A/N: Again, thanks to EduTorresD, MojaveRuler151, memmek10k, Catgirlfireflare, Zerg170, crazyanimefreak15, guest, Rocketman 131, and DragonMaster 88 88 for your reviews!

Congratulations to crazyanimefreak15 for submitting my 100th review!

Sorry for the delay folks, but I have had a wicked case of writer's block for this particular chapter. Plus my online wing (NMC rules!) went and tried out a new MMO other than BGO. Guess who gets to craft all the new gear since most don't have as much time as I do?

I have gone ahead and re-rated this story as a T just so I don't have think about it anymore. The last chapter of Phase Three: Shock was going to be a definite T anyway.

I also had to resize the CVE Doomwind. Found a rather lack of taxi space to move spacecraft around the ship. Previous notations of the dimensions have been edited. It is still about one thousand feet long, but now four hundred feet wide at the stern and three hundred at the bow. The main hull is two hundred feet tall with a central command island above and below the hull by another fifty feet each. Two light energy batteries are forward of the upper island with another behind. Another set runs along the lower island. Point defense turrets (anti-missile/anti-aircraft) are unchanged. Engine compartments and crew spaces run above and below the spacecraft decks, just so you know. Along the port side central plane the spacecraft area layout is below. The starboard layout mirrors this. Total width is 400 ft. The maintenance area only extends halfway up the hull. The bow section only has room for the taxiway (or launch cue parking). Bulkheads section off the large bays for damage control purposes so there is no one large maintenance bay on either side of the ship. I don't know how many. I'll leave some details up to your imagination.

Hanger/Launch bays | Maintenance Parking . Maintenance Taxiway | Landing Deck (100 ft)

For those who expressed interest, yes I actually did make up Monopoly: Juvenile Delinquent Edition rules way back when I was in high school. It really is playable, and because some have expressed interest in this insane version, I have gone back to the CWZ Reference Guide and put in the M:JDE rules at the end. At least the ones I can remember since it was a long time ago.

Guest: Yes I watch Bones and many seasons of NCIS too, so I get those references very well. (Not so much the anime ones. Let's put it this way. I remember when Starblazers was broadcast on Saturday mornings and you actually had to turn the dial to change between all six TV stations!) I get what you say about ranking of Invader vs. Elite. I think both would be equal in the ranking system as they are two different 'career' tracks. Sort of like Navy SEALS vs. Green Berets. Both are Elite, but one may have more 'prestige' than the other (which we also kind of see in IZ Nightmare Begins) and a different mission style. As for the Tak being a bad-booty thing, yes I see what you are saying. I just have a very narrow definition of a BA. A gangbanger would be a bad-booty because of the, uh, lack of a disciplined attitude (or should I say a lack of self-restraint like a rabid dog). A Samurai or Martial Artist would be a kick-booty due to the heavy self-control necessary for being so dangerous, much like Ziva on NCIS. Otherwise they would be a plague on the society they were pledged to defend when they got annoyed or mad. Thanks for the clarification.

I do disagree with Tak's abilities. I don't think they would let just anybody take the Invader test. And someone as determined (or obsessed) as her would not let those skills and abilities atrophy just because she was sent to Dirt the first time. I think she would have made her own little obstacle and training course to keep those skills up. Someone with that much smarts and ability would find a way. As for the Invader test, I think that it could also be a final test after training was done to see if they passed rather than an entrance exam. It was never specified in the show which it was (It could be translated either way I think). Sort of like how someone can sit in a college class, do the work and everything, but skip the final test to get the piece of paper that says you know what was learned. I may go back and alter a word or two to indicate that this was the case later on.

And thanks for saying that this fanfic is unique and one-of-a-kind. I can't think of a higher complement than by what you have stated. Much appreciated, and totally with you on the whole DATR fics thing being loaded with 'mushy-unicorns-and-glitter' stuff or far to the other side of being a bad-booty. But it is very difficult to find balance between the two opposing aspects. I find even quite a few ZAGRs make Gaz too much a bad-booty punk (see above statement) rather than just a kick-booty or loaded with love-triangles (oh how I loathe those triangles) which I totally disagree with and Zim falling in love human-style (he is an alien after all). That is why I made up the bonding thing. For Irkens I made it take place on a more neurological and instinctive level (primitive) rather than based largely on compound emotions and mental processes like humans (complex).

I wouldn't classify Tak as being 'soft' but more 'weakened.' Along the line of being broken down physically and psychologically. I've tried to keep in mind accounts of how holocaust/reeducation camp survivors were impacted by their experience until they could rebuild themselves. But yes she does have a soft spot regarding Dib now. Her brain was permanently altered where he is concerned.

Again, thanks for your review. Depth of input is very enlightening and helpful for me, even if I disagree on some points a reader/writer may bring up. As for chatting on facebook, I'm up for that. But I would suggest you PM me. I don't know if you can do that without a fanfiction account or not. I have a facebook account, but have never used it.

It was rather early Sunday morning and Zim was in his kitchen packing a lunch into a backpack when the next call came in. Gaz was still back at the Membrane residence sleeping from their late night playing the board game after the movies. The alien had promised his human bondmate that he would take her out for a Gir-free lunch after she had allowed the robot to accompany them on their movie night.

"Master," Computer called. "I have a transmission coming in from General Tak."

Zim sighed as he carefully used a pair of tongs to place a gross piece of sliced ham onto the pile that was making up Gaz's sandwich. He dropped the slice of meat onto the forming sandwich and flipped his safety face shield up over his head. "Very well, Computer. Route it through to my Pad. If Zim leaves this unattended, Gir will eat all the ingredients." He pulled his Pad out of his PAK and set it in front of him on the kitchen table.

Tak's image appeared on the small display. "Zim," she grumbled. "I have some data- What the hell are you making? Is that MEAT?"

"Yes. Yes it is." Zim pulled his face shield back down and picked up his tongs once more. "It is a revolting Slaughtered Pig sandwich for my Gaz-blossom."

The image of Tak turned away, averting her eyes from her own display. "You planned this, didn't you. Don't you know what I had to do to survive on Dirt? How I had to ingest meat to keep from starving?" She put up a hand to block the sight of Zim making the sandwich. It was making her nauseous and bringing back bad memories.

Zim put the tongs down and removed the face shield. He could feel some shred of sympathy. He well knew from his own past experiences just how painful and damaging meat could be just having it slapped on his skin. But having to ingest it? Have that pain and burning inside oneself? Over and over for years?

"How would I have planned this? You are the one who called me." He picked up the Pad in a rare display of compassion so Tak would not have to look at meat products. "Yes, it is barbaric and gross. But it is part of the human's diet." He sighed again. "The things we will do for our human mates…" Zim left the rest unsaid.

Tak took a peek at her display, and seeing the meat was no longer in view put her hand down. Then she nodded to indicate her own understanding. "At least my mate will not ask me to make him a meat dish. Or try to make me look at it."

"Perhaps, but Zim hears that you will be living with both your mate and my own. Zim would suggest you avoid the kitchen area and our mates when they are feeding. The human diet requires living things as nourishment, whether it be plant or meat based. If they were to subsist on a more proper Irken diet they would quickly get unhealthy, bloated and ugly. You are going to have to make some accommodation for them."

