Author's Notes: Well since the first chapter got such high praise we're going to go ahead with this new story. Next chapter is up! Thanks for reading and please review!
(Back to Conventia, the convention hall planet...)
It wasn't often that he was called into action…
No, The Tallest never bothered him with trivial missions. Ones that were so easy that a freshly recruited cadet could pull it off in their sleep.
No, Invader Zim was a well-respected and feared conqueror, and rightfully so. And yet, here he was, sitting before the Tallest with his latest mission file in hand. And needless to say, he was not impressed.
And this was needless to point out because the disappointment was practically written on his face. "Is there something wrong Zim?" Red asked his oldest friend.
Zim looked up to Red knowingly, the two of them along with Tallest Purple had been in the same graduating class at the academy. They were inseparable during their four years of training on the planet Zec, and years after. However once Red, and Purple became the Tallest things had changed. Zim was seeing his two closest friends less and less due to their work.
Not only that, but now that the two were his superiors he could no longer talk to them in a calm and personal, relaxed manner as he once did. No, now days everything had to stay strictly respectable, and professional at all times. Which made their usually interesting conversations very boring!
Or at least Zim thought so, then again Zim got bored very easily.
"Yes, please." Purple agreed. "Tell us what troubles you. You have earned the right to speak to us freely."
Zim sighed, "Sirs with all due respect this mission doesn't seem as…extreme as my others." Zim began to explain, trying to use his words carefully. Sure, the three were old friends, and sure they were alone in the throne room, but that did not change the law.
And speaking poorly to, or about your Tallest was a crime punishable by death.
Then, again every crime was punished with death in their society, but this was simply the Irken way.
It was also besideS the point.
"A cadet could handle this planet easily." Zim went on. "Besides, I don't see the allure." He admitted. "It's too wet, and green, and muggy. What could it possibly supply us with?"
"Resources." Purple answered.
"Resources?" Zim asked.
"Yes." Red cut in. "As you know Zim, depleting resources has become a major problem for most planets across the known universe. However, this planet, Earth, it still creates a steady supply of natural resources."
"Really?" Zim asked perking up with interest. "How is that possible?"
"Our scientist on the Massive believe it's because the planet is still fairly young." Purple answered.
"A young planet?" Zim asked. "And in a quadrant of space that was believed to be lacking in habitable planets? How did you even find it?"
"We didn't." Purple told him.
"What?" Zim asked.
"Listen Zim, the details are sketchy at best. One of our scouters picked up a probe orbiting Quadrant 51." Red explained. "The probe was a message from the dominate race of the Planet Earth, who were searching for alien life."
"Wait you mean we only know about them because they were stupid enough to send out an invitation?" Zim exclaimed.
"Yes." Purple answered. "And after we retrieved it from the scout, our science division was able to use its travel history to trace it back to its origins."
"We then sent out our own probes to scout the planet and see if it was worth our time." Red interrupted. "And boy did we struck pay dirt. The planet is overflowing with resources that could help us keep the upper hand in Operation Impending Doom II. And without them well..."
"Let's just say that the completion of Operation Impending Doom II rest solely on the success of this mission." Purple said plainly.
Zim bit his lower lip thoughtfully, he knows supplying the next war effort would be an important addition to his track record, but the file made the assignment look so boring! For example, "These humans..." Zim began. "They are described as basic, and primitive life forms."
"Yes, you won't get much trouble from them." Purple seemed to confirm his suspicions.
Zim sighed. "Great…"
"However…" Red cut in. "We are not the only players in this twisted game called conquest."
"Yes!" Purple agreed. "We're just simply the best is all…"
"Correct." Red went on. "However, that could change if any of our competitors found out about this planet."
"We are desperate Zim." Purple admitted. "Every ounce of the Irken success, and our reputation as Invaders is riding on this."
"You are the only one we can turn to." Red insisted.
Zim nodded, realizing that he was being rather selfish. Here the Tallest were practically begging him to do this for them. And as his leaders, they should only have to tell him once. "I'll do it." He answered.
