Protector Zim

Chapter 3

Zim and Tak had been unusually quiet when they arrived at lunch. Gaz had never seen them this way, they looked as if they had seen a ghost. If something had them both spooked, Gaz knew something bad was happening. As they took their seats, Zim next to her, Dib across from her, with Tak next to him. “What’s wrong with them?” Gaz asked her brother.

“We got a new student in our class today.” Dib replied.

“And?” Gaz pushed the issue.

“He’s supposed to be dead,” Zim said in a quiet voice. “There is no way that’s him. There’s no possible way.” Gaz put her arm around his shoulders, trying to comfort him. It was then that she saw a pair of scary looking people, carrying what looked like a briefcase, heading their way. Once they were close enough, the young man spoke.

“May I join you?” He asked in a polite manner. As Zim and Tak sat there in silence, Dib took it upon himself, being the curious person that he was, gave a slight but cautious nod. As he sat down, the boy nodded towards the large man behind him, who pulled out a small black pyramid from his jacket pocket. He placed the object onto the table and activated it by twisting the top. As it activated, a shimmering field surrounded the group, automatically snapping Zim and Tak out of their terrified state.

“That’s a Vocal Dampening Device.” Tak said in surprise.

“Correct,” Rok replied with a curt nod.

“What’s a Vocal Dampening device?” Gaz asked.

“It’s a device that does exactly what its name suggest.” Zim explains. “It creates a field around a small area that blocks out any noise.”

“Is it Irken technology?” Gaz asked.

“No,” Tak said, “it’s from the Galactic Federation.” Finally realizing what was happening, she looked at Rok. “You work for the Federation?” Rok slowly nodded, making take stare at him in disbelief.

“What’s the Galactic Federation?” Dib asked, finally saying something.

“It’s kinda like the Irken Empire,” Tak explains, “only they want to stop Operation Impending Doom. That and the fact that the Federation is led by a council of elected officials.”

“So is it a corrupt system?” Gaz asked looking over at Rok.

“Fortunately,” Rok replied, “no one can buy their way into one of the Seats of Power. You must promise the people that you will do what’s best for the Federation. If you do not, you are forced out of your seat and a new election begins to replace you. It is a strange process, but it allowed the Federation to last for 100,000 solar cycles.” He paused to let the information sink in. After a moment, he continued. “Anyway, the reason the Federation sent me here is because they have received intelligence that the Irken Empire has their sights set on this planet.”

“What for?” Tak became curious. Since she first arrived on this planet, it had not tactical advantage for the Tallest. It was then that she made a realization. “Wait,” she continued before turning to Zim, “does this have to do with the secret you’re hiding from me?”

“It appears, Zim,” Rok looked towards him, “that you have not been truthful to one in the same predicament as you are.” Clearing his throat before continuing. “The federation has reason to believe that the Irken Empire received intelligence that this planet is not as useless as they first thought. It appears that they now know the uniqueness of the human DNA.”

“And this uniqueness is?” Tak asked in the same tone Gaz was using the night before.

Gulping, Zim finished Rok’s explanation. “Human and Irken DNA a similar.” This made Tak’s eyes grow wide.

“H-how similar are they?” Tak glanced nervously towards Dib.

“Similar enough to allow breeding between the two races.” Zim concluded, allowing Tak’s face to turn red once more.

“It is quite funny, the human genetic code.” Rok continued. “For you see, it does not only tell you how one can build a human, but it also is a key to tell how to create the next step in their evolutionary ladder.”

“What do you mean?” Dib said, looking at Rok.

“You see,” Rok explained, “the human race has been met by many advance races in the past. It is the only reason you and your kind are the way they are now. Your genetic code was designed to indicate the next species that you must breed with before you can take the next step. The way it does this is by make your DNA similar to said alien race, which in this case is Irken.”

“How do you know this?” Zim stared at Rok in wonder.

“Being a close friend to the Federation’s High Councilor,” Rok replied, “I have been given Level 1 clearance to all sensitive information.”

“And how does the Galactic Federation know this?” Tak was still shocked by what she was hearing.

“The Galactic Federation is the one that is in charge of this program.” Rok explained. “It is their belief that the humans, if bred right, can achieve becoming the Higharc.” As Rok said this, Zim and Tak’s eyes took the size of dinner plates.

“What’s the Higharc?” Gaz asked.

“A long extinct race of supreme beings,” Zim explained in an awed voice. “One rumored to be able to create vast technological advances without the slightest effort.”

“Wow,” Gaz’s tone became full of awe as well. “And the Federation believes the humans are the key to bringing them back?”

“Indeed.” As Rok said this, his bodyguard whispered something into his ear, making him look around. Doing the same, Gaz and the others found out that lunch had just concluded, and everyone was leaving. “It seems our time is up for the moment,” Rok said as O’Malley grabbed the device and turned it off. “We will continue this conversation at my place around 4 o’clock? That will give you ample time to get home and finish your homework.” Without waiting for a reply, Rok left with his bodyguard in tow.