A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone, but between a sudden relapse of writer's block and my work on my Halloween special, I haven't really been working on this chapter. But, I finally got around to it, so I hope you're all ready for some action.

Read on!

Disclaimer: The GESS and all non-canon characters belong to me. Everyone else is the property of Jhonen Vasquez.

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Zim's Base, Storage Chamber, Same Time

With a grunt of exertion, Dib pushed the panel concealing his makeshift entrance out of the way, once again tumbling into the low-level storage room. Grumbling obscenities while rubbing his sore back, he quickly made his way towards the same ventilation shaft he had used during his previous break-in. The sound of scurrying metallic feet and the faint glow of violet optics informed him that there were several spider drones patrolling the vents.

"Guess Zim doesn't want any uninvited guests," Dib muttered, before reaching into the pockets of his trench coat. After making sure that the disc was still securely in place, he reached into a different pocket and pulled out a little something he'd scrapped together a few days previous, using parts of some household appliances and following a schematic he'd pulled from Zim's computer via the pod.

The files called it a signal disrupter bomb; apparently, it was designed to be a handheld version of the Electronic Security Field. Once activated, it would scramble any spying devices within a short radius. Dib was hoping that it would also work on the drones.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered. He then flipped a switch on the side of the disruptor, waiting for the light on the top to flicker to life before tossing the whole thing into the vent. After a few seconds, he poked his head in after it, and chuckled a bit.

A couple of drones were at the vent intersection, and the disruptor was apparently working – their optics were flickering like a bad TV reception, and they were stumbling around as if they were drunk. As Dib watched, they bumped into each other and knocked each other over, their legs kicking into the air without even the slightest attempt to pull them up.

"Well, that works too," Dib said with a smirk.

Pushing the disruptor and the drones aside, he began crawling through the vents towards the opening he'd made in the elevator shaft. As he'd hoped, the hole in that vent was still there, as was the cable he'd used as a rope – Zim and Jana had probably been too busy to look for it.

After taking a few calming breaths, Dib heaved himself out into the shaft, holding the cable securely in one hand. Once he was completely out of the vent and in the shaft, he began climbing down towards the GESS lab; he was certain that Zim would be down there showing off the GESS to the inspection team. And if not, then he could always summon the elevator and use it to get up to the main control room…

His train of thought was cut off when he heard the sound of something sliding up the shaft towards him. Glancing down, his eyes widened in shock as he realized that it was the elevator that was heading straight towards him.

"Oh, son of a-"

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BANG!

Zim, Gor, and the three Elite Guards with them looked up at the ceiling of the elevator as it hit something. GIR and Minimoose, on the other hand, couldn't seem to care less.

"Uh, what was that?" Gor asked, narrowing an eye in confusion.

Zim wasn't listening. He was too busy focusing his telepathy, to try and hear the thoughts of whoever or whatever was on top of the elevator. It was a strain to hear through a metal barrier like that, but if the intruder was who he thought it was, then it would be worth it.

'…Okay, that hurt,' Dib's mental voice flooded through Zim's head after a few moments, 'Hope they didn't hear that.'

Zim's eyes narrowed in anger, and while everyone else was still staring at the ceiling, he discreetly aimed a telekinetic blast at the roof access panel.

The other Irkens jumped back in alarm as the access panel fell to the floor, followed shortly after by Dib. The young human's foot caught on the edge of the opening, leaving him dangling and looking upside down at the group of Irkens who were staring at him in surprise (or hate, in Zim's case).

"Um… hi?" he said lamely.

"Get him!" Zim snarled.

"No, wait! You don't understand!" Dib started to shout, but was cut off when the Guards grabbed him and roughly pulled him to the floor of the crowded elevator. Before he could even attempt to get back up, one of the Guards brought his electo-lance down on Dib's head.

The last thing Dib saw before he blacked out was Zim grinning evilly down at him.

XXXXXXX

Zim's Base, Communications Room, Soon After

'Ow. My head,' Dib thought as he regained consciousness.

