Chapter Text
Professor Membrane speed walks down the bright hallways of Membrane Labs. He keeps the same constant pace, as going too fast could be a hazard, but going too slow isn’t right for this emergency. If that’s what he could even call it.
He knows Dib has some sort of personal project going on since working here at the laboratory. He suspects that might be the reason Dib is calling him down, possibly an unforeseen reaction, an embarrassing chemical equation mistake, or maybe even a mechanical issue.
It’s not long until Professor Membrane is standing in front of his son’s office door. He puts on a smile and knocks on the door, and waits. With only a couple of seconds later, knocking on the door again.
Suddenly, the door is swung open and Dib immediately wraps his arms around him, forcing him into a hug. He awkwardly hugs his son back. It’s been some time since they’ve both done this... what has Dib done now?
“Dad, I don't know what to do,” Dib speaks as he looks Professor Membrane straight in the eyes, his head tilting up despite him only being two inches shorter.
“What did you do?” Professor Membrane asks, his hand moving up to push some hair out of his son’s face.
Dib lets go of him and glances left and right down the hallway before pulling him into the office and closing the door. “Son, what’s gotten you so paranoid-” Membrane asks before going silent.
He stares straight at the infant sitting in Dib’s office chair, a lab coat wrapping around their body terribly. “.. whose kid is that?” He questions while pointing at the baby.
Dib looks at Membrane, his eyes full of worry and fear. "If I tell you, you promise not to be mad?" His son asks him, he takes a moment before just nodding.
Professor Membrane was ready for whatever Dib was about to say. Whether it was something like kidnapping the baby because of his paranormal beliefs or just simply getting a girl pregnant. But nothing could prepare him for what his son says.
"They're a clone. I-.. Originally I was just going to make them to prove a point to you, but I stopped the experiment just a week I started it. But I forgot to actually terminate the experiment and boom ten months later they're here." His son speaks, his voice trembling slightly with anxiety.
When Dib finishes talking he let's out a nervous laugh. "I just don't know what to do, and since you've got experience with you know me and Gaz.. I figured you'd know what to do." He adds on while walking over to the infant.
"What point would you want to prove where you'd make a child?" Membrane says while following Dib, kneeling down in front of the infant. "You wouldn't believe me because it had to do with one of my 'paranoid ideologies'." His son responds, his tone slightly mad but also sarcastic.
"Son, you know I didn't mean it like that." He immediately replies. Dib's face frowns a little at the statement, "It's whatever Dad, it's in the past. I just want help with this." His son spoke before gesturing at the baby.
Professor Membrane reaches for the baby and picks them up, cradling them close. "Well then, let's start simple. What's the sex?" He questions before standing back up.
Dib looks at him and awkwardly brings his shoulders up, "I didn't check, I just focused more on getting them out of the machine. " He says.
"That's okay, it's most likely a boy" Membrane slightly unwraps the lab coat on the infant before quickly wrapping it back. "Yep, it's a boy."
Dib just nods that information."Now, what about a name?" He asks, he watches his son think.
"Terrace..?" He says slowly as if testing the name. "Terrace? Like a terrace patio?" Professor Membrane questions.
Dib chuckles slightly as a soft smile appears on his face. "Yeah, I guess so." He spoke.
His son slowly reaches out and takes Terrace out of his grasp. He looks down at the infant with a smile before looking back at him. "I still don't know what to do with him." Dib says.
"How about you head home, I have still yours and Gaz's old baby clothes in the hallway closet." Professor Membrane responds while placing a hand on his son's shoulder.
"And when I arrive home after work, I'll help you figure everything out." He adds on. Dib nods, "Okay." He says.
Professor Membrane let's go of his son and turns away, but just before he leaves Dib's office he looks back. "I'll see you after work." He says.
He turns back forward and heads out, and closes the office door after exiting. Membrane sighs as he closes the door. "What were you trying to prove my boy." He murmurs as he walks away from the door.
Nothing about the hallway changes, not the bright fluorescent lights, the oddly clear floors or even the spotless paint. Yet, Professor Membrane felt the change, if it wasn't there.
The hallways weren't the same as they were before confronting Dib and they never will be. This information wasn't too drastic, nothing bad.
Dib is painful impulsive, and Membrane just knows Terrace is going have to endure that impulsiveness. He just hopes he's there to him them both out.