Episode 17: Science Camp (Part 3)

(Back with Zim…)

It all seemed to happen in slow motion…

Goalit switched his weapon to stun, and fired; but his weapon wasn't aimed at Zim.

The last remaining soldier falls to his knees in shock, the first shot not quite strong enough to knock him out cold. "Goalit, Sir why?" he asked.

Zim could see the pain written all over Goalit's face, he understood in a moment, Goalit had undoubtingly taught this very soldier. He had a weak spot for his students, he devoted his life to them.

"Because I have led you astray." Goalit said, cocking his weapon for another shot. "And now I must correct that."

"The Tallest will kill you all." The soldier screamed at him.

"The Tallest are the ones who will be dead." Zim hissed. "The crimes they have committed can no longer be ignored. "And either you join us, or you get out of our way."

"I'd rather follow a couple of tyrants then allow a defective to lead us to our destruction." The soldier rasped.

Zim didn't even flinch at his words. "You fool, you've already been lead to your destruction. There are no more worthy ones, who do you think saw to that!"

"No lies!" The soldier screamed. "You lie!"

"The Tallest have doomed our race, and unlike you I plan to do something about it." Zim hissed, grabbing the soldier by his antennas, and jerking his face up to meet his gaze with his own. "You just admitted that you know they are tyrants, which means that makes you a lowly coward! We'll I'd rather be defective, then a coward!"

The soldier seemed to shake at his gaze, no doubt he is starting to understand what Zim really is. "They're too strong." He whimpered. "No one can stop them, not even you."

"Then I will die trying." Zim hissed, before releasing him. "But at least I tried!"

"Goalit." The soldier whispered. "Sir please…"

Goalit pointed his weapon at his former student, a look of dread on his face. "I'm sorry Bec." He whispered, and fired.

Dib flinched as the weapon hit its target, and the soldier known as Bec, clasped to the floor.

Silence follows…

And for a moment no one moves…

Finally, Dib seems to manage to speak. "Zim…"

"I'm fine." Zim hissed, though that isn't entirely true. "We should go, before reinforcements show up."

Dib bit his lip, he always assumed it must be hard for Zim. To go against his own people like this, but he always made it look so easy, then again Zim had always been on the outside looking in.

Goalit, however looked as if he was about to be sick.

Zim seems to register his distress. "I wish I could tell you it get easier." He whispered. "But that would be a lie."

Goalit grimaced. "How do you do it? How do you raise arms against them like this knowing you're hurting them?"

"There is a term these humans have." Zim explained. "It's called Tough Love, You care deeply for them, but you still enforcing them to take responsibility for their actions. This is the punishment for their actions, by allowing Tyrants to stay in command they have allowed themselves to be caught in the cross fire."

"But still…" Goalit looks unsure, his whole life has been devoted to the youth of his people. He believed that all had a right to live, even others of a different race had value in his mind. But it would seem that by defending one race he'd have to bring harm to another.

"Goalit, if you can't do this I understand." Zim said softly. "I know that violence between races upsets you, but peace only follows after war."

Goalit swallowed hard, it was true, in the beginning he hadn't become a scientist because he loved technology, or discovery. No in the beginning he had chosen the field because deep down he wasn't the violence type. In fact, the last time Goalit had token up arms was during his training in the academy, for even a scientist had to know how to point and shoot. Goalit looked at the gun he was holding, his hands around it shaking slightly. He could feel everyone's gaze on him, and for the first time in his whole life he is unsure of himself.

He is unsure of his own capability.

"I'm sorry I just don't know how to do it." He whispered.

"It's ok." Elma said, taking the weapon from his hands, before taking those hands into hers. "I can teach you." She told him.

"Elma." Goalit whispers.

"This place has forced me to create weapons that will harm my fellow humans, and every time one is used I know it is because of me. But sometimes you have to do things that you are not proud of, but in the end it is for the greater good." She took a deep breath. "My submission along with the rest of us has allowed the safety of our families. And your sacrifice today has made us all one step closer to peace."

Kornelius nodded. "She's right, we owe you our lives, this place, working here isn't living. It's a life of chains."

"You've taught us so much." Membrane agreed. "Treated us as equal instead of like human trash."

"And now it's our turn." Elma cut back in, holding Goalit's hands tighter.

Their eyes met.

"Let us help you through this." She begged.

Goalit looked at each of them, and in that instant he realizes the truth. He doesn't have to be strong enough because he had them, to be strong for him. "Okay, let's go!" he said.

Elma embraced him, and to her surprise Goalit hugs her back, it's strange to have someone invading his own space, but with her it just feels so right.

"Look I'm not trying to be rude, but we really need to go." Mark pointed out the obvious.

"He's right." Zim said, looking away. He couldn't stand to see them hugging. And for good reason, yes he could see it as plain as day, there was chemistry between those two, and as much as he tried Zim couldn't help but feel bitter. It hurt to see them together when his Gaz was so far away.

