Author's Notes: Okay we are going back and forth from the past to the present and then to the future for a few chapters so please bear with me.

Thank you for reading and please review

(1 Year & 7 Months Ago…)

(Location: The Resisty, in Deep Space)

His plan had been to follow the rebels all the way to their base of operations.

Zim knew that they must have someplace to call home beside this ship. Where else would they hide the princesses and the refugees that were too weak or old to fight? He had search the ship from top to bottom in hopes of finding something. A map, a document with a name, something, but his search turned up empty.

He knew he could ask, but the Lizarn, Jinx was already weary of him, and the invader couldn't exactly blame him. What had happened to the Planet Reptilia, was devastating. In fact, Zim was sure the short-tempered male was the only surviving member of his people. Wounds like that cut deep and stay fresh, he knew there was nothing he could say to change the lizard's opinion of him. So, he did his best to appear uninterested in what the other crew members were doing.

It wasn't easy, but Zim knew he had to be careful. All of Irk thought he was dead, the success of this mission depended on that small detail. And for good reason; in the short 3 years since he had been under General Kazar's tutelage Zim had already conquered 6 worlds. It was a feat never done by any Invader before. And his reputation had spread fear over the cosmos. Now, every new face, on any planet was suspected to be Zim in disguise.

That paired with the fact that Lard Nar knew him so well would have made this mission virtually impossible. So, he faked his death, in the Invader world it was known as going dark and usually he would have stayed dark for far longer than 3 weeks. But unfortunately, after Kazar had informed Zim about the rebel's recently bolder activities things had changed. Rumors that the Tallest were setting a trap for the rebels on the Planet Dirt had surfaced. Zim had sworn he wouldn't get involved, but he knew that if Lard Nar's identity was ever discovered he would be forced into an evaluation.

The brains would ask why Lard Nar was not dead and worse still. They would ask if Zim knew he was alive all along. Zim could hide the fact that he was defective from the brains, but he couldn't lie about the past. All the brains would have to do is view the memory of that day and they would know.

They would know that Zim had reset his blaster from kill to stun; just seconds before he pulled the trigger. They would know that they met on Rhapsodize and that he helped him and the princesses escape! In the end, there was no way he could allow the Vort to be seen, let alone captured.

Kazar knew this, he also knew that Zim would see it too. So, he planted the seed, and then he watched and waited. It was like Zim was nothing more than an experiment to him! Would the defective kill to spare himself? Or would he continue to play this dangerous game of cat and mouse? Would he continue to help the enemy get away? Would he continue to allow his weak nature to decide his fate? And worse, would he get caught or would he continue to get away with it; over and over again?!

These were the questions that haunted Zim's mind. On one hand he knows this has to end, he knows sooner, or later Lard Nar will be discovered. Or worse Zim himself will be found out! Part of him once to save himself; self-preservation is the Irken way. It is something that has been a part of their genetics since before Paks were even created. The only exception was with Irkens who had mates, an Irken would die for their mate, betray their people even. Self-preservation is one of the most basic instincts of most races. Still, on the other hand, he knows this is his fault, Lard Nar is his responsibility. Even though things ended badly between them he was still the only one who understood him. Who accepted him without question, even now?

He wish he had the Vort's strength and his conviction. He never once looked doubtful about the road ahead. Even now, with his whole race against him, Lard Nar led the rebels without fear, without regret. Zim wished he had that mentality; he wish he could stand up proudly against his people. He wish he could tell them what he really thought about their laws. How he thought they were sadistic, racial monsters filled with nothing but hate and greed. Lard Nar was not afraid to call his people cowards, he was not scared to stand in their way when they ventured down the wrong path.

Lard Nar was everything he wasn't, he represented everything that was still good in the universe.

How could Zim crush that? How could he crush the very individual that taught him his love for inventing? Who told him stories and legends of far-off worlds that were more like him then his own people? Without Lard Nar there would be no Gir and the Zim he really was, would have died a long time ago.

Still, if he didn't end Lard Nar sooner or later…He told himself he would do it. Over and over again he told himself that he would go through with this.

But…with every passing day, it became harder to commit to that promise. Lard Nar, like always, took an instant liking to him. They would talk for hours, and every time Zim would tell himself that he wouldn't get carried away. Only to realize he had talked almost as much or even more then the Vort accompanying him. Worse still, he kept slipping, the longer he was with the Vort, the more his true self came pouring out.

