Episode 3: Suspicious Minds (Part 3)
(Back with Gaz)
Gaz screamed at the top of her lungs, but no matter what she did, no matter how loud she was, no one paid her any mind!
If she had to spend one more hour behind these bars then Gaz swore she would go insane! She fought the urge to hit her head against the bars and closed her eyes, forcing herself to think of anything besides the feeling of the bars closing in around her. If she was at home facing a long sentencing of groundation, then she would have spent her time playing her Game Slave 3 that she had gotten from Zim.
'Zim.' Gaz smiled at the thought, but her smile soon turned into a thin line as a look of worry clouded her face. It was times like this that she wished she had something to keep her busy, whether it be a book, or something of equal quality that could help her keep her thoughts from wandering into the dangerous waters of the unknown.
Of course, sadly, she had nothing…
Gaz sighed loudly and then screamed again, but she knew it was useless. The only being she ever saw was Ruby, a small ruby-eyed Irken female that delivered her meals. Of course the Irken's real name wasn't Ruby; Gaz just called her that because of the color of her eyes. Ruby would come in every day at three different times to deliver her meals: 7AM for breakfast, 12PM for lunch, and finally dinner was served at 8PM. Ruby never spoke a word, though Gaz did try several times to strike up a conversation, asking questions like:
"What day is it?"
"Have they found my brother yet?"
And "Can I at least have something to do in this accursed cell?!"
Unfortunately, Ruby didn't care to give her a response to any of these questions, and after a while Gaz stopped trying. The funny thing was, Gaz normally wasn't a social person. In fact, before the Great War, she spent most of her time with her nose in her game. It wasn't until she no longer had the luxury of other's company that she realized how much she needed it.
She cursed again, out loud this time, swearing that the moment she saw her brother she'd kill him for taking so long. 'Right after I murder Zim for giving me the false impression that he'd have me out with in the first hour!' She shook her head and decided to kill some time by playing back her dream of being rescued. It was a dream that she had several nights a week, and if she was really honest with herself, she'd admit that the dream was rather cheesy, to say the least.
In the dream she's sitting in her cage, her long lavender hair is blowing in the wind, which shouldn't be able to be produced in the dry airless room. Suddenly the door explodes into a million pieces and Zim comes in on a white horse dressed in armor. He pulls out his sword and cuts the chains that surround her cage like a demented Christmas bow. He then picks her up in his arms bridal style and says, "I have come to save you my love pig!"
She would then smile and say, "Well it's about time!" Then they would jump back on his horse and ride off into the sunset…
Only for her to wake up and realize the sad truth. That it was nothing more than a dream; a very cheesy and painful dream.
Gaz forced the tears not to pool in her eyes as she curled up on the floor of her cell, thinking that she might as well take a nap. After all, it would appear the only thing she had to efficiently pass the time was sleep.
'You better hurry up Zim,' she thought bitterly. It was the last thought she had before she slowly eased into a thankfully dreamless sleep.
(Back With Keef)
To be called to the Principal's Office was never a blessing…
But to be called to the Vice Principal's Office, well… that was a death sentence!
"Would Keef Larson, Gretchen Homes, Megan Downing, Melissa Goldsmith and Mary Rogers please report to the Vice Principal's Office? I repeat: Would Keef Larson, Gretchen Homes, Megan Downing, Melissa Goldsmith, and Mary Rogers please report to the Vice Principal's Office? Thank you."
Mary froze, despite her best efforts. 'Why me?' She asked herself as her heart leaped into her throat. She couldn't remember doing anything illegal, and since the Vice Principal handled most of the disciplinary affairs she would have to guess whatever this was about couldn't be good.
"Miss Rogers, do you have bees for brains?" Mary's teacher, Mr. Sag, asked rudely. "You were just called to the Vice Principal's Office!"
Mary resisted the urge to punch the Irken scum square in the nose and gathered up her things before walking out of the room and towards the Vice Principal's Office. She stopped at the door where the other students stood in line by the Vice Principal's Office. "Keef?" She asked as she spotted the red-headed boy in front of her.
"Mary?" Keef turned to her with a confused look on his face. "What did you do?"
"That's just it, I didn't do anything! Of course, convincing Jamie of that will be nearly impossible…"
"NO TALKING!"
Mary stopped mid-sentence as the Vice Principal, Mr. Gijon, snapped harshly as the door to his office opened.
"Each and every one of you is to be questioned and you will not be discussing your alibies out here!" Mr. Gijon continued harshly as his ruby eyes narrowed at them venomously.
'Alibies!' Now Mary was definitely worried. 'Why would we need to come up with alibies?' She watched as the first student in line followed the Vice Principal into his office and flinched as the door was slammed behind them.
