Skoodge gripped the edge of the stone wall his claws close to cracking the stone as he peered intensely out into the arena. Liz and Dib were on the other side as far as they could possibly be from them. However, his standard invader ocular implants let Skoodge clearly see the two humans near the large dead worm. The dust in clouds around them would make it difficult for them to see, but Skoodge saw a demon enter the dust as soon as the worm fell. He barely listened to what Zim and Dib were arguing about, though he was going to ask what 'cop a feel' meant later, something in his spooch told him that he was going to be glad the vampire was dead.
"Zim, something dark went into the dust," Skoodge informed him and Zim relayed the message to Dib and Liz as he came to stand beside Skoodge to peer into the dust.
"Yeah, we know, we can see—Oh man!" Dib's voice came through the communicator and changed at the end from annoyed to excited and fearful.
"What?" Zim asked. "What is it? I can't see," he said disappointed as he peered into the fray.
Skoodge nodded, they could see Liz and Dib clearly but the thing they were facing was still in the dust and they couldn't clearly see it.
"It's a ghost," Liz's voice said sounding confused.
"No," Dib corrected. "It's an ekimmus, a vengeful spirit that sucks the life out of anything it attaches to. They're very dangerous, but super rare. I didn't know they were considered demons, I thought that they were created when some died in a particularly violent or horrible way."
"Ghosts aren't demons," Liz agreed. "It shouldn't be here if that's what it is."
The dark shadowy thing floated closer and the two humans dodged around it to meet up again behind it. "Maybe it was a host?" Dib said. "What happens if a host dies with the demon still in it?"
"They both die," Liz answered as the ekimmus turned around to face them, In the center of it's body Skoodge saw two glowing white orbs where eyes might have once been. The orbs followed Liz and Dib's movements as they moved further away from the thing. The dust was settling and luckily the other demons hadn't taken notice of the two humans yet, or well the ones that did didn't seem to want to get closer.
"What should we do?" Dib asked as the ekimmus floated closer.
"I don't know," Liz answered worry in her voice.
Dib turned to Liz, "You don't know?" he said sounding angry. "How can you not know? Your family was made of exorcists!" Down in the arena Dib waved his arms around for emphasis
"We specialized in demons, not people. I've seen ghosts before, met a few, but they never came up in my family's line of work. Even when the people around me died, they never became ghosts," Liz said and Skoodge could pick up the slight distress in her voice. "You're the paranormal expert, you knew what it was, you think of something."
"Alright, alright, let me think," Dib said crossing his arms and tiling his head down. When the ekimmus came closer Liz grabbed Dib and pulled him out of the way of the approaching ghost demon.
"Think and move," Liz said letting Dib go once they were far enough away. The two humans ran around evading the ghost, slipping past as it came near but each time the ghost became faster.
"What if we help it move on?" Dib suggested as they dodged the ghost just in time.
"Oh, yeah, sure," Liz's voice came through and despite the positive words her voice sounded mocking. "That will work. Hey you, ghost," she shouted. "We want to you move on and leave us alone, what do you want?" The ghost turned in their direction once more and the two humans froze.
"Did you hear that?" Dib asked his voice hesitant.
"Hear what?" Zim said through the communicator. "Zim heard nothing."
"Yeah," Liz said still rigid, but Skoodge heard an underline of anger in her voice. "I heard it."
"What?" Zim asked growing increasingly impatient. "What did your inferior listening satellites pick up?"
"The voice isn't being picked up on the communicator because it's speaking in our minds," Dib informed them and Skoodge frowned. He didn't like the fact that this thing's voice was in his potential-mate's head. "And it just keeps saying 'Angel'."
"It's the same motherfucker that hurt Dib," Liz said venomously.
"Liz!" Dib hissed. "Don't piss it off."
The two Irkens shared a look and knew they were of the same mindset. That ghost demon had hurt their humans. "Dib-thing," Zim practically growled into the communicator. "How do you kill ghosts?"