As his vision returned, he found himself in the communications room of Zim's base, apparently sitting down. He tried to sit up, but a pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back down.

Looking around, he saw that he was flanked by two of the Elite Guard. He attempted to say something, to try and explain what was going on, but he stopped suddenly when he realized he couldn't open his mouth. Reaching up to touch his lips, he discovered that they were taped shut – he also noticed that his hands were cuffed together by some high-tech looking shackles.

"Oh good. You're awake."

Gaze snapping up from his hands, Dib glared as he saw Zim standing in front of him with a smug look of satisfaction on his face.

"I wouldn't want you to miss the big moment," the Invader added, before turning on his heel and walking towards Gor, who was sitting at the actual communications console.

"Tell me again why we don't just kill the human?" Gor asked, "I mean, isn't he the one that always ruins your plans?"

"Precisely why I don't want him dead yet," Zim said with a shrug. Seeing Gor's confused expression, he rolled his eyes and said, "I want him to see my ultimate victory; I want him see all his efforts end in failure. Only then will I kill him."

"That's what you said last time," the computer chimed in, "And we all remember how well that went."

"Shut it," Zim snapped, "And open up communications with the Massive."

As the computer began sending out a signal, Dib slowly began moving his hands towards the pocket containing the disc. If they were going to be talking to the Tallest, now would be his only chance to expose Zim's coup plot and get rid of him once and for all. But he stopped with a wince as his scar suddenly began burning. He quickly rubbed at it to alleviate the pain, ignoring the glares he got from the Guards for moving.

'What is with this stupid scar?' he thought, 'Why does it keep burning?'

The pain faded after a few moments, but as it did a chill ran down Dib's spine, accompanied by a sudden realization. The only other time his scar had burned like that was right before Jana had attacked him in the GESS lab. Quickly scanning the room, he didn't see her anywhere, but considering whom he was talking about, that didn't mean much.

He'd heard stories of veterans whose war wounds ached as early warning signs of danger. It seemed his scar served the same purpose, except it was more specific, only warning him when Jana was near.

Dib was pulled from his thoughts when the computer announced that it was now connected to the Massive. Reminded of why he was here, he quickly but carefully resumed reaching for the disc.

"Third Tallest Gor reporting in, my Tallest," Gor said as Red and Purple appeared on the screen.

"Well," Red said as he looked Gor and Zim over, "I'm guessing, since you're not dead or dying, that Zim's plan actually worked for once?"

"As much as it pains me to admit it… yes," Gor muttered, giving Zim a dirty look out of the corner of his eye, "The GESS look pretty much unbeatable, and Zim actually has a way of controlling them. There's honestly no reason not to enforce his conquest of this planet."

"You couldn't make up a reason?" Purple whined. Red rolled his eyes and smacked his partner upside the head.

"What was that for?"

"For being an idiot," Red snapped, turning his attention back to the screen. Heaving a sigh, he focused on Zim.

"The Armada can be there within 72 hours. I guess you can let the GESS have some fun until then."

"With pleasure, my Tallest," Zim said with a bow, "That should be more than enough time to destroy this city and some of the surrounding area. In fact, I think-"

Crash!

Zim and Gor spun around to see that Dib had kicked one of the Guard's legs out from under him, sending him to the ground. The other Irken guarding him swung his electro-lance, but Dib ducked out of the way and elbowed him in the side, knocking him over. Before any of the other Guards scattered around the room could do anything, Dib flung his shackled hands forward, throwing the disc in his hand like a Frisbee. With amazing skill, the disc flew straight into a slot on one of the smaller screens attached to the console, causing the screen to go to static.

With a growl, Zim sprinted forward, reflexively calling on his enhanced speed without caring that he was revealing his new abilities. Before Dib could react, Zim had him pinned to the wall. Holding him there with one hand wrapped around his throat, Zim reached out with the other and ripped the tape off of Dib's lips. Ignoring the human's yelp of pain, the Invader pulled him close.

"What did you just do?" he hissed.

Dib merely smirked in response. "Look for yourself."

