Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: I know you wanted this to be about Dib, but I promise Dib will finally meet the real Zim in the next chapter! I know I've been teasing you guys with this for a while, but this series had a really big plot and I needed to introduce all the major points before the real battel began.

And now that I have, we can finally get to the good stuff! Anyway, here we go!

(Back with Zim; 139 Years ago,)

[Location: Planet Vort]

This was not what he wanted… No, he did not want this at all.

Zim looked at the blaster in his hands, and then back to Lard Nar.

"Well don't just stand there." Tallest Myuki said, her face showing on the communications screen behind him. "Dispose of this traitor and show me you have what it takes to be an Invader!"

Zim grimaces at the request, but thankfully he is facing away from Tallest Myuki allowing this look of betrayal to be shared only with Lard Nar.

"Zim please." Lard Nar breathed heavily as his blue blood spilled across the floor. He was already severely wounded from the abuse he had received earlier today.

How did things go so terribly wrong between them?

This had all started off as harmless fun, an escape, a paradise away from his Irken life. However, Zim was now caught in the cross hairs of war, and this Vort before him had placed him there.

How did things get so messed up between them?

'This is not what I wanted.' Zim admitted to himself.

'No?' His programing asked. 'But this is what you asked for; this is war, and he is the enemy. Now kill him!'

Zim closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to process it all. Today had been so promising just hours before. How could it have gone so wrong, so quickly? Zim allowed the events of the day to cross over his mind. As if reliving it would shed some light on what he was supposed to do.

Surely there was a way both of them could manage to get out of this alive…

(Earlier that day…)

"Aren't you excited?" Cadet Red asked, breaking through Cadet Zim's thoughts.

"Oh sure." Zim said suppressing a yawn, it was early in the morning, and he had stayed up late the night before making plans with Lard Nar and the rebels. Of course, Zim wasn't much of a sleeper, however he was due to pass out any day now.

He would have allowed himself a small nap before the mornings festivities, but Red and Purple had busted into his room bright and early. Of course, they had come to express how pumped up they were to finally be leaving this peace-loving planet.

"Zim, Tallest Myuki is coming to take us back." Cadet Purple cut in. "I thought you'd be thrilled."

It was strange, he knew he was supposed to be thrilled, but leaving meant the end of his freedom. It meant he'd have to go back to pretending that he was like them when he wasn't. It meant pretending to be something he wasn't for the rest of his life, and Zim wasn't so sure he could go back to being that way again.

"Listen Zim I know what this is about." Red said.

"You do?" Zim asked looking fearful.

"Of course, we do." Purple agreed. "You're nervous about whether or not Tallest Myuki will choose you as the top student of the class."

Zim forced himself to look as if he had been found out. "I guess I am pretty obvious." He admitted.

"I'll say." Red agreed. "I mean I find it hard to believe that you managed to fool this entire planet when you're such an open book."

"Fool?" Zim asked. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on you have them eating out of the palm of your hands." Purple complimented. "Making them think Irkens actually care about other races, brilliant!"

"You know about that?" Zim asked fearfully.

"Of course, we know." Red beamed. "You have the whole class jealous."

"Yeah, every time someone reports in; All Tallest Myuki does is praise you on how you blend in so well." Purple added. "Saying things like: Why can't you be more like Zim; he's got them right where he wants them and he's not even wearing a disguise! If he can make a whole race trust an Irken than just imagine the kind of damage, he could do to the enemy as one of their own!"

"Tenn was fuming when Tallest Myuki compared her to you." Red scoffed.

"She said that to Tenn!" Zim was stunned. "But she was the favorite."

"Not anymore." Purple laughed. "You did it Zim, now all you have to do is complete the final part of the exam."

"Do that and you'll get top of the class for sure?" Red agreed.

Zim nodded, as he reminded himself what the point of this trip was. It was a drill, a practice mission to test the skills he had learned during his four years in the academy. He was sent here to observe the Vorts and gain their trust so that his people could get the drop on them later. Of course, it was all supposed to be a training exercise, not for real, Zim wasn't really going to betray anyone today.

