Episode 5-The Return of the Hideous New Girl (Part 2)

"Josh?"

Josh let out a sigh of relief he knew that voice, he knew it all too well. "In here…" he sighed as he pushed open the stall door.

Joseph braced himself for what he was about to see. The moment he saw Cadet Scamooch leaving the rest room labeled 'FOR HUMAN MALES ONLY' he knew what had happened. Of course Cadet Scamooch just shrugged as he walked past. After all a swirly would leave no markings of abuse of any kind, and with no proof Principal Razi could not prosecute him.

Joseph winced as he saw the wet and soggy Josh on the floor of the stall. Tears freshly coated his face, and even though he tried to wipe them away, Joseph still caught a glimpse of them. The sight of those tears filled him with such rage, such anger!

Josh looked up to see that Joseph's eyes were glowing red. He had seen this happen a few times before; but never had he seen those red eyes shine so brightly that he could see them through his disguise. He knew something was changing about Zim.

What? He wasn't sure, but he was sure it was something of great significance and when the Irken confessed to growing several inches overnight it only confirmed his suspicions all the more. And the stranger his behavior became the more convinced Josh became of the fact that something was indeed going on with his old foe.

Joseph forced himself to calm down, it was happening again! He knew he needed to make a new serum and soon before he ended up attacking someone in a fit of rage. He had already done it twice, and he knew that a third strike would do nothing but increase the distrust that his human comrades displayed towards him. He looked away from Josh thinking that he might calm down if the source of his anger was not directly in his line of vision. It seemed to work; he could feel the rage as it slowly left him. Of course, he knew by now what was happening. At first it was just the headache and the increased appetite, but after the discovery of his increased height, he knew he could no longer deny the facts.

The change had begun, but that wasn't the worst of it! He knew that the chances of him surviving were slim to none, and that most Amons die within days of their first migraine. And the fact that he had survived so far did little to calm his fears. Joseph shivered at the thought of Josh waking up to find him dead. Or worse, Joseph himself waking up to find that he was covered in Josh's blood! He knew it was possible after all his temper had already proven to be lethal more than once.

"Are you okay?" Josh asked hopefully, he knew that Joseph would lied to him before he even asked, but he asked anyways. He could tell that whatever was going on with him was very hard on him. Zim needed to know that someone was on his side, that someone did trust him, needed him.

"I'm fine." Joseph lied as he began to help him up.

Josh allowed him to help him to his feet, at least his eyes were back to normal.

"You have some explaining to do. So you better get your story straight" Joseph began. "Because Mark has already figured it out, and he won't stay quiet for long."

"What are you talking about?" Josh asked obviously clueless.

"I'm talking about TAK! I know you're the only reason why she would be here." Joseph snapped.

"Tak, she's here?" Josh tried to pretend he had nothing to do with this, but he could tell that Joseph wasn't buying it. He sighed "Okay I admit it I called Tak."

"Dib!" Joseph growled in frustration his eyes glowing red once more. "Are you crazy? We can't trust her! Irken females are deceitful creatures who will stab you in the back the moment they get the chance."

"She's our only way to Gaz, we have tried everything else!" Josh whispered. "Listen I know you are not the best of friends, but she told me she had a reason to betray the Tallest."

"Did she say what it was?" Joseph asked trying to get his anger back under control.

"No but she did say that the Tallest have corrupted the Irken race. Do you know what she could have meant by that?"

"No" Joseph admitted as his anger finally subsided, his eyes once again showed icy blue. "You should have discussed this with all of us, or at least with me. Most of them can't stand that one Irken is in the group, and now you've added another one."

"I know, but you know as well as I do that our best shot at getting to Gaz is to have someone inside." Josh pointed out the obvious.

"I know, but they might not see it that way." Joseph reminded him. "After all most of them only want to defeat the Tallest. Gaz is our responsibility, and if they see us putting our own interest before the cause they may overthrow our command."

Josh winced; he hadn't considered that.

"We should go before we're late" Joseph moved to leave.

"Zim be honest with me." Josh's whisper was so quiet Joseph almost didn't hear it. "Promise me you're okay."

Joseph turned and forced a smile "Everything is fine." He lied.

Josh watched him walk out the door, and a shiver ran down his back; and for good reason Joseph was lying, he knew something was wrong, and if he were being honest with himself he would admit that he had known it for some time. He needed to find answers and quick, because if he could see it so could everyone else. And he knew the other three leaders of the Renegades could already see it as plain as day. He wasn't so worried about Rachel or James; no it was Mark that had him worried.