"Right." Goalit seemed to gather himself, and pulled away gently.

Elma blushed, before loading herself and the weapons into the waiting air ship.

The others also boarded, all but Zim, who stopped in front of Goalit's path.

"Is there a problem?" Goalit asked.

"Listen about Elma-"Zim began.

"She's sweet." Goalit cut in, yes he was quite aware of her little crush, her looks of admiration, and hanging off his every word made it painfully honest. And he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel something towards the young human female. "But she is far too young." He reasoned.

Zim smiled, he liked that Goalit didn't point out the fact that they were both of two different races. "I'm not telling you not to pursue her." He said. "Just don't take it for granted, appreciate it, because you never know how long you have with the people you care about."

Goalit's eyes widen, instantly understanding his words. "You'll see her again Sir." He told him.

"Yeah, just long enough to say goodbye." Zim retorted, before turning to get into the cock pit.

"For what it's worth, if she really cares for you, then she'll understand." Goalit assured him.

Zim smiled, but said nothing as they boarded the ship.

The flight back to the base was surprisingly uneventful, much to Dib's relief, but that relief is shortly lived.

"You sure this thing doesn't have a tracer or something on it?" Mark asked

"No, it's clean." Zim assured him, but still he felt uneasy; the Tallest never gave up this easily.

"Somethings not right." Goalit said the obvious.

The group as a whole shivered openly, yes they could all feel it; something was terribly wrong!

(Back with Tak…)

"So, you're not going to send troops to apprehend Zim?' She asked.

"Oh no, he can have those weapons." Red mused, "Of course they come with a price."

"What kind of price?" Tak dared to ask.

Red smiled, as the computer came to life, the image of a soldier appears on it.

"Sir they have gone." The soldier said.

"And how many weapons did they take." Red asked.

"25 sir." The soldier said.

"Good…Chose 25 scientist from the Camp and kill them." Purple ordered.

Tak's veins felt as if her blood had turned to ice. 'No!'

"Make sure all 25 have families back at home, and podcast it all over this morning's news." Red added.

"As you wish sir." The soldier answered, and hung up to follow the order.

"You see Tak." Red mused. "Now the humans will no longer support these rebels, in fact some may even help us bring them in, in hopes of sparing anymore families from getting hurt."

Tak tried her best not to shake in obvious fear, the Tallest had been planning this the whole time. They knew sooner or later Dib would figure out the truth about his father, and come for him. Just like they knew Zim and the others couldn't resist taking some weapons.

This was all according to plan, and now it would seem the Tyrants were about to turn everyone against them.

Including the humans, they were trying so desperately to save…

(Back with Zim…)

Getting applause for a job well done was still not something he was used to, but he welcomed it all the same.

"Uncle Kornelius." Shyann raced up to her uncle, and embraced him. "Thank goodness you're safe."

Kornelius returned the hug, holding her tightly. "I am glad to see you too."

Elma bit her lip as she watched them embrace, feeling left out, Membrane was busily talking to his son, and Kornelius had his niece. But she had no one here waiting for her.

"It's okay." A girl with misty gray eyes said as she walked up to her.

Elma is taken aback. "Are you-?"

"Blind?" The girl finished for her.

Elma suddenly wanted to slap herself in the face. "I'm sorry that was so rude I-"

"No, it's okay." The girl said. "My Name is Crystal, and yes I am blind." She assured her. "But I can tell by your unsteady heartbeat, and labored breathing that you feel alone here."

"I am." Elma said. "I have no family."

"My family is far away.." Crystal told her. "They live several towns away, where the people hide underground in fear of the Irkens. But that's okay because we can be here for each other."

"Really?" Elma asked.

"The Irkens want me dead, their computers can track my DNA anywhere." Crystal explained, "Anywhere but underwater. So, I'm stuck here until the end of the war."

"That's awful." Elma said.

"It's not so bad, besides you and the rest of the scientist that came here today will be in the same boat as me." Crystal Informed her.

And Elma realized she was right, the Soldiers had placed her DNA, and every other scientist at the camp in their Spy drones in order to discourage any escape attempts. "Well for our sake I hope the war isn't too long."

"It's okay there will be plenty to do." Crystal assured her.

Elma smiled she could tell she liked this girl already.

"Sir you should see this." The computer's words made everyone froze.

"Yes, what is it?" Zim asked.

"It's not good." The computer said, and its screen changed, showing the morning podcast for the daily news.

The Renegades watched as the scene played out before them.

25 humans dressed in lab coats stood at the top of the roof of a large building.

They all instantly recognized the building; the Science Camp!

The 25 scientist looked frightened, each of them standing on the ledge of the large 49 story building.

"Oh no." Goalit whispered.

