the core of 'Dining on Ashes'

Dining on Ashes is what I'm calling a particular chapter of a 4 chapter story I wrote. I called it that because Superman actually walks up to J'onn while he is standing on the balcony of the D.E.O and actually says to him 'Dining on Ashes'. Meaning 'what is so preoccupying your thoughts right now and what gave your face that look'. J'onn explains that his closest friend Nikita, a woman Superman also knows quite well, compared him to the utter asshole that is Hank Henshaw. The man whose face he is wearing. J'onn assumed his identity out of need and though his true identity is known now, he kept the face. Superman's first reaction is. “You mean the military jerk who kept her prisoner for 6 years and tried to execute you on the spot? That'll do it.”

J'onn replies. “Believe it or not Superman, that's not the problem. The trouble is...I think she was right.”

Leading to the first personal conversation J'onn and Superman ever had in this world. And leading both of them to understand Nikita far better than they already did, just by hearing the other's experiences with her. But anyway what had happened was that Nikita had sheltered a White Martian under her roof. Normally that wouldn't be a problem except for J'onn's people White Martians are demons. And he could not understand why Nikita would defend 'that thing' and keep her safe. Unfortunately in that one moment Nikita had some serious flashbacks to how Director Henshaw spoke to and regarded HER the six years she was in his custody. She's a human looking alien who in Henshaw's mind must have been hiding her alien nature. And the only reason Hank treated her with such certain suspicion was that she was an alien. Which to Henshaw's mind had made her, had made Nikita automatically an enemy, a hostile to be caged.

It is not flashed back to. It is a different chapter of the story. That chapter ends before it should. There is something that goes in that chapter I never added, it's below. But when Nikita and Me'gann were in her apartment and Nikita ended up stopping just short of asking J'onn to leave, Nikita said that Me'gann as a White Martian is hurting her, but J'onn is the one who is making her sick. It is a fact of her own Xavallen philology that being around Me'gann is physically painful to her. But J'onn is the one that in an emotional and personal sense is making her sick. Not only is what she senses from him painful to endure (she's a low-level empath and J'onn is one of her closest friends) She tells him he is living up to his face. Which completely floors him for a moment. And very quietly she says. “If because of this you don't want me at the D.E.O. Anymore I'll understand, and I'll leave. But I cannot not stand up for her. I'm sorry.”

After J'onn left her apartment Me'gann asks her why she went so far to defend a stranger. For that matter why she defied a man who was her direct superior as well as an individual she so obviously respects.  "One: You are not your people. I can see that because I'm a low-level empath. J'onn is as blind as his face's sake. And that's actually been brought up before. Two years ago Kal'el of Krypton assumed the worst about... Mon'el actually, my fiance... just because he's from Daxam. But that was a DEO matter and they at least had a reason to think him guilty of what was going on at the time. An attack on a senator it turned out he had nothing to do with and wasn't physically capable of doing. They just assumed the worst because of how Kryptonians felt about Daxamites. It was the closest we've come in the last 8 years to living under Henshaw's rules...until tonight. Assuming the worst about someone based on thier race or thier appearance isn't something I hold with, no matter who is what race. I understand J'onn's feelings toward you. In that I know what you people are to each-other. I know what White Martians are and I know what he's lost. But my home is a sanctuary of peace and he was the one violating it. More personally and egregiously, you're a guest in my house. You are under my protection. Ultimately it comes down to the very simple fact that I know you well enough to know that I can trust you. And no one with a brain in their skull insults a friend of mine in my house. Not even J'onn who is my closest friend on this planet can get away with THAT. And I will not regret doing what I know is right, no matter the consequences. Ultimately no one has the right to ask me not to live up to the who of my being. And this is what I believe in.”

It is an indeterminate amount of time later that J'onn is standing on the balcony talking to Superman, having realized that Nikita was right. In so far as comparing him to Hank Henshaw she was not only in the right to do so but she was correct about him. Hank Henshaw had thrown her into a cell at the D.E.O without suspecting much less accusing her of any crime, simply because she was an alien. And that was exactly what J'onn had been trying to do: He'd come into her (Nikita's) home to take someone away to prison who was guilty of nothing more than being born a White Martian. He didn't even ask the woman her name before trying to take her to the D.E.O in chains. Like in actual literal restraints. And was shocked that Nikita did not allow this, was not on his side. Which given her own history, she never would have stood for it. To Nikita it probably looked and felt like J'onn had become Hank Henshaw.

