Goddess Rising

Dib was nearly blinded as he approached the end of the hallway. He stepped cautiously into the control room, leaning on the doorway and taking the stress off of his ankle.

"I told you that the Destroyer was on this ship!" one of the frightened Irkens cried, looking wildly at the captain.

Gaz's form was nearly completely illuminated, her skin glowing radiantly as she floated nearly five feet above the bridge. The Irkens, who were all crammed into the lower level below the bridge itself, stared up at her in awe.

The light faded and she looked down at the scared soldiers, her eyes still burning. She had joined with GIR again. Valerie looked up at her from the captain's chair, mouth agape.

"You DARE to attempt a takeover of MY ship?!" Gaz rasped, her voice reverberating unnaturally from deep in her throat.

Captain Zud shook a fist. "This ship belongs to Almighty Tallest Red, you thief!" He looked to his soldiers, who all had sidled up behind him in fear. "It's just an illusion, you fools! Attack her!"

"All that the Irken Empire has ever touched, and all it WILL ever touch, belongs to ME!" Gaz raised an arm, her hand almost clawlike as it reached the air.

Suddenly, five of the soldiers began to writhe in pain, clutching at their throats. The rest of them stepped away in horror as thick purple blood erupted from the afflicteds' mouths, and their skin began to sizzle, melting away from the bones. All they could do was gurgle helplessly as they all collapsed upon the floor, lives ceasing slowly and painfully.

Gaz smiled in satisfaction, sending chills up Dib's spine. "Illusion, is it? Tell me, my brave Irken puppet, am I a charlatan?"

"Bitch!" the captain growled, his spider legs emerging from his pak and taking aim. She simply looked down at him, expressionless, as he fired and took a chunk out of her thigh at least 5 inches in circumference. She didn't flinch or otherwise react as multiple streams of blood began to trickle from her wound. Valerie gasped and reached out to her.

"You see?!" Zud yelled. "She bleeds just like we do! She's not invincible!"

"But I am."

A laser beam fired over Dib's shoulder from behind, blowing one of the legs off of Zud's back. Dib was roughly shoved out of the doorway, landing on his side in the control room. The soldiers all turned, jaws dropped, as two shining black boots planted themselves in the doorway.

"Zim?!"

"The one and only." Pearly, sharp teeth gleamed as his mouth stretched into a smile.

"But that's impossible--"

Six assault weapons emerged from his pak, all humming and ready to fire.

"Tell it to Red when he meets you in Hell."

The weapons fired in six different directions, splattering the soldiers' brains, bones and viscera all over the lower level.

Silence reigned in the room as Gaz lowered herself to the floor, collapsing into Valerie's waiting arms as GIR removed himself from her body. Zim fell to his knees as the weapons retreated into his pak.

"Why didn't you do that in the first place?!" Gaz cried, her voice catching as she cautiously removed the boot and leggings from her bad leg.

Glaring back at her, Zim replied, "I had to let them warm up first. I had no way of deploying them in the hallway because SOMEBODY refused to listen when I told him to find a good hiding place..."

Everyone in the room looked directly at Dib, but he was oblivious. He was covered in blood belonging to both him and the Irkens... His ankle was very certifiably broken, along with some other choice bones...

...And he had never in his life been more happy.

"Zim...? Zim! You're alive!" Tears flooded down his face as he crawled toward his lover. Wrapping his arms around Zim and burying his face in his neck, Dib sobbed, "I thought you were dead and gone. I thought I would never hear your voice again... I thought..."

"Ssh," Zim sighed with a tinge of exhasperation in his voice, though pity was the prominent emotion. "Don't get so overworked. You're injured." He looked up at GIR, who was staring up at the mess of Irken parts with fascination. "GIR! I need you to go to the OT hallway, seal it, and fix up the hole their ship made. I've isolated it as best I can so we don't implode..."

Saluting, GIR cried, "I've never seen you from the inside before!" He picked up a handful of Irken innards and laughed maniacally, smearing them on his torso as he ran out of the room.

"I'm so glad everyone is okay!" Valerie spoke up, wiping tears from her eyes.

Zim shakily got to his feet, holding Dib in his arms. Dib, still sobbing, didn't react. "I think 'okay' is a bit of a stretch. We all need to head for the infirmary."

**************************

Thankfully, Gaz's wound was superficial. With a little bit of attention she was able to walk easily.

Dib, of course, wasn't so lucky, but he was no stranger to pain. He actually laughed at the thought that the Irkens hadn't done more damage to him.

