Dib was in area that was both new and familiar.
Finding himself laying on the floor the black-haired young man groaned and got to his feet. Standing up he saw a large room, bright walls and grey tubes surrounding him. In front of him was a series of purple tubes. A person seemed to be laying in one of those tubes, just floating there. Rubbing his eyes Dib gasped and backed away once he realized who the person was.
"No no no..."
In the tube was Gaz.
As hard as he tried to stop it he couldn't help but cry. He didn't know why she was there but at the same time he didn't even want to know. He had once seen what Zim had done to his captives, and it wasn't pretty. But why would Zim do this? They were allies. Was this all a lie? Had he even changed? After years of holding it in, Dib finally broke. Dib laid on the floor, hands covering his eyes as he cried. He fainted like a coward and now his little sister was paying for it. Dib felt his entire world falling apart, like he was in a church and the glass windows shattered one by one. As Dib sank deeper and deeper into the ground his feelings were interrupted by a loud sign
"God, stop whining" a voice behind him complained.
Dib got up, the voice incredibly obvious. Dib looked to see Gaz staring at him with an expression that was both intense and annoyed.
"Gaz, you're fine!" Dib said with relief.
Gaz rolled her eyes in response.
"Of course I'm fine, why are you so paranoid?" Gaz asked darkly.
"It's just... I've seen what Zim's done to some of his prisoners. But why are you in this tube?"
Gaz sighed.
"It was Zim's idea. I'll explain I guess"
Flashback
Zim stared at his fallen former nemesis, lying motionless on the ground.
"What is this, some kind of defense mechanism? I told you Dib, I'm not going to attack you, stop with this attempt to evade me" said Zim.
Gaz groaned.
"Ugh, I knew he would do this. Does he have any idea what is this is like? Now I have to deal with an obnoxious idiot. I..."
"Easy, easy" Zim responded.
Zim took a look at Gaz's furious expression and seemed to be deep in thought. Once he thought of a solution he turned to Gaz.
"Alright, I think I can figure out what's going on with you" said Zim.
"Ooooh he likes yooouuu" GIR said to Gaz.
"Silence GIR! Now, I have a plan. I can take you to my base and we can figure out why this is happening. Agreed?" Zim asked.
"Well your house is creepy, dense, full of secrets... and I respect that. Yeah, I'll go" said Gaz.
Zim looked at Gaz, swearing that he saw a smile. As he looked closer the smile vanished and was replaced by a scowl. Gaz looked at Zim, wondering why he was staring at her. As she let out a growling noise Zim backed away, a nervous look on her face.
"For once I understand the Dib" said Zim.
Gaz merely rolled her eyes but stared at Zim as he continued to just stand there.
"Are you gonna pick him up?" Gaz asked in annoyance.
"We may have a truce but I'm not touching him" Zim replied.
Gaz groaned and began picking up Dib. He was surprisingly easy to pick up and hold, so Gaz put him over her shoulder. Despite the height difference Dib was still relatively easy to carry so the two began to leave, GIR excitedly following them. Once they got to the lab Gaz dropped Dib on the floor, not caring how soft she was. Satisfied that there wasn't any blood Gaz walked over to Zim.
"Alright now I think I have something that can help figure out what´s going on. You see that tube over there?"
"Yeah" Gaz replied in an uninterested tone.
"Get in" Zim replied bluntly.
Gaz just stared, unable to process what the alien was saying. This quickly turned to anger as Gaz began to view this tube as an insult to her. She was hurting and he expected her to get in some cramped space. Gaz walked slowly towards Zim, fury on her face. Thoughts of how she changed were quickly brushed aside the further she walked. Once she got to Zim she stared at him with a hot intensity, almost begging him to dare and defy her. In response Zim crossed his arms with a blank but determined stare on his face. The battle continued for a few seconds until Gaz finally sighed and no longer had an angry figure.
"Damn you're good" Gaz said with a mixture of annoyance and admiration.
"I know, now get in" Zim replied calmly.
Knowing she had been beaten Gaz accepted defeat and got into the tube, Zim giving her a smug smirk. As much as Gaz wanted to punch it off him she complied and stayed in the tube. After that Zim went to his computer to run calculations.
End of flashback
"So, you're fine with this?" Dib asked.
"Hell no. This place is cramped and it brings back memories of the time you almost ruined my entire day. But at least this thing will finally be over" Gaz replied.
Dib stared at Gaz. It may not have been an elegant response but it still had some maturity to it. Dib smiled but Gaz´s scowl caught him off guard. He quickly redacted it but her expression seemed to calm down. As the two looked at each other Zim walked in, seeming more nervous than usual. Zim coughed loudly, signaling the attention of Gaz and Dib. As Gaz stared blankly and Dib worriedly Zim began to speak.
"I have looked at Gaz's blood and whatnot but things are, to put it simply, looking rather strange. Although I suspected this from the Dib a long time ago Gaz is... no longer human" said Zim, speaking the last three words in a rather fast way.
Dib stared at Zim in pure horror.
"Wha... how?" Dib asked, not sure how to respond.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. Now tell me Gaz, did anything happen before today that might have caused these changes?" Zim asked.
