Dib leaned against the cold metal wall as he was waiting he stared at the door in front of him. Once again the boy found himself fighting his arch nemesis in a battle to save Earth. The Membrane child had tracked the alien to a power plant. He wasn't sure what the Irken was up to here, but he knew it couldn't have been any good.

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard footsteps coming down from the hall to his right. Even though he had a feeling of who it was, he prepared his homemade laser gun and stared into the dimly-lit hall.

"Don't you dare leave me behind like that again," growled a cold voice.

"Sorry Gaz but I saw Zim and was hoping to catch him," Dib replied as he eased up. "I'm glad it just you behind me. At first I thought he had tricked me."

"Well you're lucky that this plant was built like a goddamn hallway, because it would be a lot easier for him if we both got separated and lost," she retorted.

"He should be in there," Dib said as he turned to look at the door. He then turned back to his sister with a worried look.

Rolling her eyes, Gaz pushed her brother to the side and reached for the handle on the door. "You know I can handle myself Dib," she said slightly irritated with him.

Even though Dib knew this to be true he couldn't help but worry. Zim had become too dangerous for him to fight alone and found himself fighting the Alien with his sister more often than he would like. The only positive about this was that it was finally an excuse to hangout with her.

Gaz cautiously opened the door and peered into the room. It was a decent sized square room with a metal staircase leading to a catwalk that crossed the length of the room. The room was decently lit but there were still a few dark spots most of them were along the catwalk. A maze of large pipes stretched out over the floor at the other end of the maze was another door with a sign above it. Although she couldn't read it, she had a feeling it was the place they were looking for.

Gaz turned to Dib and gave him the all-clear sign. Slowly the two pressed forwarded and crouched by one of the pipes. Dib stuck his head out and began scanning the room for himself. Suddenly he ducked back down as a bright red bean zipped through the air passing through were his head had been.

"Foolish Dib Stink. You won't stop me this time!" shouted a voice from the darkness.

With only the angle of the laser to go off of Dib quickly fired back in that direction.

"I've stopped you before Zim! Today won't be any different!" Dib yelled back as he watched blue beam dash across the room. He knew it was risky to be watching it, but he was hoping that the light would help him spot Zim.

Luckily for him as the beam hit the wall it shined off of what he could tell was Zim's weapon. Quickly he turned to where Gaz was to info her of the Irkens location, but as he looked over he realized Gaz wasn't there anymore. He quickly darted his eyes around the room and found her. She had made her way over to the staircase of the catwalk and was slowly starting her way up.

Now knowing what she was up to Dib knew he had to keep the Irken's attention on him. This would be risky, but they both knew Zim wasn't very strong and getting close up gave them a decent advantage.

"See no matter how hard you try I will always beat you and save my planet," screamed Dib as he opened fire and darted for the next pipes in front of him. His enemy returned each one of his shots, but Dib zig zagged out of each beam's path. He had reached his cover without a scratch and could hear a growl in the darkness.

"If you're so brave human why don't you step out of your cover and fight me," bellowed Zim.

"This coming from guy hiding in the shadows," Mocked Dib. More frustrated noises echoed from Zim's location. Dib knew he had the Irkens full attention but most importantly Zim was now frustrated and this usually resulted in him making more mistakes. Deciding to press his way forward. He jumped over the pipe and dash to the next one. The room lit up as the two opened fire on to each other.

Just as Dib was about to dive into his cover one of the red beams collided with his left shoulder. Ignoring the burning sensation he duck into cover. Once down he peered over to the hole in his clothing. The revealed skin shone a bright red and as he sat there the pain made itself known. The teen reach into one of the many pockets on the inside of his jacket. He pulled out a small jar of green gel. It was aloe. A special type of aloe he had begun making to fight all the laser burns he had been getting. Dib opened the jar and scooped out some of the green gel and started to slowly apply it to the burn.

His finger circled the burn with the gel and gradually the pain began to pass. He knew that the gel would need more time to properly heal but for now it would at least stop the pain. However he didn't have the time to sit here he needed to distract Zim.

Zim began to speak "Stop hiding you-"

Before he could finish Gaz had sprung her attack.

"Got yo-"she too was cut off by maniacal laughter that now filled the room.

"Thought it would be so easy didn't you pathetic worm?"

Dib was confused with what it was going but suddenly saw a red beam of light zoom across the room from the opposite position Zim was originally. The beam hit its intended target and Dib heard Gaz winced in pain.

"Gaz!"

"I'm fine, Dib" she grunted

"Not for long," laughed Zim

To Dibs horror Zim began opening fire on Gaz. Each one of the shots fired came from a different corner making it very hard for Dib to shoot back at his nemesis, but nonetheless he wouldn't just sit there and let his sister get shot up. As he shot wildly he began his ran towards the catwalk.

"Oh, trying to help your weak sister. Well don't worry I have something special for you too."

Just as Dib approach the staircase a small metal disc with spider legs shoot out of its hiding spot catch the teen off guard. Before he could react to its presence, the desk shout out purplish energy tentacles that quickly wrapped around Dib's arms and legs. Laughter once again filled the room.

"Foolish humans, you've fallen right into my trap."

The device slowly moved Dib until he could finally see the Irken standing triumphantly on the catwalk. Zim's foot atop of his sister's stomach. Many parts of her shirt had been burned off revealing the charred skin beneath, however to Dib's relief she was still breathing.

"Let her go Zim. You can have me but leave her out of this"

"Well you see there's a problem with your request Dib-beast."

The alien lifted his leg up off her stomach.

