The night sky was pristine--a perfect night to stargaze, or, perhaps, to go out with a telescope. Quiet it was as well; it was as if everyone nearby was busy with something or simply asleep. Not a peep from anyone, not even the Membrane family themselves.
And Tak’s ship, having broken back down shortly after returning Professor Membrane and Gaz to Earth, had been hauled right back into Dib’s shed.
Oh, how she resented that shed. She was debilitated in a way that kept her from being able to make an escape and find her rightful owner. Just as it had been before, she had been rigged back to wires and earthen tech, and once more, she was rendered unable to fly. In fact, the last impact had sent her completely offline. Perfect for Dib to cart her back to that dreaded shed, not so perfect for her.
As per her programming, the last thing she had done before going offline was to send out a distress signal that anyone with the proper Irken technology on them would be able to pick up.
Had she been up, it would only be a matter of hope that Tak--wherever she may have been--would respond to her signal before Zim would.
That, however, was not the only signal sent out. It was only the first one.
The signal had sent out her last location which was, unfortunately, not her current location. She was brought back online one more time via Dib’s tampering, but upon becoming immediately hostile, Dib didn’t have much of a choice but to take her back out for the time being. She was a lot to handle, and Dib wasn’t prepared yet.
Thusly, her second distress signal was sent out, confirming her new location in Dib’s shed. And once more, it was only a matter of hope that Tak would come get her before Zim would.
