Eyes of Blight
Turbuggy 
Invader Zim
Also, I'd like to thank AO3's user Kizimba for their generous amount of information regarding medical procedures and the like, which will help me greatly to write a more realistic recovery for Zim! Though I have not yet implemented a lot of the information just yet, it shall come into play in the next few chapters, once the duo reaches Earth, and has advanced technology readily available to them!
SEE MORE INFO
dib x zim
oc x oc
future setting
original characters
hurt/comfort
angst
fluff
Chapters: 11/?
Status: Abandoned
Chapter Seven
Delicate glass was turned over in Dib’s hands as he examined the vial. The liquid inside swirled with an almost glitter-like shine, his movements creating beautiful spirals on its surface.
“What is this?”
“This is your companion’s key to survival, my friend.” the Shaman replied, reaching to carefully take the vial back into her possession, “A mixture made on a planet not far from here, with the sole purpose of preserving the lives of IRKEN affected by this curse.”
Kneeling back down onto her mat, the healer gingerly tilted her patient’s chin upwards, and coaxed his mouth open. She removed the cork-like stopper that held the concoction inside the glass, and tipped it until a single drop fell onto Zim’s tongue. Once more she performed this motion, before closing the vial. Her actions were rewarded with a grumble from the smaller, and a scrunched face.
“Two drops a day on the tongue, and IRKEN Zim will be well again.” the Shaman held the vial back out to Dib, offering a soft smile under her face covering, “This will clear the pathogen from his system. I am sure he will be able to handle the rest once you both return to Earth.”
With the shimmering orange liquid returned to him, Dib resumed staring into it, though his brow was furrowed in thought. He finally tore his gaze away, and looked up to the healer,
“That’s it? This is going to save Zim? After everything that’s happened, a couple drops of some kind of potion is what I’m expected to rely on?” as the human’s voice began to rise, his fist tightened around the glass, though he took care not to crack it, “How do I know this is even going to work? How do I know I can trust you? So far all you’ve done is poke him and give me a home remedy! Plus, you haven’t really been very open with us, y’know! You’ve been ‘waiting for us?’ How do you even know we exist? How do you know our names? How are you the only alien here who can speak English? Huh? Can you tell me any of that, miss ‘Crystal Shaman’?!”
“I did not think you a skeptic, Human Dib.” came the calm reply, “Though I admire your foresight, I assure you, I truly do have only the best of intentions.”
“If that’s true, then why won’t you answer my questions?!”
“Some answers come with time, my friend.” the Shaman’s hands busied themselves with tenderly re-wrapping the little IRKEN in blankets, “As does recovery.”
As Zim was lifted from the ground and held outwards to the boy once more, Dib pocketed the vial and took the bundle back into his arms, pressing it close to his chest. He could feel the alien’s small body shaking against him, and he couldn’t help but allow his gaze to be pulled downwards, meeting the face of the mighty Invader. Unsteadily, he ran the back of his fingers over the soft green skin of Zim’s pale cheek, a quiet huff of pity escaping him. With his eyes squeezed shut behind his glasses, he shook his head. As much as he wanted to press on, to have his inquiries fulfilled, he knew that he had no other option to fall back on. If he decided not to follow the Shaman’s advice, it would mean a slow, and painful end for his nemesis— and companion— of 9 years.
“I’m guessing that means you’re not going to tell me who met us on that other medical planet either, then, huh?”
This earned a laugh from the Shaman, amused, yet just as soft as her voice, “A long-time friend of mine. As it would be unwise of me to leave my position, she offered to deliver the message to you, herself.”
“And where is she?”
“I am afraid she is not on planet, currently.”
“Of course she’s not.”
Following the human’s bitter reply, the healer stood once more, sky blue eyes full of empathy for the duo’s plight. She stepped forwards, placing a kind hand against Dib’s forearm. Though she was no taller than four and a half feet, the boy felt as though he were being addressed by a respected Elder.
“Human Dib. I understand your hesitation, I do. But I only wish to offer my aid to you both. Some things may be difficult to understand at this moment. You have many unanswered questions. You are fearful. But it is not my time to answer just yet. I hope you can learn to one day forgive me.”
“...I don’t want him to die.” Dib felt his voice crack around the lump in his throat, and it took every ounce of his remaining strength to hold back the tears that threatened to escape from his eyes.
A small clawed hand squeezed the boy’s arm, “And he will not. This, I can promise you.”
