The Fallen Invader

Chapter 19: Space Roadtrip of DOOM!

I really wish I could've been more prepared. That I could've done something, ANYTHING to prevent what ended up happening. But how was I supposed to know?

We knew that whoever the Tallest sent was close. That was why Gaz was with Zim at his base, helping him upgrade GIR's defenses. Mip went to skool that day, still not aware of the impending threat. I thought she'd be safe there. Heh. No one's safe at skool. What was I thinking?

I was home alone, way too comfortable. It didn't feel like anything was out of the ordinary. Then I heard something making a racket in the garage.

I figured it was Tak's ship, but I wasn't sure why it was suddenly acting up. When I went outside to check, I saw Mip was home from skool. And Tak was with her.

It was surreal seeing Tak again. She was in her human disguise, and she looked almost exactly the same as when I last saw her. She had gotten a bit taller, but she was still short enough to pass for a kid.

This whole time, I assumed whoever the Tallest sent was out to destroy Zim, but it never crossed my mind that Mip could be a target. It didn't make sense. She was completely defenseless and not a threat to them at all. She knew next to nothing about Irk, and I thought it would be best to keep it that way. But I was wrong.

Before I could do anything, Tak took her and flew off in her ship. In that moment, I didn't know how, but I knew I had to get her back.

I ran as fast as I could to Zim's base and burst through the door. Apparently, GIR left it unlocked again.

"Computer? Take me to Zim!"

Without a response, the computer made the floor give away underneath me and sent me down a chute leading to Zim's exact location in his underground base.

"Oh. Hi, Dib. What brings you here?" He asked.

"Tak has Mip."

Zim froze, and Gaz stopped whatever she was working on with GIR.

"Wait, you mean Tak as in that Irken that showed up at skool with a super convincing disguise and almost destroyed the world in a way Zim could only dream of achieving?" Gaz asked, much to Zim's aggravation.

"Yes... She took off with her in her ship, said something about the Tallest wanting her. I have a really bad feeling, we need to go-"

"I'll get her." Zim interrupted.

"Zim, that's my daughter out there! I'm coming with you." I argued.

"It's too risky. No human has ever faced off against the Tallest. Besides, I can handle it myself."

I was at a loss for words. In truth, I agreed with Zim in that he could take care of himself, as he's gotten out of tough situations in the past long before we became friends. But that didn't stop me from worrying.

To my surprise, Gaz spoke up.

"Hey. You don't have to do this alone anymore, alright? I know you don't like to show your sensitive side. Heck, I don't either. But this is really serious, and we're gonna need each other whether we want to admit it or not. Let us help. And let me shoot off your alien weapons when we get there, 'cause they look cool."

Zim mumbled to himself. Irken again.

"Mind translating that?" Gaz asked.

"He said: 'I can't risk losing any of you.'" The computer replied. Zim glared at the ceiling. "What? She asked."

Gaz and I stood side by side, giving the alien reassuring smiles. GIR joined in by toppling over on his face. It's the effort that counts.

"Fine. You can come. Only if you stop with the mushy motivational speeches." Zim said with a sigh.