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Glass Wings

Chapter Three-Burn

Like hell we are anxiously waiting, Like hell burning silently strong, Somehow we fell down by the wayside, And somehow this hell is home, Right now, this hell is my home-Burn (Alkaline Trio)

"Zim..."

He was still the same as she remembered. Even though his appearance had changed, he was still the same Zim.

No longer dressed in his invader uniform, he wore attire fit for a leader. A blood-red cloak draped over his shoulders, trailing to the floor in a fall of liquid fire, the Armada's insignia stitched into the back. He looked almost regal, like a king, or as close to one as he could possibly get.

"You called me?" He asked, a look of boredom on his face as he addressed his co-ruler. Hearing his voice sent a sharp pang through her pounding heart. It hadn't changed either. Despite that, however, she knew she couldn't let herself get drawn into the illusion. Even if it looked like it, felt like it, this wasn't the Zim she knew. She tried to remember that as her amber eyes drank in the sight of him.

How long had it been, she wondered, since she last saw him? She tried to remember, but her memory was like a jigsaw puzzle. There were so many pieces missing to it. After all, time had no meaning when you lived in a cage, when darkness was your constant companion, and the moon and sunlight were strangers to you. For all she knew, years could have passed since the invasion.

A devious expression spread across Red's face as he suddenly locked eyes with her across the room. She glared at him as hatred bubbled anew within her, driving all thoughts of the past from her mind.

"I've gotten you a new slave, Zim," Red grinned, clearly amused by her actions. "One I think you will appreciate." The way he said it sent icy chills up her spine, and she swallowed back the bile that threatened to climb up her throat.

"Is that so?" Zim's voice still held a definite trace of boredom, as if what Red had said was of no importance. He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes half-closed. "Where is it?"

Gaz flinched. Not she, or he. It. A piece of property and nothing more-not enough to be considered worthy in their eyes.

"She's right over there," Red grinned, pointing one spidery finger at her. Gaz scowled at him,
wishing for the day when their roles would be reversed, and he would be the one in chains as she gloated above him.

She steeled herself as Zim's crimson gaze turned to her, but she wasn't prepared for what she was faced with. His eyes were the one thing about him that had changed. Where they were once bright and slightly manic, now they were cold and practically lifeless, as though his soul had been ripped from him. She shuddered as she realized that they were familiar, far too familiar.

They reminded her of her own eyes, emotionless and icy, without any trace of warmth in their depths.

What happened to you? She thought, clenching her fists, her fingernails digging into the flesh of her palms. How could you have changed this much?

She swallowed roughly as his eyes bore into her, trailing over her body. She wondered for the first time how threadbare she must look. She was still in the same clothes she had been wearing the night of the invasion-everyone was. Slaves were not allowed the luxury of any sort of comfort. By now her gray and purple sweater was ripped and torn, especially in the back. Her pants were no better, and her boots had been lost ages ago. Her hair, she knew, was in no better state, and she could only imagine what her face looked like.

"Well," Red chirped beside him. "What do you think? Are you satisfied with her?"

Blood oozed as Gaz clenched her fists harder, fighting against the urge to shrink away. Zim had ignored Red's question, his eyes still trained on her's as he slowly made his way forward. Every fiber in her being quivered with anticipation, her throat dry and her breath rushing past her lips in sharp rasps. He took long, graceful strides toward where she kneeled, the thump of his boots on the cold floor imitating the beating of her heart.

His steps halted at her side, and she forcefully raised her head, amber eyes defiant. She wouldn't show weakness, not to anyone, regardless of the past.

"There's a reason you're giving her to me," He said. It wasn't a question. Gaz flinched as he gripped her chin between two claws, raising her head so that he could look directly into her eyes. She grit her teeth, her eyes narrowed in anger.

Don't touch me, She thought viciously. Flashes of her dream passed through her mind. You're not him, even if you have his voice, and his body. As long as his eyes were different, as long as they maintained that cold indifference, she could believe that. She had to.

