A/N: here is the third update. This is 3000 words long, or somewhere near that number. My chapters were often much longer in my last story because I never actually set myself word limits. But I did with this story. I find it easier and not as challenging as I previously thought. They do get longer after the seventh chapter, as you'll eventually see. Well, read on and enjoy :)

...

The next day came around and the events of Peter (he-no) Fruadstein's show hit the Earth News. Zim watched the TV with a devilish smile on his face. Job well done.

The anchorman revealed Peter to be a fraud after all (no surprises there), and that Professor Membrane had been right all along, and that the word of a scientist should never be taken for granted ever again.

Unfortunately, this meant that genuine psychics were all seen as frauds now. Not what Zim was hoping for. He went out of his way to disprove of a fraud only to make the population lose trust in all spiritual mediums.

Now he was starting to know how Dib felt about that 'Chickenfoot'. Not that Zim had any clue who that was. He just smiled and went along with Dib's crazy stories.

Suppose there were still believers out there. Zim had to put faith in that.

Skoodge sulked on his left, holding his free tickets that he won at last night's show. He had never looked so sad, well, for a while...

"Why do you even still have those? There isn't going to be a show next month now all because of ZIM!"

"It's just... it felt great to win something. Such an amazing feeling. I've not felt like this since I conquered Blorch."

"Just let it go, Skoodge. Oh, I shouldn't say that around the house so frequently anymore. GIR's gotten into the whole Frozen thing lately; bed sheets, lamps, waffle makers, you name it."

Skoodge lifted a vacant brow. "But I thought that movie was old now, like forty-years-old."

"Yeah, you'd think a movie that came out Thanksgiving/Christmas 2013 would be old news by now. But the humans haven't stopped talking about it since..."

"Well, there's no wrong in holding on to something, whether it be an old-fashioned CGI movie, or free tickets." Skoodge sighed.

Next, there came a double-knock at the door, as Zim straightened up and opened it. Standing there was Dib, huffing and puffing because he ran all the way.

"I... I just... saw... on the news..." Dib breathed.

"Yes, we saw it too. Why don't you come inside and take a breath or something, or how about a nice hot beverage?" Zim suggested.

"Sure... all right."

Dib walked inside and flopped next to Skoodge on the couch. The boy eyed his tickets then and sat up immediately.

"W-why... why you got those!" he screamed. He was still trying to catch his breath.

Skoodge held them to his chest. "Leave me alone! I want 'em, and I won't let 'em go!"

"LET IT GO, LET IT GO, I AM ONE WITH... WITH THE YELLOW SNOW AND SLUDGE!" GIR shouted from behind the couch, who had been piling dust together to build a dust snowman.

"GIR, be quiet! You're singing it all wrong! Why wouldn't a fanatic at least get the lyrics right?" Zim asked himself.

"I suppose snow in the city is yellow and sludgy..." Skoodge remarked.

"Forget sludge, you traitor! How could you keep tickets to that fraud's show?!" Dib barked, finally finding his breath.

"Oh, leave him to it. If it pleases him," Zim waved a dismissive hand at Skoodge. "So, I'm guessing you're here for details of last night's show?"

"You bet I am, space boy! So, spill it out." Dib sat back comfortably.

"Very well. There I was, sitting in the crowd, observing that man in all his fakery, until I—"

"Irken food provider: an incoming news report is coming through from the planet Irk in the main transmissions room. Also, that new food you're nourishing me with is insufficient for my dietary needs. Now I say meow."

The human and Irkens looked over to a ginger cat sitting in the doorway to the kitchen. His mouth never opened once, except when he licked his paw and rubbed it behind his ear.

"A talking cat?!" Dib looked over at Zim, suspiciously. "You taught your cat to talk, Zim? I knew you were still messing around with Earth's life forms!"

"Relax, Dib-stink. He's a beloved pet. I affixed a collar around his neck that allows his thoughts to transmit through a radio. See," Zim pointed to a small radio on the cat's collar. "Ingenious!"

