Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, COMMMENTSES!
London Bai and Diane Hart
Chapter 14
I adore how you brought the twins back into the story. That was a clever surprise for us readers, especially with how you've made them similar in attributes with Gaz And Dib themselves.
One question I have: You're previous stories have been 15 or so chapters, so is this going to much longer or just a few more chapters? (I ask because the more chapters, the more I get to read your fabulous work :D )
Honestly?
Trust me. This is going to be one LONG. ASS. STORY.
It's both a good or bad thing. You, as readers, get to decide.
ForceWalker
Chapter 14
The Group?...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's even worse than the Resisty name! Dib sucks at names! I really had expected better! Definitely Invader Zim-esque like.
Also you never answered my previous question: Is Tak taller in this story, or is she still the same height as before?
I know, right? It just fit.
Oh, you people and your Tak obsession. That, I will leave for you to discover when she shows up.
I can't very well give EVERYTHING away, now can I?
Potatoes4Eva
Chapter 14
MY BRAIN EXPLODED. That's how amazing this chapter was. Iggins... Will HE be in the story? He is mentioned, of course, but now I'm curious. WILL HE HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN WHEN HE SEES GAZ? Makes my head itchy. :3
Anyhow, I am anticipating the next chapter even more so than usual. :D This story's getting so very interesting indeed.
OoooooooooOoOOooooooo I sounded kinda spoooooookyyyy... I should stop being so creeping formal. :{D -Gotta mustache.
I'm still debating whether or not I want him to show up.
LET'S PUT IT TO A VOTE! EVERYBODY GO ON MY PAGE AND DO THE POLL!
cheddarbiscuit
Chapter 14
"Iggins is Gretchen's cousin" I did NOT see that coming, probably because I keep forgetting about Iggins, all through out the second one, I was all like, "Now why are we here again? Oh yeah, that guy."
8. Do you mean to imply that they have some sort of... Dib fanclub? You don't strike me as the type to write... um... threesomes... and then later on in the chapter you mentioned ZITA and a fanclub, so my mind went all to hell, and I was laughing all the while.
Shipping, incase you haven't been answered, is a little thing used in fandom to say you support two characters in a relationship. As such, you are a ZaGr shipper, but really its used used in fandoms with abundant characters, (Pokemon, Golden Sun... ext...) Some fandoms just use blankXblank or others use couple names (Avatar: The Last Airbender, iCarly.)
But I don't think that's what he was talking about. He was talking about shipping. Like, international shipping.
Anyway: Nice to see Dib and Gaz getting an following, very good to see you've actually remembered to age Tip and Tine (I'd forget). Good to be some step closer to Tak.
LOL. That's cuz Iggin's is annoying and nobody likes him.
Wait, what threesomes do you mean? O.o OMG, WHAT AM I UNINTENTIONALLY PUTTING IN MY STORY?
AND YES! I forgot who it was who asked about the time change and am too lazy to go back and look, so I will tell you all know, these two are the first reason that made me want to jump a few years. I wanted them teenagers, so that you as readers could see how these two little brats grew up to be of use. It irritated me that they were left on such a cliffhanger and I while I was plotting the points for this story, I came up with the idea of bringing them back.
Thanks for the shipping explanation!
Yes, FINALLY SOME ACTION IN THIS WORLD CONQUEST!
AND HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS, I JUST CHECKED MY STATS FOR THIS STORY! 908 PEOPLE ARE READING THIS SHIT! O.o
And I've only got 118 reviews? Well, I'm still super excited anyways!
Enjoy.
Chapter 15
"Love and War"
They were in the forest out back, training.
Gaz didn't know what Dib was thinking.
Some of these people were amateurs, at best, save for Zita, the twins, and surprisingly, Gretchen. Apparently Gretchen, as an heiress, had learned to take care of herself at an early age. She was skilled in combat. She had nothing on Gaz or Dib but still, it was something. There were a few others who could fight, quite skillfully (Dib had mentioned something about them being former Swollen Eyeball recruits he'd stayed in touch with), but it wasn't enough. Gaz knew that, even if Dib was too optimistic to care.
"Having doubts?" Zita asked, sitting next to her.
Gaz looked out at the demonstrations Dib was showing on techniques. "You can't doubt something you didn't believe in in the first place."
Zita stared, surprised. "Then why are you helping?"
"I'm going to kill him," Gaz replied simply, feeling Zita's wide eyes bore into her. "Either that, or he'll steal me."
"Steal you?"
Gaz scowled bitterly and looked down. "It's common knowledge that he cares for me, Zita. Don't you watch the news gossip?"