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER THIRTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 8:28PM ON THE TWENTY NINTH OF MAY BACK ON EARTH.
SO, IT’S BEEN A BIT OF A RIDE SINCE I LAST LOGGED. WE REACHED KESTASIS, AND THAT “CRYSTAL SHAMAN” PERSON WAS ACTUALLY THERE! I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT, BUT… SHE WAS THERE! SHE GAVE ME THIS BOTTLE OF ORANGE STUFF AND TOLD ME IF I GAVE ZIM TWO DROPS A DAY, IT WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER. I HAVE MY SUSPICIONS, BUT I GUESS IT’S BETTER THAN NOTHING.
ACTUALLY, SHE GAVE ME A FEW OTHER THINGS, TOO. SHE HELPED ME STOCK MY SHIP UP WITH FRUIT AND WATER AND STUFF FROM THE PLANET. SHE TOLD ME IT WOULDN’T GO BAD BEFORE WE GOT HOME, SO THAT’S GOOD. ALSO SOME OF THE WATER STOCK HAS SUGAR IN IT, FOR ZIM. SHE SAID I SHOULD GIVE HIM LOTS OF IT, BUT I’M KINDA SCARED HE’LL PUKE OR SOMETHING IF I GIVE HIM TOO MUCH. I GUESS THIS WATER ISN’T LIKE THE WATER ON EARTH. AT LEAST, I HOPE IT ISN’T. THE LAST THING I NEED IS TO MAKE ZIM DRINK SOMETHING THAT’LL BURN HIM.
ON TOP OF THE “LOTS OF SUGAR WATER” THING, SHE TOLD ME TO TRY AND KEEP HIM REAL WARM, AND MAKE SURE HE RESTS. I HAVEN’T REALLY PUT HIM DOWN FOR VERY LONG IN WEEKS, SO I DON’T THINK “KEEPING HIM WARM” WILL BE MUCH OF A PROBLEM. MAKING HIM REST, ON THE OTHER HAND, MIGHT BE A BIT HARDER LATER ON, IF THIS STUFF ACTUALLY WORKS…
SHE ALSO GAVE ME A SECOND GLASS VIAL OF… STUFF… BUT THIS ONE IS BLUE. SAID IT WOULD HELP WITH PAIN, BUT NOT TO USE IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE HIM NAUSEOUS.
OH YEAH! THE LAST THING SHE GAVE ME WAS THIS CRYSTAL THING? IT’S PINK, AND IT’S ATTACHED TO A GOLD THREAD. IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE QUARTZ CRYSTALS "WITCHY" PEOPLE USE. YOU KNOW THE ONES, POINTED AT THE ENDS, LONG? IT ACTUALLY GIVES OFF A BIT OF LIGHT, THOUGH. LIKE, IT’S LITERALLY GLOWING! SHE SAID THAT IT’S CALLED A “NERLONIAN HEALING CRYSTAL”, FROM THE PLANET “NERLON”. APPARENTLY, IT’S REALLY RARE AND SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO WHOEVER WEARS IT. I THINK SHE SAID ONLY NERLONIAN HEALERS HAVE THEM OR SOMETHING? I GUESS THAT’S WHAT SHE IS, THEN.
ALTHOUGH, I REMEMBER THE ALIEN THAT LEAD ME TO HER HAD ONE OF THEM, TOO, I THINK, AND SHE DIDN’T LOOK LIKE HER. I MEAN, THE SHAMAN WAS ALL COVERED BUT I SAW HER EYES, AND THEY WERE DIFFERENT! MAYBE SHE’S SPECIAL OR SOMETHING? I MEAN, SHE DOES HAVE A COOL TITLE AND ALL THAT. SUPER SECRETIVE, TOO. WAY TOO SECRETIVE, IF YOU ASK ME.
ANYWAYS, I’M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT ALL THIS. YES, OKAY, THERE REALLY WAS A “CRYSTAL SHAMAN”, BUT… THIS SEEMS LIKE WITCH-DOCTOR-Y STUFF. IS A POTION REALLY GOING TO MIRACULOUSLY HEAL ZIM FROM AN INCURABLE DISEASE?
…
I GUESS WE’LL FIND OUT.
THIS HAS BEEN DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK.
// LOG END… //
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER FOURTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 12:32PM ON THE SECOND OF JUNE BACK ON EARTH.
