Note: Ok, all. Here's the next bit. Please keep in mind I'm trying to set a bunch of things in motion here that are—if not simultaneous—at least very, very close together in timeline. But I promise when Clois are in the same space I'll do my dead level best to make it worth the wait. Also, this and the next chapter are set up for a lof of things. Hope you enjoy. I truly am enjoying your reactions to this. Thank you so much for the feedback and for reading!

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Chapter 5

"Chloe." She announced with a confident air.

"No. Lana." He contradicted.

"Uh, no. Chloe."

A deep masculine sigh. "You're wrong. It's Lana."

"Look, cue ball..." The female's voice was terse and agitated. "I'm the one that's been intimately invested in his life this past year. Practically living on top of him at the Planet. I'm telling you…it's Chloe."

Patience vanished. "And I'm the one that's known him practically all his adult life. It's Lana."

A pause. Two icy stares. Then the real fight began.

"Chloe!"

"Lana!"

"Chloe!"

"Lana!"

Rolling his eyes at the bickering behind him, the man at the window stroked his dark goatee in concentration. At first, these games were flattering. Entertaining even. But after a while, a little bit of Tess Mercer and Lex Luthor went a long way.

He had been surprised when they'd agreed to put the past behind them and work together for the 'good of the world'. Then again, he shouldn't have been. If there was one thing Zod had learned about humans...they'd sell their souls for just the promise of power.

It just so happened, he'd been in a position to make such a promise.

He turned to observe the childish battle.

Hands on her hips, Tess was showing no sign of backing down from the parrying Lex. It was amazing really. There were actually people on this planet that feared these two. Considered them dangerous, or at the very least deranged.

In the presence of the great General Zod, they were like two children vying for their father's approval.

His cold, hard gaze shifted from the two arguing humans to the only other alien being in the room. Shapely legs slung over the arm of a chair by the fire, she was shaking her fiery read head, rolling her green eyes and sharpening her claws with something called a nail file.

Her look of disgust said it all…

Humans.

He had a tendency to agree with the assessment.

He'd only been on this cursed plant for two months and already wondered at the bumbling idiocy of the human race. Not to mention his bad luck as, for some reason, they all seemed to gather at his feet. There had to be something better than this. Something worth conquering. Or at least something that would bring him pleasure to destroy.

"Chloe!"

"Lan..."

"Enough!" His command reverberated through the central room of the Luthor mansion. A mansion he'd wasted no time in claiming as his home, and base of operations after his arrival on Earth. "I've heard…enough."

Tess Mercer and Lex Luthor both swallowed into silence.

"Sit."

They both scrambled for the same seat, jostling each other for a place of power closest to their chosen leader chosen seat. Tess won out. Lex slipped into the chair next to her with a snarl on his lips.

Zod tweaked their egos by passing them both up in favor of taking his place behind the large glass desk in front of the large stain glassed window.

He clasped his fingers in front of him then addressed them with a simple command.

"Now. One by one, present your case."

Lex and Tess both took a deep breath and opened their mouths to speak. At the same time.

"Ladies first." Zod clarified.

Tess smirked at Lex then turned her full attention to Zod. "Chloe Sullian. She's been his best friend since eighth grade. Not only does she know his secret, but she's been his primary source of strength, information and inspiration for the past several years. He trusts no one like he trusts Chloe."

"And loves no one like he loves Lana."

She ignored the snarky comment from Lex's direction and continued, knowing any diversion from Zod's commands could easily turn the tide of his good favor against her. "This past year alone, he has ignored every piece of advice given him, even that of those from the future, just to save her life."

Lex chuckled and shook his shiny head.

Tess stifled a sigh of frustration and continued. "Furthermore, she was able to run a full on operation of lies and betrayals right under his nose and he didn't even blink one baby blue when she did it. He still rushed to her defense and her rescue, believing all the time in her complete and utter innocence. He hasn't a clue she's really the one to blame for it all."

A conceited nose tilted upward as she made her final point. "She's the one I chose to use to get to him. And it worked like a charm. He believed every word she said. As he always has. As he always will. Chloe Sullivan is the only one that can break him."

