Brotherhood as a choice (Arias)

There are some differences between this and the previous entry made. The font differences here are just in case either is easier to read.

Elana tries to convince J'onn to visit the DEO. Says that Henshaw really has changed and that at least one of them need closure. In the standard cliché J'onn obviously doesn't think so. Jeremiah tells him what Henshaw is really like. “He did what he thought was necessary to protect civilians, all of Earth really from people he honestly believed were our enemies. I can't fault him for that. And if this is coming from the mouth of an alien, then you can believe it's at least possible.”

“What's the real reason you want to go?” Jeremiah looked mildly shocked. “I can read your mind pretty well by now. It's almost natural to hear what's on the surface. You don't want to see him, at least not for any personal reason. You believe without proof he has changed. Which means there's another reason you want to go back. Why? Why are you so certain he has changed?”

“Nikita. She was a dear friend of mine. Well, she was a dear soul and an innocent one. I served under Henshaw for six years trying to be a good agent, trying to do my job and not let it get the best of me. When I met her I couldn't let her get interrogated for information she didn't have. It was assumed by pretty much everyone that she was deliberately a threat that she didn't actually pose. It would have been obvious to everyone...should have been I mean. I broke her out of the DEO. I had to stay; I had NO choice in that. According to Firestorm over there, she's back at the DEO, but as an officer, an attached to the man I thought had the thickest skull on the planet. I need to see if it's true, if she believes Hank has changed or is simply following orders, playing along like I was doing all those years. I mean don't get me wrogn I believed in what we were trying to do. But I saw how much...To be concise, If Nikita is with him willingly, without reserve, I need to know. And I will have my answer and can leave. I can finally have closure...then we can keep going with our lives.”

“You love this woman.” J'onn Jo'nzz observed.

“As a daughter, yes. You told me Hank Henshaw believes I'm dead? It's very possible he has taken, I mean adopted Nikita as his prodigy wanting someone...like-minded to me...helping him.”

“Jeremiah. You don't need to stay with me.” The human scientist started. “If you leave, I mean if you decide to stay in National City I'll miss you sure but I wouldn't keep you here against your will. And I am sorry if I've made you feel otherwise.”

“I swore I would stand with you J'onn; that I would never leave your side. From what I understood that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty...if not Brotherhood.”

“The oath is invalid if you're staying here only out of duty, do you not see that? We will always be brothers, Jeremiah. You don't have to be at my side for that. If you have somewhere else to be, someone in this life who needs you, I would never knowingly keep you from them. Is that not what brotherhood means!”

“I...cannot argue with you there.”

“Come on, I'll fly you back.” J'onn Jo'nzz said, morphing into his natural green form.

Elana tries to convince J'onn to visit the DEO. Says that Henshaw really has changed and that at least one of them need closure. In the standard cliché J'onn obviously doesn't think so. Jeremiah tells him what Henshaw is really like. “He did what he thought was necessary to protect civilians, all of Earth really from people he honestly believed were our enemies. I can't fault him for that. And if this is coming from the mouth of an alien, then you can believe it's at least possible.”

“What's the real reason you want to go?”

Jeremiah looked mildly shocked. “I can read your mind pretty well by now. It's almost natural to hear what's on the surface. You don't want to see him, at least not for any personal reason. You believe without proof he has changed. Which means there's another reason you want to go back. Why? Why are you so certain he has changed?”

“Nikita. She was a dear friend of mine. Well, she was a dear soul and an innocent one. I served under Henshaw for six years trying to be a good agent, trying to do my job and not let it get the best of me. When I met her I couldn't let her get interrogated for information she didn't have. It was assumed by pretty much everyone that she was deliberately a threat that she didn't actually pose. It would have been obvious to everyone...should have been I mean. I broke her out of the DEO. I had to stay I had NO choice in that. According to Firestorm over there, she's back at the DEO, but as an officer, an attached to the man I thought had the thickest skull on the planet. I need to see if it's true, if she believes Hank has changed or is simply following orders, playing along like I was doing all those years. I mean don't get me wrong I believed in what we were trying to do. But I saw how much...To be concise, If Nikita is with him willingly, without reserve, I need to know. And I will have my answer and can leave. I can finally have closure...then we can keep going with our lives.”

