Episode 19- The Evil Girlfriend of Doom (Part 2)
(Back with Scamooch…)
[Time: 1st period]
{Location: Westville High School}
He absolutely hated himself right now!
Cadet Scamooch glanced over at the human Joseph almost hopefully, but it was obvious the boy was still upset about what he said earlier. The cadet shook his head and forced himself to focus on the assignment Mrs. Bean had placed on the board. No human should make him feel this way, no one should have the power to make him feel sorry for a statement that he had said with confidence.
But Campbell did!
Ever since that stupid rescue the boy had gotten him to second guess everything, and so had Zim. According to Joseph, another Irken had chased off the cadets, and Scamooch vaguely remembered sensing an Amon's presence. He knew it was Zim, it had to be, but why would a traitor save him?
Why would a human save him?
The cadet shook his head again, what was wrong with him? He shouldn't care that he hurt some human's feelings, but he did care! His insides felt like there was knives in them, stabbing at him constantly. He hated this feeling, and no matter what he did, it wouldn't go away.
'Should I apologies?' he wondered.
Wait, did he just think about saying sorry to a lower life form!
No that was absurd, besides what would that do? After all he wasn't even sorry…was he?
After all he was regretting saying it right? So, didn't that mean he was sorry?
Cadet Scamooch looked to Joseph again almost hoping that he'd catch his eye.
Joseph avoided his gaze as he continued his own work. Oh yes, he could tell the child was looking at him; but he was still rather ticked about what the child had said. How could he support the act of murder when not too long ago he was almost killed by his fellow classmates? 'I saved him from that, and this is how he repays me!'
He knew that he had told himself to let it go, and he thought he had, but seeing the kid now made him angry all over again. 'And to think I once thought he could be different from the rest.' How stupid could he be that he thought he could change them?
There was no changing them.
The Irken Race was like a virus, a vicious outbreak that killed everything it touches, and he no longer wanted any part of it. As far as he was concerned the Tallest could keep the throne, it was the Earth that they would have to part with.
And he would ensure that they did, one way or another. He did have a promise to keep after all.
The seconds ticked by slowly for them both.
Cadet Scamooch felt like he was going to explode how was he going to make this feeling go away? The bell sounded around him, but all the cadet could do was watch Joseph gather his things and stomp off without even looking at him. The feeling in the pit of his Spooch suddenly became ten times worse! 'I've got to fix this!' he thought. 'After all he's the only lead I've got for the resistance!'
Yes, that was why he wanted to apologize, he needed the boy to trust him, and that was all. He did not feel guilty! Of course, the moment he thought that was the moment his Spooch grew tighter with guilt. However, the cadet shook it off as he ran after Campbell.
"Joseph wait!" The cadet hissed.
Joseph kept walking until he reached his locker, even though he heard the cadet ask to wait. He ignores the overgrown Smeet and begins to switch out his books.
"Hey I said wait." Cadet Scamooch whined as he raced up to him.
"What do you want?" Joseph snapped, not caring in the least bit that he was openly being cross with a cadet. After all Cadet Scamooch always said he wanted him to be brutally honest with him. So here he was doing just that.
"Look I-" Cadet Scamooch stuttered. Why was he lost for words all of the sudden? "I…I"
Joseph raised a brow in suspicion. What was he up to now? And why did he look so guilty? Joseph shook his head, it didn't matter, besides, he didn't have time for this. So, without a word Joseph grabbed his books, closed his locker, and turned to stomp off.
But what the cadet did next stopped him in his tracks.
"I'm sorry." Cadet Scamooch said firmly.
Joseph turned around to face him, obviously stunned. "What did you say?"
"I said I'm sorry ok?" Cadet Scamooch said once again. "What I said was insensitive, and cruel."
Joseph was having a hard time believing his ears, was a cadet apologizing to him? Irkens never apologizes, not even to each other; in less of course they were doing so to the Tallest for royally screwing up, but that was the only time.
So why now? What was the child getting at?
He had to have an alternative motive, but what was it.
"Look I don't know why I'm apologizing." Cadet Scamooch lied. "But…I mean it."
Joseph shook his head he didn't have time for this child's games at this rate he'd be late for his Irken Mechanics class, and Mrs. Dizon was not a patient Irken female. "Look I have to go so…"
"I'm trying to apologize here!" Cadet Scamooch snapped a little too loudly. Thankfully though the hall was empty.
"Yeah I can see that." Joseph snapped right back. "What I want to know is why? You're an Irken you don't know what an apology even is!"
Cadet Scamooch flinched at his words.
Ok maybe that was a bit harsh.
Joseph bit his lips. "I'm sorry." He said. "I just-"
"How come you can do this to me?" Cadet Scamooch asked.
