Author's Notes - Anyone who would like to see a picture of Zordon once again and now his father, and Zedd's father just let me know and I'll mail it to you.
Summary - Zordon finds out some disturbing news before having a little discussion with Zedd's father.
o
Trying My Best
Zordon
o
(Eltar, Council of Light main compound)
(2 days prior…)
Looking at the ten members of the Council of Light which I had served on for so many years before regaining my senses, I find myself now wondering just how anyone could have stood to associate with me during that time.
Marveling at how they all sit behind the long, white panel desk, each with their own seat, each in exactly the same white clothing, the same blonde hair- well save for Zedd's father Kerch who like his son has taken to dying his own blonde locks black as a testament to the love and respect he still has for his child -they all look back at me the same expressions of frustration marring their chiseled faces.
The first to speak, the one who had demanded in no uncertain terms that I be present today, my father's anger shows through his words with crystal clear clarity. "Do you know why we've called you here today Zordon?"
"I'm up for mentor of the year?" Tone smart and mimicking that of Zedd as I have very little interest in pleasing the people before me anymore, I cross my arms calmly, staring down the man who made my life a living hell for nearly eight thousand years.
Eyes alight with fresh rage, they are the only thing that betrays my father's calm demeanor as he continues sternly. "This is no laughing mater Zordon, especially not after the amount of trouble you have helped to cause us."
Knowing what he's referring too as it was what had ultimately gotten me 'dismissed' from my seat on the council I give a smirk not the least concerned for his wrath as I, like them, am all too well aware that I hold more raw power then all of them combined now. "I hardly consider aiding in Thomas and Zedd's bonding the leading cause for the apocalypse." Trying to catch Kerch's eye knowing that if anyone appreciates what I did it is him, I'm momentarily surprised to see a rather dishearted look on his face. Now what is that do to? He was fairly pleased to know that his son had found a mate, a good one at that, even going so far as to request pictures of them after they were informed of the ceremony, so what has occurred to suddenly cause concern instead of relief?
-ooooooooo-
(5 months ago….)
Ringing the bell as I stand outside the condo which is very much like my own in many respects I don't have to wait long for the door to slide open and an older version Zedd to come into my line of sight. "Hello Kerch."
"Zordon." Moving aside to allow entrance to his home, he closes the door behind us leading me to the main room where there is already coffee and various fruit set out on the coffee table. "I'm glad you could make it. I trust you're feeling better?"
"I'm managing." Smiling as he's the only member of the Council of Light that I've let know that I'm still not up to my full power just yet, I take a seat on the white couch when he gestures to it. "Are you?"
Reaching for a cup of coffee and handing it to me calmly, he takes a seat himself in a white chair beside me, his own cup already in his hand. "You're father is as insufferable as ever."
"I still say we should have just let Zedd kill him when we had the chance. No one on the council would have faulted him for it." Only half joking as my father can in fact make even the calmest of individuals turn homicidal, I take a drink of the rather good coffee before reaching into the should bag I've brought with me. "I brought you the pictures and recording disk with the ceremony on it."
Snicker turning into a soft smile as he takes the offered gifts, setting his cup down to begin going through the photos I'd snapped of Zedd and Tommy during my stay on Earth I give him a few minutes of peace to simply examine them as he finally gets to see his son and his mate on more then viewing globes, which are honestly only used to view battles more than anything else.
"The human's grown up. When you said it was Thomas that he'd chosen I still had a mental image of him in his younger years. I suppose I didn't realize how fast humans age." I don't think Zedd did either.
"They do indeed age quickly, but the bonding will slow it down considerably. He'll age more rapidly then Zedd, but it will be drawn out now that he's part eltarian. He'll at the very least have a good 10, 000 years of life assuming nothing happens before then." Though what Zedd will do without his mate after that I've honestly no clue.
"Zedd will keep him safe." Voice absent but sure, Kerch gives a chuckle as he reaches the one of the two lovers on the beach, a day of fun they'd decided to have with the children shortly before I left to come home. "Why is Tommy and the Yellow Ranger chasing him as they brandish plastic shovels like a weapons?"
Looking over his shoulder and smiling myself, I shake my head. "They had been building a castle and Zedd had come up and dumped a bucket of water on their heads. An act that he insisted was playfully mischievous not evil."
"He was always playfully mischievous." Noting the slight wistful tone in his voice and knowing he's thinking back to his son's younger days, Kerch flips through a few more shots before setting them and recording disc aside to be viewed later. "The human's keeping him grounded?"
"Yes."
"Good. Don't let anything happen to him Zordon. I know Zedd can take care of himself but human's even half breeds are fragile, and if he breaks…" Zedd will break with him.
"They'll be alright. Tommy is one of the strongest Ranger's I've come across. He'll protect Zedd and Zedd him." Sitting back and wondering if I'm over stepping my boundaries or not I nevertheless decide to breach the subject which always seems to linger just under the surface of our visits. "You should go see him."
"You know I can't. Not yet."
"He's not as…out of control as he was. He will listen to reason, at least to a degree now. If you explain to him why certain decisions were made where he was concerned there is a good chance he will understand."
Giving me a bit of a look, Kerch is apparently as stubborn as his child. "Understand what? That his mother had no desire to have him? That I had no clue how to raise him? That I trusted your father when he told me the academy was the best option for him and his future? I made a mess of the boy's life Zordon, and when I found out he was involved with Dark Spector's son…" Yes well none of us handled that little bit of information well.
"You were trying to do what you thought was best for him. You meant well Kerch." Unlike my own bastard of a parent.
"He's happy where he is now, I'm not going to interfere with that Zordon. He deserves some peace." Picking up the pictures again and tracing the images softly he heaves a weary sigh. "I just want him to be safe and happy."
