Episode 16: Gir Goes Psycho(Part 3)

The betrayal…

It ate at his very soul; or what was left of it! Dib could have screamed his lungs out 'How could he? After all we've been through how could Zim betray us now?!'

'It just doesn't make sense!' He argued with himself.

'Come on Dib you know Zim is capable of this!'

'But he's changed!'

'Has he? Can you really know that?!'

There's no way Zim lost control, he wouldn't have used a weapon, but Mark said Zim, so the only solution was this. Zim had betrayed them, but why? It didn't make since.

Dib groaned in deep frustration as he watched the security feed from the surveillance cameras that Zim had installed all over the base. 'It just doesn't make since!' Dib screamed to himself and in truth it didn't.

One second Mark was standing in his room and the next he was on the floor bleeding to death! The video feed had been tampered with, there was no denying it, and what was left of it gave Dib little clues to what happened. All he could tell was Mark had been injured by an unknown attacker. The clock on Mark's wall told Dib that it was three minutes past two AM. Then seconds later Gretchen runs in and screams! Dib notes that the time before the attack is most likely 2:00.

That would mean the attacker erased 3 minutes of footage, but that would also mean that the attacker had to be fast! After all Gretchen ran into the room only seconds later. Of course, Zim could have gotten away unnoticed and erased the footage, but why leave the body? If Zim really wanted Mark dead wouldn't he make sure to finish the job? Or at least hide the body?! And why would he let Gretchen warn the others before he could form a strong alibi about what happened?

'It just doesn't make sense!'

"You find any proof yet?!" James asked as he stomped into the room.

"No" Dib answered "The footage has been tampered with."

"Zim probly did it to cover his tracks!" James spat in discuss "The monster, Mark was right about him!"

"You don't know that James." Dib said trying to sound convinced of his own words.

It was easier said than done!

"Oh, come on it's no secret he hates Mark!" James snapped.

"I know they have their differences, but I know Zim. He's an expert when it comes to these things, but Mark was left there still alive; for anyone to see. I'm sorry okay, but that doesn't sound like a well-trained killer to me."

"Oh, then what does it sound like!" James mocked obviously not buying it.

"Like the actions of a deranged person…" Dib's eyes widen. The way those words came out of his mouth nagged at Dib, but he didn't know why! "Something just doesn't add up!" Dib said as he searched through the video feed. He froze as one of the feeds showed Zim lying on his bed in his bunker the Irken's bed side cloak flashed on and off.

Dib looked at the time and gulped, the time was 2:00 am the exact time it had been in Mark's room before the attack. Dib fast forward threw the footage expecting Zim to move to go and commit the crime, but he didn't! He just sat there staring up at the celling Dib paused the video the bed side clock now read 2:03 am.

Zim had never left his room!

'But if Zim didn't do it then who…?' Dib froze 'Like the actions of a deranged person'

"James where's Zim?" Dib asked as he searched the video feed for his suspect.

"In a Cell where he belongs we put a guard on him just like you asked. Why?" James suddenly looked worried and for good reason, Dib had frozen in pure terror. "Dib what is it!"

"It wasn't Zim…" Dib whispered as he found what he had been looking for.

"What do you mean it wasn't Zim of course it was who else could it have been?"

"It wasn't Zim okay, just watch…" Dib whispered as he showed James the footage.

James watches as the Camera from outside of Mark's room shows a blurred figure running of the room. Dib slowed the video down and paused it.

The video had stopped on an Image of Gir bolting the scene of the crime, weapon in hand!

"It wasn't Zim" Dib whispered very softly as if he feared being heard. "It was Gir."

"So what? For all we know Zim told Gir to do it!" James yelled. "Mark said it himself Zim-"

"No Mark said Zim's name then he said Tell…must… stop…he's out of…control!" Dib repeated Mark's words wondering why he hadn't seen it before.

"What's your point?" James asked.

"Look you and I both know Gir is unstable, look at his eyes James! They're blood red." Dib pointed at Gir's red eyes. "When Gir is like this no one can reason with him; not even Zim." Dib whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" James asked.

