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Base

As Clone Dib smiled at Mary as she talked, he can't help comparing her to someone.

But who…?

It's there at the back of his mind.

~/~

Purple stared at Red as he loomed over Tary.

Zim, unnoticed, on the ceiling.

Red growled.

Tary ran.

~/~

The Fight Extended (Sorry!)

The room was still darkened from the power being cut off. The only light came from the dim floor lights (because Irkens like ambushing from the ceilings, they were just dim enough to have a darkened ceiling).

The Computer was furious that it has severely limited functions from the power loss. But…

It still retains control of the parental units.

He slowly caused them to back away (well aware that Zim is going to initiate his own smackdown.)

Wait a moment.

There's another lifesign in the base.

Scanning…. Scanning… There.

A Human hiding in the corner of the storage room Mary and Clone-Dib are.

The units stealthily backed out of the room unnoticed, taking the distraction of Zim dropping from the ceiling and Clone Mary running to safety.

Using the Parental units, Computer manually adjusted the vents access points for the other Clone Mary to get down safely through an alternate route where the unknown Human is hiding.

With that done, the two greased their wheels and joints for better stealth, and armed themselves.

Glitching and grinding slightly from not being used in a few centuries, they were ready.

The units grinned.

A Gaz warily gave them space and noped right out of the room as they rolled down the hall.

Back with the others…

When Zim landed, he and Purple tried to tackle Red, but he dodged. Activating his legs to get away, Zim merely gripped a pair of legs.

Red yelped as Zim yanked it back and got a good grip.

He then started to spin in place and Purple backed away.

Red desperately clawed at the ground to stop, but Zim was far stronger and his PAK legs were made of far superior metals and durability than his. (Zim had a lot of free time and gave himself plenty of upgrades)

After the second spin, Zim used the momentum to yank Red over his shoulder and slam him into the ground before him!

The kiddos winced on impact. "Ooooh! That's gotta hurt!" Mary grimaced.

Then she and Stell did a double take at Blue and Teal eating popcorn and Teal apparently recording the fight on his camera from earlier.

"What? It's like watching the superbowl!"

Then Stell looked around. "Where's Nova?"

Red tried to stand but was quickly sucker punched by Purple.

When the girls looked back, Zim vanished again.

"Uhhhh… guys? Where did Zim go-"

Mary spotted Zim rapidly sprinting around the walls, smashing out more lights on the floor, leaving the ones near the kids alone.

Even Purple was getting scared.

"Zim…?"

Suddenly Purple flashed back to that day he was banished. Zim used similar tactics.

First, he would get the lights to disorient the enemy (them), then rapidly circle them in random directions dodging behind anything in the room and slinking away in a different direction until they couldn't track him.

A glance at Red, showed he didn't remember this. Seriously? It's the same tactic!

Baffled at his old friend, his Squeedily Spooch beat steadily.

Another light smashed off behind him.

No sound.

Even then, he was quiet. Now? Even more so. Stronger too.

He noticed the lights near the kids stayed on, just like with the crew that day.

Zim didn't want them hurt. Just his target.

Somehow, Red stood behind him.

It was like that day where they stood back to back, terrified.

But today, he wasn't.

He wasn't scared. Why?

Simple.

The lights where Red was standing were smashed out while Red was confused.

The ones near Purple were left alone.

Red stood back to back with him. In Reds fear, he assumed Purple had his back.

Purple looked back at him and took a few steps back.

Only one light over here was left on, where Purple was currently standing.

Red was left alone in the dark.

When Red looked at him confused, Red missed the light shining off Zim's maniacal grin, practically breathing over Red's shoulder.

Gripping his shoulder, Zim yanked Red into the darkness.

What sounded like a brawl sounded in the shadows further in the room.

Purple glanced back at the kiddos and grinned.

Then he, too, ran into the darkness to join Zim in this fight.

Clary looked up at movement in the vent before her.

She startled at another Gir Unit (Nova) standing there.

"Follow me! I'll get you out of here."

"Uh… thanks?"

Reluctantly she followed.

