Episode Summary: A new hero has surfaced in Westville exposing the rebels to greater dangers than ever before. Can this new blind savior be trusted?

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

Episode 7: Not What She Seems (Part 1)

(147 years ago)

Growth…

Was it really too much to ask for?

Just one lousy inch! It wasn't like he was asking for 10 extra feet!

"How long do I have to stay like this?" Cadet Zim asked painfully.

General Kazar gave the cadet a cruel stare, "Until you're so exhausted that you pass out!" he snapped.

Cadet Zim stiffened a groan; in all reality this was his own fault. If he had moved a little faster and managed to complete his training at the same time as Cadet Koi. Then he wouldn't be forced to stay up right in the perfect form of a handstand for 4 hours and counting!

So, what did his size have to do with his current situation?

Well the shorthand answer was all of Cadet Zim's hardships were caused by his lack of growth! The long-winded answer would go into explaining how the lack of growth caused him so much misery! It was simple really, when it came to training Cadet Koi always use his size for advantage and ended up beating him in every training exercise; leaving the loser to be punished for failing…YET AGAIN!

"You are still not learning your lesson." General Kazar snapped.

"What is suspending me upside down until I pass out supposed to teach me?" Cadet Zim snapped, obviously frustrated.

"Your punished in this way, because of how Koi out did you." General Kazar explained. "He used his strength and size to outwit you. So as punishment you're being pushed to test your physical strength through pain. But if you would just learn your lesson then you could stop wasting our time with this nonsense!"

"But I can't out strength him!" Cadet Zim shouted. He was close to tears now. "He's too fast, too big, too strong!"

"Then stop trying to out strength him!" General Kazar snapped.

"But if I stop trying to out strength him, than how will I win?" Cadet Zim asked desperately.

"That Zim, is what you are supposed to be learning from this lesson." General Kazar said softly now. "How many times have we done this?"

"478 times." Cadet Zim answered shamefully.

"And in all that time has this punishment done much to make you stronger?" General Kazar asked.

"No Sir." Cadet Zim sighed heavily. It was true, in fact if anything this little punishment only proved how weak he really was. "I'm weak and pathetic." He said solemnly. "That's the lesson here. Right? I'm too weak and pathetic to do anything right!"

"Weak yes." General Kazar admitted. "But you are still young. Strength will come in time." He assured him. "Pathetic?" he asked.

Zim flinched at the answer he was sure was coming.

"No…"

'Wait did he just say no?' Cadet Zim was shocked. "But I fail at everything!"

"Only because you're using the wrong strategy." General Kazar lectured. "If you can't out muscle someone Zim what do you do?"

It felt as if a light bulb went off in Cadet Zim's head. "You out smart them." He said.

"Yes, that is the lesson you are to be learning from all this, and until you start doing it you will receive this punishment every single time."

Cadet Zim sighed as General Kazar began to walk away.

"So, my advice to you is that you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start using that brain of yours to do something about it!" General Kazar ordered.

"Yes Sir." Cadet Zim answered with a grunt, his arms were much tired now, but he refused to give into the exhaustion.

"Good now you will stay like that until you pass out, and if you fall on purpose and take a nap thinking you can fool me. Then your punishment will be far worse." General Kazar warned, before disappearing out the door.

But Cadet Zim wasn't alone for long.

"You should just throw in the towel already." Cadet Koi jeered. "You'll never take this position from me!"

Cadet Zim closed his eyes, and did his best to ignore his fellow cadet…

Of course, this only made Cadet Koi torment him more. "This was my position filth, but no you had to go, and cry your way in you little leach!"

Of course, Zim hadn't really cried, he simply demanded he'd be given a chance to prove his worth. 'What worth? I can't do anything right!' Zim snapped at himself.

"And if you think you can gain any ground by outsmarting me then you're wasting your time. You can't out due my superior brain." Cadet Koi went on.

Cadet Zim's eyes narrowed as he stared the cadet down. "I will beat you at something someday Koi." He vowed.

