Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: Again this chapter is pretty short, but it needs to be done. Thanks for reading guys and please review!

(Back with Maz…)

"Stupid human female." Maz hissed, as her words continued to ring through his ears.

Of course he knew Zim would not really just give up! However, as long as the sister unit was in danger he knew that his brother would at least not do anything rash.

Still she had brought up a good point.

Up until now Maz had been avoiding conflict with his brother, and for good reason. Sure he was well taught in the art of self-defense, but Zim had been trained as a soldier. And such training made him far more capable of winning any fight. Which would explain Maz's need to avoid him, fighting had never been his strong suite. Now deception on the other hand had always been his forte. Some like his brother would call him a coward, but he himself, just saw it as making the smarter move.

Was it cruel and unjust?

Yes, but he was an Irken, and this was how they did things. The fact that his brother folded against such deception only proved that he had grown far too soft to be their King. Maz checked the sister unit's communicator for the time. It was time to begin the final phase. "Computer scan the enemy bases for disarment." He ordered.

"Scanning." His computer said. "Scan complete enemy bases have been disarmed."

"Excellent, any word on the spy bug?" He asked.

"Spy bug Scorpion has been destroyed." His computer answered.

Maz cursed. Of course he had figured as much, but he had been hopeful, "No matter the weapons and Zim's death should suffice father's hunger for success." He told himself. He couldn't help but shiver at his own words. If there was one thing his father did not tolerate it was failure which is why he could not afford to get this wrong. Killing Zim would not be enough to secure him the throne if he showed up empty handed.

He needed to prove to father that he was just as capable as Zim when it came to taking charge, because as much as he hated to admit it their father was impressed with Zim's efforts. Zim had charted his own course, and took his destiny by the reins. He had stepped forward into the light of uncertainty and came out on the other side better than he was before.

And as much as Maz hated to admit it this was true. Zim had grown as an Irken. He was no longer the unsure lose cannon he had once been. Instead of running from his fate, Zim had embraced his role as future king and was fighting for his birth right. Yes, his brother had come a long way since he left the palace.

But said growth would do him no good, Maz was determined to win this, and he would do so by any means necessary.

"I'm coming for you brother." He mused. "And this time I am not leaving until your dead."

(Back with Emperor Nax…)

Emperor Nax clenched his fist as he watched his sons' final movements. He had been watching them both since his arrival to Earth and was not pleased with either of their efforts.

Why?

Well Maz was failing miserably at securing the planet, and/or gathering any new information that could help their conquest run more smoothly. And then there was Zim who was still routing for the wrong side. However, Zim could not help but be bend by the will of his mate, so his actions were expected.

Maz on the other hand had no excuse for his failure, and if Zim failed to kill him, then Nax would do so himself. It was not the first time that the thought had cross his mind, Maz had always been weak. Depending on cowardice and deception alone was no way to run an empire, especially when you had a reputation as the most feared Emperor to up hold.

A fearful leader makes their people look weak, and that was what Maz was fearful. "Sending a robot to do your work." He scoffed. "Distasteful." He shook his head, he knew from the start that Maz was a bad egg, too consumed by his lust for power to lead anything. It was never meant to go this far. Zim was to have dealt with him years ago, and yet he had just now decided to finish this.

"You have a lot to learn my son." He said as the screen showed Zim standing in the weapons Vault awaiting Maz's arrival. And yet, with as much as there was to still learn Zim never lost his value, his potential to be great was still there. It was merely hindered by the bonds of love, but as unbreakable as he and his mate might think it is they would soon see it snap.

All he had to do was kill the Dib and he would have his son back, his heir would be clear of all distractions, and ready to rule by his side. "Commander ready the fleet for War." He told the Irken to his left.

Commander Bek saluted his Emperor before addressing his troops. "Men prepare for War." He said. "We will take this planet as soon as the weaker Prince falls!"

The troops began to move around him quickly, preparing for the fight, several raced towards the Docking bay to ready their ships. Empire Nax ignored their busy work as his eyes returned to the screen.

This was it, the final show down between his heirs, and as much as he hated to admit it, it was still any body's game. Knowing Maz he was bound to have one last trick up his sleeve, and if Zim didn't get start thinking like Maz he could end up dead. However if he could beat him at his own game Zim just might stand a chance.

Luckily that's exactly what Zim had in mind.

(Back with Tak…)

They had landed with in the old Hot dog stand that Tak had used during her initial visit to Earth. And she had to admit she was surprised it was still here. She was also surprised to see several components, and wires missing out of the walls.