"I beg to differ," the cat replied. "There's nothing ingenious about paying for cheap cat food that looks like it's made entirely of pig intestines. Is that what I get for bringing you home that decapitated mouse yesterday?"

"Hey, you ought to be more grateful, Bob. I took you in after all when your last owner died!"

"You mean you stole me… She was a lovely human. Always fed me the best prawns and fish... Not that cheap excuse of a meat that's probably leftovers from the slaughter house. A dog of all beasts wouldn't even touch that filth."

"Fine, I will buy you some better food! Just because you're so cute. I can't say no to that sweet, criticizing face..." Zim kneeled down to pet his kitty behind the ear.

"Ah, yes, that's the spot. I love you, Irken food provider..."

The cat purred as Zim rubbed its ear for a while. It must have some therapeutic effect on him, because he wouldn't stop.

Dib shifted his eyes. "Okay, this is getting a little weird now. So you were saying, Zim?"

"Oh, yes, of course, the show. Well after I—"

The TV screen turned off next by itself. All who was present in the room stopped and stared, bewildered.

"Who turned the TV off?" Dib asked.

Zim never answered him as he looked around the room curious. Next, the TV came to life again, and an Irken insignia came up on screen, ominous and foreboding. All three took a simultaneous breath.

A heartbeat later, an Irken broadcast lit up the entire screen, followed with bright, alien images.

The Irken announcer appeared next, and there came the face of an Irken that made Zim's innards boil like stew. There were those dark purple eyes again, that beauty spot of sorts, and... wait, where was her implant? The one she used to brainwash her victims with?

"Is that Tak?!" Dib exclaimed.

Zim didn't respond. He just glared at the face of the Irken that he hated so much, and he was sure the feeling was mutual. He never did find his robot bee...

The announcer went on. "Irken Tak: traitor to the Empire, rebel and possible defect, is to be put on trial for an Existence Evaluation this afternoon in the Pike of Judgement. Her sentence is to be determined by the Control Brains—"

Zim switched the TV off, and then the images disappeared — images of Dib, rebelling alongside the Resisty and Tak herself.

Dib didn't say anything for a while; he just sat there, frozen. After all, he had never left Earth. Or had he? He did have weird dreams once about flying on giant space bunnies while drinking space sodas with Zim. But faces of aliens who Dib had never met flashed across his mind. He was aware that one of them was Vortian, since he had read up on them in his research, but he hadn't seen Tak since she last came to Earth.

Zim studied the boy while he remained silent. Dib met his gaze at last. His eyes were intense, fixed only on Zim.

The Irken gulped; who knew a human could look so angry, lost and confused all at once.

"Zim," he asked, slowly and carefully, "is there something you need to tell me?"

This was it. He knew he couldn't keep it up forever. It was only a matter of time until Dib recalled of his old mission to thwart Irk. The Irken had made it so that 'Invader Dib' never happened. Well not in the boy's eyes, anyhow.

Zim had to erase the boy's memories. He was a well-known rebel, and if the Empire knew he was still alive, they would come to Earth and kill him. Not now; his newborn sister was two weeks old...

He couldn't let him perish. That's why he made the bold choice to save him from Saturn in the end. The gas giant would have killed him. Despite everything the boy did to him, he couldn't let him die. That was back then, when Zim and Dib were still mutual enemies.

He had once lived a short life without Dib interrupting his efforts to destroy the human race. The mopiness was unbearable. Hard to live with and hard to live without: a strange symbiosis that had merged between the two, like a host and its parasite (who was the parasite?)

"Well?!" Dib snapped, making him flinch.

"I... I hoped you would never find out..."

"Find out what?!"

Zim turned on him, eyes burning. "That you once rebelled against the most powerful Empire in the universe, fought aside its enemies in battle, and became a part of a not so notorious resistance group!"

Dib gripped his hair. "Why can't I remember any of it?!"

