Yes, the last day.

If you think it's moving quickly, you've got the wrong idea for the main plot. Sometimes it's not about getting power.

It's about how to keep it.

Especially from those who oppose you.

HAPPY PYRO(MANIAC) DAY! (4th of July)

Enjoy! :D


Chapter 5
"Last Days of Normalcy"

Dib had waited up for Gaz.

She came home in the afternoon, dropped off by Zim. He peeked out the window, through the curtains. Some might call that a bit creepy and, well, kind of disturbing he was spying on his little sister's love life but Dib thought of it as protecting her.

To his dismay, Zim had on his helmet, once again having taken the Voot Runner in motorcycle form, so Dib could not see his expression. However, Gaz took off her helmet and handed it back to him, so he saw the confusion and suspicion riddled on her face.

She turned to Zim, speaking words and tilting her head to the side, asking him a question. To Dib's ever-climbing suspicions, Zim looked away from her, his head directed towards the ground, avoiding whatever question had been asked of him. Gaz glared at him further and spun around, obviously irritated, heading towards the house. Zim watched her go until she reached the door and then drove off.

Pretending he hadn't been watching, Dib ducked away from the curtains, pretending to be paying attention to the television. The door slammed open and Dib jumped, turning to stare at his sister. Gaz looked absolutely furious as she took her coat off, draping it over her shoulder as she began her ascent up the stairs.

"Stupid, cryptic little . . .!" Gaz was grumbling, angrily.

Obviously something about Zim had upset her. And normally Dib would've left it alone, but his paranormal and brotherly instincts were getting the better of him. Not to mention his curiosity.

So Dib dared go where no one had gone before.

"G-Gaz, are you okay?" Dib asked, nervously, swallowing his fear.

Gaz stopped what she was doing immediately and gave him a look, eyes narrowing. "What's it to you?"

Dib sat up, letting the big-brother side of him take over for a bit. "You seem upset. I just want to make sure you're okay."

She eyed him suspiciously. Then, surprisingly, she got back down the stairs and sat next to Dib, crossing her arms tightly over her chest and sitting down with a "hmph!" noise.

"Guess I was wrong about Zim's attitude not being my problem," Gaz said, glaring at the coffee-table like it had done her some injustice. "Everything was fine until he got this message on his watch and left the room for a while. I wouldn't have cared, but when he came back, he refused to tell me what it was about! Like I'm going to do anything about it!"

She let out an aggravated noise and Dib swallowed nervously. But he forced himself to be brave and continue to dive into the world that was Gaz's rather strange relationship. "That's just . . . not . . . good."

He wanted to smack himself in the face. Gaz, however, seemed too irritated to care.

"And then he has the nerve to tell me, also without explanation, that he's not going to be able to see me tomorrow."

Immediately Dib was afraid. His blood ran cold and he paled, making him look ill. Gaz glanced at him from the corner of her eye and seemed to notice, turning to look at him fully with a brow raised.

"Are you coming down with something?" She questioned. "You look like you're about to barf. I swear Dib, if you barf on me-!"

"No, no, I'm fine." He insisted, pulling at his collar as the blood rushed back to his formerly white face. "I-I'm sorry if you aren't getting along. Anything I could do to help?"

Dib was proud. He'd barely winced at his offer.

Gaz's brow rose suspiciously again, eyes narrowing and lips pressing tightly together in deliberation.

Finally though, she shook her head. "No, not really. I guess I'll just have to deal with him the day after tomorrow."

"Oh, okay," Dib said, watching her stand up. "But, you know I'm always here for you, right Gaz?"

Dib was worried, to be honest. If Zim really was up to something, which it really was looking like it at this point with all this suspicious activity Gaz was just blowing off, Gaz might end up getting hurt. Physically, emotionally, or maybe both. And Dib didn't want her withdrawing into herself because she felt like she had no support on the outside. Sure, their dad wasn't around a lot, but Dib wanted her to know that at least he would help her through thick and thin, no matter what.

