Episode 4: Double Life (Part 2)

(The Next Morning)

Consciousness…

It came slowly for him.

Zim groaned as he forced himself to his feet sluggishly and looked around the room. He noticed right way that something was off. He looked around some more and realized that he was in his quarters instead of the storage room. He looked at the clock by his bed, and noticed with a sigh that he still had a good hour before he had to be at his morning job. He stretches and decides that he'd save time getting ready here at his base then waiting to get home. He grabs a towel from his pile by the shower room door. He then walks into the shower and throws the towel onto the toilet; he then turns on the faucet. Of course it wasn't water that rained down on him, after all Irkens' bodies couldn't withstand exposer to H2O. Which probably explained why Zim never knew what rain was before he came to Earth, but just because he couldn't stand water didn't mean he didn't bathe. It simply meant his people bathed in something besides water.

Si De was a liquid like substance that seeped from the wetlands of Irk much like the rain poured from the skies of Earth. Just like water, Si De was recyclable; and soon became the base of most beverages of Irk as water had done for Earth. Si De brought life to all the plants of Zim's home planet and was even used in cooking. And it just happened to be one of the many supplies the Irken Invaders where given during their missions; due to the fact that not all planets supplied it.

Zim stood under the spray slowly waking up once he was fully awake he turned the faucet off and stepped out. He grabbed his towel, wrapped it around his waist, and walked towards the mirror to start his morning ritual of getting ready for work.

He wipes the steam off the mirror, looks at his reflection; and screams!

Gir's eyes snap open as his master's scream fills his ears. "It's time!" he speaks somewhat darkly, and rushes over to his master's aid. He finds Zim in the shower room on his knees in nothing but a towel. He appears to be unharmed, in fact he looks perfectly fine except for one small detail.

"Master you've grown!" Gir shouted happily.

And it was true!

Zim had grown but not by a slight millimeter as he had been doing for the past few years. No, Zim had gained several inches; and he didn't need the brains of a genius to figure out why.

"How will I know? You know when I start growing; how will I know?"

"It will start gradually at first, then your hunger will skyrocket, and then out of the blue you'll reach full height as if it happened over night." Nurse Meka's words bounced around his head like a wrecking ball.

He had finally reached full height; his prayers had finally been answered. He should have been happy, but he wasn't. Tears spilled from his eyes as he curled up in a ball on the floor. 149 years ago he would have given an arm, and a leg for this to happen. Now he wished for nothing more than to stop it.

"Master why aren't you happy." Gir asked sitting down beside him.

"I can't lead my people." Zim whispered. "They deserve better. I am defective I will only bring them down."

"That is not the only reason why you don't want this." The Dome Computer cut in.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Zim growled forcing himself to his feet.

"Yes I do, and you know it!" The Dome Computer snapped. "It's time that you were honest with yourself." The Dome Computer urged. "No one would blame you for feeling this way, but you must know what this means."

"We are not discussing this." Zim spoke bluntly as if that was that.

But The Dome Computer was having none of it. He would not give in; not this time!

"Master you are full grown now which means your metamorphosis will soon begin, and once the change is complete you will have no choice but to-"

"NO!" Zim screamed not wishing to hear another word.

But The Dome Computer refused to let up, "Irken Zim you are an Amon, A Worthy one! You have a duty to your people!"

"No I do not!" Zim snapped marching out of the room, and into his quarters where he began to look for something to wear.

"Yes you do! As an Amon you must take your place as one of the higher ups of your race."

"And what? Become a commander of my own fleet?" Zim asked in a mocking tone.

"I think we all know which roll I am referring to." The Dome Computer interrupted him.

"Oh and which roll is that?" Zim snapped once more as he continued to search for something to wear.

"Master you need to stop skating around the issue and face the facts!" The Dome Computer urged. "They are out of control, they have gone rogue, and Irken law states that a rogue Amon must be put down!"

Zim flinched at the words. Of course he knew which 'They' The Dome Computer had been referring to. He forced a stern look "The Tallest are many things, but they are not rogue!" Zim growled.

