A/N:Hello everyone, and welcome to chapter four! Hopefully you read, eview, and enjoy!

Disclaimer:IZ belongs to JV

Chapter 4: Problems Continue

Captain's Log. Stardate 2100 Irken Time. Day 5. Nothing has changed over the past few hours. We're still traveling down the wormhole with no end in sight. We still have plenty of supplies, but if we continue like this forever… anyway, the crew seems to be handling this information well. No one has suffered any injuries. This is Captain Kiv. Signing off.

xxx Main Engineering xxx

"Is it supposed to be like that?"

Kiv, Graft, and other engineers stood around the wormhole drive which currently looked deformed.

"I don't know Captain. The drive has been slowly collapsing into itself this past hour. My team has been working on it but-" He shrugged helplessly.

Kiv sighed,"Very well. Keep me updated." She headed towards the lift, her head spinning from all the recent reports that had been submitted earlier.

"Captain."Nix inclined his head respectfully, allowing her to regain control of the ship.

"Any deviations in our course?"

"Nothing yet. Still the same white void we've been seeing."

Kiv nodded gloomily, before settling into her chair. Her reverie only lasted a few moments, as the ship suddenly jolted. The ship's lights shut off, leaving the bridge in darkness.

"Engineer, why have we stopped?"She demanded, calling on her personal communicator

"The device has totally collapsed in on itself Captain,"Came Grafts reply,"The fail-safes cut in just before the wormhole folded in on us. The power should return soon."

The lights flickered back on.

"Ship online,"The onboard computer boomed, "Screen rebooting."

As the screen flickered back on, the ship was revealed to be amongst a field of floating debris.

"What on Irk.."Kiv whispered, staring at the viewscreen,"Ship. Run an analysis on one of those pieces."

A slight humming noise was heard, before the computer chimed,"Unknown."

A piece of debris bounced off the hull, the noise loud in the silence of the bridge

"Get us out of here,"Kiv said, breaking the silence,"Ship. Scan for any planet's within range."

"Planet found. Uploading into database."

"While we're waiting, contact the Armada. If we're in the right dimension they should still be there,"Kiv said.

"Communication established Captain,"Ente called out.

The familiar Irken symbol appeared, and was replaced by an irritated looking navigator.

"Look if it's you salesmen again. We will track you… Who is this?"

"Captain Kiv of Ripper Cruiser 39."She replied.

"I see. Have you killed Zim yet?"

"No, but-"

The transmission was cut, leaving Kiv in stunned silence.

"At least we know we're in the right dimension,"She said, after a moment of silence.

A few hours later, a large brown planet came into view.

"Captain. A ship is attempting to communicate with us." Ente said.

Kiv stood up,"Patch him through."

The screen displayed a sandy colored humanoid that glared at the gathered Irken bridge crew.

"You are approaching the homeworld of the heffian species,"He said, arrogantly,"Leave, or have your ship captured and your crew killed."

Kiv narrowed her eyes at the alien,"You are speaking in the presence of an Irken Captain,"She said,"I would choose your next words carefully."

"I would be more frightened by my own crew than I would of you,"The other alien sneered,"Kill them."

"Arm the main laser!" Kiv cried as the main screen changed to show the outside view,"Show them the might of an Irken battle cruiser!"

The main laser located on the ship's front fired at the opposing alien's ship, scoring a few hits on the hull.

"Shields holding Captain,"Gewehr shouted over the heavy thuds of lasers hitting their hull.

The opposing ship's laser fire started to die down, as the Ripper's superior firepower destroyed the emplacements. Knowing that they were outmatched, the other ship's Captain broadcasted a message of surrender.

"Stop firing,"Kiv ordered.

"But Captain, the Irken code requires that all ships that oppose the Empire be destroyed without mercy,"Gewehr protested.

"As Captain aboard this ship I order you to-"

Kiv was cut off by the sound of the other ship's reactor blowing, and vaporizing it into particles.

"Find the next habitable planet,"Kiv said, sounding defeated.

The next few hours were spent in silence until the next planet came up. It was a lush green in color, and seemed to welcome travelers.

