm not supplying the food-" He paused and narrowed his eyes at Zim. "Food for a robot? I didn't know they could eat. Why? It's not like they need it, do they?" Dib picked up the throw blanket from the floor and went to head to his bedroom to grab a few duffel bags to pack stuff he needed in. He looked to Zim as he asked for his name. "Dib Membrane," he answered before slipping into the bedroom and leaving the door open. He needed to listen in case Zim tried anything.
He took out two sizable duffel bags and got to work on packing his clothes and anything he was sure he would need in one. Dib would make sure the second one was for food that wouldn't go bad from his kitchen.
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"Hmm very slightly taller then Zim...Yes bullying is common most of the smallers you see were food drones and servants on the Massive so be out doing things is most likely exciting to them though scary as well...Yet no irken would admit to being scared its a emotion Irkens shouldn't have. rebellion? That is not possible. Zim is lucky his pak keeps him from being deactivated but the others would immediately be forced to the control brains to be deactivated. No defective irken survives for long. Irken loyalty is force upon us as soon as were brought to life" He explained before nodding his head "Under ground, Zim made a tunnel for them to hide" He explained his loyalty to the mission had lasted maybe a couple days before his first meeting with Dib after that any chance he got to 'scout' alone without Skoodge he would lead humans he found away and to the tunnels he made for them under ground. "Don't have to Zim has muffins for Gir...No Gir doesn't need to eat but for some reason Gir likes to eat" He said giving a shrug. He watched Dib go before leaning back against the wall once Dib was gone Zim winced raising his top part of his uniform to see a wound bleeding and dark in color he quickly opened his pak and placed gauze over the wound that seemed to not be healing and pulled his uniform back down before Dib could come back to the room. He urged his pak to administer more pain meds which numbed the pain away like it was nothing. He heard the rain slow "Hurry up Zim thinks it's about to stop raining"
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"Food drones? Servants? And they were forced to be doing dangerous things even though they don't have the experience?" Dib grimaced. He hated Irkens, but he kind of felt bad for the ones who weren't used to being the more aggressive invader ones. He felt even more bad to learn that they would be deactivated quickly if they were defective or show signs of rebellion. He shook his head. He didn't want to feel bad for the invasion scourge. Not now anyway. He had to worry about the rest of the humans.
Ah, they were underground. He rose an eyebrow at Zim mentioning he was the one who had made the tunnel... so that meant any humans he finds, they would likely be glad to see Zim. If the Irken was telling the truth, that is. He found the Gir situation weird, a robot that liked to eat. To him, that felt like a waste of food but he kept the comment to himself. As long as he didn't have to give his own rations to Gir, he wouldn't complain. He nodded to Zim before he had disappeared into his room.
It couldn't have even been ten minutes before he heard Zim telling him to hurry up. "Packing takes time! Don't rush me unless you want to help me pack. Come get the second bag and go fill it with un-perishable foods from the kitchen. We can get it done a little faster than just me doing it."
-
He nodded his head "Zim is elite class invader so made to be an invader yet doesn't want to be. It's rare to find defectives among elite class and bad for the empire as Elites are exactly that some of the most powerful and knowledgeable irkens. So of course deactivation normally comes to elites at the very first slight sign of defectiveness...Zim was lucky that Skoodge helped him hide his emotions and even covered for Zim at times...Skoodge is defective Zim is sure of it but not enough to be noticed and it's not Skoodge's loyalty that is defective like Zim's is." He had explained before Dib left to pack.
"Non perishable food?...Dib did learn that Irkens eat for fun and mainly sweet items at that" He said walking into the room to snatch the other bag to cary back to the kitchen and try and figure out the food that should be taken a long with them.
-
It was good to get more information about Irkens. Dib was sure to memorize everything that had been said to him. If this whole thing with Zim wasn't a charade and he truly was helping, Skoodge being a defect as well, he wondered if they'd be able to work together but at the same time, Skoodge had loyalty toward the Irken Empire.
Dib narrowed his eyes at Zim as he came in the room and commented that Irkens ate food for fun. "None of it is for you. It's for me. Humans need to eat. It gives us not only energy but it keeps us alive. Water is also really important for us to drink. I don't need to bring any of the sodas but pack away the water bottles, as many that can fit. If we need to loot an empty store later, we'll do so." After Zim left the room, he continued to pack things from his room, stuffing one pillow into the bag and a sleeping bag from his closet. Just in case, he even stuffed an extra blanket in his bag as well.
-
"...No Zim was not commenting about food for him but more so that Zim has little experience with food including what is perishable and what is not...but Zim will try to figure it out if it helps us get moving" He went through cabinets and reading can and items as he packed them. Packing up water bottles and other things till the bag was bulging full and weighed nearly 100 pounds to which Zim had no problem carrying like the bag was a feather. In the fridge Zim saw something of sweet scent and tossed one of the small pieces of chocolate into his mouth eyes widening at the taste as his long tongue licked his lips wanting more of it but moved away instead as there was more important things to do. "Food is packed" He said and put the bag down in the living room.
-
"Right. Well, there's expiration dates on most of them. Just choose ones that seem like they'll expire at a really later date. I guess you can pack the snacks and candy too," Dib called out from his bedroom. He double-checked his bedroom and frowned. He really didn't want to leave it all behind to be destroyed but he couldn't do anything about it. He sighed and carried his bag to the bathroom where he packed away several toothbrushes and the toothpastes as well as soap and his shampoo. He didn't know when he'd be able to shower again but he'd like to have it around to take care of his hygiene when he can.
When he was sure he had everything he needed, he went to the kitchen to see what Zim was doing. "How's everything going here?"
-
Zim had finished the packing and left the extremely heavy bag in the kitchen opening. He glanced at Dib "All done everything that had a long date is packed away though it was a lot...Anyway ready to go? The rain stopped and the other irkens are starting their patrols again" He said now wondering how they were going to sneak around and not get seen. Zim walked over to the bag of food and picked it up placing it over his shoulder and started to the door. "We need to get going. It would be bad if were followed to the tunnels...The humans should be safe there still even when they wipe out his city...Zim wonders why their doing that though"
-
"Alright, thanks." At least he didn't have to spend too much time packing the food himself. He was glad that Zim was even going to help him carry at least one of the bags as well. Dib had a look around and grabbed some utensils from the kitchen, packing them away as well as some paper cups, plates and bowls. He went to where he hung up his coat and grabbed it, putting it on and the umbrella he had used to threaten Zim with. He situated it behind a strap on his bag and nodded to the Irken. "I think I've got everything I need. Is there a close enough entry point to these tunnels you've mentioned?"
-
"Not very close but at least its not in the open either. Just have to stay alert and ready for anything that might happen" He said as he waited for him at the door. Once Dib was finally finished packing Zim opened the door enough to get his head out glancing around as his antennas twitched a bit to listen for any sound of other irkens. Once he was sure the coast was clear he fully opened the door and headed out. Going straight for the inner area of the town where houses were closer together. Staying alert to everything around them. Antennas twitching about like satellite to pick up any sound. As they entered the shadows of an ally Zim started to move more quickly through them determined to get them safely under ground.
-
"Got it. I'm good at staying alert and being ready especially when I have weapons." He waited for the coast to be clear before he followed Zim out of the house and closing the door quietly behind himself so not to alert any nearby Irkens to their presence. Dib took out his water blaster in case they ran into trouble and picked up the pace after Zim did, looking around as they did. He didn't have super hearing like the other but he was very good at keeping himself wary and even carrying himself lightly even when there were puddles in the streets.
He slipped to the alley and continued following Zim, quietly. "Where are we meeting your SIR unit?" he asked in a whisper.
-
"Bet Dib is since he's managed to avoid being captured all by himself" He said before his antennas perk and he stopped walking listening a moment before placing the bag he was carrying down on the ground. "Stay right here. Don't move" He said before moving forward towards a four way in the allys.
"This way i've got a scent!" There was a yell and the sound of boots hitting the ground.
Zim made it to the end of the ally back pressed against the wall and as the boots slowed to that turn the first irken that came around the corner had a gun of some sorts that Zim brought a foot up to kick out of his hands
"It's Zim!" Was the only words this one got out before Zim yanked the irken back and swiftly snapped is neck a killer move to humans but in this case still something the pak could heal over time. The group that had been following this one irken arrived and an full out fight broke out again a few smallers retreated not willing to be killed or injured by Zim. With pak legs out and claws sharp Zim soon had downed the remaining of the group. A couple new wounds on Zim but nothing he deemed as life threatening. Zim stood there a moment before opening the large heavy lid to what looked like a dumpster but inside was an chute going far down under the ground.
"Here go down. Zim needs to move these guys away from this area before others come to look for them or the smallers that ran off tell another group what happened." He said and went to retrieve the bag of food before dropping it down the chute figuring Dib would chase after it.
"I'll have Gir meet us somewhere safer" He said before picking up two taller irkens bodies and started to carry them away from the area
-
"Yeah, well I figured it's dumb luck more than my skills. I mean they can smell with those antennae. I'm surprised they were too stupid to follow it to my hiding spots around the city. I'm not sure how I'd be able to mask scent altogether so I can't be tracked. Like I said though, I'm usually more ready when I have weapons if they do find me. My blaster was empty or I would have used it in that dead end. It's got a wide spray button." He stopped when he heard shouting and stayed as Zim told him to by the bag. Dib did have his weapons and was sure he could use them but for now, he wanted to see what Zim would do.
He listened to the fight, not being able to see it from where he was hiding but he turned his head to the entrance of the alley he and Zim had come through only to lock eyes with one Taller Irken. They weren't quite his size, if but a foot smaller than he was. Before the Irken could get a word out to shout for more, Dib was quick to draw the weapon given to him by Zim and used it, nailing the Irken right in the chest with it just as they were turning their head to call for its comrades. The Irken went down after a harsh spasming that Dib grimaced at. It reminded him of someone being electrocuted.
Dib shook his head to quickly recover and looked over as Zim returned to the dumpster. "Our scents are here and there's this one too. There has to be a group coming from the way we came in from." He watched the bag go down the chute, a little surprised that's where the entrance was. Now he wondered how many people had accidentally thrown garbage into it, imagining a pile just at the end to land on. He stuck out his tongue in disgust. "Can you carry another one? I could always help, I'm not useless."
-
Zim glanced at the Irken Dib had downed. ”there are a lot of scents and it’s hard to tell which are fresh and old it’s made most Irken’s blind when it comes to scents even Zim struggles with it. The others are going to most likely flatten the area stiring the scents up more” He glanced at the other Irken as Dib wanted to help. He wanted to tell him no to go to where it was safe but instead nodded his head ”Zim could use the help” he mumbled not likening the fact that he admitted to needing help. Zim’s Pak opened and he pulled out a Sorta ball like device placing it at the end of the ally way he flicked it on and a hologram wall came up making the area look like a dead end. He continued past the hologram to carry the Irken farther away.
-
Dib nodded, understanding a bit better. He supposed all the human smells and other scents would be overwhelming if their senses were that strong. "Alright so when they're leveling the place...it'd be harder for them to find us, got it." He walked over to the Irken he took down and picked them up over his shoulder, looking to the ball-looking device that put a hologram up of the dead end. "That's cool." He followed after Zim. "So where are we putting them?" he asked, quietly as he looked around.
-
”yes Zim will seal off the entrance to the tunnels once inside and make a new one somewhere else” he couldn’t help the slight smile that came with Dib calling the hologram ball cool. Walking far enough away from the chute entrance he dropped the two like sacks of potatoes next to a wall making sure each one was still out cold ”that should do…I hear no one near by it must be getting close to time that their going to level this place” he said and started to head back to the chute entrance.
-
"Alright. Good plan but nowhere around here considering they're leveling the entire place..." Dib went with Zim and dropped the Irken he had on top of the other two, not caring much if it hurt them or not. He listened to confirm there was no more noise even though there were Irkens missing. The ones were going to be squashed beneath the doom bot but he could care less. He followed after Zim back to the dumpster and opened it, hopping in first.
He slid down the chute and landed on top of the bag of food, grimacing. Most of what was inside were canned so it hurt. Dib rolled off the bag and looked up, waiting for Zim.
-
”Zim will figure it out…these guys most likely will not survive. Their disposable in rank as bad as that sounds” he said and stole a tag off of one. Placing it in his Pak before walking away. He watched Dib go down the chute waiting a moment to go down himself. His Pak legs came out to catch his landing and avoid hitting anything or landing on Dib. The tunnel was huge and sensor lights lit up dimly
“Welcome master your Pak needs repair” a computer voice came but Zim waved it off.
”later right now is not important. Computer seal off the chute” he said as his Pak legs pulled back in and he picked up the heavy bag of food before glancing towards Dib ”is Dib alright?”
-
"What do you use to tunnel with anyway? Or are we just kind of using the sewer systems?" He saw him take something from an Irken but put it in the back of his mind to ask later.
He looked up as Zim came down and caught himself. He got up carefully and groaned at the aches but testing out his limbs, he found out nothing was broken. "I'm fine but I landed on the bag. Nothing's broken, it just hurt a bit. Anyway, your Pak needs repairs?" He looked around the area they had landed in. "What was that thing you took from the Irken?"
-
"Zim's computer digs out the tunnels. Zim will have to ask computer to make more of them though...Hopefully computer is in a good mood"He said with a sigh.
Inside the tunnel he watched Dib get up and made a slight face as Dib questioned that his pak needed repaired "Later, not right now. Zim's pak is fine right now" He said waving it off and started down a tunnel. "Huh? Oh it's an ID card meaning one of those irkens was either part of the security team or science team either way it'll help with getting to Dib's dad and Sister" He explained and seemed to wobble slightly in his movements though it passed quickly and he started to walk normal again as his pak gave Zim another dosage of pain meds. Zim continued to lead the way through the tunnel till it widened out more and voices of clearly humans could be heard up ahead.
-
"The computer?" Dib looked up, wondering where it even was. He heard it earlier but couldn't find the source. "Where is it anyway?" He sighed when Zim said he'd have his Pak repaired later and followed after him down a tunnel. "An ID card. Where are they taking my dad and sister anyway? What do they want with them? I hope they aren't going to hurt them but that hope isn't too high." He sighed as he kept walking and listened, perking up more as he started hearing more humans. He picked up the pace, moving past Zim.
-
"Zim's lab but computer has stretched out covering a lot of ground and will just continue to stretch out"He explained then gave a shrug "Zim is not completely sure where they are located. It's wherever any important humans are being held. Zim doubt's that the other irkens will harm either of them as Dib's father is useful to them and Dib's sister is perfect to use to make the Professor do whatever they want" He watched Dib perk up and let him run past him to the other humans. There was a good amount of humans hiding underground. Women, children and men were all there. The children were distracted by everything bad happening above ground by toys. The walls of the tunnel had doors and names or the doors clearly everyone had their own rooms. In this area the ceiling of the tunnel was higher up and covered in cables. There was bathrooms with running water and electricity to keep food cold or to warm it up. Everything the humans needed to survive was there for them thanks to Zim.
-
"A lab down here?" It was very useful. At least they had electricity and from what he can tell as he moved on, plumbing as well. It meant there were bathrooms he could use to not only relieve himself but shower too. Dib looked to Zim and sighed in relief as he mentioned they wouldn't harm either his father or sister. "Even if they did try to hurt Gaz, it's their funeral. She's very strong." He was sure Gaz would be giving the Irkens Hell even if she was a captive. It was hard for him to truly worry about her.
He slowed down as he was finally able to see the humans and looked around at the labelled doors for what was in each. "This is amazing," he said with a smile. His eyes fell on a group of humans nearby to see if he'd be able to recognize anyone. He had no doubt they'd all recognize him given his reputation in the past whether they were classmates or not.
-
"Yes it's Zim's lab but Dib being the son of the Professor maybe Dib could use Zim's lab too. Yes Zim witness the take down of Dib's sister it was very impressive" He said and grinned as Dib said it was amazing. He stood on the side lines watching Dib quietly. He didn't really interact with other humans himself just gave them what they needed and kept them safe. As Zim went to place the heavy food bag down he did notice humans moving away from him. He didn't blame them with everything going on they had every right to be scared of him.
Torque was in the group that Dib was looking at and feeling eyes on him he looked up to see Dib staring a grin spread on his face as he stood up "Hey Dib you made it! Not a surprise you survived. You were more prepared and ready then any of us" He said motioning to the other humans.
-
"Maybe. I'll have a look later. I kind of want to put my bag down before I have a proper look around this place." He looked to Zim, seeing him stand and not go much further like he had. He would have thought the people here would be glad to see Zim but seeing how some people moved away, that wasn't the case.
Dib looked back to the group and recognized Torque easily and he fought himself from blushing. A long time ago, he used to have a crush on the jock. Out of all the peers in school, it had been Torque who seemed to at least tolerate his company if he wanted to go on about cryptids or whatever that had his fixation at the time. Any other person would have walked away from him due to being the 'crazy kid'. He swallowed and smiled as he headed over to the group even though he recognized a few other faces like Zita and Gretchen. Gretchen...
He remembered that she had once confessed to him and it was very awkward for the two of them. Luckily, it hadn't been in public and he had been able to tell her he was actually gay and he couldn't return the feelings. She took it pretty hard and avoided him for about a year before coming back to ask if they could at least be friends so they had been. "Hey Torque. Yeah, well not entirely. It's not like I saw the invasion coming but I've been able to keep myself from being captured same with my family until just recently at least. Hey Gretchen, Zita," he greeted the girls.
"Hi Dib! We're glad you're safe."
"Ugh. Are we?"
"Well, I am. You don't have to be so rude, Zita."
Zita rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm sure he can room with Torque or something, right? All the other guys have roommates."
Dib laughed nervously. He wasn't surprised that Zita wasn't happy to see him. Not many popular girls would have been. He did wish they'd grow up though. This was a horrible situation to be in. It was useless to still have such a high school mentality when they were grown adults. He looked to Torque, this time having a harder time trying to keep his blush down. "You don't have to if you don't want?"
-
"Take your time. There is no rush right now" Zim had told him before they separated. At a distance Zim did talk a bit to a couple older humans seeming to be filling them in on what was going on. As they talked Zim kept glancing towards Dib and the group.
"Well at least your safe... Zita thats rude. With everything going on its a good thing that any human shows up here and you know it. Plus Dib is resourceful and a good person" Torque said though he had a easier time keeping frm blushing with years of practice as he hid his sexuality and stayed in the closet. Though as Zita brought up Dib rooming with him his eyes did widen and a slight tint of a blush did show up "Oh uh well...If you want to then thats fine if not i'm sure Zim would make a room for you..."
"Well look who's late to the party." Chuck said as he approached the group and smirked at Dib "I heard a lot of irkens are searching for you maybe they would consider a trade. Your life for all of ours" Chuck said with a laugh.
Torque narrowed his eyes on Chuck "That is a terrible idea"
"Don't know unless we try unless you want to live under ground the rest of your life I for one do not"
"Then why doesn't Chuck go out there and fight. See how long he can last out there" Zim said as he approached with his arms crossed. He looked tired with dim eyes. His uniform though dark in color you could still see the blood glistening on it from his own wounds.
"What did you say you ant. Damn Irken has no right giving their opinion. How is this any better then being captured were still all trapped in one area" Chuck growled out and reached out grabbing Zim by the front of his uniform lifting him off the ground by it. Zim could of easily attacked Chuck but instead a slight hiss came from him with a wince of pain. The pain didn't last long though as he suddenly dropped.
Torque's fist collided against Chuck's face knocking the other young adult over by the pure force of the hit. Torque moved to hit Chuck again but he moved his fist forward it was stopped and he couldn't move. He glanced back wide eyed to see Zim had stopped him with only one hand.
"Enough. Don't fight among yourselves. It's not worth it. Chuck is right simple as that so leave Chuck be" Zim said before letting go of Torque and walked off from the group.
-
Dib knew there was no rush but he did place the bag down when he approached the group as it was on the heavy side as well and he needed to put it down so not to make himself ache much more. He blushed at the compliments Torque had called him. "Thanks," he said, quietly. "I did bring some more rations but how is that holding up for everyone? How much is all here to share? I can add mine to the collection." He looked to Torque, noticing the color on his face just a bit. "It's fine. Probably best we room in case more humans show up." At least he wouldn't feel alone with a roommate.
He looked to Chuck and grimaced. Of course Chuck had to be here too. The bully that was often on his case in the past, more physically than mentally. Dib narrowed his eyes as Chuck considered trading his life for theirs. "You really think Irkens would keep their word? You're just as stupid as you were in the past if so. They'd kill all of us." He looked to Zim as he came over. "We're better down here because we have what we need and if you've been down here for a while, it's hard for the Irkens to find. We can figure out what to do when-"
Dib flinched as he saw Torque punch Chuck so he could drop Zim. "Zim is right. Why be at each other's throats when we could make plans to try saving more people? We need to go against the Irkens as a team. A rebellion." Zita rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm not being part of that. You guys have fun being hero but I'm not going anywhere near those disgusting pests again."
"I don't know how useful I would be, but I'd like to join."
-
Chuck sat up rubbing the side of his face and glared at Torque.
Torque paid Chuck no more attention and glanced at Dib "Yeah we can be roomates thats fine...A rebellion? Dib as it's good to hear that you think we have a chance at that. Irkens out number us by a huge amount and I just don't see that working. There is a lot of food down here Zim and his robot gathered lots of food for all of us"
"You sound like the pest is a good guy" Chuck said motioning towards Zim.
"He's saved so many of us and your still that harsh towards him Chuck. He keeps getting more and more wounded with going out to find more humans. Also have you even noticed Zim doesn't even heal as well as those other Irkens He covered in bandages and i've heard his computer tell him many times now that his pak needs repaired. Have you even thought that if he dies were all done for he keeps this place running and safe for all of us"
-
"The more people we get and the more weapons we can make that Zim has given me as well as my own invention, the water blaster, we could have some kind of a chance. Irkens aren't indestructible, they could be killed. The Pak is what keeps most of them alive but Zim has told me there's ones that can live without it. I'm not sure the percentage of them there are if he's telling the truth. We can't always be relying only on Zim and his robot to do everything for us."
Dib looked to Zim as Chuck gestured to him. He listened to what Torque had to say and frowned as he learned Zim hasn't been healing not only from today but much longer than that. He narrowed his eyes at Zim. "Why don't you go patch up and worry about yourself now?"
-
"As far as I can tell Zim has not lied about anything except himself. He's done nothing to us that showed he was a threat"
Zim glanced towards Dib his antenna flicking back "Worry about yourself and your...friends...Zim is fine" He said before walking farther away from them. There was a rumbling sound and shaking from whatever destruction was going on over head. Zim glanced up like he was making sure the ceiling of the tunnel was strong enough to stay together. Once he seemed satisfied by it he went back to walking away as he talked to Gir through his bracelet.
"Same answer any of us gets if we bring it up...No irken's are not indestructible but there has to be millions of them...I had a run in with one without a pak it was about the same height as me and I was sure i was going to be captured till Zim attacked it out of no where. That battle was long and bloody. Zim killed the pakless irken but I was sure succumbed to his own wounds a strange robot he calls Gir had showed up to drag Zim away and I followed just out of curiosity and found myself here with other humans. Guess for me Zim has pretty much earned my trust though it's still a good idea to keep distance because he can get agitated and with that be annoying but he doesn't seem dangerous to us." He let out a sigh before standing up "Alright want to go see your new room then?" Torque asked as he held out a hand to help Dib stand up.
-
Dib nodded. He figured he could trust Torque's judgment even if part of him was still going to be a little wary. He scowled at Zim's reply. "Bullshit," he muttered before looking up as there was rumbling and shaking. He looked back to Torque as he spoke back up. "I haven't met the robot yet but that sounds rough. I really hope Zim heals himself up. He'd be useless dead." Dib looked up at the ceiling, listening some more and thinking of the Computer who was much more insistent just from hearing about it alone.
"Hey, Computer. Try and force him to heal up if you can. Tell him he's an idiot for not." He looked back to Torque and nodded. "Yeah, I'd like to unpack and get situated." He looked to the other man's hand as it was offered to him and he took it, fighting himself from blushing for the third time. Dib grabbed up his bag from the ground after he was up on his feet and waved to the girls and the other humans sitting around before following Torque to their shared bedroom.
"So uh... there's two beds, right? Like we don't have to share a bed? Haha, that'd be a little awkward."
-
A small screen came down with a pair of eyes on it "I've been trying to tell him. Master is stubborn and refuses to listen most times. There is no forcing him to do it. He's in huge amounts of pain from his wounds and has just been using pain killers injected by the pak to ignore that pain. I call him an idiot all the time he just ignores me now" The computer rolled it's eyes in clear annoyance
Torque waited till they were done talking to lead him to the bedroom "yeah each bedroom has two beds to give the most room"
-
Dib was startled as a screen dropped down from above and stared at the eyes on the screen. He quickly tuned in to listen to the Computer speak. "How long has this been going on for anyway and why is he being so stubborn about keeping himself healthy when he knows there's people that actually rely on him here? Unlike his own kind who sees him as some sort of 'defect'? Ugh, I'll try and have a word with him after I'm done unpacking. I'm not entirely sure he'd listen to me because I'm new but if he listens to no one? What a pain in the ass Irken we have on our side."
He looked to Torque with a look of apology before following him into the room and looking around. Dib noticed the unclaimed side of it and brought his bag over, setting it down on the bed there. He hesitated and wondered if Torque was the sort of man who didn't like gay people, the sort that would be uncomfortable. It's not as if he's ever seen Torque bully much of anyone when they were kids... if anything, he was more likely peer-pressured to. Dib didn't know if he'd be comfortable coming out if there was a chance he'd be looked at in disgust by the man he had a crush on and tolerated his existence.
Yet Dib also didn't want to be caught in some sort of lie later on... He sighed and turned to look at Torque. "I have nothing against us rooming or anything but I think it'd be fair to you if I told you I was gay not that I'd do anything, you know?" He laughed nervously. "But if you're uncomfortable about rooming with someone gay or whatever, I could have Zim make me a different room or something." He looked away, feeling awkward and bracing himself for some sort of negative reaction.
-
"Day one of landing here. A human shot his pak and after that it has struggled to do the most basic functions. You can talk to him if you want to try but I don't know if it'll do any good or not" Computer had said before Dib left with Torque.
Torque led him to the room and went over to his own bed to sit on silently watching Dib. He raised an brow in question as Dib paused in unpacking. He listened to watch Dib ha to say and his eyes widened slightly in shock as Dib came out to being gay. He had not expected this at all. His high school crush was indeed gay. He watched Dib look away nervously before he cracked a smile and a small chuckle "I trust you not to do anything, Dib. Even if you are gay i'm still fine with you being my roommate. There is nothing wrong with being gay. Now unpack your bags and i'll show you around a bit down here before you go talk to Zim who i'm sure is in his lab so I can take you there too"
-
"Day one? Holy shit." Dib hadn't expected it to be that far along but honestly, it made him think Zim more of an idiot not to repair it. Especially because that was before he started even helping people, he was certain. He would have at least thought the Irken hadn't changed his mindset and actually would take care of himself properly when he was needed to be in the best of shape for the invasion. He put it in the back of his mind to talk to Zim about later.
Dib looked back over to Torque as he insisted he was fine with Dib being his roommate, gay or not. He sighed in relief, his tension falling away. He smiled at the other man. "Thanks, Torque. Uh, but we can keep it between us. The only other person who knows is Gretchen for uh, reasons." He wasn't going to tell Torque about her confession to him years ago as it wasn't his place to say. "I don't even want to know what Chuck would do if he knew," he said with a scowl. For sure, Chuck would be an asshole about it, there were no doubts about that in his mind.
