"What did you do to Zim?"

Gaz stared at the being across the room. She knew that whatever this being was, it wasn't the Employer, at least not based off what she saw earlier. Gone was the big metal frame and cape hidden in the shadows, instead stood a figure with Zim's face, but it wasn't him. She didn't want to be toyed with, she demanded answers, even if it meant stabbing the being in front of her.

"I'd be careful with that blade if I were you, after all, this is still Zim's body," he said, still taunting her.

"So mind control. Then I'm just going to assume that you are the Employer."

"Oh, muy bueno. Si, I am the Employer. Your leader actually destroyed my body, but not my brain. I decided to take his, after all he could use a new brain. He never saw it coming. Oh, the screams of terror he voiced when I grabbed him, you would've enjoyed them."

"So what now, are you just going to rule the universe in Zim's body? You've lost! Your stupid moose are dying, you have no ship, and I beat Tak. You have nothing."

"I'm giving up!"

"...what?"

"You're right, I have nothing left in this universe, so I'm leaving."

Gaz didn't understand what he meant at first, but then she glanced at the object behind him. "The portal."

"Si! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish determining a new dimension for me. Maybe one where all foods are chocolate, or a universe where the humans are actually smart, or a universe where the beings actually speak moose!"

"As if I'd let you go."

"Que? Why not? You and your little freaks get to leave, go home and feast your fat bellies on pizza, and never see this Irken again!" The Employer began approaching Gaz, and smiled as he taunted, "Unless you actually want this Irken to stay?"

"On Earth, Zim made a contract to being my slave. I never released him from that contract."

"Ja...jaja...JAJAJAJAJAJA! You know that's not the real reason. I've watched you all for years and I have access to Zim's thoughts. Would you like to hear them?"

"Shut up."

"On Fefa: 'The Gaz-human has proven to be the most capable companion so far, maybe it wasn't a mistake to bring her along.' On Heboad: 'Gaz-human has been weird. Zim has received less threats and was held by the human. It made Zim feel weird.'"

"Shut up!"

"Oberox: 'The Dib-worm has informed me of a soft spot within Zim's body. It becomes itchy around Gaz. It must be removed.' Vort: 'Zim still feels weird!' Then Irk: 'Gaz almost died. For some reason it made Zim feel something bad when I saw her. It made me reluctant to bring her to fight the tiny-brained Employer, but she is the best warrior in my Armada, and I will miss her assistance.'"

"SHUT UP!" Gaz couldn't look the Employer-controlled Zim in the eye anymore. She wanted to kill him, but she couldn't bring herself to move. There were so many emotions swirling up inside her, anger, sadness, fury, wrath, and even a little happiness, but she didn't want them.

"It's all so sickeningly disgusting, honestly I thought you were much smarter than that, Gaz, but with Zim? Really?" Gaz didn't respond to him, only making the Employer want to taunt her more. "No response? Then I should probably get going then, so many other dimensions to conquer you know? Maybe I'll come back to this one for some revenge later."

"...no..." Gaz spoke softly, but it was audible enough for the Employer to hear.

"No? Then tell me why I shouldn't leave?" Gaz didn't say anything. "Come on, Gaz, say it! Tell me, tell Zim, why you don't want him gone forever!"

"...lik...hm..."

"Un mas! I couldn't hear you the first time!"

"I like him."

"Excuse me?"

"I like Zim!"

"Jajajajajajaja! Lo ciento. It is just so hilarious and ridiculous to hear you say that. Jajajajaja-" The Employer continued laughing while Gaz stood there, her hands balled up into a fist.

"I'm sick of it."

"-jaja, uh-what was that?"

"I'm sick of it! I'm so god damn sick of it! I'm sick of liking Zim! His stupid face! His stupid intelligence! His stupid ambitions! His stupid desire to cause mischief and mayhem! His stupid hatred of humans that I share! His stupid reluctant kindness that even he isn't aware of!" Gaz's outburst surprised the Employer, even causing him to reel back a bit. Gaz was furious, the Employer could feel the heat of her anger.

