A/N: I don't know how juggling both this story and Battle for Earth: The Hunted is going to go, but hopefully I can update both equally. Not going to make much promises on that note though. This story was inspired from a sheet my friend gave me to read, I thought it was a good story to work on. So I hope you enjoy and leave a review !

Chapter 1, First Contact

ATC-5, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

"Sir, AN/FPS-6B unit thirty six suggests that the unidentified flying object is heading right for-" Before the younger air traffic controller was able to finish his sentence, the oldest of the twenty men stationed in the tower interrupted him as he peered down at the rapidly moving blip on the illuminated green radar screen.

"I see it Stav. I want two F/A-16's in the air and closing on it's vector, if it fails to identify itself within a kilometer of the city, I want it shot down. We don't need another 9/11 here."

"Right away sir," The younger operator flicked a few switches on his control board near his radar station, then pressing the activation button to his mic on the right side of his headset. Speaking into the mic clearly and in a monotone voice, the operator began. "Shield base, this is NORAD Command Five. Defend order: deploy two F/A-16's, object marked and available on Cross-Com systems. Command orders: craft is to be shot down one kilometer outside the city if the pilot fails to comply after one attempt."

A voice broke over the headset and replied to the ATC operator who issued the orders. "Shield base copies all, deploying two F/A-16's on defend order thirty clicks outside Earth City. Will send traffic. Out."


Zim's Voot Cruiser, twenty five kilometers outside Earth City

"Planet... Earth? This must be the place." Zim, the little green alien, slowly pushed the yoke in between his legs downward and began a more rapid decent toward the ground. "Okay, first off, we have to set up a base of operations."

Zim's robot assistant, who had pretty much annoyed Zim half to death during the six month long trip through space to reach his objective planet, let out a small electronic giggle.

Zim reacted. "Focus GIR! This is where your advanced information gathering skills come in handy-" Before Zim was able to finish his sentence, another electronic voice, one much deeper in comparison to GIR's, spoke out. "Warning: unidentified aircraft closing. Incoming transmission."

Zim sighed in annoyance as he reduced the Voot Cruisers speed. "Put it through then." He said, pinching the bridge in between his eyes where his nose would be.

The cockpit of the Voot Cruiser burst with the sound of static for a moment before a male voice spoke. "Pilot of the unidentified craft. You are instructed to turn around and we are to escort you to NORAD Shield base. If you fail to comply, you will be shot down."

Zim looked over to his right to see a very large, slender grey craft pulling up beside him. The pilot inside the, in his opinion, ugly craft, was pointing backward with his thumb. Zim looked over to his left to find the same craft pulling up beside his Voot as well, Zim looked at GIR confused, who would only shrug before aimlessly wondering into the troop compartment in the back.

Zim sat down in his pilot seat before speaking to his ships computer. "Computer! Open a communications link with these... NORAD... Things."

With a few electronic beeps and a conformation signal, Zim began to speak. "You dare threaten me?! Zim?! As if those poorly designed craft could even keep up with superior Irken technology. You will fear the might of Zim when I become-" Zim paused with his hands raised above his head, ceasing his shouting into the mic and looking over to his right to see the grey craft falling back. He looked over to his left to see a similar sight.

Zim fell back into his chair and took control of the yoke once more. "Ha! I knew they would cower before the might of Zim."

The ships computer burst out in a manic tone. "Warning: incoming missiles. Two hundred meters and closing fast!"

Zim shot up off his seat and peered out the right side of the window to find two dark silhouettes propelled from backward flames in the night sky. He quickly jumped to his left and pressed his face up to the large viewing window to find the same two objects closing in on him. He stood by the window, only turning his head to the computer mainframe mounted to the front of his cockpit. "Computer! Launch counter measures and return fire!"

