Chapter Text
Prologue: "Let me Tell You a Story"
The room was a stark white, the fluorescent light coming from the lamps illuminating the interior made the room seem almost brighter if one were to walk in. Medical equipment laid neatly organized throughout all corners, a single window was to the right, a cool breeze blowing in from the slight opening. In the center of the room, a full-sized bed sat with the same color sheets, pillows and a comfortable looking blanket. The only thing that did not match the dull brightness....was the girl laying within it. Her eyes were shut, a peaceful expression on her pale face as her maroon strands of hair splashed much needed warmth and color against the cool pillow. One would think she was simply sleeping if there were not cords and straps attached to her bare arms, an IV dripping fluid into her body as a machine beeped and hummed slowly, displaying the rhythmic lines of her heartbeat.
"Yeah. ....Doesn't exactly look good for me, does it? ....Mm, don't even know who I would be talking to right now, but even if my body is currently a very poor rendition of that stupid Sleeping Beauty story, my mind...my mind is still here. I can hear everything, sense everything. I'm still here. Still here and pretty bored, as a matter of fact."
A man walked into the room, a clipboard in his hands as he noted the readings on the machine and jotted down some notes. He looked down at the girl, and even with the covering of his labcoat and lab goggles, a clear wrinkle of a concerned frown was on his features.
"Sorry, Dad. I'm....sorry for scaring you like this. What with everything that's gone on, I might still be pissed at everything you've hidden, but....you don't deserve to see me like this. Can only imagine how Big Bro is faring right now. ....Wow, 'Big Bro'? I really did get as soft as she said I was. I hate when she's right."
The man left the room after shaking his head, calling to a nurse about the extent of his daughter's condition. The girl was alone again.
"Well. Looks like I've got all the time in the world right now, huh? So, to whoever is listening, however you're able to, looks like you're in for the long haul. Guess it would be polite to introduce myself. My name...My name is Gaz Membrane, and for all intense and purposes....I'm in a very deep induced coma. Apparently it was such a good job that I was considered dead until they hooked me up to something to see if my damn heart was beating. Gotta hand it to Zim's stupid race, they sure know how to cover up tracks. ....But, 'covering up tracks' isn't the right word for this. ....That guy saved my life, even if it meant nearly killing me. And since I'm like this, I'll never be able to thank him. Even if I wake up now, it's...too late. Everybody else...I can only really hope they're alright. Heh....wow, she really was right. Fuck her. I digress, though. If you're going to be stuck here with me....let me tell you exactly how it went down. Even if you're Nobody at all, even if I'm slowly losing my mind....it's better than being quiet. I'm not going to be quiet anymore."
"So, shall we begin?"
Nine Months Ago
The alarm blaring loudly from her phone was but the muffled chirping of a bird compared to the crashes, screams and sounds of literal lasers coming from whatever the hell was going on outside, even the attempted solace of pulling her fluffed pillow over her head not giving her any remedy from her headache-inducing wakeup call. Gaz Membrane pulled herself out from her cocoon of blankets and stuffed animals, the teenaged girl rubbing her eyes as she glared towards her window, currently covered by her treasured black-out curtain. Really, best purchase she ever made. If only she could have noise cancelling window glass. Or walls, for that matter, as she was utterly convinced that her stupid older brother would actually die if he didn't talk for an entire day. Maybe an experiment involving a needle and thread (or masking tape) would be required in the near future. Speaking of Dib....
"Do you and stupid Zim HAVE to do your bullshit so early in the goddamn morning?" Gaz snarled, grabbing her noisy phone from her bedside table and turning off the alarm, swiping through her notifications and checking her text messages. Huh, there was one from her Dad's assistant.
'Good morning, Miss Membrane. Please call your father at your earliest convenience. He will be available from 9 in the morning, Pacific Time to 2 in the afternoon, Pacific Time. Make your appointment around this time frame. Thank you and have a pleasant day.'
"You would think that I was an expectant intern and not his own damn kid." the girl grumbled, typing a quick response and time to when she would be available for a phone call with her "dear old Dad" and shoved her phone in her pocket. This was ordinary, though- she celebrated her seventeenth birthday last month and had to go through the exact same process, even when Dib (to his own credit) tried to fight with their father's assistant over it. She glanced over at her calendar and gave a soft sigh- one more week of summer vacation and then it was back to school. Junior Year...most kids would be over the moon over being able to celebrate their 'Junior Prom' or the other perks of being in their third year, like searching for good colleges, but Gaz couldn't care less. Her grades were average- beyond average if she really thought about it- and because she was Professor Membrane's daughter, she could frankly get into any school she wanted. Regardless, because of her....personality, she did not have many friends. In fact, most of her "friends" were online, as she hid behind an anonymous username and her epic gaming skills. Gaz hated admitting that she and her big brother were similar in the friend department, but it was facts- neither were popular, her brother was constantly in detention with that idiotic buffoon Zim and she was looked at like she was literally a witch who sacrificed babies and worshipped the devil. Well...she wasn't complaining, anyway. Gaz enjoyed being scary and enjoyed being alone, hoping she could continue that peaceful routine for as long as she possibly could.
