Mom returned to the dining room, bearing a large water pitcher. She proceeded to top off Dib's empty glass and my half filled one. "So," she started. "school is still closed, huh? What for again?" Our replies came in a jumbled unison.
"Renovation!"
"Termites!" We exchanged wide eyed glances as Mom looked confused. "Sorry?" "They're uh...renovating for termites." I explained stupidly. She continued to eyeball me oddly but then she started to laugh. "Oh I see! And how long is this 'termite renovation' supposed to go on for?" "Honestly," Dib sighed. "We're not too sure. The 'skool' is still being... fumigated, I expect."
"Well," said Mom. "Hopefully, you both will take the time you have now to do something fun and productive. There are so many kids who just sit in front of the TV and go la la brain and never see daylight or get exercise. It really makes you wonder what kind of parents they have. Honey, is something the matter with your arm?"

I looked up at her, not realizing I had been scratching it again. "Oh um...I just fell into some poison ivy the other day. I'll be fine."
"Well, we should really put something on that if it's bothering you that badly. Let me see." "No!" I quickly jerked my arm out of her reach. Dib gave me that signature cocked eyebrow, indicating he was suspicious.
"I mean," I said more gently. "I'll deal with it. It's nothing to worry about. I need to use the bathroom."
Immediately, I excused myself from the dinner table and ran upstairs. Locking the bathroom door behind me, I pulled back my sleeve, dreading the horror that lie beneath it.

Now the inside of my forearm glowed so brightly that it bathed the entire bathroom in luminous green. Closely, I scrutinized the infection and my stomach churned when I saw what it was doing. My flesh. It literally was crawling! Oh god, it was getting worse! What the hell was happening to me? It was as if my human DNA was physically trying to separate itself from the alien DNA. Frantically, I rummaged through the medicine cabinet until I located a tube of anti rash ointment. I uncapped it and desperately applied it to the affected area. Then something freaky happened. The entire tube stuck into my skin and then sank like quicksand. A shrill scream escaped my lips as I struggled to retrieve it but it had already disappeared inside my arm. Now I was really afraid. I had no idea what was going to become of me or if I could even cure myself. What would happen to me if I couldn't? Would I sprout antennae and other aspects until I evolved into a full Irken like Zim? Or was this all part of his plan? In the end, would it really kill me? Suddenly there were a few rapid knocks at the door, making me jump.

"W-who is it?" I stammered. "It's just me," came Dib's muffled voice. "Are you okay in there? I heard you scream and there's this weird green light streaming under the door." Grudgingly, I unlocked it and he came bustling in. His eyes widened in horror once he determined the source of the light. "What the-? Wendy what is going on?" "Some of Zim's molting pus spilled on me and now I have an infection." Dib was outraged. "I'm going to kill him! Come with me to my house. We can use my dad's lab to try to find a cure for that." "Okay," I said. " but before we go, there's something you should know about Tak."

"This is terrible." Dib said after I had explained everything. "Just...terrible!" He paced around the living room in frustration while I sat on the couch with my head in my hands. Gaz sat beside me, arms crossed and clearly not giving a damn about Tak's return. "I had no idea," I said miserably. "I had no idea she was an alien conning me into helping her take over the world by planting those things!" I was feeling awful due to the facts that I had been this stupid to trust Tak and that our attempt at curing my infection had also turned out to be a total failure on top of everything else. Dib gave an exasperated sigh and said gently, "I know, I know but we shouldn't waste any more time dwelling on this. We need to get on the net's paranormal database and find out more about these strange plants. What they are, how they're produced and how we can stop them." "You're right."

Back in Dib's room, the two of us huddled around his computer while Gaz sat on the bed occupying herself with her Game Slave 2. I quickly punched the key words 'space fungi' in the site's search engine and was amazed by the long list of results.
I scrolled down the page until I came across one that looked interesting. The icon showed a pink squid shaped flower with long feeler shaped prongs. I clicked on it and began to read. "This floral fungi commonly known as Star Dancers
is mainly found growing on planets with cooler climates such as Jupiter, Plexxus, Saturn, Vort, Neptune, Devastis and Pluto.
Once reaching sexual maturity, a spore filled iridescent slime is emitted from deep within the flower, beginning the reproduction process. This celestial substance is known for its aphrodisiac effects on alien species and encourages mating and courtship with anyone that touches it."
"Gross." Gaz muttered from the corner. I gave a frustrated sigh. "Okay, that's not it. Moving on."

