Episode 10: Friend or foe (Part 3)

(Later on, at lunch...)

"Okay start talking." Mark demanded as Joseph and Josh sat down to eat their lunch under the big oak tree.

Joseph sighed and sat down every member of the resistance was waiting with him. "I was on my way over from work okay? I had every intention to be there." He sighed again "But I saw a few cadets beating up another and I-"

"You intervened?" Mark yelled "What if you had landed a blow? Uh? Then you would have been captured and found out. Which means Josh would have been found out. See this is what everyone's talking about you are endangering the group!" He hated the words the moment he said it, after all Zim had saved his life; but still he could not avoid the truth!

"I didn't attack them in my disguise!" Joseph growled trying not to lose his cool.

"Even worse!" Audra yelled. "What if someone had seen you switch disguises? Did you ever think of that? No, you didn't because you never think of anyone but yourself."

"And why help him?" Gretchen asked. "He's an Irken, They're monsters!"

"We are not all monsters!" Zim growled even louder which obviously wasn't helping his case.

"Do you honestly think they can change?" Mark screamed.

"I've changed!" Zim screamed back.

"Really because I'm not so sure." Steven challenged.

"Guys that's enough." Rachel hissed before Zim could respond. "This all can wait for the next meeting."

"No, I say we don't have time to wait, I say we pass our judgment now!" Diana yelled.

"JUDGMENT?" Joseph's eyes widen. "you're putting me on trial for what!"

Everyone eyed Diana angrily all, but Josh who looked to Joseph with pained filled eyes.

"I tried to tell them that you'd never betray them, but they wouldn't listen to me." He said, "See I told you there was a none traitorous reason behind all of this."

Joseph looked at him with eyes full of pain and betrayal. "You, you knew they were plotting against me, and you said nothing."

"I was going to tell you..." Josh began.

"The Hell you were, what else have you been keeping from me, and don't say you haven't been cause I know better!"

Josh bit his bottom lip as he thought of the book he had stolen from the forbidden part of the school Library. He hadn't told his brother about that either.

"Like you have the nerve to talk" Keef yelled dragging Josh out of his thoughts. "We all know you're hiding something. And the fact that you wanted to talk alone with that Irken Female Tak proves it."

"Mark? How do they know about that!?" Rachel yelled.

"I may have blabbed." Mark admitted.

"He saved your life!" James scowled at him.

"That was before-" Mark tried to explain.

"That's no excuse!" Rachel argued.

"And all of you feel this way?" Joseph said, causing them all to go silent. He looked at the other members of the group, but none of them would meet his eyes. "Fine!" he said standing. "I can see when I'm not wanted but know this." His eyes grew blood red. "If you kick me out of the resistance it is not I that will be leaving; it will be you!" he vowed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gwynn dared to ask.

"Our HQ is my Dome, my secret underwater base, my hi-tech weaponry. If you think I'm gonna let you kick me out of my own base you've got another thing coming. So, if I were you I'd think real hard before I kicked me out, cause once you do I'm gone, the base will be gone; and all your weaponry and knowledge of my people are going with me."

"You can't do that!" Gretchen yelled.

"Yes, I can, I made that base with my own two hands; it's mine, not yours. So, if you kick me out of the group it will be you that leaves not me. Now if you'll excuse me I think I need a break from you humans and your filth!" Joseph did an about face and marched off in a full pit of rage.

No one said a word, they didn't have to; they were all thinking the same thing.

Whatever was happening to Zim was getting worse.

"Maybe it would be wise to apologize and give him some space." James advised.

Everyone nodded their agreement, even Josh couldn't help but shiver. It was obvious that something was changing in Zim and whatever it was it was dangerous.

"I think we should give him time to cool off first." Josh said the obvious.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later." Rachel sighed.

"What do you mean?" Josh asked.

"Well think about it, he's going against his own race; he's surrounded by humans all day and treated like trash by his fellow Irkens. Not to mention we've been far too judgmental. I mean he was bound to snap under all this pressure; I know I would."

Josh watched his brother sit down at a table in the cafeteria by one of the large windows. He was sitting all alone.

Dib's heart ached; never once did he think about how lonely Zim must be feeling. He was an Irken who pretended to be human. All day long he put up with abuse from his own people as they treated him like trash. Only to be treated even worse by the very people he was trying to save! How could he not notice that his former foe was drowning! How could he not see the signs of depression!

