Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: And we're back again with another exciting chapter, I would like to thank everyone for following this story and ask for your help. With this book coming to a close I will finished covering all the original Invader Zim episodes. With that said the next book is pretty much open for creativity.

And you know what that means. If any of you have some awesome ideas that you would like to see happen in the storyline that features Dib and Zim's family just let me know in the review section. All creators will get credit for any ideas they contribute. Also, if you guys want to contribute your own OC characters to be included in this world, I am all ears.

I love hearing ideas from others, and I find it really helps bring the story to life.

Thank you all for reading and I hope to hear from you soon.

(Back with Dib…)

Now wasn't the time for second thoughts, then again; knowing this didn't stop him from having any. Thousands were running through Dib's mind, and he is reminded for the millionth time just how hard Zim's job must be. Infiltrating the enemy on their home turf was like navigating a minefield, every move could lead to disaster at a seconds notice.

Luckily, Trawl didn't argue with the command, however Dib was not allowing himself to relax. What if the S.I.R Units challenged them? Would he need proof of authorization to get the Vort off the 7th floor? How would they leave the building? Could he really sneak him out the same way he had come in? Was it even a good idea? What if the trashed S.I.R Unit was discovered? How long would they have before the alarm was raised?

Trawl followed Dib wordlessly back from where he had come. Through the aisles of office cubicles and back towards the main door. Something was not right; he was sure of it. The soldier before him was too tense, and he allowed a prisoner to follow behind him; instead of keeping him in sight. If he were new Trawl would have overlooked such a detail, but he knew this soldier. The Irken was named Baku and he was a stickler for protocol.

Normally a prisoner would be cuffed before allowing to leave his station, however Trawl was privileged. Still, if this was about his crimes against Irk the Vort doubted he would be allowed to stay uncuffed, but if it wasn't that…no it had to be. Trawl could think of nothing else; he had never been disturbed from his work before. He decided he needed answers, he knows talking to the guards is against the rules, but he needs to chance it.

"Where are we going?"

Dib goes stiff at the words, they stop at the door, the moment of hesitation is all Trawl needs to know something is up. Still, he is not fully prepared for what the soldier says next.

"You want to live to see tomorrow?"

"Yes…" Trawl stutters.

"Than just act like you usually would."

Trawl doesn't hesitate, he takes the lead, opening the door and striding out with a sense of confidence that he never knew he had.

This was crazy, this was insane, if he was wrong about his suspicions this one act would kill him. The enemy could know of his betrayal. If they did, this could be one of two things: A trap or his only chance of salvation. It was an enormous gamble, but he had to risk it. If Irk did know than Lard Nar could be in danger. This could be his only chance to save him, Vorts put nothing before their family, not even self-preservation.

Dib follows the Vort, his pace is swift, but calm and Dib tries to match his demeanor. If a single S.I.R Unit stopped them it would be disastrous. He wasn't Dek anymore, he was some average Irken soldier with no status. Zim's reputation could not save him here, and his luck could only last them so long.

Surprisingly though, no one stopped them, as far as they could see there was no cause for alarm. S.I.R Units were there to challenge the prisoners and discouraged them from making a run for it. Dib had only been challenged before because he was early. Now that he had given a valid answer to why that was; his movements were now invisible. As for Trawl, he was with a soldier and his privilege status allowed him to walk freely without the need for restraints. So, there was really no cause for alarm, even as the Vort opened the door to the stairwell.

Trawl held the door open for the soldier, who stepped in and waited for the Vort to; once again take the lead.

Standard protocol…

As soon as the door closes behind them Trawl makes a run for it and Dib struggles to keep up. His legs feel like led, as if he was trying to run through water. For a moment he fears the Vort is trying to lose him, that he miss read what he said earlier.

This, however, is not the case, Trawl knows something is up and it's only a matter of time before security figured it out too. Thankfully the stairwell was empty; this gave Dib some hope that maybe the trashed S.I.R Unit had yet to be discovered. Which meant that just maybe the back entrance was still left unguarded as well.