If only he knew what was really going on.

Gaz smirked at him, but it didn't have that usual cynical attitude behind it. In fact, it actually sort of looked . . . kind.

"Yeah," she said, nodding. "Thanks, Dib."

He positively beamed, "Sure! No problem, Gaz."

She rolled her eyes, amused, hurrying up the staircase. When she was out of vision, Dib sighed, content with his actions as he folded his arms behind his head and relaxed. At the very least, he'd have his sister and she would have him.

Gaz locked her door upon entering her room, a habit she'd have to get used to. If Dib wandered into her room and saw her plans, he would freak out and never forgive her. This all had to be done carefully and skillfully.

She sighed, sitting on her bed, disheartened. The last remaining hours she had spent with Zim had been intense, needy. But never once had her clothes been removed, surprisingly. But then she really began to think about it and blushed at the conversation they'd joked about before she'd left.


Gaz had been fixing her hair in the mirror (so Dib wouldn't notice its disheveled appearance), smirking at Zim in the mirror. "You know, we've been dating for two years. I would've thought you'd have tried something by now."

"Tried something?" Zim asked, curiously, a brow rising as he lay content on the bed, on his back. "What do you mean?"

Gaz turned fully around, smirking at his ignorance. "Most men on Earth would've tried to . . . mate with their girlfriends by now." Gaz informed him, trying to be delicate about the subject she had just recently become comfortable with talking about. She'd known it would come up eventually.

Zim made a face, confused. "I was under the assumption Earth customs required your odd form of unity before mating was allowed. What is it meant to be called, um . . . mare-ee-osch?"

"Marriage, Zim. Marriage." Gaz gave him a look of disbelief. "You know about marriage but not the most common terms of mating?"

Zim looked back at her, obviously surprised. "Should I not know about marriage, then?"

She eyed him, as if not sure what to make of the situation. Then she just shook her head and sat back down on the bed, snorting in amusement. "You know, I guess it doesn't matter."

"Oh," Zim seemed pleased. "But, then, do humans mate before marriage, then?"

"Some of them, yes, like prostitutes, remember? You know about them." Some people would've found it weird Zim knew about prostitutes and not about human's sex-habits, but really, Gaz wasn't surprised by any of his knowledge limitations anymore.

"I always assumed that it was acceptable because of it being a job." Zim admitted, dumbfounded by this new information. "And honestly, a part of the reason I've never done so is because I'm not sure how a mating between us would go about."

Gaz's brow rose. "Are you questioning our physical compatibility?"

Again, one would think this conversation would be more of an awkward and touchy subject to discuss. But whoever thought that would be wrong, since Gaz and Zim are far more (irrationally) comfortable with one another then the average couple who've been with one another for 58 years.

"That, and I was wondering how it would affect you." Zim admitted, running a hand through her hair to fix a strand she had missed. "My system is more advanced than yours, and could probably handle it. But yours is so much more . . . delicate then mine."

Gaz frowned, but he had a point. Then she smiled and held her arm out. "Do you want to take some blood and see?"

"Are you really that curious about it?" Zim asked, intrigued.

Gaz nodded. "If not just out of curiosity, I'd at least like to know if I could, just to bug Dib about it."

Zim laughed. "Externally it's possible, if we're talking about . . . 'parts'. Irkens, however, aren't born with that piece of equipment, so to speak. In fact, similar to the human's despicable culture, it's actually a prideful thing to have one. You gain them with height, if that makes any sense. It's why the Invader uniforms are different from the Tallest. The Tallest, if you noticed, wear clothes that cover their nether regions while Invaders wear tight pants, or no pants at all, depending on their height. If they're short, there's nothing to cover. If they're slightly taller then average, there is something to cover, it's just, well-."

"In short supply?" Gaz offered, amused.

Zim grinned, "Yes. Extremely. In fact, I believe it's actually smaller then a human worm-baby's."

Gaz burst out laughing, snickering. "So then yours when you arrived . . .?"

