There's Always a Light in the Darkness

Or, The Tale of the Logical

By: The Talking Absol

Chapter Twelve: Bad Moon Rising

Tak's fortress was much like her previous one, only this time, it was built into a military base. Tanks filled with hypnotized, bloodthirsty army men patrolled the area, while guards in towers, built periodically around the area, watched from above. Zim hovered the Voot Cruiser far above the ground, taking in the details as best he could.

"Tak's got the place surrounded...she might be expecting us." Zim stated.

"Thanks for the news flash." Gaz smartly retorted.

"Last time, Gaz and I were able to find a way in thanks to the one stupid guard...but I doubt Tak left that option open this time." Dib said, trying to find an open area.

"Drop me off and circle around. I'll get us in." Gaz said, shrugging.

"We can't do that! They have guns, and I don't think they'll hesitate to hurt you." Zim pleaded, turning to face her.

"You think I'm weak? Huh? Do you?!" Gaz hissed, reaching across to pull Zim in by his collar.

"Gaz!" Dib shouted, while Zim froze and racked his Pak for an answer that wouldn't upset her.

"N-no!" Zim said softly, blushing.

Gaz huffed and pushed him back, making a point to elbow Dib. "That's what I thought."

Zim hesitantly put his hands back on the controls, antennae twitching madly. "Okay. But if something happens, I'm coming down to help."

"What about me?!" Dib asked, feeling sick at Zim's concern for his sister.

"No one cares, Dib." Gaz growled, smiling as he bowed his head in angst.

...

Zim made sure Gaz hit the ground safely before pulling up and away quickly, trying to avoid the array of bullets coming after them. A giant dust cloud formed, both from the engines and the bullets. Zim turned to look back, and Gaz was no where in sight. Dib followed his gaze and they both gasped.

"Gaz!" they cried in unison.

Zim made a sudden high-G turn, throwing Dib into the opposite wall of the ship. He pressed a few buttons, looking intense but slightly scared. He knew the Voot Cruiser didn't have any weapons, but he could run a few guards over. As he turned, however, he noticed almost all of the men had fallen to the ground, unconscious.

He pulled down and around, coming to a stop a few feet from Gaz. His headlights illuminated her, and he froze up, watching her re-adjust herself. Everything about her fascinated him to no end, and realizing it made this feeling worse. He wished he could touch her...be sure she was not just an illusion of beauty in his mind...perhaps even...

"GAZ!" Dib shouted, waking Zim up with a start. Dib jumped out the door, running up to her, arms wide as if to hug her. She punched him as he came close, causing Zim to laugh as he left the Cruiser, Gir strangely silent the entire time. The cruiser beeped as he locked it, shutting down while he helped Dib up.

"How'd you do that?" Zim asked, nodding towards Gir before following Gaz towards the building. She ignored his movements, and instead shrugged it off.

"Eh. They're all inexperienced morons." Gaz said simply.

"You...could've died...and that's all you have to say?" Dib asked, perplexed.

"Yeah."

Dib sighed, then straightened himself and followed them up to the door. As he walked, he looked around the area. Where had all of the guards gone, suddenly? And why was it so quiet? He glanced behind himself, and realized with a start Gir was nowhere in sight, his constant monologue gone.

Zim tried the doors, and then frantically pulled the handles, finding they were locked securely.

"They've locked down their fortress!" Zim cried, but his voice died as he realized what he was saying, "With...locks..." He looked away in embarrassment.

"MASTER! You weren't going to leave me, were you?! I WANT TACOS!" Gir shouted, flying into Zim, knocking him to the ground.

"Gir! You'll alert the guards!" Zim warned, rubbing his back.

"What guards? They've all disappeared." Dib pointed out.

"What?" Zim asked, but before any of them could try and answer, the door opened, revealing darkness inside. Gir immediately ran in, screaming his head off.

"No! Gir!" Zim cried, and followed him, Gaz and Dib not far behind. Before they could adjust themselves to the dark, hundreds of rifles suddenly cocked at their heads, all from determined-looking people in militaristic outfits. Beyond them lay other inhabitants of Earth, albeit weaponless.

"We're screwed." Dib said softly.