"I suppose Purple did me a big favor when he ripped off my pak..." Zim mused as he splinted Dib's ankle. "I was pretty sure I would be dead, but the shock only knocked me out." Dib grabbed his hand and he glared, still angry that the boy hadn't done what he asked. "It still hurt like hell, though. Since the wounds on my back healed I've been trying to wear my pak more often."

Val, who was helping Gaz put her boot back on, smiled in Zim's direction. "I bet with a little time and some work you could live without even depending on it, though."

"Right now I'm more concerned about that other ship... They'll be heading here post-haste, I'm sure, if they don't hear any confirmation from the other party."

Dib cringed. "Maybe... We can use their ship and send a confirmation report? Tell them that everything's okay and they don't have any reason to come investigate...?"

Silent for a moment, Zim finally looked at Dib and nodded curtly. "You might be on to something... I guess we could give it a shot, right?"

Within the hour Zim had crawled into their ship and exported their ID info into the Goddess's hard drive. With ease, he managed to lock on to the second signal that had been tracking them. With Dib, Gaz and Valerie watching him anxiously, he made contact with the other ship. Surprisingly, the answer to their hail was not in Irken, but Earth English.

"What business do you have with us?"

Blinking in confusion, Zim replied in English, "Are you not members of the Irken armada?"

"No." The diagnostics in the corner of the screen showed that the other party was struggling to sever the new connection. "We have no affiliation with the Irken race, and wish to remain that way. Please leave us be."

Zim worked to maintain the connection. "Then why are you tracking the Goddess with intention to dock?"

"Are you associates of the crew aboard the Goddess?"

The four "crew members" look at eachother in confusion.

"Are they trying to trick us?" Dib asked, scooting his chair closer to the screen. "Are you sure they don't know it's us?"

Cracking his knuckles, Zim replied, "If there's one thing I'm good at, it's hacking. There's no way they could see through my proxy signal..."

Gaz snorted. "Then why didn't you 'hack' your way out of the last little batch of Irkens that found us?"

Shooting her a glare, Zim replied, "If THIS ship hadn't been piggybacking the signal, I don't doubt I could have."

Perhaps proving that he didn't need to resort to caution, Zim gritted his teeth and typed the reply, "We are."

"Wonderful!" came the answer. "Then please inform Gaz and Dib that their father is on his way to rescue them."

Zim couldn't keep them from severing the connection at this point, as Dib's fingers were digging so far into his arm that they could have punctured the skin.

"He's finally coming!" Gaz cried, clapping her hands together triumphantly.

Whirling his chair about so that he could face his sister, Dib cried, "Finally!? What the fuck--What in the world-- Dad's alive? What's going on!?"

Her smile was irrepressible. "It took them a while to get a ship worthy of interstellar travel, but they've finally done it!" Looking at Valerie, she cried, "We'll finally be able to see Nirvana!"

"Them?! Nirvana?! What-- Gaz-- I don't understand."

Gently touching his shoulder and causing him to turn to her, Valerie smiled. "Dib, your father and a group of scientists managed to escape from Earth before the Irkens took over. They have a colony on the outskirts of the Milky Way system known as 'Nirvana.'"

Dib's mouth hung open. "...how? And... why?" He looked at his hands. All this time there were other humans out there in the universe... Gaz and Valerie KNEW about them... "Why didn't you both tell me??"

Sheepishly, Valerie answered, "I just found out about it today, myself..."

"I've been communicating with dad for the past few months," Gaz stated, the smile fading from her face. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you trying to take the Goddess to Nirvana... So instead, I had dad come to us."

Feeling a tinge of helpless anger growing in his stomach, Dib whispered, "Why...?"

"BECAUSE," Gaz sighed, "Your boyfriend is the reason why the Irkens took over Earth... As you might imagine, the citizens of Nirvana don't exactly think too fondly of him. And, in some cases, you."

"Zim had nothing to do with the Irkens taking over Earth!" His hands became fists. Valerie tried to steady him but he shrugged her hand away.

Folding her arms before her, Gaz cried, "You can't honestly say that's true. However small his part was, it was enough."

Avoiding everyone's eyes, Zim said quietly, "She's right, Dib." Looking out over the bridge into the great wall of stars outside the windows, he said, "It is my fault. I... I had no power to stop them..."

Sadness overcoming him, Dib grabbed Zim's hand. "But you didn't MEAN for it to happen."

