VINDICATION

Chapter 63: Postictal

*****This chapter is dedicated to Chess77, !!, and chatnia, my new reviewy-peeps of DOOM!!


Dib stirred when he heard the bedroom door slide open, and he lifted his head, blinking at Zim drowsily. “Where’d you go?” Dib sat up and grabbed his glasses, rubbing his eyes and then putting them on.

Zim sighed, walking over and sitting next to Dib on the bed. “I was consulting with the Advisors.”

The human quirked a brow. “Oh? What about?”

Zim leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes for a moment. “There’s a problem…with me becoming ruler of the Empire.”

Dib’s eyes widened and he blinked at Zim in surprise and confusion. “Why only now?”

The Irken smiled sheepishly. “It didn’t occur to me that Red and Purple might still be Taller than me.”

One of Dib’s brows rose. “So?”

Zim cleared his throat. “The Control Brain won’t Ordain me unless I am the Tallest in the Empire.” He opened his eyes, scratching the base of one antenna.

Dib shrugged. “So kill Red and Purple. No biggie.”

Zim shook his head. “That’s just it…I can’t.” He sighed. “All Irkens are faithful to their Tallests. And while I may not exactly like Red and Purple…” he sighed heavily, closing his eyes again. “It’s…complicated.” Zim was quiet for a long time, then rolled his shoulders and spoke again. “If I kill Red and Purple, that will make me an assassin and a usurper. I don’t want to be seen that way.”

Dib nodded, reaching out and brushing his knuckles gently over Zim’s cheek.

Zim sighed, tilting his head into the touch and closing his eyes.

“So what are you going to do?”

Zim shrugged, shaking his head. “I’m not sure. Unless I can make myself Taller or Red and Purple shorter, I won’t have the support of the Irken populace.”

Dib considered this for a few minutes, then grinned, sitting up sharply. “Why don’t y—GAH!!” Dib suddenly grabbed his temples, his eyes clenched closed, his expression tight with pain.

Zim instantly had Dib in his arms, his expression panicked. “DIB!! Dib, what’s wrong?”

The human was gasping, his body twitching and starting to convulse. Zim shouted into his communicator. “Medical Officer!! Get a Medical Officer to my suite, NOW!!”

After a minute or so, Dib went completely limp, his body soaked in sweat and trembling with exertion. He groaned softly, his breathing slowly starting to even out.

Zim brushed the human’s damp locks back from his face, holding him close. “Dib?”

Dib swallowed hard, opening his eyes dazedly and blinking up at his lover.

“Dib, are you all right?” Zim swallowed hard, his heart racing.

“I don’t…know.” Dib mumbled, still trembling. “I think I just had a seizure…I…I’m not sure…I’ve never had one…”

Six Medical Officers burst into the Tallest suite, bags in hand, flanked by four guards. Zim raised a hand to forestall them as he looked down into his human’s eyes.

Dib closed his eyes, groaning again as exhaustion pulled him down into its dark embrace, and a few seconds later, he dropped off into a deep sleep.

Zim nodded to the Medical Officers, rising to his feet with Dib in his arms. “I’m bringing him to the Sick Bay.” He walked past his officers, staying in front of them, not wanting them to see the fear in his eyes.