Disclaimer: These characters belong to the Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jhonen Vasquez.
Based on the Deviantart Hanging out by Cosmixed
May God bless you all.
"Ooh it's coming down to the wire." Said the announcer as the group all fought over the one objective.
"Zim we need to get it… Zim!?" Gaz yelled.
"Come face your doom!" He yelled as he attacked the other teams.
"Zim we need to get the obj…!" She yelled again before the ending buzzer rang.
"The Plookesians have done it!" The announcer yelled.
Shortly after the simulation ended and the competitors were given a short break before the next game started.
"What was that!?" Gaz yelled at her partner.
"What?" Zim asked.
"You never went for the target." Gaz told him.
"Zim assumed Gaz would get it while he obliterated all others." He said.
Gaz sighed. She didn't know why she expected any different.
"Listen Zim, I get it you like to pulverize basically everyone in your way." She said. "But, if we are going to win this we need actual tact. Not every game genre can be beaten by just destroying."
"Oh, please…" Said Zim. "…Tact… who needs tact? If we simply remove all the competition then we win." Zim insisted.
"The next game as you know originates from the planet Plookesian." One of the workers said. "And remember it's a TRPG."
Gaz gave her partner her unmistakable eyebrow raise.
Zim chuckled slightly.
"Um… what were you saying about tactics again?"
Well, they were still in the top 3 but the Plookesians had moved into first place. However, Dib knew that tactics was one of Gaz's favorite genres.
"Need anything sir?" Asked a nearby robot.
"No, thanks, I'm good." He answered causing the bought to go to the next being.
Pssst*
"Hmm…" Said Dib as he looked around. Yet, no one seemed to be trying to get his attention.
Psst*
Dib looked around again but still, none of the nearby aliens seemed to be looking at him.
"Down here…" He heard a voice whisper causing him to turn to his wrist communicator.
"Hmmm… Skoodge?" Dib asked.
"Yeah, listen I don't have much time." Said Skoodge.
"How did… how are you calling me?" He asked as this communicator was something that should have only been accessible by him, his sister and their father.
"I hacked your communicator when I was there last time." He told him.
"It was on my arm the whole time when did you…"
"Dib, we don't have time for this." Skoodge insisted. "I think I figured out who it was tracking you."
"Yeah, I know the games coordinator." Dib replied.
"It's the game coo… oh you already know that." He said.
"Yeah, she told me last night." He answered.
"Ahhh… well then guess you don't need me then." Skoodge said.
"Thanks for looking out for me." Dib told him.
"Oh, by the way… the Tallest are watching." Skoodge told him.
"What?"
"Yeah, I noticed the Massive was parked near the planet. So just letting you know they are watching." Skoodge told him.
"Thanks for letting me know." Said Dib. Then saying their goodbyes, Skoodge ended the call.
Dib thought for a moment. We're the tallest just video game enthusiast or were they here to see if Zim would win?
Well, guess it didn't really matter as the 5th match began. The tactical game involved ten soldiers. There were 7 different classes and no revival on death. Hopefully Gaz had given Zim some pointers on keeping his men alive.
Otherwise, they were all dead the moment the buzzer went off.
Red watched as Zim… actually managed well, especially for him. Still though their team only managed to place 3rd in the 5th round and that was largely due to his human partner. It was all tight going into the final round.
"Taking all bets, taking all bets." His co-leader said beside him.
Red pondered his best outlook. He had been pretty successful in predicting Zim's outcomes so far…
"The last match shall be an arena fighter genre originating from Irk…" The announcer said.
"All of it." Said Red.
"What?" Purple asked.
"Put all of it on Zim."
Gaz wiped the sweat off her forehead. She was not used to this. The scores were very close and arena fighters… well they weren't her favorite genre. She was good but definitely this wasn't her best. Tactics was, and they had come in 3rd place mostly due to the fact that Zim despite doing alright just didn't have the patience required, at least when it came to battle. He was willing to wait in a toilet for months so that Dib could get all fat but when it came to battle he just couldn't.
"Starting in 5 minutes." Said one of the workers.
Gaz mentally got ready. It was a 2v2 style round robin with loser rounds as well to earn points. Crucial points that could still cause a leadership change.
