Reunion with kneel_majorzod

[have_no_mercy]

For any other reason, Tess wouldn't do this. She's tired, fat, cranky and moody and the last thing she wants right now is company and a potentially stressful conversation, but she needs to know what happened. And that means she needs to talk to Zod in person. Right now.

That doesn't mean she has to be happy about it, even if she is somewhat relieved that he isn't dead after all. Not that she ever really thought he was and wasn't worried at all about him. No.

She suspects he'll remember their usual conduct for these types of meetings and waits for him to arrive in the mansions's study, resting on her chaise, an arm over her forehead.

Comments

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He turns to stare at the wall bitterly. "I heard them laughing, saw glimpses of them between the bars of my cage. They came to watch. And participate, sometimes."

There's a long pause, and then he gives her a brief glance. "Why do you think he wanted that so badly?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess just shakes her head. "I don't know. He's... he's never lied to me until now that I know of. But he was being a little off about it, so maybe he didn't want me to believe him. I don't know anymore and I'm too tired to keep thinking in circles."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"If he truly wanted to keep it from you, perhaps he doesn't want the two of us together. Though I can't imagine why. We haven't exactly posed much of a threat to him thus far." But he doesn't seem to have any great desire to think in circles, either, because he simply sighs and falls silent.

Then, after a few seconds, "He came and talked to me. In my cage. It was the first time he's said anything to me directly. He didn't even stoop so low as to speak to me when he killed me for real."

[have_no_mercy]

"What did he say? Although she can well imagine.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

She may notice his expression falter briefly at the question, but he regains his composure fairly quickly. He doesn't, however, even try to mask the bitterness in his voice. "He said a lot of things. Certainly nothing useful. He seemed to be enjoying himself."

[have_no_mercy]

"No doubt he was." It's said rather matter-of-factly. "He tends to enjoy just about everything he does."

She pauses for another glass of water. "I did see him in all this. Once in person, the other time we simply spoke."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He has a snappy response to that comment, but he chooses to let it pass.

"Which was when he tried to convince you I was dead, I take it," he murmurs thoughtfully. "What did he tell you happened, exactly?"

[have_no_mercy]

"He wasn't very forthcoming with specifics, which was my first indication he wasn't telling the truth. Just that you'd gone after him and he'd killed you."

Tess sighs and then appears to be addressing herself when she says, "Will you knock it off?" Then she looks back to the Major. "Aside from that, he wouldn't tell me what he did or see your body."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod lifts an eyebrow at that, glancing very briefly between Tess' face and her stomach. Beyond that, however, he's just going to ignore that and nod in acknowledgment of what she says next.

"I don't understand why he went to the trouble of imprisoning me, either. Why didn't he kill me?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I don't know," she answers honestly. "And I don't know why he'd lie about it. He must have known I wouldn't believe him without proof. None of this makes any sense."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"No, it doesn't," he agrees gravely. "It's nearly impossible to tell what's part of his plan and what isn't. But I suppose that's how he wants us to feel, isn't it. It keeps him in control."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess nods, sighing softly. "Yes. That's been his objective from the beginning."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod leans back into his chair and considers her seriously. "What do we do now?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I was hoping when you got your powers we'd be able to somehow use that to our advantage." Pointed. Look. "Apparently, that's no longer an option."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Considering he has access to Kryptonite, no, it's not," he agrees softly, looking away and leaving her pointed look pointedly ignored. "Which will eventually make him an even greater threat to my people and what we're trying to achieve."

[have_no_mercy]

"No more of a threat than he already is," she points out wearily. "It merely takes away any hope of advantage we might have had."

Tess hesitates for several moments. Then, "I suppose I'll have to call a meeting with him and see if he's willing to talk now."