Rescue with kneel_majorzod and <lj site="livejournal.com" user="s

[have_no_mercy]

Tess should have been better prepared for this. But then, there's no handbook for what to do when the clone of your half-brother goes AWOL. Coming after her, she'd been expecting. Going after Lena... not so much. It's a hell of a time for her to start losing her edge.

None of that matters at the moment. All she's concerned about is Alexander, his gun, and how to get herself and Lena out of this apartment alive. He won't listen to her and she's beginning to think he's right. She did abandon him, didn't she? And he knows exactly how to get her back for it.

He won't listen, but maybe someone else will.

"Please," she whispers, "if you can hear me, help us."


[Posting order Zod, Clark, Tess]

Comments

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Whether Zod's newfound intentions are so pressing that he doesn't notice the other Kryptonian's presence or he's simply choosing to ignore him is unclear. Regardless, the Major doesn't stop to acknowledge Clark's presence.

There's no stopping, in fact, until he finds himself between Tess and the barrel of Alexander's gun.

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

With Zod as a shield, Clark swoops down to Tess's side, hoping to remove Lena from the situation. Even if she's been specially trained and looking for a fight, she's still a child, and Clark's priority is to protect her.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess is more than surprised to see Zod. She's of the same mind as Clark, however, and pushes a squirming Lena into his arms. "Take her."

To Zod, "Don't hurt him, he's just confused." Alexander certainly is now, but holds the gun firm aimed now at Zod.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod's priorities appear to differ, but Tess' warning doesn't go unheeded. Not entirely, at any rate. Alexander is given a bit more than a gentle nudge, but considering that sending him hurtling across the room and through a wall would have been just as easy, taking the gun and knocking the boy from his feet is a fairly tame method of attack.

[have_no_mercy]

Everything happens in a literal blur, Clark leaving with Lena, Alexander ending up on the floor and disarmed. Tess needs a moment to catch her breath and then rushes to the boy's side, making certain he is still, in fact, alive.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod remains where he is, simply watching as Tess goes about verifying what he already knows to be true. The idea of leaving, fleeing the scene of the crime in the same manner with which he'd arrived crosses his mind briefly, but for whatever reason, he doesn't.

[have_no_mercy]

She lets out a sigh of relief upon finding Alexander breathing, although unconscious, and sits back on her heels, running a tired hand through her hair.

"What are you doing here?" She asks after a few more moments of silence.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"By all appearances, saving your life," he answers guardedly, expression reflecting his unrevealing tone. Despite the fact that his gaze is currently safely located at the back of her head.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess shakes her head and then stands, as backup security finally arrives to take Alexander to the New York lab. She fusses over him, in as much as Tess allows herself to, making certain they know to treat him well and demanding they let her know the second he wakes up.

Only once they're alone does she turn to Zod. "How did you know I needed help?"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod observes all of this silently and without giving up his current position, only moving enough to hand over the firearm still cradled in one hand. When at last Tess gives him her full attention, he returns the favor.

"You voiced the need clearly enough," he tells her vaguely, choosing to mask the rescue as nothing of note. "I answered."

[have_no_mercy]

Her eyebrows rise at that. "You're listening to me? That stretches any respect for my privacy, wouldn't you say?"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He raises his eyebrows right back. "I haven't made a hobby of it, no. Though I don't think you're in any position to be complaining."

[have_no_mercy]

"So you just happened to be listening now, then." It doesn't much sound like she believes him, but she'll not go any further than that over it.

"Thank you."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"My keeping tabs shouldn't come as such a surprise," he deflects rather than explain that he was on his way here when he heard her. It's easier this way.

And either her thank you went unheard or he has nothing to offer in response.

[have_no_mercy]

"Let's hope you weren't keeping tabs during my shower this morning," she offers dryly. "My singing would have anything but entertaining."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Telling you when I'm listening would rather defeat the purpose," he tsks in kind.

[have_no_mercy]

That earns him a glare before Tess walks to a chair and sort of slumps into it. It's been a long day.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

It has been for Zod as well, and for a moment he seems torn between the door and a chair beside hers. So he remains standing instead.

"The boy will wake up without much more than a bruise," he tells her after a moment, almost absently. "I wasn't expecting such a delicate constitution."

[have_no_mercy]

"He's sick," Tess says defensively - and then sighs. "He's dying."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod simply watches her in silence, for a moment or two, and then, softly, "May I ask why he seemed intent on taking you with him?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I've had to keep him under a doctor's care, so he hasn't been staying with me," she says in the same manner. "Apparently he got... upset when he found out that Lena was."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

A humorless smile tugs at his lips, and he nods knowingly. "Jealousy is a dangerous thing to have locked away."

[have_no_mercy]

"She is unstable and he is ill. It's not a good combination." It doesn't sound like she much believes it anymore, however.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod quirks an eyebrow. "Do you know what's wrong with him?"

[have_no_mercy]

She shakes her head. "Obviously, something went wrong during the cloning process, but I don't know what. He ages too quickly."