Episode 9- The Enemy Within (Part 2)

Trouble…

That's what they were in!

Trouble so deep, that Joseph was sure this would be the end of them all!

And when did this trouble start?

Why the same time his troubles always start…

First Period!

And the worse part was Joseph had not seen it coming, and he should have; considering last night events! However, as he walked into his first period class he was ill prepared for what was about to unfold.

The first thing he noticed was all the human students were standing in a line against the back wall.

"What's going on?" he asked no one in particular.

"Get against the wall Mr. Campbell, NOW!" Mrs. Bean screamed.

Joseph obeyed immediately taking the spot beside Mark. The two shared an uneasy glance but said nothing to one another. But the silence between them was not there for the normal reasons of hate and distrust. No, the silenced lingered because of what had happened four days before.

Mark wasn't sure how to act towards the Irken now that he had saved his life. Before he was so sure that Zim was still working for the Tallest, but now he wasn't sure of anything. James had told him that according to Gir, Zim had killed the monstrous Irken in order to save him. However, Mark knew that a second beast had showed up out of nowhere and finished Koi off. Which left two options for Mark to consider. 1: Being that Gir lied about Zim being the one who killed Koi, and 2: He wasn't lying, meaning Zim was the second beast!

Mark wasn't sure which one was the answer, and he had no idea how to even begin explaining everything to the others; which was a problem. Why? Because Zim wasn't talking at all about any of the details to anyone! So naturally everyone came to Mark for answers next, and Mark would say he couldn't remember. Of course, that was a lie, he did remember; but he wasn't exactly sure of what he saw.

Joseph grimaced as he forced himself to appear at ease; it wasn't easy. Every Irken cadet in the classroom was staring at them down; as if they knew something the humans did not! And Joseph couldn't explain it, but he knew something was up!

Finally, a computer brain came into the room and floated over to the first human in line on the far left. "Hold out your hands!" the brain ordered.

Amber held out her hands nervously wondering what this could be about.

Suddenly the computer began to scan her hands!

Joseph watched carefully. 'What could they be scanning our hands for?' he wondered.

He soon got his answer.

"Weapons residue scan complete." The computer brain said. "Test results: negative!"

The realization came slowly…

Weapons… residue!

"Oh crap!" Mark whispered for only Joseph to hear. "They must have put some kind of residue on the weapons so they could catch us red handed."

'This is bad!' Joseph thought fearfully, and for good reason, he knew his race was far too intelligent to use a residue that could simply be washed away. So, it didn't matter if their hands were spotless, and it wouldn't matter if they washed them this morning or bleached them until they were white! Whoever touched those weapons was going to test positive. Sure, there were only a few members of the renegades that had actually touched the weapons, but all the Tallest needed was one of them! Why? Simple, the Renegades all hanged out together under the same tree during lunch, and their group had already been suspected once before!

"How did they know?!" Mark hissed.

"It could just be a coincident." Joseph whispered back.

"No, they had those weapons rigged with residue before we got there." Mark argued. "They knew we were coming!"

"NO Talking!" Mrs. Bean hissed.

Joseph turned away from Mark and watch as the computer brain got closer and closer to him. This was very bad! He knew without a doubt that he would not test positive, in fact he was 100% sure of it. He himself had not touched the weapons; he was far too busy waiting to blow up the bridge. However, he did know for sure of one person who did touch those weapons.

DIB!

Cadet Scamooch watched his target with growing interest, now to say that Campbell looked nervous was definitely an understatement. Heck the boy looked like he was going to roll over and die on the spot! 'Now what could you be worried about?' he wondered.

Mark's heart hammered in his chest as the Computer Brain stopped in front of him. He himself had not touched the weapons either, but he had shook several hand that had as he congratulated his comrades for a job well done. Was it possible that the residue had been passed down to him?

Well he was about to find out.

"Hold out your hands!" The computer brain ordered.

Mark obeyed and watched as the computer scanned him.

"Weapons residue scan complete." It said. "Test results: negative!"

Mark breathed a hidden sigh of relief as the computer moved on to Joseph.

Joseph held out his hands, and the computer scanned them as well.

"Weapons residue scan complete." It repeated. "Test results: negative!"

Again, he was not surprised by the results.

"Good, now that I know you're all clean you may sit." Mrs. Beans said.

The humans obeyed.

"Mrs. Bean?" Cadet Rene asked. "If you don't mind me asking: what was that all about?"

"Well since I know they're all clean I don't see why I can't answer you." Mrs. Bean said as she sat down in her chair. "Last night the terrorist group known as the Renegades attacked the main bridge."