Zim nodded grimly. "It was existent, at least. Now, however, it's far more prominent, which is why the alterations were made."

"Do Irkens get the same form of . . . excitement down there as human males?" Gaz wasn't just being gross, she was genuinely intrigued. To discover Zim actually did have a penis (she really hated that word) was news to hers. She had never really cared if he did or not but this was just too weird (in a funny, ironic, good kind of way) to not know more about.

"Only when we allow ourselves to, on purpose, not randomly in a classroom or something like your disgusting hormonal young males," Zim insisted, making a face of disgust at the thought. "The very idea of doing something like that against your will . . . It's positively horrifying."

Gaz had caught a few confusing words. "On purpose?"

"Meaning only when we're performing the act." Zim explained, kissing her chastely. "But we'll discuss this topic more at a later time. As much as I want to keep you here far longer, don't we have a brother of yours to fool?"

"Stop thinking about my brother while we're talking about your penis," Gaz ordered, resisting any form of amusement on her face for effect as she stood, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

Zim's own eyes widened to humongous size. It was very hard for Gaz not to laugh but it was worth it as Zim looked very much like he was going to be sick and his antennae wilted.

"That. Is. DISGUSTING!" He shrieked, paling as if he wanted to vomit. Gaz busted out laughing, unable to hold it in. Zim gave her a look of absolute revoltion and disapproval. "Ugh! Don't even joke about that!"


Gaz, even just remembering that, began to snicker. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside and slid the unnaturally small disk Zim had given her, no bigger then a quarter, into a slot she hadn't known about in her watch.

Tonight and tomorrow, she'd be learning about the characters of Irken and how to read them.

Tomorrow, Phase 1 would begin. Once Zim's back-up was updated on the plan, they'd start first thing in the morning. Gaz's job was to plant tracking devices on herself, her father, and her brother. Nobody else in the world did she give a damn about.

Zim already had the watch on her, but it was likely she'd be ditching it once Phase 1 began, for sentimental reasons, so Gaz decided to place her tracker on her necklace. Dib's was easy as well. She'd attached it inside his coat pocket, since he never took that dumb thing off. The real problem was getting one onto her father. If she gave him something, then he would wear it for sure. But the problem was what she would give him that seemed realistic enough to wear.

Despite popular belief, Gaz was well aware that her father was a very sentimental person when it came to objects. Dr. Membrane didn't have the time to be around his kids often, but if some part of his kids could be around him, he'd keep it with him at all times. This had been discovered when Gaz had found a small rubber alien of Dib's he'd given Dr. Membrane when he was 3 was still kept in the pocket of his lab coat.

What was with her family and coats?

Well, it was for the better, then. It only made Gaz's job all the easier.

Gaz dug through her drawers until she found some wire and tools. Eventually she bent a catch in the mess of wire she created, with the intention of making it look like a star or something. It sort of did but it actually looked like some new planet or something. She placed the tracker in the catch, which was in the center, as if it was a jewel for decoration. Overall, if she'd really cared, she could've done something better but she didn't have the time for arts and crafts. She only had a limited time to learn another language, which was doable, but once this started she probably wasn't going to get another chance to look at them.

So at once Gaz went downstairs, mess in hand. Dr. Membrane was working from home today and Dib was already in his room, probably looking over his files about Zim again. Poor Dib.

He didn't stand a chance, but at least he would be alive when this was over.

Gaz went down emotionless into the lab, looking around until she saw the source of sparks, where her father was working on one thing or another. She couldn't care less but at least she'd located.

"Dad," Gaz said, sternly.

Dr. Membrane jumped and turned around, surprised. Gaz never came into the lab, it was always Dib. "Yes, daughter?"

Gaz, without any grace whatsoever, removed the thing from behind her back and held it out before him. Taking the hint, Dr. Membrane outstretched his hand in obvious confusion. Gaz dropped the thing in it.

"Here," She said, curtly. "I made that for you."