Multiple dull thudding sounds could be heard from the outside of the Voot cruiser as the computer deployed at least ten bright pink flares out of the Voot's chassis. Three muffled booms were heard just moments after the flares were deployed, slightly rocking the ship, Zim jumped to the troop compartment and dropped the back ramp. The sound of the servo motors activating and turning the defense turret mounted to the top of the craft could be heard, soon followed by the sound of the twin plasma cannons firing simultaneously. But the defense weapon wasn't firing at the jets chasing Zim down, it was firing at the fourth and final missile locked to the Voot.

Zim turned around and screamed in a shrill voice. "Computer! Launch counter measures!"

The computer simply replied. "Counter measures offline."

Zim figured the counter measures he launched had just saved his Voot, but in turn the missile blast radius damaged the flare deployment ports as well as the underside defense weapon. Zim reached over to his right and slammed a button, closing the back ramp, and quickly running to the cockpit, hoping in his seat and strapping himself in. "GIR! Hold onto something, if that plasma cannon can't get rid of that missile, we have no choice but to go down!"

GIR simply scooted around on his butt on the troop compartment floor and faced the cockpit, tucking his knees into his chest and stupidly smiling in Zim's direction.

"Five..." The ships computer began. Zim took a hold of the ejection lever and pulled it. "Warning: ejection seat malfunction."

"What?!" Zim gave it another hard tug in an attempt to escape his doom on the ground. No luck.

"Four... Three..."

Zim leaned over as much as he could to the right to see where the missile was, but he couldn't spot the missile nor the jet that was chasing him. He quickly leaned over to his left, same thing. No jet. No missile. The plasma cannon ceased fire, Zim figured the missile was now under his Voot, and it was about to shoot up and tear the bottom hatch open like a can of Vort dogs.

"Two... Impact!" His computer called out, a split second before the missile struck. Sending Zim jerking forward, slamming his face into the cockpits control board with a grunt. Zim recovered and rubbed his face before quickly stealing a glance at the troop compartment. Just as he suspected, the missile had dived down, came back up, and landed a hit that had ripped almost half of the bottom of his Voot apart. He looked out the front of his cockpit window and started pulling the yoke upward, struggling to maintain his altitude.

"Computer!" Zim shouted, still pulling the yoke back. "Voot status!"

"Voot hull integrity: 37%. Tanks two through five damaged and leaking. Imminent power and hydraulics failure. Ground impact in thirty seconds."

Zim looked out the window to his left to see a hill overlooking a very large, light polluted city that illuminated up the night skies with a white glow. It was now clear to him what these jets were defending, and he was now regretting the decision he had made to outrun and outgun the jets that now blasted over him at nearly 300 Km/pH.

"Twenty seconds." The computer alerted Zim.

"GIR?!" Zim called out, still attempting to pull the yoke back and prevent his Voot's nose from smashing into the ground.

"Yes, my lord?" GIR burst into the cockpit, red eyed and saluting.

"Send out a distress call back to Irk! I'll try to keep the Voot airborne."

"Right away!" GIR saluted once more before running to what was left of the troop compartment, tip toeing around the large hole in the floor that burned with small amounts of fire, then quickly accessing the communications gear stowed in the back, promptly following the order Zim issued, typing in the message and sending the distress call before returning to the cockpit. "Transmission sent." GIR reported.

'Hopefully I'm still alive when the Tallest receive that message.' Zim thought to himself.

"Five seconds." The Voot's computer reported.

This was it, Zim let go of the yoke and pulled down the roller coaster like safety harness securely around his neck and over his chest, just as they zipped past what seemed like a small parking lot.


Dib's car, Parking lot of Ark "Make out" Point, five kilometers outside Earth City

Dib was more nervous than he had ever been in his entire life.

His palms were sweaty and he felt as if his heart were beating any faster it would leap out of his chest.

His arm felt numb resting behind Zita's neck and on her right shoulder as she leaned closer to him, her hands on his chest and her head rested on his shoulder. Dib averted his gaze from her and looked to the city, trying to find peace in a time of what he thought was utter chaos.

Come to think of it. Dib had come a long way since the sixth grade.

