(Back with Zim)
She couldn't be serious,
Him, Invader Zim the next Tallest! Was that the pipe dream she had been feeding the resistance? Well, it wasn't going to happen!
Sure, Zim had heard the rumors, apparently everyone on Irk thought as much, that he would succeed his two closest friends as their next monarch. And seeing how he was 99.999% Irken, the closest thing to a pure breed in this day and age, he was a likely choice. But that's just it, Red and Purple were both only 89% Irken, which meant Zim should have been chosen before them, and yet he wasn't.
Not that he wanted to be, but that fact alone assured Zim that if the Brain was going to choose him it would have done so already. Not that he minded, after all he couldn't see himself doing it, leading a people towards a cause he didn't believe in himself. No, it was already hard enough enforcing their rules and living with the blood on his hands for said actions.
Mrs. Bitters could see the doubt that was written so plainly on his face, but she knew in time he would accept this future. After all Lineage would choose him this time, he was the obvious choice. Even the current Tallest knew this, which is why they kept him so close to them. To ensure that Zim shared their same ideals. To ensure that nothing would stand in their way of total conquest.
Especially not each other.
However, the survival of Irk depended on Zim choosing to fight against them, for if he didn't the AI's would use their weapon to purge their race. Once they found the last piece that is. Mrs. Bitters couldn't help but pray that said day would never come. However, she knew eventually the AI's would simply try and rebuild it; something they could have done already. This fact alone prove to her that even they were hopeful. Siri, had convinced them long ago that the heir would set their creators back on the right course. And as their leader, the AI's trusted her, and waited, keeping themselves busy with a meaningless task of looking for a missing piece.
She couldn't help but wondered how much she should tell Zim. She feared if she was too straight forward, he'd blab everything to his leaders like the good soldier he is. Still, part of her wanted to warn him of the trials to come. However, she kept her mouth shut not just out of fear of him blabbing, but that he may run all together.
He wouldn't be the first Irken to go rogue, and the last thing the resistance needed was for their one hope of salvation to go into hiding.
And Zim was tempted to run, the back of his mind kept screaming out warnings of how he was in way too deep. That he needed to swallow his pride and admit to his leaders that he needed help. Still, he followed her into the enemy's car and even allowed himself to relax as they headed towards the docks. Common sense told him to at least hear her out. Besides, if she was going to imprison him, she would have tried to restrain him by now.
And if she decided to wait until he was surrounded by her agents, he would just have Gir hack into their systems and aid in his escape. So, there was really no need to fly off the handle just yet, besides if he was being honest, it was nice to drop the act if only for a moment.
(Back at the school…)
Meanwhile, back in the class Peepi was fast asleep in his wheel, the school was completely empty now due to career day. Suddenly the odd device attached to his back began to glow and moments later the small animal started to grow. First to three times its usual size, causing him to be so large he BARELY fit into his cage… and then seven and then ten! Finally, the creature got so heavy that the floor caved in around him.
Moments later a ten-foot-tall Peepi jumped back into the room and burst through the hole in the floor and crashes through the far wall an into the outside world. He then ran across the schoolyard, gnawing through the chain fence and squealing as he became even LARGER, walking on two legs instead of four now!
Passersby watched in awe as the creature stomped around downtown. Thinking him more adorable than scary.
(Back with Dib…)
At the same time as the Peepi uprising Bill is driving through a country road, continuing to speak to Dib, who looked less-than-enthusiastic…
"So, you see the corporations are behind a LOT of the conspiracies, but the GOVERNMENT…" Bills eyes seemed to light up behind his sunglasses. "They're just one big conspiracy! And all led by Fox Ne-'
Then Dib held up some folders that he'd noticed in the backseat. "What are these?"
"Oh, those are case files!" Bill explained. "I brought them along to show you the difference between SERIOUS paranormal disturbances and the frauds. The first file's filled with real ones. The second ones are bunk." Bill went on. "You know, I got a feeling this is going to be a good day for us!"
SCHA-BONK!
"MOOOOOO!"