Right now they were in 3rd place but just barely. In fact they were only separated from 1st place by 5 points. So even beating the number 1 team didn't guarantee victory.
"All right partner…" Zim said. "…Let's end this."
Gaz didn't reply. She was focused. She had to focus on the upcoming match to stop herself from constantly thinking about that coordinator up there. No, there was time for that afterward. She would figure it out.
"Round starting…" Said the A.I.
"Scenarios loading…"
"Players get ready for the final round!" The announcer shouted.
"Right now however…"
"…She had some Screwheads to… Unscrew."
"Oh, mom's never gonna believe this." Said the alien after Dib posed for another picture. It was weird how many aliens knew of humans but had never met them. Upon seeing him many wanted a selfie or something along those lines. One alien kid even invited him to come home. "Please Dad I'll feed him and wash him and clean up his messes." The child had pleaded.
All this attention… he just wasn't used to it. People avoiding him yeah, but actually wanting to take pictures with him was definitely a new thing.
"Excuse me sir…" Said a nearby robot.
"You have been invited to view the last match in the owner's box."
"What? Really?" Asked Dib.
"Yes, sir just follow me." The robot replied.
Dib thought for a moment… Yeah, it could be a trap… but…
…Well everything had worked so well for him since he arrived here so…
…Well…
"Sir?" Asked the robot obviously noticing Dib's hesitation.
"Sure, why not?"
Ok, this was it. They had defeated the screwheads and if they won this match it didn't matter what happened after. They would be far enough ahead that no one could beat them.
Gaz took a deep breath. It was the Inquisitorian couple. The ones' who were currently in first place. Which is why if they beat them no one else could take first place.
Ok, she just had to focus… She took another deep breath…
Suddenly a digital screen appeared before her in the virtual realm.
"Message from the coordinator." A voice said.
On the screen, it showed the VIB section. However, her brother was not present.
"I'm sure he's alright." Said the Coordinator's voice before the screen disappeared.
"What? What are you…" Gaz started to say before the screen disappeared and the match started.
Gaz was conflicted. She tried to focus on the fight in front of her but she couldn't. The coordinator had been playing mind games with her almost since they arrived and this...
"Ah!" She said as she just narrowly blocked an attack from the female Inquisitorian.
Gaz tried to get away but this one was quick.
The two ended up locking blades.
"You disappoint me…" The female said. "…I was so looking forward to our match. Battling the former ruler…"
Gaz couldn't even think of a response. Too many thoughts shot through her head. Yet she still managed to at least hold her own. If just barely.
"By the way you think you could convince that brother of yours to take a group photo with my family?" Asked The female as the two once again locked blades.
"What?" Asked Gaz.
"My kids really want a picture with the big-headed human." She replied.
Gaz once again couldn't focus on an answer. Her mind was so far away from the fight.
"Well think about it." Said the female before releasing a wave of deadly strikes. Had this been real Gaz would probably resemble shredded cheese right now.
"Grrrrr…." Said Gaz as the round ended and she and Zim were transported back to what essential was a virtual hub for the contestants in-between rounds.
"What happened?" Asked Zim.
"Don't…" She answered. "…How do we get out of this thing?"
"What? We still have two more rounds to go." He said.
"I don't care, somethings happened to Dib." She said.
"Now get me out!"
Zim placed his talons on her shoulders.
"You've been worried about your brother this whole trip. And yet the bigheaded one is still alive and well." Zim assured her. "I'm sure he's fine."
"No, that coordinator, she's been planning this… she sent me all those messages and now he's missing. I have to find him. Now!" Gaz replied.
"Can't you see it's just another trick?" Zim asked.
"But what if it's not?" Gaz responded. "I have to know!"
Suddenly she just buried her face on Zim's chest. All the stress of everything just released all at once and Gaz found her crying on her gaming partner almost uncontrollably.
"She knows…" She said in-between sobs. "…She knows just where to hit me."
Zim didn't respond. He just wrapped his arms around her.
"2 minutes until the next round." The announcement came.
"So… tears…" Zim said. "Um… sadness?"
"…Um don't worry… Dib's fine." He stuttered obviously not really knowing what to say.
Dib took her head off Zim's chest and wiped her tears. Since they had lost the last round the only way to win now was to win the next to and hope that the Inquisitorians' lost at least one match.
