Zims' POV

The other Tak glanced at me, the only noticeable difference between this Tak and the one I was just fighting, was a soft green ring in the center of each of her eyes. And, of course, she wore a very elegant and threatening combat suit. She turned to her sister self, tilting her head and placing a hand to her neck, keying her throat mic. "The original is here. Orders?" She asked someone on the other line, keeping direct eye contact with the first Tak. A moment passed before she pulled her hand away and looked back at me. "Your life is spared, for now. Attend to your wounded…" She made a respectful nod towards Dib and Gaz, who had quieted down some but was still crying loudly into his shirt. "And your dead."

Then, looking back towards the 'original' Tak, she pointed towards her and pulled a large, clamp like device out of her PAK. "You. The Tallest request an audience. Come with me peacefully, or I am authorized to use lethal force." She ordered. The first Tak scoffed, slouching a little threateningly and raising her hands in preparation. "Alright, me. You can go ahead and try." She hissed. With all her might she thrust both of her hands forward, sending a burst of psychic power towards the second Tak. I'm not sure how powerful the new Tak was, or if my fight with the original had worn her out, but the new Tak simply raised a single hand and blew off the psychic power like it was nothing.

MIMI shot at her from behind, going for a sneak attack, but the new Tak reached around and grabbed her by the neck. The black cat squirmed and made high pitch noises of distress, but was silenced when electric arcs jumped up the new Taks' glove and disabled the little female SIR, the cat hologram fizzing out and leaving behind a smoking metal rag doll. She dropped the now useless hunk of metal without concern, the whole time never breaking eye contact with the first Tak. Then she vanished, reappearing instantly behind the first Tak and placing the metal clamp around her head, covering her eyes. "Wha- AAAAAAARG!" The first Tak screamed out in distress as more lightning spread across her body and knocked her unconscious.

As she fell, an invisible power caught her, and the new Tak turned to me. "I'll be back. Soon. Treat their wounds and ready yourself. I doubt you will be so weak." She said. I felt a natural spike of self-love at her compliment, weather it was purposeful or not, and watched her as she quickly and quietly left my home. Through the broken door I saw broken husks of my Combat SIRs, and just as more were approaching to attack her, she vanished with the original Tak in tow. I turned back towards Dib's now lifeless form. Gaz had finished her crying and was now stroking Dibs face gently, and I couldn't help but feel a little more empty inside at his loss. Tik had Tenn in his arms, bridesmaid style, and limped over to me. "Zim we need to get Tenn to the medical lab, she's not going to last much longer."

Tenn backed up this statement by coughing out again, spitting drops of blood across Tiks shirt. Her breathing was shallow and the bandage around her waist was starting to fall apart with how much blood was soaked into it. "Computer!" I called out, striding over towards my couch. "I need the Medical labs ready NOW. Prepare the extreme injury tank, near death scenario!" My computer spoke with its usual sarcastic attitude. "It's been ready, Zim. The lift is waiting." It said, as my couch lifted up and revealed a metal platform underneath, just big enough to fit Tenns' figure on. "Put her here, Tik." I said, turning to him and nodding. "The computer will automatically get her into the medical tank."

He nodded back at me, lying her down on the platform gently and backing away as it started its descent into the bowels of my base. He spun around and practically sprinted to his mate, Lizz, dropping to his knees and lifting her up into his arms. They spoke in our native Irken tongue, which is actually just the German language. I learned long ago that Irkens had been to this planet before me, though I never could figure out why. Just another invasion attempt I suppose. Our kind founded the German empire in the beginning of cultural evolution. The first here died out, but more had come later. Remember Hitler? Do you really think any human would be that hell bent on total genocide?

Gaz would have no idea what they were saying, but I understood every word. "Are you alright?" Tik asked, stroking her face lovingly. Lizz nodded, assuredly, and smiled at him. "I'll be fine. She didn't do any permanent damage." Tik shook his head and held the female closer to him. "I never should have left you there. I'm so sorry this happened." He said softly. I turned away from their conversation and went over to Gaz. She sat motionless over Dibs form, and I sat next to her. She inhaled deeply and exhaled very slowly, clearing her self out, and shook her head. Suddenly she embraced me, burying her face into my shoulder and taking big handfuls of my shirt into her fists.