"Yeah good luck with that." Cadet Koi laughed before marching away. "The day you beat me filth; is the day the Irken Empire will crumble at our enemy's feet!"

Zim rolled his eyes and doubled his efforts giving little thought to his words.

However, whether the two cadets realized it, or not;

Koi's words held more truth then they would ever realize…

(Present Day…)

It was late…

Zim yawned loudly as he and his four comrades began their descent to their underwater base.

"So, this thing that's happening next week-" Rachel began as she stirred the cruiser towards the base. "Just how dangerous is it?"

"Very." Zim answered.

Dib nodded his agreement, even though in all reality his mind was elsewhere. 'Who was that girl from earlier?' he wondered. 'And how did she do all that without being able to see?' It was puzzling to say the least, after all he was sure that even without the mask Dib would at least know if a Girl from his school was blind!

Wouldn't that be hard to miss?

'Maybe she's new in town?' he thought. 'Or maybe she doesn't go to school.'

It made sense after all there was a number of humans that hid from the Irken world underground. The Irkens referred to them as Sewer People.

Dib shook his head trying to focus, but his thoughts kept returning to earlier that night. If she hadn't been their Dib would have been found out and killed! He forced himself to keep his mind off of that small fact by working up some plans for this weapons raid mission. After all the last thing he needed to do was worry Zim. The Irken had insisted that they go home after the slave trader incident earlier tonight, but Dib insisted that informing the team of the weapons raid was more important.

The cruiser pulled into the entrance of the dome and the force field gave way as the dome entranced closed.

"Master!" Gir screamed and jumped into Zim's arms.

Of course, Zim dropped him on an instinct, but the rusty old robot just got up; and smiled happily.

"I missed you sooooooo much!" He cried. "Mr. Pig and I were bored all day!"

Zim shook his head but found a smile slipping on his face. "I missed you too Gir." He said, and it was true he had missed the little hurricane that had once been a daily constant in his life. But they all knew it was too dangerous for Gir to be around him since the spy drones where on high alert for any Irken property. All S.I.R units had several trackable parts registered in the Irken database, and Gir was no exception.

So even with the most believable disguises, any Spy drone would be able to see the truth.

"Please tell me we have a plan." James said breaking up the reunion.

"Plan!? You guys aren't really thinking about this are you?" Mark snapped. "Even if it's not a trap the new recruits aren't ready for a mission this big!"

"I must admit." Rachel agreed. "It's too soon to launch another attack, but we can't afford to let the ground troops get those weapons!"

"Rachel's right." Zim agreed "I don't like it either, but if the soldiers get those weapons then we'll be at a great disadvantage. The weapons we have are too primitive to stand a chance against Irken Weaponry."

James nodded his own agreement, but he still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling deep in his gut. "Be honest with me both of you." He said to Zim and Dib. "What are the chances that this is a trap?"

"Tak seemed truthful enough." Zim answered. "I did not sense any deception, plus she clearly voiced that she wanted to know zero details."

"She said that?" Mark asked.

Zim nodded.

"Even if she's on our side this plan is still too risky." James voiced.

"Dib what do you think?" Rachel asked her words startling him out of his thoughts.

"James is right to be worried, we are." Dib agreed "The food truck was definitely a trap, but we were able to handle it, besides I think it should be up to the recruits if they think their ready or not." as he spoke he kept his eyes trained on Zim; the Irken had spoken little to any of them since he revealed his illness. Of course, this small fact only made Dib worry more.

"So, do we have a working plan?" Rachel asked.

Dib nodded. "It's in the briefing room ready to go." he assured her as he sent the plans from his computer to the briefing room supercomputer through e-mail.

"Then let's go over it, I want it to be good, and foolproof before the recruits come in tomorrow." Rachel tried to hold back a yawn as she spoke but failed to do so.

No one blamed her, they were all tired from pulling double shifts.

The five plus Gir filed into the briefing room and Dib set up his presentation.

Gir watch his master closely, things seemed to have settled down since Zim had stopped suppressing the change; in fact, Gir truly felt that the worst was behind them.