Keef gulped as he realized a little too late what was going on; after all, there was only one thing he would need an alibi for. He pressed his panic button on his communicator and gulped as the silent alarm began to ring, warning the others of the one thing they had always feared.
'They know!'
Josh's eyes widened as he checked his watch; the flashing alarm that met his gaze caused his blood to run cold.
Code: BLACK
The moment they had all feared was finally upon them, but were they ready? Could the new recruits handle the pressure of a possible interrogation? What if one of them caved and told the Vice Principal about the food?!
'The Food! We need to move it and get rid of the caboose just in case!' Josh realized, then looked around and groaned. He was stuck in the middle of his seventh period with no chance of getting away. 'But someone has to get rid of the evidence!' The answer came to him in an instant…
'Zim; he has free period right now, he could go!' Josh sent an urgent text to his brother to clean up the mess ASAP, hoping and praying to whoever was listening that his old foe had an ace up his sleeve.
(Back with Joesph)
Free period…
Most students would use this time to hide out behind the school, wasting their time by playing on their game devises while trading rations with anyone else that might be around. Then again, Joseph was not like most people. Instead of wasting his time in an alley behind the school, he decided doing homework in the library was more suitable. At the moment he was studying for his unit 5 Exam on Thursday for his Irken Mechanics class with Mrs. Dizon, an exam that could very well shape his future.
He snickered at the thought, knowing all too well that in the real scale of things, this test had nothing to do with his future. 'It does if it takes more than a decade to defeat the Tallest,' he told himself as he took a deep breath in a desperate attempt to keep his pride and temper in check… It wasn't the easiest task ever, but he managed.
'I have to accept that that is very likely; heck, we'll be lucky if we defeat them at all!' He sighed as a wave of depression settled in his chest. 'Great, first I'm prideful and now I'm depressed. What the hell is wrong with me?!' He shook his head and tried to focus on the task at hand, but he couldn't help but feel as if his body had completely turned against him.
Joseph groaned and stiffened as his communicator beeped silently. He looked down at it curiously.
Code: BLACK
Get rid of the evidence!
~ D
His eyes widened and he got up from his table at once, leaving the library and heading to the bathroom where he'd make a hasty escape through the window. Seventh block ended in 45 minutes, and once it was over he'd have to go report in at his evening job right away. He'd be cutting it pretty close, but he knew he had no choice but to try. He reached the bathroom and checked all the stalls for any ease droppers before reaching to open the window. He stopped as he realized it would be far too risky to walk to the secret tunnel. 'I'll have to risk teleporting,' he told himself as a sharp flash of pain ran down his spine. He ignored it and activated the communicator's teleportation controls as he grit his teeth in obvious pain. 'Perhaps I should consult with the computer about my condition while I am there,' he told himself as he disappeared and rematerialized at the cliff opening of the secret tunnel.
Zim immediately took off his disguise and looked around. The caboose appeared to be untouched, which was a comforting sight. "Gir, ready the Voot Cruiser and bring it to the cliff opening at once!" He shouted into his communicator.
"Yes, my Lord!" Gir's voice answered at once.
"And wake up the computer while you're at it," he hissed as another wave of pain shot down his spine. 'We've got some work to do…"
(Back with Keef)
"Next!"
Keef stiffened as he realized with a heavy heart that it was his turn to face the enemy. He took a deep, ragged breath and stepped into Mr. Gijon's office, slowly closing the door behind him. His heart was racing and beating so loudly that he could swear it would burst right out of his chest at any moment.
"Sit down Mr. Larson," Mr. Gijon snapped.
Keef obeyed and shivered, despite the obvious heat in the room.
"Mr. Larson, do you know why you are here?" Mr. Gijon asked.
'Yes,' Keef thought with a gulp. "No sir, I haven't the slightest idea," he spoke shakily.
"Well let me tell you," Mr. Gijon whispered harshly. "For the span of six months or so, a rag-tag team of criminals has been plotting against our leaders. You wouldn't know anything about that now, would you?"
"Uh, no, I can't say that I do," Keef said with a nervous laugh.
"Then you won't mind explaining your long trip to the bathroom last Wednesday?" Mr. Gijon asked suspiciously as a spy drone appeared beside him, projecting an image of Keef walking into his home bathroom last Wednesday.
'The day I snuck out to join the resistance!' Keef cleared his throat nervously and said, "I had a really bad stomach virus that night, okay?" He tried to appear outraged by the obvious accusation. "I threw up a bit and then passed out on the floor; I woke up a little while later and went back to my room."
"A reasonable answer," Mr. Gijon spoke as if he were thinking out loud. "So you were sick?" He asked.
"I guess so. Either that or I had a bad dinner that didn't agree with my stomach," Keef answered.
Mr. Gijon nodded at this. "And this group of trouble-makers; you haven't seen anything that could raise suspicion?"
"Uh, no sir," Keef answered nervously.
