Chapter 3
***
"Zim, we know there's danger. But we can't fight a full-scale war against the Irkens. You heard Exalted Hutt Lord Ztivroh. We have no army," Weedo the Rodian spoke quickly, in Huttese. "Reconsider. We're not ready for war."
Zim had learned the language quickly, and found himself speaking back in Huttese: "And you heard me. I have an underground resistance. I've gathered up some Irken Invaders and some bounty hunters. As well as some old Imperials."
"We don't trust the Empire," Weedo replied, spitting out the Hutt words for 'the Empire' angrily.
"I heard the Rebels destroyed their second Death Star. I thought the Empire was gone," Zim replied, scratching the red Irken military logo off of his helmet as he spoke. "So these wandering Imperials without a leader have some use for us-wait. Who was that?"
Weedo shrugged, pulling his blaster. Zim followed the example, and demanded, "Who is it and what have you heard?"
"Zim? It's Tep. I brought two squads."
"Leave, Weedo." The Rodian did, and then Zim spoke.
"Tep. You're in admiral's uniform?"
"I was promoted. When you removed the tracer beacon from your back pod, the transmission was lost. They assumed I had killed you."
"The almighty Zim is insulted," he said with a laugh, looking up from his work. The military logo was almost gone. "I hear you killed Kittch Krath? One of our bounty hunters, posing as a mechanic."
"I'm sorry, Zim. It's hard to lead a double life. Letting him go would've meant my death by the Tallest. They'd get suspicious," Tep said, genuine sorrow in his voice.
"You're dead, then?" said a voice from the doorway.
"Kittch Krath?" Tep said, then laughed. "I thought I killed you."
"Naw. Standard procedure, dump your garbage; remember? So I did, and I faked a death scream before jumping to lightspeed as my garbage exploded. Classic move."
Zim eyed Krath suspiciously.
"It's okay, Zim. He's a trustworthy Human," Tep said.
"I've had my experiences with Humans," Zim sighed.
"I'm afraid my droid, R3-S6, is smashed up. I'll need a new one before I can use my starfighter, the Cirrus, again," Krath said.
"Our agents have stolen tons of SIRs. I'll get one fitted for an astromech as soon as I can," Tep said. "We've been modifying SIRs for R2s ever since we've moved to this galaxy."
"Thank you. Don't want to bother you too much, but one Irken platoon came in and smashed up a small town. The Irkens retreated to their ships, then left. I think they're planning to smash in, then leave, but once it's over, they'll just take it."
"It won't last. Their government is based on height. Really stupid," Zim muttered.
Krath held back a snort. He towered over Zim like a Wookiee. He could see why the "Tallest" had exiled him.
"I've got to get back to the Armada," Tep said. "The Tallest will surely figure this out soon. Squads are disappearing by the dozen to join our cause. We have to prepare for a full-scale war."
***
"Zim, we know there's danger. But we can't fight a full-scale war against the Irkens. You heard Exalted Hutt Lord Ztivroh. We have no army," Weedo the Rodian spoke quickly, in Huttese. "Reconsider. We're not ready for war."
Zim had learned the language quickly, and found himself speaking back in Huttese: "And you heard me. I have an underground resistance. I've gathered up some Irken Invaders and some bounty hunters. As well as some old Imperials."
"We don't trust the Empire," Weedo replied, spitting out the Hutt words for 'the Empire' angrily.
"I heard the Rebels destroyed their second Death Star. I thought the Empire was gone," Zim replied, scratching the red Irken military logo off of his helmet as he spoke. "So these wandering Imperials without a leader have some use for us-wait. Who was that?"
Weedo shrugged, pulling his blaster. Zim followed the example, and demanded, "Who is it and what have you heard?"
"Zim? It's Tep. I brought two squads."
"Leave, Weedo." The Rodian did, and then Zim spoke.
"Tep. You're in admiral's uniform?"
"I was promoted. When you removed the tracer beacon from your back pod, the transmission was lost. They assumed I had killed you."
"The almighty Zim is insulted," he said with a laugh, looking up from his work. The military logo was almost gone. "I hear you killed Kittch Krath? One of our bounty hunters, posing as a mechanic."
"I'm sorry, Zim. It's hard to lead a double life. Letting him go would've meant my death by the Tallest. They'd get suspicious," Tep said, genuine sorrow in his voice.
"You're dead, then?" said a voice from the doorway.
"Kittch Krath?" Tep said, then laughed. "I thought I killed you."
"Naw. Standard procedure, dump your garbage; remember? So I did, and I faked a death scream before jumping to lightspeed as my garbage exploded. Classic move."
Zim eyed Krath suspiciously.
"It's okay, Zim. He's a trustworthy Human," Tep said.
"I've had my experiences with Humans," Zim sighed.
"I'm afraid my droid, R3-S6, is smashed up. I'll need a new one before I can use my starfighter, the Cirrus, again," Krath said.
"Our agents have stolen tons of SIRs. I'll get one fitted for an astromech as soon as I can," Tep said. "We've been modifying SIRs for R2s ever since we've moved to this galaxy."
"Thank you. Don't want to bother you too much, but one Irken platoon came in and smashed up a small town. The Irkens retreated to their ships, then left. I think they're planning to smash in, then leave, but once it's over, they'll just take it."
"It won't last. Their government is based on height. Really stupid," Zim muttered.
Krath held back a snort. He towered over Zim like a Wookiee. He could see why the "Tallest" had exiled him.
"I've got to get back to the Armada," Tep said. "The Tallest will surely figure this out soon. Squads are disappearing by the dozen to join our cause. We have to prepare for a full-scale war."