Reversed

DISCLAIMER: Zim, Dib, Gaz, Gir, the Tallest, and all other IZ characters I might shove in here belong to the great and shiny Jhonen Vasquez! Woot! Anatole is mine, though. As if you couldn't tell. Me an' my cruddy ol' characters, eh? Reviews are wonderful, flames will be laughed at before I eat them. Enjoy!

Part I: Stupid Inventions

Dib knew he wasn't supposed to be messing with his father's tools, but right now he really didn't care. He just needed to borrow a couple of laser-cutters and splicers to add the finishing touches to his new invention, the Reality Reverser. This little remote control was designed to do just what you think: reverse reality. He wasn't really sure why he'd built this, because it could be pretty dangerous, but he'd been kinda bored lately.

The young paranormalist found what he needed, applied his modifications, and snuck back upstairs and to his room after putting back the tools he'd used.

"It's finally finished," Dib stated to himself as he admired his work. "Of course, now I have to make sure it's locked up safely so no one ever uses it." He frowned slightly. "… Why did I make this if I don't want it to be used?"

"Quit talking to yourself!"

Dib scowled at the closed door through which he'd heard his sister's comment.

"I wasn't ta- … okay, I guess I was, but-"

The door swung open to reveal Gaz, glaring at him over the top of her Game Slave.

"Shut up. We're going to Bloaty's. Hurry up."

Dib sighed and put the Reverser in a small safe he kept under his bed before following his sister back downstairs to leave for the pizza place, unaware that he had been being watched since he first entered his room.

The cloaking device hiding Anatole from Dib's sight was deactivated, and the black-clad man glided over to the young boy's bed and pulled the safe out from under it, tapping on it with his long fingernails as a sadistic grin found its way to his thin lips.

"A plastic safe," Anatole said quietly, his sharp British accent surprisingly pleasant. "Now that was stupid."

* * *

Zim and Gir sat side-by-side on the couch, Gir smiling blankly and Zim with one non-existent eyebrow raised as the Scary Monkey Show lit up the screen of the large television before them.

"Why do you watch this pointless show?" Zim questioned, glancing over at the little android.

"'Cause it smells!" Gir replied happily before shushing his master as an Acne Blast commercial came on.

Zim sighed and got to his feet, walking into the kitchen and climbing up onto the toilet.

"I'll be in the lab. Don't let anyone in or do anything stupid."

"TAQUITOS!" was the only answer he got before he flushed himself down to the lab.

Zim seated himself in his large, comfy (well, it looks pretty comfy to me) work chair and studied the various monitors surrounding him, punching a few buttons now and then and scratching his chin in thought.

Just another normal day on Earth.

* * *

The Massive loomed ominously just outside the atmosphere of Blorch, preparing to leave for the next newly-conquered planet to adjust it to the liking of the two leading figureheads of the Irken empire, the Almighty Tallest.

… Who happened to be lounging in a couple of deck chairs on the bridge, sipping slurpees and munching on potato chips.

"You, small person," Purple called to a passing janitorial drone. "Get us more snacks."

"Yes, my Tallest," the drone replied as he bowed before skittering off.

"It's good to be tall…" Red mused lazily, taking a loud sip of his slurpee.

"So good," Purple agreed.

But, unknown to the two snackers, things were about to change… And probably for the worst.

* * *

Anatole tossed the Reality Reverser up in the air repeatedly, catching it on each fall, as if it were an oddly-shaped ball.

After grabbing the Reverser, he had retreated back to his den, and was now contemplating on whether or not to activate the device now or save it for later.

He caught the little remote one last time, brushing a few strands of his raven hair back from his gaunt face with his free hand, and smirked.

Why wait?

He pressed the largest button on the remote, a dark green one that had "ACTIVATE" printed beneath it in bold white letters, and his wry grin grew. This was gonna be one hell of a show.