IZ-Cyber Commandos part 1

[Devastis; central plaza]

(The entire plaza is lit up in a celebration for the downfall of Skull; fireworks go off in the skies and everyone is enjoying a grand feast; suddenly, Ram comes up to a podium and taps the microphone to get everyone's attention)

Ram: Attention everyone; I have an announcement. (takes a deep breath) I thank everyone for their patience during the war against Skull and his armies. Considering the Irken Empire has done some terrible things in the past, I cannot ask the universe to forgive us right away; we must earn that through reconstruction aid for all the enslaved worlds. This is the end of a long nightmare; not just for me, but for the entire universe.

(Ram is answered by thunderous applause from the crowd, prompting the Irken to smile possibly for the first time in ages; meanwhile, Zim and Gaz are watching from a balcony on a nearby building)

Zim: Short and sweet, yet somehow he's able to make everyone putty in his hands.

Gaz: You had a big hand in stopping Skull too, you know? In fact, you were the one who finished him off.

Zim: I've done more than that.

Gaz: (a little irritated) Sure; you've traveled through time, postponed a war that we don't even know will still happen, and endangered millions of lives while fighting Skull's forces.

Zim: True, but those things don't matter as long as you're still here with me.

(Gaz rests her head on Zim's shoulder, showing her appreciation for his comment; meanwhile, Rusty and Xorg are on the observation deck of the capital building watching the festivities while enjoying a glass of what can be assumed to be champagne)

Xorg: (raises his glass) A toast; to the downfall of Skull and may he never come back.

Rusty: And may there one day be peace in the universe.

(the two Irkens clink their glasses together and take a sip of their beverages)

Xorg: I'm glad we can put the commandos behind us.

Rusty: As we did with our past with the Seekers?

Xorg: True; it seems there is really no such thing as true good or evil. It all depends on which way you look.

Rusty: Very true; the Seekers were seen as traitors, yet we were only trying to restore freedom to the empire. It was something that the Control Brains were determined to erase.

Xorg: We did manage to restore freedom to the empire; my only regret is that we lost Irk and the majority of the population along the way.

Rusty: It was sad; but at the same time, sacrifices must be made.

Xorg: I supposed. (takes a breath) Too bad Skrag is not here to enjoy the festival.

Rusty: Maybe he's off making a name for himself in the cosmos.

Xorg: Perhaps; I guess there's no way of knowing what Skrag is doing now. (notices Rusty sighing) Is something wrong?

Rusty: Skull has been defeated and the commandos are destroyed. I should feel safe (sighs) but I don't. I keep thinking we missed something during the search for the strongholds.

Xorg: We haven't finished searching everywhere, you know. There are still planets left to investigate.

Rusty: True. (sighs as he watches Xorg leave) All the same, I wonder if there are any commandos still out there. (thinks about it) Then again, if there were any others, we would've found them by now.

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[Space]

(light-years away from Devastis, far beyond most of the civilized worlds in the universe, lies a planet known as Hellwurld; the planet is so named not only because lava covers two thirds of the surface, but the planet itself orbits a dead star; on this world is a station that has long since been abandoned by the mining colony that once inhabited this terrible world; inside the base, a figure cloaked in shadows watches the lava rivers surrounding the establishment)

????: How sad it is; Skull became an omnipotent force controlling every soldier in his army, yet he was defeated all the same. Even in the future where he reigned supreme, Skull failed miserably. (sighs) So much time, no little results. And now here I am, left to die on this pathetic planet because of Skull's mistakes.

(the figure roars in anger as it raises a metallic claw; suddenly, the lights in the room brighten to reveal an Irken Elite with a cybernetic eye watching behind the shadowy figure, which remains unseen aside from blood-red eyes)

Irken Elite: Calm yourself Skarr; your mind has not completely healed.

Skarr: How can I be calm Traxx? I have had much of my body replaced with mechanical prosthetics, the planet slowly decays with each passing hour, and to top it all off, we've done nothing but watch the fall of the tyrant who forced us to hide here!

Traxx: (nods) True, but never let it be said that we have died in the shadows.

(Skarr says nothing, but pushes a button on the chair he sits on; soon four other soldiers, one of them being a female, enter the room and kneel before Skarr's chair)

Skarr: Feer, Krunch, Steelz; you are to capture any commando outposts that may still exists, along with all remaining hornets. Once you have them, bring them here. We've no time to lose.