~/~

When the fight ended, and Red's PAK deactivated, the power was restored and the regular lights came back on.

Purple held Zim as he let go.

Until the Computer alerted them to one last intruder in the storage room.

Emotionally overwhelmed, they all gathered into the room

~/~

Galloway waited until that man walked through the portal. His aim was steady as he aimed his gun at Mary.

It doesn't matter, apparently Red has a clone of her stashed away.

He can kill her, then kill Stell and have the fake take the credit and finally end this round.

(Tak and Skooge entered the room, frustrated with all the sealed entry points. Tak's gut told her to come here, so she dragged Skooge with her.)

What the-? More tall Irkens?

Well whatever.

He refocused his aim.

Where did that new female go? (Mala discreetly watched her co commander as she scaled the walls to the back corner of the room.)

He wasn't prepared for that same man to reappear after he walked through!

In his shock, he shot him in the chest near his shoulder.

The alarm blared.

He turned his aim to Mary

(Tak made it right above him unnoticed.)

One shot!

BANG!

~/~

As the group neared the entryway to the storage room, they heard a gunshot.

Everyone froze.

Then…

"MARY!" Stell screamed.

Reality snapping back into focus, they skidded to a stop to take in the scene as a second shot rang out.

Galloway was being tackled by Tak, Mala and Skali, the Parental Units had their guns aimed at him, and Mood tended to Dib.

Mary had her head whipped back.

Blood dripped down her forehead.

Slowly, she fell backwards until she slumped to the floor.

Unmoving.

While, everyone's gaze was on the two Humans, Blue….

Blue turned his gaze to the intruder.

Mr. Galloway, Mary and Stell's teacher.

His eyes widened.

So that's what he forgot!

He gripped his hands into fists.

In the Alternate vision, Galloway was the only member of the raid to get past Zim into the base.

Mary was shot, but at the Resisty.

It was supposed to be Tary who was shot! That was why they made her! So Mary could live!

He didn't even notice he was angrily stalking his way over to him. The two Gaz's dutifully held him. Tak watched him steadily, wondering what he was going to do next.

She was supposed to live!

Stell was once again holding a still Mary when she barely noticed Blue stomp away.

"W-wait…. she's still br- SHE'S STILL BREATHING!" She screamed.

Zim rushed to Mary's side.

Zim gripped her shoulder and shook his head. They watched on as Zim knocked out a very confused and frantic Dib Membrane and ordered Purple to take him to the Med Bay after Zim ripped off his torn skirts to stop the bleeding to both the Humans.

Galloway glared at Blue as he approached.

Blue twitched.

As Zim carried Mary to the Med Bay in a mad dash.

He startled slightly at a furious Blue yanking a struggling Galloway by his hair down the hall, to the room where the other Humans were still being held captive.

Zim smiled and continued his trek.

He had a surgery to do.

Funny… before he tried to kill this man, now he has a veritable army there to protect him at his command.

And outside, the storm finally started to calm.

~/~

Out in the hall, there was silence.

Zim, Purple and 4 other Gaz's worked tirelessly to save Dib and Mary.

Nova led a silent Clary to the unsurprised group who gently took Gir from her back.

Clary and Tary glanced at each other. Stell sat on the floor between them, staring at her hands. Tak on the opposite wall across from Stell. Skooge stood next to her.

"Clone?" Clary asked with a raised brow.

"Yup." Tary leaned against the wall.

She nodded and sat on the other side of Stell.

"It was supposed to be me." Tary eventually hiccups. She banged her head against the wall.

Stell glanced at her.

"Arrgh! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME!"

Tary then broke down and slid to the floor, hugging her knees as she cried.

Stell sat there unmoving. Soon, she slumped to the side, leaning against Tary.

She flinched at the movement, but kept crying.

~/~

Clary sat there across from herself.

She's was definitely a more recent version compared to her.

She sat there numb.

That clone was made to save Mary's life.

She was made to see what made Mary special.

How is this their lives?

~/~

The Next Day

The media kept a cautious distance from Zim's base.

Or… more accurate, the now empty lot where it once was.

