Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim
Author's Notes: Okay Guys I know you all want to catch up with Zim, but in order for the rest of this story to make since we need to have one more Backstory told (Well 2 really but we'll worry about the other one later). Now if you can remember far back enough in the Chapter named Zim or Miz it is revealed that Zim was the one who attacked Luna's home world (Rhapsodize), enslaved her people, and killed her parents…
However, Zim was never seen during the invasion, and a lot of you asked me why?
Well sit back and relax as I spin a tale that is so outrageous it will have you looking at Zim's conquests in a totally new light. How might you ask? Well, what if I told you that without him, the Galactic Alliance would have never existed! And I'm not talking about sparing Lard Nar. No that was just the beginning of Zim's betrayals to Irk!
Just how deep does the rabbit hole go?
The Answer, just might shock you!
(5 Years Ago…)
[Location: Aboard the Massive]
Oh, how he hated him!
Invader Zim growled silently as he picked at his food, his sound of disdain was not soft enough, however.
"Zim?" Tallest Purple looks across the table at his friend knowingly. "Is something the matter?"
Obviously, something was, Zim had yet to actually take a bit of his food, and it was his favorite; donuts with dark energy jelly filling. Zim grumbles something that is impossible to make out.
"Zim use your words." Red insisted, looking more amused then annoyed. The smaller Irken was always quite adorable when he was in his little ruts.
Zim really didn't want to talk about it, after all if he allowed his emotions to run wild now he just might slip up and give himself away. He had been very good at hiding his true nature from his all his past leaders. Tallest Myuki had constantly called him the perfect example of an Irken! And Tallest Spork embraced her words and compared everyone to him! And now, his own closest friends were the Tallest, and they thought the world of him. Still, he could not seem to allow himself to relax.
"Zim we're your friends." Purple reminded him. "Besides, we agreed that our new status wouldn't change how we treat each other."
Red nodded. "You can tell us anything."
Zim sighed and decided the hell with it! Besides, it would be nice to get it off his chest. "I just can't believe he's going to purge the whole planet!"
There! He said it!
"Zim we talked about this." Red warned.
"I know, it just seems like such a waste!" Zim argued. Usually, he would be more respectful, but Red had already said he could tell them anything. Besides, they were alone in their quarters.
Well, it was really the Tallests quarters on the Massive, but Since Zim was rarely without a mission he saw no need in wasting monies on a place he'd never sleep in, much less live in. So, whenever he was forced to take a break by his leaders he crashed with them. Right now, they were supposed to be enjoying dinner in their private dining hall, but Zim had just disturbed the peace.
"Zim, its Invader Spleen's Mission!" Purple reasoned.
Invader Spleen! Zim hissed at the name in open disgust. Spleen was the oldest Invader alive and by the default, the most experienced. This of course gave him seniority when it came to missions, which really got on Zim's nerves more times than not.
"You know we can't show you favoritism, if the brains think we are being Bias because of our friendship, they'll force us to end our personal relations with you." Red whispered quietly.
"I don't want the mission." Zim growled. Seriously, these two never listened to him! "I'm upset because he's wasting a planet full of potential! Not only that but he plans to purge the race too! AGAIN!" Yes, that was the real reason that Spleen got under his skin. With Spleen, nothing remained. The sick monster had adopted the ideas of the Gorgonians when it came to conquest. He would take what he wanted from the planet and then erase it and its inhabitants from existence! And Zim found it very wrong!
Mostly because Zim strived to do the opposite. By now he was not green to conquest, having invaded several words of his own, but Zim had one rule: He kept blood shed to a minimum, of course he had his reasons. After he successfully completed his first trial; Tallest Myuki, had assigned him to the Planet of Reptilia, the home world of the Lizarns, a race of rainbow skinned Lizards. However, to Zim's surprised they had been a powerful foe and fought back with a force so great that Zim had no choice, but to call in the cavalry.
The Armada answered his call, and purge the planet in order to win. This act caused a good 76% of the race to be wiped out! And though Zim never afflicted any of the damage himself, he had caused it. The reality of it all had made him bed ridden and sick for weeks. Ever since then Zim had strived to finish his missions on his own. His goal would always be to preserve the planet and its inhabitants as much as possible, but if he was forced to choose between destroying a planet, or purging the race. Then he would always enslave the inhabitants sending them off world before destroying the abandoned planet. He knew destroying people's homes and planets was wrong, but this path always felt like the lesser evil; and ultimately it made his job bearable.
Invader Spleen did not share his views, of course if anyone asked why, Zim would say by letting them live he was prolonging their suffering. And in a way he was.
"Zim, Purple is right. This is Spleen's Mission." Red reasoned, trying to calm his friend. Zim was very passionate about his work, and believe his way of doing things was the most proficient. Usually Red would agree, thanks to Zim's slaves, very few Irkens got stuck with lowly labor jobs. However, as far as the planet Rhapsodize was concerned, purging was the right call.