SO, I’VE BEEN ADDING UP THE DAYS FROM MY OWN LOGS, AND FROM THE LOGS THAT THE SHIP KEEPS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT TOOK US JUST A FEW DAYS UNDER SEVEN WEEKS TO GET FROM EARTH, TO MEDICINA, TO KESTASIS.
OH BOY…
I MEAN, I’M NOT SURE HOW LONG I THOUGHT A SPACE ADVENTURE WOULD TAKE, BUT… SEVEN WEEKS WASN’T IT! THAT’S LIKE… TWO MONTHS! I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT’S GOING ON BACK HOME… DAD’S PROBABLY SO ANGRY…
…
ON TOP OF THAT, I’M NOT SEEING ANY KIND OF CHANGE IN ZIM AT ALL! AND I MEAN, LIKE, NONE. HE’S STILL COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE, JUST LAYS IN MY ARMS AND SHIVERS. THE ONLY REACTION I EVER GET OUT OF HIM IS WHEN I GIVE HIM THE DROPS FROM THE SHAMAN. HE ALWAYS SCRUNCHES HIS FACE UP LIKE IT TASTES BAD. I DON’T THINK HE LIKES IT VERY MUCH.
THIS IS SO… STUPID! I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M REALLY FORCING HIM TO DRINK THIS GROSS POTION WHILE HE’S FUCKING DYING! AM I REALLY THIS MUCH OF AN IDIOT?!
…MAYBE I REALLY AM CRAZY.
...
// LOG END… //
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER FIFTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 2:18PM ON THE SIXTEENTH OF JUNE BACK ON EARTH.
SO, I TOOK A BIT OF A BREAK FROM LOGGING AFTER MY LAST ONE. I JUST KINDA… WANTED TO FOCUS ON TRYING TO HELP ZIM, Y’KNOW?
I’M NOT REALLY SURE WHY, BUT I KEPT GIVING HIM THIS ORANGE STUFF. I GUESS IT WAS OUT OF HOPE, REALLY? I DIDN’T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT MAYBE… I DID ALL OF THAT FOR NOTHING?
BUT… BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO CHANGE! IT’S NOT A HUGE CHANGE, BUT ZIM’S REACTING TO THINGS NOW! HE GRUMBLES WHEN I MOVE HIM, AND HE’S STARTED TO MAKE THOSE LITTLE WHIMPERING SOUNDS AGAIN! I… DON’T LIKE THOSE SOUNDS, BUT… IT’S BETTER THAN SILENCE. AT LEAST IT MEANS HE’S MORE AWARE NOW, RIGHT?
I’M FINDING IT EASIER TO GET HIM TO DRINK, TOO. IT LOOKS LIKE HE’S NOT STRUGGLING AS MUCH TO SWALLOW THE WATER NOW. THAT’S GOOD! THAT’S GOOD…
GOD, I JUST… I KNOW I’M SUPPOSED TO BE EXCITED, BUT… I’M JUST SCARED. I MEAN, HE SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER! BUT IT’S SUCH A SMALL IMPROVEMENT… WHAT IF HE JUST GOES BACK DOWNHILL AGAIN? WHAT IF I LET MYSELF THINK EVERYTHING IS OKAY AND THEN HE…?
[INDISTINGUISHABLE]
EASY, BUDDY… I’M SORRY. I’M BEING TOO LOUD, HUH? YEAH, LET’S… LET’S BE QUIET NOW.
// LOG END… //
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER SIXTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 7:19AM ON THE TWENTY THIRD OF JUNE BACK ON EARTH.
IT’S BEEN, UH… JUST A FEW DAYS OVER THREE WEEKS SINCE ZIM AND I LEFT KESTASIS. WE’RE BACK IN IRKEN TERRITORY AGAIN, SO WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE OUR CLOAKING DOWN. I’M GETTING PRETTY TIRED OF BEING ALL CRAMPED IN THIS SHIP, THOUGH. BOY, ARE MY LEGS EVER SORE! I CAN’T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND FREELY ON EARTH AGAIN. NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY I ACTUALLY MISS EARTH! I GUESS I’M FEELING KINDA HOMESICK. EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY DOESN’T REALLY LIKE ME ALL THAT MUCH, IT’S STILL HOME, Y’KNOW? I MISS DAD AND GAZ A LOT.
I WONDER IF ZIM EVER GETS HOMESICK FOR IRK?