Speaking of peace....
"IT IS SEVEN IN THE FUCKING MORNING, BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE EVER LIVING FUCK UP!!!" Gaz screamed as loud as she possibly could, the sounds of her brother and his "arch nemesis" battling it out in the backyard coming to an abrupt stop aside from hushed curses and growls (probably at each other). Fine. Whatever. At least nobody was giving her a migraine anymore. Gaz slithered herself out of the bed, grabbing one of her oversized black hoodies from a pile of clothes (she really needed to get laundry done today- or tomorrow, whenever) and throwing it over her body. Deciding that today was a day for her pink pajama shorts, a hoodie and messy bedhead, Gaz gave her face a couple of slaps to wake herself up and made her way out of the room as she grabbed some earbuds off her desk. She pulled her phone out of the pocket again, sticking a bud into her ear and scrolling to a playlist. Satisfied with her choice, Gaz cranked up the volume and headed down the hallway....only to see her brother tripping his way up the stairs and immediately beginning to talk.
"SORRY ABOUT THAT GAZ! WASN'T TRYING TO WAKE YOU OR ANYTHING, BUT OH MAN YOU HAVE NOOOO IDEA WHAT THAT BASTARD ZIM WAS PLANNING THIS TIME! HE HAD THIS HUGE MACHINE THAT LOOKED LIKE A VACCUM AND IT WAS SUCKING DOWN MAGMA FROM THE EARTH TO BRING IT TO THE SURFACE- LIKE, IT WAS GOING TO BE A REENACTMENT OF POMPEII UP IN HERE IF I DIDN'T STOP HIM RIGHT THEN AND THERE. AND HE WAS USING OUR BACKYARD- OUR BACKYARD OF ALL PLACES!!! LOOKS LIKE THOSE THREE STRAIGHT NIGHTS OF ALL-NIGHTERS REALLY PAID OFF BECAUSE I STOPPED HIM-okay, actually the entire thing malfunctioned and broke right before anything could happen-BUT I STILL KICKED HIS ASS--"
He kept going and going, getting louder and more manic as his sister stared straight ahead, cursing that her phone's volume could only be so loud as she took her left hand and with a swift shove in her brother's stomach, pushed him roughly out of her way as she stepped down her stairs and went for the kitchen. Dib whined in pain at his little sister's violence, rubbing his bruised ribs as he got himself up and followed behind her. Okay, yeah, he did deserve that after waking Gaz up out of a dead sleep so early in the morning, but she had no idea the full extent of Zim's evil schemes, even in the six years they had been at battle with one another and his world-saving days truly began. Even as a now grown up eighteen year old with the growth spurt of a damn tree, Dib would never stop protecting his sister and humankind from the aliens, even if his sister, father and humanity itself thought of him as completely insane. Hey, at least the medication he now had to take settled his mania a little bit- only was able to make him focus clearly on his true destiny!
Still...it was crappy of him to wake Gaz up like that. Dib found himself soon in the kitchen, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as he watched his sister looking through the cabinets for any kind of cereal, seeming to get more grouchy as her searches proved to be in vain. "We, uh...actually need to go shopping today for more cereal....and groceries, honestly. Want me to make you some eggs or anything?" As more frequent as their father's absences became due to the popularity of his inventions and financial opportunities/business trips, Dib and Gaz both tried to learn more house skills in order to keep everything from not becoming straight out of an episode of Hoarders. Dib was slowly learning how to cook, Gaz did both of their laundry and they took turns doing the dishes. Friday's was always Take-Out Night and they switched between who decided where they were going to eat. Grocery shopping was a shared activity- Gaz would end up buying nothing but junk food and Dib had a shit memory when it came to what they needed and end up becoming overwhelmed. That and the moment Dib spotted Zim-that was it, grocery shopping was forgotten for another week if Gaz wasn't there to scruff him like an unruly kitten.
"Mm. Fine." Gaz grumbled, slamming the cabinets shut and deciding to make coffee- if she was going to be awake at this ungodly hour, the rush of caffeine would be very much needed. Deciding to be a little bit nice, she made enough for both herself and her brother as he quietly fried up some eggs and put toast in the toaster. "So, how did you get him to leave?"
Dib's eyes lit up at the thought of his sister actually being interested in his daring morning adventure, only for his hopes to be dashed when she added in- "No, I don't give a crap about the big stupid vaccum. I just didn't think Zim would leave that easily."
"OH, uh...well....actually, something beeped on his wrist and he sort of screamed something about it being more important than dealing with me and his really annoying robot flew off with him. So....lucky break? Though, something being more important than me....GAZ, what if the vaccum was just a trap and his REAL plan has to do with-"
"Dib. Eggs are starting to burn."