Then she did something that greatly shocked the Employer, "Ha...hahaha...thank you."

The Employer was bewildered, he didn't know how to respond to that, even Zim's thoughts believed Gaz incapable those feeling. However, that laughter was not one of joy like Zim's of his, it was short, quiet, and very creepy.

Gaz turned her head to stare the Employer in the face again. Her glare was darker, he didn't think there was even a glare even more devoid of any positive feeling than what she had before. Worse even, this glare came with a smirk. She spoke, "I've been troubling myself on what to do about my feelings, but thanks to you, my mind's clear. I need to get rid of them. I need to get rid of the source."

The Employer did not like where this conversation was going. Before, at her worst, Gaz's aura would only emit a sense of intense pain, but now, it only said death.

"I need to kill Zim."

The Employer felt that he may have pushed her too far. He tried to reconcile with her, "Don't do anything foolish Gaz, this is still Zim! You wouldn't dare-"

Gaz wasted no time. She pressed her boots against the ground and jumped forward. The power boosted her like a bullet through the air, catching the Employer off guard. She aimed for the face and swept her blade across once she was close enough. The Employer pulled back but Gaz had sliced two of his tendrils in the process.

The Employer screamed from the pain, but at least he saved his host's face. Being connected to Zim's brain meant he felt the body's pain. Gaz didn't know this, but she didn't need to. She was intent on killing Zim, and she was dead serious.

Gaz leaped for another strike but the Employer was prepared. Using Zim's Dimension Box, he pulled out a laser-blade of his own to deflect Gaz's slash. The amount of force the human put behind her blade was astonishing, and Zim's Irken body couldn't withstand it. He was pushed back, releasing the laser-blade into the air. Gaz jumped and kicked the Employer, the extra force from the boots pushing him even further. At the same time, she caught the other blade in the air, holding the blade downward in a reverse grip and prepared to attack with two blades.

The Empoyer was not used to how comparatively weak Zim's body was to his old one, it actually made him more furious that such a feeble body was able to defeat him. He turned to Gaz and knew what was coming, however she had made a mistake, she had given him distance.

The Employer reached into the Dimension Box again, this time pulling out two medium-sized rifles and aiming at Gaz as she rushed him. He fired and a barrage of lasers flew towards Gaz. She began weaving between the lasers, using her boots to suddenly shift her position, quickly approaching the gunner. Gaz suddenly shifted forward, getting right in the face of the Employer, swinging both blades in her hands. The Employer reacted quickly and used his tendrils to pull himself backwards, but dropped his blasters in the process.

Gaz was relentless and quickly tried to follow up on her attack. The Employer pulled out three orbs that he only assumed were bombs. He threw them as the human began running towards him again, hoping they didn't have to be activated manually. He was wrong. They merely rolled on the floor upon impact, but Gaz wasn't paying attention. She stepped on an orb and tumbled out of control into a wall. Though not exactly what he wanted, he was satisfied with the result, or so he thought.

Gaz didn't find her fall amusing and held the orb within her hands. She squeezed it, pressing the button, activating the orb. The Employer prepared his tendrils to deflect a potential grenade, but the explosion would never come. Instead he watched as white smoke erupted from the orb within Gaz's hand, engulfing the human. She rolled the orb towards the Employer's, obscuring his view. He would have none of this tactic, and threw two tendrils to the ceiling to escape the smoke, but Gaz expected this. The moment he shot the tendrils up, Gaz was already there and sliced the metal tendrils, preventing his escape. He launched more tendrils where he thought the slash came from but he missed, Gaz had already left.

The Employer stood in the middle of the smoke, unaware of Gaz's position, however, she would be greatly underestimating him if she thought a surprise attack would work. He turned around, swinging his tendrils and swatting an attack aimed at him from behind. It was a predictable move and he followed up by throwing the tendrils forward, piercing on impact. The bio-organic smiled at the thought of maiming the human and retracted his tendrils to claim her corpse; he frowned once he discovered her trickery.

