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VINDICATION	By : Florville Category: +G through L > Invader Zim > AU/AR-Alternate Universe-Alternate Reality Views: 29601 -:- 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
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Chapter 74: Final Countdown

**Disclaimer: The Final Countdown and Rock the Night are copyright Europe and Legacy Recordings. I’m not making any money off of the reference to this killer band and their kickbutt songs, so please don’t sue me.

Only five days remained until The Massive was to reach Irk, and preparations were underway for the lockdown, scheduled to occur at the zero hour between day five and day four.

Around noon, Zim walked into the sick bay, nodding to Tana, Jes and Dib as he walked through to the room where the former Tallests were housed. He had received a transmission informing him that Purple had awoken, and Zim wanted to be the first to see him.

When he entered the room, he cringed, then forced himself to wear an impassive expression as he approached Purple, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, his face stained with tears.

“Are you in pain?” he asked softly.

Purple lifted his head, scowling at him, jumping off of the bed and trying to lunge at him, staggering and falling instead.

Zim stepped forward and caught him at the last second, his gloved hands under Purple’s arms. He helped him carefully back to the bed, lifting him and sitting him back down on the edge.

“How could you, Zim?” Purple moaned, burying his face in his hands. “How could you do this to us?”

At these words, Zim scowled, his eyes narrowing as a dark and brooding malice entered the ruby depths.

“You know, that is a question that I had often wanted to ask you, Purple.” Zim’s antennae stood straight back as he bristled with anger. “How could you banish me, turn me into a worthless drone and send me to that hell-planet Foodcourtia? How could you deceive me and send me to that dirt-ball, Earth, under false pretenses of it being a mission? How could you MOCK me, MOCK my pain, my exile, as you and Red, yourselves, created through cruelty the one who would come to depose you?” Zim was shouting now, his eyes narrowed in venomous rage. “I once called you LEADER, Purple! And were it not for your height, you and I would have been EQUALS! How dare you mock my pain by acting as if you did not deserve this. You have no IDEA how I suffered at your hands!” He fisted his hands in the front of Purple’s sleep robe, snarling into his face. “Before you ask how could I, think first on how merciful I have truly been to you.”

Zim shoved Purple back down onto the bed and stormed out, leaving the former leader to contemplate his angry words.

As Zim stalked out of the room, Dib frowned in concern, jogging over to him. “Zim? Are you all r—”

“Not now, Dib.” Zim growled, raising a hand. “Bad time. Very bad time.”

Dib stopped in his tracks, nodding and watching him leave.

The Medical Officers were quiet for a long time, then Officer Jes spoke.

“So how does Tallest Zim know you, Earth-Dib?”

Turning, Dib smiled and shook his head, walking over to his two accomplices, leading them back over to where Hugin lay strapped to the cold metallic table, clinging valiantly to life.

“It’s a long story, Jes…” Dib put an arm around the Medical Officer’s shoulders, “but I promise, I’ll tell it to you some day. Let’s try the second serum we worked out.”

He stepped up to the metal table, cracking his knuckles. “WAKEY WAKEY!!” Dib grinned as he smacked Hugin hard in the face. “Time to try our serum du jour!”

Hugin shuddered, his voice hoarse from screaming the night before. “Why won’t you kill me, monitor?”

Dib scowled, his eyes narrowing to dark, hateful slits. “Because what goes around comes around, asshole. Don’t tamper with races you don’t understand.” He yanked the Vortian’s head back and poured the serum down his throat, holding his jaw shut as he sputtered, swallowing convulsively.

“Wonderful. Now, let’s hook him up to the machines and take him for another test drive!” Dib rubbed his hands together in sadistic glee.

*

Zim stalked into his suite, his antennae flattened against his skull in rage. Thinking about the way the Tallests had treated him had put him in a black mood, and he snarled, punching the wall, his knuckles coming away bloodied, although he had put a dent in the metal. Sighing, Zim pulled his gloves off and looked down at his hand impassively, then shook his head. Catching an odd glint of light out of the corner of his eye, Zim turned and realized that GIR was standing there, looking up at him in a fashion that could only be described as confused.

“You puncheded the wall, Master.”

Zim’s antennae twitched as he looked down at his S.I.R. unit. “Yeah. I did.”

The little robot blinked at him. “Why?”

“Because I’m angry, GIR.”

“At the wall?”

Rolling his eyes, Zim shook his head, running a hand over his antennae. “No, GIR. I’m not angry at the wall. I’m angry at the Tallests.”

“What they do?” GIR sat down at his feet, looking up at him.

Zim looked down at him and then shrugged a shoulder. “They acted like they didn’t do anything bad to me.”

GIR gazed at him blankly, then smiled in his usual insane manner. “I ate all their taquitos.”

Blinking at him for a few seconds, Zim grinned, and then started to laugh.

*

“We’ve done it!” Dib cried, shaking a fist in victory.

Tana grinned, her curled antennae standing straight up as the human shook her hand.

Jes, busy putting away the other serums, just grinned.

