Hey, welcome back. This is a really big chapter here. I mean, it's not long, but… you'll see.

Chapter 21: Reunion

GKND H.Q.

"DECOMMISSIONING?!" Rachel exclaimed. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I feel bad about what I did to Nigel, but not enough to decommission myself!"

"If you want to rid yourself of your sadness, then this is the only way." Dimentia replied.

"But there has to be some other way! Can't I at least talk to him first?"

"No! He doesn't want to see you. Otherwise, he would've come back to Earth and done so."

"Dimentia, please! I want to see him, so I can apologize!"

"There's no point. He doesn't want to see, let alone talk to you. No matter what you do, he'll always be angry with you. If you want him to be satisfied, you'll sit yourself in that chair and be decommissioned. I'm sorry Rachel, but it's the only way."

Rachel held her head down in regret. Dimentia smirked.

The shadow being, who watched from behind the throne, quickly flew off.

Aquaria; Sunny Island

After their battle with Tak, the main group was resting at the beach on Sunny Island, with the sun setting over the horizon. "You know, Dib, I used to never like coming to the beach." Nigel said to him. "My friends always pushed me into going because they thought I was working too hard, and I sort of was. Then over time, I actually got used to coming here. I actually liked going."

"Sounds like you guys had some crazy times back there." Dib replied.

"Yeah. Too bad those times are all over. You're real lucky, Dib. You don't have to stay here in GKND, like us. As soon as we find where Zim is and catch him, you'll be free to go."

Dib looked away. "Yeah…" He turned back to Nigel. "Actually, Nigel, I have a confession to make."

"Hmm?"

"The thing is… Zim didn't really destroy my tracking device. Or at least, not my other one."

"Huh?"

"I put a second one on Zim's ship just in case and it's still active. But I thought if we went to find him and actually caught him, Dimentia would send me back to Earth in an instant."

"Well, why wouldn't you want to go back to Earth?"

Dib was silent for a moment. "Because… I HATE IT THERE! I don't have any friends back on Earth! Everyone in Doomsdale always liked to make fun of me because of my… paranormal studies. Even after I've been saving everyone from Zim's crazy plans for more than a year, they always pick on me, and they never believe any proof I give them about Zim being an alien! I followed Zim up here in another attempt to capture and expose him, an attempt that was probably doomed to fail from the start. But then I met you and Ava, and we traveled together and met these other guys… and, well, I just didn't want it to end. You, Ava, and all the others are the only friends I have in the universe, and I didn't want our good times to end."

Nigel only chuckled. "You think that's funny?" Dib asked.

"No, no, not that! I'm just laughing at the irony."

"Irony?"

"Well, it's just that, every other operative wants to go back home to their own planet, and you're the only one of us that actually wants to stay here."

"Yeah, but technically, I'm not an operative. You said it yourself."

"Maybe, but you're just about good enough to be one."

Dib smiled. "You think so?"

Nigel smiled back. "Positive!"

Nigel's wristwatch started blinking. Dimentia's face appeared on it. "Numbuh 1: it's Dimentia. We need you and the others back at the headquarters ASAP. Dimentia OUT." It turned off.

"That's strange." Nigel said. "For once, she didn't say Number 1."

"Mayhap 'twas a mistake?"

"I don't know. But I guess we should go see what she wants. Let's go, team." With that, Nigel and the others boarded their ships and took off.

Once they were gone, the shadow being came out from behind the trees with a Dimentia mask. "It's not what she wants… it's what I want!"

GKND H.Q.

Dimentia, Rachel, and the Magiblots walked into the hangar, where Zim's ship was still parked. "Dimentia, are you sure decommissioning's the only way?"

"I'm sorry to say, but it is."

"But can't I at least try to talk to him?"

"No. It's best that you leave right this minute. I've already entered the coordinates into the autopilot to take you straight back to Earth."

Rachel sighed. "Fine."

"Psst. Dimentia." called the Blue Magiblot. Dimentia walked over to them. "Just how do you plan to get that Star if you can't take it from her?" he whispered.