Gaz had launched a large slab at the Employer using Kor's boots. The Employer couldn't believe he was fooled by a human and tried to predict where her next attack would come, but he couldn't predict the second part to her trick. After the Employer had pierced the slab, she swiftly grabbed onto it, and the Employer unknowingly closed the distance between him and his adversary. She dropped from the slab, the piece of metal still obscuring her from her opponent as he looked elsewhere for her. She brought her leg up and kicked the slab, pushing the Employer onto the ground with the slab on top of him. Gaz stood on top of the debris, pressing one of her legs against his, pinning the Employer and his tendrils underneath, leaving only the legs and head exposed. Gaz still held both blades in her hands.

Gaz swung her blade up, preparing to deliver the final blow. She brought it down. In one strike it would be over. Zim's life would end. Zim's plans, achievements, life, everything became a a mere sticky note in the history of the universe. His mostly negative impact on the lives of the beings he met would become nothing but traumatic memories. Gaz's feelings for the Irken would have finally died. Or at least it should have.

"What a fool."

Zim's face was smiling at Gaz. She had missed. The blade was impaled an inch away from the Irken's head, and the still living Employer was mocking her. She partly couldn't believe it herself, even though she knew the reason why. Inside she was cursing everything about herself, her feelings, her humanity, her hesitance in actually killing someone she didn't hate. She knew from the start she didn't want to do it, but she thought that saying her lie out loud would let her follow through with it.

"Who ever heard of a being too squishy to kill an Irken?"

The taunting was a good motivator. Gaz brought the blade up again, attempting another strike, but The Employer already had enough time. He had gotten a tendril free behind Gaz. He grabbed her leg and threw her across the room. She tumbled around until she fell through a hole in the floor. With her no longer applying pressure, the Employer slipped out of the slab and confronted the human as the smoke began dissipating. He followed the human below where she was lying on the floor.

"I thought you were one of the smarter humans, but it turns out you were one of the biggest fools," the Employer was approaching Gaz, gladly accepting a close up fight once he realized Gaz's killing intent was a bluff.

Gaz stood up, wiping away the fresh blood that was now dripping from her mouth, "I know that all I have to do is stab the stupid moose toy on your back."

"Oh, so you did notice-"

"That you and Zim's floating squeaker are somehow related? You were really subtle with your hints when you said 'watching us for years.'" The Employer grimaced, not amused at Gaz's sarcasm. "So what, is the moose your spy camera? Or something really stupid like your real body?"

"It is genius!"

"I can't believe how similar to Zim you are."

"HOW DARE YOU!" Gaz knew she had obviously struck a nerve. She prepared her two blades, readying herself for the Employer to attack. The mind-controlled Irken reached into the Dimension Box with six tendrils and pulled out six laser-blades. Gaz knew this would not be good.

The Employer attacked her with all six blades. Gaz began deflecting the flurry of strikes, despite their numbers the strikes were sloppy, Gaz would even be able to deflect three strikes with one swing at times, but the constant assault forced her to react defensively.

"ARGH!" Gaz felt a sting of pain as one blade slipped through, grazing her cheek. Gaz couldn't keep up this defense. The Employer was continuously pressing forward, forcing Gaz backwards. He started finding small openings, scratching Gaz a couple of times or barely missing a strike that would've grievously wounded her.

The Employer then attacked with two blades in unison. Gaz blocked the slash, but the force was great and she couldn't deflect it, only hold it. The Employer repeated the attack, forcing Gaz to use her second blade to hold the strike, but now it left her with no free blades to use, and he still had two. The fifth blade flew forward, aimed right for her heart. Gaz had to think quickly, she shifted the position on one of her blades so that it would extend to her heart, blocking the fifth strike. The Employer was annoyed, but he still had a sixth blade. He aimed it for her stomach, where there was no way for her to block it with her blades. He was looking to gut her and spill her innards.

Gaz had no way to stop it. The blade sped towards her. She cursed herself again for not killing Zim when she had the chance, now she was about to die for it.

