(A/N: Hey y'all, I'll save the info dump for the end. I'm sure you missed me oh so much and wanna get right to the story. Plus I'm sure you can tell this is a Part 3 to previous fics of mine, so consider checking those out before reading this one. Enjoy!)

"They simply do NOT make circuit breakers like they used to, huh, GIR? All that time and monies spent to end up with the cheapest piece of flammable hardware! Or 'INflammable'. Which is it, GIR?" Zim turned only to find himself alone in the Voot Cruiser. And he'd been talking for a while. "Wait a minute. I left GIR at home...why did I do that?"

"WARNING," his computer blared. "Running low on fuel, will soon be forced to run on milkshake mix. Plus there's still a salamander in the engine."

"Oh yeah, that's why. But I refuse to go chasing that thing around again; took me weeks to get the goo out of my last uniform!" Zim stuck his tongue out, checking the dashboard radar. "Well, can't be too far from a mechanic. Locate the nearest one and fly me to it, Computer!"

"Autopilot engaged." After a brief scan, the Voot locked onto a planet known as Aggrage 9.
Zim braced himself as it sped up on its way. He leaned as far back as possible in his chair. Whistled a bit.

"...so, how are things?"

"The salamander is laying eggs," groaned Computer.

Zim didn't say anything the rest of the way.

From the outside, Aggrage 9 appeared to be a giant, silvery marble. But the silver wasn't actually the surface of the planet, just an outer shell. The entire planet had a "roof" over it, and the only entrance was at its south pole, which the Voot flew down to. There, it was met with a shut porthole and a large speaker which played an automated message.

"Welcome to Aggrage 9. For calculated directions, select 1. To enter and receive mechanic assistance, select 2. To enter and receive mechanic deterrence, select 3. To enter and collect on a giveaway prize, select 4. To hear the options again, select 5. Make your selection...N O W !"

"2! Sheesh."

"You have selected mechanic assistance. One of our supervisors will direct you to a suitable mechanic."
The porthole opened.
"Please turn off all recording devices while on the planet's surface."

The surface of Aggrage 9 was covered in partly-automated moving sidewalks, leading to various service stations and such. Sounds of drilling metal, grinding gears and whirring spacecraft echoed through the air. The busy pace honestly gave Zim a headache, but he supposed it was something you got used to...somehow.

To save what little fuel remained, Zim landed the Voot Cruiser on a big conveyor belt. It stopped up by a supervisor; Aggrage 9 was inhabited by all kinds of aliens, but this was one of the planet's natives, a tall, humanoid metal-man.

"Voot, hm? Lucky for you, we've just hired an Irken mechanic. Real whiz with these things. I'll send you right to her, sir." He punched something in on a console and the Voot continued zooming along the belt before turning and stopping at a station.

"Phwooo," Zim lifted the windshield and slid out of the ship. "Listen, I want to make this quick and painless, so don't try to add anything on, T...T...T-TAK?!"

Standing before him in a mechanic jumpsuit and slightly oversized work boots was indeed Tak. At her side was a small SIR Unit closely resembling her original MiMi.

"Now you recognize me," she rolled her eyes. "Commencing scan of the ship."

"WHOA, HEY! HEY, WHOA!" Zim backed away from her, shielding himself. "You're not getting the jump on me, you...YOU!"

Tak merely shoved her hands in her pockets as the SIR "x-rayed" the Voot. "I'm not exactly thrilled to see you, but I already said I'm done with you. Hmmm. So it needs the tank fixed and the engine swept."

"Y-Yes?"

Tak turned to her SIR. "Go get some fuel."

As it did, Tak opened the rear compartment of the Voot and immediately found the problem. She plucked the salamander out and its eggs along with it. Zim grimaced as it slithered off, then watched Tak suspiciously. MiMi returned with the fuel and quickly cleared out the shake mix. With the Voot operational again, Tak closed it and wiped her hands off.

"Payment console is over there," she directed Zim with a point of her finger.

"...that's it?!" he shouted. "Have you no sense of honor?! No pride?! You find yourself in the presence of Zim yet again and don't even have any kind of scheme prepared?!"

After a brief pause, Tak made a beeline for the other lot in her station, where another damaged ship awaited. Zim stared after her as she inspected it, irritated. He marched up behind her.

"HA...! Nice try, Tak!" he faked a laugh. "You really think this pathetic attempt at psychological warfare will work?! I know you've got something planned, so don't bother w—"

"If you don't have enough monies, we offer layaway options," said Tak, digging through a tool box. "Otherwise, security will be on its way. We could always use more slaves down in the steel mill..."

At her whistle, the SIR Unit scurried past Zim, carrying a large cable to Tak.

Zim's unnerved expression remained as he turned back the way he came. He paid for the repair at the machine and started up his ship. As the Voot raised into the air, he glared down at Tak, continuing her repairs without giving him so much as a skyward glance...

"Ugh," he sat shaking his head. "She can't be serious."

XXXXXXXBACKONEARTHXXXXXXX

"And then she just WENT ON WITH HER DAY as if I were never there! The nerve of her!" Zim was pacing back and forth in one of his lab chambers. "Don't you understand, Skoodge?! Something is seriously wrong here!"

"What, exactly?" asked Skoodge. "You've gone over it a few times now and I still don't see the issue."

"The issue is Tak has disrespected me! Disrespected my importance! She didn't so much as speak my name! I mean, has she just forgotten everything that happened last time, nay, ALL those other times?!"

"Have YOU? She said she was done—"

"I KNOW WHAT SHE SAID, that's not the point!" blustered Zim. "The point is...is...Tak has gone too far this time, casting me aside like some smeet's plaything! I refuse to let this stand! I refuse to be labeled 'unimportant' by anyone! So we need to teach her a lesson, and get her to act how she should! Understand now?"

