IZ-Commando Evolution part 4

[Everz-4; capital building]

(Mace and Klaxx are locked in chains in front of a heavily damages M.I.R., which is missing an eye, along with a broken jaw and several wires hanging out of the top of its head)

M.I.R.: So you brought (flickers) the commando menace to my planet. (twitches and sparks) You will not live to see another day!!

(the building's roof is destroyed by a blast from an extensively scarred viral tank)

Ram: This is Salvation; we're sending the rescue ship now.

(the rescue ship manages to leave the viral tank just before the bigger ship is destroyed by laser fire; the crew rushes into battle, barging through the various hornets that get in their way; finally they reach the main chamber, where Skull is found to be waiting for them)

Skull: So we meet again; I suggest you leave while I still feel generous.

Ven: You know why we're here; now stand aside.

M.I.R.: All of you (sparks) get off my planet before I (flickers) destroy you all!!

Skull: Such ludicrous nonsense. (blasts the M.I.R. away with one shot) Now, as I was saying, leave me to my mission. (turns to Mace and Klaxx)

Tak: That's it; I'm not waiting anymore!! (rushes Skull and manages to land a stunning blow)

Skull: (grunts as he gets up) You have spirit; I grant you that. (coughs) However, I can't let any of you live.

Tak: Be quiet, already. (knocks Skull down again) You're such a blowhard.

Skull: Nobody insults me like that!!!

(The commando leader slices Tak's right arm off, then sprays a fluid on the stump; the female Irken screams in pain as she falls to her knees)

Skull: Now then, back to why I came here. (aims his rocket launcher at Mace and Klaxx)

(Zim fires a shot that knocks the commando leader to the ground; at the same time, Mace and Klaxx help the injured Tak back to the rescue ship)

Skull: How you never learn to leave well enough alone never ceases to amaze me. I guess that's why you're my most persistent nemesis.

(Zim and Skull begin trading blows that generate a few sparks; after a few minutes, Zim manages to land a blow that goes through the commando leader's stomach)

Skull: (coughs) Perhaps I was mistaken; you would make a brutal commando. Then again, your ego weighs you down. (wipes blood from his mouth)

Zim: I'd say the same for you.

Skull: Well then (coughs up blood) allow me to offer this as a rebuttal. (activates radio) Warp, this is Commander Skull; activate the superlaser.

Warp: (over radio) Laser firing in 60 seconds; you better get going.

Skull: I'll meet you and Galaxia in the science bay. (deactivates radio)

Zim: You're willing to kill yourself just to get rid of me?

Skull: Some things are worth the risk. (laughs for a second before coughing up more blood)

(Zim shakes his head at the commando leader's weak form; soon the rescue ship swoops over and manages to pick him up; meanwhile, Skull watches the craft leave)

Skull: Somehow I knew you would escape. (a commando warship is seen overhead about to fire the superlaser) We will meet again, Zim.

(Everz-4 is destroyed by the superlaser while the rescue ship flees from hornet destroyers)

Ven: Hopefully we can get to the Eliminator before these guys butcher us. The shields can't hold up much longer.

(just as the destroyers are ready to fire the last shot on the rescue ship, the badly crippled Eliminator arrives and blasts all the commando ships; the rescue ship enters the hanger and lands just before the engines die out)

Bertram: It is a relief that you are all safe.

Mace: (holding Tak up by her remaining arm) She needs medical attention.

Ram: Get her to the infirmary and maybe put Klaxx in a healing chamber just to be safe.

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[Commando outpost; observation deck; half an hour later]

(Skull is shown watching the stars, a scowl lining his face; Galaxia walks up to him)

Galaxia: You're still sore about losing?

Skull: I knew he would win, yet the sting of defeat still hurts.

Galaxia: Well, I wanted to let you know everything is on schedule.

Skull: Good; ramp up production. I know now what I must do.

Galaxia: And that would be?

Skull: The unveiling of my newest ultimate weapon.

Galaxia: (realizes what he means) But it's not ready yet.

Skull: Then finish it; we have no time to lose.

Galaxia: Yes sir. (runs off)

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[Eliminator; medical bay]

Ram: Your injuries should heal in no time. It's good we found you when we did.