Both humans and Irken cadets alike gasped.

"They blew the bridge to smithereens and made off with a good 20% of weapons from a weapons shipment that was passing by there." Mrs. Bean went on. "However, thanks to our sources we were aware of their plans, and managed to lace the weapons with a special residue to catch the culprits."

Mark gave Joseph his best. 'I told you so.' Look!

Joseph bit his lip, unfortunately Mark had been right, someone was leaking information to the Tallest; but who? He wasn't sure, but he knew he had to find out! After all, he had no doubt in his mind that most of the team would start pointing fingers at him, with or without Mark's help. And if he didn't find the real culprit first than he would have no choice but to leave!

Suddenly someone caught his eye! Right there sitting beside Cadet Rene, another Irken that he knew was a part of the resistance and had everything to gain from spying on them for the Tallest!

"Tak!" Joseph whispered.

"What?" Mark said not quiet hearing him.

"It's Tak." Joseph darted his eyes towards her. "She's been feeding information to the Tallest!"

Mark's eyes widen as the realization hit him as well. Of course! How could he not have seen it before? There wasn't just one Irken in the group; there was two!

Zim and Tak!

And according to Zim's and Tak's history, Tak had every reason to betray him!

And Dib had let her in!

'All this time I was focusing my efforts on exposing the wrong Irken!' Mark could have slapped himself. 'Now there's no telling what Dib has told her in hopes of getting Gaz back!'

"So that's what the brain was looking for?" Cadet Scamooch asked His question brought both Joseph, and Mark back to the matter at hand. "It was looking for residue?"

"Yes." Mrs. Bean answered. "And luckily for all of your human classmates they were all clean."

Joseph cleared his throat. "Just out of curiosity: What would happen if someone on campus tested positive?"

Cadet Scamooch smiled. "Why do you ask Campbell? Is it possible that you may know who is responsible?"

Joseph forced an uneasy laugh. "What? Of course not! I'm just curious that is all." He said.

"Well to answer your curiosity Mr. Campbell, the individual would be taken to the Vice Principal for questioning, and the closest next to kin would be notified. And asked that they too, meet at Mr. Gijon's office." Mrs. Bean answered.

Suddenly a voice rang out on the intercom.

"Would Joseph Campbell please report to Mr. Gijon's office? I repeat, Would Joseph Campbell please report to Mr. Gijon's office?"

Joseph suddenly had the urge to rip his own head off.

Cadet Scamooch laughed openly. "You were saying."

"What did you do?!" Joseph dared to ask.

"For once, nothing." Cadet Scamooch answered honestly. "No, it would appear your brother did this one all by himself! I'm not surprised though he does fit the type."

Joseph growled. "My brother would never-!"

"Oh, come on Campbell we all know how he feels about the Irken race." Cadet Rene cut in!

"Yes, it was bound to happen eventually." Cadet Scamooch mused.

"Mr. Campbell the Vice Principal is waiting!" Mrs. Bean snapped.

Joseph got up from his desk and began to walk away.

"I told you that brother of yours would only drag you down Campbell." Cadet Scamooch said, causing him to stop in his tracks. "Luckily For you however I hold no grudge. I get it, family ties and all. And as they drag him off for execution you might like to know that my offer still stands."

Joseph turned and face his enemy with enough fury to be equivalent to a forest fire. "He's not guilty, and when I prove it; I will have the honor of stuffing that proof down your stuck-up throat!" and with that said he whorled around and marched out of the room wondering how in the hell was he going to get Dib out of this one!

(Back with Josh…)

He had no idea how he got here…

Okay that was a lie, Josh new full and well how he ended up in Mr. Gijon's office, heck he even knew why?

However, his brain was having trouble coming to terms with it all. Why? Because he had been under the false belief that he was too smart to get caught! That he had the most experience with the Irkens than any other human, therefore he would suspect all of their ploys. It was a stupid lie to keep telling yourself, but he had been telling himself this lie since the first day he met Zim.

Well now the truth had unfortunately shined through!

And now Josh was in the worse trouble possible!

Here he was in Mr. Gijon's office, sitting in chains like he was some kind of mass murderer!

"Mr. Campbell." Mr. Gijon shook his head. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Sir this is crazy." Josh said. "Look I know I'm known for trouble, but a terrorist! Come on even you know that's a stretch."

Mr. Gijon smiled knowingly. "Is it Mr. Campbell? After all we all know your feelings towards us."

"His feelings are towards one Cadet, and rightfully so!"

