ZEDD
He's lost his mind. He must have. Plus he's jumping from subject to subject again. How can he think that everything's okay? After all, Pina lied to us. If there were side effects, especially ones of that great of a nature she should have said something. Trying to think back to anything she might have told us, I recall how she'd seemed concerned at the time, but just chalked that up to her mate still missing, but was that the case? She did say if Thomas felt strange to tell her right away. So she did lie. Lying by omission is still lying, as Thomas has more than once pointed out to us.
Watching the young man as he crosses the room and seats himself in his chair once more, I cannot bring myself to the same easy acceptance that he has. The temptation to go and wake Scorpina in the nastiest possible manner is a strong one - and not easily swayed. With difficulty I refocus on Thomas when he speaks again. "Are we going to work on the schedule or not, Zedd?"
Torn between doing what he wishes and pointing out that he has, in fact, been lied to again, I do not answer for a moment. Realizing that pointing out the lie might go badly, I relent. "Yes, Thomas, we'll work on the schedule. After that, if Pina and Dar haven't woken up, I will get them up."
Sighing and rolling his eyes in a put upon manner, his response grates on my nerves a bit. "If you insist." Trust me, I insist.
Half an hour later, we have a tentative schedule put together, though it's hardly up to what I could have done had I not, in the back of my mind, been working on ways to deal with Scorpina. Thankfully though the Ranger does not seem to notice. "Thomas, as we have not yet seen either Goldar or Scorpina, I assume that they are still asleep. So with the schedule being as done as we can currently make it, I'm going to go and wake them now."
He sighs heavily. "You're still mad at them, aren't you?"
About to deny his claim, but realizing he would very likely respond badly to another lie, even if just done in denial, I relent a bit. "Not so much mad, as aggravated."
"Zedd, it's the same thing." No, no it's not, mad equals death by my hand, aggravated just results in maiming and a possible loss of body parts. About to inform him of this, I'm surprised as he again heaves a rather put upon sigh and looks at me wearily. "Is it really going to do any good to be mad at them? Pina clearly didn't seem to think anything would be wrong with the medicine when she gave it to me, or else she wouldn't have given it to me, I know that much. As for Dar, well actually, I don't even understand why you're mad at Dar." Really? You really don't understand why I'm mad at Goldar? Really?
Treading carefully I pause in my response, before going with what I feel is my safest option right now, "How much did you hear that night?"
Giving a shrug, his response is thankfully calm. "Pretty much all of it. I heard Pina say something about you should have seen the other guys and then Dar said, 'Fucking human' - which set you off."
"Then you should understand why I'm aggravated with him."
Thomas frowns deeply. "For having an opinion? For being angry that his girlfriend was hurt? For - apparently - turning his life upside down to accommodate someone he obviously doesn't like and, by his own admission, hates? For not knowing I was in hearing distance when he spoke freely? Help me out here, Zedd."
And his ability to reason has just come around to bite me in the ass. "Add into that he questioned my judgment where you were concerned, along with the fact I have no idea why he hates you the way he does and you do actually understand."
"Yes, shame on him for having opinions and feelings."
My palms slamming into the wood of my desk in anger and frustration, I let loose, unable to help it as this is the second time I've been taken to task in the last forty eight hours, and quite frankly I'm getting sick of it. "He's a warrior! He has no business letting his feelings get in the way!" Okay, I realize that as a defense that was weak, at best, but who the hell does he think he is. Between his disobedience, Goldar's near mutiny, and Scorpina's lying I've quickly reached my snapping point, logic be damned.
Surprisingly unimpressed and unafraid of my latest outburst Thomas pins me with a look and speaks softly. "Then shame on you, too." Really? Just, really?!
"What?" Fingers digging grooves into my desk at the amount of pressure I'm applying to the surface, I give him a moment to reconsider, to take it back, or amend his statement.
"I said, shame on you, too." Repeating himself far to calmly for my liking, he continues unabated. "You talk about how he shouldn't let his emotions get in the way, but look at you. You throw their lives, and yours, into turmoil because you just felt like you had to come get me and bring me back here, feeling like Hayley and the kids couldn't do a good enough job with helping me. You attack Pina not once, but twice over seeing me upset about something we were talking about. You almost attacked your friend that night in the infirmary when he was only trying to tell you how he felt after having his girlfriend almost beaten to death because of something she was doing for me. You go off and throw a temper tantrum when you found out we were bonded rather than staying here and dealing with the issue. So yes Zedd, shame on you. Shame on you for being a warrior just like Goldar and just like him, letting your feelings get in your way."