General Zod considered Tess' words for a moment before turning his attention to the other human child.

"Lex?"

"He's loved Lana since the day he set eyes on her." Lex jumped in eagerly. "The things he has done for her have been…beyond human capacity."

"Given he's a super powered alien, that would make sense." Tess noted under her breath.

Lex's eyes quickly darted to Tess, but no other acknowledgement was given. "She has betrayed him, time and time again. Behind his back, to his face, turned him upside down, inside out and in every other way you can imagine. And he still wants her. Still loves her."

A hint of arrogance slipped through his features. "If my latest test did not prove that, then those reading the results are a lost cause. I have used her to break him in the past and I know I can use her again. There is, therefore, no doubt in my mind. To break Clark Kent, we use Lana."

Before Zod could respond, Lex offered one more tidbit of information that was sure to tip the scales in his favor.

"And…if I may remind you, General…" His glinting blue eyes pinned their newest leader with a knowing look. "…she was the one you yourself chose to help you populate the new world of Zod. So, of course, there is that angle too."

Lex leaned back in his chair with a knowing air of superiority. Tess hrumphed, crossed her arms and arched a slender brow in response.

Zod's lips pursed in contemplation. In that moment, he looked every bit the picture of his now departed son, Davis Bloom. "The problem that I see with…both plans…I don't want him broken. I want him crushed. Unusable. And utterly destroyed."

That pronouncement alone sent a chill through both Tess and Lex. Regardless of their past relationship, they were in complete agreement about General Zod. He was not an…alien…to be crossed. And clearly, they had failed to convince him on either of their points.

Zod turned his attention to the alien lounging near the fire. "Maxima? Do you have any preference?"

"Actually, I do." Like a cat slipping from its perch, Maxima rose from her chair and advanced toward the three other occupants in the room, pausing to note each human and their given choice on her way. "But it's neither Chloe nor Lana." She approached the desk and General Zod, placing something on the table in front of him. "Here."

"Who's this?"

"The key to Kal-el's destruction." Maxima purred as she watched General Zod's eyes widen with interest. His lips tilt dangerously. "Lois Lane."

Tess and Lex both snickered from their chairs.

"Lois Lane." Zod rolled the name around on his tongue. Tasting it. Liking the feel of it. "Yes, yes, I've heard that name before. This was the human body that Faora inhabited. She said he was…quite affected by the incident. That she sensed how deep his feelings for this human ran."

"I have had my own incident with Lois Lane and Kal-el's 'feelings' for her." Maxima supplied smoothly, knowing she was the only one that truly held Zod's attention now.

"And?"

A meaningful eyebrow rose. "They were strong enough to break my hold on him. With just one look."

Zod leaned back in the leather chair and chuckled. "Well, now. That's saying something."

"What? Wait." It was Tess who protested first. "No, no, you have it all wrong. I know Lois and Clark. They work for me. And believe me…there's nothing between them. Most days they can barely stand each other."

"Interesting." Maxima commented drawing Zod's questioning stare. "Those are almost the exact same words Lois said to me just moments after Kal-el chose her over me."

Zod's lips curled into a devious smile as his dark eyes sparkled devilishly. His gaze fell to the 8x10 glossy in his hand. She certainly was an attractive woman. Even if she wasn't Kal-el's undoing, she could certainly be useful. In his new world. He would, after all, need a human to, as Lex so delicately put it, populate.

"One look you say?"

"One look." Maxima confirmed.

"Where is she now?"

"You can't be serious." This time it was Lex who dipped his oar in water too deep for him to tread. "Lois is the last person on this Earth that Clark Kent would ever love."

Eyes locked with Maxima's, Zod made his decision. "Let's test that theory, shall we?"

Nodding once, Maxima's green eyes glowed with victory. "I know just the way…"

Tbc...

p.s. I know Zod is a baddy bad and Lex/Tess are too, but after the last chapter, I figured we could use a bit of levity. Not a lot, just a bit. Hoped this succeeded. Also, I know this is skating over the whole Tess/Lex relationship. They aren't my focus so I hope you don't mind. Thanks!