Episode 8: Love and War (Part 3)

(Back with Kathy…)

The moment she got to her locker she kicked it with all her might.

Her rage for all it was worth don't even leave a dent. "He's so frustrating" Kathy screamed.

Scamooch winced as he heard her outburst from all the way down the hall, she was bound to get them in even more trouble if she didn't calm down. He realizes instantly that this is his fault why couldn't he just stop it? Why did he always have to care what other's thought? Zim could do it, in fact he did it with ease.

So why couldn't Scamooch.

Easy, he was getting in his own way of success.

Zim made it look easy because he honestly didn't care what anyone thought; he never had. Even when he was fully devoted to their leaders Zim always believed that he was right and those who did not agree with him was wrong. In order to do this Scamooch had to follow his lead, in other words he had to stop being another part of the Irken machine and think for himself.

Like Zim always had.

"What do you want?" Kathy snapped as he hot close.

"Keep your voice down?" Scamooch warned.

"Why?" Kathy yelled louder. "Don't want your friends to hear me insult you?"

"No I don't want you to get in trouble." He reasoned. "Besides they're not my friends, you are."

"Boy you sure know how to treat a friend." Kathy scoffed.

"Look, I get you humans are emotional train wrecks walking." Scamooch started.

Kathy swore she was going to strangle this guy, he had the nerve to call her emotional? He was the one being rude and snappy just seconds before.

"Look all I'm saying is, I'm new to this." Scamooch admitted. "It's…hard being…"

Kathy stopped as she realized how stupid she was being, peer pressure was something all kids her age dealt with and gave into; sometime on a daily bases. And yet she expected this kid to be different, no she was just giving him a hard time because he was Irken.

Just like the Irkens gave her a hard time because she was human.

She was doing the same thing they were. "We're both wrong." She admitted. "I never gave you a chance."

Scamooch smiled. "Can't say I blame you." He admitted as he led her back towards the class.

"So what are we going to do about this project?" Kathy asked.

"I think your ideas are both very good." Scamooch admitted. "But aren't you afraid they could use them to their advantage?"

Kathy smiled. "That's why it works." She said. "It makes you look good."

Scamooch froze, this human had been planning to look out for him from the beginning. If he took credit for either one of these ideas it would make it look like he was only befriending the humans in order to trick them into creating their own downfall.

Like an invader.

"You had my back." He realized.

"We are all on the same team." Kathy whispered "Besides the sooner we get through this the sooner we can focus on the real important stuff."

The Defectives Exam!

Of course Kathy would want to do all she can to not to get caught, since all of her sisters were in on this if one of them got caught; they all did.

"Then let's not waste any more time." He advised.

Kathy nodded, already feeling better. She still wasn't sure how she felt about the cadet beside her, but at least they were making progress.

Scamooch tenses once more as they reentered the classroom and for good reason all eyes are on them.

"Well Cadet." Mrs. Syl said firmly. "I trust you have come up with a project idea."

Kathy bit her lip, she looks around and sees that everyone else has written their ideas in a small section on the board. She wanted to kick herself, thanks to her they had wasted all their brainstorming time.

"We have." Scamooch said surprising her and their teacher.

The rest of their classmates also look intrigued, no doubt they were expecting Scamooch to take credit for everything and insult her while he was at it.

Kathy prepared for the worse, reminding herself not to take it to heart.

The insult never came.

"My partner has suggested we make a reusable Water-Powered Battery." Scamooch explained. "If we can get it working we believe it will have many potentials such as powering up automotive production lines or generating power to new aqua filters within the Earth's Oceans seeing how were right by the ocean its ideal it could replace the towers we lost, and produce more clean water faster than they ever could."

Kathy was stunned, Scamooch had took both her idea and combined them into one. Not only that but he gave her full credit!

Silence followed his words and not for the reason you would expect. They were not silent because Scamooch had referred to her as his partner, his equal! Nor were they surprised that this human had a remarkably good idea. What surprised them was that this human's idea could potentially help stop the shortage and increase their war effort.

Mrs. Syl seems to be the first to come to her senses. "Well done." She said. "I am pleased to see that you are taking this punishment seriously. I also look forward to the finished project now sit."

Kathy allows herself to breathe a sigh of relief as she takes her seat that was a close one.

Too close Scamooch thought sitting beside her.

"I must say I'm impressed." Cadet Lami whispered from the other side of him. "You managed to trick her to betraying her own kind without even knowing it."

"Humans are more obedient when you play nice." Scamooch reasoned. "Why do you think our powerful leaders give them any rights at all? It's called manipulating the enemy into doing the work for you."

