Disclaimer: These characters belong to the Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jhonen Vasquez.

May God bless you all.


"Just for the record, I'm totally against this." Said Tak's ship.

"Noted..." Tak replied "Now get ready to engage full thrusters.

"So, how exactly is this supposed to open a portal?" Asked Dib.

"When ships go fast enough they sort of create a small gap in space. Get enough gaps together and you can make a portal." Tak explained.

"So we've attached all 3 ships together and if they reach hyperspeed at the exact same time it should be enough to open a small portal for about maybe 20 seconds." Said Zim.

"That's just the simple explanation." Said Tenn. "We have to match the coordinates to that of the massive, but not exactly or we could end up inside the ship… and not in a good way."

"Just like I the mighty Zim!" The red-eyed irken interjected. "Did with the children of earth."

"Okay calculations done… Listen when all three ships reach maximum speed we have to be quick." Skoodge warned.

"Wait… how are we getting back?" Asked Dib.

"We?" Said Tenn. "There's no we… you're staying here."

"What? But…"

"No, but's, bigheaded boy." Replied Tenn. "You think you would fit in on the Massive?"

"Less talking and more flying!" Shouted Zim.

"Fine." Replied Tenn.

"But wait… how are you guys getting back?" Asked Dib.

"I thought you would be all too happy to have us gone." Said Zim.

"You yeah… but… nevermind." Said Dib.

"All right everyone in Zim's ship." Said Skoodge and all 5 irkens quickly piled in the larger ship that Zim had been given by the Tallest.

"So, what's the plan once we get there anyway?" Asked Skoodge.

Zim looked over at his pudgy friend.

"Plan!? Please…" Zim told him. "…The Mighty Zim! Needs no plan!"

Skoodge sighed.

"I was afraid you'd say that."


"All right be quiet." Said Zim as the snuck around the Massive.

Tenn wasn't sure why. Not like anyone was looking for them.

"Okay, Zim will interrogate the medical drone, you 4 keep watch." He told them.

"Zim, we're all going in." Replied Tak as she went to the door and ordered them open.

Inside they saw an empty medbay.

"Curses!" Shouted Zim. "She must have been expecting us!"

"Or she just went on snack break." Said Skoodge.

"All right I'll check on the smeets later." Said a familiar voice nearby.

"She's coming, hide!" Shouted Zim

"What are you talking about?!" Tenn shouted back.

"Who are you!?" Asked Gem as she walked in.

"Hello Gem…" Said Tak.

"Listen, no treatment until after I'm done with my snacks." She told them as she continued to eat.

"We aren't here for treatment…" Tenn replied. "…I am invader Tenn…"

"And I am the mighty Zim!"

Suddenly there was an awkward silence.

Then…

*plop*

"You dropped your snacks." Said Skoodge.

"You… wait… why… stay still…" She said as she scanned Zim.

"What? What is this!?" he asked as he was scanned.

"It… it can't be…" She said as she removed a tablet from her pac and checked the readings.

"You've gotten taller, just an inch but taller still." She pointed out.

"Ah yes and I the mighty Zim! Have yet to reach my full height!" He said.

"Can we focus!?" Tenn screamed.

"Listen years ago you were present during some sort of operation on Zim here ordered by Tallest Spork." She said.

"Oh… yeah… wait you said your name was Tenn?" She replied as she continued looking over her tablet.

"Yes…" Tenn replied.

"Oh, so you were one too." Replied the medical drone.

"One what? Explain yourself!" Tenn demanded.

"One of Sporks… er… special projects." Gem replied.

"Special projects?" Asked Tenn.

Gem sighed.

"I suppose I should spell it out for you."

Gem ordered all the lights off and a projector popped out of her pac. The irkens all turned to the wall as a video played. On the video was Tallest Spork and Miyuki. It appeared to be playing from Gem's point of view.

"Are you sure about this?" Asked Spork.

"Honestly no, but I do think we should." She replied.

"You realize if we do this, we'll be going against the control brains." He warned.

"Not exactly… they never technically ordered against this." Replied Miyuki.

"Yes, they did… listen we are already on thin ice being together like this. We are the leaders we are supposed to make objective decisions for the sake of the irken empire. How can we do that when we're…"

Spork paused and looked over at Gem, which appeared like he was looking right at the camera.

"Oh, sorry we're not here to talk about this." He told her.

"That's all right my Tallest." She responded. "I understand the issue. However, I have to point out what you are planning to do while may not directly go against the control brains but definitely won't go unnoticed."

"We have no intention of being subtle with it." Said Miyuki.

"Ok, once you understand the risk." Gem replied.

"Do you have the list of irkens." Spork told Gem.

"Yes…" She replied. "There were about 30."

"Good. I'll interview them after the battle." Replied Spork.

"Ok, there's just one thing." Said Gem. "5 of them are defective. Including you know who."

"Does that mean you're unable…"

"No…" Gem interrupted. "…But just a warning I have no idea whether or not the defect will affect them in anyway."

"It's worth the risk." Said Spork.

Suddenly the video ended.

"Um…" Said Tenn. "…That didn't spell out anything."