Zita smiled. "I don't listen to rumors. I prefer to get my information from the source."
"You should be an informant." Gaz replied, her face returning to the unreadable slate from before. "Well, you saw us together at Skool. I'm mad at him now. He's such an idiot!"
Startled by her growl, Zita nervously leaned away a bit. "Do you still love him?"
"I never loved him." Gaz said at once, severely. It was a lie, but one that was necessary to keep suspicion away. "But I liked him. We worked well as a team, together, or whatever you want to call it."
"I know this is none of my business, but . . . Do you ever . . . miss him?" Zita asked, uncomfortably, but sympathetic somehow.
Gaz hadn't expected that question. She was getting sort of irritated with these people. Had everyone just been assigned to ask her something that was hard to answer today? Screw this 'Group', Gaz couldn't wait to get the hell out of here.
Now Zim just needed to present an opportunity to them.
Just then Dib got a call on his cell phone. Gaz heard the ring, even from across the field. She turned around, ignoring the question as Dib pulled his phone out, flipping it open.
"Hello?"
And suddenly he was pale.
Gaz stood up. And though her brother was across the room for her, unlikely to hear her, she demanded, "Dib?"
Zita turned as well. "What's going on?"
Dib slammed his phone shut. "EVERYBODY DOWN!"
People dropped to the floor just as something soared over their heads, past them, and into the trees. A few seconds later it exploded, rocking the floor around them.
Gaz was furious. How could Zim be so reckless with her brother?
She stood, ripping her necklace off as it morphed. "I think we're getting a visit from our enemy."
Suddenly a raucous laughter filled everyone's ears. Gaz had guessed there'd be more screaming but there wasn't a one. Eying them at a glance, their faces simply suspicious and slightly apprehensive, maybe she had underestimated this bunch of rag-tag civilians.
"Hello, Dib!"
The electronic voice seemed to be everywhere. Gaz kept her sword at her side, on the ready. If Zim was here to fight only one person, he'd probably have an army. She'd have to go easy on them to keep the fight going for a reasonable amount of time.
Too bad this wasn't public.
"I see you've made some friends while I was away. You'd think they'd be repulsed by your big head!"
"MY HEAD IS NOT BIG!" Dib shouted, then, not as psychotic, he shouted. "Where are you, Zim?"
"Oh, no, not yet! You'll have to come find me!"
Gaz's eyes narrowed. What was he getting at?
"Or maybe," his voice took a smug tone to it. "I'll bring you all to me!"
Suddenly a light glowed beneath their feet, white, surrounding the entire area. Not a person was excluded and as Gaz stood on the boulder, next to Zita, who had by now jumped to her feet, she felt the slight heat of whatever thing they were on was emanating. This time people gave shouts of surprise but still, no one screamed in terror.
The twins, in fact, only had a brow raised as they knelt, touching the light with their hands. Dib stared at it in shock, trying to figure out how Zim had set up this trap.
There was a flash that blinded everyone. Gaz hissed, her free hand raising to shield her eyes. When she felt it fade, she opened them again, looking around to find their positions had changed.
They were in DC again, the city.
And plenty of reporters were around, not to mention people staring at them in wonder.
Gaz's feet hit the ground and she landed in a crouch, the rock having disappeared from under her. Zita fell over and Gaz helped her up, with her free hand, her grip never relinquishing on her weapon. "You grab the rest of the Group and get these people out of here, protect them. Dib and I will take care of Zim and whatever army he's got coming our way."
"Got it!" Zita agreed, running off.
And of course, the cameras were out now. Gaz whipped her arm to her side and the sword burst into flames, courtesy of her. Now she had a flaming weapon to play with, and most of the attention as she headed towards Dib.
"Where's Zim?" She demanded, standing next to her brother.
He looked around, pulling out his latest toy. A pair of armor-gloves, that shot lasers from the hands. He planned on building a whole suit, if he could, but he hadn't had the time yet. The hands were also indestructible, and could punch through anything. Suitable weapons in her opinion.
The ground began to tremor and this time, there were screams, from the onlooking civilians, staring at the people who had come from nowhere in a burst of light, with advanced weaponry.
Gaz could already hear Zita and the others trying to shoo them away, but they wouldn't budge, shock and curiosity overcoming them. She looked up at once as something caught her eye, heading towards them.
Gaz's eyes narrowed at the slowly growing shape coming towards them. "What the hell is that?"
Dib glared at it. "I don't know, but it's heading this way!"
"Figure that out all on your own?" Gaz growled, standing erect in the defensive position, sword at the ready.
