Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim
Author's Notes: Thank you for reading, please review.
(Back with Zim)
[Location: Hobo 13]
He had not called the Tallest like he promised, in fact he had cut all ties with them the moment he had got in the cab back on Irk. He had arrived to the dust-covered desert planet with the title "Hobo 13" in record timing. Where he had found the military training center with easy. The place was shabbier than he expected but he did is best to shrug it off. He wasted no time dwelling on the b metallic shacks around him. He was here for one person, and naturally Zim found him with ease.
He was in front of an enormous statue of some beast Zim had never seen, with greyish brown skin and a body of a behemoth; Sergeant Hobo 678 didn't even flinch when he saw him. In fact, he even smiled, as if somehow, he had expected this. "Invader Zim." He said as Zim approached.
"You don't look surprised to see me." Zim said the obvious.
"I knew it was only a matter of time." Hobo 678 said. "Ever since she left, I have been counting down the days."
"So, I was right." Zim said. "It was you, you're the one who trained Tak."
Hobo 678 smiled, yes, he knew Zim would come and for good reason. "She's been quite a handful I'm guessing."
"More like a thousand." Zim admitted.
"And now you're here, you want me to tell you how to beat her, once and for all." Hobo 678 snorted. "You Irkens are all the same."
"Actually, I need no help beating her." Zim said.
"Oh right of course." Hobo 678 scoffed. "You Irkens need no help, I forgot."
Zim suppressed a growl; it was obvious this guy had his opinions about Irkens. Zim wasn't surprised, no he was used to this kind of treatment. "I do not care if you believe me." He snapped. "I am not here to learn how to beat her."
Hobo 678 rose a brow, suspiciously. "Then why are you here?"
"Before she was on the run, Tak was inexperience and easy to take down, and while there is no doubt in my mind that she had improved, it's not what I'm after." Zim explained. "It's her sense of purpose, she has no doubts in her mind about who she is. She is determined and sure of her purpose."
"And you are not?" Hobo 678 asked.
"No, I have always played the part I was told to play, even though deep down I never believed in it." Zim admitted.
"You really are defective, aren't you?" Hobo 678 laughed.
"She told you." Zim stated the obvious.
"She did, but you were so successful I never truly believed her. Now her being a defect, that I can believe." Hobo 678 explained. "Her anger, she allows it to blind her to the obvious."
"I already know her weakness." Zim hissed. "I told you, I am not here to learn how to beat her. I want you to help me learn to be confident in who I am, in who I really am."
"And who is that?" Hobo 678 asked.
"That's just it, I really don't know." Zim answered honestly. "I did, once upon a time, but the child I once was is long gone."
"We shall see." Hobo 678 said. "It is my purpose to help others become more than they ever thought they could be. I will help you, but only because my culture demands it."
Zim smiled. "Good enough for me." He says.
Hobo 678 grunts then says. "Follow me."
Zim obeys and soon he is led away from the buildings and deep within the rocky terrain of the planet. There, he sees several other beings standing in a straight line.
"Fall in!" Hobo 678 orders.
Zim obeys the command with the speed and precision of the soldier that he is. Once he does, Hobo 678 addresses them.
"You are all here, because you are lacking in one way or another." Hobo 678 says. "Now I want you all to introduce yourselves starting from the left."
An alien with an ENORMOUS, throbbing head with green-gloved hands and a couple band-aids spoke up as he held his head. "I am Throbulator! I am a creature of pure headache! Yeeow, my head!" He cried out.
"Your NAME, that's all I want!" The Hobo 678 groaned. "GAH, you people are...NEXT!"
"Invader Skoodge... sir!" Skoodge said, saluting upon saying "Sir".
Zim turned his head, eyes widening. "Skoodge?"
"Zim?" Skoodge looks just as surprised to see him. "I thought you were summoned to the choosing."
"And, I thought, your assignment at the Great assigning would have killed you." Zim stated.
