AN:
To 'Anony' mostly, who curse these anonymous reviews so I have to make these public! I do actually like the Tallest and find them funny, but it's just how I'd picture the characters reacting at the time. It's a pretty headed moment. I do have plans for the Tallest, but I'm not giving anything away, but I think all shall be pleased XD
Also, as for the music, again I have plans that I think will please people, lets just say it's not going to be as easy to wrap up and finish like that first one. XD So I'm glad you like it and thanks for the questions that would require a spoiler, they really make me glad that you're so interested XD Read on and all shall be revealed sooner or later XD
"Gaz! Tak! Wake up, come on, you've gotta wake up!"
"Gaz-love, Zim commands you to awaken!"
Gaz instinctively threw her fist out towards whatever it was that was shaking her shoulders and causing her discomfort. Dib yelped in pain as he was knocked backwards onto his rear, clutching his chin. Zim pumped his fist in the air.
"Success!" he stopped down to help Gaz sit up, "Are you okay?"
Tak blinked wildly, trying to regain focus, she flinched as a hand was gently placed on her shoulder. From his recent experience, Dib leant out of arms reach.
"Hey, it's me, you're okay." He shushed, pulling her into an embrace.
The girls took in their new surroundings and deflated in horror. The bare room made of cold metal from floor to ceiling, the bars that made up an entire wall sparked occasionally to signify that it was rigged electrically. The air around them was so chilly that their breath turned to mist before it even left them, and it seemed that it was only getting colder. GIR and Mimi sat huddled together, feeding off each others robotic energy to stay warm and awake. The Irken insignia was painted on the ceiling, glaring down at them menacingly. It was all too familiar for them. They were in an Irken prison cell, aboard the Massive.
Gaz pulled away from Zim's grip and looked at him directly in the orb-like eyes, stroking his antenna softly, before she shoved him harshly in the chest.
"You pair of stupid, moronic, idiots!" she cried, "Seriously, how could you be so stupid?"
"We were coming out to save you!" Dib protested.
"But we didn't need saving!" Tak added, "Now we've had to come out all this way to save you!"
"And what an amazing display that turned out to be." Zim shot at her.
"Excuse me?" Gaz glowered at him.
"Nothing little-Gaz!" he back tracked, holding his palms up in mercy.
"Right, this isn't getting us anywhere." Tak sighed, silencing everyone, "How long have we been here?"
Dib shrugged, "A few hours? You four arrived about five minutes ago though."
"And the Tallest have started plans for operation," Zim shuddered, "Nightmare Night."
Tak instantly paled and her hands clenched into fists. Dib held her tightly to him. Zim had expected that reaction of horror. Earth didn't stand a chance.
"I'm missing something." Gaz stated, "What's Nightmare Night?"
The two Irkens shuddered at the name. Zim draped an arm over her shoulders and took her hand comfortingly.
"As I've been explaining to the Dib, Nightmare Night is an operation saved for the harshest of planets. It's very rare and it's the only time the Tallest will actually take part in the invasion of a planet. They send all of their elites on the planets surface; eliminate everything and take over… all in the space of one night. Nothing will live and it's starting tomorrow evening."
It was a lot to absorb in such a short space of time. Gaz accidently started summoning mental images of people she knew being killed in the streets, people who had no clue what was happening hiding for cover without success, the Tallest laughing as they joined in the 'fun'… There was once a time when she would have laughed and claimed they deserved it for being so blind to what was around them the entire time. But now that the time was actually here, she felt sick to her stomach. No one deserved to die like that. The Tallest had no right to choose that fate for a species they didn't even understand. It was wrong and it was sickening.
"And Tak, prepare yourself." Zim continued, looking at his fellow Irken with false determination, "They're coming for us as soon as they're aware you're awake."
"What? Why?" she asked, her hand clenching tighter around Dibs, "We're just defects, they don't need us for anything!"
"That's exactly why they want us. They've got a few experiments that they want to carry out… so they can afford to spare a few defects." He spat.
