Summary - The trio arrive back on Eltar, none in the best of moods.
o
Worries
Tommy
o
(Eltar, 3 days later…)
Looking at Zedd with barely concealed concern as we stand in the elevator which will apparently take us up to Zordon's penthouse in the very white, very pricey looking development in which he lives, I reach out with my free hand, linking our fingers together in what I hope is a soothing gesture.
Turning his head ever so slightly to give me the barest hint of a smile, he hoists his bag up a bit higher onto his right shoulder still remaining silent and more then a little moody, the same as he's been since Zordon revealed the reason behind this little trip.
-oooooo-
(3 days prior)
"That's not funny." Standing abruptly and moving away from the couch, I watch as my soon to be husband begins to pace in an agitated manner, the likes of which I have never seen from him.
"I'm not joking Zedd. Zarek is alive and now is unfortunately aware of your bonding to Thomas." Me? What do I have to do with this? And who the hell is Zarek anyways?
Stopping mid-step Zedd fixes Zordon with a look that could very well make even me cower. "If you think bringing Thomas into this is going to help this absurd notion that you have that Zarek is alive-"
"Zedd Thomas is involved in this, and Zarek is alive, which is why it is imperative that you both come back to Eltar where it is safer." Involved in what? What is going on here?
Growing agitated that they are one, talking around me when I have no clue what this is even about, and two causing Zedd to grow all the more upset, I break into the conversation barely holding back on the need to take hold of Zedd and sit him back down. "What is all this about? Who is Zarek?"
Whipping around and looking at me almost as if surprised that I am still present, Zedd tries to regain control of himself but fails badly in the end due to panic I cannot understand. "Someone who is never going to come near you." Turning to Zordon the urgency of this statement is made all the more clear. "Ever."
"He won't if we get you both off of this planet and to the safety of Eltar." Standing slowly and moving to take hold of Zedd in what I can see is intended to be a soothing and grounding manner, Zordon gets his eye once more. "Zedd the Council lied. Zarek was never killed, he was stripped of his power and banished. Dark Spector only further perpetrated it because it fueled your rage and determination to punish those that you'd felt wronged you. Those he himself wanted out of the way. It helped him control and use you." Alright and clearly I've fallen into something very big here.
"So why the hell do they care what happens to me now?" Knowing perfectly well who 'they' are and honestly wondering the same thing myself, Zordon's response is really one we both should have probably seen coming.
"Because they're afraid of what you might do if he gets his claws back into you. You scare them Zedd, they know what you're capable of, why do you think they've left you, and Thomas by association, alone. Listen I know you don't trust them but you need to trust me, you and Tommy have to get off of this planet now.
Both staring intently at each other neither wanting to give an inch in their side of the debate, but now, unlike earlier, both remaining unusually calm and subdued, they remain as such until the clearing of my throat brings their attention back to the fact that I am still here. "Yeah, hi, remember me? Your mate and your former Ranger. Yeah still sort of waiting to be let in on this decision considering that you seem to want me to go too and I have something of a pretty steady a life here which can not just be placed on hold at the drop of a hat. Oh yeah and not to mention the fact that no one has told me as of yet who this Zarek is with which I would consider rather important seeing as how he's the supposed reason I'm apparently expected to put my life on hold.."
Exchanging looks with Zordon before dropping his eyes in a manner I've never seen before, Zedd gives a small almost pained sigh. "Zarek is Dark Spector's son." Dark Spector has a son? Wow. Okay well while that is indeed surprising it doesn't however explain why said son poses such a threat to Zedd and myself, or why it's got Zedd looking a very upsetting cross between shamed and scar…oh, oh crap.
Swallowing down the accusation that wants to come, I with a fairly calm and level voice press him on the matter determined not to fully jump to conclusions just yet. "Okay, and?"
"And…my former mate." Right. Of course he is.
-oooooooo-
"Are you certain you're alright with this?" The question one I've been hearing for the past three days, Zedd is clearly unhappy about letting us get corralled into leaving my home planet and placing our respected lives on hold for who knows how long.
"It's for the best Zedd. I don't have enough power left in my gem to fight off Dark Spector or his son if he decides to make Earth a war zone, and bringing the kids into it again, we can't do that to them not when they're just starting out with their lives."
Smiling a bit more at something I've said, Zedd gives a nod of agreement. "Right if we're going to trash a planet let's make it the one those assholes from the Council call home shall we."
Grinning myself mostly for the fact that he's perked up a bit, I ignore Zordon's eye roll as I respond, "Couldn't agree more."
"I live here too you know." As the silver and glass elevator finally stops a good fifty floors up Zordon leads the way out of the open doors that allows us out onto the top floor which from the looks of it only has one door all along the extensive hallway.
"Okay, fine no one destroy Zordon's penthouse, he's scared." Voice mocking and filled with just a bit of humor, I'm glad to see that with how unsettled he is, he at least can still find a bit of happiness, even if it is at Zordon's expense.
Sighing as he swipes a keycard through the electronic lock and let's us in, I drop my own bag to the floor with a thump as I get a look at possibly the biggest most extravagant living space I've ever seen. And I live with Zedd, so that should say something.
"Commands. Lights on, dim level four, main room." Leading the way through the living room that could possibly hold the entire first floor of our house he goes about a routine which seems to be engrained in him. "Drapes open windows one, three, and five main room. Kitchen lights on, dim level four, start coffee maker, and heat oven to four fifty."
"Voice recognized, Zordon, commands confirmed." Did anyone else just hear that?
