Chapter Notes

Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: So this chapter is shorter than the rest, but suspense is the goal. Thank s for reading and please review.

(Present Day)

This was it…

The moment of truth was upon them, and as Dib broke through Earth's atmosphere and into the cold arms of space he half expected to dive into a furious dog fight between Earth's small forces, and the enemy.

However, all they were greeted with was silence.

"There's nothing out here." Dib pointed out the obvious, and it was true, there was nothing, nothing but the endless eternity that was space.

"Patience Dib." Zim said knowingly. "Real space battles are not like they are in your Earth movies."

"Really?" Dib asked. "Then what are they like?" He dared to ask.

"Sudden." Tak answered over the Comm link. "And over within minutes. "

"Minutes…?" Dib was stunned.

"That's how long it usually takes." Skoodge added. "Before they win."

The news was a hard pill to swallow, but Dib threw the thought away into the far regions of his mind. Now was not the time for fear, now was the time for bravery. For years now he had declared himself the defender of Earth, and now he could finally prove that title to be true.

He did his best to keep his guard up, to keep his mind focused, and his muscles tense for war. However his will would slipped from time to time, only proving just how much of an armature he really was. And he couldn't help but wonder if just maybe Zim had been right. Maybe he was not ready for this.

No! He could not think like that, besides the battle could start any second. Which meant there was no turning back now. He was in this fight to the bitter end.

"Easy Dib." Zim whispered over the Comm link, no doubt feeling his fear. "I am here."

Dib nodded, and forced himself to breathe evenly, now was perhaps the worse time for a mental break down.

His timing for getting a grip couldn't have been more ideal, because seconds later the Massive uncloaked before them. The large ship was surrounded by several others, which were smaller in comparison. From what he could tell these must be the fighters.

"Gaz…" Tak said tensing.

"I don't understand how they got so close." Gaz said. "Their cloaking tech must mask them from the defense systems scanners." She guessed as she took aim, and fired.

It had been a warning shot, one meant to miss only slightly. The point was to make their strength known while giving the enemy a chance to second guess their actions.

It was an obvious point, one Empire Nax picked up on instantly. "Looks like the humans are more prepared then we thought." He mused. "See what happens when you ignore your Invader's reports." He asked a Nobel to his left. "You are unaware of what you are up against."

"HA!" The Nobel, now known as Tallest Mookie, was 12th in line to the Irken throne, and was known for openly showing his hate towards all those ahead of him in that line. This of course included the Emperor, however Emperor Nax was unfazed by his harsh words; for that's all they were. Yes the blue eyed Irken Nobel with olive green skin was nothing but talk. All bark and no bite, and that was why Emperor Nax had chosen him as the next Tallest. "There forces are tinny, this will be easy!" he wagered.

"Don't be so sure." Emperor Nax warned Tallest Mookie. "If there was one thing Zim was known for in his early years it was his war tactics." Yes, his son was always known for having ridiculous plans, ones that rarely worked in his favor. However, his plans never help his enemy win either, if anything Zim's plans were so destructive and unpredictable that both parties could suffer great losses. Not only that but, Emperor Nax had an unsettling feeling that this was not the full size of the enemy fleet.

It couldn't be.

Zim was known to be reckless, but this was downright suicidal.

Zim bit his lip, reminding himself yet again that such a bad habit existed in the first place. But he pushed that worry aside, for he had others to think about. Like, for example, where was Lard Nar? The invader had invited him personally, not to mention he never ratted out the Resisty's informant: Prisoner Number 777. The least the stupid Vortian could do is show up on time!

"We're dead." Skoodge spoke up, voice obviously shaking. "We are so dead."

"Oh stop your whining!" Tak growled, her weapons were already fully charged and ready to go. She was beginning to regret bringing him instead of Gaz.

Gaz…

How could she leave her there, on the planet's surface so far away?

"It's safer there." That was the reasoning she had gave the human female when she asked. Sure Gaz claimed to want to man the defense grid, but in reality Tak had to talk her into it. The argument had lasted most of their first shift, but it was worth it.

Or Tak had thought so at the time, now she wasn't so sure. "Gaz…" She began, but she cut her off.

"Don't you dare say it." She warned.

"If I don't make it out of this-" Tak began.

"Stop it." Gaz yelled. "You will."

"But if I don't." Tak yelled back. "I…" She struggled for the words.

"I know." Gaz said. "Now teach those stupids who's in charge."

Tak smiled.

"Okay before we all die." Zim said. "You two start explaining!" he demanded.

"Isn't it obvious master?" Gir asked. "They have what you and Mary have. They love each other." He began to cry hysterically. "They love each other so much."

"What!" Dib exclaimed.

