Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: Now that Professor Membrane knows the truth just exactly how much help will he be?

Let's find out shall we.

(Back with Professor Membrane...)

It took a moment for him to settle down,

And even after that he needed more time to process the fact that his son was in love with an alien.

In hindsight he should have known his son's obsession would become all consuming, after all Professor Membrane himself was married to his work, loved it almost like a second wife. Science to him was like the Paranormal for his son, and it took almost losing him to realize that.

Or at least he hoped his son's visit meant he was ready to start mending the bridge between them. In all honesty he had begged his boss to go to Peru, working allowed him to forget his troubles. It helped him cope knowing that he would not have to come home every day to one less child then he use to have.

Of course he realized this was no fair to Gasoline, but this was simply how he coped.

Now once he had processed the fact that his son was eternally bonded to an alien mate, he then had to process that said mate was indeed male. It wasn't that he had anything against said life style, after all Gasoline's lack of interest in men implied that she too would be the same way. And the more he thought about it the more he realized it had nothing to do with the fact that Zim was male at all. It was more so the fact that Dib was in a relationship to begin with that surprised him, honestly he saw his children as lone wolves, like he was.

However, Dib appeared to be happy with said relationship, which his father found odd. Why was it odd? Because the two still bickered like they always did, still snapped and hissed, and egged the other on. Membrane knew this because as the two explained the current events, and danger they were all in the two mates argued about what points and facts were more important. They even fought about whose fault it was that all of this came to pass in the first place.

It was a strange relationship, but Professor Membrane was beginning to realize that this was more Zim's fault then Dib's.

From what he could tell it was obvious that Zim's race did not mate, did not know love, and therefore did not know how to express it in the same way humans did. These Irkens walked all over each other, constantly knocking the other down, pushing them out of the way. He knew this thanks to Zim's brief description of his family, and how they treated each other. He also went into detail of how Zim was treated as a soldier.

Yes, it was obvious to Professor Membrane that they were a prideful race, their own self accomplishments motivated them, not love.

And yet he had no doubt Zim loved his son, true the alien was not raised in the ways of human love, but he did love Dib. Did he say so? No, never, but sometimes actions spoke louder than words, and it was obvious to the Professor that Zim was a man of action.

He did not say I love you, but he showed it by protecting and defending Dib with his life. He showed it in the sudden touch of his hand on his son's, that still gaze when their eyes met. No, Membrane had no doubt that love was there.

But could a love like that last?

Professor Membrane would like to hope so, but the more he learned about Zim and their current situation the more he noticed that an impending heart break was due to come. Apparently Zim wasn't just any Irken, but the Prince of the entire empire. And in order to save the Earth from enslavement Zim would have to slay his family and take the throne. Once he did so he would force his soldiers to retreat stopping the invasion.

Earth would be saved, but where would that leave Zim and Dib?

Forever separated from one another, what kind of happy ending was that?

And that was only half of the equation for the more he learned about Zim the more he feared for his son's life.

If the Emperor of Irk did not kill him than Zim's brother would most likely take advantage of him, just to hit Zim where it hurts. Professor Membrane could not understand how a race could be so violent that they would commit such heinous crimes like forcing yourself on someone else's mate.

Sure some humans were still this way, but he had always thought a more intelligent race would be…dare he say it?

Less barbaric…

Professor Membrane shook his head, as much as he wanted to shield his son from this, Dib was pretty much a grown man now. He had to respect his son's wishes. After all not supporting him was how he lost him in the first place. 'I have to do it right this time.' Professor Membrane thought to himself. 'I can't afford to screw this up again or Dib might decide to leave Earth in favor of being with Zim over his own family…because of me.'

It was a painful thought, but honestly Professor Membrane did not, no could not blame Dib. The only one he could blame was himself.

After Professor Membrane seemed to calm down Zim continued to explain their current situation. "Now my brother plans to secure the planet as his own in order to gain the throne, along with killing me for good measure."

"So what do you plan to do?" Professor Membrane asked.

"The only thing I can do." Zim answered. "I must reclaim my birthright, and over throw my father."

Professor Membrane nodded it seemed to be a basic inner monarchy feud to him, in fact the only off thing to him was that it was an inner monarchy feud between aliens. Yes, aliens being real was going to get some getting used to.

"Of course the obvious first step is to deal with Maz." Zim went on, mostly muttering to himself now.

"And you think this Maz will target my Lab?" Membrane asked.

"Not think." Zim said. "I know. If Maz is smart, which he is, he will attack your labs in order to well arm himself for his battle for my base." He explained.

"And you are sure he will attack there first?" Professor Membrane asked looking around his home as if he feared it would be knocked over at any second.

"Positive." Zim assured him. "This house may have less security, but I have spoken so highly of Dib in my reports that Maz will think twice before coming here without the big guns."

"You spoke highly of me?" Dib asked.

"Don't sound so surprised Dib." Zim told him.

His tone sounded almost insulted to Professor Membrane, almost like Zim was surprised that he needed to tell Dib that he saw him as an unstoppable force.