Dib sighed. “Well, that’s quite a relief.” He released Tana’s hand, pursing his lips for a moment, then nodding. “But we’ll need to bring a few more test subjects in here to make sure it’s not just an anomaly. We can get another of the Vortian prisoners once we’re done with him.” Dib indicated Hugin.

Closing the storage case, Jes returned to Dib’s side, crossing his arms over his chest and indicating Hugin. “Were you planning anything else for this specimen?”

A cold, sadistic grin crept across Dib’s features. “I had something in mind, yes…” He pulled an Irken blade out of the inside pocket of the lab coat, unsheathing it, smirking when the razor-sharp edge glinted in the overhead light.

Both Irkens grinned, their eyes narrowing.

Walking over to the table where Hugin was strapped down, Dib leaned against it, smirking as he played with the edge of the blade. “So, this has been fun…it’s really a shame that we couldn’t have gotten better acquainted.”

“Go ahead and kill me, Monitor.” The Vortian growled weakly. “Indulge in the savagery of your race as often as you like. Your Irken associates will eventually see through your façade of intelligence.”

“Façade, hmm?” Dib’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and he scowled. “I’m going to teach you a little Earth saying before you die, Hugin…” He adjusted the weapon in his hand. “Death is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.” With that, he shoved Hugin’s forehead back, dragging the Irken blade across the Vortian’s throat, blood pouring from the wound as the bound alien went into violent convulsions that eventually dwindled to his last agonal twitches and spasms before Hugin’s body went completely still.

Soaked in blood, Dib chuckled, turning to Tana and Jes, bowing slightly as they applauded. Stretching, he smirked, then wiped his hands on a clean towel offered to him by Jes, tossing it aside once his hands were clean. “I’m just full of Earth sayings these days.”

Jes snickered. “I find them quite entertaining, Earth-Dib.” He filed the effective serum away, logging the components into the computer. “Do you have any more for us today?”

Dib grinned as he looked over his shoulder at the dead Vortian on the table.

“Revenge is a dish served sweeter cold.”

*

Zim made his way over to one of the Council Rooms, nodding when he saw the Master Tech waiting for him in the entryway, standing at attention.

“At ease.” He walked with her into the room, where all of the Advisors and several of the higher-ranking Techs were seated. Zim sat down at the head of the table, next to Advisor Kha, nodding for the briefing to begin.

Kha stood, addressing the room. “This is a basic debriefing regarding the lockdown that will be taking place in just under six hours. There are a few things that need to be done beforehand to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the ten days we must wait before the rest of the Armada catches up to us. Then, we proceed to Irk for the Ordainment of our new Tallest.”

There was applause around the room, which made Zim smile, shifting awkwardly in his seat. He was still getting used to being respected as a leader…

Advisor Kha sat back down next to Zim as the room darkened slightly and a 3-D projection appeared above the table. Master Technical Officer Wir ran over the floating schematic of the Massive, indicating certain areas as she spoke.

“Once lockdown is engaged, the mainframe will shut down for a period of at least one hour. This means that every single system will cease operating; the lights, the communications consoles, the gel baths, snack dispensers…everything. So be prepared, and ensure that those under you are prepared as well. We will be giving a general transmission advising all officers to return to quarters fifteen minutes before lockdown is initiated, as the doors will also cease to operate. They will be instructed to remain in their quarters until the internal lighting system comes back on, which is closely linked to the door operation system, so they should come back on around the same time.”

The Techs and Advisors nodded, as did Zim, who was listening intently.

Wir pressed a few buttons, and certain portions of the 3-D schematic disappeared. “Now, as soon as the basic life-support systems are back up, the mainframe will begin to do a self-scan, searching for the so-called ‘virus’ that it was locked down to find. It is a process that takes at least four days, as there are many systems, from the largest to the smallest, for the mainframe to scan.”

“What gets scanned first, Officer Wir?” Zim asked, his antennae twitching.

“The shields and weapons systems are the first to be scanned and put back into operation, my Tallest, so that the Massive is defenseless for the minimal amount of time.”

Zim nodded. “Good. Continue.”

*

Dib lay stretched out on the bed in the Tallest suite, wearing a pair of boxers, having just finished washing all of the wet and dried Vortian blood from his person. He sighed in pleasure…yes, this had been a very rewarding day. After testing the serum on ten subjects, it had proven to be completely effective. Vortian Truth Serum had been tried, tested, proven, and was now filed in the Irken database for use in future interrogations.

He’d traveled light years away from Earth, and he finally felt like he was at home. Dib chuckled.

Curling up among the plush pillows, he yawned widely, then closed his eyes.

*

Zim sighed wearily, having spent the last few hours retro-fitting his PAK for a night-vision visor, as had many of the techs and all seven Advisors. Yawning, he entered the Tallest suite, almost tripping over GIR, who had curled up on the floor to sleep and was now snoring loudly.

“GIR!! Go…do something!” he shouted, clenching his fists.

“Okeedokie!” The little robot jumped up and ran off, the suite door sliding shut behind him.

Zim muttered under his breath, one eye narrowing when he saw Dib on the bed, sitting up and blinking at him. “What?” he snapped.