"Oh, I nailed that." Skoodge said proudly, "But the Tallest gave my victory to someone else and dumped me here. They said they'd promote me if I passed the evaluation here, so...here I am!" He said with a shrugging.
"You know they're lying, right?" Zim couldn't help but point out the obvious.
Skoodge doesn't bother denying it. "I'll prove myself worthy of them, you'll see."
Zim shook his head. 'Poor Skoodge.' He thought. If only he knew nothing, he did would ever change their mind. He stopped as a knew resolve filled him. Skoodge would know, because he would show him.
Hobo 678 spoke up. "Next!"
A crystalline alien with green eyes stepped forward. "Uma, from planet Luka!"
Hobo 678 nods. "Next."
An insectoid-like alien with his brain exposed at the top of his head screeched. "I am Insectus." He says nothing more.
Finally, Hobo 678 points to an orcish-like alien with green eyes. "And you?"
"Bangy, Sir." The creature answers.
"Excellent." Hobo 678 says skipping Zim on purpose. "Now then, you scum-puddling squad dookies, first task here...is to choose a leader! Anyone who disobeys the leader will be eliminated! So y'all had better think carefully, this is the most important..."
Skoodge immediately waved his hand in the air. "I choose Zim!" He states openly.
Zim freezes as all eyes fell on him. Of course, Skoodge would pick him. He was taller than him after all. It was only natural for a smaller to submit to their taller.
No one challenges Skoodge's suggestion so Hobo 678 nods. "Well, Zim it would appear your reputation proceeds you. Not surprising, surely a successful invader like yourself thinks you are fitting to lead."
Zim shrugs. "Actually, I think Skoodge has got this."
"What?" Skoodge looks confused. "Me?"
"Sure, I mean think about what the Tallest will say. You leading a squad to victory, they'll never be able to ignore that."
Skoodge beams. "Wow Zim, I am truly honored, I will gladly accept."
Zim smiled; the smaller Invader was so naïve. There leaders will never see him as more than a waste of space. Still, he knew Skoodge would never take his word for it, no he needed to show Skoodge just how terrible they were by showing him how Irkens should treat each other. That was the plan, he would show his fellow Irkens there was a better way, starting with Skoodge.
The others looked at each other obviously confused that an Irken of Zim's stature would let another out shine him.
"Very well!" Hobo 678 finally finds his voice. It's obvious he's just as confused. "Just remember... with leadership comes great responsibility! He said, pointing at Skoodge. "You take care of your team... and you survive! With HONOR!"
Skoodge salutes once more. "I will not let you down Sir!"
Hobo 678 nods. "Prepare yourselves, you slime-licking smort crabs, to face a series of trials! The finish line is the dreaded fortress of... PAIN!"
The word echoed throughout the desert, and Zim rolled his eyes as the others gulped. Seriously?
"Any mistakes and you will be beamed away, to a losers holding pen! Mistakes like...EATING A SANDWICH WHILE I'M TRYING TO BE DRAMATIC!" The commanding officer snapped at a horned alien who was snacking on a sandwich.
THA-WHOOOOMB! A glowing pale blue portal appeared in the air and a ray of light shot out from it. It snatched the alien up and he was sucked into the portal, making the sandwich fall to the ground.
"He's now in...the holding pen of PAIN!" Hobo 678 snapped.
The words around them echo once more.
Throbulator gulped. "The holding pen is painful!?"
"Yes!" Hobo 678 snapped.
"Does it have to be?" Throbulator spoke again.
Hobo 678 scratched his chin. "Not really... Now move it out!" He snapped as the aliens began moving along. Soon the team has reached a treacherous canyon filled up with lava. All of them had gathered next to a tree that was on one side of the canyon.
"First you must use your wit to cross the molten pit of hideous creaming pain!" their Hobo 678 informed them.
"Hey, don't we need power suits for this?" Bangy asked
"A power suit would provide some protection, but nothing will defend you from a stupid mistake!" Sergeant Hobo 678 informed them. He then jumps to the other side of the canyon, like it's nothing.