Dib got to pulling stuff out of his bag, his own blankets and pillow that he packed coming out first. Those he threw on the bed and he put his clothes away in the dresser meant for himself. He looked to see if there was a closet to hang coats up in and went to place them away when he spotted one. "Do we share a bathroom or anything or is that a separate room out there?" he asked as he took his bathroom necessities out.
-
”no problem. There is nothing wrong with being gay but I do understand why you want to keep it quiet as some people can make it a problem” He narrowed his eyes as Dib brought up Chuck ”Don’t worry about him if he has a problem with then I’ll deal with him. The guys as ass hole and has the brain power of a child” he said and let out a sigh as he shook his head. ”We share, right there is the door to the bathroom it is small though. Toilet, sink and shower that’s it. Also careful the water gets very hot” he warned as he watched him ”I am glad you managed to avoid being captured, Dib. It’s good that you are here”
-
"I know there's nothing wrong with being gay. I just prefer to keep myself safe because I know some people can be assholes about it." He sighed as Torque said he'd deal with Chuck. "Yeah he does but at least don't make it physical? It really is pointless to fight amongst ourselves when we're the only allies we have right now even if some allies are jerks who can't stop being a bully."
Dib picked up his bathroom supplies and looked to the door leading to their shared one. "Alright." He brought his stuff in there and put everything away where he was able. "I shouldn't take up too much room anyway. The water gets hot? How quickly and where is the safest to turn the faucet to?"
He looked back as he had kept the bathroom door open so he could keep talking with Torque. "I'm glad you avoided capture too, Torque. I'm glad to be here too. I wasn't sure what I would have been able to do alone."
-
"Very true, some people are just born to be jerks. Hopefully some time in the future you can be open about it with out worry of being hurt by someone against it...I won't make it physical unless he makes it physical first. Your fine take all the room you need. My room is your room of course so make yourself comfortable. It's quick to turn hot you'll just have to be careful and figure out what temperature you like. Your pretty resourceful Dib i'm sure you would of figured out something to keep yourself safe. No one deserves to be alone not in this Hell we are all living in right now".
-
"It's not like they have to stay jerks for all their life. It would be nice if they changed." Dib shrugged. He supposed if Chuck started it, Torque could end it. He was sure out of the two, Torque was the strongest even if Chuck was heavier-set. He finished putting his bathroom things away and checked the sink to see what Torque meant. He brought his hand under it and moved it back as soon as it got too hot even if he didn't twist it all the way. "I wonder why that is. It can't be changed? How long have you all been down here anyway?" He nodded in agreement to no one deserves to being alone.
"My dad and sister got caught recently so I don't know how well I would have done by myself with that in mind. Zim said he'd help me get them back."
-
"Most of them do change which is a good thing..but Chuck is certainly one that has not changed and doesn't seem like he will any time soon." He gave a shrug as Dib asked if it could be changed. "I have no clue that would be a question for Zim. I've been down here about a month now I think. There was a couple people down here before me though so i'm not sure how long this has been going on" Torque nodded with a frown "I'm sorry that they got captured and I really hope Zim is true to his words and helps you get them back...Zim seems to rarely lie he more so just doesn't tell the entire truth leaving pieces out here and there so some times you have to think if there is more meaning to what he is saying"
-
"What a pain. I guess I'll just try to generally avoid being around him. I really don't like that he brought up trading me so I don't trust him entirely. I'd rather rely on someone like you." He listened as Torque explained how long he's been there and that there were others that have been here longer. "I suppose I could ask them then. Just let me know who they are." He sighed and stepped back into the bedroom after shutting off the faucet. "He grabbed an ID card from an Irken he took out before we got here and said it gives access to wherever my father and sister are being held. I hope he's true to his words too. I can't say my trust in him is too high but if you trust him.. I'll give him a chance."
-
A light blush appeared on Torque's cheeks as Dib said he would rather rely on someone like him he chuckled lightly as he scratched the back of his neck in a slightly nervous manner. "I'm flattered that you would rather rely on someone like me. No don't trust Chuck at all he's the type of guy that would throw us all under the bus is he got a chance to save himself" He said and thought about which humans were here naming off a few of the locals. "If he went out of his way to get something that will help the situation then i'm sure he is telling the truth about helping you. Zim has not really done anything suspicious and seems like a good...person I guess" He said not sure on if calling Zim a person was the right word or not.
-
"I don't know who wouldn't want to rely on you. You're really strong and reliable and you're a good listener too. I don't know how you never got tired of me when we were growing up. I feel like maybe I rambled on too long without really thinking if you wanted to hear it or not." Dib wondered if Torque even remembered any of the pretty much one-sided 'conversations' he used to have with him. He felt a little guilty he hadn't gotten to know Torque or even ask him things other than how his day has been going and basic things like that before he went into a tirade about Bigfeets, ghosts or Mothman.
He groaned. "I wouldn't doubt it when it comes to Chuck... what about Zita? She really didn't seem happy to see me but eh, I really shouldn't expect many people to, should I?" He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Being the 'crazy' guy from school." He listened to Torque list off some more names, some he recognized and some he didn't. Great, it meant some more familiar faces, just what he needed. At least he had Torque and Gretchen to keep him better company.
"The problem lies with him needing to take care of himself if he hasn't repaired his stupid Pak since day one of the invasion. That was a whole year ago. How isn't he dead? I'm not going to agree to any of his plans until I know he's running at one-hundred percent. See how that works out." Dib took a step toward the door, looking to Torque again. "But for now, show me around. I'll see Zim when you're done."
-
His blush brightened a bit and mumbled something under his breath before shaking his head ”Keep talking like that and I’ll think your trying to sweet talk me. Even if your not though, Your certainly good at it. You did ramble a bit but it was fine. I was never really doing anything other then lifting weights so my ears were always free. Plus it was your passion who was I to talk down about that. The conversations were also entertaining a good amount of the time. Though paranormal was not my thing it was interesting to learn about them anyway.” He let out a sigh thinking of his words carefully ”I should of stood up for you, Dib. How you were treated at school was uncalled for I could of at least done something about it…I’m sorry, Dib” He thought about Zim refusing to fix his Pak ”maybe he can’t repair it. If he was damaged day one then he was still invading like that. He was already considered an defect long before coming here so I bet to the other irkens he is disposable. Could be an ordeal that he's trying to repent for everything bad he had done before he does die. But I guess you can ask him about it later and figure out the full truth. I learnt that if you ask questions that he doesn't want to answer he'll act like he's pissed off or try to retreat. Even try to piss you off so you don't care to ask the questions.” he said and nodded as he got up stretching a bit before walking over to the door. Opening it and walking out "Alright, well first are you hungry? We could get something to eat together if you like"
-
It was Dib's turn to blush brightly as Torque brought up that he would think he was trying to sweet-talk him. He shook his head. "Wasn't ...it wasn't my intention at all." He tapped his fingers together nervously but was glad to find out he hadn't been a bother to Torque when they were growing up. "Yeah, it still is my passion but it wasn't fair of me to not offer my own ears for you if you wanted to talk. I... suppose that can change now that we're roommates?" He offered the other man a smile before it quickly turned into a frown when Torque admitted he should have stood up for him.
"Don't beat yourself up about that. I might have been much anyway. I mean looking back, I think I could have done things a lot differently instead of basically stalking some peers due to their being a werewolf or something. I'm not crazy obviously but sometimes I deserved the treatment I got especially if I was invading people's personal space. I'm not entirely innocent besides I was just a stupid kid. Most of us were stupid kids. It was the adults' responsibility to take care of the bullying problem, not yours or anyone else's."
Dib rose an eyebrow at the possibility of Zim possibly not being able to repair his Pak. Maybe but he doubted it. "If he was incapable, would his Computer be insistent on bothering about repairing it? I figure the Computer would know if he can't or not if he has eyes all over the place. I'll figure it out." He followed Torque out the door. "I am a little hungry, yeah. I don't eat much so I shouldn't make much of a dent in the rations."
-
He laughed a bit as he watched Dib blush so brightly. "Easy, i'm just teasing you a bit, that's all" He said with a grin. He nodded his head as Dib said it was still his passion "That's good, maybe when this is all over and were safe again I can go with you to hunt for something paranormal. It sounds like fun and I bet it would be even more fun for you not to do it alone...I wasn't really the talkative type as a kid really just kept to myself, but yeah we can talk together at any time and about anything" He said and led him out of the room and towards where the food was kept. "I still didn't like how they treated you...but yeah I guess at times you did take it to far. At least most of us have grown up. Some just grow up more physically then mentally. That is true, computer should know that...I guess you'll figure out the real reasons then later on. Torque led Dib through the tunnels pointing out some things including who was in other bedrooms. It was not long till they reached a room completely full of food and off of that a huge area with a cafeteria setting. "I doubt you can put a dent in the food supply so don't worry about that"
-
Dib laughed a bit, mostly doing it to try chasing his awkwardness away and not to think too hard about it. It's not like Torque was into men, not that he was aware of anyway. He was sure the guy had dated girls during their high school years. He blinked a few times as Torque offered to go with him on one of his paranormal hunts. "Are you sure? You said that really wasn't your type of thing... but if you think it'll be fun? Sure. Yeah. I'd be glad to have company."
He walked with Torque, a little surprised he wasn't the talkative type. "Huh? Really? I would have thought you had a lot of friends like guys from the sports teams or whatever..." Then again Dib did try not to be too much of a stalker when it came to Torque even if he did have a crush. What Torque did outside of school, Dib wasn't entirely sure of other than being in sports teams with other boys. He nodded to Torque's comments about most of them growing up. Dib hoped so as he really wasn't going to be in a mood for antagonism.
When they reached the room with the food and the cafeteria setting, Dib took in more humans here. He saw Gretchen eating with Zita. He looked to Torque. "It's just a shame we don't have a Foodio down here or we wouldn't really need to rely so much on Zim getting more food from the surface." He went to the food, looking them over and picking out a canned soup and looking to see what he'd have to use to cook it in.
-
"No it's not my thing, mine is sports, weight training, exercise...but being out doors searching for paranormal would include hiking and maybe even camping so in truths we cross paths on our passion at that point." He shook his head "Sure I was on teams but the most i did out of talking was figuring out a game plan and stuff like that. Other then that I did not really talk to others. I was more so the listening type. You weren't the only one that would come to me to rant about things. Though if it was a topic I wanted no part of I would just leave the person. Hmm the only ones I could really consider as friends would be you and Gretchen as I feel that when it comes to trust you two are at the top of the list" He watched Dib grab a soup before looking over the food a moment before grabbing a potato to clean and cook as a bake potato. He motioned to a machine "Put your soup in a bowl and place it in the machine it'll cook it perfectly. Don't even have to touch a button its all automatic"
-
Dib nodded. "Yeah, I've had to camp outdoors while looking for Bigfeets and any other creatures that can be found in forests and mountains." He wondered what sort of shows or movies Torque watched. Maybe he should ask. "Do you have any favorite movies or shows or anything similar?" He blinked and tilted his head when he learned he wasn't the only one who went to Torque to rant. "Really? Who else did?" he asked, curiously. "Gretchen's my friend too but since the invasion, we couldn't exactly meet up. I didn't even know if she was alright but I'm glad she is. I trust you and her as well."
Dib looked to the machine that Torque gestured to and grabbed a bowl from where he saw them. He opened the can and poured the soup into it before going over and placing it into the machine. "Is it Irken tech?"
-
"All by yourself? Even as a kid, you know that wasn't very safe right. What would of happened if you got hurt or something with the way you father treated work more important then family I wonder if he would of went looking for you like a normal father would...Sorry that might of been out of line" He raised a brow at the question of movies and tv shows before thinking about the question "Anything exciting I guess...I don't mind scary movies as well though right now I think were living one. Anyone that wanted to talk or rant would seem to do it often around me I guess my presence was relaxed enough for them to feel comfortable to talk openly. Gretchen is surprisingly resourceful. It was funny though cause she found this place by accident on her own. Running from some irkens she hopped into the dumpster and screamed the whole way down. It was rather funny and she was so happy to see us after she calmed down" He nodded his head watching Dib get his food "I believe it is that or Vortian as Zim said they use Vortian technology too"
-
"Most of the time, yeah I went solo. Sometimes, if I was lucky, I'd be accompanied by any Agents in my Network that lived close by if they were missions given to us. They were mostly adults. I suppose I'm lucky none of them were pedophiles but they didn't take me seriously if at all," Dib said. He was sure he's mentioned the Swollen Eyeball Network at least once but thinking about it, they were supposed to be secret. He shrugged and tensed as his father was brought up. He narrowed his eyes, looking to Torque, curious how he knew then figured he must have complained during some of his own venting sessions. Dib had assumed Torque hadn't been clinging to every word however back then. "Maybe not right away," he grumbled. "I mean I've been gone whole weekends before and I doubt he would have noticed. Doesn't matter."
He was glad the topic changed. Anything exciting was far too vague when he was at least expecting specifics. "Scary movies are usually my thing too but I like all sorts, even animated and action ones. It's why the first two Alien movies in the franchise are both up there in my favorite list. I gotta agree with you about living in a horror movie. Wish we weren't." He laughed a bit at how Gretchen had come upon the hiding spot by accident. "I can imagine." He took his food out of the machine when it was done and looked to the sitting area, scanning for somewhere to sit with Torque but in the mean time, he waited for Torque to make his own food.
-
"Agents?...Oh from the what was it?...Swollen Eyeball group, Is that right?" He asked trying to remember what Dib had called them. He just let out a sigh as Dib seemed to kind of defend his father but did not bother to say anything about it. He listened as Dib talked about movies and thought more about them. "I do like some animated movies as well Treasure planet, and Atlantis being two of my favorites. You I enjoyed the Alien movies as well and I'm glad that it seems were not in a movie with those types of aliens but still it's creepy to feel like your living in a movie. He said and placed his food in waiting for it to cook "You can choose where to sit. I know some people here might you feel uncomfortable"
-
"Swollen Eyeball Network, yeah. You have a great memory. I'm not really supposed to talk about them but at this point, I don't care." He was glad Torque didn't chase the subject of his father. He knew his father wasn't the greatest parent in the world but he also wasn't the absolute worst. He could be much, much worse... He was sure his dad cared in his own way but it didn't erase the neglect of the past.
His eyes lit up when Torque brought up animated movies. And two of them being in his top ten list of Disney movies too! "I love those! I like Lilo & Stitch as well as Coco and well, I don't think I'd complain about many Disney movies or even Dreamworks ones." He shuddered at the mention and nodded. "I am glad that Irkens don't have the same sort of powers that the aliens in those movies possess. I think they'd be harder to deal with."
Dib's eyes roamed the cafeteria-like room again and spotted Gretchen sitting with a few other girls. Luckily, none of them were Jessica. He can tolerate Zita at least but Jessica was a whole other issue entirely. "I'm sure you wouldn't be against sitting with Gretchen." He waved to his friend and she waved back before gesturing them over to come sit with her and the others.
-
"Thanks, yah you've said in the past they were a secret group and you weren't suppose to talk about them. It took a bit for me not to laugh at that as you started to rant about them not taking you serious. They sounded like jerks most of the time" He chuckled lightly as he saw Dib's eyes light up as the child like excitement came from him bringing only one word to Torques brain 'cute' Yet he was still not ready to come clean about his own sexuality. "Hmm I wonder his we can watch a movie together later. I never got a chance to see Coco. If they had those type of abilities I doubt I would ever even leave the room no thanks" Torque glanced towards Gretchen but his eyes narrowed on Jessica before he nodded his head "Yeah we can sit with them" He said as his food finished cooking and he started over to their table.
-
"At the very least, I didn't rant about them in their own names. I didn't even know their real names but all of them knew mine.... I'm pretty sure it's because of how Mysterious Mysteries of Strange Mystery took all the stuff I sent them after they ran out of real mysteries to talk about and ridiculed it on their show. That show used to be my favorite until then. Now it just pisses me off. Like not only do the locals think I'm crazy but others all around the world and they never even met me!" He rolled his eyes. It didn't exactly give him much hope to really find anyone to date.
"Can we watch a movie later? I mean I wouldn't have assumed there would be anything down here? Or is there? I didn't bring my movie collection. All of it's being destroyed up there..." His shoulders dropped. So much of his things were being destroyed on the surface. Even a lot of his own personal research because he prioritized things he needed over things he wanted to bring. It truly upset him. Dib quickly straightened up as he made his way toward the table Gretchen, Zita and some others were sitting at but he saw Jessica from the other table tracking them with her eyes. For the love of Saturn, please leave me alone, he thought.
Gretchen smiled. "Hey, Dib. How did you like your room?" she asked to make conversation. Dib sat down and smiled back at Gretchen. "It's bigger than I thought it would be. The company's nice too," he answered before starting to dig into the soup he had.
"Torque is great, isn't he? I'm sure you two will get along nicely."
"We have been so far so I have no doubt about that."
-
"That's true, Sorry you went through that. The way people use to treat you was not right no one should of had to go through what you did. You could of saved their show but instead they ridiculed a kid thats terrible. I've never watched that show before so I can't really say much a bout it...I never thought you were crazy and I still don't think your crazy" He gave a smile then nodded his head "Yeah we can I don't know what movies there are but the kids here do have movies to watch as entertainment". He watched Dibs mood change and let out a sigh "You can start over. We can all start over. All the objects left behind are replaceable later but you and no body living person is replaceable. He said before heading to the table and taking a seat. A small smile coming to his face "I enjoy the company too."
-
"You have nothing to apologize for. You didn't treat me like that but yeah. I wish I didn't go through all what I did even if I didn't exactly help myself either." He sighed but was glad to hear that there were movies mainly brought for the children. "Do they all watch it somewhere specific where we can watch it with them or something?" He nodded to agree things could be replaced. "I suppose and I'd have to re-do all my studies... at least I grabbed my laptop. I should have stuff saved on it. Hopefully."
He ate with the group at the table and smiled at Torque. Dib was glad they were able to get along and it wasn't a disaster. Yet, his negative thought chimed in. He brushed that mentally aside. "So, uh Zita, how did you get here?" he asked, trying to make small polite talk. Zita sighed. "Gretchen found me hiding somewhere and brought me here. We're like best friends now. And roommates."
"Oh that's nice. How have you been doing?"
"Could be worse. Can't really complain. We get food and water. I'm glad there's working pipes down here."
Dib laughed a bit. "Yeah, same. I haven't used it yet but I will later. I've been running around a lot."
-
"...Your right I didn't treat you like they did but I didn't treat you like a friend either. Talking to me was most likely no better then talking to a tape recorder. But i'm glad I get a second chance to become a real friend towards you. Oh there is a movie area and a large screen was made similar to a movie theater. Zim had asked for ideas on how to entertain us all so we have the movie area and even a gaming area but not many games. The girls seem to play dance dance revolution very often which is entertaining to watch. I hope some of your studies were saved but if not i'm sure most of the info is in here anyway" He said teasingly poking Dib's forehead lightly with a smirk.
He ate with everyone as well listening to them talk he caught movement out of the corner of his eye seeing Jessica get up and start over to them. He let out a sigh as he stopped eating.
"Hey Torque come sit with me, please. Hey, stop ignoring me...come on every other idiotic guy has asked me to date them why don't you"
"I'm eating with my friends and i'm not looking to date right now...Seriously you would think something more important would be on your mind right now"
"Huh? in this world right now I girl like me needs protection and who else better to protect me then the strongest guy here"
"Then date Chuck"
"Noo, he's not sweet like you or caring"
This entire time she was trying to flatter him like Dib accidently had earlier but the difference was Torque had no reaction to it not a blush a smile or anything unlike when Dib had said similar things.
-
"I'd say it was better than a tape recording. At least you're alive and listened," Dib said, with a small laugh. "I'm glad as well even under these circumstances." He listened to him talk about a movie and game area and his mind went to Gaz. He sighed. "Gaz would have been the one to bring as many games as possible if she hadn't been captured..." he commented before Torque complimented his memory. His face flushed a bit and he rubbed the spot Torque poked. "Oh yeah. I have a really good memory. It's the typing or writing I won't look forward to if I have things to replace."
Dib was halfway done with his soup when Jessica came over. He turned his head and tried to pay no attention but that was hard to do. He grimaced as she brought up being asked to date by 'every other idiotic guy' and here she was expecting Torque to? He scowled but kept his eyes on his own food as he continued trying to finish it as the conversation went on. Gretchen was frowning. also not entirely fond of Jessica's presence but she wasn't the type to like start confrontation.
Dib, however, got tired of it. "Chuck is just like you. Perfect match. Stop bothering Torque already. Learn to take a hint. Bluntly put, he's not interested in you."
-
He frowned as Dib brought up his sister "We'll get her back, both of them your dad and sister i'm sure we'll save them" He nodded his head "That's understandable. It would be pretty annoying to have to type up or write things you already did in the past. He listened to Jessica rant before Dib interfered he kind of wished he hadn't as Jessica turned her attention to him.
"What was that you freak?...Seriously why hang out with this creep. Your better then him. Also if not me then who would a hunk like him be interested in? You? is that your issue are you..."
Torque slammed his hands on the table causing Jessica to jump. "Go away. I tried to be nice but if a little preppy, daddies spoiled brat like you can't be nice and civil neither will I now leave us alone" He didn't raise his voice but the tone told that he meant business and there was no room for argument.
Her eyes were wide clearly not use to being talked to like that "But I...uh right" She mumbled and like a kicked puppy scurried away out of the cafeteria.
-
Dib nodded. He didn't want to waste his time sulking about his family. Zim had mentioned they wouldn't be hurt, after all so he didn't want to worry all too much. Besides, he was sure Gaz was giving any Irkens in charge of watching her Hell or at least he hoped she was. He snickered at the thought before Jessica had made her way over.
He narrowed his eyes on her as she called him not only a freak but a creep. He felt goosebumps start to form up along his arms as he was sure Jessica was going to call him a slur or maybe she wasn't. Regardless, she was going to ask if he was gay in some sort of way. In no way had he come off like that, he just wanted Jessica to quit bothering Torque, take no for an answer and leave but it seemed Torque had it handled.
He let out the breath he'd been holding and watched Jessica scurry off and out of the cafeteria. Dib looked up at Torque, feeling guilty all of a sudden. Maybe he should have kept to himself instead of standing up and making a scene? "Sorry," he mumbled, softly. Gretchen sighed, not knowing why Dib was apologizing. "She really should have left earlier... I don't get why she thinks she's so great and perfect," she said.
"Her family, for the most part. They're rich and she gets everything she asks for," Zita said. She was neutral about Jessica as she herself wouldn't lump herself with the popular girls or the unpopular people. She stood on neutral ground. "Kinda weird she's not grown out of it though, I guess."
-
Torque watched her leave then sat back in his chair to relax and calm down a bit. He glanced over to Dib as he heard him apologize his face softened and he shook his head "It's fine don't apologize she's been after me straight out of high school and has never fully left me a lone. Down here it has got worse I think because I have limited abilities to avoid her." He listened to Zita and gave a snort "Were rich i'm sure after all of this there is no one more rich then the other were all on equal ground. There are a few I have noticed still act like the way they were back in high school" He shook his head and finished off his food before waiting for Dib to finish his. "Ready for that tour now?"
-
"I really didn't like the way she was talking to you or even about other guys. If other guys already asked her out, why didn't she just accept at least one of them if all she wanted was someone to protect her? At the same time, it feels so wrong, like all she'd be doing is using them as tools and not really caring for them back. Honestly, probably best no one dates her at all until she sees that her behavior is all kinds of fucked up. Relationships aren't supposed to be one-sided, they're supposed to be mutual to be healthy."
"I really hope this situation opens her eyes, but who knows?" Gretchen said with a shrug. She finished off her own food. "Can I go along with you on the tour? It's been a while since Dib and I hung out." She looked to Zita. "Would you also want-?" Zita cut her off. "No thanks. I'm going to head back to our room and take some me time. You guys have fun."
"Okay. See you later, Zita."
"Yeah, see you."
Zita looked to Dib and sighed. "Sorry I was a bitch. Both earlier and even in school."
"Look, don't mention it. I'd rather we put the past behind us. I was a bit much as a kid, I can agree with that."
"You were just super into your interests just like any other normal kid would be... it wasn't something that should have been pulled the Krazy Kard on."
Dib grimaced, uncomfortable about that topic. "Can we drop it? Please?"
"Yeah. Sorry. See you, Dib."
Dib waved as Zita left and finished up his food before he got up. "Where do we throw out the garbage first before we go?" Gretchen stood up and led Dib over to where the garbages were. She giggled a bit. "Even if we're in an apocalypse, we still sort the garbage out by recyclables and regular trash. It's... sort of a form of normalcy for us." She pointed out which bin was for which trash and Dib threw his garbage out in the proper one. He looked up at Torque. "Alright, I'm ready to go."
-
"Some people are just like that. users and I for one do not want to be with someone that just wants to use me. I want someone who has true feelings for me. Of course i'm going to protect who ever I end up being with but i'm going to also protect my friends and even those that just simply need help. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if someone got hurt or captured and I did nothing to try and stop it. He glanced towards Gretchen and gave a nod "Of course you can come " He said with a nod and listened to Zita glad she stopped talking about the past when Dib looked uncomfortable about it. He stood with the others and took his trash to sort it out and throw it away. The trash cans were bottomless and had a light suction to them indicating the trash was being sent somewhere else.
-
"I'd honestly do my best to avoid people like that." Not that Dib believed anyone would really be interested in dating him if at all. Not yet at least. Had he been straight or even bisexual, he could have given Gretchen a chance for sure because he did enjoy her company and he did like that she hadn't been a peer who had seen him as crazy back then. He nodded to what Torque was saying about protecting more than just whoever he ends up with, a curious part of him wondering what type of person Torque would be into.
"I know what you mean, I'd like to do the same. I use my quickness and smarts though since I'm not particularly strong. Not like you are, anyway. I was able to at least save some people, giving them enough time to get away during the invasion." He wasn't really thanked but he wouldn't hold it against them anyway. Everyone was in too much of a panic for that sort of thing.
After throwing out their trash, Dib let Torque and Gretchen start leading him on the tour. "I was able to save a few myself but it's really stressful, isn't it? I get so scared, I'm surprised I haven't been caught before I accidentally found myself here," Gretchen said. "Irkens are small but they're so fast and strong. The legs that come out of that thing on their back-"
"Pak."
"Oh! You know the names of their parts?"
"Some, but that's the Pak. It's what keeps them alive since it's directly attached to their spine. If they're parted from it for ten minutes, they die. Pretty slowly too. Zim's told me there's some without."
"Oh no, that's scary. I don't really like the legs that come out of them personally. They can move so much quicker with them and it's so eerie. Have you seen them in the dark?"
"I have. I figure they adapt quick to the dark and their Pak glows along with their eyes, probably what helps them get enough light to see. The antennas as well. Water is their other weakness. The more polluted, the better."
-
Torque listened to Dib talk about saving some people and gave a smile "You have a big heart Dib always caring about others even if they treated you wrongly in the past. Yes it is stressful and you did good Gretchen with saving people and keeping yourself safe at the same time." He listened to Dib talk about their paks and nodded his head "I am not surprised you know about the Irkens. You are very quick to learn anything once you have your mind set on it....Who ever ends up dating you will be lucky to have such a smart quick thinking boyfriend" He said with a grin as he complimented him.
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"We humans have to stick together when it comes to a common enemy. I'd rather more of us getting away than us getting caught. I'm still scared but I push forward." He looked to Torque. "Learning about them is what I had to do if I were to figure out how to get away or keep myself from being in their radar. It's not even easy. I used to have a Pak, I even told Zim this but it blew up on me when I was trying to tinker with it to learn more. If I can get Zim to tell us more weaknesses so we can all stand more of a chance together to save more people to join the battle... so we can get more weapons and start pushing back against the Irkens so they leave, that would be great."
