I awoke with a start, Zim screaming my name ringing in my antenna. "ZIM!" Panting, I looked around the room; dark shadows filled the room, so I couldn't tell where I was.

"Oh my gosh!" Came a surprised voice. "You're awake!" A figure came out of the shadows into the dim light. She looked like Pic, but at this point, I wasn't so sure.

"Pic? Is that really you?" I got to my feet and pressed against the wall.

"What do you mean? I'm me! How am I not me?" Confusion was plain on her face as well as a few bruises.

"Don't play dumb with me! You captured me a brought me here!"

"If I brought you here, why am I locked up too?!"

I opened my mouth to retort, but nothing came, so I closed it. "Good point… but how do I know for sure?!"

"Because I think Dakky is the most cutest and handsome Irken ever!" She gushed.

"Okay, it is you…"

"Aww, that's a cute nickname for him. I might have to use that!" Lights flickered on. "It'll be more authentic that way." The fake Pic stood in the doorway.

I could see that we were being held in an old-fashion, concrete prison cell.

Her disguise fizzled out to reveal her true self. "Even though he's as pathetic as they come, he's quite the good kisser if I do say so myself…" She smirked and licked her lips.

"You little wretch!" Pic screeched.

I recognized her face; she hadn't changed much over the years. Purple eyes, birthmark under her left eye, the tube in her head and the unique invader's outfit, only the name escaped me.

"You won't get away with this! Once I get out of here, I'm going to torch that little mouth of yours!"

"Oooo… such harsh words, I think I might cry…" Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she spoke.

Pic growled.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" I asked suddenly.

She turned towards me. "Don't tell me you've forgotten already?! We grew up together! Remember? Shorty?" A sadistic laugh escaped her lips after the last word.

In that instant, something clicked in my mind and I knew. I found myself growling the name. "Tak… I should've known…"

"Bingo!" Tak laughed and paced up to me.

"You know her?" Pic questioned, astonished.

"How could I forget? That dreaded nickname never left my head and scarred me forever. I can't stand it."

"Until the day you finally snapped. Did you know your friend here has a criminal record, Pic?"

"Wha?"

"Oh yeeeaaah… as soon as the word left my mouth; she went ballistic, destroying everything in sight." Tak cackled. "It was so bad they had to stun her in order to catch her."

"I wasn't myself the day! Besides, that was 125 years ago!" I scowled.

"You're forgetting something… that was the day I almost died." Tak glowered. "Because of you… I spent months in rehabilitation, while you went off the Devastis! You didn't deserve to be an Invader! I did! I worked harder, harder than anybody else! But you! All the studies were like breathing to you! You don't deserve the skills for what you did to me!" She bowed her head and trembled. "And then, when I heard that you had been banished with Zim for being in love with him, ohh… that just made it even sweeter. The two people I hated the most were together. Then when you and he killed that Tallest in a battle for the throne, well, let's just say…" Tak lifted up her head, her eyes moistened and insanity clear. "I got a little blood thirsty. Mela, I'm going to kill you slowly and painfully for what you did to me! Doesn't that sound nice, Shorty?!"

I twitched and clenched my hands into fists. "Pic… stand back… this could get messy…" Feeling a sensation in my eyes, I put a hand over, black mist twirled around my wrists and to my palm. 'What's happening?'

Pic shakily stepped away from me and went back to her corner.

Tak shrieked. "What are you?! Your eyes! They're not Irken! I knew you were too good to be true! You're not even Irken!"

"No, I'm very much Irken… these powers however are not." I smirked, showing pointed teeth. Suddenly, an odd feeling came over me, I felt as though I was detached from my body. I no longer saw from my eyes, but from above myself, the actions weren't mine, nothing was. 'What's happening to me?'

"Have no fear my twin… I'll take care of her." The voice that sounded from my body was mine, yet it wasn't, it was more demonic.

'Give me back my body, Alem!' I demanded.

The mist around my body began to solidify and red markings began to snake their way over it. Her eyes were a dull crimson; they had no light, as if she was dead. "Just give me a moment; I have some unfinished business to attend to." She licked her lips. "The last time I tasted your blood was 125 years ago Tak, and what delicious blood it was…" Her tongue lolled out over jagged teeth, drool falling absentmindedly from the lips.

Tak stared, glued to her spot in fear. "So it wasn't Mela who attacked me… it was you?"

Alem cackled. "OH! You ARE smart!"

"Mela? What's going on? I'm scared…" Pic trembled up against the wall.

Alem turned to look at her, pulling out the creepiest look. "Mela's not here right now, leave a message and she'll get back to you when I let her…"

Pic whimpered in fright as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Tak, meanwhile, had mustered up some courage and began to back away towards the door.

"And where does my prey think she's going?" Alem raised a hand I Tak's direction and she froze.

'Alem! Stop it That's enough!' I tried to force myself back into my body.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Alem clutched her head and hunched over. "Ahhh!"

Suddenly a shot rang out and electricity rippled into Alem, breaking her last resistance.

I pushed back in and fell to my knees.

"You were always so much trouble…"

I looked up and my eyes widened. "You!"