The immensity of the figure became known as it approached, probably the size of a three-story building. Gaz's brow rose. She hadn't expected Zim to be that dramatic. Sure, a flaming sword was pushing things a bit but a giant robot? Now this was just getting ridiculous!
The thing landed, heavily, rocking the ground once. It was bulky, red, and armored.
An electronic laugh filled the area. However, it was one Gaz recognized.
And it was not Zim's.
"What the hell is he thinking letting Gir operate that kind of machinery?" Gaz demanded, furiously. This was just reckless!
Still people were screaming but only a few of them had the sense to run. All of the news cameras were there though, trained on the robot and it's psychotic little giggle.
"Gir!" Gaz shouted, hands on her hips. "What are you doing? Where's Zim?"
"GAZZY!"
The scream echoed all around and everyone covered their ears, save Gaz, who just flinched.
He'd screamed louder before.
The robot knelt, it's head visor disappearing to reveal Gir, sitting in the chair and waving at her enthusiastically. Controls surrounded him and he beamed at her, jumping up and stepping on a few as he pressed his hands against the glass. A few missiles went off but they had no aim, soaring into telephone poles and street-lights.
"I misseded you!" Gir complained, becoming sad. "Master said I couldn't see you no more! But then today, he gave me this, and said I'd get to see you again today!"
"Great story, Gir." Gaz said sarcastically. "But where is Zim?"
"I dunno!" Gir said, shrugging and sitting back down. Then his eyes averted red. "But he said I get to play with the puppy-head!"
"Puppy-head?" Both Membrane children said in unison.
Gir pointed directly at Dib. "LET'S PLAY!"
The big robot jumped to his feet and smashed down where Dib had been as he jumped away, narrowly avoiding getting killed. The impact beside her sent Gaz skidding backwards, her eyes wide with alarm. Was Zim insane? Gir was going to get Dib killed!
"DIB!" She shouted, racing towards where the two had moved.
Suddenly a hand caught her wrist, jerking her backwards. She was spun back around, eyes shut as she impacted with something hard. However when she felt arms steady her, gripping her gently, she froze.
Immediately her eyes snapped open to come face-to-face with a smug, taunting expression. "Hello, Gaz."
Her eyes narrowed. "Zim."
"Miss me?"
"You're going to get Dib killed!" She snapped, trying to push him away from her.
However, he pulled her back, snickering at her frustration. He was stronger than her.
And he knew it.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he insisted, stroking her face as he restrained her. "But we are going to fight."
"Well, I can't promise you the same courtesy," she hissed, struggling. "Now let me go!"
"Make it convincing." He said sweetly. But the antagonizing spark in his eye was far too prominent to be sincere kindness.
Gaz growled, angry with him for his careless nature. "No problem!"
It was then Gaz remembered her sword and smirked. Zim's brow rose and then his eyes widened as he jumped away, shrieking a bit as he cried out in pain at the burn the sword had created on his leg, as Gaz had rested it against him. He patted at the smoking piece of his pants, glad to find nothing burnt away. A few more seconds and he probably wouldn't have been quite as lucky.
Zim glanced over her shoulder. Cameras were trained on both her and Zim and he smirked at them, turning back to her. "You have quite the fan-base now, or so I hear."
"I asked you to leave Dib out of this!" She snapped back. "How could you do this?"
"Oh, he won't hurt him!" Zim said nonchalantly, PAK extending appendages. "Dib will probably convince him to blow up the robot or something within a few minutes. That doesn't give me a lot of time with you, though, unfortunately."
"You better hope you're right, for your sake!" Gaz growled.
She charged at him, sword aflame at her side as she rushed Zim's figure. Gaz leaped up, sword high above her head. Zim shielded and there was a loud crack as the weapon and his force field collided. Gaz leaped backwards, away from the barrier, glaring at Zim. He seemed awfully smug.
"My turn."
Zim's tentacles shot from his PAK, shooting towards her. Gaz sliced a few of them, but that didn't stop him. The separated pieces flopped uselessly on the floor, electricity shooting out from them. In her haste to avoid them, leaping away, she narrowly dodged a tentacle catching her. She continued to swipe but they continued coming.
The sound of glass shattering caught her attention.
She hit the ground in a crouch, staring as Gir punched a building. Dib was on his head, speaking to him. Zim was right. Dib would probably manipulate him into deactivating the giant robot soon enough.
But until then-.
Gaz felt the tentacle wrap around her waist, restraining her arms and pinning them at her sides. She began kicking violently as she was pulled back towards Zim, who grinned smugly at her.
