COMMENTTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

London Bai and Diane Hart

Chapter 13

Who wouldn't have dedication to this wonderful original plot starting from the first story to this story. You've taken planning (either purposfully or not) to a whole new level. And the way you describe nearly everything, one could see, hear, feel, smell, and touch everything that the characters go through.
In all honesty, I can't find anything to critisize, only come close to worshipping. I'd take guesses about what could happen next, but I don't want to spoil anything if I do guess right, even I REALLY want to know ;D
One thing I have to say is that you need to get better sleep or it'll show in your writing and I don't want that.
Okay... nuff said from me :)

Lol, the funny thing is, I only have markers for my story. Like, I want this to happe and then this, but the road there normally gets so twisted that the original thing I plan gets twisted into a whole different idea that I normally like better anyways.

But it still counts! :D So thanks!

The sleep thing; I know, right? -_- According to my doctors (I think I've got 9+ now?) I'm supposed to be getting regular sleep, so I've been forcing myself to at least lie down by 1 am. Hopefully I can stick to that.

Thanks for making sure I keep myself sane enough to continue writing satisfactory enough for you all! :D

sikeokilla

Chapter 13

Well I must say dear writer that you can color me impressed. I haven't had a more exciting read since the bible (no no I kid...that book is snoretastic) but still I love your story and the way you lead the readers through the plot with a blindfold on Bravo to you. Bravo.
Also would you mind terribly if I shipped you...in pieces...to all of Europe?
No I kid but seriously can I ship you in my story?
Sincerely yours
The sikeokilla
EWC

(eyes widen, then narrow into a suspicious glare)
Well that depends . . . what does "ship" mean?

Are you all surprised at how little I really know? So far I've asked what "cannon", "ship", and have had you correcting how I'm spelling the very name of my characters.

WHO'S A GENIUS? -_-

Alas, my brain can only be used for the absurd imagination and things I can come up with.

And why must you ship me in pieces? Are you going to kill me?

Eh, you wouldn't be the first the threaten that. XD

In a story? Now I really want to know what shipping is! D:

Blood Dragon XIII

Chapter 13

I'm going to take a stab in the dark here and guess that Iggins is Gretchen's cousin, though I really hope thats not the case. I could see Tip and Tine working for Zim later on though.

O.o

Dude . . . You . . . WHAT?

Oh, you sir are a clever one! I see, I'm going to have to be careful now. I was getting careless with my hints.

WELL NO LONGER! MEH!

(goes into corner and sulks that a piece to my story was guessed correctly)

I supposed congratulations are in order . . . So yeah, there ya go.

cheddarbiscuit

Chapter 13

5. "Irrelevant to story"
You jerk!
6. Tak's father was a real person, he was just kept in a tube, and she brought him out to 'keep up appearances.'
Oh gee, I wonder who Gretchen knows.
Guess eight: Not Tak.

5. You're welcome. :D

6. K, thanks.

8. Good guess! . . . OR IS IT? XD

Mr. Mookenstein

Chapter 13

i wasn't talking about her in that sence on taking her i was saying that if she was powerful enough, wouldn't they just take her and use her as a weapon...they do have mind control tech and all..

Oh, my bad!

Well if I told you, that would just ruin the story, now wouldn't it? :D

Not a creative team name, no.

But effective, yes?

Straight to the point!

Enjoy.


Chapter 14
"The Group"

Thankfully, their clothes shipment had arrived early in the morning.

When Gaz woke up, she found her wardrobe already stocked, courtesy of the maid. Most people would've felt appreciative and grateful they didn't have to unpack but Gaz felt irritated that someone had been in her room whiles she slept and she hadn't woken up to notice. That maid was really getting under her skin. She'd have to do something about it before she had to leave, whenever Zim decided it was safe to kidnap her.

Looking in the mirror, she felt glad she'd ordered mainly combat clothes. True, she did have some rather fancy dresses but they were for the purpose of her sacrifice to Zim, if she was lucky enough to be able to change and prepare herself before she was handed over. The last time Zim had seen her she'd been disheveled, but in a dress. He hardly seemed to notice, but that had been only a couple of days.