The Dome Computer sighed. "I know it pains you to accept this responsibility, but surely you see the truth! They have twisted everything the Irken race stands for. There was once a time when we Irkens believed in trust, and honor in one another. There was a time when the Irken race could look up to their Tallest with respect knowing that they would be there to look out for them; but Red, and Purple only mean to look after themselves!"

"Lies!" Zim screamed. "The Tallest would never stab their people in the-"

"Throwing people out of air locks, labeling any Irken that didn't fit their liking as a defective, disowning, and banishing others who were too short to measure up to their standers. Treating their people as something less than dirt. Must I go on?" The Dome Computer challenged.

"You don't know what you're talking-" Zim began.

But The Dome Computer continued with his lecture. "There once was a time that we respected our allies, and now we have stabbed them all in the backs as well! Face it Zim they have gone power hungry, and blood thirsty. They are not the two cadets that you once knew, they have lost their way, and it is only a matter of time before they cross the line of no return."

"The Tallest would never spill the blood of their own people to satisfy their power lust!" Zim yelled. "It is against Irken law, the Tallest are many things; but they are not cold-blooded murders!"

The room went dead silent.

Finally The Dome Computer whispered. "You think you can reason with them? Make them see the light."

"I can, and I will!" Zim vowed.

"You are a fool to think that you can change them" The Dome Computer snapped.

"Even so I have to try!" Zim shouted.

"How many more Zim?" The Dome Computer asked. "How many more of your people will have to suffer before you see the truth?"

"This conversation is over!" Zim snapped as he finally gave up on looking for something that would fit. "Now sow me up some clothes so I can get to work on time!" he ordered.

The Dome Computer sighed but obeyed; and in a matter of seconds Zim was dressed in a new Irken uniform identical to his old ones.

"I am a member of the human resistance!" Zim spoke boldly. "My people do not need me! And they made no objection to my fate."

"Their scared Master." Gir said finally speaking up. "We all are."

"Well I am not the answer to their fears." Zim snapped as he pulled out another needle full of the serum.

"Zim please don't do this." The Dome Computer was pleading now.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Zim snapped. "This stuff maybe temporary, but I will take a shot every three days if I have to!" he vowed and stab the needle into his skin.

"That stuff won't work forever!" The Dome Computer warned.

"Then I'll make something stronger." Zim challenged.

"Irken Zim if you keep resisting the change then you will go rogue!" The Dome Computer spoke darkly. "You will become a mindless beast that knows only the basics of survival. You will become a danger to all around you, and-"

"And what uh? You'll have to put me down?" Zim challenged.

"If we must!" The Dome Computer shouted back.

"Then so be it!" Zim growled.

The room went dead silent once more, but Zim didn't care; he simply turned, and walked away.

Leaving Gir and the Computer Brain behind him in a sea of fears, and uncertainty.

…A Few hours later at Westville High…

The school was in an all-out panic…

Why may you ask?

Because it was Exam day, the worst day of the week!

"Oh god I can't find my notes!" Rachel screamed as she dug threw her book bag in a desperate attempt to find her notes.

"Rach calm down." James said as he walked up to her.

"I can't!" Rachel exclaimed as she opened her locker and began to dump everything out of it. "I know I did them and I'm not going to get 20 points off may grade just because I lost my notes."

"Rachel you didn't lose your notes." James shouted.

"And how do you know that?!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Because you let me borrow them last night." He told her as he took her notes out of his book bag.

Rachel stopped, and gave him a warning glare, "I don't know whether to hug you right now, or to strangle you!" she growled playfully.

James went to say something but was cut off by a very worried Josh.

"Guys have you seen Joseph?" Josh asked franticly.

James and Rachel could tell just by looking at the boy that he got little to no sleep the night before.

"You mean he never came home last night?" James whispered.

"No." Josh exclaimed. "That's why I missed the buss this morning I was waiting for him to show."

Worry…

It was only one word that could describe what he was feeling, and Josh had felt it the moment he woke up that morning. He had spent most of the night pacing in front of the door fearfully waiting for his brother to return home. Praying to whoever was listening that their Irken overlords didn't decide to do another random house inspection. Finally after fighting the fatigue for hours he gave in hoping he'd wake up to Joseph making breakfast like he did every morning. But when Josh woke up this morning his brother was still not home, and by the time the bus rolled in he was still nowhere to be seen.