The female Irken only nodded with sad understanding. "I know Dib would try to shield me from such things forever. He is a good mate, but I will have to overcome this eventually." She thought for a moment. "Zim? What do you mean that they would get ugly? Our mates are human. Does that mean that you don't…" Tak let the sentence hang in the air.

Zim didn't respond immediately. "Zim still finds the humans to be hideous. But my Gaz-blossom has become beautiful to me. While when she is in her costume she has a certain appeal, Zim would not wish her to have been Irken. You?"

Tak nodded her head. "I like my human just the way he is, too. I wouldn't change a thing about him."

"Looks like we both are sick deviants," Zim commented with a slightest of chuckles. He still didn't like Tak, nor put a whole lot of trust in her, but they had something in common now. Plus as Gaz would say, they were family. A pleased Gaz meant a contented Zim. "So. Did you actually have a reason to call the last person you would ever want to speak to or did you just want to compare notes on having mates?"

Tak actually flushed a bit at that. "No. I mean yes. I did. I am largely immobile right now and I need something to do. I have some beginning thoughts for this ship and the first steps on defending our new home, but I need more information on resources available. Dib has given me some Earth titles to look through, starting with Jane's All the World's Aircraft, the World's Ships, and so on. Apparently this Jane has a substantial database of defense equipment, but I need it routed through your computer to gain access to Earth's information network. In return Dib wants to be able to speak with his own contacts while we are up here."

Zim slapped his hand to his face. Tak grinned. Zim had been unsuccessfully searching for information on Earth's defenses for years and come up empty, and here Dib just pointed out a few internet library books for her. Not that they dealt with a lot of classified material, but it was a good starting point.

"Zim supposes that this will be fair, but Computer will have to monitor the transmission in order to transfer the data stream to and from the Earth network. It won't be private."

"What's the matter? Don't trust us, Governor Defect?"

"Not really, General Reject. Your mate has spent half his life trying to expose Zim."

Tak's expression turned angry. "That has affected my Dib too, and all of this has not been easy for him. He's honestly trying to do better about adjusting. He is attempting to teach this crew about adapting to life on Earth. He has willingly not just accepted an Irken as his sibling's bondmate, but an Irken as his own as well. I didn't force Dib to accept my bond, you know." She showed Zim the engagement ring on the middle of her three fingers. "I didn't even ask him to. Dib chose me to be his mate, even though he has not bonded yet and he knows this is for life. He doesn't even want me to use my human disguise! We share quarters, even our bedding."

"Fine, whatever," Zim said. He knew that she was defending her mate just like he would stick up for Gaz, not that she needed it. But what Tak was saying was the truth. "You can have routing access. I have better things to do than listen to how 'great' Dib is, so if there is nothing else?"

"That is all for now. I have a lot of research to do and Dib has calls to make."

"Oh, just so you know, Tak. When you show off your ring you're supposed to hold up all your fingers. Not just the one," Zim advised.

Tak smirked. "I know that," was all she said as she cut the connection.

Had Zim had hair, he would have pulled some out about now. Instead he took it out on the block of ham.

Dib sat at a small terminal in his quarters aboard the Doomwind. Tak was laying in their hammock studying off of her Pad. He took several deep breaths.

"Anxious?" Tak asked.

Dib just nodded. Tak looked over at him. "Dib, you know you have to eventually. Zim did give you the transmission frequencies for the other major galactic powers. There is so much more than only four people can handle, even with this ship's crew helping. We need allies among your kind."

"I know," Dib sighed. "But now I have to worry about how this will impact my family. That includes you too, Tak. I never imagined there would ever be a day I'd have to be concerned about protecting Irkens from humans."

Tak got up and limped over to stand next to him. A ringed three fingered hand reached over and placed itself on Dib's shoulder. Then the Irken moved to the side and out of camera view. Dib looked at her, then used the computer terminal to access the Swollen Eyeball Network protocols stored in Tak's ship. Then he typed in the transmit command. The SEN wallpaper and interface came up after a few minutes. He was routing through at least four different systems, running firewalls and security programs so it took awhile to achieve a connection. Dib entered new commands and a new message flashed up on the display. Connecting…

A few moments later a dark silhouette with spiked hair appeared. "Agent Mothman? What do you want? It's Sunday morning for Pete's sake! This had better not be about that jacklope den you think you found because that could wait," a feminine voice said.

"Agent Tunaghost," Dib greeted the other agent. "No, I scrapped the jackalope case. Something else came up. I mean really, really major. I should really be talking to Agent Darkbootie, but I'm concerned. I wanted to run some things past you first. I really could use some backup on this if I talk to the others. If things don't go well, my family might be at risk."

"Well that certainly got my attention, Agent Mothman," Tunaghost stated. She had always been fairly supportive of Dib's efforts within the SEN. Most of the others saw him as either a joke or an annoyance. Agent Darkbootie was technically his mentor, sort of. But Tunaghost was his ally and perhaps close to a friend within the Swollen Eyeballs. She was usually long-suffering of Dib's well meaning intentions. "Let me guess. Alien invasion, right?"

"No. Just the opposite in fact," Dib informed her. "This is all off the record. I mean really off the record. So turn off your recorders."

A moment went by. "Go ahead," Tunaghost said.

"And the old recalled VCR drive you have spliced into your system that no one is supposed to know about," insisted Dib.

There was a tilt of the head by the silhouette on the display. "Okay, Mothman. By the way, what is with the lag? You connection time is awful right now."

"That's because I'm running through at least four different computer systems and who knows how many relays just to get to my Internet Provider."

"Being a bit paranoid today, aren't you?" Tunaghost asked.

"I have reason to be, plus I'm very far away. You won't believe how far."

"Fine. I haven't had breakfast yet, so can we get on with this?"

"Okay. You remember that alien Zim I'm always going on about?" There was a nod. "That alien race that is going around invading everybody? Well, he's one of them as you remember. Well, Earth is now a Protectorate of the Irken Empire and Zim is the hand's off Governor tasked with external system defense."

"That's pretty weak, Mothman. Earth doesn't get invaded by aliens every day. You have actual proof of your claims?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes, but I can't give it out."

"Big surprise there. I still don't see why you are talking to me about this," Tunaghost commented.

"Because I need to know my family will be safe," Dib stated forcefully.

"If this is serious I'm sure the other agents could help with things."

"You don't understand," Dib told the agent. "I'm concerned about them coming after my family."

There was a long pause. A very long pause. "Either this is really huge or you have finally lost it," Tunaghost said. "Why would the SEN do something like that?"

"To start with, I'm not on Earth," Dib stated flatly. "I'm orbiting the Irken homeworld in a spacecraft carrier bought for Earth service from a salvage yard. If the SEN goes after the appointed Irken Governor right after Earth gets Protectorate status from an Empire that's invading everybody else, what do you think is going to happen? Since I'm out here I couldn't step in right away. You know we've been trying to get proof of alien life for decades, as well as any knowledge about them."

"Wow. Mothman, you sure don't disappoint," Tunaghost said. "Sounds like you've really gone off the deep end. But I still don't see what this has to do with your family or the personal concern."

