Undefeated Champion

“ZIM HIT NOTHING! Zim is the most suUUUPERIOR pilot ever!” he raved and probably would have continued with his tirade for countless hours were it not for the irritated grumble of his hungry spooch.

“Guh…there is no way I’m taking you with me! I’d sooner launch myself into hyperspace! You’re going back!” But as he glared at his tracker, he was met with the horrible realization that they were already well past six hours from Earth as it was. He was not looping twelve hours in space and leaving GIR unsupervised all that time. Oh the horror he could come home to…

“Youuuuuhhrrnrnnf–fine! Watch out for Grocceria. It should be on the left. You’ll see the lane of floating shopping carts…”

Grocceria, really? These planet names just became more unoriginal by each passing. Not that she should expect differently by now. Zim’s part of the universe...  well Zim’s part of the universe was experience. Let’s keep it at that. “Alright fi--  oh hey wait there it is.” Not even getting the chance to return to comfort, her eyes immediately locked on that of a planet not far away. A row of shopping carts leading it’s way to the planet surface. Not to forget a comically oversized advertisement board flickering the planet’s name every now and then. 

Following the trail of carts they made their way to the planet’s ground. All of it made of cold, metal, seemingly devoid of any natural life. Malls and shops as far as the eye could see and rows of customers even longer than that. Taking up the insides, the streets and possibly even more. Gaz scoffs at first glance not at all excited about the implications of this. Does this mean all planets have a pre-destined theme? Must all aliens around this sector go to ONE planet for their stuff? Ugh! She never thought she’d wish for Zim to be able to eat human food. 

To be used was to be needed. In some convoluted way, it all made sense to Hal. The Nimas were people who transcended stupid things like loyalty to individuals. Loyalty to the cause was what mattered, and although Hal would never admit it, she was not completely honest when she said how much said cause meant to her.

Finn was what mattered. His goals were- should be her’s. And maybe when she found him she would feel inspired to know why galactic anarchy was so great in the first place, but that would only come when and if she found him.

Until then, the Membranes were a fascinating family unit.

When she arrived, her goals seemed nebulous to them, to Dib, that had been the point, initially. Mess with him. Do it because it’s fun and because you can. Do it because she could feign a certain amount of emotional complexity her ‘boss’ could not. He was using her too, did it really matter? For having all that she didn’t, the Membrane boy still seemed terribly unhappy.

During the time she was there it felt like a tour of things she’d never had, likely never would have, her life being what it was; a stable place to live, waking up every day in the same place, surrounded by the same people, a guarantee of food and clothing, of enough necessities to last them and then some. Was that love? The assurance of more of the same? To live without the expectation of everything being ripped from under you at a moments notice? 

She wasn’t sure she would ever be able to do it. Hal was content to simply observe. 

With a chuckle, the Vortian girl flopped onto the couch beside Gaz. She hadn’t been very far away before she was summoned. 

“Hey hey hey!” she greeted, “What’s up? Is food happening yet?”

As soon as Hal placed herself next to Gaz, her response was that of a mild flinch. Not enough to be noticeable but enough for her to realize what kind of person she’s dealing with. Hal was an excitable lass, cunning and a force to be reckoned with at times. Then again Gaz also had to admit to herself she knew very little about the alien in question. Only that which her brother told her during his many complaints. Information she time and time again listened to with half an ear. 

Her initial question was going to be of the slightly aggravated ‘what are you doing here?’ kind.  That situation changed at the brink of Gaz opening her mouth however. Interrupted with another inquiry about dinner instead, which frankly threw her off the rails quite completely. Was there a point? It’s not like there’d be a straight answer to begin with. And now, looking the girl in the eyes, the wonder she seemingly felt.. Perhaps there was no bigger meaning to her visit, why would there be? ...Maybe for once she just wanted to be somewhere else. 

Gaz looked away for a moment, still not having answered the girl. Instead turning her gaze to that of her brother in the distance before switching back. This was ridiculous, why did everything always have to be about him and Zim anyway? Their preposterous rivalry? Worse of all why did she have to partake in it all? This was stupid and she knew it. Hal didn’t need this and neither did she. It was time to change the tides, take matters into her own hands. She deserved to make a friend for a change. 

            ❝ – out of my way, filthy human smell! Zim cannot afford to waste his time or amazingness on you today! I need to return to my lab to set my latest horrible scheme into motion! ❞

            It may or may not involve robotic ostriches.

@gazpaz

          “BLARGHDOR SIX?!” he had no idea what that was, but it sounded important. “YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME!!!” zim was already getting up on the couch next to gaz, looking at the controller that was in her hand. 

          “show ziiiiim! i must know this device’s power!!!” 

“More ham whackin’ energy.”

@gazpaz

“Soooo… if the Dib does something stupid,, you will kill him?” he says seemingly making a mental note..

But when she mentions the disease’s fatality towards aliens, he seems to suddenly pay more attention.

“Thats his plan, isn’t it!! He wants to kill me with the disease he’s contracted!!”

“Yes. Sure.” So much for trying to pose an obstacle herself. These two really need each other to get through the day don’t they? Ridiculous. Dib was also ready to jump out immediately as soon as he heard about another one of Zim’s plans. Not that he ever got a chance to because Gaz stopped him before he could even reach the door. That boy looked SICKLY. At least her this-disease-is-absolutely-fatal-to-aliens story is keeping Zim well at bay.