FINALLY. SID HAS UPDATED! Dammit, it doesn't sound as epic as The Rock when I say it. Anyways yes, I'm sorry it took forever for me to update, just... yeah, anyone who reads my journal on DA would know why.

For those not in the know. One word. STRESS.

Anyway yes, I finally updated and I... sort of like this chapter? I like how Dib's bubble is totally deflated here and we also see how this Zim-Dib rivalry will be shaped. It's fun.

Enjoy kids.

Dib was so ready for this. He sat back in his chair, his long trench coat draping down behind him. He considered this a pre-fight bonus round before his battle against the alien menace began.

This one last day in his office, one last little meeting where he'd get to pick apart the brain of the little invader before he finally managed to drag Zim to an autopsy table and really see what made him tick.

Wow, he was shocked at that rather dark thought.

No matter. He still had a mission to do.

Yes. A mission. He knew he should have never given up on it, he knew that one day he'd get his chance to be proven right. He had never been crazy, not for a second. All those years wasted, when he could have been focusing on his real passion in life.

Hunting down and eliminating the alien menace. And Zim would be his first capture.

Dib had to wonder however if the little irken was going to show up today. He'd be honestly surprised if he did, after all, they were essentially enemies now. There was no way Zim would have forgotten their short, one sided fight and his escape from capture.

Still, inside there was another mature part of him. It seemed to have traded places with the child within him and was now acting as a new voice. It told him that violence was not the way, it'd never been the way, and that'd he'd made more of his life helping people than hurting small alien children.

It reminded him of the paranoia, the isolation, the mockery of others.

No, he could not fall for that. This was his duty, his mission, they'd all be proven wrong when he presented Zim's brain in a jar for all to see.

He grinned softly to himself. He couldn't wait to see the face on every doctor, on every classmate, on his father and Gaz when was declared saviour of earth and the first man ever to prove that alien's existed.

The door opened suddenly and Dib was rather rudely caught out of his daydreaming. His acceptance speech for paranomalist of the year vanishing before his eyes.

The small green alien paused at the door, his eyes locking hatefully on with the older man, who only looked back with a rather cool expression. What was Zim ever going to do to him? He was tiny, and yes, he was well armed but Dib was prepared and besides, this was a public place. Even Zim could figure not to unveil huge alien killing devices in front of the public.

The alien walked on into the room and sat on the chair situated in front of Dib's desk.

There was a long, cold silence. It was as if these two had become strangers all over again, meeting for the first time.

"So," Dib finally broke the silence and it seemed as if the alien stiffened at the words, "You're an alien."

"... I don't know what you're talking about." Zim replied slowly, looking away and folding his arms.

"Oh come off it Zim, I saw your house, your robots, even you without your silly disguise!" Dib was still amazed he'd fell for that damn thing.

The alien seemed to think on this before looking back to Dib and cooly replied, "It does not matter what you think. You can't tell anyone anyway."

This almost got a complete laugh out of Dib, but instead, he just grinned, "Oh? And what makes you think that."

"You swore on your pathetic human honour that whatever I said in this room would never leave this room," Zim pointed a finger at him and grinned, "And with no proof of what happened in my base, you are rendered helpless!"

The older man sat back. This had... not been expected. Sure, he had no proof of Zim's other worldly nature from his escape but for Zim to still expect him to hold to his word in this office... it was a little humbling and grounding.

All this time he had been set on the idea of capturing Zim, of making him a spectacle for all the world to see. Now that he had actually gone back to talk to the alien face to face he was reminded of how small and perhaps how foolish he was.

Back in the base he'd seem so big, terrifying and in control. Away from that enclosed space, out of that little world of his own creation, Zim's flaws came out in seconds.

Now Dib had a new struggle. To betray and expose Zim as the alien he was, or, to keep his word and play fair.

It seemed he'd been silent for too long. "Speak, human, ask your stupid questions so Zim can answer them and go," The irken seemed a little impatient.

