Author's Notes: Yes, I know I'm 3 days late, but I had family in Panama City who lost their homes to the hurricane. They've been staying at my place, and well writing with 7 extra people in your house is pretty hard. Thankfully though my family did evacuate so they are safe, and sound…and more importantly asleep! Which means I can write! It may take all night but here we go!

PS: I deleted all of my Author's Note Chapters. So please go back and make sure you've read all the previous chapters.

Shout Outs: I would also like to thank all of you for supporting me during the cyberbullying episode while I was gone. He's not caught yet, but he's stopped messing with me so that's good. I honestly was going to stop writing, it was really bad on AO3, the things they said to me, and it brought back some painful memories. Anyway, I appreciate the support, it really helped me come back to this site with a smile.

Anyway, thanks for reading and please review!

Chapter 41: Walk Of Doom (Part 1)

'Someone is watching you.'

Irk he still couldn't get that thought to leave his head.

Zim looked over his shoulder once again and still nothing greeted him. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to decipher who it was that was making him so tense. Because as much as he loved to believe it was all in his head deep down, he knew better.

"An Irken always listens to their instincts." That's what Tallest Myuki had once told him. A piece of advice that had saved him more than once already. So as much as Zim wanted to believe this was just paranoia talking, he had to sure. He focused harder, stretching his senses, all of his enemies had their own imprint in his mind. He could point out who he was dealing with without having to see their face, simply by evaluating the situation. No two enemies set off the same sequence of alarm bells in his mind. Each and every enemy had a pattern, a way that they did things. And these habits always revealed the enemies identity sooner or later. There was also the more obvious indicators, Zim opened his mouth slightly, and allowed his sent glands to take in the smells around him. The first thing he smells is the pollution of the morning air, it's a horrible stench and usually clings to everything, masking it original sent. However, Zim had been on this planet for some time now, and he was sure he could ignore the pungent sent enough to pick out his little stalker.

"Miz is everything ok?" Dib asked, starting to pick up on his strange behavior again.

"Call me crazy but I really do think we're being followed." Zim admitted.

"Do you think it's Zim?" Dib asked, on high alert now. His laser sword was tucked away, but he placed his hand over it expectantly.

"No." Zim admitted. "I know him…this ones…different…"

Tak froze as they stopped a few yards ahead, she had to learn more about the situation before she made her first move. So, while using her cloaking gear she decided to follow them on their way to school. She knew it was risky, Zim may be able to smell her Irken sent through the polluted air if she got to close. Sure, he hadn't been here long, but Zim was always quicker at picking thing up. Still, she wasn't worried, after all Zim thought she was dead, so even if her actions reminded him of her, he'd never expect her to still be alive.

However, just as she thought this, the wind changed direction carrying her sent directly into Zim's sent glands. His eyes widen, this was an Irken sent! Suddenly the scenario in his mind shifted. This wasn't an enemy coming for revenge, this was a fellow Irken out to steal his mission. He snicker slightly despite the situation; it was not unheard of for other invaders to try and steal another's mission.

In fact, it happened more often than not, this was because there were several hundred invaders, however only four to ten of them were actually chosen to take on a mission at any given time. Of course, they were chosen by their performance on the trials, however some believed the system was rigged, and only the Tallest's' favorites were ever chosen. Zim had no doubt that this rumor was true, after all Red and Purple made no effort to keep their liking of him a secret. No doubt some if not all of his successes were in some way, or another made possible by his two closest friends.

No doubt at all, and he knew he wasn't the only favorite, Tenn also got several missions in her time while other female invaders had yet to get one. Indeed, the system was rigged which is why several Irken Invaders who believed they deserved better would go out and prove it. How?

By stealing one of the chosen invader's mission!

They'd challenge the chosen invader, and if they managed to kill them, they would win the mission as their prize. It was a common practice and since Irkens enjoyed a challenge, such behavior was actually encouraged, and With Zim's track record he should have known that eventually someone would come along, stupid enough to try and stop him.

