Author's Notes: So I know it has been forever since I wrote for this Fandom, but the new job has made it really hard for me to find the time to write. It's very time consuming and draining and finding the energy to write is not easy, but I am trying to get back into some sort of groove. I can't fix the past, I can only promise to do better in the future. With that said, I hope you guys love this next chapter and I look forward to continuing this series with you.

(Back with Zib…)

[Location: Earth)

He had to admit a part of him was worried, as positive as he appeared Zib was nervous of the day to come. Despite his loving family growing up hadn't been easy. Not that it was ever meant to be; after all they had grown up amongst a planet full of people who hated half of their very existence.

However, He didn't let the doubt settle in. NO! Even as half Irken he was still a member of a proud race, and he wouldn't let public opinion deter him, at least not visibly. So as his fellow classmates started to file in he wore a face of calmness even though as his body tried to rattle with nerves.

Annabel smiled warmly as her students entered each looking eager to start the day.

Ever since she was little girl she had always wanted to be a teacher…

It was hard to believe that after so many years she was finally living a dream that she hadn't seen for herself since her early twenties. However, things were different now; the fast pace of life that came from being a rebel soldier had gave way to a new norm. Now that they had Irk on run, Annabel was free to pursue a relatively normal life. Well as a normal as teaching a class full of alien races could be.

"Alright Class, settle down!" Annabel chimes as the bell rings, signaling the start of today's lesson.

Shoes scuffle as a few students hurry to find their seats; in a class of 18 Annabel knew her's was rather small compared to most. However, it would appear no matter what the race younger children had a smaller attention span. It just couldn't be helped larger groups took longer to settle down.

Zii looks around him in awe as his fellow students take their seats, surprised as a few of them even dare to sit with them.

"Now as I am sure you can all tell we have some new faces with us today." Annabel gets right to the chase. "As I told you last week my nephews are joining us today and will continue with us the rest of the year."

Of course that's why they were being so well accepted, Annabel had warned them of their arrival and no doubt expected them to be on their best behavior. Zid rolled his eyes. He knew his grandmother meant well, but he hated it all the same. Why did people have to be threatened to be nice to him? He wasn't a bad person; he had done nothing to deserve the looks of distrust and the acts of distain. Still he forced a smile as he and his brothers stood and waved to their fellow classmates.

"Now let's give them a big welcome." Annabel instructs them.

"Welcome to our class." The children chimed, and they actually sound sincere.

Zid sighs and does his best to push his anger aside, they are just kids after all, they weren't out to get them.

Zib gives his brothers an encouraging look as they take their seats.

"Now today we are going to be learning about the Earth's moons." Annabel says as she starts the lesson for the day. "Can anyone name them?"

A girl beside Zii raises her hand.

"Yes Mary?" Annabel points to her.

"Luna?" The girl, Mary, answers looking unsure. Her red ponytails shake as she fidgets nervously.

"Correct." Annabel praises with a smile as she draws the Earth and its original moon on her halo screen with a smart pen. "Renamed after our own Queen Luna, the Moon Luna was original our only moon in the sky." She explains.

A boy resembling a green blob, raises his hand.

"Yes Tork?" Annabel address the young student; he was a member of the Sprites if Zib remembered correctly. A race of aliens who looked a lot like jello in his unspoken opinion.

"You mean the others weren't there?" He asked.

"That's right." Annabel chimed. "Before the Great Liberation. Many of the things we take for granted today just didn't exist."

The children all began to mutter to each other in awe. They all knew about the Great Liberation; it was a celebrated holiday to commemorate the day that Earth held off the Enemy during the events of the Florpus. Their heroizing efforts lead to the uprising of all those enslaved by Irk and led to the freedom of many, some of which were in this very room.

Before the Irken Lockdown could stop them Many families fled Irken controlled planets during the confusion and immigrated to Earth, a place who had fought Irk and WON! Something that had never been done before.

"Yes, its all very exciting." Annabel agreed. "Now can anyone name the others?"

Zii raised his hand.

Annabel smiled, delighted to see him engaging. "Yes Zii!"

"New Irk!" He exclaimed.

"Yes that is correct. "New Irk was the first of the artificial moons that surround Earth." She draws another moon in its position around the Earth.

A young male Vort rises his hand. "What does…artificial…mean?"

"It means it was made by a person instead of nature." Annabel answers patiently. "New Irk was created by Taller Zim as a new home for our Irken Refugees."

Zid tenses, waiting for mention of his father to bring up the usual commotion, but instead another child, this one a squid like alien raises one tentacle.

"Yes, Mori?" Annabel asked.

"Why did they need a new home?" Mori asked.

"Because, like us they didn't agree with what Irk is doing to our Universe. So despite how scary the Empire can be they banned with Taller Zim to protect us." Annabel answered.