"She and brother-Dib, I believe-have proven themselves to be...rather stubborn creatures. They've caused quite a stir amongst the slave handlers." Red stepped down off of the dais as he talked, slowly hovering towards them. "I've lost count of how many new masters I've had to assign to them, in the hopes that at least one of them would be able to break them." He sighed. "Torture seems to have absolutely no effect on them-this one doesn't even scream, doesn't emit one frightened sound."

Zim studied her for a moment, as though considering how such a thing could be true. "Maybe you just aren't trying hard enough," He suggested, his tone smug. Red's eyes narrowed slightly, and Gaz could see his grin falter for a moment before the expression passed and he was smiling once more.

"Do you think you could do any better?" He questioned, smirking. He knew the younger alien would be quick to take the bait.

Just as expected, a smirk appeared on Zim's face as he glanced at his co-ruler. "Of course."

"Very well then. She's your's." Red reached behind his back, into what Gaz could only assume was his PAK, before pulling out a long, thin strap. He pushed it into Zim's waiting claws, a smirk curling his lips as he saw the human's horrified expression.

Gaz jerked her head away from Zim's grip, a sound between horror and repulsion escaping her lips. She pulled back from the two aliens as far as her chains would allow, even going so far as to pull on them in her desperate need to escape. She barely felt it as the cold metal cut into her skin. All she could focus on was the leather strap resting innocently within Zim's claws.

A collar. They were going to put a damn collar around her neck!

"Stay away from me!" She hissed, her words dripping acid as anger and adrenaline pounded through her veins. She could deal with the chains wrapped around her wrists and ankles, could deal with her metal cage, but to put a collar around her throat...She wasn't a dog!

Zim smirked as she continued to struggle against her bonds. Foolish human, He thought, already reaching toward her. Why do they always choose the hard way?

Gaz saw him moving toward her, and her nightmare came back into focus with more force than ever before. She shot her arm forward, her nails raking against cool alien skin with enough impact to snap Zim's head to the side. Horror filled her eyes as she gazed at her fingertips, which were smeared with warm, purple blood.

What have I done? She thought, her eyes drinking in the sight of dark blood. Before she could do anything about it, however, she felt a hard metal force slam into her shoulders. She cried out as she was pushed back onto the floor, four long, metal claws impaling her clothing, and effortlessly pinning her to the ground.

Amber eyes clashed with blazing crimson as Zim pressed his face close to hers. His expression was furious, and his zipper teeth showed white as he sneered at her.

"Do not ever strike me again," He whispered venomously. Gaz glared into his eyes, showing not a trace of fear as they sized each other up. She could see a faint scratch on his cheek, along with a thin trail of dark purple blood oozing down from it. "Do I make myself clear, human?" He practically spat out the word.

Gaz winced beneath the restraint of his metal legs, struggling. His patience wearing thin, Zim pinned her further still with his hands on her shoulders, his legs pinning both of her's together. Effectively trapped now, Gaz could do nothing but lie still, her eyes searing hatred into his own.

"I suppose you have everything under control then," Red remarked, hovering back over to the raised dais. He settled himself into his own chair, boredly laying his head in his hand. If one looked close enough, however, they would see the malicious glint in his eyes, along with the calculating stare he leveled at the two on the chamber's floor.

However, Zim had barely noticed the other Tallest's departure. He was too busy restraining the human to pay attention to anything else.

"Stay still," He demanded, releasing her shoulders to pick up the discarded collar. Fear and repulsion flashed through her amber eyes, causing him to smirk. He reached his hands around her throat, his claws barely brushing her skin. Gaz closed her eyes against the sensation, clenching her fists.

This isn't him, She scolded herself. This is someone else, someone using his face and his voice, but it's not him. Her argument, she realized, was beginning to sound weak even to her own ears.

The collar snapped into place, and Zim released her, rising to his feet as his metal legs retracted. Gaz slowly, painfully rose into a kneeling position, her hands rubbing the skin of her neck that wasn't covered by the leather strap.

So this is what I've been reduced to, She thought, her face grim. Collared like some animal. She cringed as her metal shackles suddenly gave way, clattering to the floor. Bruises littered her ankles and wrists, and dried blood clung to her pale skin.