He blushed a bit at the compliment given to him next. "Thanks, but I don't know if there'd be anyone... at least not yet." Gretchen pat him on the arm. "You'll find someone and hopefully they'll also enjoy the same stuff that you do. Oh, here's where the movie area is!" She pointed out and moved ahead, Dib following after her to check it out.
"Torque and I were thinking of watching Coco if they have it."
"I think there's mostly animated movies over others because of the kids so they should have Coco. We'll have to look through the collection."
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"You had a pak? How did you manage to get that? Well your talking to Zim later anyway so I guess you can ask him then" He said and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Hopefully we can push them back like that but they see like the type to die fighting instead of retreating" He gave a slight sigh as Dib doubted anyone would want to be with him. "You'll find someone Dib, i'm sure of it" He said and followed them to the movie area seeing some kids playing with a toys as the movie happy feet played on a large screen. "I can check and see if they have the movie while you talk to Zim later."
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"I managed to get it off an Irken when they were down. I don't know who actually managed to knock him out but I was going to take advantage. He woke up when I was tearing it off but I put my foot on him to keep him down. I stuck around after tossing the Pak aside because it tried to latch to me and honestly, it wasn't pretty. I kept the Irken down and watched him kind of slowly deteriorate in health, he even started crying and it made me feel bad but I remembered that if I gave him back his Pak, he'd kill me even if he was begging and saying he wouldn't. I couldn't trust him so I steeled myself until he eventually stopped being able to struggle and he just... dropped dead after the time ran out. I grabbed the Pak after I left him and it tried to latch on again but I managed to keep it off me and when I got home to try messing with it, it blew up so I guess it doesn't last long itself when it's not attached to a body or maybe I touched something I shouldn't have inside. I'm just lucky the explosion didn't do too much damage. I had myself protected enough not to get burned even."
Gretchen had paled at the story. She could have never done anything like that but she understood why Dib had. "Maybe you can get your hands on another one some time... and find out more with Zim's help?" she suggested. Dib shrugged. "Yeah, maybe if he's willing to give out that information, that is." He nodded to Torque when he said they seemed the type to die fighting. "Then they can die fighting. Their funeral, I'd be glad to be rid of most of them if they're all hostile."
He looked to the screen and then to the kids playing before looking to Torque. "Sounds good. Let's move on. I don't want to disturb the kids." Gretchen stepped away from the movie area and let Torque take the lead this time.
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Torque's eyes widened not expecting that answer that Dib stood on an irken and watched it die. It sounded terrible yet he knew Dib was right if he had gave the irken back his pak then Dib might of been killed. "At least you weren't hurt so that's good. Hopefully Zim does give you more answers and helps us out. That is true if they all act like they do then might be better for them to perish then." Torque took the lead walking down a long hallway within the tunnel pointing out different bedrooms being able to name off everyone that lived within each before reaching a set of double doors and opened them to reveal a huge library and round table in the middle where some people sat reading books, comics, r even some were just studying even though school was no more it was still good in their minds to keep learning whatever they could. "Library, a warning if you ask Zim for anything expect him to go over board. A few teens asked for manga's and after explaining what they were we suddenly ended up waking to an library."
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"I feel like there might be Irkens that don't want to be doing what they're told to. Zim was called defective. I need to learn more about that. Maybe not all Irkens are bad." Dib followed after Torque with Gretchen down the hallway, looking at the bedroom doors, amazed at how Torque knew everyone who roomed in them. Dib wasn't sure he'd need to know everyone in general unless he would make friends over time but he did memorize which one was Gretchen and Zita's. "I hope they're not all bad..." Gretchen commented.
He walked through the double doors and stared in awe at the library. It really was astounding what all there was under the surface of the Earth. Just how Zim and his Computer were able to make a livable underground space for humans under the city, likely below all the pipings, sewer system and subway of above. He looked to Torque and laughed. "Would he even have anything else to collect? This already looks like he has everything."
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"Well if there are others like Zim then maybe we can get them to side with us as well. It would be great to have a revolution at the same time that we get ready to turn against the other irkens"He said as he nodded "I hope so too" He snorted out a laugh 'When it comes to reading material no I don't think so I still can't believe he managed to get this many books i didn't even know there was this many books in our town"
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"It would make sense for there to be a revolution consisting of unhappier Irkens and maybe even other races that they've made enemies with as I'm sure there are." Dib looked around the library again. "You don't think so? Maybe not. But there is enough here to read for maybe two years maybe? Or more. Where to next?"
"There's a videogame area."
"Torque told me but let's see it."
Gretchen nodded and went to lead the way until they reached it. She opened the room. There were multiple television screens with different videogame systems set up to them and even some arcade machines as well like Dance Dance Revolution, racing games, fighting games and other usual games one would find in an arcade. There was a decent amount of people in here playing too. In a more secluded corner were sofas along the walls and even bean bag chairs to sit on if people wanted to play handheld games they already had and be in a more quieter area. Dib smiled. Yeah, Gaz would definitely enjoy this place. "This is cool. Maybe we can all play together some time."
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"Wonder if there is a way to get into contact with other races of aliens. Maybe they would be willing to help us. Two years? seriously you could read all of these books in only two years? I didn't even know you liked to read. There is an exercise slash training area Zim spends some of his free time in there trying to teach us the best way to fight an irken" He explained closing the library doors and starting down a different hallway which led to an opening and a huge area that was clearly for more then just exercise "Oh he must of made it bigger today" Inside the floor was grass and lit up as bright as the sun with uv lights. There was a concrete area with work out equipment. An area that was large and open with a strange softer ground to spare on so not to fall and get hurt. Away from that was a track to run on or as a few soccer moms seemed to be just walking it talking amongst each other. Zim was standing in the middle of the track staring down at a very young girl who was jumping up and down holding up a picture she had drawn well for her age as she was trying to explain to Zim what a garden was. It seemed Zim had been in the middle of constructing a small play ground in the middle when the little girl interrupted the progress. He tilted his head staring at the picture before looking around the area and pointing in a direction as he must of agreed to the little girls request as she jumped up and down and hugged the irken. Zim's antennas went straight up startled by the hug before they flopped down in an relaxed position. He patted the girls head and she ran off. He waited for her to be a safe distance away before computer began bringing down more pieces of an play ground as Zim worked on putting it together with a screen in front of his face that had a blue print on it. Th irken though did have another injury as bandages were wrapped around his neck.
(I sent you a message but I guess you didn't get it I was asking if it would make things more interesting if Torque was a paranormal being like werewolf or merman or something like that?)
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"With Irken technology, there probably would be a way to reach out further into space to contact other races. Just more things to ask Zim," Dib said, storing it into his mind. He laughed a bit. "Well, I said maybe more. There does seem to be a lot of books. I don't know if I would read all of them. They'll have to keep my attention if I were to continue. If it doesn't, I put it away." After seeing the game room, he followed Torque and Gretchen to the exercise/training room he mentioned.
He stared down at the grass then looked up at the UV lights. "I didn't expect there to be things growing down here..." He looked around at everything else. This would be a good place to get his own exercise done, not that he did a lot of it. Running was enough for him to keep himself from getting fat. He spotted Zim and a little girl, slightly tensing before relaxing. Zim was helping, he wasn't an evil Irken like most of the others. He had to keep reminding himself this. He noted he had bandages and figured it was burns from the rain but it was definitely proof he wasn't repairing his Pak or fully healing himself.
"Is there more to see? Or should I go bug him now?"
(I got to it. I replied. Sorry for being late.)
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"There is a lot of things you need to talk to him about hopefully he's alright with all of those questions" He laughed a bit and nodded his head "I don't read very much"
He nodded as he stared out across the grassy area "Zim tries his hardest to keep the people down here happy, i'm not fully sure why he does it but i believe the biggest thing he enjoys is watching children get excited though when he some times gets hugged it startles him he certainly doesn't know those emotions it's funny some times" He thought a bit and shook his head "I don't think so, so yeah you can go talk to him now"
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Torque didn't seem the type to read so Dib wasn't too surprised when he admitted he didn't read much. He nodded to him when it came to the questions he'd have to ask Zim and listened to Torque talk about Zim more. It made sense, really that Zim would enjoy watching children get excited or getting hugged. "That can't be at all common in Irkens to have any sort of action done to them like hugging. Might be touch-starved if anything."
He didn't know if he'd call it funny, really. If anything, it was more sad. Irkens didn't seem to have any form of family or compassion being how they were doing things. He's never seen Irkens hugging or anything intimate, they were just destructive, angry little bug aliens. "Alright. See you later, Torque. Gretchen. Thanks for the tour." He waved to them and walked over to Zim cautiously.
Dib waited until all the playground stuff was safely on the ground before he got closer. "Hey, Zim. How are you doing? I just had a tour given to me by Torque and Gretchen. I'm ready to talk to you but if you're busy..."
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Torque thought about it a moment before nodding his head "That's true those that are like Zim most likely are so confused and sad from not having any affection...Your welcome see you in our room when you get done then" He said with a slight wave before walking off to head back to their room.
Zim's antennas flicked towards Dib before he even spoke showing that Zim heard him approaching. He turned around to get Dib his attention "Zim's alright...Keeping busy" He said glancing at the parts on the ground before looking back to Dib as his screen went back into his pak. "Good, Zim's...glad that Dib is getting comfortable down here...Zim could use a bit of a break so yeah he can talk with Dib now"
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"I can see that," Dib said as he looked down at the parts then looked to the bandages around Zim's neck. "It's too bad you're not keeping busy taking care of yourself more properly. Can we go to where you're holed up? Is that where you would get yourself fixed up? I think it'd be helpful for all the people here and yourself if you were actually one-hundred percent better instead of just..." He gestured to Zim's wrapped wounds. "Half-assed caring."
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Zim's antennas flicked back as Dib pointed out that Zim was not taking care of himself. Eyes narrowing a moment before he let out a sigh and nodded his head "Zim's lab then. But Zim does work on keeping himself healthy the best he can without taking to many risks" He said before he started to walk off "Follow Zim if Dib wants to see Zim's lab and talk to him"
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"Too many risks? Like what? How badly damaged are you? There really is no way to heal all the way through properly?" Dib started following after Zim, eager to see Zim's lab. "Alright." He thought up some of the questions he thought of to ask. "Are there more weaknesses to Irkens? Especially the ones that can live without their Paks? How can we tell them apart from the ones that can't?"
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"Ten minutes is not long enough to repair Zim's pak the way it needs repaired and if Zim starts he can't stop in the middle of the repair because of the timer. Zim would be better off getting another pak and wiping it clean. Downloading Zim into that pak and fully replacing Zim's pak with the new one. Issue there is paks have tracking chips and Zim would risk this place being found. Zim can heal another way at least his body but that takes time a few days pretty much and that would leave everyone without Zim's protection for awhile. He answered as they walked to an hand print detected door which Zim opened with his hand print and walked into an elevator waiting for Dib to get in before pressing a button to go down. "Irken paks are normally a weakness if dealt with just right. hmm here on this planet water is a big one, also meat, irkens are addicted to sugar which is why this planet was chosen in the first place that an raw resources." He spent the trip down naming off all the weakness that he knew about his race.
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Dib listened to Zim's issues when it came to repairing his Pak and he furrowed his eyebrows in thought. Right, there was a limit of them being off but... "There's no way you can work on the Pak without having to take it off?" Having to find a new Pak and doing all that work didn't sound ideal at all, at least not to Dib. It sounded brutal... were there even any extra Paks at all? Somehow, he doubted it and if they had tracking chips in them, that was doubly bad.
"Another way to heal that takes a few days? If it's just a few, just tell everyone to stay down here. There shouldn't be any trouble, right? Have you had any stray Irkens come down here for however long you've been keeping this up?" He got onto the elevator and stood inside as it went down, listening to Zim list off more weaknesses. He took out his phone to type them down. Meat. He didn't know that and any more weaknesses, he also typed down. "Oh, another question. Do you have anything that could contact other races farther away who might be enemies against the Irkens and also trying to take them down? I think it'd be good to have as many allies as possible."
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"Zim can do minor repairs to his pak without removal but it needs major repairs that will take a lot longer. Pieces need replaced and repaired within Zim's pak. When Zim got shot it rained soon after before Zim could get to cover so some of the water got into Zim's pak and caused more damage. Zim requested for medical aid after Skoodge pestered Zim to do so. Instead Zim was laughed at denied as the Tallest said why should they waist valuable resources on a defect like Zim...That was the breaking point for Zim. Zim repaired his pak the best he could and lied to Skoodge telling him it was repaired so Skoodge would stop worrying about it. He walked out into his lab as the doors opened.
"Master!" There was a shrill before a small sir unit went flying into Zim's chest.
His antennas jumped up in surprise as he let out a oof but managed to catch the metal bot against him. "Gir, Zim said to stay put he would of came to get you...How did you get down here anyway...Never mind did Gir complete his job?"
Gir nodded his head quickly before his head opened up reaching in he pulled out an computer chip. "Good job Gir now go play" He said and the Sir unit let go of him with another excited shreak he ran to the elevator and headed up to go play with anyone that wanted to play with him.
Zim headed more into the lab "Anyway Zim can't use that method to heal because its already being used" He said as he motioned to a tube of purple goo with Keef floating in it He was only wearing boxers and had wires attached to him to watch vitals on a small screen. Keef had clearly seen better days as his arm was stitched fully around showing it had been removed and there was a few other major cuts on his body as well.
"Zim's not sure what happened but he was barely alive when Zim found him. This stuff is an extremely advance healing substance meant for Zim but clearly its being used right now" He thought a bit before nodding his head "Yes Zim has the ability to reach out to other races but most wouldn't mess with the irken race...But that would be worth a try"
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"For major repairs, how much longer would it take? And how do Irkens do longer repairs if they can only have it off for ten minutes or even less. I did watch an Irken lose its strength basically five or six minutes in. The closer to ten it gets, the weaker they are to struggle. You need a doctor Irken to do it or something? It's awful they see you guys as replaceable." He stepped out into the lab, looking around and pausing as a SIR unit launched itself into Zim. His body had tensed as he was used to seeing these things just as ruthless and evil as their owners. He relaxed after a moment and watched them interact, his eyes falling to the chip that it gave to Zim.
After the SIR unit, or Gir, was gone, he decided to ask. "What did you ask it to retrieve?" He followed Zim deeper into the lab and looked to the tube that the alien motioned to. He stared at Keef. "What-?" Before he could finish, Zim was saying he didn't know what happened to him. "This is Keef. He was a classmate of mine during school. How long has he been in there? Will he be alright?"
Keef wasn't exactly Dib's favorite person but he didn't think the other man deserved being basically torn apart by whatever did it to him. He studied the stitched up arm and anything else to see if he could figure out what sort of animal (or cryptid!) could have done this if it wasn't Irken. No, he's definitely not seen Irken's tear off people's body parts in his time of watching them. He looked back to Zim. "It is worth a try. They would have a lot better technology and weapons more than human's, right?"
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"Irkens do not normally do their own repairs there is a team for that but the irken has to have permission to be worked on by the team and Zim didn't get that permission. He let out a sigh and nodded his head in agreement. He looked down to the chip and gave a smile "Blue prints for the building the Tallest are holding humans that they feel are valuable like the Professor" He looked towards Keef and gave a nod "It's slow but Keef is healing. It took a lot of work to reattach Keef's arm...Might of been an Sir unit's doing but Zim doesn't think so the other marks on Keefs body was jagged the skin was ripped not cut." He explained then nodded his head "Yes if Zim or Dib can convince a race to help it would make things easier"
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"Do you know if there are any other Irkens you might know that are upset with what they're doing? Because they would also be good allies as long as we can get rid of the tracking chips in them." Dib listened to what Gir had retrieved. "A building? They're keeping them in a building and not in a spaceship? That seems kinda stupid. If I were an evil alien and I wanted to keep people from escaping, I'd keep them in space where it'd be harder to escape from instead of on the planet. Give or take, I bet Gaz would likely make an escape maybe even before we work on going over to rescue them."
Dib looked back up at Keef. "A SIR unit...?" He shook his head. The marks were jagged and the skin was ripped. Definitely something related to an animal. "Where did you find him exactly?" He looked to Zim. "I could try unless they don't speak any Earth languages. I would need you to help me translate if and when we do contact other alien life."
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”sure there are Irkens upset about it but most are to scared to turn against the empire and most are not trust worthy they could turn on us all. Zim’s loyalty chip is fried so he has no loyalty to the empire but the others still would” he gave a shrug ”it’s heavily guarded by the armada and guards so it’s not easy to get out nor in. If Gaz escapes then great but that might put Gaz in more danger too if Gaz is captured again then the others might ship Gaz out to a space prison. Zim found Keef on the edge of town and had to carry Keef all the way back here.” he chuckled a bit ”strange as it is this language of yours seems to be pretty universal”
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"Loyalty chip? That's all in a chip and not natural? Why don't we fry their loyalty chips then or make them stop working somehow. If the loyalty chip makes it so they all can't think clearly for themselves, it would be best to take them out of the picture in some way."
He listened to Zim and sighed. "Oh but there are ways to get in without being spotted, right? Like vents or something? You did get the blueprints for a reason." He looked to Keef. All stitched up, it was harder to figure out what got to him. "Uh, as fucked up as this sounds, do you have pictures of him before you fixed him up? I kind of want to figure out what attacked him. It could have been a monster."
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”well the taller Irken’s and those without a Pak are normally naturally loyal to the empire it’s those that would be dangerous to trust. Yes that why Zim took that key card to be able to slip in under a different identity but other then that yes there are vents and other ways to get in as well. Zim made a face at Dib’s request before nodding his head and going over to his computer ”it should be on the cameras feed in here” Zim said as he went through some things on the computer before bringing up the video feed of Zim bringing in Keef in two pieces as he was holding the ripped off arm.
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"So it's just there's no way other Irkens would join our side due to fear even if we do mess their loyalty chips up? I would have hoped we could have more allies but eh... probably best not to if they can turn on us." He nodded. "How big are the vents? Can humans fit in them or just tiny little guys like you?" he asked as he looked up at the screen where the video feed was brought up on. He paused it at some point and checked out the damage.
(What ruined Keef? Would Dib be able to figure it out?)
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”yeah it’s a risk Zim doesn’t feel comfortable taking.” he twitched slightly at being called small and little ”Don’t call Zim small. But yes the vents are big enough for humans”
(Ok so I say a werewolf did this which means Keef will at some point transform into one. And I’m going to have Torque be a lycan so he can transform at any time and has control over himself unlike the werewolf transforming on fullmoon and attacking for no reason. Which means there is another werewolf as well)
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"Got it. If you feel uncomfortable about it, we don't have to but we should totally contact other aliens." He crossed his arms and rose an eyebrow. He understood Irkens were height-ranked but it was really stupid to him. "You are though and there's nothing wrong with it despite what the other Irkens say. Besides you can't see someone taller being able to fit through smaller vents so they'd be useless in that sense while a smaller person can fit in and be useful instead. Height's really not that big a deal to humans. But alright, it's good to know humans can fit in through the vents."
Dib went back to studying the still image on the screen, his eyes going to the tears. Just as Zim said, they were jagged and ripped into. Something with a big bite and sharp teeth, strong jaws. There were even some scratches he could see if not many. "Do you have anything you might have collected like DNA samples or anything? We're definitely dealing with some kind of monster that attacked Keef..."
(oooh who's the other werewolf, I wonder lol)
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"Yeah we can try to contact others maybe we'll be lucky and find someone willing to help this planet. Zim made a face before letting out a sigh as he listened to Dib tell him there was nothing wrong with being short. He nodded his head "Alright, Zim guess that makes since. He watched him study the pictures and tilted his head "Monster? So there is something other then the irken empire hunting humans?...Um Zim has Keef's clothing if that helps" He said walking off a moment before carrying a plastic bag of blood ripped clothing back to Dib.
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"More than just someone, a whole army would be nice." He was glad he had Zim see sense. Dib didn't judge him for being small. It did make him wonder how some were able to grow taller while a majority seemed to be much smaller. His focus went back on the picture and he checked to see if he could zoom in a bit to see any more details but having the physical evidence with him would be much easier than looking at a photo.
He looked down at the bag Zim had brought back and took it, setting it down on a counter. "Got gloves that can fit me?" Dib didn't open the bag yet but checked it from the outside. Maybe there would be some kind of fur or anything damning. His mind was on a werewolf mainly.
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"Hmm just have to is which race is willing to come to battle Zim has a few in mind to call but that can wait till after Dib's examination of Keef's attack., Computer could you make Dib some gloves"
"I suppose so"
A pair of black gloves that were Dib's size dropped onto his head.
"Guess computer is not in a very good mood right now" He said and watched what Dib was doing.
(Who would be a good one to be a werewolf I would say Chuck because of attitude and personality)
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"A few in mind? Really? What are they?" He looked up and jolted as gloves dropped down on his head. He caught them before they could fall to the floor and glared up. "Thanks." He put the gloves on and opened the bag, taking out the bloodied clothes from the bag. He unfolded them carefully, trying not to make too much of a mess on the lab counter and thoroughly checked every inch of the shirt where the limb had been torn from. He found a few hairs and carefully plucked them off.
He brought it close to his face to study it more. It definitely looked like fur, especially that of a wolf. He showed Zim. "Do you have a DNA tester? I think it should pick up who it belongs to but it's definitely got to be a werewolf." He explained to Zim what a werewolf was.
(Haha I wouldn't really say personality/attitude counts for who's a werewolf or not but if you want it to be Chuck, go for it.)
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"Dragonlings would be Zim's top choice. Meekrob might be willing to assist but that just depends on them" His antennas twitched a bit as he stared at the fur and listened to Dib explain what an werewolf was. His eyes widened as he listened about the transformation ability "That sounds terrible but the ability to transform reminds Zim of a race called Minics or Minis as most call them. Yeah Zim has a DNA tester it'll tell us about the fur but unless we have samples of everyone dna to compared it to then its not going to tell Dib who the werewolf is"
(We can make it be Chuck but you should play him because whenever the next fullmoon is Torque is going to go up against Chuck though without Dib knowing it was Torque who's fighting Chuck. Thinking Dib figures out it's Chuck and confronts him on it not fully aware that night is a full moon and Chuck starts to transform before moving to attack Dib but before he can Torque as an lycan attacks Chuck to defend Dib)
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"Dragonlings? Meekrob?" Dib was curious to learn about more aliens. "Minis? Transformation is cool and all but werewolves transforming is painful and they lose their very being, they become a monster that wants to kill and that's it. No one is safe, not even their friends and family." He let Zim have the fur. "You don't have everyone's DNA sample here? But I guess there would be the possibility of it being from someone who's not here."
(I can try to play him lol I feel like I would be so bad at it but that sounds good. When would that be?)
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"Zim can teach Dib about all types of races in space if Dib wants to learn...of course it would be mostly after everything settles down. Minis are an annoying race of aliens that like being control by someone else. They don't like thinking for themselves and can be troublesome. The sounds terrible so this werewolf thing might be here with everyone else?...Maybe Zim should work on collecting every ones DNA then. Hopefully this werewolf is not down here with everyone...Oh um then isn't Keef also going to become an werewolf then?".
(a few days it'll take time for Zim to gather DNA and maybe within that time Dib does some snooping and starts to think it's Torque after he acts strange when Dib tells him about the werewolf issue)
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"I'd like that, yeah. Before this whole mess, I was really into studying supernatural, paranormal and extraterrestrial stuff as a hobby but also as an investigator. I like to learn about what's real and what isn't by finding evidence." He listened to him talk about Minis and grimaced. He wouldn't have expected a race to actually mind being controlled by others. "If there are werewolves here, it might be best to find them and at least have them each a separate room they can't escape from on full moons. It's not like they're murderous on normal days and nights, so it should be fine if they still live here. We just need them a place for their transformations so they don't hurt anyone. And yeah, Keef was bitten. It is the saliva that gets into the system that turns them into werewolves."
(Got it and Dib would totally let Torque and Gretchen know)
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"That sounds interesting. Zim guess he's a little bit similar as he wishes to go explore deeper in space to see creatures never seen before and try to figure out if some legends are true as well." He glanced towards Keef and nodded his head "Alright Zim will make sure Keef has a srong unbreakable room for when Keef awakes and Zim will also make another room for when the werewolf is found as well. Now should we try to get in contact with another race of aliens?"
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"Really? So you weren't totally into being an invader before Earth? Maybe after we get Earth back to normal and get rid of the other Irkens, we can uh...go out. I'm very interested in space travel too but Earth isn't too advanced for that yet. Not the way aliens are." He looked up at Keef and put the bloody clothes back in the bag, closing it. "Might as well get rid of this as it won't be very useable anymore. Thanks for letting me have a look."
Dib nodded. "Yes, let's try getting in contact with more races."
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"Not exactly Zim had a fascination in the unknown of space. There are still a lot of areas of space that has not been traveled before and Zim would like to see it for himself...The others won't really have any place to go. Our home planet is crumbling which is why the empire came here in the first place...but there are other vacant planets that the empire could of chosen there was hardly any reason on choosing this planet. Huh? Oh yeah Zim can take Dib out into space...That sounds interesting to explore with Dib in space sounds enjoyable really. Zim's not one to like being alone anyway" He nodded taking the bag "Zim will dispose of them later" He said taking the bag away before going back to the computer to work on getting an signal out to another alien race.
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"The home planet is crumbling? That sucks but if there's other vacant planets, why do they come to one that's clearly already occupied? Power trip maybe? It's awful. I wish they would just go to another planet." He sighed, even more aggravated about it. If there were other planets that were livable, they could have chosen those instead of Earth... It just meant they enjoyed harming and killing others for the Hell of it just because they can.
"Well, maybe more than just me." Dib didn't know if he would want to be totally alone with Zim. "Like anyone else who might be interested too. You're not completely alone though, are you? I mean that SIR unit? Is he not good company or something?" He looked up at the computer screen, watching how Zim was trying to get a signal out to further planets. "How far away is Earth from other occupied planets anyway?"
-
"The main reason this planet was chose is because of the ability to grow sugar. Sugar is the main thing Irkens will eat and its getting more difficult to find a place to grow it...Guess so, More people the more things stay interesting. Earth is extremely far from other occupied planets. This planet is on the edge of the great map. Which also brings up the issue that it'll take awhile for anyone to get here if Dib can even get someone to agree to helping." He said waiting for someone to answer the call he sent out.
He was starting to think it was going to be ignored till the word connecting came on the screen before the screen lit up with the video call
"Eww it's an irken" The call was answered with a laugh.
"Major, Zim was not expecting Major to answer, where's the King?"
"Oh dad? he's dead, your looking at the new king now"
"You a king? Zim feels sorry for the Dragonling race"
"Hay! i'm a great king...Anyway what do you want?...Is that a human?" The dragonling on the video call was looking as Dib now. His body was covered in galaxy mixed colors and shimmered in the light. He was wearing blue robes like the king he was. He looked like an komodo dragon standing on two legs and moving about like a human.
-
"All this for fucking sugar. That's just great." Dib scowled, not enjoying that they were being destroyed and taken away just because aliens couldn't find any place or refused to find any other place to grow sugar on. "On the edge of the great map? There's an edge to the galaxy? I thought it was endless out there. Take a while? There's no warp drives or hyper speed options to use to get here faster?" He watched the screen until it was picked up.
Dib stared at the being that answered the call, in awe of their colors and how they looked. He forced himself to stop staring when the dragonling, Major, had turned his attention to him. "Uh, yeah I'm a human. Hi." He wondered how he knew what humans were if Earth was extremely far from other planets. "My name is Dib Membrane and we're calling out for help to drive away the Irkens. They've been invading Earth for a year so far and we can't fight them alone. We don't have many to go against them. Would you care to be an ally?"
