Episode 17: Science Camp (Part 2)
(Back with Tak…)
What she was about to do was unforgiveable…
However, she had no other choice.
Ok maybe she did have a choice, but the alternative was to say nothing, which could get them into even more trouble.
"I don't like this." Gaz growled, she was sitting on the bed of her new room as Tak paced back and forth on the floor before her. "If they get caught-"
"I have to tip off the Tallest." Tak snapped. "If I don't I will never earn their trust, and I need to have their at most trust for this plan of ours to work!"
Gaz bit her lip, she knew Tak was right, and she knew this plan of theirs was a solid one; one that could tip the scales forever in their favor. However, she had not been aware of just how much danger she would be putting her family and friends in. Sure, she knew it was dangerous to plot against the Tallest, but the danger never felt real, at least not until now!
Both her father, and her brother was in that facility right now. At first Gaz was relieved when Tak told her that her father was still alive and well, but that relief was short lived. For now, it would seem she just might cause his death. "If they get caught they'll kill my father on the spot Tak, and then they'll execute Dib, Zim, and the rest of them in the town square for all to see!"
Tak sighed she could see the fear in the female humans eyes, and for some reason she felt the need to comfort her. It was strange, but in the short time that the two had known each other Tak had grown to respect the other female, and had even come to enjoy her company. "Gaz I know what I'm doing." Tak assured her. "They'll get away in time."
Gaz searched the Irken female's eyes for any doubt, but found none. She was confident in their ability to get away in time. 'And I should be too.' She realized. She wanted to be, she really did, but at the same time she was afraid, afraid to lose again.
Tak seemed to register her distress. "I promise, they'll be fine, I've given them enough time; they've got to be at the 49th floor by now."
Gaz nodded her agreement. "Ok do it." She said, shakenly.
"Gaz." Tak began, she wanted to comfort her, but it felt so alien to her. Irkens did not need comfort, it was a sign of weakness, to want it or display it. However, humans were different, they needed that comfort every now and again, and Tak could tell that Gaz really needed it right now.
"Just do it before I change my mind." Gaz insisted, turning away.
Tak nodded, stopping short of her mission to comfort the other. 'She wants me to think of her as strong.' The Irken female realized. "They will be fine." She said, before taking her leave.
Gaz watched her go silently hoping she hadn't just signed her brother's death warrant.
(Following Tak…)
She knew this was dangerous…
If the Tallest suspected she knew all along about this mission than it would be over for her! It didn't take her long to reach the center of the castle, and of course she was allowed in without question. She had earned so much trust, so much in fact that she was even allowed to travel up the elevator to their private quarters without an escort from the Royal Guard.
'I could lose all of this.' She realized. 'One wrong word and it's over!' She took a deep breath as the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. She stepped out, and entered the private Quarters of her Leaders. "Sirs! I have news." She stated as she bowed respectfully.
The Tallest looked up from some sort of document, no doubt they were making plans for eliminating the remaining human resistance.
"This better be good Tak." Red Hissed.
"Yeah we're kind of in the middle of something." Purple agreed.
"Sirs, I just received word from the Dib." Tak exclaimed, she tried to look out of breath, as if she ran all the way there.
"Well go on then spit it out." Red said.
"He was checking in about his sister again and accidentally slipped some information to me." Tak explained. "The leaders of the Renegades are attacking the Science Camp right now, and they plan to stow away with weapons and some of the prisoners."
For a moment there is shock plastered on the Tallest faces, but that slowly melts away to two matching wicked smiles.
"Oh, is that so?" Red asked.
"Yes Sir." Tak answered looking confused.
"Problem Tak?" Purple asked.
"No Sir it's just…you don't seem to be worried." She admitted. "You're taking this very well."
"That's because we have no need to worry." Red said.
"Yes, we've been waiting for them to hit that place for some time." Purple agreed.
"So, you have a plan then?" Tak asked. "They won't get in."
"Oh, Tak they'll get in." Red assured her. "And they'll get out!"
"And you're okay with this?" Tak asked.
"Oh, don't worry." Purple said. "There are other ways to defeat the enemy."
Tak gulped, she didn't like the sound of that, nope she didn't like it one bit!
(Back with Goalit…)
He wasn't expecting it all to go so terribly wrong…
Then again he should of!
After all it was obvious that the Renegades would strike here, since The Dib's father was here, surely the Tallest would be keeping a close eye on Membrane, waiting for the Dib to find out he was still alive, and come rescue him.
However, the Irken scientist realized this small detail a little too late.
Goalit gulped visibly as the two soldiers before them drew their weapons.
