Episode 18: Monsters in the Dark (Part 2)

(Back with Tak…)

[Location: Zec, The Tallest's Throne Room]

{Time: 08:30 AM}

Tak was not prepared for this…

And yet the cruel nature of fate didn't seem to care.

"Why didn't you tell us there was others?" Red hissed as she stood before him, and Purple.

"Other's my Tallest?" Tak asked.

"Other Irkens!" Purple gave a dangerous growl, his eyes glowed with rage. "Why didn't you tell us there was other Irkens in the human resistance besides you?"

Tak's eyes widen from shock. 'They know about Goalit already!' She hadn't expected it to be so quick.

Thankfully, her leaders mistake her shock, as surprise.

"You had no idea did you?" Red asked.

"No, my Tallest they tell me little, I haven't even been in their base." She lied.

"Then you are useless to us!" Purple screamed.

"Actually, I do have one thing I've been meaning to discuss with you." Tak said quickly.

This stops Purple, his eyes seem to dim as they slowly lost their glow. "You have a plan?" he said looking somewhat pleased.

Tak nodded. "I have been working towards it since the moment you in trusted Gaz into my care." She informed her leaders.

"Go on." Red assured her.

"Gaz has agreed to help us lure the resistance out of hiding in exchange for the safety of her father, and her brother."

Slowly two matching smiles formed on the Tallest faces.

"She's agreed to be bait?" Red asked.

"She just wants to be with her family again, I told her I would see about getting her brother's crimes amended, and see if her father would be allowed to stay out of the Science camp." Tak explained. "I told her I'd even put a word in for her and her family to be allowed to return to their home as privileged humans of this society. And all she has to do is lure them out of hiding."

"And she agreed?" Purple asked.

"Yes, she has agreed, as long as we fulfill all of those conditions." Tak told them.

"Then tell her that she's got a deal." Red mused.

"Thank you my Tallest." Tak bowed. "I'll arrange everything, by this time next week the Renegades will be no more."

Red and Purple shared another wicked smile as she walked away.

Finally, everything was going their way!

(Back with Gir…)

[Location: Junk Yard]

{Time: 10:00 PM}

His Master had been here for some time…

Gir watched the red eyed beast with much dismay, of course he had tried to convince Zim to stay, but his master was determined to leave come morning light. Yes, the change was done, and he was done too; done with the humans, done with his own race.

Done with everything!

And Gir could not find the right words to stop him!

So, he stood here, watching, protecting; not only his master, but whoever might pass by and anger him.

But no one seemed to notice the fact that a large meat eating beast was rummaging through the piles and piles of trash.

Zim of course was simply looking for none living things to take his anger out on.

It amazed Gir to see his Master in so much control even after all he had seen. He should have gone mad, and yet…Zim was completely stable, perhaps it was because he was use to this kind of behavior from his people. It was a sad thought, but Gir was grateful, he did not wish to bring harm to his Master.

Suddenly Zim growls, the sound grabs Gir's attention. It's a warning growl to whoever is approaching to back off.

"Master who is it?" Gir asked.

Zim hissed, and Gir watched as a large shadow formed in the harsh street lamp's light.

Gir froze as the owner of that shadow came into view.

The blue eyed beast hissed. 'Found you!'

Gir's eyes turned red. 'The other! He has finally decided to act! I must protect the Master!' Gir jumps into action, landing in the middle of the two. "Master Run!" he screamed. To his surprise Zim obeys, and takes off, jumping over the Junk Yard fence and heading East!

The blue eyed beast charges without hesitation, bulldozering over Gir, and after his target!

Gir forces himself to his feet, the other didn't even hesitate which meant…

'It's berserk, and I must end it!' Gir gave chase, his blood red eyes glowed in the night as only one thought rang in his mind.

'Kill…Kill…KILL!'

(Back with Dib…)

[Location: Under the Over Pass]

{Time: 10:30 PM}

He wish they could have been here sooner, but the original members of the Renegades soon learned that leaving straight after school was impossible. Every human on the street was on the lookout for anyone that looked suspicious, and they called the Irken police on any child that looked as if they were up to no good.

So, they were forced to wait until after curfew.

The human population now had an 8 o'clock curfew thanks to the rebels, and Dib knew Rachel and the others couldn't risk sneaking out until after their parents fell asleep.

