(a/n: well here you go, another chapter. i hope you enjoy it. please review, it helps a lot. enjoy!)
Act 6: Ice and Steel
Zim threw the small metal box against the wall of the lab as hard as he could, screaming every curse he knew.
Marcus just stood there staring at the destroyed box he had retrieved from the cave.
"Wrong box?" said Marcus, frowning at the furious Irken
"Yes" seethed Zim and he shook a piece of paper at the cyborg assassin "Just look what was left in it".
Marcus accepted the paper and saw a message written in elegant lettering "Zim, if you are reading this, then my hunch was correct and you're alive. Dib found you're other secret base and destroyed all you're robots but I found you're little toy. I gotta say its quiet fascinating. Anyway I have an empire to run, see you around. I guess- Gaz"
Marcus looked up from the note muttering "Well this is new"
"the Dib monkey's sister had stolen it!" growled Zim, he just threw more things at the walls screaming more curses.
Marcus watched as the Irken went off on a rant "That stupid human, she doesn't know what she's messing with!"
Marcus held up a hand "Hold on, just calm down and tell me what was in the box"
Zim stopped, took a deep breath and explained, "That box contained a very advanced piece of Irken technology, I was planning on using it to finally crush the humans but now that its in the hands of Gaz, who knows how much damage she could cause"
Marcus nodded slowly "Ok, so what do we do?"
"We find her and we steal back that box" said Zim, he began pacing around the lab
"But we don't know where she could be" said Marcus, he leaned against a table "She could be anywhere on earth, hell for all we know she could be dead already and had the box hidden somewhere nobody would think to look"
Zim looked up at Marcus, eyes wide and antennas drooping "Its over, Zim is doomed and I am trapped on this accursed planet forever!" he dropped to his knees and let out an earsplitting scream that almost shattered every glass object in the base.
Marcus clapped his hands over his ears and screamed at Zim "Would you stop screaming for a moment!" Zim continued screaming
"Shut the hell up!" screamed Marcus.
Zim stopped and he looked at the cyborg irritably "What!"
"Just take a look at this footage" said Marcus, he tapped the side of his head, wirelessly linking up to the base's computer. A nearby computer screen came on. On the screen a video of a spacious cavern filled with gold came into view.
Zim saw Finn and Jake play around in the sea of gold. In the background he heard Princess Bubblegum and Marceline discussing something with Marcus but Marcus's voice went silent and the video zoomed in on a crystal skull that was perched atop a pyramid of gold bars.
The video froze, Zim stared at the screen then looked to Marcus "So?".
Marcus held up a finger "Watch" he tapped the side of his head again and the image zoomed in even further till it was just a matter inches from the eye socket,
Zim's red eyes widened "Is that?" Marcus nodded.
They both stared at the image of a camera lens in the eye socket of the crystal skull "I suspect that there were more of them" said Marcus, glancing at Zim "I doubt anyone on earth still possess this sort of surveillance technology, if so why use it to video tape a treasure trove"
Zim nodded "that is true, Gaz may be involved somehow"
"I say that's a good bet" said Marcus as he scratched his chin "She may have engineered those creatures who attacked us, I mean who else could create those things"
"Indeed" muttered Zim as he shuddered.
Gaz may be human but she was one of the few humans he truly feared. There were times where he thought that she wasn't human at all, that maybe she was something far more terrifying.
There was a beep "Analysis complete" said the monotone voice of the computer Zim let out a sigh of annoyance "Finally!".
Two day's earlier, Zim had the base computer scan and analyze the DNA of Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum and Marceline so he could understand his enemies better but the computer had encountered some troubles analyzing the DNA, so Zim had to recalibrate the base's systems in order to get a better picture of the DNA samples.
The video on the screen changed to a picture of four different DNA strands.
Zim and Marcus leaned in closer to the screen, Zim muttered under his breath "Strange".
One DNA strand was completely pink and had some extra parts on it, another one was grey and was missing parts in its helix. One of them was yellow and was covered in long strands of a strange material, the last one was the only one that looked normal.
