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Under Glass	By : LiesDee Category: +G through L > Invader Zim > AU/AR-Alternate Universe-Alternate Reality Views: 3260 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter 2
Project Zim began sixteen years ago when a young scientist named Professor Membrane discovered the crash landing site of an alien vessel near the North Pole. Taking a brief hiatus from the construction of his Anti-Santa Arsenal which had since then been his life's work, Professor Membrane captured the landed alien and took charge of the research team assigned to its study, quicky becoming the foremost xenobiological expert on the planet.
Project Dib began over fifteen years ago. It was one of Professor Membrane’s pet projects, a cloning experiment using his own DNA, designed to essentially create a viable genetic offspring - a son. He couldn’t help but use a dash of genetic material from the exciting new sample his team was working on. The results were quite satisfactory. He managed to create a child with the mind of a human being, his own intellectual heir, and with a body that had all the characteristics of a completely alien species. The project was declared a success, and the child was named Dib. Plans were made to someday use him in facilitating the study of subject Zim.
Project Gaz came later, but that's another story.
*--------------*
Dib sat on the cold metal floor, watching Zim make scratches in the rust of the southernmost wall. It had taken a week and covered the entirety of the northern walls of the habitat, but Dib had finally begun to grasp the basics of the Irken alphabet, which Zim had insisted was essential to the rest of his education.
Today’s lesson: Galactic political astronomy.
Zim had just finished an intricate drawing of a small planet, complete with main cities and landmarks. He pointed to it dramatically. “THIS is IRK, our glorious home planet!” Then he made a large circle around the planet, its solar system, and a sizeable group of solar systems surrounding it. “THIS is the Irken Empire, which our kind has managed to conquer in only the past six-hundred cycles. And these–” he drew other circles around various star systems. “Are other nation-territories. The Vortian Circle, the Meekrob Alliance, etc etc. . .they aren’t really important but I might tell you about them later after I finish telling you about Irk, the Empire, and the space we’ve designated for conquest in the next six hundred cycles.” Zim drew a circle that encompassed the entirety of the wall.
Dib raised his hand.
“Yes, Dib.” Said Zim.
“Um. . .where’s Earth in relation to all of this. I mean, the planet that we’re on right now.”
Zim looked at the chart mumbled some numbers to himself. He placed a small circle right on the edge of the wall. “There.” He said.
“Oh.” Said Dib, not sure if he was happy or disappointed that they seemed to be so far away from the more active places in the universe. He waited patiently while Zim re-drew the map on the two adjacent walls to represent the second and third dimensions, then began the lesson proper.
After having subjected Zim to years of physical study and experimentation, the scientists had finally sewn all of his parts back on and decided to study his behavior instead. Nearly every inch of this underground habitat that his captors had provided for him was monitored by tiny cameras embedded in the walls, a fact that apparently Zim didn’t know.
Zim had, in the past two weeks since Dib had arrived to ask him questions, provided them with all the information they’d ever want from him. Which meant that Dib’s job here was done. He had expected his father to release him one or two hours after he’d arrived – which was the original plan, or so he’d been told. His father hadn’t come. Hours, days, weeks now.
Dib had panicked a little after the first week, running aimlessly from one end of the habitat to the other, screaming “Let me out!”. Then Zim had given him another firm slap to bring him to his senses – he seemed to enjoy doing just a little that too much.
Dib never really fully overcame his initial fear of the alien. Only now it was tinged with a sharp fascination. The alien reminded him, strangely enough, of his father. There was the same confidence bordering on arrogance, and the same dogged determination, the same certain obliviousness to facts that he didn’t want to know.
Zim had spent the better part of the last decade being dissected in a jar, subjected to the most horrible experiments science could think to visit upon him, but still they didn’t come close to breaking him. He was the very definition of defiance. He was the fiercest person Dib had ever met, and Dib found himself drawn inexorably to him.
After a lengthy lesson, Dib discovered that he was getting tired.
“I need to sleep now, okay Zim?” He got up and headed for the small room with the makeshift rag-bed in it.
Zim scowled. He still didn’t like this whole ‘sleeping’ business Dib needed to do every night. Irkens soldiers only needed to sleep when they were deathly ill – Zim thought it must be indicative of some brain damage the humans had caused Dib during an experiment.
The simple fact was that the Pak on Dib’s back contained a few useful tools, but was otherwise only for show – his human meat-brain did all of his functioning for him, and it still needed sleep.
Pulling his rag-covers up, Dib closed his eyes and thought about Zim, who was crouched on the ground beside him, keeping watch as he did every night while Dib slept.
Even my dad was never this protective of me. Was Dib’s last thought before he drifted off.
*--------------*
When he came to, Dib was back in the lab compound.
“Well, well, well – look who’s awake!” Said a voice from one of the speakers on the wall. Looking over, Dib saw Simmons wave cheerily from behind the thick glass wall of the observation workstation.
Dib rubbed his eyes and grumpily wished that it were any other of his father’s scientists here with him. He was used to their coldness, the way they treated him like a sample in a petrie dish. Simmons was the only one who went out of his way to talk to him and play friendly, but he always somehow put Dib on edge.
“Where’s. . .my Dad?” Asked Dib groggily. He felt like he’d been drugged.
“Oh, he was called away to Berlin, some sort of emergency or other – you know how it is.” Simmons smiled his dead-fish smile. “Don’t worry – he left me in charge.”
Dib tried to shake away the gauziness in his head. It wouldn’t budge. “Zim! He was watching me – he’ll be worried sick. You have to let me. . .just explain–”
“Oh don’t worry about your little friend. We shot him full of sedatives before we took you, and you’ll be back before he wakes up. He’ll never even know you were gone.”
“I’m. . .going back?” Asked Dib.
“Of course you are.” Simmons nodded smugly. “We’ve still got data to collect.”
“What data. . .do you want me to ask him more questions?”
Simmons chuckled. “Not quite. Don’t worry –”
He keeps saying that. Thought Dib anxiously.
“–Let’s just say that you’ll be working for the greater good.” With an inane grin, Simmons lifted his hand, revealing the control glove on it. Nearby, one of the robotic arms installed in the room mimicked his action, retrieving a steel tray containing two full syringes.
Dib only just realized that his arms were strapped down. He didn’t think he could do much with them anyways, what with the state he was in. “What’s that?” Asked Dib.
“This? This is just a little more sedative.” Simmons answered as the robotic arm administered one of the two syringes.
Like I need anymore sedative. Hey! What’s in that other one? Thought Dib, but was unable to speak as his mouth went slack.
Simmons smiled coldly from behind his glass shield. The robotic hand began to flick the needle of the second syringe just as Dib passed out.
End of Chapter 2
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