Something Worth Knowing (DEO)

Final season of Smallville Lois determines to, in her words 'try for a thaw in the cold war between Clark and his dad', and knowingly teleports herself to the Fortress of Solitude to talk to Jor'el. The Fortress of Solitude being a literal ice palace in the middle of the Arctic. Her first reaction when she arrives. "Wow, when Clark said you gave him the cold shoulder, he wasn't kidding!"

So a reformed and confused Director Henshaw asks Nikita, a prisoner turned agent of his organization why she doesn't hate him. Considering the jerk he once was to her and that he is the reason her friend Jeremiah Danvers is dead. To the second she answers thoughtfully.

"And you're right I do miss Jeremiah, but I also trust him. You must as well, if you want me here to say what he would have said. As weird as that sounds, I get it. But for the love of anything solid in this world, Hank, if Jeremiah thinks you're worth dying for, I'm pretty sure you're worth forgiving!" Hank just kind of sheepishly lowers his head.

The show Arrow is surprisingly as full of heart as it is of darkness. The heart and soul of the show comes from Oliver's relationship with Detective Quentin Lance, in both of his personas. Season 2 episode 4 of Arrow is called Crucible. This is where teh soul of the story really even begins. Quentin Lance has finally faced his prejudices about Oliver and is slowly moving past... everything. In the moment his daughter Laurel 'needs a friend right now' and Quentin asks Oliver to talk to her-be there for her. The previous episode is one of my favorites where Officer Lance puts aside his distrust of the Arrow and begins to grow into the awesome friend and ally he is for most of the rest of the series. I would suggest watching that one first just to ground and orientate yourself with the characters and where/who everyone is.

A few episodes later "I'm with Lance as Oliver and he just phoned the Arrow."

Me'gann has asked Nikita why she would defy J'onn who was not only her direct superior but a man she so clearly respects, for her.

"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. One cannot force me not to be true to myself 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."

"You literally took away my ability not to talk and you're surprised you can't shut me up? Yeah I know what that thing is." Taps the back of her neck where they implanted a truth-seeker. "Thing is, you don't know what I am. I said I had abilities which could only be described as magical... never said it was magic."

Elana is of a race called Enkarens, well she is a half-breed but identifies herself as one of her mother's people. She can give people images or videos in thier minds eye if she maintains the connection, like they were watching a movie or in a holodeck. She's explaining that if she were entirely of her mother's people this would be a full immersion experience, indistinguishable from reality. Where ever they would put one, one would literally believe they were there and it was real. To other races in the galaxy this ability is known as 'traumatic hypnosis'. It's an misnomer, but an understandable one." She says. Her race are such fierce and capable warriors, this is assumed to be the only way they'd use that ability: to bring enemies to their knees. Her friend suggests that might not be because of the Enkaren race at all. But because other alien races are such single-minded warriors and conquerors. They would use a gift this way, it is what makes sense to them. It is the only 'sensible' thing to do according to thier mindset. So how this ability is perceived has less to do with a misunderstanding of Enkarens and more to do with the mindset of the other races. What is this kind of reflection called? Where the description of a thing is taken more from the viewer than the picture itself? If it makes it easier to understand what I'm asking: Instead of 7 mice seeing 7 parts of a single thing and think it's something different, each of the seven mice sees the elephant, the one thing and give it seven different names?

I have written 2 stories on the premise of Superman kneeling in front of a victorious Lex Luthor. I was trying to figure out whether to call the first version of the story "Clark Defeated" or "Lex Speechless." Because Superman is technically defeated in both and Lex only becomes so completely floored in that one, I am calling that version "Lex, Speechless." But I decided not to call the other one, "Clark Defeated." For two very specific reasons. Clark had lost his memories in the other one. He didn't remember why Lex hated him so much and never actually had the chance to tell Lex his identity. So to use his human name in the title wouldn't actually fit. And that Tabula Rasa paid off. By the end Lex and Superman find they have one thing in common: they both admire Nikita. They come to an understanding. Superman even thanks Lex for the compassion that he showed. So ultimately Superman was never Defeated at all. Not in the Nikita version of the story. The primary difference between the two? Superman is calling Lex by his first name while Kara is suspended in front of him by chains made of kryptonite. Or Superman is pleading with Lex, without using any particular form of address when Nikita is suspended over, and about to be dropped into something she would Not survive being dropped into.