I returned to the page of results and began scrolling down again but finding nothing. "What's that?" Dib suddenly pointed to a depiction of very familiar looking ghastly green plants. Eagerly, I stopped to click on it. "The Agathorax, also known as the Fungus of Chaos, for many generations has served as a vital tool in helping alien species conquer other planets. It is well known for its offensive sulphur like odor, which can be detected up to three miles away. Once planted within enemy territory, the fungi remains dormant until a meteorite containing special fertilizers is hurled in the general direction from deep space.' Dib that was the one we saw the other night!" Dib's jaw dropped in shocked realization and I continued to read. "A cloud of spores are then released airborne, infecting their hosts with a slowly spreading zombielike virus. Thus, the inhabitants become mindless slaves. Though a popular tactic among alien invaders, this can only take full effect during the Equinox when the fungi is close to its peak."

"So that's why Zim is molting again," said Dib. "There needs to be an equinox in order for this to happen. It also explains why Tak waited this long to return. She had to have been planning this all along! Wendy does it say anything on how to stop it?"
"Let me find out. Alien invaders must work very carefully when planting this fungi for they can be destroyed if-"
Suddenly the computer screen switched off before I could finish reading the sentence. "Stupid thing!"
Quickly, I tried to restart it but it only blacked out again. "Dib, there's something wrong with your computer. It keeps shutting itself down."

"Only because someone decided to throw it out the window the other day." Dib said shooting an accusatory look at Gaz, who smirked in return. "I guess we'll just have to finish this later," I sighed as I rose from the chair. "It's getting late anyway. I'll see you guys later okay?" Throwing on my winter coat, I miserably left the room.

The moonlit sidewalks were empty of people as I slowly headed for home. I stared down at them, still hacking my brain for answers as to how those Agathorax things could be stopped. If only Dib's computer hadn't shut down in the middle of
that whole thing then we would have found out and could have moved on by now. Tak was probably already planning her next move and we were really running out of time. I guess I would just have to get on the internet myself as soon as I got home
and see if I could continue from where I left off. Suddenly I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. A dark figure darting past me in the opposite direction. I stopped and cautiously scanned my surroundings. All was still with the exception of the soft cold wind whispering through the trees overhead. I would have gladly decided it had been a raccoon but unfortunately, the shape I had seen looked more humanoid than animal like.

With a shrug, I continued onward in spite of my growing nervousness. That was when the footsteps came. Like a series of thunder claps, they grew louder as they got closer and closer. Faster and faster until the sounds echoed throughout the deserted streets, gradually increasing to a deafening boom in both my ears. Once again, I stopped to peer over my shoulder and my heart froze with panic. A man who looked to be about six feet tall was sprinting towards me. His breathing was stifled and raspy as if he were asthmatic. At first I couldn't make out his face since he was so shrouded in darkness but that was only momentarily
until he stepped into the moonlight.

Then I became horror stricken. He looked to be businessman in his early thirties and was foaming at the mouth to the point where it was dripping down the front of his dress shirt. Several gurgled groans escaped his lips and his yellow eyes popped with wild hunger. Oh god, no. It was already spreading to the rest of the city! With a piercing scream, I turned and ran from him as fast as I could but he was still able to keep up since his legs were much longer than mine. He also looked to have had an extremely athletic build, which also didn't help me any. Crap why do I always get the physically fit zombies?

We were near a playground when he finally tackled me around the waist. I tripped, landing facedown in some tanbark below.
I struggled to get back up but the zombie turned me over, using all his weight to pin me on my back. "GET OFF OF ME!" I screamed. "LET ME GO!" I desperately began throwing punches at his face and shoulders but my attempts were futile as he seized both my wrists. Violently, I squirmed beneath him as he pinned one of my arms to my side and raised my other to his mouth. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The pain was unbearable as his teeth sank into my flesh and at that moment, I knew I had been ambushed.

I was expecting to see my own blood gushing from my arm and to see more of it glittering on his lips. Instead of proceeding to devour me alive he suddenly stopped as if he had just bitten into a moldy apple. When I looked up at him, I saw that his mouth hadn't been full of my flesh and blood but full of glowing green pus. It was my infected arm that had been bitten. He toppled off of me as he began to choke and sputter before staggering away to puke in the bushes. I sat up to examine my arm and was shocked to see the fresh bite mark heal instantly on its own. Seconds later, the man turned to me again only this time, he had a new look about him. His suddenly flushed face glistened with sweat and his once cold lifeless eyes now looked a doe like brown.
Those eyes looked bewildered as if seeing me for the first time.

