There is More Here

I finally  brought this scene to a close. It worked great.

A young alien known as 'Nikita' hung in the air, suspended in coils of steel and carbine metal. A dusting of what looked like snow covered her scratched form. An oxygen mask was fitted over her face and metallic claws held her by the shoulders. Superman looked with horror at Lex Luthor, and then at the young woman, his face slack from shock. Nikita barely struggled as the arms carried her over a swimming pool filled with what smelled like a chlorine bath, and was slowly lowered into it.

“Luthor, what are you doing? Do you know what she is? I mean other than she's an alien?”

“Do you mean that she is Xavallen, and that her skin will burn as if with sulfur, of course I do. That's why it's called torture.” Almost as slowly as she had been submerged the robot arms pulled her out again. A mechanical apparatus that resembled nothing so much as a pair of industrial pliers held the girl at her waist. The other claw retracted. Superman understood what was going on, although he had trouble believing it. Where as the pincers at her shoulders could have lowered her in a bit at a time, the claw around her waist would release and drop her free fall into the vat of boiling tar. Or what might as well have been for her physiology. This time it would be all of a sudden and nothing would pull her out.

Superman faced Lex, his eyes frantic. “Please sir, Mr. Luthor, don't do this to her.”

“What, does she mean something to you? Rather, why does she mean so much to you? Threatening Lois Lane didn't elicit such a response from you and she's been lock-step with you for years. It doesn't seem like you know who I am, but somehow you remember this unremarkable alien girl?”

“Enough to know that she is innocent and my closest friend. I assumed you knew that, or why would you be threatening her.” Superman looked down for a moment and then with a concerted effort looked up again. “I don't know enough to say this about any human being on this planet. But I know she is innocence incarnate. And I cannot believe even you would destroy her so wantonly.” In response Lex Luthor moved a dial on his handheld control and the claw holding Nikita lowered slightly. In a moment Nikita's toes dangled in the liquid. “What do you want from me?”

Lex Luthor actually seemed surprised at the question. “I want you to beg me for your life. But I know you well enough to know you never would. Other people mean more to you than your own life. So I decided to make you beg for the life of a friend.”

“I do not understand you.”

“Well there's nothing new there.” Lex quipped.

“Why do you hate me this much? Please at least tell me that.”

“Seriously? We're going to go through it all over again? Wasn't it painful enough the first time?”

“I swear to you I wouldn't know, I don't remember!” Superman exclaimed. “ 17 weeks ago I woke up flat on my back in the middle of nowhere. Nikita was standing over me. She's been trying to acclimate me to my life again. But I don't remember anything from before. I realize how this must sound but please, barring anyone she's introduced me to, I don't have any connections to my past life. Well, except for this.” He touched the emblem on his chest. “She says it's the sign of my people.”

Lex activated a trigger at the wall and the claw pulled away from the swimming pool and over the ramp. He looked intently at the mask and the mechanics of his contraption. Superman sighed with relief. A relief that proved to be misplaced as he watched Lex remove the oxygen mask and swing the claw back to its original position. If the claw was released Nikita would drown choking on sulfur.

“No, no please. Whatever I have done, whatever I could have done to make you my enemy, punish me not her! You treat me as your enemy and maybe I am, and so be it. But whatever happened between us, don't make her suffer for MY sins. She is true innocence if such a thing exists on this planet. I'll do whatever you ask I swear it just don't hurt her anymore.” He crumpled to the floor. “I beg of you.”

“No, no please. Whatever I have done, whatever I could have done to make you my enemy, leave her out of it. You treat me like a monster and maybe I am, I don't know. But whatever I am to you, whatever could have happened between us, do not make her suffer for it. She is true innocence if such a thing exists on this planet. She doesn't deserve this.” Superman fell to his knees. “I'll do whatever you ask, I swear it just don't hurt her anymore.” He bowed his head and lowered his eyes. “Spare her, I beg you.”

“That's all I needed to hear.” Lex admitted. He touched the handheld and Nikita was lifted from the pool and back over the ramp. With a care incongruent to the anger he'd displayed moments earlier Lex undid her restraints, scooped the unconscious girl in his arms and carried her down to where Superman stood. He laid the girl gently on the floor a few feet from Superman. Only then did the Kryptonian even raise his eyes to Lex.