The Employer was disgusted, his dissatisfaction showed clearly through Zim's face. He had aimed to get rid of a human in the universe, but now he saw that his problem had doubled.

Gaz saw a blue laser-blade blocking the sixth blade in front of her. It wasn't held by anyone, it was attached, the owner being the human Gaz had greatly been annoyed with over the years.

"Dib!" For once Gaz was glad to see her brother interfering with her.

The teenage boy, firmly held the blade, but was able to deflect it. He swung again, slicing the tendril that held the blade. Not wanting to lose the remaining five, the Employer withdrew his tendrils, relieving Gaz of pressure.

"Gaz! Are you okay? What's going on? Why is Zim attacking you? And what's with those weird tendril thingies!?" Dib had rushed here as fast as he could, having to get past pools of lava and falling debris on the way, hoping to aid Zim and get some answers after getting cut off from the comm. He only found more questions.

"Zim got his mind taken over by his stupid moose toy," Gaz replied.

"You mean Minimoose?"

"Yeah, it's on his PAK. It's actually the Employer."

"What?! Wait, why would a powerful tyrant hide in a stupid looking body?"

"Don't you mock my beautiful body you pig-headed flesh-pig!" The Employer yelled at the two siblings. He attacked with the blades again, but with the aid of Dib, Gaz and her brother were easily able to block the strikes. As the Employer attacked the two, he couldn't help but feel something was missing. He was right. A single tendril shot straight from the back of the tyrant, impaling his surprise attacker. "I thought I smelled a filthy Fefian."

The metal appendage had cleanly punctured through the stomach of the human's Fefian companion, Kor. While Dib and Gaz were distracting him from the front, she had hoped to get behind him, but she didn't take into account the still functioning set of eyes on his real body. "Filthy Fefians and their invincibility, at least you'll feel pain for your stupidity."

"Yeah, let me return the favor," Kor held onto the tendril that impaled her. Instead of pulling it out, she pulled on it, launching her forward and allowing her to punch Zim's face. The force of Kor's empowered glove set the Employer flying, the tendril leaving the Fefian body, and the body of the Irken moving towards the two humans. Gaz ran forward. Once he reached her, Gaz swung her leg around, kicking the Employer in the back and sending him directly towards Dib. The teen prepared his hand-blade to slice another tendril, but the Employer react first. He caught himself on Dib, using the tendrils to float over the human before swinging the rest of them to swat the human away. Kor caught Dib when he flew towards her and Gaz.

"Nice catch," Dib said. Kor dropped him down before turning to Gaz.

"Glad to see you're still alive, Gaz," Kor then noticed all the wounds Gaz had, "for the most part."

"Yeah, hey, Zim's-"

"Being controlled, I heard it through Dib's comm. So what's the plan?"

"Rip the robot moose off of Zim's PAK."

"Any more detailed ideas on how to do that?"

"Nope."

"I didn't expect any. Also, duck!" The trio fell flat as a large piece of debris sailed over them. The Employer had thrown it using his remaining tendrils.

The three got up and split apart, deciding to attack the Employer from three angles. The enemy reached into the Dimension Box and tried his luck at another weapon, this time receiving a baton-like weapon with a trigger.

Dib attacked first, rushing the Employer directly from the front. The Employer side-stepped the human's blade and pressed the baton against the human. He pulled the trigger and an electric shock ran through the rod, electrocuting Dib. Apparently Zim had other weapons ready to use against the bio-organic.

Dib peeled himself off, his hair puffed up and feeling a little burnt. Gaz and Kor attacked the Employer, Gaz from the left and Kor from behind. The Employer pulled out a blaster and aimed it at Gaz, but she was already next to him and sliced the blaster in half with her blades. Recalling Zim's tricks with his blasters, the Employer quickly tossed the blaster away, throwing it at Kor. The blaster exploded, bursting half of the Fefian's face.