"Do what?" Joseph asked looking confused.
"I've never been sorry for anything." Cadet Scamooch admitted. "I've never regretted defending my leaders before, but you make me feel sorry for doing so. Why?"
Joseph was at a loss for words, this cadet was acting completely out of character, and all because he had made it so. "It's because I saved your life." Joseph finally answered. Of course, that was the only logical expiation. The cadet felt grateful, as he should. "You feel like you owe me something, but you don't."
"No what I owe you is an apology." Cadet Scamooch said, still not believing just how much he actually meant every word that he was saying.
"It's okay." Joseph told him. "I'm just angry, give me some space to cool down and we'll be good."
"So, you forgive me?" Cadet Scamooch asked.
Joseph felt his Spooch clench up, the child looked so broken up, like he actually would die on the spot if Joseph told him that he'd hate him forever. 'Wow he actually does feel like he owes me something.' The feeling was strange to him to say the least, never had one of his own fellow Irkens show him such…admiration.
No one but Goalit.
Everyone else looked down on him, called him short, a waste of space, a defective. Even when he was An Amon in training no one gave him the kind of respect and admiration that was reflecting in this cadet's eyes right now.
Joseph found a smile spreading across his face was it possible?
Could Cadet Scamooch be like Goalit? Was he different from the rest of their people?
"Yeah I forgive you." He said, and watch as the sense of relief visibly flooded over the cadet's face. 'Yes, maybe he was different.'
"So, we're ok then?" Cadet Scamooch asked.
Joseph nodded.
"Good then carry my books!" Cadet Scamooch snapped dropping his books in the boy's hands.
Joseph stiffened a laugh as things began to melt back into its proper order.
Cadet Scamooch smiled feeling thankful that the horrible feeling in his Spooch was finally gone, but just because he was truly sorry didn't mean thing would change much between them. No, after all Joseph was still a human, and had to be treated as such.
But for once Joseph doesn't mind carrying the books of an Irken Cadet.
No instead he feels strangely honored, and relieved.
Relieved that there was at least one other Irken like Goalit, of course the realization alone made him second guess his feeling towards his people all together.
After all, if Cadet Scamooch and Goalit could be different then couldn't others be too?
Was it really fair for him to abandon all his people at the hands of the Tallest?
'Maybe I can offer him a place with the Ancient's like I did Goalit. That is assuming they will accept me themselves.'
The thought made his insides clench with fear, yes that was his greatest fear now.
Ever since the change had been complete Zim's greatest fear was going to ancestors for refuge only to have them reject him too. Surely they would know a defective when they see one.
'What will they think of me? Will they cast me aside too?'
"Hello Earth to Campbell!" Cadet Scamooch snapped. "Are you in there?"
Joseph snapped out of his daze only to realize they were still standing in the hall way.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah just tiered." Joseph lied.
"Well get a move on otherwise we'll be late!" Cadet Scamooch ordered as he began to stomp off in the direction of his class.
Joseph laughed as he began to follow his lead.
"Did I say something that you find amusing Campbell?" Cadet Scamooch hissed, though his glare was obviously playful.
"No at all sir." Joseph scoffed. "After all what could an Irken possibly do to amuse a small minded being such as me?"
Cadet Scamooch smiled. Finally, things were back to normal between the two of them, and if the cadet was honest with himself then he would admit that he liked things better this way.
Yes, for reasons unknown to him fate had made Joseph a constant in his life, and though it had changed him slightly the cadet could not see why such a thing was so bad.
Joseph couldn't agree more, still he was not changing his mind about the rest of his people. Sure, Goalit and this cadet were different, but then so was he! For all he knew the three of them were just defectives.
Joseph sighed as the tardy bell rang around them.
"Don't worry I'll have Mr. Flak give you a tardy slip." Cadet Scamooch assured him. "But that's the last freebie you get." He warned.
Joseph smiled. "Careful sir people might start saying your growing soft."
Now that threw the cadet at a curve.
Was he growing soft?
Had this boy's selfless act to save him made him start looking at things differently?
No, of course not!
After all that would be absurd right...
RIGHT?
Cadet Scamooch bit his lip as they continued on to their next class, because for once in his life he wasn't sure of his answer at all.
(Back with Gaz…)
Everything was falling into place…
In exactly 5 hours she would lure her love ones into a pit of certain death!
And yet Gaz Membrane had never felt so calm, so at peace. The now 16 year old girl looked out her bed room window with eyes full of content as they swept over the busy streets of Zec. She knew what was going on, her mind had gone numb, and secretly she was grateful for it.
"I've played the victim so long that I almost forgot how to be the strong one!" She told herself out loud. "And it's all his fault!"
