41 - The Mercy / 42 - The Death - MWFic

Chapter 41 – The Mercy

Scene: the dusty little docking bay

A1 carefully places the gun Zim had taken from him back on his belt, as Rebda forces herself to settle down and try to get her thoughts together. She is sitting with injured leg stuck out, leaning on her arms and staring at the floor. A1 fingers the money Dib gave him.

Finally, the sounds of churning gears are no more. The Cruiser is gone.

In the new, perfect silence, Rebda sits up and hunches her shoulders, moving herself so that she’s facing her ex-henchman. She gives him a very bitter death glare.

REBDA

You betrayed me, and have done the whole Empire a potentially fatal disservice by allowing that ... DOOM-SINGING ... Zim, to escape. You’ll lose your life for what you’ve done.

A1
Doom-singing? ... um, yes, doom-singing. Whatever. I can’t believe I was loyal to you for as long as I was. You don’t even call me by my real name, which I can’t even remember anymore! I can no longer be loyal to someone who treats me like just another faceless, expendable soldier.

REBDA

That’s what you are.

She winces as she gingerly touches her injured knee. Although not broken, the skin looks burned, and the bones beneath it ache.

REBDA

Just as you said, you are expendable. I’m going to report your behaviour to the Tallest, they will have you executed, and I’d like to see you save your life by pulling the same trick again! No, there’ll be no escaping for YOU.

A1 doesn’t bother to answer that. Rebda turns a thought over and over in her mind, and eventually speaks it with hesitation.

REBDA (the curiosity is killing her)
What was it that made you turn against the Empire?

A1 (with a shrug)
I agree with Zim. This Empire is corrupt and beyond saving. Revolution via rebellion is the only way to happiness now.

REBDA (scoffing)
Happiness! A weak emotion. Pitiful. Will get you nowhere in life. And a rebellion? I’d like to see someone try. It would never work, not against a force like the Empire!

A1
I have great faith in the rebellion.

He coughs a bit from the dust particles still glimmering in the air, then grudgingly makes as if to assist Rebda up and out, but she waves a hand at him.

REBDA
Rebellion. I take it you’ve been in on this for a long time, going behind my back.

A1
Well, no. It was only after Zim and the aliens came–

REBDA

CURSE THEM!! ... and curse YOU. The Tallest won’t like it when I tell them that Zim is still alive. But I must, for the sake of flushing out your horrible rebellion!

A1 cringes as Rebda’s red eyes flash at him. She twists her claws into fists, poison tainting her words.

REBDA

I’ll tell them all about it. There will never be a rebellion in this Empire. You’ll be killed, and others like you. Weaklings like you, softened with ... FEELING. You will be wiped out.

A1 feels a bit frightened at that. Although willing to toy with his own fate, the fate of the much larger matter of the rebellion is not his to endanger. Meeting Zim and the humans brought him to the rebellion, but has it also brought the rebellion to an end? Then something occurs to him.

A1
But wait a minute! You can’t tell the Tallest that Zim is alive!

REBDA

Why NOT?!

A1
They promised that either you or Zim would die. So if you tell them Zim is alive ... they’ll have to kill YOU instead!

A1’s face lights up like that of a child who’s just opened the most beautiful Christmas present. Rebda’s expression contorts, momentarily stumped, before she levels a frosty glare of triumph at A1.

REBDA

No problem. Maybe I’ll have to let the Zim thing slip, for my own sake. But I can still tell them about you, without mentioning Zim.

A1’s brief hope is squashed flat just like that.

A1
But, but ... they’ll ask you where the body is! And why you’re injured! And why this room is so beat up! How do you explain all THAT?!

REBDA (with an insidious chuckle)
Oh, THAT’S easy. I cremated the body and strewed the ashes into space ... as you do. Later, I came in here to make sure the aliens had picked up their delayed SIR unit, as planned. As I approached the door, I overheard you, discussing plans for the rebellion with the pale aliens. You were trying to enlist their help, because your forces are so weak and so greatly outnumbered.

A1’s heart is sinking as she continues, making it up as she goes. The hot colour of her eyes seems to become icy and sinister.