Dib knew the guy already had it out for Zim; and his weird behavior wasn't helping the Irken's case. 'But where can I go to get the answers I'm looking for?' He wondered. Then the answer came to him 'The Forbidden Section of the Library of course!'

The Forbidden Section was a part of the School Library that was full of books for 'IRKEN EYES ONLY!' The section was sealed off from the rest of the Library by a wall of bars, but it was also left unguarded. He knew it was a risk, but he also knew it was the only library that was not located on Zec that was full of volume after volume of Irken encyclopedias.

'There has to be something that will explain what is happening to Zim.' Josh thought as he ran out of the restroom and raced off to his next class.

He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't see Mark who had been hiding behind the door, he had been ease dropping on them the whole time. His eyes narrowed; Dib had brought her here! This could ruin everything! He had to warn the others.

Josh, who was still oblivious to Mark's spying couldn't help but think that Zim's behavior was some kind of side effect. Of what? He was not sure, but after the constant change in mood, and increased hunger Dib couldn't help but think that it sounded like symptoms to him, but symptoms to what? Again he wasn't sure, but if he was sure of one thing it was this…

If he didn't find some answers, and fast Zim would be kicked out of the resistance!

'I'm going tonight.' he finally decided as he made his way into his next class and sat down in his seat.

The Renegades won't be meeting at the Dome again until tomorrow night, which meant he had only tonight to find some answers. He decided that he'd wait till Zim had drifted off to sleep before he set off on his quest. He knew this was dangerous, but he also knew that he had to get to the bottom of this.

After all, Zim…No, the world itself depended on it.

(Some Time After Third Period…)

Rachel flinched as an Irken Cadet bumped into her while stepping on her toes. She dropped all her books on the floor as the pain climbed from her toes, and up her left leg.

"Watch it pest" the Cadet yelled.

"I'm so sorry ma'am" Rachel bent down to pick up her books, so she could avoid the Cadet's eyes. She had never seen this Cadet before.

'She must be new.' Rachel thought.

"Cadet Tak are you alright Ma'am." a Cadet that Rachel knew all too well stepped in.

"I'm fine Rene, this pathetic excuse for a life form just needs a new pair of eyes is all." Cadet Tak answered.

"I'm very sorry ma'am." Rachel repeated as she stood. Her eyes still on the floor, she knew that if she could see her foot that it would probably be dark red. She also knew then that the new Cadet had done it on purpose, and she was going to have a bruise; that was for sure.

"Well you should be!" Cadet Rene spoke venomously. "Such disrespect is not acceptable."

"Of course" Rachel agreed as she swallowed her pride. "I promise it won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't." Cadet Tak warned as she and Rene walked away.

Rachel dropped her books and made a bee line for the girl's bathroom. Never in all her life had she been picked on before. Even when she was a moneyless geek, she had never been picked on by anyone. She just wanted to disappear.

James saw her coming from a mile away, he dropped his own books, and stopped right in front of her path. Rachel crashed into him, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Bad day?" he asked.

"The worst!" She cried on his shoulder.

"What happened?" James demanded. He hated seeing her like this, it broke his heart.

"It was that new Cadet Tak" Gretchen said as she opened her locker that was located beside them. "I saw the whole thing, and look she did the same thing to me after first period."

Rachel and James looked at Gretchen's bruising foot in shock.

"The monster!" James growled.

"I knew she did it on purpose but doing it multiple times! That's just despicable!" Rachel cried.

"And you can all thank Josh for it too!" Mark said as he appeared from behind the open door of Gretchen's locker.

"Wait what did you say?" Rachel whispered.

"Dib had her come here to help us spy on the Tallest." Mark explained.

"Without telling us anything?" James was ticked and it showed.

"I heard him admit it to Joseph myself." Mark told them.

"Wait he didn't even tell HIM!" Rachel was shocked. "Okay tell us everything." She ordered Mark. "And don't leave anything out."

Mark told them every word he heard, and when he was done the other three were shocked by everything he had said.

"I can't believe it but I'm with Joseph on this." Mark went on.

"Yes; he should have discussed it with us!" James agreed.

"Listen lets go find Joseph, and the others; and decide how we're gonna handle this." Rachel said, taking charge. "We have four minutes 'till lunch." She said looking at the clock. "We'll split up and gather everyone under the Great Oak tree where we can discuss this safely."

The other three nodded their agreement, and they all went their separate ways. And even though they tried not to allow it the doubt was beginning to settle in.

Could they really trust Dib? Or was his trust in Zim spreading to the rest of his kind?

