Episode 4-Behind Enemy Lines (Part 3)

(Back Zim)

[Location: The Palace]

This was it,

In a matter of moments Zim would be face to face with his old mentor, and for some strange reason he had a feeling that Kazar was expecting him.

Scamooch stiffened as they stopped before the large doors of General Kazar's study, it had been some time since he had been before these doors. Still they always made him feel uneasy.

Zim knew the feeling, these might not be the same doors he often stood before back on Irk, but they held the same over powering feeling of judgment, and disappointment. Disappointment that both he and Kazar felt for his decision to step down. In fact just seeing these doors reminded him of the words they had exchanged on that fateful day.

"Zim hear me when I say one day you will regret this decision!"

"Maybe not to day, maybe not even in the next 100 years; but one day you will regret this!"

"NO I WILL NOT!"

Oh how he hated when that overzealous and egotistic tyrant was right!

"We cannot join you from here." The royal guard with the orange eyes said as the doors opened.

Zim merely nodded as he and Scamooch stepped forward into the room, it was about as large as the study back on Irk, But Zim could tell this one was slightly smaller. Of course this did nothing to help his growing nerves. If anything it tricked his mind into thinking the walls were slowly closing in.

"So this is the infamous Joseph Campbell." General Kazar mused as they stood before him. He watched as the doors slowly closed behind his visitors. Yes He defiantly recognized this feeling now, it was a feeling of greatness that he only felt when a certain pupil of his was in the room.

"Yes Sir." Zim answered as Scamooch thankfully remembered to bow. Zim however did not bow, instead he allowed his eyes to meet Kazar's. It was a standoff that they had shared before, ruby orbs staring in pale orange inferno.

Kazar couldn't help the smirk that was slowly growing on his face. "I told you you'd be a great being someday." He mused. Still not bothering to address Scamooch who was still bowing, while doing his best to withhold a growl.

Zim stood his ground as Kazar came closer, looking down on him in a mocking manner. It was then that Zim realizes nothing has changed, now that he is stuck in Scamooch's body he is still far too short!

Yes, it was official the universe hated him!

Still he stood his ground. "You also said I'd regret my decision to leave." He said.

"And do you?" Kazar asked.

"No." Zim answered simply, surprising both Scamooch and his old mentor greatly.

"No?" Kazar asked.

"Stepping down lead me down the path that I am on today." Zim answered. "And I like where I'm at."

"Where you're at is in the middle of a war that you cannot hope to win." Kazar said. "There are two of them and one of you." He lectured. "Do you really think the Tallest will take turns taking you down in the final battle?" he didn't wait for Zim to answer, instead he snapped. "No they will come at you as one, and they will come at you with everything they've got!"

"You have no place lecturing me!" Zim hissed lowly. Sure he may be stuck in Scamooch's body but he was still an Amon, are at least he hoped so otherwise they were all screwed.

Kazar is not surprised by Zim's response, he always spoke this way to him. "It really is you isn't it?" He asked.

Zim nodded.

"And how did you managed to screw things up this badly?" Kazar mused.

"Oh well I have Scamooch to thank for that." Zim said, finally addressing him.

Scamooch wasted no time, he shot up right and pointed his finger at Zim. "Me?" He asked. "It was you're dumb robot!"

Suddenly Kazar wacked him on the head with a ruler.

"OW!" Scamooch hissed. "What was that for?"

"Is that any way to speak to your future Tallest?" Kazar asked, hissing lowly. He gave Scamooch a warning glare and then turned back to Zim. "You'll have to excuse him, I never could teach that brat manners."

Zim snickered, Kazar hadn't changed a bit. "They just don't make cadets the way they use to do they?" he asked jokingly.

"Hey I'm right here you know!" Scamooch reminded them.

Zim ignored him. "Future Tallest?" He asked. "Isn't it a little early to be placing your bets?"

"Not at all." Kazar assured him. "I have no doubt it will be you; that is why I chose you after all."

"You chose Koi." Zim reminded him.

"No.' Kazar shook his head. "I chose him first yes, but once I saw your eyes glowing I knew I had made a mistake." He admitted. "To show signs of the transformation at such a young age was promising."