His defective nature was like a two-edge sword. His Irken programing used it to blend in with the enemy. And for the most part, it worked like a charm, Zim had even learned how to use it without risking himself. He had learned how to let himself act defective without allowing himself to feel guilt or sorrow for what he was about to do. He could open himself up without actually allowing the enemy in, he could keep it non-personal and robotic. Or so he thought, Lard Nar seemed to be immune to this new defense. He could work his way in just as effortlessly as always.

Zim was sure that if he wasn't proclaimed dead, Lard Nar would have figured him out by now.

Thankfully the female that had accompanied Lard Nar on Rhapsodize seemed to have no effect on him. He had spoken to her briefly from day to day, mostly when she stood in line to receive her food during mealtime. She would ask him how his day was, and how he was liking life on the ship. Zim would tell her the same; that he was doing fine and that he appreciated the place to stay. He still didn't know what she was. The female spoke little of her home world, and he soon learned that the subject was off limits. Lard Nar had told him briefly that the world was unknown by Irk and that they'd like to keep it that way.

Their reluctance was understandable, Zim was posing as an escaped prisoner of Dirt, a planet where prisoners of the empire served out their life sentences. Most were there simply for disobeying their Irken over lords. Still, if Spleenk ever got recaptured he may spill any information he may find useful in exchange for softer sentencing.

A world that Irk has never heard of, just waiting to be conquered...now that was an offer Irk couldn't refuse. Zim however was uninterested in the unknown planet, he already knew that whatever it was, it wasn't their final destination. He knew because Pudge had let it slip that they were heading to a desert planet, and this Annabel while tanning, did not look like she had come from a barren world.

He had spent a month on this vessel, and with every day he felt like some unforeseen danger was slowly closing in. The longer he waited the less likely he was to follow through with his plans, he knows this. Still, his end goal stayed the same, he would follow the rebels to their home world. And then what? Would he live among them? Learn all their secrets only to stab them in the back later?

He honestly didn't know, part of him wanted to end this game between him and Lard Nar once and for all. The other part still wanted to help him, still wished he had taken him up on his offer to leave with them. He remembered how young Moon had reached for him in their last moments, the tears that ran down Luna's face. How many nights did he lay awake wondering if they were still alive? How many nights did he wait in fear that the truth would be discovered?

He had lost count…he knew he could not keep living this way. Surely something would give, something always did. Every time this happened Zim lost a part of himself, how much more was he willing to give? Was there even anything left?

"I'm telling you, he's an Irken spy." Jinx hissed.

"Jinx what makes you think that?" Annabel asked. They were eating their evening meal in the mess hall, a small circular room.

"Dirt was a trap." Jinx pointed out the obvious. "They were ready for us, and then this guy just happens to be there and know a way out." Jinx growled.

I must admit it is highly suspicious." Richard seemed to agree.

"But he doesn't even seem interested in what we're doing at all." Annabel countered.

"That almost makes it worse." Pudge whispered.

Lard Nar had to admit they had a point; all of the refugees were curious about what lengths they went to rescue them. They asked several questions, about where they would be staying and if it was safe from the Empire. However, Spleenk didn't seem to care one way or another, it was almost like he was trying to be careful. As if he was a spy, and he didn't want to be obvious by being too eager.

"The guy is obviously guarded." Pudge reasoned.

"He seems friendly enough." Mina argued. "Besides he might be guarded because he knows we're whispering about him." She reasoned. "Gulars have impressive hearing."

"I say we drop him off at the next Service Port." Jinx suggested. The Service Ports were places that ships could fuel up or receive maintenance. There was also several shops and other services. "He can take shuttle to wherever he wants to go, and we can wash our hands of him."

"But what if he really is just someone who needs our help?" Annabel asked. "What kind of image are we leaving on ourselves and the resistance if we turn away a refugee because we don't approve of him? That makes us no better than the Irkens."

I'm just saying we'd be safer as far away from him as possible." Jinx snapped.

"I know it's hard for you to trust others after what happened." Annabel put her hand on his. "But please, have faith, he may just surprise you."

