Episode 13-A Shift in Power (Part 2)

(Back with Dib…)

They had little time for mourning, Mia knew this, but it felt wrong not give Jee a proper send off.

Dib was surprised to discover that Irkens even had a ritual set aside for grieving a fallen comrade. He always thought that Irkens were the kind to simply soldier on, like nothing had been lost. Goalit explained to him that most Irkens were like this, but there were a chosen few you were given the special treatment. Goalit had said this right was mostly reserved for one of the twelve, but a few soldiers had also been given the honor.

Tesi could think of no one else who deserved such an honor. Jee was more than a soldier, he was a friend. The kind that would throw you over his shoulder and carry you to safety or take a bullet for you. The worse part was he was the youngest of the rebels, no older then Cadet Scamooch. He should have never been on a battle field. He was supposed to be standing with his peers alongside him, and his whole life in front of him.

And now he was gone.

Mia and the others had held a small gathering for him, the human rebels had come to show their support, but they had a hard time relating. Not because they never lost anyone themselves, but because most of them still knew very little about their Irken allies. Even Dib himself only ever spoke to Mia or Tesi the others only spoke if spoken to.

Goalit said this was a common practice among lower ranking soldiers. He also gambled that they had been instructed to say little by Mia in hopes of minimizing any quarrels between them and their human allies.

Dib thought it was gracious that the Irken rebel had thought ahead in such away, but he also felt like they had been robed as a group as well. How could they learn to grow and become well fit unit if they didn't break a few plates and hurt a couple of feeling? Dib thought of how much he and Zim had grown. They weren't just friends, they weren't just comrades; they were brothers, not by blood but by experience. For whatever reason, fate had chosen to throw them at each other and not with the most gracious of beginnings. However, that was the point, Did Zim and Dib try to kill each other in the beginning?

Absolutely!

Did several human and Irken bones get snapped and sprung along the way?

Of course!

But even through all of that Dib could honestly say that he and Zim had grown a better understanding. The same could be said about Zim and Mark, the two were in ways worse off than Dib and the Irken had been, and yet now…

Dib smiles as he watches Elma patching up Mark and Goalit.

Mark was busy showing off his battle scar and couldn't help but point out how his was so much bigger than Goalit's.

"Mark you're literally bragging about how much closer you were to death!" Elma scowled as she changed the dressing on his wound.

"I'm just saying, you'd think an Irken would want a more impressive battle scar." Mark joked. Jee's ceremony had just ended and the rebels were taking stock of supply and personnel before they made their next move.

Dib was glad Mark was such at ease with the older Irken. His rocky start with Zim had taught him to give everyone a chance even if they belong to the same race as your evil overloads. Again, this was a lesson that he would have never learn without the trials and tribulations of a rocky start with a now close friend and ally.

"Do you think I'll be able to join for the mission Doc?" Mark continued to joke. "Because I don't think Goalit can make it without me."

"Me?" Goalit scoffed. "And who pulled who to safety?" He challenged the teen knowingly.

"You know you're lucky he had your back." Elma said in a more serious tone. "I'm not sure a human body would have been able to withstand these wounds." She said examining Goalit now.

Dib winced as he got a good view of it as he grew closer.

A good chunk of Goalit's left side had gone missing and Elma had stayed up all night with Dib's dad creating a skin graph to stop the bleeding and permute healthy healing. Kornelius had gotten the littlest of all the injuries, and yet they still stayed up several more hours this morning fixing the damage to his robotic arm. In the end they ended up using some of Gir's older parts.

"We twinsies now." Gir exclaimed happily to which Kornelius and Shyann both laughed.

Dib smile widen, but fell as Mia came into view. She had grown very sorrowful since Jee's funeral. The event in question had also been the last time she spoke. He moves to console her, but Mark (who is now in reach) stops him with his good arm.

"She looks like she wants to be alone." He tells Dib.

"She just looks so sad." Dib whispered.

