Chapter Notes

Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: Another flash back! Enjoy!

(141 years ago…)

[Location: Irk, the Royal Place!]

This was perhaps the most stupid thing he could ever do! Father could have him killed for this…

Then again father could end up thanking him for this.

Maz had been pacing back and forth in front of the throne room doors for some time now. He had a big decision to make, and he couldn't make it lightly. His brother Zim had been missing for 1 year now, and their Father was beginning to think he hadn't run away to a far off, galaxy as he previously thought. So, he decided to look closer to home, and that's where the problem lied. Maz knew it was only a matter of time before his Father's forces checked Zec, and when Zim was discovered His Father would kill him when he found out Maz knew he was there all along.

That is if Zim didn't kill him fist! He knew there was one way to get Father to call off the search all together, but to admit to such a barbaric act...well it may not end well for Maz. 'It doesn't matter!' Maz thought. 'I must secure the throne for myself! Zim doesn't want it, and Father will never understand that! This way we both get what we want!' With that thought fresh on his mind Maz marched through the throne room doors and addressed his father. "Father we must talk." He said, giving a respectful bow.

Emperor Nax looked down on his son from his throne. 'So, he finally decides to come in.' he thought with a smile. He had been hearing his son's pacing for hours now, and he was beginning to wonder if he'd ever find his nerve. "Very well speak!"

"Father I have a confession to make." Maz said, his voice only wavering slightly.

"You know where he is don't you?" Emperor Nax was smiling widely now. Yes, he has suspected for some time now that Maz knew more than he was letting on.

Maz nodded.

"Well than where is he?" Emperor Nax asked.

Maz took a deep breath, this was the moment that could have him killed for treason. "I can't tell you." He said.

"And why not?" Emperor Nax asked.

"Because I don't know." Maz stammered. "I can tell you where he was, but as of now. I'm not sure."

"What do you mean?" Emperor Nax looked at his son somewhat worried now. "Maz where is your brother!?"

"He's dead." Maz said bluntly. "I killed him!"

Silence! It was deafening.

"He was never going to be what this Empire needed, and you were too blind to see it!" Maz screamed through the silence. "I did what had to be done!"

"You killed him?" Emperor Nax asked.

"Yes," Maz answered, trying to read his Father's expression. "I came back to the place earlier that day, and caught him writing that letter." He lied. "I was so enraged by it, here he was planning to run away, when we needed him to stay here! I lost it, and I struck him with a nearby blunt object."

Emperor Nax were no expression at all, and that scared his son. "Where is his body?"

"I dumped it in the trash heaps, he's probably off world now, floating somewhere in space." Maz said coldly.

"You would do that to your own brother?" Emperor Nax asked.

"He was defective, talking about leaving and saying he wanted to do something else besides be the Emperor we needed him to be. He shouldn't have been allowed to live as long as he did." Maz stated.

"So, you're saying I was too weak to see what had to be done?" Emperor Nax asked, still showing no expression.

"Yes, I am!" Maz hissed. "I did you a favor father, now your legacy will not become a laughing stock!"

"We shall see." Emperor Nax snapped. "I could have your PAK removed for killing the heir of Irk, and if you were anyone else's I probably would." He admitted. "But you are right, perhaps I was too blind to see his flaws. But know this I can, and will produce another heir to replace you if I feel you've fallen short of the mark!"

"I understand father!" Maz said with a bow.

"You are dismissed." Emperor Nax ordered.

Maz left the throne room, in a hurry; desperate to get away.

"Do you really believe him?" Tallest Myuki asked from her hiding place behind one of the pillars.

"Does it matter?" Emperor Nax asked. "It's been long enough."

"Sire what are you saying?" Tallest Myuki asked.

"I have searched for him for a year now, to search much longer will make me look desperate, and weak." Emperor Nax.

"But Zim he-!" Tallest Myuki began, but he cut her off.

"If he does not want to be found then so be it." Emperor Nax said. "If he wants to make a name for himself than let him, sooner or later his destiny as my heir will catch up to him."

"You really think we'll see him again?" Tallest Myuki asked.

Emperor Nax nodded. "Yes, if he has enough guts to deliberately disobey me, then he's more of a king than I ever was." He admitted. "I never had the strength to tell my father no."

"So, you salute him?" Tallest Myuki asked in surprise.

"Not yet, let's see just how well of a name he makes for himself first. Then we'll see just how much I allow him to get away with." Emperor Nax said.

Tallest Myuki nodded her understanding, hoping that wherever Zim was now, that he at least knew what he was getting himself into!

(138 years ago…)

[Location: Zec, the Irken Military Training Planet!]

This was it…

The moment that could make him, or break him!

Zim bit his bottom lip as he waited patiently to see the computer brain. It had been almost two hours since he completed his exam, and Zim was anxious to hear if he had scored high enough to be granted Irken Invader status. Of course, he felt like he had done very well, but he wasn't sure if very well was good enough.

For a moment, he regrets leaving home, for four years he had trained here on Zec. What if he's not really cut out for this after all? Or worse the Brain may mark his test invalid because he's a Noble of the Royal blood line. After all, surely the brain would know it was him!

"Cadet Zim!"

Zim stepped forward on wobbly legs at the sound of the Brain's voice. He stops before it the massive computer Brain.

"Irken Zim you are by far the most diverse Irken I have ever met!" The Computer Brain boomed.

'Really, but we just met?' Zim thought.

"No, you may not remember, but I am the Computer who brought you to life all those years ago." The brain told him.

'Whoa did she just read my thoughts?' Zim wondered.

"Yes, Zim now Pay attention!" The brain boomed. "One wrong thought and this could all be over for you." She reminded him. "If I label you defective not even your Noble heritage can save you now." She warned.

'So, she does know who I really am.' Zim thought, and then said. "I Understand."

"Then let's begin!" The computer boomed.

Zim tensed as the Computer Brain wrapped its tentacles around his head and the next thing he saw was darkness! 'Where am I?' he asked himself.

'We are in the void of you most inner thoughts young one.' A voice rasped.

Cadet Zim gasped as the computer brain metallized in front of him.

'It is here that we will test the value of your mind.' The Brain continued.

Cadet Zim watched as visions of his past began to flash all around him.

'Your life has been a difficult one.' The brain says. 'You feel your nobility status is a burden that you must hide. You feel misunderstood.'

'I want to fight for my Empire.' Zim thought. 'Is that wrong?'

'No, it is a noble gesture, but many nobles would find it foolish!' The brain told him.

'I am not like most Nobles.' Zim answered.

'I have come to notice such values.' The Brain assured him. 'You will need that kind of mind set when you are blending in with the enemy. An Invader will sometimes have to resort to doing things most Irkens would look down on; in hopes of securing the missions success.'

'Wait you mean I've done it?' Zim asked. 'I'm an invader?'

'Yes, but be warned! You are an Irken soldier now.' The Brain reminded him. 'And if you mess up your father can not bail you out. You will be labeled defective, and you will be deactivated.'

'I understand.' Zim stated.

'Than welcome to the Irken Armada; Invader Zim!'

Zim smiled as he allowed the Computer's words to fill his very being. He had done it! He now had a new name for himself: Invader Zim!

And sometime in the near future that name would be feared by all who heard it!

Chapter End Notes

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment. (If you want!) The next chapter will be up soon.

This is Emily Signing off...