"None of you move." The taller of the two said, his yellow eyes blazing. "And that includes you four in the bottom of the cart!"
'Four?' Goalit wondered. 'But shouldn't there be-' He didn't have time to finish the thought before an invisible force lifted up the taller guard and threw him against the left wall.
The guard hits his head, he's out cold before he hits the ground.
"The second guard, a female, begins to fire her weapon, at an unseen force, but her weapon never hits it's mark and seconds later she too is out cold.
Goalit watches as Zim rematerializes before him. "How did you know?" he asked.
"Dib's father is here, no doubt the Tallest knew he'd find out sooner or later." Zim explained, saying out loud what Goalit had just realized moments before.
"You knew this trap was waiting for us?" Mark yelled, as he too reappeared.
"I didn't want to assume, after all there is only one way the Tallest would know we were planning to strike today of all days." Zim answered.
"Tak." Rachel said as she too reappeared.
"No, she wouldn't." Dib argued, "She's one of us."
Goalit bit his lip, "Perhaps the Tallest got to her." He reasoned. Of course, he would try to defend her, Goalit always defended his students, but even he had to admit it was possible, 'Perhaps she got cold feet and came clean to the tallest in hopes to be spared from their wrath!' He knew this was possible, for he too had been tempted more than once to do the same thing.
Zim sighed. "I know you want to believe that." He said. "But Tak has sworn to be my undoing before, and I highly doubt my change is enough to sway her otherwise."
"It wasn't her!" Dib shouted! "Ok she wouldn't do that!"
"And how would you know?" Zim hissed. "Have you been talking to her again behind my back?"
"Listen guys it doesn't matter how they know!" James interrupted them. "They know, which means we have a small window to get out of here!"
"He's right." Rachel agreed. "So, the question is do we finish the mission, or do we make a run for it?"
"There's only one way out." Zim reasoned. "The air ship."
"Zim that's suicidal." Mark argued. "They knew we were here." He said gesturing to the two guards that were still out cold. "There could be a whole army up on the roof waiting for us."
"I know." Zim said coldly. "But that doesn't change the fact that it is our only way out of here."
"Then it's settled we finish the mission." Rachel said.
"This is Madness." Elma said.
"I knew we shouldn't have gotten involved." Kornelius whispered.
"Trust me we will get out of this." Goalit spoke up. "I have heard of you all getting out of worse."
Zim seemed to nod at this. "He's right, listen I know we are out of sync, but right now these three need us." He said pointing to the three human scientist. "If we get caught they die on the spot."
"Zim's right." Dib said. "And the Renegades don't kill people. We save them." He forced a smile. "So, what do you say guys?" he asked holding his hand out.
"I'm in." Zim said placing his hand on top of Dib's.
The remaining three Renegades looked to one another, and found a smile slipping on their faces.
"Ok I'm in." Mark said, surprising them all by placing his hand on top of Zim's.
"Me too." James agreed, adding his hand. "Rachel?"
They all looked to her.
Rachel forced a laugh. "Like you guys would last five seconds without me." She joked placing her hand on top of James' hand. "Let's do this."
"Anyone want to be Gaz for a second?" Dib asked, surprising them all with his request. Dib swallowed nervously. "It's just…You know we might die and all and it just feels right for her to be here too."
Zim rolled his eyes in a mocking manner. "I swear if we get out of here alive I will replace all of your brains with weasels!"
The four laughed.
"Not bad." Dib admitted.
"Wow Zim I wonder what she'd say if I told her you were mocking her in her absence." James smirked.
"Tell her that and I will replace your brains with rodents for real!" Zim warned.
The group laughed again, and for the first time in days the tension seems to melt off of them.
"So, you guys in?" Dib asked the scientist.
Membrane was the first to step forward, adding his hand to the group. "I promised to never doubt you again." He said. "And I meant it."
Dib smiled, tears showing in his eyes. "Dad."
"I still think this is a bad idea." Kornelius said. "But anything is better than staying in this prison." He said adding his robotic hand to the mix. "Count me in."
"Goalit?" Zim asked.
Goalit smiled. "I'd follow you anywhere sir." He said, placing his own hand into the mix.
'Sir' He still hatted the term, but Zim found that this time it didn't bother him as much.
They all looked to Elma, she took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Well it's not like I have anything better to do." She joked placing her hand on top of Goalit.
"So, what's the plan?" Zim asked Dib.
"They're waiting for us right?" Dib asked.
Zim nodded. "Most defiantly." He confirmed.
"But they don't seem to know who's involved." Dib said. "After all they had no idea about you." He said to Zim.
Zim smiled, understanding what he was getting at. "Goalit…"
"Sir?" Goalit asked.