He was now eighteen years of age and in Hi Skool, graduating this year. He had long since put his trench coat on the hanger in his closet and given up on paranormal studies, even though he missed it at times, he enjoyed being normal and belonging to the popular group in Hi Skool. Which is why he was sitting with Zita in his car, and it was no wonder why she had suggested they come to Ark Point.

He came back down to Earth as Zita spoke out. "Dib?"

"Hm?" He looked down to her. That nervous feeling coursing throughout his body once more.

"What do you think?" She asked, looking up to him with her dull brown eyes, blowing the long purple bangs out of her eyes.

"What?" Dib shook his head and gave her a dumb look.

"Did you even hear anything I-"

Zita was interrupted by the intense burning light growing behind Dib's car. Both Dib and Zita turned their heads and peered through the back window, they found nothing but the light growing brighter and brighter, as if the sun were coming down above them. They both looked at one another, confusion filling their faces, a second later, the ground shook as a thunderous boom passed over the vehicle with Zita shrieking and grabbing Dib, nearly squeezing the life out of him.

"Zita." Dib barely managed through in a raspy voice.

Zita let go of Dib, he caught his breath and simply said. "Wait here." As he exited his vehicle. Dib closed the door and ran over to the guard rails that prevented vehicles from over shooting the parking lot to catch the sight of the flaming ball of death smash into the ground a few hundred meters below him with a deafening crash, surrounding plant life quickly caught fire as dirt was kicked high into the air, leaving a trail of torn grass and dirt behind the flaming object.

Dib couldn't believe what he had just seen. His childhood years were revived and came rushing at him as he ran back to his car, ripping the door open and practically yelling at Zita. "Zita! I'll be right back, don't go anywhere!" It's not like she had much a choice, he didn't think she was going to walk all the way back to the city in heels, or steal his car. She only sighed moments before Dib shut the door, bolted for the guard rail and vaulted over it, leaning back as his feet dug into the ground, sliding down the hillside closer to the crash site of the flaming object.

'Satellite? Meteor? Dare I say... Foreign spacecraft from another world?' Dib shook the thought out of his head. 'Nah, couldn't be. The eleven year old doesn't live in you anymore Dib. You're eighteen.'

Dib had reached the bottom. The pungent odor of a gasoline like substance filled the air as dull green smoke arose from the pink flames. Dib neared closer, less than a hundred meters now, he raised his arm to shield his face from the light emitting from the strange flames. He got closer, and to his astonishment, it seemed craft like, bulbous and somewhat large compared to a jet... It didn't loom human in design. Dib walked to the left, finding what he thought was the rear of the craft, the back ramp blasted open and broken on the ground. Dib took off his grey sweater and wrapped it around his face, squinting through the smoke as he walked inside the craft.

Dib couldn't believe what he was seeing, even though everything was shaken about what seemed to be a troop compartment, and dirt replacing the torn steel floor, there was no doubt that this craft was not of this world. Strange symbols filled undamaged screens and monitoring systems around the back. Strange pieces of equipment were strewn about the compartment as well. Dib looked forward to what he would guess was the cockpit, a single seat divided two entry points to the back compartment, the front window was smashed and stray wires hanging from the ceiling sparked occasionally.

Dib's heart stopped as he heard a groan come from the cockpit. Dib looked closer, seeing only a gloved hand hanging from the right side of the seat. Dib started to slowly walk backward, hoping not to make any noise.

Clank!

Dib froze as the back of his sneaker hit something metallic and heavy. He slowly turned his head and looked to the back of him, finding what looked like some type of machine that resembled a medium sized child. The eyes of the little robot sparked to life in a bright teal color, then jumping to it's feet and waving sporadically at Dib and exclaiming in a cute metallic voice. "Hi!"

Dib froze for a moment before hesitantly raising his hand and slowly waving back. "Uh, hey?"

"G... GIR?" A weak voice came from the cockpit.

GIR's eyes, shoulder joints and center chest piece flashed to a solid red as he entered duty mode, quickly responding to the mysterious figures call for him by running to the cockpit and saluting to the limp, unseen body in the cockpit seat. "Sir?"

