A/N: A great thank you to idkwhatusername17, Invader Johnny and a newcomer, sagapaga! Reviews give me energy, they are my food. Please donate them at the review page which is like kickstarter to me!

Sorry for the late update guys. Had vacation and I nearly drowned. Man, my lungs were burning... now i know how people who drown feel... I will always be weary of going to any pool deeper than 4 feet now... man, what a traumatizing experience...

The story grows as the clique take an exodus from Earth to foodcourtia to stock up on food supplies (With the intent to avoid Sizz Lorr's establishment) to stave off hunger from the coming explorations they will encounter.

However, not all companions think it is a good idea to venture to such a risky place... in Irken space no less...

Will Zim regret his decision?

Chapter 4, High Tensions, Steep World Arc 1

"Are you sure this was a good idea?" Computer's voice asked in a warning tone. "They probably have you pinged in the system as a known threat to Irk after your little "talk" with the Tallests. Going to a place of interest where Irken presence is heavy is not a good choice; especially since you were originally assigned to the status of Food Drone..." It has been like this since Zim made his decision and flew the ship through FTL to Foodcourtia's destination. Each one of his companions took turns telling him why it was a risky idea.

"Look, I cannot eat most Earthen food and meats since they will kill me. If you know any other location that has groceries at the ready besides Earth, then you can let me know. " Zim responded whilst tapping his fingers impatiently on the ship's cockpit dashboard. Everyone was silent afterwards, Computer would occasionally glance at Zim with a mixed expression. Tossed in were emotions of annoyance, muted anger, frustration, boredum and with a very tiny hit of... worry..? Zim sniffed and scratched his antennae each time Computer took a glance at him.

Soon enough, the ship exited FTL as it lurched to a stop. Planet Foodcourtia was in clear view from the ship's air-tight cockpit window. Zim sighed as he took the ship on an approach vector to the planet. "We're here." He called out to his companions. Dib came up to the cockpit and stared with wide-eyed wonder.

Gir crawled onto Dib's head and stared with him. "Master, a best location to land at is the western location of the planet." Gir suggested while looking at Zim. Zim looked at his robot with a silent expression. Still getting used to the fact that his SIR unit is not really an idiot. "It has the least Irken presence." Gir added, hoping his master can trust him. Zim only responded with a nod of his head before he took his robot's advice.

The ship zoomed off into the planet's atmosphere. As they entered the atmosphere, they saw floating airships with holo-screens of... Zim. They were wanted posters. They stared silently as the ship continued on its course to a docking area. Zim's squeedlyspooch started to pump fast as he observed. A drone-like machine flew by their ship, studying the ship for a moment with a great pink light projecting forth from its single optical port on its front. Zim made sure to duck down quickly.

Finding nothing to solve its objective, it continued on with a loud whir of its anti-gravity thrusters.

What did I get us into... Zim sighed as he landed the ship. He got up and faced everyone. They turned to face him with hints of caution and distrust. He didn't blame them, after all, he should've thought this through much better. "I need to create a disguise for myself. They will notice me almost immediately as we step off the ship. I'll be out a moment." He walked into a separate room with the scanner.

Computer huffed and turned to look out of the cockpit's window. "You idiot..." She turned to take a glance at the other members of their little group. Dib, who was standing at the cockpit came over to sit across from her.

"So, Zim's computer right?" Dib asked as he offered a hand. Computer stared at the hand with a blank expression. Dib chuckled, "It's a greeting. You have to shake my hand." Computer nodded and started shaking his hand. Dib started feeling awkward as she did not let go yet and was still shaking it.

He tried pulling out but she held a firm grip. "Uh, you can let go now... heheh..." He chuckled nervously as Computer let go. She smirked at him. She... already knew the greeting technique...

"I think you already know who I am so I will skip an introduction. You want to know how I got this body?" Computer gestured to herself. Dib nodded eagerly. She turned the revolving seat to him fully and kneeled forward on her seat. "Come closer." He tilted his head slightly in confusion and moved forward nervously. He faced his ear to her face.

Gaz observed the whole exchange with passiveness. Just her brother doing his usual shenanigans; this one will probably lead to either him getting his answer or him getting trolled hard. She giggled darkly and turned back to the book she was reading. Expecting to here a startled yelp or Dib getting his information.

A loud yelp sounded out.

Gaz turned her head curiously to look at the two. Dib reeled back in surprise as he observed Computer dumbly with his mouth slightly open. Computer chuckled and turned back to observing foodcourtia. "Not telling." She replied with a mocking smirk. Gaz looked on in wonder at the AI's tactics and looked back at Dib who went to sit down across from Gaz. His face was flushed as he softly rubbed the cheek Computer had pinched. He occasionally took glances at Computer, who was playing with her fingers and having a soft smile as she continued to look outside.