Zim was about to resort to telepathy, when suddenly he heard his own voice… coming from behind him.

"And when the Tallest do come, then we eliminate them," he heard himself saying. Spinning around, he dropped Dib in shock as he saw the image being played out on the screen – his announcement to the computer of his plans to assassinate the Tallest.

"Once those two buffoons are out of the way," the recording continued, "the path will be clear for me to ascend to the throne. I shall secure my destiny as leader of the Empire, and finally destroy this pathetic planet, all in one fell swoop."

The recording stopped, then cycled back to the beginning and started to repeat. However, it didn't get a chance, as the screen was smashed in by a telekinetic blast. Everyone in the room jumped at that, looking back and forth between the screen and Zim's outstretched hand. But before anyone could comment on that, the Tallest spoke up.

"You treacherous little Defective," Red said, narrowing his eyes in anger, "You actually have the nerve to plot the assassination of the Almighty Tallest?"

Zim's lips pulled back in a snarl, as the air around him began to shimmer, much to everyone's confusion.

"'Almighty'? Are you joking?" he asked, "You two are pathetic. I'd be a better Tallest than you two ever will be… I had hoped to do this quietly, give you two a quick death and ascend as soon as possible. Now it looks like we have to do this the hard way."

The Tallest stared at him like he had grown another head. Then they burst out laughing.

"T-The hard way?" Purple asked through his laughs, "There isn't going to be a hard way for you – or an easy one, either."

"That's right," Red said with a grin, "This is high treason. Which, in other words, means that we can finally get rid of you."

"Somebody get the popcorn! It's party time!" Purple shouted to the bridge crew.

Red rolled his eyes. "Gor, execute him. Now."

"With pleasure," Gor replied.

He gestured to two of the Guards, who lowered their lances and charged at Zim. However, before they got anywhere near him, he extended one hand; the shimmering air around him coalesced around his fingers, and seconds later a stream of fire shot forth from his fingertips. One of the Guards instinctively jumped out of the way, but the other was too shocked to move. This proved to be a fatal mistake, as he was set aflame and almost instantly charbroiled.

Gor jumped back in shock, while the Tallest stared agape and the other Guards scrambled into action. One jumped at Zim from behind, but he spun around and lifted his hand, halting the Guard in mid-air. As the Guard panicked and struggled against his invisible bonds, Zim waved his arm and sent the unfortunate Irken flying straight into the main communications screen. The last view the Tallest had of the room was the Guard's PAK, which smashed the screen and cut the communications line.

"H-How, di-did you do t-that?" Gor stammered as he scrambled backwards, stopping only when he hit the wall.

Zim bared his lips in a savage grin.

"Let's just say… I've learned a few new tricks."

No sooner had he said that, Zim made a few quick motions with his hands and telekinetically sent the chair in front of the console flying towards a group of the Guards. They scattered, and in the resulting chaos Dib managed to grab what looked like an electronic key device off of one of the Irkens guarding him. After a few moments of fumbling with his restrained hands, he managed to unlock the shackles binding him.

He could have run then. He probably should have; he'd done what he had set out to do, after all. Zim's assassination plot was exposed, and his own people were going to deal with him – Dib should just let them.

But he couldn't just leave, not with what he was seeing. Zim was displaying acts of what appeared to be telekinesis and pyrokinesis, which he never had before – and abilities like that did not just show up over night. He didn't care if he was putting his life in danger; his natural curiosity wouldn't let this go.

While Dib was considering his next move, the remaining Guards surrounded Zim and aimed their weapons at him. Then they all charged, but none of them made any contact with their target. At the last moment, Zim jumped into the air – aided by a telekinetic boost – and launched himself away from the closing circle of elite soldiers. As they all crashed into each other, Zim landed gracefully on his hands several feet away, then back flipped onto his feet.

Gor watched all this with a slacked jaw from his spot at the wall. Noticing this, Zim let out a dry chuckle.

"Maybe now would be a good time to reconsider your loyalties, eh Gor?" he asked.

