Chapter 13: To Freedom

Gaz's PoV:

The more I ran, the less progress it felt like I was making, this palace is huge, all the days of sweeping and the boredom must've concealed the fact from me. 'Those scum, they better not have hurt Dib or I'll end them.' I traced my hand down the wall as I followed Dib's markings down the endless corridor. "Could it be I took a wrong turn, or circled, or is this palace truly this long and boring?!' I could feel myself tiring out, I never ran all that much, my breathing growing heavier and panting. My legs were starting to feel the pressure from the run, and I could feel my pace becoming gradually slower. 'I have to keep going!' "I have to"

The more I ran the more I thought about freedom. What would happen when I finally get out of this rat hole, what everything would look like. 'Pry can't be good considering.' I thought of where I could go, to who I could go to, I wondered if Dib had left a trail even further for me to follow, to allies he has, to a home, a refuge?! My pace stepped up as I outwardly exhaled in anticipation, I began a harder run as I felt like my body didn't feel the heat from the running anymore. 'Is this what they call a runner's high? It's nice, whatever it is, certainly helpful right now.'

As I traced my hand down the wall my thoughts fell to Dib. 'Am I trully so changed to not save my brother, I should be feared, never on the run, never a step behind, but look at me…' And Zim. 'How he became so powerful… the same but so different, Is this a respect, or hatred, but he is far stronger than me, that sickens me, I used to be able to throw the nuisance through a wall…'

I saw it, behind a statue of some random creature, the carved line dove behind it. 'Must be a secret passage way, Dib always seems to think of everything…' "Maybe I actually have a chance to escape." "Pst.. Gaz, GAZ!" a loud whisper came from the opening, I looked to two purple female eyes. "Tak?!" I said stopping in my tracks. "Gaz, follow me, I'll explain when you're out of sight." She whispered to me. "Okay." I began whispering back.

I crouched down, crawling through the hole previously dug out, Tak lead the way in the front. "So, as I take it, it's been pretty rough for you in there huh?!" "Yeah I guess you can say that, but pry nowhere near as bad as it is on the front lines huh?" I replied. "Yes, it's been pretty hectic out there; feigning allegiance to his side as well as helping Dib out has proven most challenging." She laughed. "But In the end it's all been worth it, as I see it, it's all very ironic, our Irken duty being to take over any planet relentlessly, but here I am, In conflict with my own legion, fighting for one simple race of people, and hopelessly infatuated with their resistance's leader." I smiled. "You and Dib, can't say I didn't see it coming." She chuckled. "Here I thought you noticed nothing beyond that game device of yours, I truly suppose I was being foolishly ignorant to you and your awareness." I smirked. "It has always been an advantage." "You've been putting up with a lot." "You know?" "Rumors spread, and I must say, if they are true, I'm sorry for the idiocy you've had to deal with." "Yeah, but whatever, now all I'm worried about is Dib." She sighed. "I know exactly what you mean."

We continued to crawl through the dirt, branches and rocks for what seems like 20 minutes. A light came through beyond Tak, as I tried to adjust to it I noticed Tak impossible vanished. I kept crawling looking for her. Next I knew I was in water. I came up to the surface and saw her y the banks end, an arm outstretched to help me out. I took her hand. I looked back, not realizing how high up we actually were. 'How did Dib carve that out way up there?'

She lead me to a few unshaved trees amongst the wreckage, Irkens were working in the distance to clean up ruble, much as I expected. I looked over to Tak who was preoccupied with a device on her wrist. I clicking sound occurred, I glanced over and a ship faded into vision, must've been cloaked. She beckoned me to sit inside beside her, I took the passenger seat, the windshield closed and she reactivated the cloaking devise as we took to the skies.

"Not to worry now, we are well shielded from vision, and all radar detection, your brother is quite the genius." I smirked. 'Shame no one listened to him before, even me…' I sighed, 'Everything has become so stressful lately, I could only imagine how he feels… felt…' I looked down at all the busy Irkens clearing up debris and from the red stains, I could only assume bodies. "Typical." I growled. 'The Irkens were no better than humans, Zim wanted this.' The thought of Zim sickened me more than ever now, how could I have ever been so foolish as to like him when we were younger, even more so think he was tolerable now. 'Out of all girls his race, or mine, I would get stuck with that idiot.'

We continued through the air, my gaze remained on the fires, destroyed buildings and lives. Not that it fazed me in the slightest, nothing really did, but it was still unpleasant to know of the loss, and the survivors now being enslaved. I rested my face on my hands, closing my eyes "We're closing in." Tak said, happiness evident in her voice. "Where to?" I asked groggily. "Home."