Josh turned to see his savior, or more accurately his brother who would undoubtingly stick beside him to the end. However, they both knew that Joseph had his work cut out for him this time.

"Awe Joseph how nice of you to join us, sit." Mr. Gijon ordered.

Joseph obeyed. And sat beside his brother.

"You have a choice here Joseph." Mr. Gijon went on. "You can disown your brother now and save yourself a lot of trouble. Or you can drag yourself down with him as you fail to save his sorry hide!"

"Sorry Mr. Gijon, but exactly what proof do you have?" Joseph tried his best to be respectful.

It wasn't easy.

"This terrorist that you call a brother had weapon residue all over him!" Mr. Gijon hissed.

"And how do I know a certain Irken cadet didn't sway you to make it appear that way?" Joseph argued. "After all, said cadet did look pretty smug when I left the classroom."

"Are you accusing me of planting evidence boy?!" Mr. Gijon growled.

"Of course not, I'm just telling you what I know, and what I know is it's not uncommon for you and said cadet to join forces to make my brother's life a living hell."

"Is that so?" Mr. Gijon asked.

"Yes it is, we know full and well that you had ordered the cadet to spy on us that day when you were questioning everyone about that group, the uh...what was their name again?"

"Oh, you mean the terrorist group, the Renegades? The group that stole the weapons that your brother conveniently has residue from?"

"Convenient for you." Joseph argued. "You were so sure that our friends were involved so you had him spy on us."

"Do you blame me?" Mr. Gijon asked. "There's what 20 of you surrounding that tree during lunch?"

"Yes, there is and?" Joseph asked.

"And it just so happens that there were twenty terrorist in last night's raid." Mr. Gijon pointed out. "Is that a coincidence? I think not!"

"So what? There's also only twenty student's in study hall during 3rd period!" Joseph pointed out. "It could be them or here's a thought maybe the terrorist aren't even in this school!"

"We thought such might be possible." Mr. Gijon admitted. "That's why we dropped the last incident. The terrorist made a move during school hours and none of the students were absent."

"Then there's your proof right there!" Joseph interrupted. "Not to mention there were several times that the terrorist attacked, and our home was checked! Both my brother and I were accounted for!"

Mr. Gijon smiled. "You're well studied on the terrorist group, so well that you can hold your own in this argument. Why is that?"

Joseph knew full and well what he was doing. Mr. Gijon was trying to turn the tables on him and make him just as guilty as his brother, but it wasn't going to work. "I'm a working boy sir." He answered. "And it's no secret that these terrorist target places of work. Why just the other day they destroyed some factory, it was all over the news! Now only an idiot would ignore such things."

"Perhaps…" Mr. Gijon agreed. "Still I hardly think restaurants are on their hit list."

"Actually, sir I recently applied for a job at the water factory, and it must be quite the target considering the fact that it's got armed soldiers on every floor!" Joseph stated coldly.

Mr. Gijon chuckled. "My we are well informed; you know this only proves his point." He pointed out. "You have the mental tools necessary to become very powerful in this society, and so very few of you humans have the talent to get there. However, you're wasting it on this pathetic…"

"That is my brother your talking ill of Sir, and I don't care who you are I will not just sit here and allow you to speak of him in that way." Joseph snapped. "Maybe Irkens don't believe in family ties, but we humans do! And I will stand by him, no matter what!"

"Fine than stand beside him as I prove to the royal guard that your brother is the terrorist I accuse him of!"

Josh stiffened as a group of Taller, and well-armed Irken's marched into the room.

'The royal guard!' Joseph felt his eyes narrow at their arrival. The royal guard were perhaps the biggest traitors of them all. They are the closest to the Tallest, and yet they do nothing to stop their actions; it made Joseph sick just thinking about it!

Josh could feel himself tensing up, and his heart increase its pace as Principal Razi soon followed behind them. 'She can't help us now.' He thought.

But Joseph knew she could, but first he would have to do some helping of his own.

"Captain Ogre if you will please read the charges!" Mr. Gijon sneered with obvious delight.

Josh, and Joseph stood as the Captain of the royal guard began to read the charges.

"Joshua Campbell we here by accuse you of Terrorism against your all-powerful Leaders the mighty Tallest, as well as the entire Irken Race. How do you plea?"

"Not Guilty sir." Josh answered.

"Very well bring in the brain so I can prove his guilt without a doubt!" Mr. Gijon exclaimed.

Josh watched as the computer brain entered the office and approached him!

This was it! This was the moment that he was going to be found out!

