In the Dojo…
Her kicks were quick and her style smooth. The sensei barked orders. Gaz and her opponent froze. They stood back. She bowed to her opponent and he had done the same to her. Her sensei walked up to her. He got his bamboo cane out and tapped it to the floor. With each tap he gave. She swung her arms and flipped up doing a round house kick and land in a tiger's stance. "AGAIN!" he ordered. She did the same exercise. He walked up to her. He then swung his cane as if to strike her. She blocked the blow and did another roundhouse kick. To any average observer, she was poetry in motion. As if gravity had no hold on her, yet to her teacher's eyes. There was a flaw!
His sharp eyes followed her every motion and he detected that her breathing was off. She was distracted, her focus was off. He looked over to Dib. The teacher gave Dib a curt nod. Dib entered the ring. He bowed to Gaz. Gaz could feel something boil in her as she faced Dib. It was not Dib himself. It was the events from earlier. She knew she was screwing up today. She had to focus. She took a long calming breath. "Just let in the energy, let out the negative. Focus!" she chided herself in Japanese.
"FIGHT!" Her sensei slammed his bamboo cane down. Dib and Gaz took their stance. They flew up in a high kick…
Dib flip where he dodged Gaz's left hand strike.
She turned from behind and made contact with her right hook to be cast aside by Dib's forearm.
He blocked two of her strikes!
He took hold of her wrist, pulled, and then pushed her arm back causing her to fall back in the momentum.
She fell only to recover in a spinning round to kick Dib's legs from under him.
He leaped up.
He did a strike down on her chest.
She rolled to the side just on time.
She pushed back from the ground and flipped up from the matt.
Dib waiting for her recovery, He hopped back in a defensive stance.
She smiled inside.
Her specialty unlike most was her offensive moves. She was better at attacks then defense. She hit hard and fast without leaving her open to a defensive maneuver. This was her ace in getting her black and red belt.
She attacked!
Then something clicked in her.
It was as if everything slowed. Her aura was violet and her eyes flashed. She swung her arm out and as she did, she could see that Dib trying to grab her arm and twist it. She pulled away as if he was just taking his time. She was looked at Dib's forearm try to strike her, but she just leaned her head to the side letting the strike hit air. Time seemed to hit the slow button.
The sound of the ocean rushed in her ears and time was back to its normal speed to an unusual extent.
Dib swung round and hit her from behind as he turned.
Gaz recovered, she found she was now on the defense. She blocked his moves but she could not grab a hold of him.
She was getting sloppy. She chanted to herself. She focused.
Dib did a sidespin.
She could only lean back and does a side cartwheel to avoid his attack.
"STOP!" ordered her sensei. He was an old gentleman but not close to elderly, he was bald except for a long tail of braids on the back and hard stern eyes. His robes were black with badges along the sleeves. He was of a lean build with his olive skin crossed with white scars of a troubled past. The master took hold of Gaz's fist. She looked ahead, not looking at her hands nor pulling away, as he turned her hands palms up. He then proceeded to slap the cane on each of her palms. She gave no reaction.
She had screwed up, this is what happens.
He did not break skin, each strike left her palms rosy with the welts. He scolded her in Japanese. She bowed her head as she is reprimanded.
Dib stood beside with his head bowed. Dib gave no reaction. This was for her own good. This class was only for the best and those who gave 110 percent. No holding hands or playing games. These were the rules if you wanted to follow the path. Dib gave no reaction as Gaz is ordered to do the same exercise until it was perfect!
Her hands were burning from the caning as the Sensei picked up two heavy rice sacks and placed them on her little hands. She held them up. She had to carry the burden of two heavy rice sacks in each hand outstretched as she did her exercise.
She took the stance to do her exercise. Her eyes kept forward. She did the exercise, yet her arms faltered a bit, ruining her flow. This not humiliation, this was for her mind and body to remember and to do better. It was just going to be a long class...
The ache of her outstretched arms holding their burdens burned. The pain was trying to intrude her and weaken her as she did the exercises. She had to keep her mind somewhere where pain could not touch her.
She thought of the cherry blossoms in the wind on the mountains of her far away hiding place in Japan of the Firefly Graves. She thought of the ruby cherries in the summer. Sweet round and red... like dodge balls?...
