Chapter Notes
Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim
Author's Note's: Chapter 2 here we go, please read and review.
(Present Day)
[Location: Somewhere Deep In Space]
He had not been expecting the call.
Nor did he expect it to be about him!
Commanding Officer Lard Nar absorb the news that his Vortian Informant prisoner number 777 was telling him.
An Irken was standing up against Emperor Nax and it wasn't just any Irken but prince Zim himself! Of course, Lard Nar had heard tell of the nuisance known as Invader Zim, however he had never known that said Zim and Prince Zim were one in the same, but now that he thought about it, it did make since.
How?
Well you see each Irken was programed to do one thing. Some were programed to be chefs while other's were scientist, or foot soldiers, Janitory drones, and yes invaders. And while the Irkens were a very formidable foe no Irken was very good at doing anything outside their own programing.
Take Zim for example, the prince was the hire of the Irken Empire which means he was program to lead. To sit down in his big throne and orders others around. Which would explain the invader's bossy tendency and his horrible habit to disobey orders. He was never meant to follow orders, no he was meant to give them.
"This explains…" Lard Nar began, but was cut off.
"Everything?" Prisoner number 777 cut in, and scoffed, there wasn't a person in the universe who didn't know the Irken's story. Thanks to the Irken gossip train, oh yes if there was one thing Irken's were terrible at it was keeping rumors from flying. In just a mater of days the entire cosmos knew Zim's story of rebellion, his love affair with a human, and how he banished the former Tallest to live on the Earth's moon.
Yes, Zim was now the talk of the universe, still the question remained.
"Do you really think he'll be better than his father?" Lard Nar asked the most obvious question.
"Well if he's truly bonded with this human as the rumors state than he will want to please him, and the Dib seems to be the peaceful type." The prisoner answered.
The Dib, yes, he had become as infamous as Zim had these past few days. A boy from a planet no one cared about, having the ability to go up against a Irken noble and win. Yes, the Dib was just as popular as his forbidden Irken Mate.
"He requested you specifically." The prisoner added, looking over his shoulder she spoke. The informant was always jumpy during their calls. However, this paranoia just might be the reason why he has yet to be caught.
"He needs the extra fire power." Lard Nar concluded, again pointing out the obvious. "How long of a break has his father given him?"
"Until Dawn." Prisoner 777 pointed out.
"Earth's next dawn?" Lard Nar asked stunned, that was hardly anytime at all.
"Emperor Nax is many things, but fair is not one of them." Prisoner 777 said.
"If we leave now, we'd make it." Lard Nar said looking to his men now. The rebel group known as the Resisty were all present on the bridge of their new war ship. This one was an old Irken fighter 2000, and she maybe old, but she handled like a dream. "I have many connections." He confirmed. And it was true.
The Resisty may have started off as a joke, but after liberating any soldiers of several other races and their commanders has caused their street cred to heighten. Lard Nar was now the commanding officer of a flight of ten thousand soldiers of several races. Of course, these soldiers were divided among other leaders, fleet commanders as they had become to be known.
And with a single word from Lard Nar they would come to his aid, to Zim's aid.
But should they help him?
He looked to his first mate Shloonktapooxis who shook his head and said. "An Irken is still an Irken."
The crew seemed to nod their agreement until Spleenk added. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"And if we win the war could be over!" Lard Nar explained naturally liking Spleenk idea just as always. (Even though most of them were stupid.)
"Hope this one isn't as stupid as the last." Shloonktapooxis spoke out hopefully.
"Then I'll let him know…" Prisoner 777 began, but Lard Nar cut him off.
"No, we'll leave him in the dark." Lard Nar advised. "Just in case." He added as he signaled the call to an end before sending a message out to the fleets to meet him on Earth's moon, cloaked for good measure.
Yes, it was best that they arrived unnoticed.
Why? Because his first mate was right;
An Irken is still an Irken, and on could never be too sure.
[Location: Earth-Dib's House]
It still felt strange to be in this house…
Sure, Dib and his father had mended their relationship, but Dib was still finding a hard time seeing this place as home. In fact, he was already missing Zim's green walls and Purple décor, and the pictures of them and Gir displaying around it.