"Never worry, you three! I've already come up with the perfect plan. I've already convinced Ms. Goody Two-shoes to decommission herself, but once she gets down to it, I'll sneak into the Moonbase and program the machines to make her forget, not just KND, but the very purpose of that necklace. Once she forgets what it's for, I'll come down to her and tell her it's mine and that I asked her to hold onto it for a while. Once she willfully hands it to me, we'll be all good to go!"

"Great plan!" Yellow replied. "But just one thing: what if she entrusts the necklace to that good-for-nothing brother of hers?"

"I suspect as much, but that problem will work itself out. Since Number 363 is hated by every operative, no doubt that Rachel's successor will order his immediate decommissioning. All we'll have to do is wait for THAT to happen, we convince him to give us the Star, and we'll all live happily ever after!"

"Wow! Way to think things through, Dimentia!" Red complimented.

"If you've been where I've been, you know how to be clever like this."

They finished just in time to see the ship lift off the ground. "Good-bye, Dimentia." Rachel shouted and waved from the ship.

"Take care, Rachel!" With that, the ship took off. Dimentia waved until it was out of sight and said, "Now we play the waiting game. As soon as she's ready for decommissioning, we'll go down and prepare the next step. I'll just watch her in my mirror and wait for that to happen. But first, I need a drink." She warped off.

A few parsecs away

The main group was still flying through space back to H.Q.. Marine's ship had a raccoon-like design, and the young captain had her cockpit open and was letting her feet hang over the edge.

Nigel looked over to see she wasn't even wearing a helmet. "MARINE! Get back in your ship before you drown in airless space!"

"Aw, relax, mate! Where I come from, airless space is a thing of the past! We don't know why, though."

Dib looked on his ship's radar to see a red dot moving away from the GKND H.Q.. "Guys! I've just picked up Zim's ship! Over there!" The team looked to the right to see an Irken ship heading away from the base.

"Should we go after him?" Ava asked.

"I…I don't know. I don't want to be sent back."

"Mayhap Dimentia calleth us to capture yon foolhardy Irken? Then thou wilt have to go back, anyway." Luvbi noted.

Dib sighed. "Yeah, probably."

"Telleth thee what: I will pursue after Zim and thou headeth back and see if Dimentia may reconsider. He shan't be that strong."

"Okay. Good luck." With that, Luvbi flew after Zim's ship, while the others headed back to base.

GKND H.Q.

After landing back in the base, they met up with Dimentia in the main room, who just got back after getting a drink from the fountain. "What are you all doing back?" she asked.

"Didn't you call us and tell us to come back?"

"I was busy doing something else. Someone must have tricked you."

"OI! Who the 'eck is the clown with the weird face?" Marine asked.

Dimentia smacked her face. "Let me guess: you found this raccoon girl on Aquaria and now she wants to join?"

Nigel chuckled nervously.

Outside

Rachel continued to fly through space on Zim's ship, still contemplating whether or not she wants to go through with decommissioning. Her thinking was interrupted when she was blasted by an incoming white ship with angel wings. "Sayest thy prayers, Zim! For thou hast met and untimely date with-" Luvbi stopped when she flew by the ship's window and saw that it wasn't Zim. "Pray, thou art not Zim! Who art thou?"

"No, I'm not Zim! My name is Rachel, and I-"

"Stopeth thine tongue! Didst thou say… Rachel?"

"Uh, yes?"

Luvbi smiled happily.

GKND H.Q.

"Anyway, that's why Marine would make a great addition to the team." Nigel finished.

"So, can't I please join, PLEASE? I can't live without adventure!"

"Alright, fine, you can stay!" Dimentia complied, tired of hearing her voice. "Just make sure you-" She was interrupted when the Magiblots came flying in.

"Dimentia!" exclaimed Blue. "Luvbi's coming and she brought someone along!"

"Who…" Dimentia said, taking out her magic mirror. She gasped after seeing who Luvbi brought back into the hangar. "NO!"

Nigel and the others heard the doors open and looked over to see Luvbi drifting in along with… Nigel's eyes widened. "R-RACHEL?"

Rachel smiled brightly. "NIGEL!"

"NO!" Dimentia exclaimed.

The two friends ran over and embraced each other in a hug. The others watched and smiled after seeing Nigel reunited with his friend. Gabe and Jeremy, who were in there as well, were happy too.