"Oh, because I have," Mr. Gijon said with an evil smirk as the spy drone showed a new image.
Keef froze as the spy drone showed an image of him and the rest of the members of the resistance sitting around the great oak during lunch last week.
"Do you want to tell me what you and your friends were whispering about during that lunch hour?" Mr. Gijon asked sinisterly.
Keef was finding it hard to breathe, but he forced himself to answer. "We talked about classes and gossiped about the things we can't stand about school," he lied. "We whisper so no one will be offended by what we say."
It was a reasonable answer, but it was also vague…
'Too vague,' Mr. Gijon realized with another smirk. "And what offensive things do you say?" He asked.
"L-lots of things," Keef said with a gulp, knowing that he was about to be ensnared into a trap.
"Like what?" Mr. Gijon urged.
"Um, we make fun of the food sometimes," Keef said, which wasn't a lie. "Yeah, some of us say it's different on certain days." He was careful not to give any names, knowing all too well that they'd be called up to the office to be questioned too. And as much as Keef wished he had some help, the last thing he wanted was to send one of his fellow Renegades to drown in a watery grave. "We also made fun of people who did stupid things, who we could see through the lunchroom windows," he continued.
"Any of those happen to be Irkens?" Mr. Gijon asked.
'Yes,' Keef thought with another gulp, but said: "Of course not. After all, we know Irkens don't do anything stupid."
'He's a clever one,' Mr. Gijon thought as he noticed how easily worded the boy's answers to his questions were, but whether or not the boy was guilty still remained to be seen. After all, everything he said could be true, the group of students around the tree could have been making fun of some cadets, which would cause the boy to want to lie and say they weren't. And he could have very well been sick from a poorly cooked meal last week. It was possible that this boy was innocent. Plus, who wouldn't be nervous during an interrogation?
But as reasonable as it was, there was still room for doubt, which meant that he could be a possible member of the Resistance. Mr. Gijon smiled and wrote a checkmark by Keef's name on the possible suspect list in front of him.
A list that, mind you, was about ten feet long and had every student's name on it…
"Very well, you may go, Mr. Larson."
Keef eyed the list knowingly and fought the urge to snatch it up and run. "Yes sir, thank you sir," he said, remembering to bow respectively before rushing out.
"Next!"
Mary's eyes met with Keef's for a brief moment, but it was long enough to warn her; and the warning was loud and clear…
The Renegades were in DEEP TROUBLE!
(Back with Zim)
"Ah, finally!" Zim breathed a sigh of relief as he placed the last box of food into the Dome's vast storage room. 'I don't see why I have to do this!' His pride screamed. 'Is it just me, or does it seem like I'm doing all the hard labor around here?' Zim shook his head violently in the hopes of shaking off the dangerous thoughts.
It didn't work… not by a long shot, but at least he could say he tried!
"Computer!" He demanded loudly.
"What?!" The Computer Brain asked in its usual annoyed voice.
"Initiate Code Black protocols and relocate the base to deeper waters."
"As you wish," the Computer answered in a booming voice that vibrated down Zim's antenna, causing him to hiss out loud in obvious pain.
"Master, is there something wrong?" Gir asked worryingly.
"I…I don't know, Gir," Zim answered honestly. "Computer, run a Bioscan on me at once!"
"As you wish," the Computer Brain repeated, but Zim could tell from its tone and Gir's nervous look that there was something that they weren't telling him.
None-the-less, the Computer Brain scanned his Master where he stood. Once completed he said, "Bioscan complete; printing results now!"
If he had had a heart, then Gir swore it would be pounding its way out of his rusty metal chest. He watched it all in slow motion as his Master took the results from the machine and read over them, waiting for his reaction. Would it be one of shock or relief?
He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Zim stopped mid-page and his eyes widened.
'No… there has to be some mistake! This can't be happening!' His thoughts were screaming, but there was no denying the truth. Suddenly it all made sense; the hunger, the sudden mood swings, his steady increase in growth, and his sudden sense of authority and pride; it all made some horrible twisted since…
It was finally happening…
After almost 160 years, what the female computer brain had promised all those years ago was finally coming to pass. The change was finally happening…
There was just one problem…
He no longer wanted it!
"Master," Gir said slowly. "Please say something," the S.I.R unit begged softly.
"We understand this comes as a shock to you. You did, after all, give up on the possibility long ago," Computer tried to soothe him. "And no one can blame you for giving into your fears, but now that it is happening we finally can put the Tallest down and-"
"No," Zim said softly.
"What- I'm sorry, sir, what…?" The Computer Brain asked hoping, he was hearing things.
"I said NO!" Zim shouted.
"But Master, don't you see? Once the change is complete you'll finally be on an even playing field as the Tallests! You can defeat them and win this war!" The computer explained the obvious.