"Get up, human," Zim commanded, his arms crossing over his chest. Gaz glared up at him, her eyes defiant. "Make me," She hissed. In the back of her mind, she knew she would pay for her insolence, but she didn't care. She could take whatever pain they inflicted.

Enraged by her disobedience, Zim fisted his claws in the tattered collar of her shirt, hauling her up into the air to his eye level. His crimson eyes were practically consumed with fury, yet Gaz showed no sign of fear.

"Human, you are stretching my patience to its limits," He growled. Angrily, he settled her feet on the floor, though he did not relinquish his grip. Gaz could do little but follow him as he turned on his heel and strode toward the door. Her feet could barely catch up with his, and she found herself nearly stumbling into him the farther they walked.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You belong to me now, human," Zim remarked. "and no one else." He glanced over his shoulder at her, his crimson eyes once more reminding her of her dream. "Therefore, you must be marked, so that everyone knows you belong to Tallest Zim."

"Marked!" Gaz nearly shouted, her voice full of rage. "What do you mean marked!" Her voice,
despite the iron-clad restraint she had on it, began to break. "Is this some sort of revenge you're after, Zim? Is that it?"

She suddenly found herself pushed against the wall, Zim's face inches from her own.

"Never address me by that name!" He hissed.

"And why not!" She screamed, the control over her emotions snapping, "I've said it plenty of times before! Far before the invasion-!"

"What are talking about, human?" Zim snapped, regarding her with those cold, strange eyes. "I've never even met you before! Or any of your other pathetic race for that matter!"

He pulled away from her then, and Gaz had to hold on to the wall to keep herself upright. Her eyes were wide and unseeing as her brain tried to process what he had said.

Taking advantage of her passive state, Zim once more grabbed hold of her shirt collar, pulling her behind him. Almost in a trance, Gaz followed, her mind in turmoil.

How could he say that? Did he truly not remember her? But that was impossible! It had to be...

No, She thought, eyes blurring as she stared at him, remembering his eyes, and her dream, and the hell she had lived through since the Irkens had invaded. Was everything that happened before that a lie? A dream? Was this nightmare the true reality, and everything else before it nothing but a forgotten dream?

"NO! Please!"

A human's screamed echoed down the corridor, and Gaz broke free from her thoughts as she glanced ahead to see what had caused it. The only thing that she could see was a large, metal door, though she had no clue as to what it was. Everything looked the same to her, whether it be on Earth in the slave barracks or here on the Massive.

As they drew closer, however, she could hear more than just one human's cries. Multiple screams echoed from within the chamber, some blood-curdling and some heart wrenching. Shivers raced up her spine as Zim led her closer, and she realized with horrified clarity that he was taking her to that room.

As they drew nearer to the door, it broke apart in the middle, sliding into the adjacent walls and allowing them passage into the chamber. Two Irkens stood within the doorway, their eyes watching the spectacle within with barely captivated interest. At the sight of Zim, they immediately straightened, wiggling their antennae in salute.

"What can we do for you, my Tallest?" One asked, his blue eyes reminding Gaz of Furor, their depths swimming with malice toward the humans within the room.

Zim barely spared him a glance before pushing her forward, his grip releashing as she fell to the floor at the blue-eyed Irken's feet. "She's mine," He announced. "A new addition. See that she's marked and returned to my chambers immediately." Without a second glance back at her, Zim retreated from the room, his cloak snapping around his ankles as he did so.

Left alone with the relentless Irkens, Gaz finally allowed herself to see what was happening. Her breath escaped her lungs in an almost painful gust, her eyes widening with terror and revulsion.

Humans, countless humans, were being held withing cages, much like the ones she was so used to. However, these were big enough to house a handful or more of humans. Cluttered together in their prison, they could only watch as one after one of them was taken away, forced to their knees on the floor by two or more Irkens, depending on how much restraint they needed. Another alien, this one somewhat taller than the rest, with glinting lavender eyes, held a long, metal rod in his hand, the end of which was burning a bright, angry red. As Gaz looked closer, she could see that it was actually a large, red 'R', with a circular design around the letter.