His legs wobbled like a newborn foal learning how to walk as he made his way back over to me. Sweat was dripping from his dark brown hair. "Wh-what happened?" he asked breathlessly. "H-how did I get here?" At first I just sat there watching him in disbelief. Just a few minutes ago the guy was a mindless ravenous zombie about to rip into my flesh. Now all of a sudden he was coherent and self aware, which were all pointing to signs of...vitality? This was amazing. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain everything to him so I did my best to improvise a story.

"You, um were on your way home from work and suddenly you slipped and hit your head on that drinking fountain over there.
You had blacked out for a while but you're fine now so you can safely return home to your wife and kids and be happy and...alive." "Oh," The man furrowed his brow as he stared off in confusion. "I don't remember ever getting married and having kids," Crap. You just had to assume that, didn't you Wendy? "Oh well. I guess that would explain the throbbing headache. I really musthave hit my head pretty hard to not remember something like that. Well, I guess I'm going to go now. Thanks uh, miss." "No problem," I said awkwardly. When the man had gone I looked down towards my infected arm and a slow smile played across my lips. Looks like I just found the cure for our zombie problem.

Once inside the house, I crept upstairs as mouse like as I could to ensure that I didn't wake Mom. I slipped inside my pitch dark room, blindly feeling around for the light switch. Finally having located it, I flipped it on and went over to my vanity table.
Then both hands flew to my mouth as I tried to suppress the scream of terror that almost escaped. Reflected in my mirror
was none other than Tak sitting on my bed, slowly stroking MiMi who purred contently in her lap.
"Been out for night on the town again, I see," she drawled. "and without me. I must admit I'm a bit hurt. I thought we could have had a girls' night out. Didn't mummy tell you I came by yesterday?" "She did," I said with forced courage. "I also know what you're up to, Tak." She raised a perfectly penciled eyebrow as she nonchalantly replied, "Really?" Setting MiMi down on the floor, she drew herself up to full height. I carefully backed away as she strode over to me.

"And would that be? Would it be that I'm not really here to attend college? That I'm not really here to be your friend? That I've got a completely different list of priorities than I've let you in on? That my true form is actually this?"
Suddenly the images of Tak and MiMi shifted and I gasped as a real Irken flanked by a tiny robot now stood in my bedroom before me. Now I could see why Tak's disguise had been so convincing. It was holographic and so was MiMi's.
It was certainly no surprise that a human could easily be fooled by such advanced alien technology unlike that of Zim who had simply just half assed his disguise.

"Why?" was all I could muster. "Why are you doing this? How could you-?" "Just use you like that?" she finished cruelly.
"It's nothing personal, dearie. I simply came back to reclaim what is rightfully mine, and that is my mission to destroy the planet so that I can at last become acknowledged by my leaders. I just had to wait until the right time for my plant to take full effect so I thought to myself, what would be a more perfect time than the next upcoming equinox?"

"Yeah, yeah," I said. "Dib and I know all about that." "Ah yes, Dib," Tak was suddenly lost in memory. "Such a dear he was. How is he anyway?" Her words caused my blood to simmer slightly. "He was fine up until you showed up again! Don't try to change the subject. Wait a minute. If the equinox is on the rise than why aren't you molting just like the others?"
She reached into her PAK, withdrawing what appeared to be a syringe filled with a blue fluid of some kind.
"You wouldn't think I would sabotage my own plan by allowing accidental spillage of my DNA, would you? That kind of thing would result in the demise of not only the Agathorax but the entire virus as well, which is why I've injected myself with this special serum in order to prevent the molt."

"Yeah?" I retorted. "Well, it just so happens we still have access to your kind of DNA through Zim as well as myself-" I revealed my infected arm "so it looks like we'll be thwarting your plan after all." To my surprise, Tak laughed. "Silly girl, do you honestly believe I would return here without a backup plan? Go ahead and stop the virus but what are you going to do when a giant meteor suddenly strikes tomorrow night and burns up your little planet?"
I gaped at her in horror. "You wouldn't." A dangerous smile slithered across her face at the fear in my voice. Inside her large violet eyes, my own reflection stared back at me, looking small and helpless. Satisfied, Tak crossed the room towards my open window. MiMi began to follow before stopping again. Then to my dismay, the evil robot lunged at me, metal claws viciously swiping at the air. Instantly, I dodged them or at least I thought I had.

