Deep space, on an Irken ship, a small yellow-eyed irken made his report to the Massive. They had not recieved one word from the tallest, and their computers show another Irken has reached the height of 6'2. An irken where the Tallest were last heard from. It can only be Zim.
It no longer mattered if they retrieved Red and Purple, but they needed a leader. They were many planets conquered, waiting to be reclaimed. They will take Zim, even if they had to drag him against his will.
Tak sighed frustrated as she rubbed her bulging stomach. It had been two months since Gaz left and Dib was still being as pig-headed as ever. She visited her twice a week, and even was beginning to grow fond of Zim.
Red and Purple had put the past behind them, and are fussing over her as if they were her birth parents. If only Dib could get over it, then everything would be perfect.
Gaz needs him to forgive her or apologize. Didn't matter, sometimes when someone really needs to say sorry, it doesn't matter who's in the wrong and who's in the right, as long as it gets said. According to Zim, things are getting very violent with the activity in their home. Just the other day Zim had three large gashes down his face and neck. Gaz was nearly sick at the thought she hurt him.
Zim has talked to Tak aside,telling her he did not belief this was what Dib first suggested. And Tak agrees. As dark as Gaz could be, even on her worst day, she had never done more than frightened Zim. If it's targeting Zim, then it's something else something more sinister. She promised to help, even if she had to do it behind Dib's back.
Flipping from book to book, she rubbed her sore eyes. "No wonder Dib wears glasses" Tak thought. She had ten books on the desk of the library.
"Why don't you check those out, child?" Willow, who had become a good friend to both families, asked, handing Tak a cup of hot cocoa.
"Oh...It's Dib. Well, It's Gaz. Whatever was happenning in our house followed her. But now it's hurting people. But Dib can't know about it, he's not talking to her." Tak looked up at the woman pleading to keep her secret.
"Oh dear." Willow sighed, taking a seat next to Tak. "It's hurting people?"
"Yes?" Tak nodded as the woman seemed to think.
"What happened in that house, the first few nights?"
"Well, first we heard a scream and Gaz saw a shadow. The next night we all heard a scream but there was a woman who looked like Gaz's mother at the window. But...but her screaming was low, dark. Almost inhuman... definintly not irken... and her face stretched out before she faded. She was scratching at the window, and she left trails of this black-blood. Dib said it was probaly poultergeist activity. But now... Gaz has had broken bones and Zim's covered in scratches... I just don't know."
"Does these things focus around 3 am?"
"Yes, I believe so." Tak nodded, sipping her cocoa.
The old woman shook her head,"Your looking in the wrong books. These are about ghosts... What you need is this..."
Tak watched he get up and reach for a dusty brown book. She set it on the table with a thud. Leather-bound and old, Tak could smell the years in it. She read the gilded letters on front.
DEMONS
"Your kika's mother was a paranormal investigator. It was a family business. But she got out of it before it consumed her. You can search for all the knowledge in the universe, but at what price, your soul?' She would say. But it seems something found her... or at least her children."
"Dear Irk... Does this book tell how to make them go away?" Tak asked, fearfully.
"I'm afraid not. This is not the time for quarrels. That is what it wants, to pull you away from eachother. Your Dib is the only one who can help his sister."
Tak nodded and checked the book out. Willow added a "What to be expecting" book for free,and took her hand before she left.
"Take this..." She handed her a cross necklace., "And remember, the greatest weapon there is, is love."
Dib sat on the couch gazing at the fireplace. On the mantle was his, Tak's, and Gaz's picture. A pang went through his heart, as if he was stabbed.
"Dib! Dib!" Tak stormed in.
"I'm in here... are you ok?" Dib rushed to his feet, ready to drive to the hospital at any time.
"Yeah, but Gaz isn't."
"I don't care... and how would you know about gaz, have you been sneaking around?" He sneered. Tak snapped.
"Yes! Wanna know why? Because she's family and I love her and you do too, Dib! So stop acting like a jerk for one second and think..."
"I don't believe this. How can you go over there after all Zim put us through? She betrayed us.." Tak's cell phone interupted their fight.
"Hello? Dear Irk... Me and Dib will be right there." Tak hung up with concern in her eyes.
"What?"
"They saw it..." She whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Dib blinked.
"They went out to eat and this demon thing followed them... Gaz's arm is broken and Zim is getting stitches." Tak explained fumbling with the keys. Dib's heart dropped as he took them from her hand and drove to the hospital while she told him everything.
Red brushed back Gaz's hair as she woke up from the painkillers.
"Hey." She said weakly.
"Hey yourself." He smiled at his 'daughter-in-law'. He sighed in an almost morose tone. He had to admit, he was rather becoming fond of Gaz as he found her fierce, sarcastic nature quite endearing. He could think of no one better for his son...
"Where is everybody?" Gaz winced, sitting up.
"Well, when the thing started to attack you, Zim went after it. It got him pretty good, 20 stitches. Purple took the others to get a snack. Doctor says you'll be good to go tonight." Red said almost mournfully. Where were they to go if they would be followed?
Dib ran in and slid into the wall making the Ex-ruler laugh.
"Dib?" Gaz looked in surprise as he rushed to her side.
"Gaz! I am so sorry. About everything. I was a stupid, stupid jerk. I have a small,microscopic brain,in my *sigh* large head. I deserve a nightmare world WITH a moose which there is no return..."
"Dib, shut up." Gaz smiled and Dib laughed in relief. Tak smiled as she leaned against the doorway.
"Hey, what's up?' Zim asked, pushing through.
"Dib's apologizing to Gaz..." Tak whispered.
"About damn time. maybe these things will stop..." Zim rubbed his bandaged head.
"Uh, about that..." Dib started.
"What?" Red narrowed his eyes.
"It's not gonna stop on it's own."
"What!" Gaz shouted.
"Gaz, I was wrong, I'm sorry. It's not poultergeist, it's demonic." Dib backed away.
"So what, we need an excorsim?" Zim threw his hands in the air, frustrated.
"Not necessary... There are many ways of expelling demons. Native americans used smudging."
"A smudging is?" Gaz asked.
"Don't worry, I have everything with me in my coat."
'Do you always carry..." Zim asked a little freaked out.
"Yes!" both Gaz, Tak and Mimi, who was riding Dib's back, replied.
But this moment of semi-comfort was short lived as the room was invaded by 15 irken soilders. Two were holding Purple ans Gir and Spike and Mini-moose.
"FREEZE! Under the control of the Irken Massive you are here by ordered to come with us!"