“You love this woman.” J'onn Jo'nzz observed.

“As a daughter, yes. You told me Henshaw believes I'm dead? It's very possible he has taken, I mean adopted Nikita as his prodigy wanting someone-like-minded to me-helping him.”

“Jeremiah. You don't need to stay with me.” The human scientist started. “If you leave, I mean if you decide to stay in National City I'll miss you sure but I wouldn't keep you here against your will. And I am sorry if I've made you feel otherwise.”

“I swore I would stand with you J'onn; that I would never leave your side. From what I understood that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty...if not Brotherhood.”

“The oath is invalid if you're staying here only out of duty, do you not see that? We will always be brothers, Jeremiah. You don't have to be at my side for that. If you have somewhere else to be, someone in this life who needs you, I would never knowingly keep you from them. Is that not what brotherhood means!”

“I...cannot argue with you there.”

“Come on, I'll fly you back.” J'onn Jo'nzz said, morphing into his natural green form.

Risking the End Brings a Beginning

 To set the scene, in this continuity, Oliver Queen's passion for his mission is homegrown. Quentin Lance has feelings for Moira and was always ready to be there for Oliver...but never found a way to step up. Quentin feels guilty about working so closely with the masked vigilante known as the Arrow and that secret-fear has kept him from getting too close to Moira. When the Arrow is framed by Rashe, Lance is actually one of the very few people to still believe in what the man is trying to do, and his innocence. 

 “I know you you are, you're a hero, to me anyway. I...I want to tell the...the Queens I mean...why I believe in you.”

“Oliver Queen will understand. You mean a great deal to him. Tell them what happened. And be ready for my company.”

“The Arrow. You're the one who called me that, aren't you?”

“Uh yeah, I've been calling you that for a while.”

“No I mean, you coined the name...I have to say I approve.”

“What are we...you...making jokes now?”

“I really do like the name; it's apropos and straight to the point...like me. But also, it is a lot easier for me to be off my guard around you when you're not pointing a gun at me.”

“Yeah...that makes sense. Listen I...”

“Detective...Captain. I fight for this city, so do you. But unlike the other cops on the force you have a reason to trust me. And you listen to that reason. The day you and I find each-other on opposite sides is the day this city is pretty much screwed. I don't want that to happen, E-ver.”

“On that score you and I agree completely.”

“Oliver can I take with you for a minute?”

Oliver Queen looked up from his novella to a welcome sight: Quentin Lance standing in his study as if he belonged there. “Of course Quentin, what's up?”

“I know when the three of us are together, you mom me and you you're very chill about it and I appreciate that. But I wanted to know...ARE you okay with it?”

“Mr. Lance, you've been seeing my mom romantically for a year and a half, you've been living with her for the past five months if I had a problem with it you'd have heard about it like way before now. And is this going where I think it's going?”

“I want to propose to her. Why do I feel like I'm rushing things here?”

“You don't.” Oliver answered easily. “You want to know if this is a marriage of convenience, or whether she'll think you're charging in. She won't and you're not. You're direct and plainspoken with the biggest heart and the strongest moral compass of anyone I have ever-known. Be equally unadorned,no fanfare, no parade, just ask.”

“Wow, on the list of things I thought you'd say that is...was nowhere near the top.”

Oliver's face went completely blank for about five seconds. “Wait, were you nervous about what she would say or...about what I would say?”

“Oliver to say we have a complicated history is an understatement. We've had a lot of crap we've had to push through over the years..”