Marcus pointed to the normal one "I'm guessing that's Finn's"
Zim nodded "It is, but these other ones are bizarre" he pointed to the pink, yellow and grey strands "These have an entirely new set of genetic coding that I've never seen before" but he placed a finger on the grey one "This one is the closest to a human's DNA, but its damaged beyond repair"
Marcus's eyes narrowed "So they're not human"
"the Princess and Marceline aren't human" said Zim, shaking his head "but they're humanoid".
The two continued staring at the screen when suddenly the computer spoke up "Sir, there's someone at the door" Zim and Marcus looked at each other, realizing that GIR was in the living room alone so they tore themselves away from the screen and rushed to the nearest elevator.
The elevator deposited them in a broom closet near the kitchen.
The two tumbled out of the closet, Zim and Marcus went to the living room where they saw GIR sitting on the couch with Marceline and Finn, watching TV.
Zim froze, he didn't have his disguise on so he dived behind a wall that separated the kitchen and living room.
Marcus raised an eyebrow "I'm glad to see that you're making yourselves comfortable on my couch" the two guests looked up from the TV
"Oh hey Marcus" greeted Finn
"Hey" said Marceline.
Marcus nodded at the two "So what brings you two around this neck of the woods?"
Finn jumped up from the couch "Princess Bubblegum has been kidnapped by the Ice King"
Marcus frowned "The who?" "The Ice King" said Finn "He's this total nerd who kidnaps princesses and tries to marry them"
"That's sounds kinda creepy" said Marcus, he made a face "Hasn't he heard of online dating" Finn and Marceline sniggered
"No" laughed Marceline "Besides nobody would date him, he's a total creep".
Marcus smiled "Ok, so what dose this have to do with me?"
Finn got down on his knees "We need you're help dude, Ice King has got Princess Bubblegum and a dozen other princesses. Jake and I tried to save them but Ice King caught Jake. I tried to save him myself but the Ice King's snow monsters had me outnumbered"
"And let me guess" said Marcus " Nobody else will help and you want me to help you and Marceline to free him and the princesses?"
"I'm not helping" said Marceline, sitting back comfortably in the couch "I'm only coming along to watch Finn beat the snot out of that old nerd".
Marcus heard the communicator in his ear come on and Zim's voice whispered, "Go with them, battle this Ice king and gain the trust of the native people, it is vital to the mission"
Marcus sighed, feeling a little annoyed but nodded "ok I'll go".
Finn jumped to his feet "Great, lets go!" he turned and bolted out the front door.
Marceline looked at what Marcus was wearing "Maybe you should put a coat on, where we're going, it's going to be cold."
Marcus looked down at his clothes, he wore only a red t-shirt, jeans and red sneakers "Give me a second" he went back to the broom closet and pulled out his black coat and katana from the cluttered floor.
He wrapped himself up in the tattered black coat and he kept the katana hidden in his coat "ok, lets go" said Marcus, walking into the living room with his coat on.
The two bolted out the door after Finn, the door swung shut after Marcus, leaving Zim and GIR alone.
Zim jumped out of his hiding place "Phew, that was a close one, good thing I got the Gravemaker to take care of those pesky creatures"
Zim rubbed his hands together "well back to the lab" he turned to leave but he heard a knock on the door.
He marched to the door grumbling "Who could it be this time?".
Zim quickly put on his disguise and he opened the door. Standing there was a tall, slim woman dressed in a blue coat. She had long blond hair, an eye patch over one eye and a normal eye with a gold colored iris
"Excuse me, but are you Irken Invader Zim" asked the stranger in a soft voice.
Zim nodded "Yes, I am Zim"
the woman sighed "Oh finally!"
"Who are you?" asked Zim, eyeing the woman with suspicion.
The woman smiled, she reached into her coat and withdrew a high tech pistol. She leveled it to Zim's head "I'm the person who's going to kill you" Zim's eyes widened and he swore in Irken.
Finn, Marcus and Marceline reached the Ice Kingdom in a matter of minutes.
They climbed to the top of a mountain that was close to the Ice king's home. Marcus eyed the ice king's home "So what do we do?"
"We break in, beat the crud out of the Ice King and free the prisoners" said Finn.
Marcus shook his head "No, that won't work"
"Oh" mumbled Finn.
Marcus scratched his chin for a moment then he smiled a little "I got an idea".
Marcus marched up to the base of the Ice King's home with Marceline following from a distance
"You think this is a good idea?" she asked.