"…congratulations, you just ran over a COW." Dib muttered. Sighing, he looked through the case file that said "CHUMS" on the front, going to the back of the second file and moving his way upward. Hmm. Psychic lawn gnomes? Vampire Lemurs? FRANKENCHOKEY?
"What the heck is "Frankenchokey"?" Dib muttered. He went on. Bigfoot had an X through it…odd. Then the second one showed ghosts…that had an X through it. And dinosaurs were crossed off…
"You filed them wrong!" Dib said in an exasperated tone. "You've got Bigfoot and Dinosaurs in with this fake stuff like VAMPIRE LEMURS!"
"You think those things are real? That's exactly what they want you to believe!" Bill snapped back, turning his head as the sound of a squeal indicated he'd hit a pig.
"That's what who wants me to believe?" Dib asked.
"EXACTLY." Bill remarked.
Dib groaned and went to the next file. Now THIS looked interesting. "Galactic Equinox…molt phenomenon. What's this?" He asked, holding it up.
Bill smiled wistfully. "Heh. The galactic equinox theory. At 5 o'clock tonight, the planets of all the galaxies are going to be in perfect alignment. My colleagues believe that this will cause all the aliens that are living off their own planet to go through a hideous molt for a few seconds. Don't read that garbage." He said shaking his head.
But Dib's eyes went wide. "We could use this to locate TAK!" he realized out loud. "And Zim!" He realized seconds later. He thought it was funny that he thought of Tak first. The fact only reminded him that he had yet to sort out his feelings for Zim.
"Tak?" Bill asked.
"Okay look I shouldn't be telling you this." Dib whispered. "But…." He took a deep breath. "I'm already a paranormal investigator and they're two aliens on this planet and I need to go to HQ and report to them."
"What?" Bill asked.
Dib rolled his eyes. "Look if this theory is real." He said. "Then we have to tell them." He insisted. "The very fate of Earth depends on it."
Bill seemed to think about it for a moment and then finally he nodded.
"You'll take me?" Dib was stunned.
"I don't think this is worth our time." He admitted. "But I remember when I was your age, going through the struggles of no one believing my claims." He looked hurtful for a moment. "I swear I'd never doubt anyone who swore they have proof."
"I do." Dib exclaimed. "Just take me there and I'll give you all the proof you need."
"We must hurry." Bill sounded urgent now. "Where to?"
"The Docks." Dib said. "And step on it." He urged as he sent an urgent text to Miz.
Had he of been paying attention to Bill he would have notice it.
The Paranormal investigator wore a sinister smile.
Finally, he had a location and soon he would put an end to all his enemies in one swell swoop!
(Back with Zim…)
Every fiber in his being told him to run as they entered Warehouse 13, but he ignored it and allowed Mrs. Bitters to lead him into the elevator. "So, what are you really?" He asked as she pushed the button for their floor.
"Do you really care?" She asked.
Zim shrugged. To be honest it didn't matter, he was just trying to make small talk.
"Guess." Mrs. Bitters instructed.
"Well, if you are using your true form, which is doubtful." Zim mused. "I'd say you were a Clantarian." He answered. "They look quite similar to humans, but they were wiped out nearly five hundred years ago."
"Don't remind me." Mrs. Bitters growled.
Zim was stunned he assumed she wasn't wearing a disguise because he could see the effects of the Equinox on her skin. However, he wasn't expecting his guess to be right. The Clantarian hailed from Irk's sister planet but due to their own personal believes they refuse to join Irk in their conquest. Instead, they chose to stand against them.
Naturally, Tallest Myuki declared war on them and soon wiped them out. It was Irk's very first conquest of war minus the Gorgonians of course. And their brutality to their own sister race spoke volumes of their intent to the universe.
It was what ignited the initial fear of the Irken race into all of their minds.
Zim was amazed, to be standing beside a creature that was so closely related to his own race, and yet so different; it was hard to comprehend. But at least he understood why she felt like she could persuade him over to her side. "We are not the same." He told her.