She tried not thinking of earlier, but her thoughts kept drifting there, until she let it go. Zim getting hit on the squiggly spooch. Laughing freely... her smile and His smile. Zim was standing face to face to her, flipping her pigtails with that silly smile. Cherry blossoms blew around them in her mind, tired and in pain; she slipped into those thoughts freely! She could see herself standing under a cherry tree full of blossoms and Zim is petting her tails. Moreover, she realized for the first time, they were smiling. Just for the joy of that moment. The pain was now just noise in the background. She could feel Zim's hands as he flipped her hair. The sound of a wind chime. His goofy smile as she entertains him so innocently. Cherry blossoms dancing about the wind chimes of the firefly graveyard... Zim standing close with Gaz, as both of them smile. The breeze that carried the cherry blossoms away seemed to pick her up. She was glowing with a soft light of lavender. Her eyes sparkled as she releases from gravity.
The rice sacks were buoyant. She flies from the infliction, she soars. She gracefully took a step up in the air, like silk dancing on a breeze. She pose the tiger with claws maneuver perfectly, only to turn and raise wings in the flying crane style as a finishing touch with her legs spiraling and lands softly as leaf on snow with her arms outspread with the rice sacks still in place, with palms up. Her aura illuminated. She did the whole routine like poetry.
She was no longer in class... She could now feel free from everything... at the end of her dance; she did a lethal kick like the crash of the waves against the rocky shores. She ended her dance in a bow.
The whole class stood still in awe. Her sensei hit the cane to the ground. Breaking the spell, she had cast on the class. He marched to her looking sternly down on her. He stares deeply into her eyes as she looked straight ahead. He gave an applausive nod. At that, the whole class applauded. Dib clasped her shoulder in felicitation.
She felt like she just woke from a dream and was still in it. She had done the drill perfectly! She let the sacks of rice fall from her palms. She was ready for her next belt. She looked up to Dib smiling.
In the dark recess of the LAB…
Zima was tired, but as he took out a book, he wrote, "My experiment failed. I will try again as I know that the source of my power will reveal itself. Gaz and GIR threw red horrible balls at me and I find that... I HATE DODGE BALL! IT HURTS! Not all was futile. I found out something called karate! She learns how to fight... and her uniform was cute! She gave me a warrior greeting, as I so rightfully deserve! She had bowed to me first, so it proves that she sees me as superior! She had bowed to my greatness! I bowed to her back, recognizing her presence. Then as a show of my ownership of her... (Zim looks around nervously, as if he expected someone to jump out and protest or laugh at him) Her hairs were tied up in little feelers. Her hair was soft. I ran my claws through it and she purred. On the other hand, growled... but I think purred because she smiled. We played a little game again where she tries to tag my hands as I show her my skill in quickness. If I did not know any better. I say we were in some ritual. This is better than meats. She is mine after all. Why could I not touch her feelers? It smelled sweet like the taste of her skin." Zim thought some more before he scribbled. "Gaz is still my most favorite flavor ON THIS FILTH DIRT BALL!" Zim looked around to see nervously.
Zim drew Gaz with her white uniform. She looks like she was a doll to play with. Her hands to her sides and her look so serious. He tapped the pencil to his lips in thought for a moment, and then a thought blinked in his mind… He erased her tight line of a mouth...he then softly sketched her soft small smile. He hugged his journal in glee! It was perfect... He sketched her hair in those piggy tails. He then looked around a bit and thought for a moment. It did not happen, but this was his journal! He could put whatever he wanted in this book. He sketched himself next to her. He is smiling. She smiled with no hint of malice in them. She was happy when she left. Even if the experiment failed. He felt like he did accomplish something. He hummed to himself as he drew her holding hands with him... and not GIR! He then drew GIR being bonked on the head instead of him.
Dib was beaming wide. Gaz walked on almost abashed at how she smiled in front of class, looking stupefied. As they walked home, Dib took a glance over. "So as far as the pedagogue could see, you did something mythical... you might almost be too good to stay in class."
Gaz eyes turned downward, her cheeks blushed a bit, as she was not used to so much praise in one day, "You did that once too... remember?" She heard his steps change... it slowed a bit. She did not want to admit what her thoughts were but she felt she now knew what Dib's escape was, "Dib, do you remember what were you thinking when you had those clay water jugs for reprimand? You crossed the long narrow wall. The whole time you gaze at the sky. Sensei said that you seem distant that even if you crossed fire, you would have burned away without that look leaving your face." Dib's smile changed from proud, to reflective. He looked up at the blue sky. "I think about the stars. Just what may be out there." he replied. "Something more than what is here." Dib then had that far away look in eyes. Gaz looked up too. She knew his real answer.