Raki snickered. "I should have known you had some ulterior motive." She admitted. "Still I don't see how you can stomach being nice to her, even if it's just pretending."

"And that's what separates me from armatures like you." Scamooch hissed finally allowing himself to breathe easy. His status among his peers was finally restored now all they had to do was survive this week.

Kathy could only hope it was smooth sailing from here.

(Back with Zim...)

[Six Days Later…]

They must have ran through every scenario he could think of a thousand times over.

Dib did his best to keep his heart beat leveled as he walked the school halls, but deep down he knew this was wrong. Any normal person wouldn't have been able to see it, the fact that distant faces down the hall had no true features, or how his shoes didn't squeak when he walked. Dib, however, had done this so many times now that it was easy for him to point out the flaws. Still, that wasn't the name of the game, it wasn't enough to know that this wasn't real.

No, his objective was to fool the brain into thinking he was nothing more than an average school boy. Nothing more than plain ordinary Joshua Campbell.

Zim tapped his fingers impatiently on the console before him, Dib and the others had been under for quite some time now. Almost every member of the Resistance was here, doing their best to get some practice in before the test tomorrow. And to say he was worried was an understatement. Zim couldn't remember the last time he was this worried. Of course, this might have to do with the fact that he never really had anything worth carrying about before now.

It was moments like this that made Zim wonder if he actually could leave this place. He knew he had to go and receive his blessing from his ancestors and soon, but could he actually leave them like this? Tomorrow the resistance could very well be cut in half thanks to this stupid test. Sure no one would die, but they'd still be out of the game until they could escape; and who's to say they'd be able to before he left?

"You should get some sleep." Goalit said as he came from behind. "It's getting late." He advised.

"They're not sleeping." Zim pointed out gesturing to his comrades.

Each of them sat around him, wearing head gear that simulated what the brain would be using on them tomorrow. Since there were so many students in the school it was unideal to use one brain for each of them. This meant that it was more likely that one brain would be assigned to test a whole class at once; using head gear similar to these, which would be attached to the brain.

This was a good thing for the resistance because it meant the brain wouldn't be focusing on one given person at a time. This left more margin for error however, such knowledge gave Zim little relief.

"No but they are unconscious." Goalit reminded him. "You forget you must take the test as well." He added. "You will need to be focused and refreshed my Taller."

Zim knew he was right, but he couldn't find the strength to pull himself way from the console.

"They'll be fine." He assured him.

"Will they?" Zim dared to ask out loud.

"You made it this far." Goalit said. "Can't all be just luck?" He added as if he was reading his mind.

"Hasn't it?" Zim questioned. "A lot of our success has to do with the fact that the Tallest have greatly underestimated us. That won't last." He stated the obvious.

"This victory will blind them to your next move. Their guard will be down allowing you to leave."

"Still…" He didn't bother finishing his sentence.

He didn't need to. After much thought Zim had decided that he could not wait until everyone was freed before leaving for his blessing. As much as it pained him Scamooch was right, he could not postpone his destine for much longer. No, Dib would have to save those captured along with the Undergrounds on his own.

And there lied the problem, he promised her he'd look after him.

"You're wondering if leaving is still a good idea." Goalit said the obvious.

"It's not a good time." Zim stated.

"This is war, it's never a good time." Goalit countered.

Zim couldn't help but smile, this guy's wisdom knew no end. "If I leave it puts Dib in danger, if my double is discovered as a fake-"

"He will manage." Professor Membrane cut in, the father unit had been monitoring the vitals of all those hooked up to the machine including Dib's. "He never fails to amaze." He went on. "Though I will point out that this test seems to strain some more than others."

"Irken brains were not designed with humans in mind." Zim stated the obvious.

"Still this should probably be the last one you allow them to do." Goalit advised. "They need to break."

"I doubt any of them will." Professor Membrane took the words right out of Zim's mouth.

"We've done all we can." Elma assured him as she began to punch in the shutdown sequence. "All Five leaders have passed at least three times in a row."

"Yes but everyone else has failed as many times as they have massed." Zim hissed. "And let's not forget how some of you humans get terrible testing anxiety."

Elma knew he had a point, but there was no since in fighting it now. "Have you decided whose going to fail on purpose yet?"

It was a good question, one that had formed a heavy discussion that had carried on throughout the week. The whole point of this was for those who got caught to end up with the Undergrounders Imprisoned on Zec. There old and new Allies would form together under one temporary leader; who would in turn plan their escape and lead them to victory. Of course, this victory had its own draw backs.

