Author's Notes: And we are back with another chapter. This next Arc is heavily inspired by the unaired Trial episode, the Amazing Invader Dib And RoxieDivine's Invader Renegades Series!

Roxie, Thanks again for allowing me to use General Kazar in my series. He is easily my favorite OC of the Renegades series, and I am so excited to finally be starting his Arc!

As always thanks for reading and please review.

(Back With The Tallest…)

He wasn't nervous about the call…

No, that would suggest that he was afraid, and Red was never afraid, especially not of Zim.

Purple however was terrified, and it showed. "Maybe we should skip over him." Purple suggested. "He already said he wasn't interested. Wouldn't want to waste a trip."

"The Control Brains have requested his presence." Red said. "It's not something that can be avoided."

"But the planet it will be unguarded." Purple insisted. He was grabbing at straws now; they both knew it.

"His SIR will keep everything in order in his abcence." Red said as if it was obvious.

"The fact that you even think that is a remotely good idea, troubles me greatly." Purple snapped.

"It's protocol Purple, the thing maybe unstable but Zim has never let us down before. The planet will be fine in the SIRs care. Besides, this gives Zim the perfect opportunity to go dark for a few months, without leaving us in the dark."

Purple knew he had a point, Tak had really screwed up the mission for Zim, and it would be best if the humans thought he left for good. Still, there were rebels and AIs on the planet now, if he left the enemy could get a foothold on the planet. "But he hasn't given us a name for the Rebel leader. We know the Princess is playing Queen but she's just a figure head."

"Again, the SIR unit can handle that." Red argued. "Their main function is to gather information. Even that derange model can figure out who the rebel leader really is. Besides, we already know he's a Vort. The SIR just needs to get a good look at him, and we can figure out the rest."

Again, Purple knew he was right, still… "He's not going to be happy."

Red reached for the transmission controls. They were currently in their private Quarters, deciding to make the call more personal. Usually, the Brains would handle such a task as this, but this one was special. The Tallest had been preparing Zim for this honor since before they had even became the Tallest themselves. This was it, all those times they had mooched off Zim was about to be repaid in tenfold, but Zim had to take it.

"If he declines…" Purple began.

"If he does that is his choice." Red said. "We still have to inform him. Now stop being a baby and get over here." He insisted as he pressed the button and made the call.

(Back with Zim…)

He was really getting tired of relocating his base…

But after Dib found him, he couldn't risk trusting the teens to not give away his location to their superiors. So, Zim had once again moved his base, it was still underground just further outside of town. He didn't like being this far from the enemy, but the distance was needed. He was currently preparing the base to go dark, and once he did, he would be stuck here for at least three months.

He knew the Tallest hated when he went dark, he wouldn't be able to call them, or vis-versa. He couldn't ask for help if he needed it, and if he was found his base would stay offline regardless of the danger. However, it was unavoidable now, the mission was so bad that Zim was actually fearing failure. It was unheard of, Invader Zim never failed.

"Master we' going in the dark yet?" Gir asked.

"Not yet." Zim said. "Keef has yet to report in."

"Perhaps this means the female is not yet dead." The computer Brain voiced.

"Nonsense." Zim argued. "If he can't find her then she burned up in the atmosphere."

"She could have made it to the surface." The Brain argued.

"Perhaps, but her pod was too damage to protect her. Reentry into the planet would have cook her insides for sure." Zim retorted.

"And if it didn't?" The Brain asked.

"He would have found her by now, even if she had survived, she would be severely wounded, and without her SIR unit she would have had no one to protect her." Zim snapped. "she's dead either way."

"For our sake I sure hope so." The Brain says.

Suddenly a report comes in from Keef.

Seeing how Zim can't stand the sight of Keef for…well reasons. The teen writes his reports to Zim which are sent to his PAK digitally.

Master,

Still no sign of Irken Female known as TAK.

No ship debris can be found either. I believe it is safe to say she has finally graced us with her demise; I await your next command.

-Keef.

"See." Zim states "Everything is fine."

