Author's Notes:For those of you who are curious this episode originated from Chapters 5-6 of the original story Invader Zim Renegades: The Beginning of the End! As always, thanks for reading and I ask that you please review.
Yours Truly, RoxieDivine ;)
S01 Ep03: The Detention of Doom
Episode Summary: Convinced Zim is planning to hatch his latest scheme during detention, Dib spends a ridiculous amount of time trying and failing to get detention. And Later: Gaz finds herself rescued from peril by an unsuspecting hero?!
[Back with Dib]
'How to get detention…? How to get detention…?'Dib let the thought swish around in his head like his morning mouth wash. It shouldn't be too hard. After all, Dib got detention all the time! All he had to do was push Mr. Wilson to his breaking point and then game, set, match!
Dib had to think of something that would give him no room to slip out of the way of his goal. Dib's eyes fell on his pencil… was it really that simple?
'Yes,'he thought. This was it! He'd get detention for sure!
Zim watched as a pencil went flying across the room. It didn't even come close to hitting Mr. Wilson, who was so busy writing today's lesson on the board that he hadn't even heard it hit the wall beside him, much less see it fly by.
Zim laughed. Was the Earth child really that bad at throwing? He smiled. He'd show him how it was really done!
'Of course, it wasn't that easy. Nothing ever is!' At this rate Dib would die of old age before he got detention! Dib watched in utter astonishment as Zim threw his own pencil at the teacher. His aim, as always, was dead on target.
"Who threw that?!" Mr. Wilson demanded as he whipped around so fast it sent Dib's head spinning.
"I DID!" Zim said proudly.
"Detention!" Mr. Wilson yelled.
"But I already have detention."
Dib watched in a swarm of fury as Zim waved his pink slip proudly like it was going out of style.
"Well now you get an extra hour. Alright then class, open your books to page 336…"
Dib's eyes locked with his enemy's; Zim smiled as if to say,'Beat that, Dib!'
'Oh, it is SO on, Zim!'Dib vowed.'It is SO on!'
Gaz rolled her eyes. She could have been blind, and she would have still been able to see the battle that was raging between Zim and her brother. Everyone was used to their spats by now and expected them to have at least one a day, if not more. Gaz knew they had fought over some silly stuff before, but a detention war. Really?!'Only idiots fight over who can get into detention for the longest amount of time!'She shook her head; she could feel that headache getting stronger with every passing second. She groaned. It was going to be another long day.
Dib smiled at the picture on his desk. It was a scientist dissecting an alien; Zim, to be exact. This should get him some detention time. Mr. Wilson hated doodling! He tapped the boy beside him, who wore a black hoody that was almost as dark as his hair.
''Hey, Mark.''
"What Dib?" Mark whispered.
"Tell on me." He showed Mark the picture.
"Why?" Mark asked.
"I need to get detention." Dib reasoned.
"Why? Cause Zim got it?" Mark groaned.
"No! My sister; she needs me!" Dib whispered.
"Gaz got detention. Dude, that is so hot!" Mark admitted.
"Hey! That's my sister you're talking about!" Dib growled.
"Sorry dude, but are you sure you weren't adopted or something?" Mark asked.
"Of course not! Now are you going to help me or what?" Dib begged.
"Okay, fine. But what do I get out of it?" Mark questioned.
"I got some gum," Dib offered.
Mark nodded and said a little louder. "Mr. Wilson, Dib's drawling in class!"
Mr. Wilson snatched up Dib's drawling so fast it was like he had vamp speed. He then held it up for the class to see.
Zim took in the picture and bared his teeth in pure fury. "Insolent fool boy! Even if I was an alien, which I'm not, what are the odds that my intestines would look like that?!"
"Quiet, Zim. Dib, this is an insult to a fellow student! Now, I remember you getting picked on a lot yourself; passing around that hate will not make your life easier."
Dib bowed his head in fake shame. "Yes sir." This was it; he was going to get detention this time, for sure! Or so he thought…
"Zim, since you're the one offended in this situation, what would you see as a fair punishment?"
Dib's world shattered at those words.
"I honestly think he should attend Saturday school," Zim answered with a sneer.