"You meeeean provoke her until she has basically no choice but to retaliate?"

"Yes, that!"

Skoodge cracked a slight smirk. "Y'know, it's kinda funny how before, you were all 'laissez-faire' with Tak, and she was obsessed with you. And now that she's moving on, you're obsessed with her."

"Heh?!"

"I dunno, it's just neat to see that the feelings are mutual. And all the time I spent theorizing wasn't a waste."

"It's not LIKE THAT, Skoodge," Zim scrunched up his face. "Tak had foolish delusions of grandeur brought on by a little one-sided Skool romance! I, on the other hand, have completely rational delusions borne of the need for justice in my name!"

"Okay, alright, Zim, you know I'm always down to clown...so let's grab GIR and go. Where is the little jackanapes?"

"In the storage bay," Zim checked his watch. "Surely he'll have done something to the Voot by now; I need it damaged so they return me to Tak's station."

"Uhhh, won't fixing that damage cost monies? Like, a lot of them?"

"Yes? You can't put a price on JUSTICE, Skoodge! By the way, you'll have to enlist Tenn before we depart."

"Tenn? What do we need her for?"

"To show Tak I—I mean, we—I mean, I am serious! Yes. Besides, she might be useful for something, er, there's strength in numbers! Whatever you need to tell yourself to not question my orders!"

"Well, I'm sure I can get in touch with her," Skoodge scratched an antenna. "But I dunno how I'm supposed to get her to come along with us."

"Hrmm..."

XXXXXXXSOONXXXXXXX

"Alrighty, Tenn will be meeting us on Aggrage 9," Skoodge tucked a communicator away in his PAK. "Most likely. How's the Voot?"

"Well, GIR did a real number on it, but we should reach our destination fine," related Zim. "Oh, GIR~!"

"I stuck glitter up in it and now it poots glitter!" chirped the SIR, hopping into the ship with the two Irkens.

"WOO!" Skoodge got comfy in his seat. "Let's get going!"

"Weee're OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD," GIR began singing before Zim gave him a chew toy to shut him up.

Leaving a glitter trail in their wake, the trio flew back to Aggrage 9. It felt like no time at all passed before the Voot was back on the conveyor belt headed for Tak's station.

"Hey, look!" Skoodge sat up, tapping Zim. "There's Tenn!"

Further along the walkway, Invader Tenn stood complaining to a metal-man.

"I know, I know how it sounds, but the message I got said to report here immediately! Here, I can play it for you!" Tenn scrolled through her wrist communicator for the suspiciously Skoodge-y audio file.

"Hello, lucky winner! You're the...lucky winner of a free ship from Aggrage 9! Uhh, if this seems strange to you, uhhh, you were chosen out of our database at random for a raffle! Ha-ha, isn't that somethin'? Please come to Aggrage 9 immediately to collect before your free ship goes to the furnace! Eh, by the way it comes with nachos."

"Like I SAID, that giveaway was just a scam to bring in more customers," grumbled the metal slacker.

"What kind of business sense is that?! Look, I already came all this way, so I at least want the nachos—"

"We'll just be taking this," Zim and Skoodge scooped Tenn up as the Voot passed by, with the metal-man simply shrugging in response.

"Ahhh!" the female Irken squeaked.

"Hey, chill out!" Skoodge began. "It's us, Zim and Skoodge! There's a 'situation' with Tak and we want you to join our cause!"

"AHHHHH, LEMME GO! LEMME OFF THIS THING, YOU CAN'T TAKE ME-!"

"Yow!" Zim hissed as Tenn kicked him in the eye. "GIR, detain her!"

"Yes, my master!" Flashing red, GIR dropped his chew toy and instead bit Skoodge's leg.

"OW!" yelped Skoodge. "Not me!"

"Ack!" Tenn winced as Zim grabbed her himself. "Just what is this stupid cause you need me for?!"

"Tak has made a mockery of me!" Zim explained, grappling with her as she tried to exit the Voot. "So we all must take a stand against her! Not only for my sake, for the sake of interpersonal fidelity!"

"He says that, but I think he just wants all of us to hang out again," Skoodge chimed in (apparently immune to GIR's bite now).

"SILENCE, that isn't it!"

"Just sayin', this is getting pretty mind gamey. Especially since I bet Tak's still a little heartbroken."

"What are you talking about?!" cried Tenn. She managed to wriggle out of Zim's grasp, only to find herself right in front of Tak, the Voot having reached its destination. "AHH!"

A dull expression washed over Tak's face as she looked upon Zim, Skoodge and Tenn. She was clearly struggling to hide her irritation.

"What seems to be the problem?" she asked.

"The Voot's pootin'!" GIR said brightly.

After a pause, Tak nodded to her MiMi. "Take care of this, and alert me when you're done."

MiMi saluted, then dashed behind the Voot and opened it. GIR seemed excited by the proceedings and followed her to watch.

"You all can come with me..." Tak reluctantly led the three Irkens a short way's away from the repair, then faced them with crossed arms. "What are you doing here, Zim?"

"Oh! So you DO remember who I am!" Zim said dramatically. "And after all the trouble I went to to jog your memory!"

Tak narrowed her eyes. "Okay, so I know what you want. But what about you and you?"

"I want whatever Zim wants," replied Skoodge.

"And I was coerced here against my will!" said the ever-trembling Tenn. "Tak, I don't want any trouble!"

Zim scoffed. "Please—"

"QUIET, YOU!" Tenn screeched at him before turning back to Tak. "If there's any way I can just collect my pod and leave peacefully, I will do it!"

The purple-eyed Irken stared her down before reacting. "Hm, your pod should be in storage by now. Garage is thataway. There shouldn't be any trouble if you get it and leave now."