They made it to ground level just in time to see the trashed S.I.R Unit crawled his way out of the can. Trawl freezes on instinct, Dib however moves forward. He knew this could happen, he may have taken the main drive, but back-ups were not unheard of. They were unlikely and hard to find, which is why Dib hadn't bothered wasting time looking for it. Without its main drive the S.I.R Unit is disoriented, it has no idea what happened, or how it got in the can.

Dib knocks the S.I.R off its feet before pressing the button for the EMP once more. He knows there is a slight chance it won't work a second time, but he has no weapons on him. He had not thought to bring any when he and Zim left the ship. The electric pulse explodes around them and the S.I.R struggles on the floor, twitching as it tries to stay online.

Trawl watches as the Irken soldier picks up the robot and throws it around like a rag doll. S.I.R.s are quiet durable, but a stab through the center with a PAK leg should be enough to take one out. He had already figured that the soldier wasn't really Baku at all, but this confirmed it.

Dib tosses the bot through the opening back door, and it slams into the outer wall of the adjacent building. He chases after it ready to pounce, if need be, Trawl follows quickly behind him, afraid of being left behind. It's obvious now that this individual is not Irken, so the only possibility is Lard Nar must have sent him. Still, this individual while smart was also green in the ways of Irk and it was very unlikely, he managed to get on the planet without inside help.

This could still be a trap, Irk may be letting him go so he can lead them to his cousin. It was a likely tactic; one he had seen the Irkens do many times before.

"This way." Trawl raced over to a seward access port and slid the lid just far enough to squeeze through.

Dib followed; he didn't like the idea of traveling through Irken waste, but he knew there was no other way. Soon the alarm would be raised, and everyone would be looking for them. He manages to move the lid back into place and turns on the flashlight feature on his watch.

Trawl turns to his companion and watches as he spins a dial on the device attached to his wrist. Where an Irken soldier once stood was now replaced by a familiar creature. He looked a lot like Annabel, pale skin, tall, no hair except for what could be found on the top of his head. The only real difference he could see at a glance was that due to his build this one was most likely male. "You're human, aren't you?"

Dib was taken aback to hear actual English, the Vort wasn't very good at it. Still, he understands it well enough. "I am." He answers.

Trawl is not sure how to take that information. Lard Nar had often spoke English to Annabel several times when Trawl had been on call. Out of curiosity he had asked his cousin to teach it to him, which he did. Still, two words in English wasn't enough to make Dib very convincing. "Prove it."

Dib raises a brow. "Prove it?" He looks thoughtful, how could he prove without a doubt that he was human? Irkens could pretend a lot of things, even down to making their organs look like human ones. So how could he prove it without a doubt that he was human?

Trawl watched as the creature held out his arm.

"Irkens have pink blood." He said. "Even when they wear a disguise, they can't fake their blood color."

Trawl understood and made a quick slash with his claws down the others arm.

Dib winced as red blood trickled down his arm, it wasn't a deep cut, but they were in a seward.

Trawl steps back, he wasn't sure if human blood was red, but at least this proved he wasn't Irken. "So, Irk did not send you?"

"Actually, an Irken did send me." Dib answered honestly, he tears off a piece of his shirt to cover the fresh cut. He wraps it around the wound and ties it, tight. "He's a friend of Lard Nar's."

"Zim…" Trawl whispers his name.

Dib nodded. "Look I get it, you don't want to trust them, but I'm taking you with me even if I have to knock you out and drag you."

"Why?" Trawl challenged.

"Because Lard Nar is my friend." Dib answered, taking the lead. "And I'd never forgive myself if I allowed something to happen to you."

Trawl follows him still keeping his guard up, he knows Zim has helped his kin in the past, but he didn't trust that Irken. Why Lard Nar did, still puzzled him to this very day, still he didn't have much choice. He had willing escaped from Irken custody and with all the secrets he knew the empire would take no chances. He would be killed on sight, and so would anyone trying to help him. "You know this is suicidal, right?"

Dib smiles, Trawl was nothing like his cousin. Lard Nar was sure and ready for anything. Fear never held him back from doing the right thing. Trawl, however, was timid at best, sure he could take the lead, but he seemed to be more openly doubtful of their success. He takes a left, remembering the world above so perfectly it was almost as if he had a map out in front of him.

