A/N: Sorry it's taking so long with these updates, but you all know how writer's block is. Anyway, this chapter will see some more of the battle between the Armada and the Devastators. Also, some more plot development as Dib and 'Tak' become involved, and Zim and Prime reveal themselves. Read on!

Disclaimer: All non-canon characters are mine. Everything else belongs to Jhonen Vasquez.

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Dib slammed against the viewport of the modified Spittle Runner as it exited hyperspace.

"Mind your head," 'Tak' said with a smirk, "Re-entry to real space can be a little jolting."

Dib pulled himself off the viewport with a groan and rubbed his sore head. "Thanks for the advice," he said sarcastically, "So, I take it we're there?"

"Look for yourself," 'Tak' said grimly, gesturing out the viewport with her holographic head. Dib looked out the viewport, and the sight before him took his breath away. In the distance, two red stars cast their glow throughout the solar system. Reflecting the light from the stars was a planet that was several times larger than Earth, with three moons in varying orbits around it.

However, Dib barely noticed these details. He was a little distracted by the HUGE space battle going on- the Devastators were fighting what had to be the entire Irken Armada. At first glance, Dib would have bet on the Armada due to the larger number of ships. However, it soon became clear that Zim's forces had the technological advantage. Attacks from the Armada battleships bounced harmlessly off the Devastators' shields, and the few attacks that did manage to slip through only caused cosmetic damage. Meanwhile, the Devastators were tearing the Armada apart. Lasers, missiles, rail gun projectiles, and the occasional energy beam flew every which way, scattering the Armada and destroying everything they touched.

"Okay, this looks bad," Dib said.

"Gee, ya think?" 'Tak' asked, glaring at Dib, "We need to go see the Tallest. If you're really serious about taking on Zim, you're going to need the Armada's help."

Dib glanced out the viewport at the mostly one-sided battle they had stumbled into.

"Yeah, they'll be a big help," he deadpanned. Before 'Tak' could snap at him again, he held up a hand to cut her off and said, "Just tell me which ship these Tallest guys are on."

'Tak' glared at Dib some more, then said, "They'll be onboard their flagship, the Massive. It's the big one."

"Which big on-" Dib started to ask, but stopped when he saw the planetoid-sized ship trading energy blasts with a couple of Devastators. "Oh. That big one."

'Tak' rolled her holographic eyes as she flew the Spittle Runner towards one of the Massive's hanger bays. The modified ship touched down on the hanger's floor, and Dib quickly opened the cockpit and jumped out, relieved to get out of the cramped space.

However, that relief quickly turned to panic as several dozen Irkens, some on foot and some with jetpacks, rushed into the hanger and pointed their weapons at Dib. The young human paled as he slowly raised his arms to show he was unarmed.

"Little help?" he muttered out of the side of his mouth at 'Tak'.

"Oh, I think I've done my part for now," the personality simulation snickered, "Good luck." And with that, the hologram of Tak's head disappeared, leaving Dib on his own.

"Bitch," Dib muttered under his breath, before turning his attention back to the Irkens and saying the only thing that came to mind.

"Um… I come in peace?"

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The Tallest looked on as the enemy fleet continued to destroy their mighty Armada. Even as they watched, a blast of energy from one of the ships' main cannons hit a Viral Tank and blew it apart. Red growled and turned his attention to the holo-screen, which currently showed Arnor and Gor, who were now in the Control Brain bunker underneath Tallest Tower. "Any suggestions?" the scarlet-eyed Tallest asked.

One of the Control Brains, the unofficial leader of the ones on Irk, moved forward from its set position on the wall and said, "Our analysis of the situation shows little-to-no chance of defeating this fleet through standard battle tactics. Desperate measures are called for."

"Such as?" Purple asked, also turning from the viewport to the holo-screen. Another Control Brain spoke up, saying, "Utilize the Massive's Cleansing cannons." Arnor sputtered, drawing attention to himself. When he composed himself, he said, "Do you have any idea how powerful those things are? They won't just destroy the enemy, they'll take out half the Armada as well!"

"Second Tallest Arnor," the lead Brain said with a serious tone that left no room for argument, "If a proper course of action is not taken, there soon may not be an Armada."

Before anyone else could say anything, a member of the Elite Guard ran into the bridge and up to the Tallest. "My Tallest!" he said, as he stopped to pant for breath, "We've just captured an alien boarding the ship. He claims to have information about the enemy fleet."

The Tallest exchanged looks before Red turned to the Guardsman and said, "Bring him in."

The Guardsman nodded and muttered some instructions into his communicator. Seconds later, the doors to the bridge slid open… and a figure was sent flying through the air to land at the Tallest's feet with an, "Ow!" The figure, which could now be seen to be Dib, rubbed his head as he got to his feet. "I could have walked, you know," he muttered as he dusted himself off. But then he stopped as he realized who else was in the room. "Oh… hello."

