Meeting with kneel_majorzod.

[chloeas]

Chloe had to admit she was nervous about this meeting. She didn't know what to expect, exactly since she had never met the man before. Which was the whole reason why she was there to begin with

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[kneel_majorzod]

More than anything, Zod is extremely curious. When he suggested they sit down and discuss his purpose, he fully expected to be accused of setting some sort of trap and for Chloe to refuse. But when she actually agreed to meet with him--with an open mind of all things--he found himself pleasantly surprised.

It isn't often that he gets a chance to explain himself, and he's actually quite eager to do so. He doesn't expect to necessarily get an ally out of it, but even if he can simply make himself understood, it will certainly help.

So, doing his best to open up his own mind, Zod makes his way into the cafe and scans the tables. It isn't long before he spots Chloe sitting in the booth, and he adopts a polite smile before stepping forward and nodding in greeting. "Miss Sullivan, I presume," he says pleasantly enough.

[chloeas]

Chloe is determined to make an effort so as he approaches her table, she stands up and holds out her hand, "Major," she greets him, the best polite smile she can muster on her face.

[kneel_majorzod]

He takes her hand and shakes it, sliding into the other side of the booth. "I hope you haven't been waiting long."

[chloeas]

Chloe slides back on her side of the booth and shakes her head, "I left early, you never know how traffic in Metropolis will be, no matter the time of the day."

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod shifts his gaze back to Chloe and nods slowly. "I've been trying to help my people adjust, but it has been extremely difficult, yes." He takes another brief pause before continuing.

"Especially when they discovered they didn't have the abilities that were promised to them. You see, while coming here was no plan of ours, we'd heard about your planet and what its sun does to Kryptonians. My people wanted some of that power, and it was a simple enough goal. But since then...my goals have changed a bit. I no longer want these powers for my own personal pleasure; I want to help your race."

He halts his speech when the waitress returns with his drink and sets it down on the table. Zod thanks her quietly and then takes a sip before speaking again. "It took me a while, but I've finally seen the side of humanity that is worth saving. And I want to help."

[chloeas]

Chloe considers him as he speaks, sipping on her still warm coffee, she nods slightly, "what made you change your mind?" Because whatever it was, it must have been big and whatever that was, it could change things, one way or another.

"And why would you need your powers to help us? Can't you do the same thing without them?" She keeps her voice quiet, just in case they can be overheard.

[kneel_majorzod]

"A combination of things," Zod answers quietly. "The things I've observed. The people I've met."

He falls silent at that and considers. "I could do a lot of good with my abilities. Without them, I don't know if I would be able to do enough. Think of it this way. Kal-El spends a lot of time protecting the people of this city. Imagine how many could be saved if there were thousands of people like him. We would be able to change the whole world."

[chloeas]

"I can see that," Chloe agrees, watching him closely, he doesn't sound like he understands what the outcome of something like that really could be, so she will do her best to explain to him what she heard about what Lois saw in that alternate future.

"But Clark is one person, and he does a lot and he helps people, don't you think people might fear an entire army of super-powered individuals that they don't fully understand?" She asked quietly, without judgment.

[kneel_majorzod]

He watches her carefully for another moment before nodding and leaning back against his seat once more. "Fair enough. I'm sorry if Clark loses his abilities, but something tells me he would understand if he knew what's at stake here. And once this world is saved, things will eventually go back to normal."

He pauses again and then studies her with curiosity. "So you've researched Kryptonian history? Find anything of particular interest?"

[chloeas]

At that, she smirked softly, "I'm sure the little I was able to find here on Earth is nothing compared to how much you must know about. I just know the basics, mostly things I've picked up from my encounters with other Kryptonians."

There is no point in beating around the bush when it came to Kryptonians, even though she doesn't have to tell him everything she knows, he probably already knows most of it anyway.

[kneel_majorzod]

He nods slowly. "Well, if there's anything you'd like to know about my people...I'm always willing to share my culture with those who are interested."

