"The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?"
Jeremy Bentham
Close Encounters
"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedThere was an ache in her bladder that disturbed her sleep. Her amber eyes slowly slid open till they were half lidded. Gaz went to move and hazily wondered where she was. An arm was wrapped around her waist and she could tell her face was resting nestled into an elbow. She groped down her side and made contact with the hand. Gaz pushed the appendage off and sat up. Blinking a few times, she stood and stretched. A yawn left her and she smacked her lips. Morning breath apparently occurred at anytime of the day or night. Gaz stumbled to the bathroom and softly chuckled.
'I wonder if I could use the toilet in the kitchen,' Gaz mused through her hazed mind.
Flushing, she listened to the calming sound of water and sighed as she scrubbed her hands. Gaz promptly dried her hands of any liquid; she didn't want to burn Zim. She wandered back into the hall and eventually into the front room again. Zim was sleeping on the couch and she wondered if she should just go back to her place. Gaz shook her head and reminded herself that she had no place. She sat against the couch and noticed that an antenna twitched. Gaz held her head and cursed the headache that was growing. Zim mumbled something and Gaz scoffed.
'I wonder what will happen after this,' Gaz mused.
She never saw herself in the future. Gaz imagined that she would meet some horrible fate before she turned twenty. She leaned her head back and felt Zim trail his claws through her hair. Gaz yawned and blinked again trying to stay awake.
'Never thought I would get an alien drunk either,' Gaz thought as she scoffed.
Zim's claws rested in hair slightly tangled. She wondered if he would remember anything. Gaz glared at the floor and prayed that he wouldn't. She didn't need him acting weird on her. Gaz for once softly smiled as she leaned back into his hand.
'It's nice,' Gaz thought as she softly smiled. 'I can hide everything I want in the dark.'
Gaz relished in the touch for one brief second. She then moved away and realized that a brief second would be all she had in life. Her life started in a brief second, she reactivated Zim in a brief second, and she had joined him on a hit list in a brief second. Gaz grinned and figured a second was good enough. She wasn't a normal human. Emotion was something that she didn't cling to, empathy was something she ripped out of her dictionary, and she didn't form any bonds.
'Then why did I reactive him or help him?'
Gaz scowled at this and realized that she was contradicting herself. She should have left Zim for dead; it would have made things easier. Gaz wrinkled her nose at the thought and stood up. A soft laugh left her and she noticed that she was making everything seem dramatic.
'I'm acting like I'm a permanent resident,' Gaz thought amused by her thoughts.
Gaz stood up and stretched once more. Her mind was at ease about everything, at least for now. A gentle ringing vibrated through the house and distracted her. Gaz raised an eyebrow at this and watched as the shadows on the walls began to swirl. The shadows dripped to the floor and began to take form. She remained calmed as two cloaked figures appeared in the room. Their silver eyes took note of her before they both nodded to each other and turned to her. Gaz glared at them and decided she didn't like them. They were interrupting the precious moments she had to sleep.
"Who are you?" Gaz growled.
"We are the Omegas," both softly.
"Nice to meet you…now get out of the house!" Gaz hissed.
They both chuckled at her and shook their heads. Gaz glared at them and opened her mouth to yell at them. Ashadow wrapped around her mouth and gagged her. Her eyes widened when she reached up to claw at it. It was nothing but a never-ending darkness. The touch of it chilled her skin and made her shiver. She glared at them and tried to bite. She had lost control of her mouth and found that her body was slowly going limp.
"We can release a chemical in our bodies thatparalyzes anything we touch," a more feminine voice spoke.
"The Tallest wish for you and your defect's demise…if we bring you to them then we can bargain for our freedom," a masculine voice whispered.
'Hooray for you,' Gaz dryly thought.
"Do you smell that?" the female questioned.
"I haven't smelt that in centuries," the male whispered.
"Do you think…"
"No, our race is the only thing important right now," the female firmly said.
"This could be it," the male firmly said.
"No!" The female voice hissed. "We must complete this."
"Very well," the male grumbled.
Gaz's eyes widened as everything went dark. Her body felt cold…she felt alone. Numbness washed over her form as she slipped into bliss.
"My superior brain," Zim hissed as he sat up.