"Because I erased your memories, and then replaced them with a giant bunny, soda-filled space adventure."

"That dream! I always suspected some outside alien influence. You had no right to take my memories away, Zim! I can't believe I can't remember one of the greatest experiences of my life because of some stupid, bitter rivalry! Why, Zim, why?"

"Because they would have killed you, Dib! If the Empire had the slightest clue that you were still alive—"

"Still alive? W-what?"

Zim regarded him a moment. "They think you're dead," he said. "Saturn is an inhospitable planet. There's no way you would have survived. I'm not sure how the Resisty survived. The Meekrob never made it out though..."

"You... you mean you saved my... life?"

"It's nice of you to finally catch up, Dib. And just think that was before I even cared anything for you."

"Why?" Dib asked once again.

"It was more for selfish reasons. Remember how you stopped hunting me down and joined your father in his quest for real science? They were some dark days... At the time, I discovered that my mission seemed pointless without you there trying to stop me. I kept you alive solely for that. But now I see you as a friend, and I don't regret a single thing, Dib!"

"I'm grateful you saved my life, truly, but they were my memories. I should at least have them back."

"You can't. I did it to protect you. If you could escape from Earth and revolt against the Empire the first time, then surely you could do it again. It was for your own good. I wouldn't have been able to save you the second time around."

"But that was when I had Tak's ship. I must have lost it in the battle. Aw, man! I always thought a shark got it in the end when it swam away to sea. It said it wanted to be a dolphin instead of a loser like me!"

Zim pulled on his collar. "Heh, yeah... just another one of my many mind alterations."

"I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. I have no means of transport anymore. If you give me my memories back—"

"We'll have to wait and see, Dib. We may have made a truce, but there's still a little part of me that can't trust you, just as there's always a little part of you that can't trust me."

"How about this: if I can prove in any way that I won't go up against your race, then can I have my memories back? As long as you prove to me that you won't ever go up against mine?"

"Deal," Zim said. They both shook on it.

Dib scratched the back of his head now. "If it's any conciliation," he continued. "I do think you've changed, a lot. I know you would never go back to your old ways..."

Zim eyed him suspiciously. "Nice try, Dib-stink, though you are right. I suppose I have changed, but there will always be that obsessive, alien-hunting part of you deep inside your heart. You know I'm right. I have better control than you after all."

"Well it was worth a shot. And hey, I was never that obsessive. To risk my own life? Give me some credit."

"Well that didn't stop you the first time around."

Dib had nothing to say to that.

Now silence merged between them. Zim looked over at Skoodge, noticing how quiet he had been in the last five minutes. The news feed seemed to have disturbed him. Why? He never knew Tak. She never tried to take his mission. Why would he be so upset?

"Hey, what's the matter with you?" Zim asked.

Skoodge looked up at him absently. "Put the TV back on..." he droned.

Zim stared at him, confused. "Why?"

"Just put it on! I just have a strange feeling."

He did as he was asked, and turned the TV back on. The transmission still played. How odd. The connection still hadn't been cut.

"I wonder why the broadcast came all the way to Earth," Zim mused. "During my time here, I've hardly received any—"

"There, I knew it! There... there she is..." Skoodge pointed to a female Irken on the screen with traditional red/pink eyes.

Zim looked at the Irken. "Hey, that's Invader Tenn. Wow, she looks rough. Being held captive by the Meekrob really took its toll on her in the end. She hasn't been the same since I hear... Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah, it must be some kind of override in the system—"

"Quiet!" Skoodge barked. Zim stopped. The fat Irken was furious as he fixed his gaze on the screen. Zim didn't challenge him any further.

"Who is it? Who's the alien chick?" Dib asked. "When have I ever said chick before?"

"She's Invader Tenn," Zim replied. "Of course with your memories erased, you wouldn't have any recollection of her, but she's the main reason why the battle of Meekrob happened."

"Why? Is she important or something?"