"I think you're right, Zim. A weekend of cleaning up our school will do Dib some good." Mr. Wilson handed Dib a white slip.
Dib's anger boiled. ThatMONSTER!
The bell rang, sounding off the end of first period, and Dib was still nowhere closer to detention.
"See you at lunch, Dib!" Zim mocked. "Good luck at Saturday School!"
"He will pay!" Dib growled as his eyes followed his enemy's departure like a vulture awaiting an old cow's final breath. "I will get detention, and then Zim will rue the day he ever messed with Planet Earth!"
(Later at Lunch)
Dib sat down beside his sister in a fit of misery. His day was almost over, and he still had no luck in getting detention!
He had put glue on the teacher's desk in Mrs. Banner's class, thus gluing her pencil in place, and got sent to the principal's office, where he got let off with a warning.
Then in third period PE he had thrown a ball at Wally, the class president, and just got a couple of mean and confused looks.
Then just last period he had bad-mouthed the teacher Mr. Flores and called him a… well, let's just say he said words that shouldn't be repeated. He got sent back to the principal's office and received a second and final warning before he was sent on his way.
"This is hopeless," he sighed.
"Why do you want detention so badly?" Gaz asked as she sat down beside him.
"It's Zim, Gaz. He's up to something; I just know it!"
"Hey guys," Rachel Hearting sat down in front of Dib at their table.
"Hey Raych," Dib said to her casually. "I heard Gaz lost a bet with Trina. What was it anyway?"
"None of your business," Gaz warned him before Rachel could answer.
"Okay… well then," Rachel decided to change the subject quickly. "So, are you going to my party?"
"I wouldn't miss it." Truth be told, Dib didn't know why he and Rachel started hanging out with each other. She was the new popular girl from Cali, and he was the school nerd, the loser, the freak. She was gorgeous and the most popular kid in school, not to mention her dad struck gold in the lottery and became a celebrity overnight!
But the coolest part about Rachel was that she never forgot how she was once a geek, and she didn't forget her friends like Dib.
"Cool. Sorry I've missed lunch the past few days." Rachel tried to explain. "planning this party has been a lot of work.
"Do you think it's too much?" Dib asked, not wanting to upset her.
"No, I think it's sweet Trina wants to throw me a big party." Rachel shrugged it off. "Why, do you?"
The truth was Dib did think so, but it was Rachel's party, and she was cool with it, then who was he to spoil her fun. "Nah I just wanted to make sure you were having fun."
Rachel smiled. "Thanks, Oh that reminds me; Trina and I have dance lessons set up in case anyone needs help."
"Dib needs help; help finding his brain!" Gaz joked.
"Hey!" Dib said.
"Wow. I can't believe you two are related," Rachel laughed.
"You and me both," Gaz smiled slyly. It was fun to pick on Dib. Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Hey, Pig Boy." Dib turned and received a ketchup-and-mustard pie in the face. The entire cafeteria erupted in laughter.
Only one name registered in Dib's mind.
"Zim!" Dib wiped the ketchup and mustard from his face. "That does it, Zim!" He picked up the mashed potatoes; everyone gasped.
"Dib, put it down!" Gaz warned.
"But Zim-" Dib tried to bring reason to his actions. "He started this!"
"It's not worth it, Dib. Please!" Rachel pleaded.
"You'll get expelled if you start another food fight, remember? You can't get detention if you're expelled." Gaz's last words seemed to hit home. Dib lowered his hand.
"Fine. You win." Zim seemed to smile at Dib's reaction to his sister's words.
'What are you planning?'Dib wondered.'What is so important about detention that you don't want me to be a part of?' He wondered.
Zim smiled. Yes, his plan was proving its worth. He already had Dib frazzled and desperate, and he hadn't even won his sister's affection yet.
Yes… everything was going according to plan.
(Later on, in 5th pd...)
Dib's luck was not looking up by 5th period. He had until the end of this class left to get detention or else Gaz would be all alone facing Zim! He imagined his little sister in the hands of the enemy, hopeless to stop him, crying for help, Zim threatening to tear out her insides…
No. He had to focus!'How to get detention…?! How to get detention…?!'He had tried everything! What was he missing? Dib passed through the threshold of his 5th period class just as the bell rang.
