CHAPTER THREE
A/N: Hey y'all! I know Enter the Florpus just came out on Netflix- if you haven't seen it, it's a new Invader Zim movie and it's pretty good! I really enjoyed it (Besides Gaz being not as goth so we're gonna ignore that). As I was watching it I was considering if I wanted to include that storyline in the canon of this story or have it not matter to this story. I have decided yes- everything that happened in Enter the Florpus happened in this story as well. Besides Gaz wearing a blue shirt- I refuse to believe that actually happened). Anyways enjoy!
Gaz was walking home, "UGH! I'm so done with this dumb planet." She saw a can, crushed, lying on the ground, "Stupid life." She spat through clenched teeth as she then kicked the can with full force. It shot off the ground and landed on the temples of a small child, who then began to wail. Gaz hurried away embarrassed and even more agitated.
"Dumb babies" She muttered, "Always crying. I wouldn't cry if a can hit me."
Just then something pelted the back of Gaz's head and she fell to the ground face first.
Gaz's eyes lit on fire, blood was pumping hard and fast through her veins- and it ran hot. She got onto her hands and knees when-
"Oh! I'm sorry Ms. Purple-hair laaaady!" A high pitched voice rang from behind her. Gaz then swept her bottom leg underneath her, turning her around and knocking her attacker down.
"Ouchie!" The voice happily rang before springing up, "That was fun! Can we do it again!?" Gaz looked strangely at the green 'dog' that stand before her.
"Uh…" Was all she could muster before a realization hit her, "You're Zim's dog right?"
"Yuuuuuuup!" Gir proudly puffed out his chest.
She smiled, "Hey can you tell me if Zim is leaving earth?"
"Yuuuuuuup!" He smiled sweetly.
Gaz couldn't stop herself from grinning evening wider, "Well?! Is he!?"
"I dunnoooooo" Gir plopped down on the ground pulling out a taco from his head and munching down on it.
"What?!" Gaz scowled, shooting up, "But you JUST said you could tell me."
"No, I didn't." He smiled, "Mastah said no talk about him goin' back to Irk and changing his name to Tez to escape the tall mean men and the meanie huumans! Unless it is with him" Gir then got up to give Gaz's leg a hug, "Mmmm… this was a nice talk. Next time bring more tacos!" He then got ready to fly back home.
"Uh… Wait!" Gaz grabbed his leg from the sky, "If I get you a taco now could you take me to Zim?"
"I dunnoooo Mini Moose gets upset when I bring uninvited guests over…. No time to clean the house." Gir pondered.
"What if I get you a pizza too?" Gaz bargained.
"OKEI!" Then Gir blasted off full force with Gaz hanging on.
As they blasted through the air Gir knocked over several signs and busted through many walls. For the first time in her life, Gaz was afraid.
Eventually, they got to the green mechanical house, the "I love Earth" sign seemed to burrow itself into Gaz's mind. She stared at it intensely, her mind suddenly gone of all thoughts except the words on the sign and what they meant.
What Earth meant. Earth to her was nothing but a void. It was a hollow shell filled with hollow people, all filling themselves with needless passions. Pretending to have a purpose when in reality if one person were to disappear- that would change nothing.
People were sheep- following one after another. Each one trying to stand out, thinking 'maybe if people know who I am- I will matter' News flash people- even if you were the most famous person on the planet- no one cares. They may pretend to care for a few months at best but one day everyone is obsolete. Even the guys in history books. People may know your name but- no one cares. And in the end, you just get blamed for all the bad in the world. 'If ONLY they did it like this' That's what history classes are.
So what's the point? Why stay? What is the point of staying on Earth if there is nothing to stay for? There is nothing to love.
"GIR!" Gaz snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the voice boom, "Did you get the parts I requested?" Gaz looked over to see Zim standing in his doorway, hands at his hips.
"Ooooops… I forgot.." Gir looked down sad, "But I did bring pretty purple hair lady!" He perked back up.
"Purple hair..?" Zim looked around confused then making direct eye contact with Gaz, "YOUU!" He pointed, "Why are you stalking Zim?" Zim asked with a low accusing town.
Gaz narrowed her eyes, "Because you're hiding something. I want in."
"I hide nothing! Gir- why did you-"
"Gir told me you were leaving earth… Tez. " Gaz spat.
Zim stood back aghast, "What?! How did you- Why do you- PSH Who is this Tex…"
"Tez! Zim. I know your new identity for when you go back to Irk. Gir told me."
"GIR?! I told you not to tell anyone!"
"I forgot!" Gir bounced around.
"Ugh.." Zim pinched the skin where his nose would be if he were human, "Fine- yes. I am going back to Irk. Why are you so obsessed with this? I expect this from the Dib but not from you!"
"What's wrong with me?" Gaz questioned, placing her hands on her hips.
"Nothing!" Zim floundered, "I meant it as I did not expect such weird behavior from you-"
Gaz's glare burned deeper into him.
"I mean- such- such a curious! Behavior…. Usually, you just keep to yourself…" Zim prepared himself for any blows from the smaller human.