"Some ones been scrapping my tech." She hissed angrily.

"You think it was Zim?" Skoodge asked as he got out of the Voot.

"No he's far too prideful to take someone else's parts." Tak said. "He's more likely to build his own, but the Dib he is known for taking things that are not his!" She growled again.

"Well maybe you shouldn't leave your stuff lying around." Dib said coming into view. He had come here to modify Dad's tracer in hopes of strengthen Gaz's signal, he could see it just fine now, but he knew it would not stay that way. The tracer told Dib that Gaz was underground somewhere, but every time he tried to go down below the city to look for her, he lost the signal. He also figured that Tak would be back from her little errand by now, and that this was the most likely place that she would land.

"Why do you even need it?" Tak hissed snatching the tech away from the boy.

"It's a tracer to find my sister." Dib explained. "But the signal keeps shorting out in certain areas. I need to make it stronger."

"Gaz is in trouble?" Tak asked.

Dib nodded. "Maz took her, hid her somewhere under the city." He explained. "But every time I try to go down after her I lose the signal."

Tak took the tracer from Dib thoughtfully. "He could be blocking all tech on that level." She told him. "You can see her above ground, but once you get beneath something blocks you. So you don't need to strengthen the signal, you just need to block his blocker with a stronger device."

Dib watched as Tak pulled a large disk like device out of some dour and attached it to the back of the tracer.

"There that should do it." Tak said handing the tracer back to Dib. "Now I should have some weapons in the back in less you've already taken those."

Dib shook his head. "I couldn't figure out the password." He said sheepishly.

"Good." Tak said with a smile. "Skoodge suit up we're going on a rescue mission."

"You're not coming with me." Dib argued.

"This is not up for discussion." Tak snapped as they walked to the back vault where she punched in a code. The vault door opened to several weapons, they each grabbed three. "There is no telling what is down there with Gaz." She told him. "Besides once Maz is dead the Irken Army will be down on us in seconds. You may need us there to fight with you if they catch you."

Dib still didn't like the idea, but he had to admit she had a point. "Fine but we need to pack Gaz something too." He said.

"Way ahead of you." Tak said, choosing weapons that Dib noticed were Gaz's favorite. A plasma pistol, a lazar sword, and an ordinary bat. How would Tak know that these were the weapons she preferred? Dib couldn't say, but he knew one thing; there was no way Tak was simply guessing. She looked too sure of herself.

"Alright Dib lead the way!" Tak ordered.

Dib nodded, and took the lead. As much as he'd love to question Tak now was not the time. They needed to free Gaz before the real chaos started, otherwise they might not have time to find her at all. 'We're coming Gaz.' He thought as they jumped down into the swards through an open man hole. 'I promise, just hang on a little longer.'

(Back to Zim…)

This was it the moment of truth…

And yet Zim found it hard to grasp what it was he was about to do.

Sure he knew killing Maz was the only way, but he couldn't help but feel like none of this would have happened if he had never left in the first place.

And it was true.

If Zim had never left Irk to be a soldier Earth would have never been found, and Maz would not be threatening everything he had come to love. Yes, this was his fault, his mistake, and he would fix it today, even if that meant Maz would have to die at his hands.

Deep down he knew it would always end this way. Father had clones Maz to motivate Zim to take his place as heir. Yes Maz was always meant to die, Zim knew this, his fate was sealed the day he opened his eyes. Zim should have put him out of his misery then, he should not have allowed it to drag on for this long. But he had been stubborn chasing his own dreams, dreams that could not possibly come true.

Dreams he was no allowed to have.

And now he was still full of foolish dreams, but they had changed.

Now he dreamed of a world where he and Dib could be together forever, to be truly one as mates.

But it was a fool's dream, and Zim was the fool. Always tying himself to ideas that were not meant to be his own, but no more. He would end his brother just like he should have done all those years before, and then he would take his father's throne.

And then Irk would retreat from all the planets they enslaved, back to Irk where they belonged.

Leaving him forever separated from his beloved Dib.

Yes this was the sacrifice that he would have to make for the safety of the one he loved.

Dib would move on without him, it might take time, but soon their separation would release him from their bound and he would be able to love again if he so choose.

Zim however would never love again, this was simply the Irken way.

(Back with Maz…)

He entered the Science Division to find it abandon and unsecure, just as requested.

Maz walked through the empty halls quickly, no doubt Zim would be waiting for him at the Vault, and yet he was nowhere to be seen. The young Irken prince approached the open Weapons Vault carefully, his senses on high alert. He could see the weapons inside, but he had an unsettling feeling that this was a trap.