Dib gives Zim a rather smug gaze, as if to say score 1 for primitive life forms. And Zim rolls his eyes obviously using annoyance as a wall between them, in order to stay focus.

Yes, Membrane could always read people around him so easily, and it was obvious here that Zim was desperately trying to focus on the matter at hand. It made him wonder just how hard it was to accomplish said task. Was there an uncontrollable urge between them? Zim had briefly explained the bonding ritually that he and Dib accidently took part in, much to Dib's embracement.

It made Membrane wonder just how much power Dib had over his love for Zim, after all he had just been ready to concur Earth himself in the name of his mate. Seeing Humans as less then him, and seeing himself as more Irken than human. The same thing was happening to Zim now, Zim only cared about Earth because Dib did. This would explain why the Irken prince still found other humans gross and primitive. He only cared for Dib, not the rest of them, of course this explained to him perfectly why Irkens did not mate in the first place. The emperor needed his soldiers loyal to him, and his cause. Not their mates, especially if said mate was the same race as the enemy.

"So what would you have me do?" Professor Membrane asked. "Tell my staff aliens are taking over."

"No dad you can't." Dib said surprising him. "Global panic is not the goal."

Zim nodded his own agreement. "It's unlikely we will be able to keep the truth from the public for the entire time, but it is ideal." He explained. "Once I kill Maz and reclaim my birth right my father will most likely strike instantly. He will hope that giving us no time to recover, and regroup will give him an edge."

"It will." Professor Membrane concluded. "We could handle Maz with just the five of us, but once this Armada comes raining down we will be severely out numbered."

Zim shook his head, smiling evilly. "Trust me the Irken Armada is more outnumbered than they realize."

"You've got a plan?" Dib asked hopefully.

Zim nodded. "I know a few refuges of enslaved races who would love to stand up and fight." He admitted. "Plus I have an inside man who can't say no to me."

"Inside man?" Dib asked fearfully.

"Don't worry he's not Irken, and is totally reliable." Zim assured him.

"For our sake I sure hope so." Gaz said finally speaking up.

"He is, but first we must come up with a game plan for Maz." Zim went on.

"What if we add x-ray scanners to the security?" Dib suggested. "I mean sure he can fake what he looks like on the outside, but can he do it on the inside?"

"He can." Zim told him.

"ZIM!" Dib exclaimed.

"What?" Zim snapped. "I made that watch with you in mind, you honestly think I would make it easy on you!"

"No..." Dib admitted. "You never do."

"What if we spray everyone with water?" Gaz insisted. "Dad could take us to work and we could be rude irresponsible teens causing trouble."

"Yes if there Maz in disguise the water will burn his skin." Dib exclaimed. "Gaz that's brilliant."

"Brilliant? Yes." Zim agreed. "But that won't work either, I told the Tallest how to beat the water weakness, no doubt Maz now knows that secret too,"

"Seriously is there anything you didn't tell your leaders?" Dib snapped. "Give me something I can use Zim!"

"I'm sorry." Zim snapped back, not sounding sorry at all. "How was I supposed to know I'd be betraying my own race one day?"

"So they know everything you know?" Gaz asked.

"Yes." Zim nodded.

"What about when the Tallest stop taking your calls?" Gaz asked.

"Yeah wasn't there like months at a time that you didn't report in?" Dib asked. "Where did all of that knowledge go?"

"Nowhere." Zim admitted. "By the time I stopped being green about the ways of Earth the Tallest had stopped answering my calls."

"Which means Maz doesn't know everything." Dib whispered.

"He can fix that in little to no time at all." Zim corrected him. "A trip to the local library and a few computer downloads to his PAK is all he needs to catch up. That's what I needed at least."

"So that's it?" Dib asked. "We admit defeat."

"No that is not what I am saying." Zim said more softly. "What I am saying is you are thinking too hard Dib." he scoffed. "You're trying to fight Maz like you fought me and that will not work. Maz is not me, Maz is Maz."

"So how do you fight Maz?" Gaz snapped.

"Easy." Zim answered remembering how they were when they were younger.

Their father always made them spare against each other during their self-defense training, and if there was one flaw Zim remember it was Maz was always so sure of himself.

"You lure him into a false since of security." Zim explained. "Make him think he's got this in the bag, then go in for the kill when he least expects it."

"How?" Gaz challenged.

"We already know what he will be after." Zim explained. "Weapons and knowledge. The facility has both, a weapons vault, and a high security level where all the top secret information is stored."

"Right of course." Dib said, suddenly understanding. "If we set up traps at both the weapons vault and the security level we are bound to catch him in the act, allowing us to get a chance at ending this before it starts."

"Yeah but only one chance." Gaz reminded them. "If Maz goes for the weapons or the information and you idiots mess this up we're screwed."

Zim looked to Membrane, he had been mostly quiet throughout the transpiring events, something Zim knew was unlike him. The Professor usually didn't know when to stop talking about his own opinions. "What do you think?" he asked him. "It your facility, where do you think he will strike first?"