And when he did he was absolutely thunderstruck. “That's what you wanted out of this?” His voice trembled, as if he honestly wasn't sure what to think. “You went through all of this, not for my surrender, but to hear me beg you for...to beg you for something?”

Lex gave Superman the darkest of looks. “I wasn't going to let her die Superman.” Superman looked doubtfully at his antagonist. “I would have let her fall had this gone on much longer. But I wouldn't have let her drown. If necessary I would have dived in there after her and pulled her out. I'd prefer you didn't make a big thing of it, especially not publicly. I'm basically a criminal mastermind and keeping my word is not usually in my lexicon, much less so compassion. But I didn't have any reason to let her die. It's obvious I don't count you as being worth much. But you said she doesn't deserve to die and on that point at least I absolutely agree with you.” Lex started to walk away but was surprised when Superman grabbed his arm. He was even more surprised at the words to come out fo Superman's mouth.

“Lex. Thank You.”

“It's Mr. Luthor.” He replied out of habit. “And...you're welcome.”

Lex sat with Superman, silently watching over the woman who had so completely captured both of their attentions. And almost conversationally ventured a question. “Honestly the way you talk about her I'd think you were married or something.”

“You wouldn't be far off.” Superman answered easily. “Can you imagine what it's like to relearn powers you've had all of your life and each one fo them be new to you? I did. After I woke up I spent a few week discovering and then mastering each of my special abilities. Nikita was my coach. On life as well as my abilities. When I figured out that no other alien on Earth had my powers I asked her where I was from.”

“That couldn't have been a very pleasant conversation.”

“So it's well known Krypton was destroyed.” Superman noted. “And you're right. She had to tell me my planet blew up when I was still a toddler and see me react. Apparently it's one of very few times I punched a hole through a concrete wall, out of sheer anger. Anyway, that's how I know her kindness and innocence are timeless. She's the one who stayed with me, lock step since I lost my memories and helped me put my life back together. Tell the truth after a while I thought she and I were married, or at least together as a couple. There didn't seem to be anyone in my life who was so...well who knew me as well as she did. But she insists she is simply one of my closest friends. And I can tell that she at least does not have those feelings about me."

“Superman, believe it or not I could probably tell you a thing or two about your race and your life. That is, if you want.” Superman looked at Lex and saw in a moment this was an offer made with sincere emotion, not a bargain to be struck or a kindness for which Lex expected to be paid.

“I think I would like that very much.” Superman said quietly.

“Your planet Krypton was under a red sun. Your special powers are because your cells absorb the radiation of Earth's yellow sun at an extraordinary rate. You are the only Kryptonian known to live on Earth. And it is a common belief that you are the only half decent member of your whole Kryptonian race. We've had others visit from the stars, other refugees or something. But they've all been soldiers dead set on restoring Krypton here on Earth and you...basically saved Earth from the rest of your people as well as the more ambitious lunatics of Metropolis. I had a theory that you came to Earth a lot earlier than anyone believes.” Superman looked up. “You first showed up in Metropolis about 9 years ago and you quickly became a hero of Earth. It's generally assumed that you arrived on Earth from Krypton, saw there was work that needed to be done and led by example, showing us what we were capable of by inspiring us to be greater so on and so on. But after the many conflicts you and I have had...Superman, I don't suppose there is any point to my asking, why you keep calling me by my first name.”

“I honestly don't know. Mr. Luthor...I don't think we know each-other. If we did Lois or Nikita would have told me that I knew you. Nikita never mentioned you at all. But whoever I am, I am not entirely without honor either. I won't try to bring you in for this. As far as I care you saved Nikita's life. That gets you a pass...until next time.” He smiled faintly. “And may I now ask you a question?”

“You just did; but you may ask another if you wish.”

“ARE we enemies?” Superman asked gently.

“In so far as I am a criminal mastermind and you have ruined my plans more often than I can count. That you are truly superior to humans and I've been more than a little obsessed trying to figure out literally everything I can about you and we simply do NOT understand each-other...yes.”

Lex's countenance fell slightly as he realized what the past few hours would have looked like to a man truly without his memories. And the conclusions Superman must have drawn about their past. “We've been on opposite sides since we met but were never personal enemies Superman. Or if we were it sure as hell wasn't any you did, more simply what you are.”