"Oh, erm," The human blinked, "Sure... so tell me about your race."

The irken looked at him disbelievingly before chuckling, "Why would I do that?"

"Because I asked," Dib replied with a stern tone, "You have to answer me."

"I don't have to do anything, stupid human," Zim replied with a knowing smirk. "I can say what I want here, remember?"

Dammit, this is what he got for being knocked off course for a few minutes. He sighed and thought. He couldn't just keep tripping over himself like this, he was a genius and a psychologist. He could think of something!

"But you have to say something," Dib linked his fingers together slowly, "Remember? I'll keep you here until you graduate if you don't."

"... fine," Zim huffed, "Well..." He smirked viciously, "Yesterday some annoying human broke into my base and discovered I was an amazing irken soldier."

"Really?" The therapist raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure this human wasn't invited in by your insane robots and given a tour of the house?"

"... GIR YOU STUPID THING!" He punched the air wildly as his rage momentarily overtook him. "I tell him NO, don't let anyone in! But all he does is make messes and disobey me!"

"But before you said you talk to him a lot," Dib commented calmly, "Doesn't that make him your only friend?"

"I... guess." Zim calmed down suddenly, as if his mind was thinking over his opinion on the little robot before he snapped. His eyes widened and he pointed at Dib, "HEY! Stop trying to make me talk!"

Dib only smirked in response. So he now knew, officially, that Zim was essentially alone on this planet. Good, at least he had no serious back up, Dib had been worried that Zim would be calling in his evil buddies to help him do... stuff.

"I can't help it, it's my job." He leaned back, putting his hands onto his lap. "So what else? Any death weapons I should know about?"

"Thousands," Zim replied threateningly, "All of them aimed at your big stupid head."

He growled just a little. That one hurt. However he decided to not let that get to him, instead he just decided to change the subject. "So these... Tallest of yours. They're not your parents? That must make them your leaders I suppose."

"My Tallest are great! And Tall!" Zim shouted, leaping onto his chair to point better at Dib. "Taller than you!"

"Really?" Dib suddenly became oh so painfully aware of just how tiny Zim was. Even standing on a chair, Zim barely reached Dib's neck.

A sudden strange thought came to him. Was Zim's urge to prove himself, his anger at the world, all stemmed from his height? Did he simply not feel, well, tall enough to compete in the world? It was a strange idea, but this was someone who was not off the earth and besides, he'd heard of stranger things.

However, something else bugged him. If he was so small, why didn't he just make himself taller? He was an alien, he could just... build a grow-ray or something.

"So... they rule your people just because they're tall?" Zim snickered, "That's kinda dumb."

"Shut up human, the Almighty Tallest are the best of all of us and they trusted me, ME, the mighty Zim with the conquest of earth!" He smiled to himself and sat down, "Which will be soon, by the way."

Dib paused for a moment before leaning back, his look becoming serious. "You know I'm going to stop you, right?"

"HA!" Zim folded his arms, "You couldn't stop a fly from buzzing around your smelly head!"

"... right," Dib raised an eyebrow slowly. He decided that he would hold back for a while, observe Zim before trying to capture him. It was obvious to him that if Zim could have taken over the earth by now he would have done, he'd been here for a month after all, maybe more, after all Dib had only known Zim for a month, that wasn't to say he'd been here longer.

Besides, it seemed his more mature side had won this battle. His interest in the mind of Zim had been raised once more, plus it'd help to figure out how he thought if he was going to defeat him.

There was a loud bell and Zim grinned. He hopped off his seat and matched towards the door, "I'll be seeing you, human." He paused as he opened the door, looking back at Dib, "Don't try and get in my way."

Dib only raised a hand in a wave. "Not until next week, Zim."

So yes! I hope you enjoyed and I hope it was enough to make up for the week long absence there.

No references here I don't think. Kinda sad really.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, remember, I love feedback so feel free to tell me where I EPIC FAIL and bits where I EPIC WIN.

Till next time true believers!