'I've done it again.' he thought 'I've allowed my obsession to blind me to what really matters. All this time I've been studding about the Worthy Ones and trying to build up a defense against the Tallest that I failed to see a friend in need.'

It was Gaz all over again.

'No, I refuse to lose him too!' Dib vowed. 'Not this time.'

No, this time he would prevent the tragedy before it happened.

Joseph picked at his food aimlessly; he wasn't exactly hungry anymore.

'Why can't I do anything right' he sighed. "Why can't I seem to fit in anywhere?"

"This seat taken?" A familiar voice asked.

Joseph looked up to see Cadet Scamooch; the cadet was covered in bandages that only covered up half of his bruises.

"Sure, why not, my friends already think I'm a traitor so go ahead prove them right." Joseph said not really caring.

Cadet Scamooch sat down "They think you're a traitor! Why is it because you helped me?"

Joseph nodded feeling guilty that he was talking badly about his friends like this.

'Friends; they hate you!' He looked at Cadet Scamooch wondering if he should move.

"I'm sure your friends didn't mean what they said." Cadet Scamooch said trying to cheer the human up. 'He's never been like this before…' Cadet Scamooch thought and it was true.

Usually Joseph was the one that gave all the other human students hope. They looked up to him, followed him, anyone could see that. But now they all hated him, and all because he decided to save an Irken's life!

Joseph slumped over his food full of dread.

Cadet Scamooch suddenly had the urge to reach out to the kid to make him feel better. And why shouldn't he? The human had saved his life! Didn't he owe him at least that much? He could see that the boy was descending into a world of darkness and despair. A world that he know would swallow him whole if he didn't act now!

Cadet Scamooch cleared his throat, "listen I know it may not mean the world to them, but it does to me." Cadet Scamooch admitted.

Joseph's eyes widen at his words.

"I would be dead right now if you hadn't saved me so don't listen to them. You did the right thing and that's all that matters." Cadet Scamooch coughed as he swallowed down his pride. "I guess what I'm trying to say is Thank you. Thank you for saving me." He got up then and walked away without saying another word.

Joseph watched him go in pure shock 'Did he just thank me?' Joseph found a smile slowly slip onto his face. Maybe his race hadn't completely lost its way. Maybe it wasn't childish to think that he could save them both. After all Cadet Scamooch couldn't be the only Irken who knew how to swallow their pride long enough to admit to their mistakes…..

Right?

Cadet Rene growled as he watched Cadet Scamooch leave the cafeteria. He had heard every word that was just an exchange between him, and the human Joseph and he wasn't the only one.

"That human lover how sickening." Cadet Num spat out in discuss.

"He's right Rene; this is the second crime Scamooch has committed against us, he needs to pay for it." Cadet Meep pointed out.

"And he will" Cadet Rene vowed. "They both will."

(Last Class of the day, the final bell...)

Joseph sighed as the final bell sounded all around him. He didn't have to go to work today thanks to Principal Razi who called his bosses about what happened yesterday. He was glad about this; he didn't want to go to work right now, but he didn't want to go home either. He wanted to be left alone, which meant the Dome was also out of the question. No if he went there Gir would try to cheer him up while the computer would lecture him none stop about his condition and how it was getting worse.

No, he wanted to be left alone where he could be himself. Where he could be Zim and not that human wannabe Joseph! He sighed again and walked out the door and pass the busses! 'Maybe I'll just go for a walk and clear my head.' He thought to himself unaware of the two Irken vehicles that began to follow his school bus as it pulled away from the school and started following him down the street.

(With Cadet Scamooch hours later...)

Cadet Scamooch walked down the empty streets sighing deeply. He was going to be in a lot of trouble when he returned. His new first Sargent would be most unpleased that he did not come straight back to Zec after school. After all he was just attacked no more than 24 hours ago! But Cadet Scamooch didn't feel like going home, especially since his attackers were Irkens. No, he needed some time to think. He had no doubt in his mind that everyone would want to know what happen. Sooner or later he'd have to blame someone, but for now he wanted to forget it all. He looked up at the sky worriedly 'It's almost passed my curfew.' he realized. It was already dark out which meant all the vehicles on their way to Zec where long gone now.

