VINDICATION

Chapter 12: Father Figure

****BIG TIME WARNING: If you can’t handle character death and/or violence, DO NOT read this chapter******


Just after nightfall, Dib dragged his father into the lab, setting him down carefully, panting from exertion.

“Where…do you…want him?”

Zim, moderately surprised, pointed to the autopsy table. He honestly hadn’t expected Dib to follow through.

Dib nodded and dragged the doctor over to the table, grunting as he hauled him up onto it and strapped him in. He leaned back against the edge of the table, stretching his arms.

“So what are you planning on doing with him? Are you going to use his influence to get access to the disease materials?”

Zim’s eyes darkened, and a sadistic smile crept across his face. Now was the time...he knew Dib wouldn’t be able to do what he was about to ask of him, no matter how badly he wanted his precious little alliance. And then, THEN he would be rid of Dib’s pestering for good.

“No, not quite.” Zim pulled out the Irken dagger he’d used on Dib a few days before and held it out. “I want you to kill him.”

Dib’s jaw dropped and he gaped at him. “You…you want what?”

Zim snickered. Pathetic human. “I said I want you to kill him.” Zim tossed the dagger to Dib, and then crossed his arms over his chest, a smug grin on his face. “If you want to be my subordinate, then you will follow my orders. And I am ordering you to kill him.”

Doctor Membrane stirred, his eyes blinking open. “Hawkins…two parts…no, that…wrong mixture…” he mumbled, still thinking he was in his lab, not yet aware of his surroundings.

Dib clenched his fist around the handle of the Irken blade, and swallowed hard. He had expected Zim to test his loyalty, but not like this…god, not like this…

“What’s wrong, human? Can’t you do it?” Zim purred mockingly, the grin on his face growing wider.

“I told you I wanted to be your ally, Zim. Nothing’s changed.” Dib snapped, turning and approaching the autopsy table. He looked down at his father, trying to summon the strength to go through with it. He’d never killed before. But Zim was right; if he wanted to become an ally of the Irken Empire, he needed to come to terms with the fact that people were going to die, and they were going to die at his hand, whether directly or indirectly.

Dib clenched his teeth as his father lifted his head and gave a little tug at the bonds.

“That’s strange, I must have dozed off.” Membrane looked around, quirking a brow when he saw his son standing there. “Ah, Dib…come to the lab to see some real science at work, hm?” He laughed in that patronizing way of his, not noticing the blade in Dib’s shaking hands.

Dib clenched his teeth, anger pooling in the pit of his stomach. “Real science…that’s all you ever talk about, Dad.” He stepped towards the table. “You…you’re so condescending…all the time…always treating me like a child…”

Membrane chuckled again. “Ah, my poor insane son. You haven’t taken your medication today, have you?”

The words made Dib scowl, and he brought the dagger up above his head, holding it with both hands, his whole body trembling. “You never listened…you never even knew me.” He clenched his teeth, angry tears welling up in his eyes. “And you never will.”

Zim’s eyes widened as Dib brought the blade down, and kept bringing it down, even after his father had stopped struggling and lay still, long since dead.

Dib finally stepped back, shaking and panting heavily, then tossed the blade aside, turning and walking back over to Zim. He felt a numbing sense of rage inside, and it chilled him to the bone…but there was a hunger for more that showed through in his hazel eyes. Dib stood before Zim, his hands and clothing soaked with blood. Steadying himself, Dib saluted him. “Your orders have been carried out. I await your next command.”