Note: Read Invader Sideos' stories! He's a really good writer, master of plot! He put forward this storyline as a fanfic challenge, and I am having great fun writing it. My apologies for not updating, there's this thing called Skool you see… that plus I'm running a MySpace account FOR Zim, great fun. But I'm very sorry, will try not to let it happen again. Also, my computer is running hecka slow right now, so the server kept timing out and I couldn't upload anything. As it is, I'm uploading this from a different computer. Again, I'm very sorry.

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Back straight, eyes wide. Tallests are inspecting! The come slowly down the line. Breath catches, they stare, then pass. Safe!

Squeal of terror, rows of heads swinging that way. Smeet Krip didn't pass. Shudder, but show no fear. Tank of water produced. Wide-eyed Krip shakes, held by two SIRs. Tallest Red flicks finger, Krip is dumped into tank.

He cannot scream, cannot breathe. Eyes scream anguish, then melt. Skin curls up and floats to top of tank, revealing squeedly spooch and other organs working frantically. They turn black and dissolve, turning the water a sickening green. Krip dies, can hear his silent screams…

Tallests are eating donuts, discussing Red's new lasers. Straighten. Never fail Tallests! Never show weakness! Weakness equals death. Not weak! Never weak!

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"You'd better not have passed out again."

Dib winced as a set of hands angrily seized him. "Ow, Gaz, lemme go! I was just, ummm, resting. Resting in the hallway."

"Where'd you get that bruise on your forehead then?" she sneered.

"Uh, got into a scrap at school. No biggie." He shrugged, hoping to deter more questions.

Snorting, she released him and stalked off, muttering, "Lies! Lies! Filthy lies."

Dib blinked. "Wh-what?" he stuttered.

"I said 'whiner,' are you deaf on top of being stupid?"

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Something big is coming.

Dub flung himself to the side just as a huge fist slammed into his locker. Torque glared at him, his other arm bound in a cast.

"Tol' my folks it was you that did this," he rumbled, "Tol' the doctors, tol' the teachers! Every last one of 'em laughed in my face an' said it was impossible, that you wouldn't hurt a fly unless it came from Mars."

Dib scowled. "You shouldn't have attacked me last night!"

"You shouldn't have attacked me yesterday!"

"You shouldn't have thrown that eraser!"

"You shouldn't have been born!"

Dib's eyes thinned to slits and his lips flattened. "One wrong move, Torque, and I'll make you wish I hadn't."

Torque smirked. "Little late, freak. Been wishing that ever since you came to this Skool. And I'm not alone either." Dib stiffened. "Nobody likes you, you nut. You've been here for three years and haven't made one friend, except that retard Gretchen. Face it, if you were to vanish, nobody would care. Heck, I'd throw a party!"

Bend knees, push off, arms extended, aim for stomach.

"Ooooomph!" The air whooshed from Torque's lungs as Dib crashed into his stomach. Using the momentum he had gained, Dib rolled away and crouched in battle stance.

What am I doing! His mind screamed. I don't know this stuff, I don't start fights! Where's it coming from? Blinking, Dib spotted Ms. Bitters making a beeline for him. But instead of the usual terror that gripped him, an arrogant calm settled in. He leaned against the lockers and crossed his arms as she materialized in front of him. Her evil stare nearly melted his resolve, but he held firm.

"Care to explain why you tackled a defenseless student, Dib?" She snarled.

"No."

"No?"

"No. He was insulting me, which is not fitting since I have a mental capacity clearly superior to his. What is there to explain?" He yawned.

Blackness enveloped him, and all he could see was Ms. Bitters' eyes, glowing a deep, pulsing red. "Skool doesn't take kindly to fights, Dib. I think it's about time you learned that."

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The garbage can made a pleasing clang as he hurled it against the side of his house. Howling his anger to the sky, he tore at the ground with his fingers, raking deep gashes into the lawn. He felt his fingernails tearing away but he didn't care, he continued, wreaking havoc on the one thing he could destroy.

"Your voice is making me sick." He turned to face an irritated Gaz. "And you made me lose on level 29." Clenching a fist, she advanced on him. "That's grounds for a beating around here."

"GET AWAY FROM ME, FILTHY DIRT-CHILD!" He screamed, hooking his bleeding hands into claws. Gaz paused, a flicker of shock crossing her face.

"What… did… you… just… call… me!" She rumbled, her face darkening.

Dib kneeled there, rooted to the spot. I must have been watching Zim for too long, now I'm even acting and speaking like him! Calm down, Dib. Act normal, placate her, placate her or you're dead!

"I'm… sorry Gaz." He forced out. "I haven't been… it's been a difficult day." He extended a blood-streaked hand. "Look, I'll make it up to you."

"You bet you will," she sneered, advancing on him.

"No, really!" He panicked. "All your chores, I'll do them for a month!"

She hesitated. "You will?"

"I swear."

Eyeing him, she turned and stomped back into the house. "You live for now."

Wincing, he gazed in a stupor at his wrecked hands. What's going on?