"Status report." The figure said, again in a weak voice. Groaning in pain as he began to stand up from the seat.

"All ship systems offline. 46% gear intact. Communications uplink disabled." GIR's eyes, shoulder joints and chest piece turned back to teal as he stuck out his tongue and pointed directly at Dib. "And there's a nice man here to help us!"

Dib froze.

Petrified by utter fear. He wanted to turn around, make a mad dash up the hill and back to his far. Throw the gear in reverse and blast out of the parking lot, then throw it into drive and peel away from the scene as fast as he could.

But, the eleven year old obsessed with paranormal studies wanted to stay. Wanted proof that something other than humans existed in the universe. He wanted proof that all those years he was thought as crazy, that they wrong, not him.

"A what?" The voice arose from the cockpit once more. The sound of boots hitting the metal floor echoed throughout the ship.

"A nice man!" GIR ran over to Dib, grabbing his hand and tugging at it, urging for Dib to follow him to the cockpit. But Dib planted his feet and remained in the back compartment.

About five seconds later, a tall slender frame rounded the seat. Head lowered with one gloved hand holding where his temple would be, the tall, green skinned being wore black pants, a dark pink top with thin black stripes horizontal along the chest and stomach. The pink shirt sported a light pink collar that rapped around the beings neck with matching shoulder boards. He sported black leather boots that looked about 18" high, his gloves matched his boots and reached just below his elbow. Dib squinted at the beings hands, he only had three fingers. If green skin, antennas, and three fingers wasn't enough proof that this being was an alien foreign to Earth, Dib didn't know what was.

The alien started to look up, the first thing Dib saw were the two large, ruby red eyes looking at him. The alien raised his head more to reveal strange zipper like teeth clinched together, reason more than likely being pain, no doubt from the crash.

"What are you?" The alien spoke out, now standing upright.

Dib didn't know to answer with. 'Dib? Teenager? Popular kid?' So he decided to answer with a basic answer. "Human?" He shrugged.

The alien growled. "How do you not know what you are?"

Dib was about to speak, but the alien beat him to the next sentence. "Whatever you are... You're pretty ugly." Offended, Dib was about to lash out and about to argue with the alien about appearances. "Never mind. If you're here to help, then help me get out of here. Do you have means of transportation?"

"Why should I help you?" Dib asked, readjusting the sweater around his face.

The alien pulled a small pink pistol like weapon from a holster on his right leg. Most Irkens in the Imperial Navy would identify the weapon as the standard issue P-44 sidearm. The power cell on top of the sidearm gave power to micro electrical generators in the gun to rapidly heat the gas into plasma, the plasma is then directed out of the barrel by the use of electromagnetic coils lining the interior, each coil activates in sequence before the plasma is generated into an electrical projectile.

"Cause if you don't," The alien began, moving his hand down to the right side of his torso, then removing his hand, his glove was stained with almost glowing emerald blood. He looked back to Dib. "I'll have to shoot you."

Dib raised his hands to about chest level and looked to the alien. "Okay, okay. I'll help you. Just put that thing away."

"I'm glad to see you're willing to comply with the proper persuasion." The alien re-holstered his weapon. "GIR! Retrieve all sensitive data material and make preparations for the ships destruction. We can't let our technology fall into the hands of the enemy."

GIR stiffened out, entering duty mode. "Yes, sir!" His eyes and joints in turn returned to teal and he started to walk off. "We're gonna blow things up!"

The alien quickly returned to the cockpit and retrieved a small purple, metal suitcase before slowly exiting the ship. "Let's go." The green alien, nearly matching Dib's height at 6'2", commanded Dib to follow. Dib simply followed the alien outside of the ruined craft, they stepped outside when Dib asked. "So... Do you have a name?" He spotted the strange grey backpack like device on the aliens back, that consisted of three light pink circles that matched the collar and shoulder on the aliens uniform. "And what's that thing on your back?"

The alien answered without facing Dib. "My name is not of importance. And the Irken PAK is a device too complex for you to even comprehend."