"Your smelly sister has also been a thorn in my side lately and I can't suffer a rival, even an insignificant one as her. So I will kill you both"

As finished put his foot down onto her throat. With a smirk across his face he watch his mortal enemy react.

"NOOOO"

Zim broke into laughter and Dib closed his eyes. The laughter was quickly replaced by a snapping noise and a high pitched scream. Upon opening his eyes, Dib, saw Zim reeling on the ground his leg contorted and Gaz slowly getting up. As the Irken thrashed about a strange device fell out of his pocket and plummeted to the ground below. It shattered upon impact.

Dib felt his constraints being loosened and was soon dropped by the device. He quickly rushed up to his sister. The Irken screaming had finally stopped. He arrived to find Gaz leaning on the guard rail and locked into a deadly stare off with Zim. Neither one of them moved or glanced Dibs way.

"You okay Gaz" he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We have more pressing issues right now," her voice was riddled with pain. She still refused to look away from Zim.

He took this as her way of saying she was fine. He then turned his attention to the alien lying on the floor in front of them. His gun now pointed at the Irkens head.

"I told you. You will always lose."

Zim just growled in response.

"Oh got nothing to say," Dib gloated.

"Dib just kill him already"

Dib turned to stare at a sister.

"Oh don't worry Gaz he's incapacitated"

"Well then you deserve what you're about to get"

Dib gave his sister a confused look, but then suddenly felt something sweep his legs out from under him and he fell face forward onto the catwalk.

"We'll see who's the loser once I blow this place up." shouted Zim as his PAK legs carried him down to the ground below.

Out of frustration Dib slammed his fist into the catwalk. He could hear zim slam the door below them.

"Nice going Dib," growled Gaz "Now this is going to take longer"

"I'm sorry Gaz I forgot he had those."

"You forgot! And here I thought you were

supposed to be prepared for anything against him," mocked Gaz.

Dib picked himself off the ground. Once up he began shifting through his pockets for his jar of aloe.

"Here you need some" he said as he opened the jar. Gaz just stood there staring at him. Sighing he stuck his fingers into the gel and scooped some out. Gaz shivered when he began applying the gel to the burnt areas of her skin.

"Still not used to it"

She only nodded her head in response. Dib slightly chuckled, but stopped as he started to examine her burns. Most of them the skin had just bubbled, but in a few areas the skin had turned black. He knew if it wasn't for his gel there would be permanent damage to her.

"You sure you're okay? These are pretty bad."

"Yes." she said stiffly? as she turned her gaze away from him.

"Feeling better?" he asked as he put the jar back into his pocket.

"Yeah, and thanks" she said quietly.

"No problem Gaz. I wouldn't be much of a brother if I just let you suffer."

"Let's just get this over with"

Gaz pulled yourself off off the railing and began making her way down the catwalk. The two of them had arrived at the door Zim had left through. Dib stared at the sign above the door it read control room. Just as he was about to turn the handle he started to hear yelling coming from the other side. He quickly turned to Gaz and stared at her with a confused look. She too was confused by the yelling. Was this some kind of trap that Zim was trying, Dib thought to himself.

Deciding there was only one way to find out, Dib reached for the handle and slowly opened the door just a crack so they could peek in. What they saw shocked them. Zim stood in front of a large computer screen and on its display for two larger looking Irkens.

"I'm being set up, my Tallest," Screamed the alien.

"No you're not our readings show the florpus originated from Earth and we know you caused it." Said the Irken with red eyes.

"Why else would Earth show up in our flight path? Continued the Irken with purple eyes.

"I wanted to show the Tallest my success," Zim said, shaking.

"That success almost killed our entire fleet Zim and now you must be punished and we know what to do for it." Smirked the Irken with red eyes.

"No my Tallest I…" before Zim could finished the Irken with purple eyes cut him off. "Silence Zim."

Zim shut his mouth and his antenna dropped down as stared down at his feet.

"Good, now your punishment is to learn the truth. So you see Zim your mission is a lie. You are not an invader and you will never be one because we exiled you to that planet as you are nothing but a defective and a disgrace to our people." Lectured the Irken with red eyes.

"You are to never leave that planet and don't contact anyone off world either, or we will destroy you. Do we make ourselves clear Zim," asked the Irken with purple eyes. Zim didn't respond he just continued to stare at the screen.

"Do we make ourselves clear Zim," demand the red eyed Irken.

Finally Zim spoke. "Yes, my Tallest" The membrane children could tell there was a great amount of sadness in Zim voice.

"Enjoy your pathetic new home, Zim," joked the Irken with purple eyes. Both of the tall Irkens began to break into laughter as they cut the transmission.

Zim continued to stare at the blank screen and for a long time no one moved until finally Dib pushed the door open. With his gun raised he slowly walked towards the alien. Each step he took Dib was worried that Zim would do something, but the alien never moved. Once close enough Dib pressed his gun against the Irken's head. He stood prepared to pull the trigger but everything about this didn't feel right. He always wanted to beat him but never like this. In the end though he decided it was best to take the shot. However just as he was about to pull the trigger he felt someone lowering his arm. He glanced to his right to see Gaz. He stared at her with a puzzled look.

"There's no point Dib he's already dead,"Gaz said as she turned to look at Zim and if he's not well he's kind of stuck here now," she continued.

Dib only nodded in agreement and decided it was probably better if you took the alien in alive. He began rummaging through his pockets once more to find his pair of handcuffs.

"You really can fit a lot into your pockets," spoke Gaz

"Well you never know what you'll need," responded Dib as he pulled the cuffs out. He returned his attention to the Irken but found the spot he had occupied was now vacant. Dib gently pushed his sister aside.

"Don't you push…" she stopped as she realized what he was looking at.

"He's gone"