As soon as I hit the floor I was joined shortly by what looked to have been six inches of my own severed hair falling into a heap right beside me. Normally, any girl would have flipped over getting her hair chopped off unwillingly. I was just glad it hadn't been my face. MiMi joined her alien mistress, who withdrew her own set of metal spider legs from her PAK.
"Sweet dreams, dear heart." she said sweetly before climbing out the window.

When Tak had gone, I immediately took out my cell and punched in Dib's number. It rang once. Then twice. Then three times. "Come on. Please pick up! Please pick up!" "Hello?" came Dib's sleep choked voice after the fifth ring.
"Dib, it's me," I said, trying to maintain a quiet voice. "You're not going to believe what I just found out! On my way home,
I was attacked by a zombie but then-" "What?" "Just hear me out. He bit into the very spot on my arm where the infection was
and seconds later, he was alive again. Don't you see it? This was why neither of us were affected by the virus! Irken DNA is the antidote! Zim's pus and whatever he used that gave you your superpowers was what made us immune."

"That's great!" Dib said suddenly wide awake. "That means we can start curing everyone at the 'skool' now!" "There's more," I conceded. "I just saw Tak." "Did she hurt you?" "Well, other than her robot deciding to give me a new haircut, no I'm fine, but our planet won't be if we don't act fast." "What are you talking about?" "This zombie virus was only part of Tak's plan. She knew we would figure out how to stop it so now she's saying she's going to hurl another meteor at us only this time, it's going to set the entire earth ablaze!" "No!" Dib said incredulously. "This is much worse than I thought. Tell you what. Meet me at my house tomorrow around five-thirty. By then, I should have a plan devised on how I can...I mean, how we can stop that meteor and make sure that Tak never shows her face around here again." "Are you sure you don't want me to come by sooner?" I asked worriedly.
"I can help if you need me to." "No," he insisted. "I've got it covered, Wendy. You just get yourself to sleep and I'll see you tomorrow alright?" "Alright." I said, feeling somewhat disappointed. "You have a good night, Wendy." "Thanks. You too." I stayed on the phone until I heard the click on the other end signaling he had hung up. Then with a heavy sigh, I pulled on my pajamas, shutting and locking the windows before settling into bed.

The next evening, I decided to head over to Dib's a half hour earlier than he's said to. If Tak was serious about destroying the world, it was best to not wait any longer. Thick, dark storm clouds filled the sky, threatening rain. I would have asked Mom to drive me if she hadn't stepped out earlier, so it looked like I was stuck biking it. Already, it was beginning to drizzle as I peddled my way there. After Gaz had let me in, I quickly ascended the stairs. I was ready to knock on the door when all of a sudden there were voices coming from inside Dib's room. Curious, I stopped to listen.

"...and it's not that she hasn't been a good friend or anything like that," Dib was saying "It's just that I don't think she's really cut out for this kind of thing. I mean, it is a huge and not to mention dangerous mission." "I understand completely," a voice I recognized to be Agent Darkbooty answered. "You've really fallen behind on your tasks since you've joined forces with that silly girl. I think you're making a wise choice by letting her go." Inside my chest, my heart sank. Oh god. What were they saying?
"You're right," Dib replied. "Since I've obtained these new special abilities, I really don't see myself needing her help anymore.
Before, Wendy was more of my sidekick. If I continued to let her work with me, I would only be pulling deadweight.
Right now, I'm waiting for her to stop by. As soon as she does, I'll have to break the news to her that I really would rather do this mission alone before I send her on her way." "That's the spirit, Mothman."

By that time, I had heard enough. I turned and bolted back down the stairs, nearly bumping into Gaz who was on her way up to her room. "Where are you going?" she asked, annoyed. I didn't answer her as I flew out the door into the pouring rain.

I hopped on my bike, desperately peddling as far away from the Membrane residence as I could. As I made my way into the city, several passersby gave looks of sympathy combined with confusion at the sight of a miserable soaking wet girl on a bike.
At that moment, I really couldn't care what any of them thought. All I could think about was how stupid I had been as to think that I would have a sudden change of luck in the romance department. How stupid I had been to think that Dib would actually ever fall in love with me. Despite how crazy it sounded, I picked up speed as I made my way to the one other person besides my mom who was sure to care.