"First swear to me that you will tell no one without my express permission. That you will take this to your grave if I need you to," Dib insisted. "And drop the anonymity filter."

There was a nod. "Alright, but this had better be worth it. This is so far beyond acceptable protocol," came a grumbled response. "If it isn't, I'll hack your records and make you a wanted felon. And I mean public enemy number one. Wanted dead or dead, you get me?"

Dib agreed, dropping his own anonymity filter program first. The dark silhouette on his display was replaced by an older college girl. She appeared to be one of those students that were deliberately seniors for more than one year in a row.

Dib took a breath. "That alien Zim and my sister got married. She was given the title of Lady by the Irken leadership. They might have kids someday." He knew he sounded completely insane. Dib reached out a hand, and a three fingered hand took it. He drew his Irken bondmate into the camera view. There was a gasp over the communications link. "And this is Tak. Out here she's considered my, uh, wife. But on Earth she'd be my fiancée. Tak has had it pretty bad for a long time, and is looking for a new homeworld to belong to."

Agent Tunaghost did not say or move for a very long time. When she did respond, it wasn't anything like Dib had expected. "Oh thank God!"

Dib did not know what to make of this.

Tunaghost went on. "Dib, you have any idea what a relief this is to me? I mean come on, if the SEN knew of an alien looking for a human concubine to seal a deal with Earth, who do you think the SEN would assign to the job? You're the biggest alien pursuer in the SEN, and I'm the only female in our section. Plus all the other agents are really ugly. I mean face in the garbage disposal ugly. Why do you really think we have the anonymity filters in our communications? It's so we don't have to look at each other."

Dib was of course flabbergasted. Tunaghost continued on. "But I see why you are so concerned about your family. Dang, Mothman. When you drop a bombshell, you really drop one. Yes, I'll back you up on this all the way because it means I don't have to ever be in your shoes. But Darkbootie will want something as a sign of good faith. Something concrete. After that he'll be able to arrange all the documentation you need. Full papers and completely legitimate ones."

"Zim gave me frequencies of major powers out here that can stand up to the Irkens to share with the SEN as an offering. We can eventually listen in on what is going on out there, but we need to use it discreetly. It would look bad if we seemed like we had aligned ourselves with Irken enemies. I also have a little video and gun camera footage of the Planets Dirt and Irk as well as the Irken Armada itself."

Dib looked at Tak. She tapped her Pad and opened some technical files, transferring copies to the terminal. "Agent Tunaghost," she said. "These are technical specifications and the basic working principles behind several of the spare parts and minor operating components used by this vessel. It would be good if we were not dependent on outside sources for these more frequent maintenance supplies. The technology comes from a non-Irken source. All are hopelessly obsolete by Irken standards and found only in salvage yards now. However they are very advanced compared to what Earth has. Tactical systems are not included of course. That is my department." She pressed a button and started the upload when Tunaghost plugged a flash drive into her system.

Agent Tunaghost acknowledged the alien. "Fair enough. I will talk to Agent Darkbootie and work something out. But with all this you have given me, if it checks out, I see him playing ball."

"You do understand that Zim gave us this as a two-way deal? Not shared with anyone else?" Dib made sure of that awareness. "As an ally? There is a lot going on out there, but it's more than he can deal with by himself. We may be a Protectorate, but that just means we won't get invaded by the Irkens. I really get the impression that otherwise we're on our own."

"No sweat," Tunaghost said. "I know our signal intelligence crew will love to keep those SETI nutjobs in the dark forever. They hate each other and would do it just be able to point and laugh and keep the SETI pranks going. Last week they bounced a list of ketchup ingredients off of Neptune."

Tak spoke again. "Agent Tunaghost. My bondmate is serious about leaving his family circle alone. Governor Zim and Lady Gaz have a personal guard. They are not former soldiers, but made up of low class workers that were also expelled from Irken society. But if their Taller is threatened, they are programmed to not respond well. In fact that is why they were expelled, for defending the human against vulgar speech of Irken guards. They are the ones currently running this carrier. They look solely to Gaz and answer only to Zim by extension of their bond. They are extremely loyal to Dib's sister and it would be most unwise to tamper with that."

Tunaghost gulped at the directness of Tak's advice. The purple eyed Irken went on with a more understated tone. "You must understand what exactly you are dealing with. Zim and the human Gaz are bonded as I am bonded to my Dib. There are only a few hundred bonded pairs within the entire Irken civilization. They are so rare that for Irkens, to knowingly cause harm to one would be like deliberately annihilating an entire city of your planet. An atrocity that requires a response. It is not a wish nor a desire. I just want to come home with my mate. These others only wish to serve Lady Gaz and defend your world if ever needed. But we are still Irken."

"I will make sure Darkbootie understands the need for certain arrangements and guarantees from us. I won't go into what we've discussed here, but he will probably require some debriefing of the situation before getting anyone else involved. So try not to worry so much Dib. I'd cover you just because getting saddled with an ugly alien husband is the last thing I want for myself."

Agent Tunaghost signed off in good faith. Of course her expression was along the lines of better you hitched than me.

Tak looked at Dib, ran her antennae through his hair once and went back to her own research. While most of what she found was lacking, there were a few things that she felt had some potential as a starting point. All Dib could do right now was wait for a response. He did try not to worry, but home was a long way away.

Zim showed up in front of the Membrane house in his Voot Cruiser at lunch time. Gaz was waiting by the curb. She eyed him with a suspicious expression as she climbed in after he opened the canopy.

"What's with the Cruiser?" she asked after she had belted in. "I thought we were going to go out for lunch."

Zim smiled at her. "Oh, we are."

Gaz crossed her arms. "So where are we going?"

He was still smiling. "It's a surprise."

"You had better not be taking me to some cliché place like Paris," she said. "If that is your plan I'll stop fast-forwarding through the mushy scenes on movie night and play them frame-by-frame."

Zim merely handed her his GameSlave 4 that he had obtained for the CWZ convention project. "Play your game until we get there and no peeking."

Gaz took the GameSlave with a bit of a huff and quickly lost herself in the zone.

After an unrealized amount of time Zim tapped her arm. Gaz powered down the GameSlave and looked out of the canopy. The view took her breath away. There before them was Saturn. They were slightly below the ecliptic with a view of the rings. The gas giant's shadow from the sun stretched across and just barely touched the edge of the outer rings. The 'surface' seemed bland, yet there were subtle traces of color with the cloud layers. It was a picturesque scene no artist or photo could duplicate, and no human had ever before seen this view with the naked eye.

She was no space junkie, but the rings of Saturn had a way of capturing the human mind in ways no one was ever able to put into words. Really, it looked like a dirty ball of gas surrounded by a hollow disk. Yet there was something about it…

Zim watched his bondmate, then silently gestured for her to wait. He piloted the Voot Cruiser far behind the planet and took a position that put the planet directly in front of the sun. Gaz sharply inhaled as the view of the planet unexpectedly changed. All of a sudden the whole planetary system lit up in sunlight. The rings seemed to glow with an electric aura. Sunlight seemed to wrap around the planet to touch the night side as light was reflected off of the rings to the cloud cover below. As if hands made of light were hugging the planet.