The Employer stepped back, distancing himself from the three beings. Kor and Gaz charged at him, but he quickly pulled out small orbs and threw them at their feet. This time, they were actually explosives, though concussive, and the two were thrown back. However, Dib had been able to approach from the side and get in close. The Employer reacted by attacking with the baton again, once again hitting Dib and electrocution him. However, instead of trying to get away, Dib stepped closer to the Irken. The electricity was causing the human great pain, but he used all his might to reach out and grab Zim's body. Both beings had electricity coursing through their bodies. The shocking continued until the Employer couldn't take the pain anymore and threw the baton away, Dib's pain tolerance had pulled through for him, but he still collapsed on the floor while the Employer was brought to all fours.

Gaz saw an opening and rushed towards the fallen tyrant. This was the best chance she had to removing Minimoose from Zim, she would thank Dib for the chance later. When the Irken looked up he saw a dual wielding human rushing at him, and he immediately backed away screaming.

"AHH AHH AHHHHHHHHH!"

Gaz stopped, realizing that the reaction was a little strange for the Employer. Then she noticed that all the tendrils behind the Irken's body had gone limp. She was skeptical, but maybe Dib had done something even better than what she hoped for.

"Zim?" She asked while still holding her blades at the Irken, now sitting with his back against a wall.

"Gaz, what's going on?! And why are you holding two blades with one in such a weird position?" Zim had his arms up, ready to futilely block any incoming attack.

"Is it really you?"

"Of course it is Zim, dumb Earth female!"

"Whatever, just hold still!" Gaz wasn't going to waste time, she continued to rush at Zim. Rationally, the Irken leader jumped out of the way after seeing he attempt her strike.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"I said hold still!"

"Why are you attacking Zim?!"

"The Employer is on your back!"

"What? Impossible! I destroyed him!"

"He's on your PAK!"

"What?" Zim turned his head, horrified when he spotted the damaged robot, "AHH! Get it off!"

"That's why I said to hold still!"

"Gaz, what are you plan-" Gaz ran up to Zim and pressed him against the wall. She holstered one blade and turned Zim around, staring at the small moose. With one hand holding Zim's head, she held the blade close to the PAK, ready to slice the tumorous moose.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Gaz was surprised when she heard the voice, but it scared Zim even more. The Employer had regained consciousness and was now speaking to Gaz.

"Shut up!" Gaz replied, tired to hearing Minimoose. "You won't even be considered scrap when I'm through with you."

"This is my body now. Anything you do to me will be done to Zim as well."

"Silence moosey traitor!" Zim yelled, "I'd rather die than have you control my mind!"

That was Gaz's queue, she struck with the blade and she was determined to pierce Minimoose.

"Zim will die." The blade stopped, inches from hitting the moose. "You don't understand, Gaz. I am connected to Zim's PAK. If I die, so would his PAK, and his life."

"I don't care!" Gaz proclaimed.

"Wait, Gaz! Zim wants to live," shouted the Irken.

"Shut up, Zim!" Gaz stared down Minimoose.

"Do it," the tiny tyrant taunted.

He's lying. Gaz told herself this over and over. Her blade was unsteady. She was about to let her second chance of ending this go, and she couldn't afford to do it again. She made her decision. She gritted her teeth and moved the blade, aiming to cut Minimoose, but her hesitance had ruined her. A hand shot out and stopped the blade from connecting. It was Zim's, but he wasn't the one to move it, Minimoose was regaining control. "Pathetic."

The Employer used Zim's arms to choke Gaz, bending them in an unnatural way, causing the Irken to scream in pain. Gaz was forced to let go and was thrown back. Kor, who was tending to Dib, quickly jumped forward to catch Gaz and absorbed much of the impact.

"Some warrior you turned out to be," Minimoose taunted once again. "Even the Irken put up a better fight, even after I took over I felt him resisting, but you look so hopeless."

"Damn you...Minimoose!" Zim shouted to his symbiotic partner. He was screaming in pain as the bio-organic was taking over his mind. With his last act of willful speech he turned to Gaz, "Whatever you do, ARRRRRGH, d-don't-ARR, kill Zim-AAARRRRRRRRGGHH!"