REBDA
I BURST in and accused you of plotting against the Empire! You were DEFIANT, stubborn, insulting me AND the Tallest. I told the aliens that you were out of your mind, that a rebellion could never succeed, and of course they believed me as I am an authority figure. I ordered them to leave and forget what you had said. But once they were gone, YOU lost your temper, and you viciously attacked me!

A1 just stares at her. She gleefully taps the tips of her fingers together and continues, obviously imagining the scene in her mind.

REBDA
But you were no match for me! I overpowered you EASILY, but you were unstable and bloodthirsty! I had to open fire on you just to keep you back! Granted, you were quick; you dodged my fire, and ran around the room, as I continued to try and hit you. That’s why the room is damaged. You were yelling out how much you hate the Tallest, and how you just can’t WAIT to overthrow them! I was DISGUSTED. Your passion and hatred was so strong that you charged at me, knocking me down! Then you dove to the floor and pulled out your gun, shooting me in the knee, like the brutal animal you are.

Perspiration appears on A1’s forehead. He swallows.

A1
You can’t ... can’t ... you could never ... DO this to me!!

REBDA

But the aliens are gone, and Zim is gone. There’s nobody left who’ll openly defend you. Your friends, if you have any, will be executed with you because they are probably part of this rebellion, too, am I right? Sure I am. So then, you realised you had injured me, and you were mortified at what you had done to your previously beloved mistress! You went into shock, and you began to deny everything. It was at that point I called the Tallest to tell them what had happened. So let’s finish the story, and call the Tallest right now.

A large hover-screen unfolds from Rebda’s pak and swings around in front of the two Irkens. Symbols stream across the screen as a connection is made.

REBDA

They’ll faithfully believe my every word, of course – just look at this perfect scene! Both of us filthy from battle, me with an injury that can be proven was caused by one of YOUR guns. Footprints will be impossible to distinguish in this mess; there’s no proof Zim was ever here. Plus, I’m sure that once they investigate, they’ll find plenty of incriminating evidence that you are part of the rebellion, as that part at least, really IS true. Nothing you say will stand against all this evidence.

She slowly draws a long finger across her neck in a slicing motion, accompanied by the appropriate sound effect. A1 is trembling when the faces of the Tallest appear on the hover-screen, both of them blurry-eyed and cheerful from the post-execution party. Loud music can be heard behind them.

Curling up to look as if she’s in great pain, Rebda makes a big show of diligently saluting despite her torment. The Tallest watch her with blank expressions.

REBDA

My Tallest! A delight to see you!

PURPLE (on screen)
Yes, yes, it MUST be delightful!

Rebda coughs pitifully as if sick. She indicates her injury.

REBDA

I’d come to the party if I could, my Tallest, but as you can see I have suff–

RED (on screen, holding up a finger)
Before you do, Mistress Rebda, we’d just like to tell you something. It’s lucky you called.

PURPLE (on screen)
Yeah! We’ve been thinkin’, you know, about all the things you did wrong in this whole ZIM issue. You really let us down! Seriously, have you done ANYTHING right this whole time?

REBDA

Perhaps, my Tallest, I have not been performing at my usual FLAWLESS best. But when you hear what I–

RED (on screen, interrupting)
Look, about that promise we made earlier, where either you or Zim dies? It looks like YOU get to live.

Rebda gives A1 a smug glance.

RED (on screen)
Now, the thing is–

PURPLE (on screen, butting in)
We’ve decided to have you killed.

A couple of beats pass. A1 is stunned, but Rebda even more so. Apparently cured of her unbearable pain, she straightens a bit.

REBDA

WHAT?!!!


RED (on screen)
Yeah, y’know, you’re just not the loyal underling we thought you were.

PURPLE (on screen)
You messed up! Heh heh!

RED (on screen)
So we thought we’d just bump you off and get another Rebda-type person. It’s not like there aren’t hundreds of other would-be evil minions out there.

A1, stricken, gives Rebda a wide-eyed stare. He has no trouble believing this news. Rebda, on the other hand, just laughs.