Marcus shrugged "It's the only idea we have" he glanced back her "If you have a better idea, lets hear it!"
Marceline just shook her head "Whatever" she ascended higher to watch the spectacle from a safe distance.
Marcus just turned back to the Ice king's home "Ok, show time" he took a deep breath and shouted "Hey Ice King, you big dork!" there was a loud crash and an old man with a long white beard rushed to the window.
His skin was blue, he had a long crooked nose and a glittering gold crown on his head "Who dares trespass on the Ice King's property?" yelled the old man
"Who dares to question my dare!" retorted Marcus.
The man blinked "What?"
"Never mind" said Marcus, he put his hands into his pockets "I heard you've been kidnapping princesses"
"Yeah, so what!" said the Ice King
"Let them go" demanded Marcus.
Ice King scowled "No, I'm not going to let my potential brides go" Marcus grimaced "Man that's just creepy"
"Its not" said Ice king, defensively
"Yeah it is" said Marcus "Just ask anyone and they'll tell you that its creepy" Ice King growled "I'll show you!" the man's hand glowed blue-white and aimed at Marcus.
Ice King fired a bolt of energy at Marcus.
Marcus just stepped to one side casually, the bolt hit the ground where Marcus was standing moments before creating a pillar of ice.
Marcus just shook his head "Man you need help, have you considered couples counseling?" the Ice king hurled another bolt of ice magic at Marcus but Marcus just jumped aside
"I mean its really not healthy to go around kidnapping women and trying to marry them" said Marcus
The Ice King let out an exasperated scream "Stay still won't you!" he shot another bolt of magic at Marcus.
Marcus just ducked and the bolt shot over him and struck a penguin, encasing it in ice "Gah! Gunter!"
Ice King flew out of the window and he rushed to the penguin's side "Oh Gunter I'm sorry for freezing you!" he touched the ice block and then shot Marcus an angry glare "Look at what you've done!"
"What I've done?" said Marcus, his eyebrows rose "Now, now I didn't do that, you did. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting that you have one"
The Ice King growled, his hands glowed blue and suddenly the snow around them began to shift and form. Within seconds Marcus found himself surrounded by massive humanoid creatures made of snow, ice and rock "Get him!" screamed the Ice King, with that the snow creatures swarmed Marcus.
Marceline watched as the snow golems swarmed Marcus like a pack of hungry wolves. Part of her wanted to help but she didn't want to get involved.
Within seconds the snow golems were upon Marcus but suddenly there was a flash of silver and three snow golems fell to the icy ground, all missing their arms and heads.
Marceline blinked in surprise. The Ice King gapped "What just happened?" there was another flash of silver and three more snow golems were cut down. The snow golems backed away a little, revealing an unharmed Marcus.
He stood in the center of the hoard of snow golems, in his hand was a slim, curved sword.
Ice King growled "Well don't just stand there, kill him!" the golems hesitated for a moment but they obeyed.
They advanced on Marcus, who just assumed a stance.
He gripped the sword with both hands, once the golems got within his range, he swung at an inhuman speed.
The blade became a blur of sliver that cut through the snow, ice and rock with ease.
In one swing he brought down two snow golems. He quickly spun around and cut down three more. One golem made entirely of rock and ice launched itself at Marcus.
Marceline expected Marcus to dodge but he just stood his ground. Marcus raised the sword then brought it down on the golem, cleaving it in two.
Within a matter of minutes he cut down the last of the golems, leaving Ice King, Marceline and himself alone in the snow.
Ice King rubbed his eyes "Whoa!" Marcus turned to the Ice King, he leveled it to the Ice King "Now, about those princess's"
Ice King backed away and held up his hands stuttering "H-hey now, just don't do anything crazy. I'm sure we can come to an understanding".
From her position above the two, Marceline's eyes narrowed. She noticed that the Ice King's hands were beginning to glow but the glow was so faint that it was almost unnoticeable.
Marceline was about to warn Marcus but it was too late.
The Ice King quickly lowered his hand and hurled a bolt of ice magic at Marcus. But Marcus just swatted the bolt aside with his sword, The Ice King blinked and unleashed a barrage of ice magic upon Marcus but the human just continued swatting aside the bolts of magic with ease.