"You can't kills ghosts, Zim, they're already dead," Dib said annoyance in his voice, "But," he stopped and crossed his arms, making Liz grab and pull him along when the ghost came to close.
"I told you think and move!" Liz repeated. She muttered something else but it was hard to hear, though Skoodge did catch the word multi-tasking.
"Sorry," Dib said his voice reproachful.
"Hey!" Zim said into the communicator angry. "You only submit to Zim!" Skoodge was surprised, sometimes Zim missed the slight differences in human's tones when they spoke, which could be informative as to their mood. But Zim was very sensitive when it came to Dib, and he must have picked up on the undertones of submission in Dib's voice.
"This isn't the time to argue!" Liz snapped back at Zim. "You have an idea, right?" she said to Dib her voice normal again.
"Well," he began sounding unsure. "I know this one method, it will eradicate spirits and ghosts, but I've never had the chance to try it."
"Can you do it?" Liz asked.
"Yes, all it involves is a specific chant and hand gesture, but it only works if the ghost is possessing someone," Dib said. "Maybe we can lure one of the other demons near?" He suggested.
"We don't know if demons can be possessed or not," Liz said. "And if they can't then we'll have two problems at once. I don't see any other choice," she said and paused to face Dib briefly then bolted away from him towards the ghost. "HEY!" She called out to the ghost gaining it's attention. "It's me, your Angel, you want a piece of me? Come and get it!" She said challengingly with her arms spread open.
Skoodge gripped the edge of the wall in front of him and he heard a slight cracking sound but ignored it. He hissed his disapproval at Liz's move. She was his. That ghost had no claim on her. Dib had yelled after her, but it was too late. The ghost sped towards Liz and collided into her, disappearing completely. She staggered backwards and wrapped her arms around herself and doubled over as if in pain. Dib ran towards her but stopped short when she suddenly straightened and tilted her head back, her arms fell loosely at her side.
"Liz?" Dib ventured hesitantly taking a step forward.
"Ah!" A pleased sigh came over the communicator, it was Liz's voice but it sounded odd, scratchy and there was an odd deeper echo to it. Skoodge hated it. "Finally!" the voice said as Liz raised her hands to inspect them. "My Angel and I are finally one." She ran her hands down her neck, down her soft fleshy chest and across her ribs, arching her back as she did so. "Her body is as perfect as I imagined. Now I can purify her soul and we will be together for all eternity."
Skoodge hissed with more vigor and was slightly surprised when his hands slipped. Looking down he found crumbled stone in his claws, dropping it in displeasure he snatched the communicator from Zim whom was staring at him with wide eyes. "Human!" Skoodge hissed the word unable to keep the burning rage out his voice. Dib jerked at the sound of his voice and Zim glared at him, but Skoodge didn't care. "Kill that thing. Now." He ordered, his harsh command leaving no room for argument. In fact it was taking every ounce of control he had not to crush the communicator.
"Right," Dib said and quickly began making weird gestures as he chanted jumbled words that held no meaning for Skoodge. Instead Skoodge focused his attention on Liz and that thing that had dared to claim Liz. Nothing of Liz belonged to that ghost. Liz's body belonged to him. Her soul belonged to him. When this Challenge was over he was going to have to do something that would clearly mark Liz as his. Then nothing would be able to even think about claiming her as theirs.
"Skoodge!" Zim suddenly shouted. "Is your brain full of dookie? You're cracking it!" He spat angrily, but made no move to touch him.
Skoodge tore his gaze away from the arena to glare at Zim. Was he trying to distract him? Did he also want to claim what was his? Zim pointed down at him and Skoodge followed the direction to see that his clawed hand had a tight grip around the communicator and a crack had appeared in the casing. He had been about to crush his only means of hearing his Liz's voice. Instantly he loosened his grip and regained enough of himself to gently hand the communicator back to an eager Zim.
Zim quickly checked the device over his antennae straight up and twitching as he anxiously searched for any other damage. After a moment he sighed, his antennae resting back in place. "There is no other damage, it will still work, but Zim will hold it."
