CHAPTER FOUR
Throughout the month Zim would periodically ask Gaz some basic questions about humans in space and giving her various packing lists and notes on what to expect on this trip.
Zim has also prompted her with the opportunity to essentially reinvent herself. Literally, he wanted her to design her Irken form. "Think of it as my gift to you, even though you will probably make it hideous" This is what he said to her about creating the character.
Ever since that proposal, Gaz has slowly replaced her game slave with various sketches of what she wanted to look like. She wanted purple eyes- she knew that. Zim opposed, reminding him too much of an old foe. But she persisted with doodling with purple eyes.
"But you would look so much nicer with red eyes"
"Zim… You told me I got to make my new look."
"Yes but the eyes… the eyes..."
In fact- Zim has butted in on almost every part of her design, except one, her necklace. He had mentioned that a typical Irken would not wear such a thing but he didn't suggest she take it out. Some things he was very strict about, such as no human attributes- hair, nose, ears, etc.- but that one accessory he let slide. She was grateful for that.
Gaz did not like the fact that she would have to be bald but
At home, Gaz would be counting the days down for their projected launch date and prepared everything she could. Dib and her dad could be none the wiser. Dib would occasionally come home and when he would, he'd just ramble to Gaz about all his new findings in their father's lab. He never asked about Gaz's day- let alone what she had been up to for the past few weeks. Therefore- she wasn't lying to her family. They just never asked.
She couldn't understand how they could just forget her. Dib and Gaz were never the closest pair of siblings but they both shared the bond of what they had gone through as kids, dead mom, neglectful dad. So losing Dib slowly to what her father was lost to hurt Gaz more than she let on.
Nevertheless, Gaz was persistent in leaving Earth, even if it meant having to deal with Zim the whole time. Well- things haven't been too bad between them since they started working together to leave earth. They did not share much contact besides passed notes in the hall- but once a week Gaz would go over after school and Zim would test out new technologies with her, and they would discuss in person the plan of action once they are off the planet.
"So when we get to Irk I will say we are invaders from pass impending doom operations who were lost out in space," Zim explained.
"They'll believe that? Don't they have a way to check if people are lying?" Gaz questioned his plan.
Zim simply shrugged, "After the florpus incident when multiple realities collided, some straggler invaders were left over. They let pretty much anyone through."
"Good thing you did that then" Gaz smirked.
A soft laugh came from Zim, a twinge of sadness in his voice, "Yes. Good." An awkward tension was then suspended in the air and Zim looked for a way out, "Um- well once we are on Irk we will be sharing a base."
Gaz recoiled, "I have to live with you? I don't want people to think we're like… Ya know…" Gaz looked down and blushed.
Zim cocked his head, clearly confused, "I do not understand. Think we're like what?"
"Like…" Gaz scratched her head, "Like, a dumb couple ya know?" Zim laughed wholeheartedly at this, which made Gaz's cheeks turn a deeper shade of red, "Hey! Stop laughing!"
Zim wiped away a tear from laughing so hard, "I'm so sorry Gaz-human- It's just-" Zim burst out laughing again, "They would never think that. Us Irkens don't do that sort of thing. Besides! Zim would never date a filth human like you!" He continued to laugh.
Gaz burned red with rage and embarrassment, "I'm not gonna be human for long!"
"Oh Gaz…" His laughter dying down, "You'll always be my human," those last words shocked Gaz the most, 'my human'? What a weird way to phrase that… "Now- speaking of you not being human for long. You will need to learn Irken customs. Have you also brought the final design of your form for me to plug into my computer?"
"Uh. Yeah. One sec," Gaz reached into her bag and pulled out a slightly crumpled piece of paper.
On it was a green Irken with purple eyes, they are not as round as Zim's eyes. They were more square-shaped, making sure to keep her sharp eyelashes. Her antenna curled backward but the tips had a sharp turn into her head. Her clothes resembled much of what she already wore. Her sleeves were black, with a violet tunic- the same color as her hair- and the classic black gloves and boots. Of course- with the addition of her skull necklace. Her PAC would also have purple instead of red on it.
"Hmmm…" Zim studied it, "I suppose it is… acceptable." He then stashed it away for him to feed into the machine later.
Gaz glared at Zim, "Acceptable?"
"Well I could have done better, but this is not bad." Zim continued not knowing he was heading into dangerous territory, "Now- once we are on Irk we will need jobs. I suggest we take guard positions- as most former invaders do."
"Sounds boring." Gaz leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, "All we'll do is stand around- and I can't even bring my game slave."
Zim laughed, "Oh Gaz-human, Irk is not like puny earth- we have many people trying to hurt us since we are so amazing. This job will very much be like your game slave- except real life."