Professor Membrane thought for a moment, both locations were highly guarded, however while looks alone could get him into the building he would need a few extra things to get into both locations. "The first thing he will do is try to acquire an access card that matches his chosen disguise." He spoke up. "Each card has a tracking chip in them."

"So we could scan for the location of the access cards." Dib cut in. "If someone arrives without one chances are it will be him."

"That way we know when he's entered the hot zone." Zim finished. "Nice touch." He admitted.

"Can never be too careful." Professor Membrane reasoned. "Terrorist my not be aliens from outer space, but they are aliens of the state, and they have tried to get in with fake cards, disguised as a fellow worker."

"Find the missing card, and we have our Irken." Gaz said our loud. "Well I guess its as good as a plan as any, but do we trap him then once he goes for a key card?"

"No." Zim answered. "Trust me on this, the easier it is the more relax he will become." Zim assured them. "Once his guard is down we move in for the kill."

"All we need now is to find a way to stay out of sight." Dib mentions.

"Yes if he sees us we're screwed." Zim agreed.

"Well then I guess it's a good thing that I added a bunch of secret doors, and passage way that aren't on any map." Professor Membrane said smugly.

Zim couldn't help but scoff. "You humans never fail to surprise me."

"It never hurts to be prepared." Professor Membrane said. "Right Son?" He asked placing a hand on his shoulder, looking ad Dib hopefully.

Gaz gave him a hopeful look as well, but it was not needed.

Because if Dib was being honest than he was honestly over the fact that he was a clone, besides he could see it, the acceptance in his father's eyes. The willingness to help them, to want to understand. And if his dad was willing to make an effort, to make this work; then so was he. "Right." Dib agreed.

His father smiled.

And Gaz allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. "Finally!" She exclaimed.

The three Membranes embraced, a rare sight to see.

Zim allowed them a moment, a small one sure but he allowed it, and once a few seconds had passed he cleared his throat.

"I hate to break the family moment but we've got a bug to squash." He reminded them.

The humans broke apart from each other and nodded their own silent agreement, they had a plan, and most importantly they had a trap.

Now all they could hope for was that Maz would take the bait.

(Back with Maz...)

The Public Information office as well as the local Library had bee very useful for him.

The younger Prince poured over his copy of the map to his current target. The Science Division, had to ideal targets; The Top Secret Information Vault on the top floor, and of course the weapons Vault in the Sub levels.

He knew his father would need the Top Secret information, no doubt locations of every enemy army the Membranes supplied would be in their files. Also knowing the weaknesses of the weapons the humans already had was vital. However, if he wanted enough time to download the information he might need to get weapons first.

And there lied the problem.

He knew Zim, he knew him well, and he knew his brother would try to set a trap for him.

What Maz needed was a fail safe, a way to make sure he left with something even if he had to bolt early.

suddenly the answer hit him.

One of the scientist in The Science Division was an inventor who had created robotic insects which could download information on a massive scale in a matter of seconds.

Maz smiled as he decided on his disguise, setting the watch to that of Doctor Ravenscroft. Of course he would need to corner the doctor in order to get his access card, a security measure he had discovered thanks to the map. It showed every security point that the Card would be scanned, and are checked by security. "Zim will expect me to pretend I forgot my card." Maz reasoned. "Put thanks to this book." He said holding up an Autobiography on his chosen target. "I know were Ravenscroft lives, I'll hit his house first, barrow a few of his personal inventions including the downloading spy bugs. Then I will show up with an access card, go for the weapons, while I send the spy bug after the sensitive information."

It was a solid plan, one Zim might not see coming, but even if he did get caught, even if he did die, Father would still get the information he need.

Which meant Zim would still loose!

Now that his plan was in order Maz allowed his mind to wonder to that of winning. if he passed his father's little test he would be the sole heir of Irk, and most importantly everything of his brother's would be his.

Including Dib.

it was odd, he felt no physical attraction to the boy, no he still thought Taboo was gross, however his father's confessions to doing so himself did have him curious. And while he was not looking forward to doing it with a pasty white human, monkey thing, getting the curiosity satisfied would eliminate the distraction of wondering.

Plus, just knowing he would take something that was only meant for his brother filled him with a sick sense of satisfaction on a different level. Sure taking the throne from him would be nice, but Zim never wanted the throne, but the Earth, he had wanted to concur that, and Dib oh it was obvious that he wanted Dib.

So Maz would take Dib, ruin Dib, then toss Dib; leaving him to his demise.

Why?

Because he could, that's why.

Heck he might even leave Zim just alive enough to see him do it, just to see the look on his face when he realize he's lost the one thing that ever really mattered to him.

It would be a victory that he would savor slowly.

Yes, that is what he would do, after all where was the fun in a quick demise?

No he would make Zim suffer, after all a traitor like him deserved it.

With that settled Maz began preparing for his first target:

The home of Doctor Ravenscroft...

Chapter End Notes

Again I know it's a bit short but some times it's the small things that intensify the story.

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment. (If you want!)

The Next update will be soon.

So until then this is Emily Signing off…