"Shs…" Said Gem as she began another video.

"Well, it appeared to have been successful." Said Spork.

"It appears so." Replied Gem. "However I thought we were going to go public with this."

"That was before Miyuki died." Said Spork. "I'm actually not sure if we have to. We should let them get out there and see how they perform in the field."

"Ok, but… what about Zim?" She asked causing the irkens antenna to perk up.

"We honor Miyuki's last wish. Get him in here." He ordered.

"Call Zim into medbay 6." Ordered Gem.

The video ended once more.

"What!? What did you do to the mighty Zim!?" Asked Zim.

"I'm getting there…" Gem insisted as she started a third video.

"You sure about this?" Asked Gem.

"I'm sure, it's for the best." He said.

"But, you know Red and Purple they aren't…"

"…Doesn't matter. Perhaps Miyuki and I were wrong, maybe we weren't, but I think it's best."

"So, I'll project the monster and you'll just disappear?"

"That's the plan…" Replied Spork.

"Any idea where you'll go? You won't be able to hide easily." Gem warned him.

"I have a few ideas… better to not tell you." He replied.

"Of course." Replied Gem.

"All right let's do this." He said before the screen once again cut off.

"What!? This explains nothing!" Shouted Tak.

"Really? Oh well, I guess most of you don't know the backstory let me just pull up…"

"Can't you just tell us!?" Demanded Tenn.

"Fine." Replied Gem. "But not here… come on."


"Move your elbow." Said Tenn.

"Move your foot." Replied Zim.

"Is there a reason we have to be cramped into this tiny ship?" Tak asked.

"Because in my ship the Massive won't record what I am about to say to you." Replied Gem.

"What is it!? Tell Zim!" He pleaded.

"Calm down." She replied. "Okay, the short of it is that Spork and Miyuki started a… rather secret project."

"What kind of project?" Asked Tak.

"Um… I'm actually not entirely sure about all the details. They brought me in on it shortly before she died. However, I know that it had to do with doubting the way the control brains did things." She stated.

"What? Why would they doubt the control brains!?" Asked Zim.

"The Control brains are simply pacs of ancient irkens, they require repair and sometimes seem to suffer from binary decay." Said Gem. "Also there's nothing to stop a smart tech from messing with them."

Gem looked around as though to make sure none of the other ships had irkens spying on them.

"So, one day they came to me and told me to search through the database and find all irkens that matched certain specifications." She went on. "It wasn't a big list as you know, but Tenn and Zim were on it."

"What specifications?" Asked Tenn.

"Yes! Why was I the…"

"You say the Mighty Zim again and I'll destroy you." Tenn warned.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to know?" Asked Gem.

"Yes! Tell me!" Replied Zim.

"Well remember you wanted this." Warned Gem.

"You, see Miyuki actually wanted to… well… get rid of invaders."

"What!?" Zim exclaimed. "Why would the great Miyuki want to destroy one of the most honorable responsibilities in the irken empire!?"

"I'm not sure about all the details, but it seemed as though she thought attempting to make peace with the inhabitable planets in the galaxy was actually both more effective and beneficial for all." Replied Gem. "You see she actually wanted to replace invaders with… not sure if there's a word for it but maybe ambassadors would work?"

"Ambassadors?" Asked Tak.

"Well, they would go in, observe the planet's dominant species and find out the best way to form some kind of truce which would be mutually beneficial for both species."

"What!?" Zim exclaimed. "Please the Might irken empire conquers it doesn't make peace!" Shouted Zim.

"Anyway, when she died Spork tried to continue her plans. Which is why the 10 of you that took the exams would have been made invaders either way. I believe Tallest Spork wanted you 10 to… sort of be test subjects." Said Gem.

"Test subjects?" Asked Tenn.

"I believe you would have been given instructions to try and make peace with the planets you were sent to rather than invade." Gem Replied.

"So what exactly were the specifications for those chosen?" Asked Tak.

"You're not gonna like it." Gem warned.

"Just tell us anyway." Tak replied.

"Ok… it was…"

"Medical drone 385 please report back to your station Snack break is over." Came the Massive A.I.

"Sorry, if I'm late they'll suspect something." She said as she hurried to leave.

"But wait what were the specifications?" Asked Tak, but Gem didn't answer as she rushed out of her ship and back into the massive.

"But…" Said Zim.

"Should we wait for her or…" Skoodge began but Tenn interrupted.

"No, we stay here much longer we reach being found out. We should get back to earth." She advised.

"But…" Zim protested.

"No buts!" Tenn yelled. "Come on let's go."

Gem sighed. It had been a long day and finally, her next snack break was here. Though it wasn't just that. It felt good to finally let go of all she was keeping secret for Miyuki and Skoodge, but in truth with all the videos and the long explanation…

…She was stalling because after all that even the "Mighty Zim!" had forgotten to ask exactly what she had done to him on that operating table.

Yes, she had avoided telling them the crux of the issue but she knew this would most likely only be temporary. Eventually, they'd come back looking for more answers...

…And she'd feel compelled to give them.


Thank you for all who made it to the end. Don't forget to leave a review.

May God bless you all.