-
Zim just gave a slight shrug as he had nothing else to really say about the situation. He shook his head "No not that Zim knows of its that after this area of the galaxy there is barely anything so no one really travels past this point so Earth is on the edge of the great map...Zim wants to go beyond here though there has to be more in that direction" He let out a sigh "It took a long time for the Massive to reach here as well. Even with hyper drive Earth is very far from everyone else"
"...That sounds strange when Zim is standing next to you"
"Zim is turning his back on the empire"
"About time I told you back on Foodtopia your not like the rest of them which is a good thing...Earth is very far from us I can see what I can do but even with me being king now I still have to speak with the elders about interfering in a war"
-
Dib listened and nodded, understanding now as Zim explained there wasn't much more after this area of the galaxy, not that no one knows of at least. "I see. That would be interesting and then you can log down the adventures and what you learn of any planets. Maybe you can be even famous for that." He frowned when he learned even with hyper drive, Earth is very far. "Damn. How long did it take Irkens to get here in their ship?"
Back to the conversation with Major, he opened his mouth before Zim cut in to tell him he was going against the Empire. He nodded. "How far and how long would it take you to get here if you get the okay from the elders? And if you get a no, do you know which races would be willing to come this far to help out and quickly? We're already nearly destroyed, I think... It's almost done. We need help pretty much as soon as possible."
-
"Roughly it took a year to get here well Earth year anyway"
"By Earth time maybe a month or two? Were closer to you then Irk is and if we can't help then Meekrobians might be a good one to ask for help or worse come to worse Zim could hire some space pirates to assist"
"That is true space pirates could be useful to hire to help this war a mixture of races would have different skill sets"
-
"So a year they took to get here and another year to practically destroy most of it. Where are they even keeping all the rest of the humans that aren't deemed important? Were they killed? Enslaved? We should free them too if they're not all dead." He sighed and listened. "We can figure out what to do in two months if you get the okay to come help. Meekrob. Zim mentioned them. We'll have to call them next. Space pirates? Pirates would want to help in a war?"
-
"Enslaved mostly. Farming sugar and whatever else the empire sees as useful. Some might be in other holding buildings or being used on the Massive too...Zim doubts many have been killed if any at all. We'll free them all just one step at a time"
"Meekrob are not normally ones for violence but they might assist in this"
"space pirates will do anything for monies the lucky thing is they won't betray us as even they have their own rules to follow so even if the empire offers more money to make them betray us they won't because it goes against their honor"
-
"Do they at least have breaks to eat and rest, would you know? Slavery is fucked up and they could die if they're all over-worked." He looked to Major and nodded. He could understand not being for violence but at the same time. "Desperate times call for desperate measures... I would hope they would send some things, maybe not people but objects that can be used to fend ourselves off or something."
He listened to him talk about pirates next and was worried about if they were offered more money until Major said they wouldn't betray them and he sighed in relief. "Not like human pirates then." He chuckled and looked to Zim. "Do we even have monies to hire pirates?"
-
"...Zim is not sure sorry...Once the other irkens noticed that humans have to have those things then Zim is sure the humans will get it"
"Maybe they might help in one way or another but it's really hard to know"
Zim nodded his head"Yes Zim has some monies he can use to hire some pirates...Pirates might also be a good idea as well because of the fact that there are some that do not like the empire"
-
"I'd hope so. I would hope no one had to die for them to realize that." He was glad to hear Zim had monies to use to hire pirates. "Uh where did you get monies from anyway? Would it be able to be tracked if you did use it? I'd assume all of the Irkens monies would be being tracked if they're all being controlled in some way by the leaders or something? Or they don't track it?"
-
"...Hopefully not but...Sorry if anything like that happened"
"Zim has plenty of monies"
"True Zim does have plenty of monies and no the empire has no control over that monies...Zim gained it without the empires help"
-
"I'd say you don't need to apologize but I'm sure you've captured humans before in your time here where some of them might be being held there." He listened to them about the money topic and he nodded. As long as they couldn't track the use of the money, Dib had no issues of Zim using it. "Alright, but I am confused on how you gained the money without the Empire's help?"
-
"...Zim has a lot to apologize for...The money is from a long time ago after Zim's first and only successful mission. Zim was able to leave the empire for awhile sorta like a vacation or something and back then Zim couldn't see right from wrong only what he was taught by the academy and other irkens. Zim found an planet and caused a lot of trouble but the end result was it turned into a black market planet so Zim got a lot of monies from that"
"Not by himself though he was influenced but another being named Frenzo who pretended to care about Zim just to be able to kind a control him in taking over the planet"
-
Dib grimaced, trying not to get mad about it. Of course, it seemed even a 'defective' Irken could be successful in invasion. He found himself wondering about the races Zim had conquered, not only the successful mission but the other planet he landed on that turned into a black market. He frowned at the thought. Black markets were never any good even on Earth so he could only imagine a WHOLE planet based around it.
"Sounds horrible. I hope both of those planets would be able to change back to what it was too. Unless the first one is destroyed?" He glanced to Zim.
-
"It is. It didn't use to be though the planet use to have rules and laws when Zim had control over it before Frenzo paid him off to leave"
"Cyberflox is a terrible place...Hopefully Zim can fix it after everything else is dealt with"
"To fix it you'll have to get rid of Frenzo, are you able to do that"?
Zim made a face as his antennas twitched in a nervous manner "Does Major want to kill Frenzo?"
"Ha! He would have me killed on sight. You Irken's are so strange even though he betrayed you, Used you, lied to you you seriously still have some type of feelings towards him"
"Not Zim's fault its written into his pak...Zim can't harm Frenzo his pak won't let him...can we get off that subject Zim has enough to be depressed and irritated about"
-
Dib looked from the screen to Zim as they continued talking about Cyberflox and frowned. He looked to Zim. "Written? So it can be changed, can't it? It's coding? Can't it just be erased somehow? Or is it more in your brain that you're so attached to him?" He groaned as Zim said to move off the subject. "Fine but we can get back to that another time." He looked to Major. "We could let you go so you can speak with the Elders. Call us back when you get the answers, please."
-
Zim glanced towards Dib but the more he spoke the more his antennas fell back and he chose not to answer his questions. He let out a breath of air to relax again as Dib agreed to let the topic go for now.
"Yes I will go speak with them and then call you back when I have an answer. Be careful you two" He said before ending the call.
Zim gave a slight wave before going to typing another number into the computer waiting to see if the Meekrob would answer.
-
Dib waved to Major just before the Dragonling hung up. He looked to Zim. "Do a lot of aliens know Earth and what humans are? I was a bit surprised at that. You told me Earth was on the edge of the great map so does that mean we've been contacted before by aliens? I suppose at some point we must have but I likely wasn't alive to see it. I just remember people claiming UFO sightings, but their accounts were rocky at best, with shaky evidence that could have been faked or none at all. Then there's the Roswell incident. I wasn't alive then but I was interested in it as a kid. The government claimed the UFO was just something they were testing but really, governments can't be trusted." He rolled his eyes. "They probably have so many secrets they're hiding from the public."
-
"Many aliens know about Earth but not anything really good about it as humans are seen as almost primitive to most or nearly all other inhabited planets. Yet Earth was also known as a safe planet to hide on as a refugee but clearly not anymore. Any aliens on Earth most likely fled once they knew the irken empire was heading this way. It is possible that some of those stories are true but its hard to know" He said as he watched his call go unanswered and let out a sigh waiting a bit more before ending the call. His claws tapped on the keyboard as he thought about who else to call.
-
"We're not nearly as primitive as they have been in the past but I guess to aliens, it would be, huh? But still..." Dib didn't think all humans were that stupid. His father, while stupidly ignorant about the existence of monsters and aliens and whatever else he deemed un-scientific, DID in fact make very useful machines, one being Foodio. It was what he was known for other than his anti-Santa security system (although that invention, to Dib, was actually really stupid).
"My dad made the Foodio 3000. It practically eradicated world hunger."
-
Zim listened to him and gave a nod "It's to be expected as humans are the youngest race out here that Zim knows about anyway. To all other races of aliens humans are just smeets learning to walk...Professor Membrane though is very interesting and it's that foodio machine that drew attention to him. The technology used for it is similar to that of Meekrob and the empire would love to get their claws on Meekrob technology...It would be the end of all freedom as we know it. Hopefully your father is not as smart as the meekrobian people or that he can play dumb or everyone not just Earth will be doomed"
-
"Oh, I see. And as far as I can guess, I would figure that goes for the lifespan as well? Can other aliens live longer than one hundred Earth years? How old are you? How old can Irkens get?" Dib listened to Zim telling him that his father's invention reminded him of Meekrob technology. "Huh, that's weird. Think it's a coincidence? Because there's no way that dad would have had any contact with aliens when he hadn't even believe in them until this invasion."
-
"Yes humans have a rather short life span. Minis are the closes to human lifespan at 200 years or sometimes a little bit over...hmm Zim is 120 Earth years which is young for an irken. Irkens live around 600 earth years or as long as the irken's pak can keep them alive. The oldest irken that Zim knows of is 750 years old and still going strong that's an scientist for the irken empire" Zim nodded his head "Yes it's most likely an coincidence your father is just that smart but thats the reason it's bad that the empire has your dad"
-
Dib took out his phone to take more notes about Irkens and even some of the other aliens mentioned. He frowned. 600 Earth years was a very long time, so they couldn't just wait for the Irkens to die out in case no other aliens would come to hep them. "Seven hundred and fifty? That sounds like it'd be painful if the average is six hundred... Is he still alive because he's forced to or is he actually healthy?" He put his phone away and sighed, looking up at the screen as his father was mentioned.
"Hopefully he keeps his mouth shut before we could go save him and Gaz."
-
Zim shook his head "No he's in no pain he has changed out paks once and had old parts replaced to keep living. The empire allows this because the control brains demand it as he is the main scientist to over see them" He let out a sigh but decided to stop talking about Dib's father as he sent out another call. This was more so a broadcasting call an SOS into the deeper parts of space. This was the best way to reach a pirate crew.
-
"There's no other scientists he's been training to take over his place? I still think it's wrong of the Empire to force someone who is way passed the average age to keep working. Even if he's not in pain, he has to be tired of it? Or is he gladly doing so...? I don't know. It all feels messed up. Even humans have a limit where they will stop working in old age but that's because we don't have things like Paks. Even if we did, I don't think too many people would want to continue working for the rest of their lives." The way it worked seemed to Dib like an extreme totalitarian system even worse than any similar ones on Earth.
Dib got a little tired of standing so he sat down where he could as Zim put in another call. He studies the Irken writing. Even if English seemed to be universal, he didn't recognize the alphabet the Irkens used. "I ought to get around to studying your writing more... I thought to if I can get my hands on another Pak. I'm sure all the writing in it is that." He looked to Zim. "I'd need your help because the last time I have tried figuring out a Pak, it blew up on me. I've mentioned it, right?"
-
Zim shook his head "No, he's the type to be proud of his work. He is also one for Dib not to worry about his well being because if he comes to Earth or so when he does then Dib should start to worry more about the humans as Zim has seen him dissect other aliens to fully understand them. To him no other being is a person only a thing for him to take a part. It'll be good when he does die...but other then that Irkens get long vacations from work with successful missions but none completely stop working till they are dead" Zim glanced at him when he sat down "Zim can teach Dib to read and write irken, and will help with the pak ordeal but right now Dib looks tired and after everything that has happened maybe Dib should go rest...The call might take awhile to be answered"
-
Dib frowned as Zim explained in detail the type of person the oldest Irken was. "Seriously? Was he dragged along for this too or was he left behind on your planet? Please tell me we won't be running into him then." He sighed. "Extreme totalitarian, you either be useful to your Empire or government or you're better seen off dead. It's awful." If they do drive the Irkens away, he'd hope their history could properly change where they are no longer run like that. It certainly was no way to live.
Dib let out a small sigh and looked Zim over as he told him he should rest and the call would take a while. How tempting it was to make Zim promise to take better care of himself but from earlier, he hoped the Irken would. He glanced to the vat in which Keef was floating. "Once he gets better and you get him a safe room for transformations, you're going right into that. Promise?"
-
"No he wasn't not yet anyway the final control brains will the last to be transported to Earth and he'll come with them...Yes it is terrible...from the way Dib speaks it sounds like its something that happens here or Earth as well" He glanced to Keef before nodding his head "Yes Zim will, now go rest. Computer take Dib back up the elevator to the main floor"
-
"But the invasion is practically done? So they could be on their way now, do you think?" He sighed, stressed about the whole thing. "Well, sort of but not to the extremes Irkens seemed to have taken it. People don't work to death. There's certain retirement ages and there's more vacation days or weeks people are allowed to take and such."
Dib stood up from the chair and nodded. "See you around, Zim. And thanks." He walked to the elevator and allowed the Computer to take him back to the main floor. He stepped off when it arrived and headed right to his and Torque's shared room, looking around a bit more as he went until he reached. He knocked on the door before entering it.
"Hey, Torque."
-
"Not yet it'll be awhile till the last of the empire comes to Earth there are things that have to be done first and the trip is at least a year so there is still time stop the finish of the invasion" He glanced at him and gave a nod "Go rest" Was the last thing Zim said before Dib left.
Torque lifted his head from the tablet he was messing with "This is your room to you don't really need to knock. So how did it go?...You look stressed"
-
A year was not nearly as much time as Dib would like. He would have hoped it'd take much longer than that. He hoped that the Irkens needed to take more than a year to do whatever they wanted done if they couldn't save everyone quickly just yet.
Dib made his way to his dresser to get out his pajamas and looked to Torque. "Well, I figure I should knock in case you're changing or anything. Indecent and the like, you know?" he explained with a soft blush on his face. "I would feel a little rude just barging in and surprising you if you're in here as well. It went... I'm not sure but Zim's trying to call other alien races to try and help. We might get space pirates on our side if everything goes well but everything is so far from Earth, it would take time for them to get here even with hyper space travel."
Dib looked to the bathroom, considering taking a shower before bed. Some hot water would be good to soothe any aches, especially the one he got from landing on his bag earlier. At that thought, he forgot to mention it to Zim. "I forgot to bring up the water issue to Zim...maybe I should skip a shower for tonight. Uh anyway that's not all. So there might be a werewolf amongst us. Zim has Keef in a vat of some healing goo and I found fur on Keef's clothes. Zim is going to have it identified so we can see who it is and when we find them, we'll just move them to a separate room they can have their transformations in that they can't break out of. The last thing we really need is an attack."
-
"I've changed infront of plenty of people in the locker rooms at school I do not think I really care if you saw me change. Even if you are gay. Who knows maybe you would like what you see" He said with a smirk deciding to make a small joke out of it. His eyes going back to the tablet as he listened about space pirates "That sounds pretty cool. Never knew there was pirates in space...but I guess that makes since. We should take a shower it'll help relax you and your body" It was when Dib brought up the werewolf that Torques eyes went wide and he looked at him. Dib finally getting his full attention as a look of shock and maybe a bit of fear came over his face. "A werewolf? are you sure" Hearing about the attack though his eyes narrowed the look of fear gone "Sounds like a werewolf" He muttered and gave a nod "How is Zim going to do that? So Keef is alive thats good but now that makes two werewolves to worry about...Hopefully we can find the other one before the next full moon...which is four nights away" He said as he looked up the moon phasing calendar on his tablet.
-
"I guess that's true. I changed in the locker room as well but I wasn't personally comfortable being even in my underwear around others let alone naked." The blush on his face darkened at Torque's comment on liking what he saw. He knew it was a joke by the tone, but Torque really had no idea about his previous crush on him and just being so close, Dib could feel it returning. He didn't want it to return. He forced a laugh. "But if you're okay with it, I'll keep it in mind."
Dib nodded his head. "Pirates in space, I figured could have been a thing but I wasn't sure if aliens themselves would actually call them pirates. Apparently, English is universal and there's been aliens here before Irkens touched down. They knew it was out of reach of the Empire but they've likely escaped if they learned the Empire was coming here."
Dib looked down at his clothes. "I'll need help if you can show me where the water is safe and not scalding in the shower then I'll take one." He looked over to Torque to see he was reacting a lot more about the werewolf than the other subjects. He rose an eyebrow. "I'm sure it's a werewolf, yes. I suggested to Zim to have separate rooms for them, ones that can lock and be able to handle being attacked because werewolves are violent but it's only on full moons. Any other given time, they're just average humans." He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure we could find them in time. Maybe. Zim has to collect everyone's DNA samples to match the fur to."
-
"Hmm that makes since that you wouldn't be comfortable with that." The forced laugh could be noticed quite easily by him and it took control to not show interest in the topic and just gave a nod of his head. "Wonder if they hunt for treasure planet" He said in a joking tone with a slight laugh "But hopefully Zim is able to get someone to help with this war. Yeah I can help you with that it's not to hard to get in the right spot but i've been here awhile so I've had more practice with it" He nodded and got up setting the tablet down "True there is normally no controlling a werewolf. Hopefully the unlucky person to endure such a thing is found and contained quickly. Just both you and Zim be careful about it. I'm sure people are going to be confused about the collection of DNA and the one who is the werewolf might get scared and lash out about it" He said as he headed to the bathroom and adjust the water temperature of the shower for Dib "I'm surprised your not more excited about knowing there is a werewolf down here. Werewolves are paranormal are you going to try and study the person effected?...I guess now you would have two you could study since Keef got attacked and is alive. I wonder who it is though. There has been fullmoons so either they recently arrived here or have left this area during a fullmoon to 'hunt' " It was strange how much Torque was into the topic and even seemed to know how the werewolf might act.
-
Dib relaxed as the subject of changing dropped. If he were to be changing clothes when Torque was out, he supposed he could go in the bathroom for it. He laughed at the Treasure Planet joke. "Who knows? There could be one, right? With how vast space is. I don't think their ships would look like sea-faring ships though. They can use that sort of magic logic in a Disney movie but science is much more complicated than that. It's probably not possible to have an open area to wander on a ship without getting hurt somehow... unless it is. Aliens and their advanced technologies. I should ask Zim, maybe sit him down for movie night to watch Treasure Planet with us. He doesn't seem like he does that or has he?"
He listened to Torque go on about the werewolf, nodding his head in agreement. "The DNA could also be used to figure out what kind of medicines they all could take as well as maybe people with allergies, I suppose? A cover like that can be used so the werewolf won't get nervous." Dib followed Torque into the bathroom and set his clothes down on a dry area, watching the other man adjust the temperature to where it wouldn't get too hot. He looked to him again. "Werewolves are supernatural and I am excited, I've just gotten a little better at containing it. Um... I feel I should get the person's consent when it comes to studying. Just because they're a monster on full moons doesn't make them a monster the rest of the days, right?"
Dib found it a little unusual especially when Torque had mentioned he hadn't been really into the para and supernatural. At the same time, he wondered if he should really press it. Was Torque the werewolf? He certainly seemed nervous about it in his own way... Dib figured he may keep an eye on it, not feeling too sure to ask just yet. "To hunt? There's really not woods around the city so if they are hunting out there, they'd likely be killing either stray humans, stray animals or Irkens. Let's hope they've been able to down some Irkens even if they don't mean to."
-
"There could be a lot of things out in space so I really wouldn't be surprised but yeah I doubt the ships would be open like that. No Zim doesn't watch movies he'll sometimes pop in to make sure things are alright but he doesn't stay to watch the movies...We could try inviting him though if you want to" He said he was hoping to watch a movie alone with Dib later at night but that didn't sound like it was going to happen with Gretchen joining them and now maybe even Zim. "Yeah that might work. Depends on who the werewolf is on if they are a monster through and through" He said with a shrug as he thought about the possibilities going through people that seem to none seen on a full moon. "If its alive and moves then to a werewolf it's fair game...Not like they can control it.." He said and once the water was a good temperature he moved away from the bathroom and back over to his bed.
-
Dib nodded along to what Torque was saying about the pirates and Zim not sticking around to watch movies. "I told him to take care of himself so I'm not sure we should bother him tonight. Maybe we can watch that movie tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty tired tonight anyway." Back on the topic of werewolves, he shrugged. "If they are a monster through and through, I don't think I would blame the werewolf DNA itself. They could have just been born that way. Thanks for helping with the water."
Once Torque was out of the bathroom, he closed the door and undressed. He set his glasses aside and got into the shower. He washed up, using his own shampoo and soap, doing his best not to take too long in it. Ten minutes passed and he finally finished up, stepping out after drying himself off and putting on his clean boxers and his pajamas. He brushed his teeth and used the toilet before heading back out into the bedroom.
Dib plopped down on his own bed and looked over to where Torque was just to see if he was still awake or not.
-
"Yeah thats fine you need rest as well now that your in a more safe area. No the werewolf would have nothing to do with it...At least I wouldn't think so but who knows" Torque seemed to realize he was paying to much attention to the subject and just shrugged his shoulders. He sat on his bed picking up the tablet again as Dib vanished into the bathroom.
When Dib came out Torque was coming back into the bedroom with two cups of hot tea placing one on Dib's bed side table as the bathroom door opened "Perfect timing I went a got you some tea it'll help you relax and rest more peacefully" He said before going back over to his own bed blowing on the hot liquid in his own cup. It was not normal tea as it was completely hand made with herbs floating in it.
-
Dib sat up on his bed to see Torque coming back in and he looked to the tea on the side table by his bed. "You didn't have to do that but thank you." He picked up the cup and looked down at it. He wasn't used to tea being hand-made so he hadn't expected herbs to be floating inside. He sipped at the tea after gently blowing on it. "What time do people usually get up for breakfast or is there no set schedule or anything?" he asked, curiously.
-
"Your welcome and it's fine I was getting myself some anyway as I have trouble sleeping some times. There is no set time as there are children and adults along with babies down here so a schedule is hard to make and stick to with everyone's different sleeping habits. When do you normally wake up?" He asked and started to sip at the tea in his cup.
-
"You do? You have nightmares or is it something else?" He continued sipping at his tea slowly as he listened to Torque. He supposed that made sense when there were different people with different schedules. "I wake up around eight or nine in the morning. If I feel like sleeping in, I get up around ten or eleven but never past noon. What about you?"
-
"Nightmares are pretty common for me mostly of past event with my family...but I also have a habit of sleep walking the tea is something my grandmother taught me when she was alive. She taught me a lot about herbs and nature but when she died I kind of did not care about nature anymore. She raised me and after she passed I was placed in foster care and got tossed around a bit till finally getting adopted. Guess i'm considered to be traumatized" He said with a sigh clearly trying to be open with Dib and let him know more about him. "Seven o'clock It's impossible for me to sleep in my eternal clock won't let me."
-
Dib also struggled with nightmares himself and he was sure he has mentioned it to Torque in the past during rants. Most of them were to do with being in the Krazy House and the fears of being lobotomized. His nightmare realm was just full of monstrous versions of people he knew. He listened to Torque, his eyes widening when he learned about Torque's past or some of it anyway. He had no idea Torque had been adopted or had even lived with a grandmother prior.
"I'm sorry to hear you went through all that... I had no idea." He finished his tea and set the empty cup aside. "Seven? Alright. I can get up at seven-thirty the earliest if you want? I don't mind waking up early. I would want to check on Zim in the morning anyway during or after breakfast. Does he eat with everyone?"
-
"It's fine. Hardly anyone knows about it. Not exactly a good subject to talk about but...I figure I know so much about you that you deserve to know some about me as well. We both have some things terrible about our childhoods. You don't have to get up so early if you don't want to i'm sure you need to catch up on your rest. I just normally go for a run in the morning as its normally calm and quiet at that time...Zim normally scouts for humans in the morning as the other irkens are getting something to eat and figured out their plan for the day so its the down time he can use to search for anyone" He said finishing his tea and setting the cup aside before getting up he grabbed a pair of pj shorts and slipped into the bathroom. Changing into them he stared into the mirror at his reflection a moment as golden wolf eyes stared back at him. He let out a sigh shaking his head wondering if Zim's DNA testing would show he was not human. He wasn't a werewolf but similar as he was a lycan the two biggest differences he could transform as he pleased with full control and silver did nothing to him. As far as he knew he was the last Lycan alive and witnessing his grandmothers death after she was hunted was enough for him to never want to transform in fear of the same fate. He hoped he could just keep a semi peaceful life without anyone knowing what he was. He used the restroom and washed his hands splashing water on his face before walking out in just the shorts showing off his bare chest and the muscles that had been hiding under his shirt. He went back to his bed and climbed onto it before slipping under his covers "goodnight Dib"
-
"You don't have to push yourself to tell me everything if they're not good subjects to talk about but thank you at the same time. I just hope you'll be alright after bringing it up." He nodded, agreeing both of them had terrible things about their childhoods and sighed. He wished he hadn't gone through most of the times where they were bad enough to build a nightmare realm in his mind. He frowned. "Well, it wouldn't hurt Zim to eat something before he leaves to scout. What time in the morning does he leave and get back?"
Dib got comfortable under the covers of his own bed when Torque disappeared into the bathroom. He supposed Torque could answer the last question before the two of them went to sleep. He glanced back over when he came out just as he was about to take off his glasses and he fought hard from blushing at the sight of Torque's physique.
He set his glasses aside on the table by his bed side and set up his alarm to wake him up at eight. "Goodnight, Torque." He rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, rolling over on his side to face the wall opposite of him, doing his best to get comfortable in a new bed. It took him a while before he finally fell asleep. If he had not drank the tea, he would have taken much longer to fall asleep.
-
"...It's good to talk sometimes it heels the wounds within. I'm not fully sure when he leaves he would normally go out find a human or two bring them back then go meet skoodge to at least pretend to still be loyal to the empire but after this ordeal i'm sure his routine will be changing." He said right before he had climbed into bed. With the tea in his system it took little time before he managed to fall asleep.
-
Dib made it a mission to see if he could get Zim to eat after making sure the Irken had rested well enough. To him, Zim required just as much self care as much as the humans did, if not more given the damages he had sustained from the first day of the invasion to now. He could agree that Zim's routine would change... Dib was sure after Zim had deliberately outed himself as a traitor against the Irkens, he probably wouldn't get back to his friend so easily.
He slept fine through the night and come eight o'clock, his alarm woke him up and he let out a soft groan. Dib turned off his alarm and slid out from under the covers, getting out of bed. He stretched and looked around the room as well as listened in case Torque was in the shower. He expected Torque to had left an hour earlier as he mentioned he went running.
-
Torque was indeed gone by the time Dib woke up running around the track that was made for the humans to exercise on. As Torque was running the only other person in the same area was Chuck punching a punching bag as he was working out the two for the most part avoided each other but there was certainly an uneasy aura between the two.
Zim had chose a different thing to do today as he worked on gathering DNA from the humans that were awake some put up a fuss and it took awhile for Zim to convince them that it was for their own good.
-
Dib went to the bathroom and used the toilet, washed his hands then brushed his teeth. He pulled on some clean clothes except boxers and pulled on his shoes. He grabbed his phone and checked the charge before placing it in his coat pocket. He left the room and went right to where people were eating breakfast. He looked around to see who was there, mostly keeping an eye out for Zim.
-
Zim was in the room trying to be polite but interrupting other's meals to get DNA sample from them a piece of hair was mostly what he asked for. Though there were some putting up a fuss accusing Zim of wanting it for an experiment and really laying into Zim because of him being an irken even if he saved them.
-
Dib spotted Zim. It wasn't too hard. He made his way to the small crowd that were giving Zim issues. "Good morning, everyone." He took in what was being said and sighed. "There's not many doctors down here, is there? He just needs your DNA in case he'll have to make specific medicines for you. I bet his kind of medicines would be far more advanced than a human's. I have even seen how quickly it can heal over cuts on Irkens, maybe it's the same on human's. DNA might need to be involved so please just allow him, he's saved all of you so far and he means no one any harm."