An anonymous user submitted a video of what happened. As well as what happened to Gir.

Needless to say, everyone's tense.

Camera crew recorded shakily as the reporters reported what they knew.

The silence from Almighty Zim unnerved them.

A hiss.

"There!" Someone in the crowd pointed to the elevator shift opening.

Four PAK legs stabbed the edge of the opening. And up came Zim, himself.

The crowd dared not do anything to provoke him.

He touched down on the dirt, recalled his PAK legs and calmly walked towards the reporter.

Someone give that woman a raise for keeping her shaking to a minimum and standing firm where she was.

He gave her a nod and faced the crowd. She gestured to her cameraman to focus on him.

~/~

"As many of you are aware, a Final Battle has occurred yesterday evening."

The crowd held their breath.

Stell sat vigil by Mary's side, listening to the heart monitor as she slept away.

The news played on a monitor Computer provided.

"Yesterday, we discovered that it was Mary's 11th birthday. Stell and Blue worked together to customize yesterday's plot for the occasion. What started out as a small plot, quickly went sour. Apparently… a group of Humans found an old device of ours that resulted in last night's storm!"

"That storm was artificial? It did come from nowhere…" She trailed off.

Blue huffed. Exhausted over the unconscious Galloway. Beaten to unconsciousness.

Apparently the other Humans finally died. Meh, whatever.

He double checked his restraints before leaving.

"Indeed. It is currently unknown to that groups whereabouts, but they were responsible for the storm, not us."

"Understood."

It has happened before, someone turning on an old device. Not knowing how they worked has sometimes resulted in teaming up with Zim to stop mass chaos. Rare as it was.

(There was even one embarrassingly memorable occasion when, on a calm when all aliens were off world, they called Zim! Dark days that was… Zim still holds it over them!)

"As a result of the storm, the Resisty decided to ambush them."

They collectively winced at that. Idiots. Also, they were confused by Zim snickering!

Tak, having just walked in the room, raised a brow to Stell in question.

Stell smirked, called for Teal (who flew in and cartwheels to her) and saluted.

Stell told him to show Tak his photos from the Resisty.

"Wait… didn't someone prank them-?"

He just flat out started laughing.

Skooge walked into Tak laughing. At his curious gaze, she came over and showed him.

"THAT masterpiece was all Stell, Blue and Mary. Alongside their respective GIR units."

That got them laughing. It was hilarious to see…

"While that glorious prank was in the making, the Resisty was ALSO decided on a small raid on my base."

By the end, he turned serious.

"Through the actions of a fellow Irken, whom was once my leader when I, myself, was an Invader. His name was former Almighty Tallest Red. He co ruled the empire 3,000 years ago up to the day I destroyed the Earth for decades. Through his actions to which you bore witness, I lost an old friend. Gir."

He subtly clenched his fists behind his back.

Purple sat alone watching Dib as he slept. It was practically a mirror to the clone just yesterday.

He did, however, notice many scars the clone lacked when he did surgery. The muscle the clone lacked as well.

Small changes, easily missed.

He wondered if either of Mary's clones had similar differences.

He supposed the muscle and the scarring came from the fights. Even the highlights in her hair were missing.

He stood up to actually look at Dib Membrane. Gently turning him, mindful of the almost healed gunshot wound. (Irken healing at its best!) Just another scar to the collection he supposed.

The crowd turned scared.

"In short… through various battles in base during the raid, at which point Stell and her group, with Mary, returned to base to fight…"

It seemed like everyone held their breath.

"Now for the results of this last battle of the 403rd Human Ranked: Dib named Mary."

Everyone below base was already briefed by Zim by what he was going to say. They agreed. Either way, it didn't change them leaving, but they also had to consider if Stell and Blue can't follow.

"Has reigned victorious. Mary wins."

Cheers erupted everywhere.

"Let the promised evacuation commence."

With that, he retreated back to base.

By saying she wins, Blue and Stell can simply return to Irk, unnoticed in the ensuing swarm of evacuees, where they would be protected against retaliation from Humans and the Resisty when they eventually notice Zim's gone.

They all leave when the two Humans wake.