Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: All right guys I know some of you may have noticed some continuity errors in this new Arc. I original had it where Zim never met Luna or her people, but later I had him as the sole reason why she lost her home.

This was due to the fact that Luna and her sister where really just side characters. However, now that Zim and Dib have broken up and are on opposite sides of this war; Luna will be more up front. This forced me to rethink her entire character so she could be more relatable to you, my readers.

You'll be glad to know that during my rereading/editing I corrected all the errors associated with this arc. However, if you notice anything I missed please let me know.

With that said thanks for reading and please enjoy!

(Back with Dib…)

He was surprised that it didn't take a lot of convincing to get them to help.

Dib looked at his sister knowingly, after the bizarre events they witness involving Tak they had raced to Gaz and Peg for assistance. He had expected them to tell him he was being reckless, that he was once again trusting Zim blindly, but that was not the case.

Gaz had once mentioned that they should leave the two Irkens to fight this out, but after the chaos of the Megadoomer she was beginning to see that leaving the two aliens to their own devices could be even more lethal. It was obvious that while Zim knew Tak, he could not handle her on his own, and neither could they.

So naturally the only solution in defeating Tak once and for all was to for an uneasy alliance with Zim.

So, the four junior agents snuck out of school and went to the only place that just might hold answers to where Zim was hiding.

The location of his old base.

And that's where they were now, still the chances of them finding anything was slim, and dwindling with every second.

"This is a waste." Gaz finally allowed herself to complain, they had been searching for hours.

"There must be something!" Dib exclaimed as he kicked at some of the dirt.

"Dib, you were out here during the initial sweep." Peg argued. "Lard Nar and Dark Booty did a grid search and found nothing that could be traced back to Zim." She was currently hunched over a laptop; she was using the Swollen Eyeballs space satellite to try and locate Tak's hide out. Her reasoning was quite simple. Zim wouldn't accept their help without some incentive. So, they were searching for any place that gave off high energy reading that might house a secret base.

"There must be something." Luna echoed Dib's desperation. "It's obvious that Tak's real target is Zim, she thinks we can lead her to him."

"Can we?" Gaz asked, she's leaning over Peg now. "Anything?"

"Nothing." Peg sighed.

"Hey what about the place she got those meats from?" Luna asked suddenly.

Dib gasped grabbing the laptop from Peg. "Delishus Weenie's! It's a hotdog stand." He looks it up and pulls up the satellite imagery.

Now they all gasp

"That's one big hotdog stand." Peg says the obvious.

"It has to be the base." Dib reasoned. "Tak must be using that ability of hers to keep people from noticing."

"Which means calling in backup will do us no good." Gaz pointed out the obvious.

That meant Zim was still there best bet.

Dib growled in frustration; he should have known there would be no way to find him. Zim wasn't like Tak; he wouldn't recklessly throw himself out there. Tak wanted them to find her, Zim didn't! Dib kicked in frustration once more and yelped as his foot struck something.

"What the?" Luna said as she searched the ground where his foot struck and felt something cold and metal. She picks it up, the sand falls away from it to reveal…

"This is a piece of a S.I.R Unit!" She exclaimed.

"A what?" Dib asked.

"Zim, he has a robot right?" Luna asked, flipping over the piece.

"Yeah." Dib answered.

"Those are S.I.R Units, they retrieve and store information about the planets their master's conquer. They are also their constant companions and last line of defense." Luna explained. She knew this because as a leader she wanted to understand her foe. So, she had Lard Nar teach her everything about Irkens that he knew. This included a wide range of knowledge of the S.I. R's, Irken tech and even how to read Irken.

"Companions." Dib whispered.

"What?" Gaz asked.

"Gir! Gir is Zim's S.I.R!" Dib explained. "Unbelievable! Was everything he told me a lie? I let that thing lick me!"

"Dib focus!" Peg urged. "Can we use this to track Zim?"