He waited for several moments knowing Zim's impatience would get the better of him, it always did. However to his surprise Zim never showed, even after almost an hour of standing there Maz did not hear a single growl of frustration. Not so much as a warning hiss of aggression to hurry him along.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

Was it possible?

Had Zim just gave up?

Maz stepped forwards cautiously it wouldn't be the first time his brother ran from his responsibilities, in truth the only thing he really cared about was Dib. He could have just taken him and left, perhaps he would go save Gaz and bring along their father to please his mate, but that would be all. He would not feel inclined to do anymore, or any less.

He did not care for this planet, just his mate.

However it would be pointless to save the sister unit. Maz had thrown her into the subway tunnels and used on of the Late Doctor Ravenscroft's inventions to build a concrete tomb around her. It would take hours to get to her without some really advance equipment, and without any holes for circulation the girl would die by sun rise.

And then the Empire would have one less rebel to worry about.

Maz stepped into the Vault, and half expected the door to close on him, but it stayed open. He smiled so it wasn't a trap. He looked around, but Zim was still nowhere in sight; and yet Maz could still feel that something was off. His antenna twitched, a clear sign that danger was near, still he saw nothing but his bounty.

He reached out to touch it, and it dissolved in his grasp. 'It's a hologram.' He realizes, but the realization comes too late, and the vault door closes; sealing him inside. Maz retracts his PAK legs and strikes at the door to no avail, it won't budge. But he refuses to give up, he strikes out at the door until he is rasping for breath.

"It's pointless." A voice said behind him, barely audible over his ragged breathing.

Maz turns to see his brother uncloak himself.

Zim had been standing there in the room, invisible the whole time.

Maz was stunned, his impatient brother had stood here waiting for him the whole time while he stayed in the hall for almost an hour. "How?" He asked.

"Being banished on this rock has taught me many things brother, Patience is one of them!" Zim hissed his PAK legs are also drawn, poised and ready for the kill, he is not messing around this time. No, he's playing for keeps, they both are.

"Where are the weapons?" Maz demanded, though he knows there is no sense in mentioning them.

"They were never here." Zim told him.

"So this was a trap all along." Maz scoffed "I knew it."

"Yet you came anyways." Zim shook his head. "Hasn't father taught us to never doubt our instincts?"

"We had a deal brother, I simply thought you would honor it." Maz mused.

"Like you honor yours?" Zim snickered. "Please I tried playing nice Maz, but things got personal the moment your little bug nearly took Dib's head off."

"So that's what this is about?" Maz asked. "Perhaps you should have chosen a better mate, now open this door so we may fight properly." he ordered gesturing to the small space they were currently in.

"Sorry but I can't." Zim said slyly. "That door is programed to stay closed until one of us stops breathing."

"Well if that is what it takes." Maz hissed. "Then so be it."

And with that he lunged.

(Back with Professor Membrane…)

Professor Membrane breathed a sigh of relief as his computer alerted him that the trap had been triggered. And as instructed he rearmed his home; bringing all weapons back on line. "Arming Base." he said into his new communicator.

"Arming Base." A deranged voice answered back to him. It was Gir, he was currently at Zim's base rearming the systems for war. War that was what this had come to, Professor Membrane could hardly believe this. Fear threatened to eat away a t him, but he ignored it. Of course he was not afraid for himself, no he had lived a full life.

However, his children had just started living, and now war threatened to snatch them away.

"Not on my watch." He said as Gaz's army of toy robots sounded him, awaiting orders. "Guard the house." He told them as he armed himself with a plasma rifle and sever other high tech weapons. "I'm going after the kids."

The dolls moved into position, eyes blazing red like blood.

He didn't bother sticking around, instead he took to the streets with a second tracer device in hand. He would find his children and he would protect them.

Or he would die trying.

(Back with Dib…)

"We're close now." Dib said as they continued to walk along the catacombs under the city. "Man I didn't even know we had so many underground tunnels." He said.

"What could you possible use them for?" Tak asked.

"I think these are what's left of the subway." Dib answered.

Subway?" Skoodge asked.

"Underground busses." Tak answered.

"Their more like trains." Dib corrected her.

"Whatever." Tak said.

"Anyway back when subways were still a thing these tunnels were used to travel under the streets. It moved people to where they wanted to go faster because there was no traffic congestion." Dib explained.

"So why stop using it?" Tak asked.