“..And we've had almost as much crap happen to us that we've pushed through together. Our relationship, as myself at least, has been through so many ups and downs I've lost track of when I was looking up. You didn't realize it as t the time, how could you but as the Arrow I saw another side of you. And if I hadn't still been worried how'd you'd feel about it, I would have been warmer. I'm sorry I should have trusted you more. Besides, it meant a lot more than you apparently realize when you admitted to having worked with the Arrow last year. You risked happiness with my mom, and falling from Grace in my eyes, standing up for a masked man in a hood that the entire city thought was a murderer all over again. 'We've been through a lot', is sure as hell an understatement, but I think you're focusing on the wrong part of that expression: we've been through it.”

“Did she already know?” Quentin asked suddenly.

“I hadn't told her yet. It turns out I wasn't that good at hiding from her, she already knew. And something I've been waiting to tell you, since that day on the bridge I think, whether you're with my mom or not...I've always tried to make you proud of me...like I think it would be with a father.”

“So to recap then.” Oliver said in rather a weak voice. Yes, I'm fine with it, and yes, I want you to be a part of the family...of MY family. And I'm very sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise.”

“I...I feel like I should hug you right now.”

“Yeah I'd say it's a hug thing.” Oliver replied, embracing Quentin with affection and joy.

A New Way to Start a Life (E-9)

Oliver Queen stood protectively over the young girl. “Whatever you have against me, she has nothing to do with it!” He yelped. His hands in the air he spoke to his captor. “Look I told you I'm not a threat...or I've tried to anyway. And I still can't figure out what you have against us. And now I'm starting to think I have it wrong. You hate me because you think I'm a threat, and that's okay that's great.” The green skinned alien tilted his head, prompting him to continue. “If you honestly believe I'm a threat, then you can go ahead and kill me. But I beg you, let her go. She's not like me.”

This speech did not have quite the effect he'd intended. The stranger who had rarely spoken a handful of words at a time actually backed away and lowered his head. “I was wrong about you...I'm sorry.”

He called for a water-skin and with the slightest tilt of his head indicated it was for Oliver, not himself. His lieutenant gave an uncertain glance, but spoke no word of objection. And with a wave of his hand he dismissed the man. Oliver mumbled his thanks and tried to ask why, but J'onn gave no answer. Instead Oliver watched in stunned amazement as the alien who had taken them both prisoner actually knelt and wrapped Sarin's injured leg.

“Listen, not that I'm not grateful, I am but...what changed?”

“I thought you were keeping her, not protecting her, and I hated you for it.” J'onn replied. He stood up and backed away. “I know she is no more human than I am. If it served me I could look human, but she does. Whatever her race is, they look human.”

“She has a tongue as well as a name.” Both men looked rather caught out as Sarrin stood up. “My name is Sarrin, I'm Atraxi. Oliver is...something the English language does not allow for. But he's as human as it gets. The question is, what kind of person are you?”

“I am...J'onn Jo'nzz.” The stranger said simply.

“I mean more literally than that.” Sarrin said with a slight chuckle.

“I am a Martian.”

In the end J'onn does let Oliver go and asks Sarrin to stay. Though it didn't unfold quite so simply.

“Protector, Guardian. It's the same word in our language. It's not a charge one is given a thing one is. And undefined by anything else.” Sarrin looked at Oliver and then at J'onn before continuing. “A legal guardian is one thing; Solena. A man like a cop or a protector is one thing; Alana-Kai. But neither have the mantle of protector. To be a guardian or protector is an individuals choice and reality. With this understanding, I can tell you, Oliver is my protector. And now it seems, you are.”

“I do not doubt for an instant you are willing to stay here. I must ask if you want to.”

“The slenderest of threads separates the two.” Sarrin answered. “The way I see it Oliver and I were in each-other's lives for a season and now we each have a new season in life coming for us. If you let me stay and let him go, you enable us to grow toward our true potential... I'm happy to stay. And by the way my name means 'beautiful flower' in my language."

In the flashback episode of Smallville that shows Oliver's time on the island, Oliver places himself protectively over Tess. "If I die, at least I die for something." And in the Earth-9 I created, Jeremiah Danvers gave J'onn Jo'nzz an offer/suggested a compromise "let Hank go...keep me." I put these two things together for a first scene in Arias. Two years before Jeremiah makes that offer and finds himself in a wigwam.

