Author's Notes:As promised here's the next edit hope you guys like the new format! As always, thank you for reading and please review!

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine ;)

S01 Ep02: The Start of Something Evil

Episode Summary: True to his word Dib goes out to investigate Zim only to enrage Gaz who can't believe her brother would forget the most painful day of their young lives. Meanwhile Zim begins his latest plot.

[Back With Zim]

It was all about patience.

Zim walked home calmly in a brisk, relaxed manner, knowing all too well that Dib was right behind him, cloaked in his jacket of invisibility. He forced himself to resist the urge to snicker. Dib was so easy to fool; he didn't need a hook coated with bait. All he needed was paranoia, and he had plenty of that.

'Gaz will be mine,'he told himself knowingly.'And then Dib will bow.'

Dib watched Zim walk up his walkway and into his house. He smiled to himself; Zim was totally unaware that his little plan was about to go up in smoke. This was too easy. Dib froze as the truth hit him; he was being lured into a trap! He noticed far too late as the ground fell beneath him, sending him falling through a trap door.

"Help!" He screamed, but his words were drowned out by the unmistakable laughter of his greatest foe.

"Zim," he whispered as the darkness swallowed him whole.

[Back With Gaz]

(location: Membrane Residence)

Nothing could ruin this moment. Nothing…. except the fact that Dib was not here. How could he forget? How could he forget that today, exactly 8 years ago, they lost something special to them? How could he run off to fight Zim on a day like this? Was he so obsessed that he couldn't remember the day someone he loved never came home?!

Gaz wanted to scream; not just because Dib had forgotten, but she had forgotten too! She had been so wrapped up in her own misery of losing a bet that she forgot the anniversary of her own mother's passing. The thought made her infuriated with herself. How could she?!

And how could he?!

Prof. Membrane stood, pacing back and forth. "Of all days he has to be out late, why today?!" He muttered to himself. "Gaz, I'm afraid you might have to go get him."

Gaz was already pulling on her hoody. She growled in response. He would pay. They both would.

She had no doubt of where he was….

Zim. His name made her heart burn with fire.

"He will pay."

[Back with Dib...]

(location: Zim's Lab)

"Zim, you'll never get away with this!" Dib struggled against his restraints desperately.

Zim laughed evilly, pointing a large laser at Dib, who was chained to a lab table before him.

"This laser is so strong it will cut right through you. Never again will you burden Zim with your presence!"

"No!" Dib yelled.

Zim chuckled to himself. This was all too easy. Dib was buying every second of this! The laser itself had stopped working (thanks to Gir) years ago, and Zim never got around to fixing it. But Dib didn't know that.

"You will rue the day that you crossed paths with me!" He chuckled again as GIR stood off to the side with his camera.

"Aw. Look! Master looks so happy," he said to the camera as he recorded the scene that was playing out before him.

"Now start your ruing!" Zim exclaimed.

"Noooo!" Dib screamed as the laser started up.

Of course it wasn't really starting up. GIR was just making noises in the background. Zim laughed. Nothing could ruin this moment! Sure, Dib would escape in the nick of time like he always did, but this time it was all according to plan.

Besides, his screams of fear where all over nothing. It was all just too much. Zim laughed hysterically. Yes, nothing could ruin this moment….

Then an explosion rang out.

Gaz growled in pure inhuman rage as the laser crumbled into ashes. "Zim!" She screamed. "You will pay!" She growled.

Zim froze. Well, this wasn't part of the plan. Gaz stood in front of her brother protectively, coated with ash and burning with fury.

"Gaz, you're here! Oh, thank goodness! He was gonna-"

"Quiet you," Gaz growled at her brother. "You are in so much trouble. Dad and I have been waiting for hours for you to come home!"

"Why?" Dib asked, obviously clueless.

"Mom!" Gaz growled.

"That's today?!" Dib's face suddenly fell. "Oh, Gaz, I'm so sorry! I was so caught up, I-"

"We will talk about your punishment later," she vowed as she began to loosen his restraints.

"And where do you think you're going, little Gaz?"

Gaz flinched slightly as Zim's robotic arms wrapped around her, concealing her to her doom.