"That was very brave." Mori said.

Annabel smiled. "Yes it was. Now after New Irk Taller Zim established the remaining four new moons which were made in honor of each ambassador." She drew four more moons in their respected places around the Earth. "Can anyone name them?"

"New Vort." The Vort from before answers.

"That's right Armon, New Vort became a sanctuary for the Vort refugees who currently took up the largest percentage of those who immigrated to Earth at the time. Any guesses on the last three?"

"Kandor." Zib Answered.

"Excellent." Annabel praised. "Now Kandor was named by Ambassador Uma in honor of her father who fell to the Irken Empire long ago." She said sounding much like a teacher who was giving a story about a magical mystical land instead of an actual place you could see in the sky. "The next moon is Clantar named after the home world of Irk's Sister planet. Finally there is Varmur, the smallest of our moons. Can anyone tell me what it is famous for?"

Everyone looks thoughtful, but no one answers right away.

Finally Zid gives in. "It's home to the first attraction made off world, The Galactic Zoo."

"That's right." Annabel couldn't help but smile at the answer. She remember the day the Zoo opened, like people many animals from other planets found their way to Earth during the Great Liberation, Weather intentional or by stowing away. However due to Earth's fragile ecosystem new evasive creatures from alien worlds could not be allowed to stay.

Seeing the obvious dilemma Ambassador Bangy established a temporary home for all off world animals that arrived and relocated them to Varmur where they could roam freely. The "Zoo" itself was much like a Suvari with no fences or cages. And tourist and locals alike paid every day to go on tours of the exotic animals that many of them had never seen before.

Zid finally allowed himself to relax completely as their first lesson continued. After all their grandmother had said they would be spending most of the day here. And no one was causing him any grief, so he saw that as a good sign. Yes, maybe mother was right, maybe this would be good for them.

He looked up at the sky once more at the thought of his parents and hoped beyond hope that they were safe and that where ever they were they'd be home soon.

(Back with Team Alpha…)

{Location: Just outside Planet Cyntos)

"Impossible…"

Luna barely registered Zim's response over her own shock. "She's alive…"

"Impossible…" Zim voiced again, and rightfully so. He remembered that day as vivid as if it was just yesterday and not over a decade ago.

Luna, who had witness the day herself through Zim's stored memories also knew why it wasn't possible. Eclipsa, her mother had been cut down by Invader Spleen, her throat slashed before his eyes. Chances of her living, and a legendary Invader allowing it was slime to none…NO less than none! Still, the proof was right in front of them.

"There must be a mistake…. or maybe it's a trick." Dib voiced the possibility despite the pain it would cause his sisters. "I mean think about it, if she was…wouldn't they use this against you years ago?"

She knew it was a possibility, after all Alpha team had been stealing information from the enemy for years now, and it wasn't going undetected. Sure it took time for the Tallest to discover information was stolen, but eventually they would find out. They may not be able to figure out how they were doing it, but that didn't mean they would do nothing about it. No, naturally they would do the next best thing, plant information, create a scenario they couldn't ignore. Like the possibility of restoring at least a small piece of what they had lost. Of course, the Tallest knew she would be desperate to save her people, but to know one of her parents was still alive, and in the heart of enemy territory! It was the perfect recipe for a trap, but the possibility that it wasn't.

As unlikely as it was Queen Eclipsa could have been left alive. After all, Spleen had just discovered Zim's betrayal and would have left to follow him. Eager to hunt him down and make him pay for his crimes. Causing him to leave Eclipsa still clinging to life despite her wounds, plus soldiers who had heard the commotion would have been at her aid in seconds. They could have gotten to her in time, could have helped her pull through. Still Dib was right, why now?

Luna knew without a doubt she would have taken the bait instantly had she known her mother was alive. If they had threatened her, and why wouldn't they….

'Why wouldn't they?'

"Maybe they did." Moon said, suddenly thinking of a solution. "I mean we were children, broken, believed to be orphaned do you really think they'd tell us if The enemy had her."

'THEY?!'

The thought was unthinkable, but it was a likely solution all the same.

"Are you saying mom kept this from you on purpose?" Gaz asked in disbelief.

"Not to hurt us." Moon declared. "To protect us, think about it we would have done anything to save her, even if it meant doing it alone."

Luna knew she was right, but the thought still made her angry. Why would they keep this from her for so long? If they knew!? Sure they always hoped her mother was still alive, but to know and never tell her even after 15 years! It was a n act of treason she couldn't even think about forgiving. "Set the quickest course for home NOW!"

"Luna you are not thinking clearly." Zim warned.

"Yes I am!" Luna yelled. "Now take this ship through the nearest drop gate and get us home NOW!"