There was only a single spot in the entire solar system for this view. At any other angle the indirect light reflecting off of the night side would be lost in the far more powerful direct lighting of the sun illuminating the planet. Gaz just looked out onto the greatest work of art in the solar system in awe. This made the previous view look lame in comparison.

Zim smiled and handed her a sandwich, which she slowly ate absent-mindedly. He munched on his own snacks. Computer had been instructed to hold all calls while babysitting Gir. After they were finished eating he offered an arm and Gaz settled into it, leaning into Zim with her head resting on his shoulder. He leaned his own head onto hers as they enjoyed the quiet break from the demands of the universe. They didn't speak for sound would ruin the moment.

For Zim these were totally new experiences. But the alien found them something to be treasured, these little moments of doing nothing for some mission. His entire previous life and focus had been all about a mission for some Taller or the Tallest, but that life was gone and he didn't regret it. As he looked down onto his human wife captivated by the sight before them, he realized he was looking at his purpose in life. He had a 'mission' he would choose to pursue, yes. But Gaz was his purpose now, not some mission, and she alone had proven worthy of his devotion.

He reached up and ran a free clawed hand gently through her hair. In the past Zim had thought that hair was a stupid feature for humans to have, but he was beginning to find some interesting things about it. There was a certain pleasure in grooming one's bondmate. Zim knew that they were really just starting to explore this 'married life,' but from what he could tell it promised many good things.

"Zim! You're claws are distracting me," Gaz growled.

Of course exploring this could be like exploring a mine field too.

Zim stopped, and brought his hand back down and held Gaz's hand. She took her gaze away from the majestic sight of Saturn and into the solid red eyes of her Irken husband. Those eyes looked as if made of liquid warmth, as if they would melt at any moment.

Gaz heart melted too. It was true Irkens did not love in the way humans did. They simply did not have the emotional complexity to take all the simpler emotions, motivations, and mental states that made up human love and turn it into a single compound state. They had all the pieces, but couldn't take the final step to converting it in their mindset into a single whole. But they could wrap it together in a single focus. Like taking hundreds of individual threads and wrapping it into a woven rope.

Human complexity could be a wonderful thing, but it had its drawbacks. It was complicated, full of choices, decisions, paths to take. A person could fall in and out of human love. Other priorities could distract or draw away without realization or intention. But Irkens were emotionally simple. And that simplicity gave them (especially Zim) something that few humans could handle and remain emotionally healthy. Intense focus in one's life. You were an enemy or you were not. You liked or disliked. You were bonded or not bonded. And bonding was like a tightening of the individual threads that made up a rope made of Kevlar. As those threads became more dense, a rope could develop greater resilience than a solid steel bar.

Just as one could not compare a fabric rope to steel, one could not compare Human and Irken 'love'. Somehow Gaz could see it in Zim's eyes. He was bonded to her forever, even if it wasn't in the final stage yet. There literally could be no other way for him. No interest or job could compete with her. Direct orders, torture, not even death itself could take that bond away. The only response Zim could have facing threats or coercion would be to counter-attack. He could not weaken in his resolve to her. He could only defeat them or die trying.

If given a choice between the two, Human or Irken love, Gaz knew which she desired. The developing and unbreakable Irken love of her husband.

Gaz nestled closer into her spouse as she turned her attention back to the artistry that was Saturn behind sunlight. "Zim?" she asked quietly so as not to disturb the setting. "If you wish to brush through my hair, I'd like you to use your antennae."

As the couple took in the sight, Gaz of Saturn and Zim of is far more amazing wife, he tilted his head until it rested with Gaz's and began grooming her hair with his antennae. Innocent, yet intimate. Zim began to purr at their closeness and Gaz joined in with an occasional sigh, luxuriating in his attention.

"I love you, Zim." Gaz stroked his face absently with her hand wearing their wedding ring.

"Zim loves you too."

Yes, they both thought. This 'married life' holds out wonderful promises.

After another hour it was unfortunately time to get back to their everyday life. They both groaned as they strapped back in and Zim piloted back to Earth.

"Zim. You can really throw an impressive picnic for a girl, you know that?" Gaz commented lazily.

"No, Zim can't." the alien said. "Only for my wife."

It was now evening, and Gaz was sitting in her Gaming Den within Zim's base watching multiple screens of data flow past. As they approached Earth during late afternoon, Computer had given them an update on his latest experiment. When they arrived back at Zim's base they had gone into an awaiting conference call with Tak, Dib, Beed and Lim.

Computer had yielded surprising results, for who would have thought that Earth honey would be like caviar to Irkens? Gaz could have sworn that she could see Computer's metaphoric hands wringing in capitalistic glee as he transferred a large amount of his stashed Earth funds to buy up several wholesale honey companies in China, which he had sent instructions to expand as rapidly as possible. Eventually Logistic Specialist Roz could be making runs to Earth to ship nearly a ton of honey to Irken snack bars daily.

In Computer's financial terms, buying one ton of Earth honey for three thousand dollars yielded the equivalent of eight hundred thousand dollars in galactic monies using prices reflected in the delicacies market. Eventually that could be per day. Which could also be used to purchase major parts from salvage yards or from orbital factories that dealt to non-military clients. Foodcourtia, for example, had a large food delivery fleet to maintain. And since everything bought would be 'civilian grade' it would all be legit if the Irken military checked up on it. Not that anyone would as long as they didn't start buying weapons.

This had sent Tak into a research and design spree. Zim naturally went into one of his own. He wasn't the Jack-of-all-Trades designer Tak was, but if you needed a fusion cannon for an orbital weapons platform and only had bunny rabbits on hand, Zim was the Irken to go to.

And of course, Computer naturally pointed out, some of those 'civilian grade' systems could be sold to Earth development teams, such competitors to the Membrane Labs, for millions. Dib naturally objected to this. He was a Membrane after all.

So as Zim and Tak competed with each other, she left the computer lab and used her Gaming Den for the rest of the conference call. Beed and Lim were glad to talk with their Taller and were looking forward to no longer being separated from whom they saw as their rightful Taller. That was understandable, given that they were a Governor's Own unit. They updated Gaz on the progress of the logistics, that Doomwind was ready to depart at anytime, and that the crew was in good spirits but a bit anxious about living on an alien planet.

They did gripe a bit about some training schedules Tak had also proposed to them earlier in the day. But Gaz told them it would be good for them as they had not received any real training since they were smeets and found to be unacceptably short. They didn't gripe after that and completely accepted it. Lady Gaz had spoken. Of course they would work around the loading schedule and orientation classes. Training would continue on Earth led by General Tak.

Then Lim relayed a question one of the Irken crew had brought up. If they were a Governor's Own unit for a human on her native world, would they need new uniforms? They weren't really in Irken service anymore, but were an independent Governor's unit. Most Governors liked to play dress-up with their guards, not that they would call it that.

Gaz had agreed to come up with something and had finally chosen mottled gray fatigues for their uniforms and light gray for the Spittle Runners and other vehicles. This would help them blend in more on Earth as they went about their duties. Of course she had yet to figure out what those duties would be, but that could wait another week or two when they arrived and unloaded the supplies into the new base.