"Intentions mean nothing," Gaz barked back. "Coulda shoulda woulda. They're all without homes and the Irkens are to blame... Zim, and this ship, will not be welcome at that colony." She put her arms behind her back and rocked on her heels. "But I am, and so is Valerie, and so are you. And I want to go. I'm sick of this ship, I miss dad, and I want to help them rebuild."

Dib snorted. "We're welcome, are we? What a wonderful gesture on his part, seeing as how he didn't see it fit to take us in the FIRST fucking place."

"He tried," Gaz answered defensively. "But we didn't meet the program's criteria... Only the best of the best were allowed to go, and we didn't make the cut. He had to go by the guidelines set by all of his peers, or there could have been a mutiny that would have sabotaged the whole program."

"What do you care about sabotage?!" Dib cried, jumping to his feet, ignoring the pain in his ankle. "You damn near got all of us killed by giving out our coordinates to dad--!"

"What?!" Gaz cried, stepping forward so that she and Dib were nearly touching noses.

Grabbing the neck of her dress, Dib growled, "You heard me. The only way the Irkens found us was by piggybacking dad's signal. And the only way he had a signal was because of YOU!"

Gaz took hold of Dib's offending hand, squeezing it so hard that his knuckles cracked. "Let. Me. Go, Dib. NOW."

Ignoring the pain, Dib continued, "You know it's true, Gaz. You didn't even THINK or CARE about this ship or any of us. All you care about is yourself and DAD! And why?? What the fuck has dad ever done for us?!"

"He put up with YOU. AND your obsession with this fucking IRKEN," Gaz hissed, taking a fistfull of Dib's hair. "If I had the choice, I would have killed you BOTH a LONG time ago."

Valerie finally came between them, pushing them apart with some effort.

"Now Gaz, you don't mean that!" she squeaked, pushing her back toward the door. Turning to Dib, she said, "And Dib-- She had no way of knowing that making contact with Professor Membrane would have caused this. She's suffered just as much as you have through this whole ordeal. She just wants to go home." Looking at Gaz and shaking her head desperately, she finished, "Or--the closest thing to 'home' she can get."

"Then let her go 'home,'" Dib said, shooting daggers at his sister with his eyes. "Maybe I'll finally have some peace around here..." He made his way for the door, brushing past Gaz roughly. She grabbed the arm of his shirt and forced him to look at her.

"I'm the only person who has watched out for you this whole fucking time!" She shook him. "And what thanks do I get?! I should have left you to die when Zim broke your fucking ribs and caused your chest to fill with blood."

Valerie gasped and tried to break them apart again as Dib leaned into his sister's face. "...And let me guess. Dad asked you to watch out for me, right?"

Surprise flashed across Gaz's features and her grip on him loosened. She couldn't immediately muster a reply.

"Just as I thought." He wrenched himself from her and made his way for the door again. "Thanks for caring, sis."

Nobody bothered to follow him when he entered the hallway and closed the door behind him.

*****************************

It had probably been three or four hours that Dib had laid still in his bunk, staring blankly at the wall. His hands tucked into his armpits, he lay curled into a fetal position, chin set. He was so still, in fact, that the sensors thought he was sleeping and automatically turned off the lights. Which was fine with him... It was easier for him to think without anything for his eyes to focus on.

...So obviously, Membrane knew about Zim and the Irken race. Did he know that Dib was in a relationship with Zim?

A sick feeling of embarassment and shame overwhelmed him. Swallowing hard, he tried to think back to his time back on Earth... It seemed so long ago. There was no way dad didn't know. Dib's suddenly sneaking out at all hours of the night, coming back at random times... After he had spent so long locked up in the house sitting at his computer...

Did dad blame him for what happened to Earth? Surely he didn't, if he was the one that typed that message in the control room... He was coming to get Dib too, not just Gaz. But Gaz had said that some of the people in the colony resented DIB too... So what did they all know? Would they shun Dib, or even worse, would they ask Dib questions about Zim?

Being shunned wasn't so bad. He had always been shunned. Laughing bitterly to himself, Dib realized that if the human race had listened to him so long ago and done something about Zim, then none of this probably would have happened.

...And Dib probably would have never fallen in love with Zim... Never would have felt that attraction, never would have had to deal with the guilt and the shame.

He couldn't go back to Nirvana with his father. There was no way.

...And Zim! He couldn't leave Zim out here, all alone...

The door swished open, very quietly. Whoever it was had obviously already checked the room and assumed that Dib was asleep. He didn't bother to tell that person any different. There were rustling noises, the sound of clothing or something being thrown on the ground. His visitor climbed onto the bunk and stepped over him, squeezing between Dib's body and the wall.

