#script form

*We pan to the membrane household living room, where Gaz and Dib both seem to occupy at the moment. Dib is sitting lax on the couch while Gaz stands over to the side clearly fuming.*

G: “So you're just… Letting Zim take over the world?... JUST to prove a point?”

D: “... Mmm. Yerp. Sounds about right.”

G: “Oh. Um. Ok, whatever. The world is in chaos so I assumed you would be… Out there. Fighting Zim. And stuff.”

D: “Well not today. You said that Zim plans will always just backfire on themselves anyways and my efforts don't actually prevent anything. So, I figured, let's test that theory.”

G: “... Uh huh... Whatever. Just don't stink up the place with your sweaty anxiousness to save the world.”

D: “Oh I'm not worried. Once you admit that Zim is a real threat to humanity, then I'll go save the world.”

*Outside, a giant flaming meteor could be seen plummeting to earth accommodated by screams- Buildings on fire, and Zim leading an army of giant robots smashing anything. Gaz looks and sits on the couch next to dib.*

G: “Ok then…”

D: “Let's put on something to watch, yeah? You can pick, for old times sake.”

*Gaz flicks through the channels, but all of them are nationwide emergencies- Ranging from China to Egypt, to England, to places all around the world- All in a panic and the world on fire. Dib continues to sip juice.”

D: “Huh. Would you look at that, it's gonna rain tomorrow. Maybe that'll put a damper on all these TEMPORARY fires happening all over the place…”

G: “I know what you're doing Dib but it's not going to work. I bet you're ITCHING to go out there and beat that alien guy to kingdom come. But I'm not changing my mind. A little measly fire never hurt anyone…”

D: “Whatever you say Gaz. I’m actually pretty content here. Yep. Not gonna be moving for a loooong time…”

G: “...”

D: “...”

*Screams continue in the background. Gaz walks away for a few seconds before coming back with a soda. She splashes it on her brother.*

D: “HEY! Why would you do that!? Now I'm all sticky… You got it all over the couch…”

G: “Just checking if you were a robot. So. You really aren't going to do ANYTHING about Zim’s invasion?”

D: “Nope.”

G: “People are dying out there.”

D: “Not my problem. It'll all die down anyways and be forgotten, just like you said.”

G: “This is a new level of petty, even for you.”

D: “I'm not being petty. I'm proving a point. Now, unless you plan on admitting your wrong, move on with the subject- It's not a big deal.”

*Suddenly, Membrane burst through the door, decked out in a gas mask and holding two mini hazmat suits in their size. He slams the door shut, initiating lockdown protocol.*

M: “CHILDREN! THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIG DEAL GOING ON!!! It would seem that the government has FINALLY fallen to Terrorists of the outer space kind! They are here to enslave us to do their bidding- But do not worry. As long as we stay here, we SHOULD be safe from their MIND CONTROLLING radiation waves.”

G: “Don't you not believe in aliens and stuff Dad? Dib, you're seeing this right?”

M: “Ah Gazlene, my poor poor impressionable daughter- It would seem that your brother's insane ramblings have gone to your head. Of COURSE they don't exist! NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE! No no no, Space terrorists are a different concept entirely.”

G: “Dib. Aren't you going to say something?”

D: “What for? There isn't an alien threat going on AT ALL, remember Gaz? Space Terrorists are different.”

M: “Good to know you are coming to your senses, Son. Maybe soon you can return to the labs alongside your father?”

D: “Not a chance dad.”

M: “I predicted as much.”

G: “Ok. NO. This is all WRONG.”

D: “I don't think so. This is all gonna blow over soon anyways- No intervention needed.”

M: “Rational thinking my dear son, perhaps you can be the first to take your portion of beans…”

*Suddenly, a giant laser beam cuts a giant hole in the ceiling, and a load of robot minions in black suits on ropes swung down. Holding guns up to their heads, the robots gesture to a cage landing from the sky next to them, attached to a chain.

R1: “Get in the cage or perish at the might of our lord and master INVADER ZIM! Failure to comply will result in immediate spontaneous combustion!”

R2: “What he said! All electronics have been deactivated!(*Membranes raised robot arms fall limp at his sides*) Surrender in peace or in PIECES!”

D: “Huh. Well this is weird. Reminds me of the good old days of saving the world from a nonexistent threat… Oh well. It's not like it matters, It'll all work itself out in the end… Unless it doesn't…”

M: “The good have fallen, whatever will become of us all…”

G: “Dib! This isn't FUNNY anymore! Stop being a spiteful bump on a log and do something like you usually do!”