Those caught could never return to the Earth's surface, because the whole point of getting caught was to have more of their people on Zec to help fight when Zim made his move on the Tallest. This meant this leader would have to find a way to hide all the escapees in the shadows of Zec a city infested with the enemy. If they got caught again, there was no guarantee they would get to return to the prison camps on Zec.

"There is no one here without family" Zim answered. "However, we do have one in mind." He assured her. "Her family contains just her and her sisters, if they get caught no civilians have to suffer."

"Have you told her?" Goalit asked.

Zim shook his head. "I am about to." He said. Doing his best not to over think it. It was a lot of responsibility leading this residence. So big in fact that the Renegades had not one but five leaders; would this be too much for one child to bare? No, she would not be alone, she would have her fellow rebels, the Undergrounders and the soldier Bec to help pull this off.

He could only hope that would be enough.

"Have you told Dib you're leaving?" Professor Membrane asked the question that must have been on all of their minds.

Zim had told no one about his thoughts of leaving earlier than expected, but somehow the Professor had picked up on it.

"You're quieter than usual." Professor Membrane stated as if he was reading his mind. "Did I assume incorrectly?"

The answer was an easy no.

"I plan to leave when the test results come out." Zim said quietly. "Once I know he's in the clear Scamooch and I are leaving."

"Have you told him yet?" Elma asked.

"I don't think I will." Zim said. Or more accurately he wasn't sure he could. He wasn't sure when the boy had become so important to him, but he feared saying goodbye. Because he knew that if he did there was always the chance that he wouldn't be coming back.

A lot could go wrong in deep space...

They could get caught by an enemy fleet, or killed by Irken hating refugees from past wars. Or worse, the Ancients could eliminate him themselves. Would they? If they found him unfit to lead his people into this new era would they think they would all be better for it?

And if so could he just do it? Could he die for them?

If it was in the mist of battle yes, without question; but to just give up?

No Zim didn't think he could do that. Still he forced the thought away for now and focused on his fellow leaders. Out of all of them they must pass! It had taken them all week to get to this far, and with the test happening tomorrow afternoon there was little room for error. It was now or never! "One last test Elma."

Elma paused, just seconds from removing Dib's head set.

"Unhook everyone else." Zim added. "This is just for them." and with that he placed his own head set back on, taking over for the computer brain once more.

(Back with Mark…)

They had done this so many times he was beginning to question what was really real. 'I wonder if the brain will be able to tell if our minds have been trained for this sort of thing.' He looked around him knowingly, he was in second period at the moment, only he wasn't. Mostly because they didn't all share his second period class. He looked to his cousin James knowingly, who was sitting beside Rachel.

If this was a real test, he would be surrounded by his usual class mates. This is because all the students would be hooked up to same brain, meaning they would all be taking the same test. But since Zim was the brain those who were currently still wearing the head set was hear when they shouldn't be.

He spots Dib in the front row where Zim usually was when he played as Joseph, the closest seat to the door.

Dib looks back and notices him, he nods and looks forward again.

Yes, Mark knew this wasn't real but as Zim had pointed out a thousand times, simply knowing wasn't enough.

He wondered how long he would stay here in this endless limbo, Mark knew that any minute now Zim would pull the rug from under him. Present him with a situation that would force him to act, and base on his response he would be labeled either effective or defective.

But nothing happened.

'Maybe that's it.' Mark thought. 'Maybe it's testing to see if I can just sit and conform.' It was a likely scenario, one he knew the computer would probably use to some extent during the real exam. One that was taking place tomorrow.

And just like that he wondered if today was the last day of his freedom, would he be one of the ones found out, and dragged away?

"If you keep this up you will be." Zim stated as he appeared before the class. "You're letting your thoughts wonder again." He lectured.

James groaned. "Please make it stop." He begged. "My brain is going to melt."

"Yeah besides how's an ordinary day in class going to prove anything?" Rachel asked.

"Have you forgotten that the brain will be hooked up to your mind? It will hear your every thought!" Zim warned, eying Mark.

"Then what do I do?" Mark snapped.

"I've been humming this whole time." Rachel admitted. "You know thinking about something else, anything else."

"That could work." Dib said. "I've just been working on…"

"Focus on the task at hand." Zim interrupted him.

"I am!" Mark yelled "That's the problem.

"No not that task." Zim hissed, "The one sitting on your desk!"

"Everyone looked down at their desks as if for the first time.

Mark noticed a sheet of paper. "2 plus 2? Really?" He snapped.

"This is a likely scenario." Zim explained. "If the brain can trick you into thinking it's just another day in class your thoughts will wonder. The more real it looks the better, which mean it won't be like a dream where everything is backwards."

