Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim or any of the characters, I just enjoy messing with them.
Author's Note
I was going over my previous stories since I've not had much time and decided that I would rewrite one since my sister decided to tell me I was going soft like a noodle.
I decided that Cyborg Manifesto would be the best choice since their are many opportunities present within this story. My goal is to combine the elements that made up Magdalena, I Am Normal, Here Comes the Sun, and Helena into Cyborg Manifesto. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I do know that I want this story to have the lust and passion of Magdalena, the angst of I Am Normal, all that is love, life, and death of Here Comes the Sun, and the psychosis of Helena.
Pairings are still a blur to me...
Now, onto the remix...before the spit gods strike down my ranting
From the Ashes
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Stressed
Memories
April 20, 2022
Galactic Council
The crowd was silent, but she knew that they were waiting to wildly cheer. It was human nature to celebrate victory, or defeat of another. Her shoes squeaked as she took the remaining steps to the podium and to her brother. He was grinning madly as the glow of the screen bathed him and the crowd. Her amber eyes betrayed nothing as she came to stand next to her brother. He turned his head and the tip of black scythe hair smacked her face. She growled and placed the display on the podium. It was a small glass tube with a neon blue chip in it. The chip was no bigger than a penny. Her eyes focused on the chip, it had the power to bring a race to its knees.
"Earth's victory is a cause for celebration. We have looked to the universe and the universe has looked back at us. We have made a council so strong that nothing can break it. We have saved countless planets and know that life is out there!"
'Meet Dib, savior and destroyer,' she thought as she gazed at her brother.
Her eyes turned to the screens floating above the audience. The static came and was quickly replaced with random faces, different races. They were transmitting live, waiting to see this event. She could see the anticipation flickering in their eyes.
"Vortians, Meekrobs, Geminates, and others," Dib continued. "We bring the Irken machine fully to its knees!"
Another round of cheers and her amber eyes turned to the front row. She made eye contact with violet eyes and froze. The grin was plastered on his face, the malice within his eyes as he watched this. His hair was still black and slicked back, but his skin was human and so were his hands. Zim also went by the name Zak, it was incase any of the Irkens decided to rat him out. He nodded at her and she knew why she was doing this. No matter how wrong it felt, she would ignore her emotions just life before.
'Do it,' that was what she could imagine him saying as he nodded at her. This time she could see maroon eyes and antennae.
"My sister, Gaz has developed a way to turn the extermination of the Irken race to a simple domestication," Dib finished.
Gaz blinked her amber eyes from the daze she was lost within. Her eyes went to the crowd and she nodded at them for herself more than a greeting. They cheered as she held her face in front of the microphone. Gaz blinked and softly sucked in the air, it was heavy with anticipation.
"Thanks to the Vortians vast technology and Professor Membrane's resources, I was able to make an idea a reality," Gaz calmly began; her eyes on the chip in front of her. It seemed more like a nightmare. "Twelve years ago the first Irken Invader came to Earth intent on destroying our home. Nine years ago, my brother captured that Invader. Eight years ago, we made contact with various races enslaved and oppressed by the Irkens."
Gaz lowered her eyes to Zim and noticed that his laughter matched the cheering and murmuring of the crowd. He laughed and she sighed.
"Three years ago, we waged war with the Irkens and with the help of our allies we destroyed an Empire and stopped a disease. We have turned their planet into nothing more than a barren wasteland."
The cheers erupted and she had to stop herself from cheering. The human race or any race was a disease to her. The humans destroying another race just made them the bigger infection.
"Today I stand before you asking the question, what happens to the remaining Irkens, the ones that are still held in the Prisons beneath the sun?"
The crowd did quiet and now they looking to her and she supposed that was for answers. She reached into her pocket and pulled out what looked like a small car starter, but it had an area to speak into. Gaz pressed the first button down and whispered something into it before she looked at the crowd.
"Today, I show you the future of the Irkens and all that stand before me."
Gaz and Dib both looked towards the shadows of whence she had first hid. The squeaking of the boots took away any chance of being silent. Gaz smirked as the short figure stepped from the shadows. His crimson eyes were wide as he peeked around the curtain in uncertainty. Gaz cleared her throat and his crimson eyes turned to her. He nodded and the crowd could only watch the Irken come closer.