The Brain seems to relax at this, and Zim goes to shut it down, to finally go dark…

"In coming transmission." The Brain suddenly says. "It's the Tallest."

"Oh good." Zim says sarcastically "I can give them my final report and disappoint them with the news." He still didn't have a name for the leader of the rebellion. Well, actually he did, but admitting who it was would be hard to explain. Irk could the day get any worse? He gathers his nerve and answers the call.

"Oh, Zim good you answered." Red says looking rather pleased.

"My Tallest." Zim salutes "I'm afraid I have no good news."

"So Tak is still among the living?" Purple asked.

"Well, no…" Zim says. He's surprised the Irken female is the first thing on their mind. "My slave informs me that there is no sign of her. She most likely burned up in the atmosphere upon reentry."

"You have a human slave?" Red looks intrigued.

"Two actually." Zim admits. "I also have two robo parents that I can still use. I'd have to redesign them to change their appearances…Why did I forget to mention that?"

"See Purple he has two slaves, a SIR unit, and parenting units; the planet will be fine." Red insisted.

"Oh well, I certainly do feel better about five." Purple admitted.

Zim looks confused, and rightfully so. "Of course, the planet is fine. Why wouldn't it be?" What was his leaders going on about?

Red and Purple looked at each other knowingly and shared a look.

'Oh boy.' He knows that look. That's the; 'we have something to tell you', look 'and you're not going to like it.' He straightens himself and when his leaders looked his way again, he gives him a nod; he's ready!

"Invader Zim your return to Irk has been requested." Red states. "It is time."

Silence follows the news, and for a moment the Tallest fear they'll have to repeat it, or worse; be less vague. However, Zim finally nods, "I had been hoping the Brains would deem me unfitting for the task." He admitted.

"You can always refuse." Purple told him. "But…"

"We feel leaving the planet for now will help salvage the mission." Red cut in. "Make a big scene about it, make the enemy think your gone for good."

Zim had to admit it wasn't a bad idea. It would take six months to reach Irk and six to get back; after a year of his absence the enemy would start to think he was indeed gone for good. Besides this way he didn't have to go dark. He wouldn't have to risk being killed by the AIs if they found him either, it was a blessing in away. However, in a way it was also a death sentence; for Zim no longer had his Irken programing.

Sure, the trials for the choosing were more private, so no one would be viewing his memories other than Lineage. Still with no programing Lineage would have no choice but to stop the trials and ask for the aid of the other two main Control Brains: Veraicon and Judgment!

These three brains usually only ever came together during the Spike of Judgment, a trial that determined if an Irken deserved to be remembered in Irken history. However, there were other times they came together. Mostly it was to try an Irken for a crime against the collective or in rare events to be reclassed with a new core purpose, but there was one other. In the rarer event that someone was found stripped of their Irken programing said brains would try to redownload it.

Since a missing program was not the same as being defective. Especially in Zim's case, when it is not his fault the program was removed. Veraicon whose job is to identify defectives would remember that Zim had Irken programing the last time she evaluated him. Judgement, was the brain that judged an Irkens actions and gave the final sentencing in any court trial. He would take this fact under consideration when choosing how to handle the situation. Since Zim once had the programing and was a valued Irken, who was successful in his core purpose; they would try to redownload the Irken Program.

However, once it was discovered that his PAK would not fully accept the download the brains would have no choice.

They would kill him!

It wouldn't matter that he was the most effective Invader in Irken history. A defective was a mistake that could not be allowed to live. Zim remembered Dib asking him why that was, and even though Tak had given the expected answer Zim still wasn't sure…why did Tallest Myuki decide to kill all the defectives discovered. Why didn't she tried harder to fix them? Surely if she had hooked them up to the main brains and tried hard enough…then the Programing should take effect. Even in the most stubborn of cases no one could out will the control brains. Still, Zim knew that the computers were only allowed to try three times to reload the programing.

After that they were programed to eliminate the problem, but why. Why was three times the chosen limit? Zim knew there had to be a reason, but he also knew there was no sense in dwelling on it now. He knew his best option was to decline the offer, but he had no reason to stay. Well, that's not entirely true he does have one card to play.