Sometime later, this happens --

I woke up. I don't know how else to describe what happened, I woke up. I was sitting on a bench, my back against a wall. The first thing I noticed was that the only lighting in the room was from tiki candles. The second was that I wasn't restrained in any way. Whoever that man was knocked Hank out quickly, and knocked me out a moment later. Hank was so focused on taking out this 'creature' he'd been hunting, he never stopped to think how powerful his target might have been. I couldn't help smiling at that. I looked around the room. It was a wigwam more than anything, the kind American Indians lived in. And I was alone. I laid down on my side, facing the curtain that served as a door. And waited for someone to come in and speak to me.

“Are you awake?” I heard a voice say from the other side of the door not ten minutes later.

“Yes, please come in.” I answered. A young woman in her late 20's walked in carrying a bowl and a tray. Her cinnamon-colored hair was short-cropped just below her earlobe. She weighed maybe 140. “Nibbles.” She said holding the tray up a bit. I nodded. She set the tray down on the bench and the bowl of water down at my feet.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“I should think that was self-evident.” She said in a voice so devoid of humor I could not believe she was poking fun at me. If anything she seemed surprised at my question. So I decided to rephrase the question. “Why are you doing this?”
“Me personally, Jean said to make you as comfortable as possible. Why are we taking any measures to make you comfortable...that is for Jean to explain.”
“Am I a prisoner here?” I insisted.
“No restraints but there is a perimeter, that is my understanding.” She replied. She tilted her head. “Please, introductions should come first. My name is Sarrin, and you?”
"Jeremiah."

“Jeri-miah. That's a good name.” She smiled softly.

“Forgive me but are you...what planet are you from?”

“I am Atraxi. We don't have a home-planet. I was almost 8 years old when my mother and I left home. I was 10 years old when we made our home on the Western coast of the United States.”

“Jean is your leader?”

“We're a collection of aliens of various races and a few of the more tolerant humans any of us have met. And yes, J'onn Jo'nzz is the leader of our community. But I'm not wearing a bracelet.”

When I wrote down the scene of Henry and J'onn Jo'nzz I wrote their host as someone other than Nikita because I didn't want to involve her in the story. I didn't want to force this stand alone scene, unrelated to any other work into the narrative. And when J'onn Jo'nzz of Earth 9 had a companion, an alien at Arias that could not be Nikita and spoke with Elana, I used that story/memory as an unneeded explanation for the connection between this young, quiet alien and the green Martian J'onn Jo'nzz. But then Nikita and J'onn met, and they would be strangers, and they cannot be strangers. But also, this scene, the scene in the girl's apartment is separate and alone by definition. In that story Henry and J'onn's host never called herself by name. I called her Atraxi for the very reason that this was not part of the same narrative. So there is no reason to work that into this story. Solving both problems simultaneously, When J'onn returns Jeremiah to the DEO, he will recognize Nikita...as that same human-looking alien host with whom he had an epic 'open mouth insert foot' experience.

Henshaw A Hero

On Earth-9, in the at least 4th year of her time working with Henshaw, the prisoner turned agent Nikita is explaining thier history, that is, her history with hank Henshaw and thier personal history together, to thier newest alien friend, a Daxamite named Mon-el

"I'm still not convinced that in every species no matter how horrible there is room for improvement. But the stories of my people, especially our sacred texts teach that in every species in the galaxy there are exceptions.  That no matter how uniform thier behavior or single-minded thier philosophy, there are always those who's natures run counter to the mainstream. We call them 'horrata'. It means 'an exception to the rule. And not just a minority. A star in the ashes. But all this is in the positive, and it goes the other way too.. White Martians are in general ignorant, arrogant assholes, but I cannot deny there might be some that do not want to be defined by hatred and actually resist the 'truth' that they deserve the world and everything in it.  Human's don't understand this because you are so multi-faceted and so individualistic that the only consistency in your entire race IS variety. We...you have a reputation for being self-focused and self-important. The strive to improve your own situation your ambition and...well this is on an entirely individual basis, singular, ego-driven, self-improvement. And of course that's all true but what is so easy to miss is that individualism allows for an unheard of, and for most cultures unfathomable amount of diversity.

