Yeah, I know I probably shouldn't have changed this part, but I didn't like
ending the last chap the way I did. *sigh* I wish I had a beta reader.
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Zim tried to stifle a yawn as he leaned back in his chair wearily. He glanced over at GIR and Tanis, who were sitting on the floor, amusing themselves with a game of patty cake. Zim almost wished he was as easily amused; they'd been in space for two months now, and it was amazingly dull.
During the first month, Zim had questioned Tanis over and over about what had happened on the Massive. She didn't know much, and everything she did know, she had already told him at his base.
At the time of the attack, she hadn't quite understood all that was happening until she had got to her Voot Runner and was able to survey the scene from a distance. Much of what they knew about the Amurans and their plan came from a couple of transmissions she had overheard during her escape. The first came from an Amuran from the conquered Massive. It was the message Tanis had told Zim about at his base; it had been an order to some of the other Amurans to capture the invaders. The second had come about a week later, and was a panicked plea for help from an Irken conquered planet. It seemed the Amurans were trying to gain control of the Irken Empire. It also seemed they were succeeding.
Zim shook his head as if trying to dislodge the thoughts. The attacks had occupied most of his thoughts since they left Earth, but it didn't help to think about it. They really didn't know what all was going on, and there wasn't anything they could do about it at the moment.
He looked back over at Tanis and GIR, who had finished playing patty cake and were drawing in a colouring book GIR had kept in his hollow cranium. The little robot has happily filling his page with beavers and cupcakes, while Tanis drew a picture of two baby Irkens. When she finished, she looked up to see Zim watching over her shoulder. She held it up for him to see.
"Aren't babies the cutest?" she asked.
"Uh..." Zim was caught by surprise and wasn't sure what to say. He was spared the effort, though, as Tanis didn't seem interested in an answer. She turned her attention to the drawing, beaming. She usually didn't draw that well.
Zim allowed himself a small smile as she watched her admire her picture. Tanis had been a blessing on the trip. Not only had she kept GIR entertained and out of his way with games and stories, but she also gave him someone to talk to. Something he hadn't realized how much he'd missed until now.
Tanis looked over the top of her paper into space. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, no! They've found us!"
Startled out of his musings, Zim followed her gaze out into space, and was horrified to see three well-armed Voot Cruisers rapidly approaching. He quickly reached for the Voot Runner's controls but decided against trying to run, as two of the Cruisers were soon flanking them and the third was directly in their path. The Cruisers were only twice the size of the Runner, but very powerful, and could easily destroy the tiny ship from their position.
The three companions watched raptly as the third ship slowly approached, still too distant to see it's inhabitants. Zim's claws hovered over the ship's controls, ready to fire at the slightest sign of attack. Tanis' eyes were wide with fear as she hugged GIR tightly. As the ship came closer, two figures could be seen inside.
"HI, SOLDIER GUYS!"
Zim and Tanis jumped at GIR's sudden outburst. The little robot was waving gleefully at the Cruiser's inhabitants, who the duo were utterly relieved to realize, were both Irken. Tanis smiled broadly and waved too, trembling slightly from the terror she had felt just a few moments before. Zim sighed with relief and slumped back in his chair.
The two Irkens in the Cruiser watched them quizzically. They talked amongst themselves for a moment and Zim twitched an antenna, wondering what they were saying about their find. One of the Irkens pushed a button on his ship's console and his voice could be heard over the Voot Runner's communications system.
"This is Gin with the Irken rebel forces. Identify yourself."
Zim leaned forward in his seat and eyed Gin suspiciously. "I am Invader Zim. What are these 'rebel forces' you speak of? Are you rebelling against Amuran or Irken power?"
Gin ignored the question and cut off communications to talk to the other Irken. They seemed to be arguing about something. After a moment of discussion, Gin addressed the inhabitants of the Runner.
"Follow us," he ordered in clipped tones.
Tanis looked slightly alarmed. She hadn't thought of other Irkens as being a possible threat until she saw Zim's suspicion, but she didn't say anything as Zim reluctantly turned the Voot Runner to follow the now retreating Cruisers.
Two of the Cruisers still flanked the Runner as they flew silently on and Zim's eyes widened in surprise when he realized why. After just a few moments travel, they had come upon a tiny fleet of mismatched Irken ships. He supposed the Cruisers were the fleet's defense.