"Dib; detention," Mr. Jackson told him matter-of-factly.
'Really? Was it really that simple?!'How could he forget that he was one tardy away from detention? Seriously?!
Dib took the pink slip and jumped up for joy. "Yes!" He froze as Mr. Jackson gave him a weird look. "I mean, oh man! My dad's gonna kill me!"
Mr. Jackson watched him very carefully as he went to his seat, and then turned back to the board.
'Yes!'Dib smiled. He had done it! He had finally gotten detention!'Better look out, Zim, because the detention room isn't big enough for the both of us!'
Now Mother Earth could rest in peace, knowing that Paranormal Investigator Dib Membrane was on the job!
[Back with Zim]
Detention…
Zim always saw it as a joke. The humans placed all the'lucky ones'into an empty classroom where they got to spend all of 6th and 7th period. The teacher in charge only popped their head in every other hour, thus leaving the'lucky ones'to do whatever they want. What kind of form of discipline was that? On planet Irk, discipline was the art of pain and misery, not this! He looked around him; there was 5 of them today.
Gaz sat to his left, busily drawing something. Zim eyed his target knowingly. The way she focused on the task she had set before her, paying attention to every detail as if each one was the main feature of her masterpiece.
The human girl known as Trina was also there. Her crime? Doing her makeup and hair in class. Was she learning her lesson? Zim watched as Trina dabbed some more blush on her cheeks. No, of course she wasn't.
Sitting next to Trina was a senior named Ron, which Zim assumed was in here for fighting due to the fact that he had a fresh black eye forming. At least the humans were smart enough not to give his attacker the same day of punishment. Now that would really be stupid!
Then finally there was the Dib who stared him down intently, as if trying to read his mind. He still had no idea what his true plan was. Stupid human, dealing with power he couldn't even hope to understand! Dib thinks he can win this war, but he couldn't be more wrong.
Zim brought his attention back to his target. He had to break the ice, as they say.
'Just talk to her,'Zim told himself.'She's just a human!'
Zim cleared his throat. "So… what ya drawing?"
Gaz froze. He did not just speak to her! She clutched her coloring pencil in rage. He was the reason why she was in here in the first place! She was missing her favorite game because of him and his stupid robot dog, yet he had the nerve to talk to her?!
'What ya drawing? Really?'Zim could have cut his own tongue out! At this rate he'd never get the Gaz Human to fall for him!
"You will pay," Gaz growled. Zim cringed away slightly. Was she still mad about this morning?
The room fell into an awkward silence.
The Silence didn't last for long.
"So… what class are you missing right now?" Ron asked Trina.
"PE, thank God! I hate it! Coach Blane is soooo annoying!"
"She is rather smelly," Zim agreed, trying to calm himself. A task Gaz's growing stare was not making easy. "I can't stand to be in the same room as her, myself."
Dib wanted to scream. Was his race really this blind? An alien from another planet, bent on destroying them all, was sitting right there! He should be in a laboratory being dissected, not talking about smelly teachers!
"So, what are you missing?" Ron asked Gaz.
Gaz's eye twitched in annoyance. "My Game Slave!" She snapped. "I am missing MY GAME SLAVE because someone can't control their stupid pet!"
"GIR is not a pet!" Zim shot back. "And I did apologize."
"Apologies don't fix everything, Zim! Okay?! They just don't!" Gaz yelled.
Zim bowed his head, as if hurt by her words. "I see. I'm sorry."
"Yikes Gaz. I know you're angry at him and all, but at least he said he's sorry," Trina told her. "I know I wouldn't have."
"Yah. It's just a game," Ron agreed.
"Just a game?!" Gaz's eyes narrowed at Ron. The Game Slave 2 was not just some game! It was her life! Her soul! Her very being! And Zim… Zim had destroyed it!
"Hear me, Zim, and hear me well. From this day forth, until the end of all time, I will make you suffer!"
Zim could actually feel himself shaking. This wasn't good! His whole plan would be ruined if he didn't find a way to fix Gir's mistake!