Gaz was about to smack the shit out of him for even slightly disrespecting her but- something in her stopped it. He wasn't wrong- she had been acting out of the norm. And if her mortal enemy's sister was trying to track down his plans she'd be suspicious too.
"... Alright, Zim. Fine. I'm just so sick and tired of being on this planet. It's dumb and if you get to leave I'm coming with you." Gaz crossed her arms and turned her face away- that was the first time she verbally expressed herself with another human since-
Zim eyed her cautiously, seeing if there was any sign this was some elaborate trick, "Okay Gaz-human. I will take pity on you and graciously invite you to join me on my mission to Irk. Meet back at the base tomorrow and I will have a list of demands you must meet before you join me." He puffed his chest out and closed his eyes smiling proudly.
Gaz once again glared at Zim, "Demands? You think I'm gonna listen-"
"AFTER SKOOL! That'll be all. Thank you for stopping by." Zim then ran inside and slammed the door.
Gaz stood there dumbfounded. Was she actually going to go through with this?
As Gaz walked home she pondered her life and everything that happened just now.
In that moment Zim had shown more compassion for her than anyone in her life ever had. And that is saying a lot- did you see how he offered her to come with?
She opened the front door and walked into the living room- she's not even disappointed when the first thing she sees isn't Dib on the couch but a floating screen. Oh, wait- two. Great. Dad's in town.
"GAZ!" The screen shouted in a shrill noise, "You won't believe what dad and I have been up to! There was-"
Dib was cut off by his father's booming voice, "QuietDib! This is top-secret government work! No one must know about it!"
"But dad- you let me know about it- I'm not a government employee," Dib questioned.
"No! But you're my son! Of course, I'd show it to you!" Professor Membrane laughed heartedly.
Dib joined in, "Awe dad!" The screens then cut out.
Gaz was seething with rage, flames were appearing around her feet. She stormed up to her room and slammed the door before sitting down on her bed.
"UGH!" Gaz slammed her body back against the bed. She realized it didn't matter how angry she was or what she did to show it- No one was home. No one could see it. No one cared how she felt.
The next day at school Gaz trudged along. Dib wasn't even in today, he wasn't there when she woke up. Not that she cared- after his 18th birthday Professor Membrane has been taking him more and more under his wing. Which meant- forgetting more and more about his daughter Gaz.
Walking around the halls she started to notice how often she saw green- and how there was the slightest twinge of excitement that came with seeing green.
It was impossible to change overnight but Gaz did seem to be getting more and more antsy towards the end of the school day. She also seemed more distracted from class… and her game slave.
At last the final bell rang and Gaz was off to Zim's base. She usually walked fast to get out of the school rush but today she was walking fast with a different intent- a new spring in her step. Gaz seemed unaware of these changes.
She rang the doorbell of the metal base and out came Gir with a taco on his head, "HEY! You came back!" He then hugged her leg tight
"Uh. Yeah..." She shook him off and he went launching back into a wall. At first there was silence and Gaz started to worry but then,
"LET'S DO IT AGAIN!" He jumped up and down squealing.
A purple flash flew past Gaz's face and went over to the damaged wall before squeaking and levitating the broken pieces back to there place.
Gaz was dumbfounded yet at the same time- not very surprised at all. Smoke came from the other room and out rushed Zim yelling for Gir and Mini-Moose, "GIR! MINI-MOOSE! THE CHICKENS ARE- Oh hello Gaz." Zim immediately changed tones.
"Hello." Was all she replied with, "So are we doing this demands thing or what?" Gaz cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh yes!" Zim remembered, a flaming chicken running behind him, "Let us go down to my seeecret lair." He laughed maniacally.
Gaz could not help but roll her eyes, she wasn't one to complain though- he was going to get her off of the Earth.
As they traveled down the long tube to get to Zim's base Gaz couldn't help but take a moment to study the alien before her. He wasn't wearing his "disguise" -if you could even call it that- so his antenna were sticking straight up out of his head. This isn't the first time she is seeing them, but it is the first to actually get a good look at them. They were smooth- shinny. She wondered what their purpose was.
Then his eyes- she genuinely could not tell where he was looking if he did not have his contacts on- he could be staring right back at her and she would not even know. Not that she cared, she could not care less what he thought about her.
She did have to tilt her head up to even meet his eyes however, that's another thing Gaz noticed but never thought about with Zim- his height. Gaz was not short- she was above the female average height, granted only by an inch but it was something she took pride in. But Zim- he had to be almost a whole foot taller than her. How did that even happen? He was so short and scrawny when they first met 6 years ago. Wasn't that an important thing for his people? Being tall? She thought she remembered that from when they all transported into the Irkens line of destruction. Well if it was why wouldn't Zim be boasting about it all the time?
In fact… She had not seen Zim boast out or declare his superiority for a while. In front of her, he has but that's only because she was questioning him. She had not seen an outburst from him in the halls or during lunch for years… What could be happening with Zim?
The last time she saw Zim even try to take over the world was when he stole-
"Gaz-human." Her thoughts were interrupted, "We're here, you may step out now."