"Okay so we know the shipment will be happening at the base of the main bridge." Dib said beginning his brief. "Now this gives the enemy a good vantage point."

"So, they'll see us coming a mile away." James pointed out.

"Yes and no." Dib answered as he pulled out a blueprint of a warehouse. "Listen I have plans set up for a diversion, this warehouse is empty and right beside the bridge a possible rave here could draw the enemy away from the weapons."

"A rave, if any of them get caught." Rachel began.

"It's risky, but necessary, besides none of our members will be at the rave, heck the kids there won't even know about the mission. Well leak that there's a party happening at the warehouse the night of the weapons raid. Their loud party will attract the enemy's attention giving us the upper hand. And once the Irken police figures out they can't get anything out of them about what happened they'll let them go with some community service, and a stern warning."

"Dib is right." Zim said hoping he at least sounded alert and awake. "We need a diversion, and a bunch of teens out pass curfew is our best bet."

"I still say it's too risky." James pressed.

"Okay let's take a vote." Rachel suggested "All for Dib's plan raise your hand."

Everyone but James raised his hand.

"Sorry James." Mark gave his cousin a pat on the back "But Rachel is right we need those weapons."

James nodded "Okay I'm in, but can I suggest that if we split up we each take 4 of the recruits with us so they at least have someone with them who knows what they're doing."

"I agree." Zim said backing him up. "The weapons shipment will be heavily guarded even if some of the guards go off to handle the distraction."

"Then it's settled." Rachel stood as she spoke. "We leave for the shipment next week at midnight sharp. I motion that this meeting be adjourned. "

"I second the motion." James agreed.

"I third it!" Zim stood up as well grabbing the edge of the table for support as a sharp headache overcame his senses.

"Then this meeting is adjourned!" Dib announced.

"If anyone needs me I will be preparing our arms for the mission" Zim said, practically racing to get out of the room, with Gir hot on his heels.

The other four watched him until he disappeared out of sight, but it was Rachel who was the first to speak. "Dib has he said anything else to you?"

"No." Dib answered gravely. "But until he proves that his illness is a hazard, we can't force him to stay out of this mission."

"I don't want to kick him out of the mission." Rachel said. "I just want to know if he's okay."

"He says he is, but I can see the pain written on his face." Dib admitted.

"You think there's more he isn't telling us?" Mark said it wasn't a question; but a statement.

Dib grimaced, "It's that obvious uh?" he asked.

They all nodded.

"And if it's obvious to us, then it will be obvious to everyone else soon enough." James added.

Dib sighed deeply; he knew they were right. If they could see it as clear as day so could the rest of the resistance, and they already had their doubts about him. "Listen I'll get more out of him soon okay, I promise, but right now let's just give him some space."

"Sure." James answered.

"Will do." Rachel agreed.

Everyone looked at Mark.

"What?" He asked. "Of course, I'm gonna give him some space I'm not that heartless." He snapped. "Geesh!"

Gir shook his head as he watched from his usual hiding spot just behind the cracked door.

"They can't stay in the dark much longer." The computer brain told the S.I.R bot knowingly. "Soon it won't be safe for them to be around him anymore, in fact the metamorphosis could have already started."

Gir knew the brain was right, but he refused to give in. "They know enough!" he snapped.

"And if he hurts them or worse?" The computer brain asked.

"Master is strong, he will hold out; he has to." Gir assured him.

"I hope your right." The computer whispered before going into sleep mode leaving Gir alone in his usual ocean of despair.

"Master will pull through." Gir assured himself, than with a little more self-doubt he gulped; and added "At least I hope so..."

(Back with Gaz...)

Patience…

She never had any to begin with, but if she did it would have been long gone by now.

"When are they going to let me out?" she whispered to Tak as the Irken handed her tonight's evening meal.

"Soon." Tak assured her. "Once the boys complete the mission on the weapons raid the Tallest will be please. They'll see how big the enemy is, and how organized they are. And once they start getting information on the enemy they will realize once and for all I can be trusted. Then I can "sway" you to our side."

