Corrupted Memory

By: 99Alien-Freak99 & Xmimi89eR

Rate: T

Story will contain: blood/ violence/ anorexic/ depression/ strong language.

(ZaDr!)

Disclaimer: We do not own invader Zim, but we own the story and idea.

English is our second language, my apologies if there are any mistakes.

Our stories do not contain lemon.


-XXX-

Floating in a dark void, surrounded by stars, even they didn't seem bright enough for a light, no planet seems to be anywhere near, nothing.

The old ship that seemed as if it was made of garbage flew through the empty void, having enough oxygen for the little alien in it. Few of the keyboard buttons glowed in the dark ship, everything was turned off to save power.

In the metallic floor was a still body, thrown carelessly on the ground, a green short alien was unconscious, his limps twitched every so often, seeming unaware of anything.

"-He's marked to not be killed."

"-Got an idea,"

Two blurry faces looked at his face. Annoyed.

"Come close."

The alien's antenna twitched, his body began to move slightly, fighting to be awoken.

"Y- yes, my tallest..."

Both smirked as he approached them with hesitation.

The Irken's eyes opened slowly, seeing only darkness, he hissed in pain from the back of his throat, his face was stuck on the cold floor, cheek freezing while antennae trying to not touch the ground. His hands moved slightly closer to his face, eyes trying their best to focus.

He stayed there for a while, not able to move, his limps were frozen, too heavy to move them, it itched and flinched while his brain tried to come to conclusions. There was a loud sound of machines, the ship was too broken it felt it may stop working at any second, space was dark and no star can light what's inside of it. The keyboard keys glowed red and pink, something that reflected on the metallic wall, it showed every broken and unfinished part of the Voot.

Gaining enough strength, the Irken lifted his head slowly to the side, trying to see something familiar, to see if someone was there.

Where was he anyway?

It was hard to tell, whether it's from the darkness or because his mind hurt too much to think or remember. He flipped on his back, hearing the metallic PAK hit the floor, it sends shivers down his spine, his hand was stuck in a punch of wires, every time he tried to move or pull them, it felt like pulling his spine out. He hissed, taking slow breaths when the pain in his back stopped. Big tired ruby eyes stared at the ceiling, not knowing anything at the moment.

Why is he here?

He wondered again, a little too seriously, it stuck in his mind for a while as he laid there, feeling the unsteady ship flying to who knows where. Speaking of where...

The Irken tried to sit, placing his hands on the floor while pushing upwards, the wires on his right arm seemed to be coming from behind him; ignoring it, he tried to stay stable, keeping his back straight to avoid the pain, his antenna twitching at every noise of dying machines the ship made. A tiny glow caught his attention, looking out of the windshield from where he sat, he was in space, the Irken noted. No planet was around, it was just darkness that greeted him, it was terrifying, with the fact this ship didn't sound safe... what may happen if it stopped all together, will he be stuck in space? Could he call for help?

Breathing slowly, he forced his legs to move, grabbing the pilot seat with his gloved claws, trying not to move his right arm much. His legs felt like noodles as the Irken stood on them, they threatened to let go of him at any moment. A foot after the other, he made it to the console, looking at the blinking keys, then at the stars.

How did he get here?

Why does his PAK hurt?

He sat limply on the seat, no longer feeling like standing, it just hurt too much, it was like he hadn't used his legs in forever, they weren't injured nor broken, just... sleepy. And so were his arms. His head hurt and his PAK didn't make it better, everything was cold and terrifying, the space of endless darkness scared him, he didn't know how long has he been floating like that.

When did he get here?

His eyes looked at the keys, trying to find a good use of them, there must be something useful in his cloudy mind, he won't just die in space, he had a-...

What did he have?

He had something to live for, right?

A reason?

He tried to look behind him, at his back, to see where those wires were coming from, they seem stuck with him, strangely painful whenever he pulls them, even slightly. His PAK was humming and hissing, some clacking noise could be heard, almost as if it was broken like the Voot he was in.

Is his PAK broken?

His spooch was empty, feeling its acid burning inside, so empty it may eat itself. His throat was dry, and his lips too.

When was the last he ate, drunk?

Panic rushed in his vines, there were a lot of questions, too many it frightened him, he tried to remember something, but came with nothing, nothing at all. His eyes searched the place for any clue, desperate to see something familiar, but there was none, it's all too new, too empty and dark, so unfamiliar.

Shaky hands shifted to the console, looking for the right key to press, something that may help him. He pressed one, but nothing, then another; still nothing. Growing impatient and scared, the Irken pressed all of them quickly, regretting it immediately, he retreated his hands back to his chest, leaning away from the keyboard. What if he pressed something that may open the windshield? What if he pressed something that stops the oxygen, maybe even release suffocating gas at him. He wasn't that stupid, was he?

Then something clicked, a flash of memory ran in his head. He saw black-gloved hands in front of a console that looked like his, the Irken's hands moved to the keyboard and brushed his hand above it, not touching the keys as he did so. And that was it, the memory ended. It left him confused, staring at the dead console before him, was that him in the memory, it has to be...