"Pfft, she's all right, I guess. She was a brilliant soldier back at the Academy. A little bit of a show off, but... brilliant. Irk's most prized asset. Well, once."

"What happened to her?"

"Why don't you shut your noise tube, Dib, and listen!"

Dib shut his noise tube, and listened to the announcer explain Tenn's predicament.

"Invader Tenn's condition is getting worse. She's experiencing momentary lapses of insanity once again..."

"Oh no," Skoodge muttered, eyes shining.

Dib looked at Zim. "What's with him?"

"He was the one who saved her from Meekrob. His second best achievement ever, after Blorch."

"So, Skoodge managed to conquer a whole planet, the first of many, then save one of Irk's best soldiers, and the Tallest still won't take him back?"

"It's a sad, sad universe we live in, Dib," Zim told him.

"Wow, I know I can relate..."

"I can hear you talking about me you know. I am in the room," Skoodge uttered next, bored and tired.

The broadcast continued. "We regret to inform you that Invader Tenn is to be dismissed permanently from her position as Invader. Too sick to go back into the military... such a loss to the Empire. The battle of Meekrob has taken yet another life..."

"Taken? She's not exactly dead. She can be fixed!" Dib yelled.

"She's pretty much seen as dead now in the eyes of the Empire. What use do they have for a sick Irken? She wouldn't even be fit for the role of a service drone now," Zim said.

"What are they going to do?" Dib asked.

"Humanely euthanize her, of course... What's the point of owning a race horse if its legs are broken?" Zim was rather proud of his analogy there.

"No!" Skoodge stood up. "It can't happen!"

"There's nothing you can do, Skoodge. You did your best to save—"

Skoodge grabbed him by the shirt and shook him about. The shorter Irken yelped in surprise.

"It can't happen. We have to stop it!"

Zim stared into those large eyes of Skoodge's as he shook him up and down. He knew he meant every word. He pushed his arms off him next, and pointed at the screen.

"That's not the Tenn we know anymore, Skoodge. She's gone, just another victim of war. I'm sure they will preserve her memories, though."

"But... we... I saved her. We can save her again!"

"Why is this so important to you?"

"I can't let a fellow soldier die! She has to get better..."

Zim raised a brow in suspicion. "I'm not sure if this is your agonizing loyalty to the Empire coming through again, or something a little more..."

Skoodge's eyes bulged a moment, and then he smoothed back his antennae. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "A soldier wants to save another soldier, nothing more to it. All in the name of war and stuff..."

Zim watched him closely, narrowing his eyes. "Hmm, very well. So, what do you plan to do?"

"I plan to go to planet Judgmentia and save Invader Tenn!" Skoodge confirmed, standing proud.

"So you're just going to barge in and demand that they don't kill..." Zim looked over at Dib, who was listening intently. "I mean euthanize her in the name of war?"

Dib rolled his eyes. "Come on, Zim, I'm thirteen now. You gonna tell me she's going to the 'special farm' next?"

Skoodge pulled on his antennae. "What are you even talking about? Can we get back to the real problem here? I have to do something. I don't want to have saved her just to see her perish so unfairly. The Tallest can't do this. She has to be given a chance."

Zim regarded him differently now. It almost resembled admiration. "You never said more than two words to her during training; however, I do understand. Your whole life, you've been seen as a loser by your people, but Tenn's survival is proof of your dedication as soldier."

"Thank you, Zim. I have to do this. I know I'm taking a big risk — they could kill me! But I have to, for Tenn... I mean, war."

"Uh-huh. I guess I can't let you go alone. Besides, I had your ship destroyed as soon as you left for the Hawaiian Islands, so you need my ship anyway. Like I'd let you ride that!"

"You... you would come with me?" Skoodge asked, clasping his hands.

"Yes, I haven't been to Judgementia since my own trial..."

"You were put on trial?!" Dib shouted.