"Skoodge…reporting for duty!" The Irken firmly said as he saluted her.
Gaz nodded and twirled her finger in the air causing Skoodge to spin so his back was to the crowd. Gaz walked over to him and notice that he reached her mid-thigh. The crowd was whispering and she ignored them as she walked around Skoodge and kneeled in front of him. Her amber eyes meet his and he smiled at her.
'So full of trust,' Gaz thought.
"Keep calm and you'll be fine," Gaz softly said to him as he smiled again.
Gaz stood up and stepped around him. She pressed another button and the top part of his PAK snapped up with a quick flash of blue light. Gaz reached over Skoodge and grasped the blue chip in the container. She carefully held it up in front of a camera so everyone could see it.
"I present, the ICU. Irken Control Unit," Gaz spoke in a clipped sentence. "Irkens are nothing more than machines. They only do what they are programmed to do."
Gaz swore she saw Skoodge's antennae flatten against his head.
"They have no feelings, no dreams, nothing without orders," Gaz continued to say. Her eyes wandered to Dib and she saw him grinning from beneath the shadow that covered his face.
"The ICU I have created will give the Irken new orders. The chip is specifically programmed with a set of rules that won't affect anything, but the Irken's actions. This chip makes it impossible for an Irken to harm any sentient being. It binds the Irken to a company or person."
The crowd roared and she couldn't tell if they were excited or anger. She watched as Dib stepped forward and took the Microphone.
"This chip will give us a way to control without having to destroy!" Dib firmly stated.
Gaz stepped forward knowing that she agreed with nothing she spoke.
"Using this chip we'll be able to make use of this race. They have shown us their production through destruction, so why shouldn't we put them to use if they're nothing more than a machine?"
She waited as the room went. Pressing a button on the small remote she let Skoodge close his PAK. Her eyes met with Zim's once more and he raised his hands toward her and clapped. Gaz couldn't believe the sound of clapping that filled the air. Her hand reached down and rested on Skoodge's head. He was warm, not a cold machine. Gaz sighed and stepped back as Dib proclaimed that they would answer questions. She didn't want to answer questions, but she knew more about ICU. Gaz snapped from her thoughts when she heard a question.
"The chip I have designed has a failsafe. Once it connects to the PAK it can't be removed. If there is an attempt at removing it than the chip will self-destruct and the Irken will be deactivated."
Gaz felt Skoodge tense. She couldn't blame him.
"Cyborgbiotics is the company that will be producing ICU. The company is headed by Gaz. This company will also deal with all Irken prisoners," Dib answered before she could blink.
Then a question she wasn't expecting came up.
"What if we run out of Irkens?"
Her eyes glanced at Dib and she saw that he was madly grinning. She didn't think this far ahead. Gaz believed they would only use the Irken's available.
"I have gained rights with the Galactic Council to open the Cyborgbiotics genetic lab. In this lab we will begin the first steps in cloning the Irkens much like they do to themselves. Eventually we hope to bring about custom Irkens."
Gaz looked to Zim and noticed that he was scowling throughout the cheers. He quickly turned and pushed through the crowd. Gaz made a move to follow him, but a hand on a shoulder stopped her. Her head snapped towards Dib and noticed he was smiling her.
"There is no stopping Cyborgbiotics!" Dib shouted and the crowd roared.
Gaz pushed Skoodge so he ran back into the darkness. Her eyes searched the crowd and she realized that there was not stopping the future. She deeply scowled as the cameras began to capture her image. Her cold eyes turned toward the crowd and she hoped that they would only capture hate. She felt Dib put an arm around her shoulder and heard his whisper.
"We did it Gaz," Dib softly said, his mouth unnoticeably moving. "We've saved Earth."
Gaz blinked and she softly chuckled, it was enough for him to feel the vibrations through her. He gave her an odd look and she sighed.
"You can't save Earth because you can't save a plague," Gaz hatefully said. "All you can do is bring it new things to kill."