– Nikita is on deaths door. Elana explains what is needful to bring her back and why she can't

"It would require someone both compatible and in sync with her to pull her back from death. I'm compatible; I'm not in sync!" She looks around and takes it by a different handle. "It would require someone who has been with her for at least six years day in day out who is on the same wavelength as her. I'm on the same wave-length. But she and I are practically strangers."

Elana and Nikita are from similar empathic alien races. And they are the most open-minded and human looking aliens anyone at the D.E.O. have ever met. Which is why it made sense to everyone that Elana could easily 'sync up' with Nikita and bring her back. But despite the fact that they agree with each-other on 95% of everything, they have never actually spent any time together. And in this case, it has to be someone who is BOTH.

Now I see how much my life influences my otherwise strictly TV inspired stories.

A Moment in a story I am calling "Dreaming the Impossible."

“Are you awake?” I heard a voice say from the other side of the door 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."

My absolute favorite moment in any DEO story I've written.

Jeremiah Danvers: I swore I would stand with you J'onn, that I would not leave your side. From what I understand that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty, brotherhood even."

J'onn Jo'nzz: The oath is in-valid if you are staying only out of obligation, do you not see that? We will always be brothers Jeremiah. You don't have to live under my roof for that. But if there is someone else in this world who needs you, I would never knowingly keep you from them. That's part of what brotherhood Means!

The latest except I've written in my Earth-9 story:

So Superman brings an alien friend of his, Nikita to the Fortress of Solitude to meet his Kryptonian father Jor'el. It's been established she's been on Earth at least 3 decades, long enough to have been around when Superman fist landed. And it turns out Nikita rightly thought she'd met Superman's Kryptonian father before. She was just going by a human name at the time. Noticing that Nikita and Kal'el both speak of a man named Jeremiah with affection and honor Jor'el asks her what type of man raised his son. She replies "Let me put it this way: In the 76 years I've been on this planet the only Human I ever met with as strong a moral compass and as temperate a soul as Jeremiah ...was you."

In an instant she starts coughing and having trouble standing. She's old and weak, as if old age hit her all at once. "My people live about 120 years. I'm 96 years old." She thinks aloud. "I've lived on Earth for 76 years. and before that..." Her face goes ghost white and in a deadpan voice she says. "I don't even know how old I am in Earth time. For the first 20 years of my life I lived in another solar system!"

Jor'el takes a step forward and says "My son, get her to her home NOW!

This is something else, just a one-shot type of deal I think. So a non-flash Barry Allen and a version of Supergirl, Kara Beckett meet an alien mecca of people in Arias Guatemala. They came looking for super-powered people that might be interested in joining STAR Labs, which is basically IIT tech for weirdo's. J'onn J'onzz is the leader of this self-made community of aliens of various races and tolerant humans. But he's dropping his friend Jeremiah off at the D.E.O right now so it falls to a young woman with short-cropped sandy brown hair who seems to be unable to raise her voice she is that soft-spoken, to show them around and just be thier host. As she is doing so she doesn't take her eyes off Barry. Rather her eyes keep darting toward him. She's not even sure why but something about him feels well pretty freakish. When she invites them to a quiet meal and a drink of tea she stares hard at Barry, flips out after snapping at Kara and drops her head on the dining room table. Sarrin is an Atraxi female. A race that view Kryptonians as thier superiors. So snapping at Supergirl about something and then realizing who she's talking to; a member of the noble house of El, she freaks out. Because to her mind she screwed up. When she sits up a minute later the first words out of her mouth are "Kara what are you doing here? More to the point...where is here?"

The reason Barry feels so freakish to Sarrin isn't because he's a speedster...which he is. It's because she first met J'onn Jo'nzz more than 2 decades ago. Henry was wounded. He and J'onn needed a place to stay for the night. She invited them in and J'onn stuck his foot in his mouth in a MAJOR way. So when she needed a place to call home years later, J'onn had well, the opposite of reservations about letting her stay at Arias. She doesn't understand why but Barry is reminding her of that visit. Of Henry and J'onn changing her life. Henry being Henry Allen, Barry's father.