Dib sighed today had been a trying day…

It was like universe was against him or something, and all started where it always started.

With Cadet Scamooch!

Somehow or another he had found out about the new house Joseph was purchasing. How? He wasn't sure, but he had a paranoid feeling that the cadet was watching their every move. Now to say the guy was obsessed with making Joseph his slave was an understatement, hell the cadet was stalking them!

He had to be! How else would he know about the house?! However, he would give the cadet some credit. While the child still terrorized him, he was no longer physically violent, his words less harsh.

Still, needless to say, Cadet Scamooch tried his hardest to get him in trouble today, from name calling, to tripping him in the hall, and to even downright insulting him, but Dib refused to give in. No way was he going to continue to sleep on the floor just so he could get in one punch! However, it did help that he had something more important to think about; Zim! They had to find him, and fast!

"Dib is that you?" a voice asked.

Dib turned to see Rachel looking at him unsure. "Yeah it's me, don't worry."

"Don't hang around in the shadows like that." Rachel lectured. "At least move a little towards the light so you don't freak me out."

"Sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking." Dib admitted.

"Are the guys here yet?" Rachel asked.

"No Mark says his mom hasn't fallen asleep yet." Dib explained.

Rachel sighed, ever since the Great War all of James' family had moved in together to help each other out in the hard times. Which was okay, since his mother was an only child, and her parents were already passed on, leaving just enough room for his father's side of the family. His father had one brother, Mark's father, and one sister. Both siblings were married, and only had one kid. Mark was James' uncle's son, and his Aunt had a baby girl on the way. James' grandparents from his father's side also lived in the house, so that was a total of 10 people with one on the way.

Rachel loved James family dearly, but Mark's mom was an insomniac! Which usually wasn't a problem since the renegades always snuck out very late at night, long after even Mark's Mom had fell asleep, but this time they had no time to waste! Zim needed them NOW!

"Sorry were late!" James exclaimed as he and Mark burst into the hiding place.

"Yeah my mom took longer than usual!" Mark added.

"It's fine, let's get started." Rachel insisted. "We have to find him, and make sure he's okay."

Her companions nodded, and Dib turned on the Irken tracing device that he had borrowed from the base.

It began beeping silently.

"I got a signal." Dib informed them.

"Are they still in town?" Rachel asked hopefully.

"Gir is." Dib answered, "I'm picking him up somewhere along the junk yard, and he's on the move."

"Where to?" Mark asked.

"East, towards the school." Dib answered. "But I can't tell whether or not he's found Zim."

"I'm sure he has." A voice said.

They all turned to see Goalit walking towards them.

"What?" Mark gasped. "How did you know we were…"

"Sorry I told him." Rachel confessed. "I just thought it was best, you know since he is Irken he'll probably know what to do."

"I do know." Goalit assured them. "I also know that this is very dangerous." He stressed. "But if he has gone berserk I will have to put him out of his misery." He said, holding up a weapon.

"Will you be able to?" Dib asked, remembering how he shook after stunning Bec just days before.

Goalit was indeed shaking, but he forced himself to still his hands. "It's the only thing I can do for him if he has reached the point of no return." He reasoned.

"Okay then is this everyone now?" Dib asked.

They all nodded.

Then let's go." He ordered.

The team moved as one, each of them hoping they were not too late.

It took them longer to get across town then they would have liked, but it was unavoidable, the number of Irken police officers had doubled over night. However, they soon reached the school a little after midnight.

"Where is he Dib?" Rachel asked frantically.

"That's weird." Dib muttered, looking at the tracking device.

"What?" Mark asked.

"It says here that Gir is now inside the school." Dib answered, looking unsure.

"But how did he get in?" James asked.

"Uh guys." Rachel spoke up, her voice was a squeak. "I think I know." She pointed in front of them.

They looked and gasped.

The double metal doors had been ripped open.

"This is defiantly the work of an Amon." Goalit said, as he examined the impressions on doors. 'They look like claw marks.' He thought to himself. Suddenly something washes over him, he can feel it…something is wrong!

"So Zim is here?" Dib asked.

"Yes, it Must be, either that or the Tallest did this." Goalit answered, his voice was shaking, what was this feeling that had come over him?

"Do you think they are here?" Rachel asked.

"No if they were going to face Zim they would have killed him before the change occurred." Goalit reasoned. "Like the cowards they really are."

