VINDICATION

CHAPTER 2: Confrontation


Dib approached the tall, narrow beige house, taking a deep breath and adjusting his backpack on his shoulder. He straightened his posture and walked up to the front door, seeing the weird-looking lawn gnomes following his movement out of the corner of his eye. Wiping his sweating palms on his jeans, he raised a fist and knocked loudly on the door.

A few seconds passed before the door swung open, and a butler looking uncannily like Alfred from the Batman movies stood there, looking at him impassively.

“Yes?” He asked.

Dib blinked at the butler for a moment and then cleared his throat. “Uh…hi…I’d like to see Zim.”

The butler seemed to contemplate him for a long time before stepping back and waving him in.

“Thanks.” Dib muttered, looking around. He heard the rapid clicking of nails on tile, and an enormous Rottweiler burst into the room and stopped about a yard from where Dib was standing. The dog’s eyes narrowed and it began to growl at him, its hackles raised and its teeth bared. Taking a step towards him, the dog growled louder, then started barking viciously at him, its eyes glowing red, saliva dripping from its mouth.

Panicking, Dib tugged frantically at the doorknob, trying to get out, but the door wouldn’t budge.

A few seconds later the barking stopped and Dib heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Stand down, GIR.”

Dib turned just in time to catch sight of the Rottweiler transforming into the little metallic robot. GIR saluted Zim, his eyes still glowing red. Zim was standing a few feet behind him, glaring at Dib. He tapped a hidden button on his shoulder, and the human disguise disappeared. There was really no reason to keep the costume on; after all, it was only Dib. Now standing just over six and a half feet tall, Zim wore a longer, darker version of his standard uniform. His antennae were a little longer now too, and curved back in the same delicate swoop as they always had. Zim crossed his arms over his chest.

“What do you want, Dib-worm?”

Dib was still blinking at GIR, shocked at the new disguise, and at GIR’s new functionality. Then again, if Zim’s disguise had been perfected to the degree it had, then Zim having a new and improved GIR was only logical. Swallowing hard, Dib stepped forward, meeting Zim’s gaze.

“I want to join you.”

Zim’s ruby eyes narrowed slightly. “Join me in what?”

“Your mission.”

Zim blinked at him, his eyes widening. Suddenly he grinned, then burst out laughing, eventually doubling over with the force of it. When he finally straightened again, he leaned against GIR and rubbed his eyes.

“Oh…hah…oh, Dib…that’s a good one. I haven’t laughed that hard since you tried to get me to help your sister when you turned her into a pig-demon.”

Dib set his jaw, his fists clenching. “I’m serious.”

Shaking his head, Zim chuckled and waved dismissively. “Enough. I don’t have time for this chatter right now.”

Dib stepped forward, his voice louder and more firm. “I told you, Zim, I’m serious. I want to join you in your mission to conquer Earth.”

Zim scowled. “I don’t need any help from you, human.”

“That’s not an issue. I know you probably don’t need my help. I want to join you. I want to be your ally.”

Zim’s eyes darkened and he growled. “Ally? I need no allies. Get out.”

Feeling that he’d started off wrong, Dib removed his backpack and set it down. “Here, I’ll show you—”

“GIR, scan for weapons.” Zim ordered, stepping back and crossing his arms again.

GIR’s eyes narrowed to glowing red slits as he scanned the bag, then saluted Zim again. “SIR, WEAPONS SEARCH NEGATIVE!”

Zim watched as Dib pulled a pile of books out of the backpack, setting them down on the floor. “What are you doing?”

“I brought these for you.” Dib pushed the pile of books towards Zim. “There’s all kinds of useful information in them…stuff on genetics, human biology, the structure of human society, mechanics, geology, geography, history…all kinds of stuff that you can use to your advantage. Here.” He stood and held one out to him.

Zim looked at it distastefully. “You’re up to something.”

Dib shook his head. “No…I’ve just come to a decision. I want to help you take this planet over.”

Zim's ruby eyes narrowed again and he quirked an antenna. “I already told you, Dib-worm, I don’t NEED help. Besides, why would YOU want to help ME?”

Dib sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. “I don’t fit in here, Zim. I never have, and I never will.” He scowled, tossing the book to the floor again. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy, and everyone treats me like dirt…even my own family.” Dib clenched his fists. “I hate it here. I’m sick and tired of humanity…so I want to help you take it over, and if you want, to wipe it out.”

Zim was greatly unnerved by this drastic change in Dib’s morals, and he shook his head. “All of that is irrelevant. I don’t want your help. I am an Invader, and I need NO-ONE.”

Dib blinked at Zim, not knowing what to say any more. “Please, Zim…I don’t want to be an opponent any more. I want to be an ally, I swear—”

“I NEED NO ALLIES!!” Zim shouted, stalking towards him. “GET OUT!!”

Backing up, Dib tried frantically to think of some way to salvage any remaining opportunity to get what he was after. “Wait! No, wait, listen—”

“Out, out, OUT!!” Zim snarled, pointing to the door.

“No!! Zim, please, if you…if you won’t take me as an ally, then…then…” At this point in his life, Dib had little pride left to sacrifice anyway. He swallowed hard, then dropped to one knee, his head lowered. “…then take me as a…a servant. A subordinate.”

Zim, just about to grab Dib by the neck and throw him out, stopped in his tracks, blinking in surprise. He looked down at the top of Dib’s now proportionately-sized head, his scarlet eyes narrowing.

“You insult my intelligence, Dib-monkey. I’ll take you as my PRISONER until I find out what you’re really after.”

Dib shrugged and rose to his feet. “I understand. It’s something I’m willing to endure.”

Zim’s eyes burned a darker shade of red and he snarled, grabbing Dib by the throat and slamming him against the door, his grip tightening as he hissed at him.

“Willing?” Zim spat the word out. “Understand this, human: within these walls, there is no will but MINE.” He released Dib and stepped back. “COMPUTER!! Restrain the intruder!”

In a split second, Dib, still gasping for breath, was bound from head to toe in thick snakelike metal cords. He hit the ground hard, although he didn’t struggle. He just remained still, thinking of all the things he had to gain, and for a few brief seconds, a smile crept across his face.