Zim winced at the volume of his voice and put his hands over where his ears would be. He rolled over to his stomach and buried his face in the couch. His antennae perked up as he sniffed. A sweet scent entered his form and he quickly rolled off the couch. His head hit the floor and he cursed everything. He reached up and gripped the cushions of his couch. Zim pulled himself up and squinted his eyes at the blurry figure. The shades were suddenly pulled open with a quick zip.
"THE LIGHT! IT BURNS!" Zim screamed as he crammed his head under the couch.
"Whiner," Gaz mumbled as she stared down at the alien.
"Sweet, sweet darkness," Zim mumbled.
"I'm making waffles!" Gir shouted as he ran around Gaz.
"Silence!" Zim ordered as he groaned at his throbbing head.
"I suggest a cool towel on your head…but it might burn you," Gaz mumbled as she noticed that Zim had stopped moving.
"What is this pain in Zim's superior head?" Zim questioned.
"It's called a hangover," Gaz mumbled as she opened another set of curtains.
"A hangover…I HATE IT!"
"Take some medicine and you'll be fine," Gaz assured with a smirk.
Zim scowled and his eyes shot open. Gaz grabbed his ankles and proceeded to pull him from under the couch. He gripped his tiled floor and his claws dug into the material with a screech. Zim winced at the noise and released his grip. Gaz fully pulled him out and he shut his eyes.
"Too much light!" Zim groaned.
"Poor smeet," Gaz falsely cooed.
"I am not a smeet!" Zim softly growled. He had already figured out that loud sounds make his head hurt.
"Anyways…we have skool," Gaz informed with a dark smirk.
"When?" Zim grumbled.
"In about an hour," Gaz replied as she watched him shiver. "Are you too weak to go?"
"NEVER! Zim will go to skool!" Zim shouted as he stood up without opening his eyes.
"Whatever," Gaz sighed as she brushed passed him.
Gaz smirked and reached up to his head. She let her hand trail over one of his antennae. Zim's eyes snapped opened at the ghostly touch. He realized his mistake and he screamed as light reached his eyes.
"IT BURNS!" Zim screamed as Gaz chuckled.
"Master sure loves his voice," Gir commented as he stirred the waffle mix.
Gaz raised an eyebrow at the little robot and watched as he poured soap into the batter. He whistled as he continued his culinary art.
"You want to make Zim really happy?" Gaz questioned as she held back her delight.
"YEAH!" Gir cheered.
"Zim would love it if you put wasabi into his waffles," Gaz spoke with a growing smile.
"What's wasabi?" Gir questioned as he tilted his head in confusion.
"Wasabi is happy sauce," Gaz explained.
"It'll make master happy?" Gir questioned as he began to dance.
"Just go to the store and by some. Then mix a cup into the waffle mix," Gaz explained.
"Okie dokie," Gir replied as he ran out of the house.
"Where is he going?" Zim questioned as he fumbled into the kitchen.
"You're recovering," Gaz sullenly noticed.
"Don't act too happy," Zim grumbled.
Gaz rolled her eyes and left the kitchen with a smirk. Zim watched her leave and raised opened one eye slightly wider.
World History
"And this is why we are all doomed in 2012," the teacher finished.
"Mrs. Leer?" A student called out.
"Yes?" Mrs. Leer questioned as she turned her blue gaze to the student.
"What does this have to do with War?" The student questioned.
"If I have to explain it again then you fail!" Mrs. Leer snarled as she glared at the student.
Gaz smirked as she skimmed through the book. Her teacher was insane and she knew it. Mrs. Leer had admitted that she had been in the nuthouse at least ten times. Gaz wondered if she owned her own straightjackets.
"GAZ!" Mrs. Leer growled.
"What?" Gaz snapped back as she drifted into reality.
"Tell me you seem to find the 'Just War Theory' boring," Mrs. Leer inquired.
"It sucks," Gaz replied.
"Do elaborate," Mrs. Leer sneered.
"There should be no rules to war," Gaz responded.
"But the rules keep certain things controlled," Mrs. Leer replied.
"All's fair in war," Gaz quoted.
"Do you feel that you should use all non-violent forces first before going to war?" Mrs. Leer questioned.
"Depends," Gaz shrugged.