“A super-powered alien?” Superman guessed.

“A Superior man who ignores his own gifts, denies his own nature. Who would rather be one of us than lead us. I didn't hate you Superman. I wanted to destroy you yes but I didn't hate you. To see a man of greatness, truly superior in every way who chose to be less. A man destined for greatness who doesn't seem to do anything with the powers he was literally born with. Okay, maybe I do hate you a little bit. But you didn't do anything to earn my enmity. Believe me short of existing and being everything we strive to be, you didn't do anything at all.”

“You are...an extra-ordinary individual.”

“Yes I am. Although I never expected to hear that from you.”

“Most people wear a mask of some sort and suffer behind it. They either delude themselves into thinking they are other than what they are or simply don't understand themselves at all. Looking everywhere else to find out who they are. It's one fo the few impressions I have from before. You know and embrace exactly who and what you are. Which from my understanding is a rare thing for, I forgive this...your people. Seriously the only other person I know who is so completely self-aware and so completely accepting of who they are...is right here. Although she's a little quieter about it.”

“Heh, then I can see why you think so highly of her.”

“Lex, Mr. Luthor, I am sorry but I have to ask...” Superman didn't finish his sentence.

“When she wakes up you fly her out of here. In fact I'm not sure why she isn't waking up.”

“36 hours.”

“I'm sorry what?”

“36 hours is very important to her. And 5 out of every 36 hours. It's unique to her people. I'm just not sure what...or why.” Lex put his hand over his mouth. “Why is that funny?!”

“It's in reference to her Xavallen physiology. Her circadian rhythms are based on a 36 hour cycle not a 24 hour cycle and she falls asleep for 5 hours out of every 36 hour cycle. Apparently far deeper than human REM sleep. Superman, you don't have to worry about her. If I'm right about this, and I have to believe that I am, she's not passed out from the pain, she's literally asleep!”

“If you're right, she'll wake up the instant her 5 hour hibernation is over.”

“Which should be in another hour. Superman. I have one question before you fly away.”

“Then ask it. I owe you at least that much.”

Lex Luthor opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and closed it again. “Never-mind. It's not important.”

Hank and Nikita's Friendship -- Original Beginning

 “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 bent over Hank Henshaw and put the back of his hand against the man's temples. He closed his eyes briefly before righting himself. Without turning around he said “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. “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.”

“And you would prefer that we remain equals and not frightened fo one-another. I would like that as well. 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 West, with Jeremiah walking half a step behind him. Minutes later they came to a 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 path straight  between the houses leading to a small outdoor market. There were a few Caucasians but most seemed to be indigenous to central America. A few faces were clearly other than human. “Welcome to Arias.

“Arias, what does that mean?”

“In many languages it means something between and including 'city in the clouds' and 'near to God.”

Timeless Frozen Ocean aka: D.E.O. Revelations

“I thought we were a little overdue for a chat.” The young woman said to the solemn, dark-skinned man at her door. “Well, in or out choose one.”

“I rather deserve that. We need to have a serious talk.” A shiver went up Nikita's spine.

“I'm sorry; it still kinda gives me the chills when you talk like that.”

“I'm surprised it doesn't make you want to punch something...especially me.”

“Hank, what exactly are you here to hear from me? I mean we both know there is a pretty serious animal in the room, but what do you think that animal looks like...a tiger or an elephant?”

“Well that's actually what I'm asking...If I understand you correctly there is definitely some giant Herbivore that's stopping us from solving a damn problem. But if it is not a frightened dog -- and I can tell it is not -- why is it not a tigress? And why is it not turning on its kidnappers? Nikita I really mean it...why don't you hate me?”

“I have no reason on the face of this earth to hate you Hank. And I have nothing to fear from you anymore. Aside from the fact that hate is useless, I can sense everything that makes you who you are. The essence or core of a person, a soul I guess it's called. I don't mean an immortal thing. It isn't of everyone but I've spent enough time around you I can hear your proverbial heart. There is nothing in you now that even resembles what I sensed from you before...the person you were when you and I used to sit here and have those endless debates. I cannot hold who you were over the man you are now. It's actually against my own scriptures to do so.”