My temper boils over and I speak without thinking. "Yes, shame on me! Shame on me for defending you at every turn since you've been here! Shame on me for turning my life upside down for someone who one minute seems to despise the very ground I walk on and the next wants me to bed him! Shame on me for being stuck in a forced bond that could very well kill me when you go back and take up those fucking powers again! And shame on me for daring to find you worth losing my sanity over! If you wish to be so damn quick to play judge and jury over where my decisions and actions come from and what I base them on maybe I should have left you where I found you!"
As I stalk out of the room, determined to get distance between us before I lash out at him once more, the next time almost certain I will end up breaking something in my wrath, I barely hear the comment from behind me. "Maybe you should have."
The statement doesn't really register until I reach the bottom of the stairs. He is out of his mind, I knew it. Who in the hell would want to stay in that place? And why? Trying hard not to feel guilty now as I realize I've very likely hurt his feelings, and badly, I remind myself that he started it. He just had to pick up where Goldar left off didn't he. Just had to challenge my judgment and ability. Well serves him right, I put up with too much around here, take too much attitude from him and the others, and it's going to stop damn it.
Very soon, I find myself standing in the hangar bay, not intending to leave, but because there is always something to do there. I find myself needing the distraction so I can calm down and refocus. Some part of me knows that Thomas is right - I shouldn't be so angry. However the other part of me, the one currently in control at the moment, would happily go slam him through a wall right now.
Before I can debate my feelings any further, the communication console alerts me to an incoming message. As tempting as it is to ignore it, I know that I have to answer it as it could be a potential client, or someone of importance. Sighing heavily, I cross to the panel and activate it.
"Go ahead." There is a long pause before the other person answers.
"Well, I was expecting to talk to Goldar and instead I get the boss himself." Oh by the powers of hell. "How are things going, Zeddic?"
I frown at the sarcastic tone and use of my full name. Bitch. "What do you want, Rita? I really don't have time for this."
Another long pause. "I need to speak to Scorpina regarding Tommy's treatment."
My eyes narrow briefly. What does she know that I don't? Perhaps if I bluff her - no, bad choice. If she knows more than I do, it will be immediately obvious. If she knows less, then I could really screw things up if I say something I'm not sure of. Finally, I answer, though a bit reluctantly I'll admit. "She's not available right now, Rita. I'll have her call you."
The silence stretches for several minutes, and my patience is still razor thin. "Did you hear me?"
"I heard you, Zeddic."
"Then answer me." How complicated is that.
"My, aren't you in a pleasant mood today." Don't push it, woman, seriously, don't push it. "I was thinking with Tommy there you would at least be-"
Cutting her off not in the mood to fight anymore, with anyone, I shake my head wearily. "Don't. Just don't right now. I've had a very bad…life, and I'm frankly just sick of everything at the moment, so for once, let's just not do this. I'll have Scorpina call you when she wakes."
There is another long pause before she speaks again, thankfully back on topic. "I will be unreachable for a while myself, I'm afraid. And, unfortunately, getting through to me can be - difficult - at best. How soon do you expect her to be available?"
A quick glance at my watch and I answer, "I would think in the next hour or so."
"Fine. I'll call her back. I know how much you hate being an errand boy, but will you tell her to expect my call?"
My hackles rise at the attitude, what part of 'Just don't' doesn't she understand? Taking a deep breath I answer as professionally as I can. "Of course. After all, if it regards Thomas, all information is helpful."
Her tone changes to match mine. "Thank you, Zedd. Rita out."
I disconnect the call, wondering what she could want after she's spent all this time being no help whatsoever. Now all I need is a visit from Zordon or the female and children from Earth to round out my day fabulously. Deciding to give the sleeping pair another half hour before I go and wake them, I start doing some general maintenance to keep my hands and mind occupied. Just calm down, just need to calm down and keep busy and all will be fine.