-
The group glanced at Dib as he approached the woman that was giving the most trouble crossed her arms glaring at Dib now "Oh great now the crazy boy is siding with him I would not be surprised if you were a into Exophilia, ouch!" She winced and rubbed at her head where a man standing next to her had plucked a hair.
"Here, sorry about that, just ignore her" The man said and gave Zim the plucked hair before the man pretty much started pushing the woman away from the two as the two were now arguing with eachother.
Zim stood there blinking a bit confused on what happened before glancing towards Dib as the rest of the group that had been standing up for the women walked away some snickering others red faced at what the woman called Dib.
-
Dib narrowed his eyes as the woman turned quickly to calling him crazy and of being an exophile. He had come to nicely inform the people this could be for the benefit of their health but of course, people being people, they had to resort to name-calling. What was this woman anyway? In her forties? He held his tongue even if he wanted to defend himself, to tell her that no, he wasn't an exophile but knew if he even bothered, it'd just somehow get everyone against him in one way or another.
Besides, the issue seemed to have been revolved. His eyes fell on the man who had plucked a hair from her. Her husband, maybe. It was just too bad it had to be taken by force instead of willingly. Dib sighed and looked to the rest of the group as some of them walked away before looking down at Zim. He gave a shrug. "I don't think they'll divorce because of that if they're married but she'll probably be sleeping on the sofa so don't worry about it," he commented, trying to lighten the mood.
"Anyway, how did you rest? Did you eat yet? I'm about to get some food myself." He looked around the cafeteria but he couldn't even find Gretchen. Maybe she was either asleep still or had woken up earlier than eight and ate already.
-
"What is a divorce? Also what is a Exophilia? Zim rested alright, ate a bag of chips a little while ago while collecting hair samples. How did Dib rest he looks more awake and alert so thats good" Zim asked with a tilt of his head as he placed the hair sample in a vial that seemed directly connected to his pak "Found nothing but humans so far" He said softly and let out a sigh.
-
"A divorce is basically the opposite of marriage. It's a process that separates two people that were in a marriage and they go on their separate ways because they don't love each other anymore or other such reasons similar. Ugh. I hate that you had to hear that word. Exophilia is when someone is sexually interested in extraterrestrials like aliens and so on. It was really nasty of her to assume that of me but whatever. I'm used to shitty treatment."
Dib nodded. "I rested well. Torque made me a home-made tea that helped me sleep after I took a nice shower last night." He looked to the vial that came out of his Pak and hummed. "That's a good sign, isn't it? How much more people do you need to test?" Dib reached up and plucked a hair out of his own head, wincing a bit from the initial and quick pain of it. He held it over to Zim. "I forgot to give you mine but here but I'm one-hundred percent sure I'm not a werewolf."
-
Zim made a face as things were explained to him and stuck his tongue out in a disgusted fashion as he shook his head. ”Zim does hope she gets in some type of trouble for what she said that is terrible and the way that woman treated Dib is terrible as well. There was no right in saying stuff like she did” he said watching Dib pluck a hair from himself Zim chuckled a bit and nodded his head adding it to the vial ”correct Dib is not a werewolf. But Zim is also gathering the DNA for medical reasons as well” he said and thought a bit ”Zim is only a fifth done in collecting there is a handful that absolutely will not let Zim have their DNA and have now been avoiding Zim” he said before naming off a list of eight names on that list was Chucks name. ”Zim is trying to go in alphabetical order to keep everyone’s DNA lined with their name”
-
"Well, they were arguing on their way away from us so I'm sure she got in trouble. I don't really care either way. It hardly hurts anymore, it's just annoying." He watched Zim putting his hair in the vial and admitted he was doing it for medical reasons. He may as well, so it wouldn't be a lie and any suspicions can be kept off of him. "A fifth? Just how many people are down here? I wasn't counting. At least remember to take a break."
Dib listened to the names listed, Chuck being one of them. He groaned. "I don't think I would even be able to talk him into giving a hair. He hates me and I'm not a huge fan of him either. Maybe Torque could somehow or... if there's anyone Chuck likes." He looked up in thought. Who DID Chuck like and listen to? Dib couldn't really think of anyone. Maybe a pretty girl could talk Chuck into giving Zim his DNA? Even then, Dib wouldn't be able to talk pretty girls into talking Chuck into giving his DNA to Zim. He sighed. "If I was popular, this would be much easier. Maybe Zita could..."
Thinking about it, there could also be a bit of a manipulation tactic. What if he were to tell Chuck he was a coward for not while those among the people who have were children. Would Chuck also prove Dib wrong if he instigated him and called him a scared baby to not give Zim DNA while Dib had given his own? "I might actually have some ideas I could try. I'll help." Dib looked around the cafeteria again to see if Chuck was around by now. He hadn't seen him earlier.
-
"Zim is going to gather a couple more then leave it at that for today. There is a lot of humans down here they are just really spread out to keep everyone more comfortable" He said and nodded his head "Chuck threatened Zim when he made his request and promptly left the area afterwards looking pissed" He explained and shook his head "Chuck and Torque have gotten into a good amount of fights with eachother so that might not be a good idea" He pointed out and tilted his head as he thought about if there was anyone Chuck liked or showed interest in he came up blank "No one really. Chuck seems to be on his own most of the time. Zim will take all the help he can get but Dib needs to be careful about it"
-
"Alright well the full moon is in another four or well, three days now just as a warning. I can get to see if I can help with the rest refusing to give their hair over." He wasn't happy about how Chuck threatened Zim but at the same time, could understand why. But it was also a little suspicious, these particular eight not giving Zim their DNA. Could any of them be the werewolf?
"Yeah Torque has mentioned a few times how he doesn't get along with Chuck, I think so I could try myself even if Chuck hates me. I'll do my best to be careful." He walked over to where all the food was, looking them over before he grabbed a few eggs, some bacon slices and two bread slices. He put them into the machine and hoped it would just make a simple scrambled egg and bacon with toast on his plate. While the machine worked, he went to make himself some coffee from the coffeemaker he spotted.
-
Zim nodded "Zim will try to figure it out before then but like Dib said yesterday the werewolf might not even be down here" He said as he was using a irken tablet to sort out info on everyone he had already collected hair from. He started to walk up before there was a female's scream. His antennas stood straight up and he ray out of the room to the tunnel like hallways as he put everything in his pak. "What happened?" He asked as he came up to her side she was shaking and pointing to a irken corpse the alien had been torn to pieces. There was paw prints on the ground two times bigger then any human hand clearly the beast was huge. There were claw marks along the walls and blast mark still steaming from the irken's laser gun. This fight had only happened moments ago and as quick as it happened it was over. There was pink blood from the irken but also dark red blood from what could of only been the beast. Zim moved closer to the scene and glanced up to see the wire and cameras of his computer torn up clearly to hide it's identity. "Dib, what did this? It's not a fullmoon or even night time"
-
"Here's hoping that's true," Dib commented on the remark. He waited for the coffee, watching the liquid pour into his styrofoam coffee cup before the scream cut through the air like a knife. He felt goosebumps crawl up every inch of his skin and he chased after Zim, following him to the scene, food forgotten. He stared down at the gruesome corpse left behind, torn apart. He shook slightly before he forced himself to settle. Dib looked to the rest of the damage around the hallways.
This was peculiar... It couldn't be a werewolf that did this. As Zim had said, there wasn't a full moon out tonight and even if there was, it was still day time. He looked down at the blood and pointed at it. "I think you should collect that. It's DNA they left behind." As for what did this, there was another species similar to werewolves, one that were believed to come before them. Ones that could transform willingly no matter the time of day, even on days that weren't full moons. "It could be a Lycan. They're like werewolves but retain themselves and can transform at will whenever... Whoever the Lycan is, they did this out of self-defense clearly and not because they lost their mind," he explained.
Dib looked back down at the blood and the paw prints to see if they had left tracks to follow. "Even if the cameras are destroyed, there still should be footage, shouldn't there? Wherever you keep the main one? It had to have been recorded, right?"
-
Zim gave a nod pulling out a different vial from his pak and scooping up the blood. He listened to him talk about another wolf like creature "So there are two creatures then? A werewolf and a Lycan? Would the two be close together then since they are similar?" He asked as he glanced around seeing the paw prints go down the hall at a walk then a long stride clearly running before vanishing completely. "Well Zim guess it's good this irken came up on the lycan instead of a normal human...and no there would be no footage" He said as he glanced at the wires only now noticing that computer was not active at all. "The Lycan destroyed this area for no need it seems Zim was so busy he had not noticed that computer had been sabotaged or else Zim would of known about the invader down here. Zim will have to repair computer now thats very important...Clearly the lycan got hurt might be a good clue on who it is if Dib wants to go searching for someone injured while Zim works on computer" By now a crowd had showed up and Chuck was in the crowd for only a moment seeing the scene he turned and walked away silently as everyone else made a big deal about it.
-
"Lycans came first but they are similar. Werewolves cannot control themselves while Lycans can. That's the biggest difference." Dib had to agree with Zim that the Irken came across something that could defend itself without help as opposed to a human that couldn't. "Yeah." He glanced up. "So the lights aren't connected to Computer then? I figured they were but alright. This mess might need to be cleaned up as well but I have no idea if there would be anyone who would volunteer to do so..."
He looked down at Zim as he told him it'd be easy to find the Lycan, given that they were injured. "That's true. I was also thinking to question people in case they're good at hiding the injury. See who has an alibi or not. You know I was with you and those people from earlier can't have been either since it wasn't long after they left before now..." He looked to the crowd forming and grimaced. How could they keep people from panicking now? "There has been an attack. Luckily, the only one that perished is this Irken that found its way in here and I do believe the one who attacked does not mean any harm to us-" he started and he paused as he spotted Chuck walking away.
He frowned. "But on the case that they do, please head back in groups towards your rooms, okay and keep the doors locked. If to feel safer, push furniture against the door. We'll figure out what's going on." Dib went to follow after Chuck, taking some long strides to catch up to the other man. "Chuck, it's better to get to rooms in groups. What's your rush? Did you see anything?"
-
"Leave the mess it shouldn't take long for Zim to repair computer then clean up the mess. Normally Zim would attach everything to computer but figured if someone did sabotage computer then fighting in the dark would not be good. So Zim set up a backup energy source for more important things down here. Just be careful with figuring it out" He said before walking off to repair computer.
The humans talked and whispered to each other till Dib spoke about the attack and to return to their rooms. Some panicked and ran to their rooms others lingered but most did as told returning in groups. Chuck did not stop walking as he glanced at Dib a moment before back in front of him. "beat it I don't have to listen to you. I'm perfectly fine on my own so mind your own business. No I did not see anything so scram"
Back in Dibs and Torque's room Torque stood in the shower head against the wall of the shower as he stared down at the blood running down the drain. Hissing in pain as he cleaned the wound at his shoulder as it was already trying to rapidly heal but Torque wanted to make sure i was clean before it healed. Once cleaned up he turned off the shower made sure the wound was done bleeding before getting dressed in shorts and an tshirt. Tired from the sudden transformation and the attack he went ahead and climbed back into bed figuring a nap would help with his suddenly drained energy.
-
Dib continued walking alongside Chuck, trying his best to subtly look him over for injuries but it didn't take him too much to see that Chuck wasn't at all nor was he leaving blood tracks. "Fine, but be careful. See you around." He stopped and turned back in the other direction to go back to the scene, moving past groups and pressing against the wall to keep out of the way since they were all going in the direction he wasn't. Once they were all past him, he continued and came back on the scene.
From there, Dib followed the blood and paw tracks until the point it stopped. He sighed. "It would be nice if there was luminol or even fingerprint powder," he mumbled to himself. Just because it stopped being invisible to the naked eye doesn't mean it was gone forever right away. He shook his head, not sure if he could continue on by tracking but he could go and follow after the group so he turned and ran back the other way to catch up with everyone.
He did cursory glances over everyone but didn't see anyone wounded on his way back to the rooms. He paused as his stomach grumbled and he sighed. Right, he didn't even get to eat but with everyone in a panic, he knew he shouldn't get back to the cafeteria just yet. He didn't even see Torque during his time with the group and he worried. What did that mean? Was he just somewhere else? He separated from the group he was traveling with and made his way back to their shared room.
He knocked on the door and giving it a few seconds before heading inside and locking up behind himself. "Torque?" He looked to the bed, spotting him in bed. Dib sighed in relief. Maybe he was here the whole time. Safe but unknowing. He'd have to fill him in but he didn't want to wake him. He moved over to his bed and sat down, wondering what to do with the time before his roommate woke up.
-
Chuck paused glancing back towards Dib to watch him walk away a moment before continuing to his own room. He was one of the few people that had a room to himself and denied anyone to be roommates with him. He let out a sigh as he glanced at his phone his screen picture was the moon phases and a count down to the fullmoon he was not fully sure what he was going to do but knew he had to leave to not transform down here an be the cause of a blood bath.
Torque continued to sleep the stress to his body preventing him from even noticing Dib his rest lasted about an hour till he stretched with a yawn and blinked open his eyes. As soon as he woke he could feel there was someone in the room and by scent he was sure it was Dib. His back was facing him as he made sure the wound was fully healed and there was no trace but right now just a scar hiding under his shirt. He sat up and turned his head to glance at Dib "Hey, I think I over did my workout and made my stomach a little quezzy so decided to take a nap. What's up?" He asked playing dumb to the events of that day as he glanced at his phone to see what time it was. Normally he would look at his watch but that had snapped with the transformation and was now hidden in his bedside table. It had been an absolute panic attack to gather up his shredded clothes as a Lycan and dispose of them to try and hide his identity but with that girl approaching the scene he was unable to clean up his blood at the scene and now was sure Zim had his DNA though still not a piece of his hair he would have to figure out something to trick the irken on that part.
-
Dib decided to just plug in his laptop and search through his studies on it. A lot of them were on his computer back at home while some were in his laptop so he had some filling out to do as he was sure his computers would be crushed from earlier. He got to work rifling through his mind, doing his best to recall some missing files. He even went online to check his old blogs from the past to recount some stories and grab some photos from it to save them onto his laptop.
He spent an hour doing this, his stomach grumbling all the while. Dib looked up as he heard a yawn escaping from the bed across from him and he set his laptop aside after saving his documents about five times each just in case. "Hey. Your workout? What time was that? You didn't see anything strange on the way back, did you? There was an attack. An Irken found its way down here and attacked someone who must have been a Lycan. Zim collected the blood sample and I tracked the prints and blood drops to where I couldn't anymore. I don't think the Lycan means us any harm since they can control themselves when transformed and can at will. I'm sure it was just self-defense but it's got everyone in a panic."
Dib stood up from his bed and stretched. "And I haven't even eaten breakfast. I was in the cafeteria with some people and Zim when it happened and with everyone going back to their rooms, I felt like I shouldn't go get my food until later. I wonder if it's quieted down."
-
Torque just sat there blinking as Dib kind of dropped to much on him in one setting with all of the questions he let out a slight laugh and rubbed at his eyes a bit ”im surprised I caught of what you just said with just waking up… alright I got up at seven went for a run for about ten minutes then decided to do some weight lifting and other work out things. No I saw nothing on the way back and heard nothing either” he said making a face at the word lycan “so what there are two monsters then? Hmm guess it’s good the Irken was killed…you haven’t ate? Then let’s go eat together. Safer in numbers then alone and I have also not ate today” he said before he got up and out of bed taking a moment to make his bed.
-
Dib blushed softly as he realized he might have been info-dumping Torque way too much just then. "Sorry about that, but it was a hectic event and I needed to let you know." He listened to Torque confirm where he had been until now. "Do you have anyone that could confirm it? Was there anyone else with you? I don't mean to come off as skeptical but it's best to always have someone able to vouch for where you've been up until after what happened. Like how me and Zim and plenty of others were in the cafeteria so a lot of people saw us there."
Dib sighed. To call them monsters was much but it was the simple way to put it. "Yes but like I said, I'm sure the Lycan isn't a threat to us if they only attacked out of self-defense and if they've been here long without an attack until now, it's even less likely they mean harm to humans. Again also, they can control their transformation at will and remain in the same mindset even when they're in their monster form. I'm not as worried about the Lycan as opposed to the werewolf."
He nodded his head, glad of Torque's suggestion that they should go together to the cafeteria to eat. "Yeah, sounds good. I'm starving." He turned off his laptop and closed the screen down then grabbed his phone. He headed out of the bedroom with Torque after the other man was done making his bed.
-
He nodded his head "It's fine I understand how it must of been" He said made a slight face before thinking about it "Hmm well Chuck was there for part of the time but we got into a bit of an argument and he left so I guess not. Other then that i've been in here resting so of course no one can vouch for me on that." He said then raised a brow as he listened to him talk about the lycan doing what it did for self-defense though he knew that was not true the irken had been getting ready to call for reinforcements everyone would of been found so he had to swiftly take the irken out before that could happen. "Well then hopefully the lycan is on our side can help us fight the irkens even." He said and followed him out of the room noticing how quiet it was as everyone seemed to be in their rooms "This place is creepy right now"
-
"And the Lycan destroyed the Computer's cameras and wiring so there could be no evidence of who it was. They left the blood which is DNA so we'll be able to know who they are not that we'd really do anything but possibly ask some questions so it calms people down." He walked with Torque along the empty halls. "Zim is repairing Computer right now and I did tell people to get back to their rooms in groups to stay safe since a pretty big crowd came and saw the gore."
Dib didn't mind the creepiness all too much. He didn't feel like he was in danger anyway. He got to the cafeteria with Torque and walked to the machine where he had left the coffee and food. It was all cold by now. "Does the machine reheat it? Or do I have to start over again?" He was starting to make a new coffee for now.
-
"Sounds like who ever it is doesn't want others to know who they are...Might be scared or something" He said giving a shrug. "How do you think the others will treat the person that is the lycan and what about after the irkens are gone would the Lycan or even werewolf be safe after that?" He asked as he thought about it. Walking into the cafeteria he started to make himself some food sausage links, eggs, and bacon "I would restart if you reheat eggs most likely they'll get a rubbery texture and not be very tasty"
-
"But damaging the Computer wasn't the greatest choice either. Luckily it didn't take out the lights but it could have taken down other things if Computer is connected to more important things. I don't know how the others will treat the person but if they mean no harm, I'm sure Zim will make sure no one hurts them. I wouldn't hurt them myself."
Dib threw out his previous eggs, toast and bacon and started that over while the coffee was dripping into a new cup. The food was done faster than the coffee since the machine worked quickly. He took the plate out and leaned against the counter, stacking the scrambled eggs and bacon on top of one of the toasted slices of bread. He made a sandwich out of it and got right to eating it while he waited for his coffee to be done. He was too hungry to wait for the coffee but once it was, he fixed it the way he liked it and brought his plate and cup to the nearest table so he wasn't far from Torque.
-
"Probably not." He said shaking his head "Well then good thing computer is not hooked up to more important things. Hopefully Zim can protect the creatures but who knows only the future knows what will happen to the Lycan and werewolf." He said as Dib finished preparing his food and Torque placed his own food in the machine to wait for. Once the food was done he carried the plate overto Dib and sat down across from him. He picked up a slice of bacon and took a bite of it. "So what else are you going to do today it's only what 10 or 11 in the morning now? My watch broke and my phone is charging in the bedroom so I have no clue what time it is"
-
Dib ate his food at the table and sipped at his coffee as Torque spoke. He hoped the Lycan and the werewolf would be safe. "If it gets too dangerous for them, maybe they could pair together and move so they aren't attacked. Maybe Zim could make a separate area specifically for them? I don't know, but I don't want them feeling too outcast, personally. That would suck."
When asked what else he was going to do, Dib shrugged. "I don't know. We could watch those movies? I was also going to help Zim get a hair from Chuck since he's one of eight people that refused to give it over. Oh. Speaking of, have you? You weren't listed but if you didn't, you should do that." Dib checked his phone. "It's going to be ten soon."
-
"Guess that is true...also there are two werewolves right sense Keef got bitten that would make him one too." It took a lot for him to not make a face at the suggestion that Zim make a separate area for lycan and werewolves. "All depend on who they are might be two people that won't get
a long" He said with a shrug. "Yeah but movie watching is best done at night normally...but with everything going on right now t would be a safe thing to do...Chuck already doesn't like you and threatens you I don't think that's a good idea. Oh...no not yet. i'll give it to him soon though." He said with a nod and went back to eating.
-
"Right. Keef would likely have to go along with them as well if they need to go. Don't get along? Well, we wouldn't know yet about that." He was done with his food before his coffee but he took his time with the drink since it was still hot. He nodded. "We wanted to watch Coco, right? We could do that now. Yeah, I know Chuck hates me and literally for no reason. I mean I did absolutely nothing to him so I don't know what his real issue is." He sighed. "But there's no way he'd be that stupid to try and hurt me too horribly right? Or he'd be kicked out of this place maybe."
-
"True i'm just bringing up possible problems" He said as he finished eating his food. He nodded his head "Yeah I still want to watch Coco with you...I'm not fully sure why Chuck hates you he is a hard one to read and understand a lot of things of what he does or how he thinks" His eyes narrowed and for just a second there was an rather dangerous aura coming off of him but as quick as it was there it was gone again as he shook his head "I don't think Chuck is 'that stupid' but if he is i'm sure he will 'regret it'" He said and got up to recycle his plate and grab a bottle of water before offering Dib a grin "Ready to go watch the movie?"
-
Dib sipped ocassionally from his coffee as Torque spoke and nodded, agreeing when it came to Chuck. He didn't know how the man thought. Was it how he was raised? He seemed to be the type to bully others for being different. That wasn't really what came natural to people, but how they learned and picked up from family and perhaps even some television shows they watch, depending on what it was.
He frowned, feeling the air shift... it was almost similar to when Gaz got upset, just different and he watched Torque with more focus as he said Chuck will regret it if he did hurt him badly. There seemed to be a threat underlying the tone, something Dib also was used to when it came to Gaz. He finished his coffee and stood up, following Torque to the trash where he threw out his own in the proper bins.
"Yeah, I am ready for the movie and I really don't want there being trouble like that. I followed Chuck a bit to ask him if he seen anything when I saw him leaving the crowd. And I told him to be careful after he told me to beat it and he'd be fine on his own. He didn't attack me then so who knows? I can also watch what I say around him too, I guess but you don't have to threaten him for my sake."
-
Torque glanced at him when Dib said he wanted no trouble and just nodded his head "Just be careful around him. If he is the werewolf or the Lycan he might be scared or something and fear makes people do stupid things like lash out. We can ask him after the movie to give us a sample of his hair. If we do it together maybe he'll double think his actions" He said and started out of the cafeteria to lead him to the room where the movies were located.
-
"Yeah, I know. I won't go accusing him right away for something like that. We have been telling people it's for medical reasons and that's not even completely a lie either. Zim intends to use the DNA he's gathering for that too, not only to find a werewolf. If Zim told him that and he still refused, maybe it's still on him not trusting an Irken and I can't blame him for that either. Look what Irkens have done even if Zim is on our side. It's not easy for people to grow less wary after an attack even if it's not entirely smart to see an entire race as hostile."
Dib's mind went to history. Wars in Earth's past and Hell, even more recent ones. What some extreme groups did still left an effect on the innocents. Certain groups seen as terrorists just because of where they were from. It was wrong of people to suspect every single person but it was hard for peoples' minds to change after such traumatic events. Personally, Dib did his best not to judge people- humans, by their race. Besides, even as pale as he was, his own family was Mexican and that was also a minority that people looked down on as well, stupid as it all is.
He sighed, shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts. He didn't want there to be a race debate at all. That sort of thing got tiring and he doubted Torque would want to go there either. "Yeah, we'll go find him after the movie, I agree and I hope you're right about him double-thinking. It hardly seems he once-thinks," he said with a small snicker. Okay, so maybe that was a little mean but honestly, Dib's been called worse by Chuck... and other people so he felt he could get away with calling someone pretty stupid.
-
Torque listened to him talk about the DNA being used for medical reasons and nodded his head. "That's a good idea. No it's not easy for people to get past some things. Forgive and forget is an hard thing to do as well. It's good that Zim is still on our side i've seen some people be very nasty towards him and he just manages to ignore it. Hopefully there are more irkens willing to help us later into this war." He said as he went through the movies available before finding Coco he snorted out a laugh at Dib's joke before nodding his head "I agree completely" He said getting the movie set up before going to sit on a cushy couch with the remote to control the tv the movie would be playing on.
-
"Zim isn't sure about there being Irkens that could also help. He mentioned that most of them have trackers in them so even if there are willing Irkens, they'd be able to be tracked to our hiding place. Here's hoping Zim gets rid of that dead Irken quickly. It wouldn't be wise to keep it underground here or else the whole army will be here, ready to capture us all." Dib frowned. But how long did it take to repair Computer...? At least they haven't seen any more Irkens on their way to the theater room.
Dib watched Torque go through the movies and sat down next to the other man, looking around the room a bit. "Head's up, this movie gets kind of sad multiple times throughout. There aren't any tissues around, are there?"
-
Torque made a face about the tracker and gave a nod "Hopefully he did move the body before it was traced but at least we didn't see other irkens on our way here so maybe the trancing was broken or something" He said and watched Dib sit next to him "Really? well I doubt i'll cry but who knows...Does that mean your going to cry during the movie? Guess you could cry on my shoulder" He said it was hard to tell if Torque was joking around or being serious.
-
"Maybe. It could have been broken by the Lycan by accident because I doubt they would have known about the tracker." Dib shook his head when asked if he was going to cry. "I don't full out bawl but I do get teary-eyed so tissues are usually good to have nearby so I can clean it from my eyes and if it gets on my glasses." He blushed slightly at the suggestion to cry on Torque's shoulder. "No need for that." He laughed a bit.
-
"Yeah I doubt that as well. Unless the Lycan has studied irkens like you have but that is also doubtful or at least I have not heard anyone talk about studying irkens" He said and gave a shrug. He listened to Dib talk about why he needed tissues he chuckled a bit as Dib denied his offer but got up to leave the room. Coming back a couple minutes later with a box of tissues for Dib. At this point it would be a little more noticeable that he was going out of his way to do things for Dib even if they were small things. He set the tissues down on the end table next to the couch on Dib's side before sitting back down next to Dib. "Alright, ready for the movie?"
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"Yeah, I'm not sure if too many people would have thought to. So many people were too busy panicking about it all. Hard to blame them. It was scary." He was surprised to see Torque get up and go get him a tissue box. Really, Dib could have just as easily used his sleeve. "Thank you. You didn't really have to but I'm grateful." He nodded and did the honors of playing the movie so Torque didn't have to keep doing everything. He shifted himself to get comfortable against the sofa and watched the movie with Torque.
There were a few times during the movie where he got teary-eyed like when Miguel's family found out about his secret ofrenda and the grandmother destroyed his guitar leading Miguel into running away. Another time where they were borrowing the guitar from Cheech and the skeleton went through the Final Death, when Miguel learned who his real grandfather is and the songs he cherished were songs made for his great grandmother when she was just a girl and the ending where Miguel returns and sings the song to Coco and she gets memories back where she was able to share them so Hector didn't die.
He rubbed his face when the movie was over and looked to Torque. "How did you like it?"
-
"It was scary but that didn't stop you from doing it so that proves were braver then most" He said the compliment with a slight shrug of his shoulders. After returning from getting the tissues and sitting down next to him he just gave a small smile "I know I didn't have to but I wanted to, I like doing things for you" He said and turned his attention to the movie relaxing ashe watched it with Dib at one point he did lay his arm across the the back of the couch behind Dib like he was getting more comfortable but it never touched Dib as there was an internal battle going on within Torques head. He never did get teary eyed like Dib did but it looked close when Miguel sings to Coco.