“Were you a priest on your planet?” Hank looked shocked and stupefied and a couple other things at once. “I'm sorry but everyday Christians don't hold so unswervingly or effortlessly to Christian teachings. Only those with religious training or holy orders so devotedly follow, even our own 'scriptures'. Are you the equal to a Franciscan friar?”

“Only in so far as the teachings in our holy book resemble closely what I have read in your Bible. And it's one of a very few things I have of my culture of origin. I never attended church back home. I would have if I'd had the liberty, I wasn't given that opportunity. I wasn't a prisoner I was...a shameful secret. I stayed at home, read books, watched holo-vids and read The Good Book over and over again. I KNOW the ten tales that comprise my peoples most sacred book. The only good thing that came from being hidden away is how easily I can follow the star in my own heart, and live as I would be taught....even without the...Basic Instructions By Light Eternal. On my desk.”

"I've heard the Bible called Basic Instruction Before Leav...You meant your people scriptures."

“We read them by lamplight and they are the light that guides our way as we journey along through life. We don't argue about what the afterlife looks like and there is never any doubt that one exists–Yeah, I didn't mean the Bible. Although from what I've read, even though it gets drown out a lot, the Ten Certain Tales are found in your Bible as well. Hank you've made the conscious choice to be different, to be better than you were before. More than that you have succeeded. You ARE a man a million times better than who you were. I will not hold onto that hot coal just waiting for you to backslide so I can stone you with it. I realize I am mixing A-ton of metaphors here, but they fit. From my perspective holding your past self against the man standing in front of me right now is not only stupid, it's morally wrong. Hate is as painful as it is destructive, and completely useless. The fires of the past hurt like hell, why would I choose to keep them burning hot?”

“Forgotten, but not gone?” Hank Henshaw said mildly.

“Oh trust me, this shrap still hurts...I just don't let it dig into my back.”

Jeremiah tells his host what Hank 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. If this is coming from the mouth of an alien, you can believe it's at least possible that he's changed his mind.”

“What's the real reason you want to go?” Jeremiah looked mildly shocked and didn't hide it. “I can read your mind pretty well by now. It's effortless, and almost natural to hear what's on the surface. You don't want to see him, at least not for any personal reason. And you believe without proof he has changed. Which means there's another reason you want to go back. What is it? 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. For the first time in the six years I disobeyed Henshaw for the sake of a prisoner. I couldn't stand by and watch her get interrogated for information she didn't have, or for being a threat she didn't actually pose. I broke her out of the DEO. This was about 6 months before Hank and I...sought you out. According to Firestorm over there she's back at the DEO, but as an officer, an aide-de-camp to the man I thought had the thickest skull on the planet. I need to see if she believes he is worth it or is simply following orders-- playing along. Let me go see them, I only need a day or so and I will have all the answers I need. No matter what's going on, I can finally know what happened to her...and move on with my life."

J'onn looked almost reproachful at this entreaty. “Jeremiah. You don't need to stay with me." Jeremiah started and looked intently at his host. "I'll miss you sure. But I wouldn't keep you here against your will. I thought you knew the choice...you've always had it.”

“Not always J'onn. But I know what you mean. When I traded my freedom for Hank's I hadn't seen any of this. I didn't know what to expect. Having seen Arias, seeing first hand your regard for Sarrin and hers for you,  I promised I wouldn't leave your side. And at first I did feel like a prisoner. But I swore I would stand with you, that I would never leave you. From what I understand that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty, if not brotherhood. I mean...I'm not wrong am I?"

“That you are like a brother to me Jeremiah, of course not. You're the best friend I've ever had, the closest to a brother I have known on this planet.  But as far as you staying here because you made an oath, that's what makes no sense. The oath is invalid if you're staying only out of obligation and duty, do you not see that? We will always be brothers, Jeremiah. You don't have to live under my roof for that. But if you have 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 sheepishly. He was genuinely embarrassed at the obvious truth behind his friend's words. Regardless of the initial circumstances of thier association it was weird thinking of someone who was technically his captor as an equal he had to admit the two of them had been true friends for almost the entirety of his 6 year stay. Thanks in no small part to yet another human looking alien named Sarrin. "Does that mean I might be able to convince you to come along?"