-ooooooooooo-
"Oh but it is." Looking down at me my father's tone is far too serious for my liking.
"What?"
"What did you think Dark Spector would think of this little union when he found out?"
Narrowing my eyes at his superior manner, I barely keep a reign on my own anger, a trait I know I have inherited or at the very least learned from him. "Dark Spector has no reason to come after either of them. Zedd no longer serves him and Thomas, while still a keeper of powers does not currently use them in an active Ranger role. Their union would be no concern to him." Is that why Kerch looks so upset? Has my father been worrying him with thoughts of Dark Spector going after his son and his mate?
"It would if his son found out." What?"
Sighing and keeping my focus on my father as he seems to be the spokesperson for the group- which is typical as none of the others tend to speak much anyways -I rub my eyes, weary and annoyed with this entire matter. "You know I had plans today. Ones that didn't involve coming down here to hash out ridiculous notions of revenge and evil which is centered around my friend's union, despite how strange it is. Dark Spector's son is dead. Get with the program and call me back when you have any real reason to be concerned." Moving to leave I'm suddenly halted by the one person who I actually will give a moment of my time to.
"Zordon please listen." Looking at me seriously, Kerch sits up a bit straighter the circles under his eyes giving away just how stressed out he is. Seeing that he has my focus despite my father's glaring at having the podium taken from him, Kerch continues calmly and in a voice I know if filled with nothing but fatherly concern. "Zarek isn't dead."
"What?"
Sighing and continuing softly, he shakes his head. "Zarek isn't dead. A decision was made after we captured him that it wouldn't have been right to murder a child, and as dangerous as he was, he still was a child in most respects. We stripped him of what power we could and released him several galaxies away. As far as we know Dark Spector found him after a considerable amount of time, but without the majority of his power he was no use to Dark Spector's plans. Besides he'd already begun investing too much power and effort into Zedd." Closing his eyes and I know feeling badly for his son, Kerch takes a moment to regain focus on the current topic. "The fact Zarek was alive was kept secret by Dark Spector because the thought that he was dead was what fed Zedd's anger and aggression, it served a purpose for him."
"And for you all? What purpose did it serve for the all knowing council?" Voice tinged with anger most of which is not directed at Kerch as I have a feeling he was one that decided to spare the child's life, an honorable decision if not an unwise one, I'm unsurprised as my father once more takes up the speech.
"That's not your concern." In other words there was no purpose other then making them look good. Right.
Sighing and feeling the beginning of a headache beginning to pick at the corners of my brain I rub my eyes again and look back at them after taking a minute to gather myself. "So Zarek is alive. He's been informed of Thomas and Zedd's bonding. And he what? Is pissed off? What does he care? I think it's safe to say that we're all aware of the fact he never loved Zedd. Not in the manner Thomas does at least. He's made no move to contact him or get him back in all these years, so why now? Why the sudden interest?"
"His former pet is now bedding a human turned mutt. How exactly do you think that makes him look." Thank you father for that oh-so-classy phrasing.
Joining Kerch in giving the man a rather withering glare, I however beat Zedd's father to the punch of reprimanding him. "Zedd is no pet, and Thomas no mutt. I'll remind you very quickly father that Thomas has survived and served with the powers longer then any Ranger human or other species alike. And Zedd, Zedd has been through the fires of hell and back, he is doing everything he can to make up for what he did under Dark Spector and I find your callus comments not only insulting to them both but also extremely childish."
Moving to stand, hands clenched and face filled with rage, he seems to quickly forget just how strong I've become. "No see here-"
"Sit down." Not even bothering to look at him, Kerch keeps his own tone stern but calm.
"If you think-"
"I said sit down, you are not behaving in a manner that is befitting of this council, so unless you would like to be removed until you can learn to control your emotions I'd advise you to take a breath and let it go." Probably the only one aside myself who does not stand for my father's crap, Kerch continues to look at me even as my father sinks back into his seat.
Addressing me now, he returns to the important aspects of the conversation. "Zarek is mad Zordon. We've heard enough from allies to know that he's regained enough power to be at least somewhat of a threat and if he can get his father to back him up on it in hopes of acquiring Zedd for his side once more, it will end badly. We've called you here in hopes that you will aid in keeping Zedd and Thomas from him and Dark Spector until we can find an adequate solution to this problem." In other words protect your son and his mate. Understood.
"Thomas is not our concern." Looking at Kerch and still harboring a general dislike for my one time Ranger, my father shakes his head. "If anything the best course of action is to leave the half breed on Earth and bring Zedd back here where he can be properly monitored."
"His mate comes too." Finally sparing my father the honor of a look, Kerch is having none of it. "They are bonded, they cannot and will not be separated. Especially not when the human is under just as much of a threat. Zarek will attempt to capture Zedd but Thomas he will kill if given the chance."
"I am not having some half breed brought back to this planet." Teeth clenched and seeming to forget about me as he becomes engaged in a typical fight with my best friend's father, mine really needs what I believe I've heard Thomas refer to as anger management.
"And I am not having my son's mate, not to mention a former Ranger left to die for taking the time to save one of Dark Spector's victims." This is going to get ugly.
"Victim, what a unique choice of words when said victim nearly single handedly destroyed out home planet and enslaved over a dozen others." The snide comment biting hard, my father turns back towards me not giving Kerch a chance to respond, not that he would in this setting having more self control then his fellow council member and enemy. "As for you, we're done. Go and retrieve Zedd and bring him back here, we'll figure out what to do about Zarek and Dark Spector once we know he hasn't already gotten the victim. You're dismissed."
"And you're lucky I'm in a good mood." Turning to leave I cast one last look over my shoulder. "Oh and just so you know it was over two dozen, don't sell him short."
To be continued…….