D: “What is there to do? Zim isn't a threat to anybody, so I shouldn't bother trying to stop him! Unless you admit otherwise, I'm going to assume it'll all blow over soon. Just. Like. You. Said.”

*The three of them end up going into the cage, which is now lifted up by a giant robot drone, heading towards a giant alien tower in the distance. Many cages could be seen heading that way- With pigs, humans, and bicycles. They soon reach the top floor, a throne room. They are brought to the front to be inspected by Zim, who was decked out in royal gear.*

Z: “Hello filthy humans! What a surprise- No effort from the Dib human this time it seems? Have you finally come to terms with how INFERIOR you are and surrendered your planet to ME?”

D: “Sure. Whatever. How about it Gaz, let's humor the idea! It's not like he can ACTUALLY win…”

M: “Hmmm… That green space terrorist looks oddly familiar…”

Z: “Good good! Excellent! Just had to clear that up before I- You know- ENSLAVE YOU!”

G: “Dib. Do something!”

D: “It'll be fine Gaz- He's going to screw up eventually! I already told you, I'm not going to do anything! Unless of course…”

G: “No. I refuse to even THINK about it! This is all just dumb luck- I will admit to n o t h i n g!”

D: “Ok. Your choice.”

Z: “Away with you now- your human stink is making my throne room reek- Try to enjoy the last few moments of your home planet that you can- BEFORE I SEND ALL HUMANS INTO SPACE INSIDE A GIANT GIFT BASKET FOR THE TALLEST! So uh, yeah, away with you…”

D: “Haha, imagine if that works- Too bad nobody would have been there to protect the planet!”

G: “Your. So. DEDICATED. To this bit AREN'T YOU…”

D: “Very.”

*The cage they are in is now seen being flown over to, you guessed it, a giant spaceship shaped like a wicker gift basket, hundreds upon millions of people in cages stacked inside. A large crane drone thingie could also be seen precariously placing a bow on it. Even so, Dib continued to seem indifferent, Sharing some tea with his dad and Gaz’s eyes were wide with anger and terror. Then she faces the two of them.*

G: “Arrrghhh… FINE DIB! I admit it- Your KINDA important when it comes to saving the world from Zim and junk! And I GUESS Zim can SOMETIMES be a threat to Earth for real. I admit it- Are you happy? Are you HAPPY now? Huh? HUH? Now so help me- If you do not get us out of here and fix all this Zim dookie- I WILL DESTROY YOU PERSONALLY MYSELF!…”

D: “Oh… Well, alrighty then, if you really insist Gaz…! Now that that's decided- I should probably go do my job now.”

G: “Erg, I wouldn't say JOB…”

M: “Son? Son! SON!? What are you doing!?”

*Dib, already managing to unlock the cage with ease, pulled a cord on his coat sleeve and kinda turned it into a sort of wingsuit. He turned his head to face the two family members dramatically*

D: “I'm doing what I always do… Saving the world from that ALIEN MENACE!”

M: “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

*Later… Dib could be seen dusting off his hands with a grin on his face and soot smeared all over his face. His trench coat could be seen still smoldering as the clouds seemed to dissipate in under a few seconds, revealing the usual red sunny sky as if nothing bad happened. His surroundings were a wreck and behind him, Zims castle base thing could be seen collapsing into a pile of rubble.*

D: “Haha, a job well done! Point one for the human race… Point nothing to Zim! All is right once again…”

G: “Whatever…”

M: “To think- I had FINALLY been getting through to him… But alas, his insanity has returned…”

Z: *Pops out of nowhere from the rubble near dib* "HahahaHAHA! Victory for ZIM! That'll show the GAZ BEAST TO UNDERESTIMATE THE THREAT THAT IS ME!!!"

D: "Zi- Wait, stop, stop, shut up, shut up, she can still hear you idiot-"

G: "What are you guys on about now… Wait… You… Him…"

Z: "Oh yes! What a FANTASTIC PLAN IT WAS TOO! Of course, the part where I- The great and mighty Zim loses could use some weakling might need some work- But-"

G: *At this point, Gaz is fuming- Teeth clenching causing sparks to fly- All while Dib attempted to shut the ignorant alien up- But unfortunately everything seemed to be falling into place. Slowly, Gaz turns to Dib- Stiffly pointing at the two boys in front of her. "You two… All this… TO TRICK ME into thinking you guys were VALID in some way-"

D: "Gaz- I can explain-"

Z:"Yes that is exactly what happened- Because it's true! Zim is something to be FEARED-"

G: "I don't want to hear it. I'm giving you both 5 seconds to run."