"You can't beat me little Gaz. You should have stayed home! Now you will suffer the same fate as your brother!"

"No!" Dib screamed. "Leave her out of this Zim!"

"It's too late Dib! It's six years too late!"

"Let me go or else," Gaz growled.

"Or else what?" Zim snickered. "What are you going to do, little Gaz?"

Gaz growled. "No one calls me little!" She pushed against her restraints. If she could just get her arm free, then she could save them both. "Listen. My brother and I have to go pay our respects to a loved one."

"So?" Zim asked, feigning disinterest.

"Don't you have any family back home?" She asked. "Someone to love you? Care for you?"

"Love?" Zim laughed. "Love is a human emotion. Invaders need no one! Now say goodbye, litt-" He never got to finish his sentence.

Gaz's hand had come free to reveal a detonator. She smiled evilly at Zim, and with one swift motion of her finger she pressed the button.

The lab exploded around them. Zim let go of Gaz in an effort to dodge the oncoming metallic rubble.

"Gaz!" Dib exclaimed, and sighed in relief as she landed gracefully on her feet.

"Let's go," she ordered as she freed her brother in one swift motion.

Dib wobbled all over the place as the ground shook around them.

"Dib, we don't have time for this!" Gaz grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the elevator.

Zim smiled as he watched the elevator go up and out of sight. He had done it. He had pulled it off.

Dib was none the wiser. He froze as he suddenly realized the mess. There was a big hole in the ceiling of his base, rubble and debris everywhere.

Zim found himself smiling. It was hard to believe that this much damage was done by one little Earth girl. Most human females were delicate and weak, but Gaz…. she was a hurricane of destruction.

He certainly had his work cut out for him, and yet, to his surprise, Zim was looking forward to going to school tomorrow.

Finally, his mission had a sense of purpose again.

"Gir, clean up this mess," Zim ordered. "I have some research to do."

GIR did not answer. He just watched him go as Gaz's and Zim's words echoed in his mind.

"Don't you have any family back home?"

"Someone to love you, and care for you?"

"Love?"

"Invaders need no one!"

GIR felt a tear run down his face; his Master was alone in life, and had been for a very long time.

"No one should be alone." GIR remembered those words from the lady on TV.

He suddenly puffed out his chest in pride. He would find someone for his Master, his true love, and then he would be happy.

GIR nodded to himself in agreement and began his work, not knowing that Zim himself was hatching his own version of a much eviler love story.

"And so it begins, little Gaz." Zim chuckled to himself as he watched Dib and Gaz on his security video.

They turned and walked down the street, away from his home; oblivious to the fact that they fell for his little ploy. He zoomed the camera in on his target.

"And so, it begins." He laughed evilly, his laughter echoing off the high celling of his control room.

Soon the Earth will be his.

Yes, it was only a matter of time before all the races of the Earth served the Irken Empire.

[Later With Dib]

(Location: The Graveyard)

The pain…

Nothing could dull the pain.

How could he...?

They say time heals all wounds, but still… how could he?!

Dib stood before a large tombstone depicting an angel, tears swelling in his eyes. He remembered when Dad refused to go to work every year on this day. He remembered how he and Gaz never went to school. He remembered the way his sister used to sit in front of the door and wait for Mom to come home, but she never did. And one day Gaz gave up on waiting; Dad started going to work, and both Membrane kids started going to school on this day each year.

How could time be so cruel? Why did it have to heal all wounds? Couldn't it just leave some well enough alone?!

"Hey Mom." Dib placed some flowers on her grave. He could still remember her smile; her long violet hair… how she use to believe him whenever he said there was a monster in his closet. She was the one who had motivated him to face that monster, and when he did, his path to being a Paranormal Investigator had begun. "It's been a while." He turned around to see his Dad and Gaz, both waiting for him to finish up, neither of them making him rush. Dib was always the last one to speak to his mother, and for good reason. Dib was there; Dib saw her die.