"I need to find a soldier to take me home before I'm late." he realized. He began to make his way towards the damaged bridge knowing that was where most of the soldiers would be. After the resistance blew it up human contractors were sent to work on rebuilding it, and since they had to use heavy tools to do it the Irken soldiers had to supervise them. 'To make sure no one got any bright ideas.' Cadet Scamooch thought bitterly. The soldiers were supposed to be keeping the Renegades at bay now they were all tied up with rebuilding the bridge that the swine were free to thrive again.

The thought made his squeedlyspooch cringe 'Swine Joseph wasn't a swine' he told himself. 'He saved your life' he argued with himself.

'But he's a human!'

'It doesn't matter!'

Cadet Scamooch felt like he was being torn in two! What was he going to do? He stopped as he gets a strange feeling that he's being watched, but he realizes a little too late and in seconds he was kicked to the ground.

Joseph froze as he heard an unearthly scream fill the air followed by several more. He didn't stop to think about the consequences he ran towards the sound of the screams and what he saw made his blood boil.

Cadet Scamooch was fighting off his attackers the best he could, but four against one wasn't fair by a long shot. He saw Joseph and he shouted. "Don't interfere human this is my fight."

Cadet Rene laughed "Looks like your minion has come to help his master." He kicked out with his left foot and made contact with Cadet Scamooch's abdomen.

"He's not my Minion!" Cadet Scamooch growled as he dodged another blow from Cadet Rene only to be punched in the face by Cadet Num.

Joseph knew he could not drop his disguise with all these witnesses. He knew his best bet was to walk away, but if Cadet Scamooch died he'd never forgive himself. So, without putting much thought into it he dove into the fight.

Cadet Scamooch watched as Cadet Meep and Joseph went head-to-head.

Joseph dodged must of the blows and blocked the others. He had to be careful if he fought back he could reveal to them his secret. Of course, a fully trained Invader had more combat skills then a cadet, but Zim was supposed to be an average human, and anyone could be watching. He couldn't necessarily see any spy drones, but that didn't mean they weren't there.

Cadet Scamooch landed a blow on Cadet Num; the cadet's leg made a snapping sound as Scamooch slammed it against the concrete wall beside them. The Fourth Cadet ran into the night fearing that he would join Num's fate leaving Cadet Scamooch against Cadet Rene and Joseph against Cadet Meep.

Cadet Scamooch charged at his attacker not wasting any time catching Cadet Rene off guard. Cadet Scamooch pushes him up against the wall and knees him into the abdomen.

Joseph dodges Cadet Meep once more knowing all too well that he was going to die if he didn't think of something quick. He knew if he hit her he could be in confinement for assaulting an Irken; self-defense or not. So, he decided to use the cadet's own strength against her. He could tell that Cadet Meep put a lot of power behind her attacks; a decision she would soon learn to regret. Joseph side stepped as the Cadet kicked forward. Cadet Meep flew past him, and by the time she realized where she was headed it was too late.

Cadet Meep fell into an open manhole and screamed as she fell into the slug of human sewage.

Joseph watched her climb out trying not to throw up as the putrid smell of her filled his sent glands. She was covered in sludge some much that some of it was dripping onto the pavement.

"You'll pay for this!" she vowed before she ran away in discuss.

Cadet Rene froze as he realized he was now alone against them.

Cadet Scamooch and Joseph watched him closely waiting for him to make his next move. The cadet was in the middle of them with only one way to run.

"This isn't over!" Cadet Rene vowed.

"Yes it is!" Joseph growled. "Next time I see you I won't leave until you're nothing but a smudge on the bottom of my shoe." He warned.

"How dare you!" Rene shouted.

"Get lost Rene before I report you to General Kazar." Cadet Scamooch said cutting him off.

"You wouldn't, you don't have the guts, besides you're not his student anymore!"

"So!" Cadet Scamooch said glaring. "That won't stop me from reporting a hazard such as you!"

Cadet Rene seemed to shiver but he shook it off "This isn't over!" he said again before running away into the direction Cadet Meep had gone.

Joseph and Cadet Scamooch looked at each other for a long time without saying a word, finally Cadet Scamooch spoke up. "I said I didn't need your help!"

"I know it's just… I was afraid that you would... get hurt again or worse." Joseph admitted.

"They caught me off guard yesterday, but today I expected them to try it again." Cadet Scamooch explained.

"I see..." Joseph bowed his head. "I'm sorry for interfering."

"It's alright!" Cadet Scamooch smiled "I should probably walk you home otherwise you'll be arrested for being out past curfew."