"It's flattering, truly." He says though he knows his leaders are aware of his disinterest. "But I have yet to follow your last order to the letter. The leader of the rebellion still eludes me; I have seen many of the rebels and their refugees." He revealed. "But not one of them seems to fit the bill."

"We believe he is a Vort." Purple revealed.

"A Vort?" Zim asked, trying to appear unphased. How did they find out the leader was a Vort?

"Yes, after you told us about Planet Zoran we sent a scouting unit to check it out." Purple revealed. "One of the scouts was found unconscious in the desert, upon investigation his team had learned his memory had been tampered with."

"Whoever attacked him crossed his wires just so" Red explained further. "It caused a memory lapse. Unfortunately, by the time the damage was discovered his wires had been crossed for far too long. His memory of the attack is forever damaged. We have scanned his PAK thoroughly for the lost data and we managed to figure out that the last thing he remembers is seeing a human and a Vort. Still, the damage is too great for him to remember any names or physical details on their appearance."

"So we started an Investigation of our own." Purple said. "We interrogated several soldiers who had delt with the rebellion in the past, and they too reported seeing what appears to be a Vort. Unfortunately, either the soldiers have been too far away to get a good look at him or their PAKs were tampered with as well." Purple said. "We believe since they are going through such trouble to hide this Vort's identity that he must be the mysterious leader of the rebellion."

Zim nodded. "It makes since, but I have not seen any Vorts my Tallest." He lies.

Red seems to interpret his reluctance due to their last call. "It's alright Zim we know we put a lot of pressure on you during our last call. But we think your SIR is more than capable of figuring out who this Vort is. And with the Help of your slaves he can keep the rebels from fully securing the planet."

"But If you refuse…" Purple started.

Red cut him off. "If you refuse the brains my never call upon you again." He urged. "You would be squandering a hug opportunity."

Zim knew he was right, besides no Irken in their right mind would refuse, not unless…they had something to hide.

'You want to keep convincing them you're the perfect little Irken don't you?' A voice asked. It wasn't his programing, no that was gone, this voice was that of a memory. And the owner of that voice was someone he had not spoken to in some time.

'Yes.'

'Then you can't afford to say no…'

"You're right my Tallest." Zim told them. "I'm just a bit…nervous." He admitted.

Red seemed to nod. "Of course, you are." He said. "The trials for the choosing are very top secret. Why people don't even remember them when they're over." He revealed. "The memories are suppressed and stay that way…unless you're chosen of course."

"So, you remember then?" Zim asked.

Purple laughed. "Nice try Zim but we are not allowed to discuss the trials. It would give you an unfair advantage, and the brains already feel like we have given you too many of those. Of course, your competitors agree."

"Am I at least allowed to know who my competitors are?" Zim asked.

Red stops as if thinking. "Well sure, I mean you will see them once you arrive after all."

"Plus, it's not like no one knows you're going to be there." Purple added. "In fact, your name was the first guess out of Kazar's mouth.

"General Kazar was chosen?" Zim asked. He was stunned to hear the very name of the voice that was just in his head. It was like fate had brought forth his voice in the exact moment the universe had wanted it too. General Kazar was currently the oldest Irken to ever live. He was older than Red or Purple, Or Tallest Spork. He was even older than Tallest Myuki had been before she died. In fact, the General was so old, he knew Tallest Zorn! Not knew of him, but actually met the guy… on several occasions!

The first time he had been a fleet Commander, just a faceless soldier who had yet to make a name for himself. However, he soon became known for his flawless strategy and spotless track record, and many came to him for advice including Tallest Zorn. Why wouldn't he? Commander Kazar never lost at anything! He saw the world around him like a chess board; everyone one was simply a piece he could manipulate. It was a strategy that bred results, a fact his Tallest could not ignore, and in time those results bred its own reward. Kazar went from the commander of a single fleet to an Irken general of fifty fleets in less than a decade. Making him the fastest ever to climb up the ranks.