"Would you go to war for a 'just cause'?"
"Depends on what is 'just'. The rules for a 'just cause' are different to everyone," Gaz calmly answered.
"Would you fight a losing war?" Mrs. Leer questioned as she raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't lose…but if I did…I would take down as many as I could," Gaz questioned.
"Class it seems that we have a psycho," Mrs. Leer spoke as she clapped her hands.
Gaz rolled her eyes as everyone scooted away from her. She smirked as made eye contact with the teacher. The bell rang and she sat there until she was the last one. Mrs. Leer raised an eyebrow and Gaz chuckled.
"What would you go to war for?" Mrs. Leer questioned.
"Nothing," Gaz simply responded.
"There is nothing you would fight for?" Mrs. Leer questioned with a narrowed gaze.
"You misunderstood," Gaz chuckled. "I need no reason to cause misery."
Woman's Issues
Gaz scoffed as she listened to Ms. Waki drone on about love in relationships. She desperately wished that this teacher would shut up. Gaz scratched her lips and noticed that they were extremely numb. The teacher asked a question and all the students raised their hands. Gaz kept her hand down and sighed. The class and teacher had Gaz in there focus. She gritted her teeth and wished this class would end.
"Have you ever been in love?" Ms. Waki questioned with a smile.
"No," Gaz snapped.
"We all love…it may not be romantic, but it is still love," Ms. Waki firmly said.
"I love nothing," Gaz coldly stated.
"There has to be someone that is more important then anyone else," Ms. Waki sighed.
"There is one…" Gaz drawled.
"Go on," Ms. Waki encouraged.
"Me," Gaz dashed her hopes.
"There's no one you care for?" Ms. Waki questioned.
"No."
'Liar.'
"There's no one you think about at random moments?" Ms. Waki pushed.
"No."
'Liar.'
"You have no one that you feel like you can talk too?" Ms. Waki softly questioned with worry.
"No."
"You would never be there for anyone?" Ms. Waki questioned.
"Nope."
'Liar…you were there for him.'
"It must be sad…to be alone," Ms. Waki whispered.
"I'm not alone," Gaz replied.
"You're right…you have yourself," Ms. Waki stated as the bell rang.
Creative Writing
"Gaz," Ms. Phobia sighed as she approached the girl.
"What," Gaz mumbled.
The class was extremely small. There were only five students in the class. The principal didn't want to cancel the class because Gaz had sent 'reasoning letters.'
"Something's wrong…feel free to speak," Ms. Phobia encouraged.
Gaz scoffed and continued to scribble. The teacher sighed and walked back over to her desk. She pulled open a drawer and searched the dusty files for a piece of paper. A smile formed on her face as she pulled out a sheet of paper. She walked back over to Gaz and handed her the paper. Gaz looked up at Ms. Phobia before gazing at the paper.
"What is this?" Gaz questioned.
"This is your new assignment," Ms. Phobia assured with her own smirk.
"I don't want to do it," Gaz growled.
"Gaz," Ms. Phobia firmly said.
"What?" Gaz grumbled.
"You've been acting strange…not yourself," Ms. Phobia corrected when she noticed Gaz scoff. "Your eyes are dull and you look tired."
"Nightmares," Gaz mumbled as Ms. Phobia looked on in confusion. "I used to be the reason for nightmares…but now I'm having nightmares in the day."
"Hallucinating?" Ms. Phobia questioned as Gaz shook her head.
"No…memories," Gaz mumbled.
"Make a journal of these memories. Maybe writing them will help them cease," Ms. Phobia offered.
"Fine," Gaz mumbled as if she were truly upset. Ms. Phobia smiled at the act.
"Do you have that poem done… it was do today?" Ms. Phobia questioned as Gaz gritted her teeth.
Gaz handed her a piece of paper without question. She focused on her new project as Ms. Phobia left her alone. Gaz glared at the scribbles and tore it to pieces.
'A distance was all we had, unbreakable barriers left us alone,' Gaz sighed as she noticed Ms. Phobia smile. That damn poem was making her angry. Gaz took out a piece of paper and decided that it was time to add to her journal.
"Are you hiding something?" Ms. Phobia questioned Gaz.
"My whole life," Gaz replied with smile.
