Summary – Zordon and Zedd battle over Tommy's future. Tommy isn't amused.
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For Life…Literally
Tommy
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Watching the two continue to go back and forth as if I'm not even present anymore, I find my temper beginning to rise. This is exactly what I was hoping possessing the gem would stop. I am not some object to be bantered over, some pet who can't think for himself. Who do either one of them think they are deciding my fate for me, telling the other what I will or won't do.
Just about to put a stop to this I'm beaten to it as Zedd makes one more suggestion. "You know what would be helpful, if of course you're THAT concerned for his well-being. Let me bond with him."
Head snapping up at such a suggestion as if Zedd's lost his mind, Zordon's response is quick and set. "Not on your life." This could be interesting.
"What's bonding?"
Ignoring my question Zedd continues to argue his case, seeming to pick up more resolve at Zordon's too quick refusal. "You said yourself he's too vulnerable as a human. This could solve that."
"Excuse me but what is it?"
Shaking his head and standing, he sets himself against the table glaring the other eltarian down. "Solve it? It could very well make things worse! I'm trying to convince the Council the boy has a lick of sense as we both know you clearly don't, and what do you want to do you want to have him bond with you?!"
"What is bonding?" My own voice rising right along with my anger at being completely ignored, I swear they're both about two seconds away from having a face to face chat with the floor.
"Oh you want to talk about sense do you?! That's really funny coming from someone stupid enough to let me trick them into walking straight into the fucking morphing grid in order to 'save' me!" And this conversation is no longer about me.
Getting up from the table I move slowly and calmly to the junk drawer located just under the silverware drawer in which we toss tools and other miscellaneous items we're too lazy to put away. Digging for a moment as the argument continues to rage on behind me I finally find the item I need before returning to the two overgrown children.
Placing the whistle in my mouth and leaning right between them so their certain to hear me with their oh-so-excellent heightened sense of hearing I let loose a shrill blow.
Hands coming up instantly to their ears, both fall back in their seats crying out in pain and protest.
Dropping the whistle from my mouth I pocket it before calmly sitting back down as well. "Are we done now?" Getting only pained grunts and mutters I take that as a 'yes' and continue. "Good. Now that I have both of your attention I ask again, what is bonding?"
"Geez, and you think he needs protection." Shaking his head and rubbing his ears soothingly, Zedd looks lost for who to growl at now. "And to answer your question, assuming I heard it right among the ringing which is now most likely a permanent fixture in my ears, bonding is an old practice which was forbidden several thousand years ago. It's where two different species combine enough of their blood to change the actual genetic structure of one of them. The species with the dominate genetic make up is normally left unaltered while the other is normally altered into a half breed I guess you'd call it."
Sighing at my lost look, Zordon clarifies, be it reluctantly. "What he's saying is if for example you and Zedd were to bond you would both exchange a large amount of blood. Since he's eltarian and thus stronger and more advanced genetically then you are he would be left unchanged his body simply absorbing and filtering your blood out whereas your body would absorbed and be taken over by his, it would change you. Give you attributes he has such as greater strength, a longer life span, heightened senses. Mind you none of it will be to the degree a true born eltarian's is, but your abilities would definitely be far above a human."
Finding this sounds fairly good from my standpoint, I recall the other little bit of information that came with it. "And why was this forbidden?"
"Because our species is selfish and stuck up."
Sighing and shaking his head, Zordon waves Zedd's response off. "It was banned because half-breeds were either being used in illegal fighting rings or killed. They're considered muts, not one species not another anymore. Most species find this fairly disgraceful and it was becoming so bad that…" Trailing off and seeming to rethink the rest of his statement, he continues in a much more subdued tone. "It was just very bad Tommy. Several innocent creatures were suffering for something that most of the time wasn't even their choice."
Knowing I most likely shouldn't push the topic much further I can't quit silence the scientist in me. "What if two different species just bred normally then? Would their offspring be considered a half-breed then?"
"No." Shaking his head and picking it up Zedd is obviously reconsidering his early suggestion after being reminded of past problems by Zordon. "The dominate species' genetic material would be all that would show in the child. If for example an eltarian mated with a triforian the eltarian attributes would be what would show. The child would be viewed as one of us and it wouldn't matter who his parents where. Interspecies relationships aren't really frowned upon."
"Only bonding." Finishing for him Zordon sits back nothing much left to say.