She shrugged his arm off and raised an arm to wave. Gaz watched him from the corner of her eye. She turned on her heel and walked off the stage. There wasn't anything that had to be done here. Her share was already completed and she felt like contributing no more. Gaz's eyes snapped to Skoodge who was watching the crowd from underneath the curtain. The Irken was kneeling on the floor desperate to see anything. She felt like kicking him to his feet.
"Skoodge," Gaz coldly snapped. His name became a warning in that moment.
He jerked and jumped to his feet. His short arm came to his head in a salute and he offered her a smile. Gaz rolled her eyes and continued to walk pass him. The squeaking assured her that he was following her. Gaz quickly walked down a flight of stairs and turned left into a dark hallway. Her amber eyes narrowed and she pushed herself in between two men and came face to face to the room. He was standing there in his normal white jacket. His black boots and gloves covered any remaining skin that the jacket didn't protect. His goggled eyes turned toward her from the toaster and he nodded at her.
"Daughter."
Gaz gritted her teeth and suddenly felt Skoodge run into her legs. He stumbled backwards, but she didn't budge. Her rage was slowly coming to a boil.
"Is it true that my company will also conduct genetic research?" Gaz questioned.
"Yes, yes," Membrane quickly replied as he reached down to the toaster and grasped the toast. "It's wonderful."
Gaz could hear that it was a statement. He wouldn't be able to hear anything beside this victory. She crossed the small room and took a seat at the table. Her hands rested on the cloth-covered top and she sighed. This wasn't what she wanted. Gaz glanced over at Skoodge and saw that he was leaning against the wall closest to the door with his eyes closed. She balanced her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. Skoodge looked bored and she felt herself smile. Irkens felt nothing and yet here was this bored, fat Irken in front of her resting. She wanted to tug at her hair and growl.
"Well, I've got a ship to catch," Membrane suddenly said as he walked toward the door. "Going to study with the Vortians."
Gaz peeked through her fingers as he cast her wave over his shoulder and left. She watched the two men leave and she allowed herself a loud frustrated growl. Skoodge's eyes shot open and he watched as her fist came down and hit the table. Gaz quickly stood up knocking the chair to the floor. Her left arm shot out and hit everything off the table and to the floor. She growled again and heard a soft laugh. It was steady and drew her eyes to the doorway. She wished it were Dib standing there, than he could take the brunt of her overly long suppressed rage.
"You," Gaz hissed as she turned to face him.
He shrugged as he kept his violet eyes on her. He took a step around a broken plate and walked toward her. Eventually, he stood before her, just three inches above her own height of five-four. The corners of his lips turned up in a smile, it fueled her rage.
"Zi…Zak," Gaz corrected herself when she spotted Skoodge watching them. "What are you doing here?"
"Skoodge, go into hibernation," Gaz quickly ordered. He looked between them and frowned before his eyes dulled to a shade of brownish-red. His shell went limp and he fell to the floor.
"Nice trick," Zim muttered as he gazed at Skoodge.
"Answer me…Zim," his name was a hiss coated with a warning.
"I've come to congratulate you," Zim carefully began as he gazed down at her. She glared at him as he reached down and righted a seat. He sat as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"There's nothing to thank me for," Gaz carefully said.
"But there's plenty," Zim whispered as he smirked. "Or do you not want to take responsibility?"
Gaz bristled as she angrily said, "You're the one that damned your own race."
Zim growled and he leaned forward. His hands went to his knees as their noses came inches apart. Their eyes sparked in a silent battle.
"You're the one that opened my PAK and figured out how to create the ICU. You were the one created the virus that permanently shut down Irk," Zim harshly reminded. "I merely gave you the tools you needed…but it was your mind that created everything you see."
"Bastard," Gaz growled. "You lied to me!"
Zim narrowed his eyes and asked in feign interest, "How so?"
"You told me that they were nothing but machines!" Her voice began to rise. "You told me it was all a program! That they had no real personality! No hopes of their own! No dreams of their own!"
Zim harshly, but shortly laughed as he replied, "I said Irkens were cyborgs…it was Dib who planted those ideas into your head."
"You did nothing to sway them!" Gaz accused.
Zim quickly stood up and knocked the chair back to the floor. Gaz stood straight and stepped back as he stepped toward her.
