Disclaimer: I do not own Jhonen Vasquez or anything to do with Invader Zim.

The assault course and a friend in need.

They stood there in front the starting point looking up to the instructor, listening to his every word.

"You are to complete the following assault course. You will be in pairs to determine how good your teamwork is, you will pick your own partners so get a move on!" and with that everyone ran into pairs and stood before the instructor awaiting orders.

"Good! Now this is a timed course, the faster you do it the better your grade. You all have special laser sensors on you that let us know if you've skipped an obstacle. You will not be able to go of course because it is in a contained area and there are mines and laser fences on the limit of the course. What does this mean soldiers?" All the soldiers stood up straight and put their feet together then saluted.

"No going of course Sir!" They all echoed each other

"And that means what?"

"No cheating Sir!"

"Excellent. Now! Use of your Pak is enabled because it counts as good use of resources. And who will give me an example of this." The instructor looked at all the young Irkens before him, male and female, fat and thin, short and shorter. None of them were very tall at the moment. His hand moved over to Zee, the Un-official cutie of the Irken Empire.

"You example!"

"Yes Sir! If you need to jump a long distance you could use your spider legs to get extra distance Sir!"

"Good. Now do you all understand?"

"Yes Sir! All clear Sir!"

"Good now Group 1. Go!" And with that they all started to run off.

Tak had been waiting two months to do the advanced assault course and now she was there. Tenn was less enthusiastic but still wanted to do it for fun. Her and Tak were of to a good start; they were in the lead already. Then the first obstacle came it was a big enclosed structure with various shape and sized holes and different size ramps to climb and crawl under. (A/N: Ever watch the Krypton Factor years ago? And I mean years! Kind of like the big wooden thing with ramps and the weird S shape they had to climb through and stuff, Like that but harder just harder and made of metal.) Tak and Tenn got straight to work, going through several gaps making sure they didn't get stuck in holes that were too small. Then they came to the ramps. Up, up, up, down down, up, down, down, down, up, down, up, up, up, up, down, up, down, up. Tak and Tenn hit their heads a couple of times as well as other parts of their bodies.

"You ok Tenn" Tak looked at Tenn who nodded and gave a thumbs up.

"Hey Tak I can see some light. We must be near the end of the tunnel."

"Good cos it's getting kinda hard to breathe!" They laughed and hurried to the end.

"Whoa!" Tenn quickly stuck her arms out and grabbed Tak and pulled her backwards.

"What? Come on Tenn they're gonna catch up."

"Look." Tenn pointed down to a big gap in the floor with a net halfway down so no one dropped to his or her death.

" We gotta jump across." Tak was staring down the gap then she snapped out of it when Tenn shouted to her from the other side.

"Come on were loosing time!" Tak jumped across and joined Tenn on the other side and ran off in to the other direction.

"I should look where Im going next time huh?"

"It's ok. Just cos Tak the great made one mistake no ones gonna hunt her down and kill her. I'm sure she'll be fine!"

"I guess so, as long as Tenn's around Tak' ll be fine." Tak and Tenn kept running then they skidded to a halt and looked at the gigantic structure standing in front of them. They looked to the top and back down to the bottom, their heads following their eyes as they did so.

"What is that Tak?" Tenn looked at her partner hoping for an answer but Tak just looked at her.

"I guess we'll find out when we go in." They looked at each other then to the structure before them. They then started to near the door. Tenn opened the door and cautiously stepped inside with Tak behind her.

"Oh god no.it's a, it's a." Tenn trailed off her words and pointed to a large floating electric hover screen. It read

'welcome Tak and Tenn. You have entered the maze. You are currently in 1st place keep it up!'

"It's a. maze!" Tak and Tenn stared at the sign. How could a maze be in an assault course? It wasn't an obstacle it was the cause of utmost frustration.

Later:

"I'm sure we've been here before Tak, like four times now."

"I know Tenn but once we get to the sections there's only one route we haven't taken. There route 2, the one we haven't used yet." "This had better get easier my legs hurt." They ran of into route 2 and carried on with the maze. 1 Hour 27 Minutes later another floating sign read

'CONGRATULATIONS! Tak and Tenn you have completed the maze: TOTAL TIME TAKEN=2 Hours 44Minutes!' Tak and Tenn looked up at the board.