And then, without any explanation (as this was the quickest and most effective way to give a gift you had no reason for), Gaz turned and left the room rather quickly. Her father stared after her, she could feel it. Gaz rarely did anything for anybody, let alone give them a present. But she smirked upon hearing the slight sliding off something against cloth.

He'd put it in his pocket for safe-keeping.

She proceeded upstairs to Dib's room and forced her face to remain expressionless. If she seemed too anxious, Dib would think something was up. To her utmost relief, the tracker wasn't one of those stupid blinking lights. It was no bigger then a bead and had the same luster as one, meaning it was duller then a graveyard. It was also black, meaning it would blend.

"Dib!" She banged her fists a couple time on the door. "What are you doing?"

"Uh! One second!" He shouted through the door.

Gaz smirked at the sound of papers being hidden and things being moved around as Dib scrambled to hide the evidence he was investigating her boyfriend. She gave him a little bit of time before bursting in, unannounced.

This needed to be done correctly and realistically, otherwise, Dib would realize beforehand and get himself killed trying to avoid her help.

Dib spun around in his chair, a nervous grin plastered on his face, along with a sheen of sweat. Gaz gave him a suspicious look, approaching him slowly as he tried to hide some rather obvious papers behind his back.

"What are you doing?" She demanded, in a clipped tone.

Dib laughed uncomfortably, shifting to try to hide the papers more. "Uh, n-nothing! What did you want?"

Gaz continued to glare at him through narrowed eyes. "Dad put me in charge of dinner, so what do you want?"

"Whatever is good! Look, Gaz, this isn't really a good time-." Dib tried, shifting some more.

She advanced on him, reaching for the papers. Dib squealed and darted out of the chair, stumbling until he fell over. The papers flew under the bed, much to his relief. It was short lived though, as Gaz grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him up by it.

"If you're doing something weird, Dib, I swear I'll kill you." She growled, angrily. "I can handle Zim myself. You don't need to be meddling in it that much!"

"I'm just trying to help!" He defended, whimpering.

She sighed, releasing him. Dib nearly tripped again but Gaz grabbed his coat, steadying him. Dib watched her eye the disheveled trench coat, frowning as she worked to remove the creased.. Her hands went inside his coat, smoothing along the creases and flattening them between her hands. Dib swallowed nervously, uncomfortable at her rather motherly touch.

"I appreciate your concern," Gaz mumbled, obviously reluctant to admit so. "But I don't want you getting involved, Dib. Not until I ask you too, okay?"

Dib seemed surprised at how calm she was being about him sticking his nose into business. It worried him. Was Gaz really so bothered by her own thoughts about what Zim was doing that she was too distracted to be properly mad at Dib? That was a frightening thought. A world where Gaz was too busy to be mad. Dib nearly shivered at how unnatural that would be.

"Okay?" She tried again when he didn't answer her, jerking him a bit, the hardness seeping back into her voice.

Dib snapped out of his stupor and nodded, removing her hands. "Yeah, I get it. I'll keep out until you need me."

Gaz nodded, stepping away. "Does pizza sound good to you?"

"Yeah, sure," Dib agreed, fetching the papers from under his bed.

"Okay." So he didn't see Gaz smirk as she eyed him from the door, shutting it behind her.

For those of you who weren't paying attention, Gaz did manage to slip the tracking device on him, without Dib noticing whatsoever. Like she'd really fix the crease in someones clothes just for the sake of kindness, after she had been the one to bunch it up. Psh!

To easy.

Dib turned away from the door, after it shut.

"I'm sorry, Gaz," He said to himself, getting back on the computer. "But I just don't trust him enough."

Dib began typing on his computer until he found what he wanted and waited for the link to connect with him. It didn't take long but the guilt and determination filtering through him made it seem like forever.

Finally, a silhouette appeared. One he wanted to see.

"Agent Moth-Man," the silhouette demanded. "What urgent message do you have for us?"

"It's Zim again, Agent Dark Booty," He said, in an apologetic, frustrated tone. "Look, I know I decided he was docile, but my sister says that he's been acting weird lately. Secretive."

