The Almighty Error.

Sector Four.

Zims' Perspective.

I slam the door on the Dibs' disgusting face. He can't see the mess that my base has turned into.

"Master! You're home!" Gir embraces me in a putrid hug. I pat his head awkwardly while my wig and contacts are removed by machines.

"Yes, Gir. You should've let me in when I said to! But.. leave me alone for now. I have.. work to do." I gently push the robot soldier away and walk straight to the kitchen, stepping into the trash shoot to be sucked down into the deep underground parts of my base.

Once down there, I grab that humans' clown puppy that I stole after my embarrassing failure of phase two.

"The Dib can't know what I've become.." I grip tightly on the ceramic object. It's become my small trophy of hope. I pull up the map of my Tallests' whereabouts. They have taken a sharp turn from the direction they were originally heading, which was surprising when I first found out. But now that I know their intentions, it's more unsettling.

Looking away, I growl. "They called Zim a defect.. How could they do this to me?! I was their top invader! And now in my efforts to gain their respect again, I failed.." I sit on the ground now, staring at the weird puppy thing in my hands. "The Dib-Human respects me, even if I'm his worlds' threat.. He still somewhat thinks I'm a danger here on Earth."

My hands lower and set down the object on the floor, before laying on my back being careful about my Pak, staring at the ceiling.

"...Computer. Is the Dib still on my property?"

"Yes. Do you want me to have the gnomes shoot at him?"

"Heh.. no, Computer. I'll let him stay. Show me the front yard." A screen lowers from above and positions itself in front of me as I lay motionless on the floor. It flickers on, showing the human investigating around my yard.

That pathetic worm is what made me even return to school in the first place. I saw him on my property on a rainy day about a month ago. He just.. stood there, staring. The Computer alerted me while I was being miserable surrounded by snacks and watching the television with Gir. When I was told that the Dib-Thing was outside of my base, it made me wonder if he still cared about what I was up to.

I have begun to lose my passion and drive for anything. What little energy I had left wanted to see if Dib-Stink could cure whatever pathetic illness has overcome me. That's why I returned to school.

I grab the clown puppy statue again, holding it over my stomach as I continue to stare up and watch the screen.

"My one true proof of victory. It wasn't actually phase two, but.. the Dib human doesn't know that. It makes me feel like I accomplished something after all of that failure.."

•••

It was the next day before I knew it. I hadn't moved from where I lay, my hand still gripping on the stolen object that was now mine.

I sigh, beginning to slug off to the disgusting school after acquiring my disguise. Placing the ceramic puppy by the front door in a glass case, my feet take me out the front door. I notice some poorly hidden cameras spread around my yard, presumably Dibs' work. It doesn't bother me though. In fact, I choose to leave the pitiful devices where they were placed.

I pass by the humans' house and immediately straighten my posture. He can't know how depressing I've become behind closed doors.

Finally getting to the repulsive school, I go to my first class where my seat is in front of my nemesis. Leaning my head in my hand, I stare out the window and wonder where that human might be.

Seconds before their late bell rang, I notice Dib from out the window, running into the school.

'He's late. That's not typical for him.' I shrug, since usually I'm the one who's late. But that's my style. Not his.

He sprints into the classroom and takes his seat, I can hear his pathetically annoying panting from behind me.

"Pst—Zim—"

I turn my head vaguely to look at him, narrowing my eyes to act as though I'm not interested. "Don't speak to me."

He takes one final catch of breath before having the audacity to start again, almost at a whisper. "Tell me what you're planning! What don't you want me to see in your base?!"

"Phase three, stupid." I turn my head away. It was a lie. There was no phase three. All that was hidden within the confides of my base was an utter mess. But I couldn't tell him that.

My desires to invade Earth ceased once again when the Tallest shamed me after the accidental Florpus hole. But now whenever I was around the Dib, I somehow wanted the desire to do something to this puny rock.

I couldn't explain the feelings circling within me. Hurt. Anger. Abandonment.

Hope.

I turn my head again to look back at Dib, seeing he still hadn't taken his dumb eyes off of me.

"What's phase three?"

I wasn't sure yet. But seeing how driven the human was to stop me from doing something I haven't yet planned, it gave me a feeling I haven't had in awhile. Motivation.

"I'm not going to tell you, Dib-Thing." I feel a genuine smirk form across my lips now, my soul somehow becoming more brightened as the seconds go by with this feeling in my Spooch.

He squints at me, trying to figure out if I did actually have a plan or not, still speaking in a low whisper. "I'm going to stop you no matter what it is, Zim."

I feel my adrenaline start to pump. This is the energy I've been needing. The acknowledgment I've been craving.

My smirk only widened as I turned my chair around, ignoring everyone around us. I point a finger at the Dib, my long and narrow tongue briefly slithering out of my mouth. "I'm counting on that, Dib-Thing. Don't let me down."

He leans back in his chair as I start to lean over his desk and get uncomfortably close to him, my devilish grin widening as I inch nearer.

But quickly, I snap back into my seat and face forward when that hideous teacher Mr. Sweets comes over.

"Am I interrupting something, you two?" He slams a ruler onto Dibs' desk, making me snicker.

"Uh—no, Mister Sweets! It's just Zim—"

"No pointing fingers, Membrane! Or else you'll end up with a detention slip." The teacher returns to his desk, I resume my snickering.

It became clear now what on Irk I needed to get back to the persistent Irken I once was. To return to my passionate planning. My devious ideas.

That answer was the human, Dib...Membean. Brand? Brane. Dib Membrane.

Little does he know, I'm going to need him to concoct my next plan.