Zim collapsed on the floor for a moment, but stood up again within a couple of seconds. Gaz knew that the being that stood up was no longer Zim. The mind-controlled Irken looked renewed and refreshed. He popped Zim's spider-legs as well as more tendrils. Gaz and the others had a hard time before, it was about to get worse.

The Employer backed away from the two with the spider-legs. He wanted to avoid all close quarter combat, so he threw his remaining laser-blades at the two. Gaz couldn't get on her feet quick enough to move away, but a crispy Dib stepped forward and deflected both the blades from hitting his sister and friend. However, the attack was only to buy time for the tyrant to reach into the Dimension Box with as many tendrils as he could fit inside the hole, pulling out several blasters and rifles. He aimed them all at the grouped up trio and pulled the trigger, launching beams of energy, electricity, water, and fire at them.

Kor punched the ground and ripped up a slab of metal to provide them cover. It saved Dib and Gaz from an agonizing death, but now they were pinned, and their shield wouldn't last forever.

"Do we have any ranged weapons?" Dib asked.

"I lost my rifle fighting Tak, and I know no one would trust you with a blaster," Gaz replied, she then turned to the Fefian that was holding up their shield. "Got anything, Kor?"

"Only a small blaster," Kor said, "If you plan on using it, hurry!"

Their metal slab was shrinking from all the shots that it was taking. The metal was also heating up rapidly, any human would've been sizzled holding up the cover. Gaz grabbed the blaster that stood holstered on Kor's side, it was small and barely bigger than her hand, but it was all they got. She brought the blaster out from behind cover to aim and immediately a stray laser blew the blaster from her hand.

"We're doomed," Gaz said in despair.

"Damn it, all we need is a blaster!" Dib said, despite his very below average marksmanship.

"Got you covered."

"What do you mean?"

"What are you talking about, Dib?" Gaz responded, confusing Dib.

"Didn't you say something to me?" Dib had a moment of clarity and realized that the voice sounded nothing like Kor's or his sister's, but he couldn't figure out where the voice came from.

"Your comm-AH, is still on-owowOWOW!" Kor shouted as the heat continued to grill her.

Kor was right, the communicator in Dib's ear was still functioning despite the fights and electrocutions. Kor had realized Dib's comm was broadcasting once she heard an echo of his voice through her own comm. There was a sudden explosion. A huge wave of energy surged across the room, going between the Employer and the trio. The surprise temporarily stopped the suppression fire so that the Employer could locate the source of the blast.

The laser came from a Giant Fraction Blaster, wielded by a bloodthirsty Darvon riding another one. They were accompanied by two short beings; one of the last remaining Irken warriors and Zim's faithful robot.

"Hi master, we're ready for the party! Why'd do you have an octopus on your back?" Gir said.

"Daj! Oh my god, we're actually saved!" Dib said joyfully. The reinforcements had emerged from the same hole that he and Kor had come from.

"Looks like we made it in time to make a cool entrance," the Darvon said, "If only Ere could see me n-OW!"

A laser flew and hit Daj. It didn't pierce the Darvon thanks to his armor and scales, but the force did knock him off Kry. The blast came from the Irken with a tiny moose on his back.

"I don't care if you bring your stupid monkeys next! I have enough weapons and power to separate your flesh and skeletal structures!" Minimoose shouted as he began firing. Kry picked up his rider in his jaws and ran from the shots.

"Damn drone, I'll blow your head off!" Daj scream at his attacker as Kry dragged him. The disruption of the suppression fire had given Gaz, Kor, and Dib enough time to find real cover behind sturdier debris. Dib signaled the other half of the group to him, they just had to get through the Employer's assault.

Kry turned around and ran towards Dib. The Employer shot ahead of the beast, trying to blast a hole in the group before they could reunite, but Kry had too much agility, even with Daj in his jaws. The four-legged Darvon weaved through the lasers, electricity, fire, and water, unscathed as he reached his destination. Daj was grazed a few times but that didn't stop him from taunting the Employer.

