Author's Notes: Okay guys before we get started I would love to credit Kebarton for the creation of my new Irken rebel Goalit! Kebarton I hope you are happy with how he turned out; he is mentioned more in part 3 so don't feel down that he's only briefly mention in this next one.

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine:)

Episode 11: Inner Demons (Part2)

(136 years ago,...)

Location: Planet Vort – Vortian Science Lab

Cadet Zim smoothed the folds of his clean white scientist robe as he stood impatiently at the end of a row of about nine other researchers. It was his ninth year of the academy, and today he had the honor of visiting another planet for the first time.

Planet Vort!

Vort was the home planet of the Vortian race, a known ally of the Irkens. They were known for their technology, not because it was more advance than Irken tech, but because it was more compatible with other alien technology making the Vorts the perfect scientist for reengineering Alien technology so that it could be converted into Irken tech. The reengineering of Alien tech. was their specialty, and the reason why they were so well known.

Cadet Zim leaned forward to peer down towards the far end of the room as the wide double-doors suddenly opened and a small group of Irkens entered. They were led by a very tall male with big blue eyes. Tallest Spork had taken over after Tallest Miyuki's tragic, yet strange demise, and had been the Tallest for almost a full year now. Cadet Zim Stiffens as he notices Red and Purple are also within the arriving group.

Ever since he found out about their crimes towards him he has done his best to avoid his future Tallest. Not out of rudeness, but in hopes that they'll get the message that he wishes to stay out of their way. And for good reason, for you see about one year ago it had happened. Cadets Purple, and Red had started down the agonizing road of the final change, and about one month ago their transformation was complete making them stronger, and deadlier. Which is why every one of the other Amons in their class stayed clear from them, because until they were announced as the Tallest officially the rest of them were still a threat! Cadet Zim's attention is suddenly drawn back towards the slinky looking Irken addressing his peers.

The head scientist, and instructor of today's lesson was a male Irken by the name of Goalit. Now Goalit was about 2 feet taller than Cadet Zim which wasn't saying much when compared to the Tallest, but compared to other Irkens this made him about 5ft, and 1inch. meaning he was unusually tall in Irken since. With his yellowish-brown eyes, and light green skin nothing else about the male's appearance set him apart from his peers. No, it was his expertise that gave him his own little spotlight.

For you see Goalit worked as a field technician, more specifically he specializes in the maintenance of Control Brains, but was usually assigned to recently conquered planets to insure the upkeep and performance of newly fabricated Irken tech. This of course explained why the Irken was here on Vort. His job was to oversee the Vorts as they reengineered the tech stolen from recently conquered worlds.

Goalit stepped forward and saluted as the Tallest approached him.

"Tallest Spork sir, welcome to Vort Research Station 9. You honor us with your visit," he said with a small bow.

Spork smiled and inclined his head slightly in response. "Tell me what my finest minds are dreaming up for the Empire," he said, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Well, my Tallest, there's our infinite energy producing thingy," he said, gesturing to a pulsing energy generator nearby. "And Lard Nar here has begun work on preliminary designs for your new Bludgeon class fleet leader."

Lard Nar, a Vortian, proudly stepped forward and saluted Spork. He then punched a few keys on the electronic clipboard he was holding and up popped a holographic model, one that would one day be known as the Massive.

The cadet gasped in awe as they took in the Massive and all its glory.

"I am impressed." Spork admitted. "Purple, what do you think?"

"Ha that thing will never fly." Purple laughed, which caused him to receive a punch from Red. "Hey!"

"What he means to say sir is its huge!" Red corrected the other. "How will we power something so...so massive?"

"Massive!" Lard Nar exclaimed. "Finally!" he runs off suddenly.

"He's been obsessing over a name for the thing all morning Sir." Goalit explained.

"Oh well glad I could help." Red said, even though he wasn't glad at all. He hated the Vorts as well as the rest of their allies, in fact one day he and Purple planned to stab all their allies in the back!

