Episode 5: The Sign

Episode Summary- the Renegades attack the last standing Water tower, but will their new Irken Allies answer the call?

Disclaimers: I Do Not Own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: Alright guys its holiday season, which means time for updates will be harder to come by. Not to mention Fanfiction seems to be on the frits (Not working well) so please bear with me as I try to update my story any way.

Also I would like to thank all of my loyal readers that seem to stick with me no matter what! You guys make this story come to life. I mean seriously a lot of my characters are either made by you or inspired by you. And that means a lot!

So thank you!

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine :)

Episode 5-The Sign (Part 2)

(Back with Dib…)

He felt so exposed…

The feeling made him run faster as he and Zim ran towards their entry point.

The water factory was surrounded by an electric fence, however Professor Membrane had designed four electrical disruptors. These small devices were designed to cancel out all electricity against a surface for approximately five minutes. However, the area of protection was only about two feet wide and five feet tall. Luckily the fence wasn't very high, and two feet was wide enough for anybody allowing the renegades to climb the fence.

The other teams were also heading to their own entry points where they would use their own electrical disruptors to climb over the fence and to the other side. Once the electrical disruptor's five minutes was up it would dissolve; leaving no trace behind that it was there. This would keep the guards oblivious to their intrusion if they ever decided to walk the fence line as they sometimes did.

It didn't take them long to reach the fence and as soon as they are there Zim, attaches the electrical disruptor and begins to climb. He must move fast so Dib too will have time to get over before electrical disruptor melts away. The Irken makes it over in record timing and Dib soon lands beside them.

"Over." Zim says into his Comm link.

"Us too." Mark Reported.

"Over." James added seconds later.

"Almost." Goalit spoke up sounding kind of nervous, and he was, not for himself however. No he had made it over just fine Elma however, was having some…difficulties.

"My pants are caught." She whispered. She had climbed up the fence and had swung her leg over to the other side to jump down only for her black jeans to get caught.

"I get you." Goalit held her in place so she could let go and try to pry her pants free.

Elma tugs at the fabric but it won't give way, she has no choice but to try and rip the jeans. "Pull." She told Goalit.

"What?" He asked.

"Pull me off!" She ordered.

"Oh!" Goalit gives it a tug. But the black jeans are not cotton.

"Guys we might have a problem." Elma admitted.

"Wait I think I can…" Goalit trailed off as one of his PAK legs came out and slashed the hung up fabric.

Elma fell free of her trap and fell ungracefully onto her saver. "Sorry." She said, getting up. "And thanks."

Suddenly the electrical disruptor zapped behind them and began to melt away.

"That was close." Goalit said as she helped him up.

"Too close." Elma admitted.

"You guys good?" Dib's voice asked over the Comm link.

"Over." Goalit reported trying to withhold his laugh.

Elma also was giggling, apparently they both laughed in near miss situations. Of course it was out of relief. "No BBQ Elma today folks."

"God you guys nearly gave me a heart attack." Rachel said.

"Let's keep moving." Zim ordered. "And Goalit make sure your partner doesn't try to die again on the way out."

"I'll try, but she's a mess." Goalit teased. "I simply can't bring her anywhere."

"It's my fist mission!" Elma pouted as she gave him a playful punch as they continued on their way, she really enjoyed doing things with him. Most of the time they just designed weapons together. However, today they were out on the field, and while as an Irken Goalit had at least some fighting and combat experience Elma had none.

"Like it isn't obvious." Goalit mused as they reached the tower's west entrance. The doors were pretty standard after all the water factories were simply Earth made water treatment facilities that had been repurposed by the Irkens after their arrival. However, a locking device that appeared to be Irken was placed on the door.

This had been expected, lots of repurposed buildings had these locks, and Goalit had it deciphered in less than a minute.

Elma breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped into the door way and closed the door behind them. "In." She reported.

"In." Zim repeated into his Comm link.

"Us too." Mark Reported.

"We're in." James said allowing Rachel to go in ahead of him before closing the door behind them. A lot had changed between them, but she had surprised him today by asking to hold hands. She said she was nervous and scared.

He understood.

One of them could actually die today, before the crimes they committed had been met with less than lethal consequences. However, after this Irk would be out for their blood. It was a scary thought, and an unwelcoming one to say the least.

"I just want you to know that it was never your fault." Rachel said as they started down the empty and darken hall towards their destination. "I just needed…"

"Hey we're going to make it out of this." James assured her as they made a left turn making sure to keep a look out for guards, they heard a few, but they sounded far away. "And when we do I'll take you out to that one place you like so much."

"You mean Bloaty's?" Rachel asked. "Gaz and I love that place, they have the best Pizza." She sighed. "I wonder if it's still around."

James bit his lip. Most human restaurants had been replaced by Irken approved diners, and most of the food sold there wasn't even human at all. However, James heard that privilege humans had their own line of restaurants that looked fairly normal to how they did before Irk took over. "If not maybe undesirable one and two can help out."