"Wow it's that late already?" Joseph looked around surprised.

"Come on lets go…" Cadet Scamooch began to lead the way.

Joseph smiled "Thanks maybe there's hope for you Irkens yet."

"You think so?" Cadet Scamooch asked.

"Well you're not so bad, you know when you're not picking on my brother." Joseph teased as they turned the corner.

"Yeah well I guess you Humans aren't as useless as I've been told." Cadet Scamooch laughed.

Zim laughed too, it was nice to talk to another Irken, to joke around like they didn't have a care in the world. For the first time in months Zim felt like he belonged. Maybe his race wasn't completely lost; maybe they could be saved.

Cadet Scamooch froze 'Is that smoke I smell?'

Joseph walked around the last corner and what he saw made his world shatter.

His house was on fire!

"NO!" Joseph ran up towards the house just as his brother Josh burst through the door covered in ashes and smoke. "Josh!" He ran to his brother's aid and caught him just before he landed on the ground. "Josh stay with me please!" Joseph screamed. Josh coughed gasping for air.

Cadet Scamooch walked over slowly he had no doubt in his mind who was responsible for this.

And as if the thought of him summoned his presents Cadet Rene emerged from the shadows with two other Cadets by his side.

Cadet Scamooch Immediately recognized them; Cadet Fin and Cadet Meep.

Josh passed out in his brothers arms.

"No Josh please no please wake up please" Joseph begged.

"I told you that this wasn't over!" Cadet Rene sneered.

Joseph lifted his head "You, You monster!" He sprang up to his feet and punched the cadet square in the face.

Cadet Rene who was caught off gaud fell back confused.

Joseph went to deliver another blow, but Cadet Scamooch ran up and grabbed him from behind and held him back. "LET ME GO!" Joseph screamed. "HE DID THIS!"

"Joseph this isn't the way!" Cadet Scamooch said trying to hold him back.

Cadet Rene smirked as he watched the scene before him the other two Cadets beside him laughed wickedly which only fueled Joseph's rage.

"You Murderers!" He screamed trying to break free from Cadet Scamooch's hold.

"Joseph I know you're angry, I know you're hurting, but this isn't the way! If you hit one of them again you'll be in confinement for three years." Cadet Scamooch tried to reason with him.

Big mistake; Joseph head butted him with the back of his head and kicked right in his squeedlyspooch.

The other Cadets snickered as Cadet Scamooch doubled over in pain falling to his knees.

"What do you know about pain? hu! What do you know about hurt?" Joseph screamed.

"Joseph I-"Cadet Scamooch tried to speak.

"No, you know nothing about pain and hurt, and suffering I lost everything to your kind!" Joseph's growl was almost inhuman. "Josh was all I had left and… and…" Joseph fell to the ground at his brother's side and held him in his arms tears pouring from his eyes. "Your kind took him away from me!" he sobbed through tears.

Cadet Scamooch cringed it was like knives where stabbing in his back over and over again. "Joseph I-"

"They were right about you!" Joseph whispered through sobs "Your all monsters I hate you, I hate you all!"

"Joseph-" Cadet Scamooch's words were cut off by the sound of sirens.

"Cadet Rene we have to get out of here." Cadet Meep yelled.

Cadet Rene, Cadet Meep and Cadet Fin went to make a run for it, but it was too late a spy drone grabbed then by the collars of their uniforms stopping them in their tracks. "Oh no you don't I saw the whole thing and you are all under arrest."

Cadet Scamooch felt his muscles go limp at the words. His new Sargent wasn't going to be pleased; he groaned.

Joseph held his brother close as the Irken police surrounded then all, and he showed no resistance as they pull him away from his brother and threw him into one of their awaiting vehicles.

"Sir this one's still breathing" An Irken officer said to another as he checked Josh's pulse.

"Then load him up he can see a doctor once we get to Zec." The other said to the first.

Joseph watched the officer's load Josh's limp body into an ambulance, and he breathed a sigh of relief; he was still alive. But this new realization did not changed the way he felt. His eyes glowed red with rage as he saw Cadet Scamooch and the other Cadets being loaded into a separate vehicles.

Those monsters where not Irkens no the Irken Race was dead and all that was left of them were mindless machines.

"I disown you!" Zim growled as the vehicles began their journey to Zec where they would all meet judgment for tonight's events.

"I DISOWN YOU ALL!"

Episode 3: Friend or foe (Part 3) END