Chapter One- A Fight Ensues

A loud cracking sound followed the screams of terror. Dib's body hit the stone wall of the alley after being hit by one of Zim's robotic spider arms. The sudden shock of spine hitting wall left him in a momentary daze, his eyes blurring and his hearing becoming muffled. His legs gave way for a moment and he fell to the cement, sitting against the wall and trying to grab something to relieve his dizziness.

Zim laughed evilly, not paying attention to the huge gash on his own head. The blood had trickled down over his nose and cheeks, dripping from his chin. But he didn't acknowledge it. Such things were petty to Zim, especially when he had bigger things on his mind, like destroying the Dib-Stink.

Zim outstretched his robotic legs and began the uneasy task of walking closer to his victim. At the beginning of this fight, Dib had been anything but helpless, wrecking one of Zim's spider arms to prove it. But now, the fight was nearly over. Zim could taste his victory in the foggy air of the dark alley.

"Foolish earthling! Did you really think you could outmatch ZIM! You are just as pathetic as every other creature on this God-forsaken planet," Zim taunted as he prepared to make the finally blow.

Dib's eyes began to focus and his mind raced to find a solution to this predicament. His eyes darted around quickly to find something, anything that could save his life. His hands moved around the general area of where he was sitting to find a stick or a rock or anything to help prolong his existence in the fight. But then, his hand moved over something metallic and smooth. It was a pipe of some sort, embedded into the cement right beneath him.

I've got to time this just right, he thought to himself.

Zim reared back his sharp metallic arm, ready to impale Dib right through the stomach. But Dib, using what little strength he had left, rocketed out of the way of the blow, rolling across the ground to get out of the way for what was hopefully to come.

The metal spider arm pierced through the pipe, sending a huge stream of burning steam into the alley. Zim screamed in pain as the vapor scorched him and the moisture caused his skin to sizzle and burn. He retracted his spider legs and fell to the ground rolling in pain and anguish.

Dib watched and panted heavily, having almost no energy to continue. But, seeing his enemy in such pain brought a sadistic smile to his face.

"That's what you get for not showering in paste this morning, Zim," he jeered, still panting heavily.

The clouds of steam were beginning to clear, and Dib knew that he could not continue to fight. He would have to retreat, but only for now. Their paths would cross again at school. So Dib reached for his backpack and ran as best he could out of the alley and down the street, leaving Zim alone and in pain.

Once the steam had stopped flowing and Zim had found enough strength, he got up and limped slowly to the sidewalk. Leaning against the corner, he looked around for Dib, but he was no where in sight.

He growled a little to himself and pulled out his communicator. He pressed a few random buttons and a holographic screen appeared in front of him.

"Gir," he ordered.

The screen flipped on to show Gir eating tacos and drinking a bubblegum smoothie, making as much of a mess as possible.

"GIR! I need for you to come pick me up," Zim commanded.

Gir continued his task of eating, drinking, and humming cheerfully, paying no heed to his master.

"GIR! Hey! Gir, I'm talking to you," he yelled at the floating screen in front of him.

But the little robot servant did not respond, indulging himself in earthly pleasures.

"GIIIIIRRRRRR!"

"Oh, hi master," Gir responded with a smile, "When did you get home!"

"I'm not home, Gir! I'm in a filthy human alley bleeding to death from my head! Now come pick me up," Zim demanded irately.

"Do you want me to bring tacos," Gir asked, holding up one to show his master.

"No Gir. No tacos," Zim responded.

"Awwww…," Gir groaned. And with that, the screen flipped off and disappeared.

Zim looked out to the silent, cold street. The moisture of the fog was causing him some minor discomfort, but not enough for him to react to. He was in too deep of thought anyway. His cheeks burned hot with fury at the thought of having neither won nor lost the battle with the puny Dib creature. Not to mention, he was embarrassed and humiliated at having been caught without his paste protection from the steam.

"This isn't over, Dib-Worm! I'll best you at school on Monday," he said as he continued waiting for Gir.