*************
Zim paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back, muttering angrily about 'foolish rebels'. Under the watchful eye of their armed escort, he had been forced to dock the Voot Runner on the fleet's only large ship. Armed guards had promptly split him up from GIR and Tanis. The room they'd then taken him to was dark and bare, except for a small cot. No one had been willing to tell him anything. It had been eight months since the attack on the Massive, and what worried him the most was that he didn't know what had happened since then. He had no idea what state the Irken Empire was in at the moment, or even if he'd just been found by friends or captured by enemies.
He lifted his head up as he heard the door open and was relieved to see Tanis and GIR come in, followed by a tall, red eyed Irken. GIR ran up to his master and gave him a tight, affectionate hug. Tanis followed, but clutched her cap tightly in her claws and danced from foot to foot in excitement. Zim understood her excitement when he saw the Irken she had come in with. He looked a lot like Tallest Red, though about half a foot shorter. His armour was also similar to the Tallest's, though he wore leg armour instead of a hover skirt.
The small invader was surprised to recognize the tall Irken. He stood straight and saluted smartly. "General Rix!"
The general smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. "Hello, Invader. I expect you've been treated well?"
He hadn't been treated badly, really, so he nodded. Besides, he didn't think it prudent to complain.
"Good," the tall Irken said. He indicated Tanis. "Your friend here has told me all about your little trip. I suppose you'll want some answers?"
"Yes, of course." Both shorter Irkens perked their antennae forward and watched the general with wide-eyed expectation.
Rix scratched the back of his neck and peered back at them silently for a moment, as if trying to decide how to word what he was about to say next.
"Well, as you know," he said, "the Amurans attacked and took control of the Massive. What you don't know is that they also took almost the entire Armada."
Zim and Tanis' eyes widened. The Massive was extremely powerful by itself, but control of the entire fleet must have made the Amurans virtually unstoppable.
"It doesn't end there," Rix continued. He scowled as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. "Those FURBALLS used our own ships to gain control of the Empire.
"They rounded all our people up and took them back to Irk. Anyone and everyone with any military or political status was executed, including invaders." He looked at Zim severely. "I myself would certainly be dead by now if I hadn't escaped in the first attack.
"Only a few ships in the fleet escaped, though we were scattered in the chaos of battle. Some were later caught, but the rest of us were able to hide and form a resistance. Some citizens were also able to escape and join us but were still a very small force."
Rix silently watched Zim and Tanis' reactions as he finished. Both Irkens seemed shocked. They knew the attacks had been a terrible blow to the empire, but hadn't known just HOW terrible. Zim looked the most confused by the news.
"I don't understand. When we conquered their planet, we destroyed their military forces! We barely left any alive; they were totally defeated! How could they have accomplished this?! And what about the Tallest? Are they still alive?"
An odd, unreadable expression crossed the general's face as the two shorter Irkens looked up at him questioningly, almost fearfully.
"As far as the Tallest go," he said, "I don't know. As I said, everyone was scattered in the attack. I've not heard anything from them, but, in our current situation, it wouldn't surprise me if they and the rest of our surviving fleet are safe and in hiding somewhere.
"What's much more concerning is the circumstances of our defeat. You're right, Zim, they shouldn't have won, and I hope you understand our caution when we first found you, but we had to be sure you weren't a threat."
Zim looked like he was insulted by the suggestion that he could be a threat to his own empire, but didn't say anything.
"How, then?" Tanis asked. "How DID they win?"
Rix sighed. "Tactics, for one thing. They snuck a small force onto each of our large ships and attacked at the same time. Our guard was down and they were able to take many of our ships before we knew what was happening. Of course, they wouldn't have been able to do that much if they hadn't had help."
Zim and Tanis looked both bewildered and alarmed at the general's last statement.
"At the time of the attack, the Amurans had already had a small number of ships and weapons, not to mention the codes for the security systems on our ships. All things considered, this can only mean that someone - someone of fairly high rank or status - has betrayed our empire."
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I'll beg for reviews now. *gets on knees* Please, please review!
