A/N

And here it is! The chapter many of you have been waiting for. It involves payback for Keef! O_O Should I be this excited? *thinks it over before shrugging* oh well… I don't like Keef and from the reviews, I know a lot of you don't either, so we are all on the same page here XD. I have to admit: Zim was a little scary in this chapter :/. Oh well, he is still epic ^-^. Well, I'll let you get to the story and I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to see what you think!

Gaz had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. It grew stronger when Keef brought her onto the stage and reached for the scenery device Zim had created. She watched him fiddle with it for a moment before deciding to question him.

"Keef, what exactly are you doing?"

Though, he did not say anything. Instead, he continued to mess with it until he finally chose a scene. The stage around them changed and now resembled that of the top of the opera house. She looked around curiously, realizing a very important detail. This was the scene for the musical in which Raoul and Christine kiss. Her eyes widened as she faced Keef. Zim, who was hiding on the wooden beams hanging across the stage ceiling above, realized this also. His metallic spider legs clicked as he walked closer and peered down at the pair. He could feel the anger beginning to pulse through him when Keef stepped closer to her. Go ahead, he hissed, I dare you…

Keef, unaware of the Irken's presence, gazed nervously at Gaz.

"Keef?" she asked when he got even closer.

He smiled.

"I was just thinking that maybe we should try practicing a few scenes together," he stepped in front of her, "and alone."

She began shaking her head.

"I don't think—mph!" But she did not have time to finish as Keef kissed her. Zim's eyes widened before returning to the hate-filled squint. Keef…

Gaz pulled back and her eyebrows furrowed angrily.

"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled.

"I'm sorry, Gaz. It's just," he shrugged, "ever since we started acting and singing together," he stepped closer to her once again, "I guess I developed feelings for you."

He raised his hand to her face, but she quickly dodged it and pulled back, a look of disapproval crossing her face. She shook her head.

"It won't work out, Keef. It just won't."

"How come? I know we haven't known each other very long, but I really like you!"

"You know I am dating Zim."

Zim nodded absentmindedly.

Keef eyed her suspiciously. Then a look she had never seen crossed his face.

"Maybe he isn't good for you."

"Excuse me?" she asked in disbelief.

"Well look at him, Gaz. He has that freakish skin condition and—"

"Shut up!" She interrupted. "Don't say that about him."

Zim could feel the rage boiling in him. He had the strongest urge to drop down right then and strangle him. No. I will have my turn. Don't you worry, Keef. You will pay. I assure you of that.

Keef heard the evident anger in Gaz's voice and sighed.

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"Why would you say that? I thought you were his great friend?" she questioned sarcastically.

"He doesn't deserve you, Gaz. You deserve someone…" he paused and Zim leaned forward, almost aware of what he was going to say. "…normal," he finished. Immediately, memories of Zim's self-doubt flashed through his mind. He recalled the feelings he had experienced at the beginning of the musical. Instead of doubting himself again though, this time the feeling was replaced with hatred. Pure, thorough hatred. He was just about to go down and finish the kid off himself, but Gaz took over. As soon as Keef said that, Gaz stepped forward and slapped him harshly across the face.

"Don't you dare say that about him." Her voice alone was threatening. Keef staggered back, grasping the stinging spot on his face. He looked completely shocked and Gaz ignored him when he called her as she walked out of the auditorium. Zim shot Keef one last glare before crawling back into the shadows. Out in the hallway, Gaz walked to her locker, remembering something she had forgotten. The door swung open and she reached inside to grab books, but her vision grew clouded and blurry as tears started forming. There would always be someone who did not approve of her relationship with Zim, either her family or strangers. She was getting sicker and sicker of humanity with each passing day. It did not help that she did not get much sleep that night and she was stressed with the musical.

"Stupid lack of sleep," she muttered, wiping away a tear.

Zim had followed her without her knowing and saw her crying. This was what drove him over the edge. Keef had kissed Gaz, insulted him, and made her cry.

"Tonight, my friend, you will pay," he whispered, backing away and leaving the skool. Gaz was completely unaware of his plans as she grabbed her books out slowly, distracted by the events that had just occurred.