"A trading post,"Kiv said, perking ,"We could try to find something that could help complete our mission."

"Captain. We don't have anything to barter with. Something tells me that these aliens won't accept Monies,"Nix said.

"We'll just have to make do."Kiv replied,"Prepare the teleporters."

Outside the ship, a satellite was launched out out of the side, and maneuvered itself into a stable orbit around the planet. The teleporter beam containing Kiv and her party entered the satellite, and materialised them onto the planet's surface.

The Irken team composing of Kiv, Gewehr, and Guardsman Tiwe, who Kiv had learned was actually aboard the ship in the beginning, stumbled out into a bustling marketplace.

"Move!"Growled a large alien as he pushed the trio outof the way.

Kiv stumbled, before using her Pak legs to catch her balance,"That species needs conquering."He muttered, dusting off her uniform.

"Captain, over here!"Gewehr called, standing in a much less crowded area.

Kiv arrived and looked over at where her Security Officer pointed.

"A kiosk?"She asked, skeptically,"Wouldn't that only have the map of this area?"

"Apparently not Captain. It advertises this sector as well. We can see where we are in relation to Earth," Gewehr responded.

Kiv walked over to the kiosk, and used her Pak legs to boost her over the counter,"How much is it for one of those?"She asked, pointing to a map.

"Thirty Vlooks."The bored alien at the stand replied.

"Will you accept these?"Kiv asked, holding up an Irken Monie.

"What are those?"The alien asked,"If they aren't Vlooks, then no deal.

Kiv growled under her breath,"Listen, will you trade me something for that map?"

"Actually, there is one thing..."

A few minutes later Kiv walked away from the stand, storing the map in her Pak.

"What happened Captain?" Gewehr asked, Tiwe standing silently beside him.

"I don't want to talk about it,"She replied, brushing past him,"Nix we're ready for transport."

"Affirmative Captain. Readying the satellite,"Nix commed back.

In orbit, the satellite pointed at the location of Kiv's crew, and extended an energy beam that engulfed them and sent them along the path to the Ripper.

"I didn't find any wormhole drives, but I did find this,"Kiv said, once she arrived onto the bridge,"A map of the current sector we are in. Currently, we are 200 years away from Earth."

Exclamations of shock we're heard around the bridge,"But our supplies will only last us a few more months,"Vea said, in a worried tone.

"I understand that, but as Irkens, we have made it through most obstacles in our life. If we can get faster transportation, we can make it to Earth and back to home without losing a single crewman. All we need is-"She was interrupted by a sharp pain in her antennae.

"Captain, are you okay?" Aveo said, his eyes wide in concern.

"I-I don't know what's-"

Kiv stumbled and fell as all sense of her equilibrium disappeared. She hit her head on a bulkhead, and lapsed into unconsciousness.

"...tain. KIV!"

Kiv woke to see Nix and Medic Hyuna hovering over her in the Medical Bay.

"What happened?"She whispered.

"It must've been something on that planet,"Hyuna said grimly,"It infiltrated your nervous system, tricking your Pak into thinking it was you."

Kiv stood up,"I feel fine now. I'll be on the bridge."

"Don't overwork yourself Captain. Your Pak is still booting up from the diagnostic I ran on it,"Hyuna called out as Kiv walked out the door.

Upon entering the bridge, Nix stood by Kiv's chair, as she continued her explanation of the charts as if nothing happened.

"I believe we'll have to start trading with other species. I'm reluctant to give away Irken technology, but I'm afraid we'll have to do it to complete our mission,"Kiv explained.

The crew returned to their stations, while Kiv settled back into her seat, outshe pulled her recording device.

"Captain's Log. Stardate 2100 Irken Time. Day 6. Upon arriving in the home dimension, the warp drive was damaged. Visiting an alien planet, I found that I was infected by a malignant disease that disguised itself as my own DNA to trick my Pak into thinking everything was fine. Otherwise, the crew seems to be taking the long journey well. I haven't heard from Janitor Tak in some time. This is Captain Kiv. Signing off."

A/N:That's it for Chapter 4! Hopefully I'll see you in the next one!