Twenty minutes later, I came to a bright sunshine yellow house. Behind a small picket white fence was a lawn full of petunias and at least a dozen plastic pink flamingos. I threw my bike off to the side of the driveway as I walked dejectedly towards the blue front door. Ringing the doorbell, I stood back and waited. Keef answered the door five seconds later. His pale face lit up in a mix of surprise and delight upon seeing me. "Wendy! I'm so happy to see you! What are you doing out here in the rain?"
For a long while, I just stared at the ground, struggling for the right words to say. "I'm so sorry," I choked. "I...I know it might seem weird just coming here like this. I know...we just met not that long ago...but..." before I could even finish the sentence, I completely burst into tears.

"I just have no one else to talk to right now!" Keef's large emerald eyes sparkled with sympathy as I fell apart. "Oh Wendy...don't cry," He pulled me into a fierce hug and I gratefully threw my arms around him in return.
For the longest time, I stood there sobbing into his chest and he just held me, not at all caring that I was drenching his clothes.
Several minutes later, he pulled away and said, "Let's get you inside and into some dry clothes before you catch pneumonia.
I'll make us some hot chocolate too and then I want you to tell me what's making you sad." I managed to pull my quivering lips into a smile as I nodded graciously before following him though the front door.

The inside of Keef's house was warm and inviting with an enticing scent of vanilla sugar permeating the air. It was the epitome of what a home should be, a place where you felt safe and comfortable. He had thrown my wet clothes into the dryer as he lent me one of his shirts and a pair of his skinny jeans, which were both slightly oversized on me. I sat on the big comfy magenta colored loveseat in the living room while Keef prepared hot chocolate in the kitchen. Minutes later, he returned with two steaming hot mugs, setting one of them on the coffee table in front of me.

"It's made with steamed soymilk, topped with gelatin free marshmallows just as you like it." I was impressed by his ability to guess what my needs were. Of course, knowing Keef, he probably knew a lot more about me than just my diet preferences. "Thanks," I said sincerely. "That's very sweet of you." His smile was demure. "So," he said, sitting down next to me. "Tell me what's on your mind." At first, it was difficult for me to just open up and tell him everything, but Keef just waited patiently until I was finally ready. I started with when I first started crushing on Dib and ended with what he had last said about me. Of course I didn't really want to mention it had been him, so I kept Dib's name anonymous.

All the while, Keef listened attentively to every word I said, his eyes never leaving my face. When I had finished, he wasted no time giving his warmest condolences. "Wendy, not only are you the most beautiful girl I've met, but you're also the kindest, most down to earth soul I've ever known. Any guy would be crazy to not want to stay close to you all the time! If anything, it's his loss and not yours. I know it seems like an icky storm is stirring inside your heart right now, but soon that storm will subside and your heart will become filled with sunshine and rainbows once again. You just need someone who adores you."
He brushed back a lock of my damp hair, his eyes gazing into mine momentarily as he rested a hand on my cheek. Suddenly he sprang up from the couch. "Omigosh! Is it six o'clock yet?" Befuddled, I glanced at my watch. "Umm...yeah? What's happening at six o'clock?" "My Little Pony of course!" Keef squealed as he reached for the remote and covered us with a big fluffy blanket. "Perfect! This show will cheer you right up, Wendy!" So Keef was a brony. I never would have guessed.

As weird as it sounded, I had to admit that sparkly magical ponies combined with Keef cuddles had actually been good therapy for me. While we were watching, my phone vibrated a couple times beneath the blanket. Seeing that the calls were from Dib, I instantly sent them to voicemail before turning it completely off. The nerve of him. I drained what was left of my hot chocolate and it wasn't long before my bladder began to complain. "Keef, where's your bathroom?" I asked. "Just down the hall, second door on your left." he said, pointing. "Thanks." Getting up from the couch, I went to do my business.

I was about to head back to the living room when my tube of lip balm fell out of my pocket and rolled into one of the bedrooms.
As much as I hated trespassing, I had to go retrieve it. I flipped on the light switch and found myself in a whole new realm of happy and colorful. Seeing how it looked like Rainbow Dash had puked all over the place, I think it was safe to say this was definitely Keef's room. My eyes darted around until they finally located the lost lip balm. Great, it had rolled under the bed.
Dropping to a crawl, I reached for it and discovered something I wasn't expecting to find.
A pink heart shaped candy box lay there like the ones you see around Valentine's Day. Handwritten on the surface in gold fabric paint were the words My Princess. For a while, I debated with myself as to whether or not I should have a peek inside. In the end, my curiosity got the better of me. I pulled back the lid and was abashed by what lay on the other side. Me. At least ten different pictures of me doing everything from standing in the halls at 'skool' to sitting in class to walking down the street and even...sleeping in my own bed!