OH! SPEAKING OF ZIM, HE’S ACTUALLY STILL IMPROVING! HE’S STARTED MOVING AROUND A BIT, OPENING HIS EYES AND STUFF. HE CAN’T WALK AROUND OR GET DOWN FROM MY ARMS YET, BUT HE’S BEEN SHIFTING HIMSELF AND GETTING COMFORTABLE AND ALL THAT. HE’S STILL SPENDING A LOT OF TIME SLEEPING, BUT HE IS STARTING TO STAY AWAKE MORE AND MORE! I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TALK TO HIM AND KEEP HIM DISTRACTED WHEN HE’S AWAKE. TAKE HIS MIND OFF OF THE STOMACH PAIN. HE HASN’T SAID ANYTHING BACK, BUT HE DOESN’T REALLY LOOK AWAY, EITHER, SO… I THINK HE’S INTERESTED?
THE SHAMAN TOLD ME THAT PETTING HIS ANTENNAE IS SOOTHING? SO, I’VE BEEN DOING THAT, AND, YEAH, HE REALLY SEEMS TO LIKE IT. I THINK IT’S COMFORTING FOR HIM. IT’S… KINDA COMFORTING FOR ME, TOO, IN A WAY.
[SHUFFLING]
…IS IT WEIRD THAT I WISH I COULD KEEP DOING THIS KIND OF THING EVEN AFTER THIS IS ALL OVER? PETTING HIM AND STUFF, I MEAN. I… THINK I’D REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO—
DI… IB…
HUH? ZIM? I— I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASLEEP.
C… COLD… S’COLD...
I KNOW YOU’RE COLD, ZIM… I’M SORRY, BUDDY. HERE, LET’S WRAP THESE BLANKETS UP A BIT MORE… THAT BETTER? OH, UH— H-HEY, CAREFUL! YOU NEED TO—
…OR YOU CAN CUDDLE UP THERE, I GUESS…
M… AKE… W-WARM…
…YEAH, I’LL… I’LL MAKE YOU WARM. JUST TAKE IT EASY…
// LOG END… //
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER SEVENTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 4:36PM ON THE THIRTIETH OF JUNE BACK ON EARTH.
FOUR WEEKS DOWN, THREE MORE TO GO! I THINK BOTH ZIM AND I ARE ITCHING TO GET BACK ONTO SOLID GROUND AGAIN. THE MORE HE IMPROVES, THE MORE RESTLESS HE GETS. THE LITTLE GUY’S ACTUALLY MANAGING TO HOLD SMALL CONVERSATIONS WITH ME NOW, AND HE’S EVEN GAINING BACK A LITTLE BIT OF HIS… ZIM… NESS? YEAH. HIS “ZIMNESS”. I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW GREAT IT FELT TO HEAR HIM CALL ME “DIB-SMELLY” AGAIN.
UH, ACTUALLY, SPEAKING OF WHICH, I’M NOT TOO SURE HOW MUCH LONGER I’LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE LOGS WITHOUT HIM KNOWING. USUALLY, I JUST MAKE THEM WHILE HE’S ASLEEP SO THAT I WON’T BOTHER HIM, AND, UH, SO HE CAN’T TEASE ME ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, NOW THAT HE’S GETTING BETTER, HE’S STARTING TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME AWAKE. DON’T GET ME WRONG, HE’S STILL… REALLY TIRED, BUT HE KINDA DRIFTS IN AND OUT NOW, INSTEAD OF SLEEPING FOR HOURS AND HOURS AT A TIME. I’M NEVER REALLY SURE WHEN HE’S GOING TO WAKE UP OR HOW LONG HE’LL BE AWAKE, Y’KNOW? I MIGHT HAVE TO START MAKING THESE LOGS SHORTER IF I WANT TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT.
I’M, UH… STILL PRETTY WORRIED ABOUT THE ABDOMINAL PAIN, THOUGH. I MEAN, DOESN’T BRUISING LIKE THAT USUALLY MEAN INTERNAL BLEEDING? THE SHAMAN DID SAY THAT ZIM WOULD PROBABLY KNOW HOW TO “HANDLE THE REST” ONCE WE GOT BACK, AND SHE HASN’T BEEN WRONG YET… BUT I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL A BIT BOTHERED WHENEVER ZIM GROANS OR GRIMACES OR SOMETHING. I GUESS IF WHATEVER SICKNESS HE HAS ATTACKS HIS, UH, SQUEEDILYSPOOCH, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE LONGEST TO HEAL? I DUNNO. I’M NOT A DOCTOR.