"No, it will only lead us to Gir, who might not be with Zim at all." Dib reasoned as he pulls out a tracker and Scans Gir's missing piece with it.

"Either way it's dangerous." Luna reasoned. "S.I.R.s have what is called a defensive mode, it's used to enhance their ability to defend their masters. If Gir is in it he will be perfectly accurate in his blows. We won't stand a chance."

"If only there was a way we could get the better of him." Peg said in defeat.

"There is." Dib said, suddenly remembering as he went to leave.

"Dib where are you going?" Luna called after him.

"To Crazy Taco." He said. "And then Petco."

His partners ran after him quickly each of them wondering the same thing.

How was a taco joint and a pet store going to solve all their problems?

Meanwhile Tak snickered from the shadows, she knew she could just follow the brats to Zim but facing Zim on his own turf had proven to be a mistake once before.

No, this time she would not rush blindly towards the enemy.

No, this time he would come to her!

The four agents soon arrived at Crazy Taco, where Dib ordered…lunch?

"Are you seriously ordering food?" Gaz snapped as the cashier handed him his to go bag.

"Trust me I know what I am doing." He said.

Gaz doubted it, and when they arrived at Petco to pick up dog treats, she was even more doubtful. "Dib how is this supposed to help us with the robot?"

"Gaz I spent a lot of time with Zim." He pointed out the obvious. "And what he is about to find out, is that our time together is about to be a double edge sword."

"If you say so." Peg said as they started their search for Gir, but Dib is not listening, he looks to Luna. She has been unusually quiet this whole time.

"You know what I don't get." He admitted out loud looking at her.

"What?" Luna asked.

"Why are you on board with this?" Dib dared to ask. "You were upset last time I suggested it because of what Zim did to your home world."

Luna sighed; she knew the question would come up. "I just want to know what happened."

"Can't you ask Lard Nar?" Peg asked.

"I have." Luna revealed. "That's how I know about my dad." She admitted.

"Nothing else?" Dib asked.

"Look all he told me is some mysterious warrior saved me and Moon." She said.

"Do you remember that?" Gaz asked.

"I was 11 years old." She admitted. "I remember, but I was too naïve to understand what was really going on. I remember a cloaked figure who broke into my sister's room where we were sleeping. He picked us up and stowed away into the night. The next day, there were Irkens everywhere! No place was safe! We ran for days, eventually the warrior got us to Lard Nar's ship."

"And the warrior?" Dib asked.

"He stayed behind, Lard Nar told me he had to hold off the enemy." Tears were actually in her eyes. "I never saw him after that day, and I never thanked him."

"Maybe one day you will." Peg said, trying to cheer her up.

Luna shook her head. "The Irkens found us soon after." She revealed. "One of them boasted about how he wasn't coming to save us this time, that they killed him." She shook uncontrollably as she continued the tale. "We managed to escape, but we had to ditch the ship. We stowed away on cargo vessels, one after another until we made it to the rest of the resistance."

Dib suddenly understood why she was so broken up about it. This warrior gave his life for her, and she never got to express her gratitude.

"But he's not why I want to find Zim." Luna revealed. "I understand they are trying to spare me the pain, but if your mom and Lard Nar won't tell me what happened then Zim is my only hope." Her voice cracked. "I need to know why he did it, and what happened to my mom."

"And you will." Gaz promised her. "Because we're going to help you."

"I know she's probably dead, but I want to know how it happened, I deserve to know why they had to..." She has lost the fight to keep back the tears, and as Peg embraces her Dib looks away, feeling guilty.

How could he still love Zim knowing he did this?

Dib shook his head as he pressed on using the tracker to guide them, the others soon following his lead. There was no way Zim would do this. His Zim was not this cruel, he believed in mercy. The person who took a blow to save his life would not help kill two children and their parents.

However, evidence claimed otherwise! And just like that; Dib was just as curious.

He had to know what really happened that night.

And he wouldn't stop until he got answers.