She was finishing up designs for unit patches as she spoke with Dib. There was no video right now as her Gaming Den hadn't been rigged for it yet. Tak and Zim were on another channel, with him located in the computer lab. Beed and Lim had left the conference call to return to their logistics work.

"Are they still at it?" she asked into her headset. Gaz was finishing up her design. It was the only enjoyable aspect of their return to Earth. She had always liked to draw, but in the past would prefer to lose herself in her games.

"Yes, they are," Dib's voice answered. "I can hear Tak yelling in the next compartment. Something about brainworms. Can we get back to this agreement with the Swollen Eyeballs? Agent Tunaghost and I spent all afternoon negotiating with Agent Darkbootie in their behalf. They are your responsibility, Gaz."

"I know, I know," Gaz replied sourly. "I just hate getting involved in this cloak-and-dagger stuff. I just want a good normal life with Zim like we had this afternoon."

"Really? What did you do?" Dib asked.

"Zim took me on a romantic picnic behind Saturn. The view was breathtaking."

Dib's voice began laughing.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"A few things. I just can't imagine Zim being civil, let alone romantic. Plus you just said you wanted a good normal life and yet you went to another planet for an outer space picnic with your alien husband inside an alien spaceship. That is about as far from normal as you can get."

Gaz couldn't help but smile, mostly from the pleasurable memory. "Yeah," she sighed. "How are you and Tak doing?"

"We're still adjusting. Her General persona has been coming out during her projects. She's good, smart, and very capable. I have to admit it's unnerving seeing her when she's got her Irken General gears going. But then she gets back into the present and lets her shields down. I can already see a pattern emerging, and I think she's trying to push herself too hard to recover. I already know I'm going to have to give her a bath when she's done with Zim. I think a part of her kind of goes back to when I rescued her from Dirt. Some sort of need for her to find relief after built up stress and being bathed is the only way she knows how to experience it if the stress levels get too high. And judging from the volume in the next compartment, it's going to be high tonight."

"Sorry to hear that," Gaz related to her brother. "Tak really means something to you, doesn't she?"

"Yes, she does." Gaz could hear the sad compassion in his voice. "She needs me. But I'm going to be coming to terms with this for a while."

Gaz actually felt sorry for her brother. It was just recently that she was in the same position. It seemed like half a lifetime ago, but it was only a few weeks since her first mentioned the CWZ convention to Zim. Her whole life had changed so rapidly since then.

"Dib," she said, verbally putting a hand on his absent shoulder. "The hardest part for me was accepting my being bonded with another species. And the fact that it was Zim of all people. But you'd be surprised how quickly you can adjust if you let yourself just accept reality. I had to talk with someone who helped me at first. Dib, you have always been accepting of the paranormal. You are naturally geared for this sort of life. Far more than I was when I first started down this road."

Gaz took a deep breath and let it out after that admission. "Don't be afraid to let yourself love an Irken. She is the one person who literally can not betray you. Who will stand with you no matter what. Let yourself be her purpose in life. They need that because I think it's the way they are wired. So they keep a single focus as their mission. It's worth it, Dib. Just be your stupid self and let yourself fall in love with Tak when you're ready. I would have never imagined it, but I don't want to be with anyone but Zim."

"Thanks," Dib said in return. It was probably the first time Gaz had shown any sympathy toward him or even wanted to help with his troubles. "I promised her we would get married on Earth when I was ready. Gave her an engagement ring and everything."

Gaz smiled, looking at the wedding ring on her own finger. "Trust me, Dib. There is nothing like falling in love with your spouse."

"You're falling for Zim?" he asked with a touch of the old I-hate-Zim showing.

"After today's picnic? Yes I am."

There was an awkward silence. Gaz spoke again. "He packed me a ham sandwich and made me promise not to peek outside. I thought we were going to someplace cheesy like Paris, but he took me out behind Saturn! It must be the most amazing view in the whole solar system! After I told him to stop running his claws through my hair I looked in his eyes and saw what he feels for me. I realized then… Oh gosh, listen to me! I'm going all mushy."

Gaz switched tracks and gave her brother some sisterly advice. "Dib, I know you don't get it yet, but you will someday. You may not notice at first, but there will be a moment when everything comes together and you realize you are falling for her. And you won't want it to be any other way. I'll give you the advice that was given me. Let it happen naturally, don't fight it and don't force it. I can tell you it will be worth it. Now before I puke from all this girly talk with my brother, tell me about the deal with your friends."

"Right," Dib said quickly. "Agent Darkbootie wanted to debrief every Irken coming to Earth, but I told him that you would never permit that. So we've settled on a private and encrypted debriefing with Tak tomorrow. First as a General representing your people, then a personal one about her time on Dirt and… other things. "Gaz could hear her brother blushing. "He's agreed to represent the SEN as a whole, so anything we agree on is binding by the whole community. Plus we don't really have an enforcer unit or anything like that. Most of them are investigators, scientists and other people who spend their time seeking answers to questions. Apparently that's been a bit of a concern, really. We don't have a strong arm, so to speak. Not like what you could represent. I was the worst of them, back when I wanted to nab Zim. A few individuals could be inclined, but would abide by the agreement. Gaz, the SEN are investigators, not fighters. They might be open to an association."

He kept going. "Zim has to turn over or destroy all his weapons of mass destruction and I have to watch him do so. I've also been assigned as an observer since I'm with Tak anyway and she's on the 'human' side so to speak. Your side stays autonomous, and as long as Zim behaves we all will be left alone. Zim and Tak can be given citizenship as political refugees."

"Whatever," Gaz said, very unimpressed, reading data off of one of her displays. "Zim married me, so he's already a citizen. You're getting married eventually, so the same will apply to Tak. I really don't see why we need them to hack records. Officially Zim is from Irkenstan and is part of a ranking family on a student exchange program. Computer had years to put that together. Tak can have something similar. I don't see us as being offered anything we don't already have."

She heard a sigh. "Gaz, I'm sending you some video. Have computer play it for you."

Gaz grunted an acceptance and instructed Computer to do so. An image began to play in to center display. A long slender form began to grow in the starlight. As it grew bigger and bigger, Gaz took in a breath.

"Gaz, this is the Doomwind. As you can see, it is not some rusted out piece of salvage." As he spoke, she saw the video of her Irken Guard's Spittle Runners approach as launching ports opened and they began to back inside their hangers. Point defence turrets were visible as well as sensor arrays and communications clusters. The superstructure island rose amidships over the view of the upper armored deck. Three armored energy weapon turrets were visible fore and aft of the island. As the video went on, trailing another Spittle Runner into the landing pattern while hearing a weakened Tak and a compassionate Dib speak in hushed tones in the background, she saw the central island also dropped below the lower hull as well. She watched the approach and landing, then the view from inside Tak's ship as they were pulled inside to the maintenance bay.

Dib went on. "You don't realize what you've got up here. This is a serious warship you've acquired, Gaz. There are thirty Irken space superiority interceptors on board, with about one hundred thirty Irkens as crew. I hear you could get more if you wanted. They've got another four assault shuttles parked somewhere, and enough armored infantry gear for a whole company. All to protect you. All answering to you and secondarily to Zim, but just as part of their job."