"Are you sure you know where we are going?" Trawl challenged.

Dib nodded. "We need to get back to the service center." He explained. "From there, we can take the junction point and head north. We follow that for a couple of miles, and we should arrive back at the parking area where Zim's ship is being held." He explained. "I'm posing as a service drone, and I'm supposed to be getting rare parts for Zim's ship."

Trawl nodded, seeing the plan form in his own mind. He understands what lies ahead and just how difficult it will be.

"Once in the ship we can hide you in the air ducts or something, there is plenty of food in the cargo bay."

"How long am I expected to hide?" trawl challenged.

"Zim plans to leave as soon as the Choosing ends, I can't imagine us staying longer than another night at the most." Dib explained. "He wants this over and done with-"

"The Choosing?" Trawl stops. "Irken Zim is at the Choosing?"

Dib nodded not stopping and the Vort rushes to catch up. The human didn't seem to fear for his own life, in fact he was showing the same blind devotion for Zim that Trawl often saw in Lard Nar.

"Do you trust him?" Trawl asked.

Dib stops and turns, and what he says leaves no room for doubt. "With my life…"

(Back with Zim…)

"Nervous?"

Zim looked up, startled; they weren't supposed to be talking, but he noticed the Tallest had disappeared.

"They went back in." Kazar assured him. He wasn't surprised that Zim was caught unawares, the Invader had been zoning out for almost three hours now. "You can't really afford to be distracted right now." He warned.

"I'm not nervous." Zim hissed. "And I am not distracted."

Kazar snickered. "Could have fooled me."

"Well, if it is so obvious then tell me General what am I so nervous about?" Zim snapped.

What was he nervous about? Was he serious? "You are about to face Lineage for the first time since you were born." Kazar spoke lowly. "You could not be more vulnerable than you are now."

Zim knew he was right, he needed to focus, but his fears for Dib made such a task nearly impossible. "I know…" He managed.

Kazar looks annoyed. "It's about them, isn't it?"

Zim stiffens, he knew who his mentor was getting at, and it wasn't Dib. "Why would the Tallest concern me?" He asked.

Kazar growls lowly, he finds Zim's stubborn pride to be one of his most annoying and yet admirable characteristics. "You need to decide what's really important to you here." He advised. "Where does your loyalty lie? With Irk? Or your Tallest?"

"Is there really a difference?" Zim asked. "What if I think they are the same?"

"Then I have failed you as a mentor." Kazar answered simply. Which was true, he found Tallest Red and Purple lacking. They were not what Irk needed, no they were two moochers that had gotten to the top thanks to someone else's efforts.

They grew quiet then, Kazar giving Zim the time he needed to think his words over, and Zim sorting through his thoughts.

The doors open moments later and the two are greeted with the disheveled and drained features of Commander Muka. Zim had to admit it was cause for alarm, he had no idea that the Choosing would take so much out of the contestants.

Two soldiers appeared out of nowhere to catch him as he fell, Purple and Red walk out behind him.

"Kazar, it is time." Purple tells him.

"Yes, my Tallest." Kazar answered and gives Zim a final glance.

He knows in an instant why, Kazar wanted him to think about what he said.

"Where does your loyalty lie? With Irk? Or your Tallest?"

Where did they lie? He would like to think neither, after all Irk was a well-oiled machine that was programed to share the same thoughts, the same ideals. Ideals that Zim himself did not share with them. So, he meant what he said; Irk and his Tallest were the same to him, but that couldn't be right. Kazar said they shouldn't be, and as much as Zim hated it, Kazar was never one to be wrong.

Than what could he mean?

Zim tried to separate the two, to see Irk and the Tallest as two separate things in his mind. Why was he loyal to each of them? When it came to Irk it boiled down to one thing; fear. He fell in line and obeyed every command. Not out of loyalty, but out of fear of being exposed for the defect he really was. So, he faked loyalty out of self-preservation.

The Tallest however, were more complicating and Zim found no easy way to answer the question. Why was he loyal to them? He forced himself to push his fears for Dib aside and think back…back to the first time his life had been changed forever.