Now it had been almost a week.

Which meant only one thing to Gaz; only 2 and 1/2 months before Zim was gone.

The thought made her shiver, but it was true, and Gaz made a habit of not running from the truth. Tricking people into believing it was a lie? Yes. But not dealing with it, hiding from it even?

Not on her life.

Gaz sported a pair of dark jeans now and a red and black, diagonally striped top, along with Dib's glove. She made a promise to only wear both when anticipating a fight, but to make Dib more comfortable (though she'd never admit it), Gaz would wear the one to hide the ring she kept so close to her heart. All she had left of her hold on Zim, since her necklace, no matter the alteration, would always be hers and technically her father's, since it was him she'd stolen it from all those years ago.

Gaz threw on a leather jacket for effect, and it looked good. Too good. She scowled at herself in the mirror. Why could these other strangers that would be showing up any minute be able to appreciate her, but not Zim, the one person she gave a damn about looking good in front of? This whole 'separation' thing had been unappealing in theory, but off the papers? It was unbearable.

A knock on her door snapped her out of her mental debate about changing (which had turned external, since she'd removed the leather in favor of a red trench-coat that tied at her waist and went to her thighs), making her look up in surprise. Then her eyes narrowed at the familiarity.

A far too familiar knock.

"Come in," she said begrudgingly, tying the coat around her waist.

Said annoying, indifferent maid opened the door. "You're guests have arrived. Your brother requests your presence downstairs."

Gaz had no idea why she didn't like her. The way she distanced herself and just did her job, Gaz figured she would appreciate her or respect her. But this feeling of loathing towards the inferior female she could quite figure out was annoying, only adding to her irritation of the girl.

"What's your name, anyways?" Gaz demanded, eyes narrowing as she asked the question she thought might tell her something more. Maybe she knew her from somewhere and the name would make her remember, since her looks obviously weren't helping any thought process.

The girl gave Gaz a bored, impassive expression. "I can't remember for the life of me."

This definitely caught Gaz off guard. Her brow rose. "Amnesia?"

"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," The girl replied, shrugging. "I woke up in a hospital, no recollection of who or what I was, but without any head injuries to explain it. They said I must be suppressing my memories, since something bad obviously happened to me. But I don't remember, so it hardly matters one way or another. Either way, I got a job here, since the owners pitied me. They just call me Furniture anyways. Enough information for you?"

Somehow, Gaz didn't believe a word of what she said. "You're lying."

"And your brother is downstairs," she retorted plainly, bowing to Gaz. "I've told you what I know. Whether you choose to believe it or not is your choice, Madame, but with all due respect, it hardly matters to me. Unless you can tell me my name, I'd appreciate it if we didn't discuss the subject further."

Gaz eyed her suspiciously. That white bonnet on her head was frilly and annoying.

"Fine, I don't care," She replied, shrugging.

"He's downstairs," The maid repeated simply. Then she turned and left.

Gaz scowled after her, shoving her hands in her pockets as she headed down the hallway, towards the stairs. She could already hear the drifting voices from the floor below, some people laughing, mingling uncomfortably. As she turned the corner to the staircase Gaz was able to catch sight of the maid just leaving her sight, probably to speak to Dib. Amused at how this might turn out, she stopped, leaning against the wall, entirely out of view of the people collected below.

She eyed her hand, the sleeve hiding the single glove, and pulled down that small piece of cloth on her finger to see her ring. She smiled at it when she heard Dib's voice clearly cut through the rest.

"Where is she then?"

Gaz snickered, standing up straight and heading towards the stairs.

"Relax, idiot," she insisted, her voice cutting harshly through the silence. "I'm right here."

Gaz could feel all the eyes in the room on her. Quite a crowd, but she guessed some of these were Dib's friends, as there was an obvious division between the gathered people. She eyed them all with distaste, her most intimidating but passive of looks. No one could say she was giving them dirty looks but they also couldn't say she wasn't scaring them either, for no reason besides she was looking at them.