Tallest Red and Purple appeared on the screen.

Zim growled deep within his throat.

"Sir you shouldn't watch this." Goalit advised.

Zim ignored him, and the scene continued.

"For too long these Rebels have been a thorn in our side, and now they will pay the ultimate price." Red exclaimed. "For now, on, every time the Renegades attack our factories, and steal our weapons it will be the human population who pays."

"25 weapons were stolen today." Purple cut in. "So, 25 scientist will pay for these weapons with their lives!"

The screen zooms in on the scientist, one by one all 25 get a close up.

"Those monsters." Elma cried. "I know them, they all have families!"

"They can't!" Dib screamed.

"They will." Goalit hissed. "Sir do not watch this!" he warned Zim once more.

Zim doesn't turn away, and in seconds the attending soldiers open fire on 25 helpless scientist.

All 25 are hit, and all 25 fall forward, over the edge, and 49 stories down…

"NO!" Elma screams, but her voice is drowned out by the cheers of the attending soldiers.

Something inside of Zim snaps, he turns and walks away.

"Sir!" Goalit races after him, but the damage has already been done.

This was the last straw!

"Zim wait!" Dib is hot of Goalit's heels.

"I'm leaving, and you can't stop me." Zim growled.

"You can't leave now. We need you!" Dib reasoned.

"We all do." Goalit agreed.

"Oh?" Zim asked, turning to face them, tears spilled down his face. "Because it looks like to me that they don't want to be saved."

"Sir…" Goalit is surprised by his words.

"You know I'm beginning to think our Ancestors were right to leave us." Zim hissed darkly, his eyes seeing only red. "The Irken Race is a virus that destroys everything it touches! And I no longer want anything to do with it!"

"Sir." Goalit shouted.

"Don't call me that!" Zim snapped. "I am not your leader; I am ashamed to say that I am of the same race as those barbarians! I am leaving, and I am never coming back!"

His words hit him like a brick wall.

Dib felt his knees go weak. Zim was leaving, and he was never coming back. "But…what about us, what about the base."

"Keep it!" Zim snapped. "If you want to keep fighting this war then fine, But I'm done fighting for both races. One that doesn't want to be saved, while the other doesn't seem to appreciate my help, or trust my word."

"We do." Dib began, but he stopped. Did they? After all they had all put Zim behind bars just seven days before.

Could Dib honestly say the human races as a whole appreciated him?

No, in fact he knew most humans within and outside of the resistance still cursed his name for bringing this doom upon the all.

"Zim…" Goalit whispered. "Please listen to me-"

"No, you listen to me! You can tell the Ancients that I'm done with you all!" he hissed. "As of now you are all nothing to me!"

Nothing…

Goalit lost his ability to breathe from those words alone, their final chance of peace was done with them.

Just like that Zim had disown them all.

Zim did an about face, and stomped out of the room, towards the docking bay. He was taking his Voot, and he was leaving this base. He'd find a quiet place to finish the change, and then he was leaving Earth for good. He was done trying to make a difference, after all; who was he fooling.

Like he'd ever be a better leader than the Tallest.

"I'd rather follow a couple of tyrants then allow a defective to lead us to our destruction." Bec's words felt like knives in his back, but perhaps there was some truth. Perhaps he was no better, perhaps the Irken Race wasn't meant to be saved.

'Why try when no one wants you to?' Zim wondered.

All his life he had asked himself a similar question.

'Why try when they'll never accept you.'

For so long he thought he knew the answer, but now he wasn't so sure. He had lost the will to go on, perhaps he had been kidding himself all along.

'Maybe they are all better off without me.' He thought as he entered the docking bay, and with that final thought he boarded his Voot.

"Master can't leave." Gir said, stopping in front of him. "Master must save them."

"They don't need nor want saving!" Zim snapped.

"Master…" Gir pleaded.

"I'm not your master anymore!" Zim hissed, before pushing Gir out of the Voot, and taking off.

"Zim!" Dib ran into the docking bay, but he's too late, Zim doesn't even look back. "No!"

"Dib what's going on?" Rachel yelled as she, James, Mark, and the rest of the Renegades race into the bay.

"Dib where's Zim?" everyone turns to see Tak, a look of worry paints her face. "Please tell me he hasn't seen it-"

"You're too late." Goalit says, giving her a grave look. "Zim is gone, and he isn't coming back!"

Episode 17: Science Camp(Part 3) END!

Author's Notes: Oh boy! Zim has just disowned his race, and this time he doesn't seem to be changing his mind. Meanwhile with the ending of 25 lives the Tallest have turned not only the Irkens against our hero's, but the entire human population as well!

Is there any hope for our rebels?

Tune in Next week to find out!

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine ;)

Shout-out(s): Again, I give this shout out to all my loyal readers, I'm looking at you Invader Johnny!