Zim ignored them as he finished his work, he had just got done serving the food and was gathering the dishes.

"Spleenk?" He looked up to see Annabel gesturing to them. "Won't you join us?"

He knows he should, he had an act to keep after all, but the Lizarns hostility was having an effect on him. Plus, Lard Nar was starting to look at him more closely. He knows it's crazy, he's just being paranoid. There was no way the Vort knew it was him. His eyes met with Lard Nar against his will.

And in that moment, he knows he can't do this.

Lard Nar watched as Spleenk hurried off with the dishes towards the kitchen. The look on his face was pained filled, and... Familiar. Yes, he knows that look all too well, an old friend of his gave it to him moments before he shot him dead. Only he didn't die, he was stunned and knocked out before being discarded like common trash. So, was he here to finally end this between them once and for all, or perhaps he was hiding behind a guise because of Jinx? The Lizarn would not forgive him so easily, of course Lard Nar knew he could be wrong all together, perhaps he was seeing Zim in Spleenk because he hadn't come to terms with his death yet.

"Lard Nar?" Annabel snaps him out of his daze.

"I told you they have impressive hearing." Mina said, slightly annoyed.

"I'll go talk to him." Lard Nar assured them.

Zim felt ridiculous, how could he allow their words to get the best of him? He didn't care about that Lizarn or his stupid people! He didn't care that Annabel had been nothing but kind since he arrived. He didn't care that Lard Nar kept drawing him in with every word, he was not one of them and he felt nothing.

He stood before the sink, using a green cleaning liquid to scrub the dishes when Lard Nar walked in.

"I am sorry if we offended you." He said. "Jinx is warry of everyone at first, he just needs time to get to know you."

"I don't think that is going to happen." Zim said, doing his best to seem as cheerful and carefree as Spleenk was supposed to be. "I was a fool to think this would work." He found himself admitting out loud. "Perhaps I will take him up on his offer, the next Service Port is coming up. We could be there by days end, and you can leave me there."

Lard Nar looks guilty, so he had heard them after all. "Why did you help us?" He asked. "You could have just taken our ship and left us there."

"I could have." Zim agreed, no longer trying to pretend he was anything but hostel. "I could have done many things." He agreed. "I could have stayed hidden in those trash heaps, and let you get caught. I could have helped you get caught..." He added.

"Still, you chose to save us." Lard Nar reasoned. "You followed us all the way out here, if you wanted us dead you could have easily poisoned our food by now."

"And if I told you I thought about it?" Zim asked. He had indeed thought about it, but in the end, he couldn't go through with it.

"Why are you staying with us?" Lard Nar asked again.

"To be honest I was curious." Zim admitted. "A Vort as a rebel leader..." He chuckled despite himself.

Lard Nar smiles, he knows that laugh.

"I had to see it for myself." Zim admitted. "But might I give you some advice?"

Lard Nar raised a brow. "Sure."

"You're being too loud." Zim told him.

"What?" Lard Nar asked.

"All of the empire is talking about it, and not just the Irkens." Zim revealed. "While I was in the trash heaps of Dirt all I heard was talk about the idiots who dared to defy the empire."

"Idiots?" Lard Nar looks offended. "Is it stupid to stand up for what you believe in?" He yelled.

"You are being too loud." Zim hissed; he still was facing the sink with his back to the Vort. "What do you expect will happen? If you are too loud Irk can track your every step, they will know what activity you are responsible for." He reasoned. "And then they can set more traps like Dirt for you to fall in. If I hadn't been there, you would have been captured and killed on the spot."

Lard Nar tried to see past his anger, it was obvious Spleenk was trying to teach him something important. "What do you advise than?"

"Irkens are not loud." Zim reasoned. "They strike with deadly quiet precision. You never know Irk is responsible until it is too late. You want to destroy Irk than you need to stop being so loud, it is making you predictable."

Lard Nar could feel his anger slipping, perhaps he had a point, still the Gular refused to look at him. "Spleenk?" He asked hopefully. "Stay...please..."

"No, I think I will go." Zim said coldly, his voice no longer held any warmth. He had decided that he would not follow them to this desert world. After all, it was obvious that this group were the actual rebels. The others were just refugees, they would cause no trouble. Besides, they couldn't hide from the empire forever.