It was Zim, being unusually affectionate... Trying hard to not make any noise, he pushed himself underneath Dib's arm, snuggling up against his body and burying his head in his shirt. Dib smiled, a little curious to see what exactly Zim was doing. After a few moments of laying still, Zim pushed his cool hands underneath Dib's shirt, caressing his chest.

"...Zim?"

Zim's antennae perked a bit. "Dib... Did I wake you?"

"No."

Another moment of silence. "...Are you okay?"

Relishing in some actual mutual cuddling, Dib wrapped his arms around Zim and whispered, "I am... Now that you're here..."

Dib felt Zim's antennae lightly caressing his face and neck. "I wish you had antennae sometimes..."

"So do I," Dib replied, smiling. Sometimes he really missed having the same physical and emotional connection that two members of the same species would have... Reaching up, Dib lightly ran his finger down one of Zim's feelers, feeling his lover shudder beneath him. "But I'm learning."

"So many emotions... Long buried... Coming back..." Zim said quietly. "I never realized... How much weakness... How many things the Pak killed inside me."

"What do you feel now?" Dib asked, running his fingers gently down Zim's arms.

Shaking his head, Zim replied, "I can barely explain. I just... I missed you." He clung almost desperately to Dib's body, trying to cuddle even closer. "So many things in my head now. Fears. They've been trying to come back... For so long... And now they're just overwhelming me. So many fears..."

"Fears? Of what?"

"...Being alone..."

Dib kissed his temple. "You'll never be alone, Zim. I'll always be here with you... Whether you like it or not."

"I know."

"Then why be afraid?"

Pulling himself back, looking up at Dib, Zim sighed, "I can't explain all this shit in my head. It's crazy, it's trying to kill me."

"Give me all your troubles." Dib nuzzled his face against Zim's, feeling for his lips in the dark. "Give me all your cares." Nibbling at Zim's bottom lip, Dib stroked his cool skin. He felt that Zim had removed the pak; he wondered how long Zim could go without it, and how much it really affected his behavior. Zim was never this affectionate unless he wanted something or was trying to make Dib feel better.

"All my cares..."

Just the feel of his skin, his smell, his taste, was intoxicating Dib. Running his hands down Zim's sides, over his hip bones... Zim was totally nude. Dib pushed his hand down, wrapping it around Zim's length, which was already becoming aroused. Zim gave himself over, without any hesitation, letting Dib devour his lips, his tongue, the skin at the nape of his neck. Everything. His hands consumed Dib just as hungrily, running his claws over Dib's back and sides, scratching at his nipples. Impatient that he couldn't reach everything, Zim finally pushed at Dib's shirt, growling deep in his throat when Dib didn't move to take it off. Dib laughed lightly, continuing to run his fingers over Zim's legs and hips.

Finally, Zim latched on to Dib's earlobe with his lips, pulling impatiently. Dib finally relented and got on his knees, positioning himself between Zim's legs as he removed his shirt. Zim quickly unlatched the buttons on his pants, pushing them down his thighs and taking hold of Dib's dick. Ducking back down, Dib touched Zim's lips again. He brought his arms up, underneath Zim, pulling him close as their bodies met. His pants were around his knees, and Zim pushed them down to his ankles with his feet. Dib quickly kicked them off as he plunged his tongue into Zim's mouth, taking possession of his tongue almost roughly.

Their cocks were touching one another. Dib smiled as he thrust against Zim, causing him to moan desperately. He pulled at Dib's shoulders, trying ineffectually to make something happen. Dib knew he was completely in control and he was savoring it. He lifted Zim up off of the bunk, pushing his head back so that the tender flesh of his neck was again laid bare. Zim arched his back, gurgling helplessly as Dib nipped and suckled his skin. Dib thrust harder against Zim, rubbing their dicks together, reveling in the feeling of Zim's member pulsating against his. He crushed their cocks between their bodies, thrusting and rubbing and pushing as the warmth between them continued to build. It seemed every inch of their bodies was touching as Dib continued to devour everything his mouth could reach; Zim panted and ran his fingers through Dib's hair, hanging on to handfulls at a time.

"Please--" Zim gasped, his voice barely a breath.

His mouth full of Zim's neck, Dib whispered, "What?"

"I need..."

"What?"

"nnnnneeed..."

"What do you need?"

"you..."