(Back with Zim; 145 Years ago,)

[Location: Irk]

He hated being a Smaller, to be one was two be one of two things: invisible or someone else's' punching bag.

The young Irken Zim did his best not to draw attention to himself as he walked through the halls of Irken Prep. He was the smallest Irken in Irken history and a likely target for the taller cadets. However, his unusually small size seemed to work in his favor, no one seemed to notice him. The taller cadets never looked down when they walked, so someone as small as Zim was always out of their line of sight. As long as he avoided them and stayed out of the way, they never noticed him.

Others were not so lucky.

They called it Death Alley, a long stretch of hallway that led to a dead end just right of the main corridor. The taller cadets were known to lure Smallers there and take out their frustrations on them.

Cadet Zim does his best not to look down the hall as he passes, it's a task he always fails to achieve; no matter how hard he tries. He sees three large cadets kicking at something on the ground. He didn't need to see, what or rather, who it was. It wasn't safe to stick around, there was a reason why this place was called Death Alley. Rumor had it that some of the smaller cadets were actually beaten to death.

Zim hurries past, it didn't matter if the stories were true or not. All that did matter was that he avoided trouble and got to class on time. His day had been like it always had been since he left the Information Plug. The Information Plug was what the cadets referred to as the training they endured during the first ten years of their life. They were locked in a room that they weren't allowed to leave. They would spend their days enduring training simulation after training simulation until they passed out from exhaustion. Once they woke up, they repeated the process, only stopping to eat when food was provided via feeding tube. For years this was the norm until one day the doors were opened.

On that day Zim and the remaining others were exposed to the outside world. A soldier addressed them and informed them that they were ready for the next stage of their training. Irken Prep or Irken Preparatory was all that stood between a cadet and the academy. However, only the most promising Irkens were accepted. Those who did not move on to the academy would be those classified as service drones. If an Irken wanted to be important and have any chance of moving up in the world they had to get into the academy and graduate.

Zim had been in Irken Preparatory for seven years now and he had lasted a lot longer than most Irkens his size. All he had to do was survive a few more months and he would be allowed to take his entry exam. He was so close, still keeping his head down completely wasn't ideal, if it was; all the smallers would be doing it.

No, if Zim wanted to keep fitting in, he had to keep climbing up the social ladder. So going to the academy was ideal, but Zim needed at least one superior Irken to recommend him. Without a recommendation Zim could not take the exam. This is why Smallers risked being noticed; if they could have one moment to shine in front of their instructors. Then that might be all they need to get recommended.

It wasn't easily done though, Zim had perfect marks. In fact, his scores were the best in his class. Even still none of his instructors called on him; when he raised his hand, he went unnoticed. Taller cadets got called on to solve equations in front of the class. To present their projects before powerful Irkens like Commanders or respected Scientist. Every now and then a smaller would be called on. A smart smaller would play dumb if this ever happened to them, those who didn't…well they ended up in Death Alley.

The taller cadets hated when the Smallers showed them up in class, but risking it was the only chance at a better life.

For years Zim had tried to get noticed, just once and fail short of the mark every time. Now he was running out of time. Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered; he was the smallest Irken in Irken history. He could pass the exam and still probably get assigned as a service drone; it was just how things were on Irk. Still, he wanted to do it, even if it led nowhere at least he would prove to himself that he could.

His next class was Irken Mechanics, a topic that Zim enjoyed greatly. As strange as it sounded every Irken needed to know how to repair weaponry and ships. An Invader may be programed to destroy worlds but even he would need to know how to reprepare his own ship and equipment. However, scientist and service drones would be more likely to use what was taught here on a day-to-day bases. Zim could see himself as a scientist, in fact he often thought of things that would improve many functions and processes around him. Still, he didn't want to keep any one job in his mind. After all, once he took the exam his core purpose would be chosen for him by the computer brains. Which meant it was probably easier not to set his heart on anything just in case something else was chosen for him.

Zim took his seat, again he was stuck in the back, but this was mostly his own fault. Avoiding the taller cadets in the halls often meant he had to wait until they were almost empty. Which meant Zim showed up to class much later than everyone else.