(5 Years Ago…)

[Location: the planet Rhapsodize]

Darkness covered the frozen streets as a mysterious, cloaked, and hooded figure raced towards his target. He had considered going back a thousand and one times already, and was half tempted to think so again. Not that anyone would blame him. What he was doing was beyond sabotage, it was treason!

The cloaked figure rounded another corner, moving quickly in the night. He could not risk being spotted, as much as he wanted to destroy the enemy; if he accidently tipped off the natives it would be chaos. This was Invader Spleen's mission, and he had only told the Tallest the finer details, still it wouldn't be hard for the enemy to guess who was responsible.

He was after all the last one seen just before the report was given.

The cloaked figure, however held no fear for his impending doom, no! In fact, he smiled, stepping into an ally before removing his hood slowly. Invader Zim's ruby eyes darted from left to right knowingly, he had only minutes to prepare.

After informing the resistance of Spleen's plans, Zim was surprised to receive an invitation from the Tallest. They wanted him to accompany them in their travels to Rhapsodize, with the down fall of such a formidable enemy at hand, his leaders wanted a front row seat. Zim agreed, a free ride to the very planet he needed to be on was hard to pass up. Plus, it also meant that Spleen would also be here.

Most would see that as a problem, but for Zim it was perfect. For Spleen's presence offered him the perfect scapegoat.

Zim reached for the dial of his disguise modulator, it was a new model, one that Zim had never used until now. Apparently the device was able to disguise the wearer based on holographic technology, the device stored hundreds of disguises, and with a little bit of tinkering Zim had managed to add one of his own.

And now with one turn of the dial Zim's appearance was replaced with that of a Magladie soldier. This guise would allow him to enter the castle without raising any alarms. However, unfortunately the enemy would be using a similar tactic.

Zim hears rustling behind him, and he turns, two dark figures have joined him in the small alleyway.

For a moment there is silence, no doubt the new arrivals are confused, they expected to meet an Irken at this location, not a native.

"You are the one my informant spoke to, yes?" A voice asked.

The sound of that voice makes his insides coil, he knows this one; he knows him all too well.

"Yes." Zim admitted, his voice seems stuck in his throat.

"You don't look Irken." The other figure, one with a female voice spoke.

Zim smiles, as the largest moon in the sky emerges from the clouds illuminating the figures. Rhapsodize has 8 moon, the closes being the Goddess, Selene. He always thought it was weird that the Magladies would worship celestial rocks as powerful gods. Still, he supposed he had no room to judge, his people worshiped others based on height after all.

Zim shook the thought away as he sized up his new Allies. Lard Nar looked as he always did; the only difference now was Zim was now much taller than the Vort refugee. Like Irkens, Vorts remained practically ageless over time. Beside him stands a creature Zim has never seen before, pale, and hairless, except for the long lavender locks upon her head, she looked a lot like a native herself, minus the blue skin and tail.

"I am Lard Nar." The Vort said. "Leader of the resistance."

The title caused him to snicker, and rightfully so. Lard Nar like all Vorts was anti-war, he hated conflict, and now he was leading an army of his own!

"You find that funny?" The female snapped.

Zim showed no effort to hide it. "I thought Vorts were peace makers." He mused out loud.

"And I thought your kind believed in annihilation!" The female was quick to retort, and Zim could not help but feel respect from the response.

"Now Annabel we must be kind to our ally." Lard Nar reasoned. "Least he decide to change his mind."

Something in that sentence hits a nerve, and for a minute Zim fears the Vort has already figured him out. He shakes the feeling off, focusing on the task.

"We must move." He tells them, "Spleen will be making his move on the Royal family soon."

"But what do we call you?" Annabel dared to ask. "You know our names, it's only fair we know yours."

"Kuha." Zim answered, not turning back to face them.

Now it was Lard Nar's turn to laugh. "An Irken whose name literally means deceiver; it would appear you were born for this role."

Zim resists the urge to turn around and forces himself to instead move forward; it's not easy. "We must hurry, the Royals must be spared; their influence is too great of a loss." He reasoned as they followed his lead.