"How else are you to get to the D.E.O my friend? They can't send anyone for you; they don't even know you are alive. Come on, I'll fly you back. Just let me say a word to Sarrin first."

Jeremiah smiled at the obviousness of the remark. "Good idea."

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 attaché 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 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.” Jeremiah said, genuinely embarrassed at the truism.

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

My most recent set of stories follow two human looking aliens, Nikita and Elana through National City. it's the setting of the Show Supergirl, where the public knows aliens, more alien races than just Kryptonians live on Earth. But these characters and thier respective races are entirely my creation. Nikita is Xavallen, Elana is half-Enkaren. Strange thing is, this story doesn't have either one of those characters. It just seems especially relevant and a good 'getting your feet wet' introduction to the world I've created. The man speaking is Jeremiah Danvers, whose adopted child wears a Kryptonian symbol on their chest.

DREAMING THE IMPOSSIBLE

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 attacked us knocked Hank out first and then myself. 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, maybe 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 pounds. “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 to the left. “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.”

“Please, elaborate.” I told her earnestly.

“Well for one, I follow him and I consider myself indebted to him, but it's not an official thing. I'm not bound to him in any way. But also, I'm not wearing one of of those things,” That's when I realized she meant a slave's bracelet. “with you either. I'm not afraid of you. I'm naturally high-strung but that's all it is. I'm skittish. And frankly I'm more concerned with what you think of J'onn and of the rest of us than I am about offending you.”

“You are an incredibly perceptive individual.”

“My people sense emotional vibrations. We don't read minds and while I will not do so without permission or instruction I can search your heart. If J'onn asked, I would try to search the core of your being. To tell the truth, I am tempted to do so anyway. I swear I am not trying to be intrusive. I can tell you are an extra-ordinary individual. I'm just...I'm not sure why.”

“ 'Discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart'. And that was meant as a question.”

“More like 'motivations and intentions'...but yes. ”

“Then you and I are a-lot a like.” She said with a smile. “Jeremiah. Well I assume your name is spelled the same as in the book of the major prophet?” I nodded and tried to smile. “Listen, J'onn is eager to speak with you. But I should warn you, J'onn's people are psychic. All his people's communication would have been through thought. So chances are he'll give me his words and hear your answers. My people are empaths and I have an extremely well-ordered mind, makes it easier for me to hear and understand what he is trying to say. But I wanted to assure you that he will not search through your mind to find hidden truths or secrets. If that is what you are, to be polite expecting to be candid anticipating will happen you are incorrect... 'Let him have every liberty, except liberty itself' It's that kind of situation.”

“House arrest.”

“You've been asleep for hours. To fill in the blanks: You are in Arias, Guatemala. It is our community of...friendly individuals from various points across the stars.” She looked at me hard, trying to make sure I understood her meaning. I nodded. “If you're up for it, I'm to take you down a walk down the main road. But only if you are up for it.”

“Then let us walk about a bit.”

“Please, wash up first. The dirt on your face will cake to your skin otherwise.”

“Do you always talk like that?”

“Uncertain, unsteady, yeah pretty much.” She said with the first smile I had seen on her face. “If you mean as if English is my second language, then absolutely yes...It's my fourth!”

“Okay, please explain that one.”

“My own people's language, the official language on my home-planet, the first Earth language I learned wasn't even English. I landed in a very ethnic community. Not diverse but...you can take a guess.”

“Chinatown in San Francisco.”

“Nail on head. And I should tell you, at least a little of my being 10 degrees off is that I don't value hitting the nail on the head as far as convention...only communication...expression.”

“Which is why J'onn has you do the introductions. You don't claim either world but you understand them both...I take it.”

“There is that.” A deep voice said from the doorway. “And she sees beyond sight in a way I have never encountered before.”

“I a..” I stammered at the giant green man standing in front of me. “I realize you have no reason to trust me but you can believe me when I say I am glad to meet you.”

“And I you, Jeremiah. What is your surname?”

“Listen, whatever else is going on, I don't doubt your intentions. And I hope to prove mine. Starting with what a friend of mine would have called 'proper introductions'. I'm Jeremiah Danvers. For my part, you can consider me a friend.” I offered him my hand.