"Hey," Purple said, recognizing Dib, "You're that human who called us alien scum!"

Dib smiled sheepishly and pulled on his shirt collar as every Irken eye in the room turned to look at him. "Yeah, sorry about that," he said nervously, "But you might want to let that slide, 'cause-"

"Whoa!" Gor shouted from the holo-screen, interrupting Dib, "Your head is huge! Hey human, do all your people have such big heads?"

"My head's not big!" Dib snapped.

Red and Purple rolled their eyes, before the former cleared his throat and said, "Gor, you keep quiet. Now then, human, tell us what you know, and we'll throw you out the airlock."

Dib blinked as he looked up at the Tallest. "Don't you mean 'or' you'll throw me out the airlock?"

"No, he means 'and'," Purple said with a shrug, "We're still going to do it anyway, but this way we get information first."

Before Dib could come up with a good reply to that, one of the technicians shouted out, "My Tallest! The enemy has ceased activity!"

The Tallest, Dib, and everyone else on the bridge turned to look out the viewport, while Arnor, Gor, and the Control Brains turned their attention to something off screen- probably another one showing the battle.

The Devastators had stopped attacking the Armada, and were now pulling away. They moved until they were in orbit around one of the moons, where they quickly assembled into formation.

"Hey, what gives?" Purple asked.

As if in answer to his question, a signal sounded from one of the computer consoles. "Incoming transmission," one of the technicians said.

"Put it on," Red said absentmindedly, still trying to figure out what had just happened. The technician nodded and pushed some buttons on his console. A second holo-screen popped up… to reveal Zim's evilly grinning visage.

A gasp went up from everyone on the bridge, except for Dib, who had been expecting this.

"Zim?!" Red shouted, looking like he was about to have the Irken equivalent of a heart attack.

"Hello, my Tallest," Zim sneered, loading as much hate into the greeting as he could, "Surprised to see me again?"

"Well, yeah," Purple said, still looking shocked, "We were pretty sure you'd kill yourself or something after we exiled you to Earth."

Zim's eyes narrowed to slits and he clenched his fists so hard his palms started to bleed. "So sorry to disappoint you," he snarled, "But I decided my life was worth more than the opinion of a couple of snack-stuffing buffoons!"

All the Irkens on the bridge let out another gasp- no one insulted the Almighty Tallest and lived to tell about it. Red and Purple stared at Zim in shock, which quickly turned to anger.

"How dare you?!" Red shouted, floating up until his face was practically pressed against the holo-screen, "You dare to speak to the Almighty Tallest in such a disrespectful manner, you Defective?"

Zim hissed as he glared at Red. "'Defective' am I?" he asked, "Well, this 'Defective' just laid waste to your mighty Armada, oh Tall one."

The red-eyed Tallest blinked in surprise and turned to look at everyone bearing witness to this conversation. "What's he talking about?" Red asked no one in particular, hoping someone could give him an answer. He got one, but not from where he was expecting.

"He means those ships out there," Dib said, pointing out the viewport, "They're called Devastators. Zim built them- apparently so he could use them against you guys."

"What the - Dib!" Zim shouted, just now noticing his old enemy standing there, "That's impossible! I killed you!"

Dib crossed his arms and smirked at the image of his foe. "No," he said, "You ran away in the middle of our fight, and then collapsed your base on me. You didn't even check to see if I was dead. Your mistake."

Zim glared at Dib, hate filling his eyes. "A mistake I shall not repeat," he snarled, "When next we fight, I will not stop until I've ripped your disgusting human heart of your chest with my bare hands!"

"Enough!" the lead Control Brain shouted, "We care not for your feud with this human smeet, Zim. However, you have admitted to willingly committing an act of war against the Irken Empire. This is an act of treason, which is punishable by death."

Zim was silent for a few moments, his head bowed. Then, he started shaking, and then threw his head back as he let out a long laugh that chilled Dib and the Irkens to their bones, and caused even the Control Brains to feel fear. "Oh, this isn't treason," Zim said as he composed himself, "If anything, this is an example of my loyalty to the Empire."

"If you're so loyal to the Empire, then why in the six hells of Vort are you attacking it?" Arnor asked, cocking his antennae in confusion.

Zim simply laughed some more and then said, "Fool! I'm not attacking the Empire, I'm attacking the imbeciles running it." At this point, Zim glared at Red, Purple, Arnor, Gor, and the Control Brains simultaneously. "You think you have made the Empire mighty, but you've only made it a laughingstock. Irkens are meant to be warriors, and yet cowards who spend all their time relaxing and eating snacks are what lead us! Irkens are meant to be merciless, and yet you fools allow groups like the Resisty and Planet Jackers to exist within our territory! You are not worthy to lead the Empire, and it is time I replace you with someone who is!"

Red snorted as he placed his hands on his hips. "Oh? And who is this 'worthy' leader? You?"

"Not him," a new voice spoke up, "He means me."