Meanwhile, Zim put his hands on his hips and smirked, this was child's play.
Hobo 678 smiles, he sees it in the invader as clear as day. He knows what to do and he will act like all Irkens do and take control. But Zim just stands there, looking at Skoodge, as if he is actually waiting for an order. This wasn't the Irken Tak had described to him, Zim was supposed to be ruthless and big headed. He was supposed to knock down all that stood in his way, and he would never let a lesser Irken outshine him.
Still, Zim makes no move to take Skoodge's position.
"We could form a bridge!" Skoodge suggest. "Then we can cross to safety."
Uma pointed at the nearby tree. "We can cut down this tree." She suggested. "That way we can walk across."
Skoodge looks thoughtful. "It seems sturdy enough, Zim what do you think?"
Awe, yes this was it. Hobo 678 was sure of it. Zim would take over now.
"I agree with Uma, this tree is a good idea, and it is the safest option." Zim says.
Hobo 678 deflates, he agrees...with Uma...he actually addresses her by her name and looks at her with respect! Hobo 678 had never known an Irken with such...tolerance?
Uma stands proudly and even smiles at Zim's acknowledgement. She never knew Irkens could be so nice, but here were two pretty decent ones right in front of her. Maybe not all of them were bad like she thought. "Bangy? What do you think?"
"I would feel better if we had protective suits." Bangy said.
"I can create a protective coating with my mucus." Insectus says. "That way if the lava shoots up, it won't hurt you."
Bangy looks sicken but nods. "If it is all we are getting, I will accept."
Insectus nods and spits mucus on Bangy until he is covered from head to toe. "Well?" He asked.
Bangy moves around a bit. "It's not as bad as I thought, and this will protect us."
"Absolutely, my people use it all the time when navigating there the volcanos of my home world." Insectus assured him.
A tower of lava shoots up and everyone lines up in front of Insectus to receive protection all but Zim, who shakes his head in obvious disgust.
"I'll accept the risk." He says.
Hobo 678 smirks, now that was more like an Irken.
Skoodge also declines.
"Are you two sure?" Insectus asked.
"Yes, besides you saw that lava." Zim points to the canyon. "We need you to use the rest of your mucus to cover the tree, so it doesn't get burned to a crisp."
Hobo 678 looks surprised, just when he thinks Zim is acting as expected he shifts gears. The Invader wasn't just letting someone take charge, he was also working with others. Others that he should see as lesser beings!
"That's a great Idea!" Skoodge beamed. "Now the tree won't break when we cross, the mucus will keep it strong and protected."
Zim nods and everyone pushes their weight against the tree, causing it break.
Insectus then uses the last of his mucus to cover the tree before they maneuver it over the canyon forming a bridge to the other side.
Skoodge still's himself. "I'll go first, to make sure it's safe."
The others nod and watch as Skoodge calmly begins to walk over the fallen tree to the other side. He makes it with relative ease and turns back to the others. "It's safe, but only one or two at a time."
Following his orders Uma goes next, she is not as balanced as Skoodge, and she nearly falls several times. Still, she makes it and Throbulator along with Bangy dare to cross together. It couldn't be helped; Bangy was too scared to cross alone.
Zim sighed in relief as they made it to the other side, only for Throbulator to trip at the last second.
Uma moves quickly and manages to pull him up right before he falls into the lava below.
"Ow, my HEAD!" Throbulator groaned as the sudden movement makes it throb more.
"Okay Zim you and Insectus." Skoodge ordered, obviously wanting to get everyone across as fast as possible.
Zim looks to Insectus who nods and together they cross, halfway through the ground behind them underneath the tree starts to give way.
"Run!" Zim yells and allows Insectus to race ahead of him.
CRA-KRAAAAK! The ground gives way and the tree starts to fall towards the pit of lava...
Insectus uses his strong legs to jump from the falling tree to the other side safely.