"Excellent!" Red exclaimed. "See I told you he could stomach at least one boring mission!"
"Yes, well for our sakes let's hope it stays boring." Purple said. "We can't afford a war to break out over this planet. We simply do not have enough resources."
"Speaking of." Red went on. "This will present some of a challenge for you."
"How so?" Zim asked. He was getting excited now, was there more to his mission? Perhaps a known defender of the Earth would stand in his way! He was hopeful, after all what was the point in being the villain if someone didn't try to stop him?
"We need those resources; Zim." Red went on.
"Yes, Sir I know that." Zim said, not getting it. "You just told me."
"Zim what he means is you can't take over the planet the way you usually do." Purple told him.
"Yes, we need the planet to be exactly as it is." Red said.
Oh…. OH! Zim bit his lower lip once more. So not only would it be boring, but now he couldn't even blow things up? Still there was one last hope for this mission. "And the humans?" Zim asked. "What will become of them?"
"Well, someone's got to gather those resources." Purple said. "So, we figure we'll enslave them, and make them do it for us. After all, it is their planet which means they would know the best ways to do it."
"Perfect." Zim said, forcing a smile. "I can't wait to get started." It was a lie of course, the Tallest knew their oldest friend loved missions that were most likely going to get him killed. The ruby eyed Irken loved the since of adventure, and having the odds stacked against him.
"Thanks for being a good sport, Zim." Red said.
"Yes, besides sure the mission maybe boring now." Purple informed him. "But once it's ours everyone will try to take it from us."
"And since you took this assignment without complaint you will be in charge of protecting it from our competition once it is finally ours." Red promised.
Zim smiled. Okay so maybe this mission was a bust, but his next one was already looking up. Zim stood and bowed respectfully. "Thank you my Tallest, I will leave at once."
"See that you do." Purple advised. "Oh, and take the data drives from the probes." He added as he handed them over.
"Yes, it's a long trip from here to Earth." Red agreed. "Study the information that we've managed to gather for you already and blend in the best you can."
"If you can figure out a way to conquer the planet safely; then do so." Purple instructed. "But if not then just observe for the time being."
"You make it sound as if I'm on my own with this." Zim said.
"That's because you are Zim." Red said. "We have a war to begin, the rest of us will be engaging in Operation Impending Doom II, and will expect you to start supplying us with resources within the next three years since we estimate that's how long we have before we run out."
"We can't afford to supply you with back up Zim." Purple added. "We are already low on resources; we can't afford to be low on Manpower too."
"Yes, this is entirely separate from Operation Impending Doom II, and will be handled as such." Red ordered. "You will report back to us at least once a week about your progress."
"That's seven days on Earth." Purple cut in.
"I understand my Tallest." Zim said, feeling somewhat excited now. Sure, it wasn't war against an entire rebel fleet like his last mission had been, but at least it had some challenges to offer. After all, it wasn't often the Irken race kept the planets they conquered and there inhabitance exactly as they found them.
Besides who knows; maybe he would find a thrilling adventure hidden somewhere in the mist of this dull looking mission.
It was unlikely since not a single one of his missions had ever met his high standers before, but that didn't stop him from being hopeful.
Heck who knows maybe after years of searching Invader Zim would find an adversary who was worthy enough to be called his Arch enemy.
It was highly unlikely, but hey he could dream right?
(Back on Earth…)
They were coming! He was sure of it!
"What if they are already here?" Dib asked himself as he paced around his well-kept room. A room that was unusually tidy for a 17-year-old boy.
Then again Dib was anything but similar to most teenage boys! For example, Dib was the son of the richest and smartest man in the world; and yet his money brought him no personal fame. He was not a part of the inner popular circle at school, and he never had a girlfriend to save his life. Of course, his earlier school years might be the blame for that.
When he was younger, Dib had been notorious for labeling anyone who didn't look normal as some monster or ghost. He'd chase them, threaten them, heck one time he almost dissected the kid next door because he swore, he was an alien insect wearing a child's skin as a clever disguise.
