A/N: This is it.

People, this is it. The other four BS fics are just prologues leading up to this story. It'll be probably as long as all of them combined. The real series starts here. This is IT. This is the real story, this is what I've been waiting to tell you since I started messing around with this crap. This is the end of the beginning.

THIS is Both Syllables.

This is 99 Luftballons.

99 Luftballons

A Buzz Lightyear of Star Command/Invader ZIM/Lilo & Stitch fan fiction

-because I have plenty of time to say both syllables-

Hast du etwas Zeit fuer mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied fuer Dich von
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Dennkst du vielleicht
Grad an’ mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied fuer Dich von
99 Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt
~Nena, ’99 Luftballons’

zerinim: A combination of 'ze' (world, planet) and 'rinimikk' (solider, Invader, destroyer); 'world destroyer'. Used as a name for male Irkens. Fell out of use in the 1940s or thereabouts due to negative connotations.
~Webster's Irken-English dictionary, circa 2010

Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
~Tears for Fears, 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'

2/10/03

8:15 AM

The Academy was on his list of the biggest buildings he'd even seen. In fact, it was third, right after the main hall on Conventia and Irk's graduation chamber, in that order.

This building was much less crowded than either, which was a relief, since this wasn't an Irken planet- this was a planet populated by several species, all so much larger than him that he'd be trampled if they packed as closely as Irkens did. The smells, sounds and sights were all unfamiliar and several were quite objectionable.

But it wasn't a thing like Earth. No. No no, Earth had been something unique... a wet, filthy planet, and he drew a deep breath, internally thankful that he never had to set foot on that ball of muck again.

He touched the small, glass medallion hanging around his neck- it had the symbol of the Irken Invaders on it in black- and smiled, throwing out his narrow chest and striding forward with stiff legs and arms.

The top of the receptionist's desk was about a foot about his head. He popped up on his toes and cried out- in a strong, lusty voice belying his tiny frame- "HEY!"

There was a scuffling sound from behind the desk and a horsy female face leaned out over the top of the desk, peering around.

"HEY!" he cried again, and the face looked down, its eyes widening.

"Oh, hello," she said, blinking. "Is your mommy with you?"

He narrowed his eyes. He’d been receiving these remarks for the last two years. The rebuttal was a long time coming. "FOOL! I am a legal FREAKING adult! I am IRKEN!" That hadn't been a safe claim to make back on Earth, and it felt so very, very good to finally be able to assert the alien heritage he was so proud of. "I am an Irken SOLDIER! And I'm 107 klerfa old, stupid. No, my mother is NOT with me!" He didn't even have a stupid mother. Unless a glass capsule could be considered one.

The receptionist's eyes widened. "Oh. I see."

"I assure you, I'm fully grown. And I wish to join the ranks of the Tyrianga-Taim." He took a wad of money out of his pocket and waved it at the receptionist. "My tuition fee."

"Oh, ummm, why don’t you-“ Her eyes darted around nervously. “Why don’t you keep that for now?"

He shrugged. "Okay." More money for him.

The receptionist came out from behind the desk, carrying a stack of paper. She looked a bit shaken. People around this particular Irken tended to look like that. "Here are some entry forms, sir."

He took them and carried them over to a nearby bench. He set them down and pulled a pen out from his pocket.

Name: ZiM
Age: 162 yEARS
Species: iRKEN
Height: 3'0
Weight: 20lb
Previous profession: SoLdiER, SPy, RESEARCH SCiENtiSt AND i WAS GOOd At it!
Reason for joining the rangers:

He gnawed lightly on the end of his pen, thinking. Then he smirked and wrote down

Because it is my duty.

Don’t you feel your luck is changing
When everything starts to happen?
~Tears for Fears, ‘Mothers Talk’

A/N: Updates will be daily.