"Luna!" Dib tried to argue, to use an enemy drop gate, while doable was also very risky. The Tallest would know instantly it was used and once they saw the destination they would know exactly by who.

"Do it now! That is an order!" Luna snapped.

An order, Luna was pulling rank as an ambassador, none of them could deny her now. Not even Zim, sure he was Taller, but that didn't make him an ambassador. No Former Invader Skoodge was the ambassador of Irk, not Zim. Which wasn't surprising, every race had an ambassador, but unlike the role of taller, an ambassador was chosen by the people. And with his many crimes against the refugees of the Galactic Alliance Zim had not won the popular vote. Not that he mind, even with his new title and the blessing of the Main Control Brains, Zim still did not see himself as a worthy leader. He filled the role because he was chosen, because he had to, because his people needed him to save them from themselves.

"Luna, please I know you are upset." Peg said in a calm voice, "But you need to think clearly. If we use a drop gate we could be compromised, you would be risking the safety of your mother and the entire alliance."

"No you listen. We just received critical information, pass codes, and locations of every prisoner our enemies have. If we take too long to return home it may no longer be relevant."

"If we get caught it will certainly be irrelevant." Zim snapped.

"Then don't get caught!" Luna countered.

For a long moment the two stared each other down, neither bugging, until finally Zim relented.

"Setting a course to the nearest drop gate." He stated over the comms. Knowing the conversation had been recorded, every flight log for every mission was recorded after all.

An uneasy silence fell over the crew, but Luna is too blinded by rage to fell the weight of her actions.

"approaching the gate." Dib says.

Its true, the drop gate comes into view, most are unmanned seeing how they are programed to be self-sustaining, still that didn't mean it's use would go un noticed. Every drop was log and every log was reviews daily. The Tallest would know, this was reckless and stupid, but nobody said as much as Zim access the drop gate and entered their destination.

"Permission to drop?" Zim asked. "Of course he knew Luna already gave the order, but he was asking out of protocol. No, doubt the higher ups back at command would give him an antennae full for this one. They were breaking every rule in the book, and no way was he going down for that. General Hale and the other members of command were already out to get him as it was, they didn't need more fuel for their "Anti-Zim" Campaign.

"Permission Granted." Luna stated, she knows this stupid, but she has to get back, she has to know. Did they really keep this from her all this time?

The drop gate powers up as Zim pushes the ship forward. "Entering Drop." He states and they are sent through lightyears of space in a matter of seconds.

A heavy stone enters her gut as the edge of the solar system comes into view. "Sister please…" Moon tries to reason with her, tries to calm her Sister's rage. "I'm angry too." She admits. "But we shouldn't storm in accusingly, Dib is right, this could be a trap to trick us into making a mistake."

"One we've already fell for." Zim hissed as he entered the access code allowing them to pass through the force shield. The flight to Earth from the edge of the solar system is short thanks to their H-drive. "I hope your happy your highness! All of Irk will know of our whereabouts and it won't take them long to realize what we were doing!"

Dib winced; Zim only used Luna's title when he was really angry.

A purple bean shoots out and the ship is teleported to one of the docking bays located within one of the many new rings surrounding Earth. The Rings themselves housed many along with other facilities that created the whole of Space Force Headquarters. There were also several outpost all over the system, but most of the forces were stationed here.

The door to the ship opens and the crew is greeted by Gir.

"Master you is back!" Gir jumps up and wraps himself around one of Zim's legs.

Zim ignores him, storming out of the Ship without so much as another word.

"Welcome home my Taller." Skoodge greets his leader with pride, only to faulter as he realizes his mood.

Lard Nar you stands beside him by the ship is also perplexed. "Something the matter?"

Zim doesn't anwer, just continues to storm off.

"Zim? Zim what happened?" Lard Nar demands to know.

"Why are you asking me?" Zim snapped. "Why don't you ask her Royal highness how we just got done completing our mission on Planet Cyntos but managed to return months in advanced!"

Lard Nar looks at Luna in alarm. "Please tell me you didn't." His voice speaking volumes to the severity of the situation.

"Did you know!" Luna snapped.

"Sister please." Moon tries to soothe her. "Be reasonable."

"Will someone please tell us what is going on?" Skoodge asked.

"Mother is alive!" Luna screamed, her eyes like daggers cutting into Lard Nar. "DID YOU KNOW!"

His reaction says it all, the Vort is visibly shock. "Impossible, her injuries even if she managed to get help…" He didn't have to finish.

Luna faulted; her anger gone in seconds. Of course they didn't know, of course, they'd have told her if they did. They understood she wasn't a child; she'd been running the resistance since she was 10 after all. With the absence of her rage, the guilt finally rises. "Zim I…"

"Save it, I'm already going to get an earful for this." Zim snaps. He knows she didn't mean to hurt any of them, but her recklessness would not go without consequences.