"He's listening…" Dib said and pointed at one of the screens, the screen showed Gir standing by a door…

The door to the very room Dib and James where standing in at that very moment.

James gulped and turned to see- "Gir what a pleasant surprise…" the boy backed away nervously as the SIR unit entered the room.

"You are plotting against the Master!" Gir spoke coldly his weapon at the ready!

"Gir listen to me no one is plotting against Zim…" Dib tried to keep his voice stead as he stepped in front of James protectively.

"You dare defend him!" Gir yelled darkly "He has harmed the Master and you protect him!"

"Gir think before you do this…" Dib pleaded. "Is this what Zim would want you to do?"

"The Master says Gir isn't trying hard enough!" Gir yelled "That Gir needs to do better; now Gir will do better!"

"Gir please we need to get you to Zim, your malfunctioning!" Dib tried to reason with him.

Big mistake!

"No, you will stay away from the Master!" Gir screamed and fired!

(Meanwhile with Zim...)

[Location: The cell]

The betrayal…

It dug into his Squeedlyspooch with claws as sharp as razors, but it wasn't the humans that he felt had betrayed him; no, it was himself!

'How could I have let myself lose control again?' he had been so careful! 'I don't even remember changing!' Of course, that small detail meant nothing; after all it wasn't uncommon for Amons to black out when they changed. In fact, it was expected; the memory lapses were a side effect to the change.

According to what he had been told the Amon forgets everything during the initial stages of the change. They don't remember who they are, or what they are. This is because their brains take some time to comprehend what is happening to them. The change is so over whelming that their minds go into shock causing a memory lapse.

Of course, Zim knew the memories would catch up eventually. The Amon always relives their past in the form of flash backs, but in order for the flash backs to work he has to be in his true beastly form. Otherwise Zim and the monstrous Amon would stay as two separate beings with neither of the two remembering what the other did in their absence.

This small fact was one of the main reasons why Amons were watched so closely. After all a monster with the hunger for flesh was bad enough, but a meat eating monster who would have no idea who he was, or that he was attacking and eating his own kind; was far worse!

'Far worse indeed…'

Zim shivered at the thought. 'Maybe the Computer is right I can't keep fighting this!'

A scream from outside of his cell broke him away from his thoughts.

"Jenkins what's going on?" Zim yelled to the guard who was watching over him.

Jenkins, a redhead, and slender teen gave Zim a death glare "Shut up Zim!"

"Oh, come on you can't tell me you didn't hear that!" Zim yelled.

Another scream, louder this time…

Jenkins looked nervous for a moment but the seemed to gather up his courage. "You stay here. I'm going to go check it out."

"But-" Zim tried to reason.

"Stay put Zim, need I remind you you're already in enough trouble." Jenkins warned.

Zim watched him go in defeat.

Another scream filled the air followed by what sounded like small explosion.

'What in the world is going on out there?' Zim thought in disbelief.

Suddenly Dib ran into the room "Zim!" he ran to unlock his cell.

"Dib what's going on?" Zim yelled.

"It's Gir he's out of control!" Dib explained.

"Gir's malfunctioning?" Zim looked worried "but I fixed him years ago…" The Irken was obviously confused!

"Well there's definitely something wrong with him!" Dib exclaimed. "He's attacking everyone!"

"We have to stop him before he goes too far!" Zim went to leave.

Dib grabbed him by the arm "Zim wait…" he pleaded.

"Wait?" Zim was stunned "Dib we have no time to-"

"There's something you should know" Dib said as his eyes began to swell up with tears. "It was Gir who attacked Mark."

"Yeah I gathered that much now let's go!" Zim tried to pull away but Dib wouldn't let go.

"No, you don't get it! We wrongly accused you again!" Dib's voice grew soft. "I walked away from you; I didn't believe you-"

"Dib this is very touching and all, but now really isn't the time!" Zim snatched his arm away and raced off into the chaos.

Dib wiped the tears from his face and followed him down the hall hoping they weren't too late.

Zim was hoping the same; he knew if even one of them died he'd have to dismantle Gir for good! He stopped as the horror of the realization revealed itself, humans were running everywhere trying to get out of range as Gir went crazy firing his weapon in every direction.