REBDA (laughing)
A joke! Ha ha! A joke! Someone at the party put you up to this, didn’t they, my Tallest?

The Tallest don’t even listen to her.

RED (on screen)
We’d negotiate but ... well, we can’t be STUFFED. I’m sure you understand.

REBDA

But this MUST be a joke! A silly prank. How can I believe this, when you promised? Zim is dead, so I live! Just like you said!

RED (on screen)
Weeeellll ... nah.

Behind the Tallest, someone shouts some slurred, incomprehensible phrase. The Tallest burst out laughing. Looking at them, a memory comes back to Rebda.

A close-up of Zim’s grinning face hovers over Rebda’s image. What he says is heard in her mind only.

ZIM (in Rebda’s memory)
The Tallest are going to kill you. They think you’re a failure. They will rub you out of the flawless picture of their rule. A promise from the Tallest is worth absolutely nothing! They break promises like you break spirits – willingly and without reserve.

The memory vanishes. Rebda looks confused.

PURPLE (on screen)
Let’s see – you don’t get to live because – well, we’d really rather NOT have you in the flawless picture of our rule.

Rebda laughs again. She twines her fingers together and gives the Tallest a knowing smile.

REBDA

Come on, my Tallest, I can see right through this!

RED (on screen)
If you wouldn’t mind presenting yourself for execution as soon as possible, that’d be reeeeaaaal good.

PURPLE (on screen)
We could do that liquefaction thingy you like so much! See you then!

RED (on screen)
Seeya!

The two of them wave and smile, then the picture turns to snow. Rebda sits wordlessly while the screen folds up and vanishes back inside her pak.

A1 walks around and stands in front of her. She apparently doesn’t see him. He opens his mouth to say something astute, when a gloved claw reaches up, grabs him by the collar and yanks him down so he’s staring into burning eyes.

REBDA (seething, grit teeth)
Tell me it was a joke.

A1
If you really think it’s a joke, why are you asking me?

Rebda rattles him fiercely. What she believes in the most – the integrity and righteousness of her empire – is under serious fire.

REBDA

Of COURSE it’s a joke! Why would the Tallest do such a thing?!

A1
Because they’re crooked.

Rebda grates her teeth together audibly, quivering. In another heartbeat, she has pushed A1 back and has begun slamming the floor with her fists, looking for all the world like a spoiled child.

REBDA

It’s not TRUE! It’s not TRUE! ... rrrrrrrr, it’s NOT TRUE!!

A1 wonders what he should do. Never has he seen Rebda so stubbornly steeped in denial, while stewing with the bitter inner knowledge that she’s wrong. He looks awkwardly down at the pile of cash that he has managed to hang on to all this time.

A1
So ... does this mean you won’t get to ruin me?

REBDA

Be silent.

She stops beating the floor, shakes, and becomes quiet and still. Looking at her, A1 is completely torn. He hates this character. Hates her as a symbol of the Empire he loathes. She would have had him killed ... she would have destroyed everything he believed in. And yet...

A1
You’re just another victim.

Rebda gazes at him sourly.

A1
You’re just another victim, you are ... just another pawn in the power game. Another puppet of corruption. I didn’t see it before, because you were so ruthless yourself, but I see it now. Like I used to be, so you are. And I know you don’t want to die.

He kneels down in front of her, and meets her gaze with bright eyes.

A1
I think that deep down, you’ve known all along that the Tallest are corrupt, and that this Empire is scum. But unlike me, you never wanted to stand against it, because you had it real sweet, didn’t you? You were on the winning end of evil.

REBDA

Don’t talk to me like you know what I’m thinking.

A1
But I’m right. That IS what you’re thinking. You’re just like I was, Rebda, before I realised I didn’t HAVE to live that way. I could think for myself! And if you leave now, the Tallest won’t care. Better yet, I could give them a story of some sort. I could tell them that you jumped into space, or that you disappeared, or something. You don’t have to do what they say anymore. You can be your own boss!

REBDA

What on IRK are you talking about?! I AM my own boss!

A1
No you’re not, you never have been. You like to think you are, but if the Tallest say jump, you jump. If the Tallest say die, you die. But guess what, Rebda: the Tallest are never gonna say ‘live’. You have to do that one on your own.