No, Tallest Myuki would go over some new rules and regs regarding the treaty between their Allies. She would then ask to barrow a room for the final, once in that room she would pose as an enemy, disgusting herself as a Vort. She than would test them, forcing them to use what they had learned over the past 2 years in order to take down the enemy.

Once they had done all they could to subdue her; they would be tested on the performance as a whole.

Zim had done well so far, he had won the trust of the Vorts, and he had settled into their way of life. Now all he had to do was pretend to stab them in the back during his test with Tallest Myuki and then it would all be over.

He would leave and return home, and by the time the Armada actually acted on their threats to stab all their allies in the back; Vort would be saved. Yes, thanks to Zim's force field designs the planet would soon be protected from harm.

So, all he had to do was get through today, and it would all be over. No one had to know about his betrayal. No one had to know that he wasn't acting at all. No one had to find out that he was defective, but was he doing the right thing?

Was hiding really the answer?

Should he really go home now where he would be miserable for the rest of his life?

Zim nodded. "You're right I'm just nervous." He said after a long silence. "It's one thing to build up lies, but what if I'm not strong enough to hold my own when I get caught."

"Hey, you'll do fine." Red assured him.

"Yeah, it's us that have to worry." Purple complained. "With you being a shoe in for first place. The rest of us will be fighting over second."

Zim snickered. "Well, if you knew how to act like the enemy even while appearing Irken. Then maybe you' be fighting with me over first place instead of second."

"He's right Purple." Red agreed. "Zim's earned this."

Zim's belly suddenly feels nauseated he was starting to act and sound like an Irken again. This always happened when he spent too much time with his peers. And this fact alone was why Zim was so afraid of leaving. What if he went back to acting the way he did before he met Lard Nar?

In retrospect it would probably be for the best, if he gave into the programing he would never be found out, but he would also be losing himself. He would become just another part of the Irken Machine. Not to mention sooner or later he'd actually have to destroy innocent lives and their homes.

He knew he could do it.

Yes, he was defective, but that didn't mean the programing wasn't there, it just meant that he had the power to resist it. However, while he could resist it was much easier to give in, to lose yourself and just let the programing guide you.

It's a strategy that has kept Zim alive all this time, and to abandon it now was like asking for death. It was the only defense he ever knew, true back than he didn't know what defective was, or the punishment for being one.

However, it did not change the facts, and the facts were simple:

Zim had a hard time agreeing with the programing, but whether he understood it or not he continued to follow it none the less. He did this simply because his leader had said so, He was just following orders. A reason that any good soldier would give, and it was this decision alone that allowed Zim to still be alive today.

Agreeing even though deep down he did not feel the same, that is what has kept his secret hidden from his fellow Irkens. A system that had been working for 19 years now, so was it really wise to abandon a strategy that has never failed him?

No, no it was not.

Besides, it was probably for the best that he left, after all Defectives could be reprogramed. And if Zim was programed correctly this time around then he would lose himself forever and have to betray his friends. Yes, this way no one got hurt, no one had to worry about being the odd one out.

"Well, we better head down to the final exam." Red said bringing him back to reality.

"Yeah, that boring treaty meeting should be done by now." Zim agreed as they left his room for the last time and headed down the hall.

"Hopefully." Purple agreed. "Honestly, I don't know how you or Tallest Myuki does it."

"Yes, stomaching all that mush." Red agreed. "No, thank you!"

Zim forced a wicked laugh. "Oh, it easy." He admitted. "The Vorts are so weak minded I can't believe they actually think we are victims to her wrath."

Red and Purple gasped.

"Is that what they told you?" Red asked.

Zim nodded. "Like I'm the one that needs to worry about the Awesome Wrath of our fearless leader."

"The nerve of some people!" Purple shouted as they met up with the others who were waiting by a door.

"Skoodge just went in." Tenn told them as they approached.

"Aw so were going in the order of the pathetic to the greatest hu?" Zim teased.

"I guess that makes you last." Tenn said bitterly.

"Aw Tenn don't be bitter." Red whined. "You've done well."

"Yeah, better than these two." Zim scoffed. "Why I'm embarrassed to say I know them."

"Yeah, you two made zero progress on gaining anyone's trust." Tenn pointed out; her mood seemed to have lifted.