No, the Tallest were not here, but something was, and whatever it was it wasn't Zim. Goalit was sure of it.

"Then let's go!" Dib ordered as he took the first brave step threw the threshold.

The Team followed him into the darkness.

It was quiet, too quiet.

Goalit fought the eager to run, he knew they were walking into a death zone, but he promised the Ancients that he would watch over Zim, and he knew that he could not handle him alone. So, he allowed the group to continue their Search for Gir, hoping he was just being paranoid about it all.

"Gir should be just around this corner." Dib whispered as the small group rounded the corner.

Red robotic eyes greet them.

"Gir?" Mark asked.

"You shouldn't be here." Gir whispered.

"It's okay Gir." Dib whispered, fearing that the Sir unit's red eyes meant that Gir had lost it again. "We are not here to hurt Zim. We are here to help."

"No, you really shouldn't be here." Gir whispered. "The other…he is here."

"The other?" Goalit asked. Suddenly the words register in his mind. His initial suspicions were correct. "There is another!"

"Another what?" James asked.

A loud hiss greets his question, and it is coming from right behind them.

The group turns to see a large silhouette looming over them.

"Zim?" Dib asked hopefully.

"It's us." Rachel said shakenly. "Your friends."

"We're here to help you." James insisted.

"We come in peace." Mark assured him.

"Children." Goalit whispered, stepping in front of them protectively. "That's not Zim."

Suddenly the silhouette stepped into the light, its large blue eyes glowed brightly.

"No, it can't be." James whispered.

"That's impossible, Zim killed you!" Mark screamed.

But there was no mistaking it, they knew this monster, they knew him very well.

"Koi!" Dib whispered. "He's gone berserk!"

The monstrous Koi howls, and charges for them.

Gir jumps in between them protectively, he places up his personal force field trying to block off the charging Koi! "He is not the real Koi!" The Sir Unit explained. "He is a clone, the Tallest made him to eliminate the Master!" Yes, Gir was sure of this, he has scanned the monster's genetic makeup, and he had picked up the self-destruct device in its neck.

It was set to go off the moment his master died.

"Are they mad?" Goalit yelled, as the group backed away slowly. "To allow one to roam free is one thing, but to create one!"

The blue eyed beast, Koi clawed at the force field trying to get through, it's only thought was to kill them all!

Goalit flinched, they shouldn't be here; it wasn't safe here. He hated to leave Zim, but he knew Gir was a Sir Unit, a force to be reckoned with, they were all preprogramed with berserk elimination protocols, so Gir alone could handle Koi.

At least Goalit hoped so, after all Gir was a trashed Sir Unit. Could he handle the monster before them? The robot sure looked determined to try.

Dib flinched as the force shield began to crack under Koi's might. He'd get through at this rate.

"I have sensed his presents for some time now." Gir admitted, his red eyes never left the monster before him. His shields strength was steady dropping, 50 percent 30 percent! Soon it would be upon them!

"And it's just now attacking Zim!" Mark exclaimed.

"Master is strong." Gir reasoned. "Even a berserk does not wish to die."

"Gir where is Zim?" Dib dared to ask.

"He mustn't engage." Gir yelled. "He mustn't come near…"

The shield shatters, and the monster does not hesitate as it continues its charge!

Rachel screams, as its claws reach out, but just before Koi can touch then, a shadow charges from his side.

"Master NO!" Gir screams, but it's too late.

Zim smashes Koi into a row of lockers. "Stay away from them!" he growled.

Suddenly a light flashes from within Koi's neck.

"Gir what is that?" Dib dared to ask.

"It's the tracer, it's sending out the signal." Gir explained.

Suddenly Dib understood why Gir did not want Zim to engage, all of Zec now knew where they were.

This whole thing had been one big trap!

"Get out of here now!" Zim ordered, but it was too late.

"Lock down initiated." A brain's voice sounded over the school intercom.

Bars came down, covering all the windows, and doors leading to the outside, they were trapped!

"Run now!" Zim rasped, as he wrestled with Koi against the lockers, holding him there.

He wasn't sure how they managed to move but they did, the Renegades ran, leaving Gir to defined Zim.

'This was all a trap!' Dib realized. "The Tallest planed for Koi to take us all out!' he was sure of it now.

And they had fell for it: Hook, line, and sinker…!

Episode 18: Monsters in the Dark (Part 2) END!