After effusively defending the alien menace she's harboring, Sasha Jordan Scott turns to 'Joe'

“That wasn't posturing you know, I was serious. I trust you a lot more than I trust him. He is breaking our laws coming into a private residence without permission, searching the place without prob--a reason to think something illegal is going on. Also I know enough about you to trust you. You are both a guest in my house and my responsibility. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. No one with a brain in their skull insults a friend of mine in my house."

At the end of a personal conversation about the earliest memories of her life, Sasha starts acting out motions to a play, singing 'Good King Wenceslas', facing North when her friend is standing East. It's something Merlin has never seen in her before. He didn't know she had such a wellspring of knowledge, of memory. It wasn't drama, it wasn't art or theater. It was a hidden memory not a hidden talent and he got that. She smiles at him, warmly, appreciatively, even though he literally said nothing and made no outward sign. She explains her smile and her song by that statement. What happens next in the conversation?

Alia Finds a Home

 Not Ella but Alia

(how many times did I erase this thinking it was a different story)

Winn Schott narrates as he, Director Jo'nzz Martin Stein and eventually Superman figure out how to help thier newest alien guest.

“I'm flattered you've asked for my assistance. I'm just not sure how much help I can be.”

“We figured fresh eyes could help. This is not a species, or an issue we've dealt with before.”

“You say she tries to communicate, but clearly can't speak?”

“She understands us, she writes and speaks with her hands and other things. Unfortunately frustration usually wins out. It's not like she doesn't speak English she just doesn't speak.”

At which point the woman they were observing sits bolt upright on her sofa. And clearly agitated mouths these words: Just because you can't hear me doesn't mean I can't speak.

“You can talk, we just can't hear you?”

Pantomiming as well as trying to enunciate. “And since none of you can read my lips.” holds up hand in a 'wait' gesture. “It's hard, I know, getting so many letters confused. That's why I try to talk like this.” Makes motions and sweeping gestures with her hands. “Movement and language of the body.” coughs painfully. “It hurts. Talking even this loud...hurts.” She caught her breath and started chanting something. There was clearly a rhythm to it. But she had given up trying to speak loud enough for us to hear. Still I got the feeling that whatever she was saying was important.

“Uhh...okay we are getting somewhere. Let's keep going?” I said mildly.

“We shouldn't.” J'onn Jo'nzz said. “Not without additional assistance. I think we need to call in an alien friend of ours. Someone who could hear her without so much effort on her part. And another soul not worn down from trying to understand her. You're welcome to stay if you want Doctor Stein.”

“Thank you, I think I will.” Martin Stein said distractedly.

About a minute later Superman flew into the DEO. He walked through the facility until he found the observation room and the three observers. “What's the matter?” Superman said professionally.

“We have an alien here we can't hear. She can understand us but her voice is...beyond our audible range. And we actually just now figured that much out.” J'onn said mildly. “She's been in this room for weeks. It was clear she could understand us, and wanted to talk to us but she stayed silent...or what we thought was silent until now. I'd like you to try to talk to her. She knows we're friends, well enough. I mean she knows we are closer to her friends than her enemies. I hope you can help figure out not only what is happening that keeps her 'silent' to our ears, but why it is so.

“You hope for an open dialogue without so much trouble. I can see how it can get exhausting.”

Superman or Kal'el walked into the observation room with me at his heels. The woman, who we all called 'Ella' smiled softly at him. 'L' she whispered. Making the shape of an 'L' with her left hand she pointed at the emblem on his chest.

“That's right, the house of El.'” Superman said with a faint smile. “I was hoping you and I could talk for a while. J'onn thinks it might be easier for you to talk to me...physically speaking.”

Ella made a 'C' with her hand, pointed at superman, pointed to her right ear and pointed to herself. At the same time she verbally asked 'can you hear me'. “Yes...yes I can hear you. But J'onn says it actually hurts you, even to talk this loud or at least this clearly. He says you can write English, o maybe just do that? For your sake I mean. It's less exhausting I bet.” Ella got up, picked up 3 pens from the floor and grabbed a notepad. When she held it up, we read:

“ 'Do you remember how you became who you are now? Do you remember how it felt to breathe without gasping With all your might?' ”

“What does that mean?” Superman asked.

