Writer's block...sucks ass.

That and dentists. I have an infected tooth, with a dead root. I'm trying to find a dentist that has finished school that will use sedation instead of the last one... I got inspiration on the Keef teeth scene from the last one. A student dentist.

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"If we don't invade, they will."

It felt like hours Gaz had been sitting there when it was only a minute. Zim's words echoed through her head. She knew he was wrong. His beliefs were evil and ignorant. But why did she see the logic in it? Her country didn't want to be caught in the middle of this war, wanted to remain peaceful and nueteral. She hated herself and her country for thinking that just because they ignored them, they would ingore us. Ignorance... from all points of view.

Zim could see the troubled thoughts swimming in her eyes. And as indifferent as he tried to act, he too had concerns. If this country was invaded, would that make it much harder to invade Earth? How was he going to explain that he lost Earth to itself? He could not return to Irk as a failure, he had to prove himself. The images of the civilians who had lost their home flashed in his eyes. Wrapped in rags, begging for food. He could almost feel the cold set in. The startling picture of him huddling with other humans for warmth formed in his mind.

"I'm not in the mood for a movie anymore, are you?" Dib asked Tak.

Tak, who had been silent, shook her head, "No. I-I don't think it's appropiate."

"Gaz?" Dib caught her attention, "I think we should leave."

She nodded and began to get up before Zim caught her hand, "I'll take her home."

"What's the difference if she goes home with her brother or you? Either way, she's going home." Tak hissed in annoyance.

"Because she is Zim's girlfirend!" Zim hissed back, "I just want to make sure she gets home safe."

Tak rolled her eyes at his pitiful excuse. Gaz, noticing something covering her, handed him the jacket he had draped over her, "They're right. It would be less trouble if I go with them and save you the ride. Besides... family prefer to be together at times like these."

Zim nodded and sighed, "Fine. I'll call you later and see how you're doing. We plan another date seeing as this one was interrupted."

Gaz nodded and was led away by Dib and Tak. Zim grunted. It would figure that his first real date would be interrupted by another invading army. Did he just refer to this as a real date? Zim shuddered in disgust and got up and left as well. He wondered if Gir had heard about it yet. The SIR unit was rather sensitive about explosions he didn't get to start.

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As expected, Zim came home to see Gir crying on the floor, Mini-moose trying to comfort him. He sniffled and said something that no one could understand. Zim, throwing his coat (though it was an irken coat, he tried very hard to make it look like human fashion) on the couch and approached his sobbing minion. He didn't think he would be this upset!

In a strange, sympathatic mood, Zim knelt to Gir's level and asked in a soothing voice, "I guess you heard?"

Gir nodded and sniffled, "They-They interrupted the Lone Monkey."

Zim rolled his eyes as he started to remove his wig and contacts. Of course Gir would be upset if it involved the monkey, "It'll be on tomorrow, Gir. They had to interrupt it because it was an emergency."

Gir was silent for a while, tears and snot, which Zim will never know how he produced bodily fluids, and stared up at him in thought. Finally, in a smal voice, he asked, "Does drowning hurt?"

This startled Zim. Gir never made such statements. He would occasionally cheer at how fun exploding was and if he got hurt he would just smile and be on his way, but he never had been concerned of pain, much less thought about it with worry.

"Why would you ask that?"

"The radio man said hundreds of soldiers were trapped in the ships while they were sinking. They knew they were in there cuz they were tapping for help. Then they said the tapping stopped. Why did they stop?" Gir whispered as more tears swelled in his eyes.

Zim was at a loss. This was more than his program being cancled, he was truely crying for those who died. Was this the first time Gir ever realized what death meant? Did he never think what would happen if he succeeded with his plans? He picked up the little SIR unit and sat him on the couch.

Zim thought of a way to comfort him as they both knew the reason the trapped soldiers stopped tapping for help. Realizing Gir would understand human reasons than irken logic, he thought of something humans would say, "Because they got help, Gir. They're not in those ships anymore."

"Then where are they?" Gir asked, drying his eyes.

Zim grimaced, trying to think of something Gir would accept, "You know how you love to stare at the sun?"

Gir nodded, a bit more cheerful, "It makes my eyes feel funny!"

"They went to live behind the sun. There's a strange magical land where good people go when they..." Zim tried to think of another word besides death, "deactivate."

"Oh." Gir looked down slowly.