Yes, he should have seen this coming, with his record and the Tallest 1st cycle coming up due the announcement of the chosen Taller would be soon. And anyone who had half a brain would expect the Brains to choose Zim as their Tallest's successor. And this mission could seal that deal.

Or Failure to complete it could ruin his career forever!

There was certainly a lot riding on this, however Zim was not worried. For you see there was rules when it came to this kind of situation. One of the most important being that the two battling Invaders could not fight in a way that would jeopardize the mission. For example, Earth was meant to stay as it was, so if his new foe decided to attack him in a way that would put Earth in jeopardy then it would ruin everything.

Also, it was important that the Natives did not catch on to any infighting, If they saw two Irkens fighting they may see the Empire as divided and weak and that would not pan out well. So, while there was a lingering threat in the air Zim allowed himself to relax. Yes, there was a new player in the game, but if said player wanted the right to keep this mission after they won then they had to follow the rules! Of course, Zim was also expected to do the same, and with so much riding on this single mission Zim wanted to handle the new threat as swiftly as possible.

But first he needed to figure out who he was dealing with which shouldn't be too hard. Like his enemies Zim knew each invaders habits, and no two were alike, all he had to do was send them on a wild goose chase downtown and he should be able to evaluate them enough to figure out whom he was dealing with.

Dib could see the plan forming on his boyfriend's mind as clear as day. "We're not going to school, are we?" He asked expectantly.

"No." Zim admitted. "We need to figure out what we're dealing with."

Are you sure?" Dib asked, he didn't want to doubt Miz, after all he had proven several times already that he had a way of knowing when they were in trouble. However, at the same time he knew from experience that paranoia could make you sense thing that weren't there.

"You think I'm crazy." Miz seemed to realize.

"No." Dib lied, only to cave as he gave him that look, the sight sinister glare that demanded the absolute truth. "Okay I mean may be a little."

"Unbelievable!" Miz growled looking around frantically.

"Miz, Zim's been quiet lately, that kind of silence can drive anyone mad!" Did insisted.

Zim rolled his eyes focusing more now, he needed Dib on board with this, and in fact doing so would work in his favor greatly. For you see Zim had been quiet lately. This mostly had to do with the video that was leaked, that and Gir's little episode. He needed to lay low and wait for the heat to die down a little, or for the enemies focus to shift to someone else.

Yes, this new player in his little game would do just nicely, and thanks to the winds change in direction he knew exactly where the enemy was standing.

Dib watched as Miz picked up a rock and threw it to their left at what appeared to be nothing. "What was that for?" He asked. "I mean I know you're frustrated, but there's no need to be angry."

Tak flinches slightly, that rock almost hit her was he aiming for her?

No there was no way, Zim couldn't see her; she was cloaked.

"I want to see what happens when I hit that bucket of sand up there." Zim answered trying to keep the enemy unaware that he had caught on to their game.

Dib looked up, they were in the middle of a construction site which was of course illegal, but Miz hated going the long way to school so they always cut through here when they were in a hurry, like today. "Miz, I have that final today in English." He insisted.

Zim ignored him and threw another rock, this time he tried for the bucket of sand he had mentioned about earlier. It was right above where he believed the enemy to be, sure he hit nothing the first time, but they could be cloaked, and his aim wasn't perfect when he depended on smell alone. However, the sand would cover a wide area, and if the enemy was clocked it would land on them and reveal the outline of their body.

Of course, as always Tak catches on to his plan a little too late. She always made the mistake of comparing him to other invaders. Forgetting that Zim did not act like other Invaders, he did not make the decisions, or take the path that his fellow brethren would. He was different and unique, he looked at the world in an altered light. For example, an Irken would walk into an empty room and see a dead end, Zim however, would walk in break off a piece of the door and beat you with it.

To him there was no such thing as empty, or impossible. There was always an answer to a solution. You just had to be willing to find it, and if Zim couldn't see her in the natural since, then he'd find another way.