"We know why we have to save them." Annabel stated. "The question is, why do you care?"

His answer surprises her, though it shouldn't.

"I don't."

Annabel shares a look with Lard Nar, and without a word she expresses her doubt.

It wouldn't be the first time she hinted at this whole endeavor being a trap.

Lard Nar would usually be quick to agree with her, but if Kuha was who he thought he was; then Lard Nar wanted to see this through. If there was even a remote chance that this was him, that a part of him was still fighting the programing. Then perhaps not all was lost.

Still, a small part, the bitter part of him hoped it wasn't him. For that part of him never wanted to see him again. It was a complex emotion, two different extremes, and he felt the weight of them both pressing down on him like rolling waves. Things were so much easier when he saw them as friends, even the betrayal, did not mix-up his emotions like right now. Back then he could reason that Zim was never a friend, that betrayal was what Irkens were accustom to.

However, if this was Zim…

Then Lard Nar honestly didn't know what to feel.

Annabel, however, knew what she was feeling, the unmistakable feeling that the enemy was already here, and closing in.

They arrived at the castle many quiet moments later. The streets had been empty, but that did not surprise them, or made cause for alarm. When Selene was this close to Rhapsodize it was known as a day of rest, and self-reflection. All Magladies would be within their homes, kneeing, and praying to their most highest of Gods. Now that she was so close she would be able to hear them more clearly. It was believed that she even answered a few herself. A task that was usually left for the "Lesser" Gods.

Zim shook his head, now understanding why Spleen chose this day for the attack. This ritual of theirs left the Magladies exposed to the enemy. "Not a single guard is about." He hissed in disbelief.

"Makes our job easier." Annabel reasoned.

"The same goes for him." Zim countered.

"Then let's stop wasting time arguing." Lard Nar snapped taking the lead.

They would scale the palace up to the royal chambers and enter through the window of the baby's nursery.

It made Annabel sick that anyone could be capable of killing something as innocent as an infant. She looks to the soldier beside her, who like her is setting up his climbing gear. There must be a reason why he was doing this. If he got caught then his people would sentence him to death! With so much on the line, there was no way he was doing this just for kicks! If he didn't care, then he wouldn't be here.

Still knowing this did little to sooth her rage! She thought Irkens were heartless, but if some actually cared. Then why didn't more try to stop these things form happening? What made this one single Irken different?

It was a question Zim had been wondering all his life, and as they began their climb he wonders the same question that his two companions are no doubt wondering themselves. If he is strong enough to stand against them now, then why? Why does he keep falling back in line?

Why doesn't he just stay with those he actually relates to, and fight?

As weak as the answer sounds he know there is no denying it.

The answer is fear.

They stop just below the window.

"We must act quickly." Lard Nar whispered. "He could already be in the chambers."

"We divide and concur." Zim stated simply.

Lard Nar nods and hands Zim a communicator without hesitation. "Things may get dicey, if we get separated at any time you can reach me with this."

Zim nods and takes it; he is surprised the Vort would trust an Irken with a device that he could use to locate the rest of the resistance; he isn't the only one.

Annabel looks ready to snatch the communicator right back when Lard Nar speaks again.

"I will go for King Luan and Queen Eclipsa." He volunteered. "Annie you go get the Eldest daughter." He ordered.

"And leave the baby to him?!" Annabel's words were certainly too loud, someone must have heard, but if that someone was Zim, he showed no sign of it. Upon hearing his new task, he was moving to execute it. It was after all the Irken way.

Annabel goes to stop him, only for Lard Nar to stop her.

"If we are going to save them Annie, then we must trust him." He told her.

She wants to argue, wants to lash out, but she knows there is no time. If they stand a chance of saving Rhapsodize; this is it. So wordlessly she nods and makes her way to the eldest Princess' window.

She can only hope she hasn't just made a huge mistake.

-To Be Continued