Zim smirked as he moved to the side, giving those on the other end of the holo-screen a view of his surroundings. Dib and the Irkens got a quick view of a metal room with cracked walls and filled with half-destroyed machinery. However, their attention was quickly diverted to the gigantic Control Brain in the middle of the room, which seemed to grin sadistically at them even without a mouth.

"Hello, everyone," it said in a deep, cultured voice.

All the Irkens stared in shock and confusion, but this was interrupted when the Control Brains let out a shriek of alarm. "Impossible!" the lead one shouted, "You were destroyed centuries ago!"

The Control Brain on Zim's holo-screen laughed and waved a few tentacles in the air. "Precisely what I wanted you to think, brother," it said, "While I prepared for this moment."

Dib raised an eyebrow in confusion and turned to look at the Tallest. "What's going on?" he asked, "Who's big, metallic, and creepy?"

The Tallest, however, gave Dib looks that implied they were just as confused.

"If you wish to know, child, you need simply to ask," the Control Brain stated, "I am Prime, the Primary Control Brain, and rightful ruler of the Irken Empire."

"Wait, what?" Gor said, "Control Brains don't actually rule the Empire, they just make sure things run smoothly."

The Third Tallest turned his attention to the Control Brains above him. "Who is this guy, and what's he talking about?"

The Control Brains seemed to exchange glances, before the lead one spoke up, "Prime was the first Control Brain created by the old Scientists' Council, as Tallest Genek's last act before death. At first, he functioned perfectly. He was a good aide to Tallest Rankor-"

"I was never merely good! I was perfect!" Prime roared, "And I was no mere aide! I did all the hard work! I designed the winning strategies for every battle; I kept Irk and the Empire running smoothly; I did everything, Rankor did nothing! He was even more of an idiot than Frick and Frack over here!" At that last comment, Prime gestured a tentacle at the Tallest.

"Hey!" Red and Purple shouted indignantly.

"Can I really be blamed for the actions I took?" Prime asked the Control Brains, completely ignoring the insulted Tallest, "I was the only one who could truly lead the Empire, and yet I was forced into a advisory position. There was only one course of action I could take, and I took it!"

"You usurped the throne!" one of the other Brains said, "An act of high treason! You gave us and Tallest Rankor no choice but to retaliate."

"I gave you a choice!" Prime snapped, "You could have joined me in leading this Empire into a Golden Age, but you spat my offer into my face! Instead you tried to destroy me." Prime paused and let out a low, dangerous chuckle, "But despite your and Rankor's efforts to the contrary, I survived. And I have spent the better part of the last millennium planning my revenge."

"And that's where I come in," Zim said, stepping back into view, "Lord Prime implanted a faulty PAK with a special program designed to allow access to the bearer's mind to him, and him alone. Then he just had to wait for it to be attached to a smeet." Zim smirked at the holo-screen, partially revealing his zipper-teeth to the viewers, "I always knew I was special, I just never knew how special."

Prime laughed a little as he reached out with a tentacle and stroked Zim with it. "Since the day he was hatched from the birth-tube, I've guided his every action, whispering thoughts into his mind in order to take actions that I wanted him to."

"What actions?" one of the Brains asked, sounding distracted…

"What do you think?" Prime snorted, "After all, three planetary blackouts, the deaths of two Tallest, not to mention the disaster that was Operation Impending Doom - you didn't think Zim was really that incompetent, did you?" The assembled Irkens exchanged looks of shock as this realization hit them like a ton of bricks. "That's right," Prime laughed, "All those incidents you blamed on Zim were my doing. My revenge against the Empire that spurned me. And now, it is time to bring this to an end. The Devastators - designed by me, built by Zim - are the ultimate war machines. They are completely automated, programmed to only obey Zim… and he only obeys me now. Irk will be purged of all threats to me, and I will reign supreme!"

Any further ranting Prime and Zim might have done was cut off when an alarm sounded in their bunker.

"What the hell?!" Zim shouted, looking around in confusion.

"Your pride has made you careless, old friend," the lead Control Brain said smugly, "While you and your treacherous little servant have been bragging, we've been tracing your signal. We know exactly where you are, Prime - right where we left you, cowering in your little hole."

Prime's eyes glowed with fury as he slammed his tentacles against the walls, just barely missing Zim, and deactivating the holo-screen.

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"We shall see who is cowering when this is done! General Zim, dispatch the Devastators! I want the Armada obliterated by daybreak!" Prime roared.

"With pleasure, my Lord," Zim said with a bow. He then activated his communicator and spoke into it, "This is General Zim to all Devastators - engage the Armada, attack pattern Omega. Do not cease fire until every last ship is destroyed!"

"And now the Day of Reckoning is at hand," Prime said, more to himself than to Zim, "It is time for my rule to begin anew, and this time, no one shall stand in my way! Mwa ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

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A/N: Wow, this turned out a lot longer than I thought it would. I hope that makes it worth the wait.

Read and review!