Dib knew what he needed. Adept fingers ran along Zim's length, taking the ridge at the center and twisting it, pulling at the soft skin. Zim cried out, arms dropping away from Dib's body and grabbing at the sheets. Dib pushed down on the ring, pulling the delicate skin taut and rubbing it against the ring at Zim's base. His lover's breathing became faster and faster still...

Grinning, with a firm grip still on Zim's dick, Dib lifted Zim's hips, pushing himself an inch or so into Zim's hot entrance. Zim arched his back, licking his lips, readying himself for what he knew was about to occur.

With little warning, Dib plunged himself to the hilt inside Zim, crying out as he pulled roughly on Zim's cock, his own manhood being devoured in impossible heat. The punishing spikes inside Zim had rescinded and there was nothing but bliss. All his research into the subject had paid off. Zim wailed, the walls inside of him constricting as he exploded in orgasm. After thrusting once, twice, three times, Dib emptied himself as well, gasping.

In the dark, the pregnant silence, they needed nothing. Dib was still laying between Zim's legs, supporting himself on his elbows, feeling his limp member nestled next to Zim's, their skin seemingly melting together. Sighing and trying to catch his breath, he bent his head down and kissed Zim's lips. Zim returned his attentions but was obviously spent by the experience.

"Mind empty now?" Dib laughed airily, still panting.

Zim threaded his fingers through Dib's hair yet again, kissing him weakly.

Dib collapsed on the bed and Zim held him close. He rested his head on Zim's shoulder and quickly drifted off to sleep.

*********************************

Both Gaz and Valerie were sitting expectantly in the control room when Dib entered the next morning, much to his surprise. Both of them looked more well-kempt than usual. GIR was randomly poking buttons here and there on the control panel, giggling and mumbling to himself. When Dib climbed the stairs to the upper level, Valerie turned and looked to him with doe-eyes. Gaz glanced at him but gave no further recognition. Zim entered shortly thereafter, looking over GIR's progress with interest.

Dib finally broke the silence.

"When will he be here?"

"Soon," Valerie answered, still looking pleadingly at him. "He'll probably board this ship for a short time... Just so we can all get acquainted."

Some degree of hope leapt into Dib's throat. Maybe dad will like Zim and let him come back to Nirvana, and everything will be okay! Everyone will realize that Zim is a good alien and accept him as one of their own...

Snorting to himself, Dib sat down in a chair near the captain's. These are humans we're talking about here; the same humans who always shunned HIM.

Silence. Val rubbed the palms of her hands over the arms of her own chair, bouncing her legs nervously.

"...I feel so guilty," she finally chirped, giddiness on the edge of her voice. Everyone looked at her with quirked eyebrows, and she explained, "I'm--Just so excited!" She bit her bottom lip. "I feel guilty, as tense as it is here..."

Smiling warmly, Dib said, "You shouldn't feel guilty, Val... You get to meet a man you always admired. I mean, I would feel the same way in your position..."

"And you've been in just about every position, haven't you Dibbles?" Gaz interjected, smirking meanly in his direction. He didn't deign to reply.

Zim leaned over GIR and tapped on his head, looking closely at the controls. "They'll be here in about 5 minutes. GIR, pull them in now..." He stood and looked to everyone. "We should probably assemble at the docking area...GIR, you too."

Without waiting for anyone to agree on this plan, he turned and left them all behind. Dib could tell by his body language that he was nervous, but he was trying to meet this new challenge head on. He noticed that Zim had left his Pak off the entire night. Maybe he was seeing how long he could go without it...? GIR quickly ran and attached himself to the empty area where the pak used to be. Feeling as if he should be directly at his side for support, Dib jumped up and followed. The girls were shortly behind. The walk toward the docking bay was incredibly heavy with tension.

"I had a long talk with Valerie and your sister last night..." Zim finally said at length. He didn't wait for any acknowledgement before continuing. "And I don't think it would be a good idea for me to try and mingle with humans anymore." Shaking his head sadly, he finished, "Humans and Irkens just can't coexist on any level."

"What about us?" Dib grabbed Zim's arm. "I think we're coexisting just fine."

"Are we?"

He let the question hang as the doors to the docking area zipped open. Professor Membrane and a few collegues were already making their way off of a markedly antiquated ship, looking about at the Goddess with fascination.

"Dad!" Gaz cried, her voice catching as she began running to him. He turned abruptly, face lighting up as he laid eyes on his daughter for the first time in what could have been a year. She jumped into his outstretched arms and they shared a long embrace. After a few moments he let her out to arm's length and looked her over. "You look quite well, Gaz," he remarked, almost seeming surprised.

