Disclaimer: IZ does not belong to me.
"I know you're here."
The words, an empty threat, echoed down the hallways of the storage section of the Massive. The little Irken whom created this echo walked calmly through, despite the risk of being attacked from any direction. Ruby eyes scanned the dark, empty halls, checking for any signs of his opponent. Each step, each clank of the protective fabric against metal, was made as if he was walking the hallways of the Skool; with determination and confidence. He had to be, because the alternative -fear- terrified him more than the monster. He didn't want to die with fear.
Silence reigned, even though Zim knew the monster was stalking him in the shadows; it was it's very nature to do so. He didn't turn around, didn't stop, just gripped the weapon -a staff made of metal- in his palms tighter. The creature could read his mind. So long as it had that advantage, the Irken couldn't face it fairly. So as long as he didn't focus on the mission, the being couldn't use that. Instead, he focused on the human recovering from their last attempt to bring this thing down. Take care of Gir, Dib.
It was a slight movement of the air that alerted Zim; he turned around suddenly, blocking the monster's attack with his staff. It struck down with it's bare fangs, actually closing it's mouth around the Irken's weapon, before Zim knocked it backwards with a swing. Both aliens stared at each other, one's eyes burning with rage, the other with curiosity.
You came to kill me... why?
"You almost killed Dib," Zim stated bluntly. Though his voice was calm, his wild red eyes betrayed his true emotions; rage and hatred. The creature seemed to nod, as though agreeing with Zim. And you decided to get revenge. How typical of an Irken.
"You're one to talk."
Do you think you can beat me?
"No. I know I can. There's a difference, you know."
The Shadow hissed, through with talking, and once again pounced. This time, instead of waiting until it almost bit through his staff, he deflected the blow behind him. Shadow hissed again as it slithered up to him at speeds no human could see. Luckily, he didn't to see; his Irken lekku were able to detect the movement, allowing him to dodge just as the tail slammed down into the floor, leaving an indent in the metal flooring. For a brief moment, Zim wasted his time wondering if he was gonna get in trouble for that.
The creature again leapt at Zim, fangs bared. This time, Zim spun the staff at speeds only an experienced expert could reach. The spinning managed to repel the creature, but Zim could tell this battle was going to go in circles unless he took the offensive. He charged at the Shadow, recovering from the failed attack, and swung at it's head. The Shadow was in the air long before Zim had finished the attack, coming back down and knocking Zim over with it's tail, which as it turns out, is pretty hard. The sheer shock of the blow tossed him into the wall.
Zim recovered quickly; picking himself up, he charged again at the creature, aiming this attack at it's middle. Once again, the attack was repelled. The process repeated itself again and again, until the Shadow got tired of waiting for one of them to screw up and sliced the ceiling, forcing compressed air into Zim's face. Zim staggered back, dropping his weapon in the process, and tried to focus through the steamy air and his own coughing fit.
Shadow attacked from directly above; it came down, bringing it's tail down on top of his head. The worst possible thing that could have happened at that moment. The blow caused Zim to stagger back, and slip over something: his own staff. How ironic, Zim thought dryly as he crashed down to the floor. Then he remembered, and closed his eyes, waiting for the impact...
It never came.
With a great amount of effort on his part, Zim cracked open his eyes. What he saw shocked him into opening both eyes as wide as they could go. Dib -the same Dib that had been comatose earlier that day- was in front of him, using one of the swords he -Zim- had packed to help defeat the monstrosity they called Shadow. Two emotions -confusion and surprise- numbed out anything else the Irken would have felt about this.
Dib looked back at him. "Are you an idiot? Get up!" Zim didn't speak, too stunned to really do anything but obey. Once he was up, he spotted his staff immediately and snatched it. Survival and battle instincts kicked in, taking place of rational thought. He swept by Dib, who was holding off a blow with his sword, and sliced at the creature. The direct hit knocked it backwards, allowing Dib enough time to stab it in the gut. It gave out something like a pained shriek, but neither could be sure. I mean, this is a monster they're dealing with.
It lunged, straight at Dib (whom it saw to be the weaker target), but was stopped when our favorite Irken grabbed it's tail. The three fingered claws dug into the skin, which was very Irken like in feeling. He threw it into the wall, not caring about ruining it. The wall caved in, the Shadow crashing through to the storage chamber behind it. Both human and Irken walked up to it, battle adrenaline still high in their systems. The creature gave off a sound that seemed like a chuckle.
Imagine it... a mighty being, defeated by a child and a defect. How about that?
And two both short beings' surprise, the creature dissipated, as though it had never existed in the first place.
"You saved me."
Dib looked to the Irken, who was hobbling next to him, using the human as a placebo cane. "Yeah. I was repaying a debt."
Zim still wasn't convinced though. "How'd you know I was in trouble?"
"That, was the strange part. I had this weird dream. You told me you could see the future, and you saw your death, and -get this- you kissed me. I mean, not tongue and body contact making out, just a peck on the cheek, but still." Dib had an interesting expression; a mixture of amusement, disgust, and interest. "Well, I woke up, and found Gir's head in my hands, I thought, 'What if it wasn't just a dream?', so I snuck away from those nurses -evil things, by the way- and followed you to the battle."
"..." Zim stared, a million thoughts running through his head, and not one being heard.
"SO... can you?"
"Can I what?"
"See the future."
"Yes." Bewildered eyes met his own pained ones, and he explained, "I did visit you and explained everything. That would explain the dream." He conveniently left out the fact that everything in that dream had happened.
"Oh." The two were silent for sometime. Then, Zim broke it.
"Why... didn't I die? I hadn't been wrong before," The two foes turned friends stopped, Dib staring Zim right in the eyes. The scarlet, inhumane eyes met the strangely comforting black eyes of the Dib.
"Because Zim... your powers are warnings, not prophecies. Nothing you've seen is set in stone..."
"Oh... your back."
"Yep!" Zim was smirking with pride. "Turns out I've got a very good back up system." While saying this, he glanced at Dib, who blushed slightly at the mention. Then, to the Irkens in the repair department, he called loudly, "IS MY SIR UNIT DONE YET?" Another Irken called back that it was almost done, and that they needed another hour. Zim turned to Dib.
"We'll be spending the night here. Do you mind?"
"Not really."
"Okay, then," He turned back to the tallest, demanding a bunch of foods (which Dib observed were all human friendly), and for other stuff (movies, more comfortable pillows, etc.). Both Zim and Dib were escorted to their room (which wasn't needed, but they didn't refuse), and relaxed when Dib finally got the courage to ask what Zim was planning. Zim gave him the biggest (real) grin he'd ever seen from the alien.
"What? Haven't you ever been to a sleepover before?"
Last chapter. NOT the last post. Epilogue up next. So...tired...