Feer: Consider it done.

Krunch: (grunts)

Steelz: We will leave immediately.

(the three soldiers run out of the room, while the fourth remains)

Skarr: Cog; you will remove the inhibitors of the hornets if and when they get here.

Cog: Of course, sir. (leaves)

Traxx: And what of me?

Skarr: Rest now; for soon we will take revenge on the one responsible for our exile.

Traxx: As you command. (turns off the lights before leaving the room)

Skarr: You can't hide from us, my hated foe. Soon you will know the bitter taste of revenge.

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[Devastis; three months later; main hanger]

Bertram: I am happy to announce that construction of the Massive 2000 is now complete.

(a curtain opens to reveal what looks like the original Massive, but with sharper edges and a v-shaped window on the front)

Ram: Now admittedly we still have a few areas for reconstruction to finish, but we are doing our very best to clean the stains left behind by Skull and his armies.

(the crowd cheers; at the same time, Gaz notices Zim acting distant)

Gaz: What's wrong with you?

Zim: It's nothing.

Gaz: Don't give me that; you were fine at the celebration.

Zim: It was a party; who wouldn't be happy there?

Gaz: True, but why are you acting like this now?

Zim: (scowls) I've been through a lot, okay?

(Zim walks away; Ram, Xorg, and Rusty notice the Irken's behavior)

Xorg: What's up with that?

Ram: Who knows? Maybe he's suffering trauma from dying like he did.

Rusty: That shouldn't happen; I brought back a few people from the dead and they didn't have any of that behavior.

Xorg: Maybe part of him died with his revival and he's wasting away inside. Isn't that what happened to Jeena when she came back to life? (thinks about it) How did she come back to life anyways?

Rusty: Um...... (chuckles)

Ram: You?

Rusty: It was shortly before I was relieved of my position at station 387; I found her body floating in space, recognized her, and revived her as best I could.

Xorg: Probably why you were relieved. (Rusty's embarrassed look answers his question) So what do you think is wrong with Zim?

Rusty: Well, after traveling the universe for as long as I did, one starts thinking a little differently. And if there's one thing I know, it's that everything happens for a reason.

Ram: So what do you think is the cause of Zim's behavior?

Rusty: Maybe Zim and Skull had a connection that both were unaware of, and now that Skull's gone, Zim realized they were destined to battle for eternity.

Xorg: (raises an eyebrow) I find that hard to believe.

Ram: Same here; Skull would never accept that he and Zim were connected.

Rusty: Well, everybody has their own opinion. Besides, we can't prove anything at the moment. (Xorg nods)

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[Hellwurld; observation deck]

Traxx: (enters the room) Skarr, we captured the last of the outposts.

Skarr: How many were there?

Traxx: Only four; most of them were destroyed.

Skarr: (growls) We shouldn't be doing this. We should be in charge of the universe, not hiding away from the Irken Empire. (bangs his fist on the table) It's all Skull's fault, denying me everything that was rightfully mine!! And now my revenge will never be complete.

Traxx: You're forgetting; it was our creator who is to blame for everything. He is the one you want revenge on.

Skarr: (calms down) Yes, you're right. (closes his eyes) I'm sorry; guess there's still much to be done yet.

Traxx: Too true; by the way, Steelz just arrived.

Skarr: I admire your loyalty. (walks to the science bay, where Steelz and Cog are waiting with four other hornets) These are the only ones you could find?

Steelz: I had to burn several patrol squads; be glad I found any.

Skarr: You were caught?

Steelz: As I told you, I had to burn several of them.

Skarr: (sighs) Fine; Cog, release the hornets from the inhibitors.

Cog: Very well.

(Cog pushes the button on each inhibitor, causing the hornets to drop to their knees; after a few seconds, they get to their feet)

Skarr: Identify yourself.

Hornet 1: Zee.

Hornet 2: Dooky.

Hornet 3: Spleen.

Hornet 4: Flobee.

Traxx: Well, you are all free to go; call it a release from Skull's clutches since he's dead.

Skarr: There's a transport waiting for you in the hanger. (the small group rushes out of the room) Steelz, go and capture Xorg. It's time for revenge.