"Wow. Seemed longer." Tak looked at Tenn then to the exit.

"Tell me about I felt like I was in there forever." They carried on with the assault course taking it at a steady power walk, after running through a maze for 2 hours they were quite tired and when they came out it was raining very heavily. The ground was slippery and muddy and the sky was pitch black. The rain was hitting hard, stinging Tak and Tenn's faces. (A/N: Rain on Irk is different and the Irkens can stand it ok? My fic, my rules.) Tak looked at Tenn who had the biggest grin on her face.

"What are you so happy bout?"

"Can you.hah.imagine .how, how long its gonna take Zee?" Tenn couldn't stop laughing and Tak was laughing to.

"Yeah. They'll have to send a rescue team to pick her up." They carried on walking laughing as they did so. Tak and Tenn were still in the lead; they got off to a good fast start so they were a safe distance away from everyone to take it easy a bit every now and then. They were near the end of the course and had done everything from damaged rope and wood bridge crossing, and crossing water, swinging from walls and trees, and dodging minefields. There was only one obstacle left: The 8-foot security fence with razor wire on top. Tak and Tenn decided after a small discussion that the best way to get around this would be to climb up the fence by hand and then when they get to the top use their spider legs to go over and hook onto the other side of the fence, and then do a flip so they would be on the other side. It was risky but it was also the safest plan they thought of.

"Are you ok Tenn?" Tak was ahead on the climbing and Tenn was just behind her.

"Yeah im fine. Were almost at the top."

"Correction! I am at the top." And just like the plan Tak hooked her spider legs onto the Other side of the fence and swiftly flipped over the fence grabbing onto the other side and climbing down.

"Let me get to the bottom first. Don't want you kicking me in the head."

"OK Tak." Tak reached the bottom ad told Tenn all was clear. Tak knew Tenn could do this easy, she could do flips and somersaults and everything Tenn was really graceful and well co-coordinated.

Tenn hooked her spider legs on the other side just like Tak had and then she went to flip over just as planned. 'Yeah she's gonna clear it!' Tak thought to herself when all of a sudden a hard and fast gush of wind came from behind roaring rather then whistling as it usually does. Just as Tenn was going to make it over the top the wind hit her like bulldozer and she lost her balance. On the ground Tak had also been thrown back by the wind. As Tenn struggled to try and regain some sort of balance mid air she fell and caught her left leg, just above the knee on the razor wire. Tenn let out an ear-piercing scream as the wire sliced through her skin like butter. Tak looked up at the sound of her friend's immense pain.

"Oh shit!"

As Tenn fell down the razor wire ripped down the length of Tenn's leg before she fell towards the ground. The wire was so sharp it even sliced through her boots. Tak quickly got ready to catch Tenn as she fell to the ground. Tak caught Tenn and winced as she saw the size of the slash in her leg. Tak placed Tenn on the floor and rested her against a rock in a sitting up position.

"Well I guess I've left my mark on this place." Tenn looked up at Tak through pain laden, half open eyes. Tenn was determined that she wasn't going to cry, although tears escaped her eyes she didn't make a sound.

"You sure did girl." Tak smiled, good to see Tenn wasn't letting it affect her sense of humour. Tenn's crimson blood was pouring onto the ground forming a pool around her. Although Tak felt sick at the sight she carried on. She stood up and grabbed the bottom of her dress and ripped it all the way round. She started to wrap it around Tenn's large open wound, Tenn squeaked with pain when Tak touched her leg but she knew Tak was helping.

"Sorry Tenn. I'm being as soft as I can."

"I know, it just hurts real bad. Ahhhhhhh!"

"Sorry but I gotta pull it tight to help slow down the bleeding."

"I know but I can't help it. It hurts." Tak then grabbed her dress again and ripped another full strip of. She then started to wrap this around the remainder of the wound.

"You know Tak, I'm real lucky to have a friend like you."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because your so good to me. I know you want to throw up right now at sight, but your still getting this close, staring right at it.you're the be.sssss" Tenn hissed and closed her eyes tightly with the pain.