Once I realized he was asking me not her I answered. “Earlier she was repeating something, a chant or a song. It seemed like she was trying to tell us something important. And she is. This lyric must have something...” I realized a possible application of her terms and said it aloud. “You can breathe but the air is too thin for you. It hurts to talk...because you run out of air?”

Not thin__Contaminated.

Superman looked like someone had just slapped him in the head with a lead 2x4. “There is something in our air that literally hurts you. You gag on our atmosphere. Which is why we can't hear you...or they can't. But why would that...” She held up her hand to tell him 'wait' and started writing again.

“The resonance of my voice with your air. The 'air' resonates differently with my vocal cords. You can hear me...kryptonian powers here on Earth. But while not my native state, in these conditions my voice is sub-sonic...Or might as well be. Yet giving others super-hearing isn't the only answer.”

“Figuring out what it is about Earth's air that hurts you? So we can give your room atmospheric conditions that don't hurt you so badly?” Superman guessed.

“What IS the composure of your air?” She wrote. Meaning by it 'composition'. I picked up another pen and wrote '97% nitrogen and oxygen. 0.9% argon. 1% everything else.' She looked down, read what I'd wrote and bent over the paper, scribbling furiously. When I saw what she had written, I understood why.

ARGON! Gas. Poison. Chamber. Smothered.

“Uhh, we should go tell the others about this.” I told Superman. “Excuse us Ella we...really need to report our findings.” I tuned and left the room.

“By Rao.” Superman said as soon as we were out of the room. Without a word he handed J'onn the notepad we'd been using. “I know you were watching, so you saw the reactions on each of our faces. Here's what we were reacting too.” J'onn and Martin Stien read over the paper.

“So there is something in our air that is literally smothering her. It's not even that there isn't enough air in the room...although I imagine the effect is much the same.” Martin said casually.

“Obviously.” J'onn said curtly. “She's reacting exactly like there isn't enough air in the room. If we adjust the atmospheric settings in her room to .6 not .9 argon things would sound weird for us. Clark and I could probably handle it no problem but everyone else would sound and feel like they were on helium.” Superman looked up sharply, but didn't say anything. In fact if anything he looked pleased. I made no comment either; it was definitely a discussion for another time. Martin Stein of course simply nodded. He knew Superman was being mentioned and figured we weren't supposed to know. But the name itself meant nothing particular to him. Even so I felt I should try to redirect the conversation.

“But it's an easy enough adjustment to make isn't it?” I asked. “I don't know about anyone else but I'm more concerned with her being able to talk to us without needing painkillers than sounding like Micky Mouse when I talk to her.”

“Can't argue with you there.” J'onn and Superman said at once.

“Is 0.6 Argon the only adjustment that would need to be made?” Martin quipped. J'onn nodded. “I'll come up with a portable chamber for her use outside these walls. In the meantime, can someone who has access to the DEO servers help me adjust the conditions of this chamber so she's...more at ease?”

“Yes, I can definitely help with that.” J'onn said “You two, tell Ella what we've figured out...and what we plan to do about it.” The instant Superman and I entered her room the first thing I hear was 'Elana'. But from Superman. I looked over at him. "I'm sorry?"

“She said her name isn't 'Ella' it's 'Alia' She thought you'd want to know.”

“It certainly helps.” I quipped.

Alternate take:

“She's reacting exactly like there isn't enough air in the room. If we adjust the atmospheric settings in her room to .6 not .9 argon things would sound weird for us. Clark and I could probably handle it no problem but everyone else would sound and feel like they were on helium.” Superman raised his head but said nothing. He actually looked more pleased than anything else at being called by his human name.

“But it's an easy enough adjustment to make isn't it?” I asked. “I don't know about anyone else but I'm more concerned that she's able to talk to us without needing painkillers than sounding like Mickey Mouse when talking to her.”

“Can't argue with you there.” J'onn and Superman said at once.

True Brilliance

Three people have tracked their 'target' to a spot in the Canadian Rockies and it turns out the dangerous alien they've been hunting is someone at least 2 of them, have no problems with. Now the challenge becomes, communicating to him that they honestly have no problems with him. Their main worry of course, what if he has problems with them? Also the younger of these two individuals, who is actually something other than human herself has an attitude of "I'd rather it be me than him". As far as anything bad happening to one of the soldiers, Jeremiah Danvers. I've been trying to find a way to subtly communicate Nikita's attitude of "if you trust me on nothing else trust this" to the audience without either flat out saying that.

