Episode 4-Behind Enemy Lines (Part 2)

(Back with General Kazar)

[Location: The Palace]

He was surprised to receive the call, but even more surprised to hear what it was about.

"A minion?" General Kazar asked.

"Yes." Sargent Lak said from the halo screen. "I believe the worm's name is Joseph."

"You mean the one that was on trial earlier this year?" General Kazar asked.

"Yes that's the one." Sargent Lak answered. "I swear Scamooch thinks too highly of him though." He added. "He looks like an ordinary human to me."

"In deed." General Kazar said as he pulled out the old case file from his desk. He couldn't place it, but ever since that trial General Kazar has been suspicious of the boy. And why not? The child had been found blameless by a computer brain! And that was impossible, or had been until this child had showed up. The truth was everyone was guilty of something, a dark secret that lurked in the back of everyone's mind. So even if the one on trial was innocent for the accused crime they were always guilty of something.

Except this child. The computer brain had found him innocent, in fact the brain had even labeled him the victim! Which was surprising considering the fact that Joseph had pleaded guilty, how could he admit to the crimes yet still be labeled the victim?

General Kazar was not sure, but he was sure of one thing. After the trail he had known he would see this child again. And now it would seem he was right.

'Perhaps this meeting will shed some light on who you really are.' He thought as he went to address Sargent Lak once more. "I am currently in a meeting at the moment." He lied. "I'll have the royal Guard meet them at the Shop and escort them here after the Marking."

"Of course." Sargent Lak said. "I will let them know."

And with that he hung up.

General Kazar smiled. He had a strange feeling about all of this, and the strange part about it is this was a familiar feeling. Yes, he could not place it, but he knew this feeling.

In fact he knew it all too well.

(Back with Zim…)

He knows he should want nothing to do with this place,

Zec did not belong on Earth, the Irken Race had come here uninvited and had taken over, and Yet Zim could not help but feel as if he had finally returned home. It was strange, he knew this wasn't Irk, but it was the closest thing to it that he had seen in sometime.

"You're enjoying this." Scamooch said. Yes, he had noticed it too, Zim's spirts seemed to rise higher and higher the deeper they went into the city.

Zim nodded. "It has been sometime since I have been around so many Irkens." He admitted. "It almost feels like I'm on Irk again."

"How long ago was that?" Scamooch dared to ask.

"Too long." Zim admitted. "And now I've come to realize that I should have never left."

"You'll make it right." Scamooch assured him.

"I Must." Zim said the obvious.

Silence engulfed them after that, and though Scamooch wanted to press for more he did not. Obviously the subject of his last time on Irk was very sensitive to discuss, besides Scamooch could see his memories, so he really didn't need to ask.

Suddenly Scamooch's personal computer detached from Zim, and Sargent Lak appeared on the screen.

"Good afternoon sir." Zim said. "How did it go with the general?" He asked hopefully.

"Scamooch there has been a change of plans." Sargent Lak said.

Scamooch tensed for a moment, and for good reason. If General Kazar had decided not to see them then this was all for nothing.

"He's busy isn't he?" Zim asked knowingly.

"Yes, but he does plan to give you his blessing." Sargent Lak confirmed. "The royal Guard has been asked to meet you at the shop where they will escort you to the general after the marking." He added.

Scamooch sighed in relief. This was fine in fact this was more than fine, because it was exactly according to plan.

"I understand" Zim said. "Thank you sir, I will be sure to arrive before curfew."

"See that you do." Sargent Lak said, before hanging up.

"We shouldn't keep them waiting." Zim said as the personal computer returned to its PAK.

Scamooch nodded as they continued down the busy streets of Zec.

This was it, this was Zim's way to the Tallest, but none of that would matter if Zim's body continued to digressing. Scamooch's Shrew mind within Zim's Amon body was digressing Zim's Amon status, he was reverting back to what he was before, and if this continued Zim may never reach full Amon status again! He would be a Taller, caught in between an Amon and a shrew with no right to challenge the Tallest. There last hope for peace was slowly fading away.

Scamooch resisted the urge to run as the Minion shop came into view, The Minion shop was where humans went to become minions. Once there they would be marked with the Irken insignia on their right shoulder and received their updated paperwork stating that they along with any relative (Weather related by blood or marriage) were now privileged citizens. And if they were being watched he would look too eager, and questions would arise! So instead he walked calmly to the shop and entered as if they had all the time in the world.