"Then why keep Koi?" Zim asked.

"Motivation." Kazar answered simply. "To motivate you to work you're hardest so that the desired outcome would come to past."

"Well you failed miserably." Zim pointed out.

"No you were too impatient." Kazar snapped. "You allowed yourself to get discouraged the moment you fell to far behind."

"Could you honestly blame me?" Zim hissed.

"No." Kazar said. "I just expected more from my future leader." He whispered lowly now. "How do I know you won't run away the moment things get hard again?"

"I won't." Zim assured him. "I was a child then, too young to understand."

"Understand?" Kazar challenged.

"My decisions don't just affect me, an Amon my decisions effect our entire race."

Kazar nodded. "Well I suppose late is better than never."

"So just like that you're on board?" Scamooch questioned.

"Yes." Zim answered before Kazar was able to. "That's because General Kazar is a back stabbing traitor who can't stand to lose."

Kazar smiled a wicked smile. "Yes, so as long as you don't give me a reason to switch sides you should be fine."

"Excellent." Zim said. "Then I have you're blessing Sir?" He asked slipping back into character.

"Yes." Kazar mused. "Though I can't see why you've chosen this one." He gestured to Scamooch. "He's hardly worth your time."

Scamooch growled in frustration, but Zim placed a hand on his shoulder calming him.

"If I remember correctly everyone use to say the same thing to you about me." Zim reminded him. "And if I were you I'd treat Scamooch better, after all who knows, when this is all over he could be in a higher position then you."

It was a low blow, but a necessary one. By threatening to put a shew above him Kazar was reminded that his future status was not set in stone. If he wanted Zim to allow him to remain in his position of power then he would have to prove himself worthy and pull his own weight.

"What would you have me do?" Kazar asked.

"The Resisty has informed me that the Ancients seek an audience with me." Zim said. "No doubt to test whether or not I deserve their blessing."

"You plan to leave the planet?" Kazar is shocked by this development.

"I must, but I may need help acquiring a ship, and safe passage." Zim told him.

"I'll see what I can do." Kazar answered.

"Good then I think we're done here." Zim moves to leave.

"You're not going to ask about her?" Kazar asked.

Zim froze, of course he meant Gaz, it was always about Gaz, and if Zim was being honest he was curious, but they didn't have the time. "I trust she's in good hands?"

"She and Tak are making quick work of dividing the soldiers here." Kazar told him. "I must admit I was surprise to hear you fell for the female, but after meeting her I can see why."

"Tak hu?" Zim scoffed. "I should have known she'd be a fence hopper through all this."

"Can you blame her?" Kazar asked. "We all agree the Tallest must be dealt with, but Goalit is the only one you've convinced that the human's way of life is the best for our people."

"Not true." Scamooch snapped. "He's convinced me." He said.

"Really?" Kazar asked surprised.

"I may not understand completely." Scamooch admitted. "But if he thinks it best then its good enough for me."

"Blind obedience." Kazar laughed openly. "Well perhaps the brat isn't completely hopeless."

"Every follower has a right to question their leader." Zim lectured. "After all if we had questioned the acts of the Tallest sooner we might not be in this mess."

"In deed." Kazar agreed. "I'll see what I can do about getting you off world." He added. "I'll also keep Tak and Gaz close."

"See that you do." Zim ordered. "I mean it Kazar if anything happens to her you'll be joining Red and Purple." He said turning towards the door.

"I understand." Kazar said as they took their leave out of the room and down the Hall. "I understand completely."

"Did you mean it?" Zim asked as they continued down the hall.

"Mean what?" Scamooch asked.

"About what you said to Kazar, about the human way of things." Zim answered.

Scamooch nodded. "I mean it, I trust your judgement."

Zim nodded. "Thanks." He admitted. "I needed to hear that…you know this is all very knew to me too." He added as they approached the guards. "I'll be escorting my minion home now." He told them.

"This way." The guards motioned, leading the two out of the palace and outside of its gates.