 Most species are known by a tendency or a proclivity. Whether they are known as a race of weapons manufacturers, of warriors or the equivalent of Franciscan Friars --my race is by the way would be in that list-- they are all known and defined by that quality or trait or choice. You could say 'there is some soul of goodness in things evil', but the reverse is just as true. Horrata is exceptions to the rule regardless of whether the rule is virtue or darkness. You cannot put a race into one box or the other, ever. no matter how big the box is, no matter the label, not everyone fits into that box. I have never found a planet where this was so completely true. But it's like, because you don't have boxes, you don't understand how hard...and rare...it is not to live in one."

"I get the feeling there's more you want to say." Mon'el told me easily, if slowly.

"Everyone has good and evil inside of them and you can't put people into a box of virtue and light any more than you can a box of Evil and Darkness. Many would label Hank with the latter. In my experience 'finding a soul of goodness in things evil' is the only time this truth is even considered, or thought upon. As I said the reverse is also true. I can't put someone into a box labeled 'pure light, goodness and truth',  But if I could, Jeremiah would be in it. He is the only human like that I ever knew.” My voice resonated with sadness and I closed my eyes.

"I can't argue with you there." Hank said in a low voice.

I looked over at Mon'el who very politely wasn't saying anything. Perhaps it was closer to genuine consideration than manners. “Jeremiah was the D.E.O. Agent who broke me out of this place, almost 2 years ago now...and died in the line of duty several months later. Hank came looking for me, told me of his death, and asked me to work with him.” I stared at Hank and he stared right back at me. “I am sorry, it is not my place. It really does have to come from you.”

“Jeremiah was...a courageous as well as a noble man.” Hank began slowly. “For own own completely personal reasons, neither of us would question it...or him. I never thought much of him but he showed he could put his duty above his personal feelings, acknowledging but overcoming what he thought of me as an individual, to defend his commanding officer. He died saving my life. And when I came back I asked for Nikita's help, to make sure I never misjudged anyone quite as badly as I did Jeremiah Danvers.”

Superman: He died saving your life. If you weren't hiding anything, like why you were both out there in the first place, why would you cover it up?”

Henshaw's face turned ashen. He stared at me, unsure why he had to explain what he was about to spell out. Turning back to the man who had basically spoken out his own backside Hank enunciated every word of his answer: Because he DIED saving my LIFE.

(after meeting her bizzaro clone) 

Supergirl: She looks like me, she flies like me, she fights like me. I mean other than the fact that she Talks like cookie monster she is me! " -- When Bizzaro talks to James Olsen she says 'no move' instead of 'do not move' and 'Supergirl and me...same.' instead of 'Supergirl and I are alike'. So Supergirl is spot on describing her this way.

Hank Henshaw: The Martian Manhunter earned his name. For once I didn't have to convince Danvers...Jeremiah that this alien was a threat and a warrior. We led a five-man team into the Peruvian mountains. I still don't know what happened to Steel, Collins or Meyers. This thing fought like a warrior when we found it. We fought and I lost. He broke my leg so I couldn't run away. Jeremiah, defended me, verbally to this alien. Eventually physically fighting him...over me...I could not believe it. He died that night, right in front of me. And that is why I do what I do. That memory the knowledge of his sacrifice, and more importantly the COURAGE he carried with him, that I never noticed, changed my mind....and my heart along with it."

Canadian Rockies and the Aftermath

I finally found the moment that was missing from my story about Nikita standing up to J'onn like a mouse to a lion. I'm not sure I ever typed this scene and was having serious trouble even starting on writing it. I think I finally found a single moment in the scene.