Lard Nar felt the urge to reach out to him, say this was Zim. This could be his chance if the empire really thought he was dead...He could start over, with them...but... "Nothing I say will convince you." He said, it was not a question. "I never had a chance, did I?"

"No..." Zim answered honestly, as he finished the last dish. "You never did."

And with that he pushed past the Vort and left the kitchen, not once did he look back!

(The Present Timeline)

[Back with Lard Nar...]

He knew he shouldn't get his hopes up, but the robot seemed confident.

After the call with Dib had ended Gir had started his search. He hacked into computer databases and systems with ease. The members of the Swollen Eyeball had been furious at first it was becoming apparent to them that Zim must have hacked their HQ when he was pretending to be one of them. This would explain why Gir kept escaping the cells every time they tried to lock him up. This would also explain why he could login on any computer and find what he wanted with relative ease.

Still, what he found caused them to stop in their tracks.

"Do you really think he's found it?" Annabel asked the Vort as they raced after him.

It was strange to be back in the Amazon again after all this time, she and Siri had looked here several times. The Refugees had also come back here and searched as well, they had even went as far as going to museums hoping to find it among the collection of artifacts. However, every search had come up empty. Was it really possible that Gir could have found it just by hacking their systems? If so that meant they had found the missing piece without realizing it, they could have passed it a million times.

Normally it would have taken them hours to get here, but the resistance new ship, the Ghost had been the same vessel that brought them to Earth, and it made the trip in under five hours.

"It's possible that the piece could be buried under the earth." Lard Nar reasoned. "Certain Minerals could have disrupted Siri's scanners. She could have been looking at it and not even known it."

"So why can Gir?" Richard asked. They had been chasing the Sir unit through the Amazon for hours. He was secretly beginning to think this was a wild goose chase, and he wasn't the only one.

"Siri is a brilliant AI." Lard Nar said. "But she was created hundreds of years ago." He reasoned. "Older models are only so reliable. Gir as deranged as he is, is still some of the most sophisticated Irken Tech I have ever seen. It's possible he could see what we could not in the data that we provided from all our years of searching."

"Still, why help us?" Jinx asked the question that was on all their mind. "He has to have an alternative motive."

"Maybe he does." Membrane suggested. "But can we really let him take it?"

Annabel knew her husband had a point. Gir had made it very clear that he could leave when he wanted. If he was only sticking around to take the weapon from right under their noses than they couldn't just let him, do it. They had to be here just in case he found it, suddenly they reached a clearing. They stopped, Gir was standing in the middle of it, scanning the ground.

"Gir, did you find it?" Annabel asked hopefully.

"This is where it is supposed to be." Siri spoke scanning the area as she approached. "We had hidden it here, fused with in a tree." She reasoned. "But the tree is gone."

"Log cutting is forbidden in the Amazon." Membrane said. "But some still do it."

"How awful." Luna cried. "Are these trees sacred?"

"This place provides a lot of the planets oxygen in one way or another." Richard explained. "So yes, this place is very important to us, but not all people respect what is...sacred." He tried to word it in a way the young queen would understand.

"How disrespectful." Jinx growled. "Some people never learn."

"They just need proper guidance." Mrs. Bitters reasoned. "Do you know what happened to the tree?" She asked Gir.

"Probably chopped up by now." Membrane reasoned.

"Could the piece have been chopped up too?" Annabel asked fearfully.

"Not chopped up." Gir said. "Landslide."

"A landslide?" Dark Booty looks around and sees it, the clearing is not manmade; it's been carved naturally. There is no order to it, no uniformity that comes with the signs of logging, the clearing cuts through like a waterless river. "I supposed if it was strong enough it could have uprooted the tree."

"It did." Gir said.

"How do you know this?" Annabel asked.

"Data says piece is here." Gir said. "Your...internet says there was a landslide here over 18 years ago." Gir explained. "It swept away this whole section of rainforest."

"So theoretically if we follow the damage, we may find the tree?" Mina asked.

"No, I did that." Siri reasoned. "I never found the tree."

"You never found it, because it never left." Mrs. Bitters understood at once. "Your time on Zoran has damaged your sensors, all that sand has ruined you."