"No, not quite yet, Dib." a familiar voice said from beyond the crowd. The group parted, revealing Tak and Mimi as they walked up. Tak had her head bowed, a cocky smile played on her face, while Mimi kept an eye on the group. "I'm willing to forgive you and your sister if you will both admit defeat and swear your allegiance to me and my Tallest."

"Not in a mi-" Dib started, but Zim elbowed him, keeping a glare on Tak.

"As for you, Zim, I'm going to kill you. I'm sick of having you ruin everything. Guards! Execute him!" Tak growled, and one of the guards grabbed Zim, who didn't resist much. Tak suddenly stepped back, gasping, her eyes widening as Zim stood.

"Irk...you're....you're tall." Tak stammered, her antennae drooping.

"So I've heard." Zim said, while Gir danced around behind him. Mimi narrowed her red eyes, a flash of a painful memory going through her processors.

"That...That doesn't matter! You're still going to-" Tak cried, but all of the guards suddenly dropped their weapons and began screaming, falling to the floor and going in circles. Gaz wiped her hands, satisfied.

"NO!" Tak hissed, and glanced one more time at the group before turning and fleeing into a nearby elevator. An alarm sounded, and more guards came running out from all areas, clearly about to surround the group again, while the common folk stepped up much akin to zombies.

Dib and Gaz started up and after Tak, but Zim turned, putting a hand up. "Stop. I'm going to face Tak alone." he said, and commanded Gir as he turned to run after Tak, "Come on!"

"Imma gunna dace like a monkey!" Gir stated proudly, and danced all the way to the elevator, both quickly getting inside as it came back up.

"That jerk!" Dib growled, taking his gun out.

"This'll be a piece of cake." Gaz said, rubbing her fists.

...

Tak cursed when she saw Zim come out of the elevator, but was thankful to see it was only him and Gir, who was still dancing and not paying any attention. She could handle them, no matter how Zim had changed.

She turned to Mimi, whispering a command before hopping down from the ceiling to finally face Zim head-to-head. Mimi followed her, her smashing fist forming and clenching it tightly.

"I could've suspected that you'd come and face me yourself...again. You're still the same ignorant idiot from all those years ago, Zim." Tak said coolly, her purple eyes narrowing.

"Perhaps...We shall see. Gir..." Zim said, turning slightly to Gir, "Show Mimi what you've learned."

Gir giggled madly, giving Zim a dopey smile as he ate a taco that had been stored in his body. He munched on the rest of it, ignoring Zim's orders.

"Typical! My point has been made. I'll finish what I started NOW!" Tak shouted, rushing at Zim on her spider legs, Mimi closing in on Gir.

Zim looked cool, and glanced at Gir once more before going up on his own spider legs. As Mimi was about to crash into Gir, Tak soared towards Zim. But, there was no Zim anymore. Instead, she slid to a halt on her spider legs, glancing around worriedly. A rather large boot in the back of her head made her realize where Zim was, though, and she struggled to turn while her body smashed to the floor. Her spider legs picked her back up while Zim's sparked red. Zim let the front two legs come up, and removed his contacts, putting them back into his Pak. Tak didn't hesitate, trying to surprise him and stab him with her front legs. She came to another abrupt halt when he opened his eyes again, and her Pak sparked while it tried to process exactly what was in front of her.

"I have...a special power now, Tak, one that you cannot beat down or out. I am the true Irken now; a being beyond the common comprehension." His slitted, snake-like eyes sparkled, red marks pulsing down his body. His clothing ripped to match the curious, ancient pattern, and even his antennae bent under his own pressure. He smiled, feeling free and refreshed, while Tak backed up, confused and disoriented.

"Don't fret, though." He continued, flexing his nasty-looking claws. "I am no threat...so long as you stay off my case." With that, he charged her, faster than anything she'd ever witnessed. His spider legs sparked, and his top right one shot up and pierced her shoulder, the other then reaching up and shoving her off and into a wall. Zim landed on his feet as Tak slid to the floor, her shoulder smoking, face screwed up in pain.

"RESTORATION IN PROCESS." her Pak informed her. Tak glanced briefly up before Zim struck again, this time punching her head into the floor, the pure force knocking one of her front teeth out. Her antennae picked up on his voice, like he was talking quietly to himself while fighting her. She couldn't pick up on the words, but something deep in her gut told her she shouldn't be listening.