Zim does the same, but he already knows he has lost his chance. The tree is too far down, and he hasn't jumped high enough. He expected them to let him fall, he really did, but to his surprise Skoodge jumped down after him while the others held his legs. They had turned themselves into a living chain! Zim smiles as Skoodge grabs his outstretched hand. "Not bad soldier." He praised.
Skoodge beams, he knows he shouldn't take Zim's generosity seriously; he was always so mean to him when they were training together, but then again, he can tell Zim is being genuine. This is not the Zim he remembers, and it is not the alien scourge his exploits make him out to be. "You've changed you know." He says.
"You are too." Zim mused. "You're way more tolerable than I remember."
Skoodge laughed. Okay that was the Zim he remembered.
Zim laughs as the team pulls him up. "Thanks guys." He says.
Hobo 678 can't believe it, they all made it across, and Zim was thanking them for saving him, instead of blaming them for his failure.
"We did it!" Uma exclaimed. "I think we're the first to make it across without losing anyone!"
"That's great!" Bangy cheered "Victory for Us and our brilliant leader."
"Victory!" Everyone proclaimed.
Sergeant 678 growled, clenching and unclenching his fists as he looked at Zim.
Zim catches his glare and smiles, so the Hobo had wanted him to lose, well he wouldn't get that satisfaction, not today.
The sergeant whistles and assumes command. "This way, the next challenge awaits!"
They follow him past the lava filled pits and stopped before another canyon, this one however, was free of lava.
"This is the stinking canyon of the ferocious meat-thirsty Hogulus!" Hobo 678 spoke up as they stood before the canyon.
"Of pain?" Zim asked with a knowing smirk.
"NO. Not of pain." Hobo 678 snapped. "Now watch!"
He tossed a steak down into the canyon for a moment, nothing happens and then an intense growling could be heard from within. Just than a beast shoots out from a hidden cave below and rips into the steak. It looked like a spider and a Pig had a baby, and even Zim felt a shiver of fear run down his spine.
"The task is simple: navigate from this end to the far end... alive!" Hobo 678 told them. "Good luck." He said, nodding with his head and then taking off into the air using rocket boots.
Zim turned to face the others, who are all looking at Skoodge hopefully.
Skoodge looks troubled. "I suppose the only real safe way is to have someone distract the beast." He says.
"Skoodge that's suicidal." Uma argued. "I have never seen anyone survive against a hog beast before."
"You saw what happened." Bangy said. "We go down there, and it will rip us apart!"
"But we can't sacrifice a team member." Insectus yelled.
"Who says it needs to be a sacrifice?" Zim asked. "I have taken down beast as large as this before." He reasoned.
"You...you would face the foul Hogulus, for us?" Throbulator asked.
Zim shrugs it off like it's nothing. "I think Skoodge, and Bangy are right. That thing will maw anything that goes down there, but at least I can manage to hold it off until everyone gets away."
"I don't like it." Uma says. "We should face the monster as a team."
"You would fight with an Irken?" Zim asked.
"No, not an Irken." Uma says. "I will fight with my team."
Zim smiles. "You are a strange creature." He admits.
"You are not the first Irken I have met." Uma says.
"Let me guess, Tak?" Zim said.
"She has no sense of teamwork, unlike you." Uma says confirming his suspicions.
"I feel much better about Uma's plan." Throbulator shouts over his pain. "I do not like facing the monster, but I hate idea of leaving you to face it alone."
Zim is moved by their kindness.
"What's wrong?" Insectus asked.
"My people, I have no doubt we have destroyed some, if not all of your homes, but you don't-" Zim began.
"Sergeant Hobo 678 says the only way to be strong is to let go of the past." Uma explains. "That hatred, that sorrow, it can consume you, make you it's slave. Tak never did listen when he tried to explain that to her. Her anger towards you was evident and what it did to her was too." Uma says boldly. "I will not be blinded by such bitter notions; I choose to accept you for you who you are. We all here to become something better, You are here to become something better, my bitterness will only hinder your transformation and my own."