He was beholding violet eyes gleaming, reaching out from the stars to him. One who came to conquer in this world? In her wake, conquered its hero...Dib. It felt like half of Dib's heart was far away. Gaz knew that look in his eyes, as she knew Dib's journal had the same Japanese characters as hers.
"The stars held the diamonds of discovery." he really referred it to her. As Dib wrote in a haiku he put down the line' "Her lilac-purple eyes watch the very same sky."
He was the true tragic hero. Dib then paused and turned to Gaz and he gave his easy half smile. He adjusted the collar of her white robe. It was as if he was trying to reassure that he would be ok. He took pain so effortless. Gaz looked into his eyes and almost felt the ache he carried inside... it felt like a broken heart.
Back at the membrane house...
His discolored painted black fingernails peeked from his long black sleeves as he dressed, changing from his uniform. He then pulled his washed out blue t-shirt over his head and over his black long sleeve shirt. He bounces up and pulled up his black jeans, that is has a tear on one of the knees. He then put on his glasses pushing it up with his middle finger. Either he did this by preoccupation or it was his small rebellious gesture.
He really did become cloistered. Earths only hero is the true lone wolf.
Being earth's hero was an encumbrance she did not care for. She would love to watch the earth ascent to disasters.
She could see her own eyes reflecting back at her from his glasses, as he got ready to go to the garage. His lone world of the paranormal was one thing, but the garage was something else entirely.
She watched him leave into the darkness. He dug his hands in his pockets, whistling his Japanese lullaby as he strolled into the ink swallowed by the night. Then a few minutes later the lights in the garage were lit up.
She recollects, He was much more proactive when he fought Zim... at first. Zim awoke a fire in Dib's eyes once. She could see as the challenge of defeating Zim awoke the spiritedness of his purpose. Their fights Dib felt his full fire ignite. Yet over time, as Zim turned out as a mere clumsy alien made the flame in Dibs eyes, lose a little of it's light. Dib would just shrug, giving in to apathy sometimes.
Those eyes blazed up once more like a Christmas tree on fire with Tak! They shared interests. Something in him kicked and stirred. His annoyance may have increased but to Gaz's relief it was directed to Tak, and she did not seem to mind him at all. His steps became airy. Tak would look on with respect.
Gaz would see them talking at the wall. Dib found a kindred spirit in her. Gaz saw how Tak would listen and discuss with Dib, both in their own little world.
When he found out what she really was... an invader like Zim, except... good. He felt she slashed his chest.
Yet Tak did something that only she could have done to flare his strange heart. She tried to elicit him to the dark side. She told him she saw him worthy. She tried to have him enslaved to her power but he was too astute. It was as if she had valuated him in the highest regards. Tak being the best adversary Dib had ever run into recognized Dib for his true character. It may be the only time that Dib felt acknowledged. The tenseness between them was thick.
Tak was hurled to space, as Dib found out, because of Gaz. A disappointed dullness crossed his eyes before the glare of the moon on his lenses hid them. He smiled and patted Gaz's shoulder without another word. He then climbed up to the roof. Gaz tried to play her game, but as he spoke about the stars. She had to go in. Gaz hoped that he was just in a phase and he would get over Tak in a few nights. For now, Gaz could not stand the feeling in her gut, it felt like a rock in the pit of her stomach whenever he stared up at the stars... looking for any sign...
When Tak's ship crashed. Dib lit up. He leaped from the ceiling and slid down from the gutter pipe in a flash. Gaz inside the kitchen watching, hoping to see if Tak was unharmed inside. Nevertheless, like most things in life, dib was disappointed to see it was empty. However, he was optimistic. He knew she was still out there in the stars. He would look up with a glaze look in his eyes.
He wrote, "stargaze... she would turn and reach out... she slip away into the darkness of space." She was the embodiment of a true rival. She was clever. She was disciplined. Strong in mind and spirit. It was as if she was just created to challenge his flaming heart.