“I'm responsible for this mess, I claim the failure and the fault.” Nikita said, almost warmly. Jeremiah stared in silent wonder as his friend lowered herself to the ground, her head bent, her hands spread far apart, palms open. “Tie his hands together, mine as well if you need it in order to feel safe. But please, don't hurt him.”

“You ask no protection for yourself?” The green-skinned alien said with quiet strength. “You must really care for him. Or is it something more?”

“Hank...Director Henshaw was being his own arrogant, blind, fear of the unknown self when he called you...what he called you. Jeremiah didn't believe it and he had nothing to say about it anyway. For the first time in six years I actually agreed with the...assessment that came out of Henshaw's mouth. It was the simple word that you were a Martian that convinced me Henshaw was actually right about you. I'm the one person at the D.E.O who should have known the difference. And it isn't just knowing there are exceptions and improvements to any given race in the galaxy. And as far as that goes, I can sense the internal motivations and intentions of a person. I am the non-religious version of the discerner of the core and intention of the heart. But until now I always made sure to at least meet the person before trying to figure them out. And the one time I judge a person before even meeting them, I was almost disastrously wrong. There's no reason for any of them to know the difference. I should have. My current 'focus on me not him' attitude is mostly for the fact that I would not have Jeremiah come to harm if I can do anything to stop it...but that isn't all of the reason by any stretch.”

The alien looked at Jeremiah, studying the man's face, seeking answers. “By the very act of buying into Hank's rhetoric, that powerful aliens are by definition a threat, she feels she has failed her own code of honor and dedication to the truth. She doesn't want anyone else punished for what she sees as her own failing. Most especially me.”

"Do people truly have such regard for thier caretakers here? Or are you more a jailer?

Nikita looked up with a smoldering of anger in her eyes. It could not be doubted she'd taken offense at the man's words. “Jeremiah is worthy of my help! Henshaw was the one man responsible for this whole mess and I'm the one who screwed up so completely. Do you seriously not see that? As I said I feel for Jeremiah, with him even but it's nothing he instilled. I doubt he's even aware of it. Regardless, if you hurt him, physically hurt him and I was in the room I'd feel it too. I remember being puppet-on-a-stringed to beat to death an herbivoric kid and it wasn't the shame of what I was doing that hurt me so badly. I felt every blow I gave that creature. I was given back control of myself only in time to watch my hand end its life. And it was one of...what I thought you were...to make me do it.”

The alien was thunderstruck. “Phobos and Deimos. You know the difference?”

“I know that the only Martian I've ever met didn't look or act anything like you. And he was as arrogant and ignorant as Henshaw himself. I know that either of you would be more than a little insulted to be called the other. But I don't know how different you are. Or where the divide comes from. Dangerous aliens are a threat...aliens are a threat because they are dangerous. It's an argument that gets tossed around and a line that gets blurred constantly on our world. Most especially at the D..E.O. "This creature we are hunting is the most dangerous alien we have ever faced. A race even children have heard of and a monster to the simple-minded peoples: A Martian." That's what Henshaw said less than 5 minutes before you knocked him unconscious. So the question I have for you is, are you going to prove me wrong...or prove Henshaw right?!”

 (Slightly updated actually)

“Can you confirm this?” The alien said to Jeremiah.

“I don't know what Phobos and Deimos are. But I can confirm and swear that I would never hurt any one who wasn't an actual threat to someone else. The D.E.O, the organization I work for honestly believed you were a threat. I actually knew of Henshaw's intentions, but he is my commanding officer and I was not in a position to contradict him. I believe in what we're doing, for the most part. And what she said was true – about why I work for the DEO and that I really don't understand Hank's attitude. But it isn't the whole story.”

“Jeremiah, I do not wish to interrupt but we really should be getting under deeper cover.” Nikita said as she slowly stood. “There was a second Thera—support team sent after us. By now they would be very very close behind. We need to find a place to camp for the night. We can sort this out later...please.” This last word was not directed at her comrade in arms but at the Green Martian in front of her.

“Come with me.” The stranger said and without another word he led them both deeper into the wood.

Thirty-minutes later Jeremiah was crouched over a small fire warming his hands. Nikita was reclined next to the fire, her hands propping her up. She looked across the fire to the stranger, who stood a short distance away. “You don't like fire do you?” Jeremiah pondered aloud.

