Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Invader Zim characters… Nope never have, Jhonen Vasquez is the creator, and some network owns IZ.
Part 3: The Lost
(Flashback – Midnight's View)
Mission Impending Doom 1…My brother, Nikolas, was on his very first mission. The Tallest allowed him to come along with me on the mission on my ship, to practice his skills.
His bright blue eyes shone as I told him that he could come along. He was so excited. I was so proud, so proud of my little brother. He was destined to be great. I just knew he was. Perhaps, one day he would even become a Tallest and rule all of the Irken Empire.
We were to leave the next night. Nikolas and I couldn't even sleep. We spent the night coming up with plans of destruction. We laughed about the impending doom that we would bring upon the peoples of other worlds. They were inferior to the Irkens. All of them. And we would rule them all, together, side by side.
When the time came, we were ready to take off…
But we never did. A loud explosion was heard and a blackout followed. There was an earthquake and raucous laughter filled air.
Bright lights suddenly flooded the area.
A huge robot. Irken technology. The laughter was coming from deep inside of it. The robot lifted its arm and took aim, straight at us. The robot didn't even hesitate. The last words we heard were, "I AM ZIIIIIIM!" and the robot launched a barrage of missiles straight at us. The missiles shattered through my ship, and somehow the impact shot me out of the ship, through the window.
I crashed into the ground and broken glass poured down upon me like glittering drops of rain. I thought of Nikolas. He would be in my last thoughts no matter what. I prayed that he was okay. I lifted my head with whatever strength I had left and looked at my ship.
Burning rubble was all that was left. It was completely destroyed.
"NOOOO! NOOO! NIKOLAS!" I shrieked out into the flames.
I crawled about, searching. I ignored the lancing pain that was running throughout my limbs.
Then, I heard harsh breathing. I crawled over to the source. My brother. His broken body was impaled upon a broken pipe. Half of his face was burned. He looked at me through his darkened blue eyes and he whispered, "…Middy… I love you…" and I felt tears.
"I love you too, Nik", I sobbed as I hugged him.
"…Please make the pain stop…" He whimpered.
I told him that I'd do everything that I could. I pulled him towards me and I rocked him gently. I shakily sang him an Irken lullaby that all Irkens heard at least once in their lives...
"Grow up strong,
Little warrior.
Live and conquer,
Little Irken.
Travel the stars,
See new suns.
Seize the worlds,
Make them yours.
Honor your Empire,
For you are Irken.
Live and conquer,
Little one."
Nik's eyes dulled and they closed forever. I rocked the still body and hummed until the Irken sun rose.
Then, I wasn't sure why, but everything went black.
"Look! She's coming to Red!" A voice cut through the darkness.
I opened my eyes painfully and squinted. Blurry objects became clear.
The Tallest were by my side. They looked sadly at me. I tried to get up and salute them, but I found I could not. I was in a full body cast.
"Invader Midnight?" Tallest Red spoke, softly.
"Yes, my Tallest?" I managed to rasp. I surveyed my surroundings.
Tallest Purple sighed, "If you're looking for any other surviving Invaders, there are none… only you and Z-"
Tallest Red growled, "Don't speak his damn name!"
"My brother, Nikolas! Where is he?"
Tallest Purple sighed, "We thought you already knew… I guess you don't remember… That's not surprising… He's dead, Midnight. We gave him the most formal and honorable burial possible. We had to. You've been out for a month, so we arranged everything…"
I spoke, strangely calm, "What and who did this to me? To Nikolas? Tell me. Now."
Tallest Red hesitated, but then he nodded, "One of our own… An Irken…. His name is Zim. Once an Invader, Invader no more. He was punished to Food Courtia, where he will work there forever."
"THAT IS NOT ENOUGH! He WIPED OUT all the other Invaders, he DESTROYED MY ship, and HE KILLED MY BROTHER! HE DID THIS TO ME!" I spat, struggling to get up, only to be rewarded with excruciating pain.
"We're sorry, but the computer has already decided…" Tallest Red murmured. "You know that we liked Nikolas too… He had great potential, that one… We were hoping that he would join us in the near future…"
"Yeah, we're sorry that your brother is gone…" Tallest Purple added, quietly.
I stayed silent, thinking.
"We should probably go… We need to make and recruit a new army of Invaders…" The Tallest silently left the hospital room.
"ZIM! I WILL FIND YOU! AND I WILL MAKE YOU WISH YOU NEVER EXISTED! I SWEAR IT ON MY DEAD BROTHER'S GRAVE! I WILL BREAK YOU!"
To be continued...