"Haha! Ow!" A final laser skimmed the Darvon's head-crest, right before his body and his three companions disappeared behind the debris.

"Hey, Dib, glad to see you alive and only half-crispy," Daj said to his slightly burnt ally.

"Yeah, great, you too," Dib was rushing with his words, "So Zim-"

"Evil moose control stuff, your comm was on the entire time."

"Oh, right. So we're trying to figure out a plan to get Minimoose off his PAK. Any ideas?"

"Yeah, we shoot Zim."

"..."

"Then he dies." Daj received disapproving glares from most of the group, but Skoodge was the first to vocally object.

"How dare you propose the murdering of a Tallest!" the short Irken said. "I should remove your spine for such a thou-"

Daj grabbed the Irken and silenced him by covering his mouth. The Irken struggled in the Darvon's grasp as he spoke to the others.

"Anyone other than the Irken object?"

"We're not killing Zim," Gaz replied.

"Why not? I thought we all hated the drone, unless you actually like him or something."

"Nah, no way Gaz likes Zim, she doesn't really like anyone," Dib said. He received a punch in the shoulder from Gaz but she didn't respond.

"I'm gonna side with Gaz on this one," Kor said, much to Daj's surprise.

"What? I thought you hated Zim," Daj asked.

"I do."

"Then why not kill him?"

"Uh, because..." Kor glanced at Gaz trying to make up an explanation, "killing is...bad."

It was a stupid explanation. Daj looked at Kor incredulously.

"Okay, do you have any sentimental feelings for the Irken, Dib?"

Dib thought about it for a bit before responding, "Well..."

"Come on, seriously?"

"Look, Zim actually saved my life a few times, and we have a truce going on. I think I owe him to try not to kill him."

"You guys are a bunch of squishies." Daj sighed. "In my combat training, I was taught to shoot any ally that was mind-controlled-"

"I thought all of your combat training was just comprised of 'shoot him'" Kor said.

"It was, and it works! Anyway, the point is, the moment we're in combat, the enemy will want to kill me, and we'd be at a huge disadvantage if they ever figured out that we didn't want to kill them, that's why we would kill them, no matter what our past relationship was."

Skoodge finally broke free of Daj's grasp, ready to chastise the Darvon for plotting to kill his leader, "Insolent lizard-scum! Killing our leader, no matter the state of mind, is treason! Irken law would immediately sentence you to death!"

"Fine, mini-drone, what do you suggest to do?"

"My Tallest's will is strong! With some coercion, he can fight the mind control."

"Are you suggesting we fight Zim's mind-control with the power of friendship or something?" Dib questioned.

"What is this friendship? I'm referring to the power of undying loyalty that we should all possess!"

"..."

"That's a great idea, Skoodge," Daj said, much to the surprise of Dib, Kor, and Gaz. "As the most loyal of us, why don't you go first?"

"Yes, that is true. I will go and save the mind of my Tallest!"

"Go, Skoodge, I believe in you!" Skoodge began climbing to the top of debris at Daj's urging, even receiving a little boost by the Darvon.

"You just sent him to die, didn't you?" Kor said once Skoodge was out of earshot.

"Yep."

"Bye piggie, I'll miss you!" Gir shouted to his toy.

During this time, Minimoose was still shooting the debris with various weapons. He was going through various blasters and rifles in the Dimension Box, tossing aside the weapons that didn't seem to phase the cover that Zim's underlings had hid behind.

"Ceasefire! It is I, your loyal Skoodge! I am here to talk with you!" The Irken popped up from the debris, an easy target for the Employer, but he decided to humor the short Irken and lowered his weapons.

"My Almighty Tallest, I know you can hear me in there! You are a strong Irken conqueror! Recall all your great triumphs and your loyal servants! Purge the evil moose from your mind!" Skoodge was shouting at the Employer. He responded with an incredulous stare before suddenly groaning in pain.

"ARGH, uh...Sk-Skoodge, is-is that you?" The mind-controlled Irken spoke.

