Invader Zim Affection AU Side Story- How Nellie lost her arm
*Nellie and Dib are sitting on a tree branch outside Zim's base. Dib is holding a remote in his hand and they both appear to be wearing headphones*
Dib: Tonight's the night, Nellie! You and I are gonna sneak into Zim's base and figure out just what his next plan is! You ready?
Nellie: oh, please! I'm a chronic insomniac; I was born for this!
Dib: Haha, good one! That's the spirit!
Nellie: So... How exactly are we getting in?
Dib: That's the brilliant part! I've set up a remote link to shut down Zim's security for exactly seven minutes, once I activate it, you head in first and shut his base's power grid down from inside. I'll follow you after it goes dark. Here's a map of the base, radio me if anything goes wrong, okay?
Nellie: Got it.
Dib *He clicks the small remote in his hand* And...go!
Nellie: *she quickly sneaks inside Zim's base and starts looking for the switch to the internal power grid* where is it...? Come on, I know it's here somewhere...
Zim: *he enters from behind Nellie, casting a shadow over her * hello, Nellie-human...
Nellie: Zim!? *she presses a button on the side of her headphones* Enfield to Mothman; come in, Mothman!
Dib(over headphones): This is Mothman, I hear you loud and clear. What's the situation?
Nellie: Zim found me!
Dib: Crap! Do you think you can hold him off until I get there?
Nellie: I can try...
*The scene cuts to Dib running into Zim's base; the sound of Nellie and Zim fighting can be heard in the distance; then cuts back to Nellie, who is locked in heated battle with Zim. Neither of them seems to be gaining ground on the other until one of Zim's Pak legs stabs into Nellie's left shoulder*
Nellie: *hisses in pain* You sick alien bastard! *She grabs the Pak leg and tears it out of her shoulder, yanking it and sending Zim toppling to the side, but a second Pak leg shoots out at her, piercing through the joint between her left shoulder and torso, causing a scream to tear from her throat* Fuck!
Dib: *runs into the room* What did that horrible alien do to you!?
Nellie: it's nothing, I'm fine. *she stumbles backward a little* Woah... Okay, maybe I'm a little lightheaded, but I'll be fine.
Dib: like Hell you will! We're gonna have to amputate that arm. Here. *he takes off his jacket and ties it around Nellie's shoulder to keep pressure on the wound* this should stop the bleeding for now. I'll handle Zim...
*the scene fades to Zim a battered mess on the floor of his base as Dib carries Nellie away, then to Nellie laying on a Membrane Labs examination table*
Dib: I was hoping to autopsy Zim here, but you're more important.
Nellie: haha... Can't you clean the table after you finish with me?
Dib: heh, true. *He injects something into Nellie's neck* Anesthetic. I don't want you hurting more during the procedure. And yeah, I know, I'm not LEGALLY licensed for this, but I know what I'm doing.
Nellie: I know, Dib. I trust you.
Dib: Hey, once we're done here, I'll have dad outfit you with a prosthetic like the ones he has.
Nellie: mhmm...
Dib: Okay, I have Mysterious Mysteries playing on my phone. Watch that for now. I don't want you seeing this.
Nellie: ok... *she turns her head to watch Dib's phone, which is playing an episode of Mysterious Mysteries*
Dib: *he carefully cuts through what little remaining tissue is holding Nellie's arm to her body before cauterizing her shoulder, setting the arm aside for later use.* Alright, your bad arm is off. You'll have phantom pains for a while, but it'll be fine. I'm just glad it wasn't your neck.
Nellie: yeah, me too, hon. Me too.
Dib: *he kisses her forehead*