Gaz snapped out of her trance and glared at no one in particular, "They won't touch you. I won't let them."
Zim brushed her hair from her cheeks, "Zim fears you won't have a choice in the matter."
"You're going to give in and let them take you?" Dib cried, "Since when do you give in? You're Zim, you don't give in!"
"They're the Tallest Dib," Tak muttered, "if you don't give in, they'll make you."
"That didn't stop us last time!" he replied, "What makes this so different?"
"This time your planet is going to die!" Zim yelled, "This time it won't matter if we escape or not because the planet will already be half way to chaos by then!"
No one dared speak a word. Zim was actually speaking sense. If they managed to break out of the Massive again and make it back to Earth, the Tallest would still carry on with the invasion. If they stayed put, they would be separated and Earth would still be invaded. In short, they had no choice.
The soft keys of a piano played above them. Was this their last song, their final performance before they were separated? They didn't know. But who was going to lead it? They looked at one another with expectant yet confused expressions. No one could really feel any words building up, and no one seemed to be making the first move. They jumped as the piano swiftly changed into guitars and drums. GIR jumped to his feet and glared at all of them, Mimi watched in awe as childish tears formed in his glowing scarlet eyes.
Shut up and Smile – Bowling for Soup:
GIR:
Its not the end of the world, in fact its not even the end of the summer
But thank god we're here together,
Cuz there's no way we could know anything that's going down,
Or how were supposed to be feeling about it.
I can't tell you how much I wish we could shut up and smile, yeah…
His eyes faded back to neon blue, clasping his hands together pleadingly. So we'll save the world and tell the Tallest to go away!
la la la la la la!
All we need's a harmony and we'll convince the world to sing!
la la la la la la
throw your arms around someone, maybe we'll live after all!
I know it sounds a little dumb or maybe I'm a little wrong?
But all we need is a big song and a hug!
Normally, Zim would be trying to restrain his minion, but this time, he sighed and forced a smile, letting him have his moment. It would be long before the Tallest deactivated him and Mimi along with them. Dib slid his back down the wall so that he was sitting down, Tak leaning against him for comfort. Gaz sniffed in distaste, this wasn't fair, it was only building hopes to be crushed. Nevertheless, GIR carried on. Take a good look around!
Does life really suck or are we just complaining?
I hope the music's still on… Cuz I'm on a roll here"
I hope this is making some sense"
I hope that you'll throw up your hands and sing it,
And tell all the Tallest that they should just shut up and smile, yeah…
So we'll save the world and tell the Tallest to go away!
la la la la la la!
All we need's a harmony and we'll convince the world to sing!
la la la la la la
throw your arms around someone, maybe we'll live after all!
I know it sounds a little dumb or maybe I'm a little wrong?
But all we need is a big song…
GIR looked around at the still dejected faces and felt like screaming. Why weren't they happy? He was singing a happy song, they should be happy! He looked at Mimi desperately who just tilted her head in sympathy. He clenched his metallic hands and stamped his foot. The Tallest were making everyone sad! He didn't like sad! More happy! They need more happy! All we need is happy songs, and to try escape the meanie Tallest to be happy!
All you need is someone near like GIR and Mimi to hold you close and to tell you they care!
Desperation was starting to kick in now. He rushed around to each of them, pulling on their sleeves and trying to get them to join him.
Can we all just, get along now?
We found ourselves in something like this before!
We can find out, a way to get out!
Making waffles sounds great to me now!
So we'll save the world and tell the Tallest to go away!
la la la la la la!
All we need's a harmony and we'll convince the world to sing!
la la la la la la!
throw your arms around someone, maybe we'll live after all!
I know it sounds a little dumb or maybe I'm a little wrong?
But all we need is a big song and a hug!