Marine, being the newest member, was the only one confused. "Ah don't get it! Are those two in love or somethin'?"

And then a second later, Rachel grit her teeth and PUNCHED Nigel in the face! The boy fell on his back and everyone else gaped in surprise. "Where. The. Hell. WERE YOU?!" Rachel knelt down and began punching him in the chest. "Not only do you disobey my orders and go on the cake mission, but you have the NERVE to run away with these aliens without a second's notice?! I should have you shoved in the decommissioner RIGHT NOW!"

"Ack! Rachel, I'm sorry! I wanted to say good-bye to everyone, but it was my only chance, and I thought if I didn't take it, I-"

"I don't wanna hear ANY of your EXCUSES! You LEFT ME! You left Sector V, you left Numbuh TEN, you left…you left…" Rachel stopped and started crying into his chest. "You left us…"

Nigel softly put his arms around her. "I'm sorry…"

Dimentia was royally baffled by the performance. "What…What is this?"

"It's love." Ava shrugged. The word made Dimentia wince, and her eye started twitching.

The two got back up on their feet. "Listen, Rachel, I'm sorry I didn't come to say good-bye. It was on short notice, and… well…"

"It's okay. I'm sorry I took you off the cake mission. If I'd known it would be the last time I see you…"

"Well, I didn't technically retrieve the cake. At least, not from Gabe over there."

"What? I couldn't help it was delicious!" Gabe replied.

"You and your appetite!" Infinity scolded.

"Even so," Rachel continued, "if you hadn't went against my orders, you never would've made it here. This place is pretty cool!"

"Yeah, I guess so. Oh! I haven't introduced you to the guys!" He walked Rachel over to the team. "This is Ava. She's from Glomour."

"She looks just like-"

"Numbuh 10, doesn't she?"

"Yeah!"

"Right, anyway, this is Dib. He came from Earth to find an alien called Zim."

"Zim? Hey, that was the alien who kidnapped me and brought me up here!"

"Wait, ZIM brought you here?" Dib asked.

"Yeah. He was going to turn me into his leaders, but when he heard them talking trash about him, he let me go. He's probably trying to get back at them."

Dib remained speechless and shocked.

"This is Luvbi. She's from Skypia."

"I think we already met."

Luvbi chuckled. "Sorry for yonder mishap."

"This tiny alien is Kweeb, from Kateenia."

"Aw, he's so cute!"

Kweeb blushed. "I get that a lot!"

"And lastly, this is Marine the Raccoon."

"Captain Marine the Raccoon. Now, answer me, mate: is she your girlfriend?"

Nigel blushed. "Well, she, uh…" he chuckled nervously.

"He doesn't have to answer that, Marine." Rachel said.

"Awww. Fine." Marine pouted.

"Mayhap we should giveth the two some alone time." Luvbi suggested.

"Yeah, I have to go do something, anyway." Ava said. With that, the team left, followed by Gabe and Jeremy.

"Those are some friends you have there." Rachel said.

"Yeah, but they're no replacement for my old ones."

"That reminds me: listen Nigel, you have to come back to Earth!" Dimentia gasped at this.

"Why?"

"Because everything's a wreck down there! Numbuh 10's too upset to do any news segments, Sector V hasn't beaten a single mission… and we all just plain miss you down there. Even Lizzie and my brother. Please, you have to come back!"

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," interrupted Dimentia, stepping in between them, "but you're not his Supreme Leader, anymore. I am, and as far as I'm concerned, he's staying here."

"You may be his leader, but you don't control his life!" Rachel retorted. "Only he does!"

"Fine! Then I'll let HIM decide! But before you do Number 1-"

"Numbuh 1."

"What. Ever. Just listen to this: your friends on Earth may be upset without you, but they don't need you. The Galactic Kids Next Door need you, and Jirachi… he needs you, too. You wouldn't want to abandon poor Jirachi in his time of need, would you, Nigel?"

Nigel was silent for a moment before turning back to Rachel. "I'm sorry Rachel… but she's right. They do need me up here."

Rachel held her head down.