"Anyway, the new thrusters, and warp hyper speed will do more than enough balancing for the Massive while it is in flight." Goalit explained.

"Well done I am pleased to hear it!" Spork praised. "Now we must be going we have plenty more to see today."

Cadet Zim watched them go, no doubt Tallest Spork was giving them a tour of the allied territory. He sighed he hated to admit it, but he longed to be with them instead of in this boring class.

Suddenly panic spreads throughout the room, as an alarm sounds off.

"What's going on?!" Goalit screams as Lard Nar comes racing into the room.

"It's the thrusters they're unstable" Lard Nar exclaimed. "She's going to blow!"

The cadet's began to scream, and scatter, but it's too late the safety protocol is activated locking them all inside!

"We're all going to die!" A Vort scientist screams causing the cadets to scatter around screaming, all but Zim who appears deep in thought.

"We're not going to die!" Goalit screams over the chaos. "We just need to find the problem!"

"I've looked over everything myself nothing is out of place!" Lard Nar yelled.

"Well there must be something, otherwise it would be working just fine!" Goalit hissed.

"Perhaps it just needs a fresh pair of eyes sir!" another scientist suggested.

"Cadet Zim front and center!" Goalit wastes no time with the solution.

"A cadet, but sir!" Lard Nar is surprised by his choice, they all are, even Zim. However, he follows Goalit's lead as he leads him to the chamber with the malfunctioning thrusters.

"Trust me Zim is my top student." Goalit assured him as Cadet Zim began to look over the thruster. It was definitely about to blow, and the cadet saw why almost immediately!

"Hey, isn't something made of copper supposed to go there in order to conduct the electricity coursing through the machinery?" Cadet Zim asked, pointing at the spot on the thrusters.

Everyone was stunned, there was indeed supposed to be something copper there, but it was gone!

"I Know I put one there!" Lard Nar exclaimed as he placed in another one. Suddenly the alarms stopped, and the doors opened.

Zim breathed a sigh of relieve.

"Well done Zim." Goalit praise you will make a fine technician someday.

Usually Zim would be bask in his praise, but not now, no now he was deep in thought.

This was the room Tallest Spork, Red, and Purple had come from to address Goalit moments before. Was it possible that the two had tried yet again to get rid of him? This time with more murderous means?

No, they would never stoop that low!

Unfortunately for them that's exactly what happen!

Red and Purple growled under their breath as the alarms went off, their plan had been foiled again! This was their one hundredth attempt to get rid of that nuisance Zim and each time they had failed.

"Well it would appear whatever that has been resolved." Tallest Spork said as he began to lead them on. "Let us continue our tour young ones."

Red, and Purple went to follow him when suddenly a loud bang rang from somewhere beside them. A Fusion reactor had been rendered unstable do to the violent vibrations of the thrusters inside the lab. It explodes causing the floor under them to crack!

Red jumps it safety, and grabs Purple just in time.

Tallest Spork is not so lucky, he falls 550 stories down, to his death below.

Red smiles as he hears the unmistakable splat of his mentor as he hits the ground below. "Well it looks like our plan wasn't a complete lost." He said.

"What do you mean!?" Purple exclaimed. "Red! Spork is dead!"

"Which means we're the Tallest now!" Red whispered.

Purple gasped in disbelieve, he was right; it was finally theirs; And nothing could stand in their way!

(Back with Rene...)

He knew he was in deep trouble!

And he knew that it didn't matter whose side Scamooch took either.

The message delivered to every PAK was dead clear, the Tallest would make an example out of the accused!

'And once Scamooch nobly defends us he'll be back on top of the school.' Rene growled in disgust as he paced his cell. 'And I'll be lucky if my sentence doesn't involve a certain demise!'

He wasn't the only one panicking! His three partners in crime were also pacing in their own cells beside his.

"This is all your fault!" Cadet Meep hissed at him.

"Yeah it was your idea to attack Scamooch in the first place." Cadet Num agreed.