"It's beneath us!" whispered Annabel as she felt tears spilling from her eyes. "It's been here the whole time." She felt stupid for not thinking of it, but she thought a high-tech-machine like Siri would know better. "Dibson, I..."

He took her in his arms. "You couldn't have known." Membrane assured her. "It's not your fault."

"Titan!" Siri calls to the larger AI.

Titan comes stomping towards them, he enters the clearing from the north. "Yes Daughter?" He asked.

"It is here!" She sounds somewhat excited, even with her emotionless robotic voice.

Titan begins to scan the ground. "I see no weapon." He says after moment.

"Look for the tree." Mrs. Bitters advises, no doubt his scanners were damaged as well.

Titan obeys the command and scans; he takes his time looking while the others hold their breath. He stops by Gir and suddenly makes a beeping sound. "It is here."

Gir smiles, of course he knew that, but somehow, he just knew that letting the AI's find it was the right call. This was their purpose after all, and more importantly their weapon. It was possible only they could work it, besides his orders was to find the weapon. Until his master told him what to do with it, he would allow the resistance to have it.

After all he could break in and steal it and all the other pieces at the same time later if Zim ordered him to. Even with the resistance knowing his master had hacked their HQ, they had yet to figure out how to lock Gir (or Zim for that matter) out of their systems. A task he knew they would never accomplish. They'd have to make a whole new base, with all new equipment to even come close, and they didn't have the time or resources to make that happen.

Titan and Siri began to dig together and in moments they had dug through the layer of harder ground and found it.

The tree was surprisingly well preserved in the mud, and Gir watched as Siri's tentacle arm phased through the wood and pulled out the triangle shape of the missing piece of the weapon. She had defused it from the tree and Titan drops the dead plant as Siri scans the piece.

"It is in good shape." Siri reports as she finishes her scan. She looks to Gir and thinks to herself for a moment. "Thank you Gir." She says. "Will your master be wanting this?"

Gir looks at the piece as she holds it out to him.

Everyone freezes, was the AI mad? Had Gir somehow infected her; or was it simply a test?

"No, it is yours." Gir tells her.

"Tell brother we are grateful." Siri says.

"Wait, you're seriously just gonna let us have this?" Jinx looks puzzled. "What's the catch? You're a SIR unit, your task is to protect your master's intrest!"

"Weapon is not a threat." Gir says.

Siri seems to go still at his words, as if she is stunned, Mrs. Bitters can't help the smile on her lips. The deranged robot was smarter than he let on, she would have to remember that.

"You really think your people are that unstoppable?" Jinx laughed. "How ignorant." He stomps on ahead, annoyed. "Or maybe you want to steal them all at once!"

The rest of the group seems to nod at this as they start back towards The Ghost.

Only Luna, Lard Nar, Siri, Gir and Mrs. Bitters stay in the clearing. They wait until the group is far enough ahead.

"It's not a weapon, is it?" Luna asked.

"It is." Siri said. "Just not in the sense you are thinking."

"You promised that you would destroy Irk." Lard Nar said, he looks relieved, but he knows there will be back lash from the others once they figure it out.

"We never said we would destroy our creators." Siri states. "We vowed to destroy Irk."

"What's the difference?" Annabel asked, she had doubled back to see what was taking them so long.

Luna smiles, tears wiling up in her eyes. "She means the Irken ideals." She explained "The weapon is going to destroy the Irken machine."

Lard Nar's eyes widen as understanding fills him. "The Irken Program..."

"Yes..." Siri confirms. "We can erase it on a small scale."

"Like you did for Zim?" Luna asked.

"Exactly, but this weapon, it will destroy the real threat." Mrs. Bitters spoke. "Without Myuki's program the Irkens will be able to make decisions for themselves."

"Will that really make a difference?" Annabel asked.

"With the right leader to guide them." Luna sniffled. "Anything is possible."

"Zim..." Lard Nar felt the smile tugging on his lips. "You planned this from the beginning." He looks to Mrs. Bitters.

"As much as I'd like to take credit." Mrs. Bitters shook her head. "This his daughter's and Zorn's plan."

"Brother is ready." Siri assured them. "And soon he will see it too!"

With those words the group moves to catch back up with the others, all of them silently hoping that the AI was right.

And that this time Zim would finally come through for them.