I was instantly sent into a state of remorse. "I'm so sorry, Gaz. This is all my fault. This never would have happened if I hadn't come to this planet. Nobody would have had to get hurt. Not Tenn, not the countless number of people outside, not… Dib." I bit my lip as it started to tremble, holding my tears inside, and sighing deeply. She shook her head in my shoulder. "This wasn't because of you, Zim. This is HER fault. When we find her, promise me you'll let me have the kill." She whispered. I smiled a little.

Good old Gaz.

I nodded and wrapped my arms around her. "I promise." She inhaled one more time and then stood, I along with her. "I'm covered in my brothers blood, Zim. There is ashes in my hair and dirt caked on my skin. Please tell me you have a shower or something." She demanded. I nodded, agreeing with her, and turning towards Tik and Lizz. "We're all a bit of a mess. I've got sanitation stations downstairs in my base. You two know how they work." I paused, turning back to Gaz. "But you are used to bathing in water. Us Irkens can't touch the stuff, so what we use will be a new experience for you. Computer!" I finished, waiting for a response. It groaned in annoyance and I bared my teeth in irritated anger. "What now?" It asked. I would have scolded the little shit head if I wasn't so exhausted.

"Reprogram the cleaner nanites in sanitation station 4-A so they don't mistake Gazs' skin for dirt and eat her alive." I ordered, and then it crossed my mind that GIR was still out of order. "And get GIR back online." I finished. "On it, Zim." In seconds GIR's eyes blinked back into life and he jumped up, shouting and swinging his arms around. Finally, he stopped and looked at me. "Did we win, master?" He asked. I frowned a glanced down at Dibs' body. GIRs' shoulders dropped and he let out a sad "Oh…" I cleared my throat and he looked back at me. "We're going to clean ourselves up, GIR. I don't have anything for you to do, so find something useful and do it." I said, a bit more forcefully than I meant to. He nodded, smiling all the same, and turned towards the door. "I'll organize some troops, master, I should be back by the time you get done."

A few minutes later I stood alone with Gaz in my underground base, Tik and Lizz having already gone to shower together. "So, how does this 'Cleansing fluid' work?" She asked, stepping into the station and looking around at the smooth walls. "I don't even see any knobs." I leaned into the little rectangle and tapped a wall to the right of the entrance. A small circular hologram chimed into view, a bar stretching around the top that gradually changed from blue to red. "I'm sure you can understand what's hot and whats cold. Just swipe your fingers across these colors until you get to the perfect temperature. Now, when the nanites start your cleaning, don't be alarmed by the sensation. It'll almost feel like… Like toothpaste in your mouth. Minty. Fresh, you know?" I explained, look at her. She nodded and pushed me away. "Alright I can get it from here. I've got to change so get out." She said sternly.

I took stepped out of the room, the door closing behind me as Gaz started to strip down, and stood there for a moment. I lend back agains the wall, slumping down and sitting against the metal surface. My whole body ached, and groaned. I didn't have the energy to get back up. This had been a long, depressing, eventful day and it was barely 3 o'clock.

Suddenly, Gaz screamed.

I bolted to my feet, the door sliding open and I shot through it. "GAZ!?" I shouted, but almost instantly I stopped. My face was starting to turn a bright shade of red when I realized how much trouble I was in.

Gaz had stepped out of the shower, her hair was matted down with liquid and the I couldn't help but follow a few of the drops as they made their way quickly down over her bare breasts. Then onto her stomach and down, down, down to- "ZIM GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" She screamed, covering herself with one arm and bringing her free hand around to smack me in the face. I scrambled out of the room as quickly as I could and she continued to yell at me through the door. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ZIM!?" She wailed, and I could feel her hatred burning through the door. "You screamed so I thought that…" I trailed off, realizing that it WAS really dumb of me to just barrel in there. "The water was too cold, Zim, it wasn't trying to kill me." She growled.

"I-I'm sorry, Gaz!" I said, kicking my foot on the metal floor. "Go take your own shower before I change my mind about letting you live!" I took her advice and slinked towards my own shower. I quickly stripped my own torn, dirt clothes off and stepped into the running liquid. The heat helped soothe my aching muscles.

What else could possibly go wrong today…?