Zim had no feelings. He doesn't care. He just... didn't like his loyal companion, who believed he was great no matter anyone else said, sad. Gir was a pest. He destroyed countless of things and ruined many plans. But he loved his master and devoted his robotic life to make him happy. After he had fixed his glitches and put him into duty mode, which turned out to be a nightmare, Zim mused on what it's like have a serious, functioning minion. Cold and lifeless. He had seen other SIR units, including Mimi before Gaz managed to infect her with Gir's glitches, and remembered how stoic they were. They never said anything, they never went to entertain themselves, they just stood there, waiting for a command.

Zim imagined living these years on Earth with no one to talk to. He would've been in every sense of the word, alone. If it wasn't for Gir's strange personality, he would've given up and waited to die a long time ago. Gir was family to him. He'll deny it, but he knew deep inside that his attempts to succeed wasn't as much for the empire but to make sure he, Gir, and mini-moose would live a comfortable life.

He smiled a bit at Gir who was just staring off and asked, "Do you know what to ask Santa-beast this year?" Was it Santa or Satan? He often confused them. And though Zim hated Santa and the tradition, it made Gir happy.

Gir immediatly perked up and nodded vigorously, "I'S WANTS A RED RYDER BB GUN, AND A PIG, AND A PIG TO MARRY THE OTHER PIG AND THE LONE MONKEY AND A YOYO AND A TUB FULL OF JELLO..."

"Gir! Let's not ask Santa-beast to much, he is very busy afterall. Just make a list and leave it on the window." Zim sighed.

Gir instantly jumped off the couch to begin the said list. Zim rubbed his temples in frustration befor going to the elevator to the control room, "Computer!"

"What?" The disembodied voice yawned.

"Show me images of the attack in hawaii earlier today." Zim ordered.

The computer stalled, "Are you sure?"

"I am Zim! Of course I'm sure of what Zim wants."

"Suit yourself..."

Zim watched curiously as the screen turned black, "There's nothing there."

"It's smoke... I'll fastforwad it."

Zim's eyes widened in shock. The planes were flying in like a plague of locusts. Not only were they sending missiles, they were shooting. It looked as if the sky was raining bullets. Zim watched a small child that was on the beach scream, a bullet peircing the back coming out through his chest. Many soldiers were in the water. Some were swimminf for there lives, many others were floating, already dead. The screaming and clanging of metal emitted from the battleships sinking, trapping men to their watery graves. Then to Zim's surprise, the attack did not only continue on the battle fleeat, but went on land killing civilians. Even attacking hospitals and schools.

"The philippines have also been attacked." The computer informed him.

"Did Germany do this?" Zim asked, remembering it was the most aggresive country.

"Negative. Japan."

Zim stood speechless as he watched the attack. This whole planet is in chaos. And now the country he was residing in has been dragged into the madness. He shivered watching the bullets take more lives. Earth weapons were so primitive. But so effective. Unlike irken weapons that use thermal rays to inflict on the target, earth's were made to peirce the body, leaving a trail of destruction where it entered. He wasn't so sure if this planet was as weak as he thought. Despite their primitive lack of technology, this planet could be as feirce as Irk. He was glad Earth was unaware of life on other planets as they would surely instigate war.

Then he shivered, watching humans die a horrible death. Is this what it feels like to be invaded? Is this what those planets the irken empire felt when they lost their home. Is this how Gaz feels? He closed his eyes and hissed under his breath, "That stupid Gaz is making me think strangely."

He shut off the screen and left to see if Gir had cheered up, happily surprised to see Mini-Moose had made muffins. Soon his musings were shoved to the back of his mind as he focused on his minions.

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Dib and Gaz sat in silence, watching the small black and white television, as the news anchor announced their worst fears. Tomorrow the president would make a speech to inform on what the country would do. Gaz sat closer to her brother than she usually would, a slight fear of him enlisting.

Tak came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea set for four and setting it down silently on the coffee table. She used purified water that she carried in her pack so it wouldn't burn her. On Earth she discovered that tea was rather soothing and soon it became a ritual to have at least one cup before she goes into hibernation.

The humans silently thanked her and began to indulge in the warm sweet, calming liquid as she took a seat next to Dib, taking her own cup. Mimi, who had been assisting her, took her perch on top of the couch next to Tak and Dib's heads. When she was settled, Tak handed her precious Mimi a cup of tea.

"Where do you think Dad is?" Gaz asked, watching the tv screen.

"Probally volunteering to aid the war."

Tak looked at Dib, "Are you certain that America will engage in war?"

"We have no choice. If we do nothing then they will attack again. We'd be open for any country to invade us."