Red sighed. "Yes, well not all of us are meant to be invaders."

"Yeah besides, I'd rather be on the front lines were I don't have to pretend to like anyone." Purple agreed.

"Well, you got us there aye Zim?" Tenn mused.

Zim nodded his agreement as a loud commotion could be heard from within the room. It was strange, it almost sounded like a muffled scream.

"Did you guys hear that?" Zim asked, his impressive hearing picking it up before the others.

"Sounds like Skoodge is doing well." Tenn complimented. "I mean I know he's like the least favorite Irken ever, but you must admit he does get the job done."

"Yes." Zim agreed. "Too bad he's pathetically short."

The door suddenly opens to reveal Skoodge, and to Zim's horror he is covered in what appears to be Vort blood. But he doesn't look alarmed by this, instead he struts out looking rather proud of himself. "Nailed it." He laughed.

"Well, if you managed it." Larb scoffed. "Than it should be easy enough." He steps into the room and soon the events repeat.

A long period of silence is met with a loud scuffle of some sort, and soon Larb walks out. He is covered in what looks like blue blood. However, just like Skoodge he is not in the least bit worried. "Piece of Cake!" he assured them.

"Well wish me luck." Purple said as he goes in.

"Good luck." Tenn says.

"Knock 'em dead." Red advised.

Somehow that sentence doesn't settle right with Zim, and soon he begins to become antsy. Something was horribly wrong here; the usually busy halls had been empty this morning. The Vort children could not be heard playing out in the courtyard from the window just behind him.

And worse still, Lard Nar had not yet showed up to wish him fair well, and Zim was sure that his old friend would want to. After all they had grown close over the 2 years that he had stayed. Surely, he would like to see him off.

Suddenly Purple returns and just like the two before him he is covered in what appears to be blood. "Well, I'm not Invader material, but she does see a role as a general in my future." He said as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Well done." Red praised him and turned to Zim looking worried. "Don't be nervous." He advised. "That's your problem you know, you over think things, just let the programing guide you, it's there for a reason."

Zim nodded, his mind was now on auto pilot, and soon Red disappears and the same thing happens again. Silence, loud commotion and then a scream! Shortly afterwards, Red emerges only this time he is covered in less blood.

"I got praised for being the less messy so far." Red mused. "I can't believe how easy that test was. You'll do great Zim." He assured him, as he continued down the hall. Just as the others had done before him. No doubt they were all getting cleaned up before their journey home.

Teen walked into the room and closed the door behind her, and Zim felt his spooch lurch as the same pattern continued. Silence, loud commotion and then a scream, and then Tenn steps out of the room covered in more blood than anyone else so far. "That pathetic swine was tougher than she looked, but I think I did well." She said walking down the hall.

Zim was floored, Tenn would never speak that way about Tallest Myuki. WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE!?

Zim got his answer the moment he stepped into the room.

There on the floor were the six Vort escorts that Zim had been plotting with. Vorts that he had grown to call friends during the 2 years he had spent here. And five of them were lying motionless on the floor, dead to the world.

Only Lard Nar remained breathing, and Zim could tell by his fresh bruises, and black eyes that he was recently beaten. He was stunned beyond words, though it was obvious what had happened here. Each Cadet had been charged with killing their escort, but that was not how the test was supposed to go.

None of this was supposed to be real.

"Zim…please..." Lard Nar rasped.

Suddenly Tallest Myuki appeared on a screen behind him. "This is your test, Cadet Zim. Lard Nar along with the rest of the escorts have been charged with conspiring to have me killed, a crime that cannot go ignored."

Zim was stunned. "You tried to have her assassinated?" Zim was suddenly angry at his old friend. Sure, he had been furious about the defectives and how cold his leader had been towards the subject, but when he had said he wanted them to pay it had mostly been out of anger.

He surely didn't want anyone to die.

"It wasn't my idea." Lard Nar tried to reason with them. "They wouldn't listen to me…"

"Silence!" Tallest Myuki snapped. "Zim, you have done well so far." She praised. "I've watched you carefully. You've earned their trust, and even filled them with false hope with that stupid little invention of theirs. Like any force field could keep out the Irken Empire."