(1 Year & 7 Months Ago…)

(Location: The Resisty, Service Port 12)

The had reached Service Port 12 in record timing, and Zim was already debating on whether he should rent a room for the night in one of the hundreds of hotels before him or acquire a shuttle for his trip back to Irk.

He knew it was probably wise to head straight home, Red and Purple would be furious when they found out he was really alive. He had been given a ceremony and everything, he had no doubt his friends mourned for him, in their own way as well.

Still, he could decide to never go back at all, after all the empire thinks he's dead...The thought had been tempting, appealing even, but what would be the point? Whether he was on Irk or wondering the cosmos as Spleenk. Neither one was the truth, he would still have to pretend to be a lie; so, what was the difference.

He saw none.

Still, if he was going to return home he had to come back with results or else the Tallest would never forgive him. So, with a heavy heart he decided what he was going to do, and he didn't like it.

He knew they would survive, they were meant to, still to betray Lard Nar yet again...every time he did a piece of him died. There wasn't much left of him to sacrifice to this fruitless cause, why was he so weak! Why couldn't he just kill him?

Of course, he knows, it's the same reason why Lard Nar represents his defective nature in every trial he's ever faced. To kill Lard Nar would be to kill what was left of his goodness, once he did that he could never go back. Despite his defect, he just can't let go of it completely, without it he is no longer Zim.

So even though it pained him so, he decided to spend one last night on The Resisty. The next shuttle would not be there for another eight hours. That and Lard Nar insisted he stay on the ship with him, rather than getting a room. The Vort had argued it was cheaper, but Zim knew he felt guilty.

"I have failed you." He said when they had been alone again that night.

His words made him stiffen.

Mina had been piloting the ship into a docking bay where it would stay for the next eight hours. The bay had an air lock in the back which is where Zim got his idea. The maneuver would leave no doubt in anyone's mind that the Rebels had died. Sadly, Zim would need their ship as proof to his leaders that they were indeed the rebels responsible. The ship itself had been seen many times.

But in order to protect Lard Nar and more so himself, he had to make it impossible to retrieve any information from it.

In the end he took out the ships main data drives and slipped them into Lard Nar's bag when he wasn't looking.

They had spent the day after parking the ship exploring the many shops and services for supplies and food. Zim had insured Lard's Bag was on him when they left, and he paid one of the workers of the cargo bay handsomely to help him pull this off.

The trap was set!

Lard Nar knew something was up the moment they reentered the Service Port. After shopping for almost 3 hours, Spleenk had suggested that they return for some rest before his shuttle arrived.

Annabel had agreed, saying it would be nice to get some sleep before they continued on their way, the others agreed. So, Lard Nar led them back, and the moment they entered the Service Port and its maze of endless cargo bays, he knew. He knew Spleenk had made his decision, and he knew he had failed him.

However, he couldn't have been more wrong...

Cargo bay G12 opened to show The Resisty where they had left it.

Annabel walked through the threshold first, followed by her father, Mina, Pudge and Jinx.

Zim and Lard Nar did not follow.

The Vort turns to him, a knowing look in his eye, of course he knows. Lard Nar knows him so well it's almost scary.

"I just want you to know that you never once failed me." Zim said. His face twisted into that familiar wicked smile that Lard Nar knows just as well. "In fact, you exceeded my expectations." He pushes Lard Nar in.

Lard Nar stumbled over the threshold, into the cargo bay and the door closes, between them locking it tight!

"Lard Nar!" Annabel runs to his aid. "What's going on?"

"I don't...know..." He rasped as he gets to his feet.

Zim does, the guard he had paid must be in the control room just as ordered and he had locked down the cargo bay entrance. It was a safety measure, after all there was an air lock in this cargo bay, just like all the others, it's how the ship pulled into the hanger. When the air lock was getting ready to be opened the cargo bay doors would lock shut. This allowed the rest of the Service Port to keep its artificial gravity and life support.

They were trapped, they knew in an instant as they took in Spleenk's sinister grin. They know what is going to happen, the next move is obvious! They run to the door, to bang on it, to plead with him, but they know it is a waste of time. It is obvious that this was the plan all along.

"Don't do this!" Lard Nar screamed, banging on the door.

"Why is Spleenk doing this?" Anabel screamed.