When it ended he stretched and returned to a normal sitting position "I liked it. It was a touching movie thank you for inviting me to watch it with you"
-
Dib took in the compliment without complaint even if he wouldn't shame people for being too scared. Lives were important so he could understand why most would rather hide than fight back. Humans have only one life. One short life and many of them had families they had to keep safe. Hearing Torque wanted to do things for him because he liked doing things for him... was almost unreal. It felt dream-like but he knew he wasn't dreaming. He only gave Torque a small quizzical look instead of chasing it. Sure, he's had Gretchen as a friend before and knew friends did like doing things for other but the way Torque had said it... was different somehow. Or maybe Dib was looking too far into it. He moved his focus to the movie.
Dib almost didn't notice the arm moving behind him and he fought himself not to blush. It was just something guys did. It probably wasn't too much deeper than that but damn. The amount of times he's seen this move was in mostly romance movies. At last the movie was over and he had to reel his emotions back in. It's not like the movie was a romance one anyway, Torque was just getting comfortable that's all. He smiled at his friend. "No problem. We should make a habit of having a movie day or night. When isn't it crowded in here usually?"
Dib collected the tissues he used and got up to throw them out in the trash he spotted near the entrance of the room.
-
Torque did notice the look Dib gave him but just gave him a smile in return as he was hopeful the tiny hints would at some point make Dib question him though Torque was not sure how he was going to answer it. They were in a war and he was an lycan crushing on a human. This scared him to the point of not just out right coming out himself. He was hoping that when Dib did ask him then he would get the courage to confess but he had doubts about it. He did catch Dib's reaction to his arm being behind him out of the corner of his eye but had done nothing else.
He nodded in agreement "Yes we should its a good way to relax. About 9ish as the kids go to bed around that time and other older ones go to the game room. We should play some games together too" He said before standing up watching Dib gather the tissues "Want to go find Torque now?"
-
"What movie should we watch next? What else haven't you seen yet?" Dib memorized nine-ish to his mind. That was an alright time to watch movies because at least it wouldn't be too late when the movie was over, depending on the movie's length time. He nodded to Torque's question. "Yeah, we should go find Chuck before lunch arrives not that I'm hungry since I had a late breakfast. Do you know where he'd be at this time? Or should we check his room first?"
Dib headed out of the movie theater room and looked around. He spotted a few people milling around in the hall in groups but not too many. "Looks like people are starting to feel less scared now? After we see Chuck, I should see how Zim is doing."
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"I'm not sure, what do you think I would like to see"? He asked as he walked over to him. "Chuck should be in his room now, if not then he would be at the exercise area" He said and looked around at the small groups of people "At least they are traveling with each other. A buddy system would be a good idea for everyone to have" He said then started to walk off "Chuck's room is this way, yeah we sould see Zim afterwards."
-
"Um. I'm not really sure. You said you like action stuff too, right? I don't watch much action unless it has sci-fi or comedy in it because otherwise I can't keep focus on it for too long. I think you should choose the movie next since I chose Coco." He continued walking, nodding in agreement. "More than one is even better for now. Alright." He followed Torque's lead, heading to Chuck's room with him.
-
"Alright i'll do a bit of research on recently released movies and figure out what we should watch next. Should I choose something animated again?" He asked and nodded his head "Yes but it seems the roomates are the ones walking together and there are mostly only two people in a room. He explained as they headed to Chuck's room. He knocked on the door waiting for an answer but there was none as he knocked again a bit harder the door suddenly opened on it's own. Torque tilted his head like an confused dog before pushing the door more open and glancing into the room that seemed empty. His eyes widened as he realized what was going on "He ran away"
-
"I should do that as well. It's been so long since I've seen movies thanks to this invasion. It doesn't have to be animated, no. It can be anything, I suppose." He looked around at the other people as they walked by, nodding his head in acknowledgement and greeting. It was a little more calm at least. He stopped at Chuck's door with Torque and frowned. "Maybe he's not-" he was about to say but cut off as the door opened on its own.
Dib peered in and stared at how empty it was. "Why would he run away? I don't think he's the Lycan. I already checked him already and he wasn't injured. Do you think maybe he's the werewolf?"
-
"Hmm have you seen any of the underworld movies? Or is that to close to events of now?" He asked even though he was a lycan he did enjoy and vampire, werewolf, lycan movies he found it interesting comparing fact to fiction as he knew a lot about lycan and werewolves from life and his grandmother's teachings. He glanced around the room then stepped inside turning on the light as his eyes searched for anything strange and he found it a huge clue "...I think that answers our question" He said pointing to a calendar that had full moons circled on it. He walked closer to the calendar flipping through pages as every full moon of that year was circled and he let out a sigh "We should tell Zim. Chuck either ran off out of this place or is hiding elsewhere within the tunnels"
-
"I think I've seen them a long time ago but I haven't seen them since. I guess we could watch them? I don't mind even if they are similar to what's going on now. Maybe we could get ideas," he said with a chuckle, mostly joking. Dib has taken inspiration from movies a few times. After all, his jacket in the past was a vampire coat of sorts but more Matrix-y.
He stepped into the room after Torque and looked at the calendar when the man pointed it out. He stared. "Oh yeah. Definitely. Let's go talk to Zim. I don't know. If he packed everything and left, why would he still be in the tunnels?" Dib left the room and headed to where Zim had led him the other day that went to his lab. "Computer? Are you back online?" he asked.
(i've actually never seen those movies but i figure dib would have lol)
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"Cool maybe we can make a movie marathon or them all on a calm day" He said with a grin. He laughed a bit as Dib said maybe they would get ideas from it and he opened his mouth to say something on the lines it wouldn't help but quickly shut it thinking a moment before opening his mouth again "Maybe but who knows if the movie will have anything right on it?...Though I do wonder if silver really can stop a werewolf or something like that" He said he already knew the answer was yes for werewolves but Lycans did not have that issue as silver had no effect on them.
He glanced around the room again before giving a nod and following Dib out. "Well the tunnels would keep him safe from the other irkens and there are a lot of tunnels as further in it becomes almost maze like which Zim did on purpose to make it harder to be found in here. Some fake tunnels lead to traps to.
"Yes do you need assistance?" Computer asked.
(I love the movies except the last one is very heart breaking as a werewolf falls for a vampire and the impregnates her. Werewolves are slaves to the vampires and the female is the princess her father decides to chain her up and make the werewolf watch as the sun comes up destroying his lover and unborn child. Other then that the series of movies is very exciting)
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"Sure. How many are there? I can just remember a few of them and haven't seen all of them." He shrugged at Torque's mention of silver. "I've never really met a werewolf to know. It could and it could not, there's no real evidence and anything we know are skeptical from movies and books and such from fiction. I don't even know if I would be okay with testing it on a real werewolf anyway unless they're an actual criminal instead of someone innocent."
Dib listened to Torque talk about how maze-like the tunnels were. "But he knows how dangerous he can be when the full moon comes out. Would he really endanger others with himself? A tunnel would be easy for a werewolf to get through. All they would need to do is follow their sense of smell to the nearest source of living beings. I'd sooner believe he left this area completely but we wouldn't know."
He was relieved to hear Computer's voice. "That's great. We want to see Zim. Do you mind opening up please?"
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"There are five movies. Hmm, true I wonder if werewolves ever test that on themselves after being bitten like how cops test pepper spray and tasers on themselves" He said and nodded his head "...Well lets see here if I were Chuck in this situation I would probably find an area to small to allow the werewolf the fit through therefore trapping himself during the fullmoon...but Chuck being Chuck he might of just fully left. In that case we need to figure out if its safe enough to chase after him even if it's Chuck he doesn't deserve to be captured by irkens"
The door to the elevator opened up for the two.
Zim being alerted by computer about the visitors stood there waiting for them.
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"Maybe they would have and if we find any, we could just ask them instead of testing it out ourselves, I suppose. It beats hurting people by far." He hummed. "Are there places small enough that a werewolf can't just power themselves through somehow? I know that they're known for having super-human strength as opposed to normal." He sighed. "It's too bad he left. I agree he doesn't deserve to be captured by Irkens but maybe he can handle himself alright out there."
He got onto the elevator when Computer opened it and came out when it reached Zim's lab. "We know who the werewolf is, not the Lycan yet. Chuck is the werewolf and he bailed out. He packed everything and left. We don't know where. We just came across his room empty and his calendar had marked full moon days. Do you think we should find him?"
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He just nodded his head "I don't want to hurt anyone except maybe some irkens" He said crossing his arms. "I think there is but no if it's tight enough I wouldn't think you could power through it...I mean as an example if you put me in a tight box laying down and tell me to push out I wouldn't be able to move my arms enough to even get a potion to be able to push out...I guess it would be a timing thing really to make sure your transforming in just the right position." He explained as they headed down to the lab.
"Chuck? really? hmm guess that makes sense. Yes we should look for him even if Chuck left completely Chuck could be a threat to humans Zim has not found yet...Though Zim doesn't think there are many left in this area...On another werewolf note Keef is awake, would Dib and Torque like to see him?"
"Good to hear Keef is alive and awake but no I think i'm good...Sorry but Keef has always weirded me out"
"Oh alright, How about Dib go see Keef, Zim needs to talk to Torque a moment anyway"
Torques eyes narrowed on Zim a moment before shrugging. "Sure we can talk"
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"I suppose so but you're not a werewolf or Lycan, right?" He nudged Torque before they got to Zim's lab. "How many people will be okay going out to look for him? I guess I wouldn't mind. Keef's awake? That's great!" Dib smiled, glad to hear it. It just meant Zim would be able to move himself into the healing goo next with Keef out of it. He looked to Torque and tilted his head. Sure Keef was weird but he weirded TORQUE out? That was strange.
"I'll see him. You need to talk to Torque? Oh for the hair? He can just give you that now, can't he?"
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Torque just let out a laugh at the nudge making sure not to react suspiciously. "Not sure I mean i'm alright going to look for him" He said and watched Dib hearing him bring up the hair he looked to Zim. In the position they were standing now Torque could see a 'knowing' look on Zim's face that Dib couldn't see.
"Yeah Torque can give Zim that. Keef is in the room in the back Zim is still designing the holding room for the werewolf transformation. Keef didn't want to talk or listen to Zim so Dib could do Zim a favor and explain to Keef what is going on and what he is" After he said this and after Dib left Zim reached out to pull back the collar on Torque's shirt revealing the scar hidden under it. Torque let out a growl to this Zim raised his hands to settle Torque down.
"How?"
"Oh Torque did good destroying computer's cameras but the irken pak records everything up to death so Zim found it on the Pak. Torque is good at hiding what he is"
"First time i've transformed in many years, So what now?"
"Torque tell Zim what now?"
"I do not want Dib knowing about this...Not yet i'll tell him later...When things calm down"
"Is Torque safe to be around?"
"As long as no one hurts Dib"
"Zim feels similar to that statement"? At this exchange the two glared at each other understanding they were both after Dib though Zim still had little to no clue why he did know he was attracted to Dib and if he was not busy all the time then he would be trying to spend time with Dib like Torque currently is.
Inside Keef's current room he was sitting on a bed knees hugged to his chest rocking with his head on his knees.
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"I wasn't exactly close with Keef but I'll do my best." Dib gave a parting wave to Zim and Torque and went to the room Zim told him Keef was in. He knocked on the door before heading inside. He stayed by the door as he closed it. "Hey Keef? How are you feeling? It's me, Dib. Zim sent me to come talk with you. Would you want to talk?"
-
Keef heard Dib's voice and lifted his head to look at him "Dib, were you captured too?" He asked thinking he had been captured by Zim. "Um, I feel tired, Zim thats the irken though right? What is going on? He said he's not with the irken empire but how is that possible...Also how am I even alive?" He asked holding his hand and moving his arm about since last he knew a monster had torn his arm off.
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"I'm not captured and neither is everyone else here. Zim had made a huge underground bunker area that spreads very wide and far. Everyone is roomed two by two and is safe from the rest of the Irkens. Zim isn't with the Empire. It's possible because there are Irkens they call 'defects', those who aren't completely loyal to the Empire, those with emotions and sympathy which Zim has." Dib walked over to sit by Keef.
He looked over the other man to see how fully-healed his injuries were. "You're alive because of Zim. He found you torn apart and brought you here to heal you after he stitched your arm back together. Did he tell you that you were attacked by a werewolf or did you already know that? That's also... what I wanted to talk to you about as well. Since you were likely bitten, you yourself are a werewolf now so you'll have to adapt. I'm not sure how but unlike most, you likely won't have a room partner and will have a different type of room so you can't escape from on full moons for the safety of yourself and others."
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Keef watched Dib and scooted over to give him room to sit on the bed. He listened to him explain everything "So Zim healed me? No I guess not I didn't really give him a chance to tell me anything. I don't remember what attacked me but i knew I was attacked by something not irken. A werewolf? Seriously i'm a werewolf now...That's kind of cool" He listened to him say he had to be in a room by himself and one he couldn't escape from as a werewolf "Sad I have to be on my own but I guess that is understandable"
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"It's understandable that you didn't. Irkens have been here, invading and collecting people but now you know he's on our side. He's even calling for outside sources, aliens to help ally with us to get rid of the rest of the Irkens." He nodded and smiled a bit, glad Keef didn't take being a werewolf too hard. "Yeah, all you really need to do is keep track of the full moon. You're basically normal the rest of the month. I know it's sad to be on your own. I mean, there's another werewolf. Chuck but he ran off. We'll be trying to find him to get him back. I don't know if he would want a roommate though..."
-
"Oh...So Zim is a good guy then, that's cool. I guess I have no reason to really fear him then huh. Thanks Dib I feel better about this situation now. I really hope I don't end up hurting anyone though. Chuck....Is he the one that did this to me?" He asked making a face at knowing that Chuck was the other werewolf.
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"Yes. Zim is not an Irken to be feared. No problem, I'm glad to help calm you and I hope you don't hurt anyone either but you shouldn't once Zim gets the rooms down that can't be broken through." He blinked and shrugged his shoulders at Keef's question about Chuck being the one who did that to him. "We don't know. Zim's been collecting people's DNA to test on to compare to the fur that I found on your torn up clothes. He wasn't able to get Chuck's DNA yet since he's been refusing."
-
He let out a sigh before getting up off the bed "So who else is down here then? Is there a lot of us?" He asked but started to the door of the bedroom "So do you think you can show me around this place?" He asked but at that time his stomach growled and Keef had no clue how long it had been since the last time he ate.
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"There's a pretty big group of people living down here. I'm roomed with Torque and there's Gretchen and Zita who are rooming together. Jessica's down here too." Dib continued listing off names of people he was sure would be familiar with Keef. "There's also some people I don't really know personally as well. Families too." Dib got up off the bed and went with the other man out of the bedroom. "Sure, although I just got here yesterday, I can try and show you around. Torque and Gretchen were the ones who showed me around but uh, it sounds like you're hungry so why don't I take you to the cafeteria first?"
Once he was out of the room, he looked around to see if Zim and Torque were still around.
-
"Your rooming with Torque? That must be great for you didn't you have a crush on him in school?" Keef questioned in sorta an excited manner feeling happy for Dib. Keef had no filter and did not normally think about what he was saying till it was to late. For Dib's luck though Zim and Torque were farther in the lab looking at many many cameras trying to find any sign of Chuck and had not notice Dib and Keef come out of the room yet. "Yes please i'm so very hungry. I just now noticed hos hungry I am"
-
Dib stared at Keef as his face reddened quickly. How did Keef know?! He never told anyone about his crush. "Would you keep it- how? What? No." He let out a short huff of air and looked ahead, seeing them further away. Luckily, it didn't seem like any of them seemed to have heard. "Look, maybe don't bring stuff like that up?" he grumbled. Maybe it would be better if he just brought Keef along to the cafeteria without calling out to Zim? But he was sure he should tell Zim...
Sighing, he headed over to Torque and Zim. "Hey, Keef's doing better but he's hungry. I'm going to bring him to the cafeteria."
-
Keef tilted his head like he didn't understand what he had said wrong. "Huh? But why?" He questioned but stayed put as Dib walked off.
Torque and Zim both looked back at Dib when he spoke. Torque glanced at Keef seeming to study him a bit "You sure you don't want me coming with you?"
"We have a couple nights till fullmoon so Keef should be fine with Dib" Zim said and turned his attention back to the cameras.
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"I don't know how you figured that out but that sort of stuff is kept secret. I really don't need you blabbing my personal- Anyway, that was the past. It doesn't matter but you don't get to say stuff like that. Please keep your mouth shut." He hasn't even told Gretchen this secret. Was it that obvious or was Keef some sort of weird mind reader? He sighed, relaxing as best as he could when he reached Torque and Zim. "I'm not against you coming. Are you done speaking with Zim or did he want to start that search for Chuck now?"
-
Keef stood there staying to rock back and forth from heel to toe hands behind his back as he waited for Dib to come back but waved at Torque when he looked in his direction. Torque found it difficult to not make a face back towards Keef but gave a slight wave back. At Dib's question he glanced towards Zim
"Should look for Chuck need to find Chuck before full moon" He said and Torque let out a sigh
"I'll help Zim awhile longer just be careful. I'll come find you if we find something"
-
Dib looked between the two and even if he wanted to be part of the search, he figured he couldn't leave Keef alone. "Alright. After I show Keef around, I'll come join you guys later." He waved to the two and went back to Keef. "Follow me." He led Keef back to the elevator and stepped out once it reached the main floor. He headed right to the cafeteria, showing Keef the machine that made the food pretty quickly. "This is really useful. It's not Foodio but it's the next best thing."
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"Just ask computer where Zim is when Dib is done"
Torque waved back then turned his attention back to the screen.
Keef perked up and followed after Dib. Looking around as he followed him into the cafeteria waving at some people happily. He listened about the machine and nodded his head "Neither you or Torque are very good at hiding feelings...at least not from me. You did ask how I knew about it" He said as he started to make a large plate of food. Luckily no one was close enough to hear him talking about it.
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Dib got himself something small to snack on since he wasn't hungry due to having breakfast not too long ago and he watched Keef make himself a big meal. He wondered if he'd need help carrying it all to a table. He frowned as the topic before was brought back up again. What did Keef mean about Torque not being good at hiding feelings? "Keef, this is all really none of your business. I don't even know what you mean. I've been able to keep it secret as long as I have already but even still. It's not something I really want to be discussing. Were you watching the two of us or something?" Did he want to know the answer to that...?
Dib shook his head. "Ugh, never mind. Mind your own business. I don't like that you know about it."
-
This was why Torque was weirded out by Keef as the guy just seemed to know more then you would think and also did not seem to understand that some things were private. "Oh sorry, Not watching on purpose it just happens. A slight blush, a pretend to not notice, a wrongly timed mumble, a sly glance it just catches my attention. I saw Chuck do it too...though he figured out I noticed and threatened me to keep my mouth shut or else...huh? guess I messed that one up" He said waiting for his food to finish cooking
(i love extra drama lol)
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Dib groaned, fighting from blushing again. "Okay, you can shut up-" He started but he paused and gave a curious look at Keef when he mentioned Chuck. "Chuck? What? To who?" he asked. "And yeah, you messed that one up. Good to know I can't even trust you, you'll probably blab it, I might as well come clean myself with Torque- ugh, but I'm not THAT brave."
-
Keef gave a slight hurt look as he was told to shut up. "...You can trust me I won't tell anyone...So you can chase the paranormal but not talk about your feelings?" He questioned as his food was done and he removed the plate. Picking up a piece of bacon to chew on as he waited for Dib.
-
"I can talk about my feelings but no offense, Keef. We're not that close." Not yet anyway. Dib wasn't sure if he could really be okay with opening up to Keef. "It's not like I'm emotionally constipated. I've had Gretchen in the past and that helped. Me and Gaz also got better at bonding... but she's been captured with my dad." He walked to the nearest table that wasn't full with people and sat down with his own snack and a water.
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"Oh, alright sorry, i'm not close to anyone really" He said following him to the table and sitting down with his food. He looked slightly shocked "Gaz, and your dad were captured i'm surprised they were able to capture Gaz" He said and started to eat his food.
-
"Yeah, before Gretchen I wasn't very close to people either but I'm sure over time you'll find someone as long as you dont' drag their personal shit up into the light. I think that would kind of drive people away, Keef." He ate his snack slowly and nodded. "I am too. I mean, she's very strong and smart, maybe even more than I am but maybe they found some way to lure her. It would be the only way to really capture her because by violent means, she's very on top of that. Maybe they could have stole something from her too. I can't think of many ways how they could have grabbed her but they used her to capture dad."
-
"Oh sorry, I was just excited I thought you two were together but then you told me your not so I was just trying to help" He said with a small apologetic smile. He listened about Gaz being captured and nodded his head "Yeah they had to trick her some how...I'm not surprised they used Gaz to capture your dad though but at least you weren't captured. is there any plan on saving them?"
-
"Yeah, no. We're not together. We're just roommates. And even if there could be something, I don't know. I wouldn't need help, I think but it's not my focus anyway. I want to help save people." He nodded his head to Keef's other question. "There is. Zim wants to help me save them and he has ID from an Irken who works where they're being held as well as the map of the place. We do plan on going in there to save them and hopefully others."
-
”oh alright I’ll not bring it up again then as I don’t want you upset at me for it” he said listening to Dib about saving people and nodded his head. ”if it’s possible I would also like to help save people…if I’m able to that is” he said this as he ate in sausage link. His plate was mostly meat items except two pieces of toast.
-
"Thank you, Keef." He finished his snacks pretty quickly and drank his water. "I could bring it up to Zim you would want to come with us to save people. I don't think he'd be against it as long as we aren't going on the full moon." He chuckled and looked to Keef's food. "Did you pick all that to feed the wolf inside you?" he teased.
-
He nodded and shrugged at the fullmoon comment ”would be useful if I could control myself during a full moon. The Irken’s wouldn’t know what to do if people turned into wolves in-front of them” he said then looked at his plate with an slight laugh ”I guess so I’m just really hungry and the meat looked most appealing to me”
-
"Werewolves can't control themselves unfortunately. Only Lycans can. There is a Lycan too but I'm not too worried since they're able to control themselves when they transform and they can at any moment. We're not sure who it is yet." He laughed a bit. "Well, you should have gotten some vegetables and other things too. I don't know how long you were out for."
-
"Right I know that but do you think it would be possible for maybe Zim to make something to be able to control myself? I mean I know that's a long shot but it would be cool and useful" He said then used a plastic fork to stab a piece of ham and put that in his mouth. "Do you have any idea who might be the lycan? Also I like meat i'll eat some veggies later on"
-
"I don't really know. We'd have to ask. I had to explain to him what a werewolf was because he had no idea what it was. Maybe there's no werewolves in space." He shook his head. "I don't know who the Lycan might be. I was on the look out for someone injured because they killed an Irken and got hurt by them. They could be fast healers too."
-
"I guess so, i'll ask him next time I see him...when he's not busy" He said and finished the food on his plate as he listened about what happened to the lycan giving a nod. "I'm done eating and ready to see more of this place"
-
Dib stood up and showed Keef where the recyclables were and the trash. He threw out his own snack bag and led Keef out of the cafeteria, leading him onto a tour around the tunnels. He showed him the places where Torque and Gretchen had shown him. While doing the tour, Dib had finished his water bottle and carried it around until they came across another recyclable bin for him to throw it out in.
"And that's about everything that was shown to me. I'm sure they didn't cover everything because apparently there's a maze of tunnels further."
-
He followed him to the recycle and trash bin and sorted out his things before following Dib on the tour listening and learning everything. "A maze? That sound like fun...I'm sure you want to get back to Zim and Torque to see what's going on...Um I should go with you to see where i'm sleeping"
-
"I don't think t he maze was meant for fun. It's meant to confuse enemies maybe if they find their way down here." He nodded and started heading back to where Zim's lab was but he paused. "Wait." He looked up. "Computer, where can I find Torque and Zim?"
-
"I know it wasn't but it still sounds like fun" He said with a shrug as they walked together to Zim's lab. He paused with Dib standing there blinking in confusion and jumped slightly as a voice came
"Master and Torque are in the tunnel maze right now. If you'd like i'll give directions on your way through to find them".
-
"Maybe it could be used for fun if this is all over and done with. Bet it'd be fun to do in Halloween." He looked up as Computer spoke up. "Oh yes please. We don't want to get lost. Thank you, Computer." He looked to Keef. "That's Computer. He belongs to Zim and is a super smart AI."
-
He nodded his head with a grin. "Yes hopefully we get a chance to do that" He looked at the ceiling then at Dib "Oh, ok"
"Thank you Dib. Go ahead and head toward the east end of the tunnels this is where the maze will start"
-
Dib followed Computer's direction to the maze and through it with his help as well until he found Zim and Torque. "Hey. Haven't found Chuck yet, I'm guessing?" he asked as he walked over. "We're here to help and Keef has a question, Zim as well as needing to know where he would be rooming."
-
Zim's antennas twitched hearing footsteps behind them and turned to look at them. "No this is where the camera last sees him though and there are two different directions he could of gone."
"Since there is four of us we can go down each side in twos to see if there are any more clues within"
"Yes that should work. Zim had computer design a special room for Keef and with show Keef it later"
-
Dib looked to the paths shown that Chuck could have gone through then looked to Torque. "Pairs are good." He looked to Keef. "Since you have a question for Zim, why don't you go with him and I'll go with Torque this other way unless anyone thinks we should pair differently?" He figured Torque wouldn't want to be with Keef since he admitted Keef creeped him out.
-
"Yes that would be fine plus i'm sure Zim wants to talk to Keef as well. Alright lets get going" He glanced to Zim who just gave a nod and started to walk down the other tunnel with Keef walking with him. Torque gave Dib a grin and started down the other tunnel "This one farther in leads outside but I don't know if he left"
-
Dib followed after Torque down their own tunnel and looked back. With Keef calmed, he was sure both of them would be alright in each others' presence. He looked to Torque when he spoke. "Where outside does it lead?" He turned his head back forward and when they were a good distance away from where they started, he spoke up again. "I can kinda get why Keef gives you the creeps. He's astoundingly good at picking out cues and stuff, it almost makes me think he reads minds and he had no filter or sense of boundary but he should be alright. He took being a werewolf pretty well."
-
"I believe it leads near the outskirts of town but i'm not fully sure" He said and nodded his head "Yes he has surprised me many times in the past with his mouth and I have gone off on him before especially around other people. It's good that he is ok with being an werewolf hopefully his first full moon goes smoothly"
-
Dib was curious to hear what Keef's brought up to make Torque go off on him, especially in front of others but wondered if Torque would even tell him. It was personal stuff and Dib wouldn't be alright with saying his own. It was enough that he told Torque he was gay. He nodded, agreeing with Torque that it was good Keef took it well. "Agreed. Keef actually wanted to ask Zim if there would be something to make to be able to control himself during and I told him I wasn't sure if that was since werewolves don't seem like they'd be out in space. Zim didn't know what they were until I told him."
-
"I have my doubts of there being werewolves in space...but then again why would Earth be the only place they are located? It would be interesting if Zim could figure out a way for Keef and other werewolves to control themselves but I think Zim is to busy with other things then spend time on that right now" He said as they walked
-
"Well, Zim said there were shapeshifters but I'm not sure that means they're werewolves or Lycans. Some things can just exist on Earth, can't it? Like Mothman or Bigfeets. I doubt Bigfeets exist anywhere else since they are the missing link to human-kind. I agree that it would be interesting for Zim to make something for werewolves to control themselves during a full moon but I can't think of how. Probably some drug." He looked around the maze as they walked and listened. "Chuck! Are you out there?"