His accomplishments didn't end there, as time passed more worlds were conqured and as the empire expanded and the Armada grew; so did it's number of Generals. In the beginning their numbers were few enough that they were equal in rank. Each general would command their own fleets and each fleet had a commander who took direct command of the soldiers. If something of significant occurred, the Commanders would give a report to their generals. The generals would then relay the report to the Tallest if need be. For a time, this worked, but soon there was simply too many generals for the Tallest to keep track of. So, finally it was decided that a higher ranking general should oversee the others. General Kazar was chosen to be the first ever Top General of the entire Irken Armada! Every soldier, their fleet commanders and their generals now reported directly to him, and Tallest Zorn had been the one to reward him the title.

In his new Position Kazar was now the most powerful Irken in the collective besides the Tallest themselves and their Successors. And he had stayed at this position of power for centuries. Sure, many generals had fought to rise up the ranks and steal his spot, but the old crow never lost! He welcomed every challenger who dared to try and treated their efforts like a game to pass the time.

And this powerful Irken did not stop there. No currently being the third most powerful Irken was not enough for him. For you see Kazar was very old, and the older he got the more he realized that one day he would die. And even though his reputation was vast and would certainly be remembered in Irken History for all of time. It wasn't enough for him, Kazar wanted his legacy to continue to live on without him.

And so, he decided to choose a Pupil. Such a thing was not unheard of, but it was rare that an Irken of high power would choose to help someone beneath them rise to power. No, usually it was the other way around, people like Kazar would use the weak to push himself higher. Like the Tallest had used Zim to get higher. Not often did it work the other way around, but when it did; Kazar had no trouble seeing the obvious choice.

"Yes, your old mentor is thrilled to say the least." Purple said. "He's always wanted his legacy to influence the future of Irk."

"Now both of you have been chosen, he thinks it's a good omen." Red laughed. "Like he has twice the chance of getting what he wants."

"He's not wrong of course." Purple states the obvious. "Whether you are chosen, or him his legacy will forever change the future of Irk."

"Of course..." Zim rolls his eyes, he's not exactly a fan of his old mentor. Mostly because the guy hadn't given him a choice on the matter. Also, there was the fact that Kazar happened to be the only Irken in a position of power to know his dirty little secret. A secret he often used as black mail to get Zim to do what he wanted. Still, despite how trying the general is; Zim can't help the smile that slips on his face. "Bout time the old crow got chosen. I'm surprised the brains decided to with his age, surely they know he could fall over at any minute."

"Perhaps he will, the choosing is quiet stressful." Purple joked.

Red chuckled. "Please don't get our hopes up."

"Yeah, it's cruel." Zim openly agreed.

The Tallest laugh with enthusiasm and just like that all past tension over their last call is gone. Despite Zim's outburst the three have once again found their rhythm. Not that Zim is surprised, it's always this way. Still, he must admit he has missed their company, even if they are cruel, and he can only stand them for so long. Red and Purple were his friends, and they always knew just what to say to make him feel like he belonged. The feeling never lasted of course, but in those moments, it felt nice to feel a connection. To have a break from feeling like an outsider, no matter how fleeting the moment was a blessing.

"So, are you coming, or do I have to drag you out of hiding myself?" Red asked through his giggles.

Zim huffs dramatically. "Well, if I must."

"Of course, you must." Red shouts, but his tone takes on a joking deminer. "If you don't our Taller will, be Muka, or worse…"

Zim openly shivers at the thought. "Taller Kazar." He spoke ominously.

"Oh, Irk that's terrifying!" Purple cried. "Never say it again."

Zim chuckles. "And If he does become Taller? Am I getting permission not to address him properly?"

"He'll be lucky if I address him properly." Red mused. "Now don't take forever to get here."

"Yes, we need to go shopping." Purple declared.

"For what?" Zim asked.

"You have to look your best for the Choosing Zim." Red said as if it was obvious. "And no, your Invader Uniform will not do!"