Tak stiffened. She loved this planet. This land. If someone had told her that she would give up her aliegance to Irk, she would kill them and throw their body to float in space. But this planet. Her home... was nothing like Irk. It did not thrive on war. It did not assign it's people to jobs based on how useful they can be to the tallest. It did not give demeaning jobs to the physically weaker. Nor did it reprimand it's soldiers on actions that they had no part of.

It was not perfect. Tak noted with disdain the racism and treatment of individuals of different coloring or beliefs. But the dark side of this land was nothing compared to what Irk does. And there is so much more good than the bad. Dib had made her realize this.

She remembered when she came back to Earth, having nowhere else to go. She was grateful that the tallest granted her Mimi and materials to make a base. Other than that, she would never have contact with Irk or any other planet. They declared Earth to be the land of the bannished. She almost pities Zim and his delusion that he had a mission.

Three years ago, Tak had made her base on , her accent granted her some respect as the humans admired England's attempts of fighting the nazis. Unfortantly, the human she had kidnapped and brainwashed to be her father had escaped and remembered nothing of his captivity, leaving her no source of money. And every attempt at a job had failed as she wasn't trained to perform domestic tasks such as being a waitress and refused to take orders as a secretary. Hunger took it's toll on both her and Mimi. To her surprise, SIR units did require food to function though not as much as humans and irkens. Mimi was at the point of only being able to lie there, no strengh to get up and gather food as she usually did. For the sake of herself and Mimi, she left and went to the market. Tak studied the fruit, squeezing them and smelling them. Taking a small grape and eating it she determined the fruit was edible. Making sure no one was looking, she stuffed her purse with as many fruits as it could hold. Just as she was prepared to walk out the door, an orange fell out catching a store clerks attention.

"Hey! Hey! You need to pay for that! SHE'S GETTING AWAY! Get her!"

Tak ran as fast as she could down the street. After a few minutes she paused, thinking she had lost any one who might have been chasing her. As she was checking her bounty, she was slammed to the ground.

"Gotcha, you thief! I hope a few oranges were worth jail time..." Dib froze as he reckonized the thief he had stopped, "Tak?"

Tak hissed and thrashed, "Get off me, human!"

Dib did as told and watched her pick up the fruit that had fallen out of her bag. The clerk, who had finally caught up with them, panted, "That's $5.00! Pay up befor I call the cops!"

Dib took out his wallet and payed the man with his own money. The man accepted this, after making it clear she was never allowed in his store again. Tak just muttered something, inspecting the fruit for any damage.

"What are you doing here? Are you trying to take over again?"

"No! Not that it's any of your business, but I'm forced to live on this ball of filth. Thanks to you and your firends!"

"Why are you stealing?" Dib's concern getting away in his hatred for the irken.

Tak only glared at him, getting up to stomp away. By the time she reached the corner, she swooned, leaning against a wall so she wouldn't pass out. Dib hurried to her and noticed how thin she was. Something about seeing this once proud girl...alien... struggling to get by made his stomach hurt.

Gently touching her shoulder, he asked, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine!" She hissed, only for her growling squeedlispooch to betray her.

"There's a diner across the street. I'll pay." Dib offered.

"I don't need your pity!" Tak snarled and hugged her purse to her chest.

"Think of it was two acquantances catching up."

Tak thought about it but shook her head, "I need to feed Mimi."

"Mimi? That robot thing? Can they eat?" Of course Dib felt stupid asking this as he had seen Gir eat numerous times.

"She's weak..." Tak mummered and moved to go home, forgetting any past grudges against the human that had foiled her plan of revenge.

Dib, seeing Tak was very weak herself, took the bag from her. Tak squaked, reaching out to take it back.

"I'm not stealing it from you, I'm just going to carry it. Where do you live?"

Tak looked at him, distrustingly, "Just a block up the road... What's it to you?"

"I just want to make sure you don't faint or anything... don't worry, if you're not planning any harm against me than I won't do anything to you."

Tired, Tak agreed. By the time she got home she had completely forgotten about him, collapsing on the couch, asleep. Dib smirked, not expecting her home to look so...human. To his surprise, it was quite frilly, with a pink floral sofa and lace everywhere. He even saw she had a small collection of cat figurines. It made sense that she was a cat person.

When Tak woke up, she smelled a wonderful aroma. There in front of her was a cup of tea and a plate of pancakes. She sat up and saw Mimi already eating her own meal. She didn't give it one thought that it might of been poisoned. Ever since then Dib would come by and check up on her, bringing groceries with each visit. Soon their relationship grew as strong as when they first met, perhaps stronger. He helped her fit in on Earth better, told her of all it's traditions. If Earth could produce this human, such kindness and understanding, than it is much more than what she first thought. This is a planet worth serving. And the best thing she liked about Earth, other than Dib, was she didn't have to serve anyone. She didn't have to please it's leaders. She served herself.