"Sir! Yes it's me! Break free of the moose!"

"AH! Yes! Skoodge! It is I, Zim! I have purged the moose from my brain!"

"Yes, my Tallest, I knew you could!"

"Now that I'm back, I have a request for you, my faithful servant."

"Yes, anything for you."

"Kill the rest of my subordinates."

"Yes, my Tallest!" Skoodge jumped down behind the debris and faced the others, who had overheard everything. "Good news, Zim has broken free and only requests that you forfeit your lives to me-"

Daj punched the midget Irken in the face, knocking him out for falling for an obvious trick. He placed the unconscious Irken next to Gir, who was delighted to have his plaything back.

"Any other plans?" Daj asked everyone.

"We were planning on trying to remove Minimoose," Dib said, "One of us could get close and just slice the thing."

"Dib, you still had sparks running through your brain during this but if we forcibly remove the Employer, it would kill Zim anyway," Kor pointed out.

"What? When did we learn that?"

"Gaz was about to kill it when the moose told her."

"He could be lying."

"What if he isn't?" Gaz said, having stayed silent for most of the time. She was still trying to figure out a way to not kill Zim, but the longer she thought the harder it was to think of a plan.

"I'm more upset that someone like you got that close and couldn't kill him, I thought you were less of a squishy like that," Daj said. Gaz didn't bother to respond to him.

"When Dib and the Employer both got electrocuted, it brought back Zim for a bit," Kor said, "Maybe we could try that again."

"I didn't bring any electrical weapons, only the conventional lasers and explosives." Daj motioned to the pack that was tied under Kry and the several weapons strapped on his back. Suddenly a loud band was heard behind them and a chunk of their cover was blown apart, the Employer had finally pulled an effective weapon for destroying the debris, a rocket launcher. The group couldn't waste more time debating whether or not to kill Zim.

Daj pulled a rifle from his back and tossed it at Gaz, who caught it with her natural reflexes. "Kry and I are going to fight Zim, I'll hold him off for five minutes while you guys can sit there thinking about your 'friendship' with the Irken. After that, I'm going to fight with the intent of killing Zim. Whether you run or fight with me will be up to you."

Daj motioned for Kry to get ready and readjusted the mounted turrets on the four-legged Darvon's back. Daj paced his G.F.B. on his back, switching it with a more standard rifle. Daj and Kry then sprinted in opposite directions, escaping the cover from opposite ends and began firing at the Employer. The tyrant had no choice but stop his assault to dodge the shots from the lizards, turning his attention to the two attackers.

"It really looks like we don't have much of a choice," Dib said, staring at the pack of weapons Daj left behind.

"It's up to you, Gaz. What are you gonna do?" Kor asked. The purple-haired girl was holding the rifle she had received. She wasn't going to run, her pride wouldn't let her leave until she saw the stupid, round moose in pieces beneath her boot. She wasted two attempts on Minimoose's life all because of Zim, she wasn't going to waste a third.

Daj was engaged in a war of lasers with Minimoose, but even with Kry's assistance, being outgunned by the multi-wielding bio-organic was too much. He had to weave in between weak debris and pillars that would get blown away seconds later and could only get potshots. He couldn't even make an attempt on Zim's life even if he wanted to. He needed help, quickly.

A large orb dropped by the Employer's feet. It surprised the ruler and initially thought it was a bomb, but then he recognized what it was. White smoke emerged from the orb, creating a smokescreen. The Employer prepared to leap away from the smoke when something suddenly jumped out at him.

Gaz appeared in front of the Employer, wielding a rifle and a laser-blade. She slashed with the blade, but the Employer blocked it with one of his blasters. He held her there as she continued to apply pressure.

"You again? You know you can't-AHHH!" The Employer was taunting Gaz but suddenly felt pain. She had fired the rifle into the shoulder of the Irken. Blood was spilling out the wound, shocking Minimoose. He still didn't completely believe it, but he couldn't deny that Gaz had found her conviction.