Moments later, the lesson begins, and his instructor, Sargent Finn addresses the class. "Cadets today we have a special guest visiting us." He said.

Zim instantly tried to sit up and appear taller, a special guest! This could be his chance to be noticed. Suddenly, the last person he ever thought to enter the room, walked in.

She was tall, her antennas curled at the end, her blue eyes scanned the room with heightened intelligence. It was Tallest Myuki the leader of the Irken race!

Everyone stood and bowed at once, even Sargent Finn looked shaken by her presence even though he should have known she was coming.

Tallest Myuki seems to glide into the room, her stature cares a sense of superiority. "As you were." She says and everyone sits down. "Today I am looking for a solution." Tallest Myuki said as she walked up to the hollo board. A screen that was used to write down notes during class discussion. "No one has yet to give the answer." She said. "Even my top Scientist have failed to solve it."

Now that really perked Zim's interest, the top scientist of Irk were perhaps the smartest minds of the galaxy maybe even the universe. If they couldn't solve this problem than what chance did a Cadet have?

She wrote down the most complex equation Zim had ever seen even Sargent Finn looked lost. "Whoever can solve this will be given my one and only recommendation for the Academy."

Everyone shot their hands up not because they knew the answer but because of what she was offering. The Tallest only recommended one cadet every year and it was always those in their final year of Irken Prep. This was because anyone recommended by her would have to be dumb, blind, and worthless not to pass the exam.

Tallest Myuki calls on several cadets and one by one they come up to the board and try to solve it. Zim watches as each of them fail time and time again, he had put his hand down upon seeing this. Focusing all his efforts on solving the problem, it helped seeing what his fellow cadets were doing. If their strategy drew a blank than Zim knew it was the wrong way to go about solving it. Still, this small advantage gave him little clues.

He finally decided to break the equation into smaller bits, he knew Tallest Myuki must know the answer. How else would she know which student was right or wrong? He knew time was running out, almost all his peers had tried.

A taller student with purple eyes stepped forward to try his luck. Cadet Purple was pretty smart by score standers, but Zim knew he was known too mooch off of smarter cadets. This of course was normal tallers always mooched off of smallers. This was why Zim never shared his scores with his peers. One reason was it kept the taller cadets from seeing him as a threat, the other was so no one would get credit for all his hard work.

Purple gets pretty far in figuring it out but draws a blank just short of the mark. The next cadet up is no surprise to anyone. Red, a cadet with red eyes and a little more height than Purple also tries to solve the problem. He's the last one left to solve the problem, beside Zim that is.

Red looks thought full, taking his time, everyone else's work is on the board before him, and he studies it closely. Zim holds his breath as Red begins to solve the problem. He seems sure of himself and to everyone's horror and astonishment he actually gets an answer.

Zim slouches in his seat, it would appear his chance was gone, or was it?

"Sorry young one but I am afraid you are slightly off." Tallest Myuki said.

Everyone gasped.

Red looks through his work; his confidence wavers.

"Do you know where you went wrong?" Tallest Myuki challenges.

Red looks at the board desperately searching for his mistake but draws a blank. With a sigh of defeat, he bows his head and returns to his seat.

Tallest Myuki looks disappointed she had already been to 38 classes with no luck. Was this generation really as hopeless as the current one? She combed the class making sure she missed no one. "No one else?" She asked seeing not a single hand left up. "No one can solve this problem for me?" She goes row by row and that is when she sees him.

A small Irken in the back with ruby eyes. She can barely see him, had she of been slightly shorter herself she would have lost him in the sea of cadets. Of course, she recognized the cadet, He was the loud smeet she had seen with Spork in the birthing chambers 14 years before.

"Cadet Zim, how about you."

Time seemed to freeze.

Zim couldn't believe Tallest Myuki knew his name! Oh, Irk he could barely remember how to breathe let alone move.

"Don't be shy." Tallest Myuki said encouragingly. "Come give it ago."