"Rachel, I-"

"It's okay, Nigel. I understand. They need you and… we don't. And I think it's great that you're helping the Kids Next Door like this. You deserve this rank. (Even though you have to listen to her.)"

"Oh… Well, thanks for understanding."

Dimentia smiled, knowing she's won. "Well, it's great that you two have come to an understanding! I'd like to let Rachel join, but only one kid per planet is allowed, so if you let me show you to the door, I'll-" she began as she tried to shove Rachel to the exit, but was stopped by Nigel.

"Wait! She can hang around here for a little bit, can't she?"

"No, she has to go now."

"Dimentia, please!" Nigel begged. "Just for one day! Let her stay."

Dimentia thought for a moment and sighed. "Fine. One day. But then she leaves. Understood?"

The two smiled and Nigel nodded. He then took Rachel's hand and led her to a doorway. "So, can I get you anything?" he asked.

"Do they have any meatball sandwiches?"

Dimentia and her Magiblots simply watched. "Well, that whole plan turned into a bust." Yellow said.

"Yeah, but at least he's staying here, anyway." Dimentia replied.

"Yeah, but no there's no way she's gonna wanna decommission herself now!" Blue replied.

"So, what's the plan, O great leader?" Red asked, wittingly.

"I'm thinking of something, alright? Let's go get a drink."

The Massive

In a hallway on the Massive, Tallest Red was in an argument with his maid, Consuela, by the windows, holding a bottle of blue substance. "Look, it's not lemon pledge, but it's just as good; it's the same brand, now clean the windows."

"N-Nooo. It leave a filth."

"Look, I don't care about that, just clean the windows!"

"Nnnooo."

Just then, Red's cellphone rang. He checked the caller ID, which read Agent A. "Alright, I gotta take this. Just go feed the soldiers their broccoli." Consuela left as Red answered his phone. "Hey there, you. What's new?" There was talking on the other side. "What? What do you mean she's at the base? …Zim? Gee, why am I not surprised?" Red sighed. "Star Wolf will NOT be happy about this. Alright, just keep spying. I better go let Star Wolf know the bad news."

Just as he hung up, he received another call and answered. "Yo Red, it's Wolf. We searched everywhere, but no sign of this Rachel. However, we did find her little brother tied to a chair and knocked out. He was listening to some REALLY bad music."

"Yeah, my spy just called. She said Zim brought her up to the base."

"WHAT? Well, talk about a wild goose chase! Alright, so what now?"

"Just forget the whole thing. We'll wait for our spy to report again. Red OUT." He hung up and walked away. He then came back and looked to… us?

"And YOU, out there reading the story. Yeah, I'm talking to you! It may be pretty obvious by now who our spy is, but no telling the GKND… or else." With that, he left.

Star Haven

Nigel and Rachel were sitting at the edge of the Dream River, with their feet hanging over the nearly full river. The mariachi band was standing on a nearby tree playing their music. "And welcome back to the happy times of Nigel and Rachel. It has been a few hours since the two reunited, and in that time, they walked around the base, ate meatball sandwiches, and Nigel shared some of his interesting stories with Rachel. The two are now sitting together at the Star Haven. Let us go see."

"…and after we shot a fireball into its mouth, the dragon exploded and Ripto fell into the pit of lava!"

"Did you get the Star?"

"Oh, yeah, it came out of the lava, unscathed. Now it's back here!"

Rachel giggled. "Sounds like you had some exciting adventures!"

"I do, don't I?"

"And… this place is pretty beautiful."

"Yeah… it is."

"It's too bad I can't hang around here."

"I don't think you'd want to with Dimentia!"

"Yeah… but I'd still be with you, though."

"I guess so."

They were silent for a moment until Rachel spoke, "You know, I never once imagined you being at a higher rank than me. I mean, I know you're good and all, but still!"

Nigel laughed. "I didn't either! 'Course, I do miss the days when you were my Supreme Leader. You were a great leader."

She looked away. "So were you."

Nigel looked to see her body was shaking a little. "Rachel… are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. Thanks." She replied weakly. But in a few seconds, she broke down and cried, while stuffing her face in Nigel's chest. "Nigel, please come back to Earth! Please!"