The door to the scanner room opened as Zim stepped out. "How do I look?" Zim gestured to himself. He was wearing sunglasses, his eyes were blue and he had on a black cloak and balaclava of the same color. His voice also sounded different as well. "I used the scanner to alter my voice and eyes, that's all." He grunted "For now, I'll have to think of an alias." Computer rolled her eyes.

"How about, 'Fool?'" She suggested with a wry tone. Zim looked at her with an impassive expression. "You're a fool for getting us into this situation in the first place. I believe it suits you fine." She shrugged with a snort.

Zim held his glance at Computer before waving his hand dismissively at her and turned to the others. "Anyone else?" He folded his arms. Computer for some reason didn't know why, but she felt a great rush of anger erupt in her directed at Zim.

Always dismissing my ideas... even now... She narrowed her eyes dangerously at the back of Zim's head and clenched her fists tight. She knew that what she suggested was a bit of an asshole move. But she wouldn't have been like this if it weren't for him.

Dib shrugged his shoulders. "Make up your own alias. Just make sure it's not anything obvious or un-irken." Zim nodded at him in thanks.

"Um... Deult." Zim said with finality. They raised perplexed expressions. "Means hidden in Irken." Zim added.

After getting ready, they dismounted the ship and headed for a good restaurant. As they walked around, they saw a diverse population of races from all over the universe milling about. "Wow, never thought I'd see other aliens besides Irkens. I thought you guys conquered everything." Dib said to Zim looking at him.

"Ah, that is somewhat true. But we only enslave the ones who can prove truly useful to Irken society. The Vortians were scientifically and technologically advanced, so we enslaved them to force them to make more technology for us." Zim replied. However, he felt sort of bad when he truly looked at their situation. And thinking about it made him all the more guilty when he caused the death of Tallest Miyuki and lead to their suffering. He looked away, his blue eyes graying.

Dib looked over at him and nudged his side with an elbow. "Is something wrong?" Dib asked him. Zim shook his head and walked ahead. They observed the sights, occasionally glancing at billboards showing his face in a taunting scowl...

They went into a random restaurant that had a wooden-stone pattern with metal mixed in at certain parts to give off an imposing, yet homely and securing feel. Uncommon in Foodcourtia with the usual theme being metal. Surprisingly, there were a lot of customers here. Manning the counter was a tall and muscular alien dawned in slim armor. It looked crustacean and reptilian in nature with a large horn on its head and glowing white eyes. It had hooved feet and a chitin-like covering running along its forehead to its spine. The big alien was busy taking orders from people.

In fact, the whole place seemed to be cluttered with a lot of them. Most of the employees and a lot of the customers were these strange beings. All of them wore armor of various makes (Some with floating bits) and all held some form of weapon. A bulky rifle, a large machine-cannon, rifles of various makes and swords the length of a 5 foot person and in some cases taller. They had hammers and other bludgeon-based weapons that had white energy coursing around or in some cases in the crushing parts of them; they looked like they could either send a person flying or completely turn them into pulp.

Zim had never seen or received any intel about them. The group sat at a table waiting to be served, cautious about the aliens. Dib was about to ask what they were until Zim shook his head. Showing that he knew nothing of them as well.

One of the strange aliens came up to the table; this one a female. She was muscular and had a series of scars on her hands and face that didn't look like they came from cutting food.

They looked like battle scars.

Her clothing looked like armor. it was a matte black made from an unknown material with parts glowing a vibrant white. The armor had patterns that looked like symbols carved into it. Accompanying these were burns from a plethora of weapons of unknown origin, dents and large scratches. They seemed to never pierce through and just added to the fear factor of the large figure.

She had a large pistol clamped to the armor of her left leg, a large cannon-like rifle slung across her back by a wrap that hung across her body. Her hands seemed to be her form of close range assault.

She looked down at each of them with a warm smile, showing sharp white teeth, similar to a feline's yet larger and sharper. "Hello, fine guests. It seems that this is your first times here. I hope you all find your stay here very enjoyable." She said with a calm and composed smile. Her voice was deeper than any other female of any species that Zim has heard speak. Her arms had several scars as well from what must have been burns of plasma and cuts from claws and close-ranged weaponry. She walked towards an empty table and picked up several square-shaped stones framed in a thin layer of gray metal across its sides and back.

She passed each one to them. Zim looked at it and saw it glow through the various cracks across its surface and display two words saying "Dextro" and "Levo".

"To avoid any deaths, I have to ask which amino acid types do each of your races consume?" She looked around at each of them.

"We're Levo-based." Dib answered and gestured at himself and Gaz.