Zim was stunned, she knew everything!

Of course, she knew, she had said she'd be watching; did that mean she already knew about how he felt?

"You will not get away with this." Lard Nar threatened.

"I already have." Tallest Myuki hissed. "Your leaders have given you up in order to spare our alliance. Your lives will be the payment that they need to keep peace between our people. Now Zim finishes you test, by killing this escort you prove to me that you feel nothing for this traitor. That everything you did, everything you kept from me was for the sake of the mission."

Zim was stunned, she thought he only played along so that he could learn all their secrets in the hopes of protecting her and their people. And if he wanted to see past today, he had to keep her thinking that. Zim's eyes feel on a couple of weapons on the desk to his right, they were bloody, and used.

All but a blaster which was left untouched.

Zim grabbed it, not wanting to touch anything covered in Vort Blood! He aims at Lard Nar, as tears well up in his eyes.

He should have known that things would end this way, he should have known that Tallest Myuki would figure them out. After all, she was known as the Goddess Of War and Deception all across the stars.

Zim looked at the blaster in his hands, and then back up to Lard Nar.

"Well don't just stand there." Tallest Myuki said. "Dispose of this traitor and show me you have what it takes to be an Invader!"

"Zim please. You are better than this, better than them…Don't become the monster they think you are." Lard Nar said, bringing his young friend back to the present.

If he could change this moment, he would have…

If he could take back his next words than he would do so in seconds, but in the end Zim's own main concern was self-preservation. He was a coward who was too afraid to die, too afraid to stand up for something that he knows deep down is right.

So instead of standing by Lard Nar's side he does the opposite, and allows the programing to take over, because Red is right. It is there for a reason, and that reason was made very clear to him now.

Survival!

"Monster?" Zim scoffed. "It's you pathetic worms that are the monsters." He hissed.

"Zim." Lard Nar looks hurt, of course he knows Zim is lying, but to hide instead of fight, to kill him instead standing by their friendship. He thought Zim was better than that. He thought wrong.

Zim forced a wicked laugh. "Did you honestly think I was your friend? That I actually cared about your pathetic planet? You are nothing, but dirt, a waste of space, and soon all the Dirt of the universe will meet the same fate as you."

Lard Nar readies himself for the shot as Zim aims once more, he is so wrapped up in fear that he almost misses it.

Just before firing Zim flips the switch by his thumb. To any naïve rookie this small motion would go unnoticed, but to Lard Nar this act is crucial. This switch is the blaster's lethal and stun control. The gun itself had been on lethal to begin with, and Zim had just switched it to stun. Luckily, since Tallest Myuki was behind him she could not see this small movement.

"Goodbye worm." Zim spat. "I never wish to see you again." And with that he fired.

The blast was strong enough to knock him out cold, and in his current state he appeared dead, but Zim knew that he was not. He flipped the gun switch back on lethal before facing his Tallest. "How was that my Tallest?" He asked hopefully.

"I am so proud of you Zim." Tallest Myuki praised. "Why you were so brilliant you almost had me convinced. Congratulations, and just as I promised you'll be top of the class come tomorrow."

Zim placed the blaster back where he found it, he was still on auto pilot, hiding behind his programing. A strategy that he would use for the rest of his life when it came to dealing with the enemy.

He allowed his eyes to fall on the dead Vorts around him.

'See what happens when you go against the programing?' the program pointed out. 'You get burned; may this be a lesson for you. Don't resist me, do not get involved.'

Zim simply bowed before his Tallest. "Will that be all my Tallest?"

"Yes, go clean up. I will have someone from the Massive clean this mess up." Tallest Myuki assured him.

Zim did as he was told, not even bothering to give Lard Nar one last glance. He knew his old friend would probably awaken within the hour, most likely in a place where the Vorts kept their dead. He would never be able to return home, his treason forever remembered. His people would shun him, and turn him in for their own protection. Just like Zim's own betrayal would never go far from his own mind.

Lard Nar would forever remember him as a coward, and Zim would always see Lard Nar as a lesson, as proof that the programing was there for a reason.

It was for his own protection, it was his sword and shield, and this would be the last time he ever resisted it.

-To be Continued