Gor quickly regained his composure and glared.

"What, you want me to agree to work for a Defective like you? Fat chance," the Third Tallest snarled, "I don't care how many of those freaky powers you've got, there's still only one of you."

Zim smirked.

"Wanna bet?" he asked, before turning his attention towards a spot behind the pile of Guards and simply saying, "Now."

Everyone stared in confusion, until one Guard let out a bloodcurdling scream as a blade of energy burst through his chest. The others clumped near the unfortunate soldier quickly scrambled away, staring in shock as his body hit the floor. As it did, Jana de-cloaked, pulling her energy sword free of the dead Irken's PAK and twirling it with a slight flourish. She'd wanted to join in the fight since it had started, but Zim had previously ordered her that if things went downhill to wait for his command to get involved. And now that the command had been given…

"Who the hell are you?" Gor asked, in shock of the female Irken's sudden appearance.

"Oh, her? Only the last person any of you are ever going to see alive," Zim said casually. Turning to look at Jana, he nodded briskly.

"Jana, kill them all."

The Shadow bowed her head slightly. "With pleasure, master."

Before anyone could blink, Jana dashed forward and with a swing of her sword took one Guard's head clean off. Even as the still twitching body collapsed, Jana spun around and grabbed the electro-lance another Guard had jabbed at her. Pulling on the lance and using its momentum to throw the Guard to the floor, she then brought her foot down on his neck so hard that it broke. To finish the job, she then stabbed the Guard's PAK with his own lance, frying it.

As the one-sided slaughter continued, Zim took a few moments to once again admire Jana's combat skills and felt the now familiar rush of heat that he felt whenever he watched her at her best. Shaking it off, he glanced in the corner and found that Gor was glued to his spot, frozen in shock as his best soldiers were picked off one by one.

Grinning in grim satisfaction, Zim then turned his attention to the other side of the room. Dib seemed to have decided now would be a good time to get the hell out of Dodge, as he was inching away from the fight and towards the elevator. However, when Zim's gaze met his he froze.

"Going somewhere?" Zim asked.

Dib's eyes frantically darted around the room, searching for any sort of weapon that he could use to get out of this mess. He finally spotted GIR standing not too far from him, helping himself to some candy while he watched Jana mercilessly kill her opponents. Quickly dashing over, Dib grabbed the little robot by the antenna and, without a second thought, threw him at his master.

Zim, too startled by the action to respond telekinetically, was hit directly in the chest and knocked over.

"Hi Mastah!" GIR shouted cheerfully from his spot on top of Zim.

Growling angrily, the mutant Irken swatted his robot off of himself, and jumped to his feet just in time to see the elevator doors slide shut with Dib inside. Running forward, Zim placed his arms in front of him and spread them apart, remotely prying the doors back open. Without even hesitating, he leapt into the shaft, extending his spider legs and using them to climb up after the elevator.

"Well, this was a complete disaster," the computer said.

"I don't remember programming you to point out the obvious," Zim snarled, before giving a sigh.

"But you're right, computer. Now we'll have to fight the Tallest for control of the Empire… heh, I suppose it's a good thing that we have our own army, isn't it?"

Zim's zipper-like teeth gleamed in the dim light of the shaft as he bared them in an evil grin.

"Activate the GESS. All of them."

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The GESS Lab, Seconds Later

The first GESS to awaken was still sitting in the same spot Zim had left it in. It merely sat there, not doing anything other than blinking and breathing, awaiting its master's new orders. It only showed signs of consciousness when suddenly there were multiple sounds of bubbling liquids and hissing air. Looking around, the GESS watched as the rows of tubes around it began opening, each one releasing another member of its artificial species into the sterile lab air.

Zim's army was unleashed…

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A/N: Sorry there wasn't as much action as I initially promised, but there'll be plenty more next chapter – and even more after that. There's a few more chapters left (though I'm not sure how many) and they'll all be very dramatic.

Next chapter: Dib learns the secret of Zim's new powers, and Gor makes his stand against Jana.

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