Josh stiffened as the bell for first period sounded around him.

"Okay I have free period, so I'll keep an eye out for Joseph and see if he's in his first period." Rachel tried to assure him. "But you need to get to class now!" Rachel warned.

Josh and James move to follow her order as armed soldiers began to appear in the halls. Fear immediately rises in each of their throats as what appears to be two dozen soldiers head straight for them.

Josh freezes on the spot.

'So this is it?' he asks himself. 'This is how it all ends? Not in a fierce battle for Earth, but on the way to first period!' The boy refused to run as they got closer and closer; he simply closed his eyes and waited to feel the cuffs around his wrist.

The cold of metal never came; Josh opened his eyes to see that the soldiers had walked by him and headed to the principles' offices. His worries did not dissipate but increased. Soldiers in the school meant that the Tallest were increasing their security measures around the campus.

'Which means they are convinced that the members of the resistance were in the school.'

Josh looked at Rachel, and James, and he didn't have to be a mind reader to know that they were thinking the same thing.

"You need to find him now!" James whispered to his girlfriend.

"Yeah I know Just go!" Rachel ordered "Now!"

Josh forced himself to move forward, but the ever-growing truth wouldn't leave the frontal lobe of his brain; and that truth was simple. The new recruits weren't ready for this kind of pressure, and if one of them cracked it could all be over!

Josh's fears continued to increase as he thought of Zim's unusual behavior over the past three weeks. He searched the halls for any sign of his old foe, never once had he wished to see his face so badly; or to hear his annoying sarcastic voice. But all Josh saw was other fearful students rushing to get to class before any of the soldiers decided they were being nosey.

Josh entered his first period class and sat down in his usual seat; smack dab in the middle of the front row. He knew right away something was off because there was no morning bell ringer, and he couldn't help but flinch as the tardy bell ringed around him.

"Feeling a little jumpy?" Shyann Mosley whispered half-heartedly from her seat to his left.

"Yeah I guess these soldiers have everyone on the frits." Josh admitted and then whispered. "Have you seen my brother?" he looked almost hopeful.

Shyann shook her head and watched as the fear tripled within Josh's eyes. She decided to comfort him with some words of knowledge from her uncle Kornelius Newton; but she never got the chance. For at that very moment the classroom door slammed open revealing a monstrous sight.

Mr. Gijon, the Vice principle!

Josh was practically shaking in his seat now, and for good reason. When it came to extreme discipline measures Mr. Gijon was the Irken for the job, and if he was out of his office, and in the classrooms it could only mean one thing.

"You are all in deep trouble!" Mr. Gijon spoke darkly.

Josh couldn't help; but gulp.

His brother couldn't have chosen a worse time to go missing!

...In Mrs. Bean's Class...

"Class it's time to turn in your notes and clear your desk." Mrs. Bean commanded.

Joseph took a deep breath as the Class's Computer Brain picked up his notes and continued down the row. After his big discovery this morning, and a rough morning at work he wasn't sure he could take this. He hadn't even went home after work like he usually did, but instead hung out at work until it was time to go to school. He knew Josh must be worried sick, but he didn't care. He didn't want to face him or anyone else at the moment.

"Nervous much?"

Joseph looked to his left to see a smirking Scamooch. "Of course not." he said, and it was true; it wasn't the test that had him on edge; no, it was his current situation. Zim had finally grown to his full height which meant the metamorphosis had begun, and said change was not a quiet one. No, every Irken reacted very strongly to an Amon going through the change. Which was one of the reasons why all Amons going through the change were sent to planets far away until the metamorphosis was complete.

Joseph looked around the room to see if any of the Irken cadets were showing any of the signs; but everyone was acting normal. 'Maybe they can't feel the change because the serum stopped it again.' He thought to himself. It made sense, but the computer did warn him that the serum would not have a lasting effect for long. 'I must make a stronger one.' He realized.