"I want them to suffer!" Zim shouted. "They banished me and denied me my dream of being an Invader! It was an illusion! I want them to suffer!"
"You were the one that screwed up!" Gaz growled. "You did nothing right!"
"I…"
"Almost destroyed your race…they had a right to protect themselves. And you know what Zim," Gaz cruelly whispered. "They would have left Earth alone if not for you."
"Shut up!" Zim snapped. "You know nothing."
Gaz watched as he stepped back and turned his back to her. He began to walk towards the door and her voice stopped him once more.
"I know one thing…you'll never be Irken…if your Tallest hadn't banished you to Earth…than you've banished yourself."
Gaz watched as he vanished through the doorway and she kneeled to the floor. Her hands clutched the table and she let her head rest against it. The hard surface didn't ease her mind; it just helped her flow of thoughts. She didn't understand why she didn't see it before. There were plenty of signs that she had ignored, purposely. She knew Irkens had their own memories, their personalities. That had been proven as she rummaged through Zim's PAK in order to find a way to make the ICU function. Gaz sighed again, even her talks with Zim pointed to Irkens having a personality. She scrunched her eyes close and grumbled.
"Gaz!"
Her eyes slowly squinted open and she glared at Dib as he came through the door. He ignored the state of the room and slapped a pile of papers on the table. Gaz didn't stand; her eyes looked over the table and at the papers. Dib handed her pen and told her to sign.
"Why?" She suspiciously questioned.
"These are the papers that give us full rights over the Irken prisoners."
She glared, but turned her face to stone. Gaz gripped the pen and signed her signature away. It was apparent to her that there was no way for her to make this situation worse. Dib happily took the papers and stared hard at her.
"What should we do about Zim?" Dib stiffly questioned. Gaz sighed and stood up. She raced him as she ran a hand through her hair.
"There's nothing to do," she replied.
"What if…"
"His race wouldn't accept him even if he were the last Irken active," Gaz replied.
Dib nodded and replied, "That's pretty sad."
"More like ironic," Gaz muttered as her eyes settled on Skoodge.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Dib suddenly said as he smiled at her.
"Ask what?" Gaz wondered.
"You never asked me."
"What?" It was gritted out.
"How the battle went," he said as if it were the most obvious thing.
Gaz scoffed and replied, "You traveled to Irk, launched my virus into their system, went through and destroyed everything…what else is there?"
Dib scowled and mumbled, "You ruin everything."
'How true that is,' Gaz grimly thought.
"It's a war I wish to hear nothing about," Gaz reminded.
"You should have been there!" Dib shouted; it was if the violence never affected him.
"Whatever," Gaz mumbled as she picked up her forgotten chair.
Dib looked at her and rolled his eyes as he replied, "Gee, act less interested."
Gaz felt her left eyebrow twitch. She snapped her head up toward Dib and took a step closer to him. His eyes widened at her sudden movement.
"I. Don't. Care."
"You don't care," Dib sighed. "I get it."
'Finally,' Gaz thought.
Dib finally left the room oblivious to everything. Gaz reached into her pocket and pulled out Skoodge's remote. Pressing the green button she watched as he came to. It seemed that Dib and Membrane were more alike than they let on.
"That's weird."
Gaz glanced at Skoodge and noticed that he was rubbing his head. She had never really heard him speak before. Skoodge had been with her now for eight months, the Irkens had only been prisoners for eight months. His red eyes focused on her and widened.
"You can speak," Gaz sighed. He hadn't talked since their first meeting. "What's weird?"
"Just suddenly waking, never did it before," Skoodge warily replied.
Gaz glanced at the destroyed room and figured that who ever owned this building could clean up. She walked over to the doorway and was happy to find herself alone. Skoodge cleared his throat and began to slowly hum.
"Let's go home," Gaz muttered.
"Yes, sir," Skoodge tried to salute. Gaz raised an eyebrow, his voice sounded funny to her.
"Call me Gaz and use Sir when we're in company, okay?" Gaz questioned.
"Okay," Skoodge answered.