Skoodge didn't say anything. He wanted to snatch it back from Zim, he didn't want Zim to hold Liz's voice. He wanted to have Liz's voice in his hand, but he also knew that he was very close to loosing control on his anger, and the device would be safer in Zim's hands. Zim's eyes flickered back to the arena and his antenna shot up. "Look!" he said pointing back to the fight. Skoodge whipped his head back his own antennae up right an attentive.
Liz's body was jerking violently, her spine arching and her torso twisting, her arms wrapped around herself fruitlessly trying to keep herself still. A strangled cry came through the communicator over Dib's chanting voice.
"It hurts. It hurts. Stop! My angel!" Liz's body twisted and jerked then finally Dib's chanting stopped and Liz screeched as black smoke rose from her body then dissipated into the air. Liz fell to her knees then collapsed onto the ground.
"Liz! Liz!" Dib called rushing over and kneeling down in front of her. From Skoodge's angle the human's body blocked his view of Liz. There was a light slapping sound as Dib repeatedly called her name.
"Is she dead?" Zim asked and Skoodge glared at him.
"No, she's breathing," Dib answered and Skoodge felt the tension in his body relax slightly. A low moan come over the communicator. "Liz, are you hurt? how do you feel?" Dib asked anxiously.
"I feel gross," Liz said and Dib scooted back, letting her sit up. "Like I've been dipped in slime inside and out. When we get back I'm going to take a super long shower."
"Cleaning gel is more effective," Skoodge said loud enough for his voice to go over the communicator. "Do not do that again," Skoodge did his best to keep the pent up rage contained. "You are mine. That ghost had no right to claim you. I will remove all traces of him."
"Will you now, Skoodge?" Liz said her voice light and amused.
Skoodge felt slight relief, he could tell that she wasn't hurt, but he was still angry. "Do not submit to any other but me."
"That wasn't submission, that was," she paused as Dib helped her to her feet. "Tactical sacrifice and it worked so," the rest of what she might have said was cut off as a loud siren filled the air. Skoodge and Zim clamped their claws over the membrane sealing off their internal ears as their antennae flattened to their head.
"Attention arena contestants," a pleasant but loud voice projected over the air. "The elimination round has ended. Cease all fighting or suffer disqualification." The voice paused and the majority of the demons left in the arena stopped fighting. However a few ignored the command and balls of light came flying from the demon king's platform incinerating them. The crowd watched cheered or booed as the rule breakers were destroyed until everyone was still in the arena. "Contestants will now enter the evaluation chambers. Failure to qualify into the first round will result in disqualification. Failure to enter the evaluation chamber in thirty seconds will result in disqualification. Thank you." As the voice ended another clock appeared and began the countdown.
In the arena the demons immediately began a scramble to the now open gates lining the arena. The two humans were no exception and ran towards an open gate. They were farther into the arena and both were sprinting as fast they they could.
Zim yelled, "Faster! Faster!" into the communication device. At ten seconds left they neared an open gate and Dib pulled slightly ahead of Liz and entered the chamber first and it immediately sealed behind him.
"No! She's with me!"Dib shouted as Liz skidded to halt, almost colliding into the bars. There were five seconds left. "We're one entry!" Liz gripped the bars desperately looking around as Dib shouted. She pressed herself between the bars, trying to squeeze though them, it looked impossible when at the last second the bars gave way slightly and she fell into the chamber just as the countdown finished.
"Stop!" Zim shouted and grabbed Skoodge's arm. Confused Skoodge paused only then realizing that his PAK legs were out and he had been about to vault over the wall into the arena.
"We made it!" Dib's voice came from the communicator and Skoodge withdrew his PAK legs.
"Barely," Liz added breathing heavily. "Hold on, I hear footsteps. Zim, you and Skoodge keep quiet. I don't think they know about Dib's collar, if they find out they might take it away."
Zim made a 'Hm' noise in agreement and even though the human's couldn't see he gave one short nod of his head. Skoodge couldn't see into the chamber they had escaped to so he moved closer to Zim and the communicator.