Never before had Gaz wanted to punch him so badly.
"Let . . . go!" She hissed, grunting as she pulled at the bonds that held her.
Zim just chuckled, murmuring quietly in her ear. "You need to make a daring escape from the hunter. You can't do that if I don't have you."
Gaz's eyes narrowed. Her sword was still in her hand, but it was useless. "You're going to make a scene, aren't you?"
"Gaz!" Zita's voice shouted, terrified, apparently catching sight of her compromising position.
His tongue flicked out of his mouth in a lizard-like motion, however it slithered when out, like a squirming snake. "I would never."
Gaz's eyes widened as he placed his hand behind her head. "Zim, don't-!"
But then his lips were upon hers, that slippery tongue invading her mouth without a seconds hesitation. Gaz's eyes remained wide, forcing herself not to return the kiss but giving Zim his moment. His tongue worked against hers, tenderly, but with enough love behind it for Gaz to know how much he desperately missed her, and this touch. Zim's hands cupped her face, gently, as if she would break.
Her hands curled into fists. Though she couldn't touch him, she wanted to.
Sorry Zim, Gaz thought in her head, half remorseful, half satisfied that he was getting what he deserved for putting Dib in danger (a task she reserved for herself, and only herself).
She kicked her leg up. Hard.
He broke away from her, tentacles remaining curled around her, but not touching her. Gaz pushed up, leaping out of the metal bonds. She kicked her leg out, nailing Zim in the chest. He landed on his back, Gaz landing in a squatted position, one leg out to the side and the sword flat on the floor. Gaz had slammed her hand down, since she'd almost lost her grip on it. Her shape-shifting necklace was one of the few things she was not willing to lose.
"Keep your hands to yourself, Zim." She growled. "I want answers!"
Zim looked up at her though, reading her eyes like a book. She didn't mean it. In fact, Gaz looked as if she wished she could've been held longer. It only made Zim feel all the more need to have her with him again, to be able to embrace her freely, without worrying about prying eyes.
On the bright side, the remaining crowd was cheering. For Gaz. And Dib, of course, as they were owning. It pleased Zim. At the very least, this good press would get her where she needed to be. He'd have her soon enough.
Zim got to his feet, as if it hurt. But he caught Gaz's eyes, letting her know he was mostly uninjured. A bit sore, yes, but not harmed.
"You'll get them when I get what I want, Gaz." Zim replied.
They both were aware half of the cameras were trained on them as they circled each other, never gaining or losing distance.
"What do you mean?" Gaz demanded, warily, on guard.
Zim's eyes narrowed at her. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for Zim to leave you? I did all of this for you, Gaz! Everything Zim has ever done in two years has been for you!"
Her eyes widened, freezing a moment. Then she glared furiously at him as she shook her head. "You don't actually mean that! You lied to me!"
"I never lied to you!" Zim shouted back. "I protected you from this, so you wouldn't be at risk when I couldn't take you with me! You aren't someone who should be hated and blamed by her own species because of who you had a relationship with! Zim didn't want that for you!"
"Shut up!" Gaz ordered, pointing her sword at him. "Stop lying to me!"
Zim stopped, glaring at her.
"If I didn't love you," He growled, darkly. "I would've killed you by now. If I didn't know it would upset you, I would've killed your brother and your father as soon as this all started."
Gaz was left silent by the truth behind their false argument. She swallowed hard, looking at him with an unreadable expression on her stony face.
Something whined, incredibly loud.
"GAZ RUN!" Dib shrieked, from the safety of a rooftop, stopping and staring in horror as his sister turned around. He was on the roof, civilians safely on the roof with him and the rest of the Group.
Gir was shutting down, making an explosion of the robot for his entertainment. The little SIR unit ejected, soaring high into the air with a psychotic and loud scream of joy. However, even as Gaz stepped backwards, she knew she had no time.
Without anything else to do, she lifted the arm with the sword, blocking her vision.
"Self-destruct in 3. 2. 1."
"NO!" Dib shrieked, restrained by everyone around him.
Gaz shut her eyes tight, arm lowering and standing at the ready.
Something hit her side, throwing her to the floor as the explosion resounded. Something must've fallen on her as there was a weight on top of her. It didn't crush her but it was sort of hard to breath already because of how hard she hit the ground.
The floor shook a while more and Gaz was able to open her eyes to see a surprising sight.
Zim had his knees on either side of her waist, her chest pressed against his as his eyes shut tight, intense focus and possibly pain riddled on his face. Gaz stared at him, looking past his shoulder to see his force-field protecting them both.