The music started to fade and yet GIR still wasn't giving up. Changing his words from All we need it a big song and a hug to All we need is to escape and back again. Chanting aimlessly in desperation at the non-interested captives. After a long line of chanting, he finally gave in, sinking down next to Mimi who patted his shoulder comfortingly. GIR shook his head, making her retract cautiously. He had never looked to sad. And in truth, he'd never felt so sad. He shook his head more violently, like a child having a tantrum. Before the Tallest came again, a happy song would have made it all better! The Tallest make everything bad! Now his master has gone bad. Everyone is going bad because of them! No! He refused to believe it! He jumped to his feet, eyes burning like flames as he pointed at Zim accusingly.
"You not my Masta! My Masta don't listen to no one but Masta! Masta would open the door like last time! Not even Tallest tell Masta what to do! You not my Masta! And you not Mary-Dib no more either! Mary-Dib makes Masta work harder, not let him give up! Mary-Dib would take over! Miss Tak and Gazzie… You not Miss Tak and Gazzie! You strangers! You not scary no more and you just sit there like… toasters!"
They all stared wide eyed at the robots fit. They'd never heard him shout so passionately before, tears streaming down his silver cheeks. Zim sighed and tried to place a hand on his minions shoulder, but he turned away, letting his eyes fade back to teal orbs…
"No… GIR don't want to talk to strangers."
The android smacked Zim's lingering hand away and stormed back over to his corner, ignoring Mimi's attempts at comfort. Gaz watched him in awe, her hand lifted up to her skull pendant absentmindedly. She looked down at it for a moment and reminisced. It was badly bent out of shape and charred black in places. It had been thrown through the bars of the cell all those years ago, the metal reacting with the electrical panel to open the door. There was no hope of doing that this time, the force-field looked like it was threaded between the bars. The pendant had been lost, and yet Zim had still managed to bring it back to her. It was more than just an accessory to her now, it was a symbol of his courage and determination. What good was it now if those very same traits of his were vanquished? She tore it from her neck and threw it at him.
"He's right!" she cried, watching Zim rub his head defensively, "This isn't us! We don't sit around like the rest of the planet and wait to be destroyed! Dib for god's sake, all you ever go on about it saving Earth from aliens and now here's your chance and you just do nothing! Zim, you wanted nothing more than to take over Earth and make it yours, why are you letting someone else take that from you? And Tak… me and you are the only ones here with common sense, if we don't hold it together, who will?"
Zim picked up the pendant and offered it back to her, she just glared at him so he pocketed it instead, sighing. GIR jumped up and clamed himself to Gaz's hip, burying his face into her side affectionately.
"My Gazzie!" he grinned.
"But Gaz, it's not that we're giving up willingly, there's just no -" Dib started.
She cut him off, "Oh grow a pair!"
"They've got a point," Tak smirked, "None of you even let me come close to taking over, what makes the Tallest so different?"
Violins started strumming to a rhythmic beat. This wasn't over, not by a long shot.
Remember the Name – Fort Minor: (recommended by Random Person)
GIR:
You ready? Lets go!
Yeah, for those of you that want to know how we'll escape, it's like this yeah, come on!
Tak and Gaz:
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to escape the Tallest!
Gaz:
Zim! He doesn't need his name up in lights,
He just wants to be heard whether it's the Master or not!
He feels so unlike everybody else, alone,
In spite of the fact that some people still think that they know him
But screw them, he knows the code,
It's not about the Tallest, it's all about reality and making some noise
Makin the story - making sure his base stays up
That means when he puts it down I'm picking it up! let's go!
Tak:
Who the hell is Dib anyway?
He never really gives in. Never concerned with status but still leaving them star struck,
Humbled through opportunities given to him despite the fact
That many misjudge him because he knows the paranormal!
Put it together himself, now the picture connects,
Never asking for someone's help, to get some respect,
He's only focused on what he found, his will is beyond reach
And now when it all unfolds, the skill of world protector!
GIR:
It's just twenty percent skill. Eighty percent fear.
Be one hundred percent clear cause GIR is here!
Zim:
Who would've thought that we'd be the one taking down Tallest,
And I heard them planning all The Nightmare Night, "Name Of The Game"
Came back aboard Massive, took them by storm,
I won't give up, why'd they have to take Earth from me?
This song is the truth, now everybody think of a way to escape!