"Gir stop this at once!" Zim ordered as he ran towards his minion without a second thought.

Gir froze and turned to his leader. "Sir these humans question your loyalty they are unfit to hold your trust in their hands. They are a threat to the mission and must be terminated!" Gir answered coldly.

All the other members of the resistance backed up against the walls shocked by his words. Zim's eyes met with all them, and from what he could see none of them where hurt…yet!

"And what is our mission Gir!" Zim asked.

"To stop the enemy and free the Earth from Irken oppression." Gir answered with a quick salute.

"Are these humans, Irkens?!" Zim yelled.

"No but they hurt the master, and accuse him of crimes he has not committed. For this they cannot go unpunished." Gir raised his weapon again.

"No Gir this is wrong!" Zim urged.

"Master these humans are worsening your condition they must be eliminated!" Gir yelled. "It is for the good of the mission!"

"Gir please you are malfunctioning I need to get you to the lab before you hurt anyone!" Zim growled. He could feel his control slipping if something didn't happen soon he was going to lose it!

"No, I'm doing it again!" Gir yelled.

"Doing what Gir?" Dib cut in "What are you doing?"

"I am failing the Master!" Gir yelled. "It's my fault!"

Zim's eyes widen!

"No Gir what I need you to do is stop making my life so difficult! This is your fault Gir, your fault!"

"That boy got hurt because of you! You did this and now it's made my life ten times harder!"

"Just get out of my face! I can't deal with you and your antics right now!"

'This is my fault…' Zim realized 'I did this!'

Suddenly a weapon went off, but it was not Gir's

Zim watched helplessly as Mark who seemed to appear out of nowhere fired at Gir with one of Zim's stun lasers.

Gir fell to the ground his circuits shot from the lasers blast!

"Gir! " Zim ran to his side and scooped him up in his arms.

"Mark why are you out of bed!" Rachel was the only other person who seemed to have still her voice.

"I heard all the commotion and figured Gir was still on the lose." Mark explained. His leg and shoulder were sporting wounds that were only half healed.

"Wait still?" Jenkins asked.

"It was Gir that attacked Mark not Zim…" Dib said bluntly.

Everyone's eyes fell on Zim and an eerie silence filled the room and for good reason. This was the second time the resistance had rushed to a conclusion when it came to Zim, and in both cases they had been wrong!

Zim ignored the several eyes that he knew were staring at him and tried to shake Gir awake. "Gir please wake up please!" he begged holding him close. "Please I can't lose you...not now I need you Gir, please!"

"Master…" Gir whispered as his blue eyes opened slowly.

"Oh, Gir thank goodness" Zim breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm so sorry Master…" Gir spoke weakly "I made a mess of things."

"No Gir I did, none of it was your fault it was mine I never should have blamed you for my actions." Zim sniffled. "Please forgive me!" he begged.

Gir smiled "I forgive you…" he rasped and slowly closed his eyes again.

"Let's go fix you up…" Zim sighed and held him up in his arms as he stood. He stood there for a moment and for a while no one said anything.

Finally, everyone parted like the Red Sea, allowing him to pass.

Zim walked through them refusing to look any of them in the eye.

Dib couldn't stop the guilt that sunk into the pit of his gut. How could he jump to conclusions like that? Zim had fought and bleed for them all and in a seconds notice they turned on him! Dib looked to the others and each and every one of them had the same guilty look on their faces.

"I should get Mark back in to the ICU…" James finally spoke breaking the silence. No one said anything as he took his cousin's arm over his shoulder and helped him walk through the parted crowd. He then stopped in front of Dib a look of shame clouded his face. "Hey could you tell Zim I'm sorry. I would, but I don't think he'd listen…"

Dib nodded "Sure thing." he looked to Mark hopefully.

"Tell him I don't blame him." He said.

Dib forced a smile. "I will."

(Moments later with Zim.)

[Location: His bunker]

A single knock to the door…

Zim couldn't help but think of how much that sound sounded like a gunshot firing.

"It's open." he yelled not bothering to look up from his work.

Dib stepped into the room self cautiously "Zim?" he asked unsure.