Me'gann Mor'zz, a White Martian asks Nikita why she would defy J'onn who is not only her direct superior officer but someone she so clearly respects, on her behalf.

"Because this is the second time history has repeated itself and I didn't know what else to do." Taking a breath, without looking at Me'gann, Nikita explains. "J'onn is wearing  the face of his predecessor, a man I served under before him. And that is an epic misnomer. He took the identify of a man named Hank Henshaw. It is disheartening to say the least when J'onn lives up to that man's face. But slightly more importantly you are my guest and this is my home!"

Nikita turns slowly to face Me'gann. "Knowing what I know about the history of your races, if he'd found you at a restaurant or something and tried to arrest you, that is to take you back to the D.E.O  I wouldn't have objected, not publicly. I would have made my case to give you a fair hearing when we were at the D.E.O. Just as I did when the former prince of Daxam was thrown in a cell for a crime he literally couldn't have committed. Mon'el was believed to be guilty and the hero who arrested him assumed the worst of him just because he was from Daxam, didn't even bother to ask his name. Yeah that actually happened, and that was the first time it felt like Hank was still running things. As I said, he cannot force me NOT to be true to myself. And whatever else is going on, I know you well enough to know that I can trust you. And no one with a brain in thier skull insults a friend of mine IN my house. Not even my closest friends can get away with that and nothing can force me to permit it."

x

Me'gann Mor'zz, a White Martian asks Nikita why she would defy J'onn who is not only her direct superior officer but someone she so clearly respects, on her behalf.

"Because this is the second time history has repeated itself and I didn't know what else to do." Taking a breath, without looking at Me'gann, Nikita explains. "J'onn is wearing  the face of his predecessor, a man I served under before him. And that is an epic misnomer. He took the identify of a man named Hank Henshaw. It is disheartening to say the least when J'onn lives up to that man's face. But slightly more importantly you are my guest and this is my home!"

Nikita turns slowly to face Me'gann. "Knowing what I know about the history of your races, if he'd found you at a restaurant or something and tried to arrest you, that is to take you back to the D.E.O  I wouldn't have objected, not publicly. I would have made my case to give you a fair hearing when we were at the D.E.O. Just as I did when the former prince of Daxam was thrown in a cell for a crime he literally couldn't have committed. Mon'el was believed to be guilty and the hero who arrested him assumed the worst of him just because he was from Daxam, didn't even bother to ask his name. Yeah that actually happened, and that was the first time it felt like Hank was still running things. God I don't even know why I call him that! Given that he and I did not exactly get along and what he originally was to me, I should call that asshole by his surname, not his individual one. I should refer to him as 'Henshaw'. J'onn cannot force me not to be true to myself, no one can and J'onn would be a fool to knowingly try it. He's known me for six years and doesn't realize that, whatever else is going on, I know you well enough to know that I can trust you. And no one with a brain in thier skull insults a friend of mine IN my house. Not even my closest friends can get away with that and nothing can force me to permit it."

Now in the scene titled 'Dining on Ashes', J'onn describes what had happened perfectly and following that later scene as a script made it even harder to write this. That's where he tells Superman his biggest regret from this day isn't that Nikita compared him to Hank Henshaw, but that she was actually right to do so. This one moment changes everyone's mind and opens everyone's eyes. Though it takes nearly losing Nikita to Queen Rhea months later --who tried to kill her to get her out of the way-- for J'onn to face Nikita about it.

Also in the actual show Supergirl, Mon-el and Kara/Supergirl are a couple and Queen Rhea tries to kill Kara with Kryptonite which in her eyes is simply 'doing what is necessary to reclaim him. It doesn't help that she thinks of Kara wanting him to stay as krypton trying to take her son from her. Here Nikita, a Xavallen is Mon'el's fiancé and Rhea just tries to straight up kill her. Which as you might imagine does not sit well with J'onn, Mon'el, Superman, Martin Stein or Me'gann Mor'zz.