"How very well deserved of me! Invader Zim reporting, Sirs!" Claimed my friend, currently saluting at a monitor and wearing a bear suit.
Why he was wearing a bear suit was unknown to me, as I pretty much only just got here.
He appeared to be on a call with someone from his home planet. I wouldnt lie, I was very intrigued by other irkens. What were they like?
Jerks! That's what!!
"Yes... Greetings, Zim! Keeping busy, it looks like; doing us proud" claimed a contrastingly tall irken, dressed in red armour.
The tone in which he spoke made me frown. It sounded purposely condescending and very much made me feel uncomfortable. I decided not to speak, knowing better than to interrupt Zims call. He had no idea I was even down here, right now.
"Thank you, thank you. Yes, yes I am. I'm in a bear suit!" Zim pushed the conversation forward eagerly, presenting himself to the screen. Cheering was heard from the line, making me smile a little.
I could only assume it was the many fans and admirers Zim claimed to have. I guess he wasnt lying about being one of the best.
At least, that's what I thought at the time.
Zim interrupted the crowd. "Please, enough!" He turned back to finish his report. "Following Invader Protocol, I've sent probes out to the surrounding planets to check them for potential use."
The same tall irken from before only gave a short hum. It didnt seem very glad or positive at all. It was like he was concerned or questioning what Zim had said.
I just tilted my head at the response. Why did he respond like that?
"Scans from a planet named "Mars" are intriguing. You can expect a full report when I have more information." Told the invader proudly. Now that I thought about it, I had never seen Zim act like this before.
He was so formal, so dignified. It was like he was someone else entirely. His leaders really brought out a side to Zim that nothing else could. He was so compliant with them.
Despite the way he talked about how "mighty" his leaders were, I had assumed Zim to be a bit of a rule breaker. But no. The irken I saw had an unbreakable devotion to his leaders.
I could only grow to admire my friend even more, knowing this.
It was then I realised his devotion and loyalty remained unrequited.
Clearly trying (and failing) not to laugh, the purple leader had spoken up"Thank you... Invader Zim! Without your efforts out there, the entire operation would... surely crumble!" He claimed, no longer able to contain the hysterical laughter.
They were making a joke out of him. They weren't praising him. Just publicly making a big, awful joke out of him.
It clearly went unnoticed by Zim as he continued to agree with them "yes, yes it would".
After a while of getting to know him and being his friend, it was easy to understand why.
Zim was not an emotionally experienced irken, which may be why those leaders felt so free to make fun of him. He couldnt process peoples responses easily and was still trying to understand certain phrases, jokes and language patterns. Its difficult for him. But his leaders seem to take advantage of that and make jokes right to his face.
I watched with a glare as Zim remained oblivious to the burst of laughter.
I wouldve said something to them. But it probably would be something else for them to make fun of him for.
Usually I would let Zim handle a situation himself. He feels stronger when doing so. But he isnt able to process this kind of offence, which is why he's defenceless to it.
Any insult would have him throwing insults right back in a fit of rage. Any phisical attack he may not hit back with but he certainly doesnt let people get away with it. But this is something he just doesnt notice. The one thing he cant fight back against because it's in his blind spot.
I couldnt help but frown at the thought. But more than that, I could only think about how much of cowards his leaders truly are.
I sighed, gazing at the floor as Zim signs off with a salute.
As much as I hate to admit it. I'm a coward too. I refused to say anything about the mockery from the empire, knowing that whatever I say will have no positive result.
I'm so sorry Zim.
I bit my lip in frustration as Zim turned around, finally acknowledging my presence in the room.
"Hello, Y/n! Did you hear the conversation? Truly I am amazing!! How could they not cheer at the very sight of me?" He rambled in excitement, causing me to frown. I wanted to be happy for him but hearing his conversation just made me feel awful. Like I was covered dirt and I couldnt remove it.
I just felt like a bad friend, nodding along like a side character in a poorly written story.
He walked over with a smile, seeming rather ecstatic to show me what he's been working on. It was a contagious smile, despite the heavy weight I felt from mere moments ago.
"Come along!" He demanded, grabbing my wrist and dragging me over towards the elevator.
Now that I think about it, Hes started making a habit out of doing that. Grabbing my hand just seemed so normal now that even I didnt notice it. Not until now, at least.