Zim smiles Hobo 678 may have his own miss givings about Zim, but he could see that his teachings held value. He needed to let go of the monster his programing had made him, he needed that Zim to disappear in past and stay their forever. "I accept your help, what say you Skoodge."
Skoodge looks scared but nods all the same. "I would be honored to fight by your side sir." He says honestly. And it was true, he always admired Zim, he was the shortest Irken in history, and he never let it hold him back. Skoodge felt inspired to do the same, the taller invader never made it easy for him, but he didn't let that deter him. No, it only encouraged him to try harder to earn his respect.
"I am scared." Bangy admits openly.
"We will not let you die." Uma assures him.
"We are in this together." Insectus agrees.
Bangy looks at all of them and nods. "Together." He whispers.
"Together!" His companions say as one and then they charge into the canyon.
Hobo 678 watches in amazement as the whole team runs down into the canyon to face the beast. the Hogulus, sees Uma first and charges.
The group goes to run for their lives, but Zim shouts. "Stand your ground, look proud and confident!"
Uma obeys instantly she tall and screams at the beast.
Insectus joins her and screeches loudly!
Zim and Skoodge go into duty mode their PAK legs drawn out like daggers.
Throbulator takes Bangy's hand and together with shanking legs they stand by their teammates and scream.
the Hogulus comes to a halt, he is obviously confused. Nothing has stood it's ground before him before.
Skoodge sees it's wariness and steps forward. "Go on, get!" He yells and throws a rock.
His team follows suit, throwing rocks the beast buys their bluff, mistaking their confidence with a force he doesn't want to mess with and runs back towards his cave.
"Walk." Zim whispers do not take your eyes off the beast.
The team obeys and soon they reach the other end of the canyon where Hobo 678 was waiting...
"Another job well done!" Skoodge said happily.
Hobo 678 frowned. "You scared my Hogulus." He looks pretty put out. "Did you know it would stop?"
"No." Zim admitted. "It's a standard strategy when facing large beast. Most people avoid them or run, but that just encourages their predator response."
Skoodge nodded. "We were taught in the academy to stand our ground and face a beast head on. If you carry yourself like a predator a wild beast will become warry out of instinct. The Hogulus was our numbered, no doubt nothing had ever stand up to it before. Rather than risk getting hurt in this unforgiving tertian it chose to retreat."
"Yes, well you all handled yourselves very well." Hobo 678 praised. "I must admit I am impressed. You still have your whole team; you have the true makings of a leader."
Skoodge smiles. "Thank you, Sir, but my team called this one." He admitted.
"Oh?" Hobo 678 asked.
"Yes, Sir. I asked someone to distract the beast, but Uma convinced us we stand a better chance together. And Zim was the one who told us to stand strong and not run."
"Excellent, a good leader listens to his team and recognizes what they bring to the unit. This group is a lot better than most I have had to deal with." Hobo 678 smiles at this. "Perhaps I missed judged some of you." He looks to Zim when he says this.
Zim gives him a respectful nod but says nothing.
Hobo 678 smirks. "But your next challenge will be even harder than what you have faced so far." He says as he leads the team through several trenches which blasted blue lasers all around them.
Skoodge notices a pattern in the blast and takes the lead navigating them through the trenches with ease. Several more trials awaited them, and over several days Skoodge led his team over the Acidic Lake of Fire, through the Maze of Suffering, and Hogulus Graveyard. A place where skeletons of hog beat laid in pits of tar. The team made it through by using the bones of the beast like steppingstones.
Finally at long last they reached it...The Fortress of PAIN! It had taken them over two weeks to make it and for a moment they fear they will have to ram the door open. However, the doors opened on their own as they stepped forward. Which was a good thing because they were just about tuckered out. Days of perilous trails and little sleep had really worn them down.
"Good work, team!" Skoodge praised them. "We did it!"
Hobo 678 steps out of the shadow. "Yes, well done, I am pleased with all of your efforts. However, I do have one question for you!" He pointed at Zim. "Why did you come here?"