Mimi, while not injured, was not in the best condition either. Gir danced around her moves, giggling and sipping at a soda he'd pulled out of his head. He was bigger than before, so he evidently had more storage, but he was also faster than the smaller Mimi. Mimi narrowed her red eyes, and tried to feint him, aiming to the left with her left fist, but then slipped one arm under the other and tried an uppercut, pointing upon her right foot to gain leverage. Gir caught her fist with his own, and giggling madly, threw her away like a forgotten toy, resorting to sitting down and sipping away.

Mimi recovered, and glanced at her mistress, and her eyes grew wide as she watched Zim mercilessly throw Tak around. Her eyes locked on him, and her danger sensors went wild, the ratings off the chart. She immediately went into conflict about the greater mission, but Tak quickly answered her call.

"Mimi! Stop him!" Tak screeched, trying to limp away. Zim picked her up by her left leg, and his face stern, picked her up and shoved her into the wall again.

Mimi flew a quick, straight course at Zim, aiming for his Pak. Just as it seemed like she'd win and end the fight with a punch, she crashed into something just as hard as her. Her eyes rolled up to focus as she sailed for the floor, and if she would've been able to, she would've gasped. Gir held her down by the throat, blue eyes just as cruel as his master's. Abruptly, though, they turned happy again, and Gir let Mimi go, instead turning and dancing. Mimi took the opportunity and jumped back, trying to find another strategy.

"But how...what's..." Tak stammered, wondering how Gir had moved so fast.

"Gir." Zim stated, going up on his red, pulsing spider legs, "Go watch Scary Monkey."

Gir's head snapped up, eyes changing to an eerie red. He turned, eyes locking in on Mimi, who froze when her Danger sensors soared through her charts again. Gir stood and faced her, all of his metal appendages shifting around to another form, much bigger and scarier than what he had once been.

"Gir." Zim said again, grinning from ear to ear at Tak's shocked and horrified look, "Exterminate them."

"CONFIRMED. EXTERMINATION IN PROCESS." Gir responded, voice deeper and more robotic.

"Wh...wh..." Tak staggered backwards, all of her Pak senses going wild. She needed to run, she wanted to get away...

Gir's giant head turned to look at Mimi, who whimpered. His fist clenched, spinning as it shot like a cannon towards her. She dodged, albeit barely, and ran towards the opposite door. Gir tracked her movements, and while his left came up from the ground, his right hand shot forward and grabbed her at an amazing speed. By the time Gir had clenched her in his fist and dragged her back, half of her body was crushed and her eyes were fading out. Tak gasped, feeling a variety of emotions that startled her.

Tak turned to look briefly at Zim before taking one last look at Mimi as Gir brought her up to his face to observe. She then turned and bolted for the door, hoping to the Tallests Zim or Gir didn't get her. She heard Zim cackle, but she was almost to the door...

A rush of movement and electricity made her stop feet from the door; Zim blocked it.

"I made sure to program your ship to find you...I knew you'd come back and try this again, Tak." Zim's snake-like eyes narrowed darkly, his grin growing on his face again.

"But...but why?" Tak demanded, backing up and jumping as she heard Gir ripping Mimi apart.

"To experiment. I needed a good subject, and I didn't want to betray what trust I have in Dib...or Gaz." His eyes turned worrisome for a moment at the mention of Gaz, but it was gone in a flash.

"For...?" Tak questioned, though she didn't really want to know.

"For the sake of Logic." Zim said, and cackling, tackled Tak, knocking her unconscious.

...

Gaz and Dib had somehow managed to make it through the first couple waves, Gaz's shadow "abilities" coming easily handy. However, they were both tiring, and the humans kept coming. They heard several crashes from below, and glanced at each other in almost worry before turning back to the fight. Suddenly, after only a short while or so, all the humans stopped, shook themselves and began to question what they were doing in a military base. Gaz had one leg caught by some senator, her fist about to slam into his face. Dib was entangled between a group of army men, his gun somewhere in the crowd. Both were dropped, and the large group of people began to wander out, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Hey! Don't you guys want to know how we saved you?!" Dib demanded.

"My poor, insane son." a familiar voice said, and both rotated their heads to see their father walk up, rubbing his head.

"Dad! You are not going to believe this but-! Oh. Wait. You won't." Dib said, growing distant. Gaz picked herself up, blowing hair out of her face. Zim, in disguise, came rushing through the crowd, a beaten Tak slung over his shoulder. Gir followed, doing his usual monkey dance.