"Irken?" Dib asked with a rasied brow.

The alien spun around and faced Dib with a rage in his eyes. "Who said anything about being Irken?!"

Dib's face was now filled with confusion. "You just did?"

"Lies!" The alien yelled out, throwing his hands above his head.

"Demolition charges set and all sensitive data and materials retrieved." GIR returned with red eyes and saluting in the aliens direction.

"Good. Let's get out of here then." The alien said.

"Where's all the stuff?" Dib asked the little robot.

GIR's eyes turned teal as he pointed to his head as he stuck out his tongue. "In my head!" He yelled out. "It feels funny!"

Dib smiled at the little robot. He seemed pretty goofy, but that's what made a person fun. "Focus GIR!" The alien yelled out. "Detonate the charges as soon as we reach..." The alien turned around to face Dib. "Where are we going?"

Dib pointed up the hill. "To the parking lot. Where my car is parked."

"Very well. GIR! When we reach the humans transportation vehicle, detonate the charges."

"Okie dokie!" GIR replied in a loud voice.

(Five minutes later)

Dib, GIR, and the strange alien Dib had discovered had just reached the guard rail, now hoping over it all together.

"GIR!" The alien called out. "Detonate the charges!"

GIR entered duty mode. "Yes, sir!" He saluted before presenting a small clapper like device. He squeezed the small lever that rested on his palm, the lever pushed on a small button under it, Dib turned around to find the site of the crash go up in bright green fire as the ground shook. The alien smiled at the scene, Dib figured this alien was the strange small kid at the playground obsessed with fire.

"Zim." The alien said, still facing the fire.

"What?"

"My name. It's Zim." The alien said, facing Dib.

"Dib." Dib stuck out his hand to shake.

"Get that disgusting five digit thing out of my face!" Zim slapped Dib's hand away. "I only felt the need to tell you my name so you don't come up with idiotic nicknames for me, like... Something idiotic!"

Zim started for the car, Dib followed a few seconds after. A feeling coursed through his body as he remembered Zita was still in the vehicle. Dib was about to leap for Zim to prevent him from opening the passenger door.

"No!" Dib called out, reaching out for Zim's arm.

But it was too late, Zim pulled the handle of the door up and pulled the door open. Dib winced at the sound of Zita shrieking from the inside the vehicle. Zim shouted in turn and jumped back, upholstering the P-44 and taking aim.

"No, no!" Dib tackled Zim just as he fired a shot, the energized bolt of plasma smashed through one of the back windows on the passenger side and struck the interior of the driver door.

"Unhand me you filthy creature!" Zim raged as he forcefully pushed Dib off of him, once again taking aim in the direction of the open passenger door. Dib quickly jumped to his feet and fanned out his arms as he jumped in the way of the weapon Zim wielded. "Are you crazy!?" Dib yelled at Zim.

"Me? Crazy? You're the one who has a shrieking beast stowed in your vehicle!"

"That's my girlfriend!" Dib shifted left as Zim had.

"Your what?" Zim slightly lowered his sidearm.

"My partner."

"Mate?" Zim asked with a confused look plastered on his face, now fully lowering his sidearm.

"Yeah. Whatever you call them on your planet. Geeze, it's like you've never had one of your own."

Zim holstered his weapon and gave Dib a disgusted look. "Don't be absurd. Irkens need no mate. Even if we did feel the need, no one is worthy of Zim!" The alien exclaimed with his hands rasied high above his head, hands balled into fists.

Dib wiped the spit from his glasses. "Yeah, sure."

"D-Dib?" Zita called out, shaken up from the even that had just taken place.

"Zita!" Dib turned around and placed a hand on her right shoulder. "Are you okay? Did he hit you?"

"Y-yeah, I'm just," Zita looked out the door to find Zim standing behind Dib with his hands crossed over his chest. She shrieked again and jumped back in her seat. "Oh my God! What is that!?"

Zim pressed his antenna to his skull and shook his head. "You humans sure are strange."

(End Chapter)