In Dib's composition, he and Tak are facing off. They engage and then nothing... Dib never ends the fight. It was an internal struggle he will always have within himself. Would he have won? Sometimes he writes, "She is the wind, always feeling it's presence but never being able to embrace it."
Gaz never showed her sorrow, for her brother. Tak was maybe dead but if she was, then so was half of Dib's spirit.
Later that night…
Some hours later Gaz could hear his humming as she approached the garage with two cool glasses of ice tea lemonade. Dib sensed her presence, stopped humming. She took a seat on the bench in the garage. Dib rolled out from under Tak's ship. He had a black smear across where he would wipe the sweat off his brow with his greasy hand. He took the cool drink from Gaz's hand and raises his cup to thank her, silently. She would sit next to him as he sipped his drink. He looked at the ship, "Tak's ship has a lot of assemblage. The notational system cords are like new. Never worn. I think I can actually get the parts to work at full capability. I think I can make push the testing at high-velocity. The design is sleek..." he paused and looked over to Gaz. She kept her eyes straight ahead, sipping her lemonade tea in silence. Dib scratched his head as he contemplated an idea, "I am thinking of adding an I-pod music player to Tak's ship. Something that can hold a lot of songs for long travels..." Gaz spoke," Do you think that you should stop calling it Tak's ship? You built it up; you salvaged it, so why don't you refer it as your ship, Dib?" Dib just looked ahead, "huh," he took off his glasses and wiped them with the hem of his shirt. He then put them back on pushing the frame with his middle finger. He took another long drink "well, I got to get back…" he gulped the drink down; He stood up and stretched his lanky body out. He then lay back down on the creeper. He gave Gaz a smile and a wink as he rolled under Tak's ship. He had avoided the question again. He will keep referring the ship as Tak's ship.
Gaz knew on some nights, Dib would be at the driveway of the garage. Tak's ship outside with the tarp covered over it. He laid on top the hull. His back on the cold surface. His arms crossed behind his head. He would look deep into the night sky and smile his bittersweet smile...
She shook her head to shake off the sympathy. She stood up and pulled dibs feet that were sticking out. Rolling him out from under Tak's ship. "Dad wants to talk to us in twenty minutes. Don't be late." Gaz jabbed her finger on his chest to show she meant it! Dib sighed. He hated to be pulled away from his project once he got the momentum going.
"I have excellent news kids! There is the father/son engineering design for two weeks, is coming up and Dib you have been chosen for your Ariel design on space travel and fuel cell efficiency."
Dib stood at the doorway. He frowned, as he looked downward to his boots. He shuffled his combat boots. He was displeased. He really meant to show how aliens were able to travel to this world but Tak's design was twisted to look like it was just a crop of Dib's idea and imagination. Dib drum his black nails on his arms as he crossed them. He did not like this. He did not like that they had used Tak's design to claim as his own. His dad though could not be any more proud of his son and his capability for aerial design and engineering. Gaz looked over to dib. The kitchen light put a glare on His glasses, hiding his eyes. His mouth was in a tight line. "That sounds great... too bad we can't go." Dib did not even try to sound like he was disappointed in not going. Professor clapped his hand on his son's shoulder, "Nonsense! We have to go son! This is your special design that will actually be used in future space exploration!"
Gaz dropped her eyes to the floor. She did not want to let her dad see the hurt. She would miss her tournament in her receiving her black and red belt. She did not want to miss it! She was ready!
She sighed to herself. She guessed that she could find a way to make up for it. Her eyes burned with tears she tried to hold back from the disappointments she felt.
Dib shrugged his father's hands away. "I can't go dad! Gaz is ready and if she misses it! It would be dishonorable! For her and for you!" Dib placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I want to see her earn it like she had seen me earn my belt." Dib said in Japanese. Gaz looked away. She did not want his pity. This was supposed to be a happy occasion. She did not want her father feel forced! Her dad should really want to be there.
Obviously her father placed his son over his daughter... it was how things are. Dib refused to let it go. "Dib if there was anywhere else I would rather be then it would be at the tournament. Nevertheless, as you can see, this is something that would be worldwide! FOR THE GOOD OF SCIENCE!"