"Not anymore." Mrs. Bitters confirmed, "But you Irkens didn't always look the way you do now." She revealed. "Before you rose to the Era of technology and Machines you looked much like us. Then your ancestors uploaded their consciousness into the PAK's, this forced them to adjust their own DNA, thus altering the appearance of your race forever." She explained.
Zim already knew this but ignored the explanation altogether. "Makes no difference." He hissed. "We are no longer the same."
"You don't believe in their lies any more than I do." She reasoned.
"I don't know what he told you." Zim snapped, not even daring to mention Lard Nar's name. "But my days of doubt are over!"
"Are they?" Mrs. Bitters questioned.
"Yes!"
"Then why haven't you reported to your leaders about the resistance's arrival?"
Her question caught him off guard, even though it shouldn't of.
"How do you know I haven't?" Zim reasoned. "Are you monitoring my calls?"
"No." Mrs. Bitters admitted. "We have yet to pinpoint the proof that you even have Irken Tech in that home of yours, much less hack into it."
"Then how do you know?" Zim argued.
"You just told me." Mrs. Bitter's answered.
Zim found a smile slipping to his face, this female was good. He wasn't surprised the Clantarians were known for their superior intellect. Suddenly his phone begins to vibrate wildly. He picks it up and sees Dib had left him a message.
"I'm just glad Dib has something to keep him busy, I personally think you've involved him enough-"
"Well, he's about to get even more involved." Zim said showing her the text he just read.
Miz on my way to the Warehouse, meet me there. I think I found a way to locate the enemy.
"He must be talking about the equinox." Mrs. Bitters realized. "That paranormal investigator must have brought it up."
"You don't think Dib would be stupid enough to bring an outsider, here, do you?" Zim knew the answer before the question ever left his mouth.
"You know how he gets in the moment." Mrs. Bitters sighed. "So much potential that one, but so narrow minded."
Zim smiled. "I doubt this investigator is much trouble." He mused. "From what I read they are usually fakes."
"Still our work is for the government." Mrs. Bitters reasoned. "Even if our own employers do not believe us, a security breach is unforgivable."
Zim rolled his eyes, how humans could refuse to believe even with the load of evidence the Swollen Eyeball had brought to light was beyond his comprehension. "So, what you are saying is it would be in our best interest to distract this investigator."
"Yes." Mrs. Bitters hissed as the elevator stopped.
The doors opened to Lard Nar.
"Thank, Vort you are here." He rasped, the Vorts had abandoned his human disguise. He held two syringes in his hands, "I have been trying to warn you all morning! Today is-"
"I know." Mrs. Bitters said simply as she took the needle. "I trust the rest of the refugees have taken this."
"Yes." Lard Nar answered his eyes falling on Zim.
"What is it?" Zim asked.
"It's an antidote of sorts." Mrs. Bitters explained. "It keeps the effects of the equinox at bay. You should take some too before it's too late."
Her words surprised Lard Nar, but not as much as Zim's next sentence.
"What would you care?"
"For one you are now in our base, your expansion into gelatin could destroy everything, secondly proof of alien existence would throw this town and the world into panic and expose you as the fraud you are." She smiled. "Need any more reason?"
Zim growled but took the second syringe from Lard Nar and injected himself without much thought.
Mrs. Bitters did the same. "There now that this crisis is averted, we should talk-"
"Third Eye!" Richard came running towards them in a panic. "We've got a problem."
"What is it now?" Mrs. Bitters snapped.
"There's a giant Hamster raging downtown." Richards answered as he pulled out a tablet with the local news.
"Well so much for keeping a low profile." Zim joked, only to stop as he noticed something familiar about the creature: Wait a minute, isn't that Peepi?"
"Pee-who?" Richard asked,
"Peepi." Mrs. Bitters answered. "A New class pet that arrived today."
"On the same day as career day." Zim said thoughtfully. "A day that would have all of us separated with different partners all over town."
"What are you saying?" Mrs. Bitters asked.
"I knew that tech on him look fishy." Zim said grabbing the screen and zooming in on said tech. "It's Irken! This is Tak's handy work."
