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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.

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***Note: Don't hurt me!! I have been updating this story on my own site while AFF.net was going through all that crap, I just had no tolerance for it, but I kicked my butt into finally updating on here. *scuffs toe* Hope this chap is good enough...

Oh, and this chapter is dedicated to thuringwethil, Tensei, NA-JediKittyKaiba, BLutig Tod Engel, Natters, Kagome, Whitethorn, Keri, and Ann, all new reviewy-peeps of reviewy doom who are muchly lurved.

Chapter 77: Maintenance

The first day of the lockdown had passed without event, with the entire crew enjoying the few days off before the upcoming arrival of the Armada, as well as the ceremony and celebration set to be held on Irk.

Around lunch, Zim received a knock on the door of his suite. If it weren’t for the fact that Dib never bothered knocking, Zim may have thought it was his human at the door; but then again, Dib was off doing research in the Medical Bay.

“Come in.” he called, rising to his feet.

Wir entered, standing at attention and saluting. “My Tallest.”

Zim nodded. “At ease. What brings you here, Master Technician Wir?”

Pulling out a large data screen, Wir offered it to Zim. “It seems that the lockdown process has enabled the computer to find some problems.”

Frowning slightly, Zim took the proffered screen, looking over the data carefully. “What do you mean?”

“It seems that there are actually some technical faults in the shields, the weapons, some of the communications ports, a few of the climate control regulators, and Irk knows how many more of the more minor systems.” Wir gestured expansively, leaning back against the door frame.

Zim’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong with the shields?”

The female Irken shrugged a shoulder. “Just a few thin spots here and there; but still, it’s not something we should overlook, if you don’t mind my saying so, my Tallest.”

Waving dismissively, Zim nodded. “You’re a Master Tech for a reason, Wir. What do you suggest?”

Taking the screen back, Wir looked over it again. “Well, my suggestion would be to input the maintenance upgrade into the computer and just make it part of the lockdown. It’ll make it a lot faster, since energy won’t be drawn away from the scan and the upgrade process by any of the systems that the lockdown is still keeping offline.”

“Such as communications.”

“Exactly.” Wir nodded.

“And if this were put into the lockdown, how much longer would it take?” Zim tapped his fingers idly against his thigh.

Wir ran her fingertip over the list of systems in need of upgrades and scans, then nodded. “Well, if we input the upgrade now, it would add an extra day, a day and a half at most, but it would ensure that all systems are optimal. Needless to say, your…ah…predecessors, as it were, didn’t really see the point in ordering routine maintenance of the ship or it’s systems.”

Zim snorted. “Why am I not surprised?” He considered for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “I think now is as good a time as any. How far behind is the Armada now?”

“As far as I’ve heard, they’re making excellent time. They gave an updated ETA of three days rather than five.”

The words made Zim grin. “Excellent. The faster the better. Very well, then, let’s get this ship up and running, and let’s do it properly.”

“It would be my pleasure, my Tallest.” Wir saluted, smiling brightly as she turned and left.

******

Later that day, Zim walked into the Medical bay, creeping up behind Dib, who was busily breaking down a system of elements into atoms and molecules, examining them through the 3-D visor and gloves, completely oblivious to his lover’s presence.

Grinning, Zim reached down and pinched Dib’s ass cheek, which was undoubtedly still sore from the previous evening’s activities.

Dib jumped, scowling as he pulled the visor off. “Jeez, Zim, don’t do that! This equipment is very s—” he was cut off by a sweet and gentle kiss, and he rolled his eyes when Zim lifted his head and smiled down at him. “You’re lucky I like you.” Dib muttered, putting the visor back on. “Whatever happened to ‘no touching in front of the crew, Dib’?”

Zim snorted, waving a hand dismissively. “The rule is that YOU can’t attempt to arouse ME in front of my crew, Dib-stink.” He smirked. “Besides, no-one’s looking.”

Dib muttered something under his breath and ignored him.

Smirking, Zim walked into the bay where Red was still being kept unconscious, and Purple was hooked up to monitoring devices.

The Medical Officer Jes, who was attending to Purple’s pain medications and measuring the levels of healing activity in his Tall frame, jumped to attention and saluted Zim. “My Tallest.” His eyes widened when Zim reached out and grabbed him, pulling him forward in time to miss a hard swing from Purple’s fist.

Zim stepped forward, grabbing Purple by the arm and hissing. “Do you want me to have them restrain you?”

Purple shouted back at him. “They call you that out of ignorance, IMPOSTER!! You are a fake and a usurper, unworthy to lick the dirt on the Tallest platform!”

The words didn’t bother Zim; in fact, he had expected them. He shrugged one shoulder. “The Control Brains will decide that.”

“You’re a defect, DRONE Zim. Not even an Invader! We should’ve just had you sent back to Foodcourtia to be that Frylord’s whipping boy again.” Purple leered at him.

Zim’s eyes narrowed and he bristled with rage. “Jes, get the straps, NOW.”

Jes saluted. “Yes, my Tallest.”

“HE ISN’T A TALLEST, YOU VILE LITTLE ROACH!!”

“And some sedative!” Zim snapped over his shoulder. Turning back to Purple, he scowled. “You would do best to behave, Purple. I would hate for you to blacken their memory of you further by being so disgustingly rude.”

Hissing, Purple spat in Zim’s face. “That is what I think of their memory, dirt-stain.”

Zim said nothing now, holding Purple’s wrist until Jes and Ser came with restraints and bound the violet-eyed Irken to the rails, ignoring his screams as Ser issued a sedative and the bound Irken finally settled into sleep.

Zim sighed heavily as he turned and left the Medical Bay. “I hate doing this to them, I really do, Jes.”

The shorter Med nodded, gazing up at him. “You can’t have him hitting the Meds, though, my Tallest. And they speak blasphemies when they are awake, which would disturb any other patient we have here.”

“I suppose…” Zim murmured, looking over at Dib for a moment, then shaking his head. “To be honest, doing what’s best for the crew…besides becoming Tallest, that is the only thing that’s truly important to me…” besides the Dib…

Jes nodded, smiling warmly. “Spoken like a true leader, my Tallest, something we’ve not had in a very long time.”

Zim turned his head, blinking at the Medical Officer for a long moment, then smiling, reaching out and patting his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Jes smiled wider, then cleared his throat. “I, ah…I had meant to ask, my Tallest…had you decided on a sentence for them yet?”

Zim retracted his hand, his expression growing solemn. “Yes…but…I’d really rather not speak of it at the moment. All of that will be revealed in time.”

******

Returning to his suite late in the evening, Zim yawned, stretching as the gentle orb-lights hovered around the room. But there was another light too, a flat square one, and Zim smiled when he realised Dib had fallen asleep at his computer. Coming up behind him, Zim slipped his arms gently around his lover and kissed his cheek softly, nuzzling the side of his neck. Pulling the chair back a little, he pulled Dib up into his arms and carried him over to the bed, setting him down and pulling the blankets up over him, kissing his forehead. Turning off Dib’s computer for him, Zim undressed and slipped into the bed beside him, curling up against his lover’s back and drifting off to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- 76
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- 78
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VINDICATION