"I've been keeping myself stimulated... Physically and mentally..." she answered seriously, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. After they looked at eachother for a few more moments, she finally turned and gestured towards the other members of the Goddess. "This is Valerie..."

"I'm so happy to meet you, sir!" Valerie cried, offering her hand to Membrane.

He nodded deftly and shook her hand, patting the back of it warmly. "I've already heard quite a bit about you, my dear. I can't wait to hear some of your theories about Celestial Combustion Edification." Valerie blushed and he turned his attentions to his son. "Dib..."

"Dad."

The two men looked awkwardly at one another for a moment. One of Membrane's crewmates cleared his throat. Father finally smiled and reached out. "I've missed you, son!"

Dib felt as if his stomach were being pulled out of his body through his belly button. Tears began to sting in the backs of his eyes as he finally fell into his father's arms. "I... I missed you too, dad..." Before long he was able to compose himself and pulled away. He smiled as best he could and pointed to Zim. "Dad... I'm sure you remember Zim?"

"I do," Membrane said, his voice strangely calm. His eyes locked with Zim's as one tried to read the emotions of the other. Zim's face was contorted almost painfully, his hands playing fitfully with the cloth of his shirt as it lay at his sides. Was it... fear? Anger? Dib couldn't tell what he was feeling. His antennae were laying back nearly flat against his head. Always the bigger man, Membrane finally stretched out a hand to the alien. "I thank you wholeheartedly for taking care of my children for all this time."

Zim stared at his hand for a moment before remembering he was supposed to do something with it. He finally grabbed it, following numbly as the taller man shook in reply. "It... Was the least I could do," Zim finally coughed, pulling his hand away as quickly as possible. Membrane seemed relieved that the contact between them had ceased. Everyone stood awkwardly about as Zim wiped his hands shakily on his shirt.

"You should all go rest in the dining area, and I'll take a look at your--ship," he finally said, shooing all of the humans away and placing GIR on the ground before him. "You're probably low on fuel after such a long trip..."

Nodding in agreement, Gaz cried, "When's the last time you all had pizza? I bet you'd like something a little more wholesome to eat..." She turned and gestured for everyone to follow.

"Actually, Nirvana's soil is amazingly fruitful..." one of the humans informed her. Their voices all dissolved into quiet clamor as they walked into the hallway. Dib stood stock still, watching as Zim went to work surveying the humans' ship.

"Zim."

The alien looked at him reproachfully. "You too. You go with them. Your people."

Pulling Zim into his arms, Dib whispered, "YOU are my people."

Zim did not respond to the affectionate gesture. "No. No, I'm not. I am Irken. You are human. You need to go with them."

Laying a gentle kiss on Zim's lips, Dib stated, "I only need you."

"Please..." Zim sighed, closing his eyes. "Just leave me be for a little while."

Reluctantly, Dib let him go and turned to the doorway. It was then that he saw one of Membrane's associates was staring at them. He recalled that it was one of his father's close assistants; he had been inside Dib's house many times for various reasons. He didn't give the man any benefit of acknowledgement as he walked past him into the hallway. The man promptly followed, staying close behind Dib by measured steps. When they had walked a fair distance from the docking area, he finally spoke up.

"Why?"

Without even turning to the man, Dib asked, "What do you mean, 'Why?'"

"You... And... It. Why?"

Dib laughed at the absurdity of it. "If you told you... You wouldn't believe me. So why waste the breath?"

"You've brought so much pain to your father. So much shame."

"It's a regular Romeo and Juliet story, isn't it?" Dib barked reproachfully. He finally stopped in his tracks and turned to the man. "You don't know anything about me. My father. My family. You don't know anything, so don't pass judgement."

The man's face was set in stone. "No, Dib... I think it is YOU who doesn't know anything about your father or your family." With that said, he walked past and into the dining room. Anger was beginning to cause Dib's throat to constrict, but he swallowed it down. His ankle was already starting to throb. He didn't need this bullshit...

"Nice of you to join us," Gaz hissed as Dib finally walked into the room. He didn't bother to sit at the table with all of them, even though it was obvious by the way he was walking that he was in great pain. Membrane was oblivious to any tension in the room, as always... Though Dib was beginning to wonder if he was just playing dumb. He took a hearty bite of something Gaz had obviously concocted and smiled wide. "This is the best pizza I have ever tasted, Gaz!"

