'Why are you helping me?" Chloe stared at Zod. She knew who he was. Or who his Original was. Cruel, manipulative, scheming yet he was offering her a way out.
Zod paused as he looked at her. She never bowed like the soldiers he was in charge of, or looked at him with intrigue like Lois or a suspicious glance like Clark. Sure she was mistrustful but her eyes were open and honest.
"Years ago I led the Kandorians into battle defending our world" he began "Then after we gained victory, I returned home to my wife and son just eager to see their faces." Chloe noticed a softening of his features as he discussed this pleasing nostalgia. "Then one of our enemies had secretly planted explosives in our home. Before I could even reach the walkway, the house exploded instantly. I thought, why couldn't I have been there quicker. I could already have them in my arms even though the clock was ticking and I knew nothing."
Chloe looked at him, wondering if it was some sob story to get her to sympathize with him. But she knew deep down he was telling the truth.
"I know what it's like trying to protect the ones you love and how difficult it must be for you to lose them." she said kindly.
Zod smiled a little but this time it lacked condescension. "I've read up on you Chloe Sullivan. Sometimes I think you can live up to the comparison but somehow I get the feeling that you can't stand the idea of being compared to budding evil."
"More or less" Chloe shrugged. "So after your wife and son died, what happened?"
"I went to Jor-el" Zod replied. "My best friend and a pioneer in the scientific fields. He found a way for us to live on. Just a bit of cells regenerated to form new forms of us, which is what I am today. And I thought I just need to save them. But my wife had reservations about cloning and just asked me to allow her just one life. Don't bring her back. But she asked me for our son that if anything happened to him, do what you can?"
"So you asked Zod to clone your son but he refused." Chloe said. She knew that story too well, the repercussions that they all hand to face afterwards.
"And yet somehow you thwarted it," Zod looked intrigued. "Imagine my shock when I see my son Davis, all grown up, as a paramedic treating an old lady. And I thought, what does he see in those humans. It's a terrible thing for a father to wish for his child but I wanted him to hate all life, humans especially, mostly for the high level of interest Jor-el took in them."
"Ah, don't worry yourself too much about that." Chloe snarked "Disembodied voice Jor-el didn't exactly think humans were good enough to shine the Kandorians' shoes."
Zod couldn't help but chuckle at that bit. "I thought Davis was going to be strong powerful and fearless. But you were much stronger. That figurative heart of yours just kept believing in him that I now wonder if I've underestimated the strength of the human personality. You gave my son hope, hope that I felt I had lost years ago when my family died"
"But helping me and Davis means that you could have more leeway to go after Clark and the JLA" Chloe said. "Clark and I aren't exactly on speaking terms but you know I will help him, no matter where I am."
"And I wouldn't expect any less of you Chloe Sullivan" Zod stated. "You can take my offer of escape or leave it yet I know you would do anything for Davis even if it means putting yourselves at odds with the people you love."
Chloe thought. She loved Clark, she loved the JLA but not in the same way she loved Davis or Davis loved her. And it was nice seeing that love return her way in equal measure.
Zod outstretched his hand "So do we have a deal?"
Chloe glanced for two seconds. She didn't exactly need to think. She held Zod's hand in a firm solid grasp.
"Yes we do"