“My planet...burned to death.” He said with clear sorrow. “And it was the Whites who burned it... a very long time ago. There are no more Green Martians, save the one standing before you.”

“I...I am sorry, I didn't know.” Nikita said with sincere sorrow.

“I do not say this in blame of you. If anything I would absolve you of your guilt. In one thing you are wrong. If you have indeed met one of...them before, you had a perfectly excellent reason to expect that attitude from me: your own memories and experiences. You had no reason to think any Martians like me still lived. You are quite right – I would consider myself the last son of Mars, even though I am not the last survivor by any means. Please, do not burden yourself with these thoughts.”

“Thirty-one hours, very nearly.” Nikita said with force. “Neither of you have anything to fear from each-other. Jeremiah believe me you are as safe with him as I am with you. More specifically, you have as little to fear from him. That goes both ways. Please understand that.” Her hand slipped and her head dropped a little. Noticing their concern she shook her head slightly. “I'm not sick, it's just been thirty-hours. My sleep alarm just went off.” She paused and her face grew a glazed over, professional look. “ My people's circadian rhythms are set to a 36, not 24 hour schedule. I can stay awake for 24 hours easily, effortlessly even. But we fall asleep for 5 hours every thirty-six hour cycle, without fail and without interruption. There is literally nothing that can interrupt the time of hibernation that constitute our REM cycles. I've actually developed a 'it's been thirty-hours' kind of signal to let me know I'm falling asleep. And it went off 20 minutes ago.”

Jeremiah stood and faced their host. “There is one thing Nikita didn't say. Nikita is something like an unwilling agent. She's an asset with no other alternative but to help out. 'efficiency is better than its opposite' for her, as she said. But it wasn't always like that. Nikita was a prisoner at the D.E.O before her protective instincts kicked in...before she proved them. Henshaw brought us on missions together because she and I naturally and completely have each-others backs. We trust each-other and rely on each-other in the same was any military or police unit would need to be in the field. But what she did for me, what either one of us would do for each-other goes deeper than that. I say this so you can understand me fully when I say that Nikita trusts you. And if for NO other reason than that, so do I.” He placed his right hand on his heart. “I'm Jeremiah Danvers. You can consider me a friend.” He extended his hand. “It's a greeting and a sign of trust.” He explained, smiling awkwardly.

“I am J'onn Jo'nzz.” The alien said as he reached out his hand and clasped Jeremiah's arm.

...And that was the last thing I remember seeing before waking up in your house.”

The Story of Paradise

 So the Smallville version of Oliver Queen, played by Justin Hartley is a brash and sincere master archer who is more of a Robin Hood character who was born to privilege.

Nikita and Elana, the two aliens I created for my alternate Universe stories already existed and were established in this fictional world I am calling Earth-9. So I created a third character, her name is Sarrin and she is a very unique kind of empath. She is also far quieter and demure than either of the other 2. So when I decided to figure out what part this universe's of Oliver Queen had to play in the stage and stories I created...this is what I came up with.

The Beginning of Paradise. And What Came After...

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." In my second favorite movie of all time the main human protagonist surprises his counterpart, an intelligent ape named Caesar 15 different times beginning with "I'm not a threat. IF I am...then I guess you can kill me." I blended those two thoughts to create a kind of pre-echo to Jeremiah and J'onn's time together at Arias. Which began with the offer "Let Hank go...keep me."

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.  J'onn dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. 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 Sarrin'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 said suddenly. He stood up and backed away.

“Do you know her?” Oliver asked completely nonplussed.

“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."

The Beginning of Paradise

“No please, take me.” Jeremiah Danvers said in a rush. The alien warrior lowered his fist. “Listen I might not care for him but he is my commanding officer and I cannot let him come to harm. Leave him here. Let us, you and I go away, someplace we can't be found. It's a strange way to start a new life but 'a new life' is what I've been seeking the past six years of my life.”

“I am not sure what you are saying. What are you suggesting?”

“Listen if we are going to do this, we should learn each-others names.”

“That is polite even among enemies.” The alien said quickly.

“My name is Jeremiah Danvers.” The agent said, placing his hand over his heart.

“I am...J'onn Jo'nzz.”