"Take that, ZIM! Now you have two mortal enemies!" Dib exclaimed. "We are now two siblings united!"
"Sit down!" Everyone in the room froze.
No… they all knew that voice!
Mrs. Bitters walked into the room with her usual dark features and scanned their faces. Having recently retired, Mrs. Bitters spent her free time filling in as a substitute teacher.
"Ah, Ms. Membrane, why am I not surprised? And Dib, let me guess, you were late."
Dib smiled shyly because, of course, she was right.
"And Zim. I'm sure you'll say it was Dib's fault."
"Actually, this time it was my dog," Zim laughed uneasily.
"That was my second guess; it's always one or the other," she said as a matter-of-factly. "Now, there will be no talking in this class," Mrs. Bitters spoke venomously. "There will be no singing, and there will certainly not be any doodling!" She snatched Gaz's picture from her hand and threw it in the paper shredder. "You will not use makeup!" She threw Trina's blush across the room. "You will just sit there and do NOTHING for the next hour!"
The room fell dead silent. No one moved, and none dared to make a sound.
Zim stared at the clock, wishing it to move faster.
… 56… 57… 58… 59… 60!
One minute down and only 59 to go! Dib laughed at himself. So much for some dark evil plan! What was going on with his game lately? He had never been wrong about Zim before! Dib's eyes narrowed at the enemy; what was he up to? He had tried so hard to keep him out of detention, but why? There was no danger here, no big, scaled weapon to destroy them with, and no life-threatening doom… other than maybe Mrs. Bitters.
So, what was it? What was Zim planning?
Zim could feel a pair of eyes on him. No doubt the Dib Human was hard at work, trying to figure him out, but Zim had other things to worry about!
Gaz was still mad at him! What was he going to do about that? He had to think of a plan. Zim pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil and went to write down his new plan.
"No writing Zim. You are to do nothing!" Mrs. Bitters shouted.
Zim lowered his hand, somewhat defeated.'The Witch!'He thought.
… 55… 56… 57… 58… 59… 60!
5 minutes down, 55 to go. This was going to take an eternity!
Zim looked at Gaz, who was popping her knuckles and giving him the'I'm gonna kill you'look. He was SO doomed! What was he going to do?
Then he had an idea. "Mrs. Bitters! I have a dire need to use the restroom!"
"Very well, Zim, but no one else can leave until you get back. It's the rules."
"Yes sir!" Zim saluted her before running off towards the bathroom.
"Gir, meet me at the store! We have to fix your silly mistake before it ruins everything," Zim said, sending a message to GIR as he ran towards the nearest exit of the school.
"Where're we going?" GIR asked with a dopey tone.
"To replace the game you broke," Zim snapped. "Hopefully there are still some GS2's in stock."
"No! You can't just replace it!" GIR exclaimed.
"Why not?" Zim asked, coming to a halt.
"You want her to fall in love with you, right?" GIR reasoned.
"Yes," Zim nodded, paying close attention now.
"Then you have to do one better!"
"How?" Zim asked.
"Get her the GS3! Duh…" GIR said as if it was obvious.
"Gir, those don't come out for weeks! I need a solution now!" Zim argued.
"Then just use the time machine." GIR said in a moment of genius.
Zim froze. Of course! Why didn't he think about that? "Excellent Gir! New plan; meet me in the lab. We're going to the future!"
'He's up to something.'Dib's eyes narrowed at the empty chair across the room. Yes, his chair!
Zim was up to something; he just knew it! He had to stop him… Dib looked at the clock hopefully.
… 54… 55… 56… 57… 58… 59… 60.
50 minutes to go.
Yup. It was official.
They were all doomed!
(A few weeks into the future...)
The Future…
Zim wasn't sure what he was hoping for.
Maybe he had this strange hope that 3 weeks from today there would be Irken flags waving high, and that the Dib would have been sentenced to rot as the pig-stink he is. His hopes were not even close to the truth. It was still the same boring filth Zim had become accustomed to in his six years of Earthling madness. The line for the Game Slave 3 was so long Zim was convinced he'd die of old age before he got the stupid game.'She better turn into mush after I do this for her!'He groaned, knowing that he had to be back in detention before the final bell if he wanted to give the game to Gaz.