Gaz didn't say anything. She couldn't.

"Gaz, you have your own personal military. Plus you could build up a lot more before departing. A lot of countries couldn't match you right now in a fight. The SEN would be very nervous if they knew what you had, but so far I've just kept this between us and Agents Tunaghost and Darkbootie. Agent Darkbootie can see an opportunity here as well. You could push a system defense project from not even started to a century ahead in a single day."

"Computer?" Gaz called.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Do you have the security footage of when Zim and I learned about me having an Irken guard? When we were fixing the Walker?" Computer confirmed this. "Make a copy of that whole conversation from when I first answered the call. Send it to Dib to give to this Darkbootie."

"Sending now."

"Okay, Dib. That will cure anyone of thinking I want to take anything over. Or Zim for that matter. What else do you have?" Gaz asked her brother.

"Darkbootie could be interested in an association. We're set up for covert surveillance and information gathering, but not much else. We know it. You are assigned to defend our planet from alien attack and have the first step making that happen."

"I'm not giving them our ship. I'm not turning in my people, and I'm not-"

"Gaz. Hold up a minute."

Gaz glared into her displays even though Dib couldn't see her. Dib continued. "They could help, Gaz. Agent Darkbootie already sent ahead the peace offering Zim gave me and it checks out. But I've pointed out something no one else seems to have thought of. The Irkens are on the warpath with just about everybody but us. Earth being a protectorate keeps us out of the Irken's path, but what about everybody else? We're really the only part of Irken territory that is isolated and unguarded. Or on the other side of the coin, what happens when people find out that Earth is the only safe place to go where the Irkens won't attack? I know I'm an alarmist, but it brings up possibilities that can't be ignored."

Gaz dropped her head. She had started all of this when she slapped that necklace on Zim, thinking it was a slave collar.

"I get the picture, Dib. We're too far out for most of that. Practically no one has ever heard of us, let alone where we are. Dib, we are literally off of the map. But just what does the SEN offer? And I mean really."

Dib hesitated a moment. "Gaz, this ship needs replacement parts, supplies, fuel and so on. It needs a crew of at least six hundred to operate at its full potential. Probably more if Tak gets her way with her proposal to Zim. That's what they are arguing about now. How are you going to do that? The SEN can't do much actively, but can point in the right directions. They can find reliable and trustworthy people for you to bring in. They can grease the wheels in legal transactions so you don't have to risk illegal hacks and stealing major components like Zim would do."

"You mean slip their people in?" Gaz asked suspiciously. Dib was the only member of the SEN she knew of, and she remembered the early years of Dib trying to capture Zim for 'study.' She had one hundred and thirty one Irkens to watch out for. One of them was her husband. "I remember how much you and yours wanted an alien to, quote unquote, study."

"Gaz," Dib said. There was a long pause. "I guess I deserved that. I'm trying here. Trying to be fair. I'm worried about my family too, Gaz. I've made that abundantly clear. I'm bonded with an Irken too, remember? I couldn't let them take Tak. Not in a million years. I'm looking out for my whole family, Gaz. I am taking precautions in this."

Dib cleared his throat, and got his mind back on track. "Listen Gaz. They would just be making suggestions. People with the right background, who are qualified for this sort of work and who are open-minded enough to work with off-worlders. Plus smart enough not to open their mouth about it. Can you do that on a large scale? What about when you reach a point where Zim and Tak start building more ships? As for any SEN members, they would be onboard openly by invitation to learn about duplicating the ship's main systems. Darkbootie is interested in propulsion, others are interested in communications, life support, metallurgy, power generation and so on. They know trust has to be earned. We've agreed that they be given an escort while with your people. They won't be stampeding to your door making demands. I will be the official liaison between the SEN and our family. This is becoming a family business and they recognize that. And Tak made it very clear that messing with our family would cause the Irkens to be very, very upset."

"Anyway, that is all long term stuff," Dib went on. "Right now Agent Darkbootie presented Tak with his own peace offering. She's trying to convince Zim right now to allow Computer to complete the transaction and for Zim to start collecting them."

"Collect what exactly?" she asked.

"Four AV-8b Harrier VTOL fighters and two A-10 Warthog attack aircraft. They are just sitting out in the desert because they are considered too worn out for further service. They're just empty shells, but Tak has some ideas she wants to experiment with. Roz would deliver the first upgrade components using civilian parts and Computer says he probably could repair the airframes at the new base with some of his high tech welding and epoxy sprays. Zim is just being Zim."

Gaz shook her head. "You lost me. What does Tak expect to do with them when their finished?"

Dib tried to explain again. "She wants try to convert some Harriers and Warhogs for spacecraft carrier duty. She says those are preferred for conversion for both space and atmospheric maneuvering, easily obtainable since most governments are phasing them out of service, and fitting in with the 'locals' as they are technically Earth aircraft."

Gaz looked down at the almost finished unit patch to transmit to Beed. Gosh, she thought to herself. Tonight is a skool night too.

"Dib, I don't want a bunch on strangers on my ship."

"I know, but you will one day need a full crew, and you can't bring in thousands of Irkens. Just this hundred would make those who know a bit nervous. But if they are working with humans it would help with things. If you went and found yourself a non-Irken Captain for the ship, what would go along way."

Gaz wanted to either puke or crunch in someone's skull. She never wanted to get involved, let alone deal with politics.

Dib just wouldn't stop talking. "Anyway that's all probably a year or so down the road. Right now we're just getting the initial things ironed out."

"Dib, shut up. I hate this crap. At least with my Irkens I don't have to deal with this sort of thing. All I want right now is for us to be left alone. I'll go along with letting your friends know when deliveries come and go so they don't stain their undies whenever Roz comes in to get a stupid load of honey. Other than that, you and Tak can work something out. She is our General in charge. You are part of the SEN. Since you two are sharing quarters I'd think you can find some mutual arrangement Zim and I can agree with. But my personal guard is my own. No one touches it. Got that? And don't ever bury me with theoretical details again because you are surrounded by a hundred Irkens who will do as I ask. Oh, and Dib? You might also want to remind your SEN friends that since our family has a spacecraft, we can always pack up and leave. I don't think they can. Remind them that Zim and I don't have to do anything. If they would like to assist, we will consider it."

Gaz cut the connection, drew in the final touches on the new unit patches for her guard on the computer before her and ordered Computer to send it to Beed on the Doomwind. Then she shut down the system and made her way into the computer lab. The volume was rather loud, but not entirely surprising.

"You STUPID nard-hog!" Tak was yelling from the large display screen. "You can't seriously expect to construct a hundred dreadnought sized and remote controlled orbital defense satellites as a first step in defending our planet! That's insane, and anything you design is a disaster waiting to happen! How are you going to ever going to concentrate your firepower or meet an attacker on your own terms if you surrender the initiative to the enemy? He would be able to use the planet as a shield from a third of your units, not to mention block his approach vector with the Earth's moon!"