“Jean. I give you my word, I promise, if you give him his freedom as well as his life then without your instruction to the contrary I will not leave your side. He has a tracker on him, a beacon to activate in emergency and call for extraction. Activate the beacon and leave him as he is, our people...agents from our organization will find him; he will be alright. But you can't be here when they come. To tell the truth I'd rather not be here either.”

The alien solider bent down over Hank Henshaw and put the back of his hand against the man's temples. He closed his eyes briefly before righting himself. “Then we should get out of here.”

Two silent hours later Jeremiah came to a clearing in the middle of the mountains. There was very little around as far as structures. Just what looked like an old one-room school house and a few houses with flat roofs made out of red clay. With a wave of his green hand J'onn motioned his companion into the school house. The room was sparsely furnished but quite comfortable. A cot was set up on cinder blocks with lightweight sheets and fluffy white pillows on it. A low set table and an equally short bookshelf stood off the one side. “I hope you'll be comfortable here. I have to go see a friend. There's more of us here than you realize...strangers and friends.”

“Thank you.” Jeremiah said in a heartfelt tone.

“I get the feeling I should be thanking you.” And with that he was gone.

In the middle of the next afternoon J'onn came back and Jeremiah instantly got to his feet. J'onn looked almost disquieted at the courtesy. "I am waiting for you to ask the obvious question." He said simply.

"What happens now?" Jeremiah replied.

“Do your people have a word for being able to move freely throughout the premises as long as you do not leave the premises?”

“...House arrest.” Jeremiah said.

“Then I suppose 'house arrest' is the best description. You are not my prisoner. I do not intend to treat you as any sort of captive. I...am sorry if that's what you expected. I would hope we could treat and regard each-other as equals. You were the first human to treat me as an equal, seeing me as I really am. I was hoping we could continue that.”

“I would like that as well. And I didn't expect to be a hostage. I just wasn't sure...who or what to expect if you understand me.” J'onn nodded once. “Does that mean I can soon see the rest of this place?”

“ 'the rest of this place'...is what I came here to show you.”

J'onn walked out of the building, and headed to the West, with Jeremiah walking half a step behind him. Ten minutes later they came to another clearing. This one dotted with structures made of wood as well as a few made of gray stone. And one that seemed to be formed entirely out of moss and knitted together with animal bones. There was a beaten path straight down between the houses leading to a small outdoor market. There were a few pale faces, Caucasians but most seemed to be indigenous to central America. A few faces were clearly other than human. “Welcome to Arias.” “A collection of outcasts and misfits and a few people who don't mind being around outcasts and misfits.”

“Arias, what does that mean?”

“In many languages it means something between and including 'city in the clouds' and 'near to God.” J'onn said with a note of pride.

3 years later, a truly happenstance visit from an Enkaren half-breed named Elana and her nuclear mate Martin Stein brings the possibility that Nikita, whom Jeremiah freed from the D.E.O. nine years earlier, is working with the D.E.O under Hank Henshaw...willingly. At first J'onn doesn't believe it's possible. 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 attache 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. She was a dear soul. And if I am to be exceptionally honest, the one person I miss most, the one I wish I could be there for isn't my son, it's her. Not knowing if she's alright is the one regret I've had the entire time I've stayed here." 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. Sure I felt like a prisoner at first. From what I understand that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty, if not  Brotherhood.”

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

"I...I see your point." Jeremiah said, dropping his head sheepishly.

“Come on, I'll fly you back.” J'onn Jo'nzz said, morphing into his natural green form. "Just let me say a word to Sarrin first."

"Of course J'onn." Jeremiah said with a soft smile.

Nikita: (To Superman and his human parents) I met J'onn briefly, that's all. I knew him less well than I knew your fa--your Kryptonian father. What's his name by the way? He only gave me a human one.

Superman: His name is Jor'el. I...asked. He doesn't remember you.

Superman seemed almost apologetic as he said this, as if trying to cushion a blow. Instead of disappointment, the only reaction to his words was a thoughtful look.

Nikita: No, he doesn't remember Ni-ki-ta. The name means nothing to him. I didn't use my birth name back then but my human one. I've been 'Nikita' every day I've spent here (at the D.E.O.) because they know what I am. Back then things were different. Ask Jor'el if he remembers a young woman named Sasha Jordan Scott. I expect you'll get a different response.