(Back with Josh…)

Josh knew what was coming the moment he sat down at their usual spot under the Great Oak tree. It was a nice sunny day out, and most of the humans, like always had decided to eat lunch outside so that they could escape the Cadets and their traitorous minions. And maybe, just maybe they'd get to have a peaceful lunch for once.

"You should have told us about her." Gretchen looked at him crossly as he sat down.

'Well that dream just went down the drain.' Josh joked to himself.

"She's right man, what if she's a spy?" James agreed.

"Guys I know HER okay" Josh whispered as the group formed a circle around him. He suddenly felt like a cornered animal with no way out.

"It doesn't matter." Rachel whispered harshly. "There are five leaders in this group, and I heard that you didn't even tell HIM!"

He knew of course that 'HIM' meant Zim, and a since of regret immediately washed over him. Here he was saying he wanted to let Zim know that he could trust him, but how could he? How could Zim trust him when he had made this decision without him? Without any of them!

"We are a team." Kathy reminded him of the obvious. "And when you do something like this, it cripples the whole team!"

"How can we trust you when you do things like this behind our backs?" Mary asked the obvious question.

Josh bowed his head in shame because he knew that she was right, how could he have been so rash. He himself hadn't even been 100% sure at the time that it wasn't a trap! If it had been a trap he could have been killed on the spot. And worse it could still be a trap, sure Tak sounded sincere; but Zim said it himself. Irken females were deceptive creatures. She could be playing them, and if they suffered for this it would be all his fault!

"We need to know we can trust you to make better choices in the future." Mark spoke sternly.

"He's right you know," Joseph said as he appeared from behind the tree. "You cannot make the decisions of the entire group on your own. That is not how we run things here." he reminded him.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but-" Josh began.

"Sorry as you maybe; this decision could end up stabbing us all in the back." Joseph interrupted him as he glared down on him harshly.

"It won't, I promise." Josh assured him. "We can trust her."

"I hope your right." Joseph spoke more softly as he sat down beside him. "Tak hasn't been making it easy on any of them at all today."

"She's only doing what everyone else is, it's the only way she'll fit in with the rest of the Cadets." Josh told him.

"I know but this is not something we need right now. We need to know we can trust each other." Joseph eyed Mark as he spoke. "Distrust has been the first planted seed to every downfall of every great resistance that has ever gone up against the Tallest. Sending someone in to gain our trust, it's exactly what they would do."

"I didn't give her any names or our fake identities." he told all of them. "She knows nothing I promise."

"Well let's make sure it stays that way." Joseph warned.

Josh watched as the rest of the group began to settle down around them and began eating their lunches. He knew the last thing he needed to do was make them angry, and he knew that he should be more careful about his decision making in the future, but at the same time he was still determined to find answers.

'I'm still going tonight' he decided. There had to be answers in The Forbidden Library he was sure of it.

Joseph eyes fell on a flash of movement that he caught from out of the corner of his eye. He turned and his eyes narrowed as they fell on Tak.

She was busily talking to Cadet Scamooch, and as she gestured towards him. Joseph knew this was going to be a problem.

"I think it's time we had a little talk with Tak." he whispered catching everyone's attention in the circle. They all nodded their agreement, even Josh had to admit they needed to get a few details straight.

"We'll catch her before she boards the bus to Zec at the end of the day." Joseph told them his eyes fell on Mark once more as he spoke. "We'll find out once and for all if we can trust her."

(Several Minutes after the Final Bell…)

Tak walked down the empty hall with a since a gratefulness within her. Finally after a day of two shadows she had gotten rid of Cadet Rene. 'Man was that guy annoying or what?' At least she only had one suck up to worry about Cadet Scamooch had over 40 of them. She wasn't sure she could manage that so easily.

Tak froze as she looked behind her, she felt like she was being watched, but there were no drones in the halls. Which made since, after all the students; and cadets were boarding their buses. So why did she feel like she was being watched? Her questioned was soon answered as five lockers appeared to open by themselves. Five hooded cloaked figures appeared from the empty lockers.

The Tallest Figure took off his hood. It was Zim!

Tak nearly fell to her knees at the sight of him; his height nearly made her knees buck. For it was in that moment that she realized without a doubt that Zim was a Worthy One! She had never realized it before because of his lack in height, but now she could see it as clear as day, and with it the truth! He was possible competition for them, and when Zim wouldn't die on his own the Tallest decided to get rid of him all together.

Dib couldn't help the shiver that ran down his back at Tak's reaction. The Royal guard had acted the same way when they saw Zim during their raid for the Caboose weeks earlier. Not that he could blame them. He looked at his old foe in disbelief, somehow Zim had finally managed to become taller than him. And he could tell that the other three leaders were staring at him through their hoods. And he knew they were all wondering the same thing.