"Now we could all be sentenced to death!" Cadet Fin screamed fearfully.

"Shut up all of you!" Cadet Rene ordered. "We have to stick together on this."

"What's the point?" Cadet Meep hissed. "I heard the brain can read our minds; it will know the truth so there is no point in lying!"

Cadet Rene knew she was right, they would be judged by a computer Brain, not another Irken.

And the brains could see all!

There was no getting out of this one!

No, they were all doomed!

(Back with Tak...)

It took forever for the stupid trial to start; off course she knew it was all for theatrics! Of course, everyone knew these cadets would be put to death, it was the only way to strike fear in the rest of them to stop giving the humans reasons to retaliate!

Tak breathed a silent sigh of relief as the accused were led into the court room. The Irkens were no more than cadets, four overgrown Smeets with their whole lives ahead of them; and already they had ruined their futures!

All because another Cadet had walked all over them.

'This is what our people had come to.' Tak realized. 'We have to save them before they sink further into their abyss.'

She knew they could save them; they were worth saving; whether they knew it or not. And whether they wanted it, or not they would give it to them. She knew one day they would thank them. However, it would appear that said day was far off into the future.

The four accused took their place at the podium in front of the large audience of Irkens, as the Tallest entered the court.

"All rise for the arrival of our almighty Tallest!" An Irken soldier announced.

Tak stood with the rest of the room as the Tallest walked in between the rows of seats, however no one cheered as the usually did, for they all knew this was a serious matter.

The Tallest stopped in front of the four cadets and faced the audience. "Our fellow Irkens..." Red exclaimed as he began to address the masses. "It is with grave seriousness, and sorrow that we stand before you today to address the crimes of these four cadets."

"Crimes that could spell out the starting of another uprising if we do not act accordingly." Purple agreed. "These four were caught by a spy drones as they attacked a fellow cadet, and an innocent human bystander."

"The human did the serviceable thing and defended the Irken cadet that was victimized by these four." Red went on. "And how was he repaid?"

"They burned his house down with his brother, and only surviving family inside." Purple answered.

Gasp filled the room.

"You see people these are the kind of acts that could destroy all we've worked for!" Red declared. "This planet is one of a kind, it has resources that no other planet these days have, and it's naturally recycled by nature! It's water, its materials deep in the earth are one of a kind! And the humans are a force to be reckon with, and they will retaliate against us at full force if these actions continue."

"With that said we will allowed the wronged to speak his peace, and then the brain shall decide their fate." Purple said.

Tak watched as Cadet Scamooch walked into the court room with the brain. She knew he'd try to take Cadet Rene's side, but the end result would be the same no matter what; they all knew this.

Cadet Scamooch took his place at the witness stand; he was shaking all over. This was it, the moment where he would betray the boy who had once saved his life.

The Brain approached him and spoke. "State your rank and name."

"Cadet Scamooch." He answered as the brain attached it's tentacles to his forehead.

"Cadet Scamooch you are here today as a witness as well as a victim to the crimes of the accused am I correct?" The brain asked.

Tak's brow rose in suspicion, this was not the way normal Irken Court was handled, then again if they had done it the normal way they'd be sitting her for days; and she had no doubt the Tallest wanted to resolve this one as soon as possible.

"Yes." Cadet Scamooch answered.

"What happened?" The Computer asked. "Start from the beginning..."

"Well I guess it began when I was asked to step down as an Amon." Cadet Scamooch admitted. "I wasn't really an Amon I was just filling in until a solution was found. And well I guess I abused my power a bit and formed some enemies." He paused looking at Cadet Rene.

"Go on..." The brain ordered.

"Well needless to say my attackers were not please to learn the truth so they lashed out at me." Cadet Scamooch went on.

"You mean they beat you and left you for dead in the rain." The brain cut in.

More gasp.

"I..." Cadet Scamooch was stunned. How did the computer know that!

"I can see into your very mind young one." The brain assured him. "And I know you have the intention to defend your fellow cadets."