Finally, she understood what Zim had meant by 'marked.'

She resisted as she was pushed to her knees, but she was too exhausted, and the Irkens who held her were too powerful. She twisted in their grasp, her eyes searching frantically for Zim. He couldn't possibly let them do this to her...No matter how much he had changed, no matter how much he hated her race...

"ZIM!" Her voice was ragged and filled with an almost desperation. She could see him, farther on down the corridor, his cloak trailing after him. But he still didn't turn around, didn't even acknowledge her voice.

The Irkens pushed her down, gripping her arms and stilling her movements, but her screaming did not cease. She screamed until he was out of sight, all hope dying inside her chest as her heart constricted and bled within her ribcage. The doors slid closed before her eyes, blocking out all means of escape, and further killing what little hope she had of getting free.

The tall Irken, whose lavender eyes regarded her with disgust after her outburst, pulled another steel rod out of a vat placed over a fire. Sweat poured from her forehead as she saw the scarlet 'Z' at its end, burning bright and hot, and inching its way toward her. Her sleeve was ripped away from her arm, exposing her pale white shoulder to the rod's burning gaze.

She screamed as the brand was pushed onto the flesh of her shoulder. The heat seared her flesh, burning it and sending an unbearable pain shooting up and down her arm, crawling along her entire body and snaking its way into her bones. The smell of burning flesh filled the chamber, making her gag and choke as she continued to scream, the sound animal and feral and unfamiliar to her ears. Her nightmare raced before her eyes, screams echoing in the background as other humans shared her fate.

The brand was pulled away after what felt like an eternity of agony. Her arm was completely numb, and her muscles trembled as she turned her aching head, staring at her shoulder.

A diamond shaped design, charred a deep, dark black, stood out against the burnt skin of her arm, a capital 'Z' in the middle of it all. Seeing it made the reality of her nightmare come crashing down on her, and Gaz felt herself slipping away, her eyes heavy and frozen.

She welcomed the darkness that engulfed her, willingly falling into the silence of oblivion.

Tbc

Description
Glass Wings

Chapter Three-Burn

Like hell we are anxiously waiting, Like hell burning silently strong, Somehow we fell down by the wayside, And somehow this hell is home, Right now, this hell is my home-Burn (Alkaline Trio)

"Zim..."

He was still the same as she remembered. Even though his appearance had changed, he was still the same Zim.

No longer dressed in his invader uniform, he wore attire fit for a leader. A blood-red cloak draped over his shoulders, trailing to the floor in a fall of liquid fire, the Armada's insignia stitched into the back. He looked almost regal, like a king, or as close to one as he could possibly get.

"You called me?" He asked, a look of boredom on his face as he addressed his co-ruler. Hearing his voice sent a sharp pang through her pounding heart. It hadn't changed either. Despite that, however, she knew she couldn't let herself get drawn into the illusion. Even if it looked like it, felt like it, this wasn't the Zim she knew. She tried to remember that as her amber eyes drank in the sight of him.

How long had it been, she wondered, since she last saw him? She tried to remember, but her memory was like a jigsaw puzzle. There were so many pieces missing to it. After all, time had no meaning when you lived in a cage, when darkness was your constant companion, and the moon and sunlight were strangers to you. For all she knew, years could have passed since the invasion.

A devious expression spread across Red's face as he suddenly locked eyes with her across the room. She glared at him as hatred bubbled anew within her, driving all thoughts of the past from her mind.

"I've gotten you a new slave, Zim," Red grinned, clearly amused by her actions. "One I think you will appreciate." The way he said it sent icy chills up her spine, and she swallowed back the bile that threatened to climb up her throat.

"Is that so?" Zim's voice still held a definite trace of boredom, as if what Red had said was of no importance. He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes half-closed. "Where is it?"

Gaz flinched. Not she, or he. It. A piece of property and nothing more-not enough to be considered worthy in their eyes.

"She's right over there," Red grinned, pointing one spidery finger at her. Gaz scowled at him,
wishing for the day when their roles would be reversed, and he would be the one in chains as she gloated above him.