"That's the beauty of it!" Zim angrily shouted back. "We turn the moon into a giant singularity cannon! Sneaking up behind the moon is a classic maneuver. A fleet comes in and WHAM! No more fleet! Your plan involves swarms of small human flown jury-rigged spacecraft. Do you have any idea how many casualties they would take before getting into their own weapons range? That's a lot of parts we could put into far more survivable platforms!" Naturally Zim showed no concern about the theoretical human pilots.

"You think I would design something that couldn't fight effectively?" Tak screamed. "And we want a mobile force to harass any enemy as they approach! Engage them far away then pull back to rearm and attack again. Keep them away from the planet! Your plan completely ignores that and gives up any capability for long range patrols! Dang it, Zim. This is just a first step. We need to train the humans, not babysit their lousy nest! That is what this plan is! Besides, what enemy is going to come all the way out were to attack this nothing of a planet?"

This was much worse that she had thought. "Zim?" Gaz asked. "Are you being an idiot again?"

She saw Zim lose his mental balance, such as it was, before he switched gears to respond to his bondmate. "Oh, um, Gaz-blossom. I didn't expect you to be listening in. We were just-"

"Planning on using my homeworld's moon to shoot black holes at people?" Gaz asked pointedly. "Are you really serious about that?" Zim was blushing about now. "You brought Tak in for a reason, Zim. Made her the General, not you. So stop backseat driving and let her at the job you gave her to do. I know you want to help and it's unnatural for you to delegate when it comes to a mission. But Zim, you are not an Invader anymore. You're a Governor. Playing with weapons of mass destruction is not in your job description. Now apologize to General Tak. You know she's right and you just don't want to agree her personally. You are putting her under unnecessary stress and guess who will have to hear about it when Dib starts complaining?"

She didn't hear anything. "Zim. This is your wife speaking in case you have forgotten, and I'm already not in the mood from talking to Dib. You can either apologize to General Tak, or apologize to your sister Tak."

The concept of admitting that Tak was Zim's sister made him cringe inside, not that he would ever show it in front of Tak. "Zim will agree that Zim was hogging the mission." Zim told the other Irken. "Gaz is correct that Zim made you a General for a reason. You may of course proceed with your experiment."

"Victory for TAK!" the female Irken shouted just to annoy Zim.

"Tak!" Gaz fired a knife edged tone into her name. "You remember that Zim is the Governor. Just as he needs to learn to treat you like a proper general, you show him the respect his rank deserves. If you two make me referee between you again, I will have my guards take away all your weapons you are so eager to play with until you two can play together like the Elite Irkens you claim to be!"

Tak said nothing for a moment. "Of course, Lady Gaz."

"Yes, Gaz-blossom," Zim agreed. His human wife did have a bad habit of being right rather often.

"Good," Gaz said. "Now, Zim. We have skool tomorrow. But it's not late yet and Gir would like for us to take him for a walk before you go out on your runs tonight. He's been feeling neglected today."

Agent Darkbootie sat in front of his computer within his janitorial closet at NASAplace. He had been in online conference meetings with Agent Tunaghost. Agent Mothman had been in and out of the communications loop for much of the afternoon. He had finally gone for the night to take care of his alien bondmate.

Tunaghost's shadowy image hung in a corner window on his computer as the video Mothman had just e-mailed to him played in the foreground. The camera angle was to the back of the couple who had just gotten finished with an off-world communication. One of them was a purple haired young girl, the other was of a green skinned person with antennae coming out of his head. The voices came out clearly.

"Computer, update the projections of needed supplies. Is it affordable?"

"Only the quantities for biological requirements have been impacted. These are low cost basic items. Very few mechanical or technical components are necessary to augment final inventory. This is much more affordable than the fifty thousand monies Hypergate fee would have been."

"Computer, if things keep going like this we're going to get quarantined. And we haven't even considered developing any type of system defense yet. Please look into how to develop our available resources with these things in mind," Gaz asked of the obviously self-aware Computer.

"Yes, Mistress. This will take quite some time. A few days perhaps."

The girl had to sit down. "Zim," she called.

The green one took a compassionate seat next to the girl. "Zim, I just was trying to be nice and show concern to a delivery guy. To try not be a doomer. Okay, maybe annoy some higher ups on Irk a little. But I ended up ruining thirty lives. They fared worse than if I had been deliberately dooming one person. I almost got thirty of them deactivated because I was trying to be nice. I feel like I am barely able to help you rebuild. What am I going to do with thirty?"

This Zim pulled the girl in close and offered comfort. "Gaz-blossom, you did not destroy anything. You are helping Zim's life to be better than it could ever have been. All these Irkens were in dead-end jobs with no hope for advancement in society. To be stepped on always. They do not know it yet, but now they have something. It will be strange, but you have given them a mission to pursue. You have shown that you care for your people, and they are your people now. However it happened, even though you are human they will follow you not because you are taller than them, but because you are worthy of it. You gave them what you needed them to accomplish, and released them to do so without second guessing. You made a way for them when they needed it. You stepped up for them when they were being stepped on. They will do the same for you. Zim is not cut out to be a ruler. He knows this now. He is a destroyer, a combatant. You, however, have always shown that you can be a ruler. In a way you have ruled our skool for many years. All know better than to displease you, yet also to leave you alone. But now you are showing what kind of ruler you one day can become."

"I don't want to rule my planet," Gaz replied in a small voice.

"Zim has news for you, Gaz-blossom. We've already been made rulers by the Tallest. But that doesn't mean we are hands-on or involved like you are imagining. Just the opposite in fact. We are not supposed to interfere. To be visible. You've just been knocked off balance learning that you have your own personal guard. You have not expected this responsibility, having other's lives in your hands, but you are handling it superbly."

The girl tucked her head into the Zim character's neck and wrapped an arm around him. "I guess we both have a lot to learn. Thanks, Zim."

They remained like that for awhile. The girl pulled her head away to look at the green one. "Gaz-blossom?" she inquired.

"Yes."

"I think I can live with blossom."

Neither Darkbootie nor Tunaghost said anything for several minutes. Tunaghost's shadowed image broke the silence.

"Dang," she said. "I… I think… Dang."

Darkbootie just nodded his head. "Took the words right out of my mouth."

"We can't use this," Tunaghost said. "It's proof that aliens exist. That they've been to Earth. Hell, that Mothman was right about a lot of things concerning this Zim. But we can't use it. I mean… Dang. Just look at them. I wish I had a boyfriend that treated me like that."

"I am looking at them," Darkbootie said. "And we can use this."

"No, we can't. We can't betray a confidence. We can't use this against them."

"Oh, you misunderstand, young one," Darkbootie said, watching the video play again. "It's perfect. It was given voluntary with no editing at all. Proof of an alien, yes. But its far more useful than that. It's proof of their intentions. And far more valuable, it shows a shred of humanity in them. It shows something other than a blood-drunk alien pictured by the lazy entertainment world. It shows a heart. I mean just look at him with that human girl. He's caring for her as a precious loved one. But the most important reason why we can use it, is that it doesn't show their faces."

"But they say their names," Tunaghost objected.

"No one will object if I bleep out their names to protect them, as long as I document my work and keep this original copy intact in my personal archive."