Yes, that was it! Everything was Zim's fault!
This war, her brother's predicament, her minion status; it was all his fault.
And he would pay!
In exactly 5 hours Zim would get what's coming to him.
"Nervous?" A voice from behind asked her.
Gaz turned to see a tall Irken soldier, wearing a general's uniform. Of course, she knew who stood before her, yes she had heard many things about this one.
He was taller than the average Irken; just an inch shorter than Tallest Red. His shoulders and back where as straightly a lined as the stars during the equinox. His demeanor was serious, and he wear his Irken uniform with a since of pride and statue.
General Kazar, commander of the Irken Armada…
Gaz had heard from Tak that Kazar was once Zim's mentor back when he was still an Amon in training. "Come to see if I'm truly going to rat him out?" She asked.
General Kazar smiled.
Gaz waited for him to pick her obvious ploy apart but to her surprise General Kazar shook his head.
"Do you think I care if you deceive them or not?' He asked.
"They are you're leaders." Gaz pointed out.
"They are blood thirsty Rogues." General Kazar pointed out bluntly.
"Then why stand beside them?" Gaz asked. "If you hate them so much? I mean you are a Taller, an Amon like you could take them on."
"Sadly, no." General Kazar admitted. "It is true I am further along than most Amons when it comes to the change, I even have a beastly form. However, it is not nearly as developed or big as the Tallest. They would tear me apart. Zim however…"
"Why are you telling me this?" Gaz asked.
"It's obvious what you and Tak are doing." General Kazar mused. "And once Zim gets away this evening uncaptured with the renegades still at large the Tallest will begin to question your motives."
"Are you offering help? Or are you trying to lure me into a trap?" Gaz asked.
"Help." General Kazar answered simply.
"Why would you help Zim?" Gaz asked.
"He was my pupil as was Koi, but Koi had to go get himself killed twice!" General Kazar snapped. "Here in the Irken world once you die you are forgotten, lost in time." He explained. "The only way you are remembered is by your legacy, and now that Koi is dead and Scamooch has been found out to be nothing but a shrew. Zim is all I have left to ensure my legacy as well as my place as General of the Armada."
"So, it's all about status!" Gaz hissed. "You could care less about the horrors your people are going through."
"Correction I could care less about what the shrews are going through." General Kazar answered honestly. "I am an Amon, I am above them, so life is good for me."
"You're a monster!" Gaz snapped. "And when Zim takes over I hope he kills you!"
"He just might." General Kazar seemed to agree. "However, the fact still remains I need him to become Tallest to ensure my place in the Irken society, and its history."
"Why? Are the Tallest thinking of replacing you?" Gaz snapped once more.
"Not as of yet, but Sargent Goalit once taught Zim and now look at him, following his lead like a loyal dog." General Kazar laughed. "It won't be long before the Tallest start pointing the figure at me accusing me of wanting to ensure my future."
"Which you are!" Gaz pointed out the obvious.
"Exactly, everyone knows how this war is going to end, rumors of the Irken Empire finally falling are already flooding the streets of Zec. And if they are smart more of my fellow Irkens will start backing up Zim as the future Ruler of the Irken Empire." General Kazar explained.
"So, it's all about self-preservation!" Gaz yelled. "That's all you Irkens think about isn't it!"
"You humans are no different." General Kazar pointed out. "You turn on each other every day, the minions and the Irken worshipers are a prime example of that. Heck even before we came here you humans were fighting among yourselves over the most ridiculous things."
Gaz couldn't help but flinch at his words.
"Am I wrong?" He asked.
"No." Gaz admitted.
"Then do we have a deal?" General Kazar asked hopefully.
"Are you insane?" Gaz hissed.
"Gaz we'd be insane to refuse." Tak said entering the room.
"Oh, so you asked her first?" Gaz snapped at General Kazar.
General Kazar smiled. "Of course."
"Gaz think for a minute." Tak advised. "General Kazar is the leading commander of the Armada that means all the commanders of each of the eight fleets are under his command. With General Kazar on our side we have the enemy's army in our back pocket! Convincing others to convert to Zim's side will be so much easier with a Taller supporting us, especially one with his reputation."
Gaz exhaled loudly in utter annoyance, but deep down she knew Tak was right. "Fine, we will accept your help." She told him. "But double cross us and it won't end well!" she warned.
General Kazar chuckled darkly. "You know I am beginning to see what Zim sees in you." He mused.
"Then you know better than to take my words lightly!" Gaz warned as she and Tak made their leave.
General Kazar watched them go, his orange eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I wouldn't dream of it..."
Episode 19- The Evil Girlfriend of Doom (Part2) END!