Rachel scoffed now that Joseph was a minion everyone in the group was trying to figure out what they could score from their privileged statue. It was kind of shallow, but Rachel hadn't had a real pizza in over a year! And she hadn't had a cheese burger in so long it took her two hours one night to even remember what one looked like!

So needless to say she was being robbed of her childhood!

They all were and that's why this had to be done.

Irk had to be stopped.

The two took a right and then another left before making it to their destination. Each of the four chosen sites where placed at random weak points around the structure. The tower was old, and due to age some of it was more vulnerable than others. Their chosen weak point was in a long hallway on the East side. Goalit and Elm had a wall within a small room on the west side directly across from them.

While Zim and Dib took the north, their weak point was a section of the floor two stories up. Of course this would mean it would take them longer to get out then the rest of them which is why Dib had been entrusted with the bomb detonator. Once out he'd blow this place sky high.

Rachel gets to work attaching the bomb to the wall panel as James keeps watch it was important to make sure the guards on the inside didn't catch them in the act. No, the whole point of the plan was not to be discovered until after the bombs went off and the facility was in flames.

"Done." Rachel reported into her Comm link.

"Done." Elma's voice came next which was no shocker like Rachel and James; hers and Goalit's target was relativity close to their entry point.

Mark and Kornelius had a little further to go, they had the south side of the structure however their weak point was more dead center than south.

"Almost there." Mark whispered into his Comm link, he whispered due to the fact that they were ducking behind furniture in order to hide from several guards. It would appear that this area was more active than the rest of the building making their route resemble a land mine of danger at almost every turn.

Kornelius did his best to keep up with Mark's fast pace, all while trying to keep his mechanical parts from clanking too loudly on the metal surfaces around them. It was easy but they managed to reach the small section of floor in the middle of that guard infested room.

There was six of them in all and Mark was beginning to think that this must be some kind of break room. Of course, it was just their luck that one of the weak points was in the center of it; however, due to the fact that the guards were very loud as they carried on with their daily gossip no one noticed the two renegades enter the room, set their bomb and slowly exist.

Mark thought the irony was priceless, for he use to get really mad at Zim when he yelled too loud as he spoke. Even though Dib tried to explain to him that this was just how Irkens were; they were a loud and proud race. Still Mark didn't believe him. He simply thought Irkens were loud around humans just to get one their nerves. But now with no humans to be see he saw that they were still very loud.

Which meant Mark owed a certain Irken an apology.

"Done." Kornelius said once they were out of earshot.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief as they headed back to their entry point, which he guess was now called his exit point. James, Rachel, Elma, and Goalit were also on their way out.

Zim and Dib however had ran into a problem.

"I can't believe this!" Dib whispered harshly.

"I was I supposed to know they block the stairs?" Zim muttered trying to hack into the system. The stairs themselves were behind a wall that when prompted by the system would retract up into the celling and fall back down after a given time.

This meant Zim would have to hack the system once to get up to the second floor and again to get down, a task that if not done properly would alert security. Of course, Zim could force his way in with his PAK legs, but if anyone saw the damage before the place blew their cover would be blown and the whole mission could be in jeopardy. No, they needed to give the Irken Rebels time to get here and the explosion would cause much need confusion. That's why it had to work.

If the enemy was given time to get a hold of the situation the entire rebel force would be had!

"Got it!" Zim whispered as the wall retracted up.

Dib and the Irken raced up the stairs towards their destination; they were running out of time and they knew it. Soon the guards would take their post outside and start their shift and they needed to be out before then, or risk getting spotted.

"Out." Elma's voice reported over the Comm link, she and Goalit were outside, and making their way over the fence. Once done they'd run for the tree line as would the rest of the teams.

"Out." James declared.

"Over." Elma said, stating she and Goalit were over the fence.

"We're falling behind." Dib stated the obvious as they kept going, sticking close to the wall.

"I know." Zim said. "We weren't expecting the delay."

"Out." Kornelius chimed, sounding relieved.

"Over." Rachel said.

"Safe." Elma said, letting them know they had made it to the safety of the trees.

"Over." Mark stated.

"Almost there." Dib reported letting the others know they had fell behind. "Trouble." He added.

"Eluded." Zim cut in letting them know it was a problem they could handle.

"Understood." Rachel confirmed.

"Safe." James added moments later.

"Were here." Zim whispered as they stopped along a wall.

Dib nodded and began to place the bomb.

"Safe." Mark's voice came up over the Comm Link.

"Who's there?" A voice hissed loudly.

Dib and Zim froze the hall was relatively dark, so as long as the vice wasn't an Irken with night vision as an option for their ocular in plants they would be fine. Dib always marveled at the fact that not all Irkens were equipped with Night vision.

Of course, Zim explained that said technical advances such as night vision was still fairly new, and getting your ocular implants updated with said advances was quite the hassle. Therefore most Irkens didn't bother to get the update.

A ray of light from a guard's flash light swept across the room and Dib Zim had to dance around it to avoid being spotted.

Finally after a long silence the guard muttered. "Must be hearing things." As he continued on his way.

Still Dib and Zim didn't move for some time after.

"He's gone." Zim finally said as the gauds footsteps could no longer be hear even by Irken means.