Valerie laughed. "I think you probably just haven't had any pizza in a while."

"Are you insulting my cooking skills??" Gaz barked, slamming a hand lightly on the table. Valerie laughed and wrapped her arms around her. Smiling to himself, Dib thought that they were a little friendlier than usual...

Though Membrane was focused solely on his food and the girls, his companions were a little more distracted. "Do you think we should trust that Irken to do maintenance on our ship?" one spoke up. The Professor looked at him with a blank expression on his face, still chewing.

"Zim is very trustworthy," Valerie finally answered for him. "I would trust--and have trusted-- him with my life."

"You're talking about the same Irken that doomed the human race..."

Throwing out a fist, Dib cried, "He had nothing to do with it!"

They all turned to him, surprise flashing across their faces. Before anyone could chew him out, however, his father stepped in. "We'll run our own diagnostics when we're about to depart," he dismissed, waving a hand. "There won't be any problems. I've made that ship Irken-proof. Let him tinker with it as much as he wants." When the other humans didn't appear convinced, he laughed, "What can he do? No Irken has ever been able to come up with its own technology... Anything he wants to try, I've already seen before."

Zim could make it so you all implode the minute you enter warp speed. Almost wishing he would, Dib smiled and put his arms behind his back. "He won't try anything. He has no beef with any of you."

"He didn't when he sent that armada to take over our planet before, did he?"

As if nobody had even spoken, Membrane turned his attention to his son. "There's a lot of work to be done on Nirvana, son... I have already told Gaz that she can be in charge of new specie cultivation. We desperately needed someone who is skilled in working with animals." He held out a hand as if he were presenting an award. "What would you like to specialize in? Unfortunately, there are no paranormal investigations to be done on that planet..." He chuckled.

His attention was actually captured momentarily. The thought of helping create a new planet, with a new reincarnation of the human race, was invigorating. "I... never gave that much thought," he finally replied. "I think I would have to ask Zim first."

"Why ask him?" Membrane's assistant spoke up, malice clear on his face. "What does HE have to do with Nirvana?"

"Zim isn't going to be welcome there?"

Rolling her eyes, Gaz said, "I already told you that, Dib. He's an Irken, for crying out loud. He will not be welcome anywhere near there."

"Well, if Zim's not going, then I'm not going."

Everyone except Gaz was aghast. "You can't be serious!" Membrane cried, standing and holding his arms out to his son. "You belong on Nirvana with us!"

"I would have been DEAD right now if it weren't for Zim," Dib bit back, pointing angrily at his father. "You left us both--BOTH OF US, to die on Earth!"

Gaz tapped her fingers impatiently on the table. "Actually, I was the one who saved us. If it weren't for me you both would have been fucked to death. Remember?"

Blushing, Dib croaked, "The fact of the matter is that dad didn't even TRY to take us with him. Don't you care at all??"

Almost instantly, Dib was consumed in a flurry of leather and lab coat. His father pulled him tightly to himself, almost crushing the young man under the weight of his arms. "I never wanted this to happen, my son! If I was given a choice, of COURSE I would have brought you both with me!" He rocked Dib back and forth as if he were still a toddler. "But I have a chance to correct that now, and I refuse to let you down again!"

His father's arms felt so strange and foreign to him. Very rarely did he ever have so much close contact with the man, and it wasn't comforting at all. Back when they were all on Earth together, when everything was peaceful, he never had such affection from his father. "You've let me down too much... father," he whispered, finally pulling out of his arms. Membrane was flabbergasted, and nobody could find the words to speak. Dib looked solemnly at the floor, wondering why he felt so numb inside.

The silence was broken by Gaz's hands hitting the table as she stood. "You can't tell me that you're honestly going to give up everything for HIM??"

"Yes," Dib answered, looking somberly at her. "Because he's all I ever had, and all I ever will have."

Tears were shining in Valerie's eyes. "This isn't going to last, Dib. Don't you understand? The Irkens are coming to kill him. And they'll kill you too."

"So be it."

None of Membrane's companions looked affected. They didn't really seem to care that he wasn't planning on coming, which was fine with Dib. He looked at Val and tried to smile reassuringly. She just shook her head sadly. Membrane finally put a comforting hand on Dib's forehead, much like he used to do when the boy was young.

"If that's what you want to do, son... Then I won't try to dissuade you." He handed him a small box that appeared to be a communicator. "But if you ever change your mind... I will be more than happy to come back for you." Sighing heavily, he said, "I can't understand why you feel this way... No matter how hard I try. But... I know what love is... Because I most certainly loved your mother, and I most certainly love you." He turned away. "And love makes us do stupid things." Looking at his companions, he said quietly, "I believe it is time we were on our way."