"IT IS NOT MY DESIGN DAD! IT IS TAK'S, DAD! TAK'S...! I WONT GO TO TAKE CREDIT ON HER SHIP! I WONT DO THAT TO HER! I WILL NOT MISS GAZ JUST FOR A LIE! IT IS NOT FAIR TO HER!" dib fell into a hard silence after he had finished his outburst.
There was an awkward silence all around them. Gaz looked up to Dib. There were too many emotions here to clear her head. She took a deep breath and then she closed her eyes. Dib was next to her. She could sense his emotions, he was angry and bitter. She felt her father's too, he really felt proud for Dib and discomfited in his son's reaction. Her father also felt torn from the guilt he had for Gaz. She then thought of the pain before. She did not accomplish so much just to show off! It would have been joyous to see her father be proud, but she worked hard for herself! She gave her sweat and blood to challenge and push herself and no one else!
"Go Dib. Stop whining! You need to go. As for you dad, I will not be going. I need to stay here and earn my belt. Leave me here alone, I will not let myself down." she walked away from them. She went to her dark bedroom. She tried not to feel it. However, her eyes filled with tears. She did not want the hurt. Yet the hurt was there. She crawled up on her bed and buried her face in her pillow.
After a while, there was a soft knock. Dib waited until her security doll's eyes luminosity dimmed and let dib approach. He sat on her bed and rubbed her back as she continued to lay there face down. "I am not going Gaz. I will tell dad that and that will be that." his voice got very soft, "I won't do that to you or Tak. Tak may be dead... " Dib's voice got hoarse, "so I wont exploit her memory... you were perfect out there. Dad has to see it..." Gaz lifted her face from her pillow, and turned to face Dib. He softly brushed her hair from her wet cheeks. She looked like a small girl right then to Dib. Yet her words were so monotone. "Go Dib, you need to go. For Tak's sake" Dib raised his brow in surprise at Gas's words. "She is dead for all you know. All you have left of her is that ship. Tell them the truth... just do not refer her as some alien, give her the credit and honor she deserved. Do it for the honor of her memory." she wanted to say something more, but she just gave him a stern look. He turned away from Gaz's gaze and adjusted his glasses. Dib sat there for a long moment. His face was shadowed in the darkness. He leaned down over her and he kissed Gaz on the forehead. Dib stood up, without saying another word, closing the door behind him as he left. Gaz did not know what would happen next. She let her eyes close and as she drifted to sleep, she could hear distant voices...
In the house with the lawn gnomes…
The phone rang at the strange green house. Zim was in his lab deep within the bowels of the earth. "Get the phone GIR! And no more telemarketers GIR!" Zim commanded, "I MEAN IT GIR! TELEMARKETERS ARE BAD!" Zim was adjusting his newest project, it was going to be zombie squids that will invade the school and destroy the special Ed class! "MASTER! Can the man talk to mom and dad?" GIR yelled at the intercom shaking the receiver of the phone. Zim rolled his eyes, "Yeah sure GIR and I guess he wants to sell a subscription to human filth weekly. JUST HANG UP GIR! DO NOT BUY ANYMORE JUNK! I MEAN IT GIR!" Zim screamed at the intercom back at GIR. GIR looked up at the intercom and then at the phone disappointed it was not a neat telemarketer. "Actually the phone calls from a Professor Membrane, isn't that's the Human called Dib, parental unit?" replied the Computer. Zim's feelers perked up! "Computer let the call patch through to my lab... " This should be interesting...
"Hello this is Zim! A normal worm baby, that is answering your call, how may I help you hang up sooner?"
"Oh hello there, you must be that little foreign boy, Gaz's little friend."
Zim gave a confused look to the voice, "Friend? Did this Gaz say I was a friend?"
"Are your parents' home?" Professor Membrane asked
"Ah, let me go check... I am NORMAL!" Zim looked around panicked! He had to find parents. Then he decided against better judgment, that he would use his robot parents. "Computer, bring out my robot parents... and make sure they are not being all, you know... stupid."
"Oh yeah, and that will happen when you take over the planet", replied the computer.
His robot mom and dad came spinning out and the sparks flew from their ears, "AAAAH, son I see that you have eaten your fiber", Dad-bot replied taking his pipe from his mouth.
"You know how it is to stay regular! Is mommy's little worm baby, regular son?" Mom-bot got real close Zim.