And naturally everyone was going to blame him.

He can already hear the shouting coming from the opposite direction of the bay.

"I will handle this." Luna insisted as she stands firmly beside him.

"Now you've done it!" An elderly man in a four-star general's uniform exclaimed. "Your rebel cello just got done telling us a drop gate was used within range of Planet Cyntos. You made a drop!"

"It was under my orders General." Luna said firmly.

"Yours?" General Hale looks perplex. "Why would you authorize such a risky move."

"We have vital information." Luna insisted. "Access codes change too frequently, if we had waited months to get back the information we stolen may no longer be relevant."

General Hale looks thoughtful. "And you are sure you made the decision on your own?"

"Yes, you can check the logs, no one agreed with me." Luna assured him.

General Hale nods, looking at Zim with narrowing eyes. "Well commander you better get your team ready for debrief, because this one isn't going to sit easy."

Zim grunted, he knew the old man was right, several thousand refugees were waiting for their families to be liberated. No matter who they saved first others would be angry that their families had to wait longer. Plus, once the rumor of the access codes being reset started to spread many would fear they'd have no chance at all.

Luna winces as General Hale stomps off. "Zim I really am sorry." She insets grabbing for him.

Zim allows the anger to dissipate, He knew if it had been a member of his family he's do the same, but to just pull rank like that. Worse, she didn't even allow room for discussion or weighed others' opinion. He turns on her and she jumps. "I understand the need to know, the need to save family, but that could have gone south fast. Next time you are on my ship, and I strongly disagree to something it is because I know better. I have the experience and the know-how and in my professional opinion the possibility that everyone you know and love lying to you was not reason enough to put the entire crew and our way of life at risk. If you ever do that again on my ship, on one of my missions I will pull a citizen arrest on you so fast, and you will spend the rest of the voyage home confined to your quarters under house arrest. Do I make myself clear?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, of course I understand, I allowed my emotions to cloud my judgment, it won't happen again."

"Good, there is a time and place for emotion." Zim snapped, before softening. "With that said, how do you fell?"

"Confused, hopeful, but fearful." Luna answered.

"me too." Moon agreed. "Big brother is right; it is most likely a trap."

Dib bit his lip, "I hope not, I mean as unlikely as it is; for your mom to be alive, that's huge."

Luna gave him an appreciative nod. "Thanks, you guys better get to your briefing while I quell the fire I started."

"Good luck." Dib joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Nice lecture." Lard Nar teased to Zim as She ran off. "You're really getting good at those."

"Maybe you should go help her with that." Zim growled.

Lard Nar chuckled but gave chase after Luna all the same.

Moon wish she was going with her, but she had decided long ago that she wasn't going to live a life as a diplomat. As the second born she had more liberty to pursue her future, While it wasn't encouraged for a member of royalty to be in the military. Serving as a communications liaison and being the bridge between her team and other races had proven to be a valuable use of her talents as a member of nobility. So while it wasn't ideal in the eyes of her people Moon knew they would still be proud, her parents would still be proud.

She tried to imagine them, her real mother and father, but all she saw was Dibson and Annabel. They were the one who raised her, who taught her right and wrong. Who Came to her aid when she was injured or ill. Who taught her life lessons and who to trust. And no matter how hard she tried she just could picture anyone else.

"He's right though." Dib said to Zim, breaking her from her thoughts. "You did good."

"I shouldn't have been so cross with her." Zim argued. "It was her first field mission, heck we shouldn't have allowed her to go in the first place."

"Still it turned out alright in the end." Peg countered. "we should take the win for what it is and focus on the task at hand."

"The task being combing through thousands of prisoners and their locations and deciding who we save first?" Gaz pointed out glumly.

"I think all teams will be involved in the liberating." Peg insisted.

"Undercover rescue missions are high stakes." Dib reasoned. "They may force teams of two to work together."

"Perfect, just what we need another team trying to muscle in and call the shots." Zim growled as they took their seats in the debriefing room.

"It will be fine." Moon tried to assure him. "I can't see them forcing the main teams to work together, most of them already have missions. Seeing how this can't wait we will most likely be accompanied by a few solo agency rather than a whole team."

"Well hopefully it's someone we can all get along with, otherwise I can't promise I won't murder them." Gaz warned.

The team laughed full heartedly, knowing she was joking…probably.

"But hey on the bright side we'll; be home tonight." Dib pointed out with a grin.

Zim couldn't help but smile. "Awe yes home sweet home where the chaos of war is oh so far away."

"Seriously? You must be talking about a different house because last I check we lived in utter chaos." Moon pointed out.

"True, but we do thrive in said chaos." Zim pointed out.

"CHAOS! YAY!" Gir exclaimed.

Dib smile grew, he could hardly wait.

-To Be Continued