Nikita, Martin Stein and J'onn J'onzz are standing in the main compartment of the DEO listening to a transmission from unknown aliens. Martin and J'onn laugh at the absurdity of the aliens transparently-false claim of non-hostile intent. Nikita is thoughtful.
“They're not waving their hands around in the air if that is what you think. They really mean what they say.”
J'onn turned to her with an expression of thorough surprise, and more than a little dubiousness. “Don't tell me your empathic powers work that far?”
“No, I just don't have your perceptions. Your problem reading the footprints these guys leave in the sand isn't with their prints, it's with your perception. That's why having me around was such a good idea in the first place.” She sighed and tried again. “ 'We pose no threat to human inhabitants. Understanding IS our purpose.' from a completely blank slate what did I just say? Or let me put it this way, am I human?”
“Of course you are! I mean by anything that matters you...” Martin shut himself up as he realized where she might have been going with this.
“By anything that matters to you, and by how you measure the word 'human'. But let's face it, I'm not. I'm a sentient, intelligent, organic being, but I'm Zavallen. Most species out there when they say human they don't mean 'from Earth'...they mean 'having evolved from earth-simians'. If you put the three of us plus the Flash in a room together, some aliens, especially those non-corporal ones for whom 'life is easy a quirk of matter, nature's way of keeping meat fresh' wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Or the differences are all they would see. Because humans can't do things the Flash does, they wouldn't consider that Stein and the Flash could even be the same species. J'onn wouldn't be protected if humans were declared safe, not once they saw him shift. 'Understanding is our purpose'...there isn't exactly a moratorium on that you know. Not even here. I...I am sorry, J'onn but it's kind of unavoidable at this point. Or would be shortly at least.”
“Why is that, what are you talking about and why do you have a more troubled, 'stunned silent' look on your face than I have ever seen there before?” J'onn J'onzz asked as curt and respectful as ever.
“I'm from a planet where only 1 in every 13 sentient beings were of the same species and only about 1 in 30 were of the species native to that planet. It wasn't out of the ordinary to have groups who had been there for 2 or 3 generations but ultimately had come from somewhere else. It was gracefully and vocally inhabited compared to Earth. I didn't think anything of it; it's what I knew. But because of where I was born I know things about at least 16 different species that people here never met. I am familiar with alien races that unless they are extra-terrestrials themselves, most people who live on this planet have probably never heard of. Despite my classification at first as an 'enemy alien', I don't know if Henshaw really saw me as one. He saw me as a fountain of information about what sort of alien threats were out there and how we could defend ourselves if things got bad. An asset or an advantage probably. He wanted to know his enemy. I could help him do that. Ultimately understanding was his purpose. That didn't stop him from being a dick about it.”
“Reduced to it's most basic elements, every word is true. They don't mean what we think they mean. Because they just don't think along the same lines we do.” Martin finished lamely. He turned to J'onzz. “And, I take it you are not...” J'onn shifted into his natural green form. “...one of us.”
“The last son of Mars but not the last survivor of it....Depending on your point of view.” J'onn J'onzz said quietly, echoing what he knew was in Nikita's thoughts.
“What the crap!” The woman said, jumping off of the table. She backed into the medical cabinet with a look of complete shock on her face. “What in the name of all thing rational and sane is going on?”
“That is, pretty much what I'm wondering right now.' I said mildly. And by 'mildly' I mean in a voice squeakier than mickey mouse.
“I have a better question, what is happening in the first place?” J'onn said to the rest of the room.
“I don't...why am I not sensing any-thing from you that's like before? I...J'onn...is that you?”
“Okay, do you know me and if so, how?” J'onn asked the stranger.
“I, I know someone named J'onn Jo'nzz yes. But no, I don't think you and I have ever met.” I think J'onn found this as difficult a concept to wrap his mind around as I did. But I never got a chance to ask. “Sad thing, after five full years my first reaction at seeing Henshaw's face is to totally and completely freak out. I...I am sorry for my over-reaction.”
“If you knew the original Hank Henshaw, I wouldn't call that an over-reaction. Well, not from what I've heard anyway.” I said aloud.
“That's the thing, where I'm from for the past 2 years Henshaw's been doing what he can to be different, to be better than he was before. I was an 'enemy alien' here 5 years ago. And when his world changed to go upside down, he changed ours to correct it.”
“Okay, slow down please. Start with where you are from.”
“ 'Simultaneous realities in parallel places'.” She said as if quoting a lecture. “Think alternate timelines that co-exist rather than replace each-other.”
“Parallel universes.” I quipped.
“Exactly.”
“And in your world Henshaw became a force for good? I'm sorry, I don't see it.”
'J'onn, where did you first meet Henshaw? You must have done in order to have his face. You assumed his identity...where did you first encounter their agents? Was it in Peru, Guatemala?”
“The Canadian Rockies actually.”
“In my world Henshaw led a five man team into a remote location in Peru. He was the only one to make it out alive. But he told of a revelatory experience he had, learning he had been so completely wrong about one of his lefftenants..”
“..Jeremiah Danvers.” J'onn said in an echoy voice.
“He talked about how Jeremiah stood up for him like a mouse to a lion. When you first met, you fought and he lost. Jeremiah defended him...to you. 'I might not like him but he's still my commanding officer'. And 'there are rules even in war he's no threat leave him be', sort of thing. No one blames you. They were on a mission to kill you. No one knows where J'onn Jo'nzz is, they leave him alone and they leave anyone who isn't actively trying to hurt other people alone. As far as Henshaw knows, Jeremiah died saving his life. Which is why he's so cautious now about who he deems an enemy and where he sees 'dangerous threats'. He doesn't want to underestimate or rather misjudge anyone as badly as he did Jeremiah Danvers...or fail him a second time by seeing foes where there are only friends.”
“Wow, that...is a lot to process.” I whispered.
“You're a lot alike Winn, that's why I didn't notice right away.” She smiled, I smiled back, pretty awkwardly. “Winn works at the DEO on my world also. I may be a half-breed but I have enough of my mother's gift to tell if someone has a suspicious vs a trusting mind, a hopeful or an aggressive one.”
“You're an empath?” J'onn interposed.
“My mother's people were. My father was a human scientist. I was born in Salida Colorado. I'd say it's time for introductions. My native name is Saran. Most people call me 'Sasha'.”
“Understandable.” I said quickly. She started rubbing the side fo her head. “What's wrong?”
“I, I don't want to be a jerk, but can I, find a compartment to claim as my own? I need to lie down.”
“Oh God of course.” J'onn said sounding shaken. “Winn, will you take her to basic quarters please.”
I put her arm over my shoulder as I guided her out of the infirmary. When we got to at least her temporary quarters she slid into the cot and laid herself back against the wall. “I hope you'll be comfortable here.” I told her. I honestly couldn't think of anything to say.
“Thank you.” She whispered. “Thank you for your kindness.”