She steeled herself as Zim's crimson gaze turned to her, but she wasn't prepared for what she was faced with. His eyes were the one thing about him that had changed. Where they were once bright and slightly manic, now they were cold and practically lifeless, as though his soul had been ripped from him. She shuddered as she realized that they were familiar, far too familiar.

They reminded her of her own eyes, emotionless and icy, without any trace of warmth in their depths.

What happened to you? She thought, clenching her fists, her fingernails digging into the flesh of her palms. How could you have changed this much?

She swallowed roughly as his eyes bore into her, trailing over her body. She wondered for the first time how threadbare she must look. She was still in the same clothes she had been wearing the night of the invasion-everyone was. Slaves were not allowed the luxury of any sort of comfort. By now her gray and purple sweater was ripped and torn, especially in the back. Her pants were no better, and her boots had been lost ages ago. Her hair, she knew, was in no better state, and she could only imagine what her face looked like.

"Well," Red chirped beside him. "What do you think? Are you satisfied with her?"

Blood oozed as Gaz clenched her fists harder, fighting against the urge to shrink away. Zim had ignored Red's question, his eyes still trained on her's as he slowly made his way forward. Every fiber in her being quivered with anticipation, her throat dry and her breath rushing past her lips in sharp rasps. He took long, graceful strides toward where she kneeled, the thump of his boots on the cold floor imitating the beating of her heart.

His steps halted at her side, and she forcefully raised her head, amber eyes defiant. She wouldn't show weakness, not to anyone, regardless of the past.

"There's a reason you're giving her to me," He said. It wasn't a question. Gaz flinched as he gripped her chin between two claws, raising her head so that he could look directly into her eyes. She grit her teeth, her eyes narrowed in anger.

Don't touch me, She thought viciously. Flashes of her dream passed through her mind. You're not him, even if you have his voice, and his body. As long as his eyes were different, as long as they maintained that cold indifference, she could believe that. She had to.

"She and brother-Dib, I believe-have proven themselves to be...rather stubborn creatures. They've caused quite a stir amongst the slave handlers." Red stepped down off of the dais as he talked, slowly hovering towards them. "I've lost count of how many new masters I've had to assign to them, in the hopes that at least one of them would be able to break them." He sighed. "Torture seems to have absolutely no effect on them-this one doesn't even scream, doesn't emit one frightened sound."

Zim studied her for a moment, as though considering how such a thing could be true. "Maybe you just aren't trying hard enough," He suggested, his tone smug. Red's eyes narrowed slightly, and Gaz could see his grin falter for a moment before the expression passed and he was smiling once more.

"Do you think you could do any better?" He questioned, smirking. He knew the younger alien would be quick to take the bait.

Just as expected, a smirk appeared on Zim's face as he glanced at his co-ruler. "Of course."

"Very well then. She's your's." Red reached behind his back, into what Gaz could only assume was his PAK, before pulling out a long, thin strap. He pushed it into Zim's waiting claws, a smirk curling his lips as he saw the human's horrified expression.

Gaz jerked her head away from Zim's grip, a sound between horror and repulsion escaping her lips. She pulled back from the two aliens as far as her chains would allow, even going so far as to pull on them in her desperate need to escape. She barely felt it as the cold metal cut into her skin. All she could focus on was the leather strap resting innocently within Zim's claws.

A collar. They were going to put a damn collar around her neck!

"Stay away from me!" She hissed, her words dripping acid as anger and adrenaline pounded through her veins. She could deal with the chains wrapped around her wrists and ankles, could deal with her metal cage, but to put a collar around her throat...She wasn't a dog!

Zim smirked as she continued to struggle against her bonds. Foolish human, He thought, already reaching toward her. Why do they always choose the hard way?

Gaz saw him moving toward her, and her nightmare came back into focus with more force than ever before. She shot her arm forward, her nails raking against cool alien skin with enough impact to snap Zim's head to the side. Horror filled her eyes as she gazed at her fingertips, which were smeared with warm, purple blood.