"Here we go." Dib said as he helped Zim take a seat on the worn couch within the Livingroom.
Zim groaned as he was eased down into the red cushions, his whole body hurt from his fight with Maz.
Maz…
Zim winced at the thought of his newly late brother as his newly healed eyes threatened to water up. He held it in, now was not the time to mourn, no now was the time for rest for the worse was yet to come. The ex-invader looked around him, begging for a distraction of some sort. He got it the moment he realized just how small his army was.
All he had was Dib his father, Gaz, Tak, and Skoodge.
It was the six of them against the entire Armada.
In less of course prisoner number 777 managed to get word to the Resisty, If Lard Nar and his rebels answered his call then they just might win this day.
That was if they showed up.
"So, what now?" Gaz had been the first to break the overpowering silence that had been slowly wrapping around them like a snake would wrap around it's prey.
Just before swallowing it whole.
For a moment Zim imagines his father is the snake squeezing the life out of him, in all his years of living his father had only spared with him a handful of times. And the ex-invader hadn't been so graceful back then. For a moment he wonders if he's really improved at all. He could just see it now, his father overpowering him effortlessly and ending his worthless life.
Declaring that he could just make another hire.
Zim shook the image out of his mind as he addressed them. "We beat his first test." He said.
"So, your brother was just a test?" Gaz asked.
"Of course." Zim said as if it was obvious. "Father only made him to test me, to push me down the path he wanted me to go."
"Didn't do him much good." Tak scoffed.
"Not true." Skoodge cut in. "Emperor Nax wanted Zim to succeed him and he plans to. Just not in the way he had hoped." He added.
"So, his plan worked too well." Dib said.
"Precisely." Zim agreed giving his mate a knowing smile.
Skoodge couldn't help but look away in guilt at the sight of him. The last thing he said to Zim was still buzzing through his mind.
Zim picks up on it and nods. "We should set up a perimeter, Tak why don't you and Gaz take the lead, set up our defenses and keep watch." He ordered. "No doubt he'll strike at dawn." He added answering Gaz's question from earlier.
"Well that gives us plenty of time." Tak laughed. "Not!"
"You dealt with less." Gaz reminded her.
"Yes, and if I recall correctly your plan was just as stupid as this one." Tak teased.
"So, what's the problem?" Gaz countered.
"Well I…" Tak began, but Gaz cut her off.
"Admit it you're complaining just for the sake of doing so." She shook her head as se loaded a blaster. "It's like you're favorite hobby."
"Okay are you two going to tell us what the heck this is or not!" Dib cut in obviously referring to Tak's and his sister's sudden friendship.
Zim was also intrigued by their behavior, and would also love an explanation. However, he had other matters to attend to. "Can't you too move any faster?" He snapped. "This isn't social hour."
"Oh, I promise I can." Tak laughed. "But Gaz here is a slow as Skoodge's brain waves."
"Hey!" Skoodge pouted.
"Promise hu?" Gaz scoffed. "I remember a certain promise you made to never step foot on this planet again."
"And you promised me I'd never have to see you again." Tak mused as she loaded her own weapons, before handing Gaz her favorite bat. "Tell me do you still swing like you use to?"
"Let's find out." Gaz said allowing Tak to lead her out-side to star patrolling the area.
"okay something is definitely up between those two." Dib added watching them leave.
"Yes." Zim agreed. "And I am sure it is all very interesting, but perhaps you should check on your father."
Dib smiled uneasily, his dad had been down in his lab for a while now, and sure things were better between them, but he still felt a little uneasy about knowing the truth. That he was his clone, and not his son. No! Dib shook his head at the thought, he was his dad! And they had moved passed this, their relationship was on the mend, and he would see that it stayed that way.
Besides he could tell that another relationship needed some reconciling. "Okay call me if you need anything." He told Zim before reluctantly heading down to the lab.
Zim nodded and the two ex-invaders watched him go.
Silence…
It didn't last long.
"Zim I…" Skoodge began.
Zim shook his head. "don't."
"But." Skoodge tried once more. "I…"
"We." Zim corrected him. "We both said things, I betrayed you, and you betrayed me." He place a hand on the smaller Irken's shoulder. "We're both stupid, and we're both sorry."
