Out with the old, in with the new

Chapter 1, Bitter

Zim rubbed his eyes, sighing heavily as he had been working on his latest project all day, it was finally night time. He started to walk toward the exit of his lab, wondering what Gir was up to and hoping that he hadn't either ordered a bunch of food or destroyed the base. Once he was up in the kitchen he made his way over to the living room, he could hear the news on the tv. Gir peeked his head up at Zim, he was covered in popcorn.

"MASTAH! MARY'S ON THE TEEVEE!!" Gir chirped excitedly, confused Zim walked over to the tv and watched the screen.

"This just in Professor Membrane and his family are moving to Orlando Florida tomorrow evening as he is needed in one of the scientist facilities currently to help prevent global warming from getting worse..." the news lady reports, Zim's eyes narrowed.

"The Dib-filth is...moving?" Zim asked.

"The citizens of Detroit will miss them dearly and we will be hosting a farewell party for the membrane family downtown tomorrow from 12-5 pm, we hope to see you there, anyways back to John with the weather-"

Zim shuts off the tv.

"HEY! I WAS WATCHING THAT!" Gir cried. Zim turned to face Gir.

"How could that stupid human not tell Zim that he was leaving?! I mean it'll be absolutely perfect since Dib will have a harder time protecting his planet if he's further away but... still... he should have told Zim! No matter! We will attend this farewell party tomorrow! Zim shall bring him a gift- of course that'll knock his socks off, or rather knock his body out of his socks!" Zim laughed evilly but then continued to rant on and on about how Dib should have told him beforehand, but of course Gir didn't listen, instead he was eating popcorn off the grimey floor.

The next day arrived and Zim made his way out of his base along with Gir, who was kept on a leash so he wouldn't get lost. Zim held a wrapped gift in his free hand as the two of them made their way down the sidewalk and towards where the farewell party was being hosted.

Dib held his face in his hands, groaning as he sat at one of the party tables in the back, by himself since nobody wanted to actually sit with him. He was pretty pissed and upset to say the least, they were not only moving from his childhood home but they were also leaving Zim behind which would mean that he would be able to conquer the planet with more ease since he wouldn't be there to stop him. He didn't know what to do, he had begged his father countless times for weeks in hopes that he would change his mind however he knew that his dad's job could be on the line if they were to stay in Detroit. They had to move, Dib was only 17 so he couldn't even stay behind and live on his own yet so that wasn't an option either. Suddenly someone clearing their throat brought Dib back from his deep train of thought. He uncovered his face and spotted Zim and Gir sitting in front of him.

"ZIM?! What are you doing here?!" He asked, standing up in case if Zim was here to start a fight.

"Zim just decided to drop by and say farewell, as Zim will most likely never see you again once you move, I have also brought you a gift. Make sure you open it when Zim leaves the party" the irken said with a sly smirk as he stood up as well to hand Dib his "gift".

"I don't want your stupid gift Zim! It's probably some organ eating parasite or a bomb or something!" Dib pushed the gift away.

"Oh but Zim made it from scratch!" The irken responds as he shoves it into Dib's arms. Dib places the gift down on the table and grabs Zim by the collar of his shirt.

"Do you think I'm stupid?! I don't want to move! I know the moment I move from Detroit you're gonna blow up the goddamn planet!" Dib yelled.

"Why didn't you tell Zim that you were moving?!" Zim fired back.

"Why do you even care if I move or not?!" Dib snapped back.

"BE QUIET!" Zim exclaimed as he punched Dib. That was it, the human throws himself over the table to tackle Zim down to the ground.

"you're a prick Zim! I hate you!" He shouted as he punched Zim in the face. The two started to throw punches and kicks at each other, that is until Professor Membrane and another adult stepped in to break up the brawl.

"Son! That's enough!" Membrane shouted as he grabbed his son by the arm to pull him away from the irken. The other adult pulled Zim away, but Zim shoves at him, grabs Gir's leash and runs out of the pavilion.

"Zim's going to destroy the planet dad! You have to listen to me! we can't leave!" Dib begged.

"I've told you time and time again we are moving and that's final! And when we get to Orlando you're grounded until you can behave and stop acting insane!" Membrane snapped, he then let go of Dib and Dib ran off to the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. Dib breathes heavily, tears streaming down his face as well as some blood from the fight he was just in with Zim. He grabs a paper towel and places it over his nose, looking up at the ceiling to stop his nosebleed. The bathroom is mostly where Dib stayed for the rest of the party until it was finally time to go.

Dib sat in the car, looking down at the floor of the car as the Membrane family made their way to the airport.

"Hey Dib" Gaz said, not looking away from her gameslave. Dib looked up at Gaz, who sat beside him.

"Yeah?" He asked, Gaz grabs something from her bag, handing it to Dib, it was the present.

"You left this at the party, I thought you'd want it..." Gaz said.

"What?! No! I mean I appreciate that you thought of that but Zim gave me this!" He exclaimed.

"Zim isn't capable of doing anything seriously harmful, and it probably doesn't even work anyway... now don't bother me I'm in the zone" Gaz responds as she focuses back on her game.

Dib gulped as he stared down at the perfectly wrapped gift in his lap, heart racing as he began to sweat. It was in a box so he wouldn't be able to tell what it was without opening it.

"Well...I hope she's right..." he muttered to himself out loud, he placed a hand on the gift, then another. He takes a deep breath and slowly opens the box, inside of it was...

"What?! How did he even get this picture of me!" Dib whispers to himself in surprise as he blushes with embarrassment. It was a picture of him sleeping with his mouth open, he was drooling and Zim beside him with a smirk on his face. He was relieved that it was just a picture and not anything harmful.
And then he noticed something underneath the picture as he took it out of the box. He hesitates but picks up the small device. "A communicator?" He questioned, he was shocked that Zim even wanted to keep in touch with him at all. He slips the picture and communicator into one of his coat pockets. And soon enough the Membrane family arrive at the airport and begin to make their journey to their new life in Florida.

Zim lies down on the couch, his face buried in one of the arm rests as he groans. The irken sat up.

"Ugh! Who needs him anyways!" He shouted as he stood up.

"This is the best thing that has ever happened to Zim!" He exclaimed as he clenched his fist and brought it close to his chest. He then looked down at his gloved hand, barely noticing the red substance that was splattered on his glove until now, Dib's blood. He pulled off the glove.

"Ew! That foolish human got his blood on Zim's glove! How dare he?!" He exclaimed, but just as he exclaimed that an idea popped into his head.

"Wait! I can replace the Dib!" He exclaimed as he looked at Gir, who once again, wasn't paying any attention to Zim.

"I'll make a new and improved Dib, a Dib that will never leave Zim! A far more superior Dib but not as superior as Zim! I must get to work right away! Gir do not disturb me when I'm in the lab!" He told Gir as he made his way over to the toilet entrance to begin his work on creating the clone.