Disclaimer: These characters belong to the Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jhonen Vasquez.
This part of the story was partly inspired by an artwork done by historicalneon called Invader Zim Comic Cover
May God bless you all.
Zim lay on the couch. It had been a couple of weeks since Gaz told him the meaning of the code, yet he had basically come up with nothing. He knew very little, that it had to do with Miyuki, Spork and now him, but he had not much to connect any of it. He knew what the code meant, but he had no idea what the plan was.
He sat up and tried to think. Perhaps it had something to do with his interactions with either of them. As far as he remembered he didn't have much interaction with her. Though Spork had interviewed him once.
"Computer scan Zim's pak and bring up the interview between he and Tallest Spork." He ordered.
"Scanning… interview found… playing." Replied the A.I.
On the screen, he saw Tallest spork. It was playing from his point of view.
"So Zim, you want to be an invader?" Asked Spork.
"Yes! I the mighty Zim! Want to invade planets… and…"
"Okay…" Spork interrupted. "…You're enthusiastic that's for sure."
"Anyway…" He went on. "…Describe what kind of training you went through."
"Oh, Zim has gone through weapons, close combat, long-range combat…"
"Okay good." Answered Spork. "Now how about before training? Do you remember the smeetery?"
"Of course!" Replied Zim. "There was me and skoodge and Tenn…"
"No, not asking about… you know what, how about before the smeetery. Do you remember your birth?" Spork asked.
"Yes, it was an ordinary irken birth, my capsule was broken and my pak attached." Replied Zim.
"Good…" Said Spork.
"What?" Asked Zim.
"Well that's all, hope you do well in the invader test." Said Spork as he signaled for Zim to leave.
Zim did so and the recording stopped as he got up and headed out the door.
"Was that it?" Asked Zim.
"That's all that's relevant." Replied the Computer.
"That gave Zim nothing!" He screamed. He rose from his seat and went to the fridge.
He practically guzzled the soda and then threw the can away.
"What could the plan be!?" He asked out loud.
"Sir, are you ready?" Asked the computer.
"Ready for what?" Zim asked back.
"For your trip?" Asked The Computer.
"What trip!?"
The bus was rather empty. Which was good as Zim didn't feel like talking to any of them right now. However, the fact that the bus was so empty really made the results all that more shocking.
Like 5 students, 4 to compete and 1 substitute, and of course Zim, Gaz, and Dib would all be on this bus together.
Zim was in the back and somehow still didn't escape Gaz who was in the seat adjacent to his.
At least she was playing on her gameslave 2. Completely ignoring all the others around her.
Her brother on the other hand wouldn't stop looking over at Zim. He was in the middle of the bus but he just kept looking back.
Zim sighed. All this trying to figure out what the code meant and now this trip. He could kick himself for ever signing up for the decathlon team. He didn't want to and had only shown up to enough meetings just to stop from being kicked off the team, but he never expected to actually travel to a competition. There were 10 members in total and yet two were sick, two of their parents didn't allow them to come, and one was on some kind of family trip.
The rules required 4 team members and at least 1 substitute, which meant the remaining five had to go. True Zim could have had his robot parents say he couldn't attend but he had them on auto when it came to signing school documents so he was pretty much stuck.
Though in truth, it was kind of nice to get away from trying to figure out what the plan was. Perhaps a boring trip with his classmates was just what his mind needed to get away from the stress of trying to figure out why Miyuki and Spork would have a plan about him.
"So Dib are you gonna put that big head of yours to good use?" Asked Zeta who was sitting across from him.
Dib turned to her. It was strange. She didn't usually talk to him much.
"My heads… eh I guess." He answered.
"Good, I don't want any distractions. We have a competition to win." Replied the tall pink haired girl
"Fat chance that happening." Said the Letter M who was sitting in front of Zeta.
"I mean look who's here." He said as he gestured toward Zim.
"I don't care. No alien, distractions this weekend from either of you." Zeta insisted.
Zim didn't bother to respond and Dib just looked away.
Not like they would use him anyway. He was probably the substitute, so he didn't have too much to be concerned with.
"She's not joking you know." Said the girl sitting across from him.
Zim turned to Gaz, who wasn't as oblivious to her surroundings as she seemed.
"Zim does not care." He replied.
"I warned you." Gaz responded.
"Why are you two even back there?" Asked Zeta. "Come on. We're a team."
Zim groaned.
"Come on." Said Gaz as she got up and headed up. "She's not gonna stop you know. She's really into this decathlon stuff."
"Why are you even on the team?" Asked Zim as he followed her up.
"I like trivia, this is pretty similar." She replied. "You?"