Even though every word burns like acid, there is a truth in that so alluring, that even Rebda can’t run from it.

REBDA
You would truly...?

A1
Yes.

REBDA

I would have killed you. Would you not do the same?

A1
No-one deserves to be a victim of this Empire. Death is not the final answer. If I hurt you now, I’d be no better than the Tallest. I’d be no better than YOU.

Rebda shakes her head to clear fogginess.

REBDA

You are strange. Even if I DID run, it wouldn’t work. I have nothing to live on.

A1
Maybe this will get you started.

He holds out the cash that Dib had given him. Rebda stares at it. It’s a lot of money – enough to last her while she picks up the pieces of herself.

We never see Rebda’s reaction to this astonishing generosity. Herself a creature of coldness, Rebda has never known this selfless kindness called mercy. She sits there, while A1 crouches with the money in his outstretched hand. The scene pulls away from them and fades to black.

Chapter 42 – The Death

Scene: in space, a ways from the Massive

The Massive is in the distance, the Armada and other associates orbiting around their behemoth hub. The Voot Cruiser hovers in one place for a moment. We can’t see anything inside it for clouds of eddying dust. A second later, jets of it are forced out through vents on the Cruiser’s underside. The interior clears and (magically!) fills with new air, much to the relief of four coughing occupants. When the venting is over, they stare at the heart of an evil empire, getting their last look. Our point of view stays outside the Cruiser like that, but we can hear what they’re saying inside. Dib looks at Gaz uneasily.

DIB
We can’t just leave A1 in there all alone with Rebda! She’ll kill him!

GAZ

He told us to leave. I think he can take care of himself. Besides, if we go back now, we might never get away again ... I think we should just leave it, and go.

Dib looks uncomfortable with the idea, but he sees it’s the only reasonable course of action, and eventually nods. Zim just stares at the Massive, expressionless. Then, GIR plasters on a jolly grin, and takes control of the Cruiser. It is swung around in a broad U-turn, then blasts off into the distance, hopefully never to return to this place again. Slow fade to black on the Cruiser’s form receding into a glittering black backdrop.

Scene: interior of the Cruiser

Cut back in, to a movie! The execution scene is being played back on a decent-sized screen which has emerged from GIR’s head.

The Cruiser is dark and theatre-like. Zim is sitting in the pilot’s chair with a slack jaw and skewed brow, while Dib and Gaz sit on the floor on either side of him, enjoying the show. The movie is being constructed from GIR’s memories, which are a bit garbled, but the point is coming through nevertheless.

The movie is nearing its end. On screen, the spotlit Tallest stand over Zim, who is being held still by Rebda. From GIR’s viewpoint way up the back of the room, this can only just be made out. Purple’s voice rings out loudly.

PURPLE (in the movie)
Don’t play games with us! We want the truth!

ZIM (in the movie)
Yesssssssss! It was meeeeeee! I admit it all, it’s all true!! Yeee-heh heh!

Watching this afresh, Dib and Gaz crack up laughing, as everybody in the on-screen audience does the same. Zim grits his jaw and makes fists.

ZIM
That is NOT funny!

The camera angle of the movie (GIR’s point of view) swings around to look at Dib.

DIB (in the movie)
What’s he admitting to?! He has no idea what’s going on!!

The angle then changes to GIR’s ‘feet’. He stares at them for a while and kicks them, tuning out of the dialogue happening on stage. Then, very clearly, ‘WE’RE ALL GONNA SING THE DOOOOOM SONG!!!’ is picked up on the audio. The camera angle goes crazy.

GIR (in the movie)
YAY! MASTER’S GONNA SING THE DOOM SONG!

ZIM (reality)
ENOUGH!

Zim punches a gloved fist clear through GIR’s screen, and it shrinks back into his head. GIR makes a little ‘aw’ sound.

GIR

But that’s the best part! You sang da Doom Song, and everyone was cheerin’!

Zim prods a pointer finger in GIR’s face nastily.

ZIM
It was YOUR stupid brain that made me do that, GIR!