And he did!

Dib watched as the rock made its mark and the bucket tipped over the edge of the ladder that it had been perching on. And his breath caught as he also watched the sand fall from out of the bucket and blanket around an invisible shape.

A shape that looked an awful lot like an invader.

"Holly Sh-" He began, but was interrupted as Miz grabbed his hand and yelled.

"MOVE!" And just like that they were running!

Tak took off after them, her anger getting the best of her, Zim had fooled her again! How was he able to keep doing this?

Easy, Tak kept allowing it to happen. She kept forgetting what she was dealing with, and what she was dealing with was a master of the arts of deceit. Zim was living proof that everything Irk thought about defectives were wrong. They were not weak; Zim was known to take down enemies twice his weight and size. They were not dumb, and Zim proved that by outsmarting the trial computer brains, time and time again.

Zim was the perfect Irken machine, what every one of them hoped and strived for. He followed his programing to a T. even though he didn't have to, and this is what saves him. Zim was successful because he did the one thing no defective had ever done before. He listened to the programing, and yet at the same time he allowed himself to break the rules.

Only a defective would risk exposing another Irken, and their mission in order to get what they wanted. Yes, while most defectives act as they should, Zim picked and chose when he wanted to act defective and when he wanted to go by his programing, and he had no order in which he chose. It was like he flew by the seat of his pants, randomly deciding on whether to go by the book or throw it at his enemies face!

This of course made it very difficult for Tak to read him, but she knew one thing was clear.

Zim knew she was an Irken, and for some reason he wanted said Irken to be as far away from Dib as possible.

This was true if anyone caught wind of what he was doing with this kid.

Zim chance a look at Dib, taboo was unforgiveable, a crime that even the Tallest could talk themselves out of. Now Taboo with another Irken? That could be overlooked, all an Irken would have to plead is a moment of weakness or that their curiosity got the best of them. However, taboo with another species, even something as little as a kiss had only one punishment.

DEATH!

Why?

Because committing Taboo meant you were purposefully tainting the Irken blood lines. In other words, you were soiling Irk with the blood, and germs of the defective world. Yes, it was believed that past Taboos between Irkens and other lifeforms was why defective Irkens like Zim existed today.

He had known from the beginning that starting this with Dib was a bad idea, but that was simply because of the fear of it backfiring on him in a similar way that his and Lard Nar's friendship had done. Now the Tallest could possibly find out! He would be ruined, this of course was why he ran, his plan was to ditch Dib and then evaluate the enemy.

However, the enemy had different plans.

Tak knew the right thing to do right now was run away, not towards the enemy, but it was obvious to her that she had caught Zim doing something wrong. Something that could get him in a lot of trouble. Something that had to do with that boy!

And Tak planned to find out what, and she would…one way or another!

Zim ran as fast as his legs could carry him and for the moment, he dragged Dib along for the ride. However, he planned to ditch him the moment he knew he was out of the enemy's line of sight. "Dib, we have to split up." He reasoned. "Otherwise, we'll never shake him."

Dib almost agrees, but then he stops. He knows that look in his eyes, it's the same look Dib had made several times before deciding to go off on his own. The look he made when he decided to sacrifice himself and not get his family involved in his paranoia shenanigans. Dib felt his heart tighten, part of him was thrilled that Miz was already committed enough to sacrifice himself for him, the other half was angry.

And for good reason.

"Okay you go left, and I'll-" Miz began, but instead of letting him go Dib tighten his grip on his boyfriend's hand with such strength it surprised the Irken.

"You thoughtless hypocrite!" Dib yelled.

"What are you going on about?" Zim yelled trying to pull away. Dib was being ridiculous and now was hardly the time. If someone caught them like this, he's secret of being a defective could finally be revealed.

All his hard work, all the worlds he had destroyed, betraying Lard Nar… it would all be for nothing…

And all because Dib had to be a stubborn, clingy, brat!