"Zim needed a team or club to be a part of or he would appear less normal." Replied Zim as they both took their seats, his behind Zeta and her next to her brother.
"So, we need to figure out who's gonna decathlon and who will be the substitute." Said Zeta.
"We'll have a mock competition with fewer questions tonight and the four who do the best will be our starters." Said Mr. Elliot who had now joined the kids in the middle of the bus.
"Don't worry, it'll be great."
Zim looked out the window. It's amazing how beautiful outside the city looked. Perhaps he should have gotten out more often.
"So Zim?" Asked Dib. "Quick trivia what's the largest body of water?"
"The Pacific Ocean." Zim quickly responded.
"That's right…" Dib replied seemingly surprised.
Even though Zim conked out many times during class, his pak recorded every moment…
every single moment...
"Oh, that's a great idea Dib!" Said Mr. Elliot. Causing the children to turn to him.
"Let's have the mock competition right now."
Zim groaned. So many questions, and just as he thought, he was deemed to be the substitute. So he probably wouldn't have to be a part of the actual competition. At least not directly.
Plus he didn't have to room with Dib, so that was a good thing. Although…
"So Zim, never did catch where you were from?" said the Letter M.
"Zim thinks he is going out by the pool." Said Zim in reply.
He really didn't feel like talking to him right now.
The pool was not too large, but it wasn't small either. And as far as Zim could tell no one was in it. No one seemed to be around the pool either, which was preferable. He sat on one of the folding chairs.
*splash*
Zim flinched slightly as he looked where the noise originated.
It was the Gaz-human. She had emerged around the middle of the pool.
"What were you doing?" Asked Zim as she got out.
"Seeing how long I could hold my breath." She replied.
"Shouldn't someone be watching you just in case you know… drown!?" Asked Zim.
"Eh." Was all Gaz said in reply as she grabbed a towel from one of the folding chairs and began to dry off.
"So any luck figuring out what the plan was?" She asked as she sat down.
"Nope, and Zim is taking a break from trying for now." He replied.
"Really? The mighty Zim!?" She mimicked. "Is taking a break?"
"Might as well. Zim will wait until after he returns to his base before resuming the investigation into the plan." Replied Zim.
"Ah Ha!" Yelled Dib. "What are you two talking about!?"
Zim looked behind Gaz.
"Zim thinks he will return…"
"You're not going anywhere!" Dib yelled as he ran to them.
"What are you two planning behind my back!?" He accused.
"You're downfall of course." Replied Gaz.
"Yes…" Zim added. "…We are planning the downfall of the Dib-stink!"
"Ha ha…" Replied Dib as he too took a seat.
"Seriously…" He said. "…The code, the plan… what's it all about?"
"Why does the Dib-Stink care?" Asked Zim.
"I don't… well I have to admit I'm intrigued, I mean why would your old leaders have a plan named after you?" He asked.
"That's what Zim is trying to figure out!" Came the reply.
Dib sighed. "I know I'm going to regret this, but… I'll help you figure it out."
"Awww…" Said Gaz.
"…Is this the start of a budding friendship?" She mocked.
"Shut up!" Came the reply.
From both of the boys.
Finally, the morning came and it was time for the competition. Zim watched as his group took their positions…
…Only to notice that the Letter M was missing.
"Zim! What are you doing?" Mr. Elliot asked. "Take your seat."
"What!?" ZIm exclaimed. "But Zim is a substitute!"
"Yes, and we need you to substitute for the letter M." He said.
"Why!? Where is he?" Zim asked.
"He seems to be dealing with a teensy stomach bug." Replied the teacher.
"But… but…"
"No, buts! Get out there!" The teacher urged.
"Grrrr…" Said Zim as he went to take his seat next to Zeta.
"And now the group from the other school!" Shouted the announcer.
4 other students went to take their seats as the crowd cheered.
As they came in Zim noticed something familiar about one of them, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it. It was something definitely something about… something… definitely something…
"Tak!?" Shouted Dib confirming Zim's suspicions that something was off.
"Hello, Dib, Zim, Gaz and Zeta." Tak replied calmly.
"What… what are you doing here!?" Asked Dib.
"Oh… well participating in this lovely school competition of course." Came the reply.
"Ok students your first round of questions starts now." Said the announcer.
Zim stared at Tak. Surely she had come to defeat the mighty Zim!
"Zim will destroy you and your pathetic team!" He shouted at her.
"Wow, way to get in the game Zim." Said Zeta.
Tak simply smiled at them in return.
"Good luck with that."
Thank you for all who made it to the end. Don't forget to leave a review.
May God bless you all.