"There was a dangerous chemical gas leak down here back in the 2005." Dib answered. "It killed a lot of people, and everyone who tried to fix it got six and died."

"Poisonous gas?" Skoodge asked fearfully.

"Relax." Dib said. "The gas is long gone now, but even after it left no one wanted to restart the subway system. They say it's cursed down here." Dib shook his head. "Babies."

"Cursed?" Skoodge asked shakenly.

"Oh Irk up." Tak told him. "Honestly it's just a ghost story."

"She's right." Dib told him. "I've camped down here many times and I have not seen a single ghost or felt even the slightest bit cursed." He sounded rather disappointed by this.

Suddenly the tracer beeped, and they stopped.

"Dib what does it say?" Tak asked.

"Gaz should be behind this wall." Dib said, "but I don't see a door." He banged on the stone wall hopefully. "Gaz can you hear us?"

(Back with Gaz…)

She was out of her mind with boredom,

So much so that she was starting to hear voices.

"Gaz are you in there?"

Her eyes widen.

Wait that wasn't in her head.

"Dib!?" She yelled "Is that you?"

"Oh thank goodness we found you." Dib's voice shouted back.

"We?" Gaz asked. "Dib who's with you? Is it Zim?"

"Just calm down Gaz we're going to figure this out." Dib said.

"Gaz is there a door in there with you?" a very familiar voice said.

"Tak?" Gaz asked, her heart in her throat now. She placed her hands on the wall in front of her.

Tak placed her hands on the wall as well, they don't know it but the two are standing right in front of the other. "It's okay we're going to get you out. But we need your help."

Gaz nodded, a smile slipping to her face.

"We need you to feel along the wall and tell me if you feel something that might be a door." Tak went on. "Can you do that?"

"Yeah I think I can manage." Gaz said. It was really dark in the room, even more so now that the TV had cut off, but she felt around the wall as instructed. It was smooth, no segments of brick, nothing but a wall of concrete. "Guys I don't think this is an original wall." She said. "I think Maz made this room within the tunnel to trap me."

"That would explain why there is no door on the map." Dib said. "This wall is not supposed to be here."

"Guys I don't mean to add to the pressure." Gaz yelled. "But it's getting harder to breathe in here."

"That's it." Tak hissed. "If there isn't a door I'm making one!"

Dib watched as Tak readied her weapons and yelled. "Gaz step back Tak's gonna make a door."

Gaz obeyed, backing up as far as possible to the other side. "Okay I'm clear." She said.

Tak clenched her fist and used her PAK legs to start trying to drill a hole for Gaz to get through, or at least to supply some air. But it's a slow process, with in several minutes she's barley made a small dent.

"This isn't working." Dib said in a panic.

"Skoodge help me!" Tak said, sounding desperate now, almost as if she truly cares for Gaz's safety.

Skoodge nodes and draws out his PAK legs as well, drilling into the same hole.

The added effort is noticeable, but they are still taking too long.

Dib takes out his own weapons and begins to fire into the hole they are making with everything he's got.

It's still not enough.

"Guys I think I'm gonna pass out." Gaz admitted, clutching the wall for balance.

Tak growled in frustration and pulled out her own weapon, adding it to their efforts, Skoodge does the same.

Finally the wall cracks and crumbles.

"Gaz." Dib and Tak say in unison as they run inside, but Gaz stubbles out to greet them.

"Took you long enough." She snapped before she falls.

Tak catches her just in time.

"I guess we're even now hu Takky?" Gaz said, smiling like an idiot.

Tak smiled back. "Yes it would appear so." She told her.

"Even?" Dib asked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's a long story." Tak said. "And we simply don't have the time."

Dib nodded, forcing himself to save his questions for later. "Your right we need to find a place to prepare and get Gaz stabled.

"Way ahead of you son." Professor Membrane said running up to greet them. "The house is ready we can take Gaz there and set up a perimeter."

"You do that." He told him before setting off running.

"Son wait." Professor Membrane said. "Where are you going?"

"I have to go check up on Zim." Dib said. "He might need me!"

Professor Membrane moves to go after him, but Tak stops him. "Let him go, he can't help but worry." He told him. "It's a mate thing." She said looking down at Gaz.

Gaz smiled. "Sher's right dad, just take us home."

Professor Membrane nodded. "This way." He said, and led the way.

"You know we're aliens right?" Skoodge asked.

"Yes he knows doofus!" Tak snapped.

"Just checking." Skoodge said. "All the other humans on this planet are pretty stupid."

