The past few years had shown reoccurring themes: GB and Zim getting into shenanigans trying to take over the human race while Jace and Dib try to put a stop to it.
It had become almost like a game to the four, keeping each on their toes. So while it can be said the two parties were rivals, they didn’t necessarily wish total death and destruction on each other.
But rarely, ever so rarely, the parties had to put aside their mutual disdain to conquer a common enemy.
This would turn out to be one of those times.
Dib was of college age now, but he was still often found mulling around Jace’s base, spying on Zim and GB with her, figuring out their next move.
Then, something that hadn’t happened in ages occurred: Jace was getting a transmission.
The screen buzzed, for it was getting worn, and a tall, slim Irken appeared on the screen – one of Jace’s old friends, Xiv.
“Oh! Xiv! It’s good to see you! I–” Jace started.
“Bad news – The Tallest —ed up. You haven’t — oing your job, Jace. I ju —- ng out the Earth once and for all - — off the —- planet —!”
Dib and Jace stared, dumbfounded at the screen. They then looked at each other, freight clear in their eyes.
It had been many long years since Zim had first arrived on Earth, and it was way past due time for him to have completed his mission. At this point, there had been not one, but two more groups of Invaders that had been sent out to conquer more planets. And within all that time, Zim hadn’t managed to take over the one planet he was assigned to. ( Or thought that he was assigned to, more accurately ).
Still yet, he hadn’t changed in his ways in the slightest. While Dib had advanced into adulthood for humans, Zim and GB ( as well as Jace, of course, ) didn’t look a day older than they looked when they had first arrived on Earth. But being stuck in his ways didn’t stop at physical appearances; he was somehow still convinced that his mission was legitimate, completely certain that Earth was just the hardest planet to conquer and that PERFECTION couldn’t be rushed. Day in and day out was the same: He and GB would come up with an elaborate plan and it would blow up in their face either due to their own mistakes, or because of Dib and Jace putting a stop to it. They would fight and quarrel with Dib and his companion, and then Zim would go back to the base and report to his Tallests about his ‘progress,’ much to their displeasure.
Or that was the routine..until his Tallests just stopped answering.
Convinced that this had to be Jace’s fault, Zim had tapped into her base and had been listening to her and Dib’s every move for hours now. Nothing of any importance had really went on yet, though both he and GB perked up at the sound of an incoming transmission.
❝ Did you HEAR that?! ❞ spoke Zim excitedly once it was over, hopping up onto his feet with his hands balled into fists and a grin spread across his face.
“ Hear what!? ” GB asked with a head tilt, unable to make anything out of the choppy words that had came through the speakers. Still, she tried to share in his enthusiasm even if she hadn’t a clue what was going on, hopping up onto her feet too with a wide grin.
Zim scoffed angrily at her, as if it were her fault that the message had come out sounding like incomprehensible garbage. Still, Zim had heard all he needed to hear..or at least, he thought he had. ❝ Must I spell everything out for you? She mentioned the Tallests and Earth. I believe she was trying to tell that TRAITOR to leave. There can only be one reason for this. The Tallests think that Earth is ready for conquest! My Tallests are coming to Earth! ❞ he continued, hands clasped together as his eyes twinkled with a look of pure elation.
“ Wow, already?! “ she asked, as if it hadn’t already been over a decade. “ Great! “ was GB’s immediate first response, if only to share in his joy. However, her grin and enthusiasm quickly faded as his words sank in. The Tallests..coming to Earth? Truth be told, she had long since become disillusioned with the…legitimateness of Zim’s invader status. She had genuinely thought that he was capable of taking over Earth for a long time, but after watching his interactions with his leaders and seeing him receive either absolutely no supplies OR faulty equipment time and time again..
Well. She could easily put the pieces together. But keeping the lie alive for him was easier than breaking his heart ( or whatever was the equivalent of a heart for an Irken, ) and plus, she did genuinely believe in him. He was really good at destroying things, if that counted for anything. But considering that the last time that she and Zim had embarked on a journey that involved using something the Tallests had sent them it had nearly gotten them all killed, she was wary of their intentions. Coming to Earth couldn’t mean anything good.
“ Uh..but, Zim, if they’re telling Jace to leave the planet, why didn’t they tell you to leave, too? What do they plan on doing to the Earth? Are they gonna blow it up? ” GB asked with a vague hint of excitement in her tone, placing a hand upon her hip as she watched the ’Invader’ hurriedly rush around the room.
❝ I don’t have time to TALK! I MUST prepare for the Tallests’ arrival! Go get GIR and Minimoose ready, wont you? ❞ Zim asked, already having hopped into his toilet-elevator to descend to the lower levels of his base.
“ But–Zim, wait! Zim! ” GB shouted to no avail, him already leaving her line of sight as she yelled. It was clear Zim wasn’t going to listen..not that he ever did. As long as he lived a life of denial he would never have to face his past failures.
As much as GB would have loved to watch the world blow up into a million pieces, that would mean she was going to get blown up, too, which was not really on her agenda for today or ever. And if she knew anything about these Tall Guys, it was that they really wanted Zim dead for some reason. Considering that she had only seen things from Zim’s point of view and with little to no context, she really didn’t know why they held such contempt for the Irken. Having only one option left, she turned and dashed out the door, making a run for Jace’s base. Though they were 'enemies,’ maybe she would have a better idea of what was actually going on. Upon arriving, she took it upon herself to bang loudly and obnoxiously on the front door, never one for being very discreet.