But they didn't.

Zim placed a hand on his shoulder, a calming gesture. "Relax it's pretty quick, and painless." He assured him. "In and out." He added as the Royal Guard came into view.

"Let's get this over with." An orange eyed one said. "It isn't right to keep the General waiting."

"Yes Sir." Zim answered, and lead Scamooch to the Computer Brain located in the center of the shop.

"Child." The brain said. "Do you wish to commit your life to the Irken before you?" it asked.

Scamooch look to Zim knowingly. Sure he was in Zim's body and ultimately it was Zim who would be marked as his. But at the moment it was Scamooch who was making this vow, not Zim. So if he made this promise now then his betrayal to his leaders would be official. He was about to swear his loyalty to the Irken before him. To obey without question and without hesitation, to believe in, to confided in. And most importantly he would be swearing to give his life for him, and his cause.

Was he willing to give that kind of devotion to the enemy of his people and his allies?

"Yes." Scamooch answered. "I vow to serve him, and protect him for as long as I live."

"And do you Cadet Scamooch accept this minion as your own responsibility?" The computer asked Zim.

His responsibility…Zim looked to Scamooch as those words entered his mind. This was it, he was promising this child to be there, to accept his responsibilities as his future leader. If he said yes now, then there would be no going back, and no passing the torch to another just to get out of it. If he said yes now he would be promising Scamooch that he would lead Irk into a better tomorrow.

But could he do that?

What if he was not meant to lead Irk?

Then by saying yes he would be promising to step aside for another, more fitting individual, if he truly was underserving. But until that moment a raised he had to bear the responsibility himself. And he could not do it half way, he had to give it his all, like he always had for his people before he knew the truth of their lies. But did Zim have enough devotion left in him to do this? To be fair, even though most would agree that his race didn't deserve it.

"Yes." He promised. "I vow to take this responsibility as my own, to answer for any transgressions he has or may cause."

Him and the rest of the Irken race.

"Then it is done." The computer said, before a tentacle reached out and Marked Scamooch's right shoulder.

Cadet Scamooch tensed, waiting for the pain, but to his surprise Zim had been right. Besides an initial stinging sensation the marking was painless, and quick.

"Congratulations." The computer said as it printed out his newly updated paperwork. "The Irken Police will arrange an apartment for you in the Minion section of the City." The computer told him. "An apartment where your master will join you after his graduation."

Zim nodded. "Thank you." He said, taking the paper work. "I will see that these are filed properly." He assured Scamooch.

"Good now we must not keep the general waiting." The guard from before added.

"Very well." Zim said. "Please lead the way Sir."

And just like that they were on their merry way like nothing had happened, but something had, and the Irkens where none the wiser. One of their own had just gave the enemy full access to their leaders. The undesirable Irken Zim was on Zec, and in a matter of moments he would be within the palace walls. Yes, it was safe to say that things did not look good for the enemy.

And it was only going to get worse from here!

(Back with Josh…)

The tension,

They could all feel it.

Josh paced back and forth in front of the bus ramp in deep worry, and for good reason.

Zim and Scamooch were not back yet, and they were running out of time.

"I don't see him." Josh said as he, Mark, James and Rachel looked around franticly. The final bell had rung and now the group of friends were waiting at the bus ramp for Joseph and Scamooch to show up so they could change them back.

"I knew we shouldn't have trusted that back stabbing cadet." Mark said. "I bet he turned him in!" Of course when he said "him" he was referring to Zim.

"I don't think so." Rachel disagreed. "I mean if they had wouldn't they have busted us by now?"

"They could be waiting for us to lead them to the base." James suggested.

"Not you too." Rachel groaned.

"Hey I'm just being cautious." James argued. "Remember the last Irken we trusted? That didn't pan out to well." He stopped giving Josh an apologetic look. "Sorry." He said.

"No you're right." Josh assured him. "I was too hasty to trust her, with her I got to know that Gaz was okay, and that blinded me from the truth."

"It wasn't just you." Rachel assured him. "We all trusted Tak."

"You'd think we would have at least learned from that." Mark muttered.

"Come on guys we have to go before we look suspicious." Rachel whispered ushering them to board the bus.

"Problem?" The bud drone Mr. Bulk asked. He was a fat man, who smelled horrible, but he also had a kind heart.