"I'm kind of busy." Zim said without looking up. Gir laid before him on a metal lab table, his eyes were out.

"How is he?" Dib asked hopefully as he walked up a little closer.

"He's fine, I just need to replace his power cell the stun lazar fried it." Zim explained.

"And what about you, are you fine?" Dib asked.

"What do you mean? Of course, I'm fine-" Zim looked up flashing a fake smile. "Never better." he forced a laugh.

"I'm serious Zim-" Dib began.

"Dib really its fine I get it; you humans are tortured by Irkens every day. I'm just a reminder of your torment! Of course, you're going to blame me!"

'He thinks I'm talking about what James and the others did to him…' Dib realized. 'Or that's what he wants me to think!' Dib shook his head; he didn't care what the computer thought he should do he was telling Zim the truth. "Zim that kid you hurt..."

"So, the computer did tell you?" Zim asked, looking hurt. "Is that why you didn't believe me?"

"No, the computer did have to tell me." Dib gulped. "It was me; I was there."

Zim froze, his eyes widen. "What, what were you doing out there? Is this why you've been distant? Are you afraid of me Dib?"

Was he?

"No," Dib decided, and it was true. "You weren't talking to me, I had to know, and you know how I get." Dib explained.

"I'm sorry." Zim said, losing his rage in an instant.

"No, you warned me to get away, I should have listened to you. You remembered me as I was when we were enemies." Dib explained. "You thought I was there to hurt you."

Zim shook his head and continued working. "What a mess we've made, hu Dib?"

"I'm just happy Tak and Goalit weren't here to see all this. We might have lost their respect." Dib admitted.

"I wouldn't worry about it." Zim assured him. "Allies always have trust issues, we know this. Especially since we have a habit of betraying ours."

"So, we're all cool?" Dib asked.

"It's fine Dib really, and tell James no hard feeling. I understand." Zim forced another smile.

Dib sighed pretending to be relived, even though he was far from it! "Okay well don't stay up too late we've got school tomorrow." He reminded him. "You are going right?"

"Yeah sure…" Zim answered. Again, his old foe refused to look up from his work.

"Okay see you at home…" Dib forced a smile.

"See ya…" Zim said.

Dib left the more worried than ever. 'If only he'd just talk to me!'

'Why would he? Look at the way you treat him, like a criminal! You threw him behind bars with no proof of his crimes!' Dib groaned in frustration.

"How is he?" Rachel asked

"More distant them before." Dib answered in pure defeat.

"Give him some time to cool off, he'll come around; he always does." She assured him.

"Yeah you're probably right." Dib agreed "he'll be fine." But even as he said it, Dib didn't believe it. He couldn't explain it but somehow he could feel it…!

Zim was in trouble and if he didn't do something quick he could lose him; for good!

(Back with Zim…)

"This is has gotten too far out of hand!" the Computer Brain said as soon as Dib was out of the lab.

"I know!" Zim said firmly still keeping his focus on his work.

"Then what are you going to do about it?" the Computer Brain asked hopefully.

Zim sighed and looked up at the computer "There's only one answer…it's too dangerous for me to be around them anymore."

"But sir it wasn't you that hurt Mark-" the Computer Brain began.

"No but it could have been, I already hurt Dib." Zim reasoned.

"So, he told you." The brain asked.

"Yes, and you did not." Zim snapped.

"I thought the realization would make you go off the deep end for good." The brain admitted.

"I have to leave them it's for their own safety!" Zim conclude.

"But where will you go?" the Computer Brain asked.

"I don't know somewhere safe and full of space with no humans to worry about." Zim answered.

"When will you leave?" The Computer Brain sounded as if he almost feared the answer.

"Soon, perhaps after this mission." Zim answered then turned back to his work leaving his computer wrapped in a shadow of doubt!

Episode 6: Gir Goes Psycho(Part 3) END!

Author's Notes:

Disclaimers: I Do Not Own Invader Zim

Episode Summary: – It's been a week since Gir's malfunction, and it is now time for the Renegades to take on the Science Camp. But will they have what it takes? Or will this be the mission that tears the Renegades apart for good?