Zim manages to get to his feet and rushes to the board, his mind was swimming. He tried to follow Red's work after all Tallest Myuki said that he was close. And just like that, miraculously he sees it. The error cadet Red had made was so simple, in fact it was a common mistake that many would make. He starts to show his own work with a shaking hand, if he was smart, he would get this wrong on purpose. Any other day he might have, but Tallest Myuki knew his name! How could he let her down? If he got it wrong, it would embarrass her, the Tallest would never acknowledge an idiot.

He circles his answer and steps to the side.

Silence.

He looks up at her, hopefully and sees it.

Tallest Myuki is smiling, in fact it looks like she can barely hold in her excitement. "That's correct excellent work."

Zim feels his spooch soar, but it plummets as he looks to his class. They were staring him down with daggers.

"You would all do well to take after Zim here." Tallest Myuki. "Only the sharpest of minds have room in the higher ups."

Zim gulped; He was so dead!

(Back with Dib; Present Day…)

They had made it to back to the Parking Garage where Zim had parked the ship, but they had yet to leave the sewards. Being down below they had heard no alarms, and nothing had perused them, but that didn't mean the alarm hadn't been raised.

They knew the plan; Dib would rush over to an equipment cart disguised as Dek. Then Trawl would hide in the cart under some random ship parts and tools. It wasn't the perfect plan, but it was all they one had to go on. Like most of the mission up until now; they would be depending on Zim's status to avoid suspicion.

"Are you sure about this?" Trawl asked Dib.

"Nope." Dib laughed as he flipped back on his disguise.

Trawl couldn't explain how the human could laugh at a moment like this. He had heard from Lard Nar that Annabel was fearless, and often charged into danger with a smile on her face. Were all humans this way?

"Trust me, it will work." Dib assures him. He hopes he sounds more convincing then he feels.

He does, Trawl watches in awe as he climbs up the access ladder and slips through the seward hatched.

His timing is perfect, masked by the back ally of a towering building. Dib slips out of the sewards and into the open hanger of the parking area. He navigates to where Trawl told him the equipment carts would be stored. He grabs one unnoticed and makes a beeline back from where he came. No one is around to stop him; the maintenance closet is located by the entrance and with the ships parked further back no one sees the need to guard the exit.

Trawl is at the top of the ladder when Dib returns, and he get in. Dib grows tense as he turns back around. This was the real test somehow, he had to get this cart and its unauthorized passenger pass the check point and to Zim's ship. He heads back to the maintenance closet and puts several tools inside with Trawl.

Trawl tries to hide beneath them, his small stature makes it easier, but not by much. "Am I hidden?" He whispers.

"Stay very still." Dib warned as he moves forwards.

He sees the check point in seconds where a S.I.R has taken post. Dib had barely noticed the checkpoint when he followed Zim out the day before. Which made sense, no one leaving would likely be stopped.

"State your business." The S.I.R orders.

"My Master, Invader Zim has ordered me to help with repairs to the ship." Dib manages in Irken. He found the more he tried to speak it, the easier it became.

"Understood." The S.I.R lets him pass and Dib breathes a sigh of relief. So far so good, all that was left to do was find the ship.

He takes a few wrong turns but soon finds the massive vessel, it looks far better than Dib had though it would. Despite Gaz's warning the Irkens had repaired the vessel better than expected. Which was a relief, fitting all three of them in the Voot would have been impossible.

The access ramp to the Ship's cargo bay is open and Dib walks right into the ship. After all, Irkens saw him leave the ship with Zim. So, he wasn't expecting to be challenged, still he looked around to check the close was clear. Once he did, he tapped on the cart and Trawl crawled out before hiding behind the rows of food and supplies.

Meanwhile Dib grabs a ladder and moves it the access port leading inside the air ducts.

He turns around and walks two steps back towards the cart and that's when the female walks in.

"What are you doing here?" Mek shouted.

Dib goes to explain, but stops. "What are you doing here?" He challenged. After all this was his master's ship, he had every right to be here. "The other one was on maintenance duty, not you!"

Mek takes a step back, obviously surprised by his boldness. She recovers quickly, "You forget yourself." She warned.

"No, I do not." Dib stepped forward, taking the risk. "My Master told me who is to be here, and he did not mention you! Are you here to steal?"

