Episode Summary- Dib begins to realize that he has developed feelings for a certain Irken female. Meanwhile a new group of Rebels have emerged only this time they're not human!

Disclaimers: I Do Not Own Invader Zim

Story Note: This Season is the sequel to Invader Zim Renegades: S01Ep01- Invader Zim Renegades: S01Ep 20. So if you have not already read them please do so before continuing. As you know Every Episode of season 1 were individual stories that were divided into three parts. However season 2 will be combined into one story instead of individual stories for each episode. So please let me know how you feel about the new format, before I get too dedicated to it.

Author's Notes: Sorry this is late guys, I've been helping Emily (My friend) with her dad who just got replacement knee surgery (He's doing fine by the way). And now that he is back on his feet I've decided to put in some me time and continue with my stories.

And for all my loyal readers who have waited patiently for my return I thank you for reading and ask that you please review.

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine :)

Episode 2-Stranger Things Have Happened (Part 1)

(Back with Goalit)

{Time: Midnight}

[Location: Underwater Dome]

He had not expected to see them so soon…

After all the world above was in utter chaos, the heat on them should be too hot for them to even think about risking a trip down here.

Dib had thought the same thing, however the Irken police were so busy trying to get the rioting civilians under control, that a group of teens out past curfew had gone completely unnoticed.

The Irkens had lost their hold on mankind, and it was starting to show in the worst of ways.

"You're not going to believe what happened." Keef exclaimed as they all filed into the main hall.

"Some crazy misfits blew up the water factory?" Elma said.

Keef was stunned. "How did you know that?"

"Let me guess." Zim mused. "Your friend?" He asked Goalit.

Goalit nodded. "Lard Nar tells me a group of defective Irken rebels are responsible for the attack."

It was as if the whole base stopped to catch their breath.

A group of Irken rebels…

Was it possible? Could there really be more out there besides Zim?

Zim wasn't shocked to find every eye on him in a matter of seconds.

'They're waiting to see how I feel about it.' He realized. 'They want to see how I will react.'

"Are you sure we can trust them?" He asked Goalit.

"Lard Nar says they are legit-" Goalit began, but Zim stopped him.

"No I'm asking you, not him." Zim snapped, eyes blazing red. "Do you think we can trust them?"

Not "I", nor "They" but "We"

It was in that moment that Goalit understood, Zim was asking him if he thought that they could trust another Irken. Just mere months ago Goalit would have answered yes in a heartbeat, but now he wasn't so sure. Before Tak's betrayal he thought that all Irkens wanted to escape the monstrous world that the Tallest had forced them into. However, he was beginning to see that this wasn't entirely true. Some of their people actually wanted things to stay this way. And with that said, could he and Zim really afford to trust one of their own ever again?

The answer should have been an easy no, but Goalit could still remember his doubts about the betrayal, perhaps it was just denial, or empty hopes; but he didn't wanted to think it was all a ruse to gain the enemies trust. But what if he was wrong?

What if this was a ruse?

Sure Lard Nar said he had known these Irken rebels for years, but what if the Tallest had been using them as a ploy to get defectives to come out of hiding? It wasn't a hard to believe, after all the Tallest had done similar things before.

No, he had to have faith in his people, for Zim's sake, besides if it was a ploy from the Tallest they would have had Irken rebels attack a target of small value, not one of their most expensive war assists. Without those factories the rebel forces of the whirlpool galaxy would not get the water that they were promised for their surrender. This would cause them to raise arms again, and take back their galaxy.

It was a move the Renegades could not afford to ignore.

"Yes." He finally said. "We can trust them."

Zim seemed to nod at this answer, his eyes returning to their usual ruby color. "Thank you, for giving it some thought." He said honestly. "I'm glad that I at least have you."

Those words cut deep, reminding Goalit just how little faith Zim had in their people, but hopefully with the help of these Irken rebels he could continue to heal. "So what's the plan?"

"We send our new friends a message." Zim stated simply.

"How?" Crystal, the Blind Bandit asked. She had been polishing the newly replicated weapons.

How she did this blind James would never know.