"Thank you!" Tenn nodded and scurried off in the direction Tak pointed.

"HEY...!" Zim's eyes darted back and forth between Tenn and Tak. "Rrgh! Skoodge, stay here! We'll be back! OH, how we'll be back...!"

"Aye-aye..."

Once he left, Tak shrugged and readily returned to her work. Skoodge awkwardly joined GIR in watching MiMi repair the Voot; he'd peek back at Tak on occasion, with her frown deepening every time.

Zim hurried after Tenn, boarding the same walkway which led towards the planet's storage.

"HEY! You can't just run from this! You don't even understand what Tak did! How dismissive she was of me...you really had to be there."

"I can't believe you, dragging me into this!" she huffed. "I don't want anything more to do with her, and neither should you!"

"It's...not so much that I WANT to be involved with her," Zim said defensively. "But that's not really up to me at this point."

"But it is! Geez, you should count yourself lucky, Zim! Tak has finally gotten over her obsessive hatred of you, and you can leave her be!"

"Uh, you mean gotten over her obsessive love of me."

"Nooo, pretty sure that's wrong. Tak was never in love with you, Zim."

"What is it with everyone poorly using reverse psychology today?"

"WHAT?" Tenn spun around every which way. "Wait. Where are we? I think we were supposed to make a turn somewhere..."

The stations and warehouses along the walkway had dwindled as the Irkens were propelled along, until their surroundings were starkly empty. The only thing that lay ahead of them on the path was a small platform with a cubicle on it.

Zim and Tenn stepped up to it and saw the door read "T. Erbium: BOSS".

"Ugh, I've been trying to cut back on this lately, but I guess I can ask the manager for help," Tenn knocked a few times.

Beside her, Zim was struggling to process her reasoning...he didn't get why Tenn wasn't on his side if she really hated Tak as much as she seemed to. "You aren't afraid of Tak, are you?"

"..."

"Aha, that's almost endearing," Zim said with derision. "Tenn, if there's one thing I know, it's the insane. And I have seen many breeds of insane in my life. They can be difficult to deal with, but they are in no way scary."

Tenn only glared at him as the boss answered the door. He was an immensely tall, burly metal-man in a business suit, almost as cubical as his office and scowling just from the sight of the Irkens.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah, hope this isn't a bother, Mr. Erbium," Tenn greeted him. "Could you direct me to the nearest storage unit?"

"Hmph. Hey, tin man, what kind of customer service policy do you have here?" Zim rudely asked. "Because no matter WHAT it is, I have complaints to file!"

"Yeah, but help me first."

"NO, Zim is first!"

"I told you I'm not getting wrapped up in this, Zim!"

"And I told YOU that you are!"

"Lord." The metal-man's eyes bored into them. "Shoulda known this would happen..."

Zim and Tenn's chatter was cut off as T. Erbium seized them both by the back of their collars. They were so shocked by this manhandling, they went silent.

Grumbling all the while, T. Erbium stepped onto the walkway leading away from his office, which seemed to hasten from his mere presence on it. Nervous sweats broke out on the two Irkens in his grasp as they neared Tak's station.

Once they'd arrived, Erbium stomped towards Tak's current repair job and dumped Zim and Tenn onto the ground.

"TAK!" he bellowed, startling everyone.

She tiredly swept a hand down her face and approached him. "Yes, sir?"

"Guess what I just found skittering around my office space?" he asked, shaking with rage.

"More moon mice, sir?"

"Don't smart-mouth me! I found 2 of your little Irken brethren."

"Hey, you came back!" Skoodge welcomed them obliviously. "How'd it go?"

After T. Erbium sneered at him, the pudgy Irken buttoned his lip and huddled down with Zim and Tenn.

"Make that 3," the metal-man amended.

"Apologies," Tak stated. "But I've done my job. They can all leave now, I didn't know they were coming."

"That's not the point. Need I remind you why you were hired?"

"You've told me, sir."

"I have quotas to meet and a public image to maintain. You happen to be pretty good at what you do; you're skilled, punctual, and usually don't give me no sass," the boss almost sounded benevolent. "But you still are what you are. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"I don't think you do. So to put in a way you DO understand, I hired you for you. Not so you and half your shrimpy kind could show up and make a farce of my business," he spoke in a venomous tone.

"Oh dang," Skoodge said under his breath.

Tenn just peered aside awkwardly. She hated what this guy was saying, but it was Tak he was addressing. Zim, on the other hand...

"EXCUSE YOU!"

Erbium's head snapped in Zim's direction. "What?"

"'WHAT?' Now you've really proven you don't know a thing about Irkens!" Zim replied defiantly. "I mean, who are YOU to spew insults like that, anyhow?! You're nothing but an overdecorated repair drone, with the fashion sense of a human smeet and palms that smell of unsalted butter!"

"The worst kind of butter," Skoodge felt the need to say.

"I bet he's getting rusty in more ways than one," Zim chortled casually to the aghast Tak.

"What are you DOING?" she hissed.

"A-ha-ha-ha, what? You don't expect Zim to be intimidated by this Baron Von Boilerplate, do you? Bloated as he is, I have bigger issues to deal with right now! Namely, RECOMPENSE."

A silence fell over the group. Zim was only pausing for dramatic effect. Tak, whose shock had faded a bit, was staring off into the distance with the hope that the void would consume her. Everyone else's eyes were on Erbium, who looked beyond nettled.

"Well. If that's how you really feel..." Erbium slammed his hand to the ground right beside Zim, who didn't so much as flinch. "I shan't do a thing to you, since you are a paying customer. Against my policy."

"Phew," went Tenn.

"But there's nothing in my policy protecting these other intrusive half-pints."

"Eh, wha?"