Now, if you've made it this far, who do you want the next chapter to be about? Dib or the Tallest? The next two chapters will be about them, but which do you want first?
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Zim tried to stifle a yawn as he leaned back in his chair wearily. He glanced over at GIR and Tanis, who were sitting on the floor, amusing themselves with a game of patty cake. Zim almost wished he was as easily amused; they'd been in space for two months now, and it was amazingly dull.
During the first month, Zim had questioned Tanis over and over about what had happened on the Massive. She didn't know much, and everything she did know, she had already told him at his base.
At the time of the attack, she hadn't quite understood all that was happening until she had got to her Voot Runner and was able to survey the scene from a distance. Much of what they knew about the Amurans and their plan came from a couple of transmissions she had overheard during her escape. The first came from an Amuran from the conquered Massive. It was the message Tanis had told Zim about at his base; it had been an order to some of the other Amurans to capture the invaders. The second had come about a week later, and was a panicked plea for help from an Irken conquered planet. It seemed the Amurans were trying to gain control of the Irken Empire. It also seemed they were succeeding.
Zim shook his head as if trying to dislodge the thoughts. The attacks had occupied most of his thoughts since they left Earth, but it didn't help to think about it. They really didn't know what all was going on, and there wasn't anything they could do about it at the moment.
He looked back over at Tanis and GIR, who had finished playing patty cake and were drawing in a colouring book GIR had kept in his hollow cranium. The little robot has happily filling his page with beavers and cupcakes, while Tanis drew a picture of two baby Irkens. When she finished, she looked up to see Zim watching over her shoulder. She held it up for him to see.
"Aren't babies the cutest?" she asked.
"Uh..." Zim was caught by surprise and wasn't sure what to say. He was spared the effort, though, as Tanis didn't seem interested in an answer. She turned her attention to the drawing, beaming. She usually didn't draw that well.
Zim allowed himself a small smile as she watched her admire her picture. Tanis had been a blessing on the trip. Not only had she kept GIR entertained and out of his way with games and stories, but she also gave him someone to talk to. Something he hadn't realized how much he'd missed until now.
Tanis looked over the top of her paper into space. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, no! They've found us!"
Startled out of his musings, Zim followed her gaze out into space, and was horrified to see three well-armed Voot Cruisers rapidly approaching. He quickly reached for the Voot Runner's controls but decided against trying to run, as two of the Cruisers were soon flanking them and the third was directly in their path. The Cruisers were only twice the size of the Runner, but very powerful, and could easily destroy the tiny ship from their position.
The three companions watched raptly as the third ship slowly approached, still too distant to see it's inhabitants. Zim's claws hovered over the ship's controls, ready to fire at the slightest sign of attack. Tanis' eyes were wide with fear as she hugged GIR tightly. As the ship came closer, two figures could be seen inside.
"HI, SOLDIER GUYS!"
Zim and Tanis jumped at GIR's sudden outburst. The little robot was waving gleefully at the Cruiser's inhabitants, who the duo were utterly relieved to realize, were both Irken. Tanis smiled broadly and waved too, trembling slightly from the terror she had felt just a few moments before. Zim sighed with relief and slumped back in his chair.
The two Irkens in the Cruiser watched them quizzically. They talked amongst themselves for a moment and Zim twitched an antenna, wondering what they were saying about their find. One of the Irkens pushed a button on his ship's console and his voice could be heard over the Voot Runner's communications system.
"This is Gin with the Irken rebel forces. Identify yourself."
Zim leaned forward in his seat and eyed Gin suspiciously. "I am Invader Zim. What are these 'rebel forces' you speak of? Are you rebelling against Amuran or Irken power?"
Gin ignored the question and cut off communications to talk to the other Irken. They seemed to be arguing about something. After a moment of discussion, Gin addressed the inhabitants of the Runner.
"Follow us," he ordered in clipped tones.
Tanis looked slightly alarmed. She hadn't thought of other Irkens as being a possible threat until she saw Zim's suspicion, but she didn't say anything as Zim reluctantly turned the Voot Runner to follow the now retreating Cruisers.
Two of the Cruisers still flanked the Runner as they flew silently on and Zim's eyes widened in surprise when he realized why. After just a few moments travel, they had come upon a tiny fleet of mismatched Irken ships. He supposed the Cruisers were the fleet's defense.