She went the same way she had come from. Instead of going up the stairs, she continued down the hall till she reached a metal door. Music echoed through the dark hallway and she sighed. Her hand was on the knob that would lead her to her freedom.
"Hey, there's a party," Skoodge mumbled.
Gaz shrugged and quickly opened the door. She moved into the night with Skoodge by her side. Her eyes went to the sky and she couldn't help but smirk at the various alien ships in the sky.
'Dib's dream has come true, but at what cost?' Gaz pondered as she let the door click shut.
Galactic Council
The room was a square. A bar was located in the corner with two long tables of various foods beside it. Balloons were bouncing along the ceiling followed by various colored sheets with small lights give them a glow. Aliens were mixing in with humans, regardless of height. It was an occasion to celebrate that the Irkens would never be a problem again.
Dib had never been good at social situations. His life had been spent being shunned away by society. Now, everyone looked to him and watched him as he spoke to random people. His brown eyes had searched the room in an attempt to find Gaz. He had a feeling that she wouldn't be here. It didn't surprise him; these weren't her people. His eyes landed on the two people approaching him. He recognized the two males based on the profile that his father had given him. These were the two that would help increase the success of Cyborgbiotics.
The first man that reached him stood at six-two. His eyes were a tiger brown and shining with something Dib couldn't figure out. His dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail that reached his shoulders. Dib couldn't believe that the future of Cyborgbiotics was wearing a pair of khakis and black concert shirt.
"Hey, I'm Matt," he introduced as he held out his hand.
Dib quickly shook his hand and noted he hand a firm grip. There was confidence. Dib went to respond, but his reply was cut short when the other man interrupted. He was shorter than Matt and a bit heavier. His hair was cut short to almost a buzz leaving Dib wondering about his hair color. Dib noticed that there was sweat on his forehead and that his eyes were a thin and beady shade of brown.
"Hello, I'm Iggins," he introduced, but didn't hold out his hand.
Dib didn't attempt to shake his hand, but offered a smile. He looked them both over and figured that Matt seemed to be more personable.
"Matt, Iggins," Dib greeted. "I'm sure by now that you both know your job title and what it entitles."
They nodded and Dib continued.
"You both will be working the Genetics lab, but Matt you'll be bouncing from various sites as my sister sees fit."
"Will we be working with you?" Iggins questioned.
"I'll be around, but as a Xenobiologist I'll be traveling," Dib replied. "You'll be working with Gaz."
Dib watched their reaction and saw that Iggins tensed and twitched. Matt just nodded looking interested.
"I love your sister's work," Matt honestly said.
"Really?" Dib questioned.
"Her game for Gameslave X-treme was brilliant!" Matt stated. "Warhogs was something else."
"I forgot about her gaming interest," Dib muttered. He swore he heard Iggins mutter something like 'I didn't.'
"When will we start?" Iggins questioned.
"Tomorrow," Dig answered.
"Awesome," Matt replied with a smirk.
"Everything is in order to begin work," Dib assured.
"Great," Iggins replied.
Iggins quickly excused himself and left Matt alone with Dib.
"Why do you want to work at Cyborgbiotics?" Dib questioned.
Matt nervously scratched the back of his neck and replied, "I love anything with technology and Gaz is a bit of an idle of mine."
Dib cocked an eyebrow at that. He wondered what his sister would think of that. She'd probably kill him.
"Well, good luck working with her," Dib wished.
Matt nodded and chuckled before he and Dib parted. Dib walked over to the bar and noticed that Zim was leaning against the cherry polished wood. His violet eyes were focused on him.
"Zak," Dib greeted.
"Dib," Zim replied.
"What are you doing here?" Dib questioned.
Zim smirked and held up his own drink and replied, "Celebrating."
Dib nodded and sighed as he closed his eyes and asked, "You remember the battle?"
Zim nodded sourly and questioned back, "How could I forget?"
Dib shrugged and they both sighed.
"What are you going to do now?" Dib questioned.
He waited and then opened his eyes after the silence continued to reign. Zim was gone and all that was left was the sound of the music.
Author's Note
It's at the top...hehehe...
If you have time, please check out my sister's story, Blood Sport.
Please leave a review and I'll update soon!