Here's the next installment...it's not too angsty I guess...Enjoy!!

Never owned it...wish I did....

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Zim walked up the high school steps, deep in thought. He didn't notice Dib following, quietly, right behind him.

Earlier that morning, Zim had asked the computer to look up everything and anything regarding dreams. When the result list had yielded more than enough information, Zim became a little discouraged. " Now what?!" Trying to come up with another idea, he suddenly exclaimed, "Computer, look up dream control!!" As the computer searched, Zim let his mind wander back to the transmission he received last night…

You were in the way and we needed a way to get rid of you...We're surprised you have survived on that planet this long...you should have been dead before you reached Earth…

"If they really wanted to be rid of me," he said bitterly, "why did they not just terminate me when I was on Irk instead of sending me to this stupid planet, alone?" Again, that same, sharp pain cut right through him, taking his breath away. He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes tightly, rocking himself and waiting for the pain to go away.

"Why does this keep happening? Why does it keep hurting so MUCH?!!" Then, he heard:

"Computer search completed."

Zim's attention immediately focused back on the computer as he looked through the result list; his pain had vanished as fast as it had hit him. A particular entry caught his interest. "'Lucid dreaming,'" Zim started reading off the screen. "'The phenomenon of lucid dreaming occurs when dreamers become aware that they are in the midst of a dream. The most unusual aspect of this state is that lucid dreamers can consciously alter the content of their dreams.'" He stopped there, and re-read those sentences again. "I can control my dreams?" Zim said softly.

"You can control your dreams?!!!" Gir screamed, popping up right next to him. Zim had forgotten the robot was in the lab with him and had over heard what he had said.

"I am the mighty ZIM," he cried. "Of course I can control puny dreams!!! Now leave me alone!!" Gir wouldn't move. "How about you go and destroy something, Gir," Zim said, motioning to him to leave.

"Yaaaay!!!" Gir bounded off happily; a crash was heard somewhere upstairs. The noise didn't faze Zim. Well, he thought as he continued reading, at least I think I can try and control them now.

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Dib had continued following Zim. He noticed the new clothes that Zim was wearing. The strange, pink, striped outfit he had always worn was gone. In its place, Zim wore a dark gray t-shirt, a dark blue jacket and a pair of baggy jeans. Zim had ditched his Irken uniform for a more human look; there wasn't a point in wearing it anymore after the truth came out, and wearing the uniform would just conjure up more resentment in him. The black gloves remained, though. Dib followed him all the way to his locker, cornering him.

Gaz was watching from afar as Dib stalked Zim. Doesn't Dib get tired after all this time, she thought. She never really cared about the whole "Dib exposing Zim as an alien," unless it somehow involved her. But lately it bothered her, considering Zim hadn't done anything as of late that would fall under the "take over the world" category. And since Zim was such a loner, he had no one to help defend him, which didn't seem all that fair to her. She put her hand to the skull necklace she had always worn, and a small smile appeared on her face. She slammed her locker door shut and walked to the water fountain that was right next to Zim's locker. She bent to drink, but she kept her eyes and ears on Dib.

"So, Zim…" said Dib mockingly, "did you get enough sleep? Don't wanna fall asleep during the invasion!!"

"Invasion."

One of the last words Zim did not want to hear right then. Zim tensed up, but said nothing.

"I'm gonna make you talk, Zim," Dib continued, "and I will find out what you're up to."

Stop Dib, Gaz thought as she watched silently, please just stop, you moron.

Zim was becoming more and more angry, but he was in no mood to play this game with Dib.

"Leave me alone, earth-stink. I want nothing to do with you right now."

He closed his locker and started to walk away. Dib was surprised by the alien's reaction, but quickly grabbed Zim by his jacket and slammed him against the locker. Other students in the hallway, hearing the commotion, were now watching, perhaps thinking a fight was about to start.

"You're not walking away," Dib sneered, "not until you answer some questions."

Gaz had seen enough. Strategically aiming at her brother, and avoiding Zim, she put her thumb over the water fountain spout and squirted a stream of water in Dib's face. Giving a small yelp, he loosened his grip on Zim and looked to the direction of the source. Gaz was standing next to the water fountain, and Dib looked at her with utter shock. Zim stood there, looking both surprised and a little amused. Everyone else who had been watching started to laugh and ridiculed Dib.

"...his weird little sister totally burned him..."

"What a loser!"

"What happened to my breakfast burrito?"

"Gaz…wh…" Dib started, but Gaz was already walking to her first class. Zim stared after her, watching her long, violet hair swinging behind her. He then turned around, and walked to his class, chuckling to himself. That earth creature is not so bad, he thought. Dib stood rooted in the same spot, water dripping down his face, trying to figure out what just happened.

Zim thought about Gaz's little stunt, until he got to his seat. Then his mind went back to gaining control of his dreams; he had come across a technique during his research, and was figuring out how he would use it, and wondering if it would even succeed. Dib entered the classroom, a little damp and still fuming. He had gone to the washroom, drying himself as much as he could, but his t-shirt was still wet.

What is up with Gaz, he thought as he took his seat. He spied Zim immediately, and saw him scribbling something out. Now what was is he doing? It could be another sketch, he thought, but I should still keep an eye on him. The teacher was starting class, explaining something about the scene the students were suppose to be reading from A Midsummer's Night Dream. Zim paid no attention; this new "mission" was more important.

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Gaz stared back at Zim from her usual lunch table. He sat there, picking at his food, like he had always did. Gaz was not ignorant; she had known for a long time Zim was not human. That's why she had been so careful in not getting him wet earlier that morning. How could she not have known the truth about Zim? Her brother was always ranting and raving about it, year after year. Plus, she had seen him without his obvious disguise. As Gaz looked at him, she noticed something…off. It wasn't the new outfit that he wore (although that did raise some other questions); it was the way that he carried himself. She had noticed it this morning during the altercation with her stupid brother, but it was more obvious now. He sat slumped over, and he had a downcast expression clouding his face, which was a major change from his usually vain, big ego personality.

"I guess I'm not the only one having a crappy day," she commented, pulling out her Game Slave.

Dib arrived with his lunch tray, and sat next to his sister. He had gotten over what she did to him that morning, though he still wondered why she had helped Zim; she never showed any kind of sympathy towards anyone, much less her own brother. He looked over at Zim, who was still playing around with the food in front of him. Why doesn't anyone see else it, he wondered, as he turned to his sister. She was absorbed with the game she played, and Dib wondered how Gaz could totally let herself be immersed in them. She'll have to face reality some time, he thought. Then he noticed something that caught him completely off guard.

"Gaz…wh…wh…wh…"

"Spit it out, Dib. You sound like an idiot."

"Your wrist!!"

Gaz's sleeve had gone up a little as she moved her arm playing her video game, and Dib saw what looked like part of a bad cut on her wrist. Gaz froze for a moment, then paused her game and pulled her sleeve far enough to expose only her left wrist. The wound looked recent, and it didn't appear too deep.

"This," she said coolly while pointing to the cut, "I accidentally cut myself with my art knife yesterday during art class." She rolled her sleeve back down, picked up her game and resumed playing. "I'm fine Dib, so shut up."

Dib looked at his sister, then turned back to his lunch. He wasn't really convinced, but he wasn't sure if he should press her with any more questions.

So he picked up his spork, and ate his lunch silently.

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Okay...so what ya think? R & R please!