The line of eager gamers went on and on. Zim rolled his eyes. "This better be worth it, Gir."
"It'll work. You'll see!" GIR assured him.
"Oh, it better! It better work…"
(Back to the Present...)
She smelled it before she saw it. At first Gaz thought it was Mrs. Bitter's skin, which always baked in the sun. After all, the glare from the window was baring down on her. Alas, Mrs. Bitters wasn't burning, but something was. "You smell that?" Gaz asked out loud.
"Quiet!" Mrs. Bitters ordered.
"But the smell! It smells like…" Gaz froze as she saw it; the source of the smell was licking up the far wall closest to the window. She knew what it was, but her mind could not form the words. Luckily someone else had control of their mouth.
"FIRE!" Trina screamed as the flames raced across the floor along the far wall.
"Children, move quickly," Mrs. Bitters urged them out the door as she pulled the fire alarm by her desk. The kids obeyed, running into the outside hall towards the closest stairwell.
'It must be coming from the science wing,'Gaz thought, coughing up smoke. This floor was directly above the science labs. As if to prove her theory, the floor beneath them began to crack and flames roared up to the surface, thus dividing the group of students from each other with a wall of fire.
"Gaz!" Dib screamed as his sister disappeared behind smoke and flame. "No!" He fell to his knees, not able to register what his eyes had just seen. "Gaz!" He prepared to run into the flames after her, but Mrs. Bitters held him back.
"Let me go! She's my little sister!" Dib demanded.
"You're no good to her dead," she told him before yelling over the roar of the flames. "Gaz, try not to panic. Take the alternate route! Do you understand?"
"Yes," Gaz yelled over the flames, her throat filled with smoke. She ran down the hall to the alternate stairwell, trying to stay as low as possible.
"Just keep moving Gaz," Dib begged quietly. "Please." He ran then, following the rest of the'lucky ones'. This time, however, his movement was motivated by one thought… Zim! He did this! This must have been his plan, and this time he had gone too far!
(Back with Zim...)
Zim walked through the time machine and entered his lab with a sense of pride; the last GS3 was in his hands. ''Yes! I am victorious!" Zim said happily. "Now let's go give it to her."
"No!" GIR exclaimed. "You got to put time into it! You got to wrap it!"
"Gir, I don't have time for this!" Zim snapped.
GIR snatched away the game. "Either you do it right, or not at all!"
"Fine Gir," Zim took it back and took a big, deep breath. He felt a headache coming on. "This better be worth it," he growled.
(Back with Gaz...)
Her lungs were screaming for air. Gaz tried to dodge the rubble as it fell all around her. She suddenly froze in disbelief as she reached yet another dead end. Dead: that's what she was. Dead.
She didn't know how much more she could take; she felt as if the walls were closing in on all sides. She turned to run but her legs no longer worked. She crumbled to the ground as the darkness swallowed her whole.
(With Dib outside...)
She hadn't made it out of the building. Dib was frantic; how could he let this happen?! That should be him in there, not his little sister! What kind of brother was he; that he would allow himself to run ahead of his own sister?! How could he be so blind?! Now Gaz may never make…
No!
He forced himself not to think that way. He had to keep hoping, for Gaz's sake.'Please,'he begged. "Please be okay."
(Back to Zim...)
"There; finished," Zim announce as he held up the wrapped gift. He turned to GIR who was watching TV. "Let's go Gir. We-" Zim stopped mid-sentence as an urgent broadcast interrupted Gir's show.
"We interrupt this show-"
"Hey! I was watching that!" GIR yelled.
"Silence Gir!" Zim ordered as he turned up the volume on the TV.
"Oh, it's just horrible!" A woman stood in front of a high school. Specifically, Zim's high school, and it was on fire. "We have just received word that a young girl is still trapped inside." She turned to a man and asked: "Please, sir, could you tell us the name of the poor girl who's trapped?"
"It's the Professor's daughter; Gazlene. Gazlene Membrane."