Watching in slight awe as the lights are automatically turned on and drapes pulled back letting more natural lighting spill into the living space, I look in the direction that seems to be the kitchen the smells of a rather strong coffee already wafting out throughout the room.
"Show off." Scowling as he grabs both of our bags and throws them casually onto a large white chair, Zedd drops himself down onto the equally white couch, his boots quickly propped up onto the dark wooden coffee table before him.
Walking by and pushing Zedd's feet back to the floor on his way, Zordon retrieves a pile of folders from the table before giving an absent command of, "Off the table." Yeah us being here is going to work well.
Placing his feet right back where they were, Zedd grabs the remote for the absurdly large flat screen TV and begins channel surfing with very little care over the fact that we are not exactly here on vacation. "Do you have the porn channels unblocked or am I going to have to descramble those myself?"
"You are not watching pornography in my living room." Looking through the papers intently as he heads for the phone, Zordon once more pushes his feet from the piece of furniture. "Nor are you having sex on the couch, kitchen table, or various other surfaces outside of your bedroom. You are not to make absurd long distance calls, bring home various animals just to annoy me, leave plates of week old food sitting around, or walk around naked as I know is habit for you." Lived together in the past have they?
"Wanna bet."
Ignoring the challenge for the most part apparently knowing that fighting with him will get no results, Zordon quickly dials a very long number before holding the handset up to his ear. "Connect me with Kerch."
Sitting down on a rather soft chair as Zordon is most likely calling to inform the Council that we're here, I'm just about to ask Zedd if he'd like to go unpack when he is up and on Zordon in a flash.
Grabbing the phone from the mentor's hand before he can even think to stop him, Zedd gives a rather rabid snarl of defiance. "What in hell are you doing?" Alright than, I was going to unpack but this however seems to be a much more interesting use of my time.
"I am calling the Council to let them know we've arrived back safely." Holding his hand out for the phone Zordon is clearly not as amused by the bizarre behavior as I am myself. "Now give me the phone back, Kerch is probably waiting on the line right now."
Hand going tightly over the mouth piece Zedd is apparently having none of it. "There are ten members on that Council, why do you need to talk to the one that I am unfortunately related to?" Related to? What does… but suddenly I know, his father is on the council, he told me that before. Around the same time he also mentioned how badly they did not get along.
Looking rather fed up with the entire matter, Zordon advances on Zedd in a pointless effort to try and close him in and once more retrieve the desired phone. "Because Kerch is in fact the only one of those ten that I can stand to talk to these days, now stop acting like a petulant child and give me the phone."
"Not until you agree to call another member." I feel like I should have paid for a ticket to see this.
"I am not calling another member Zeddic now give me that phone right now before I throw you out the window." He just might too.
"Hello? Is anyone there? Zordon?" As the voice can be heard from the other end of the line by all of our over sensitive ears, I have to wonder if Zedd's father can hear them as well despite his son's hand covering the mouth piece. "Zedd? Is that you?"
Looking at the device in horror, he holds it away from his body in a gesture which should very well be considered comical. "Oh god no, I'm not here, not here." Looking at Zordon pleadingly as the blonde takes back his phone before Zedd can recover, the once evil lord shakes his head sternly continuing to whisper/insist his lack of presence. "Not here. Not here."
Rolling his eyes and answering calmly, Zordon turns away from his friend. "Yes I'm here Kerch, I apologize for the delay but your child has lost his mind. Again."
Up off the couch and across the room, I practically tackle Zedd before he can lunge for Zordon's throat.
"Get off of me, he dies. Dies I say!"
"Yes that's him. They both made it here just fine, though we did have a bit of trouble getting Thomas and Zedd's staff, that he refused to leave behind, through customs but that's airship security for you." Moving a safe distance away and leaving me to deal with Zedd, Zordon continues to talk casually, apparently telling the truth about being more at ease with Zedd's father then the other members. "Right. No I don't think he'll need one of those. Yes."
"Let go damn you!"
Holding Zedd tightly but still trying to hear at least one side of the conversation, I frown slightly as Zordon turns back to give me a slightly curious look. "No I don't think that will be necessary. After all he won't be here that long, and even while he is he'll spend most of the time in the penthouse." Who will? I will? I don't want to stay inside the entire time I'm here.
"Thomas-"
Putting a hand over Zedd's mouth in order to momentarily silence him, I strain to hear the other side of it all, but at best still only catch muffled statements as Zordon continues on uninhibited.
"Can't you get Kala and Karisa to side with you on the matter? They won't huh. You don't? Why? Ah. Well I suppose so. Alright I'll keep you informed. Goodbye Kerch."
Holding the phone out towards where we are still wrestling on the floor, Zordon clears his throat. "Say goodbye to your father Zedd."
Pausing long enough to snarl at his friend and break free of my hand, Zedd barks out a feeble 'goodbye Kerch' before dropping in a heap under my weight to the white carpeted floor below us just as Zordon ends the call.
"Your father says hello." Putting the phone back on the cradle he heads out of the main room and towards the kitchen leaving me to deal with Zedd as he makes one final comment. "Oh and also that if you're going out to wear a cloak as it's cold this time of year and he doesn't want you getting ill." Did he just say what I think he said?
Taking a minute to process this along with Zedd I in the end can't help but smile. "Aw that's nice." Smile fading though as this only earns me a hard glare from my fiancée I give a shrug. "What? It is."
"I'm surrounded by traitors."
To be continued…….