"Then I can get out?" Gaz asked.

Tak nodded. "By the way I managed to sneak you something." The Irken female handed her a book. "I know it's not a video game, but-"

"It's perfect!" Gaz assured her. "I mean I'm just glad I'll finally have something to do."

"Don't worry it won't be much longer." Tak assured her. "I promise."

Gaz nodded and took her meal tray; it mostly contained some kind of slop that reminded her of the lunchroom cafeteria food. With a glass of water, and a piece of fruit. She made a face of discuss before sitting down and beginning to eat.

"I will speak with you again in the morning." Tak told her.

Gaz simply nodded and continued eating her meal,

Not even stopping to watch as the Irken female left her alone once more…

(The Next Morning…)

Rain,

There was a time when she loved it…

Crystal Peterson stiffened a scream of utter frustration as a large amount of rainwater was splashed on her. No doubt it had come from a snobby Irken as they drove by in there motorized vehicle. Crystal cursed under her breath as she pushed her wet dripping raven hair out of her face and continued her walk to school.

In all honesty she was lucky to be alone, most times her parents would be crazy overprotective and make her take a guide, but in the crazy chaos of the first day of school in a new town she had managed to get away; a blessing indeed. Not that she hated her parents, no she loved them dearly, but they had a bad habit of treating her blindness as a debilitating disability.

And they were wrong to do so!

Crystal had been blind since birth, and she never saw it as a disability. To her the darkness that greeted her every morning was absolutely normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. After all sure she lacked sight, but her other senses always made up for what she lacked. For example, Crystal could hear things way before others did, and her sense of touch was so well defined that she could actually feel the vibrations in the ground and the air around her. Also, her senses of smell and taste were so good she could guess the ingredients in almost any food you could think of.

So, she was anything but helpless…

But getting her parents to believe that was another problem all together!

Crystal rolled her white filmed eyes in dismay as the loud sound of a bell filled the morning air. 'Great and now I'm late!' Of course, this only made her move faster, tapping her cane out in front as she went. 'Today is going to suck!' she groaned inwardly as she finally made it to the front entrance of the school.

She had half a mind to skip school today, but she needed to find out some information. Rumor had it the Renegades went to this school, and an even bigger rumor in The Underground was that the Renegades even had an Irken on their side.

The Underground, or the Seward-People as the Irkens called them; was a group of vigilantes that lived in the seward systems. They fought mostly against illegal human slave trades and other things of that nature.

But if these claims about the renegades were true then she needed to find them and join the ranks, after all the more allies the underground had the better. Besides as much as she loved helping save innocent humans from a world of slavery, she longed to do more. She wanted to stop the enemy in their tracks as the Renegades had done several times before.

"Watch where you're going you slug!"

Crystal hissed in pain as she accidentally bumped heads with one of the Irken cadets as she walked aimlessly down the hall.

"I'm sorry sir." She mumbled. "I didn't see you."

"Didn't see me!" The cadet snapped. "What are you blind or something?!"

"Yes, Sir I am…" Crystal muttered, kicking herself for not paying more attention to where she was going.

"Really?" The cadet asked. "How strange, you humans actually let your defectives live?"

'Oh no he did not just call me defective!' Crystal forced herself not to lash out.

"Hey Scamooch, are you coming sir?" Another Irken asked the one who had just ran into her.

"No, I'll be heading outside for a few minutes." Cadet Scamooch answered his eyes never leaving the female human in front of him. "I'd do my best to pay attention next time defect!"

"Yes sir." Crystal answered with gritted teeth and waited for him to walk out the door. Finally, once she was sure he had gone she head towards the check-in line. She already wanted the day to be over and it had yet to begin, but then again she didn't expect anything less after all this was school.

Crystal smiled at the thought and did her best to straighten her most likely frizzy hair.

After all, first impressions were everything, and she had to do this right.

She couldn't ruin this, not this time; for if she did,

All mankind's freedom will be gone forever!

-To Be Continued