"Oh," Skoodge and Zim heard a new voice in the background, "There shouldn't be two in here—Oh!" the voice cut in on himself, it was definitely male but very even toned and light. "You two must be the mostly human entries. We've never had two contestants competing as one before, glad to see you made it into evaluation."
"Thanks," Dib's voice came though in a flat tone. The human did not sound very thankful.
"Now, lets see here," the voice trailed off and Skoodge guessed that the demon probably was looking at some device or document that had the arena information. "Oh, oh my," he said in a worried tone. Skoodge's antennae twitched and flicked in nervous anticipation. Zim had a constant scowl at the communicator.
"What? What is it?" Dib asked, his voice higher pitched in what Skoodge knew to be an anxious tone.
"I'm sorry to say that you didn't make qualifications to enter the next round."
"What?!" Zim shouted just as Liz and Dib did, hopefully blocking out Zim's voice. Skoodge quickly clasped his hand over Zim's mouth to prevent further ranting. Zim scowled at him and Skoodge pointed to the device and flicked her antennae in annoyance. If Zim was too loud it would cut off all communication he had with Liz. Zim's antennae fell back in a defensive aggressive manner, but quickly released when Liz's voice continued, so Skoodge withdrew his hand.
"What were the qualifications?" She asked.
"Hmmm," the demon said sounding suspicious and the two Irkens stared at the device in Zim's clawed-hand. "Qualifying contestants needed to make over 1.0 kills. According to my records you made no kills."
"Your records are wrong," Liz argued and even though no one in the conversation could see both Irkens nodded, backing up her statement. "Dib killed that worm."
The demon snorted. "One spike could hardly kill that demon, the poison merely paralyzed him." Skoodge scowled at the device his antennae up and pointed forward in a challenging manner, beside him Zim's antennae mirrored his own.
"Liz killed a vampire," Dib said. Reminded of that Skoodge frowned. He hadn't been able to see what the Vampire that attacked her had done, but he was not pleased about this 'cop-a-feel' thing. He still didn't know what it meant and not knowing was very frustrating.
"Hmmm," the demon said thoughtfully. "Vampires are not true demons, merely humans warped though our energies." At this information Skoodge grew even more upset, as she was his human and no other human had the right to touch her. He was reminded of the ekimmus and had to work very hard to not hiss in anger.
"But he was a contestant, he had to count for something!" Dib exasperated.
"At least a partial kill," Liz added. Zim's constant nodding and his small agreeing sounds pulled Skoodge back to the conversation.
The demon sighed. "Yes, I suppose so. I can mark you down for .3 kills then, but that still isn't enough-"
"Dib killed that cockroach demon," Liz interjected, her voice stumbling over the word 'cockroach'. Something about those creatures greatly upset her, they made her act oddly.
"That was not a full kill, some of them escaped."
"But that was a colony-type demon, correct? Wasn't it actually made of multiple smaller demons?" Dib said, using some of the knowledge that Liz had given him about demon types. Skoodge had listened in as well and knew exactly what Dib was talking about. Colony demons were a band of one type of demon that grouped together instead of trying to kill each other in order to survive being around other small but dangerous demons.
"Yes, if you're counting numbers we should have way over 1.0 kills," Liz said.
"A colony class demon is a lesser demon, it could only enter as a colony," the demon said beginning to sound annoyed. "So therefore it only counts as one total."
"So give us most of a point, since he killed most of the entry," Liz said her voice firm. Skoodge could imagine her standing one hand planted at her hip as she faced the evaluation demon.
"Fine," the demon snapped the pleasant tone gone from his voice. "I'll give you .7 points, and that make totals only 1.0 points and you need more than that to continue so there! You are disqualified."
"But we killed one more," Dib said. "The ekimmus."
"Ah," the demon with a wicked delight. "He wasn't an entry so therefore he doesn't count at all," the demon said and made a mocking noise. "So prepare to be disqualified mostly-humans."