Joseph on the other hand wasn't worried, no he had a plan! And as soon as the computer brain passed by him he touched a button on his watch, allowing a microscopic nanite to latch on to the computer brain completely undetected.

"Hold out your hands." The Brain ordered.

Josh obeyed, knowing he had no choice!

"Scanning for weapons residue!" The brain said and began to scan. "Weapons residue scan complete." It said moments later. "Test results:negative!"

"What!" Mr. Gijon snapped.

Josh was dumbfounded and somewhat confused, he looked at Joseph expecting to see a shocked face as well. However, Joseph was grinning ear to ear.

"Well it would appear I was right." Joseph said. "This is yet another attempt by Cadet Scamooch to get my brother in trouble."

"Mr. Gijon please tell me you did not!" Principal Razi shouted.

"No of course not! He tested positive on the school's brain just moments before!" Mr. Gijon said. "This one must be defective!"

"This is a superior brain owned by the Tallest!" Captain Ogre hissed. "To say that it is defective is to say the Tallest are defective!"

"No please I meant no disrespect." Mr. Gijon shouted.

"Then there is no other solution, either the school brain in Josh's first period was defective or someone altered his results." Principal Razi cut in. "So, which one is it?!"

"Please Principal Razi." Mr. Gijon was on his knees now. "If Cadet Scamooch did this I had no part of it!"

"For your sake I hope not." Principal Razi said. "After all we cannot punish an Amon to this degree, but we can punish you! And if I find out you did have a part of this than I will!" She vowed. "Understand?"

"Yes. Principal Razi." Mr. Gijon cried.

"Good now get those chains off of him!" Principal Razi snapped. "Honestly falsely accusing a human child is exactly the kind of bad publicity the terrorist would use to add more of the humans to their ranks!"

The guards unchained Josh in seconds, knowing all too well that she was right!

"Now please get out of my school before this mistake gets us all fired, or worse!" Principal Razi snapped once more.

"Yes of course!" Captain Ogre and his men rushed out of the room.

"Joseph, Joshua you are dismissed; you may take the rest of the day off if you wish." Principal Razi said. "I can understand if you're upset by all of this and need some time to calm down."

"No need." Joseph assured her. "After all these things happen, and besides Josh has a very important test next period."

"Very well than you are free to go back to class." Principal Razi told them.

"Thank you." Both boys said as they bowed respectfully, before walking out of the room.

Mr. Gijon glared them down bitterly. 'I don't know who you think you are Joseph, but after today's events I can't ignore you anymore.' He thought to himself. 'There is something about you that screams for attention. I don't know what you are Mr. Campbell, but I do know one thing: You're not human!'

(Following Josh and Joseph...)

"Well that was close." Joseph whispered softly once they were in the hall.

"How the hell did you pull that off?" Josh asked.

"You know nanites are quite the reliable little things don't you think?" Joseph joked.

"You bugged the brain!" Josh was stunned.

"Relax its self-imploded by now, the brain will never know it was there." Joseph assured him.

Josh smiled. "That's a relief."

"You're welcome by the way." Joseph teased.

Josh smiled. "Thanks."

The two shared a small moment of silence.

Finally, Josh spoke again. "It's good to have you back, you've been kind of out of it lately."

Joseph smiled. "Yeah I guess I'm still feeling guilty about..." he didn't finish, he didn't have to.

"It's okay I get it, and when you're ready to talk…I'm here." Josh assured him.

"Thanks." Joseph said full-heartedly.

"Man, I'm glad that's over." Josh said.

"It's not." Joseph warned him. "Mrs. Bean said sources informed the Tallest of our plans for last night! We have a mole Dib and I think we both know who it is."

"Who?" Josh asked not getting it.

"Exactly how much do you share with Tak?" Joseph asked.

"Everything." Josh said not getting it. "I tell her..." he stopped as the realization hit him. "No there's no way, she wouldn't!"

"I told you she couldn't be trusted!" Joseph snapped. "Now we need to do something about her and fast before we regret it!"

"Fine but she is innocent until we prove otherwise, after all she is still a member of this team!" Josh argued.

"Fine." Joseph agreed. "But don't say I didn't warn you!" he said walking away.

Josh marched towards his locker as the bell ending first period sounded all around them. He knew Zim was probably right about Tak, but he still didn't want to believe it! Why? Because he was the one who brought her into their ranks! He was the one who trusted her. And the last thing he wanted was to be remembered as the boy who helped bring down Earth's last hope of freedom.

No, that was a fate he wouldn't wish upon even the cruelest of foes!

-To Be Continued