"It's not…" Tak struggled for words. "We're not…"

Luckily Gaz felt her struggle. "We're not as far as you two are in your relationship." She explained. "Because of that it's different for us."

"As far?" Dib asked, then his cheeks turned red as he suddenly got it. "Oh you mean you're still on first base."

"Yeah, because some people actually take things slow." Gaz teased. "DIB!"

"What?" Dib exclaimed.

"You did start it." Zim reminded him.

"Like you'd let me forget." Dib whined.

"I'm receiving a transmission." Zim said suddenly growing serious.

"It's probably your father." Tak said. "Plans to talk you down."

"It is." Zim confirmed. "And if he does it hardly matters." He pressed the ignore button on his controls. "Cause I'm not listening."

"Shocker." Skoodge teased, trying to relieve the growing tension.

No such luck.

(Back on the Massive…)

"Sir Prince Zim is ignoring your call." A soldier from the controls informed the Emperor of the obvious.

"Very well." Emperor Nax mused. "If it is war he wants, then it is war he shall get." He gestured to Tallest Mookie.

Tallest Mookie nodded "Charge all weapons." He ordered.

(Back with Tak…)

"Gaz their weapons are coming on line." Tak advised.

"I see them." Gaz answered and fired once more this time hitting one of the enemy fighters.

The pinkish ship exploded on impact, it was a clear message that they were not playing around, but they hardly had any fighters to back it up.

"Damn where are those rebels?" Zim growled. The Massive could take them all out with one hit of their Mega Awesome Cannon, which was now charged up to 80%.

Dib could see the blast of that cannon as it built up in volume. A red light that when prompted would shoot out towards them and end their lives in seconds.

Skoodge was right they were all dead.

(Back on the Massive…)

"Sir the Weapons are nearly charged." A soldier reported.

"Aim." Emperor Nax said voice not wavering in the slightest.

"Don't tell me you plan to kill him." Tallest Mookie actually looks stunned. "He is after all you're only surviving heir."

"He's defective." Emperor Nax said bluntly. "I'll get a new one."

"You heard him." Tallest Mookie declared. "Fire!"

Chapter Notes

Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: Last flashback Chapter! Hope you enjoy!

(Back with Gaz...)

[7 years ago]

Everything was wrong, so very wrong indeed.

Gaz dodged the oncoming spear as she ran down the corridor towards the escape pod. She wasn't going to make it, and the realization made her legs feel like led. However, the monster's sudden screech of rage forced her on ward.

Mook the Mancar, son of Leach had been suspicious of them from the beginning, and unannounced to Gaz and Tak the elder son had stayed on the ship in order to catch them in the act.

And catch them he did, and was most certainly not happy about it!

The current chaos had happened moments after Tak had removed her Mancar disguise, an angry Mook raced into the ship's bridge and attacked without warning. He struck for Tak first probably seeing her as the only threat.

Tak had barely managed to dodge the deathly blow, but the monster reacted with lightning speed and was on her in seconds. His Spear was up and ready to cut her down, only being stopped by Tak as she struggled to keep the blade at bay.

Gaz of course acted without thinking, it was like her mind had gone on auto pilot, and she pulled a blaster of some kind off the weapons rack and fired.

The attack came as a complete surprise to Mook and hit him dead on.

Gaz could only assume that the Mancar thought she was Tak's prisoner which would explain why he had ignored her before.

Well he sure wasn't ignoring her now.

To her astonishment the beast got back up with littler effort at all and charged.

And that was when the running had begun.

She didn't even stop to glace at Tak, however she was sure the Irken Female was using this time to form a plan.

Yes, she was bait, and if Gaz was being honest with herself the thought did make her breath grow short and weak. She knew Tak wouldn't let anything happen to her if she could help it, but from the way the monster effortlessly took her down moments ago it was obvious that she couldn't.

Gaz could only imagine what would happen if she never made it home. It would be a disaster! Dad would blame Dib, and Dib would blame Dad, and then the two would refuse to speak to each other ever again.

In short her disappearance would tear her family apart, and it was barely holding together as it is.

Yes, Gaz was the glue that kept them all together, she was the rock, the foundation of this family, and she had to make it home!

It is this though alone that keeps her led like legs going as she continued to race down the corridor and towards the escape pod. If she could make it she was sure she'd be safe, however Tak had other plans for that escape pod.

The question was should she bother convincing Gaz or just go for it.

She decided just to go for it, after all Mook didn't show any signs of slowing down; meaning there was no time to explain. Gaz would just have to trust her.

What happened next completely floored Gaz, one moment she was running, the next Tak came out of nowhere and kicked her into an empty room.

"Tak what are you doing?" Gaz asked, but didn't get an answer.