Having easily snatched up Skoodge and Tenn, Erbium pulled a small metal disk from his pocket. He pressed its button and the device expanded into a sizable, rotund cage with solid energy barrier, which he tossed them into before shutting the top.

"Hope ya like lava, because you're going right to the mill once it reopens."

"Ooh, I wonder what kinda metal I'll make," mused Skoodge. "I hope it's cool."

"Hey, no! But I'm not with them!" Tenn protested, pounding on the barrier. "I'm a victim of circumstance! I might even qualify as an innocent bystander!"

Erbium shook the cage to quiet them down before tucking it under his arm. "What say you?"

"Do with them as you must, it's your place of business!" Zim conceded. "But don't expect me to leave you a kind review!"

"Glad to hear you feel that way," Erbium's gaze drifted from the Irkens over to the SIR Units. "Because those robots are on the chopping block too."

"...well, no. That's my property. HEY," Zim went ignored as Erbium grabbed both GIR and MiMi and plopped them into the cage with the dizzy Irkens.

"But what about the Voot's diarrhea?!" whined GIR.

"Tak fixed it," Skoodge reminded him.

"Oh. Forget it, then!"

Growling, Zim scaled the metal-man's leg and futilely tried to yank the cage from his grip. (Even resorting to scratching and biting.) "Give it up, you shyster! You know I could sue you for this!"

"Mr. Erbium, I promise to make sure no Irkens ever come here again," Tak said with a heavy breath. "Just...you don't have to—"

"Shut up. Take the rest of the day off, I'll brief you on your pay cut tomorrow." Erbium effortlessly flicked Zim off his person before storming back the way he'd come. "Adios."

Once he made his exit, Zim turned to Tak expectantly; he supposed she'd strangle him on the spot, but she merely stood there massaging her temples.

"This isn't happening..." she spoke through her teeth.

"OH, it's happening!" Zim took on a smug tone. "Now you're involved whether you like it or not!"

Slowly, Tak opened her eyes, staring at the spot where Erbium stood before. "There's nothing I can do. Nothing you can do."

"HEH?!"

"Erbium's got what he wants, there's no getting them back. You should count yourself lucky. Your ship's been repaired, so just go..."

Almost doing a double take, Zim looked at her with pure disbelief. "This problem runs beyond even me, doesn't it? With how you just stood there, taking all that blasphemy! You've completely lost your breastbone!"

"It's 'backbone', and Zim...just shut up and go back to Earth, okay?"

"I'm not going back to Earth!" Zim scowled. "That prejudiced piece of platinum took GIR from me! So unoriginal! Also, I still need Skoodge to pay for the repairs! And Tenn, well, I'll find some way to justify including her in this."

"If you plan to go after Erbium, I won't be sticking around to face his inevitable wrath. There are 8 other Aggrages I'm sure would love to have me. 9 if I count the satellite built on Hobo 13."

"And I'd track you to every last one!"

"Why?"

"..." Unsure how to answer, Zim changed the subject. "Well, the Erbium took your SIR as well! Don't you want it back?"

"It's not like I haven't rebuilt her before," Tak said somewhat defensively.

"But you could be saved the trouble by coming with me!" Zim pronounced it more like a demand than a plea. "Comparatively speaking, there'll be more than enough trouble on the rescue mission!"

"More than enough trouble?" Tak parroted in a flat tone. "Are you suggesting 'the amazing Zim' could fail?"

"Well, yeah."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I MEAN, NO! NO, NO, OF COURSE NOT! HA-HA-HA-HA-HAH," Zim inhaled sharply, sweat pouring down his face. "It's just that you've been here longer, and you know more about this 'Erbium' fool, and...and reasons of that nature! I am plenty capable on my own, but with the two of us, we're sure to succeed!"

"...so you need my help."

"URGHHH, it sounds unsavory when you put it that way!" spat Zim. "Maybe you would be of use on the mission, probably. Okay, huh?"

Tak squinted at him, deep in thought. "Okay. We'll get our robots back."

"Also Skoodge!"

"Whatever."

"And Tenn, can't forget her."

"Sure. And we'll take care of Erbium. On one condition...whatever the outcome of this, we leave each other be afterward. I keep my distance and you keep yours. No more of this back-and-forth."

"But—!"

"Deal or no deal?" Tak offered her hand.

"Fine. Deal," pouted Zim, giving a limp handshake. "Just don't come crying to me if you change your mind later."

XXXXXXXMEANWHIIILEXXXXXXX

"Ahhh, what a satisfactory day," T. Erbium set his cage of captives down in his office. "Just gotta get a little extra security for y'all."

"Sir, please!" Tenn clasped her hands together. "I don't have a lot of monies, but surely there's something other than my life you could take from me!"

"Hmm...NOPE!"

"Wait! WAAAIT!" Tenn wailed after him as he turned and left the office. "Rrgh!"

At last, Skoodge took a break from watching GIR chase MiMi around. "I don't think that guy likes us."

"OH, what was your first clue?!"

"Well, thankfully we've got some time before getting melted." Skoodge clapped. "Who's up for Hangman?"

"Are you crazy?! We have to get outta here!" shouted Tenn. "So I can strangle Zim for pulling me into this!"

"Hey, that was a team effort. Which reminds me, Zim won't leave without us. We're his friends! At least, I'M his friend. Plus he's gotta use my card to pay for the repairs; he's an upstanding guy who would never break the rules."

"Yep, you're crazy."

Just then, as GIR was gaining on MiMi, a beeping noise emitted from his head. His communicator emerged, displaying a holographic screen of Zim.

"Oh, terrific," Tenn growled lowly.

Brushing her off, Skoodge pulled GIR's communicator toward him. "HEY, SO, uh, Zim, you're coming to save us, right?"

"Of course we are! You're the one with the card," said Zim.