She is creeping Zim out and he gave her a light push to get her out of his face. "Oookay, see as this is as good as you can get for now, I need to give you a set of instruction! Follow them; I will keep it simple so not to blow your circuits... so here it is... BE NORMAL... understand... for the tallest sake obey me... be normal!" The parent-bots circuits sparked and they nodded their heads.
"Hello this is Zim's proud mother unit! Hi there! Did you eat your fiber?" said the mom-bot.
"Ah, I see I am talking to the lady of the household?" replied Professor Membrane, "I am sorry for bothering you at such short notice mam'." apologized Professor Membrane.
"Who is this?" asked Dad-bot.
"Good I have both of you on the line. I am Professor Membrane, Gaz's father and a man of science!"
Mom-bot sat up straight up. "What is a GAZ? Is it a snack?" she asked.
Professor Membrane chuckled, "Well, she can be sweet! But all kidding aside, since Gaz and Zim are good friends I thought I would call and see if you wouldn't mind having Gaz for a couple of weeks. Gaz is terribly shy and since Zim and my daughter get along just grand, I thought that they may enjoy hanging out with each other."
"At Zim's?" asked Dad-bot.
"Why yes? Do have any other plans? Really I was hoping to find someone watch over my little girl. From the information, I got from the teacher/parent night. I heard you were excellent! And from what I hear from your lovely wife's voice, you both sound stable, I hope you don't mind."
Zim waved his hands at the parent-bots mouthing silently "NO... SAY NO, I ORDER YOU TO SAY NO!" Zim whispered hoarsely. Zim did not want Gaz to come over! That would be bad!
Mom-bot looked at Zim waving his hand to tell them to say no, she answered," No, we do not mind! She will be yummy to have."
"What a lovely wife have there, Zim's dad. You are one lucky guy!" chuckle the professor. "HEY!" protested Zim. "It is not polite when adults are talking son." Dad-bot said as he covered Zim's mouth. "What would happen if something should happen to this precious? Does she explode?" asked the mom-bot.
"Oh, well if there would be any problems then... well for one thing, my little girl has this one small problem, well I cannot say her temper for she can be a quite tepid, it is only that she has this creative side to her and many narrow minded people may not see it as humor. She only had maimed two of her sitter's in the past. However, they got their shots. Yet the nanny establishments have put a red flag on our household. Nevertheless, if there were perchance something would happen because of my sweet little girl... " The professor's voice got deep and ominous, "I will pay for the damages or medical bills..."
Zim eyes went wide! He muffled his protest as for the dad-bot held his hand over Zim's mouth.
The professor perked up, "But I have nothing to worry with you two in charge. In addition, I am sure her little friend will have a delight in having a friend over. She may be a hand full but who isn't?" then a beep sounded over the speakers, "This is the most important mission ever! My sweet fruit of my creation will need all the support! She is facing off dire challenges! If anything should ever happen... if the mission ever fails! Then all will be... (Beep beep) Oh well, times up in our chat. I have to return for the good of science! So do we have an agreement?"
Dad-bot released Zim to salute the professor's voice, "Of course! We would be delighted in having your little GAZ at Zim's."
Mom-bot put her hands up to her face as she gushed, "Yes, she would be a delight! I can fix her up and do her make up! So were we normal?"
"Excellent! Thank you so much I will drop her off this Friday night. Good day, sir and I hope you have a lovely evening yourself mam... (Click)"
Zim looked utterly shocked! His jaw hung open as he turned to his parent-bots. His eyes narrowed at them," I hate you..."
Back at the Membrane Home...
"Gaz I have wonderful news." proclaimed the Professor...
Dib looked like he was in complete shock! His jaw dropped! Gaz could only shake her head, as she realized that if this was the only way to get her belt, then she had to go through this. Is it hard like this for any other kid?
Dib, could only gape as he looked at her. She rolled her eyes. She knew saying anything would be empty noise. Like her dad would let her be alone for two weeks! Dib went to protest, but she slapped the back of his head so he could quite gaping like an idiot. She narrowed her eyes at him, "You owe me big! So do me a small favor and try not annoy me!" she tightened her fist at Dib, he could only nod. She went to her room to pack. She kept thinking. "Zim agreed? He wants me to stay there. Could he want me there because computer blabbed his stupid mouth? nah...maybe it is for something else, but what else? Not like he..." she felt her cheeks get warm. She tried to clear her mind as she folded. Dib knocked softly, she turned to her brother and gave him a warning look. He had better not annoy her! She was just not up to it.
