It's Like A Nightmare
By GS2aholic
I find the answers aren't so clear, wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense, I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away, over and over again, just like before~Linkin Park –One Step Closer
Gaz pulled the hood of her coat over her head to block the rain as she walked down the familiar road home. Mind swarming with thoughts, she was thankful that she had taken something earlier or the pain would be unbearable. Home at last, she didn't hesitate to open the door and take cover from the developing storm.
As desperate as she was, she wasn't quite desperate enough to go to Zim's: At least not yet anyway. Besides, her dad should be home today. She looked to the clock and saw that it was 12:30. Not hungry enough to eat, she decided to visit the Professor first.
Knocking loudly on the door but not awaiting an answer, Gaz descended the staircase into the lab. Looking around, she decided to head to the sparks that usually indicated his presence.
"Dad," She said simply, leaning casually in a table as she waited for an answer.
"Yes Gaz?" Professor Membrane questioned. It was not often that his daughter came here, so he stopped his work and turned to look at her.
Acting on a hunch, Gaz asked him for the device Dib had used on Halloween a few years ago.
"It's in storage. Now why would you need that?"
"I want to find out what's wrong with Dib."
The Professor was puzzled. "Why? I thought you hated him."
"Dad, I…" Gaz sighed. How was she going to explain this?
"I don't hate Dib. It's just a brother-sister thing you wouldn't understand. Besides, even if I did, he's my brother. Of course, I would be surprised if you would even remember this." Gaz's tone rose and she could see her father's eyes flash dangerously from behind his goggles.
"Gaz, I am your father and…" He began calmly, but he was cut off.
"And you should act like one! Every time we come to you, you do nothing to help us!"
"The world needs my help." His voice cracked as he tried to keep it steady, watching his daughter cautiously.
"Fuck the world!" Gaz said. She was screaming now and her hands were shaking in fists of rage. "Fuck the world and fuck you. Your son is in danger and all you care about is pop-free bubble wrap and long-lasting gum." Her voice went down to a whisper. "You may think of yourself as a good parent, but you will never be half the one mom was."
"Don't bring her into this!"
"Don't run away from the past, daddy," she spat. "But please, run away from us."
"G-go to your room. Go to your room and stay there until I say you can come out." His voice was menacing, shaking as much as Gaz's hands.
"Your not here enough to act like you care. Your not here enough to be a father and your not here enough to order me around." Gaz turned on her heel and stalked out of the room, clearing a dusty table of its glass contents in her anger. Heart beating fast, she ran to the front door.
Stupid dad, stupid world and stupid, stupid pride! The one person that she thought she could trust was as slimy and raw as the rest of them. It looked like she would have to swallow the rest of her pride and go to Zim's, rain or not.
~~~
Try as she might, Gaz could never forget where Zim's house was. She had been there so many times to retrieve her brother that it was like a second home…almost.
Okay, she was there, now to get in safely. The same, freaky eyed lawn gnomes stood guard and she always got passed them the same way.
Gaz walked over to gnome #1 and hid behind it. She reached up, whistled, and waved gracefully, listening to the mechanical noises as the others moved their heads to see the disturbance. In the blink of an eye, Gaz ran to another as the first was incinerated until all but one had gone.
Taking a deep breath, Gaz picked up a stick and ran behind the gnome. After a few seconds of nothing, she threw the stick in front of the gnome who shot at it, causing a giant crater and a blast that threw Gaz through the air. Recovering as quickly as she could and nursing a nasty cut on her thigh, she climbed into the bushes and uncovered a brick that she had used so many times before. 3…2…1…
"Who dares set foot on the lawn of the almighty Zim?" A voice called out into the rainy night. Right on time. Gaz could see him poke his head out the door, recoiling it immediately as it let out a hiss.
"Ahhh! It burns!" She could hear the door begin to close as she suppressed a giggle and she stretched to wedge the brick in-between it and the doorframe. She did this because the computer could tell when a stranger opened the door, but it couldn't tell when the door never closed in the first place.