"And because we're buddies, right? RIGHT? Wait, 'we'?"

"Yes, Tak is coming with me..."

"And she's not harboring murderous intent?"

"Never mind that; where's that metal moron?"

"Right here, Master!" GIR piped up, only for Skoodge to shush him.

"He just left to get guards for us."

"Nothing to worry about. We'll have this sorted out before you know it." Zim glanced over at Tak to make sure she wasn't listening. "And then do what I came for."

"You wanna go through with that? Hasn't today been eventful enough?"

"NO, it has not 'been eventful enough'!" Zim side-eyed her again. "Tak shouldn't be allowed some free hall pass on this! One way or another, she will feel the sting of my vengeance."

"See, that's just the kind of thing Tak would say a—"

"SKOODGE, ENOUGH!"

"Okayyy, see ya real soon!" With that, Skoodge tucked the communicator away.

"You're kidding me," Tenn said in alarm. "There's no way those two alone are going to accomplish anything. We've gotta escape ourselves!"

Skoodge was already setting up for Solitaire. "Sure, if that's what you wanna do. I'll sit tight and wait for the rescue."

"Me too!" GIR agreed, messing with his cards. "King me, Skoodgey! King me for a peso!"

Even MiMi lacked motivation, sitting down to watch whatever "game" unfolded before her.

"Ughh!" Tenn buried her face in the cage lining. "Almighty Tallest, help me..."

XXXXXXXSWITCHOFPERSPECTIVEXXXXXXX

After the call, Zim and Tak boarded the next empty elevator headed down to the level of Erbium's office.

"Alright, Zim, this is the plan," Tak folded her hands together. "Around this hour, Erbium visits the internment camps to intimidate the new recruits. He's usually back within 10 minutes, so we'll have to hurry. Once he leaves his office, I'll hypnotize the guards out of the way, we'll go in and de-activate the cage. We all get out, go our separate ways, and this will be over quickly and cleanly. Got it?"

"Yes, very succinct and free of major conflict." Zim covered his mouth to add, "As far as you know."

"What?"

"What, huh? Nothing. You're the one who was talking! Sheesh!"

"..." Resisting the urge to throttle Zim, Tak exited the elevator with him as it reached its destination. "Showtime."

Two metal-men stood outside the office, smoking cigarettes. Zim and Tak ducked behind a nearby scrap receptacle, waiting to strike.
When Erbium finally sauntered out, he boarded the elevator whilst whistling a merry tune.

"Boy, I sure am a good person," he declared.

"Ugh, I just hate people who have zero self-awareness," whispered Zim.

"Mhm," Tak concurred.

As the elevator rose, carrying Erbium out of sight, Zim realized they'd instinctively crouched close together when the metal-man passed by. He immediately sprang to his feet, startling Tak.

"Now to storm the castle!" He went charging forward. "FOR THE EMPIRE, YAHHH!"

"Don't just...!" Tak yelped after him before taking her time heading for the office.

"Oi, there's the Irkens!" one of the guards pointed out to his comrade. "They're comin' right for us, they are!"

"You mean 'there ARE the Irkens'. 'There's the Irkens' is kinda not correct. Remember?"

"Gee willikers, I never thought of it like—SHUT UP AND GET 'EM!"

A flash ran across Tak's face, subduing one of the metal-men, but the other one had kept his eyes on Zim and physically blocked his path.

"Go take a long walk off a short pier," Tak commanded her target.

"I don't know of any short piers," he droned in response.

"Use a medium pier, then."

"Okay," he shrugged before scuttling away.

Once he was gone, Tak turned to Zim only to find him catching his breath while the other guard was facedown and unconscious.

"Did you...knock him out?"

"Yup! Easy as pie," Zim swept a hand across his forehead, then rested it on the office door. "Well...it helped that he tripped and hit his temple on the doorknob...but I-I still consider this a victory."

"Hm. Don't dawdle, finding them might not be so easy," advised Tak.

"What makes you say that?"

Zim's question was answered as Tak forced it open and revealed the office interior. Evidently, T. Erbium was some kind of hoarder, having created a practical maze of bookshelves, paper stacks, bins, etc. in his office, which looked way bigger on the inside for some reason. And it was already built on a larger scale than Zim and Tak given his massive size...

"MARCO!" Zim called out.

"Shush!" Tak closed the door behind them. "Not just anybody is allowed in here, I don't want to draw attention."

"Oh, okay..."

"They should be on his desk."

So, the two Irkens proceeded into the "maze", surveying the space above for any sign of the hostages.

"So," uttered Zim. "Where'd you get the hypnotism device?"

"Don't try to start conversation with me."

"Oh, SORRY. I suppose you'd rather travel in silence?" Zim said sourly. "Not that I have an issue with silence, I am GREAT at silence. No one more adept at keeping silent than ME. I'll have you know I won an award for my silence; it is shiny and covered in gold paint."

"Ughh, I made the device myself. It can come in handy when I get sick of dealing with people."

"You know, I once hypnotized my schoolmates. It was sort of gross, there was this 'pimple' thing on my face and...y'know how it goes. But this raises a question...how come you never used that device on me?"

"Hm."
Tak got thinking to herself. Why didn't she use it on Zim? Honestly, it might've been out of pride. She was loath to admit it, but Zim presented quite the challenge. He did have some intriguing aspects that made her want to solidly earn her victory over him. Maybe this was part of that stupid Zim-centrism Skoodge told her about, but Zim was undeniably a great destructive force to be reckoned with. For what an awful nuisance he was, he'd achieved a lot in his life. He was certainly durable. Or maybe he was just absurdly lucky? He was something. BUT she opted to give him the easy answer.
"It only works on the simple-minded."

"Got it." Zim paused. "Honestly, I'm surprised you don't think I'm 'simple-minded'."