"We're going to take down the other factory." Dib answered her.

"That won't be easy." Professor Membrane said. "Now that one of the only two within the city are gone, the Irkens will guard it well."

Dib nodded. He knew his father was right, they had to play this smart, even with their new weaponry this would not be an easy task. After all they were going to blow up a factory in hopes of attracting the attention of their new allies. This meant they could not just simply leave after the explosion was done, they had to stay there, and hold their ground until these Irken rebels arrived.

If they arrived at all!

The thought seemed to cross all of their minds, and the members of the Renegades looked to their leaders awaiting their final word.

Zim looked to Dib, wondering was this the best idea?

Where they ready for an all-out war, because that is what they were about to start.

Zim looked to Mark, who gave him a firm nod. None of his past hatred for the Irken showed in his eyes; not anymore. That ship had finally sailed, now a great amount of trust, and respect had replaced detestation for the once Irken Invader.

Mark then looked to James hopefully, and was met with the same look he always received from his slightly taller, always joking cousin. It was a look that told him that they could always do anything, as long as they did it together.

James then looked to Rachel, and that look shifted, things between them were still hazy.

Rachel resisted the urge to bite her lip, she had asked James for a break from their relationship the night Gir had gone berserk, and for a while he asked like a child about it. However, Gaz's betrayal has helped them both look at the break in a better light.

They had a higher calling to answer, the world, no the universe needed them to focus on stopping the Irken Empire before they swallowed them all whole.

Love was patient, and everlasting, and if the two of them were meant to be than they could always pick up where they left off after the war was over.

Over…

James liked the sound of that, he almost forgot a time without war, and conflict. He gave Rachel a smile, and when she returned it he knew.

They would be just fine.

Zim nodded, they were all on the same page. "It won't be easy." He said, addressing the Renegades as a whole. "This will be our most dangerous mission yet."

They all nodded.

"A mission we might not all return from." He said openly.

This statement should have cause hesitation, after all the Irkens had been lenient with them so far, resorting to capture rather than lethal force. However Zim knew that his people would not take the same route much longer, especially for this mission. This was the last water factory on the planet. Sure there were other factory's that were human made, produced ages ago in order to purify water. But theses factories were special, the residence of the Whirlpool galaxy could not drink the water that humans purified. The Factories made by the Irkens removed more than just dirt, and microscopic organisms.

Water from these factories were 100% pure!

And without them Irk would spend years rebuilding, and the residence of the Whirlpool galaxy would not wait years. They would revolt and galactic war would follow.

And this is why Zim was warning them about the possibility of death. The Irkens will do whatever it takes to prevent galactic war, including killing some earthling kids.

They had to be prepared to never return if they were to be so unlucky to be hit by a lethal blow.

Still, even with this information brought into light, no one back out.

No, they were in too deep to back down now, they could not go back to their normal lives even if they wanted to. Their conscience would not let them, they were the kind of people that could not turn away from those in need. Some of them had tried, but soon found themselves wanting to stop the suffering; and soon they found themselves back within the fold.

Dib watched as one by one the Renegades nodded their agreement.

Yes, they were all in on this.

"Then let's get started…." Zim said.

Dib grimaced as a new wave of fear washed over him. What if the Tallest sent Gaz and Tak to stop them?

His father placed a hand on his shoulder, their eyes met and he too could tell that he was thinking the same thing.

He then looked to Zim and realized he too looked worried.

Could they hurt Gaz?

Dib could feel his hands shaking slightly, and it wasn't because of Gaz. No, Dib knew Gaz could take care of herself, he didn't fear her; knew she wouldn't hurt him. So why? Why was he shaking?

Because his fear wasn't for Gaz, but for Tak.

Could he really face her again? So far he had managed to avoid her at school, but what if he saw her at the factory. Dib bit his lip, he had somehow convicted everyone that her betrayal had not affected him, but that was a lie.

'How could I have been so blind' He wondered. He remembered the way she spoke to him, how he could almost hear a caring tone in her voice when she spoke of his sister assuring him that she was okay. He remembered the way it felt to hold her hand when they jumped into the water together, the night he first showed her the dome.