Zim dropped the newly wrapped gift in shock. Gaz was in trouble! This would ruin everything he had worked so hard for!
"Oh no! Gazzy is in trouble!" GIR whined.
"I know Gir, and we're gonna save her."
(Later with Gaz...)
She heard his voice before she saw his face. Was she dreaming? She wasn't sure. Then again, when did she start dreaming about him? She had to be hallucinating, but she couldn't be. The fire licked all around her and its heat burned her skin. She was definitely awake, which meant this was no dream, so what was he doing here?
Zim stood above her, the robotic arms from his PAK forming a shield around them. "Can you walk?" Zim asked her.
Gaz tried to answer, but her lungs were on fire.
She was a terrible mess. Zim grimaced at the sight of her, and there were tears in her eyes, her hair full of smoke and rubble. Her lips, once rosy, red, were now as gray as the ashes around them. She wasn't going to last much longer here. Getting to the school had been easy and breaking into the burning structure was also no trouble. Not for a trained Irken elite like himself. Still, now that he was here, seeing her condition, he wasn't so sure he could get her out alive.
"I'm going to pick you up and carry you out of here, okay?" It wasn't a question. It was a warning that he was about to touch her.
Pain…!
That was the only word that could function in her mind. Zim scooped her up in one swift motion and held her close. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life.
He tried not to panic as the fire raged on. The firemen were outside trying to get the flames under control, but half the school was already engulfed in flames and there was no way for them to get to Gaz. Zim had only managed to get this far by using his PAK's force field, but it was already down to 20% and he didn't know if it could hold out much longer. If he didn't think of something quickly then they were both done for.
The locker room came into view, and he suddenly had an idea. Don't misunderstand; he did not like this idea. He did not like it one bit! However, it was the only way. Zim made a beeline for the showers, climbing over knocked over lockers with ease. He then turned on all the faucets. Water gushed out everywhere, out of the showers and the sinks. Zim wrapped himself and Gaz in a large curtain made of wool. The window was ringed with fire, but if this worked, they could jump straight through the flames and out to safety. If it didn't then they were both dead. Zim felt the force field give way and then he felt the burn of the water. What he would do for a bottle of glue right now! He bit his lip in frustration.
Gaz groaned as water fell down on her face. Was it raining outside?
Zim hissed as his skin sizzled. It was now or never!
He ran for the window and jumped.
Dib watched in utter amazement as a sheet went flying out of a second story window. The crowd around him went crazy in gasps and astonishment as a green boy emerged from the sheet, holding a passed out but otherwise unharmed girl.
"GAZ!" Dib ran to her, his heart racing. He was by her side in seconds. "Gaz?" Cameras were flashing as each journalist on the scene tried to be the first one to get the latest scoop.
Gaz opened her eyes, but they did not fall on her brother. "Why?" She coughed, trying to breathe. "Why; did you save me?" Her eyes searched Zim's, looking for answers.
Zim smiled at her and turned to Dib. "She's gonna be okay," he told him.
"Why?" He asked "You caused the fire! Why-"
"For your information, pig-smelly, not every disaster is my doing!" Zim growled.
Dib was taken aback by Zim's response. He had known Zim long enough to know when he was lying, so Dib was surprised to see only truth shining in his eyes.
"What would I have to gain from starting this fire? Why save your sister if I did?" Zim moved to get up. "You should be more protective of those things closest to you, Dib. If you don't, you may turn around one day to find them gone, and once that happens you may never get them back." He turned to walk away.
"Thank you," Dib was surprised by his own words, and how easily they came out of his mouth.
"Don't think this changes anything!" Zim smiled back at him; the glow of the fire blazed behind him. "You're still the enemy."
Then he turned and walked away.
Dib watched him leave, holding his sister close as the ambulance rushed towards him. His mind was plagued with questions, but only one shined through them all:
Why save one human if he plans to destroy them all?
End Notes:
So, it would appear Dib's sister has survived but at what cost? Will Dib heed Zim's warning and start looking after the things he loves most before they're gone forever? Find out next time on Invader Zim: Renegades!
Yours Truly,
RoxieDivine;)