He turns to the humans and now shoves the pointer finger in Dib’s face.

ZIM
And it was YOU filthy humans that put that stupid brain on me!

GAZ

It was these FILTHY HUMANS that saved your life, Zim! If we hadn’t done that, Rebda would have melted your real pak and you’d be DEAD by now!

DIB
You owe us pretty big, Zim! We’ve given you your life back. You at LEAST owe us a thank you.

Dib pauses expectantly, but ‘thank you’ looks like the last thing on Zim’s mind. Flushing dark green, he takes the controls of the Cruiser and speeds up drastically.

Dib really would have liked a thank you. He wonders if maybe it’s inappropriate to prompt for one – then decides he doesn’t care.

DIB
Well?

ZIM
Well what?

DIB (a bit angry)
We SAVED your LIFE, Zim! Don’t you have anything to say at this point?

ZIM (sour)
Sure, I have something to say. I saw on that video that you UTTERLY RUINED everything I’d been striving to achieve! I’d made a point, I’d made people see what criminals the Tallest are, but because of GIR’S BRAIN, I ended up taking it all back! ... you humans are even stupider than I first thought.

He fixes his stare straight ahead, antennae flattening against his head.

ZIM
Didn’t you get the message, Dib? Gaz? Didn’t you get the point? I didn’t WANT to live!! How many times does it have to be said?!

GAZ

You’re being irrational. When we get back to Earth, we can–

ZIM (exploding)
We’re not GOING back to Earth! I don’t even know where I’m going!

Zim hits the brakes and the Cruiser stops abruptly, causing the humans and the robot to tumble forward. Dib looks at Zim anxiously.

DIB
What are you talking about?

Zim leans over, makes a fist, and raps on Dib’s large forehead. Dib crossly backs away.

ZIM (gesturing wildly)
Get it through your GARGANTUAN HEAD, Dib! I never intended to come out of that alive! In fact, I went to great pains to ensure that I wouldn’t! But you and Gaz had to come barging in, assuming you knew what was best for me! You stopped me from reaching my goal, when you didn’t understand what a good goal it was!

Gaz folds her arms and bugs an eye at Zim, just about fed up with his ungrateful self-centred attitude.

GAZ

What’s so good about being executed at the hands of your enemies?!

ZIM
It’s better than being trapped here with two disgusting stink-beasts, a piece of living garbage and no future! I didn’t want my life back, humans, and I still don’t!

Gaz looks about ready to choke the Irken, but Dib just looks shocked. A memory of a dream comes back to him, in which he sees Zim standing before a circle of white light. Zim places his hands on the circle, as if puzzled by it. Then he turns his head slightly and Dib remembers with a shudder that expression of despair.

Looking at Zim now, hunched over the controls and obviously very angry, Dib realises exactly what that dream meant. He’d realised it before, but had never thought to see it from Zim’s point of view.

DIB (thinking)
The tunnel was death. Because of me, the tunnel collapsed, and Zim couldn’t go down it anymore – that was the bit when I helped save his life. But he looked so sad, he WANTED to go down that tunnel. What ...  have I done?

Dib awkwardly clears his throat.

DIB
It’s all for the best in the long term, Zim. You’ll thank us one day when you’ve thought about it some more, and realised that we did the right thing. Life is always better than death, right?

ZIM
Life holds nothing for me, feeble-minded human. I’m not an invader anymore. So what reason could there be for my existence? Being an invader – that WAS my identity.

GAZ

So get a new one.

ZIM (sarcastic)
A new one! Ha ha! Okay, remind me to buy one when we get back to that lovely dirtball called Earth!

GIR
I like dirtballs...

ZIM
Shut up, GIR!

GAZ (starting to lose her temper)
Shut up, Zim! You don’t know what you’re talking about! You have such an INFURIATING, STUPID one-track mind!

ZIM
I have a one-track mind? ME?! Look who’s talking! When I first met YOU all YOU could think about was that cheese-infested foodstuff you call pizza!

Now Gaz is pointing the finger. She bends over and jabs it at Zim’s chest, fire in her eyes. She catches sight of Zim’s teeth marks on her hand and just gets angrier.