The perfect first impression, in her opinion.

"Gaz," Dib said, crossing his arms. "Where've you been?"

She snorted at him, reaching the end of the staircase and placing the gloved hand on her hip. "Upstairs. Where else would I be?"

Dib gave her an irritated look when another knock on the door interrupted the display. Everyone turned around, Gaz peering over Dib's shoulder until he moved to turn around halfway.

The butler got it, opening the doors. "Hello? Oh! Young Mistress and Master, my apologies."

"We hear there are some interesting guests here."

Gaz's eyes narrowed. Did she know those voices from somewhere?

The door opened to reveal two teenagers, probably 13. Both were unnaturally beautiful.

With green hair.

"Gaz, don't-!"

Before Dib could finish his cry of protest, Gaz ripped her necklace off as it transformed into a weapon, pointing it directly at the two newcomers. Her eyes were narrowed and body entirely tense as the room froze, as if everyone was afraid to move.

However, the two well-garbed, enticing twins just smiled.

"Gaz Membrane."

"Aka; Superior."

"Aka; Primary."

"Did you miss us?"

"If I recall, we never really met you-."

"Which leaves the question-."

"How do you know us?"

Gaz hissed, teeth baring at them. "Anyone ever tell you that whole twin thing can get awfully annoying?"

"Yes." Tip replied, smiling all the more.

Tine giggled, stepping forward as the door swung shut behind them. "But you're going to have to deal with it. This is our home, after all."

Dib's eyes widened at the two teenagers he'd fought as children. "You two are Gretchen's cousins."

"Correct," Tine replied, eying him boredly. "May we talk with you two in private?"

"I . . . I guess." Dib replied nervously. Then he turned to the guests, "If you'll excuse us for a moment."

Walking past him, Gaz took a quiet jab at his statement as her weapon morphed back into her necklace, which she draped around her neck. "Like anyone would miss you."

She ignored his scowl.

The twins obviously knew where they were going, as this was their house. Sharing a look they followed behind them. The guests all seemed uneasy a moment, but it was what they had signed up for; working under teenagers who had relations to aliens was just kind of asking for weirdness. This was to be expected.

They were led into a study, a butler opening and shutting the doors behind them. Tip and Tine gestured for them to sit in front of the desk while Tip sat in the chair behind it, and Tine sat next to him, on the desk itself. As Gaz had guessed, she'd turned out immensely pretty, but the flirtatious ice in her eyes made it clear that she'd also grown to be a man-eater. She wore a dark green pencil skirt, a white top, and a dark green suit-jacket, obviously tailored to compliment her figure. Tip, beside her, wore dark pants and a white, button-up shirt that wasn't buttoned all the way up, in the style of a model. Both were obviously well aware they were attractive, and were flaunting it.

Gaz was also well aware that if she wanted to, she could do the same thing to people. She was certainly pretty enough. But Gaz had no desire to do so and so chose to intimidate over mesmerize. Maybe if Dib wasn't so awkward he could to the same but the fact was Dib was uncomfortable with himself a bit too much and couldn't allure anyone besides Gretchen and she was just a fan of his image, not him.

"Before we start this meeting," Tip said, hands folded business like on the table. "We would just like to thank you for your help in containing our brother and let you know we hold no grudges for your deed."

"Iggins was out of control." Tine continued. "We were but children, unable to realize that on our own."

"So, in short, thank you for your assistance." Tip amended.

Gaz scoffed. "I didn't do it for you."

"Regardless, you did do it," Tip said with finality. "And so we are grateful."

"To business then," Tine continued, hands neatly folded in her lap. "We wish to join your team."

"Payback for your help."

"We don't like owing people."

"What are you called, anyways?" Tip questioned.

Gaz and Dib shared a look.

"Um," Dib turned back to them. "The Group."

Gaz smacked her hand to her forehead. "You would pick a name like that."