The Ice King began to panic, he just doubled the amount of ice magic but Marcus just continued swatting them aside like they were nothing.
Marceline watched in awe as Marcus marched towards the Ice King, swatting his way though the barrage of ice bolts.
Marceline cheered "Come on Marcus, knock that crud out of that old geek!"
"Hey!" cried the Ice King indignantly "I'm not a geek, I'm cool!"
Marcus just shrugged "Keep telling yourself that".
Marceline chuckled as Marcus drew closer to the Ice King.
Suddenly Marceline felt a burning pain explode in her head and the world changed in a flash of light.
She found herself floating in a grey, cloudy sky and down below was a ruined city street.
The city was deathly silent with thick columns of smoke rising to the sky. In the street was a wall of broken down cars with corpses in olive green uniforms strewn across the street.
A cold feeling crept into her stomach "No" breathed Marceline.
She descended from the sky and landed on the street. Marceline glanced around the ruined street.
It was vaguely familiar, like it was a scattered dream she had long ago.
There was a faint scraping sound that made her look over to the other end of the street. She saw moving towards her was a single figure dressed in the same olive green uniform as the corpses.
It was a human male. He had dark hair and a pale complexion.
The young man marched down the street dragging a bloodstained saber, his face and uniform were drenched in blood as well. The young man's uniform was cut and torn in some areas; he wore a belt that had a scabbard dangling lazily as he walked.
He looked down at the corpses sadly, muttering a prayer of some sort.
The young man stopped a few feet away from Marceline and looked up at the sky muttering something that sounded like "Told you Gerry, Told you I'd get them for ya".
He lowered his head and marched on past Marceline.
Marceline strained her eyes to see the name on the young man's uniform. She approached the young man cautiously, trying to stay out of sight.
She saw sewn on the left pocket on his chest was "Corporal M. Abadeer, US Army" Marceline's eyes widened.
The young man stopped suddenly and turned around quickly, revealing a face that sent a chill down Marceline's spine.
Through a thick layer of grime, blood and sweat Marceline saw the grim face of Marcus staring directly at her.
Everything went bright and Marceline found herself back in the sky above the Ice Kingdom.
She looked around muttering "What the heck?" the vampire looked down and saw the Ice King laying in the snow, unconscious with Marcus, Finn, Jake and the recently freed princess's standing over him.
Marceline descended and landed beside Finn "What happened?" asked Marceline
"Finn freed the Princess's and helped me give the Ice King the beat down he deserved" answered Marcus, leaning on his sword like a crutch.
The princesses all thanked Marcus and Princess Bubblegum said something about a party but Marceline wasn't paying attention.
Marceline fixed Marcus with a suspicious look.
She now remembered where she had seen him before. But she just couldn't believe it. It was impossible for him to be there.
The last time Marceline had seen her older brother, Marcus Abadeer, was at his military funeral a thousand years ago.
Marcus trudged through the woods alone.
He had said his goodbyes to Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum and Marceline then he made his way back home.
Marcus had helped Finn free the princesses from the clutches of the Ice King, for which they were very grateful.
One of them, a floating purple creature tried hitting on him saying that he was better looking than some guy named Brad but he just smiled, thanked her and avoided her for the rest time he spent in the Ice Kingdom.
Marcus got an odd feeling of off Marceline.
At the start of the journey to the Ice Kingdom, she was her usual, casual self but as they departed the Ice Kingdom, she just avoided Marcus and fixed him with odd looks.
Marcus snapped out of his thoughts when the base came into view. For the most part it was intact but the windows had large holes in them, the front door had some blast marks on it and it swung lazily on its hinges in the cool afternoon breeze.
Intruders, thought Marcus as he drew his katana and broke into a sprint. He kicked in the door and entered the house, ready to cut down any intruder.
But he stopped and he lowered his blade. The inside was a complete mess. The floors and walls were covered in blast marks and melted cheese.
The ceiling coils were relatively untouched, a few dangled freely and unconnected to the base's main systems. Sitting on the couch was a bruised Zim and GIR who was completely covered in melted cheese. Sitting in-between them was an unconscious blond woman, with an eye patch and blue coat.