Why were only so few Irkens really tall; while the others were not? What cause them to be different, and why did it mean they were in charge? It couldn't be just because they were taller?

Could it?

Dib wasn't so sure, but he did know one thing. These questions only reminded his fellow renegades just how little they knew about Zim and his race.

"Why have you come here?" Zim asked Tak gravely, his eyes glowing red.

Tak shivered; she couldn't help but wonder if he knew what was happening to him. Was he even aware of the change that was already taking place inside him? Was he really so stupid that he couldn't see it, or had he simply given up hope that it would ever happen. She wasn't sure, but she was sure of one thing...

If Zim's eyes were already glowing whenever he got angry, or frustrated then it was already far too dangerous for the other Renegades to be around him.

They were all in danger, and none of them knew it!

"Why have you come here?" Zim repeated. His voice was a harsh hiss, and Tak knew that she had to be careful about what she said. To say the wrong thing now could send him over the edge, and it was obvious to her that he was hanging by a thin thread of control. One that could snap at any moment.

"Dib summoned me, he asked for my help..." Tak began.

"Why are you really helping us." one of the cloaked figures behind Zim snapped. "What reason do you have to betray your own?"

"They are killing them Zim" Tak whispered softly.

The hooded figures looked at Zim as she spoke. Her words made Dib shiver under his cloak; he could actually feel his bone marrow cringe in fear. "Killing! Tak who are they Killing?" he asked.

"The Worthy Ones." Tak answered "They are killing them Zim, all of them! I saw the bodies, the Smeets weren't even a few hours old." Tak was shaking now as she remembered the day it happened. She had been banished by the Tallest and that's when she saw it. A room full of bodies of young Smeets. She could tell just by their sent that they were freshly born Worthy Smeets, maybe only a few hours old; if that! She had ran then, disgusted with what she had seen.

She had sworn she'd never go back... that was until Dib had summoned her.

"What is she talking about?" another one of the hooded ones asked, it was a girl's voice.

"Yeah Zim what are Worthy Ones?" the one beside the girl asked.

"Leave us all of you!" Zim ordered suddenly.

"What!?" one of the figures asked obviously furious. "You want us to leave! Why so you two can plot against us?"

Tak cringed at the words, Distrust; it was already growing like a weed among them, and she knew her's, and Gaz's plan would only make those weeds grow taller.

"Zim?" Dib looked at him in disbelief he wanted him to leave!?

"There are something's about my kind you shouldn't know." Zim told them. "Your kind would only fear us more, you wouldn't understand." He said as his eyes fell on the one who had accused him of treason.

Dib nodded he knew Zim was probably right, and besides he wasn't going to get anything out of him. Not when he was in this state. "Fine we'll go."

"The hell we will!"

"Zinger please" Zim hissed using Mark's code name for his own protection. "Please just go…" his hiss had turned into barely a whisper.

Mark growled; he was obviously upset at Zim for demanding a private audience with Tak. "Fine but I will expect a good explanation later." He said as he walked away.

The other 3 figures followed suit, but Zim did not speak until he was sure that they were gone.

"Are you sure?" He finally asked her.

"Yes, I know what I saw, and every one of them bared the scent of a Worthy One." She assured him.

"Then we have no choice, this is a serious crime." Zim hissed. "The Tallest have broken the oldest, and most sacred code of our people." His voice cringed in obvious pain.

"You know what must be done." Tak told him, "You know what you must do!"

Yes; he knew what had to be done, and he knew he was the only one that would be strong enough to do it.

"The punishment for their crimes is irreversible they will fight you, and they will not go down easy. But you must defeat them. For as long as they are around our people will be enslaved by their fear their rage."

He knew every word she spoke was true, and even so the very thought of what he had to do filled him with an over powering since of pain. He knew that there was no other way. The Tallest had corrupted their people and had tainted the Irken name with the blood of their own!

"They must be stopped!" Zim growled.

"Their hunger for power has become too great. You have to kill them Zim, it's the only way to stop them for good." Tak told him.

"I KNOW THE LAW!" Zim shouted. "But..." he said more softly "You must promise me that Gaz will be out of harm's way by then."

"I can make that happen." Tak assured him. "But you must be honest with me Zim. Can you hold out that long?" she asked fearfully. He knew exactly what she was talking about, she could see it in his eyes, he knew what was happening to him, but it was obvious he could no longer control it and his answer only proved her suspicions.

"I don't know" Zim admitted. "I just don't know."

-To Be Continued