*Jumps in like an awesome ninja* HYAH! WAZZAP?

Anyway, aw chiz, you had a cliffhanger. So, I'm going to put off my big project due in two weeks worth fifty percent of my grade JUST FOR YOU! FEEL HONORED! Anonymousness (wow, that's apparently spelled right. And I made it up...)

in 3...

2...

1...

BOOM!

Aw, shit, not again!

GRAMMAR POLICE: I don't see anything weird. I did that last week! And yes, you are right. COOKIE FOR JOO!

GREENis my fav color: Guess WHAAAT? My birthday is on FRIDAY! WOOOT WOOOOOOT! For reasons I have no need to explain, I will not say how old I am. But YAY! I will update more! Hmm, think I'll do it now! ;P

Gaz's head snapped to the side as she took in the sight of the intruder. She relaxed when she saw it was just a short, little Irken. Zim looked at her, too, and relaxed.

The Irken was female and was wearing the standard outfit Gaz had designed. The uniform was basically the same, just in black and violet, like her dress and hair. The Irken was laying on her back, her uniform scratched and ripped. She slowly opened her big, pink eyes, and her antennae twitched as she took in her surroundings.

When she saw Gaz, it took her a moment to register the cruel face. After a moment, she jumped up and brushed herself off, which didn't really help at all. She bowed shakily.

"Gaz, my lord." she said, rather loudly. Gaz rolled her eyes.

"I know who I am. Der."

The Irken looked up slowly, and her eyes rested on Zim and widened. He was looking back at her, an eyebrow raised curiously. She brushed herself off more and smiled.

"Hi," she said in a rather weird way.

"Hello." he said. He kept looking at her warily. She smiled a little wider.

Gaz looked at her. What the hell...?

"Riiight." she said. "Well, we're leaving now." Unconsciously, she grabbed Zim's arm and dragged him away. He made sounds of protest, but she didn't listen.

"Wait!" the Irken girl shouted after them. Gaz grunted in annoyance, but stopped anyway.

"What?"

"If it's all the same to you, my lord," she said, bowing again. "Would you mind if I maybe...traveled with you?"

"And what reason do you have that I should let you do that?"

"Well..." she paused.

"Exactly."

"Wait! Please? You won't even know I'm here! I'll gather food for you! I won't talk within earshot of you!"

Gaz made a disgusted face. "Ugh. Fine. But once we're at the edge of the forest, you are gone. I don't know who you are, and frankly I don't care."

"I'm-"

"I said, deafy, I don't care."

"Yes, my lord."

"That's what I'm gonna call you now. Deafy."

"Yes, my lord."

"Gaz?" Zim interrupted.

"What?"

"You can let go of my arm now." She blushed furiously and threw his arm out of her grasp. "Go find us some water and food, Deafy. And don't even think of giving me any loopy fruit."

"Loopy...fruit?"

"Yes! See, this is why I call you Deafy. Get with the program, kid." Gaz sat on a rock. Gir rolled up to Deafy.

"I like you."

"Aww! Defective SIR unit! They're always so cute!" she kneeled down by Gir and examined the bubble he was in.

"Is this you're invention, my lord?"

"No. I'd actually prefer if he wasn't here at all. See Mr. Long, Tall, and Hairy over there about that." Gaz said, referring to his unnatural height and hair. Deafy looked up at him and quickly looked away, her face turning a darker shade of green. Gaz rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of Pink Eye over there, why don't you take him with you?"

Deafy's eyes grew wider. "Why?"

"I'm sick of lookin' at him. I'll keep the bucket of bolts over here to entertain myself. Maybe bounce him against a tree for a while."

Nobody moved for a moment.

"GO!"

Zim rolled his eyes and started walking away, gesturing for Deafy to follow. She bit her lip and smiled, walking along eagerly behind him. Gir stupidly rolled over to Gaz and stretched out his arms.

"I'm gonna hug you!"

"Good luck with that." 'Stupid,' she muttered. Gir bumped against the side of the bubble, but that didn't stop him. He kept at it. Gaz picked him up and threw him against a tree, catching him on the rebound, wondering what the heck Deafy was doing in the forest, and why she acted so wierd around Zim.

Somehow, she knew the answer. And, although she wouldn't admit it to herself, she didn't like it.