[chloeas]

Pursing her lips together, Chloe considers him for a second, if nothing else, she could tell Clark more about his home planet, and honestly, she was curious.

"Actually, there is something I would like to know," she raises her eyebrows curiously, "how is your technology different?" Because between Braniac and Doomsday, they are clearly way more advanced than Earth is. If that is a good or a bad thing, she isn't sure yet.

[kneel_majorzod]

"I used to talk a lot about a war that was coming," he says thoughtfully after a moment's pause. "Most people took that to mean my people against your people. In reality, however, I was talking about a war that, even now, humanity is fighting with itself. And it will only get worse from here."

He falls silent for another moment and studies her before continuing. "I've seen this happen before. To my own people. And look where it got them. Both of our peoples rely on this planet's survival, and if we can help each other, I think we'll be able to live together peacefully."

[chloeas]

"Why can't we simply live as equals?" She asks curiously, her eyes on his face, "your people fit in as much as we do now and just because you don't have powers, it doesn't mean you can't share your knowledge and help us make the planet better for both our races."

[kneel_majorzod]

"I can share my knowledge without my powers, yes, but beyond that? I don't know how much I'll be able to do," he replies, meeting her gaze. "Telling them that they need to change to ensure their planet's survival is only part of it. The first step. Then I'll need to actually help them make those changes. And without my abilities, I can see no way I'll be able to do that."

[chloeas]

"What kind of changes do you think need to be made?" She asks, leaning back against her chair, "and you shouldn't forget that Clark has his powers and I have no doubt he would want to help with anything he could."

[kneel_majorzod]

"The last thing I want is to fight against your people," Zod tells her quietly. "And you do realize that, the more my presence is broadcasted as dangerous, the less likely the public will be to understand my purpose when the time comes? I obviously have a bit of a reputation that precedes me with you and your friends, and if you choose to make it known, you're only increasing the chances of misunderstanding and conflict in the future. And that is something I want to avoid just as much as you do."

He pauses and considers for a moment. "But to answer your question, I'm not sure what I will do if all of humanity resists us and chooses to reject our help. If that happens, I'll have failed. I will do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen, and that means approaching the situation very delicately. I don't want to alarm your people or give them the wrong impression, and as I said before, I want to first approach them from a completely diplomatic standpoint."

[chloeas]

"I understand where you're coming from, Major," she tells him in a quiet voice, "but to be honest with you, I'm still not comfortable with having thousands of superpowered people out there, even if they are working as guardians to my people. Not when I know there is nothing I can do to stop them if they want to hurt me, or decide to turn against me. And I understand that if you give them orders, they are supposed to follow them, but us, humans, we don't work like that. Even with our leaders, who we will obey and follow, we will only go as far as we think it's wise, if we see things could change or improve, we will go our own way."

Holding his gaze, she continues, "and your word just isn't enough to assure me that that won't happen if one of your people realizes they can just wipe the humans off of Earth and make the planet their own. It's survival, it's instinct to do what you think is better for you and your people and somehow, I don't think those instincts are all that different from humans to Kryptonians."

[kneel_majorzod]

He remains silent for a long moment, considering her words. "All right. Those towers won't be complete for a while, and that gives us a unique opportunity. Help me approach your people and pass my knowledge onto them. I can warn them of the dangers that are coming, as we discussed before. And if you prove to me that I can guide your people in the right direction without my abilities, I will adjust my plans accordingly. I'm willing to give your way a chance."

[chloeas]

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise, despite her best effort, she can't stop it from happening. She never actually expected Zod to give in, not that she was willing to drop her argument because considering Lois' memories, the future she was picturing in her head was very likely to happen, but maybe this would be the answer to a peaceful outcome between their races.

"Give me a couple of days to throw something together and I will have a plan for you, in the meanwhile, you can develop the ideas you think would improve our Planet and I will help you figure out the best way to present them to my people."