"Wait how would he know that?" Richard said looking at Zim in a new light. "Who are you really?"
Zim smiled. "Right now, I'm a reluctant ally." He mused. "This is obviously a distraction; she is up to something."
"What do you think that would be?" Mrs. Bitters asked.
Zim didn't even hesitate to answer, sure he hated helping the enemy, but right now Tak was a greater threat. And as the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend. "She most likely planted the device on the pet to distract us, which means she is probably posing as one of the mentors for Career day."
"But which mentor would she benefit from?" Lard Nar dared to ask.
Zim's eyes widen. "Not the mentors, it's who they are mentoring that we need to be worried about!" he pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Hello." Dib's voice answered.
"Dib whatever you do don't come to the warehouse!" Zim screamed.
"What? Why?" Dib asked.
Richard began to show panic, obviously realizing what this meant.
"Dib try not to freak out." Zim said calmly. "But I think you Mentor might not be who he says he is."
Dib's eyes widen as he realized what Miz was saying. He looked to Bill more closely. Was this really Zim sitting beside him?
"Problem?" Bill asked him.
No, I," Dib began.
Zim's eyes brighten up. "Tell him you have a mission."
"What?" Dib asked.
"There is a giant hamster raging downtown." Zim revealed.
Dib's eyes narrowed. "Oh, there's a giant hamster raging downtown." He said out loud. "And you want us to check it out?"
"Yes, I have something to handle here." He instructed, "Do what you can to use the chaos to get away."
"Understood." Dib answered casually. "See you soon partner." He hung up. "Sorry but we have to go back in town."
"What, but the equinox." Bill insisted. "I thought we were going to warn your friends."
A text appeared on Dib's phone He smiled and read it out loud. "We know about the equinox, and we have it handled." He laughed, relieved. Not only would Zim and Tak be revealed for the fakes they were. But he just realized that all the refugees who would also change were being taken care of. "See it's handled, now let's go kick some giant hamster butt."
Bill frowned, obviously upset. "Aw I really wanted to see a real government base."
Dib smiled. "Tell you what; help me take this thing down and in exchange I'll take you."
"Really?" Bill asked.
Dib nodded.
"Then what are we waiting for!" He kicked the car into high gear and turned around before racing towards downtown.
Meanwhile Zim had dived back into the elevator.
"And where do you think you're going?" Richard asked. "I demand answers! How do you know that's Irken Tech?"
"Why don't you ask your great leader why she's keeping secrets from you?" Zim mused as the doors closed.
Richard looked to Mrs. Bitters stunned.
"Isn't it obvious?" She said.
Richard thought for a moment and then his own eyes widen at the realization.
"Miz is Zim!" He whispered in disbelief. "How long have you known this?"
"For some time." She admitted.
"And you kept it to yourself?" Richard is stunned. "Why? I thought you said he was our ticket to freedom." He said accusingly to Lard Nar.
"He is." Lard Nar said. "However, convincing him of that will take time."
Richard scoffed. "So, he doesn't share our views. You think you can change an Irken, impossible."
"Look whatever you do, you mustn't tell anyone." Lard Nar said urgently. "Especially not Dib."
"Why Not?" Richard yelled. "If anything, Dib should know that he's fraternizing with the enemy."
"Dib is the reason why he is changing." Mrs. Bitters reasoned.
"You expect me to believe his feeling for my grandson are real?" Richard laughed, "Irkens can't love!"
"As hard as you might find it to believe, I think he does care for him." Mrs. Bitters said. "And if anyone one would know if an Irken can love it would be me." She hissed.
"Please Richard, I know you barely know her but trust me." Lard Nar insisted. "Rejection will just send him running back to his leaders."
Richard clenched his fist but nodded. "Fine, for now I will keep quiet, but if he hurts Dib, I will hold all of you personally responsible."
And with that he left the two aliens to their own devices.
"What now?" Lard Nar asked.
"I have this." Mrs. Bitters said. "Help him."
Lard Nar nodded and raced towards the stairs to catch up with his old friend. He could only hope that Zim would accept his help.
-To Be Continued