"Stay here!" Tak ordered before slamming the door shut and sealing close with a blowtorch like tool from her PAK.

"TAK what's going ON?" Gaz screamed pounding on the door.

"You're in the way!" Tak answered and then she was gone.

Gaz kicked the door in frustration. Why was Tak doing this? She thought they were a team! Gaz looked around the room she was in and realized that it must have been the surveillance room since monitors of video freed from around the ship laid before her.

She watched as Tak came into view, she was running towards the escape pods, and just like that Gaz's blood ran cold. Was she leaving her on this ship to be at the mercy of the beast?

No Tak wouldn't, she couldn't.

And yet Gaz could think of no other reason why the Irken female would be heading that way.

'Did today mean nothing to her' Gaz thought. 'Did everything we went through so far mean so little to her that she could just leave?'

'Isn't that what you were just about to do?' A voice in the back of her head thought.

It was!

Gaz had been going to the escape pods thinking if she could just make it to one she'd be safe.

She was planning on leaving Tak, and now Tak was returning the favor, or so she thought.

Tak, however had other plans, she lead Mook down to the escape pods and opened the first one she saw. She only had seconds to prepare since Mook was not far behind, but in the end it was all the time she needed.

She turned on her cloaking device and threw a small spear into the pod. Seconds later a hologram of Tak appeared from the spear. The trap was set, and Mook fell for it instantly.

He races up to the pod, sees what he thinks is the target inside and steps halfway in.

Tak wastes no time and kicks him the rest of the way in the pod's doors close behind him automatically, and Tak races over to the controls.

The Monster pounds loudly on the door trying to force his way out, but it's locked tight. However, he managed to make several dents before Tak can reach the controls.

She thimbles with the touch screen and presses Pod #1 she then punches the word Purge!

The Pod containing their unwelcomed guest is thrown out into space in a matter of seconds, and Tak breathes a sigh of relief.

Gaz blinks in surprise, Tak wasn't trying to leave her at all, she was setting a trap and Gaz was just in the way. She watches as the Irken female makes her way back to the room and forces the sealed door open with her PAK arms.

"Sorry." Tak said as the door opened. "I need to make sure he couldn't get in."

Gaz was speechless, and it showed.

"What's wrong?" Tak asked.

"I…I was going to leave you." Gaz admitted.

"I know." Tak mused

"So why didn't you leave me?" Gaz asked.

"Well I'm obviously a very forgiving Duck beast Girl." Tak teased. "You however are unworthy to be my follower."

"Oh please Duck beast Girl." Gaz said. "You wouldn't have last five minutes without me."

That much was true, but Tak wasn't about to admit it. "Let's just head back already." She advised leading them back towards the bridge. "The sooner we get you home the better."

Gaz nodded, and allowed Tak to lead her on.

(A few Days later…)

She'd never thought she'd be happy to be in the smog covered streets of her home town again, and yet she could actually feel her heart skip a beat as it came into view.

It had just started to snow, however the town was already covered in the stuff.

Silence filled the bridge as the ship touched down, it didn't last long.

"You sure you don't want to stay?" Gaz asked hopefully.

Tak shook her head. "It's better this way."

"Is it?" Gaz asked, though she expected no answer.

She didn't get one and after a few moments of silence she moved to leave. "If you ever get tired of it." She said. "You know where to find me."

And with that she walk off the ship and out of Tak's life forever.

Tak was almost temped to race after her, but she forced herself to take off back out into space and towards Dirt.

'Things are better this way.' She reminded herself, as she continued on, never bothering to look back.

Gaz on the other hand watched her leave, and stayed there even after she was gone. Finally she forced herself to turn towards home. The walk was short, and just as she expected Dib was still messing with that stupid ship.

He probably had no idea she was even gone.

He didn't, in fact he didn't even look up from his work as she walked past.

"Hey doofus where's dad?" Gaz asked.

"Out." Dib answered.

"Still working on that ship?" She went on.

"Yep." Dib answered.

"Anyone come looking for me?"

"No, I thought you were upstairs playing your stupid games." Dib said, still not looking up from his work.

Gaz shook her head. "Idiot." She said before heading inside.

"What?" Dib shouted. No Answer. "Great now what did I do?" He asked.

"Nothing you idiot." Gaz shouted from inside. "Now finish your stupid ship!"

"It's not stupid!" Dib yelled and got back to work. "Stupid Gaz, doesn't she see the fate of the world depends on this thing!"

Gaz shook her head, she was missing Tak already and she hadn't been home for more than five minutes.

'Well with any luck Fate will bring her back.' She thought as she pulled out her game slave.

Not knowing that one day Tak would return, and luck would have nothing to do with it!

Chapter End Notes:

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

Until then this is Emily signing off :)