"AH, CRAP!" Dib immediately brought his attention back to his cooking, flipping the eggs and lowering the heat as the 'ding' from the toaster caused him to jump a bit. "You want jam on your toast, right?"
"Always."
It took another few minutes of no words exchanged between siblings, but soon breakfast was finished with some slightly burnt eggs, toast with jam for Gaz and toast with butter for Dib. A mug of coffee sat for both of them, Dib's being black with sugar and Gaz's with the last of the hazelnut cream she enjoyed so much. Dib made a note to get her more of that, maybe it would better her mood with him for the rest of the week. Taking a bite out of his crispy egg, Dib finally started the conversation up again as Gaz scrolled through her phone. "So....when's the launch day for that game console of yours?"
"Two days."
"You have plans to be there or-" She only had to give him a 'what do YOU think, genius?' as an answer. "Want me to tag along?"
"So you could maybe run into your best friend and ruin the launch day? I'm good, thanks."
"Heeey. I have SOME self control."
"Uh-Huh." Another minute of silence.
"So....heard from Dad or anything? He sent over some more money yesterday, so we should be good for Back to School shopping-" As this was said, Gaz phone started vibrating, signalling a phone call. Gaz seemed surprised, an eyebrow raising as she placed down her coffee mug.
"Speak of the devil." She glanced at the time. 8:00. That's....earlier than that assistant mentioned her father would be available. Was it actually that serious? "Dad requested that he talk to me."
"Talk to you? Why?" Her brother gawked as his sister shrugged.
"We're finding that out now, doofus." Gaz responded as she slid a finger over her phone, placing it to her ear afterward. "Hey, Dad. ....Yeah, I'm good." Her voice immediately softened, a little smile appearing on her lips. Dib always noted how happy his sister became when their father would communicate with them, the little bit that he would these days. Dib was always cold, or irritated towards him. It really depended on his mood that day when it came to his father. He loved him, there was no question, but the friction between the two only grew as Dib got older and got closer to his college years. He knew his father was expecting a scientific path for his son, something Dib had literal to no interest in. Not to mention- with how much shit was probably on his record, he could only wonder how much his father's name would be able to get him into a university?
Dib stood up as Gaz continued listening to whatever their Dad was telling her, deciding he needed another cup of coffee and another piece of toast. It was Gaz's sudden outburst of confusion that made him nearly spill the scalding liquid on his bare hand.
"WHAT!? BUT, BUT DAD, WHY WOULD-I ALREADY HAVE NOBODY BUT DIB THERE, WHY WOULD YOU REMOVE ME-NO, I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT 'GOOD RATINGS' OR ABOUT MY ACADEMIC PROWESS. I- ....I know you want what's best for me, but can't you come home and we can talk-....okay, no, got it. Fine. Bye." Gaz pulled the phone from her ear as she stared at the screen with a burning hot glare, hand shaking around the device and seeming to give the attempt to actually break it. Considering this was her third phone in four months, Dib decided to intervene on this one after her very....passionate disagreements with Dad.
"Uh, Gaz? Everything okay?" he asked tentatively as her attention snapped towards her now quivering brother, angry eyes still present before they cooled to a confused annoyance with a tinge of bitter.
"No. No, it's not." was her curt reply. "I'm not hungry anymore, gonna go upstairs and game." Gaz was shutting down as she tried to briskly make her way out of the kitchen. Dib's anxiety only curdled more- something on that phone call really soured his sister in every shape and form and he was going to get to the bottom of it. As she started for the stairs, knowing she was going to shut herself in her room all day with her deadbolted door and homicidal security robots, Dib made a very bold move and grabbed her arm.
"Let. Me. Go." she hissed.
"Not until you tell me what Dad said! Maybe I could help you!"
"Yeah, you can't."
"Then at least tell me what he's doing that pissed you off! Gaz, please-"
"HE'S SENDING ME TO BOARDING SCHOOL, OKAY!!!' Her sudden outburst startled Dib so bad that he immediately released her arm, eyes wide with confusion.
"He's....what?"
"....He's sending me to an all girl's boarding school for the remainder of my two highschool years. He believes it will 'enrich my already high academic prowess' and I'll be able to 'socialize with my peers better'. It's all been arranged and I have three days to pack before I'm picked up by an assistant. Are you happy now?" she sneered, something other than anger flickering in her eyes before she stomped up the rest of the stairs, skulking down the hallway and slamming the door to her room shut behind her, leaving her very bewildered brother in her wake.
End Prologue: "Let me Tell You a Story"
Next- Chapter One: Reminiscence at Sunset
Songs that inspired Prologue: The Hospital Room- from Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
This is Your Home- Final Fantasy XIII
Angel Eyes- New Year's Day (what Gaz listened to on her phone)