Zim pushed a button, sending the elevator descending into another part of the lab. He continued to speak his mind on whatever research he was doing on Mars.
"Still, Y/n, I am becoming IMPATIENT with my incredibly subtle infiltration of this planet, and am growing ever hungrier to be the destruction of the humans - DESTRUCTION IS NICE!"
I smiled at him half-heartedly, still feeling a little out of place. No matter how often I came here, getting used to everything alien was close to impossible. The technology, the concept, the language.
The language was the hardest thing to get over. Written, it looked like a strange cipher with no rules. But spoken? It was gorgeous!
I rarely heard Zim speak irken. He told me that it was rarely used due to the common use of English. I was certainly shocked to find out that it was so famous among galaxies. In a sense, irken was Zims equivalent to Latin.
When he did speak it, usually out of frustration or when he didnt want me to hear something, it was lovely. Like a soft spoken Itallian sound. It clearly was nothing like the language but the tones of chirps and trills that came from it made it just as sweet.
By the time I had finished contemplating on the subject, I was snapped out by Zims analysis on pictures he received from the drones he sent to Mars.
"Some of this landscape looks unnatural... as though nature was not involved in its formation. But the sensors show no life forms. Whatever wiped out these "Mars-oids"must have truly been incredible"
"Marshians" I corrected, leaning over his chair to get a look at the monitor.
He gave me an annoyed glance but continued to finish his thought with a mischievous smirk. "Perhaps, it's incredible enough to maybe assist in my destruction of the humans?"
"Theres a possibility."
He nodded before deciding to call for his tiny robot assistant, demanding he meets us in the lodge hangar. As he did so, he handed me a bag and told me to get lost in the other room. Basically.
I took a peak at what was inside before giving a smirk. This could only mean one thing.
We're going to space!
.......
Wearing the space suit Zim had put together for me, I made my way over to take a seat in the voot cruiser.
"WE'RE GOING TO MARS!" Yelled Zim, causing Gir to give a squeal of delight.
The voot made it's way out of the atmosphere and into the deep black void of the universe. It never failed to take my breath away as I scanned over the many stars and the 8 planets that dotted our solar system in awe. Every single visit to the great unknown had me bubbling with enthusiasm and anticipation for what may happen. Though, why we were going to Mars was beyond my knowledge.
"So how come we're going to Mars, Zim?" I looked over to my friend, awaiting his answer with a tilt of my head.
"Its necessary for invaders to check planets surrounding their original targets and see if they hold any potential use. Mars was the planet with the most noteworthy structure and information." He explained, not moving his gaze away from the destination.
Giving a hum in understanding I Began staring at the wonderful sight of Mars getting bigger and bigger.
"Get off my head, GIR!" Zim started, causing for me to look over and just catch the tiny robot jumping off his head. "I have a good feeling about this lead. I can almost taste the humans being destroyed. It's DELICIOUS! This 'Mars' holds the key - I just know it!" He said, finally shifting his gaze to me looking prideful as ever.
I almost thought his head would explode with how much he inflated it.
"New words of praise will have to be invented so they can pre- GET OFF MY HEAD!" He Yelled louder than before as, out of nowhere, GIR was back on top of his head. I couldnt help but giggle at them.
I think Zim is mad at me for laughing...
Oh well, it was funny. Screw it!
Said alien had chose to ignore my laughter as GIR removed himself from Zims head and slid into my lap.
"The taste of impending human annihilation grows stronger in my amazing head." He continued, making munching sounds, GIR attempting to mimic it.
Man his ego was big. I'm sure that if he keeps going it would eventually surpass the size of Dibs head. It honestly made me wonder why it was so easy to jab at it. Usually someone with so much pride wouldnt feel offended at a sudden insult or comment that might prove it wrong. Zim, however, becomes quiet and unresponsive almost instantly. Why does he do that?
We had just landed on Mars as my thoughts came to an end. The irken now wearing a purple space suit, covered in technology. Mine was similar, though not as rich in gadgets as my companion.
Gir flung himself out of the ship like a slinky as Zim and myself had covered our heads with transparent bubbles before stepping out onto the planet surface.
The landscape was full of pyramids and strange structures. Zim was right when he said that it looked unnatural. Perhaps life really did exist on Mars. Though that wouldnt explain the lack of it currently.
What wiped out the marshians?