"What's it matter what I think?"

"It, uh...hrmm," Zim trailed off, rubbing the back of his head.

Tak gave him a look of bewilderment. She knew she shouldn't have paid any mind to Zim's strange reactions at this point, but it was becoming pretty impossible to ignore.

"I...I just think you offer a unique perspective, considering you—"

"Hold that thought," Tak cut him off. "Here's the desk."

Having tried just about everything to escape the cage, the exhausted Tenn was trying not to hyperventilate when she spotted the duo below. "Huh? They're here! HEY!"

"SHUSH!" went Zim and Tak, causing her to bite her tongue.

"Here," Without warning, Zim latched onto Tak's shoulders and deployed his PAK legs, scaling the desk in seconds.

"Tsk," Despite Tak smacking him off, her expression was neutral. "MiMi! Please tell me you've kept as far as possible from Zim's robot."

MiMi nodded profusely, relieved by the sight of her mistress. She backed away as GIR pressed his face against the barrier.

"Master, I won at cards! I own the magic kingdom now!"

"Bully for you."

"Told ya they'd come," Skoodge reminded Tenn.

"Mmyeah. Get me out of here, he's been so annoying, I'm goin' crazy."

"You COULD say 'please'," Zim suggested.

"You COULD've not thrown me on death row!" Tenn shot back.

"Calm down, I can temporarily destabilize the barrier," Tak fiddled with the apparatus on her wrist.

"I've tried that, it doesn't—"

"It can't be done from the inside," Tak placed her hand on the cage. "Now stand back, we don't need any of your molecules getting scrambled."

"Yeah, that crap HURTS!" said Skoodge.

"Can't we just break it open?" Zim asked.

"I'd prefer to do this my way, if you don't mind," huffed Tak.

Just as the barrier began wobbling from the disruption, Zim espied a familiar figure through the office windows. In fact, the worst possible figure he could've espied.

"Uhm, Tak."

"WHAT in the flappy wappy heck is it?"

BAM!

Hearing the office door open, everyone's non-existent hearts dropped and they froze in place.
After a few more rising thuds, T. Erbium came knocking through his supply hoard, nearly sending them all flying off the desk.

"AHHHHH!" GIR screamed bloody murder. "IT'S...IT'S HIM! IT'S THAT GUY!"

Tak gulped. "H-How'd you get back from the camps so soon?"

"There are no interns today, I just went to take a leak. Came back and found one of my guards gone, and the other bleeding on my floor. So, this is how it goes, huh? You Irkens are..." Erbium did a condescending hand motion. The cogs in his head audibly churned as he processed the scene. "You save your little friends, leave me an employee short and just jet off into the sunset together? After all I've done for YOU?"

"Curses." Tak grit her teeth, and stood her ground. "It just had to come to this..."

"UHM," Zim gawked at her as she began removing her mechanic suit. "What a—WHAT are you doing?!"

"I have my regular clothes on under this," she scoffed, tossing the suit over him.

"Oh."

"I'm done with you!" Tak firmly told her boss. "Let us leave this planet, or I will battle you head-on!"

"I knew it." Erbium shuffled towards her threateningly. "The second a few Irkens show up, your loyalty just gets defenestrated. You are choosing this SCUM over me!"

Zim made a face as he kept advancing. "What're you waiting for? Hypnotize him!"

"Ugh, Zim, I told you it only works on...actually, you just gave me an idea. A rather good idea."

"Really? EEP!" He leapt behind the cage as Erbium's fist came crashing down and Tak dashed for the other side of the desk.

"Yes, really. The barrier's been weakened, now you break it!"

"With gusto." Zim hoisted a giant mesh pencil holder over his head. "HAAAHHHH!"

"HEY, my prized pencil holder!" The massive metal-man reached around the cage trying to catch Zim, but then noticed Tak had his giant stapler and was dangling it over an edge of the desk. "HEY, my prized stapler! That's a family heirloom! Oh, that tears it! You crooks are ALL getting melted!"

"I can't believe I was planning on paying him," muttered Zim. He wound up and swung the pencil holder against the barrier with all his might, smashing through it.

MiMi instantly slunk across the desk to help Tak combat Erbium. Upon feeling the sting of her laser eyes, he turned to see his ex-prisoners escaping. He snarled and moved to round them up, but Tak and MiMi were breaking more of his stuff, further arousing his ire.

"Is it me or is he, like, way bigger than before?" Skoodge asked absentmindedly.

Once the group reached the rear window, Zim did what he did best and broke it by throwing GIR through. He and Tenn then used Skoodge as a stepstool before yanking him up.
Not the most graceful of escapes or the least painful of landings, but it worked to get them out.

"Free at last!" Tenn rejoiced. "Ohhh, that sure was a mentally taxing 13 minutes!"

Skoodge cracked his arm back into place. "Yeah, except Tak...ya think she'll be okay?"

"Against that tomFOOL, note the emphasis on FOOL? She'll be better than okay," replied Zim.

Their collective antennae drooped hearing the brutal crashes sounding from within the cubicle. They had a feeling Erbium wasn't on the receiving end of said brutality, and the longer the battle raged on, the surer they were of that feeling...

Clenching her fists, Tenn got to her feet. "Come on. We can't just leave."

"Psh, sure we caaan," said GIR. "SURE WE CAN!"

"I know we can," conceded Tenn. "But we probably shouldn't."

"And it's YOU leading this charge?" queried Skoodge.

"If we leave, then that overgrown lamp figurine wins. This is about standing up for the lesser of two evils! The best type of evil!" Tenn drummed up a rationalization. "Zim, you're the one who said we were all part of this and whatever!"

