Chapter 2: Truth

A/N: Excuse the rather insufficent summary but I was running rather late for something and didn't have enough time to properly fix that. However, please enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think. lol. I'm trying my best to stay in character but take into consideration that sitations and other factors do tend to warp character traits. Enjoy. :)

Zim could only make out the faint tapping of switches and the hiss of machines functioning in the background. His head rang with pain which was concentrated at his left temple as if he had been hit with a large piece of metal. There was no time to idolize the pain, he thought. Looking up he could tell his surroundings had changed and was no longer in the precious confines of his base.

"Master!" squealed GIR as he rocketed to Zim who immediately swatted him away.

"GIR! Where are we? Did you forget to pay the taco people again?" he hissed as he took a survey of his environment. The monitors were definitely Irken and so were the letters that sprawled across their shallow screens. This didn't make sense nor did the pair of crimson eyes that pierced the darkness. Wait a moment, he knew those eyes…

"KITTY!" yelled GIR as he waved his arms over his head in excitement. He went to strangle it with lethal happiness but was dismayed when it seemingly traversed to Zim with extreme agility. The tiny yet devious looking cat sat at his feet waving its plush tail.

"So… it's you…" he whispered. The presence of another individual became evident by the disembodied footsteps that echoed like an ominous force.

"Why so gloomy… Zim?" a feminine yet wicked voice projected. Zim turned to see a slightly taller Irken pressing her silhouette into the dim light that only seemed to highlight her aura of apprehensiveness.

Tak…

Zim crossed his arms obviously not happy with where the situation would be turning. His seriousness increased knowing she would ultimately prolong his plan for invasion. Last time he managed to get rid of her but now this was getting personal. He was failing too often to take over Earth and now with her in the picture there would be sure to be repercussions if he didn't act.

"Look, whatever your planning it won't work. I'm not going to waste my time trying to deduce what your attempt to gain my mission would be." He said.

With that Tak knew his demeanor had changed since last time. He looked the same but even Zim would grow wise to his own faults. Things were going to get difficult

"I bet you are but unfortunately that would have to wait. Actually, you should be thanking me right about now."

"Thank you? No, thank you is what I say to GIR for cooking those horrible and putrid creations knowing every well they could potentially lead me to my deathbed. I have nothing to say to you."

He turned to scan for an exit but not before feeling a chilled hand on his shoulder.

"Zim, give up on this planet."



"What? What kind of trickery is this? How dare you suggest, I, Zim, relinquish my duties as an Invader?" he snarled.

"Do yourself a favor and ditch this planet."

"I knew you were here for the mission!"

"I'm not."

"YOU'RE LYING!!" he yelled.

"Just do it. You have no idea how naïve you are. You don't even get why no one's heard of this planet."

"It's a secret mission. The Tallest handed it to me themselves."

"It's a fake. I found out this mission was a hoax."

"Hah, your fibs are nothing to me. I shall take my leave."

"Stop being stubborn and listen to me. The Tallest are not exactly what you think they are. They don't care about us! I'm saying this because their sending someone to get rid of us!"

Zim no longer could hear her rambling. It was bad enough she had to kidnap him but he wasn't going to allow any more obscurities get in his way. He was going to develop a fool proof plan once he reached the base.

"Let's go GIR. Remind me when we get back home to add a flesh eating barrier around our home." He snickered.

Tak never felt inferior to anyone but the sight of a smaller Irken turning his shoulder away from her almost crushed any pride and sincerity she held. She came all this way after being whipped into space to try a second time to steal his mission but that ended the moment she intercepted a transmission. This transmission alone changed her insights. It changed how she viewed herself and how she viewed her race and armada. She was crushed once she viewed it. She wasn't going to relive it through him.

She sprinted at him and tackled him to the floor.

"GIR! Defensive mode! GIR!" Zim yelled. Unaware to him GIR was sitting with Mimi sharing with her several muffins he made earlier that day (the poor thing had no idea what she was nibbling on).

They wrestled for several moments before ceasing. Tak had Zim pinned under her, her weight over his stomach and her hands clasped over his above his head. The moment ceased from hostility to just plain awkward as they stared at one another. Tak blinked as her curved antennae lowered as a gesture of embarrassment but Zim only chuckled.



"What are you laughing at?" she whispered. Her voice was low and heavy.

The comment seemed to snap Zim out of it. He quickly slid away from her grip and stood brushing the dust from his uniform.

"Nothing."