She kept packing. She pulled out her karate uniform. She gazed at it for a long moment. Dib saw how she was looking at her karate uniform and how she folded it nicely in her case. Dib refrained from trying to convince her not to go. It was important to her to get her belt; he just looked away and adjusted his glasses. He instead tried to think of something else to say, "I was hoping that since you were going there, that you could snap..."
"No"
"AAAAWW Gaz! Why not?"
"You're annoying! Go away! However, I will try to see your award thing via satellite. Just cause you and dad will be doing the same for my karate tournament, right? Or I swear on all that is not good and with all that is evil!" she balled her fist
"Whoa", Dib held his hands up, "I wouldn't miss it for all the photos of Zim's lab!"
She dropped her fist; she turned back to her packing as she rolled her eyes at Dib. "Whatever..."
Dib picked up one of her creepy toys... "You'll need something to watch out for you just in case."
Gaz looked at the creepy bat winged snaky and packed it in her bag.
Gaz then set her eyes on a jade silk box. She placed the box in her bag so very carefully. Dib knew that it was significant to her. She maybe is taking it to cope with her stress over her earning her belt. She shook out a large white komodo. She folded it so carefully until the beautiful komodo fit on the palm of her hand. She packed that in. Dib knew that the white komodo was her most valued souvenir from her last visit from their mother land of Japan.
Dib ran his fingers over her I-pod speaker and touched the face pad... the song came on and it played... "BEHIND BLUE EYES" by the Who. She stood still with her hands resting on her komodo as she listened to the lyrics. The song that reminded her of her inner struggle, but what she did not expect was Zim's eyes. He wore his contacts with that red glow behind them. How he would laugh maniacally and tried no matter what to be the villain behind those ruby eyes. She looked at Dib and she pointed to the door. "Leave..." Dib looked confused, "But I thought that I was going to help you pack..." she narrowed her eyes, she gave him a warning... "security." her monster dolls eyes glow, and came to life...with angry snapping jaws. Dib ran out, cursing at her under his breath in Japanese.
She dismissed her dolls to stand down. She listened to the song as she packed her stuff.
"Dispatch a transmission to the tallest." Zim was wringing his hands nervously. He kept thinking how he had to get out of this. That human staying here? No way! No matter how delicious she is! Even though she had been in the lab before, and she had been to his secret satellite base in space. Nevertheless, she will be here two whole weeks! "I have to focus on my new findings on this defense technique called KARATE!"
On the armada, where the tallest were sitting back drinking their smoothies. "SIRS, we have a transmission from earth." the tallest rolled their eyes. "Oh great, more happy stupid stuff from Zim." Tallest Red just put an ice pack on his head," you go get it!"
Tallest Purple protested, "Why me? You always get it from Zim." Tallest Red lifted his ice pack from his eyes, "I have a head ache, or I will get one anyway after I talk to Zim." then a thought popped into Tallest Red's head, he lifted the ice pack and frowned, "What the! Hey! I do always get Zim's transmissions! That is it! You handle him this time!" with that, Tallest Red placed the ice pack over his eyes. That was the end of the discussion. Tallest Purple shrugged, might as well get it over with. Tallest Purple waved his hand to the communication officer to allow the transmission through.
"Greetings my tallest" Zim saluted, "Oh, ummm... Zim I see that you have brought another report. (Sarcastic voice) Oh goody...Yeah, the fun never stops there..." replied Tallest Purple
"Today I have a report in my ever evolving plans on taking over this primitive dirt ball, earth. I have on a very reliable source about a method in which a human use a technique called karate. It seems it has evolved where earth children learn the methods of self defense." the Tallest Purple did not have a clue on how to react to this, usual Red dealt with Zim. Oh well, he thought he would wing it. "So how did you find this reliable source?"
"I had extracted the information from Gaz! She was at my mercy at that time. She thinks of me as... as... a friend, NO. NO. HER MASTER! Yeah that is right! That's right, a friend- I mean MASTER! She obviously could not withstand my obvious dominance over her!"
Tallest Purple shrugged, "okay, and so what is this karate? Have you gotten a hold of it or have this Gaz?" Tallest Purple was not really interested but he could not think what else to say. This was turning to an awkward conversation.