Keef was in his room, a single lamp on, when the time of revenge arrived. His parents were asleep and he was the only one awake in the entire household. It did not help that it was also pouring rain outside. The perfect time to do as the Irken pleased. Keef was busy tapping away at a video game on his TV, a stupid grin stretched across his face. So unknowing; he was completely unaware that an alien Voot Cruiser was parked right outside his house. He was completely absorbed in his game when a crack of lightening flashed and the power turned off. He would have been upset that it had shut off his game, but did not have time to think about that. Instead, he jumped back and screamed. Right as the TV flashed off, in the reflection he had seen someone standing behind him. Though, it was not human. He quickly turned around, his eyes nervously scanning the area, but no one was around. He was about to pass it off as his imagination when he heard something outside his window. At first, it was a faint click, but soon it grew into a repetitive tapping. He turned and glanced at the window. His eyes grew and he walked closer and closer, hesitantly peering out. Nothing was there. He continued to look out, not minding his back, and that was his first mistake. He did not hear when the door creaked open. It slowly crawled across the carpet before lightly hitting the wall, welcoming the shadow that crept in. Back turned, the boy was unaware of the Irken crossing the room slowly. He continued to stare until the lamp that had been on began flickering. It blinked a few times before shutting off completely. As soon as he turned around, Keef was thrown against the wall and something sharp was pressed against his neck.

He cried out in fear but his mouth was quickly covered. The light from a streetlamp outside flooded through the window and onto Zim's face. Keef could see the insane grin creep across his face. The alien brought a finger up to his lips and squinted at the boy.

"Shhhh…."

Keef whimpered.

"Z-Zim?"

His eyes traced behind Zim's body and saw long, metallic legs stickking out of his PAK. He could see one pointed at his throat and could feel the pressure growing. He gagged slightly and Zim tightened his grip on his shoulders.

"Does that hurt?" he whispered.

Keef did the best he could to nod. Zim leaned his face closer, his eyes not leaving the boy's once.

"Good," he hissed lowly.

"What are you doing here, Zim?"

His eyes flickered across his face, taking in the image of the fearful human.

"I suppose what I crave is," he pulled his face closer, also causing the metallic leg to dig further into his neck, "revenge." His voice was low and deadly, nearly unrecognizable from the usual loud, green kid from skool he was used too.

"Revenge? For what? What did I do?" he tripped over his words.

He growled and threw him against the wall. "I think you know what you did, Keef. You kissed her. You tried to take her away from me."

"Who?"

Zim brought his claw to the boy's face and dug his nails into his skin. Keef screamed from the pain and could feel his body begin to shake.

"You know who!"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to!" He began to panic. He had meant to, but his words were fleeing from his mouth before he could take them back. But the statement only made Zim angrier.

"Yes you did! Are you trying to lie to me? Do you think I am a fool? Well, human, that is your mistake."

"Okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to kiss her."

"No you shouldn't have. But there are other reasons I am here."

"What?"

"I heard you say she deserved someone normal." His voice dripped with venom as he spat the word out.

Keef frantically shook his head, trying to deny the truth.

"I didn't mean it that way. I really didn't."

Zim crooked his head to the side, now seemingly amused.

"Oh? And how did you mean it then?"

But Keef could not come up with a lie to excuse his behavior so Zim smirked.

"That is what I thought. But Keef?" He raised an eyebrow, addressing the shaking being who was about to faint any minute from fear.

"Yes?"

"There is a reason I am not 'normal'."

"What?"

Zim smiled.

"I do not have a skin condition. That was a lie. As a matter of fact, my entire story is a lie."

"What do you mean?"

"What you see is a lie. That is what I mean…" he hissed. Without further explanation, Zim's hands went up to his head and removed the wig. Keef began squirming at the sight of the antennas, but he immediately froze again as he saw him reach for his eyes. He slowly peeled the contacts off, revealing the unearthly, crimson eyes that laid beneath. All at once, Keef faltered. He remained still a moment longer from fear, yet slipped out of it as quickly as he had entered it. He began struggling and screaming against Zim's grip, crying for his parents, crying for help, crying for anyone who may have heard him. Zim began chuckling softly until he was laughing. This only frightened the boy even more. Though, his heart nearly stopped when Zim's PAK began sparking. The flood of emotions was too much for him to handle. Now, Zim was out of control. He did not have any say about his choices or what he would do. It was as though his conscious had left him when his PAK malfunctioned.