Her hand had felt so right in his…

Dib's eyes widened. 'No it can't be.' He thought. 'It's not possible.'

But it was, it was very possible.

Dib Membrane had fallen in love with the enemy!

(Back with Mia hours later,)

[Somewhere in the underground…]

The waiting…

It sliced into her like the knives of torture that she had learned to fear so well.

"You would think we'd be use to this." An Irken female, with light blue eyes named Tesi broke the long silence between them.

"What do you mean?" Mia asked.

"All our lives we've been waiting." Tesi answered, without giving a pause. "All our lives we've waited for freedom, to be allowed to walk beyond the shadows." She sighed. "Will we ever stop waiting?"

"They will give us a sign." Mia assured her comrade.

"How can you be so sure?" Tesi challenged. "Besides what if he doesn't like what we have to say?"

Mia's breath caught in her throat, this was their greatest fear. What if the news they had to share only drove Zim away?

"We must have faith that our words will give him strength." Mia assured her once more. "If not us than who?" She challenge. "Who will tell him the truth?"

Tesi seemed to nod. "He deserves to know." She seemed to agree. "But are we the right people to tell him?" This question stopped Mia for a moment, and that moment was all the clarity that Tesi needed. "No we are not."

"Then who should tell him!" Mia snapped. "Who should tell him that there is nothing wrong with him?"

"I know you mean well." Tesi whispered. "And I support your judgement, but Taller Zim is not going to want to hear it from other defectives."

"Other defectives?" Mia asked.

Tesi nodded. "If we tell him, he might not believe us, he might think it's a made up story to gain his pity." She reasoned. "You said it yourself, they don't know who to trust anymore."

"So we tell him nothing!" Mia was very cross now, but Tesi never rose her voice, it was not her style.

"We destroyed the Water Factory, that's all the proof we need to prove we're serious." She assured Mia.

"You still did not answer my question." Mia said, her voice grave. "If not us than who?"

"We must have faith that Taller Zim will come to know the truth in his own time." Tesi assured her. "Trust me, this is for the best."

Mia was not surprised to find herself nodding in agreement. She was a good leader, but only because she listened to the advice of her comrades. If she stopped doing that now, than she would become the enemy.

She would become the Tallest.

If Tesi felt like they should not be the ones to tell Taller Zim the truth then so be it. She had to trust the judgment of her people.

"We can discuss it with the others if you are still unsure." Tesi suggested.

Mia nodded. "They should all have a say in this."

Tesi seemed to agree, and silence soon fell over them once again.

"We should move on." Mia said, breaking the silence once more. "We have been gone too long."

Tesi smiled, Mia never wanting to keep them waiting, she feared they worry if she was gone too long. And she was right, they did get a little antsy as the hours dragged on. So without a word of conflict to her suggestion Tesi allowed Mia to lead her back to their home.

Home…

No, it was a dwelling, the Irken rebels had not known a real home for a very long time, but hopefully Zim could finally show them the way.

Tesi wondered what it would be like once the new Irk was formed. Would Taller Zim base the new Irk off of the morals he had learn here on Earth?

She hoped so.

It would seem like all they could do was hope. It was funny because the Irkens were never taught to be a hopeful race. They had no need to hope, they had a right to everything! Why hope for something when it was already yours for the taking?

But now they needed hope, it was like a life support system that kept them going. Without hope they had no purpose, no drive, and no reason. With it they had the eternal flame of endurance that allowed them to see through the darkest of days.

Yes, hope was everything to them now, and without they were nothing.

No, they were less than nothing, if there was such a thing.

Mia did her best not to crumble under the pressure, she wanted to Tell Taller Zim everything, but Tesi had a point if he was not ready to hear it now they could drive them away. She needed to have faith that Taller Zim would come to learn the truth in his own times as they had done.

She could only hope that he wouldn't take long, with that thought still fresh on her mind she lead her comrade deeper into the underground.

Episode 2-Stranger Things Have Happened (Part 1) END!

Author's Notes: Tune in next week to find out what happens next!

Thanks again for reading and please review!

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine ;)