"Oh. Sure." Gaz snapped forward to see the door was open and Zim was standing on the other side. She stepped through and was surrounded by a red light. All around her were wires, cords, and coils. All twisting and turning- surrounding them as if those were the walls. All with purposes she did not know. There were multiple doors to the side, but, in front of her was a giant computer screen with a singular chair, the Irken symbol looming over her.
"Yes yes, I know my base is wonderful but we have business to do, follow me." Zim then marched with the same stature as that of a solider. Gaz stopped observing this new world around her and followed him into one of the many doors lining the walls.
It shut behind her and a light turned on showing a long empty table with a chair on either end.
"Did you set this up just for us?" Gaz asked.
"Nonsense! This is were Gir throws his "parties" and Mini-Moose will play poker. Is this not how humans perform 'business' tasks? At a long table?" Zim began to sound unsure.
"No no, it's fine. I guess I'm just taking it all in." Gaz said slowly before sitting down at one end of the table.
"Yes- my base can have that effect on humans." Zim then took his own seat and pressed a button on the table for a small hole to appear in the middle of the table and a hologram of the Irken logo appearing, "Any questions before we begin?"
"Yeah, how come you want off this planet? And why Tez?"
"What's wrong with Tez?!" Zim asked defensively.
"It's kinda lame."
"IT IS NOT LAME!" Zim stood up slamming his hands on the table.
Gaz leaned back in her chair and put her feet up, "Ehhh it's pretty lame."
"YOU'RE LAME!" Zim shouted even louder.
"Squeak!" Mini-Moose came floating down from the ceiling.
"Stay out of this Mini-Moose!" Zim pointed an accusatory finger at the purple moose. Mini-Moose squeaked sadly away and Zim took a deep breath before sitting back down, "Now… My demands."
"Yes?" Gaz rolled her eyes, she did not like that term 'demands'. Who was he to tell her what to do?
"First of all- you will call me Tez- you may think it is lame but that will be my new name on Irk." Zim clicked on a remote and the hologram changed from the Irken symbol to one of him with the name Tez above.
"Why do you even-" Gaz started before getting cut off by Zim's shrill scream.
"NUMBER TWO! No questions about what I say to do. I know Irk better than you do- You will just get us in trouble." Zim clicked the button and now it was a picture of Zim standing tall and Gaz being small.
Gaz eyed the hologram and nodded before looking back up at Zim, "Uh-huh, and that's why you were practically banished to earth?" She retorted.
"NO QUESTIONS! You will at least take all my advice in the beginning." Zim reasoned.
"Sure. That's fine." Gaz crossed her arms. She would rather not fight everything he brought up.
"Good! And finally, if you want to join me on Irk- and be aware I intend to leave Earth forever." Zim warned.
"Yea, I would like to as well." Gaz sat up and leaned her elbows on the table.
"Okay. Well, then you need to become an Irken." Zim stated simply.
"What does that mean?" Gaz raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
Zim cleared his throat to further explain, "I need you to transform your appearance into that of an Irken female."
"Nuh-uh. No way!" Gaz stood up.
"Gaz-human- this is a life long trip. Do you think a stinky-human will fly there? You will be ostracized once again. Also, the point of my name change will be void because I cannot bring a human without them knowing!" Zim tried explaining more so.
"UGH!" Gaz sighed frustrated, she should have known there'd be some catch like this, "But I like how I look."
Zim eyed Gaz up and down questioningly, "Irken's looks are far superior to that of a humans'. You will get used to it." Zim dismissed.
"This is bullshit." Gaz pouted.
"Hey- I had to dress like one of your filth humans when I came here. All I request is you do the same. Just… more permanent. You would not be able to take off the disguise as you wished. Too much risk."
"Oh, but an alien taking off their disguise has no risk here?" Gaz pressed.
Zim scratched the back of his head, "Um… Yeah kinda. I mean have you seen Gir? Literally, no one questions him."
Gaz wanted to be mad but she knew that Zim was right, "Ugh fine… Deal."
"PERFECT!" Zim clasped his hands together, "Now we will be in contact periodically until I am done preparing for this mission. Of course, we must stock up on water… But... Hmm…" Zim placed a hand on his chin as he pondered.
"What?" Gaz placed her hands on her hips.
"If I make some modifications to the disguise chamber I could make it so that in your PAC you will receive, will generate water to automatically go into your system… That way we won't have to worry about running out!" Zim jumped out of his seat, excited for new projects.
Gaz could not actually believe this was happening, she stood up and extended her hand, "So we actually doing this?"
Zim eyed her hand cautiously before gently shaking it as if touching her would get him sick, "That we are human. Get ready- We will leave in about a month if things go accordingly."
"Perfect" Gaz nodded. She could not believe it- she was finally getting off of this godforsaken planet.
A/N: Hey y'all! Sorry for the wait, I hope this longer chapter makes up for it. As I said in my update I just moved into college- so I'm going to aim for once a week but bear with me :) I love you all! Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites!