Dib’s eyes widened a little, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Nothing…what’s got you so tense?”

“I am not tense.” Zim growled, walking into the bathroom and starting to fill the tub with gel. “The lockdown procedure starts in less than two hours, Dib. Are you even ready?”

Climbing off of the bed, Dib walked over, frowning. “All I have to do is get dressed, Zim.” He watched as his lover stripped and removed his pak, placing it carefully on the counter. “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

“Your attitude says otherwise.” Dib replied, leaning against the door frame.

Zim whirled on him, opening his mouth to yell at him, then realizing he had nothing to say in his defense. “Your head is stupid.” Sulking, Zim turned and climbed into the tub, refusing to look at his human lover.

Dib had to bite his lip hard to keep himself from laughing in response to Zim’s moody attempt at a rebuttal. Shaking his head, he walked over to the tub and knelt down beside it, reaching out and running a hand over Zim’s back. “You’re worried about the lockdown.”

The Irken scowled, grabbing a cloth and starting to rub it over his skin, not replying.

Smiling fondly, Dib sat next to the tub, leaning back against the edge and looking up at the high metal ceiling. “We worked out the formula for the Vortian Truth Serum.”

Zim blinked, turning his head and looking at him. “You did?”

Dib looked over his shoulder, his smile widening a little. “Yeah. It’s been logged in the computers; all that needs to be done now is to mass-produce it, and you’ll have another asset to add to the Irken arsenal.”

Zim grinned sadistically, envisioning future battles that he would head; then, just as suddenly, he shook his head, the smile vanishing as he turned away again. “That’s good,” he mumbled.

The human’s smile faded to a concerned expression. “Zim, seriously, what’s wrong?”

A pained look crossed Zim’s features for a moment before his antennae drooped and he sighed heavily. “Come in the tub with me, Dib-human.”

Dib chuckled softly. “Don’t have to tell me twice.” He removed his boxers and kicked them aside, hopping into the enormous tub and slipping his arms around his lover. “C’mon, Zim. I’m listening.”

The Irken shook his head, then curled up against Dib’s side, closing his eyes. “I just…” he sighed, frowning as he tried to find the words. “I have this strange feeling inside of me. Not in my squeedlyspooch…I mean…I don’t feel sick, but there’s something wrong.”

“When did it start?” Dib picked up the cloth and ran it over Zim’s arm and shoulder.

Zim’s antennae twitched as he considered this. “I think…a few days ago…”

Dib smiled. “Well, we’re getting pretty close to Irk now…and it’s only ten days until the Armada catches up to us and we all go together to Irk for your Ordination.”

A shiver ran through Zim’s body and he held his breath for a long moment before letting it out slowly. “Yes…” he smiled.

“I’m proud of you.”

Zim’s eyes widened and he lifted his head. “You…are? Why?”

Dib smirked, running the cloth gently over the side of Zim’s neck, then over his forehead as he kissed him softly, then leaned back again, starting to wash his lover’s chest. “Because…you started a mission…and not only did you accomplish it, you’ve exceeded what you had set out to do, and you’ve gone for the highest possible reward. And you’re going to achieve it, Zim.”

The Irken shuddered again, then met Dib’s gaze, his own ruby eyes dark and serious. “Mark my words, Dib…the Empire will be far more fruitful once I become Tallest.”

*

Gathered in the enormous chamber at the heart of the Massive, Zim and Dib stood with Advisor Kha, Master Technical Officer Wir, two other Advisors, two additional high-ranking techs, and a Medical Officer. Zim was also flanked by two guards, which he had insisted weren’t really necessary; however, the Advisors had informed him that it was protocol, so he relented.

Kha pulled the console door open again, entering a code into the control panel.

Zim watched and memorized the movements of Kha’s fingers, lest he should ever need to perform this procedure again. Checking his internal clock, Zim nodded. “Two minutes.”

The guards shifted from foot to foot, while the Medical Officer checked through a few notes in his log before putting it back in his pocket.

Crossing his arms, Zim took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He almost jumped out of his skin when he felt someone touch him, but he relaxed when he saw Dib smiling at him, stroking his back reassuringly. Giving only the faintest hint of a smile, Zim nodded to him, then looked back at the console.

“Thirty seconds. Visors.”

All the occupants of the chamber (other than Dib, who didn’t have a pak) extended the new addition to their paks from a few hours before, activating the night vision as Zim spoke again.

“Twenty seconds.” Hearing Dib behind him, Zim quirked his antennae. “What’s that you’re humming?” Zim gave him an odd look.

Dib smirked. “The Final Countdown. One of the few really good songs to come out of the 80’s. Well, that, and Rock the Night, which is on the same album…”

Zim shook his head, smiling in spite of himself. “You and your strange Earth-music. Five, four, three, two, one—engage lockdown.”

There was a loud CATCHUNK as Advisor Kha and Master Technical Officer Wir simultaneously pulled the large levers, locking them down to the panel.

Then, the chamber went completely silent as it was plunged into darkness.
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VINDICATION