He remembered the day clearly; it was raining hard. Mom had a car full of frozen food because there was a luncheon the next day. Dad had just gotten promoted to head scientist and Mom wanted to cook something special for him that night for all his hard work. If only that stupid Taxi driver hadn't driven a car with faulty brakes. Dib closed his eyes as the tears began to fall; how could he forget? The crash had happened in milliseconds. Dib, who was in the back of the car, received no damage to himself, but when the Taxi had rammed into Mom's door, she was gone. How could he be so blind? Was he really so obsessed that it could cloud such a dramatic memory? "I'm sorry Mom," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

He walked away; ashamed of himself.

Gaz watched her brother approach them, his eyes coated in tears and staring at the ground. Of course, he blamed himself, he always did. He always used to say that: "If I hadn't been crying over some stupid toy Mom would have seen the car coming." Gaz felt a tang in her heart. She hated this feeling, and this was the very reason why Gaz had adopted the tough-girl act. It was her protection, her shield. This way she would never get hurt again.

Dib suddenly looked up at her. Their eyes met and she remembered how she had cried on Dib's shoulder when Mom died. She did that for days on end, and sometimes she still did. And every time she did, Dib would say nothing. He would just hold her close and let her cry, and when it was over, he never spoke of it. Because he knew; he understood…

Gaz put her hand on his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile.

Dib smiled back. This was one of their better moments. He sometimes found himself missing the old Gaz, the one that was around when mom was still here. She used to cry about everything; now she was the strong one. Mom's death forced her to grow up too fast. When you had a dad that was away working you only had one constant in your life; Mom… and when Mom never came home Gaz filled the role; the cooking and the cleaning of the household. When they were younger a nanny filled that role, but somewhere down the line Gaz replaced her. Dib frowned at the thought; no one should have to be forced to grow up so fast. He wondered what Gaz would be like today if Mom had survived that fateful day.

Dib lost his train of thought and froze, feeling his father's gaze on him. He looked up knowingly. "I'm sorry Dad…"

Professor Membrane patted his son's head and forced a smile across his own pained face. "It's alright son. I'm just glad you're here now." He pulled Dib in closer and hugged him. "I know we don't always see eye to eye, but I want you to know that I love you, son."

"I love you too, Dad." Dib held his father tight. This was one of their better moments too.

Gaz allowed herself to be pulled into the hug; they stayed like that for several minutes, holding each other close.

Zim raised a brow in curiosity, watching the scene play out before him. It had begun to rain hours ago, but the Dib worm and his family didn't seem to notice nor care. Zim himself would be on fire if not for the fact that he had coated himself in paste before going out. He wouldn't be out here, if not for Gaz.

What she said earlier had peaked his interest; they were here to visit a loved one they had lost. Zim had seen people visit these graves often, each of them talking to a stone or two and crying.

'So, this is a form of love?'Zim thought to himself, not quite understanding. When an Irken died there was no funeral, as the Earthlings called it, and unless they were someone very important, like a commander or the Tallest, they weren't even given a moment of silence. They were gone and it did not bring a tear to any of the Irkens' eyes. He couldn't understand it; how was he to use Gaz if he didn't even understand love?

'What is love?'All he knew was what he had read, which didn't help much. Love was a feeling… some of the books described it as a sickness or an illness that gives you butterflies in your stomach. Zim never felt such a thing, and if he did, he most certainly wasn't aware of it.

Humans used companionship as a means to reproduce while Irkens where created in test tubes. An Irken hadn't been born in the natural manner in centuries. This limited the number of birth defects in their people's population and helped manage the birthrate.

But to Humans it was more than reproducing… It was a bond shared between siblings and family, man and woman, parent, and child… It was a complex emotion, one that you couldn't fully understand until you felt it yourself.

Zim growled in frustration; this was getting him nowhere. What was he going to do? He thought by coming here he could witness an act of love and just… get it. How foolish! He was in pure rage at himself. There had to be a way; some way to slip past her defenses and take root… but how?

GIR watched his master closely. He seemed frustrated… then again, he always was. GIR scratched the head of his doggy suit thoughtfully. This frustration was different somehow; GIR followed his master's gaze to see...