The woman was bound in chains, rope and duct tape.
Marcus sheathed his sword "What the hell happened around here?"
Zim just looked up at him saying smugly "She tried to kill Zim but she underestimated Zim's amazing skills"
Marcus raised an eyebrow "really?"
Zim nodded.
"What's with the cheese?" asked Marcus
"You don't want to know" said Zim.
Marcus nodded "Ok" he walked over and sat down besides the unconscious woman "So, whose she?" he jabbed a thumb at the woman.
Zim shrugged "I don't know"
"Should we interrogate her?" asked Marcus
"I guess" said Zim, rising from the couch.
Zim, GIR and Marcus made their way to the lower levels of the base with the woman in tow.
They reached a holding cell and Marcus placed her in a chair in the center of the small box like room.
The woman stirred and finally awoke "Ugh, what happened?"
"I, the mighty Zim, have bested you and you are now my prisoner!" announced Zim, sounding proud of himself.
The woman blinked a few times "I don't remember you fighting me, all I remember is that I shot at you, I missed and I chased you around for a little bit and I slipped and I woke up here"
Marcus sniggered but he stopped when Zim glared at him.
Zim turned back to the woman "Now, according to Irken Rules of war as my prisoner, you are hereby ordered to relinquish all information to me or else things will be uncomfortable"
the woman sighed, "Let me think".
She mulled it over for a second then said bluntly "No"
Zim growled "GIR! Release the monkeys!" Zim rushed out of the room and slammed the door shut. GIR pushed a button and there was a audible rumbling sound and some thuds. There was nothing but silence for a few minutes, Zim growled impatiently "What is going on in there?" he unbolted the door and flung it open, only to be greeted by a horrible smell.
Zim's eyes watered a little and he covered his face "Ugh, that is horrid" Marcus covered his nose "Oh my".
Lying around the floor around the woman, were several rotting corpses of rather large, intimidating monkeys Zim had stolen from a Zoo.
Marcus said aloud "There must have been something wrong their stasis tubes"
"Great" growled Zim, he pushed a button on his wrist computer.
A large hose descended from the ceiling and sucked up the rotting corpses.
The woman sighed in relief "You have no idea how long I've been holding my breath"
Zim asked "Are you ready to talk?"
"No" said the woman.
Zim was furious but Marcus placed a hand on the Irken's shoulder "Let me try something".
Marcus picked up GIR and whispered something in his ear. GIR listened intently and nodded "Uh huh…yeah…ok"
Marcus looked GIR in the eye "You got it?" "Uh huh" nodded GIR
Marcus smiled "Good" he tossed GIR into the holding cell saying "Go get her!" he slammed the door shut and bolted it shut.
Zim frowned "What did you tell him?" "You don't want to know" said Marcus.
After a few seconds of silence they heard the woman scream "Oh God! Oh my…have mercy!"
Zim grinned, "That's more like it"
"Ok, I'll talk!" screamed the woman. Marcus unbolted the door and opened it. Once the door opened, GIR bolted out the door giggling and the woman's screams stopped.
The two peered inside and saw the woman slumped in the chair, her hair was frazzled and her single eye was wide and filled with fear.
Zim leaned against the heavy metal door "Ready to talk?"
the woman nodded "Y-yes, just don't send that thing back in here" "Deal" said Zim.
The woman quickly explained that her name was Malice Lovelace and that she was hired by General Tak to kill Zim.
Zim blinked "What? Tak is a general?"
Malice nodded "Yes and quite the big shot in the military"
"Why kill Zim?" asked Marcus
"How did she become General? She wasn't even an Invader" said Zim to nobody in particular.
Malice just shrugged "I don't know, she said something about saving the galaxy from the universe's biggest idiot" "Hey!" cried Zim, indignantly.
Malice just shrugged "Hey don't blame me, she's the one who said it" Zim growled, "How dare she do this. There's only one thing to do now"
"Hide?" guessed Marcus
"Let me go?" guessed Malice
"Squeak!" squeaked Minimoose.
Everyone looked out into the hall and saw Minimoose floating there "Minimoose, how'd you get there?" asked Marcus Minimoose squeaked a response and Marcus nodded "Oh, that make's sense".
Zim frowned "Uh, no none of those answers. I will call the Tallest and tell her what happened!"