Zim opened his mouth, most likely about to shout and yell and scream at the demon for daring to destroy what was his, when Liz called out.
"Wait," she said and her tone was what made all of them pause, Skoodge had been about to launch himself off the wall again, ready to sprint over to save her. She didn't sound desperate, or terrified, or anxious. Her tone made both Skoodge and Zim cringe internally, she sounded like a Taller Irken about to point out a deadly mistake that a smaller had made.
"Are you saying," she continued in that same tone. "That a non-contestant was not only able to slip past the guards and get onto the field, but participate in battle-in front of the King-without having proper authority or paperwork to do so? Are you saying that grave oversight not only occurred, but has occurred and has been acknowledge and yet nothing has been done about it? That thing clearly interrupted the battle, it made it impossible for us to further engage with the other contestants and those contestants to engage with us. This means that the results of this battle have been tamper-"
"Stop!" The demon shouted out hastily before Liz could finish the word. "There has never been a case of outside interference," the demon said his voice quivering slightly. "A-And such a thing has not occurred today. There must have been a misfile in paperwork, yes, yes, of course." the demon said his his quick and breathy. "Of course he was an entry, of course it would count. H-However, because it is not a full demon either and does not have a physical form, it would only count for a partial point. In order to fight it would need to take a host and have the host kill for him to have any points as well. S-So, you understand right?"
"Where does that leave us point wise then?" Liz asked her victory clear in her voice.
"O-Of course you've met qualifications to enter the next round, over 1.0 kills," the demon said and Skoodge could clearly heard the submission in his voice.
"We understand perfectly, then," Liz said her voice smooth and sweet, yet Skoodge could detect something else, a viciousness underneath. "There had to have been a filing mistake. I'm sure the paperwork saying the ekimmus was a contestant will show up allowing us to proceed. Thank you for informing us of our qualification into the next round."
" Y-Yes, congratulations. I will go find that paperwork immediately," the demon said and Skoodge heard the sounds of footsteps quickly retreating.
"What was that all about?" Dib asked once the footsteps could no longer be heard. There was shuffling sounds and Skoodge heard Liz sigh.
"Well," she said amusement in her voice. "Because demons like to bet on these battles it would be like people addicted to blackjack finding out that extra cards from another deck had been added in. Riots would ensue and most likely the house would end up having to pay heavily to make up for it."
"You speak dookie," Zim said his anger masking his confusion.
"What is blackjack?" Skoodge asked.
"Oh," Liz said then launched into an explanation. "Well, it's a card game that's popular to bet on and the skill need to win is counting cards, remembering how many have been played vs how many are left and what cards have been played. So you can see how adding in more would really throw things off, it would make the dealer look like he was cheating them from winning, or favoring another into winning, hence riots."
"I understand," Skoodge informed her. Betting was a common activity on the Massive and a common form of entertainment among groups of Irkens. It was considered a horrible crime to cheat, however it was pretty common to fight or get rid of anyone that won or if an Irken owned too much monies it wasn't uncommon to find out that the Irken went 'missing'. But to cheat in the event itself was a horrible thing to do, worthy of deactivation even, but that was only amongst other Irkens. Cheating against other species was almost expected, it would be unheard of for any Irken to loose a bet with a non-Irken.
"What now?" Dib asked.
"Sit," Liz said and Skoodge heard shuffling again. "I don't know how long the evaluation will take. So we sit and wait, and reserve our strength. Hopefully we won't go first in the next round and you'll get a chance to see how things will go from here."
"We did okay out there," Dib said.
"Lady Luck was on our said, hopefully she'll stick around," Liz said,
"Eh? Zim saw no female helping you," Zim said confused and Skoodge nodded to Zim indicating that he also did not see this 'Lady Luck' assisting them.
"No, no," Liz said with a soft chuckle. "It's a human expression, it means that we were lucky."
"Yes," Zim agreed now that he understood. "Lucky like a doughnut," he said and Skoodge nodded agreement. Doughnuts were indeed very lucky.