-
He listened to him talk about creatures on Earth that weren't in space. He nodded his head as the question made since "Yeah I guess so, didn't think about it like that" He said as they walked but when Dib shouted out for Chuck it made Torque jump slightly and Dib's voice echoed bouncing off the walls and traveling farther into the tunnel "I don't know if yell is a good idea"
-
"Yeah and obviously there couldn't be humans out in space unless some people have been abducted before. Zim was talking to a king from another planet of some kind of species he called Dragonlings. Perhaps dragons came from space if they existed on Earth? Or they've at least been seen but then again, they looked more like a lizard, not the sort of kind one would seen drawn here." He stopped shouting for Chuck and looked to Torque. "Isn't it worse to sneak up on someone? I think I'd rather let him know we're coming so he doesn't attack maybe?"
-
Torque made a face "Hopefully not but who knows for sure. Doubt we'll ever know for certain if any humans got abducted. Dragonlings that's interesting. Well if they come here then i'm sure you could figured out if they are like dragons or not" He stared at him "I don't think Chuck would attack us not right now anyway but what if something else hears your yelling like an irken? They have amazing hearing and i'm not sure how deep down we are"
-
Dib nodded. "You should have seen him! The Dragonling king. He sure was a sight to see. The scales on him were so pretty. He had to speak with the Elders to see if they would have permission to come here to help. I hope he gets a confirmation." He sighed, supposing Torque was right. "Do you really think another Irken would have made its way down here?"
Dib checked himself for weapons and found the one Zim had given him in his coat pocket. "If there is an Irken, I'm armed. What about you?"
-
"Sounds like that was awesome. Hopefully they'll be able to help us and I can see them myself." He shook his head "No I doubt there is an irken down here but there might be one over us above ground that might hear us" He glanced to Dib's weapon and shook his head "I've got nothing, wasn't fully prepared for this"
-
"Yeah, hopefully." Dib really wanted as many aliens to be on their side as possible because as is, humans really couldn't stand much of a chance even if they saved them. Dib looked up at the ceiling and frowned. "You don't think maybe this place is soundproof then when it comes to up there?" He sighed and looked around quietly again, hoping to find Chuck soon.
-
"I doubt it being sound proof but i'm not sure might be a good question for Zim later though." He said as they continued to walk but then heard birds and saw more light ahead. He walked to the end of the tunnel seeing the day light of an open hatch he let out a sigh "Looks like Chuck is gone"
-
Dib followed Chuck to the hatch, looking outside and squinting his eyes at the brightness of the outside. He sighed and looked down at the ground to see if there were tracks to follow. "Yeah. That's too bad."
-
"Alright lets go tell Zim and Keef what we found" He said waiting till Dib came down and closed the hatch flipping the lock "Lets get going" He said and started back the way they had came from.
-
Dib came back down and followed after Torque back the way they came from, sometimes asking Computer for directions until they came at the entrance. He looked around to see if Zim and Keef were nearby.
-
Coming to the area where they first separated he glanced around for Zim and Keef "Computer where is Zim and Keef?"
"Still in the tunnels searching"
"Tell them to come back that Chuck left the tunnels"
-
"Well, do we know it for sure? We went one way. Maybe Chuck went down the way Zim and Keef did? I don't think they should come back right away if they're still searching."
-
Torque could smell that Chuck had left at the end of the tunnel but couldn't admit that "Alright, computer just tell them that were done searching out tunnels"
"Alright"
"Should we wait here for them?"
-
"We could wait for a bit but if they take too much longer, I wouldn't mind going to get a late lunch soon. I had a snack when I showed Keef the cafeteria."
-
“Their tunnel system is longer therefore they will take longer to go through it all” computer told them.
Torque listened the Dib then computer ”alright then let’s go get something to eat while we wait”
-
"Oh, alright." He nodded to Torque and walked with him to get fully out of the maze. Once out, he went to the cafeteria and looked around at the food. He settled on burgers and fries and grabbed a soda from where they were being kept. He looked to Torque as he had his food cooked in the machine. "What are you having?"
-
"I'm decently hungry so i'm going to have a steak and bake potato" He said as he put seasoning on his steak and once Dib's food was cooked he placed his own in. He grabbed an cherry flavored sparkling water and waited for his food. "After talking to Zim is there anything you want to do"?
-
"A steak and potato, huh? Nice." He smiled at him and waited for Torque to get his own food from the machine. He considered the other man's question and he shrugged. "I'm not sure. The Chuck thing still kind of bothers me. He really didn't need to leave. We weren't going to hurt him. Are there people down here with dogs that can be used for tracking? I figure it would be good to try to get his scent or tracks from where he left and follow it. If we fail again, we could probably just come back and have another movie night after dinner? This time we could invite Gretchen and maybe Keef?"
-
"Yes it is nice i've always enjoyed steak when i get a chance to have it and this one is from my own food at my house so I don't feel bad eating such an item I also have some deer steak to and not many people like that as it is an unique taste...Dog? umm maybe I can check out the few dogs I know around here" He said as he thought about it and nodded his head "Yeah we can invite others to watch a movie or two with us"
-
"Deer steak? I've never had it. What does it taste like? Can you describe it? I'm pretty curious." He went to sit down with him once his food was done being cooked in the machine and dug into his own meal. "Alright, it's good that you know people with dogs. I hope they're trained to track though. Not everyone trains their dogs that unless they actively hunt or are police dogs. Are there any police down here?"
-
"Hard to explain it but the taste is strong the older the deer was when it was killed the stronger the taste" He said and sat down across from him. He cut into his steak as he listened to him talk about dogs. "I'm not sure if they can track but i can ask the dog owners down here...no there is no police down here they all got captured trying to take on the threat of the irkens." He said before holding out a piece of steak on his fork "Here try a bite" He said with a kind smile.
-
"Why is that? Is it because their diet or something for the long life they've had?" He ate a fry and hummed. "Well, hunters would likely have dogs that track if we're lucky. Unless hunters have been captured too. I don't think I've ever met anyone who has hunted before." He looked at the piece of steak on the fork that was offered to him and couldn't help but slightly blush. Was he supposed to take the bite off with his own mouth and indirectly kiss Torque?
He opted to just take the piece off with his fingers and put the meat in his mouth, chewing it. It wasn't as juicy as beef steak was but he found himself still enjoying the taste. It was rich and earthy and smooth too with a hint of the deer's diet. He swallowed the bite and smiled. "That's pretty good."
-
"It's called wild taste since yes it has to do with their diet as they are wild animals and eat whatever they want to. I think there is acouple older hunters down here but i do not remember if they have dogs or not" He watched as Dib pull the meat off the fork feeling a little disappointed that Dib did not just eat it off of his fork but just smiled as he said it was good "Glad you like it. Depending on how long were all down here i might go hunting for deer in the wooded area outside of the city. Hopefully not all the deer was scared off"
-
"So it's kind of the same when it comes to wild caught fish as well, right? Just fish have less taste than an animal like a deer because they have less different things to eat out in the ocean compared to a deer that has a lot of herbs and berries and nuts and such." He went back to eating his own meal after he finished the piece of steak. He tilted his head, looking at Torque, curiously. "You hunt? I didn't know that. I hope they all haven't been scared off too but if they crushed all the forest area, they might have. Stupid Irkens.."
-
He nodded in agreement "I enjoy fish as well but my favorite seafood has to be shrimp i enjoy it natural sweet type flavor. I use to hunt long time ago as grandma taught me that as well but after her death I didn't care for outdoor things but if it's needed then i'll go hunting to keep others fed" He let out a sigh before going back to eating his meal. "It's possible but the deer must be somewhere it's just the fact of finding them"
-
Dib nodded. "I like shrimp too and crab. I prefer the flavors over regular fish too. When it comes to fish, I don't mind salmon but I definitely lean more toward shrimp, crab and sometimes even squid." He continued eating. "You have a gun then? In the room? To hunt with? I hope we'd be able to find some deer or even rabbit. I never had rabbit meat before but they're probably harder to catch because they're fast, right?"
-
"Crab is a bit to rich for me eating to much upsets my stomach I do not mind squid when fried but other then that it's rather rubbery to eat." His eyes widened a bit as Dib questioned about a gun and he had to quickly figure out what to say about that "No I don't but i'm sure I can ask one of the hunters for theirs to use. Yes rabbits are fast and harder to catch...kill as they are a smaller target" He continued to eat wondering if his slip up would be noticed.
-
"Damn, that sucks about crab making you sick." He nodded. "Yeah squid tastes better fried. I haven't tried octopus but I do want to in takoyaki if I ever will come across it. I probably won't here." He didn't find it all too weird that Torque didn't have his gun. People had to rush while leaving their houses so not to get captured, probably so Torque likely also left stuff behind. "Yeah, it'd be good. Or we can make traps somehow? Traps would probably catch rabbits a little easier as long as there's bait. It shouldn't be hard then. Just lure them into a concealed lure trap with some greens or some vegetables and it just snaps closed due to its weight inside, I think."
-
"I have also not had octopus...after this is over we should try some new things maybe...Do some exploring search for paranormal creatures all of that stuff...I think that would be fun" He said this without looking at Dib as he continued to eat so it was hard to tell by his face if this was just a friendly thing to hang out or if it was a hint to something more. "Sounds like a basic trap wouldn't be to hard to make"
-
"Oh totally. I would look forward to things going back to normal." He thought it was just some hanging out as friends or at least hoped it was. He really didn't want to assume much of anything else. Torque was straight, he was sure, even if he said he wasn't looking for anyone to date due to the circumstances. He kept eating, finishing off his burger and picked at the fries. He offered some to Torque. "If Zim's computer has 3-D printing, I bet it would be really easy and fast to make."
-
By Dib's response it was clear he did not get the hint which this minor frustration caused an slight laugh to come from Torque but he just nodded his head as the thought of how innocent Dib was went through his head. "It'll be funny to see how I react to seeing things that are suppose to be myths. We should ask Zim about 3-d printing when he gets back though i'm sure it can be done" He looked at the fries offered to him and he reached out taking one and putting it into him mouth before his head turned it took a moment before Zim and Keef came back with no Chuck.
-
Dib laughed. "I hope you won't freak out. Some stuff can look pretty scary and feed on it. It wakes up their hunting instincts, I'm sure if it's a dangerous one." He nodded and continued eating his fries until they were gone, sharing with Torque still. Dib cleaned his hands and fingers with the napkins at the table before looking to the door. He spotted Zim and Keef and waved to them.
-
"I'm sure i'll be fine but we'll just have to wait and see"
Zim and Keef waved back and as Zim made his way over to the table Keef went to get more food. "Found no sign of Chuck did Dib and Torque have better luck?"
"I think he left the end of the tunnel system we followed as an hatch was wide open"
"Possible, shouldn't hunt for Chuck anymore today though as Zim could hear some irkens over head on the way back here so its dangerous now"
-
"Yeah, I was thinking maybe we could have hunting dogs track him. Oh there's Irkens? Maybe tomorrow then to continue? And uh, Zim, does your Computer have 3-D printing? We kind of want to make traps for hunting smaller animals some time."
-
"Hunting dogs that sounds interesting hopefully Dib and Torque can find some hunting dogs to help find Chuck, yes computer has the ability to 3-d print that's where a lot of the furniture Dib sees came from"
-
"Yeah. It would be useful to be able to track the scent. Hopefully it doesn't die out by tomorrow." He nodded. "Alright. How do we have access to the printing? Do we just have to ask you or is there someone people can go to type it in?"
-
"Yes leave the Chuck hunting to tomorrow, Dib can 3-d print down in Zim's lab just ask computer to take Dib down at anytime."
Keef came back with a plate full of smoked sausage, ham, pork chop, bacon, and a chicken breast siting it down at the table he started to eat.
"That's a bit much Keef
"But i'm hungry"
"You better not waste anything on that plate then"
-
"Hopefully he doesn't get too far where it'd start to get dangerous for us..." He sighed. Being a jock AND a werewolf, Dib had doubts he'd stop to rest any time soon. He was sure Chuck would cover a lot of ground by tomorrow. "Alright." He finished his soda and looked to Keef as he came over with even more meat. "Still no veggies huh? I wonder if it's common for newly-turned werewolves to only crave meat for a while."
-
"Maybe Dib and Torque shouldn't go looking for Chuck"
"It should be fine we'll take weapons to defend ourselves with"
Keef glanced at the food on his plate before giving a shrug and started to eat again.
"Um maybe"
-
"Yeah. I still have the weapon you gave me. If we come across Irkens, we can use it. If there's also people with guns, maybe we could ask them to borrow those too. I'll even bring my water gun along with me so I'll have two weapons." He took out his phone to put in new notes about werewolves, or at least his theory. He figured he'd have to ask Chuck if he craved meat a lot when he first turned.
-
Zim frowned as his antennas were flopped back "Zim can not help but to fear worry for Dib...and Torque...Zim would offer to help but he is feeling very tired and will be resting in that purple healing goo for a few days. Zim wanted to stay awake for the full moon incase anything happens but does feel he is at his limits so needs to rest".
"We'll be fine, make sure we have weapons to protect ourselves and be very careful, not take risks and all of that" He finished his food and just relaxed.
-
"Would it make you feel better if we take a team also with weapons so it's just not me and Torque? I do agree that you do need to be in the healing goo for a few days to heal and rest." Dib was already done with his own food. He was just hanging out with the other three now.
-
"If there are more people we might draw more attention from the irkens"
Zim let out a sigh and nodded his head "Yeah Torque is right more people would get more attention"
Keef just listened to them as he ate.
-
"How many would be the safest number? What if two isn't enough? What would you suggest, Zim?"
-
"Dib and Torque should be alright to do it on their own as so far they seem to work good together just be careful"
"Two should be enough we'll be very careful"
-
"And some trained hunting dogs if we find any. Alright. So did you show Keef where he'll be staying?" He was curious what Keef and Zim might have talked about other than the question Keef had.
-
"No Zim has not shown Keef the room yet but will do that now"
"But i'm eating" He whined out with a mouth full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, you can carry the food with you to the room since Zim needs to go heal up and rest"
-
"To be honest, I'm pretty curious about it myself and then I'll go to Zim's lab to start 3-D printing the lure traps. I can help carry some plates if you need." He didn't think Keef deserved to be chewed out and rushed even though he did understand why. Zim did need to heal. "I'll come along with. We're done eating here anyway."
-
Zim gave a nod as he got back up and started out of the cafeteria.
"thanks Dib for the help" Keef gathered up the plate with the most food on it leaving two other plates to be carried as well.
"I'll help" Torque picked up one of the plates as well and followed after Zim and Keef as Zim led them to Keef's room. The room was able to be told apart from the others as it had an metal thick door. Inside the room was a simple layout or bed, dresser, closet, nightstand everything rather normal the walls though were solid and not breakable so enough to contain an werewolf. Zim went over to a button then when pushed everything furniture sunk into the floor and away from an possible raging werewolf that might destroy everything.
-
Dib nodded to Keef and picked up the remaining plate that Keef and Torque hadn't grabbed and followed after Zim to the room Keef was going to be staying in. He looked around at everything, not putting the plate down just yet. Dib looked to the door and the walls, seeing how reinforced it all was. It was definitely things that could withstand strong, sharp claws. He stared as everything sunk into the floor after Zim pushed a button. "Woah, this is amazing. So Keef would have to push that button some time before his transformation? Does it hide after he transforms so he doesn't accidentally press it again while he's wild?"
-
Zim smirked as he heard the praise from Dib feeling proud of himself. "No Keef doesn't have to push the button this activates on an timer for the fullmoon the button is just to trigger it if needed before the timer and at the time of the fullmoon the button will not more so it can not be triggered by Keef's wild state hitting against it."
"It's impressive Zim"
Keef walked into his room as Zim pressed the button again to bring the furniture back up. He walked over to his bed placing his plate on the night stand before flopping back on the bed with a pleased sigh "Beds soft, and comfortable that's good enough for me with a room"
-
"Oh that's cool. A timer. Very impressive," Dib agreed with Torque. Once the furniture was back, he put the food he was carrying where Keef had put his plates and looked to him, smiling. "Yeah. I was able to sleep well enough last night too."
-
Zim nodded watching Keef a moment before starting out of the room "Zim is going to rest now. Dib is able to enter Zim's lab whenever needed...Computer has been set with more defense system but if Zim is really needed then tell Computer to wake Zim" He started away from the room to head back to his lab.
Torque watched Zim leave before giving the other two a smile "So Keef do you want to join us to watch a movie or two?"
"I'm not really use to staying still long enough to watch a movie"
-
"Alright, Zim. Thank you. I hope you heal and rest well." He waved to Zim and looked to Torque as he invited Keef to come with them to watch a movie. "Huh? Really? What do you usually do for fun?"
-
Zim waved back before he was out of sight.
"Games or computer activities something to make my brain work or just walk around for the fun of it. I was going to go check out that outside looking area"
-
"Oh, I see. So you'd be more interested in that sort of stuff. Maybe we can play some time. Got any favorites?" He nodded. "After you're done eating? You remember where it is, right?"
-
"I'll play any game normally. Yes I would love to play with you sometime. Yes I remember where it is" He said and grabbed one of his plates of food to start eating it.
"Want to go find Gretchen?"
-
"Yeah. Let's go find Gretchen. Are we going to start the Underworld movies or something else? I forgot what we agreed on. I hope Gretchen would want to see them but if not, I guess she could suggest a movie to watch?" He waved to Keef. "See you later, Keef." He left the room with Torque and went to go look for Gretchen.
Gretchen was playing on her Switch in the game room, sitting in a bean bag chair near the wall where her Switch can be plugged in easily to charge if she needed to.
-
"Not sure if she'll want to watch it or not we might watch another Disney movie instead" He said with a shrug before glancing around he could smell where she was or at least the direction and know a bit about what she did in her life down here he started to walk off "I think she is in the gaming room"
-
"I have no complaints about watching Disney movies," Dib said with a small laugh as he walked with Torque. He checked the cafeteria area and the library before Torque spoke up. "Oh? Alright, let's check there." He walked with Torque to the gaming room. Upon entering, he spotted Gretchen right away. "Hey, Gretchen." Gretchen looked up when she heard her name and smiled. "Oh, hello Dib. How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great. How are you?"
"Oh, I am too. What are you up to?"
"We came to look for you to ask if you'd like to watch a movie with us."
"Oh! How considerate. Yes. What movie are we going to watch?"
-
Torque walked into the gaming room with him staying quiet as Dib interreacted with Gretchen just giving a slight wave as a greeting. When Gretchen asked what movie they were watching was when Torque spoke up. "I was thinking of watching the Underworld movies series as a movie marathon but if you don't like movies like those then we can watch something you want to watch"
-
Gretchen waved to Torque and looked to him as he spoke up. "Oh, I don't think I've ever seen those movies. What are they about?" she asked. "They're about vampires and werewolves without spoiling anything," Dib answered.
"Hm. I guess I'll see if I like the first movie? I wouldn't want to ruin your plans."
-
"Well if you decide part way through that you really do not like the movie then tell us and we'll choose a new movie" He paused and thought a bit "How about I grab some popcorn and soda maybe some candy like a real movie night"
-
"I still feel that would be rude. I'll sit through it, I really don't mind."
"But you wouldn't be enjoying it if you don't like it. It's not rude to tell us to stop it."
"Alright. If you say so."
Dib looked to Torque. "They don't have the popcorn, soda and candy in the movie theater room?" he asked.
-
Torque just gave a smile ”it won’t be rude so don’t worry. No that stuff is not kept in the theater room or kids would have access to it all the time and that’s not good” he started out of the gaming room to go get things to snack on during the movies
-
"Do you need help carrying anything?" Dib asked, following after Torque. "You only have two arms. We should just come with you so we can help carry stuff." Gretchen agreed as she followed the boys. "I don't mind helping either."
-
Torque glanced back at them hearing their reasons for wanting to help him he nodded his head and gave a grin "Thank you, both of you" He walked over to the cafeteria and started to gather things to munch and drink on while watching the movies.
-
Dib grabbed a bag of Takis and two bottles of the original flavor of Poop cola. Gretchen picked out Arizona sweet tea and some chocolate-covered cookie dough bites. "Do they have a tray maybe to put this all on? We're going to have popcorn too, right?" Dib looked over the candy, wondering if he should grab anything to wash down the spiciness of the chips he had grabbed. He picked out a small bag of Reeses cups. "This should be fine for me."
-
Torque chose some Dorito chips and a bottle of cherry poop cola along with a bottle of water incase its needed. He found a box of Reese pieces before walking over to the machine was a couple bags of popcorn. Having the machine rapid cook it before taking out the bags and dumping the contents into a bowl where he added more butter and more salt. Glancing at the other two with a grin "Alright I think were ready for movie night"
-
Dib watched Torque handle the machine. He could easily put the smaller stuff in his coat pockets if Torque needed help. "Do you need help carrying the soda or popcorn at least? I can put my candy away in my pockets or are you fine?"
-
Torque looked at Dib then at what he needed to carry which as he divided up the pop corn ended up being three bowls of popcorn now so they each had their own. Seeing Dib had the ability to carry more and wanting to help he gave a nod and held out one of the bowls "Yeah thanks, So are we good? you two get everything you want to snack on?"
-
Dib took the one bowl offered to him and nodded, able to carry that and the bottle of soda he had. "I'm good." He looked to Gretchen who took her own bowl of popcorn as well. "I am, too. Let's get going." She headed with the boys back to the theater room and chose a seat, putting all her stuff down. Dib set his own things down between Gretchen's seat and where he figured Torque would sit. "Alright, are you going to set up the movie?"
-
Torque watched them before nodding and followed them back to the theater room and set his bowl on the coffee table in front of the couch they had chose to sit on before putting down everything else. "Yeah it'll only take a moment" He walked over the screen and after a moment the beginning of the movie was starting. He went to a light switch on the wall and turned the lights onto a low dim setting to better watch the movie.
-
Dib got comfortable and started munching his popcorn as the movie started. "Thank you, Torque." Gretchen settled down as well and started eating her own candy while watching the movie. Dib hadn't seen the movie in so many years so he found himself getting back into it as it went on. Gretchen found the story pretty fascinating too. "I wonder how close these movies are to real life werewolves and vampires?" she quietly mused.
-
"Welcome" He walked back over and sat down next to Dib opening his box of Reese pieces and plopping a small handful into his mouth before relaxing with the other two and watching the movie. Hearing Gretchen's question he couldn't help a small chuckle and gave a shrug "Who knows might be able to ask one sometime". He said quietly.
-
"Yeah. It's not like it's real common knowledge about real werewolves and vampires. People tend to think about the Dracula book and anything with werewolves and I doubt even the authors really know themselves. It's the same with zombies and so on. We will have to ask a real one..." Dib paused a bit, wondering if they should mention it to Gretchen. He knew Zim hadn't told everyone else about the werewolf, just that there was something or someone who killed that Irken earlier. There was also Keef... but would he want it known?
He could only mention Chuck. "Chuck's a werewolf. It's why he skipped out after that attack on the Irken. I don't think it was him though so there's a Lycan around."
"Really? Who?"
"We're not sure yet."
-
Torque made a face "I'm not ever going to ask a zombie anything that just seems creepy as hell" He said this as he watched and listened to Dib though a exciting part of the movie caught his attention just as Gretchen ask who was lycan. This would of been a goodtime to come clean about it but the under lying fear kept him from saying anything about it and just shrugged.
-
"Oh no. I'm not sure about zombies unless there's any type that can actually talk."
"Like in Warm Bodies!"
"Oh, yeah. I seen that movie. It was an interesting take."
Dib and Gretchen quieted down, seeing how the movie was still going. Although as it went on, Gretchen got a little curious. "Is the Lycan and werewolf thing the reason why Zim is collecting our DNA?" she asked. "It's a cover, yeah but also he is using it to make medicines for people as well so it's not a complete lie. He didn't want anyone panicking about the werewolf or Lycan, not that the Lycan is really dangerous in my opinion. I mean, if there's been one down here for a while, don't you think they would have attacked before if they were dangerous?" Dib answered.
"I suppose you're right. And Lycans are able to control everything even in their wolf forms?"
"Yes."
-
"I have not seen that movie. I'm not really a fan of zombie type movies" He said as he watched the movie not paying them much attention till the lycan topic was brought up again and he glanced towards them. There was Torque's chance to speak up again yet again he couldn't find the courage to do it. He turned his attention to the movie again.
-
Dib laughed a bit. "I suppose. There's so many kinds, it got really popular especially later on. I've actually accidentally risen some. I don't know if anyone really saw it since I at least kept it contained in my house until my father came home and I had to rely on him to basically liquify the ones in the house. He never lets me live it down either so I haven't tried rising the dead again." He knew he's talked to Gretchen about it before. "It's definitely not like in the movies... except for the ones where they're smarter, I suppose. They definitely do not lumber around slowly either like you would hope them to do."
Gretchen shuddered. She remembered the story and admittedly, she wasn't sure whether to believe it but Dib really wasn't the type to lie about that sort of thing. "I only like Warm Bodies and Shaun of the Dead because there's comedy to it but the rest kind of creep me out." She quieted down again to watch the rest of the movie and when it was done, she threw out her garbage. "I might check it out on my own time unless you boys don't mind me joining for the next ones? How many are there?"
"I don't mind at all. Six, I think?" Dib looked to Torque for confirmation.
-
"Seriously? You risen the dead before?...Why am I not that surprised about that" He said with a slight laugh. "Hearing that they are not slow in real life yeah I now more so want nothing to do with them"? He shook his head with a disgusted sound. He nodded his head at the question "well technically five movies though there is also a short three episode anime on it to that's cool but not really interested in watching that right now. You are welcome to stay for the entire marathon...though i'll be surprised if we all manage to stay awake that long".
-
Dib laughed a bit and nodded. "Yeah. I don't plan on trying again. Luckily, they're not commonly around either. It seems to be linked to having to reanimate corpses through magic or other means. I used an ancient tome I found." He listened to Torque and nodded. He hadn't seen many of them except the first one. Gretchen frowned a bit. "I'm not sure I could handle a marathon all in one go. I've tried for other series like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter but I just can't sit through movies for too long. I usually want to get up and take a break for my eyes," she explained.
"That's understandable. To be honest, I feel I'd be the same. My eyesight's bad enough already." Dib gestured to his own glasses. "And it's hard to keep watching something when they start straining enough not to be able to keep them open. I'm a little more used to the computer screens though."
-
Torque listened to him talk about zombies and how they were brought back to life. "A tome? Wow what else does the tome do?" He asked with a tilt of his head. "Oh then should we watch another one and take a break after that? We can watch more tomorrow"
-
"There was other types of summoning spells and other such things. Even some brews. But I think that required more than just incantations so I wasn't able to actually properly make anything." He thought about what Torque suggested and looked to Gretchen. She shrugged. "I guess we could? But I have to use the bathroom."
"So do I."
-
"Huh I wonder if there was anything in there that might help with our situation...Do you still have the tome?" He asked before nodding his head "Yeah I think I also need to use the restroom" He agreed but stayed where he was figuring he would let the other two go first.
-
"I unfortunately left it at home so it's gone with a lot of the other things I left behind up on the surface." Dib sighed. Maybe he should have thought to bring it along but he didn't think he would need anything to summon. He was sure most of it was either zombies or demons which would only make their situation worse more than better. "That's a shame." Gretchen stood up and went to go use the girls' bathroom that wasn't too far from the theater room.
Dib got up too and looked to Torque, curiously. "Are the bathrooms only for solo people? They don't have more than one urinal or stall?" he asked. He wasn't sure why Torque wasn't getting up to join them.