Dib quickly finish setting the bomb. "Done." He whispered seconds later and then the two were off towards the stairs.

The journey back the way they came was less treacherous, and Zim was able to bypass the stair wall faster than the first time. Still they were cutting it kind of close, soon the gourds would be more active as the next shift began.

Their window of escape was fading fast.

They made it to their exit with little time to spare.

"Out." Zim reported as they made it towards the fence and attached an electrical disruptor before climbing over.

The two renegades sprinted for the trees.

Dib could see the other motioning them to hurry which means they must already see some guard's taking their post.

They make it!

Just as a guard turns to look their way they are out of sight.

"Safe." Zim whispered as they run up to their friends.

Mark, Kornelius, James, Rach, Elma and Goalit had all been waiting for them with bated breath.

"Cut it pretty close there." Kornelius pointed out.

"Sorry." Dib said breathlessly. "The stairs were blocked."

"How Bizarre." Goalit voiced.

"Ready with that detonator?" Rachel asked Dib.

Dib nodded, and with shaking hands he took it out of his pocket and placed his finger over the trigger.

He still had a bad feeling about this, and yet they had already come so far to quit now would make all this sneaking around a waste of time.

"Dib?" Zim queried.

"I got it." Dib assured him and with one final breath he pulled the trigger.

(Back with Mia…)

It was more felt than heard…

And explosion so violent that it shook the floor beneath them.

Mia had to steady herself along the wall of the waste tunnel around her.

"What's happening?" Wik asked helplessly as rubble and debris fell around them.

Before she could answer sirens wailed and Mia spooch jumped into her throat.

"It's happing…" She said through tears.

"What?" Tesi looks confused.

"This is it!" Mia shouted. "This is our sign!"

"But what is it!" Rae demanded.

"The surface we must go and see!" Mia ordered

The group makes their way up in a matter of seconds, and there in the distance is a flame of fire and smoke.

"The second water factory…" Kiel was stunned. "They got our message.

"And now we have theirs." Macey said.

"We have to go." Tesi said. "They'll be waiting for us!"

Mia nodded her agreement. "Go back down and grab what you can we haven't much time."

The Irken rebels moved as fast as lightning, or at least it felt like that.

Still no matter how fast they moved it must feel like an eternity to their new allies.

"Hold on." Mia whispered. "We'll get there.

And they would, she only hope that they managed to get there in time.

(Back with the Tallest…)

[Location; Royal Palace, Zec]

Fear had consumed him…

And yet the royal guard known as Bec had no choice but to give the tallest his report.

"My Tallest." He said standing before their throne.

"Let me guess." Red cut in looking strangely calm for someone who knew he was about to receive bad news. "There has been another attack."

Bec nodded. "The last remaining water factory had been destroyed." He confirmed.

The Tallest smiled.

Bec seems confused. "You don't…"

"Look worried?" Purple finished for him.

Bec nodded.

"Well while losing both factories will enrage our slaves who depend on the water from other conquered worlds." Purple began.

"We thought they might target the second one." Red cut in. "So we gave it poor security."

"On purpose?" Bec asked, and then gasped as he realized. "It's a trap?!"

Red nodded. "We have a little surprise set up for our rebel friends."

"One with any luck they won't walk away from." Purple conclude.

Bec was stunned, as always his Tallest were one step ahead. "And Irken Zim, Goalit what…wat will become of them?" The soldier had been one of Goalit's students back when he was a young smeet in the academy. Goalit had taught a good bit of them actually, but for Bec he was more than a teacher.

Goalit was a mentor and a friend, he was also the one who shot him at the Science camp during his escape.

Bec could still remember how sorry he looked, and he couldn't help but wonder how Zim had convinced him to betray the Tallest. More so he couldn't help but wonder if doing so had been a bad thing.

It was a traitorous thought he knew, but he thought it all the same.

Things had been so much easier when Zim was the only Irken against them, but now a whole cell of Irken defectives were on Earth. Of course only the royal guard and General Kazar had been entrusted with this secret.

The Tallest had assigned them with their elimination, however they had made it to Earth…somehow.

Bec assumed they stowed away on a supply ship from Irk to Earth a few months ago, but this theory was never confirmed.

Still, here they were and they must be working with Zim or trying to. Yes, defectives tended to band together, and Bec could accept this. He could believe that Zim and the cell of Irken rebels were bad, but Goalit…

He was good, all he ever wanted was what was best for Irk, and if he thought Zim was best For Irk.

'Am I on the right side?' It wasn't the first time he had this thought since Goalit's betrayal. 'I have to know.' He decided then said. "My Tallest permission to lead the assault."

"Permission granted." Red answered. "But they must be allowed to get away for the trap to work."

"We want all our enemies together." Purple explained. "Makes things easier."

Bec nodded. "I'll make it convincing My Tallest." He said.

"See that you do." Red said and then added. "You are dismissed."

Bec bowed and quickly left the throne room.

Only one thought was in his mind.

'I must know the truth.'

And he would find out the truth about Goalit's betrayal whether the Tallest wanted him to or not!

Episode 5- The Sign (Part 2) END!