Okay now Zim was huffing for real. It wasn't that he hated shopping, he often enjoyed treating himself to something nice. The Tallest however made such endeavors a walking nightmare, he could already see himself being dragged from store to store all over Irk to find the perfect outfit. Which wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that the two would never agree.

Which meant Zim would have to choose between what Red wanted him to wear and what Purple wanted him to wear.

"Oh, don't make that face." Red said. "It'll be fun, and it'll give you a chance to stop acting like such a recluse. Always forcing us to make you socialize when your home, it's bad for your image Zim."

"Yeah, people are starting to talk you know." Purple jabbed.

"People always talk." Zim said. "Especially about the Invader the Tallest seem to spoil whenever he's home."

"Not our fault he's the only person worth spoiling." Red said.

"Yeah, they should try harder." Purple added.

Zim smiles, he can't help it. The two know just how to get the reaction they want out of him. "Fine I will be there, and we will go shopping."

"Finally!" Red said. "I was beginning to think I was going to have to order you to attend."

"We go to three stores and that's it." Zim warned. "And I will not wear anything red or purple."

"Looks like he's caught on to our fun." Purple mused giving Red a sly grin.

"As many stores as we want and lunch then you have a deal." Red offered.

Zim growled openly, but really what was he going to do? Tell his Tallest no? "Fine, I'll be there three days before the Choosing. How's that sound?"

"Well, if you want to make that happened you'd have leave like…" Red does the math in his head. "Right now."

Zim gives him a murderous look. "You waited until the last minute to tell me I needed to return home when you've known for what? Weeks?"

Red smiles devilishly. "Purple was scared to tell you."

"Red!" Purple exclaims. "I can't believe you told him that!"

Zim stiffens a laugh, he is trying hard to be angry, but really, why bother?

"You know you're a lot easier to convince than usual." Red said.

"Yeah, is something…wrong?" Purple asked.

Oh yes, something surely was, Zim's two closes friends were forcing him to his doom. Not that they knew it, and Zim couldn't tell them. Besides Red was right, this was something he couldn't refuse, people would talk. So, he would go, he would let him have their fun. After all, if things didn't go well for him then in six months' time; he would be dead. This could be the last time he spent with his friends, or under the Irken suns. "No, I'm just finding myself missing home, everything is such a mess, Maybe…a break is just what the doctor ordered."

Red softens, smiling warmly. "Excellent I'm so glad you decided to come."

Zim returns the smile. "Me too."

"Well, we'll let you get ready, see you in six months." Purple added.

"I look forward to it." Zim said and saluted.

Red nods and ends the transmission…

"Master if you go…" The brain began.

"I know, but its unavoidable." Zim says. "Besides me being programless won't stay a secret forever. This was bound to happen; besides I've been tricking Veraicon for years. Maybe I can trick them all into thinking that the downloading of the program is successful."

"Then I bid you good luck." The brain said.

Zim nods and looks to GIR. "Gir, you heard the Tallest your job is to find out who the rebel leader is and keep him and his followers form gaining any foothold on this planet while I'm gone."

"But we already know." Gir said.

"I know that Gir." Zim said.

"And we will have to tell the Tallest eventually." The brain added.

"I know that too!" Zim yelled.

"But if we tell them then…" Gir began.

"Yes, Gir I know…" Zim shouted. "How about you two give me a solution instead of pointing out a problem I'm already aware of!"

"Well, we could give them another name." The brain suggested. "After all, unlike the Tallest we know there isn't just one Vort associated with the rebellion."

"He'll never forgive me." Zim hissed.

"Well, it's either we lie, or we tell the truth." The brain said. "You decide."

"I can't." Zim said. "But I know who can."

"Who?" Gir asked.

However, before Zim can answer the computer interrupts him. "You would have him decide."

"Yes." Zim said as he starts to pack his Voot for the trip. "It is his life at stake after all."

"Ours too." The brain pointed out the obvious.

However, Zim chose to ignore him as he continues to pack.

No one speaks, not even Gir, and they remain silent as day slowly ticks by. Bringing Zim closer and closer to his Impending Doom!

-To Be Continued