"I do." Cadet Scamooch agreed.

"Why?"

"I deserved it." Cadet Scamooch said. "I abused my power, and they sucked up to me thinking it would get them somewhere in the future. I made promises I knew I couldn't keep, I walked all over them, and made them feel like dirt."

"And as for the human?" The brain asked.

"I told him to not get involved, he disobey a direct order by defending me last night." Cadet Scamooch explained. The words felt like sandpaper in his mouth, but he had a future to think about.

Besides, he didn't lie, he had told the boy to stay out of this, to go home!

It was Joseph who had chosen to disobey!

"Serviceable, or not it was foolish, if he had listened to me, he and his brother would be in their undamaged home right now. None of us would be here deciding each other's fate."

"You are a noble cadet." The brain said. "It has been some time since I have seen such devotion from someone as young as you."

The brains words made Cadet Scamooch feel good for some reason, though he was not sure of why.

"However, their crimes against a fellow Cadet, or any Irken for that matter cannot be overlooked." The Brain started. "And it is not just you they have betrayed. By attacking a human and destroying their property they have sent a clear message to all mankind that we are the enemy! They have painted us in an image similar to that of a disease, and we all know what must be done to viruses."

"Elimination." Cadet Scamooch answered knowingly.

"Yes, the humans will see us as an infestation that is better off dead, we will lose control of Earth, and then other planets will lose fear in us: which my just cost us our entire empire!" The Brain explained. "And it is because of this that I must choose the most server punishment for said crimes." The brin detached itself from Scamooch.

Silence fell for a long moment...

Finally, the Brain spoke once more, this time facing the four accused. "Cadets for your crimes against the collective, as well as the human in holding: You are sentenced to death!"

DEATH!

Cadet Scamooch flinched at the words.

"As for you." The Brain turned back to him. "Learn from this, stop walking all over others, be a teacher worth admiring. You may not be standing as an Amon now, but for two whole years you studied under the wisdom, and greatness of one of our most respected Amons; so, act like it!"

Cadet Scamooch knew it was speaking of General Kazar, he looked to his old mentor apologetically; however, to his surprise his old mentor did not look displeased but wore a proud smile on his face.

It was then that he realized he had made the right choice by backing up his attackers, by being noble to them he had proven his loyalty to his people even though they were in the wrong. It was the obvious choice one the general would have told him to make if he was still his mentor.

"Very well the Brain has spoken!" Red announced. "Cadet Scamooch will be released at once, as for the rest of you."

Cadet Scamooch watched in horror as the Brain tore off their PAKs right in front of the masses, their life clocks started up.

In five minutes, they would be dead!

"This is the punishment for fueling the resistance!" Purple decreed. "We can no longer pretend they are not real. The humans have a strong force, and though they are few they are mighty, and actions such as the crimes of the accused only fuel their victory."

"In other words, since committing crimes against mankind is helping the rebels that makes you all traitors, and the crime for any form of treason is death!" Red explained.

The masses watched in horror as the cadets' life clock counted down slowly to zero. It felt like an eternity, but in five short minutes the four cadets lied dead on the floor.

It was over!

Tak found it hard to swallow...

The Tallest had just sent a clear message to all of Irken kind: Crimes against mankind would not be tolerated, and the young were not exempt!

Cadet Scamooch couldn't believe his eyes, four of his classmates were now dead, but rather than blaming the Tallest he only blamed himself. His actions had created their rage, and now they were dead. 'For now, I will treat my fellow Irkens better than I treat myself.' He vowed. 'I will set an example so this never has to happen again.'

It was a worthy promise, but alas no matter how hard this cadet would try nothing would change; and Tak knew why.

The Tallest had poison their people so badly that they just sat there and allowed them to straight up murder four children.

And worse still her people had fallen so deep down into the rabbit hole of hate that she was beginning to fear that they'd never climb back out.

Yes, the Irken Race was in deep trouble; but she and Zim would save them.

Or die trying!

-To Be Continued