"But it could be done." Ignoring both of their surprised looks, I continue calmly. "If Zedd and I wanted to bond, it could be done, couldn't it."
"No." Voice stern once more Zordon is having none of it. "It's not an option Thomas."
"Why? I'm already an outcast on your planet. The Council is already out to exterminate me. You said yourself I don't have a chance if something were to happen to you. That is why you wanted me to have the gem right? So I had a chance to protect myself. Well I hate to tell the both of you but that little rock isn't going to do me any good if I get the power stripped away from me." Catching the small flinch Zedd fails to hide, I know he's now thinking of the same thing.
"It's happened before in case you've both forgotten and it will damn well happen again if the Council or Evil Alliance gets their way. You want to keep me alive you need to give me more. A way to protect myself when neither one of you is around. A way I don't have to depend on external power."
Despite the logic that is there Zordon still seems unmoved. "What you're asking will put you in even more danger. You think the Council of Light hates you now, if you do this it will be a declaration of war to them."
"Well bring it on." Tired of hiding and running from those self-absorbed idiots who seem to think are above everyone and thing, I give the two present eltarians a cold look. "I'm tired of doing things their way. By their rules. I told you I wouldn't follow them when I agreed to take the white powers. My stand hasn't changed. And as for Zedd, no offence but what does he have to lose? They're already looking to put his head on pike, like this would make any bit of difference."
"He's got a point you know." Receiving a glare from the blonde, Zedd holds up his hands in defense. "Just saying."
"Just encouraging is more like it. Besides you know what bonding entails, it's a very draining and briefly painful procedure. Not to mention you'd be permanently bound to one another. What he feels you'll feel too. If he's in pain or rage you'll know it and vice versa."
Noting the small smile this last bit of information brings, Zedd shakes his head. "Not seeing the down side."
Rolling his eyes, Zordon heaves a sigh. "No you wouldn't would you."
"How is it painful? What does it entail?" Wanting to know more about the matter now as it apparently isn't a simple procedure, I look at both of them expectantly.
Looking as if he just wants me off of the topic, Zordon doesn't seem to realize I'm not letting him off that easily. "The exchange of blood is done ritualistically. You would both be bound together, right hands linked, and a dagger plunged through both of your palms. Your necks would then be slit in a very precise location and manner before being pressed together. The entire matter takes roughly two hours. However if you factor in recovery time it will be close to a week if not more for Zedd as he will be the one to lose blood and not gain any usable back from you."
"Oh a week in bed, how ever will I survive." Giving me a rather knowing and feral smile, it would seem I at least have one of them on my side as Zedd brushes off the groaning Zordon. "Oh wait I know, with lots of touching, and chocolate sauce, and lack of clothing while I-"
"Enough. It is not happening and that's final."
"Says you. Hate to tell you Zordon but you're out numbered here. If the human wants to do it and it'll help keep him alive and with me for a longer period of time, I'm all for it." Shoving the last of his food into his mouth and clearing his plate from the table, it would seem that we are going to bond whether Zordon likes it or not.
"And when he goes on a killing spree again, will you be all for it then?"
What now? Looking back at the still sitting calmly blonde, I narrow my eyes suspiciously at his cryptic response. "What?"
"Have you both already blocked out what's occurred not more then twelve hours ago? Zedd you harness a large amount of evil energy. It's absorbed into you. What do you think will happen if you exchange blood with Tommy? Yes he'll gain things such as heightened hearing, strength, and life, but what else will be given? We can't predict how he'll receive the darkness that resides there also." Shit, I hadn't thought about that. However…
"Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe a little power is what I need."
Clearly surprised, but not unpleasantly so by my response, Zedd gives a small and thoughtful nod. "He was pretty sexy when he was evil."
Head in hands and knowing he's lost Zordon really should know better then to get into it with us by now. He's had to deal with both on a one-to-one bases in the past; did he honestly think he stood a chance with us together now? "You're both out of your god damn minds."
"It's power Zordon. It doesn't control you, you control it, remember? It's all about what you do with it." Pausing to look at me carefully, Zedd settles down somewhat looking as if he's won the argument. "He'll do good things with it. We both know that. Give him a chance, give us a chance."
"And if it goes wrong?"
Giving a shrug, he answers with casual disinterest. "Then the Council of Light is in for one hell of a bloody ending." Hm, can't say I very much dislike the sound of that.
To be continued……..
Only like…3 more parts till it's over? Something like that. Sorry not much happened in this part again. Next part is more exciting.