Tak looked over to Dib and saw Gaz leaning her head on his shoulder for comfort. Tak never really liked Gaz, as she was so harsh and reminded her of herself, but for the sake of Dib, she tried to befriend her. This Gaz, was looked scared and was clinging to Dib like a child would a parent unnerved her. Dib, noticing this, asked, "What's wrong? They don't have a chance against us."

"Dib, I know you want to be the hero, but promise me you won't sign up." Gaz whispered.

"Gaz, It's for America.."

"There'll be plenty of men to sign up! I hardly ever see Dad, I have no firends. You're all I have."

"What about Zim?" Tak asked, curiously.

"Yeah, there's him, I'm just a little mad at him right now."

"Why?" Dib asked, concerned.

Thinking quickly, she said, "He was being stupid and chased off a guy I was talking to... stupid ego."

It was somewhat true, he had done that earlier. She did not want to get into the argument she had with him over the war.

Dib laughed and ruffled her hair, to which she growled, "Sorry Gaz, but that's dating. Tak could tell you how stupid guys are when they like a girl."

Tak smiled, "It seems to be a rule in mating. The male must make an arse of himself."

Then Tak sighed, as she realized Gaz's fear had some truth in it. She would join the army, but females aren't allowed to fight. If Dib joined, he would be by himself. If that happened, the only thing she could do would be to stay behind and look after his sister. But she hoped it would never come to that.

Dib, noticing the concerned look on Tak's face, reasured them, "Don't worry, I won't. They'd have to drag me from you two.."

Mimi hissed a bit.

"You three, I mean." He chuckled at the cat-like robot wanting to be included.

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Zim was searching in panic. He climbed his way through the rubble and destruction searching for something... he didn't know what. The snow fell, making him shiver.

"Master! I found her!" Gir cried.

Zim jumped as he saw Gir missing his arms. Shaking the surprise off, he knelt to where Gir was , in a basement like structure, Gaz was holding the dead body of her brother, sobbing. Zim jumped in there, startling her.

"Get away from us! Leave you bastard!" She cried, her grip on Dib's corpse tightening.

"Gaz..." Before she scooted away any further, Zim caught her by the shoulders, holding her to his chest, "Gaz! What happened? Who did this?"

She shivered looking over his shoulder, "They're coming..."

"Who? The Japanese? The Nazis? Who Gaz?"

Gaz shooke her head, crying.

Zim ran his talons through her hair, trying to soothe her, "I won't let them get you... whoever it is won't get you."

She stared at his face, looking him in the eyes with her watery ones and whispered, "Liar..."

Suddenly he was shoved away from her, hearing shouts. Hearing Gaz scream, he turned around ready to attack and froze. An irken soldier was restraining her, latching chains around her wrists. Then he talked into his communicator, "We have her, Sir. We have the last human."

What scared Zim was what he saw next.

"Good... dispose of her. Weakness is a defect and will not be tollerated."

The soldier nodded, "Yes,General Zim." Aiming a gun they had stolen from the humans in her temple, the irken killed her, her brains splattering on the wall and her dead brother. Then the soldier aimed it at Zim, killing him instantly before muttering, "Weakness will not be tolerated."

Zim woke up panting. He took several deep breaths and looked around. Everything was normal. It was just a dream. It wasn't the first time he dreamt of conquering Earth, but this time it filled him with dread. Seeing his rival's corpse had never been a part of them. Nor seeing Gaz killed. It was the first time he pictured people being killed, and though he knew it was a part of war, he doesn't ever imagine the humans dying. Especially not Gaz or Dib. He hated Dib and wanted to make him miserable, but he didn't want to kill him. He and Gaz were the only humans to know his true identity. He could relax just a bit when he's around them. And Gaz... he never really saw as human. He just always thought of her as irken since she acts irken. He never pictured her slaughter.

Sighing, He got up and went to his lab and looked at the blueprints for his latest plan. Without another thought, he tore them up, throwing away the peices.

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A/N: My mom waking me up..

"Sweetie...baby, wake up."

"why?" I whined.

"What were you dreaming?"

Me shuddering, "It was horrible. I dreamt we were being hunted by the tea party" *no offense to the tea party, but you do scare me sometimes*

"But...you were laughing."

"I was."

"It was scary. The dog pissed himself and now I can't get him to come out from under the table."

"Huh... strange dog."

my mom, "0.0"

yes that really happened. And I asked my friends and it turns out, I do laugh in my sleep. Oh well.