"Dextro." Zim replied. So that was why human food tended to seriously damage his body... I could've used this to my advantage to-No, Earth is gone. Focus on the now. Zim chastised himself mentally.

Computer shrugged and pointed at each of them. Not really caring either way.

"Well then, select your amino and please choose a recipe." She instructed calmly.

They did as instructed and scaled down their menus to select. They noticed that each of the foods on the menu were not from other know locations or from Irk (In Zim and Computer's case). They held strange names and looked quite filling.

She noticed Zim's expression and she tapped his shoulder. "What is the matter?" Zim showed her his menu.

"There aren't any foods from Irk or from other places." Zim replied. The alien looked at him for a moment silently with her mouth in a slight frown.

"Um, this establishment is called 'Charghan Food and Grocery' we only sell food from things native to Chargha's realm of the void. However, the grocery section offers a wide variety of foods and food supplies found all over." She replied in that calm tone of voice of hers. Surprisingly, the "Charghan" didn't sound condescending or disdainful. She was genuinely explaining what the store was about. "Would you wish for help selecting food based on prior experience with customers of your race?"

Zim nodded his head. "You could select the Japyst Sedontuug. It is a spread of assorted dextro-based meats mixed with vegatables and sweets, a thing I think you will like~." She added a sing-songy voice to persuade him.

Zim nodded with a smile. "I'll have that then, thank you." The others ordered their foods

" If you feel like grocery shopping for foods, then on the left we have a market with foods from all over the void. Please, enjoy your stays." She smiled and walked away. Zim was staring after her retreating form with a distracted expression and mouth slightly open with drool. Computer was looking at Zim and the unknown alien with a cold glare. Zim looked away from her retreating form and looked at the others. Everyone remained silent.

Gaz sighed and hit her palm down on the table softly. "Okay, I guess that I will be the one to start the conversation flow." She looked at Zim. "Zi-uh "Deult", what do you plan to do after we get food supplies?" Her face changed into a calm threatening glare. "I hope you have a solid plan..."

Zim scooted a bit farther in his seat; sweat starting to form slightly on his face. "Well, to tell you the truth. I have none, I had to escape your planet to get away from all the hate, lies and madness." Gaz frowned heavily but gave a dismissive wave.

"Well, you better think some up on the way. Because if you don't, all of that will come back to you. And you don't want that-none of us do." Gaz warned him. Zim remained silent; his antennae lowering slightly. She suddenly smirked. "I'm bored of the mood of this talk. Let's take it to a lighter mood."

"How do you suggest we do that?" Computer asked from across the table. "I hate "Deult", Gir has nothing to share, I barely know either of you-" She gestured at Gaz and Dib. "-and I do not wish to talk. Count me out." She finished with withering glare at Zim.

Zim ignored her and faced Gaz; to Computer's ever-growing anger. "What do you want to talk about?" He asked with a slightly curious expression.

"Tell us about your home planet." Dib asked Zim.

"Aside from the things you already know, Irk is a completely machine-driven planet. The sky is purple and pink, the metal the same." Zim replied. "Though the people could use some work..." After twenty five minutes, the unknown towering female alien walked over, her hoofsteps announcing her presence. She placed the food she was carrying to each of them yet she held a curious expression with an inquisitorial smile. She had clearly overheard their conversation.

She sat next to Zim and looked at all of them with calm eyes. "I hear a great conflict within your little circle. Whatever conflict you happened between you all, should it not be forgiven?" She scooted a little closer. "You all seem to be stuck together through situational parameters from what I've overheard about your discussion. Would any one of you wish to include me into the conversation to help mend things between all of you? I could help." She suggested calmly.

The reactions she met were mixed but they all held an emotion in common. They wondered why she seemed to care so much about people she barely knew except a half an hour ago. She seemed to pick up their emotions and chuckled softly. "I know you guys barely know me. But when I see a group that is getting ready to tear apart or fight among themselves, I just have an urge to try to do something about it. Hopefully something good besides... them shooing me away..?" She suggested while chuckling in a soft nervous tone.

Computer looked at her in a way that suggested she was considering that option. Gaz figured the same option to a lesser extent. Dib and Zim looked at her with attentiveness. Before Computer could begin to speak, Zim spoke up. "Sure, why not. We have some time to talk." Computer glanced at him with a withering glare and a low growl.

The Charghan smiled at him and maneuvered in her seat in a way that suggested she was in good company. "Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. Oh, and my name is Hakhajka Brimem. But friends can call me Hakhaj" She looked at each of them with a nervous glance. "Are each of you willing to tell me your names?"

"Sure, my name is Zi-mmm I mean Deult, it is nice to meet you Hakhaj." Zim nodded at her. She gave him a suspicious and slightly shocked glance before she nodded understandingly. She leaned into him to whisper.