Scamooch breathed a sigh of relief as they rejoined the crowded streets of Zec, the worst was over and now all they needed to do was make it to the rondevu point. He checked the communicator on his wrist at the thought, and a message blinked back at him.

Device almost fixed, meet us on Trash Hill Bay.

"We've got to go." Zim urged as he read the message over his shoulder.

"Will I get one of these?" Scamooch asked as they approached the nearest bus stop.

"I think you should focus on winning over the trust of your new comrades first." Zim advised as they arrived at the stop just as the new bus did.

Scamooch frowned as they boarded. "They'll never trust me." He whispered just low enough for only Zim to hear.

"Where to?" The driver, a small Irken drone asked.

"Trash Hill Bay." Zim answered before they took their seats once they did he looked to Scamooch knowingly. "They will but it won't happen overnight." He warned. "Our people have done a lot of damage here." He reminded him. "It will take a lot of work to right what we've done."

Scamooch just stared out of the window as they descended from Zec and back into the human infested town down below. He knew there was a lot of work to be done, but he couldn't help but feel like he had even more work to do then Zim. First he had to earn everyone's trust, then he had to convince Zim he was truly worthy of being their leader, not only that but he also had to continue his role at school.

Yes, there was much work to do, Scamooch only fear was that they simply didn't have enough time. The Tallest power was growing with every day and if they didn't think of a way to catch up soon then all would be lost.

(Back with Dib…)

He couldn't even begin to describe the relief he felt when Zim and Scamooch walked towards them on the littered beach of Trash Hill Bay. The Bus had dropped them off at the nearest bus stop to the beach which was still a good half mile away. So they had to walk a bit, but finally they were here.

"Cutting it a bit close don't you think?" Elma asked as they stopped before them.

"The others?" Zim asked as he noticed Rachel and James were missing.

"Keeping watch." Elma assured him. "Can't be too careful being out in the open like this."

"That rat didn't give you any trouble did he?" Mark asked gesturing to Scamooch.

Zim smiled, it was strange how far they had come from their own divided ways. "No He did well, I'm afraid I was the one holding everything up." He admitted.

"You idiot." Dib began to lecture, but Goalit cut him short.

"How did it go?" He asked as Elma prepared the proper settings on the mind switcher.

"Surprisingly well." Zim assured them.

"We'll let's hope this is just as Successful." Kornelius said.

"The time is close." Professor Membrane warned, "We must do it now!"

Elma aims the weapon at Zim and Scamooch, her hand shook with doubt.

Goalit placed a hand on her shoulder, the other helping her steady the mind switcher. "You got this." He assured her.

Elma smiled and allowed him to help her pull the trigger.

The ray from the weapon engulfed both Zim and Scamooch and for a moment the world spun around them, before straightening out again.

"Did it work?" Elma asked hopefully.

Scamooch looked down at his hands and yes they were indeed his hands! "I'm me!" he exclaimed.

"And I'm me." Zim confirmed.

"Oh thank goodness." Elma breathed a sigh of relief.

"How do you feel?" Goalit asked.

"I'm fine." Zim assured him, and it was true, he could still feel his Amon status, the beast was there, and it was just as powerful as ever. "We're all good."

Goalit allowed himself to be relieved as well. "Thank Irk."

"So what do we do with him?" Mark asked gesturing to Scamooch.

Scamooch looks ready to run, but Zim stops him, by grabbing his forearm.

"We must be very careful now." Zim Warned. "Now that we are present on Zec this game is going to become much more dangerous to play."

"We need reinforcements." Dib said the obvious.

"And we'll have them." Zim assured him. "But first…" He looked to the water factory, which could just barely be seen to the west of their position. "We've got to hit them where it hurts."

Scamooch couldn't help but shiver as the wind rolled over the crashing waves, turning the air cold, or perhaps it was just his fear seeping in, either way the point was clear to him. And the point was this: He was no longer some bully on the playground, no he was part of something bigger now.

This was War and only one would be victorious!

Episode 4- Behind Enemy Lines (Part 3) END!

Author's Notes: Thank you for reading and please review.

The next Chapter will be up soon.

Yours truly RoxieDivine ;)