What have I done? She thought, her eyes drinking in the sight of dark blood. Before she could do anything about it, however, she felt a hard metal force slam into her shoulders. She cried out as she was pushed back onto the floor, four long, metal claws impaling her clothing, and effortlessly pinning her to the ground.

Amber eyes clashed with blazing crimson as Zim pressed his face close to hers. His expression was furious, and his zipper teeth showed white as he sneered at her.

"Do not ever strike me again," He whispered venomously. Gaz glared into his eyes, showing not a trace of fear as they sized each other up. She could see a faint scratch on his cheek, along with a thin trail of dark purple blood oozing down from it. "Do I make myself clear, human?" He practically spat out the word.

Gaz winced beneath the restraint of his metal legs, struggling. His patience wearing thin, Zim pinned her further still with his hands on her shoulders, his legs pinning both of her's together. Effectively trapped now, Gaz could do nothing but lie still, her eyes searing hatred into his own.

"I suppose you have everything under control then," Red remarked, hovering back over to the raised dais. He settled himself into his own chair, boredly laying his head in his hand. If one looked close enough, however, they would see the malicious glint in his eyes, along with the calculating stare he leveled at the two on the chamber's floor.

However, Zim had barely noticed the other Tallest's departure. He was too busy restraining the human to pay attention to anything else.

"Stay still," He demanded, releasing her shoulders to pick up the discarded collar. Fear and repulsion flashed through her amber eyes, causing him to smirk. He reached his hands around her throat, his claws barely brushing her skin. Gaz closed her eyes against the sensation, clenching her fists.

This isn't him, She scolded herself. This is someone else, someone using his face and his voice, but it's not him. Her argument, she realized, was beginning to sound weak even to her own ears.

The collar snapped into place, and Zim released her, rising to his feet as his metal legs retracted. Gaz slowly, painfully rose into a kneeling position, her hands rubbing the skin of her neck that wasn't covered by the leather strap.

So this is what I've been reduced to, She thought, her face grim. Collared like some animal. She cringed as her metal shackles suddenly gave way, clattering to the floor. Bruises littered her ankles and wrists, and dried blood clung to her pale skin.

"Get up, human," Zim commanded, his arms crossing over his chest. Gaz glared up at him, her eyes defiant. "Make me," She hissed. In the back of her mind, she knew she would pay for her insolence, but she didn't care. She could take whatever pain they inflicted.

Enraged by her disobedience, Zim fisted his claws in the tattered collar of her shirt, hauling her up into the air to his eye level. His crimson eyes were practically consumed with fury, yet Gaz showed no sign of fear.

"Human, you are stretching my patience to its limits," He growled. Angrily, he settled her feet on the floor, though he did not relinquish his grip. Gaz could do little but follow him as he turned on his heel and strode toward the door. Her feet could barely catch up with his, and she found herself nearly stumbling into him the farther they walked.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You belong to me now, human," Zim remarked. "and no one else." He glanced over his shoulder at her, his crimson eyes once more reminding her of her dream. "Therefore, you must be marked, so that everyone knows you belong to Tallest Zim."

"Marked!" Gaz nearly shouted, her voice full of rage. "What do you mean marked!" Her voice,
despite the iron-clad restraint she had on it, began to break. "Is this some sort of revenge you're after, Zim? Is that it?"

She suddenly found herself pushed against the wall, Zim's face inches from her own.

"Never address me by that name!" He hissed.

"And why not!" She screamed, the control over her emotions snapping, "I've said it plenty of times before! Far before the invasion-!"

"What are talking about, human?" Zim snapped, regarding her with those cold, strange eyes. "I've never even met you before! Or any of your other pathetic race for that matter!"

He pulled away from her then, and Gaz had to hold on to the wall to keep herself upright. Her eyes were wide and unseeing as her brain tried to process what he had said.

Taking advantage of her passive state, Zim once more grabbed hold of her shirt collar, pulling her behind him. Almost in a trance, Gaz followed, her mind in turmoil.

How could he say that? Did he truly not remember her? But that was impossible! It had to be...