"Mia vowed to keep them all safe." Goalit revealed. "By staying behind to watch the base she feels like she has failed them."

"If I had gotten there faster." Dib whispered.

"It would have made no difference." Goalit assured him. "He was dead before we even called."

Mark nodded his agreement.

"Let's just focus on the next step." Elma said.

"Don't you think we should give them time?" Dib asked.

"Unfortunately, time is a luxury we do not have."

Dib jumped, somehow Mia had made her way over to him without him noticing. "Mia, we…I" He is suddenly lost for words.

"I appreciate the thought." She assured him. "But Taller Zim needs us to be on Zec when he returns."

Dib nods his agreement. "Then we'll ready the troops for phase 2 of the plan."

Mia nodded and went to see to the order.

"She's just going about life like nothing happened." Elma whispered.

"This is the way." Goalit said. "Irkens die every day, and often especially the defectives. No doubt she has grown use to loss."

Dib's face suddenly twist with worry.

Goalit understands in an instant. "I am sure he is fine."

"Still, I should probably check in." Dib insisted as he reached for his communicator.

"Dib, my son we must discuss the action plan." Professor Membrane called over.

Dib looked his way to see that several had gathered around his father no doubt to discuss their next move. Usually, such things would be gone over in the conference room, but that space was not built for so many members, so they had to relocate their recent meetings to the docking bay. Similarly, treatment for the wounded also had to be relocated to the bay. Dib looks back to his communicator again.

"Go they need you." Goalit told him. "Zim will be fine."

Dib nodded. He knew Goalit was right, Zim wasn't a child. He was a seasoned warrior, and a soldier of war. He had experience many life threatening situations before Dib was even born, he was fine without him then, and he would be fine now. So, he abandoned the idea to call Ex-invader and looked to Elma. "Will they be able to join?"

"Mark may be able to manage, but I advised that Goalit-" Elma began.

"Nonsense." Goalit rose to his feet as he spoke. "See I am as right as rain, as you humans say."

"Shouldn't an Irken say the opposite?" Mark teased.

"See I told you." Elma insisted. "Now lie back down this instant Mr."

Dib forced down a laugh, the two of them were really rather cute together. "She's right." He managed to agree. "How about you stay and man the controls this time." Dib offered. "I think Mia will appreciate the distraction."

Goalit looks deflated, but nods his agreement. The battlefield was never his calling anyway.

"Do you need me to stay with you?" Elma asked. "Or can I trust you to take it easy?"

Goalit's smile widen. "Yes Doctor Elma, I can follow simple orders; believe it or not."

Elma gave him a scolding looking before nodding. "Very well, then I release you from my care."

Goalit chuckled.

"Dib are you ready?" It was Rachel that called over this time.

"We're coming!" Dib yelled and offered a helping hand to Mark. "I'll probably put you on lookout duty." He told him.

Mark nodded. "It's for the best." He agreed. "Kind of need two arms to carry lab equipment anyway."

"Don't you need two to aim a blaster?" Goalit pointed out.

"Yes." Mark said. "Put you don't to aim a laser pistol." He smiled wickedly.

"Just remember I won't be there to save you next time." Goalit reminded him.

Mark frowned. "You Irkens really know how to kill a mood don't you?"

Goalit, rather proud of himself smiled widely. "I believe I'm needed at the controls." He said, heading that way.

"Irkens." Mark whispered, but his tone is mostly playful…mostly.

"Guys." Dib insisted they're waiting.

Mark and Elma nodded, before following Dib to address the awaiting members.

Dib hoped they were ready, for this next task would require all their collective wits and strength.

(Back with Jamie…)

Her nerves were on end, and rightfully so. At the very moment she was standing back within the brainwashing chamber, or the Programing facility as Megan called it.

The time had come to begin her siblings brainwashing, or programing and she was a nervous mess.