Gaz perked up at this, her eyes went wide, "So you're telling me, I get to hurt actual aliens?"
"Yes- so we will need to train you." Zim nodded
Gaz threw her head back and laughed, "HA! I don't need any dumb training. I'm a master at beating up aliens. I was born to do this."
Zim eyed her, "I sincerely doubt your stink-human skills against the superior Irkens."
"You wanna bet?" Gaz raised an eyebrow at the alien.
"What is this bet?" Zim questioned.
"It's like- if I bet on something, I'm confidently saying I'm right. Usually, there's a prize if you win a bet." The idea of a prize sparked Zim's interest.
"Intriguing… Let us say- I will take your bet! And if I win! Which I will, you will have to change your eyes from purple to red, like mine." Zim puffed his chest out proudly.
Gaz grumbled, not surprised at all he wagered that, "Okay Zim, but if I win I get to bring my game slave."
"Nope! Even if you were to win- which you wouldn't- you would give away our cover if you bring that." Zim crossed his arms across his chest.
"How would it even do that. They don't know what it is!" Gaz exclaimed frustrated.
"They'll know it's not Irken!" Zim stepped forward and loomed over her, asserting himself.
Gaz went on her toes to bring her face close then gave a glare so intense that if the phrase, "looks could kill" were true Zim would be dead where he stands. She bared her teeth and growled, "Then MAKE it Irken"
Zim and Gaz shared the intense stare for what seemed like ages, Gaz stared deep into his crimson eyes searching for any sign that he would give up, any sign of weakness. Zim hid those well- but so did Gaz. As Zim stared back into her eyes, he had never been this close to a human face, at least in this intimate of a way. Zim would be lying if he didn't admit it the twisting feeling that came with it confused and surprised him. Finally, Zim stepped back with a huff, "Why do you care so much about that stupid game anyway?" He turned his back to her and crossed his arms over his chest.
Gaz did not back down from the spot she was in, just examining the now empty space where the alien once was, "It's not a stupid game. Its the only thing left from- nevermind. It doesn't matter." Gaz shook her head, calming herself down, "Look- if I win could you fix it to be more Irken?"
Zim looked back at her and could see the slightest softness in her eyes, he let out a sigh and a grumble, "Yes… I suppose I could."
Gaz stuck out her hand, "Let's shake on it- whoever can beat the other in best of three combat wins."
Zim raised an eyebrow, "Hand to hand?"
Gaz shrugged, "However Irkens fight- just nothing that will put my life in danger."
Zim couldn't help but face back around and let out a laugh as he placed his hands on his hips, "Oh please- anything I bring will put your life in danger."
"We'll see about that," Gaz smirked and then gestured to her hand.
"Oh yes." Zim nodded and slowly extended his hand out, but quickly and firmly grabbed and shook Zim's gloved hand.
The next day Gaz made her way over to Zim's base and let herself in. She figured since she would soon be rooming with him she no longer had to be invited in.
"Hey, Gir." She said passing the robot stuffing his face with cheese on the couch, as headed towards the kitchen to head down into Zim's base.
Just as Gaz was about to step into the trash chute when Mini-Moose squeaked by stopping her from heading down.
"Hey! Watch it!" Gaz stumbled back, "What was that all about?" The purple moose squeaked, "What do you mean he isn't ready?" She placed a hand on her hip getting impatient.
"Squeak squeak!" He flipped upside down before then ushering her to sit next to Gir on the couch.
She sat down regretfully and looked at the small robot next to her munching away on gobs and gobs of cheese. Gaz sank into the seat and tried to block out all senses of Gir eating.
In his lair Zim was on his computer, going over every way he could beat Gaz. He couldn't get the scene with him and her from the previous night out of his mind, "Computer- analyze: Why does Gaz attach herself to that game so much?"
"Ugh…" The computer grumbled, but then flashed many images of Gaz, "Over analyzing several images and videos recorded from her time here, it seems to be one of the few things she feels calm and good about."
Zim stroked his chin and leaned back in his chair, "But the Gaz is so confident in herself. Why would that be the one thing she feels good about?"
"There seemed to be some correlation between the game slave and her necklace. She keeps avoiding the topic however I think it has to deal with trauma in her family."
"What makes you say that?" Zim leaned forward intrigued.
The computer then pulled up a video of Gaz and Zim sitting on his couch discussing Earth food.
"Ew. Bloaty's Pizza is disgusting."
"I couldn't agree more- but I thought you loved that filthy pile of grease?"
"I used to- We'd go together all the time but now- It just puts a bad taste in my mouth."
"What was that?" Zim demanded.
The computer rewinded and stopped at the frame when Gaz mentioned 'we'd', "She is touching her necklace here. I assume she is referring to her family. I assume her lack of parental figures in her life could be the cause."