"I did say that. And I was about to suggest the very same course of action!" Zim casually brushed himself off. "Good on you for overcoming your fear; some of my greatness must be rubbing off on you!"

"Uh...huh. Don't make me regret this."

As the group circled around to the front of the office, Erbium had Tak in a bad spot, to say the least. Her dented PAK legs fanned out against the wall as his enormous palm pressed against her. She could just barely see MiMi struggling under his boot in the corner of her eye. Tak wasn't sure how much longer she or her SIR could last...

"Do you not get it?! The Irken race made themselves the enemy! They CHOSE to make it so no one could see anything but red when they looked at them!" Erbium formed a fist, nearly crushing Tak in his grip. "And here I was, thinking you left it behind. But my good nature does that sometimes. Makes me take pity on worthless beings like you. Just look. Not even your own kind thinks you're worth a—"

"NOW!"

"AARGHH!" The metallic behemoth jolted back in pain, dropping Tak.

She fluttered down the wall, gradually gaining speed, only to slow down and find herself leaning back in the office corner by the time she fully regained her senses.

"Tak? Tak...!"

Shaking her head, Tak realized Tenn was tugging her arm. What's more was that behind her, Zim, GIR and Skoodge had armed themselves with giant rubber bands, and were sling-shotting a barrage of them at Erbium. And apparently they were the most effective weapons ever.

"What the..." Tak suddenly gasped, standing up straight. "MiMi!"

MiMi sprang up and darted to her mistress's side, just fine aside from some scratches. Relieved, Tak looked to Erbium (who was futilely blocking the onslaught with his palms) with newfound determination.

"They'll be out of bands soon. What can we do?" asked Tenn.

"Hrmm," A smirk formed on Tak's face as her plan became whole. "Follow me, into that big dustbin."

"Oh, wonderful..."

A dozen shades of pink adorned Skoodge's face as he fired rubber band after rubber band at the metal-man. "Zim, d'you think this will actually be enough to stop him?"

"Hardly. Ugh, where ARE they?!" Zim stretched another band using GIR's antenna and flung it away. "I could've had a spooch transplant in the time it takes them to do anything!"

As if on cue, Tak, MiMi and Tenn clambered onto the fallen shelf where they'd perched themselves, carrying large unwound paperclips.

"Aha, at long last!" exclaimed Zim. "We're gonna take those, and poke him in the eyes, yes?!"

"NO," Tak replied.

"Ooh, in the butt?" queried GIR.

"I thought we were trying to knock him out or something, not kill him," Skoodge clarified.

"Just take them!" Tenn shoved the paperclips into each of their hands, so she, Zim, Tak, Skoodge, GIR, and MiMi each had one. "Here's what we're gonna do..."

"RRrrRarghh...! YOW," With the elastic attack subsiding, T. Erbium finally dropped his arms, shaking off the stinging sensation. He scanned the room for his opponents, who'd seemingly disappeared in those few seconds. "Where'd you short stacks go now?"

Hearing a whistle, he spun around to see Tak standing on his boss chair.

"You...get off of that chair," hissed Erbium.

Wordlessly, Tak raised the untangled paperclip as a glint ran across her face. It was "caught" on the end of the clip and to Erbium's surprise, Tak flicked it aside.
The bright speck zipped to the office corner, where it was caught by MiMi's paperclip.

Sensing this was bad news, Erbium vaulted forward to stop this, but MiMi quickly boosted herself out of the way as he bashed his face into the wall. MiMi shot the glint (which had grown a bit bigger) along the wall to Tenn. By the time Erbium picked himself up, she had already whipped the flash back by the shelf into Skoodge's paperclip.

Erbium barreled for the shelf and nearly demolished it, further messing up the room, but the ever-growing shine was already airborne again, this time flying by the heap of rubber bands where it was caught by GIR's paperclip.

"Dangit, I've got to resort to evasive maneuvers!"

Assuming the blast would be aimed his way next, the metal-man grabbed his coffee table to shield himself, stumbling back. However, this stumble placed him directly beneath the ceiling fan, atop which Zim had hidden. the Irken steeled himself as the beam was shot straight up and received by his paperclip.

"FOR THE EMPIRE."

With that, Zim slid down and whacked Erbium square between the eyes with the clip.

The now blinding light enveloped Erbium, who groaned contemptuously and palpitated with pain, then plopped down upon the fallen coffee table as if he wasn't hurt at all. His gaze was completely empty, and he was drooling a bit.
Everyone cautiously gathered around him, with only Tak wearing an anticipatory expression.

"The amplified hypnosis has scrubbed his mind clean. He's a total slave to my whim," she didn't hide her smugness over this.

"So you can make him do whatever you want?" Skoodge asked, straightening out his antennae.

"Indeed. Watch. Erbium, I want to be in charge of this junkyard from now on. You are only to obey ME. Give me your boss badge," instructed Tak.

The mindless metal-man simply gurgled as he tore off his badge and held it out to Tak, who stuck it on her chest.

"Now get that sheet there, and give yourself a paper cut."

Erbium took a paper and scraped its edge against a pointer finger.

"On one of your knuckles."

Wincing, Erbium did as she said.

"Now go in that pantry and pour some rubbing alcohol on it. Then don't come out of there until I say! IF I say!"

Tak chuckled darkly as Erbium rose and stuffed himself in the office pantry. The other Irkens' eyes widened as his suffering noises soon emitted from within. MiMi received some head pats from her mistress, who sighed in contentment.

"Tomorrow, we'll make him chop his tongue off." They exchanged an excited nod.

"AHEM," Tenn tried to cut through the morbid atmosphere. "You actually plan on sticking around here, I see."

"Yes. But this dull kind of life really won't satisfy me. I was fooling myself thinking it would," she admitted, pensively rubbing her bruises. "While I'm fine for now, I wouldn't be opposed to returning to the empire in my own time."