"Class as soon as you get your test you can begin." Mrs. Bean continued interrupting his thoughts. "You have until the end of the class to complete it. Once finished raise your hand, and the Computer Brain will pick it up."

Joseph forced himself to ignore his fried nerves and focus on his test.

Cadet Scamooch snickered. 'The worm seems to be over whatever episode was plaguing him the last few days.' He thought with a sly smiled. 'I wonder what's had him so off balance. Oh well I guess it's back to my old strategy.' He's smile grew wider as he began to focus on his own exam.

Suddenly a computer brain races to the front of the class and turns on a projection screen of Vice Principle Gijon standing in front of Mr. Vex' class.

Joseph's eyes locked onto the screen knowing all too well that this was anything but good news.

… Meanwhile in Mr. Vex' Science Class…

"Students our vice Principle, Mr. Gijon will be speaking to you for a brief moment before we begin our exam. So give him your attention!" Mr. Vex ordered.

Josh watched as Mr. Gijon stood in the front of the room. He was about as tall as Principle Razi give or take a millimeter or two. His orange eyes glared the human half of the room down with a since a pure hatred. A Computer Brain floated in front of him capturing everything on video no doubt for the entire school to see.

"You all know who you are," Mr. Gijon began. "You rebels may think you are getting away with it but the increase security at our school and around this city is only one of our procedures to protect all entry points into Zec. So go ahead and blow up another factory or steal a caboose full of food, because in the great scheme of things you are accomplishing nothing!"

Josh couldn't help but shiver at his words; this was not good; this was not good at all. 'I have to warn the team to stay away from the dome today.' He realized. 'We need to stay low until we figure this out.' He pressed a button on his watch.

CODE: BLUE

'Time to lay low.' Shyann thought as she read the message on her own watch. She then watched as Mr. Gijon walked out of the room. 'You think you can break us with a little threat like that? Well your wrong!' She swore inwardly. 'Dead wrong!'

But Josh didn't look so sure. Where they really ready to face the Tallest in their own game?

'I guess we'll find out soon enough.' he told himself fearfully as the computer brain begin to pass out their exam. Not knowing that their time of judgement would come far sooner then he could have ever imagined.

…Back in Mrs. Bean's Class…

CODE: BLUE

He wasn't sure whether he should be surprised by the warning…

Mark looked up from his watch and eyed the back of the enemy's head knowingly.

If Joseph could feel Mark's eyes he didn't show it, he just simply continued to concentrate on his test.

'The rest of the team may think you can be trusted, but I know your hiding something Zim.' Mark was practically fuming, but he forced himself to focus on his own test. 'Zim will get what's coming to him.' He assured himself.

'Soon they will all see him for the monster he really is!'

(Still Bored to Death at the Tallest's Palace…)

Nothing!

If her throat wasn't sore Gaz swore she would scream at the top of her lungs! Sadly she could barely speak.

'That's it I've had enough of waiting!' She declared to herself. 'As soon as Ruby comes to give me my meal tonight I'm forcing her to open this door and locking her in here! Then I'll escape and find Dib, and Zim myself; and then I'll SKIN THEM ALIVE!'

Yes it was the perfect plan there was just one problem it still left her waiting for someone.

"Stupid Ruby!" Gaz whispered as her stomach growled. She swore the Irken fed her later and later every day. "Hello! Its almost 10, and I have yet to have breakfast!" she yelled. Of course due to her sore throat the yell was but a harsh whisper.

Gaz rolled her eyes and laid down. "I swear that if I'm fat when I leave this cell they will suffer-" she coughed midway through her sentence. "Curse you Zim!" she whispered as she closed her eyes.

Tak smiled as she watched her Target from the shadows, since she was now in charge of the girl she no longer had to hide her presence from the Tallest. In fact they even gave her a room in the palace were she moved in at once. "Don't worry Gaz." she whispered so low that she knew the human girl would never hear her. "You'll be out of that cell soon enough. And then we will make them all pay!" The Irken female smiled at her own words just knowing that once the two of them were finished the Tallest would have nowhere else to run!

-To Be Continued