The Brit held her close. "Come on, Rachel, don't cry. You know I'll always be with you, right?"

"Yeah, but it's not the same. Why can't you be with me on the outside, too?"

"Cough, that is a heavily implied sentence, Señorita." The band leader coughed. Nigel glared at them, before focusing back on Rachel.

"Rachel…" She looked up at him. "Smile." …She made a weak smile. "Now, think fast!" In an instant, he pushed her into the water and laughed. She soon climbed back up and pulled him in, too. The two were laughing and playfully splashing each other.

The shadow being, who watched from behind a tree, felt a tear escape his eye.

The Massive

In a dark room on the Massive, Zim was tinkering with some wires in some type of machine. He later stopped and shut the compartment. "There. That should do it. Come on, GIR. Let's find a way out before we're spotted."

The robot was eating another muffin. "I needs me some ketchup!"

As they were about to walk out, Zim looked back and said, "If you thought I was bad with technology before, my Tallest… just wait."

GKND H.Q.

Once the day was over, Nigel and Rachel walked back to the hangar with Dimentia and her henchmen. "So, I guess this is good-bye, then?" Rachel asked.

"I'm afraid so."

"It was great seeing you again, Nigel. I'm glad I got to find you."

"Me, too."

"Oh, that reminds me: Zim gave me these." She walked up and handed him his sunglasses.

"My sunglasses! Thanks, Rachel! I really could've used these back on Secco!"

"No problem. Actually, there's something else…"

"Hmm?"

"Well, I…I sort of… lo-"

"AHEM!" They were startled by an impatient Dimentia. "I don't have forever, you know. So, hurry up!"

They looked back to each other. "So, I'll… see you, Rachel."

"Good-bye, Nigel." With that, she stepped onto the ship and activated the autopilot, which was set for Earth.

Nigel watched as the ship rose into the air and Rachel looked back at him with a sad face. In an instant, the ship took off, and the Brit held his head down in depression.

Dimentia approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know how you must feel right now, but don't worry." She smiled. "Pretty soon, you won't even think she ever existed."

Nigel looked at her, upset, and walked off.

Planet Earth; outside Rachel's house

It was nighttime when Rachel landed back on Planet Earth, in front of her house. She stepped off the ship and looked to the starry sky. While she was happy with what Nigel was doing, she was still unsure of his leader.

Either way, Rachel's heart was filled with sorrow. She finally met with her special friend again, after 3 months, but ultimately failed to bring him back. Nothing changed at all, it seemed. She was glad that he wasn't angry at her or anything, but to her it didn't matter if he wasn't here. She would always feel a part of her was missing inside. She glumly stepped into her house, walked up the stairs, and tiredly plopped down in her bed, tears dripping from her face as she fell into sleep.

The shadow being, who watched from the window, flew back up into space. Once there, he pulled out his sword and spoke to it. "Exor! The time for hiding is OVER! Now is the time for action! Now is the time… I repay my debt. So swears I: the Nightmare KING!"

GKND H.Q.

Dimentia was back in her throne with her Magiblots. "Finally, she's gone!" Dimentia exclaimed. "Alright, since we couldn't get her decommissioned early on, we'll just wait for her official decommissioning, then we'll carry out the plan."

"That's not for another 2 whole years!" replied Blue.

"Well, it's the only option we've got! We can't let Nigel know the Star is her necklace. Not yet. For now, let's get some rest. I get the feeling an old friend will be paying us a visit.

Nigel's room

Nigel was lying on his bed in depression. He heard the door open and looked to see Ava. "You okay?" she asked. He nodded. "I was watching. You looked like you really wanted to go with her."

"I did. But the Kids Next Door comes first." Nigel replied. But in truth, he was more unsure than ever.

"Well, she may be gone, but I'm still here if you wanna talk."

"…Thanks Ava. You're a great friend, too. You and the others."

She smiled. "I should get to sleep, too. Good night." With that, she walked out, leaving him to sleep.

As Ava walked back to her own room, she couldn't help but feel strong guilt.

And there we go. Pretty sad, eh? Eh, not really, but I promise in my later stories, emotional scenes will get better. XD Next time, we'll head to the next world.