"But why give us something else to focus on?" Dib asked.

"Because it can't tell who's defective if it's not programed to know what is effective." Zim explained. "Otherwise everyone would be defective."

"Oh." Dib realized as if he gets it.

"I'm not following." Mark admitted.

"Me either." James added.

Zim rolled his eyes. "It's just like any other test." He reasoned. "There are correct answers, an effective student would perform the task in front of him without question, and a defective student would not."

"But this test is supposed to find rebels." Mark argued.

"No it's a defective test." Zim reasoned. "Cadets take them in the academy, it's one of the exam's you must pass before you are awarded your assignment and become a soldier."

"But Gaz came up with this." Dib said.

"No she gave the Tallest the idea to test us, but this is the same programing they use to detect defectives."

"But that means anyone could be labeled defective tomorrow." Rachel realized. "Not just us, but innocent students."

Zim nodded. "The brain will most likely look for any defectives it can find in the class first and then run several test to try and find out which of those marked as defectives are actually rebels, but yes you are right." He confirmed. "Some innocent students might fall through the cracks."

"And we're not going to stop it?" Mark exclaimed.

"Those caught will be held on Zec, and questioned." Zim assured him. "Those who are innocent will be proven to be useless and allowed to return home."

"And if not?" James challenged.

"Then their lives will be over as they know it." Zim stated the obvious.

"Which will give them plenty reason to join up with us." Mark concluded. "You snake."

"This is how Irkens rage war." Zim reasoned simply. "You want to win? Then you have to beat them at their game."

Mark knew he had point, and he was sure the others must have come to the same conclusion too, but it still made him feel dirty.

"Um excuse me." A familiar voice came from the back.

Mark turned to see Jamie standing there, looking confused.

And she was indeed very confused. "I get why you guys are here." Jamie said. "But why am I?"

"Because someone needs to those who get caught." Dib answered for her. "Someone who can devise an escape plan and provide us back up when we move to attack the palace."

"Since your family comes from a military background we thought you'd be the best suited for the job." Rachel cut in.

Jamie supposed that made since, after all her father was a SEAL before he died defending Earth from Irk. And he had taught Jamie many tricks of the trade, of course his hope was that one day she would follow in his footsteps. "But that means I have fail on purpose." She realized. "And if I fail my sisters will be found out too."

"You don't have to do this." Zim assured her. "We can pick someone else."

"No it has to be me." Jamie realized. "Everyone else has family who are not involved with us they'll be thrown in prison too."

Zim nodded. "But if you fail on purpose then the computer will know for sure you are one of us." He reasoned. "Which means you will be clumped together with all those associated with us."

"Including the Undergrounders." Dib added.

Jamie looked unsure.

"Don't worry." Rachel assured her. "Crystal will be joining you shortly."

"She's going to get caught?" Jamie asked.

"They're her people." Dib reasoned. "Besides she needs to know if her family is still…" he didn't finish.

Jamie didn't need him to, all the adults including Crystal's parents had already been on their way to Zec when they had found April and the Irken worshipers. If she was Crystal and there was a chance her parents were still alive, of course she would go see them. Determination filled her as she allowed a since of calm to run through her. She was not in this alone, she would have her family and Crystal by her side. "I'll do it." She said.

"Good." Zim stated.

"We better get some sleep." Dib added.

"Can't we go one more time?" Rachel asked hopefully.

"No you've over worked your brains enough." Zim advised. "You are all as ready as you'll ever be."

Dib nodded as they all removed their headgear, the other rebels stood around them, awaiting them. "This it guys." Dib said starting the pep talk. "Tomorrow will begin the course of events that will lead us to the end of this war."

"Do your best." Rachel cut in. "If you pass be sure to lay low for a while until this all blows over."

"For those who fail." Zim stated. "Jamie and Crystal will be in command."

Jamie looked to Crystal who took her hand in her own.

"We got this." She assured her.

Jamie nodded as her sisters Kathy and Mary met their eyes with hers. They knew what this meant, tomorrow their freedom would be gone, stripped away from them.

"We knew what we signed up for." Mary said taking her sisters hand.

Kathy nodded as she joined hands with them as well. "Let's do this." She said.

James nodded. "Good luck everyone." He said. "Tomorrow we will be torn apart, split into two separate groups, but when we see each other again the final battle will be upon us." He reasoned. "So be ready."

After he spoke silence reigned, and for good reason; there was really nothing left to say.

Tomorrow was Judgment Day, whether they were ready or not the end was coming,

And it was coming for them all!

Episode 8: Love and War (Part 3) END!