"You told me not to go out and face the enemy on my own." Dib yelled back. "But you can go and break your own rule!" He pulled Zim closer to him now unfortunately he was unaware of just how close he and Zim were to danger.

At the moment they were on the edge of a cliff that led into a large storm drain, Every now and then the drain would build up from too much rain, and the city would open up the damn and let it flow back down to the riverbank just outside of town.

The danger was sometimes the ground along the cliff was unstable and would crack under the weight of a person, in fact several kids a few years younger had drowned due to falling into the drain, the walls were smooth with no way to climb out, and the current built up from the water rushing down to the riverbed was too strong to fight against.

It happened in an instant, the ground broke from beneath and Zim felt pain like never before.

Yes, he had been slowly growing a tolerance to water in his spare time, but his whole body had never been submerged before. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, what was he going to do when the rainy months came? Water would rain from the sky like liquid acid. He knew it was a strange time to think about it, especially when at the moment he may very well be dying from too much water exposer.

Could it kill him?

Naturally Zim thought of the strangest things, at the worse time possible.

Dib held his breath as the current pulled him under, of course the city would be emptying the storm drain today. Man, he really hopped Miz could swim because they were going to be this water a while.

Not that swimming could save him now!

Luckily it was over as soon as it began, Zim of course managed to rise to the surface long enough to spot their salvation. Just a head of them was a crossing bridge for traffic, and connected to that bridge was a ladder leading down into the drain.

Apparently, this was the city's way of combatting against drowning. "Want to live? Grab hold!"

Zim wasted no time grabbing hold, but what he grabbed first surprised Tak who had been watching from the Cliff above.

Dib gasped for air as Miz pulled him up to the surface, they had travelled several miles down the drain now, and he had gone under several times. His throat had been filling up with water, and he was close to passing out.

"Stay with me Dib." Miz voice insisted, and Dib watched through blurry eyes as Miz grabbed the ladder and hauled him up first before going after him.

It was then that Dib realized he must have lost his glasses during the fall.

Meanwhile, Tak was floored by what she was witnessing, Zim could have left the enemy to drown, and probably should have. The kid had already proven to be more than a fair share of trouble. And yet Zim sent him up out of harm's way before himself. But why?

What was so special about this kid?

Zim held in a scream as he finally pulled himself up to the top of the bridge, man that water hurt. "We should call Gaz and Peg for help." His words surprised him, never had he actually needed help from anyone. He was Zim the invader, scourge of 9 galaxies; no one got the drop on him. However, Dib made him so oblivious that he doesn't since the dangers of the ground caving in beneath him until it's too late.

He couldn't understand this boy's hold over him, but it was a problem that he would have to keep putting off until later.

Because naturally they had bigger problems.

"Great my phones ruined!" Dib shouted, throwing the soggy piece of tech back into the water below. Not on purpose of course, Dib was blind without his glasses, seriously he couldn't seer more than two feet ahead of him. It hardly mattered though; the phone was useless now anyway.

"Mine too." Zim admitted as he threw his phone back in his pocket, apparently the computer really had made his phone convincing, so much so that they were even as fragile as the real thing. "Perfect."

And it was about to get a whole lot worse.

"Miz?" Dib asked as he got to his feet squinting hard. "Where are we?"

"Yeah we're-" Zim stopped, realizing that he's actually clueless of where they are. There are no familiar landmarks, and in the confusion, Zim lost track of which direction they had come from.

"Please don't tell me." Dib begged.

"Yep." Zim admitted getting to his feet. "We're lost."

Lost?

Lost wasn't even the half of it, they were also cold, Dib was blind, and Zim was sure he was suffering from injuries from being wet. Not only that, but the Irken was beginning to gather from the shady atmosphere around them that they were on the wrong side of town.

The bad side of town!

And to top it all off a new enemy was slowly closing in.

Zim shook his head in disbelief he couldn't possibly imagine this getting any worse, but naturally it would get worse.

A whole lot worse indeed.

-To Be Continued

Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter as always, I thank you for reading and ask that you please review!