"I suppose I forgot to mention that I injected sedatives into your family. Terrible really." He leaned his face closer and Keef could see his face reflected in his ruby eyes. "It must have slipped my mind," he stated slowly.

Keef began crying at the realization of his situation

"They are deep in sleep so they cannot hear you scream. No one is coming to help you." Zim watched him shake frantically.

"You're….You're an alien…" Keef stuttered.

"Very good, Keef. You figured it out. But that won't do you any good now."

He saw the alien advance further on him, grabbing him and throwing him to the ground. He pounced on him quickly and brought a metallic leg up shakily.

"You even made her cry!" he hollered.

Keef began screaming, but soon his voice faded when the fear overtook his body and caused him to pass out. Zim was right about to finish his business when he heard something outside the window. The noise brought him back to reality and he gripped at his head in pain. He glanced up quickly at the window and then back at Keef's limp body. His eyes widened in horror. He shook his head and got off of him, backing away slowly. His breath was shallow and rugged when he realized what he had come close to doing.

"No. It can't be!" He said in disbelief.

He remembered the noise he had heard and glanced outside. Down below, Dib had a handful of pebbles he had been throwing at the window. When he finally caught sight of Zim, he gestured for him to come down. Zim opened the window and slid out, landing beside the human.

"Zim!"

"How did you find me?" He asked, shaking his head and walking towards his Voot Cruiser. He opened it up and hopped inside. Pointing at a seat, Zim watched Dib crawl in before shutting the top and taking off. His eyes seemed to dart at everything while he nervously took in his surroundings. It was like it had all been a nightmare. A nightmare in which he did not have control and could only watch in horror as he nearly murdered Keef.

"I went over to your house to spy on you and—" He laughed nervously when Zim shot him an icy glare. "Anyways, I saw that you weren't there and decided to knock on the door because you are usually never away from your base. I had a feeling something was wrong and found out I was right when Gir told me where you were and what had you planned to do."

Zim looked at him shamefully and nodded.

"Thank you," he muttered.

"What?"

"If you hadn't come, I would have killed him," he confessed.

Dib looked shocked and grew quite as they flew through the darkened sky. They stared straight ahead, neither saying a word. Zim could not help but think about what may have happened had he killed Keef. Surely, everyone would have found out it was him and he would either live his life in jail, on an autopsy table, or be forced to escape and drift in the endless vast of space forever. Each option meant he would never see Gaz again.

"I really am a monster," he mumbled hopelessly.

"Zim, you're not—"

"Yes I am!" He snapped. "Do you not understand that, had you not been there, Keef would be dead? I lost control and nearly killed him."

"You were trying to protect Gaz," Dib suggested sadly.

"That does not excuse murder," his voice was growing hoarse from the yelling and began cracking. His hands gripping the controls of his Cruiser and he growled loudly in pain as tears began stinging his flesh. Dib watched solemnly as Zim put himself down over and over again. No matter what anyone else would have thought of the situation, Dib knew that Zim was not evil. He may have been misled in the beginning and had done awful things in the past, but he was not an evil being. He had been brought up believing ridding yourself of your enemy was a good thing. The fact that he had not killed Keef sooner was actually shocking to Dib as he thought over the facts of the alien's past. Dib did all he could and placed a hand on Zim's shoulder.

"You're not evil Zim. And you aren't a monster. It isn't your fault your PAK malfunctioned. You were trying to protect Gaz, but something else interfered."

"Why are you saying all of this, Dib-beast?" he whimpered.

"Because you were trying to do the right thing. You just went a little too far," he chuckled.

Zim stared straight ahead, avoiding Dib's glance, and sighed heavily.

"Dib?"

"Yeah?"

He faced him then.

"Please don't tell Gaz," he whispered.

"Okay," Dib nodded slowly, "I won't. I won't tell her…"

A/N

So did you like it? I know a lot of you wanted Keef to die (lol), but I couldn't because then, everyone would have wondered where he went and then Zim was have gotten arrested and so on and so on… And I doubt you would like that as an ending to this story :). But I hope you still liked it. Chapter 12 will be up soon! Oh, and I think the final performance, a.k.a. the last chapter, will be here very shortly. If you have any suggestions for any more chapters or scenes, be sure to let me know. I'd be glad to write more for you :D. I am really going to hate it when this 'mini-series' is going to be over. But don't worry. There will be much more Zagr ^-^!

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