He could've left.
Why had she expected him to?
Zim's hands were on her back, she realized, his strained body slowly pressing further against her as he strained under the weight of the explosion he was protecting her from. Finally he was so far down that his head was only inches from her face, drooping lower as his arms bent under the pressure.
Gaz could only think of one thing to give him energy. Especially with how close he was.
She leaned up a little, mouth next to where an ear would be.
"I love you," she said, quietly.
Somehow, he heard it.
His eyes snapped open, red eyes boring into hers as she rested her head back on the floor that had never been more than a few inches away. She just looked at him, slightly wary, uncomfortable at her admission, despite the truth behind her words.
And then Zim's eyes filled with determination, and he slowly stopped straining, just looking down at the thing that matter most to him. What kind of Irken was he if he couldn't protect the female he loved?
Gaz's head rested on his chest as Zim's arm curled around her, keeping her off the ground and to his form.
Finally the last of the real explosions hit and only smoke was there. Even still Zim kept up the barrier around them, until the black clouds rolled away from them. He couldn't risk damaging her primitive lungs, now could he?
The force-field flickered out just after Dib caught view of Gaz, pressed protectively against Zim. He breathed a sigh of relief, but was still apprehensive at how he held her.
She was alive, at least.
All the cameras focused in on their image, fascinated and shocked. This was just too juicy. By the end of the day this would be all over the internet, news, and talk-show TV.
Zim's hold loosened on her as the force-field died. Gaz's eyes opened, staring at him with confused and surprised eyes that didn't understand. Zim gave her an unreadable look, eying her seriously as he lowered her back onto the floor. He took her dropped sword, somehow reverting it without her help and replacing it around her neck, gently.
"Gir!" Zim shouted, getting back to his feet and turning away from her. "We're leaving!"
The robot descended from the black clouds, saluting, eyes temporarily red. "Yes sir!" Then he looked down at Gaz, who stared at him, returning back to his giggly-self. "Bye, Mistress!"
And they disappeared in a flash of light.
Gaz laid on the floor, breathing heavily and feeling the polluted air as she inhaled enter her lungs. She couldn't move. Not that she was physically unable; it was just a great ordeal, even for her, to think she was about to die, only to be saved.
Dib was suddenly there, probably having jumped from the roof like an idiot, picking her up, hands under her legs and back.
"Are you okay?" Dib demanded, fear and concern dominant on his features.
Gaz blinked away her shock, nodding as she touched her head with one hand. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"He saved you," Zita said, suddenly there, staring at Gaz.
And then the reporters came.
"Gaz Membrane! Gaz, over here!"
"What did Invader Zim say to you?"
"Do you love him?"
"He saved her life disregarding her own! She should!" Some bold news reporter shouted, in an attempt to get a reaction from her.
Gaz leaned against Dib's chest, "I don't know what to do, Dib. Tell me what to do."
"I'm sorry." He just held her tighter Gaz. "I don't know either, Gaz. I really don't."
They walked past the reports. Gretchen had already called for cars and the first one that arrived, the Membrane siblings and she got in, shortly followed by the rest of the Group.
And Gaz said nothing the whole way home. When she got back to the guest house, Gaz just went upstairs, locked the door, and slept.
She missed Zim. Impossibly so.
Her heart ached in ways she'd once thought others should be punished for feeling. Why did anyone need anyone else? They didn't!
As her body warmed where Zim had held her, anger filled her as she realized just how wrong she had been.
Zim transported home to find Skoodge, waiting for him, as instructed.
"Tokyo has surrendered, sir!" He announced, handing him a packet of paper. "A document has been sent to us of their allegiance."
"Two out of seven." Zim muttered, counting the continents in his head. His eyes scanned the language, nodding as each separate country's surrender. His face was hard by the end of it, handing it back to his temporary minion. "This has gone on long enough. My rule is assured."
"Meaning, sir?" Skoodge asked, nervous and confused.
Zim brushed past him. "Tomorrow I give the order. Either Gaz is delivered to me, or I blow up the planet."
"Do you mean that, sir?" Skoodge gaped, surprised at this revelation.
Zim paused, thinking about it. Then his face hardened further.
"Yes. Absolutely."
Aw, so cute.
THE NASTY SCENES YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR WILL COME SOON AFTER THEIR REUNION.
Zim still has to get married, like he wants.
And will Dib let Zim keep his sister so easily?
No! He won't take it up the butt!
. . . .
. . . .
Yeah, I know. You don't have to say it.
Till the next chapter!