Professor Membrane chuckled. "I guess I deserve that."

"More than you know dad." Gaz assured him. "More than you know."

(Back with Zim….)

The Ex-invader hissed as a PAK leg managed to slice through his defenses and nick his shoulder.

They had been going at it for several minutes now.

Their only weapons were their PAK legs, and their own will to press on, Maz was surprisingly skilled at this fighting style which took Zim by surprise. However, he recover quickly, having experience with his legs thinks to Dib. His Mate was always known for using his fist when all else failed. It was a tactic that Zim had learned to copy.

Use everything to your disposal, that's what Dib had taught him. Hands are meant for pulling, teeth meant for biting, claws meant for scratching, and fist meant for punching. And PAK legs meant for stabbing. Zim couldn't even count how many times he was resorted to using his PAK legs against Dib, but he knew it was a lot, especially when Dib had started out growing him for a short time in middle school.

The Dib was a good feet taller, up until High School where Zim finally caught back up, and during those three years Zim had to learn other ways to fight an enemy that was bigger than him. His PAK legs turned out to be the answer, as long as Dib didn't force them to retract back into his PAK.

Zim smiles as he just realizes this is the perfect way to beat him. If Zim could get Maz on his back, his legs would retreat. With a new plan in mind he changes his tactics and goes on the offensive.

Maz dodges a few of his blows, while blocking others. He notices the change in his brother, and he finds it strange. Before they were stabbing and cursing, but now Zim had grown quiet, and was throwing all he had and trying to push him away. 'If he keeps this up he'll tier himself out.' He realized.

Zim knew this too, but if he could just get Maz off balance it would work. He changes strategies again and goes to trip him as he pushes.

It works, Maz falls over on his back and Zim jumps before landing hard on his brother's belly. Maz screeches and his PAK's retract back into the PAK.

Zim lifts his own Pak leg, ready to end this, when Maz turns the tables. He pulls something out of his pocket and throws it at Zim. It gets in his eyes, and he screams bloody murder as his eyes begin to sizzle and burn.

Maz breathed a sigh of relief as his brother stumbles away. He had found the dust among the late Doctor Ravenscroft's inventions. It was powder acid of some sort, meant to dissolve organic tissue. Man that scientist was crazy, and a genius, so much so that Maz almost felt sorry for killing him.

Almost!

"I can't see." Zim screamed. The burning had dissolved into a small stinging sensation, but he was completely blind now.

"End of the line brother." Maz mused, thinking he now has the upper hand.

He is sadly mistaken.

Military training has taught Zim that the eyes are not an assist, but a hindrance. They blind you from the truth, over whelming the mind with far too much information to process. However if you close your eyes, take out the distractions, you are more likely to succeed.

Maz has just made a lethal error.

Zim is not a defenseless child, and his senses are above average when it comes to Irkens. He was never sure why, but this is how it always was. So while most would be completely lost right now, Zim used his other senses to "see" His opponent.

Maz reactivated his PAK legs and strikes, only to gasp as Zim dodges with ease.

Zim hears the strike coming, fells the blow coming towards him through the air. His antenna twitches, a clear sign of danger and he dodges.

Maz tries again and again, but Zim keeps our maneuvering him. "How do you keep doing that?" He hissed. "You're blind."

"Only the weak depend on one of their senses." Zim answered. "You have five for a reason."

Maz screamed and attacked again, he was getting angry now, and Zim uses it to his advantage. His brother is sloppy, making rookie mistakes, like keeping his left flank open.

Maz screams again, this time in pain as his brother uses his own Pak legs to slice a gash in his side. He staggers back stunned, but it's not enough to knock him down. "Is that all you got?" he questions.

Zim dives for another attack, and Maz has seconds to dodge.

'How does he know where I am?' Maz wondered. His eyes widen as he watches Zim, he has grown still, his antennas perked, as if he's waiting…

Of course!

Maz looks down at his own feet. He's stopped moving, Zim must be listening for his footsteps, and feeling his movement through the vibrations in the ground. He is using all of his senses to fight. But if he can't feel him coming Maz would get the upper hand.

He smiles as he taps his heels together activating his turbo boots, they were stander issue now for every Irken, and something Zim wouldn't have or know about since his banishment. He circled Zim, waiting to see if his plan will work.

Zim's brow frowns, he can no longer feel Maz, he tries to hear him, but this too fails him. He opens his mouth to taste the air. Maz is close he can pick up his taste in his sent glands located on the roof of his mouth. However, it does no good in locating his position. He uses his antennas to fell the vibrations in the air.