"Good work, guys! Let's go home." Zim gave everyone a thumbs-up, grinning wildly, even giving a nod to Prof. Membrane. Dib thought he saw a red spark flash across his face, but he figured it might've been the light. He turned and got Zim's gun putting it back in his pocket as the other three left.

As they walked out, a thought occurred to Dib, and he tugged at his father's coat, pointing to Tak.

"Hey! Can't you see she's an alien?" he demanded.

Prof. Membrane glanced over, but shook his head, withdrawing a picture of the Mimi-alien from his coat.

"No son, that's a perfectly normal human. THIS is an alien!" he said proudly, flashing the picture before Dib.

"But she has...oh never mind." Dib sighed, walking with a downtrodden hunch in his back.

"Were you okay?" Zim asked the two siblings.

"Yeah, of course." Gaz said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Mm-hm." Dib answered quickly, considering the situation. "Although I wish this had happened after school. Only a few more weeks to go and I have to ssave the world? Jeez." he stretched, and put his arms behind his head, for once ignoring the stupidity of the society around him.

"Yes. That would've been nice." Zim shifted Tak slightly, and she let out a moan.

"What are you going to do with her, anyway?" Dib asked, arcing an eyebrow.

"I'll take her back to my lab, repair her ship, and hopefully send her home. The Tallest won't be happy, but she'll be out of our hair for a while." Zim informed him, and Dib shrugged, happy to feel the sunshine, although it had been a rather short battle. He was surprised. Last time, it had taken hours to bring Tak down. But how Zim had done it still remained a mystery.

Dib chanced a glance at Tak, and felt a slight shiver run down his spine as his eyes took in deep claw marks across her cheeks. Maybe he should wait to ask Zim that question.

...Later...

Tak was suddenly aware that she was awake, because her Pak informed her so. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting, and she blinked harshly, her left eye swollen from the cuts.

"Where..." she started, and tried moving. Every part of her lit up in pain, and she cried out and retracted, arms held above her head by chains. She dared a glance up, and was not surprised to see Zim standing a few feet away, observing her.

"Hello, Tak." he said quietly.

"Zim! I want to know exactly what you've done, and what the hell-" she started, but Zim shushed her.

"No. You're going to answer my questions. How'd you hypnotize Gretchen to spy on us?" he asked, and her look changed to shocked.

"You…you knew, and yet you did nothing?" she stammered.

"Yes. I told you- I needed a test, and your name came up. But answer my question now."

"It was random. I had my ship intercept her cable, just to see if I could. I was hoping to get Dib and his family personally first, but I had forgotten it didn't work on them. So, I went with the flow." She smiled lightly, and then said cockily, "I hope you realize what the Tallest will do once they find out."

"I would think the opposite, Tak. You invaded my own mission, and while it has been...delayed, it is still my-" Zim tried, but Tak interrupted with something that changed his mood.

"You never had a mission! The Tallest gave you this wretched planet so they could get rid of you!" Tak cried, and continued with Zim's shocked look, "You never noticed the way they taunted you, grew tired of you, never contacted you, and even played jokes on you? You idiot! This was all a joke! On YOU! And guess what? It worked! And they...and they..." she stopped when his look calmed, the opposite of what she'd expected.

"Ah...I...I see." he said, eyes darting elsewhere. He suddenly shook himself and walked closer to her, reaching behind her back and pushing a button on her Pak, opening it.

"Hey, what- what are you doing?" Tak demanded, trying to turn her head.

"You see, Tak, I'm going to need reinforcements. All this does is put a new part in my long-term plan. I had hoped to take over the universe for my Tallest, but now it appears I shall do it without them." He stared up into her startled purple eyes, and he seemed to consider something before breaking away and going behind her.

"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly.

"I mean, dearest Tak, that I shall overthrow the Tallest. They are no longer...fit for my vision. And neither are you." he stated plainly. And then, Tak's world erupted in pain and darkness.

END CHAPTER TWELVE

wow.

Crappy chapter, sorry.

Just trying to get things moving again.

Invader Zim and related things belong to Jhonen Vasquez and Nick.

Chapter Title to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Logic belongs to me. Feel free to pet his pretty hair, though!

Logic: I hate yoooouuu...