GAZ

That was THEN, this is NOW! You’re so thick, Zim. I’m starting to forget why we wanted to save a horrible, ungrateful, washed-up ex-pseudo-invader like you.

ZIM
Please, enlighten me! I never understood that in the first place! Why couldn’t you just leave me behind on the Massive?

DIB
We did!!

Gaz and Zim stare at him.

GAZ
Okay, now THAT made no sense.

Dib is mentally searching for some way to compromise and alleviate the situation. But how can you find a halfway point between life and death? Dib talks it through slowly.

DIB
I have an idea, Zim, that might make you accept what we’ve done ... remember the virus?

Zim is in a delightfully sarcastic mood. He makes a great display of racking his memory, holding the sides of his head.

ZIM
Oh, hang on, hang on, that does sound familiar ... wait, wait ...

Dib glares, small fists quivering a little. Gaz watches Dib expectantly.

DIB (thinking)
This had better be worth it. I’m bringing some hope, can’t lose sight of that...

DIB
Okay, so, the VIRUS. Supposedly a physical killer. But we know that’s not true. What it really is, is a psychological killer...

ZIM
(pointing to himself) I know that! (pointing at Gaz) SHE knows that! (pointing at GIR) And the metal scrap heap might even know that! What are you so slowly trying to say?!

GIR, who has been sitting on the floor all this time listening, doesn’t look too pleased about being called a ‘scrap heap’. He whines.

DIB
I guess the point is, the virus worked after all ... in a sense. You ARE dead, Zim. You died, to everybody. Your death is in the news across the whole Irken Empire. The only people who know you’re alive are the people in this ship, Rebda’s minion A1, and Rebda herself...

ZIM
Who is probably sounding the alarm as we speak! Feeble-minded Earth creature ... you are either dead, or you are alive. How can you be both?

Dib stares out into space, admiring its beauty. He comes to realise something.

DIB
The virus has succeeded in killing you psychologically, because if it weren’t for you getting sick, you never would have gone to the Massive ... and ... and it’s done you a service, because ... now everyone thinks you’re dead. Just like with what happened to Tasyne...

ZIM (shaking with frustration)
Tasyne? Who are you talking about??!!

GAZ

Shhh! Dib’s onto something here. Tasyne is a friend Dib made, an Irken who got the same virus you did.

DIB
Like you, Zim, she was prevented from taking her own life, and the virus just went away. But, circumstance arranged it so that she was officially recorded as dead.

GAZ

Just like you. Do you follow? History is repeating itself.

Zim stops shaking and tries to settle, impatiently listening.

DIB
She became one of the greatest spies ever, because she had no real identity. Admittedly, that was lost later on ... but that doesn’t have to happen to you. When Gaz said to get a new identity, Zim, it’s actually possible!

GAZ

Think of it this way. Everybody thinks you’re dead; everybody thinks we really did leave you behind on the Massive. Your identity was left behind, and you have the chance now to find a new one. You don’t have to be an invader anymore, Zim, you can find a new reason to be you.

ZIM
I see ... part of me was killed. And left behind.

DIB
And you can just forget about it and start again.

Dib beams, and Gaz looks similarly self-satisfied.

DIB
Ingenious, huh?

Zim turns his face away and stares out into the blackness.

ZIM (thinking)
Horrible as it is, they may be right. When we left that place, Invader Zim stayed behind. Dead forever.

ZIM
You wormbabies have an intriguing point of view, but it’s not as easy as that. You don’t understand my society. Being an invader was all I ever had that made me feel a little higher than the Tallest’s personal footstool ... which is all most Irkens ever amount to.

He clenches and unclenches fists, undecided. After an awkward silence, Gaz speaks up loudly.

GAZ

Okay then, well. You have the whole trip back to Earth to think about that.

ZIM
Oh JOY.

DIB
Actually, Gaz ... there’s something I wanna do first...

ZIM
More joy.

GIR squeaks over beside Zim and pats him on the arm. Zim stares at the robot with eyes full of confusion, frustration, despair ... and maybe just the tiniest sliver of hope.