No, She thought, eyes blurring as she stared at him, remembering his eyes, and her dream, and the hell she had lived through since the Irkens had invaded. Was everything that happened before that a lie? A dream? Was this nightmare the true reality, and everything else before it nothing but a forgotten dream?

"NO! Please!"

A human's screamed echoed down the corridor, and Gaz broke free from her thoughts as she glanced ahead to see what had caused it. The only thing that she could see was a large, metal door, though she had no clue as to what it was. Everything looked the same to her, whether it be on Earth in the slave barracks or here on the Massive.

As they drew closer, however, she could hear more than just one human's cries. Multiple screams echoed from within the chamber, some blood-curdling and some heart wrenching. Shivers raced up her spine as Zim led her closer, and she realized with horrified clarity that he was taking her to that room.

As they drew nearer to the door, it broke apart in the middle, sliding into the adjacent walls and allowing them passage into the chamber. Two Irkens stood within the doorway, their eyes watching the spectacle within with barely captivated interest. At the sight of Zim, they immediately straightened, wiggling their antennae in salute.

"What can we do for you, my Tallest?" One asked, his blue eyes reminding Gaz of Furor, their depths swimming with malice toward the humans within the room.

Zim barely spared him a glance before pushing her forward, his grip releashing as she fell to the floor at the blue-eyed Irken's feet. "She's mine," He announced. "A new addition. See that she's marked and returned to my chambers immediately." Without a second glance back at her, Zim retreated from the room, his cloak snapping around his ankles as he did so.

Left alone with the relentless Irkens, Gaz finally allowed herself to see what was happening. Her breath escaped her lungs in an almost painful gust, her eyes widening with terror and revulsion.

Humans, countless humans, were being held withing cages, much like the ones she was so used to. However, these were big enough to house a handful or more of humans. Cluttered together in their prison, they could only watch as one after one of them was taken away, forced to their knees on the floor by two or more Irkens, depending on how much restraint they needed. Another alien, this one somewhat taller than the rest, with glinting lavender eyes, held a long, metal rod in his hand, the end of which was burning a bright, angry red. As Gaz looked closer, she could see that it was actually a large, red 'R', with a circular design around the letter.

Finally, she understood what Zim had meant by 'marked.'

She resisted as she was pushed to her knees, but she was too exhausted, and the Irkens who held her were too powerful. She twisted in their grasp, her eyes searching frantically for Zim. He couldn't possibly let them do this to her...No matter how much he had changed, no matter how much he hated her race...

"ZIM!" Her voice was ragged and filled with an almost desperation. She could see him, farther on down the corridor, his cloak trailing after him. But he still didn't turn around, didn't even acknowledge her voice.

The Irkens pushed her down, gripping her arms and stilling her movements, but her screaming did not cease. She screamed until he was out of sight, all hope dying inside her chest as her heart constricted and bled within her ribcage. The doors slid closed before her eyes, blocking out all means of escape, and further killing what little hope she had of getting free.

The tall Irken, whose lavender eyes regarded her with disgust after her outburst, pulled another steel rod out of a vat placed over a fire. Sweat poured from her forehead as she saw the scarlet 'Z' at its end, burning bright and hot, and inching its way toward her. Her sleeve was ripped away from her arm, exposing her pale white shoulder to the rod's burning gaze.

She screamed as the brand was pushed onto the flesh of her shoulder. The heat seared her flesh, burning it and sending an unbearable pain shooting up and down her arm, crawling along her entire body and snaking its way into her bones. The smell of burning flesh filled the chamber, making her gag and choke as she continued to scream, the sound animal and feral and unfamiliar to her ears. Her nightmare raced before her eyes, screams echoing in the background as other humans shared her fate.

The brand was pulled away after what felt like an eternity of agony. Her arm was completely numb, and her muscles trembled as she turned her aching head, staring at her shoulder.

A diamond shaped design, charred a deep, dark black, stood out against the burnt skin of her arm, a capital 'Z' in the middle of it all. Seeing it made the reality of her nightmare come crashing down on her, and Gaz felt herself slipping away, her eyes heavy and frozen.

She welcomed the darkness that engulfed her, willingly falling into the silence of oblivion.

Tbc