Mek takes a step back, she hadn't been here to steal per say, she was taking her break and was just wondering through the ships. If anyone asked, she would say she was checking for thieves and if she happened to swipe a doughnut or two she doubted anyone would notice. Had she of came across another soldier she would have explained herself right away. However, she saw a drone and naturally asserted authority. She should have known she couldn't push around Zim's, however. He may have acted meek in his master's presence, but he knew what he was doing. His master told him only Num should be in his ship. He was not going to let her intimidate him even if she was of higher status.

"You are right." She decides to do some damage control. "I was doing a random inspection; I was not informed anyone would be here."

Dib lowers his hostel stance. "Nor did I, I will be here for some time." He informs her. "I have supplies to count and minor inspections to make."

"Inspections?" Mek asked.

"My master does not trust others so easily; he wants me to insure the Ship is functioning properly for our departure." Dib explained.

Mek tried her best not to growl in annoyance, of course someone as high and mighty as Zim would have someone double check their work. She had been hoping to snag a snack and maybe a much-deserved nap but that wasn't happening now. No doubt Dek would report this to Zim and her superiors would be over to reprimand her. "Understood, I will leave you to your work."

"You would be wise to stick to your post." Dib warned. "Had my master of been here he would have not let you go so easily."

Mek resists the urge to strike the shrimp down where he stood. Where did a drone get the idea that he could talk to her like that?! Still, she knew he was right, Zim was known to strike first and ask questions never. So, she took her leave heading back to her post.

"Are you mad?" Trawl hissed as he stepped out, stuffing snacks in his clothes. "Drones don't speak that way to..."

"I know what I am doing." Dib said and gestured up the ladder. "Now hurry before some else comes by."

Trawl doesn't argue, they just had one close call, they might not be so lucky the next time around. He goes up the ladder and opens the access port before crawling in.

"Do you have enough snacks?" Dib whispered; he had climbed up behind him to put the access panel back in place.

The Vort nodded.

"I'm going to stick around a couple of hours to make it look convincing, ok?" Dib said as he placed the panel back and climbed down.

Trawl supposed that made sense, if Dib left too early the female may get suspicious and start snooping around again.

Dib removes the ladder before walking the ship outer premature, just to make sure the female didn't stick around. She's nowhere in sight so he starts to counts supplies, doing the duties he told Mek he had been sent here to do. He takes out the random tools he took from the maintenance closet. Thanks to Tak's ship Dib knew a bit about what he needed to do to look convincing. He checks access panels around the ship pretending to make sure they are tightly fastened in. He goes up to the cockpit and troubleshoots the information and communications hub. Both have been repaired and he sees a new H-dive has been installed.

"I was informed you were here." Dib turns to see Num, the male Irken who he saw board the ship when he and Zim had first arrive on Irk.

"My master's H-drive is missing." Dib said, respectfully.

"It was busted." Num informed him. "I had it replaced."

"My master made it; it was…experimental." Dib tried to explain.

"Oh, I see, he'll want it back then." Num sounds annoyed but not put out entirely. "I can fetch it; the trash drones haven't made their rounds."

Dib watches him go, breathing a sigh of relief. He could only imagine what would happen had that Drive had fallen in the wrong hands. Had any Irken find out what it could really do they could use it to manipulate time and space. Seeing that matted handled he goes back to his checks and Num soon returns with the drive.

"Where would you like it?"

I will see to this Sir." Dib assures him. "No need to trouble yourself with mediocre task such as these."

Num smiles and stood proudly, Mek was going to flip when he told her Zim's drone showed him more respect than her. "I have prepared the ship to the best of my abilities, tell me if you find anything I missed."

"Yes Sir." Dib answered, he smiled as the Irken left. He knew buttering the guy up would get him to be cocky. No doubt he was off to rub it in the females face, Irkens were pretty easy to manipulate once you knew how to play the game. Dib goes back to work, knowing he can't let his guard down just yet, anything could go wrong. He could only hope Zim was doing fine and that he would be done soon.

Because he had no idea how he was going to manage an escape without him. He grabbed ahold of the keys Zim had given him and said a final pray.

"Please be okay." He begged. "Please…"

-To Be Continued