"The Magladies are a powerful race with political connections to all of our enemies." Purple started to explain the point. "If we allow them to live; their charisma and reputation might be strong enough to rally the other slaves. We could have a full blown rebellion on our hands!"
"Then kill the King and Queen, and enslave the rest." Zim reasoned.
"Cut off the head and the body falls." Purple looked thoughtful. "It is a brilliant idea, but Spleen informs us that the royals have two heirs, if we simply kill their parents it will fuel their rage and they will grow up with all the reason to raise an army against us, and their parents' reputation will aid them."
Red nodded. "Trust us Zim, this is the best course of action."
"Though we could just kill the children too." Purple thought out loud.
Zim suddenly feels sick, killing children was always a subject that made him queasy; his friends did not share this weakness. "Surely a child is nothing to fear." He reasoned.
"Children do not stay children forever." Purple pointed out the obvious.
"I still say it is a waste." Zim grumbled getting up from his chair.
"You've barely eaten." Purple whines.
"I've lost my appetite." Zim admitted moving to leave.
"We've upset him." Red whispered looking slightly worried, he knew Zim's wrath was no joke. Zim was known to sabotage those who got in his way, sure there was no proof, just the claims of his victims as they pointed the finger at him.
And even as one of Zim's only friends Red secretly feared that Zim may one day try to sabotage him and Purple.
"Our hands are tied." Purple whispered back. He too secretly feared Zim, it was one of the reason why they became friends with him when they were cadets. He and Red saw Zim's potential even then and thought it would work in their favor to be on his good side. And it did, they even learned they actually like having the smaller Irken around.
Of course, they could barely call Zim small now. Sure, he was still shorter than them, but he was taller than all of the other Irkens. Only one other out did him in height and said Irken was the very source of Zim's hatred.
"That stupid Spleen." Red hissed. "If only he would just die already, then Zim would have seniority."
"Yeah then we could give him all the best missions without fear of ridicule!" Purple agreed.
Zim walked out of the dining room and made for the exit, he had heard enough. He could only stand so much of their company anyways. He steps out of the Tallest's quarters and into the hall to see the very source of his grief.
"Zim." Spleen looks down at him smugly. "Enjoying the special treatment from our leaders?"
Zim growled openly at the taller Irken, he was dressed in his Invader uniform, his blue eyes full of mockery at his obvious jab.
"Must be nice to have them eating out of your hands." Spleen snickered, before his face goes serious. "You sicken me, you're not even that great of an invader. You just get recognition because you keep kissing up to our leaders. First Tallest Myuki, Then Tallest Spork and now them! Well enjoy it while you can. When I'm Tallest, such luxuries will no longer be yours."
Zim hissed this time in annoyance, with the choosing only 5 years away, and with Spleen's superior height and successes he was a shoe in for the role of Taller. Zim openly shivered at the idea of Spleen joining him and the Tallest for their meals.
Spleen laughed at his obvious display of discomfort before pushing him aside forcefully.
Zim stumbles back and falls on his butt, embarrassment fills him. He had not been treated so lowly since his first year as a cadet.
"Now if you're done kissing up I have a report to give." He says, seeing himself into the Tallest's quarters.
Zim sees fire, he had just about enough of that Spleen! And if the Tallest would do nothing about it, then it was time that Zim delivered a little justice of his own! Zim waits until his new target has been gone for several minutes before sneaking back in to the Tallest's quarters. He hides behind the door of the dining area to listen in.
"Everything is in order we presume?" Red was asking.
"Yes my Tallest." Spleen answered. "In three days, I will purge the planet."
"Good but we do have one request." Purple said.
"Yes, Zim has made us aware of something." Red agreed.
Spleen growls openly at the news, that little brat! He always had to worm his way into every one of their conversations.
"Relax we don't want to alter any plans." Purple assured him. "Zim just pointed out that killing the royal family will surely crumble them."
"Which made us realize that if they somehow manage to survive we will still have a similar problem on our hands."
"So, we want you to handle the royal family first." Red cut in.
"But doing so could tip off the rest of the planet to the purge." Spleen argued.
"This is not up for discussion." Purple yelled.
Spleen resisted the urge to argue and nodded. "Very well, I will use a disguise and pose as a native wishing to overthrow the Royals."
"Good, the confusion of one of their own betraying the royal blood will make the perfect distraction…" Purple went on, but Spleen was no longer listening.
Zim had done it again!
Several other invaders had complained that Zim's grievances to the Tallest had resulted in their leaders implicating his ideas into their missions! And now the swine had dared to do it to him! 'He will pay for this!' He vowed.
"I will kill them before first light in three days." Spleen finally managed an answers.
Zim backs away, he had to make Spleen suffer for his grievances, and he knew just how to do it…
By ruining his perfect record!
Zim smiled as he retreated into the shadow to start his work, he knew just where to begin. Still he knew he would need help to pull this off, and no Irken would dare help him cross Spleen. But there was one person he could probably employ, but getting in contact with him would be hard.
However, he knew of one person who just might know how to find him!
(Back on Vort…)
[Several hours later…]
Trawl was not entirely sure how the stranger had discovered his secret.