Marcus and Malice shared a concerned saying in unison "This won't end well".
Tallest Xale stood on the stage waving to the thousands of cheering and chanting Irkens.
The stage was in the middle of the Irken Capitol's main square, surrounded by a sea of irken's.
They were all there to celebrate the final day of the anniversary celebration.
Standing proudly next to Tallest Xale was General Tak, Admiral Skoodge, commander of the empire's fleet and General of the Orbital defense force, General Tenn.
The crowd cheered as the Tallest took center stage.
She raised a hand and the cheers died down "My people, my fellow Irkens. We are here yet again as Conquered Week comes to a close. I'm sure we all had a great time with the parties and various festivities but let us not forget the true meaning of Conquered Week.
It is a day to remember all those brave soldiers and Invaders who gave their lives in the service of their empire.
It is a time to celebrate them and appreciate all the efforts they contributed to the empire. Without them, we wouldn't be enjoying the peace and prosperity we enjoy now" the crowd cheered.
The Tallest grinned broadly "My fellow Irkens we-" but she was cut off when an irken with a jetpack soared over the crowd and landed next to the Tallest.
The Tallest frowned "What is it?"
"My Tallest, forgive me but you have an incoming transmission" said the Irken.
Tak heard the conversation and said to the Tallest "Answer it, maybe its Zim. We could always use a good laugh" the Tallest frowned "ok".
A massive screen rose from out of the ground behind the stage. It was large enough to be seen by every Irken present. The enlarged image of Zim came on the screen and the entire city erupted in cheers.
Zim blinked in surprise and bowed "Yes, I know. I'm amazing" said Zim, smiling a little.
Tallest Xale coughed "So Zim, how's you're mission going?"
"Quite fine really, until I was attacked by an assassin that sent to kill me" said Zim. Everybody went silent.
Tak went ridged and Tallest Xale's eyes widened "What?"
"A certain somebody sent an assassin to kill me" said Zim
"Who?" asked The Tallest
"Tak!" said Zim, jabbing a finger at the irken general. Every irken in the city gasped, Admiral Skoodge and General Tenn glared at Tak. Tallest Xale rounded on the general, who was fidgeting "What did you do?" hissed the Tallest.
Tak said defensively "I did only what was necessary to ensure the safety of our empire"
the Tallest growled "I told you not to do anything but now look at what you've done" the two looked and saw every Irken glaring at Tak, the crowd looked ready to form an angry mob at any moment.
Tak's eyes darted about the crowd and jabbed a finger at the screen "He's lying, he's a liar. He's not even a true invader!"
"Oh really?" chuckled Zim "Well here's some proof" Zim nodded to someone off screen and a blond woman was shoved in front of the screen.
She looked frazzled and exhausted "I am Malice Lovelace, and I had been hired by General Tak to kill Zim"
Zim reappeared on the screen, smirking at Tak "How's that for proof?".
Tak trembled with furiously trying to contain her anger. She couldn't believe it Zim had somehow bested her assassin and now was destroying her career. It was a nightmare that she couldn't awakened from.
Tak turned to the crowd, they were all glaring at her. She turned to General Tenn and Admiral Skoodge, the two had grim expressions on their faces. Tak wanted them to say something in her defense but it came as no surprise that they just turned away from her.
Skoodge always admired Zim and Tenn didn't really know Zim, she just thought he was just another invader who bravely died in the line of duty.
Tak finally turned to Tallest Xal.
The Tallest had a stern expression "I warned you" whispered the Tallest "I can't help you now, I must enforce the law"
"But-" began Tak but the Tallest interrupted her "Guards! Seize this traitor!" within seconds a dozen heavily armed Irkens swarmed the stage and tackled Tak.
As Tak was being handcuffed she heard the Tallest command sternly "Guards, take her to the Control Brains, they'll know how to deal with this…traitor" the crowd erupted into cheers, drowning Tak's screams of protest as they dragged her off the stage.
Tallest Xale muttered as Tak was dragged off the stage "I'm sorry my friend, it's out of my hands now" she dismissed the crowd and followed after the security escort to the Control Brains where they decided Tak's fate.
End of Chapter
(a/n: well what do you think? Review and all that)