"How would you like to betray us?" Zim mused.
A slow smile slips on Gaolit's face. "Well if I must."
"Afraid so." Zim nodded.
Goalit nodded. "Very well, but I'll need some help, there is more of you then me."
Elma turned and picked up one of the weapons from the cart. "I never did like you guys." She joked pointing the weapon at Dib.
Goalit swallowed nervously as he picked up a weapon himself. "Forgive me sir." He said pointing the weapon at Zim.
Zim nodded. "It can't be helped." He mused. "Besides, they all totally expected you too." He said pointing to Mark.
"I TOLD YOU." Mark exclaimed, putting his hands up in fake surrender.
"No what you said was: "why no invite the whole armada." Goalit teased. "So, I did." His grin looked so convincing, that for a moment Dib thought he was serious.
"Way to go Mark." James snapped.
"Yeah next time you have a bright idea, please keep it to yourself!" Rachel agreed.
Kornelius also drew a weapon. "Sorry I have a family to think about, you understand of course."
The rest of the group held their hands up in surrender.
"Now were going to finish taking these weapons up to the roof to be transported." Goalit said. "And then we're turning you all over to the awaiting authorities."
The Renegades allowed their fake captors to lead them up the stairs to the awaiting roof top, where no doubt a small army was waiting for them.
'What if they shot first, and then ask questions later?' Dib wonder, panicking for a brief moment, but he swallowed his fears all the same.
It didn't take long for the group to reach the top of the stairs.
"We'll here it goes." Goalit whispered before opening the door that lead to the roof.
Zim took a deep breath before stepping out into the unknown…
Disaster…
It always seemed to follow him, however in that moment it wasn't his own safety that he was worried about. It was strange really, nearly two years ago Zim was self-driven; it was all about ME!
Now it was all about Gaz, and Zim had promised her one thing.
"Protect him! Promise me you'll keep him safe!"
And as the door to the roof opened, and several weapons pointed their way, Zim's eyes fell on Dib, as his answer to her played over and over again in his mind.
"I promise, I will protect your brother with my life,"
"Goalit what is the meaning of this!" one of the soldiers spoke.
"This scientist." Goalit gestured to Membrane. "Helped these rebels into the facility, and forced us to lead them up here, thankfully we managed to turn the tables on them in time."
"What of the others, Meek and Zen?" The guard asked.
Zim could only assume those were the names of the soldiers that he had taken out down stairs.
"They're out cold." Goalit said, confirming his suspicions. "Thanks to this one." He pushed Zim forward roughly.
"Irken Zim!" The Guard spat in his face. "You are a disgrace to your people."
"Of course, he is." Another guard, a female with strangely gray eyes scoffed. "He is defective, though I must applauded him for managing to live this long."
Zim bit his tongue doing his best to ignore their disrespect, as he thought of a plan.
It was difficult to say the least, he hated to be called Sir, but the beast within demanded respect. He was above them after all, and yet they were treating him, an Amon like common trash. Zim pushed the rage aside, and counted the enemy's numbers. There was twelve of them in all, only three more men than their own group.
They could take them.
"I must admit, I am surprised." Zim admitted. "I was so sure I was careful; how did you know?"
Do you think we're stupid?" Another male said. "We knew The Dib would come for his father, so we placed Membrane's DNA into the silent Alarm system." He explained. "Anyone who entered this facility with a DNA make up similar to his would set off the silent alarm."
"My, that is smart." Zim admitted. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you're a stupid defective!" the female with the gray eyes hissed. "And now you're finally going to be put down." She said moving to cuff him.
Zim laughed, obviously unaffected by her threat.
"Are you stupid?" One of the other guards snapped. "We're sending you to your death."
Zim smiled. "A little bit of advice." He said. "If you're going to threaten me with death, then don't threaten me with a none lethal weapon!"
It happened in an instant, so fast in fact that Dib almost reacted to slow.
Zim struck the female behind him with one swift motion of his elbow. It hits her face, and he whorls around and grabs her, using her as a shield for the oncoming fire of the other soldiers.
Dib and the other's duck, as Elma, and Kornelius open fire onto the Irken enemy. Their weapons were on stun settings. Sure, they could kill the enemy, but that would only infuriate the Armada, and make the lives of the fellow humans harder.
And that was the last thing any of them wanted.
One by one the enemy soldiers fell, each of them knocked out cold by the blast, until finally only one was standing.
"Goalit don't just stand there." The Irken soldier said. "Shot him!"
Goalit switched his weapon to stun, and fired…
Episode 17: Science Camp(Part 2)…END!