"Gaz," GIR whispered. He looked at his master then back at Gaz, she was pulling away from the group hug and leading the way to the awaiting car. He then looked back at his master once more. His master seemed to be fighting an internal battle. Was it possible? GIR had seen this very scene play out in a thousand of his favorite romance movies. The boy watches the girl, too afraid to tell her how he feels. The girl, totally oblivious to his gaze, much less his feelings, is actually hiding feelings of her own. Was it really possible? Was the answer to the master's happiness really right in front of him? He looked to Gaz again… Had the answer been in front of him all these years and he was just now putting two and two together?! GIR watched Gaz and her family drive off into the rain, down the muddy dirt road. Was it really that easy?

'Yes,'GIR decided, jumping for joy. It was! He could feel it; they would be perfect together. Now how to get them to actually be together?

Zim looked at Gir; his brow rose. "What are you so happy about?" He watched GIR dance around with joy.

GIR froze. He could not let his master catch onto his little plan! No; he had to keep him oblivious. "Can we go on a walk before school tomorrow?" He asked, using his angel eyes.

Zim sighed. "Sure, why not?" Zim looked up at the sky worriedly. "Let's get out of this rain, Gir, before my paste wears off."

GIR nodded happily. His Master was going to be so happy! All he had to do was get them together and all their problems would be solved! GIR followed Zim home, not knowing that if his plan succeeded then his master's problems would have only just begun.

(The Next Morning...)

The sun…

It had betrayed them; it had betrayed them all! Gaz walked down the sidewalk towards the high school in a fit of rage. The sun betrayed her; it had felt warm enough when she left, but now the calm wind had picked up its pace, turning the nice sunny day into a blizzard without the snow. She had forgotten her coat at home. Being the tough girl she was, she didn't want to look like a pansy by going back to get it. So… here she was, in the middle of late Autumn with no coat. She should have known better! Then again, the weather was always changing its mind. It would be cold in the early morning, would warm up around lunch, and all this only to get freezing cold at night again!

She crossed her arms tightly around herself, annoyed. She was going to be late for school if she didn't get a move on! She almost wished she had taken the bus, but as soon as the thought ran through her mind, she voted against it. The bus was loud and full of whiners that never shut up! Plus, it smelled like feet, and the bus driver had a really bad attitude problem. He wouldn't let her play her Game Slave on "HIS BUS." Not since she was caught talking yesterday with the lights on. No… she'd freeze to death before she rode that death trap again. With its squeaky brakes that hadn't been oiled in years, and its emergency doors and windows that were painted shut...

No. She had better chances out here, on her own. She was sure of that.

Gaz rounded a corner, lost in thought, and ran smack into an oncoming idiot, making her belongings scatter around them. Someone who obviously had no idea how to look out for other people walking down the street!

"OW!" Zim yelped in frustration as GIR wrapped his leash around him and whoever the stupid human pig idiot was. Whoever they were they obviously didn't know how to watch were they were going. "Gir!"

"WEEEE!" GIR exclaimed with joy. This plan was bound to work! He had seen it in a thousand Disney movies, where the dog would wrap itself around the two meant-to-be lovers.

"Zim?" Gaz looked at the green alien in annoyance. They were tied up so tight by GIR that their cheeks were touching.

Zim's eyes met with hers. Well; as if his plan wasn't already nearly impossible, this would surely make things more complicated. "GIR that's enough! We're gonna be late!"

GIR froze to see his Master and Gaz struggling to get free. "No; it's not supposed to work out like this. You're doing it all wrong," GIR whined.

"Zim, what is he talking about?" Gaz demanded, trying to get free. Her struggles only made the restraints tighter.

"Your guess is as good as mine; now hold still!" He ordered as he released one of the many tools from his PAK. Gaz watched as a laser gun of some sort began to burn away their restraints. Finally, they're free.

"Don't ever touch me again," she warned as she began to pick up her fallen books.

She froze to find the most horrifying thing she had ever seen. "My Game Slave…" she whispered. "You broke it!" She took the broken device in her hand.

Zim reached down and picked up her books for her. "It wasn't my fault. Gir; apologize!"

GIR bowed his head, tears dripping from his doggy eyes. "I'm sorry."

Gaz just growled and snatched her books from Zim. "You will suffer for this," she warned him, her words dripping with venom. Then she hurried off past them both, heading towards the school.

"Gir, what were you doing?!" Zim hissed.

"Nothing…" GIR looked at the ground, trying to hide the truth.

"You're hiding something. What is it?"