Feeling relief that his admission was so painless, Dib offered, "I'll see you off."

The tension was yet again heavy as they all went back to the docking bay, but Dib felt lighter than air. He knew that, for once, he was doing what he felt was right and everyone knew what he wanted. They entered to find that Zim was gone; he had already refueled the craft and it was humming healthily, door open and waiting for passengers. The three other humans entered without sparing any time, immediately starting on their own diagnostics. Membrane was first to turn to Dib.

"Remember, you can come back to us any time," he said, patting him on the shoulder.

Nodding, Dib whispered, "I know... Thank you, father."

They were both quiet for a moment. Membrane whispered, "I hope you can forgive me... For abandoning you all that time..."

"We all have to do... what we feel is best, right?"

Taking a deep, steadying breath, the Professor nodded and ducked inside the ship.

Valerie was already bawling, doing her best to keep the sobs from breaking her chest apart. "Please, Dib! Please change your mind!" Grabbing his shoulders desperately, she cried, "I know you love him, but... But you don't understand--!"

"I do." He hugged her tight and solidly let her go. "I'll miss you, Valerie. You are a wonderful person."

"I'll write to you!" she sobbed, quickly turning and entering the ship herself. She was holding GIR closely, her tears dripping on his head as he flailed wildly. "Goodbye, Dib!" he cried as they both disappeared into the ship.

Gaz just glared at him. Smiling, Dib said quietly, "You should be happy... You always thought dad paid more attention to me than you..."

Before Dib could even react, Gaz had punched him in the cheekbone. He staggered backward, wide-eyed. "I just wanted us to be a family!" she cried, grabbing him by his lapels and shaking him. "You always had to fuck it all up chasing after Zim! Don't you understand?! You and dad are all I have!"

Sadness overwhelmed Dib. He wished that he could understand Gaz... But he never took the time to think about how much their mother's death, how much being left alone all the time, had affected her. She acted like she didn't want any companionship, but... "Now you have dad all to yourself..." he whispered, grabbing her arms to steady himself. "I wish I could give you more."

Tears were threatening to spring from her eyes, which surprised Dib. After looking impotently at him for a moment, she finally ripped his lapels down over the sides of his shoulders. Realizing what she was trying to do, he finally allowed her to pull off his trenchcoat. Holding it to herself like a stuffed animal, she growled, "I hate you. I hate you so fucking much..."

Impulsively, he grabbed her head and kissed her solidly on the temple. "Goodbye, Gaz."

She turned and entered the ship quickly, closing the door solidly behind her. Smiling, Dib stepped back and waved to them as he watched what little movement he could in the cockpit. Finally, Membrane signaled to him that they were ready to take off, so Dib quickly made his way out of the bay.

As he walked down the hallway, absorbed in thought, he heard the bay doors open and the ship take off with little delay. In mere moments, it was gone and the ship was quiet as a tomb. He wanted to run to the control room, but he could only manage to meander down the hallway, looking in wonder at all the empty rooms. Neither Gaz nor Valerie really had any possessions, but he still felt as if they had taken something with them.

He saw Zim's antennae perk up from his solitary position in the captain's chair when he entered the room.

"Dammit GIR! I told you to go with them," Zim barked, not even bothering to turn.

Slowly making his way up the stairs, he watched Zim's pathetic looking form. His hands played nervously over the keys on the control panel, shaking almost uncontrollably as he tried to make arrangements for the Goddess' next destination. His breathing was rapid.

"Why did you make GIR go, anyway?"

Whirling about, Zim's eyes went wide. "Dib!! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Did you really think I would leave you??"

Jumping to his feet and grabbing Dib's shirt, Zim cried, "You should have! You were supposed to!" When Dib simply shook his head, Zim yelled, "This is my fate and mine alone! You don't-- You can't-- You... You... YOU!" His face was wild. "WHY did they let you do this?! They should have--beat you over the head with something... Should have... Made you..." He collapsed against Dib, still staring angrily at him.

"I would have stolen a ship and come back," Dib answered simply, smiling into Zim's eyes.

Burying his head in Dib's chest, Zim sobbed, "Stupid... So stupid..."

"Just admit that you're happy to see me," Dib whispered, pulling the tip of one antenna into his mouth and suckling it gently.

They made love right there on the spot.

End Chapter 10