"One minute!" Shouted the announcer.
Gaz took a deep breath.
"Zim…" She said.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Let's destroy them all!"
Dib watched as the next round started. His sister, seemed to lack focus in the last round. He knew she could definitely do better.
"A refill?" Asked a robot nearby.
"Sure, thanks." Dib replied as he sat in absolute comfort in the owner's box.
There were a few aliens around and he had already taken a picture with quite a few of them. However, now all attention was turned to the match in front of them.
"Enjoying yourself?" A familiar voice asked behind him.
"Yeah…" He replied to the coordinator who was still in full uniform.
"Good…" She said. "…Listen I have to go soon, but don't leave… okay? I'll see you after the winner is announced."
"Okay…" Dib replied as he…
…watched his sister completely and utterly demolish her opponent.
This was it. It was the final round and like Gaz had wanted, the Iquisitorians had once again lost their last match.
So it all came down to this. Gaz vs the Plookesians, who were apparently friends with Dib's guidance counselor.
They were pretty good and had been the ones to defeat the Iquisitorians in the last round. However this time Gaz was not going to let anything distract her.
"let us battle!" Zim yelled as he rushed toward his opponent.
Gaz did the same thing. However, something caught her eye. To her left her partner was going to town on his opponent, while hers… just stood there. Gaz approached with caution, not sure if this was some sort of trick.
Upon reaching just within about a yard from him, she stopped.
"You're Gaz right?" He asked.
"Um… yeah…" She said.
"The bigheaded ones brother?" He asked.
"Yes…" She answered not knowing exactly where he was going with this.
"Good…" He said before rushing her.
She was caught only slightly off guard and managed to parry his attack.
"What about my brother?" She asked.
"Oh… nothing…" replied her attacker. "…Nothing at all." He assured her as he attacked again.
Gaz couldn't shake the feeling. She parried again and lunged at him with all her fury. Her attacks were precise, just enough to leave him maimed but not yet destroyed.
"What about my brother!?" She asked.
The Plookesian looked up and smiled at her. "You're as good as he said." The alien replied.
"What?" Gaz asked.
Suddenly the Plookesian rushed her. Gaz could barely block half of them as he attacked with great speed and precision.
"But… your weakness shows." He said as he rained blows on her.
"Weakness?" She asked as their weapons locked.
"Yes… your blindspot." He said as he backed away.
Gaz didn't reply. He was obviously just trying to get into her head just like the coordinator.
"AHHHHH!" Zim roared as he struck at her opponent. However, the other Plookesian jumped in and blocked what would have been a finishing blow.
Zim backed away and stood next to Gaz. All four of them had very low health bars. One mistake and it was all over.
"Come on Gaz!" Said Zim. "Let's finish them."
"You know how she fights." Said one of the Plookesians.
"Even with that knowledge, she has proven worthy. Her brother wasn't lying." He said.
"Okay, what when did you even talk to my brother?" She asked.
"Doesn't matter." Said one of them. "You're partner is right… let's end this…"
Gaz readied herself.
However, a sudden squeal from Zim distracted her.
Her partner simply launched himself at them in Zim-like fashion. The two were easily able to defeat him… but…
While they chopped him into bits Gaz Got behind them both. She quickly in one movement slashed her sword.
The two turned their attention to her, but suddenly their facial expressions changed from that of determination to utter shock as both their heads began slowly dismembering from the rest of their bodies.
"We have a winner!" The announcer shouted as the simulation ended and Gaz could hear the roars of the crowd.
She got out of her chair and was immediately hugged by Zim.
"Success!" He shouted.
"Way to go Gaz!" Came a shout from another direction.
She looked to her communicator which showed her brother's big head.
"Dib? Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm in the owner's box." He said.
Gaz went silent for a moment.
"Of course you are." She said.
"Contestants please come forward." Said a nearby worker.
Gaz said her goodbyes to her brother and the two followed the staff to what Gaz assumed was the trophy presentation.
Despite everything, all she felt was relief. Relief that they were officially year-end champions. Relief that it was finally all over… and though she would not admit it… relief…
…That her brother was safe.
Thank you for all who made it to the end. Don't forget to leave a review.
May God bless you all.