No luck!

Zim starts to panic as he realizes he's truly blind now.

Maz smiles, and glides towards him.

Zim feels him coming, but it's so sudden that he is unprepared, he screams as he feels a PAK leg slash down his belly. The wound is deep, and he has no time to recover as Maz hits him again and again. He falls to his knees strength fading.

Maz laughs hysterically.

"How did you?" Zim asked weakly.

"Turbo boots." Maz answers as he touches back down to the ground, deactivating the boots. There was no point in dragging this out, he was finish and they both knew it.

Zim's too injured to keep his PAK legs out, they are too heavy adding extra strain to his body. He is forced to put them away. He is now truly defenseless against Maz's final blow, and all he can do is sit there as he comes closer, and closer.

"It's like being lighter than the air around you making it impossible for you to detect movement in time." He said grabbing Zim by the antennas and jerking his face up to meet his. "Nice try brother, but I think we both knew that it was always going to end this way." He raised a Pak leg ready to give the final blow….

When suddenly Zim turns the tables on him.

"Yes." He said. "We always knew it would end this way." He reached behind him a pulled something out of his waist band.

Maz eyes widen as Zim reached up with an amazing amount of strength, and stabs him with as lazar sword.

Zim presses a button on the hilt and the blade grows in length until it cuts straight through his brother and his PAK

"How…?" Maz asked shock taking over, his body seizes up, and he falls over his brother's shoulder, no longer able to hold his own weight.

"I took a chapter out of your book brother." Zim hissed, twisting sword before he cuts upward destroying more of the Pak as he makes the wound bigger, and more damaging.

"This is not how it was supposed to end." Maz said.

"Didn't father ever tell you?" Zim asked.

"Father?" Maz asked.

"Cowards never win Maz." Zim said before withdrawing his sword.

"Zim…" Maz says almost pleading. "Don't…"

Zim stabs him one more time, and with on final cry he goes still.

He is dead.

Zim allows the tears to spill from his eyes as he withdrawals his sword and puts it away. "Goodbye brother." He whispers and the vault doors open signaling his passing. "Believe me when I say I really wish there had been another way."

Zim forces himself to his feet and starts his way towards the door. His eyes are almost healed now, and he can see the outline of the exist, and with every second his vision clears more and more. But even so he refuses to look back, he refuses to see Maz's dead body on the floor.

Why?

Because despite his short comings Maz was still his brother, and he did not want to remember him as a broken empty shell on the floor. No he deserved better than that, they both did. It wasn't Maz's fault that he was this way, no it was their father who was to blame.

He made them this way, he made them fight to the death, and now Zim would make him pay. "You're next father." He said, knowing that he was still listening, still watching. "And you won't get the same mercy he did."

"Zim!"

Zim turned to see his mate, Dib running towards him, a look of worry in his eyes. It was only then that he looked down and noticed that he still had several open wounds still healing. He forced himself to keep standing even as Dib ran into him full force throwing his arms around him. "it's over." Zim told him.

"No its not." Dib whispered. "It'll never be over I don't want to lose you Zim." He said. "I love you."

Zim smiled despite it all. "I love you Dib." He admitted.

"Finally admitting it hu?" Dib teased.

"Yeah in just enough time before we all die." Zim joked halfheartedly.

"Man what a mess we've gotten ourselves into hu space boy?" Dib mused before kissing his lips.

Zim kissed him back like he never wanted to stop, and he didn't. "I want you forever." He whispered when they finally pulled away.

Dib smiled. "And I am forever yours." he replied.

Zim sighed before pulling away. "We should go regroup with the others." Zim said.

"Their at my Dad's place, Gaz needs time to recover and so do you." Dib said.

Zim nodded, allowing his mate to support him as they began their walk back to Dib's home. They were equals now, and their was no shame in accepting help from your mate. he would rest and then he would finish this.

Emperor Nax watched as his son retreated to the safety of his mate's home, his words still ringing in his mind.

"Sir?" Bek asked. "Shall I give the order?"

Emperor Nax rose from his throne a grin slipping on his face. "He has fought well." he said. "He's earned some leniency." He added.

But not much.

"We attack at dawn." Emperor Nax said.

"Yes your majesty." Bek bowed and them turned to his soldiers standing in formation before him. "You heard men...we attack at dawn!"

Emperor Nax's smile widen as the soldiers cheered their approval. The final battle would soon be upon them, and then one by one the human race would fall.

It was only a matter of time!

-To be Continued!