Well, I'm off to somewhat of a slow start. Oh well. This is something I really want to do. So, thanks to all three of my reviewers. You guys are cool.

Parallel

Setting: Dimension 462-Z: Reality as Defined by Jhonen Vasquez

Zim flat out DID NOT care that he was marching down the street out of disguise. After all, it WAS Halloween season, so he just looked like another kid in a costume-- even though it was three days to early.

That, and he was FURIOUS.

"Oooh! That Dib. . . WEASEL is going to feel so much of my wrath. He is going to learn what REAL Irken fury feels like!"

The cute puppy he was tugging down the street whined. They were passing the Krazy Taco.

Zim's antennae twitched. The puppy obviously wanted a taco. "NO!" Zim bellowed. "No, you piece of stink, we will not be stopping for tacos! Today, Zim stops for NO ONE!"

He tugged firmly on the leash, and the beagle stood and trudged after him. The two reached their destination. Zim pounded a gloved fist on the door. An angry voice inside shouted, "you get it! I'm in the middle of a boss level!"

There was much stomping within, and the door burst open to reveal Dib. Before he could say anything or make any remarks about Zim's lack of disguise, the alien shoved the door open. "Give me back my robot, DIB, or I will make whatever your sister does to you look like riding the MONKEY-GO-ROUND!"

Dib rolled his eyes. If Zim COULD top Gaz in torture (which he highly doubted was possible), then maybe he would have been scared. But, as always, Dib knew Zim's threats were empty.

"It's MERRY-go-round, Zim," he groaned, "and I don't have your robot. Last time it was here, it hogged the TV and ate all the Frankenchokies. Gaz blamed ME for that!"

"Silence!" bellowed Zim. "My minion has been gone all day and it has something to do with you and your--" he cut himself off. "Why is your head wrapped in foil?"

Sure enough, Dib had covered all of his head (including the scythe-hair) in aluminum foil. He used the entire box, too. The only part not covered in crinkled silver was his face. Dib looked up at his foil-wrapped head then back at Zim.

"I'm using the Dimension Scope. I thought it'd prevent another trip into my head. Y'know, like last year."

The two enemies shuddered at the recollection of the Halloween Incident.

There was an awkward pause.

Then, a telescreen floated into the living room. It was Professor Membrane, there to deliver his daily parenting. Dib seized the opportunity to prove to his father Zim's true identity.

"Look, Dad!" he thrust Zim in front of himself. "Look! It's like I told you! Zim's an ALIEN!"

Zim blinked up at the screen, the fact that he maybe should have put his disguise on finally dawning on him.

"Is it Halloween already?" exclaimed Membrane. He floated over to the table with the Membrane Lamp, and picked up a pumpkin-shaped bowl. He pulled out a package and floated back to Zim.

"Here you go, horrible green child! Happy Halloween!"

Zim eyed the package of "MemBrains" (the candy coated, IQ-boosting marshmallow brains!) then turned to Dib and grinned wickedly.

"No Dad! He really IS an alien!" yelled Dib, waving his arms.

The Professor laughed patronizingly. "Of course he is, son! Just like when you REALLY were a paranormal investigator two years ago and how this year Billy the Lab Assistant really IS me!"

A skinny teenager, decked out in the craziest Membrane costume ever, popped into the screen and waved. "And now!" boomed the Professor. "I have work to do! Don't touch the antimatter, kids! It's unstable! And don't shove old people!" The screen turned and floated out of the room.

Dib turned to Zim. "Why are you here again?"

"My robot, filthy Dib-human! Where is it?"

Dib shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe it went to the 24-7. Who cares?"

"No Dib, you don't understand. GIR never WALKED out of my house. I came up from my lab, expecting to find GIR watching TV. Instead, I found. . . THIS!" Zim shoved the puppy into Dib's face.

"Aw, what a cute puppy. . ." cooed Dib.

"This. . . THING. . . infiltrated my base! My superior Irken base! And took my superior Irken robot!"

"And you're blaming me."

". . . yes."

"Go home, Zim."

Zim narrowed his eyes. "Fine. But I shall return and. . . uh. . . rain DOOM upon your shiny head!"

"Your voice is stupid!" hollered Gaz from the next room.

Zim opened the front door, and realized not every one would buy the Halloween thing as well as Dib's dad did. He pulled his wig and contacts out of his pak and headed home

(CHANGE. . . OF. . . SCENE!)

When he entered his base, he found the Robo-Parents tied up on his couch.

"Zander, untie us this instant!" Robomom demanded.

"Listen to your mother, son. Untie us now."

Zim sighed. "COM-pu-TER!"

". . . what now?" the computer grumbled.

"Is the Roboparent Parental Programming off-line again?"

"Uh, Zim? Those kinda. . . aren't the roboparents."

"Eh?"

"Um. . . they're kinda. . . uhh. . . human."

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" screeched Zim, jumping on top of the end table. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?"

Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield (the humans who oddly resembled the Roboparents) blinked in shock. Finally, Mrs. Maxfield regained her calm. "Now, that is ENOUGH, young man! You have no right to talk to your parents that way! Who do you think you are?"

"I know who I am! I AM ZIIIIIIIIII--"

There was a flash of light and without warning, Zander Maxfield was the one standing on the end table.

"INTRUDERS!" bellowed the computer, tossing all three outside.

(END CHAPTER!)

So, the pan-dimensional MADNESS builds! I LIKE PAN-DIMENSIONAL MADNESS!

Oh, just for the enjoyment of those who read author notes:

Alternate Scene

Dib: Look Dad! Zim's an alien!

Membrane: Is it halloween already?

Dib: No dad, we can't do that. We already did a halloween episode.

Membrane: Of course we did! (patronizing laughter) So is that what you're calling your trip to the funny farm last year?

Eh. Review.