Jacob gave her a sideways glance, at the moment Megan was retrieving the siblings in question, leaving them alone. He looked around for any spy drones, seeing none he whispered. "Everything will be fine."

"My sisters about to get brainwashed, how is that fine?" Jamie snapped. She didn't mean to be cruel, after all she was already sure Jacob was not trying to deceive them.

"It's okay." Jacob assured her. "I sabotaged the programing; they won't be effected at all."

Jamie looks confused. "How?"

"Well, I have you and Crystal to thank for that." Jacob explained. "While you fought the program, I used your power of will along with your brain waves to rewrite the program."

"What for?" Jamie asked. "I mean it's great it won't affect them, but how does it help everyone else?"

"Every so often the prisoners get reprogramed." Jacob explained. "Human minds are strong, and they are used to thinking for themselves. This is why the Program hasn't been released to all humans, it eventually wears off, and constantly reprograming humans on a world wide scale is far too time consuming."

This made since to Jamie, and it answered a lot of questions. "So, when it's time for reprograming, we'll just used the modified version instead."

Jacob nodded, but there is one way to blow this." He warned.

"How?" Jamie dared to ask.

"Your sisters, if they don't act brainwashed, they'll be forced to go through this again. And if it keeps not working Cho may become suspicious. She'll examine the program for flaws, and once she sees it tampered with we'll be found out."

"But how do I let them know to fake it?" Jamie asked. "Megan will be with them."

"There must be something, a secret signal you can give them?" Jacob suggested.

"Besides popular belief we rebels aren't prepared for everything." Jamie revealed. "I am seriously winging this whole thing."

"Really?" Jacob smirked. "I haven't noticed."

Jamie scowled at him, but forced herself to calm down. Megan would be back at any minute, and she needed a way to get through to her sisters. To tell them to pretend, without giving away the whole operation to Megan. She knew she didn't have a lot of time; Megan could be back at any second, and as if the thought summoned her, the door opened.

Megan enters the room and to their surprise Crystal is with her.

"Crystal?" Jamie asked.

"Good news." Megan said. "Crystal's programing was successful."

"Yes." Crystal, she smiles but it's so convincing that for a moment Jamie actually fears the worse. "It is such a relief to of had my eyes open to the truth." She said.

Jacob stiffens a laugh, Crystal was literally blind she couldn't see anything, but Megan doesn't seem to get the joke.

"My sisters?" Jamie cut in hopefully.

"Yes, they are in the hall." Megan said. "I thought it best for you to lead them in."

Jamie nods and steps out into the hall.

"Jamie?" Mary is surprised to see her.

Jamie gives a silent sigh of relief. Besides looking a little frazzled, her sisters appeared unharmed.

"What's going on?" Kathy asked.

Jamie goes to tell them everything, but stops. What if this was a trap? What if the enemy was watching right now? Waiting, to see what she would do, what she would say. If she spilled everything to them now and some hidden spy drone saw, the whole operation would be compromised.

Still, Jamie didn't know what to say to her sisters that would let them in on the plan, without giving everything away.

"Jamie?" Mary asked, she can tell something is wrong.

Jamie feels the urge to unload everything on to them, especially Mary. She was always so easy to talk to and always knew how to make everything right again. Whether it was through writing together or role playing out their favorite video games. Jamie laughed since video games were now banned she and her sisters were now forced to act out the games in order to still enjoy them. Of course, there was only a few they could reasonably act out without getting in trouble.

For example, any war games like Call of Duty were a definite no, but games like Deceit and Among Us were…

Jamie stopped and smiled.

"Sis you're really starting to freak me out." Kathy admitted.

"we're going to play a game." Jamie whispered.

"Jamie I don't think now is the time…" Mary began.

"Among Us." Jamie whispered. "Us Vs the Irkens"

"Kathy misses the reference entirety, not surprising, she rarely played the game since she sucked at being the Imposter.

