Invader Zim, its concepts and personalities are copyrighted by Nickelodeon/Viacom. I, BioKraze, own nothing save the original plot of this fanfiction.

"You're leaving? Are you insane?" Dib's words echoed around the vast hallway of the communications room of Zim's base. He couldn't believe what Zim was doing. After what those jerks had said to him! And he was still going to listen?

Zim nodded, his antennae drooped in an emotion alien to the Irkens: sorrow. After almost three years living amongst the humans, the ex-Invader had learned the differences between two sentient races. Zim had learned about human emotions, and how they once applied to his insectoid brethren.

"I have no choice, human. If the Almighty Tallest told me to destroy a planet, I would do it without hesitation. If they told me to destroy a friend, I would not think twice."

Gaz snorted. "And if they said to plunge a Vibroblade in your Pak and feed your squeedlyspooch to a wolf, would you do it?"

Zim nodded again. "If they wish it. I am not in a place to question the motives of my Tallest." He paused. He knew of no other humans he could trust with what may be his final words to these two mere smeets.

His magenta eyes glistening with tears, Zim turned to his former rival. "Dib, I give you complete access to my labs. Use them for your...research. The computer will obey you with alacrity." The sickle haired paranormal investigator nodded, his glasses fogging up with his own tears. The Irken turned to the violet haired Goth.

"Gaz, I want you to take care of GIR for me. Take care of GIR...and keep an eye out for Dib..." Gaz's eyes opened to their fullest, revealing the amber irises common to the children of Membrane. Despite all her barriers, her eyes began to moisten.

GIR, who was hiding behind Zim the entire time, stared at his master. He held a rubber piggy in his hands, his antenna drooped in sorrow. GIR knew that Zim didn't like him. GIR knew, deep down, that his whole existence was a joke.

GIR didn't care. He wanted his master to stay, and his master couldn't. In his soft child's voice, he expressed his desires more eloquently than any orphan could ever hope to.

"Master, I wanna go with you. Can I come with you?" Zim looked at the SIR Unit. Staring into those large cyan orbs was the hardest thing the Irken could ever do in his life. Yet GIR was entitled to the truth, wasn't he?

"No, GIR. I want you to do something very important for me. Can you do this?" GIR nodded, and his normally vacant stare hardened into an expression of concentration. Despite not being in duty mode, GIR knew that his master was going to tell him something special.

Zim kneeled like a soldier being knighted, his magenta eyes staring into GIR's cyan orbs. "I want you to take care of Dib and Gaz while I'm gone. I want you to keep an eye on them. Do whatever they say, but keep them safe."

GIR's antenna lay flat against his head, and his eyes watered. "Master? Are you ever gonna come back?"

Zim closed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm not coming back." As the devoted SIR Unit broke into heaving sobs, Zim felt as if he had crushed the hopes of all those present, but he couldn't tell the others what was expected of him. He knew what the Tallest wanted of him. He was to go destroy the Resisty, alone. It was a suicide mission. At long last, the Irken Empire would be rid of Zim forever.

They all walked outside, where the old Voot Cruiser sat on the lawn. Zim climbed into the cramped cockpit, and waved at his friends. He whispered something to them before he closed the windscreen.

"Goodbye, my friends...Varia Homus Terrakk..." The craft sealed itself up and took off for the great void of the universe. Dib and Gaz stared at the speck of purple that was their friend heading off to battle. Dib shook his head and spoke in a low voice.

"What was that last thing he said?"

GIR looked at them. He hung his head in sorrow. He spoke to the ground.

"His loyalty is here. Varia Homus Terrakk. An Irken phrase. He never said Ircas Empria."

Gaz sat down on the grass. "What does it mean?"

GIR's words were so quiet, the two children had to strain their ears to hear it:

"Man and Earth Forever..."