I’VE STARTED GIVING ZIM THAT PAIN MEDICINE THE SHAMAN GAVE ME, AND IT HAS BEEN HELPING, BUT IT ONLY SEEMS TO DULL IT A BIT. AND, YEAH, SHE WASN’T KIDDING ABOUT MAKING HIM NAUSEOUS. EVERY TIME I’VE GIVEN IT TO HIM, HE GETS REAL QUIET, KEEPS HIS EYES CLOSED. SO FAR, HE’S HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE UNFORTUNATE… MISHAPS. I DON’T USUALLY MAKE HIM TAKE ANOTHER DOSE IF HE CAN’T KEEP IT DOWN.
OH! YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVEN’T MENTIONED YET? THAT FRUIT THAT I GOT FROM KESTASIS! OHMAN, IS IT GOOD! I’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON EARTH! I MEAN, FROM THE LOOKS OF THE PLANET, I’M GUESSING THEY KINDA LET THIS STUFF GROW FREELY? PROBABLY NOT AS MODIFIED AS THE STUFF BACK HOME. BUT WOW! I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS THIS! APPLES WILL NEVER BE SATISFYING AGAIN!
I WAS TOLD NOT TO FEED ANY TO ZIM, THOUGH, SO… I GUESS HE CAN’T PROCESS IT? MORE FOR ME, THEN!
ANYWAYS, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR NOW! SO MUCH FOR MAKING THESE SHORTER!
THIS HAS BEEN DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK.
// LOG END… //
// TRANSLATED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING… //
// LOG BEGIN… //
CAPTAIN’S LOG NUMBER EIGHTTEEN.
THIS IS DIB MEMBRANE, AGENT MOTHMAN OF THE SWOLLEN EYEBALL NETWORK. IT IS CURRENTLY—
CAPTAIN’S… LOOOOOG?
WH— ZIM?! YOU WERE JUST SLEEPING!
FOOL! ZIM WAS NOT S… SLEEPING! IRKEN SO NOT REQ… UIRE SLEEP LIKE YOU PATHETIC HHHHHUMANS!
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! YOU’VE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT SLEEPING FOR ALMOST FOUR MONTHS YOU—
YOU LIE!! YOU LIIIEEE!!
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! YOU DON’T SLEEP. YOU’VE JUST BEEN, WHAT, RESTING YOUR EYES FOR HOURS AT A TIME?
YES.
UH-HUH.
WHAT A… ARE YOU DOING?
UHHH… TALKING TO MYSELF?
YOU ARE NOT!
I AM!
YOU ARE MAKING C… CAPTAIN’S LOG-THINGIES! IS— IS THAT WHY YOU KEEP MAKING SO MUCH HHHHHHORRIBLE NOISE WHILE ZIM IS TRYING TO SLEE— EH… REST HIS EYES?!
NO! I’VE JUST BEEN, UH—
YOU ARE NO CAPTAIN! YOU ARE JUST A… A PIG-SMELLY!
HEY, C’MON! I JUST WANTED TO KEEP A RECORD OF THE TRIP, Y’KNOW? I HAVEN’T BEEN ALL OVER THE GALAXY LIKE YOU HAV—
A RECOOORD? YOU DARE TO USE IRKEN TECHNOLOGY LIKE YOUR P… PATHETIC LIVING-JOURNAL?!
MY LIVING— HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY LIVEJOURNAL?!
UHHH…
HAVE YOU BEEN— HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN READING IT?! ZIM?!
YOU HAVE NO PROOF!!
YOU JUST SAID—
ZIM SAID NOTHING!
OHMYGOD…
…
MY FAVORITE PART IS WHEN YOU S… SPOKE OF THE GAZ-HUMAN ACCIDENTALLY FINDING YOUR—
THAT’S ENOUGH ZIM!!
[LAUGHTER]
[COUGHING]
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, TAKE A BREATHER, SPACE-BOY. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING, YOU KNOW.
ZIM NEEDS N… NO…REST!
UH-HUH. LAY DOWN.
WHAT ABOUT THE… T-TIME WHEN YOUR PANTS F… FELL DOWN BUT YOU WEREN’T WEARING ANY—
LAY DOWN, ZIM!
OH, OH! OR THE TIME THAT YOU…
// LOG END… //
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