"It seems like you're afraid," Ms. Phobia spoke.
"I fear nothing," Gaz firmly said.
"No doubt, but it seems like you fear getting to close to someone," Ms. Phobia mentioned with a slight grin.
"Yeah…I fear getting to close to someone because I don't want to catch stupidity," Gaz replied as Ms. Phobia chuckled.
"It's not contagious," Ms. Phobia scolded.
"Tell that to my brother…he keeps trying to spread it," Gaz replied with a grunt.
Ms. Phobia softly chuckled and left Gaz alone. The bell was going to be ringing in about two minutes.
Lunch
Gaz gazed at her GS2 as a throbbing pain pulsed within her head. She gritted her teeth and rested her forehead against the cool fake wood of the school table. Dib frowned at this, but remained silent. His sister was even scarier when she was sick. Zim marched into the cafeteria and took a seat at their table. His gaze landed the girl with her head pressed against the table.
"What's wrong with her?" Zim questioned.
"Why would you care?" Dib questioned.
"I don't," Zim mumbled as he glared.
"Shut up!" Gaz hissed.
"Headache," Dib softly said. Zim raised an imaginary eyebrow in confusion.
Zim remained silent as he watched her with an impassive look. Dib rolled his eyes and opened his pop. He quickly downed the liquid and sighed.
"What did you do to her?" Dib questioned. Accusing Zim would get him to talk.
"Nothing," Zim answered leaving Dib stunned.
"Nothing strange happened?" Dib answered.
"Dark…cold," Gaz mumbled as she began to sweat.
Dib reached forward and lightly touched her forehead. He pulled his hand back in shock. Zim watched the interaction with slight worry. Dib stood up and tilted Gaz back so her head was resting on his arm.
"What is it?" Zim questioned.
"She's burning up," Dib answered as he picked her up.
"Cold…so cold," Gaz mumbled as she shivered.
"We have to get her to the nurse," Dib worriedly said as he made a dash for the door.
"No!" Zim snapped as he caught Dib by the shoulder.
"What? She could die!" Dib growled as he glared at Zim.
"Those human's are stupid…she should be taken back to the base," Zim quickly said.
"She only got sick after going with you!" Dib accused.
"Either way…she's coming with me," Zim warned as his eyes narrowed.
"I'm going with," Dib firmly said as Zim gritted his teeth.
"No," Zim protested.
"Cold," Gaz mumbled as her eyes slid open.
They both gazed at her in worry. Her amber eyes had changed to silver.
"Fine," Zim growled as his fist clenched.
Zim pushed through the cafeteria doors and Dib quickly followed with Gaz in arms. Zim noticed a short hallway and saw an exit sign. He pushed open the door and listened to the alarm go off. Dib stopped at the doorway in worry. Zim grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to the roof.
"Don't stop you fool," Zim growled as he pulled him to the ledge.
Zim stopped at the edge and frowned. A small metal ball floated out of his Pak in front of him. A picture of Gir visualized in front of him.
"Gir!" Zim shouted.
"I'm on TV!" Gir cheered.
"Pay attention!" Zim ordered.
"Yes my master!" Gir saluted as his eyes glowed red.
"I need you to bring the Voot cruiser to the skool," Zim ordered.
"Okie dokie!" Gir spoke as his eyes went back to blue.
"Will he actually show up?" Dib questioned Zim.
Zim shrugged and Dib sighed. He didn't want his sister to die because of a dumb robot.
"I'm up here!" Gir shouted as he waved.
"Good job Gir," Zim praised as Gir jumped on his head.
Dib grumbled as squeezed into the ship with Gaz. Gir tilted his head and gently jumped onto Gaz. He sat on her chest and dodged Dib's attempts to shoo him.
"She looks bad," Gir commented.
"Get off her!" Dib grumbled.
"She needs tacos!" Gir shouted as a taco shot out from his head. It smacked Dib in the face.
"Back to the base!" Zim declared as they took off.
Author's Note:
Thanks to everyone for reviewing, after this chapter somethings are going to change. I can't stop typing this thing, I have about 24 chapters fully typed and I'm not done yet.
Invader Stunk: Thank you for the script review Invader Iza, it kept me company in my cell
Leader Rig: It was interesting
Please leave a review and I'll update again