He sighed, drawing his hand near again, moving it just like he saw in his flash of memory, biting his lips anxiously, hoping this will work, it has to work for some reason...

Why did he need it anyway?

To pilot the ship...?

Came his voice in his head, surprised he remembered it and also happy. With a few clicks from underneath the keyboard, smoke rose from between them, then they lightened up, all of them, the ship's lights came to life, a red hologram screen popped up, glitching with a black symbol on it. Something that looked familiar, almost...

What's that symbol?

The ship's lights flickered blindly, it made him almost regret turning it on in the first place. But at less he has a chance to-...

To what?

Why did he need the console for? Besides piloting since he didn't know where he was?

Maybe to have information?

With that idea, the small Irken decided to see for himself, but wait... how to do it...? His eyes looked down at the keys, seeing them glow and flicker. Can he ask for help?

From who?

The computer, maybe?

But how did the computer work? Does he need to write his command? Or maybe saying it aloud?

Can he even speak?

He tried to open his mouth, remembering how to voice words, it itched painful, too dry it hurt, he swallowed, trying to make it better, "C-..." coughing for a moment, he tried again, feeling tears in his eyes, "Com- Computer...?" It came lower than he wished.

No response.

Was there even a computer here?

Is it broken...?

The Irken frowned, placing his thin arms around his body, it was cold in here, the ship looked too broken to heat the place.

Why wasn't his PAK doing that?

It's supposed to do that, right?

Shaking his head, he typed on what he remembers from his language, thankfully it was a lot, enough to him. He typed what he could remember, anything that came to his mind, anything that may help him in this situation. He tried calling whatever ID codes that were saved in the ship's files, but nothing was working, it gave him 'FAILED TO CONNECT' sign every time.

Tears seemed to gather in his eyes, this can't be the end, he can't just die here alone! He needs to find a way, anything, anyone to help!

S.O.S? He can send that, right?

Can I?

Forcing his shaking body to move again, he leaned to send a S.O.S to the nearest planets, making sure for it to be translated with the language the satellite uses, he really hoped this will work, to whoever gets the message to help, it was getting so cold in here... the place smelled like burning wires, The small Irken hoped someone will respond and reach him before this junk explodes.

He turned off the computer again to save power, making sure to get a notification when the message reaches someone. The hologram disappeared with the lights in the Voot, leaving the windshield and the stars only. It was too dark outside that his reflection could be seen.

Getting closer, he looked at himself; magenta eyes almost glowing in the dark, his antennae were low against his head, and his tunic-like dress was slightly dirty but that wasn't his biggest problem. He looked... like himself, maybe; he couldn't remember much. Maybe a little broken...?

Two tall green people...

They looked like him but tall, their faces were blurry and he couldn't remember anything about them. But they looked like him so he should be fine.

But...

Right in the middle of his forehead was a big red 'X' on it. It caught his attention, a gloved hand reached to try and wipe it away, but it seemed drawn in place, it won't go away, why was he trying to remove it? He wasn't sure, it just didn't look in place, and he can't remember if the other people like him had it.

The other people like him... what were their names?

What's his race name was?

It felt like it was at the tip of his tongue but nothing, it didn't seem to come out. He couldn't remember anything about his race, his people.

Is it okay to be short?

Well, why wouldn't it be okay? Why did this thought cross his mind all of the sudden?

The Irken looked from his hands to his reflection, seeing his tired face, blinking slowly at himself. How his mind seemed to travel a lot in thought, to space out, was he always like this?

What is he?

He gasped... horror crossed his feature, eyes wide in disbelief. It can't be, he can forget everything but that, please no, not that...!

Who is he?

Falling from his seat, he crawled at the very far corner from the windshield, away from stars and void, hugging his knees tightly, he buried his face in his arms. Sobbing and shaking, feeling hot yet so very cold at the same time. It can't reach this bad, not this bad...

Who is he...?

Is he someone at all?

Maybe he's just nothing, just something floating in an endless void without escape. Maybe this happens every time he wakes up, what if he forgets everything when wakes up? he didn't want to sleep, but he was too tired, everything was too much, too much for something as small as he is to handle.

Darkness didn't give him a chance, his body became heavy and his PAK seemed to hum louder, it echoed in his head as his sight became blurry and dark.

Unconsciousness was too strong for him to fight, it hurt to keep his eyes open anymore, his tears were almost dry on his face, making him feel sick and vulnerable, so very weak and alone.

Before he could protest, his mind shuts off, welcoming sleep to hold him tight.

Who am I...?

That was his last thought.


END OF CHAPTER ONE!

AF: uh a new story! I'll just say this from the start so no one will get disappointed in the end:

This story won't have lemon, yes there is kisses and all that, yes it is ZaDR but no lemon.

This story has nothing to do with Behind The Tube Glass story, they kinda have the same taste but they're sooo different.

This is an AU where Dib and Zim never met btw, so don't tell me they hate each other.

And I guess that's all!

Mary: We like to be mean to Zim for some reason, sorry! You can see how they look like from the cover! Oh and please review, I'll give you a cookie!

This was Alien Freak, signing off.