"I told you." Zim said.
"Tell them!" Hobo 678 demanded.
"Zim?" Uma asked hopefully.
"I, I wanted to..." Zim looks to Skoodge.
Skoodge gives him a thumbs up.
"After the Choosing, I was given a lot to think about." Zim admitted, and to his surprise the memories of the Choosing, they started to come back to him. Judgment had deemed him defective and weak, and he and Lineage had...
"Zim?" Skoodge looks worried. "What's wrong?"
"I remember..." He said. "I remember the Choosing."
Skoodge bows instantly. "Congratulations my Taller!" He praises.
Zim flinches at those words and sees as the others start to look uneasy. No, this was not right, he was not...
Skoodge is confused to see Zim shake his head.
"Don't do that, don't bow." Zim says.
"But you are the Taller, now, you are better." Skoodge says.
"No, Skoodge I am not. We are both Irkens and you are no lesser than I am." Zim says forcing him to stand up right. "Besides friends don't bow to each other, it's weird."
Skoodge beamed. "Friends? Really?"
Zim nodded. "After I was considered as a possible leader at the Choosing, I felt lost." Zim admitted. I realized the person I had been to get there was all a lie, I know I can be better, and I know we can be better, I just didn't know how." He smiled at Skoodge. "But you showed me how."
"Zim, I don't know what to say." Skoodge feels out of his element. "I don't deserve any praise." He shakes his head.
"Just because our leaders never praise you does not mean you never deserved it." Zim tells him. "You are good leader and a loyal soldier. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that."
Skoodge looks worried. "Zim, did something happen with you and the Tallest?" He asked. "You are so close to them but..."
"They were never my friends Skoodge. We used each other to move up in the world. Surely you know that." Zim reasoned.
Skoodge nodded. "Still, you will upset them If you associate yourself with me..."
Zim laughs. "You want to know what's the best thing about being the Taller?" He asked him.
"What?" Skoodge dared to ask.
"I don't have to pretend to be anything I'm not, ever again, stand with me and together we can make Irk better for everyone." Zim offered Skoodge his hand.
Skoodge only hesitates for a second, he knows what Zim is suggesting, a coup to overthrow the Tallest. As a soldier he should defend his leaders, but he stops. For the past few weeks Skoodge had been learning what it truly mean to be a leader. A leader welcomes the ideas of his people and praises them for their success.
The Tallest never gave him the respect he deserved, nor did they praise him for his tireless efforts. Why follow leaders that would never acknowledge him? When his Taller was reaching out a hand to him, as his equal? He takes it, smiling. "I would be honored to follow you, my Taller."
Zim returns the smile. "The Honor is all mine." Zim admitted.
"Well, Taller Zim." Hobo 678 said warily. "What will you do now?"
Zim smiles. "Simple." He says. "I make good on my promise to the brains, It's time Irk changed for the better. He looks to the being who have been his team for the past week. "Who will join me?"
"Stick it to the Irken empire?" Bangy asked, he was no longer a scary cat, but a harden warrior who feared nothing. "Sounds terrifying." He admitted. "Let's do it!"
Uma nods. "It would be my honor to join you all." She admits.
"Sure, I got nothing else to do." Insectus agreed.
"The Throbulator looks forward to the screams of war!" Throbulator yells.
Zim looks to Hobo 678. "Well?" He asked.
"You are nothing like she described." Hobo 678 admitted.
"Tak is a good soldier." Zim told him. "I have done her wrong and I realize now the only way to stop her is to admit that."
"You think an apology will qual her rage?" Hobo 678 asked.
"No, but I still owe her enough to try." Zim stated. "Her life would have been far better if not for me."
Hobo 678 nodded. "I will go with you all." He stated.
"Really?" Uma asked.
"Tak has never listened to be before, but who can say no to some real action?" He shouts excitingly. "So where are we going?" he asked.
Zim smiled and answered...
"Home."
-To Be Continued