This ain't over yet and the Massive's going down!
GIR:
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to escape the Tallest!
Dib:
They call me Dib the freak. And I'm always fighting with Zim,
Got to admit he's speaking truth, found him in Massive with Tak,
Been angry at the Tallest, they're just losers and they're going down!
The type Earth I want to be on don't make sense with them around!
Some years in the making, patiently waiting to blow,
Now the record that Tallest taking over the globe
We're not giving up now, and I doubt we ever will,
You wont believe the kind of stuff that we're thinking of now!
Zim and Gaz:
Hey – We're not your everyday on the block,
We knows how to work with what we've got, making our way to the top!
Tallest think we're just defects all the same,
Tallest keep asking us why weren't be disposed of at birth?
Or are we just determined to stay?
No we're living proof, Got us breaking out soon!
We'll get you shaking quicker than a earthquake on Earth!
Us and this crew are known around as one of the best,
Dedicated to what they doing give a hundred percent!
Dib and Tak:
Forget them - Nobody really knows how or why they want to invade,
It seems like they've never got tired because they hate every note and they hate all planets,
And I've seen them at work when that light goes on in their minds,
It's like a design is written in their heads every time,
Before they even touch a key or invades in their time,
And those damned Tallest ruins our loves, not this time!
Ridiculous, without even trying, we're gonna get out of this!
All:
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
As the tune came to an end, the group looked at one another with newfound determination. They'd never really rapped before, that was new… It was true though, they had never been ones to give in, and they refused to start now. GIR grinned with triumph and gripped Mimi around the waist, spinning her around gleefully.
"So how do we get out of here?" Dib asked, examining the bars, "Get too close and we're fried."
He was about to tap the force field with his finger when his hand passed through it with ease. He blinked at the group in surprise. Was it just an act? All of a sudden, he cried out in agony as sparks fused through his skin, sending him blasted backwards and smacking against the wall. The bars slid open and the Tallest entered, grinning wryly and followed by four Irken guards.
"How sweet, you still think you're going to win this one." Red sneered.
"Shame really to crush their dreams… oh wait, no it's not!" Purple cackled, leftover snack crumbs falling from his face.
"Take the defects to the labs." Red ordered.
GIR burned red and stood in front of Zim, "You no touch my Masta!"
Mimi stood before Tak, holding out her arms to defend mistress and her mate.
A guard pulled out a rod that sparked on one end and prodded the androids with it, sending them convulsing with electrical shocks. They fell to the floor, eyes dark and empty. Gaz lunged at the guard but she was brushed off, receiving an electrical blast of her own. She crumbled to the ground beside her semi-conscious brother. Zim's eyes flared and he swiped his claws.
"You dare to hurt my Gaz?"
"Make another move and you're dead!" Tak snarled, baring her teeth.
The Tallest watched in amusement as the two defects struggled violently against the guards that outnumbered them. While one was taking an attack, another stepped behind to restrain them. Zim growled maliciously as his wrists were bound behind his back. Tak was kicked to the ground and restrained with her arms twisted in front of her. One of the guards dragged her along behind him by her legs while another hoisted Zim along roughly by his antenna. Their cried and protests could be heard all the way down the corridor.
Red glanced down at the two unconscious humans, "What shall we do with these?"
"What good are they to us now we've got the defects and their planet?"
"There we go, send them back to Earth, they're no different from the rest of their pathetic race, let them burn along with them."
"Oh, clever…" Purple nodded in approval, "And the SIR units?"
"Scrap metal. You there!" Red pointed to another guard, "Take the humans to Earth with the next fleet and send the SIR units to the scrap heap, they'll be out long before the furnace kicks in."
They watched as the four beings were dragged from their prison and out of sight. A devilish grin grew from the corners of their mouths and up into their cheeks. Along the way to the labs, they couldn't help but chuckle, before long, it grew to a bellowing symphony of cackling laughter. Things were going just as they planned. Earth was going to be theirs in less than a day, the defects were going to be back under control and as for the humans… they didn't exist any more as far as they were concerned.