Darkbootie thought some more. "I do believe we can work with these people. You have already told me much about your conversation with Mothman and Tak. I suppose we should give them all codenames to protect them from the unscrupulous."

"How can you be sure?" Tunaghost asked. "Dib's reports have always indicated this Zim was capable of being a real monster at times. Do you remember that this guy stole organs from his classmates?"

"Yes I do. I also remember that the girl in the video convinced this Zim to return them when he was no longer in danger. Even back then she had an influence on him. No lasting harm was ever done. Some of those organs were returned in better condition than when they were taken. Especially that one with the tumor. Doctors called it a miracle, but we knew better."

"That doesn't justify it."

"No," Darkbootie agreed. "But it made sense from his alien perspective. It takes one of two things to learn new ways of seeing things. The first is time. Enough time goes by and things can become clearer. I know I was a no good punk in my youth."

"Is that what happened to you?" Tunaghost asked.

"Hell no," Darkbootie laughed. "Just look at that video. They remind me of my dear late wife, gone these past twenty years. You see, Tunaghost, The second thing is the right partner. You find the right one, and just their presence in your life enables you to be a far better person than you could ever be on your own. And makes you want to strive to be that person, not for yourself, but for that special one you love more than life itself. To not let her down. You don't even think about it when it's for real."

"Yes," Darkbootie remarked, "I do believe we are seeing such a thing at work before our eyes. Even Mothman seems to have found his match. He was always a bit obsessed with a stereotypical view when it came to these 'evil' aliens. But this one, he put everything on the line for this member of an 'enemy' species for nothing promised in return. Then married the girl because she's biologically dependant on him! He really manned up there. Never thought I'd live to see the day that would happen. Yes, I think we can work with these people. I will go through the motions just to be sure, but even so I will classify this family as off limits."

"Even without an agreement?" Tunaghost asked. "On your own authority? I know they would respond badly but still-"

"Young lady, you've never been married to your truest partner," Agent Darkbootie told her. "I know what I would have done if someone had wanted to harm my beloved late wife. And I sure as hell didn't have a carrier strike group at my disposal. You'd be dang sure that I wouldn't have hesitated to use it if I had."

Beed looked at the new unit emblem as Lim and several other looked over his shoulder. It was a black silhouette of a standing puffy farm animal holding a light yellowish cylinder of wood in one hand and thumping the wider end into an open palm in a threatening manner. Up above in Earth script was the words 1st Black Sheep Squadron. Underneath was written in larger lettering Originals Stand Tallest. There were similar ones for 2nd, 3rd and 4th squadrons yet to be formalized. For those were the phrases Taller Than Life, Making Tall Look Short and It Ain't Broke…Yet. Beed had a good idea which one would end up being the engineering/demolition squadron.

Lim was grinning with the rest of them. She turned to the rest of the group. "Pull the uniform fabrication unit out of storage and start making up the new uniforms right away. Paint these unit patches on all the body armor, the Spittle Runners, and the Assault Shuttles. Put it on the Cargo Shuttles even."

Beed let himself smile too as he pulled out his Pad and looked up crew records. There were only thirty that could belong to the First Squadron. Lady Gaz made that point clear. When they got to Earth and had a chance to really start training for their assignment they would work the hardest. No matter how many or how few were assigned, the original thirty would always be Lady Gaz's Own. They would make sure they would be her best unit.

Lim began to walk out of the compartment with the others.

"Where are you heading off to?" Beed called after her.

She smiled with a certain glint in her eyes, pointing at the new Black Sheep emblem pictured on Beed's Pad. "I am going out to paint one on the bow of the ship."

Dib stepped out of the portable shower in their quarters, rubbed himself vigorously with a towel and dried off the water from the stall and put on his pajama bottoms. He grabbed a small bottle of the cleansing gel and set it next to the stall.

He had heard the shouting in the next compartment die down, and figured that Tak would be on her way back soon. Sure enough their door opened and an infuriated Tak stepped into the room.

Dib stepped up and took hold of her. She was trembling.

"Zim is a big fat pig head," she said.

She was really stressed if that was the best she could do at the moment. "I know. Zim sucks."

Foreheads touched and antennae swept into his hair. Dib guided Tak to the shower stall. He averted his eyes until she got in. He kneeled down looking at the floor.

"Dib."

"Yes?"

"Look at me."

Dib raised his eyes. Tak sat in the shower stall. "Dib, it's okay to look at me like this. You are my mate."

"I know Tak. I'll get used to this," he reassured her. This was the closest thing they had on hand to therapy. Plus she was his bondmate. He just wasn't used to this sort of thing being acceptable.

He began to apply the cleansing gel, first along her scalp and face, then up along her antennae. Dib knew what Tak had said had a double meaning. It wasn't just about her current state of dress, but that she couldn't let anyone else see this broken side of her. He began massaging her tense shoulders.

"Tell me what happened," Dib requested.

"Zim wouldn't listen. Kept trying to convince me of his moronic, grandiose, microscopic-brained idea of giant battle platforms. We went around in circles for what seemed like forever. Then his mate came in and said he was being dumb and to listen to me and to give me his approval for the go ahead. Then she made him apologize to me for being something called a backseat driver. Then she told me I should be more respectful of Zim. Of ZIM!"

Dib started on her green arms, three fingered hands and toes, careful not to dislodge the engagement ring on Tak's finger.

"Sounds like she was mostly on your side. You got what you were seeking for your project. Seemed like you had a good day. Accomplished everything you set out to do. I think you pushed yourself too hard. You are barely out of the medical bay and you are trying to run flat out. You just can't do that."

Dib began toweling his Irken bondmate off. "Try to take it slow. How many different things were you working on today? Four? Five? One should be too many."

"There is so little time, Dib." Tak voiced her concern. "We are scheduled to leave for Earth in less than five days."

"I know, but we don't need everything done by the time we get there. Just a good direction."

Dib handed Tak her nightie and she slipped it on. He then guided and settled her into their hammock and the heaped up blankets sitting on top of it.

"Is that better?" He asked. There was a nod of that green head and a waving of those curled antennae. "Good." Dib crawled in with her and held Tak close.

"I'll tell Agent Darkbootie to postpone the debriefing tomorrow," he told her.

"No," Tak said as she wrapped her arms around her mate. "This needs to be done very soon. I'll put off everything else, and you can be there with me. But for us to have an accepted place on Earth, I have to do this."

They didn't say anything for a good long while. "Dib? If today was such a good day, and I did so well, why am I like this?"

"Maybe because part of you went back to Dirt. Maybe you've forgotten how to cope with the stress of dealing with others, even when it turns out well. Especially if it involves Zim. In order for you to feel relief from it you have to go back to that moment when I first bathed you. Like you are trying to relive that moment."

Tak took this in for a moment. "A part of me is still back on Dirt?"

"Maybe," Dib said. He bent his head down and gave a compassionate kiss in between her antennae. They reached back up and into his clean hear. "I don't really know what is happening. It's just a guess. But whatever it is, I'll always be here to bring you back home."

He pulled Tak even closer, if such a thing was even possible. She took in his scent deeply and relaxed into his form. This was the place where she felt she could let down her guard and just let go. Deep within the arms of her mate.