"Basically last night Dib took me to a bar" Gaz said before glaring at Dib. "And he told me to go talk to Torque. Torque was pissed at me because I may have caused problems at something, and he tried to kill me. I ran into the woods and found some... thing, that bit me on the leg. I killed Torque, blacked out, and woke up int the hospital. My wound was gone and that probably caused it" answered Gaz.
"I see. That explains... a lot. Computer! Show these two the state of Gaz!" shouted Zim.
"Do I have to? That takes up my data" complained the computer.
"Do it! Zim commands yooouuu!"
The computer made a noise akin to a groan.
"Gaz's blood appears to be 50% human and 50% of a more lupine nature. Her senses, most notably anger and smell, have increased greatly. It shows that the bite leaked something into you DNA and now this is happening" said the computer.
Dib stood there, unable to process what he had just heard, while Gaz gave her signature annoyed squinty look.
"So what are you saying, that I'm some kind of werewolf?" asked Gaz.
"Exactly" Zim replied.
Gaz's fists clenched, her teeth gritted. As she began to get let out some kind of inhumane sound she screamed at the top of her lungs, causing both Dib and Zim to back away in horror.
"WELL THIS IS FUCKING GREAT! FANTASTIC! I GET ADVICE FROM AN ALIEN AND NOW I FIND OUT I'M NOT EVEN HUMAN ANYMORE! FUCK!" Gaz screamed.
Dib and Zim stood there, eyes wide. After a few seconds Dib began to speak, although his expression was still one of terror.
"Uh Zim, can you leave me and Gaz alone for a second?" Dib asked.
"What, so she can do to you in one day what I've been trying to for years?" Zim asked.
"Look, she's my sister. I just want one last talk."
"Ok but if you let her out of the tube I´m not cleaning up the blood" Zim replied.
Dib gulped as Zim left, and he could have swore Zim was running. Dib looked in front of him to see Gaz´s glare. Regaining composture Dib took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Gaz, I know this is a major change, and things probably seem different."
"No, everything is perfect. What could I possibly have to complain about, aside from the possibility of becoming a savage beast and no longer being the normal one in the family?" Gaz replied sarcastically.
Dib sighed.
"Gaz, I'm here for you. We can get through this. We're gonna find out what happened and..."
Gaz looked at him with a cynical glare.
"Ok, first you talk too much and then you drop out of the sentence. Just get on with it" Gaz replied.
Dib looked at Gaz nervously but continued.
"The point is... I'm here for you. You're still my little sister" Dib replied.
"Little sister who now may or not turn into a beast and kill you" Gaz countered darkly.
Dib just stood there, not sure of what to say. Eventually he sat down, holding his head in his hands. Gaz looked at him with a confused expression.
"Ok, why are you like this?" Gaz asked in all seriousness.
"What?" Dib asked.
"You're so dramatic" Gaz replied.
Dib sighed.
"Ok you know what? I'll admit it. To put it simply Gaz, our family, skool, town. They're all fucked. I see the darkness too ok, you're not the only one aware of the horrors going around. Zim snapped me out of this protector of the Earth stuff and it showed me how messed up this town is. So yeah, I'm dramatic. But only because I care about you. I'm here for you"
Gaz sighed.
"Look, I don't need your big brother shit but... I guess I kinda respect that" Gaz admitted.
Dib looked up at Gaz, stunned by what she had she just has.
"You..."
"Yeah yeah save it" Gaz interrupted. "I have a heart, big surprise. Now you can just let me out of this tube already?"
Dib looked at Gaz with suspicion.
"I... I can't" Dib admitted
"Dib, I'm not some monster... yet. You want to help people, help me."
Dib slinked down, feeling hopeless. Gaz groaned
"ZIM! DIB IS HAVING A BREAKDOWN!" Gaz shouted.
Zim immediately walked in, grumbling in and looking frustrated.
"Alright, what's wrong with him?" Zim asked.
"He got all touchy feely but won't let me go cause of the whole werewolf thing" said Gaz.
"You're taking this better than I expected" replied Zim.
"You think this isn't hard for me? I used to be the only normal one in this town and now I'm not even human. I'm pissed and I just want to leave but Dib is being a pussy" said Gaz.
Dib cringed and Zim took a more serious expression.
"Computer! Tell Dib-Stink that Gaz-Beast won't kill him!"
"Very mature" Gaz muttered.
"Gaz will not turn into a werewolf until the next full moon in the next three weeks. Until then her aggressiveness will increase but in the first few days she will crave raw meat more than she'll crave you" said the computer.
"See, nothing to be afraid of. Now get out" said Zim.
Dib got up, sighing but seeming more determined.
"Alright. We still have time. If we get enough meat maybe you won't go savage. Now where do we find that much meat?" asked Dib.
Zim smirked.
"You seriously think I've been observing this planet this long and don't know where to find meat?"
==xx==
In the normally peaceful supermarket a brother and sister duo were running furiously, a cart in their hands and confused costumers in their wake. It had been a day since the meet with Zim because the store took a while to open but once it was the chaos and fury of the purple haired girl was undeniable.