"It's nothing," GIR answered softly.

"Nothing… or something?" Zim pressed.

GIR couldn't take it anymore. The pressure was too great! "I can't do it; you're too smart for me! I was trying to get you together with Gaz like in the movies because you love her!" GIR cried, "You love her so much!"

Zim rubbed his temples in frustration. "Gir, I do not love Gaz."

"Yes, you do! I saw you; you were watching her yesterday at the cemetery."

"Gir, I was watching Gaz because I plan to use her and this LOVE to get to the Dib and ensure my final victory!"

"But- "GIR whined. "You love her."

"No, Gir. It's a ploy, a trick, a trap for little Gaz to fall in. It's not real; Irkens do not fall in love."

"But-"

"That's enough Gir! Now, because of your little incident you've made my plan even harder. You're gonna have to walk the rest of the way home alone I cannot afford to be late again." With that final comment Zim did an about-face and walked away.

GIR sniffled as he watched him go. Why did his master have to be so cruel?! Why couldn't he see that he was different from the rest, and that it was nothing to be ashamed of? He was always so caught up in proving himself that he was blinded by his loyalty. He had no life to call his own.

'I'm not gonna give up,'GIR vowed. His master and Gaz were meant to be, and no Impending Doom was gonna keep them apart. Not on Gir's watch!

(Back with Gaz...)

"Curse you, Zim!" Gaz swore as her Homeroom teacher Mrs. Blancher handed her a tardy slip; the third one this week.

"I believe that's Detention for you, Ms. Membrane," Mrs. Blancher said all snooty-like.

She never knew why, but ever since day one Mrs. Blancher had it out for her. Most of Gaz's detention slips came from her. She tried her best not to growl when she took the pink slip as the bell for first period rang out.

"Now hurry up before you're late again, Ms. Membrane," Mrs. Blancher ordered. Gaz turned and made a beeline for the door; her heart raged with a black fury.

Zim…

"He will pay!"

(ZIM...Homeroom...)

"What?! Zim?! Detention?!" Zim was out raged.

"Yes, Zim. You were late," Mr. Flores told him for the 10,000th time.

"But, Sir, it's not my fault! My dog-"

"Tied you up to some girl. I know, you told me 20 times now, but the rules are the rules, Zim, and this isn't the first time you have been late in the mornings."

"But Sir-"

"I'm sorry Zim, but no. Now hurry: the first bell has already rung." Mr. Flores ordered.

Zim crumbled the pink slip in his hand as he turned to leave. Mr. Flores was as unreasonable as an Irken Commander! He shook his head; how he'd love to just skip school all together, but his mission was Gaz and winning her affection and both of them were here. He smiled as he realized he probably made her late too. "Well, this is going to be an eventful first period." He laughed.

(1st pd...Dib...)

1st period…

It was their battlefield. Every day of every year, Zim and Dib had at least one class together. In elementary they had the same class all day, but junior high had truly tested their skills of hatred and revenge.

Now the only blocks, or classes, they shared were 1st and Lunch. Dib knew he had to make the most of it. He narrowed his eyes at Zim knowingly. He was up to something… yesterday's little show had proven that. Yes, it had to of been a ploy. Dib knew Zim, and the green freak had long ago sworn that he would not end his life until Dib had the honor of seeing him bring Earth to its knees and enslave it for his leaders. So why try to kill him now? It had to be a trick, something to knock him off his guard, but for what? What was Zim planning?

Gaz walked into the room and took her seat. Dib saw the pink slip of paper and groaned.

"Aw, Gaz, not again," he whispered, then his eyes narrowed.

Moments later Zim enters the room, and Dib follows his movement as he takes his seat. Suddenly he notices the Irken holding something in his hand…

A pink slip…

'No.'

Gaz was going to be in detention alone with Zim, his mortal enemy. "Not if I can help it!" Dib spoke with determination. "But how?" He asked himself.

"Easy; all I have to do is get detention!"

End Notes:

Oh No Gir's match making shenanigans have thrown a wrench in his master's plans. Can Zim get his Newest scheme back on track before it goes completely off the rails? And will Dib ever get detention? Find out next time on Invader Zim: Renegades!

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine ;)