"You ok?" Tenn nodded to Tak and half opened one of her eyes looking down at the wound. Just looking at it made Tenn hurt.

"Oh, and the best friend thing? Back at ya. I'd be a loner if it weren't for you. There we go all better. Oops! Well not really, sorry I didn't mean to say that."

"Its ok. Really." And with that Tenn was about to try and get up just before Tak pinned her down.

"What?" Tenn looked at Tak and blinked in pure confusion.

"You're not walking on that! There's no way you could."

"But wha ."

"I'll carry you."

"But I, hey put me down!" but Tak ad already lifted Tenn onto her shoulders. She couldn't well give her a piggyback because she wouldn't be able to hold Tenn's leg. Tak once again started walking.

"I could use my spider legs to walk. Honestly Tak I'm fine."

"No way! Your body will still be in shock even if it doesn't feel like it. Which means your balanced has an, oh I don't know 87% chance of going all stupid." Tenn just pouted and sighed, Tak was always right. And Tenn knew she was right. The rain had gotten sufficiently harder and it was now thundering and lightning as well.

"I feel like a kid." Tenn had her arms crossed resting them lightly on Taks head.

"I feel like a slapper! My dress barley covers my butt since you started wearing part of it. Its so short now, not even Zee would wear something this tiny." Tenn laughed at her friends' remark, although it was true.

"Anyway I wish I was being carried."

"Yeah not be me I bet!" Tenn leaned over slightly so she could see Tak better.

"You're my best friend, who else would I want?" A huge grin came across Tenn's face.

"Hmmmm lets see. Maaaar?" Tak stopped in her steps and looked round at Tenn

"What? No Mar, never."

"Oh come on Tak you only see each other like, oh, every day." Tak carried on walking. Trying to ignore Tenn's truth.

"So? Means nothing."

"I know you like him. It's oh so obvious. Im not going to complain am I? Besides I think you two are sweet." Tenn smiled innocently.

"He is great, he makes me feel.I don't know I can't describe it. And he's soooo cute I just wanna hug him."

"And you do, allllll the time I might add."

"Not that much!"

Sure I believe you."

"Hey I can see the finish line. Oh my god look it's Mar he waited for me. He did this course yesterday you know. He does everything one day ahead of us. Oh my god Tenn how do I look"

"Like a slapper!" Tenn had her 'im a sweetie' voice on and smiled as she reminded Tak of her own words.

"Oh shit your right. Im so embarrassed." As they crossed the finish line Tenn couldn't decide who looked more embarrassed: Tak for looking the way she did or Mar for seeing her look that way. Tenn just giggled to herself.

"Can we get a doctor for Tenn? She fell an." the instructor cut in.

"We know. We saw on the monitor screens. The doctors are on their way."

"Monitor screens? They don't have sound do they?"

"No sadly not." Tak sighed a sigh of relief at the instructor's words.

"Now if you'll stand here well take your picture for the record."

Tak and Tenn had their photo taken. Tenn of course was still on Taks shoulders. The sky was covered in thick black clouds and it was raining very heavily, the ground was like a shallow stream where there was so much rain. With all this rain there is also a thunderstorm and there is a huge fork of lighting not far in the distance. At the top of the photo there is an electrical floating computer with the words 'Team 1: Tak and Tenn: 1st place!' and underneath it was Tak and Tenn. They were both soaking wet and covered in mud but they couldn't have looked happier if they tried. Tak was standing on the floor, ankle deep in water with Tenn sitting on her shoulders. Tak was looking up at Tenn and Tenn was looking down at Tak, they both had big happy smiles on their faces and a healthy shine to their eyes. Nothing could have depicted friendship in a better way, they looked so happy just to be with each other, to have each other.

**Oh my first bit of blood and messy stuff. Lovely. Anyway I thought I should have a bit of them at military school so I thought I'd do an assault course.

So next chappy up soon. I know it's fast at the moment but about the first 5 chapters were all pre written before I registered with FF.NET. It will get slower for me to add new chapters, much, much slooooooooooooower.**