Mary however gets it…well sort of. She gets that they are going to play a game were they pretend to be on the same side as the enemy, only to take them out later.

"Are you guys ready?" Megan asked as she poked her head out.

"Just explaining that there is nothing to fear." Jamie said, not looking away from her sisters. "You are about to get programed." Jamie started to explain. "It's to help get rid of those pesky defective thoughts."

"You mean their brain washing us!" Kathy and Mary exclaimed at once.

"No." Jamie said. "They're enlightening you." She said with a wink.

Kathy is still lost.

Mary on the other hand nods. "Ok if you think it's for the best."

"I know it's different, but this is our chance to finally have the life we wanted without having to do anything illegal." Jamie explained keeping to her story from earlier.

Kathy nods her own agreement. She looks like she wants to argue, but a quick look from Jamie lets her know that resistance will only make things worse for everyone."

"We're ready." Jamie said, turning to Megan.

Megan smiles. "Then let's begin."

(Back with Zim…)

The ship was landing now, and Zim could feel the tension in the air like a thick and heavy fog. This was it, the moment he had been preparing for since the change had begun. His fight with Koi should have made him feel more prepared. And yet, he felt completely helpless, and for good reason.

Zim had no idea what kind of fighter Purple was, in all there years together he had never seen Purple raise a hand to strike another. Would he order incompetent soldiers out the airlock? Sure, but someone else always did it for him, Purple never had to raise a finger.

As a pupil, Zim saw Koi fight several times, and sometimes Kazar even had them fight each other. Looking back now Zim realized Kazar had done this for his benefit, yes Zim could see it now, Kazar had always been rooting for him. He pushed him harder then Koi because he knew that one day, he would appreciate it.

The bay doors to the ship opens as it comes to a stop.

"Ready?" Razor asked.

Zim can't find his voice, so he simply nods.

Razor swallows his own nerves as soldiers begin to file out of the ship and surround them. They draw their weapons and aim, but Zim ignore them, his eyes never leaving the ship's doors.

A moment past, and then Diaz exists the ship, her eyes meet with Zim's and in a second he sees it. The look on her face, it is not a look that you would give the enemy; but rather an…

He smiles and Razor picks up on it.

"Zim.." Razor goes to speak.

"Silence!" A soldier yells. "you identify yourself!" He demands to Razor.

"Watch your tongue." Zim hissed. "You shall treat your elders with respect."

"Answer the question!" The soldier demands.

"I am Razor." Razor answered. "Second eldest Ancient of the Irk."

"You…" The soldier looks shaken by this news. "You're an ancient?"

"Yes he is." Zim growled, eyes glowing. "So, show a little respect you ungrateful worm."

"Zim…" Razor begins, doing his beat to keep his younger partner focused. "They are not the enemy."

"So, you actually found them?" The true enemy asked as he finally stepped off the ship.

"Purple…" Zim gives out a low hiss, it's a warning.

Purple ignores it and instead chooses to study the new comer.

The Ancient Razor, he had read about him in some the Irk's ancient History, but not much was there. Very little was actually known about the ancients, and due to their peaceful nature there was no documentation on how they fought. He was a wild card no doubt, so the smart thing to do would be to sick to what he knows.

He turns back to Zim, and smiles. "Two against one? Zim I'm surprised by you, I thought you had confident in your own abilities."

Zim knows he is trying to play on his pride, to trick him into making the first move.

This moment alone tells Zim everything he needs to know. "You spineless snake." He growled.

"Zim…" Razor warned.

"No." Zim growled. "He's completely sane! Zim yells. "He hasn't lost control at all!"

Razor see it too, but he's more in control of his anger. He knows the quickest path to victory is to keep a calm head, Zim however seems to be one who is quick to anger.

They would have to work on that, but later when there was time, for now he would just have to do his best to keep things under control. The only option he could see for that was to play the mediator, and he would…for now.

"Congratulations." Purple teased. "You figured it out." He laughed. "Ley me guess you thought you could use my broken mind against me."