"Oh." Zim furrowed his brow at Tak referring to being in charge of a whole planet as "dull". He then noticed he still had her mechanic suit hanging on him. "Uhh, do you want this back?"

Tak plucked it off him and draped it over her shoulder. "What a miracle, it's still in one piece."

"Yeah, you're welcome..." Zim said bitterly.

"Psh. That reminds me. You don't have much going on, do you, Tenn? You want a job? You work for peanuts, but you get something."

"Y-You're joking, right?" stammered Tenn.

Tak pulled a few peanuts from her suit pocket and nibbled on them. "Wish I was."

"I meant, why would I work for you?!"

"Because that space pod of yours is probably scrapped or stolen by now; those goons in storage can't be trusted. It shouldn't take you long to earn a better ship here. Plus, I could use another Irken around here."

"Ummm. I'll think about it?"

"Then, 'yes'?"

"Hurray!" Skoodge rejoiced. "Look at all of us, bein' friends!"

"Give it a rest!" Zim snapped, crossing his arms. "We already have Tak being the overly sentimental one, we don't need you in addition!"

"I don't get it, Tak," Tenn said with a frown. "Can't they tell you don't like them...?"

"RIGHT?!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"BLE-BLE-BLE-BLEHH~," sobbed GIR, licking along the ground. "Goodbye, planet! I'll miss your devil-may-care attitude!"

"GIR! Come on, we've got to get home!"

"'Kay!" GIR picked himself up and skipped over to the rest of the group.

Everyone had based themselves at Tak's former station once more, ready to put this whole episode behind them. And apparently GIR getting his saliva everywhere was his way of kissing the planet goodbye. As he rejoined the group, he "kissed" MiMi as well.

"G'bye!" he said before hopping into the Voot Cruiser.

"Rrgh," Tak wiped the spit off MiMi when she noticed the salamander from earlier had returned. "...hey, Zim."

"What? AGHHHH," Zim shrieked as she flung the salamander right into his face. "AHH, THE GOO! WHYYY?!"

Panicking, Skoodge attempted to hold Zim still and claw the amphibian off. It was soon sent flying towards the Voot, where GIR slyly caught it by opening his head compartment.

With a growl of disgust, Zim grabbed the front of Skoodge's tunic and used it to swab the salamander goo off. "What was that about?!"

"That was my plan, alright?" Tak declared. "I got you, and now you can get me back."

"Get you back?"

"Yes," she begrudgingly continued. "I wouldn't be opposed to you...stopping by every once in a while, if you want to go on antagonizing me. It'd serve as training, and I certainly wouldn't pass up an opportunity to kick you around..."

"Ohh, he's gonna take this the wrong way," Skoodge tensed up.

"WELL?"

"Uh," Zim had been staring blankly at her, but suddenly straightened his posture. "WELL, maybe I will stop by! I might, if I have the time! Who knows? You'll just have to wait and see!"

"Yeah, I will." Tak did an about-face and walked off.

"Huh," Skoodge said in surprise. "I never thought I'd see the day, but I guess Zimmy truly is developing!"

"You'll be 'developing' a big lump on your head if you don't go pay for the repair already," Zim aggressively shoved him away.

As Skoodge stumbled toward the payment console, he noticed Zim eyeing Tak as she joined Tenn by the moving sidewalk. He almost appeared wistful before marching the opposite way and climbing into the Voot.

GIR gasped. "My soaps!"

"Ah, right! Skoodge, we are NOT missing Todos Mis Circuitos again!" barked Zim, starting up the ship. "HURRY UP or we're leaving without you!"

"Dang telenovelas and their inconvenient airtimes...!"
Skoodge hastily made the payment and leapt into the Voot just as it raised off the ground. As he settled in, an awkward silence ensued, with Zim and GIR having a hunch what was coming.
"Y'know, Zim, if you've learned anything from this experience, I hope it's that hatred is indeed a form of caring and—"

"GIR, if you would."

"Oooh, yes."

BONK!

"AGHH, MY BRAIN!"

Down below, Tak was watching the Voot fly off as she stepped onto the walkway with MiMi and Tenn.

"Why'd you say that? You really want him to come back?" Tenn inquired, only to flinch as Tak responded with a curious glance. "I-I-I mean, if you feel like sharing, it's none of my business, hehh..."

"I suppose I'm just trying to get everything back to 'normal'," Tak looked down at MiMi. "Unfortunately, Zim is part of that 'normal'."

Tenn gave an unsure nod. "Makes sense."

Leaning against the railing, Tak internally affirmed that that wasn't the whole reason. Zim's behavior was changing. It was weird, but a step in the right direction. And the truth was, Zim was a driving force for her. If actively hating him was part of who she was, she wasn't going to just let go of that. Not without a fight.

"Now then," Tak took the mechanic suit and slung it over Tenn. "Let's get you some monies."

"Hey, I SAID I'd think about it...!"

(A/N: And so Part 3 is finito! I hope you enjoyed, and manage to remain patient with me. Everything always happens so much and writing has been a battle lately. But I digress.

SO even though it's not gonna be super often, I'm making my "Top of the Line" timeline thingy into a series of one-shots. I won't title them like this anymore, I'll just put in the description that it's part of this AU. So this 3rd one basically served as the lead-in for any other stories in it and hopefully after this they'll be more standalone/less like you have to read every single story to get what's happenin'...and shorter.
Lemme tell you, it was hard making up this whole alien planet thing without veering off into explaining every little thing. That was already kinda hard last time, but this time OOOF. It wouldn't be exaggeration to say this was the hardest fic to write thus far, and I hope that shows at least an iota. In a good way.

Please review, fave, notify me of typing errors and check out my profile for more stories. Ciao.)