"What are you trying to get at, Moth-Man?" Dark Booty questioned, a brow rising.

Dib took a deep breath before saying what he knew Gaz would kill him for.

"I think the Swollen Eyeball needs to officially prepare for an oncoming invasion. And by the looks of things," he glanced towards the door, where Gaz had left not but moments ago. "We don't have a lot of time."


It was disappointing to Zim that his girlfriend would not be making an appearance for the rendezvous, as he had been hoping to introduce her to the first Irken he had seen in person in a long time. Of course he had no idea who was coming yet. And he wouldn't be able to see Gaz for who knew how long.

What a downer this plan was turning out to be.

He wasn't the only one suffering either.

Gir whimpered in the corner, looking up at Zim with big, sad eyes. "Master not gonna see Mistress for a while?"

Zim sighed, "Yes, Gir. Gaz will not be coming here until we've conquered this continent. But don't worry, it won't take too long. And we'll be having a guest in the meantime."

"Guest?" Gir sat up some more, intrigued. "We gonna have a guest? YAY!"

Zim made a face at his burst of enthusiasm. It seemed he was the only one truly grieving, though he figured somewhere in his mind, Gir was upset about not being able to see her. He'd become rather attached to her. But Zim couldn't complain about it.

He'd obviously become attached, too.

Zim had given the coordinates on a field where his back-up would be landing, where the mess would start. From there, Zim was to receive the mind-control technology he'd asked for and a gift from the Tallest, a vague present they hadn't mentioned. Everything about what the Tallest were giving him was vague but Zim couldn't complain even if he wanted to. He was lucky they were speaking to him, let alone helping him out.

So Zim was out of his disguise, sitting in the shadows in his Voot Runner, waiting not so patiently. Gir was with him, just to keep him company really, but also, he still didn't trust him at home with Minnie-Moose.

But he had to remind himself that he didn't have a base set up anymore. Minnie-Moose was in the back, where Gir had refused to go, and his house had been taken apart and was once again nothing more then a place in his PAK. It had been an almost sentimental experience, moving, making this whole thing official, but this was all for Gaz, he reminded himself. Really, he wouldn't be putting this much effort into keeping himself alive if it wasn't for her.

"Where is this Invader?" Zim demanded, irritated and restless at the thought of Gaz.

Finally a spark in the sky tipped him off and he looked up, getting out of his Voot Runner immediately. He crossed his arms and waited, Gir hugging his leg beside him and making gurgling noises. Zim ignored him, glad that he at least wasn't screaming like a monkey. And if he was worried about making a good impression, well, he was about almost as tall as the Tallest. All he needed to do was stand there.

The ship landed, just one. Meaning he would be playing the card of Leader and Second-in-Command. Really it was what he'd hoped for, as a third would've made Zim look like his people considered Earth a sufficient enough threat to send three of its best. A part of the plan was making Earth realize just how truly primitive it was and let them be aware it would take near to nothing to overthrow them entirely.

Because it was true.

Zim stepped out from the shadows, making himself known. He wondered what it would be like, looking at someone who was the size of a child when he had grown to the size of the average male. Zim had thought that his growth had something to do with the different air pressure from Earth and his home planet, but now was not the time to worry about it.

The gas cleared from the initial opening. Zim waited, eyes stern, with Gir still making stupid sounds, but quietly at least.

Then he saw the figure and his eyes widened, antenna shooting straight up.

"Skoodge?"


Half of you expected Tak, huh?

No need to worry, she shows up.

Eventually.

Not in the way you would expect though. Trust me, none of you will be able to guess how she enters this story.

Anyways, next chapter, the world as we know it ends.

Hope you liked how clever Gaz was with placing the tracking devices.

Some of you might disagree with it, but be logical, like she is. If she didn't deceive and trick them, the two people she cares about (who aren't Zim) will die in the casualties most definitely.

What would you do for family?

Till the next chapter!