*************
Zim paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back, muttering angrily about 'foolish rebels'. Under the watchful eye of their armed escort, he had been forced to dock the Voot Runner on the fleet's only large ship. Armed guards had promptly split him up from GIR and Tanis. The room they'd then taken him to was dark and bare, except for a small cot. No one had been willing to tell him anything. It had been eight months since the attack on the Massive, and what worried him the most was that he didn't know what had happened since then. He had no idea what state the Irken Empire was in at the moment, or even if he'd just been found by friends or captured by enemies.
He lifted his head up as he heard the door open and was relieved to see Tanis and GIR come in, followed by a tall, red eyed Irken. GIR ran up to his master and gave him a tight, affectionate hug. Tanis followed, but clutched her cap tightly in her claws and danced from foot to foot in excitement. Zim understood her excitement when he saw the Irken she had come in with. He looked a lot like Tallest Red, though about half a foot shorter. His armour was also similar to the Tallest's, though he wore leg armour instead of a hover skirt.
The small invader was surprised to recognize the tall Irken. He stood straight and saluted smartly. "General Rix!"
The general smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. "Hello, Invader. I expect you've been treated well?"
He hadn't been treated badly, really, so he nodded. Besides, he didn't think it prudent to complain.
"Good," the tall Irken said. He indicated Tanis. "Your friend here has told me all about your little trip. I suppose you'll want some answers?"
"Yes, of course." Both shorter Irkens perked their antennae forward and watched the general with wide-eyed expectation.
Rix scratched the back of his neck and peered back at them silently for a moment, as if trying to decide how to word what he was about to say next.
"Well, as you know," he said, "the Amurans attacked and took control of the Massive. What you don't know is that they also took almost the entire Armada."
Zim and Tanis' eyes widened. The Massive was extremely powerful by itself, but control of the entire fleet must have made the Amurans virtually unstoppable.
"It doesn't end there," Rix continued. He scowled as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. "Those FURBALLS used our own ships to gain control of the Empire.
"They rounded all our people up and took them back to Irk. Anyone and everyone with any military or political status was executed, including invaders." He looked at Zim severely. "I myself would certainly be dead by now if I hadn't escaped in the first attack.
"Only a few ships in the fleet escaped, though we were scattered in the chaos of battle. Some were later caught, but the rest of us were able to hide and form a resistance. Some citizens were also able to escape and join us but were still a very small force."
Rix silently watched Zim and Tanis' reactions as he finished. Both Irkens seemed shocked. They knew the attacks had been a terrible blow to the empire, but hadn't known just HOW terrible. Zim looked the most confused by the news.
"I don't understand. When we conquered their planet, we destroyed their military forces! We barely left any alive; they were totally defeated! How could they have accomplished this?! And what about the Tallest? Are they still alive?"
An odd, unreadable expression crossed the general's face as the two shorter Irkens looked up at him questioningly, almost fearfully.
"As far as the Tallest go," he said, "I don't know. As I said, everyone was scattered in the attack. I've not heard anything from them, but, in our current situation, it wouldn't surprise me if they and the rest of our surviving fleet are safe and in hiding somewhere.
"What's much more concerning is the circumstances of our defeat. You're right, Zim, they shouldn't have won, and I hope you understand our caution when we first found you, but we had to be sure you weren't a threat."
Zim looked like he was insulted by the suggestion that he could be a threat to his own empire, but didn't say anything.
"How, then?" Tanis asked. "How DID they win?"
Rix sighed. "Tactics, for one thing. They snuck a small force onto each of our large ships and attacked at the same time. Our guard was down and they were able to take many of our ships before we knew what was happening. Of course, they wouldn't have been able to do that much if they hadn't had help."
Zim and Tanis looked both bewildered and alarmed at the general's last statement.
"At the time of the attack, the Amurans had already had a small number of ships and weapons, not to mention the codes for the security systems on our ships. All things considered, this can only mean that someone - someone of fairly high rank or status - has betrayed our empire."
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I'll beg for reviews now. *gets on knees* Please, please review!
Now, if you've made it this far, who do you want the next chapter to be about? Dib or the Tallest? The next two chapters will be about them, but which do you want first?