Amidst all that were various belongings of mine. A black hair band, a half empty bottle of cotton candy body splash, a used up tube of bubblegum lip balm and...was that a lock of my hair? There were also pieces of notebook paper containing enough love poems to send somebody into a diabetic coma. I didn't know whether to be flattered or horrified by Keef's stalker stash. I guess I should have expected it, but like this? This wasn't just any high school crush. This was an obsession!
"I see you've discovered my collection," a voice suddenly said from the doorway. Startled, I dropped the box, spilling it of all its contents as I stood up to face Keef.

He stepped into the room and frowned. "I was wondering why you hadn't come back yet, so I waited until a commercial break to go and make sure you were okay then I found you here of all places!" I was at a total loss for words as I stared at him incredulously. Closing the door behind him, he gave a boyish little giggle. "Oh Wendy, I'm not mad at you. You're always welcome in my room! I'm just glad you're safe is all. I was starting to worry about you." "Keef," I started, picking up the box and showing it to him. "What's going on? What is all this?" "Right, about that. Well Wendy, there really is no other way to say this. Ever since I met you, I couldn't help but become really drawn to you. You were so kind and caring and intelligent, so different from all the other girls at 'skool' who all treated me like dirt. I found myself wanting to know more about you, to become closer to you, so I began collecting some of your things to ensure that I always had a part of you with me,"

I gaped at him, not knowing what to think. "It wasn't long before it happened," he continued. "when the funniest feelings began to take over me. Each time I saw you, it was like a thousand hamsters running on wheels inside my heart..."
"Keef," I interrupted. "Listen to me. You have to ignore the hamsters. They know not what they tell you." But Keef wasn't listening. "...and I just felt all warm and fuzzy inside! What I'm trying to say, Wendy is-" "Please don't say it," "that you are my muse! You're all I ever think about lately and I-" "Please don't say it!" "I love you! And now that I finally have you in my room I can do something I've been wanting to do for a very long time!" Before I could object, he had taken my head in his hands
and together, we crashed to the floor as he began kissing me.

I really hadn't meant for my evening with Keef to go in the direction it had. I was just so thrown by all that was happening that I didn't even have time to react to any of it. Fortunately, he hadn't jumped me with anything beyond just an innocent lip lock, but his hormones had definitely kicked in. I was glad the rain had finally let up when I began to bike home.
Walking up towards the front door, I fumbled for my house key. Around the lamp post, a trio of moths began their ethereal dance. Moths. Mothman. The word was enough to bring tears to my eyes as I remembered Dib's alias.
Tearing my eyes from the painful reminder, I made my way inside the house. "Mom!" I called, setting my bag down. "I'm home!" In spite of the lights being on, there was no answer. I headed upstairs and peered into her bedroom."Mom?" Nobody there.

I couldn't help but be a little worried. She said she would have been home by six and now it was seven-thirty. It didn't seem like her to be this late. Lastly, I checked the living room that was when I panicked. The largest window had been completely shattered, leaving several shards of glass strewn all over the carpet. They crunched under my shoes as I rushed over to see if the vandal was still traceable. He was. Sure enough, a spacecraft I instantly recognized as a voot cruiser hovered down in front of me.
The familiar alien inside flashed a wicked grin as he waved his two fingers mockingly at me while clasping his other hand tightly around my mother's mouth. She sat beside him, her eyes wide with fear as they pleaded for my help.
Before I could react, the voot cruiser had taken off into the night. "ZIM YOU BASTARD!" I screamed after it.

Dashing outside, I hopped on my bike and immediately peddled to the base. I was perfectly aware that this had to be a trap and that Zim was most likely using Mom as bait, but messing with my family was really going too far.
If he wanted me this much, then he could have me so long as he didn't hurt my mother. I arrived in time to find the door ajar, which had to have meant they were already here. All was quiet as soon as I got inside the house. No sign of Zim, Mom or even GIR for that matter. I figured Zim had to have already taken her down in his base so I hurried over to the end table. I hoped to god that he wasn't conducting any horrible experiments on her. I was about to access the elevator when suddenly I was hit in the back of the head by something heavy. I lay on the floor, slowly losing consciousness due to the impact. Lethargically, I rolled onto my back and through blurry eyes I could barely make out what looked like a robotic man and woman standing over me.
The woman was holding a metal folding chair as she said in a distant voice, "It is past your bedtime, young lady!"
Then my world went black.