Josh shook his head. "My brother went to Zec this afternoon, I was expecting him back by now is all."

"I'm sure he is okay." Mr. Bulk assured him. "Trust me, there is no safer place on the planet."

Josh knew he was right, up until today no terrorist had ever step foot on Zec, but now Zim was there, and if anyone caught wind on who he really was it could all be over for them. The Irken race would finally win!

No Dib could not allow himself to think that way, he had to stay positive for all their sake.

"Thanks Mr. Bulk." Josh said before sitting down.

"Any time kid." Mr. Bulk said. "Now hang on kids because this is gonna be a bumpy ride."

The ride was always bumpy, mostly because Mr. Bulk took odd routes in order to get everyone home in enough time to finish their homework early enough to go out and have a good time before curfew. He didn't have to do that, but Mr. Bulk always said that kids should have time to be kids. And the long bus rides home made free time almost impossible. Of course that was the point, the Irkens wanted them to have little room for trouble.

And Josh couldn't really blame them. Several adults were still rioting in the streets, and had done so ever since the Water factory was taken down. The last thing the Irkens needed was the children following their parents lead.

Josh's watch beeps with an incoming message and he reads it on his screen.

Device almost fixed, meet us on Trash Hill Bay.

Trash Hill Bay was a small beach like area overflowing with Irken trash. Josh remembered how that place was once beautiful, so much to it attracted tourist year round. And now it was nothing but another landfilled. Just the latest addition to the thousands of things that the Irken race had ruined.

'They're draining this planet dry.' He realized.

And it was true, Earth would soon be just as dead as Irk. The last known planet with renewable resources would be gone forever.

In less they stopped them and soon.

'We will.' Josh assured himself. 'We have too. The fate of the Universe depends on it.'

(Back with Elma…)

"I can't believe we managed to fix it in time." Elma said as she placed the last piece into its rightful place.

"Let's just hope it works." Goalit said.

"What if it doesn't?" Kornelius asked. "We should try it on something just to be sure."

"We don't have time." Professor Membrane reminded him. "I've finish my calculations and if they don't switch back by the end of tonight Zim's digression will be permanent. He will never reach Amon status again."

Fear gripped at Goalit's insides as he heard this. The Galactic Alliance was depending on Zim's Amon status to win this war. Even the Ancients support relied on the fact that Zim was a fully realized Amon. And now thanks to an unfortunate mishap they could lose everything.

Zim could become stunted, thanks to the digression caused by Scamooch's mind within his body. And if by some miracle Zim started to evolve into an Amon for the second time it wouldn't mean they were in the clear. If Zim evolved too quickly it could cause severe stress on his brain and body, which would ultimately kill him. "He's right." Goalit finally agreed. "Every moment we waste puts everything at jeopardy. And with the Dome stationary it will take us an hour to get to the rondevu point by foot."

"So this is a hit or miss situation?" Elma asked, looking slightly unsure now.

"It's alright." Goalit assured her. "I have faith in your work." He said giving her a reassuring smile.

Elma couldn't help but smile back. Goalit always knew what to say to reassure her. "Let's do this." She said as Professor Membrane and Kornelius armed themselves.

"Crystal stay here and guard the ship with Gir." Elma ordered.

Crystal nodded, her blind eyes never wavering. "Computer bring all assessable weapons on line." She commanded.

"As you wish." The computer responded, and many weapons came on line, including the shields. "Dome defenses are at 50%" the computer informed them.

"Okay so maybe we're not complete sitting Ducks." Goalit admitted.

Elma gave a sly smile. "Told you we'd be fine."

"Okay love birds you can gloat at each other later." Crystal mused causing them both to blush.

"Right are team needs us." Elma said. Reminded them all of the mission at hand. "Gir behave for once will you?"

Gir nodded feverishly, a wild look in his eye, but then again he always had a wild look in those blue eyes. "I won't touch a thing." He vowed.

"He's gonna touch everything isn't he?" Kornelius asked as they headed towards the docking bay.

Suddenly a loud chorus of Gir's laughter can be heard from behind them.

"Yes." Goalit said with a sigh. "Yes he is."

Elma wanted so badly to turn around and stop the derange robot from messing anything else up, but there simply wasn't anytime. So she pressed forward in hopes of completing their mission on time. "Please just don't let us be too late." she begged out loud.

It was a pray they were all sharing, if only in their minds.