Klaxx: And I thank you for it all the same. I only wish we could've met at in better circumstances; this is really an honor for me, getting to meet you.

Ram: Zim did mention I was gone by the time he reached the future.

Klaxx: Yes; but at the same time, you helped build the resistance against Skull.

Ram: What about Rusty? I know about Xorg, but what about his partner?

Klaxx: He vanished shortly before the resistance collapsed; how and when Skull found him is still fuzzy for me.

Xorg: (enters the room with Rusty) How's the healing coming along?

Ram: Shouldn't take much longer; it's amazing how much he knows about the future.

Rusty: Whatever he knows, leave it be; you don't want to know too much about the future.

Klaxx: Trust me; you really don't.

Ram: But if we don't, how are we to avoid repeating history?

Klaxx: (groans) What else do you want to know?

Xorg: What of Bertram?

Klaxx: Many of the records were inconsistent; some say he died before the war, others placed his death at the beginning of Skull's reign.

Rusty: Maybe you should continue this story in the briefing room.

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[briefing room; ten minutes later]

Klaxx: And that's how Mace and I went back in time.

Bertram: It's good to know we have two allies from the future to help stop Skull.

Klaxx: Well.....about that.....there's something I need to say.

Ram: What's that?

Klaxx: I.....I didn't take the side Mace did.

Xorg: Meaning?

Krack: The commando known as Klaxx chose the side that wanted to erase Zim altogether.

Zim: What?!

Bertram: And why did you choose this path?

Klaxx: Because trying to stop the war before it began wouldn't work. It would only postpone it even further. The war is inevitable, so I didn't stay with Mace and Xorg on the matter.

Xorg: Then you should be imprisoned for attempting to alter history too drastically.

Klaxx: Wait, there's more to the story.

Xorg: Then do enlighten us.

Klaxx: I was the only one who knew the consequences of altering history like that.

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[FLASHBACK]

Screwhead Councilor: I warn you, this mission is the only salvation for the future

Klaxx: And I tell you, killing Zim or the commandos altogether will prove disastrous.

Grey Councilor: Perhaps, but it is a risk we must take. After all, it's better to not exist in a good future than live in a bad one.

Klaxx: Perhaps, but what if it ends up bad even if we don't exist?

Screwhead Councilor: This discussion is terminated. Any attempt to further the matter will be judged as insurrection.

Klaxx: You would dare accuse me of insurrection?

Screwhead Councilor: As an added measure, the mission will now be to erase the Irken Empire altogether.

Crystal Councilor: You're out of order now!! That will do more harm than good.

Screwhead Councilor: I don't care what it will do; if it removes the commandos from the equation, then so be it.

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[END OF FLASHBACK]

Klaxx: The hubris of the council proved their undoing; shortly after that meeting, Skull captured them.

Bertram: And they were executed on the spot, correct?

Klaxx: Actually, he put them through purges that eventually broke their sanity. Once they were nothing more than drones, then he killed them. This, along with Skull finishing Zim off once and for all, caused all hope to die forever.

Xorg: I feared it would come to this, but never thought it would happen.

Klaxx: In conclusion, I believe that Skull will never be defeated unless either Zim or the commando existence is wiped out.

Ram: Do you really believe that?

Klaxx: I'm sorry, but it's true.

Ram: Then the Irken Empire has truly fallen. (leaves for the observation deck)

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[Space; commando destroyer codenamed Starcrusher]

Skull: And so the weapon is ready to be unleashed.

Galaxia: I have to admit; you have good tastes in ultimate weapons.

Skull: And once Commando Planet is unleashed upon the universe, nothing will stand in our way.

(behind the Starcrusher is a Mars-sized battle station in the shape of a planet)

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[Eliminator; observation deck]

Xorg: You didn't need to leave like that.

Ram: What else was I supposed to do?

Rusty: Good point, but I thought it was agreed that the future is not set.

Ven: You can't let the revolution end before it starts.

Ram: (thinks for a second) Maybe you're right; we cannot allow hope to die. The commandos must be stopped, no matter the cost.