Zim's eye twitched every so often as he glared out of the pentagon shaped window in his lounge. Horrible burning rain was falling from the sky outside, proving once more that he had yet to conquer Earth's hideous weather patterns. Though he knew he was safe inside, it was torturous just to hear it patter on the glass. Of course everyone would be inside, as the law had been set down long ago that no citizens of Earth were allowed outside during rainfall. Zim was rather proud of that law. Protecting the citizens was just part of being ruler.

"Keef62, bring my friend in," he called to a silent Keef clone standing in the corner. Keef clones were Zim's cheap labor. They were easy to clone and each possessed a disgusting affinity for their master.

"Yes your almighty greenness, ruler of the not-so-free world, and taller then I could ever wish to be," the Keef babbled, marching out the door to carry out his orders.

Zim snorted in disgust, crossing his arms and tapping the flat of his boot against the desk. Round crimson eyes squinted shut as he admonished himself for being nervous. He, the Ultimate Ruler, had no reason to fear anything brought before him. Two minutes later Keef62 arrived, dragging behind him a young girl bound by old-fashioned metal chains. She struggled as she was dragged along, her long purple hair falling into her eyes, which remained closed. Zim swallowed as she was deposited before him on the floor.

"So here we are again," he said, unable to think of anything witty. She glared up at him from her position at the foot of his desk. Her clothing consisted of a black sleeveless top, and a dark crimson skirt that flowed past her knees and bore a slit up one side. Her feet were left bare but the skull necklace she had worn since childhood still hung around her neck.

"Don't patronize me, Zim. Let's just get this over with," she snarled, yanking on the chains that bound her in place.

"I wish you'd be kinder about this, Gaz," Zim sighed. He reached into a drawer of his desk and let the edge of a maroon electronic device peek out just enough for Gaz to see. Her eyes instantly lit up with joy, expression changing to something you'd expect on a drug withdrawal patient. Zim grinned at her reaction.

"That's better. Now Gaz, let's be friends for our time together…" he said. Her eyes were still pinned to the gameslave he held.

"I'll give you an hour to play, if you're good."

With that, Zim rose from his seat, employing the robot arms in his backpack to get him down. The little Irken began pacing around the room, a pointy finger to his chin, and his expression tight in thought.

"I could.... unlock your bonds if...you wouldn't cause trouble," he said in a soft tone of voice. Gaz answered him by spitting on the ground. Zim growled and stomped over to her, lifting up her chin with a finger.

"I'll take that as a no... Please Gaz, what reason have you to hate me?! ZIM!" he declared. Gaz looked astonished, her hands balling into fists, the chains clanking near her arms.

"You imprisoned me! You think forcing me to like you is going to work? Zim, something's obviously happened to your brain," she snarled, trying to scratch him across the cheek. Zim leaped backwards and pressed a button on his backpack, releasing the claws. They shot towards Gaz and she screamed as a small cut appeared on her face, courtesy of the sharp metal. Zim continued to stare emotionlessly at her. "I'm sorry I had to do that Gaz... You simply don't understand..." The Irken sighed and motioned to the Keef guard. "Put her back in her cell. No gameslave this time." Gaz was taken by the arms and dragged from the room, her wails echoing off the polished walls of the office. She screamed and kicked and cried, but it was all in vain. She'd have to spend another week pressing imaginary buttons on her cell wall until she was called in to meet with Zim again.

Alone again, the Irken ruler breathed a tiny sigh and curled up against the plush office chair. "Fine, Gaz. Invaders need no one. No one." The door was slightly ajar, and from where he sulked, Zim could see a tiny puddle of water on the floor...