"And then what?" Zim asked furiously. "Take my place as the Tallest?!"
"I don't see why not!" The Computer Brain answered as if it was no big deal.
But it was a big deal; it was a very big deal!
"No, I can't, I won't!" Zim shouted as he paced the room back and forth.
"You can't avoid this, Zim!" the Computer shouted, as if he were lecturing a child. "You are an Amon, and it is your duty to your people to save them from their rogue leaders! The Tallest have twisted the very meaning of being of being an Irken! They have morphed our race into a murderous group of savages! You must-!"
"NO!" Zim interjected. "I… I just can't, okay?!" Zim yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Can't?!" The Computer Brain yelled even louder. "You must!"
"Master, they need you!" Gir said, trying to help.
"Need me?" Zim asked sarcastically. "Yeah, I could totally tell when they were screaming for my death!"
"So that's it?" The Computer Brain asked. "You're bitter by the way they treated you?"
"No!" Zim shouted. "I'm not bitter! They've treated me like that all my life, so I'm used to that well enough! In fact I deserve it!"
"Then why?"
"Because I don't want it!" Zim yelled.
"Does this have anything to do with your feelings for Gazline?" The computer asked curiously.
"NO! I just don't want it and I haven't for a very long time," Zim hissed, and it was true. He had long ago given up on this; this path, this destiny. A destiny that he had long ago believed would never happen.
But now it had happened, and Zim wished only that it hadn't.
"Zim, whether you like it or not, this is happening," the Computer said calmly this time. "And according to the Bioscan's report, the final transformation will be upon you soon…"
"I don't care!" Zim screamed as he reached for something in one of his drawers.
"What are you doing?!" The Computer Brain shouted.
"I can't be a leader; I don't know the first thing about being a leader!" Zim shouted as he took a syringe full of a purple liquid out of the drawer. "Who's to say I'd even be a better leader then the current Tallests?!"
"Zim, please don't do this!" The Computer Brain begged. "If you reject the change or slow it down for too long, it will kill you!"
"What other choice do I have? I know nothing about ruling an Empire!" Zim shouted as he prepared to take the shot.
"You have plenty of options!" The Computer Brain urged.
"Like what?" Zim asked as he stopped, the needle just touching his skin.
"The Ancients; they could help you!"
The Ancients… they were the oldest and wisest of the Irken race, who had abandon the Empire, proclaiming that it had lost its way. Word had it the Ancient Irkens lived on a deserted asteroid, were they guarded and protected refugees who had nowhere else to go, each of them wanting the same thing; to escape the wrath of the Irken Empire.
"I don't belong in their presence," Zim said gravely as he stabbed the needle into his skin, injecting its contents without a second thought.
Denial…
Out of all the things he could have chosen, Zim had chosen the one they both had least expected.
"Master," Gir whispered, but Zim walked past him, storming out of the room without another word, his pain and other symptoms already subsiding.
"Please tell me that didn't just happen," The Computer Brain said in disbelief.
"It did," Gir answered, still not believing it himself.
"All is lost," the Computer spoke gravely.
"No, no!" Gir answered as he scanned the discarded syringe with tears threatening to overspill from his cyan-colored eyes. "Whatever was in this syringe will only slow down the process, right?" Gir said as he finished his readings. "There's still hope; we can change his mind!"
"I'm not so sure, Gir… the Master has lost his way, and he has clearly proven that he has no intention of finding his way back."
"He doesn't have a choice," Gir said gravely. "The change is going to happen whether he likes it or not, but if Master keeps this up he'll die..." The tears finally spilled, streaking down Gir's already rusted metal cheeks…
"Or worse," the Computer Brain said darkly. "He'll go rogue, and we'll be forced to stop him permanently…"
"NO!" Gir shouted.
"If he doesn't figure this out soon… If he does go rogue…"
"I won't let him!" Gir vowed. "You'll help me save him, won't you?"
The Computer Brain sighed. "Of course, but you must realize that we can only do so much. Zim must meet us half-way."
"And if he doesn't?" Gir dared to ask.
"Then there'll be nothing we can do for him… There'll be nothing we can do for any of them…."
Episode 3: Suspicious Minds (Part 3) END!
Author's Notes: Oh boy I thought it wasn't possible, but it would appear that the Renegades are in way over their heads. Will the new recruits keep up their strength under the constant interrogations or will one of them cave? And what destiny has Zim just thrown away? And what consequences will it bring for the human race?
Tune in next time to find out!
Shout-out(s): I would love to give shout outs to my family who always put up with my crazy moods. Why do I have crazy moods? Because I tend to be in whatever mood my writing is in. So if I'm writing something depressing for example. I'm going to feel depressed. It's how I get into the characters of my story and produce such great stuff. Of course said habit doesn't always make me easy to live with. So I thank them for that.
As always I thank you for reading and please review.