Yeah…that one almost ended in some jail time…and a lawsuit!
But that wasn't the point! No, the point was that Dib was different from the rest of the world, and in his mind that difference was a gift to see the truth. "As the sole defender of Earth, I must prepare for a possible alien invasion." He told himself.
"Dib stop talking to yourself." Gaz yelled. "Peg and I are trying to watch TV."
Dib rolled his eyes. "Stupid Gaz and her date worrying about a movie when the fate of the world could be at stake!" He shouted.
"Your brother is weird." Gaz's girlfriend Peg, a thin teenage girl with long blond hair and green eyes told her. "He also just called us stupid."
"I know, and He Will PAY!" Gaz vowed. "But later I've waited all week for this movie, and he will not ruin it for me!" She said pressing play once more.
Peg smiled, and curled up next to her on the bed. She loved it when Gaz got all scary because she secretly thought it was pretty hot.
Okay make that extremely hot.
Dib sighed as he pulled out his laptop. "I better find something to use against the enemy." He whispered to himself, remembering to be quiet. "How to render an alien helpless." He said as he typed the words in his search engine, only to groan at the results.
"Fake videos, get a life comments." He muttered to himself. "Oh, come on people give me something to work with here!"
Suddenly a message popped on his screen.
"Hello what's this?" he wondered out loud, before clicking on it.
"Hello Dib, I have been watching your work carefully, and am thrilled to hear about your successful interception of an alien transmission." He read out loud. "I am an Agent of a secret society called the Swollen Eyeball and we want you to help us secure a better tomorrow. Signed Agent Darkbooti'."
Dib was stunned, and a little paranoid. And rightfully so…
"I didn't tell anyone about the transmission except…" He laughed. "Very funny Gaz!" He yelled. "You almost had me."
"Shut up Dib before I feed your head to a gerbil!" Gaz screamed. Another message pops up on Dib's screen.
"P.S. I am not your sister." Dib read, and gasped as his mouse began to move on its own, it clicked onto his notepad icon, and words began to type out in front of him. "Let me show you where I go to find my equipment." Dib read out loud, and watched as his mouse opened up the internet, and pulled up a website.
"U.F.O. Zines." Dib read and his mouse scrolled down revealing a list of weapons and supplies to use against aliens. "Wow is this stuff the real thing?" Dib wondered.
"Yes, this is the real deal, Dib." He read the words as they appeared before him. "Okay then what should I use?" He asked.
The mouse typed something in the search engine of the site, and seconds later an item appeared. "Alien sleep cuffs." Dib read. "Guaranteed to render all alien life forms unconscious. But will it really work?" Dib asked, and watched as the answer was typed out before his eyes.
Yes…
"Why are you helping me?" He asked.
So many of us are blind to the truth, only a few can truly see. Their eyes are swollen wide open while others are swollen shut. They have the power to see, so only they have the power to make a difference. This is the only planet we've got Dib, and we are the only ones who can save it.
"Wow a whole society working together to defend the Earth against other worlds." Dib was amazed. "And here I thought I was alone in this."
You don't have to be.
Dib's heart skipped a beat at those words. "Are you…recruiting me?" He asked.
That depends, are you interested in seeing a real alien? Or are you interested in protecting our planet?
Dib thought about the two questions before him for only a moment and said. "Can't I be interested in both?"
For a moment there is no answer, and Dib fears he has just ruined his chance of finally being a part of something bigger than himself. However, to his relief words soon begin to appear once again.
The Council of The Swollen Eyeball is please with your answer. Congratulations, and welcome to the fight. I look forward to working with you Agent Moth-Man.
The newly named Agent Moth-Man felt a sense of pride fill his very soul, this was it! Finally, after years of only scratching the surface, he was part of the big leagues.
And soon, very soon he would use this newfound power, and resources to protect his planet. Agent Moth-Man smiled,
He could hardly wait to get started.
-To Be Continued