"I know you are hiding him." The stranger said over the communicator in a distorted voice. The holo Screen did little to give the stranger's identity away, all he could make out was the dark outline of a figure that looked strangely Irken.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Trawl reasoned moving to hang up.
"Do that, and I will reveal this treachery to my superiors." The stranger warned. "I am sure the Tallest would love to hear about how you are harboring an enemy of Irk." He said revealing Trawl's suspicions to be true.
The stranger was Irken!
"What do you want?" Trawl dared to ask.
"It's not what I want that matters." The Irken hissed. "It's about what must be done."
Trawl looks openly confused but nods. "I'm listening."
"In three days, the planet Rhapsodize will be purged by Invader Spleen." The Irken revealed.
Trawl felt his breath get stuck in his throat. "No, he can't!"
"Relax." The Irken says almost assuring him. "You have time to stop this."
"In three days?" Trawl speaks his disbelief. "It's impossible."
"Usually, yes." The Irken laughed. Seriously, who does that! "Luckily for you I have created a slimmer of hope. The Tallest want to be sure the Magladies royal blood line does not survive. Spleen will kill them first to ensure they are vanquished."
"Why are you telling me this?" Trawl couldn't help but ask.
The Irken miss reads the question. "Because if we intercept him and hide the royals he will have no choice, but to delay destroying the planet until he knows they are dealt with. He may even hold the people hostage in hopes of an advantage."
Yes, Trawl could see the value of this plan, by saving the Royals, Spleen would have no choice but spare the planet and enslave the people. Doing this would give him a bargaining chip against the royal family. Do you want them to stay alive? Then give yourselves up!
Still this was not what Trawl meant by his question. "No, I mean…why are you helping us? You're…" He stops. "Did you say we?"
"Yes." The Irken snapped. "What? Do you expect me to trust you inferior life forms to complete this mission successfully? Like a Vort knows how to execute a proper war counter measure!"
"I….I…" Trawl is still very confused. "This is ploy right? I call him and you catch us red handed and we both get killed on the spot."
"Look I am going regardless of his attendance!" The Irken snapped. "But if you care about the fate of the galaxy you will call your Cousin and tell him to meet me at the disclosed location at the end of this transmission!"
And with that the Irken logs off and the location appears on the screen.
At first Trawl is tempted to ignore it, but he pause, something about the Irken rubs him off wrong. No one knew Lard Nar was alive but him, no one but…He gasped and suddenly dialed the number he has saved for Lard Nar.
For a moment there is nothing and then…
"Yes?" Lard Nar show up on the holo screen. "This better be urgent, you know the risk you are taking calling me so often."
"I have a job for you." He said. Lard Nar was known to do several odd jobs against the Empire, in fact undenounced to the Irkens he was currently leading a secret rebel cell against the Empire and it was growing every day.
"I am listening." Lard Nar says.
"In three days, the planet Rhapsodize will be purged by Invader Spleen." Trawl told him.
Gasp are audible on the other end of the holo screen and Trawl realizes the Lard Nar is not alone.
"This hardly gives us time to act." Lard Nar says the obvious.
"We have a chance." Trawl assured him. "They will go for Eclipsa and her family first."
"But they have children!" A female voice shouted. "They can't!"
"Annabel please!" Lard Nar insisted to someone off screen.
"If we can get them to safety it will delay the purge, my source is sure of it." Trawl assured them. "While they are busy looking for them, you can used the barrow time to organize a counter attack."
It was a sold plan.
"Very well, does our source have any special instruction?" Lard Nar asked.
"Yes, he only requested your assistance." Trawl revealed.
"Assistance, he's helping?" the female voice spoke again.
"Perhaps we could be alone for a moment cousin." Trawl whispered.
Lard Nar nodded. "I will take the rest of this call to my quarters." He said to those off screen. "Annabel I will not hear it!" He said before the female could retort and then he leaves. He only talks again when they are alone. "I am listening."
"My source, he asked for you by name." Trawl revealed.
"What?" Lard Nar looks alarmed. "But you are the only one who knows I am alive…" He stops, no doubt realizing that this statement isn't all true. "Trawl who is your source?"
"No Name." Trawl revealed. "But he's Irken!"
A smile forms on Lard Nar's face. "Give me the location."
"Do you really think it's wise to trust him again?" Trawl dared to ask the obvious. "What if it's not him and it is one big trap?"
"It's possible." Lard Nar admitted already getting ready as they continued to speak. "But if he is telling the truth we cannot afford to ignore it."
"Just please be careful." Trawl begged.
"Don't worry, Annabel will be my back up, I can manage, promise." Lard Nar assured him.
Trawl nodded, not feeling the least bit assured at all, but he sent the location to him anyway, and then the call ends. Their time is up, if they talk any longer the deep space call to an unknown receiver would rouse suspicion. And Lard Nar needed to stay hidden, they all did! The sake of the Universe depended on it.
Trawl shivered at the thought, he just hoped he didn't just send his only Kin to his grave!
-To Be Continued