"Silence! I wouldn't mind going again. So many memories... but I have to see an old friend again. It's kind of sad to see her go. I'll admit she would have made a reasonable Invader, but... well... all's fair in love and war, I guess."

"Didn't you and Tak date for a week? I think she was more than a friend, Zim..." Dib said.

"Oh, please. I saw you two talking that day, and you were giving her meat, the meat! Turns out she was just using you to get information about me."

"Hey, she expressed a genuine interest in my studies, I couldn't help it. It felt... nice."

"You dated an Irken rebel, Zim?" Skoodge asked, horrified. "They're the worst kinds of Irkens, and rebels... When were you going to tell me this?!"

"Uh... never." Zim replied. "I dated her in order to learn more about human affection, which I know plenty about now. And it's horrifying. It was ironic really as she wasn't human after all, but that's none of your concern, Skoodge. So stop pestering me!"

"Sorry... " he said, sheepishly. "So when do we take off for Judgmentia?"

"Three hours. We will give it three hours. They say the trial's this afternoon, we still got time. I just need to put some supplies together first."

"Okay, I'll wait right here." Skoodge sat on the couch and twiddled his fingers until three hours were up.

Everything turned quiet again. Dib put his hands in his pockets. "So, I'm going to take off now. I promised my mom that I'd be home for lunch. Well, see ya, and have a good time in space."

Dib left through the door. Skoodge stared after him for some time. "He is aware that this trip could be on a possible 'no return' basis? He could say a better goodbye than that!" Skoodge cried.

"Only for you, Skoodge. I'm going to watch Tak's trial. You're there to save a mentally scarred ex-soldier from possible euthanasia. I do hope you have a plan prepared?"

Skoodge gulped. Zim shook his head.

"Poor, gullible Skoodge..."

A/N: obligatory Frozen reference (I watched one of the new Xmas Simpsons' episodes on Christmas Eve, and they had that line across the TV before the famous couch sequence. It was just the Simpsons dressed up as Frozen characters while they rushed to the couch, and then Lisa summons an Ice Palace, because she's Elsa, etc). Though Zim and Skoodge were more direct here. It wouldn't surprise me if people still talk about Frozen in the year '2053', especially with all the sequels announced. But GIR can't even get the lyrics right (that's because he's using his personal experience with snow — yellow and sludgy). It is a good movie, but I'm sick of hearing about it now. Personally, it will never beat the Lion King for me. Tangled was also good too, and very similar, yet that never reached the hype of Frozen. One of life's mysteries.

If you are one of many who have joined the Frozen bandwagon, then don't be offended. I have too; I own it on DVD, and I'm not ashamed. I'm sure I would have loved Frozen even if it didn't reach its hype anyway (being the Disney fanatic that I am).

Finally I got that off my chest. Let it go and all that tripe (sorry, it had to be said).

Yes, this will indeed be a Skoodge and Tenn shipping fanfiction (though no sexual stuff, because that would be taking it too far). It will be my first attempt at a romance in IZ (not including the ZaGr I deleted; I never reached that far anyway in the romance sector). I always adored the ship ever since I looked up the plot for Invader Dib in which he saves her, and it's stuck with me since. It's the best ship out of them all in my opinion. It just makes the most sense. Skoodge deserves it. Though I know Jhonen never would have made it a romance in the end, but who cares. He disproves of Zim and Tak, I can at least have this. I do kind of agree with him on the Zim and Tak ship. It apparently is his least favourite out of all the ships, so I've read. The two don't actually go if you think of it objectively. They're chalk and cheese. Plus, they both seem to have no interest in romance, like true asexual beings. Though I still like the idea of the ship. Fanfiction opens many doors...

This won't be a Zim and Tak ship though, well, not like it will be for Skoodge and Tenn. You'll have to read on to see what I have planned for them.

Have you read the IZ comic Jhonen did for Nickelodeon? I'm sure you have. If not, then that is what that giant space bunny thing (and sodas) reference is. I remember reading somewhere that Jhonen said that was the ending he wanted all along for IZ (not sure if he was joking), but it is really funny. Maybe just some alternative ending. He did work on it alone, so had no team, etc.