"Your name is Zim, but I will call you by your alias to avoid causing you any trouble." Zim's antennae perked upwards at that and he nodded at her thankfully.

"Hey, I'm Dib Membrane. Nice to meet you Hakhaj." Dib greeted and stuck his hand out for her to shake it. She looked at his hand then at him in confusion. "Just grab my hand and shake it for a second. It's a greeting back where I come from." She nodded and smiled. She took his hand and shook it with all her might, nearly causing Dib to fall over in his seat. He righted himself, laughing slightly at her antics. Despite the slight pain in his hand caused by her strength.

The Charghan glanced at Gaz then back at Dib. "Are you siblings?" Hakhajka asked both of them.

Dib nodded. "Yes we are. Her name is Gaz Membrane."

The Charghan looked around. "Where are your parents?"

"They're back at home, but we only have one parent, which is are father. Our mother... is not-" Gaz clamped his mouth shut with a frown. The Charghan was silent but nodded understandingly.

"Your mother will always be with you, throughout your life. In there." Hakhajka pointed at both of their chests. Gaz glared at her, causing her to pull back her hands with a frown. Hoping to not offend.

"Really? Because she died as soon as I was born." Gaz glared at her and stood up. "I need to use the bathroom. Where is it." Hakhajka called over another Charghan that was slightly shorter than her. This one a male wearing armor with a floating pattern behind his back that glowed white.

"Please direct her to the bathroom, Gharuth." Gharuth nodded and walked with Gaz to the bathroom.

Hakhajka turned to Computer, about to ask her for her name-

*BANG*

The door to the restaurant bursted open with a loud clang. The wood of the door completely shattered. Behind the ruins, an Irken soldier was seen with one of his leg upwards and his body tilted backwards. Rifle in hand.

The restaurant immediately flooded with Irken soldiers and a large silhouette stood just outside. It's shape recognizable to Zim...

The Irken soldiers pointed their weapons at every customer. The Charghans returned the favor by leveling theirs and in some cases wielding their more up close and personal weapons. An Irken soldier donned in dark red armor with a helmet of the same color came forward calmly. His hands behind his back. He looked around calmly at all the surprised and enraged Charghans with their large and menacing weapons. He looked at the cowering customers who looked like they did not want to be here right now.

He raised a hand up and lowered it. The Irken soldiers lowered their weapons. "I need to speak to the owner of this establishment." Hakhajka stood upwards.

"That would be me." She said, her voice taking on a darker and more aggressive tone. "What do you Irkens want this time." She looked at her broken front door. "You know, you have to pay for that." The Irken soldier snorted and chuckled snidely.

"I don't believe that I have to worry about that." He stepped aside and a very large Irken stepped inside. All the Charghans present gawked at his enormous gait and backed up some. The Irken had a greasy chef's apron on as well as Irken chef clothing. He had a scar running across one of his eyes and he had on a dark smirk as he looked around. His eyes settled on Zim, even in his disguise, the fry cook seemed to recognize him. Sizz lorr... "This fellow here has given us evidence that your establishment doesn't serve any form of Irken food on it's menu. Which violates the laws put in place for Foodcourtia."

Hakhajka blinked. "I studied the laws made for this planet. There is no law that even references that and the forum in our region never updated."

"The law was put into place as of ten days ago." The Irken chuckled. "We sent out a warning to all establishments via drones." As he said that, a drone hovered in to the restaurant; making a whirring noise as it floated by.

It stopped next to the Irken commander and played a message. "Foodcourtia Law number fourty five. All establishments must serve Irken foods and goods according to their profession to show respect to the civilization that governs and protects this planet for all beings of the universe. Failure to comply to this law within nine days will result in the immediate termination of the establishment and its owners." The drone finished its audio message and floated away. Continuing some other objective.

Hakhajka's eyes slightly widened and she growled. "The drones within this region never played that message at any point in time." Suddenly, the area was filled with distant chatter of the Irken devices relaying the message at random intervals of time.

The Irken commander laughed darkly. "That may be true. But this section of the planet held establishments that contested with Irken establishments. We had to just get rid of the competition." Distant staccato of gunfire rang out from plasma-based weapons followed by screams as well as barks from commanders ordering their soldiers. "You hear that? Those are the sounds of war. A war we will win this time, Charghan scum." With that, the commander ordered the Irken soldiers to ready their weapons.

Hakhajka unslung the cannon hanging from her back...

Sizz Lorr charged at Zim's table getting ready to snatch him...

A/N: Well, shit has officially hit the fucking fan guys. And I tell ya, this is gon' be epic!

A thank you to all my faithful and wunderbar readers! Keep the reviews, favorites and follows comin'!