"OUTTA THE WAY HAG! VEGAN, YOU MAKE ME SICK!" Gaz shouted at the customers in her path.
"Maybe tone it down a bit before people become suspicious" Dib said darkly.
"FUCK THEM! Where is the goddamn meat?" Gaz said before sniffing.
"Yeah this sure isn't gonna draw attention" Dib said darkly.
Gaz ignored him, fully invested in her search for raw red goodness. The wheels of the cart turned as fast as they could go, Dib doing all he could to keep up. Gaz suddenly stopped and started sniffing the air.
"Oh god, I can smell it" Gaz said, almost moaning.
Dib made a disgusted look to Gaz's pleasure but reassured himself that he was going through changes.
"Let's just get going. I think that old woman is giving us the stink eye" said Dib.
"We'll go when we have the meat. Now follow me."
Dib sighed as Gaz went even faster. Dib ran as fast as he could to catch up with Gaz but somehow felt like he was only halfway there. Right when Dib felt like he was about to pass out a loud screeching noise made him stop dead in his tracks. Gaz was standing in an aisle like a deer caught in headlights. Dib walked slowly, not wanting to get on Gaz's bad side. Once he saw what Gaz was looking at it he immediately realized why Gaz was so transfixed.
In front of Gaz was an aisle full of meat. Sandwich meats like ham and turkey were on one row, and hot dogs, hamburger beef, and taco meat were on others. Gaz began to droll but Dib did not dare to say anything. Gaz's fixation on the meat was stopped only by a man's chuckling. Gaz turned to see a man with brown hair and a goatee who appeared to be in his early to mid thirties. She ran over and grabbed him by the collar intending to pull him up but his grounding was equal to her strength. Gaz looked at the man's strength with shock while he gave her a smug smirk.
"Running through this store an animal and looking like you're about to have an orgasm over some meat. Yep, you're one of us" the man said.
Gaz pulled the man closer, fury in her face.
"What. Are you talking about?" Gaz asked, almost snarling.
"Let me guess, you were attacked by some wolf thing but now the wound's completely healed and you have advanced senses, am I correct?" the man asked.
Gaz put the man down with a look of awe.
"Holy shit how did you..."
Before Gaz could finish the man opened his mouth, revealing his rather large set of teeth. Both Gaz and Dib were visibly shocked. Gaz was too shocked to speak so Dib spoke up.
"You're..."
Before the man answered he turned to Gaz.
"Is he cool?" the man answered.
"In no sense of the word. But he knows about me being a werewolf. He's my brother" said Gaz.
The man nodded.
"Alright, what's your name?"
"Gaz."
"Ok, listen up closely. Yes, I am a werewolf. I don't know how many of us there are here, but we're pretty spread out. Since you're here I might as well tell you what to expect. Right now you're only going through the first stage of the transformation. Judging by your reaction to the meat you've got some dark stuff in you that's supercharging the stages and that's not a good thing. The first stages are mood change and enhanced smells. Then we get to the second stage, where your aggressive nature becomes even more apparent. Even the slightest annoyance could trigger a brutal meltdown. The final stage is the most important, the full moon. As soon as the moon hits you're gonna undergo the transformation, and it will be even more painful than you could imagine. Your entire body will reshape and your mind will be replaced by that of a savage predator. Prior to the full moon you're gonna want to be locked up somewhere tight. If you kill anyone during the first full moon you'll be damned for life and it'll only get worse from there."
"So how do I stop it?" asked Gaz.
"You stay the first full moon without killing someone, you'll go back to normal once you kill the wolf that bit you."
"So how do we find the wolf that bit her?" asked Dib.
"Not sure. Werewolves are different. Some prefer to stay isolated, some gradually integrate into society, others are consumed by hunger. If you don't find the wolf that bit her before the first full moon and she kills someone during then the only way she'll be cured is with a silver bullet. So yeah, stay prepared and don't get too close with strangers."
"Isn't that a bit hypocritical considering what we're doing?" Gaz asked sarcastically.
"That's different. We both have the same problem so it makes sense that we talk. This town is full of idiots but some are not what they seem. Keep an eye out and be prepared for the full moon, that's all I'm gonna say. Here's the number of my meat man. If he asks tell him tell him John sent you."
John put out a piece of paper and wrote the number. Giving it to Gaz the man looked to see if there was anyone else near them. Satisfied at the absence he gave Gaz the paper and left. Looking at the paper Gaz took on a more serious expression.
"I have all this power. I am a fucking god" said Gaz.
"Uh, maybe that's not the message you should take from this" said Dib.
"Right. Sorry, meat hunger talking. Speaking of which, we're gonna need lots of meat before we even go to this guy."
"What, like twenty or something?" asked Dib.
Gaz looked at Dib with an "Are you serious" expression.
"No. Thirty-five at the least. God, how do you not know this?"
Gaz began to leave. Dib just stood there.
"Great. This is my life now" Dib said as he began stacking up meats.
A/N: Well here it is, the longest chapter so far. This one's pretty interesting for me because I pretty much wrote it in a day but so many ideas came to me as I wrote it. I really like how John shows Gaz's future and I'm excited to write more of the transformation. Please R&R and until next time, au revoir.