"Want to pretend it never happened?" Skoodge asked hopefully.
Zim smiled. "I thought you'd never asked." He said and then punched him hard. "But call me your Highness ever again and I will tear you limb from limb."
Skoodge laughed. "So, what are we going to call you when you become Emperor?" He challenged.
Zim's eyes widen, He hadn't thought of that. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there." He moan as he eased himself into a laying position. "I'm catching some ZZZs." He said.
"I'll watch over you." Skoodge stated simply. He wanted to add "just in case" But didn't; there was no need.
Zim smile. "Thanks." Before allowing sleep to take over.
"Anytime." Skoodge told him, and he meant it, Zim had always been there for him, in fact he was probably the only Irken who treated him good at all.
And he betrayed him.
"I won't do it again." He promised.
And it was a promise he planned to keep.
(Back with Dib…)
"Dad?" Dib asked as he entered the lab, only to see his father bent over his work station in a fit of despair.
"No that'll never work!" He yelled throwing a wadded up piece of paper into an already large pile of discarded ideas.
"Dad?" Dib asked taking the newly discard paper and straightened it out before he read. "Dear Mr. President Man Aliens are coming to..." He shook his head. Oh dad."
"We have to warn the masses." Professor Membrane said, not daring to look up from his work. "They need to Know that their lives are in danger, but..." he threw his pen down and gave his son a hopeless look. "How did you do it?" He asked.
Dib smiled. "What tell the world the Aliens are coming?" he laughed. "Dad no one ever took me serious-" he paused as he realized his point. "Oh right..."
"I don't care about risking my career." Professor Membrane said. "I just don't think they'll believe me...in less we show them Zim."
"It worked on you." Dib nodded, as if to agree but shook his head.
Professor Membrane held up a hand, waving the idea the away. "I would never hurt him, but I can't say they...won't."
"Dad..." Dib was stunned.
"You love him, I can see that." Professor Membrane said. "I have failed you as a father so many times, I want to do right by you this time." he sighed. "Just please tell me." He paused. "What do I do."
"Well they won't believe it's Aliens." Dib said. "Plus we should try to avoid mass panic." he added. "What if we didn't tell them it was aliens?"
"What?" Professor Membrane asked.
"Dad you're a respectable scientist." Dib reasoned. "If you told the masses they were in any other kind of danger they would believe you."
"As long as it's not aliens." Professor Membrane shook his head.
"Say a poisons gas got free from one of your labs, that the people should evacuate for their own safety." Dib advised.
"Yes." Professor Membrane said as he seemed to regain his motivation. "We'll say the low levels are toxic as long as there is no long term exposure. Everyone will leave and we can pick up this mess." He started writing feverishly. "How long until the attack?"
"Zim says we have until dawn." Dib answered.
Professor Membrane looked to his clock it was just past 1 AM. "5 hours."
"Give or take." Dib confirmed. "Well be cutting it close."
"I should call him." Professor Membrane decided and picked up the phone.
"I'll leave you to it." Dib said. "And Dad?" he added.
"Yes, Son?" Professor Membrane asked.
Dib smiled. "Thanks." he said, and he meant it. His dad was really trying, and he appreciated that.
More than he'd ever know.
"Anytime."
(Back with Gaz)
"So are we going to talk about it?" She asked the Irken female.
Tak sighed, She and Gaz had set up the perimeter rather quickly, and with the help of Gaz's robot toy army they were keeping watch of the Membrane home. Gaz had wondered why they didn't use Zim's base, after all the Irken tech was more suitable for the job. However, Tak informed her that the Massive had a fail safe for all Irken Tech. If it were to ever fall into the wrong hands the Massive could remote into said weaponry and flip a kill switch that would blow it up into a thousand pieces.
in other words Zim's base was a sitting time bomb that his father probably would blow up the second he was within range.
This explained why they were using only Human tech and weaponry.
"I told you." Tak said. "It's not ideal."
"Seems acceptable now." Gaz said. "What are you afraid of?"
"Everything." Tak admitted.
Gaz frowned, that was the same thing Tak had said last time all those years ago...
Chapter End Notes:
Thanks for reading and please leave a comment. (If you want!)
Until then this is Emily signing off :)