"Well I didn't hear any better ideas from you!" Dib retorted, pouting, crossing his arms like a child.

She just rolled her eyes.

On both Tip and Tine's faces, a single brow was raised, but they said nothing of the name.

"Very well. We'd like to join the Group." Tine continued. "We think of it as an exciting challenge anyways, taking on an advanced creature."

"Please don't get us wrong," Tip quickly intervened. "We hold none of the same obsessions as Iggins did."

"We're just bored." Tine complained, slightly frowning, her delicate brows furrowing. "And with mother gone, father in a panic and Iggins in a mental hospital, we decided this would be far more interesting then hanging around our home."

"Well, we're always welcome to new recruits." Dib finally said, awkwardly. "We need all the help we can get anyways."

"Glad to be of service," They replied, smiling at them.

There was a moment of silence.

"Well, I'm bored," Gaz said, standing. "I'm going to go scare the new recruits and see which ones are tough enough to stay."

"Sounds like fun!" Tine said, beaming as her eyes sparkled with a vicious gleam.

Gaz eyed her. As much potential as Tine had, she would never amount to half of what Gaz was. She was far too interested in the thrill, not relying on anything that would last. Looks faded. Dominance did not. Lust dimmed. Fear only got worse.

Tine smirked, as if she thought Gaz was appraising her. "Shall we go?"

She snorted. "I'm not your tutor. I don't give a damn where you go."

Stunned, Tine stood as Gaz turned around, leaving her where she was. Tip approached his sister, placing a hand on her shoulder. Dib shot them nervous, apologetic looks before following after her.


Gaz was surprised to find some faces she recognized.

Zita, from Skool, was there. Figures Gretchen would call the VP to their little fan club but the second she'd laid eyes on Gaz, who was apparently her hero and target, and the glare she gave her, Zita was all business. And as it turned out, her father was a paranormal studier, much to Dib's surprise. That explained her strange talismans he'd always thought as coincidental fashion statements. Zita went on to explain her father made her wear them, much to her complaint, but now that at least some of his research was real, she was only too happy to help. In fact, her father was a member of the Swollen Eyeball but she'd sworn secrecy and loyalty to the Membrane siblings, as did everyone else.

Tip and Tine helped weed out the really interested from the psychotic to the, oddly enough, spy. A burned spy who had heard the rumors of the meeting and had tried to use the opportunity to his advantage, despite the fact his government was in ruins and would do him no good. At first, Dib was unsure what to do with him until Gaz had suggested he be given to the twins, specifically Tine. In truth, she just wanted to see what the girl would do with the man, the ultimate test, and Tine had leeringly taken the man off their hands, out the back, and came back without him.

Gaz almost asked what had happened, but that would give her a gloating opportunity. A gift Gaz was not willing to give away so easily to the girl clearly trying to live up to she who beat her seemingly all-powerful brother. Gaz wasn't impressed but if it kept her around to help, so be it. She could handle pests as good as anyone, if not clearly better.

However, in his sister's absence (while dealing with the spy out back), Tip had noticed the glove worn only on one of Gaz's hands. As if able to feel the eyes on it, her ring just suddenly popped into Gaz's thoughts and she looked down at it, looking up to lock eyes with Tine. As children, Gaz had pegged Tine for the leader of their pair, but it was now clear it was always her brother in charge. Tine was a free-spirited vixen, one of the reasons she could never be like Gaz. The control she lacked without her brother made her a liability if she wasn't handled properly, but it was clear by her attitude overall that Tip had gotten using his sister down to an art now. It was a partnership that benefited them both equally.

"What is it for?" Tip asked, not bothering to pretend he hadn't been looking.

Gaz eyed her hand a moment before looking at him. "And why should I tell you?"

"I could always just steal it."

"And I could always just kill you."

He smirked at her. "Well said."

Now Tip. Tip Gaz was growing respect for. He, too, would never be as intimidating as she, but he was smart enough to be manipulative. And cunning was something that only got better with practice, when one learned all the tricks in the book, whether he'd read them or written them himself.