Half an hour later, I'm ready to throw something - anything. For some reason only hell can understand, the part I'm working on just will not go back together. As I'm debating what to do, the doors to the hangar open and I don't even bother to turn around, as I assume that it's Thomas who has finally found me. "I'll be with you in a minute, Thomas. I need to finish putting this piece back together."
"Perhaps the piece on the floor will help." Not Thomas after all, but Dar.
Not answering his comment, I snatch the piece from the floor and the part does go together as it should. Finally finished, I set it down and turn to face him. We look at each other for long minutes before he speaks.
"I'm sorry for my outburst. I was angry and frustrated. It's no excuse for what I said or for taking it out on you - or him."
Okay, that was the last thing I expected, and honestly something I figured I would end up saying to Thomas before the day was out. Knowing I should take his apology and let it be, I however can't stop my natural reaction and leave well enough alone. "I understand you were angry. Your mate had been hurt. I just do not understand where your hatred of Thomas comes from."
He fidgets for a moment - which is odd. I can threaten him with death, which I have on a few different occasions, and he doesn't bat an eye, but mention Thomas' name and suddenly he's acting like a scolded child. What is going on with him? Finally, he answers. "The issues I have with Tommy are my own and I will deal with them. However you can rest assured that you will never hear me say anything like I said the other day again. Not to you or him."
Wrong answer. I realize that pushing harder will only result in widening the rift that is currently between us, so I try a different tactic. "Dar, I know I don't acknowledge it enough, but you are my friend. Not my employee or minion or guard, but my friend and companion, and as such you know that the list of people I call friend is very, very short. Up until Thomas came, it basically consisted of you and Scorpina. Hell even with Thomas here, I don't know that I hold him in the same regard as I do you, considering that I have to be careful of what I say to him and do around him not knowing how he'll take it. Whereas with you, the worst I basically get is a sigh and you asking me where I found the liquor or who is coming to kill me now, assuming they are not out to kill you as well."
"I assume you're referring to the time we cheated Trey's entire guard force at cards and then stole a quarter of his treasury." Or the time we destroyed half a city due to a bar fight getting out of control when someone stated that we sucked at pool.
"Something like that." Unable to help the small smile as the memories do lift me from my foul mood just a bit, I shake my head. "The point is, you have always had my back, and I like to hope that I, at least when it counts, have always had yours. So it bothers me that something is clearly bothering you, and that I might have brought the cause of it here." Sighing and looking at him lost for what to do as I still don't know what's wrong, I give a defeated gesture. "I'm sorry that Thomas being here has you so upset, I honestly didn't think it would, because I honestly didn't think you had any unresolved issues with him. I shouldn't have assumed that just because Scorpina and I didn't, that that meant you didn't either, and again I apologize for that shortsightedness on my part, but the fact of the matter is that he is here now. So if you'll tell me what's wrong, why you dislike him so much, perhaps I can help. I just want to help you."
Taking in all I've said he considers this carefully before he replies, "I appreciate what you are saying, Zedd, but as my friend, you must also realize that there are some things that I must deal with on my own. Right now there is nothing you can do." When it looks like I'm about to protest, his hand is up, stopping me with a calm shake of his head. "No, Zedd, I know it's your way to rush into things, to want to fix something when it's broken or not working right, but this isn't one of those times. However, if there comes a time when you can do something, I will tell you."
And that's the best I'm going to get. Sighing and thinking this over, I give him a slight smirk. "So, still friends?"
Looking at me in surprise, before snorting and rolling his eyes, his response is sarcastic at best. "As I've told you before I will not end your life while you slumber, nor allow Rita or Zordon to get their hands on you again and drag you off to some stupid healer that thinks you need to learn modesty and anger management."
"I thought I managed my anger fairly well when they suggested that. I was very precise in exactly what parts of their homes I destroyed outright, and what parts I set on fire."
Smirking at this, Goldar shakes his head. "All while mostly unclothed as well." I have skills like that. "Yes Zedd, we are still friends and companions. I don't honestly know anyone else who could put up with either one of us if we decided to trade the other in." Very true.
I nod in acceptance and raise off my stool, changing the subject as I do. "Is Pina up as well?" He nods and I head for the door. "I have a message for her."