"Isn't it obvious?" Jinx screamed. "He's a spy, I told you!"

"No, it's not true!" Annabel cried. "Spleenk, please, we can talk this out." She looks to Lard Nar fearfully. "Lard Nar do something!"

"Don't do this!" Lard Nar screamed again. "It's not too late to fix this."

He knows how he gotten himself into this situation, it was after all a situation they both knew all too well.

Zim looked at him, he had to time this perfectly, if he was too early, they really would die out there. His hand hovering over the release button, it was an emergency release used in case the controls in the control room malfunctioned. The door before him would not open unless the air lock on the other side opened and then closed. It was another safety measure; the act of the air lock closing assured the system that it was safe for the other door to open.

If Zim pressed it now, the doors to the vacuum of space would open up on the other end of the cargo bay. The enemy, and everything he stood for would be extinguished forever, he knew the guard in the control room could do it, but he didn't want to get his hands dirty with the act of ending another life. No Zim already decided how this would end.

Kazar had given him a chance to end this, but ultimately, he could not. He wondered if that would anger his mentor. He doubted it, nothing he did seemed to anger him, only amuse him.

Zim smiled a cruel smile and said. "I tried to warn you, this is it, no more freebees. Your little resistance ends now!"

He couldn't believe he was doing this again, but how could he not? The mission demanded results, and Lard Nar was just in the way. Still, he is still too much of a coward to kill his friend, so he'll just drag his heart through the mud some more.

"You shouldn't had been so eager, if you had laid low, maybe your little club would have survived." He lectured.

"Zim..." Lard Nar's whisper was unheard over the screams of his comrades, but Zim could see his name forming on his lips. He could also read the word that came next. "Please!"

Of course, he knew, he always knew, He could never fool Lard Nar.

"Goodbye pest." He growled, and with that he pressed the button and turned away.

He didn't need to look to see what happened next, the air locks opened, and the vacuum of space sucked them up. The Resisty which was chained down in the cargo bay hanger stayed put, and they tried to grab onto it as they flew by. Not that it would do them much good, the oxygen level was disappearing rapidly.

They were all going to die...

Or so they thought.

A smaller ship zooms by and opens its doors as they fall back towards the void. The friends lands in a heap on the floor, as the smaller ship raced off.

"Our ship!" Jinx rasped for air.

"Leave it!" The driver was the guard from the control room. "That guy, he paid me to lock you guys in there." He admitted.

"But you saved us." Mina looks to him jarringly.

"I needed the money." The guard admitted. "But I couldn't let you die either so I came as fast as I could. Thank the cosmos I made it in time." He has no idea that Zim had foreseen him double crossing him all along. That he was doing what Zim wanted even at this very moment.

"We are grateful friend." Lard Nar checks his bag to see all that he managed to take with him and smiled.

"But we have to go back for the ship!" Pudge argued "if the enemy gets ahold of the data drives..."

"You mean these data drives?" Lard Nar held up the drives proudly.

Annabel threw her arms around him overjoyed. "You clever little git." She teased.

"You knew?" Jinx asked.

Lard Nar knew he could tell them the truth that he had no part in getting the drives out of the ship, but he knows better. The team is not ready for the truth, they may never be, so he lies. "I wanted to trust him." He admitted. "But you are my team, and the refugees look to us to protect them. So, I took the drives out before we left, just in case you turned out to be right."

"Good thing you did." The guard said. "Irk has been notified of your demise, if the security feeds picked you up returning to the ship, they would know you survived."

"What about you?" Annabel asked.

"I pulled in and scooped you up out of the view of the security feeds." The guard explained. "It's a known blind spot.

Lard Nar nodded; they may lost the ship but thankfully Annabel had managed to hold on to their bags of supplies. Also, he had the drives, they could easily load them into a new ship. "You can come with us." He offered the guard.

He shook his head. "I live here, and I will die here, you may take my ship and go, but do yourself a favor and never come back."

"We won't." Lard Nar said. "As far as the Empire is concerned the rebels are dead." Yes, he knew now what he must do. Zim had told him that they were being too loud, if they wanted to continue their work, they had to change their tactics. "From now on we work in the shadows, the empire will never know who the enemy really is..."

Not until it was too late!

-To Be Continued