"I'll find out eventually."

"If that were true, then you wouldn't be asking me now." Gaz retorted, plainly. Word-play was her specialty.

Tip's scowl proved he still had much to learn.

"Information offered sooner often holds benefits for later." Tip retorted.

A rough play on 'sooner than later', but one Gaz caught. She smirked at him. "Nice attempt, but you'll have to work on your wording."

She felt like a 50 year-old speaking to her child-protégé. It was irritating. She was nobodies' teacher.

"However, to keep you from further bothering me, and letting you focus on the tasks at hand, since your irritation will gain me nothing but amusement, I will show you to put your mind at ease."

Gaz lifted the piece covering the ring, revealing it a moment before letting it back into place.

Tip's brow rose, looking up at her. "You're engaged to him? I thought that was just a rumor."

"A rumor, but a true one." Gaz replied. "It was a proposal and the ring will blow a state up if removed. It doesn't make sense how that would work, but since this is Zim, I'm sure he's figured out something."

Tip eyed her. "You seem to know him well."

"I dated him. I would hope so."

"Was that odd dating something of a different species?" He sounded intrigued now.

Gaz smirked down at him. "He was much different and pleasant then most humans, I'll admit, but he often proved himself a hassle nonetheless."

"Ah," Tip nodded. "Relationships, I find, only end badly, rarely with rewards. You strike me as someone who agrees on that subject. What made you decide to trust an alien?"

Gaz's brows rose. That was definitely a question she hadn't thought about in a while. She thought, fingers touching her chin before looking out the window to answer, thoughtfully.

"Despite our species difference, we are one of the same." She looked back to Tip seriously. "If you cannot trust yourself, then you've done something terribly wrong with your life."

"Very motivational."

"I try."

Gaz turned away from him as she caught sight of the slightest insecurity in a guest's eyes. A smile graced her lips for a split second before resuming her seriousness once more and heading towards the man.

Tip, watching after her, pitied the man. While Tip did have a hard facade on the outside, he really did feel sympathy on the inside. Unlike his sister, who only had empathic capabilities, Tip was both empathic and sympathetic*. His touching on his sister's shoulder in her time of surprise at Gaz's nasty remark was a small demonstration of that. While he respected Gaz, he wasn't a big of a fan as Tine was. He preferred to stick to his studies of humans and how to use them to his advantage over getting others to do his work for him. Tip preferred to do some things himself, finding a weakness and exploiting it rather than making one's self the weakness. It just got complicated sometimes.

Gaz's relationship with Zim was an obvious example of that. She had probably used him at the start, for whatever reason, only to truly care for him, and now look where she was. Forcibly engaged to the psychotic man (because Tip considered him human-like in some ways, just far more intelligent) who was planning on dealing with their unfinished business eventually.

"Brother!" Tine called, coming back into the room, smiling pleasantly. "I have returned!"

Tip's brow rose. "What did you do with the man?"

Tine's smile became ever more frightening. To someone else. Tip was immune to these looks, thanks to her. They'd never scared him, as he'd adapted the better she'd got at this look.

"He is currently in the cellar." Tine said.

Tip nodded, having expected this, "Ah."

That was all that needed to be said as Tine ran off, after her beloved Gaz.


*This might be confusing. Let me explain. Empathic means you are aware of how others feel. Sympathetic means you care. So, for example, while Tine might be aware of when people are sad, she doesn't care. And Tip would have that same awareness, he just would care. Get it?

If you notice the similarities I draw between Gaz/Tine and Dib/Tip, they are on purpose. While Tip is infinitely harsher then nice, sometimes awkward Dib, he still acts generally the same, he just studies people instead of the paranormal. And while Tine is more interested in using her body and looks against people and Gaz just scares the crap out of them, they're both relatively the same.

I like the idea that somewhere out there, there are siblings like them, even if there are differences, since the twins relationship is a lot more business-like then Gaz and Dib's sibling connection.

Well, that explained a lot.

Till the next chapter!