Note: Yes, I've been gone forever, forgive me. First I wanted to watch Transformers again before continuing, then I sort of hit a dry spot in writing. Can't say as I'm completely out of that dry spot yet, but I'll give this chapter a go. Watching my Zim DVDs for weeks has helped too. Good ol' Zim. Yes, this is a short chapter, sorry.

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Dib's finger traced a route on the Voot runner's navigational screen. "Whatever it was left a trail of that Vortian Liquid stuff you mentioned, it should lead us to where they took GIR. Do you have a cloaking device for this thing?"

"Of course." Zim's claws clicked across the controls. Dib eyed him pointedly.

"One that cloaks the ship and us?"

Zim glared. "You being able to see me through the Megadoomer's cloaking device was part of my ingenious plan to destroy y--I mean, steal your camera."

Dib rolled his eyes. He knew better than to argue with Zim at this point, but he couldn't help noticing the alien's lack of threats and boasts. Occasionally Zim would even recheck his equipment, as if unsure of its accuracy.

Unsure of his precious superior technology? Is he worried about that robot?

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"Fifteh-six bottles'a soap on tha wall, fifteh-six bottles'a MONKEHS!"

In the middle of nowhere, the car jerked to a halt, its passenger door flying open. Out tumbled GIR, in a cactus patch, still singing. The android half-turned. "Are we there yet?"

Shink chunk clik lock nik shink chunk clik lock nik.

Before GIR's eyes, the car disassembled, reassembling into an impressive-sized robot, staring down at him.

"Star command, repeat, star command--I've had it with these--love child!"

GIR screamed, "I KNOW DAT SONG! Love child, never meant to be, love child, born in poverteeee..." As he sang, the ground began to shake. From the sands and dunes rose even larger robots. "One six five eight... three more! More frien's. Hey, anybody know Angry Monkey?" Abruptly, he flipped onto his head and began kicking his legs, screaming hysterically.

The yellow robot put its hands to the sides of its head. "Drove my chevy to the levy--this'll be the day that I die."

The largest robot stepped forward. "Bumblebee, control yourself. It can't have been that hard. These units are small, but not difficult to subdue."

A rather menacing looking one stepped forward. "Optimus, in with the others?"

GIR's screaming reached a frequency above human hearing, and all the bots stumbled back. Without warning, GIR curled up in the sands and fell sound asleep. The one called Optimus crouched by him.

"No, Ironhide, that will not be necessary. This one is different, we need to study him. Maybe he has the answers we're looking for."

"Mayday, mayday!" Urged Bumblebee, pointing in the distance. "Here be pirates--looking for--my little runaway!"
Optimus sighed heavily. "Ironhide, you know what to do."

A dark chuckle rumbled from the robot's chest. "Bring the machinery back, leave the organic." He stomped the ground once, then leaped off, running toward the distant speck.

"Dead men tell no tales!" Bumblebee called.

"Bumblebee!" Scolded Optimus. The yellow one shrugged sheepishly.

"Ya got any of them burritos?" Yawned GIR.