"Hmm… Thank you computer." The computer turned off and Zim gave an evil smile and began to cackle.
"What are you doing?" Gaz asked now standing behind Zim.
"AAAAAA" Zim jumped out of his seat, "GAZ! What are you doing down here?! I thought I told mini-moose to keep you out!"
Gaz shrugged, "He did- but then I got bored and came down anyways," Gaz then walked up to the computer, "So what were you doing anyway?"
"NOTHING!" Zim shrieked, "Just setting up final touches for our fight!"
Gaz raised an eyebrow and eyed the alien, after a minute she shrugged and dismissed the whole thing, "Whatever- I don't wanna know what weird things you're into."
"Into..?" Zim cocked his head then realized what she meant, "EUGH! DISGUSTING! I would never-"
"Save it, Zim." Gaz held up her hand shushing him, "I'll make sure to give you space on the ship when we go off." She smirked, "Thankfully I'll have my game slave to keep me busy."
Zim took a power stance, "I wouldn't be too sure about that little Gaz, are you ready to fight?"
Gaz took the first swing and punched Zim in the gut, "I was born ready."
Zim was hunched over on the floor, "Zim was not ready…" The then hobbled up, "Besides I figured we could battle in the ring I made." He then gestured to a boxing ring he had put together.
"Oh…" Gaz said looking over, "I guess I got too excited." She smiled and then walked over to the ropes of the ring and hopped in, "Come on alien."
Zim smirked and followed after her, "You know- to me you are the alien."
Gaz scoffed and said, "I thought I was always going to be your 'human'" She mocked.
A slight blush spread across Zim's face in shock, "Let us just fight Gaz-hu - Gaz!" Zim got in a fighting stance, spreading his legs apart.
Gaz tosses her hair back and does the same with her stance, "You ready?" Gaz smirked.
"Psh, I'd be more worried about you little Gaz." Zim then ran up to Gaz and swung his leg around.
Gaz blocked his leg with her arm and pushed it down before punching his gut, "Good shot," Zim spat, "But I bet you weren't expecting this!" Zim then used the mechanical legs in his PAC to jump over her, before he could land a hit though Gaz pushed her elbow back, hitting his chest, and then flipped her hand up to get his face.
"Cheap moves Zim-" She turned and backed up, "But sure, use your PAC, not gonna change the fact that you're about to get your butt kicked." She then leaped over Zim, landed on his shoulders and proceeded to cover his eyes, blinding him, before jumping off, spinning him around and then knocking him on the ground.
Their battle went on for a few minutes- Zim was clearly losing but was surprisingly better than Gaz imagined. She sustained a few scratches and bruises from him as well.
Gaz panted and looked at Zim on the ground, who was also panting and was struggling to get up, "Ha, I told you I could beat you. Ready to call it quits?" Gaz extended her hand.
Zim looked at her hand and then back up at her face. He could not stand the fact that he had been bested by a human- he wouldn't allow it to be true. He had to admit however that Gaz was an amazing fighter- and if any human were to beat him it would be her. Zim was glad she was the human that found out her plan and not anyone else. Still- he hated that he was beat. He was about to reach up and grab her hand, admitting defeat, then… He remembered something Computer had brought up…
" trauma in her family… lack of parental figures…"
A light bulb went off in his brain and an evil grin spread across his face, "Oh Gaz…" He then got onto a knee, his muscles aching from the pain of trying to stand up, "It's so funny how the lack of a mother, or a caring father, can have such a profound effect on a person."
Gaz's expression dropped, so did her hand, she took a step back, "Excuse me?" She asked with a dark tone.
"Just that- you not having parental figures in your life made you so tough" He spat out that last word, laced with venom, "Well I suppose it makes sense- I never had parents either and I became a successful invader! Just funny how that works." He smiled an evil, greedy smile at Gaz.
She stared at him with an intensity she's never experienced before, "Ya know I'm glad I got to beat you up, Zim. Do what you want with my eye color- I don't care anymore. I'm going home." Gaz turned around and started to walk towards the door back up to the ground level.
Zim smiled, "Does this mean I won?"
Gaz stopped in her tracks, "Sure Zim." She then turned her face towards Zim, "Just know- I kicked your ass once. I won't hesitate to do it again." then she was gone.
Zim was alone in the ring, smiling, "Haha… I won!" Zim cheered, Gaz's face then flashed in his mind. The initial look of shock and pain when he first mentioned it- to how she just left. Zim did not understand this feeling but was compelled to make it right. He just didn't know how…
A/N: Hey yall! Sorry to end the chapter so abruptly! I wanted to write more but I also wanted to get this chapter out ASAP! So sorry for the delay on posting- but I hope yall enjoyed it! Any reviews are appreciated :)