In the comic, Zim and Dib go to space (after Zim takes over the Earth while Dib wasn't looking), and they ride giant space bunnies while drinking space sodas. Classic. Though Invader Dib tells a very different story...

I noticed a big plot hole here. Dib in Clairvoyance didn't seem to have any recollection of going to space. Even though I never made it official that Invader Dib had already happened in the first story, he just never mentioned it. You'd think he would. Even the giant space bunnies! So Zim erased his memories all along (which he didn't care to mention either to anyone who isn't the Dib in the first story, though he was a little preoccupied with the ghosts), and replaced them with the alternative ending Jhonen used in the comic instead, and made Dib think it was a dream. I'd be a little embarrassed by a dream like that, so I know I wouldn't tell anyone. I'm sure Dib wouldn't either... Does that make more sense? No, probably not. I managed to fill the hole with some concrete, but it hasn't vanished completely. And Zim's reasons for taking his memories away are a little unjust (okay, he had good reason, since he cares about Dib now). But will Dib get them back? Stay tuned.

If it's any conciliation, I never had Dib mention Tak's ship once in Clairvoyance just by mere coincidence. I should know, because I've read and re-read it and edited it over and over. I know every chapter off by heart (to some degree). Here, Dib realised what truly happened to his beloved alien ship. RIP the Dibship.

In Mopiness of Doom (another episode that never made it, though you can read a transcript, or watch a video online with the cast reading it out with puppets), Zim misses Dib after he quits hunting him down when he joins his father in his lab. The episode is probably the closest thing you will get to canon for ZaDr. It's a nice idea, though I will never go there. Too risky for me.

That is why Zim saved Dib's life (not because of ZaDr!) He realised his mission was meaningless if Dib wasn't around to stop him.

Though do take this into consideration: Zim's reason for saving Dib was pretty selfish. He did it for his own good, because he feels horrible when he isn't around. It's similar to the episode in Ren and Stimpy where Stimpy leaves for Hollywood to be the face of Gritty Kitty, and Ren is happy that he's out of his life because he finds Stimpy a nuisance. But in the end he starts to miss his old pal, and wants him back in his life (because he misses him so much, and discovers that his life is meaningless without that idiot around).

Ren is a very callous character. It's quite rare he shows true selflessness towards Stimpy or anyone in the show. The only exception being where they are in the pound in the pilot episode and Ren gets adopted by a little girl, but then he realises that he can't leave Stimpy behind to be put to sleep. Ren says "You can't take me home unless you take my friend Stimpy too". Ren put his life on the line for his goofball of a friend. The girl could have said no and left him there to die with Stimpy, but Ren didn't seem to care. Maybe he was confident she would say yes. I find that beautiful, especially from a heartless character like Ren. John Kricfalusi, the creator, was pressured from Nickelodeon, so I've read, to give Ren a more softer side. I agree he should be the mean-spirited chihuahua he is, but he does have his good moments, though rare, but that makes them the more special and easier to see.

You're probably wondering why that Ren and Stimpy thing is relevant, but I have to point it out. Zim is very similar to Ren. The shows both have similar themes too, though a decade apart. Ren and Stimpy is creepy as… well, poo, and so is IZ.

Though I'm sure Zim put his life on the line when he rescued Dib. What if the Tallest found out he saved a rebel? He must have had some knowledge of that, yet he still saved the boy. How sweet. Even before Zim changed his cruel ways, he showed some softness for Dib. He did show that softness too in Mopiness of Doom.

Well that is that. I still waffle in my author's notes, as you can clearly observe.

I'm not sure what the time difference on planet Judgementia is to Earth (should be billions of light years), but it appears that Tak's ruling coincides with Earth's time, or whatever part of the US IZ takes places in.

I will update again next week. Stay tuned.