Chapter 15

Dib's POV

"Your move," I muttered, head tilted downwards. I stared intensely at the Irken before me, tracking every small movement he made.

Seconds ticked past, the tension made the air feel dry and still. I noticed an error on my part and cursed silently. If Zim noticed my clumsy mistake then I was done for, and everything leading up until this moment will have gone to waste.

"AHA! I SEE A MISTAKE! THOUGHT YOU COULD FOOL ME DID YOU DIB? NEVER!" Zim disrupted the silence with a piercing yell. I flinched and tensed slightly. He noticed, damn it. How could I possibly expect to beat him now?

"You thought Zim would not notice your Knight sitting here in the open, well nice try Dib. I noticed and now prepare to be defeated by this mighty irken!" with that Zim moved his queen to steal the knight that was waiting conspicuously in the open on the chessboard. I breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't notice, I suppose I gave him too much credit then.

Smirking I quickly set about stealing his queen with a single swift blow from a bishop. Who would have thought this "mighty invader" was actually really terrible with war games.

"Ha, if you really thought it would be that easy Zim then think ag-," my gloating was cut short when Zim moved a single piece with a glint in his eye. Silence filled the room and was broken only when Zim whispered, practically purred, the two words that signaled my end.

"Check. Mate."

A stunned silence fell over me. He planned this…Zim knew that I would let my guard down after he played stupid and in order to humiliate him I would move my bishop. He knew that due to my own pride and arrogance I would leave my king with no place to run effectively leaving him ready for capture. The same invader that I just degraded in my head moments ago just outsmarted me in a game that he only learned to play thirty minutes ago. Zim truly does come from a brilliant race. Or maybe it's just him who is brilliant, but it just doesn't shine through all the time.

"You…but how…goodness Zim, do you realize how brilliant you are sometimes?" I breathed not even mildly ashamed at my blatant admiration. Zim seemed started that I said it for a second, but only for a second.

"Yes yes of course I knew that! You must be stupid to have only just noticed it now Dib worm," he gloated arms crossed across his chest one leg over the other and chin tilted up and to the side. His entire pose just oozed arrogance and a short, I'm better than you, was in there as well. I won't complain though, he after all did beat me at a game I've been playing for years while he only learned it today.

"Now enough with your silly caveman games Dib, have you thought about it?" he relaxed his posture and turned back to me with eyes glinting intensely.

I didn't have to ask what "it" was, I already knew. After Zim told me that we would have to rip off her Pak he informed me of the time limit for getting it back on. There were some large risks. One risk would be that we weren't able to save her and instead killed her. Another that we destroyed her mind. One that we aren't even able to get the Pak off of her and end up both getting killed. Or the world gets blown up. So like I said…large risks. At first I refused, insisting that there was some other way.

Gin was a good friend but really, I only knew her for like a few days, is that really worth throwing my life away? I know friendship is important however is it more important than living a full healthy life? I slapped myself after that, mentally of course.

I'm just a simple human working to save an ungrateful world. I can't do much in this short life-time, I can't even make this world a better place. Gin however was an advanced Irken defect so she had the brilliance and the emotion to do good. She could do good not just for the world but for the entire universe. Not to mention she is going to live for decades after I pass away, maybe even centuries. What's my life compared to hers and Zim's? My life is pretty much nothing, so if I'm going to do something with it, that something might as well be helping the universe. I had my answer for Zim, and I'm sure it's the same answer he wants to hear.

"Yes Zim I have thought about it, and I'll help. But where do we start? Also, we will be going against a trained and heartless Irken Invader who has no plans to spare us. I have no training in combat, I'm just a wet noodle compared to you guys," I inquired taking into consideration the way I described myself deeply.

"Don't worry about the combat, I have a plan to take care of it. As for where do we start? Well, first you need to give me that chip, and then we can begin. Are you ready for this…partner?" Zim inquired mumbling the last word seemingly with difficulty.

Glancing down at his hand I stood still for a second. If I shake his hand I will be sealing the deal. There will be no backing out after this point, am I really ready for this? Am I really ready to put my life on the line? No, I don't think I am. But what choice do I have? I'll die either way.

I looked back up to Zim's eyes which were dark with determination and exhaustion. Then I took his hand and shook it with mine.

"I'm ready. Partner."

Go ahead. You are free to tell me how angry you are, after all I have been gone for months now. I can explain I really can. I moved from one state to the other side of the country and am now living with my grandparents. They are also super religious so if I used their computer for typing I would be dead. I really missed doing this though and reading your amazing comments. I'm sorry that I have been lacking a computer however I now have my laptop again so I will try to begin updating again. Again I'm very very sorry please forgive me? Merry Christmas to some, Happy Holidays to others, Happy winter to the rest, and Happy Birthday Heichou to Levi. May your days be filled with joy all of you. Also I hope you don't mind the lack of progression in the story, things will escalate in one or two updates don't worry. And the ZADR will hopefully come soon, but it will be there don't worry. Any requests for the story are welcome through PM so send me a message or two ^-^