"You could have prevented all of this." Razor cut in. "But you let your hunger for power blind you to your duties." He stepped forward, his very essence bleed with authority. "Step down now, and we will let you continue to live as part of the collective."

"Step down?" Purple laughs loudly this time. "You actually think you have the authority here?" He spat. "Look around, I have an army, and all you have is a defective little-"

"There is no such thing as defective." Razor spoke.

Purple flinches And looks to Zim, his expression somewhat fearful.

"That's right." Razor said. "He already knows the truth."

"You used a lie to break him down, to make him feel like he would never be good enough to take your place." Razor hissed. "I've seen his file, Kazar saw promise in him, that scared you didn't it? So much in fact that you decided to do everything in your power to sabotage him. Not only that, but once you saw others like him you began to treat them like a disease. Killing them out right, or even worse. Torturing them as you had machines cut them open in an efforts to figure out what's wrong with them."

Zim's eyes widen, he remembered how the Irken rebels looked when they first met them, all the wounds and missing limbs. He had never asked how they got them, but he knew that injuries like that were only possible through torture. An Irken's Pak could heal just about any injury as long as it wasn't damaged too badly, and it would heal without leaving a scar.

Limbs could even be reattached 90% of the time, but if the body is exposed to torture, the extensive stress soon becomes too much for the Pak to keep up with, he expected that's what happened to Mia and the others from the moment he saw them. He never asked because he understood that such memories were best forgotten.

But now that he knew why, he felt his blood began to boil.

"You did that knowing there was nothing wrong with them!" He growled.

Purple's soldiers looked to him hopefully, waiting fo him to deny it, to say it wasn't so.

Purple, however, doesn't instead he smirks. "Of course, there was something wrong with them! They were annoying little worms, scum, just like you!"

Diaz suddenly sees the whole truth for what it is. In the beginning she had joined Kazar's caused to over throw them because of her lost position. The Tallest had disbanded the rest of the Top Twelve, leaving them unprotected if Zim were to return. To do so showed that the Tallest were losing touch with reality, but now Diaz realized it was far worse.

At least as far as Purple was concerned.

He wasn't crazy, he hadn't lost touch with reality, he was simply a cold blooded tyrant, he was a sadistic monster who enjoyed the suffering of others. He was a terrorist of his own people, and worse Diaz had allowed it to happen.

She had bought into their lies and deceit. She never questioned anything, no matter how wrong it looked in fear of loosing her own position. But now…now she had nothing to lose.

"I had planed to give you a chance Purple." Zim growled, eyes glowing with rage. "I had thought that you were simply too afraid to face Red." He admitted. "But you like that he's savage, it allows you to do what ever harm you wish n those that you see as less then you."

"A Chance?" Purple is hysterical now. "You're still talking as if you have the upper hand…"

"That's because he does." Diaz suddenly cut in. "Gram you and the other's stand down." She ordered.

Gram, the soldier who had disrespected Razor earlier looks confused but goes to listen.

"Don't listen to her you twit!" Purple hissed; his own eyes are glowing now. "SHE IS NO LONGER A Commander."

"And you are no longer fit to be a Tallest!" Diaz hissed back. "Gram stand down!"

"Arrest this traitor! NOW!" Purple yelled.

Gram and the soldiers don't know who to listen to. In a way Diaz is right, Purple is obviously guilty of crimes Against his subjects. Irkens that he was supposed to protect, but he was also right. Diaz had no authority.

But someone in that circle did.

"Gram." Razor said firmly. "As your ancestor and your elder I order you and the others to stand down."

The order was followed in an instant.

"You scum!" Purple screamed. "You don't Take orders from him! I am your Tallest."

"Not anymore." Zim hissed.

"You!" Purple shifted into his beastly form in seconds. "You ruin everything!"

And with that he lunged.

Episode 13-A Shift in Power (Part 2) END!