-
"Hmm maybe it's still in one piece though...Though I'm not sure how they went about flattening everything" He nodded his head and stretched a bit popping some joints in his shoulders as he did. He glanced to Dib at the question "Not the ones close by and I don't want to walk back to the cafeteria just to use the restroom. I don't have to go that bad anyway. I can wait till your done"
-
"Maybe. Are they all done up there anyway? I wouldn't mind going to the surface to go check when things are a little less hectic." He looked to the boy's bathroom and made a face. He would have figured there'd be more urinals and stalls in a place were multiple people gathered, so he was surprised this one only had one. He sighed. "Alright. I just have to pee anyway so I won't be long."
Dib went into the bathroom to relieve himself. Being a boy, he didn't take too long and was out pretty soon. Gretchen came out not too long after and rejoined Dib at the seats. She sat down. Dib sat too. "We'll wait for you, Torque."
-
"Weren't we going up anyway to try and find Chuck and talk him into coming back?" He questioned and nodded waiting for him to come back before getting up walking past them to go to the boys bathroom. He did not take long to relieve himself and wash his hand glancing at his reflection in the mirror. His reflection looked tired he had felt tired ever since that transformation. It took a lot out of him when he was very out of practice with it. He splashed some water on his face. Drying his face before coming out and back to the room "On second thought guys I think calling it a night now might be a good idea as i'm more tired then i thought"
-
"Yeah. If we find Chuck. Should we go to the crushed area after or if we find him and talk him back into returning? I think the Chuck thing could be more important than my tomes at the moment." He watched Torque leave when he came back from the bathroom and waited, setting up the movie while he was gone. He looked up when Torque came back and tilted his head. "Huh? Really? Well, alright. I hope you feel better."
"Yeah, we'll see you for dinner? Or are you staying in your room for the whole night until tomorrow?"
-
"Yeah if its safe though. But yes finding Chuck is first priority after that then we can go look for it and anything else the might be useful" He said before he had left and came back. He thought about the question a moment before shaking his head "No I think i'm going to end up stay in the bedroom for the rest of the night"
-
"Do you want me to bring something back from the cafeteria for dinner if you'll be awake by then?" Dib asked. He was pretty concerned, wondering why Torque was so tired of all of a sudden. He was sure Torque hadn't done much besides maybe do exercise early in the morning and even then, he took a nap, didn't he? Torque mentioned he napped after his daily run. "You're not sick, are you?"
-
"Uh...sure maybe a sandwich or something but i'm not sure if I will be awake then or not" He shook his head "No, i don't feel sick just tired...Maybe it's just everything that has been going on lately just catching up to me. I'm sure i'll be fine with some rest"
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"Got it. Just tell me which kind of sandwich and if you'd want a side with it. Or how many sandwiches." He listened to Torque and nodded, glad that he wasn't sick. "Alright. I hope you rest well." Gretchen smiled. "Feel better, Torque. Goodnight." She went over to him and gave him a brief hug before letting go. She hugged Dib too. "I'm going to go see what Zita is up to, Dib. I'll see you later."
"See you, Gretchen." Dib had returned the hug and looked to Torque. He wondered if he should hug the other man too.
-
"Any type of sandwich should be fine, and just one no sides" He said and froze up a moment at the hug before letting out a breath and giving her a small hug back "Be careful Gretchen if one irken found it's way down here then it is possible more might as well" He warned
-
Gretchen paused at the door from Torque's warning. "Oh. Can you two walk me to my room then? I figure Zita might be there. I don't have my phone on me since it needed to be charged." Dib nodded and looked to Torque. "And I can go with you to our room. I want to pick up my weapon from there anyway in case there's any other Irkens around so I can walk around on my own."
-
"Yeah of course we can walk you there" He said with a nod starting over to Gretchen before glancing to Dib with a nod about walking him to his room but in hearing Dib wanted to walk around on his own he couldn't help but to be worried "Hmm, I really don't think you should though...Maybe you could ask some one to walk with you?"
-
Gretchen walked out of the theater room with the boys, looking over to Dib. She was just as concerned as Torque was. She would have suggested Zim but he needed all the rest he could get. Dib grimaced. "Who do you think would even want to walk around with me? It's not like I'm Mr. Popular."
"What about Keef?"
"I don't know where he'd be right now but I suppose I could look for him."
-
Torque walked out with them and gave a frown as Dib pointed out how he was not popular. "I believe Keef is in the outdoor setting of this place. Or at least he said he was going there"
-
"That was almost two hours ago, wasn't it? Would he really still be there? I guess I could check."
"It's worth checking, yeah."
When the group came on Gretchen's room, she smiled. "See you boys around." She went into her room after waving to her. Dib waved back and started walking with Torque back to their shared room. "I can bring you a water bottle later too for the drink unless you have something in the room already?"
-
"I would think that he would be either that or in his room" He said walking Gretchen back to her room. "See you later Gretchen have a good night" He walked with Dib back to their room and stood at the door. "Huh? Oh sure that would be good. No I don't have water inside the room." He opened the door and walked inside "Don't forget to grab your weapon"
-
Dib headed into the bedroom with Torque and grabbed up the weapon that Zim had given him and strapped the water gun over his shoulder just in case. "Alright. I'll bring you food in a couple of hours. I hope you rest well, Torque." He smiled at him and opted out of giving the man a hug, not wanting to make things awkward. With everything he needed, he left the room and closed the door behind himself.
He walked to the outdoor area first as it wasn't too far and looked around to see if Keef was there or just anyone in general.
-
"Alright" He went and sat on his bed watching Dib get the weapons "Just be careful" He said clearly worried about Dib. He watched him leave and let out a sigh knowing that was another chance he could of told Dib what he was and even his feelings but instead he stayed quiet about it.
Keef was still in the outdoor area looking over the half finished play ground that Zim had not been able to finish before resting. He noticed movement and glanced towards Dib giving a wave and big grin "Hi Dib!"
-
Dib smiled and waved back, making his way to Keef. "Hey, what have you been up to? You've been here for a while?" He looked at the unfinished playground. "Oh. Zim was putting this together earlier but it could wait. There's a lot to do around here anyway." He looked to the track. It would be good to get some exercise in now and then.
-
"I've been fully checking the area out and trying out the different exercise machines. I ran a couple laps as well. It's amazing what all there is to do down here. That Zim did this all himself is amazing it's great he's on our side. Dib attracts some interesting people...and creatures" He said this with a laugh as he had already picked up on two more secrets Zim's feelings towards Dib and that Torque was the lycan but Dib had told him to stop saying secrets out loud out of no where and he didn't want to upset him again so kept this info to himself.
-
"I was thinking of putting in some exercise too. Torque went to rest after we watched a movie with Gretchen and he wanted me to find someone to be around me due to that attack earlier. We couldn't really think of anyone else but you who would be fine with my presence given my reputation." He blinked and looked around again. "His Computer did a lot of the work too if anything."
He looked back to Keef with a curious look when he mentioned he attracted interesting people and creatures. "What are you talking about?"
-
"Exercise is great it gets your body ready for just about anything really. Fully waking it up and raising your senses too" He said and gave a grin hearing it was Torque's idea for Dib to be with someone instead of alone. That smile though vanished as he realized what he said and covered his mouth with his hands "No, I did it again...It's nothing. You said you didn't want me to keep spilling peoples secrets so its nothing...Sorry I really do try to not do it but when I get to talking it's hard to fully stop myself"
-
"Mm. I'm not crazy about exercise but it does help the body get ready, I can agree to that." He set his water gun down and took off his coat, setting that aside too. He didn't want to go running in something long like that, sure he would get extra sweaty if he did. He frowned when Keef mentioned secrets and how it was hard to stop himself from blurting out anything. It made him all the more unsure he could trust him with the secret of him having had a crush on Torque.
But this was alarming. "There's more creatures besides Chuck who's not here and Zim?" he asked. "How could you possibly know... is it because of your senses now as a new werewolf or something? Are they dangerous? If this is the case, it's kind of important to know, I think. But why would you say it's me who attracts them?"
-
"Huh? No, no...not dangerous at least I don't think so...and no i've always had this ability to kind of see through people...maybe that would be the best way to explain it. It's got me into a lot of trouble and made people not really want to be around me...but I do know who the lycan is. The person though is very scared. They want to announce what they are but something keeps them from doing it. All they want to do is protect those they care about. Zim did this originally because of you, Dib. Though he has no clue of his own feelings as everything is new ad unknown to him all he knows is that he wants you near by. It was you being in danger that made Zim let his true colors show to save you from the other irkens...Zim's a real talker to if you can get past his walls and he has a lot of them."
-
Dib remembered that Keef had explained he had this ability to see through people. It made him wonder if Keef was even human before he was turned werewolf. He eyed the other man as he mentioned he knew who the other Lycan was and the reason why they were hiding, even hiding the gender of said person by using they. He sighed. "But I know the one who attacked the Irken doesn't mean harm to anyone here." At least he wasn't told there was another creature besides the hidden Lycan still around.
As for Zim doing this for Dib, he shook his head. "All this? This entire hideout area could not have been all for me, Keef. I have never even met him before yesterday and if I have, it was just a glimpse of him and I hadn't known who he was by name and otherwise. What feelings? Wanting me nearby? Come on, you're not telling me this Irken is interested in me in more ways than just being a partner to go save the rest of the humans. There's no reason for him to gain any other feelings toward me."
-
If Keef was anything other then human he himself didn't know it either and just chopped it up to being weird and different. He gave a shrug "I feel that if I out this person they might run. If this person is going to come clean on what they are then their going to need to do it themselves. Hearing Dib not believe him about Zim just made him shrug "Yeah you fought him one time it was after some people were as in Zims words treating you like trash yet when Zim got there to capture the group you fought him to let the others escape. He said that encounter was the start of him opening his eyes more to what was going on. This might be something you'll just have to wait and talk to zim about when he does wake up"
-
"That should be fine." Dib did remember that as much but he hadn't known Zim's name. "You know a lot and you didn't even talk to Zim. You might not be human, Keef. But I wouldn't know what unless you're some kind of mind-reading species. Anyway, I'm going to go run. Are you going to join me or are you tired of doing exercise?" He walked toward the machines first to do his arms. He decided he'd use the track last since he didn't want to tire himself out too quick.
-
"Oh well we did talk though some while searching for Chuck in the tunnels. It took awhile of asking questions and getting bits and pieces before Zim started to relax and talk more openly...Huh? not human? well I know i'm werewolf but other then that I have no clue" He said with a shrug "I'll join I don't really get tired easily i'm almost always full of energy"
-
"Oh, right. I really hope we'll be able to find him tomorrow." Dib sighed. "He spoke with you openly, that's good. He could do with some more friends, I think. It'd help him figure out feelings and such. I don't know what else you'd be either. I'll have to research if there's anything that has your sort of power. I wonder if the library has things on supernatural beings..."
Dib pointed to the equipment first. "I'm going to do these first actually before I tire out my legs." He went to a machine that did arm work outs first, getting right into doing them. It would help for himself to get some more arm strength in because as he was, his arms were the weaker out of his limbs.
-
"Is it tomorrow night the fullmoon or the next night?" He asked before nodding his head "I do know that i'm adopted. I was adopted as a baby though so I don't know anything of my real parents. Zim also thinks he has a way of making it so us werewolves have more control over ourselves during a shift and I said he could test it out on me. So that's happening after he wakes up" Keef glanced to the machines that Dib pointed out and nodded his head before walking over to another machine that also would work out his arms with weights for him to pull up and down by straps.
-
"I think it might be the next? I can check. I've kind of wondered how the same day of the full moon would affect werewolves even if it's not seen. Because it is there, just not visible. Like how you can see the moon sometimes earlier than you expect it."
Dib listened to Keef talking about how he had been adopted and didn't know his real parents. "That makes sense. Babies don't have memories and don't get permanent ones until maybe around four to six? But I do remember when I was a baby. I'm pretty sure I was abducted by aliens. They had me in a tube and were doing tests on me, I'm not sure which ones but maybe I have far memories like that because of them?" He worked out while he spoke with Keef.
"He already came up with an idea to have werewolves control themselves? What is it?"
-
"Might be a good idea to check. I do wonder if Zim will be awake at that point though or if we'll have to wait for the next fullmoon to test it out. You were abducted? Oh wow thats interesting maybe you can ask Zim who abducted you though I doubt it really matters" He kept adjusting the weights to see how much he could lift. Though Keef was not muscular like Torque he was still rather strong. "Some type of injections thats all I know right now"
-
"He should be awake by tomorrow if he's resting a lot tonight. I hope he won't get out too early." Dib nodded. "Maybe but I wouldn't know if he'd figure out who did or not unless he has something to go deep into my memories. Since I was in a tube and a baby, my sight wasn't very great. Everything was mostly blurry, I just remember the shapes were very odd and not human-looking." He wasn't too strong, at most he could lift up to maybe 50 or 60 pounds but he continued doing his best to lift his own weights. "Injections? So it could be permanent instead of taking pills temporarily?"
-
"Well he's resting and healing in that goo stuff so I have no clue how long that will take. Your memories or maybe he knows which race of aliens abduct people" He said with a shrug "He said it would jump the minds ability and hopefully make it strong enough to be active even with being in werewolf form"
-
"I know. I don't know how long it'll take him either but I wouldn't want him to be in a rush either. He really needs to heal as much as he can." Dib paused a bit to take a few breaths. "There's probably a lot of aliens out there that abduct people? Space is so vast and endless, there has to be so many types of aliens." He smiled. "As for the injections, that's cool. I wonder what it's made out of."
-
"I agree. he needs to heal and be at his best or at least the best he can be with how his pak is right now...Yeah probably it would be cool to see what all is in space. I have no clue what it's made of" He said pulling at his weights some more before letting them back and just sitting there waiting for Dib to finish with his machine.
-
Dib went back to working out when Keef started talking and listened, nodding his head. He didn't want Zim in poor form or bad things could happen. "Agreed but I'm sure it'd be hard or even impossible to see everything space has to offer. Zim knows I'm interested in traveling space but it probably won't happen until after we get rid of the Empire here." He finished up in five more minutes and stretched his arms out. "Oof, I am not used to arm work outs."
-
"I wouldn't mind taking a look at what is in space maybe. Wonder if other moons have effects on a werewolf or is it only ours" He commented and thought about it as he watched Dib finish up. He got to his feet stretching as he got ready to run on the track.
-
Dib stretched again and went to follow Keef to the track. "Oh, right. That would be interesting to learn. Some planets even have more than one moon, I'm sure so what would that be like?"
-
"I'm curious and really wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if I ever get the chance to go into space" He said watching him get ready to run on the track.
-
"I'm a lot more curious on what other species of aliens there are and even what they all eat, how different their food would be compared to ours on Earth. Zim mentioned that Irkens came here because they learned that we grow natural sugar and that's what they're going to mainly use the planet for. Or were. We're going to stop them somehow. With help, hopefully." Dib reached the track and started running on it to get some leg exercise in.
-
Keef listened to him as he waited to run. "I'm sure is a lot to learn in space. So much to see I doubt you'll be able to see everything" He nodded his head "Hopefully Zim's thoughts on controlling the werewolf side of my works then maybe i'll be more use in this fight" He said before they started to run and he matched Dib's pace perfectly.
-
"Yeah, unfortunately. Especially with a short human life, I also doubt I'd learn everything but I sure as will try." He ran with Keef on the track, making sure not to go too fast. He didn't want to tire himself out that quickly. He nodded. "Although you'd only be able to transform on full moons unless he means to try making it so you can be more Lycan-like with your transformations?"
-
'Hmm maybe Zim might have a way to make human's life span longer" He commented as he ran with him. "Wouldn't it be cool if Zim could make me like an lycan I think it would be fun to run as a wolf...Hmm with the werewolf size wouldn't I be close to the size of a horse. I could be rode like a horse" He said with a laugh.
-
"Think so? That would be pretty cool. Maybe. It depends on if there could also be a way to slow down how bodies start deteriorating in older age." Dib laughed. "Are you sure you want someone riding on you? I wonder if werewolf strength is just given instantly or you would need to work out a little more to boost it..."
-
He nodded "With all the technology Zim has the ability to use i'm sure he could figure out something." He gave a shrug "I have no clue but it would be interesting to try out...I'm sure i'll need to workout...though I guess I have no clue on that...Just have to wait and see"
-
"Again... another maybe. Or if Irkens don't have that sort of ability, some other alien species would?" He kept running, listening before looking to Keef. "Well, you could test out if you got the super strength pretty much sooner than later. You could try to lift something that could have been your limit when you were just a human? I'm kind of curious to see."
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"From what i've seen and heard so far it doesn't seem like Zim ever gives up if you request something of him...Irkens have extremely long lifespans so I doubt it would be all that different" He said but gave a shrug before nodded his head and picked up the pace running past Dib and back over to the weights to test that theory out.
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"Sure but I wouldn't want Zim to overwork himself. He's already been helping enough as is. He needs a small break. It wouldn't hurt him to." He followed Keef over to the weights and sat down to relax for a while, taking a break from his running. He already felt so sweaty and he glanced around to see if there was any kind of water dispensers in the workout area or if he would need to go back to the cafeteria to get a water bottle.
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There was a water drinking fountain not far from the workout area. "Yeah that is true but after everything is settled then he should have free time...I wonder if he plans to leave afterwards though" He said as he worked on adding weights to an weight lift adding about 50lbs more then he knew was his limit.
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Dib went to the nearest water fountain where he could still see and hear Keef from, not wanting to get too far from their conversation. He sipped at the water as Keef spoke and pulled away to reply back to him. "Yeah he would have free time." He frowned. "I have no idea if he would leave after or not. Should I ask him what he plans to do after? This probably won't take such a short time to get rid of the Irkens. The nearest aliens are about a month or so away..."
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Keef gave a nod "Yeah you should ask him. No reason not to really." He said and waited for Dib to finish at the fountain before bending down to grab the weight bar once he had a good grip on in he braced himself as he lifted the bar but was pleasantly surprised as it came off the ground almost like it was nothing. "Oh...This is cool, so yes the strength comes with being werewolf. That's useful at least"
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Dib walked back over when he was done drinking enough water and watched as Keef tried out the weights. "Woah. That's amazing. Yeah, it's very useful. If you can pick up that, you can probably pick up people that weigh a lot too. In case anyone needs to picked up and carried away from danger in the future or something, like if they're injured and can't run themselves?" He nodded. "I'm glad you're not a bad guy, Keef. That strength can also be so dangerous. You might even have to be careful controlling it?"
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"Me a bad guy? I think not the thought of ever hurting anyone has never crossed my mind. Not even the bullies we had at school" He said with a chuckle working out with the weights a bit before adding on some more weights. "Should we go see how Zim is doing? Do we even know how long he was going to be healing for?"
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Dib nodded. "Yeah. Bullies..." He grimaced and shook his head. "I vented a different way but I never really thought to hurt anyone either. As for Zim, I don't think so. I think he needed a day or a few to heal all the way through? That's why we need to be very careful while he is taking time to rest and heal."
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Keef glanced at him with an curious look "How did you vent?" He nodded his head "That means he'll miss the fullmoon and seeing everything happen...but he does need to heal. So on the fullmoon i'll be trapped in my room right"
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"Drew and wrote scenes in a separate notebook. Gorey stuff. I was pretty good at that. I wasn't stupid enough to bring it to school because I was sure I'd get in real trouble, more than just being sent to the Krazy House For Boys." He sighed and nodded to what came to Zim. "Yeah, to everything. It should be fine. I hope he made another room for in case we find Chuck. If not, I guess we can use the Computer. I'm pretty sure Zim gave me the permission to do so." He looked up. "Right? Computer?"
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"That's interesting I wouldn't of mind seeing those pictures. I would just push them out of my mind and go talk to someone else" He said with a shrug. "Aren't you and Torque going to search for Chuck tomorrow?"
"That is correct Dib Membrane but yes there is another room for Chuck"
(when is fullmoon I forgot is it tomorrow night or the next?)
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"I didn't keep them. I lit them on fire when I found time to after. I figured it wouldn't even be good for my father to find if he ever decided to invade my privacy by snooping around my room." He looked up as the Computer spoke up to answer his questions. "Alright, thank you." He looked back to Keef. "Yeah, probably right after we get some breakfast. I'd prefer to get something to go. Would you like to come with us? Maybe your senses have advanced too like sense of smell. That would be very usesful."
(I think it's the next. They wouldn't be stupid enough to go after a werewolf on the day/night of the full moon.)
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"That makes sense being called crazy with no proof is one thing but having proof or something they can use as proof is another story" He listened to computer before giving a nod "...Should I go though I mean i would like to help if I can"
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Dib nodded. "I really didn't want people to think I'd ever snap and kill others even though they likely still did. I would never." He smiled at Keef. "I don't see why not. I know Zim thinks it should just be me and Torque that would be enough but I don't mind the extra help. Especially if we don't find anyone with tracking dogs. We could just use your senses. You want to help, so I think you should."
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"You kill someone? I would never think that about you and who ever did would be the crazy ones" Keef said shaking his head with a sigh at how some people were. "If you think i'll be useful then yeah i'll come with you"
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"Well, only in those gorey scenes I wrote and drew but never in real life." He chuckled and nodded. "I think you would be. That's great. Thank you, Keef. I could let Torque know later." He smiled and looked to the entrance. "I'm getting a little hungry. What about you? Want to head to the cafeteria?"
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"What you do in pictures or stories are just that, stories thats it never means it would happen in real life" He gave a grin "Thanks yeah i'll help" He said as he carried the weights back over where they belonged and placed everything back where they go to keep everything neat and organized. Once done he walked back over to Dib "...i've been hungry ever sense we ate last i'm starting to think my stomach is an bottomless pit" He said with an embarrassed laugh.
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He watched Keef put the weights away and stared at the other man. "Really? That's not good. Man, it's a shame we don't have Foodio down here. It would never run out of food and I know Zim has a lot of food here right now but it'll run out and he'd have to go and get more. Who knows how much would be out there... What if the Irkens get smart and take it, knowing that there's still humans in hiding?" He sighed and headed out of the workout room, going to the cafeteria with Keef.
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"Yeah it sucks but it's alright it's a weird feeling like my body is saying yeah thats enough food and my brain saying man i'm starving" He just shrugged as he followed him out listening "Yeah that would not be good at all....Do you think there is a foodio still around?"
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"Oh so you can actually control yourself from not eating too much? I was worried you might not." He walked with Keef and looked to him. "I'm not even sure. If they haven't all been flattened or squashed by those machines the Irkens have been using on all the land, cities or otherwise. I haven't even checked back at my dad's house. We had one there."
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"That would be bad if I couldn't control my stomach at least a little bit I might then be responsible if we ran out of food." He said with a nervous laugh. He listened to him as they walked "...Is there any where away from here that might of gotten an foodio? If there is a chance that there is one then it would be worth searching right?"
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Dib laughed a bit and nodded. "It's good you have control then." He shook his head. "I don't know any. If there were stores selling them, they've likely been flattened and broken from those Doom machines. Maybe we could somehow travel to another city that hasn't been demolished from these little assholes... but that could be dangerous and we'd have to put it off until Zim is awake and better. I doubt he'd like us going on our own mission like that when we still have food left here."
He reached the cafeteria area and went to go make himself some food.
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Keef gave a grin as he nodded in agreement. "I don't think Zim would be very happy with any of us doing that. I don't think he even wants us going after Chuck without him. But he knows it needs to be done" Keef followed him over to the fridge opening it and choosing a chicken breast to make into a sandwich.
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"Yeah, he wanted to come along to find Chuck but he was in bad shape and we insisted he rested. He seems to trust me and Torque too. He thought the two of us would be enough even if I thought it'd be good to have at least one more person. I guess we don't need to tell him you're coming along with us." He picked out cold cuts to make a sandwich so he didn't have to heat it up the machine and went to sit down when he was done making it.
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Keef set up the machine to prepare the chicken breast as Dib went and sat down. Once the chicken was cooked he sliced it in half and prepared two sandwiches with lettuce and mayo before going to sit across from Dib "I mean i think I understand why he doesn't want a lot of us going out is because the more people the easier we might be noticed"
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"I get that but it's not like we said we should bring a whole giant group of people with us. Three of us should be fine anyway." He started eating his own sandwich when Keef sat down with him at the table.
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"Yeah I guess he just worries to much. So do we have any plan yet or do we need to wait and talk with Torque at the same time?" He asked and started to eat
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"I think Torque isn't going to be up for anything today. He got really tired earlier so he said he'd be resting. Our plan would probably be put into motion tomorrow when we're all well-rested. I would need to tell him you're joining us too. I don't know how he'll take that, honestly."
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"Torque is tired...Thats a first I don't think i've ever seen him actually tired...So if it's tomorrow is that even safe I mean the fullmoon is tomorrow night right? Or do I have my days mixed up its hard to tell anything down here"
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"Uh, really? I mean he's human so of course he'd get tired but it's been a really long day for everyone. I'm not too surprised." He shook his head. "If the full moon was tomorrow, we wouldn't go. It's the day after tomorrow. If we wait any longer to go out, the further Chuck would get away from us. We don't want that."
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"Not surprised I have my days mixed up. Yeah the longer we wait the worse off. So are you going to go to bed soon then?"
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Dib continued eating and drank from his water bottle. "Yeah, I likely will go to bed soon. So I can get up earlier tomorrow."
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"Guess i will too then" He said before going back to eating his meal. "So are we leaving early morning, should I meet you guys at your room or maybe here?"
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"It would be best to go early in the morning. I'll probably wake up at 5:30AM or 6. It depends. I kind of want to get a breakfast to take on the go so we don't waste too much time sitting around for it. Does that sound good? We could meet here."
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"that sounds fine. Grab like a breakfast burrito or something like that. Yeah meeting here is good" He said as he finished his meal and stretched a bit as the bones in his back popped a bit. He got up and gathered up his trash "Alright then i'm going to head to bed"
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Dib finished his own meal and threw out his trash as well. "See you tomorrow, Keef. Good night." He smiled at the other man and paused before remembering that Torque had wanted him to get food for him in case he woke up. He gathered what Torque had ordered and brought it to their shared room. He opened the door slowly and put the food where he could on Torque's side of the room, glancing to see if he was still asleep or not.
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"Good night Dib" He said giving a wave before heading for his own room.
Torque was still laying down in his bed eyes closed as the door opened his powerful sense of smell told him it was Dib and with food. As Dib checked on if he was awake he let out a yawn and stretched "What time is it?" He asked as he sat up and looked over at where his food was placed before reaching out to the nightstand by his bed and grabbing the plate of food to start eating.
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Dib startled to see that Torque was up. He checked the time. "It's eight at night. I'm going to turn in soon. I'm going to use the bathroom first but before I do... Keef's joining us in the morning to help. Since he's a werewolf too, I was sure his sense of smell could really help in case we're not lent any dogs. How was your rest? Are you feeling alright?"
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"Keef is coming with...Alright I guess that's ok. It was a good rest yeah i'm alright. Guess I just have been doing to much and my body decided to force me to sleep" He said and went back to eating.
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Dib was curious what all Torque had done besides work out in the morning and help them look around for Chuck in the maze... The man had even had a nap before the Lycan attack. He felt it would be rude to ask though. "Yeah. What are you going to do for the rest of the night? You're not tired anymore to go back to sleep, are you?"
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"No i'm fully awake now. I'm going to go check on some things since Zim is resting and heeling he normally does rounds a few times through the night to keep everyone safe so i'll do it for him since he can't. You should rest though".
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"Alright. Just be careful. If there's anyone awake, it's probably best you bring someone along after what all has happened." He grabbed up his pajamas and clean boxers, figuring he could take a quick shower before bed so he didn't have to shower in the morning.