Zim blinked his large eyes at Tallest moment and just looked straight ahead. Tallest Purple scratched the back of his head and gave a little cough. He then stared back at Zim. He waited for a reply. However, as he waited he began to think that maybe Zim was expecting Tallest to speak. Zim looked transfixed looking straight ahead. Tallest Purple started to frown. Was Zim going to say anything or not? "Hey! Hey Zim what are..."
"INGENIOUS! Oh that GAZ! What she does not know is that she has played into my claws! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Zim erupted startling Tallest Purple. Zim perked up his feelers! That was right! Zim recalled that the professor had mentioned that she was going through some kind of trial! He must have meant this karate training! He would now find out how about this self-defense training. He thought two whole weeks. How hard will it be? After all, he was a mighty Irken invader. Tallest Red then walked up to the screen from hearing Zim's evil laugh. They both stared at Zim as he started muttering to himself. Tallest Purple elbowed Red, "See I told you! You should have taken this call in the first place!"
"Zim, what is this about this Gaz and Karate! Is Gaz ...?"
"Gaz! Gaz! Oh that female! She dare just invite herself to Zim's abode! Yet she will soon know how she will fear the mighty Irken Zim! When she beholds my BASE! She will..." Zim looked around his base in shock! "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH, THAT'S RIGHT SHE WILL BE STAYING WITH ME! WITH ME HERE! I NEED TO CLEAN UP! MY BASE IS BEFOULED!" Zim then started yelling, "GIR get everything cleaned up! NOW GIR NOW!" Zim started to talk to himself, "She will be here! With all her tasty skin! In addition, her smelly sweet hair! " Zim looked around, he wrung his hands nervously, "she will be here... alone with me! My base, alone! For this mission! She will be here with her stuff!" Zim got mad and scowled, "With her here beside me or breathing in the same air as me day and ... night. I will have to deal with her wretched presence, and her cursed sweet smelling hair! Oh, those horrid tempting soft violet hair that makes me just run my fingers through it and caress it! Or her tasty skin on my oral cavity! "Zim touched his mouth licking smacking his mouth like he was tasting a yummy snack
"Is she a snack?" asked Tallest Red.
"I am not sure, I wasn't trying to keep up on the creepy!" answered Purple.
"Or that long smooth neck that makes me wants to blow on it! GRRRRR! And those optic orbs of hers! Those GRRRR, that glitters like fire titanium! Or that horrible allure of her soft skin so creamy soft, and her stupid sleeping for hours and hours devising me to take a vigil over her, watching her...while she is sleeping! She thinks that she can just stay here! Nevertheless, I had turned the tables! But why she thought of me...!?!?" Then Zim's feelers went up, "Of course! SHE IS FACING A DEADLY MISSION AND CHOSE ME! OF COURSE! SHE KNOWS HER MASTER! She is now mine! Oooh, yes... No one will see her!" Zim grinned maliciously, "She can get away from that horrid pig- smelly DIB! She will be in MY clutches! She bowed to me and I touched her fuzzy feelers! It means SOMETHING! MWAHAHAHAHA! Pitiful Dib! You have lost! VICTORY FOR ZIM! Little Gaz within my clutches..." the Zim perked up, "You are ingenious my TALLEST! I would never have devised that on my own!"
"See I told you! You should have taken this!" Tallest Purple looked accusingly at Red.
"Ooh, I got to make sandwiches..." Zim said in a singsong voice and skipped away to the exit that leads to the kitchen.
The tallest were on the screen still and had witnessed Zim's ... thing. Tallest Purple turned to Red, "That was... really neurotic."
Tallest Red nodded and replied, "What have we done?"
"That poor Gaz or whatever that is... I mean did you understand any of that?"
"No, and I don't want to either."
GIR popped up wearing his green puppy suit. He had a lot of woman's make up on and painted on heavy red lipstick to his mouth. He started to dance in front of the screen as he quoted, "IT PUTS THE LOTION IN THE BASKET OR ELSE IT GETS THE HOSE AGAIN! WEEEEHOOOO! IT PUTS THE LOTION IN THE BASKET OR ELSE IT GETS THE HOSE AGAIN! Where is my lotion?"
The Tallest stood there staring wide-eyed, Red pushed the button on their computer console and the screen went black... "That... that was just wrong..."