Not before pausing to congratulate herself, Gaz stood to enter the house but slipped in the mud and landed with a sickening slosh. Groaning, she unstuck herself and managed to get into the doorway. Picking up the brick, Gaz turned to throw it into the bushes but paused when she saw something sticking out of the mud. Gingerly reaching for it, she got it unstuck, threw back the brick, and began to examine it. Much like a syringe, it was large on one end but small on the other, though it looked like it attached to something. Curious, Gaz put the large end to her face and found that it was meant to look through. Just in case, she stuck it in her coat pocket and proceeded to entering the house.
Her thoughts on remembering how to get into the lair were interrupted by a familiar squeal and hug.
"Hello!" GIR said excitedly. His dog costume was on halfway, his blue eyes shinning up at Gaz.
"Do you have my waffles?" He asked, clapping his hands together as he let go of her.
"No, I don't."
His eyes turned red. "Then you are an intruder!" His eyes grew blue as he saw what she pulled out of her pocket. It was a bar of chocolate, melted, but still good.
"Oooo, gimme!" GIR begged, walking closer to her.
"Only if you answer me a few questions." GIR nodded.
"What is the easiest way to get to your master's lab?" GIR pointed to a table in the corner, still eyeing the candy.
"Do you know if Zim had any plans to destroy Dib right bow?" The robot shook his head.
"Okay." Gaz thought a moment. "Does he have anything built for toying with dreams or has he mentioned anything about one?"
"Master said something about one on Halloween once. Then he yelled at me."
Gaz threw him the candy and he dived for it, eating it whole then looking out the window for his waffle man. Gaz, on the other hand, walked immediately to the corner table. She cleared her throat then did her best to imitate Zim's voice.
"Computer, take me to where Zim is." It seemed to work as the table moved out of the way and a platform came up to get her. It took her where she asked in a matter of seconds.
Gaz had to jump into hiding right away, startled to see Zim's back as soon as she stepped off the elevator. She peaked over the top of the equipment, watching him closely but not disturbing him.
"Computer, are you sure you couldn't find any sign of tampering with my brain? Anything to drug my dreams?"
"Positive"
"What could Dib be up to?" Zim began to pace and Gaz hide completely from view. "Perhaps his younger sibling has something to do with this. Planted something on my body when she touched me. That might be what that feeling was. Computer! Full body scan!"
Gaz shifted positions and gasped as she slipped on the mud she had tracked in and skidded into the wall. She held her breath and prayed Zim hadn't heard her.
"Well, well, speak of the tallests." Zim smirked. "Computer, cancel scan and cage this human."
"Wait Zim, I mean you no harm."
Zim ignored her.
"Engaged cages," The computer announced and Gaz did the first thing that came to her mind. She raced toward Zim and grabbed him around the waist, knocking him to the ground as she did so. A sort of glass wall surrounded them from floor to ceiling and Gaz grinned triumphantly as she let go of the alien and stood up. Zim got up and looked himself over, checking for any bugs or devices on his body. I got that feeling again. Evil human.
"Damned human stink!" He cursed as he took notice of the walls. He screamed orders to the computer and cursed more when he received no answer. "I forgot it's sound proof." He turned to Gaz. "You little!"
"Zim, hear me out."
"Very well, I can destroy you later."
Zim sat on the cold floor and Gaz followed suit, folding her legs under her. She flinched as she felt her wound gain and stretched out the offending limb.
"Do you happen to have any bandages on you?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course. When you live with GIR you keep spares." He handed Gaz a wrap of gauze and tape and she proceeded in telling the story as she aided her leg.
To be continued…
Author's note: whew, what was this rated again? Anyone think I should turn it up, or is the current rating fine? Hope you like the chapter. Two in two days! Consider this a Thanksgiving present! Please review!