D: "Wait- WAIT-"

Z: "NOPE!" *Shoves Dib out of the way and breaks into a run- Dib looks up only to find his little sister- Her gaze is cold enough to cause the next ice age. Dib screwed up.*

Later that night….

M: "Hmmm… I wonder where my dear children have run off to… Hopefully it has nothing to do with all that craziness about aliens and bigfeets…"

*Enter Gaz, smudged with dirt and grass, while dragging a large shovel behind her.*

M: “My my Gazleen, you're looking awfully dirty- Have you been roughhousing again?”

G: “Gardening. Getting rid of some WEEDS.”

A festive and sunny day of 1962. Lots of people in a typical Sunday flea market in the city.

We see the WINTER SOLDIER in disguise watching a couple who is looking at old lamps across from him. The man is his new mission, so he is alert but laying low and mingling as he awaits the final order.

The couple takes a sudden turn and starts crossing the street and facing his way, so the WINTER SOLDIER turns toward the closest market stand hiding his face away from them.

The couple takes a sudden turn and starts crossing the street and facing his way, so the WINTER SOLDIER turns toward the closest market stand hiding his face away from them.

The couple takes a sudden turn and starts crossing the street and facing his way, so the WINTER SOLDIER turns toward the closest market stand hiding his face away from them.

This market stand is one of those places where they sell old pictures by the lot: full of faded photos, postcards with wet burry ink, and faces forgotten by time. But something there catches the WINTER SOLDIER‘s attention.

It’s an old suitcase. Brown stripes consumed by time framing a tag that says “SGR” in what were once shiny golden letters.

The WINTER SOLDIER is confused. Mission uncharacteristically going to the back of his mind, focus shifted to a distant recognition of something unknown.

PICTURES’STAND OWNER

(interrupting his thoughts)

They don’t do them like that anymore, uh? I believe it’s from the ’20s. A little worn on the edges but still good to go.

The WINTER SOLDIER looks at the man, confusion over his face.

PICTURES’STAND OWNER

You can open that if you want; but carefully, please, I think there’s stuff inside.

The WINTER SOLDIER says nothing but can feel himself nodding and reaching for the suitcase as if the actions were being performed by somebody else, while the PICTURES’STAND OWNER goes after another potential client.

He opens the suitcase and sees the inside: it’s filled with boxes, postcards, and pictures. An enclosed version of the stand it was lying on.

He scans the content and the feeling of recognition on those pictures lies heavily on his chest, distressing him.

He is distressed but also drawn to the handwriting on the envelopes and the faces of the young boys on the pictures that are all over the suitcase looking at him from below.

The WINTER SOLDIER is freezing. He doesn’t know who that people are, and yet...

He takes one picture in his hands: a dark haired boy (features very much like his) posing broodily somewhere that looks like an amusement park.

Something alien and unrecognizable keeps happening to the WINTER SOLDIER: He’s feeling his heart in his throat and the start of a cold sweat breaking in while a weird smell of burnt bacon and a distant voice whispering “Buck, you handsome jerk” keep sinking him more and more away from his surroundings; the need to have this picture for himself, to steal the whole suitcase full of smiling faces and run somewhere far away taking hold of him.

PICTURES’STAND OWNER

Are you ok, sir? You are a little white there. Want to take any of that… I believe it’s a bargain and…

The voice breaks the WINTER SOLDIER out of his state of mind.

Mind clearer, he knows the Winter Soldier doesn’t own things, the Winter Soldier doesn’t even own himself. The Winter Soldier doesn’t decide where to run.

What the Winter Soldier does is to follow orders, so he quickly scans the market in seach of his mission: The couple are further away that he would have liked but still easy to follow.

The WINTER SOLDIER takes one final look at the picture still in his gloved hand, recognition lost but confusion still in the back of his mind.

He leaves the picture on the suitcase and follows the couple.

My ramble and the happy ending I might explore: This has been on my "To Do" for a long time now and I don't think it's ever going to turn out the way I expected... so here it is. Decaffeinated but done. My heart suffers for poor Bucky but this scene would not leave me alone.

I'm obsessed with fanfics/art exploring what might have happened with Steve and Bucky's personal things while they were "un-alive".

My end for this particular piece is something along the lines of Becca finding it it in another Flea not long after this, and although she was shocked with some of the pictures/writings inside, she kept it because she loved the boys. Fast forward to Steve and Bucky being in the 21st century happy and together forever... and the suitcase somehow makes its way to them. I don't have the details figured out, and I want to explore all that, but in case I can't... YOU HAVE TO KNOW THIS HAS A HAPPY ENDING.