For a moment the alien I took to me J'onn Jo'nzz looked at my hand as if he didn't know what to do with it. Then he straightened himself like a solider and offered his own right hand. “I am...J'onn Jo'nzz.”

The Sweetest Sound

I didn't know what else to call this. It is basically the sweetest moment you could imagine, happening on opposite sides of the equator.  And both involve the most moral compassed, selfless, goodhearted genuine man ever written into a superhero show: Jeremiah Danvers.

After Martin and Elana show up at Arias, J'onn is having trouble figuring out Why Jeremiah even wants to go back. Jeremiah tells him what Hank Henshaw is really like, was actually like six years ago. “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. If this is coming from the mouth of an alien, then you can believe it's at least possible that he's changed his mind.”

“What's the real reason you want to go?” Jeremiah looked mildly shocked and didn't hide it. “I can read your mind pretty well by now. It's effortless, and almost natural to hear what's on the surface. You don't want to see him, at least not for any personal reason. And you believe without proof he has changed. Which means there's another reason you want to go back. What is it? 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. For the first time in the six years I disobeyed Henshaw for the sake of a prisoner. I couldn't stand by and watch her get interrogated for information she didn't have, or for being a threat she didn't actually pose. I broke her out of the DEO. This was about 6 months before Hank and I...sought you out. According to Firestorm over there she's back at the DEO, but as an officer, an aide-de-camp to the man I thought had the thickest skull on the planet. I need to see if she believes he is worth it or is simply following orders-- playing along. Let me go see them, I only need a day and I will have all the answers I need. No matter what's going on, I can finally know what happened to her...and move on with my life."

“Jeremiah. You don't need to stay with me. You sure as anything on this planet don't need my permission to leave!" Jeremiah started. J'onn looked almost reproachful. "I'll miss you of course. But I wouldn't keep you here against your will. I thought you knew the choice. You've always had it.”

Jeremiah smiled a little sadly. Because of the initial circumstances of thier association, the truth of thier present reality was hard to define. J'onn, while technically his captor felt nothing like that to him. And though he thought of the man as his friend, J'onn was still in a minimal sense his jailer. “Not always J'onn. But I know what you mean. When I traded my freedom for Hank's I hadn't seen any of this. I didn't know what to expect. Having seen Arias, seeing first hand your regard for Sarrin and hers for you, I promised I wouldn't leave your side. And at first I did feel like a prisoner. But I swore I would stand with you, that I would never leave you. From what I understand that was a 'til death do us part' oath of loyalty, if not brotherhood. I mean...I'm not wrong am I?"

“That you are like a brother to me Jeremiah, of course not. You're the best friend I've ever had, the closest to a brother I have known on this planet. But as far as you staying here because you made an oath, that's what makes no sense. The oath is invalid if you're staying only out of obligation and duty, do you not see that? We will always be brothers, Jeremiah. You don't have to live under my roof for that. But if you have someone in this life who needs you, I would never knowingly keep you from them. That's what brotherhood means!”

"I...I see your point." Jeremiah said sheepishly. He was genuinely embarrassed at the obvious truth behind his friend's words. And even more so at the need for them. In any way that mattered the two of them had been true friends for almost the entirety of his 6 year stay. Thanks in no small part to yet another human-looking alien named Sarrin. "Does that mean I might be able to convince you to come along?"

"How else are you to get to the D.E.O my friend? They can't send someone for you, they don't even know you are alive. Come on, I'll fly you back. Just let me say a word to Sarrin first."

"Good idea."

In case you don't know Nikita, the one narrating used to be a prisoner here under Hank Henshaw. And the first indication that Hank really had changed was when he assumed the better, not the worse of thier latest alien guest, Mon-el.

“I figured we'd have to have this conversation eventually.” I said to Henshaw as he stood at the threshold of my compartment.

“I take it you know why I'm here?” He replied in a voice as full of restraint as of regret.

“To get to the truth of something that hasn't left your sight for a long time. Not clearing the air as much as 'so we're clear'. I'd actually like it if Mon-el were to stay and hear this. But that's just me."

"For someone besides us to know why the assumption makes sense and why it isn't reality, might help us both. But he's not obliged. Mon-el, if you want to go, you should go.”

“If for no other reason than to learn where you two stand with each-other, I'm staying put.”

Hank gave a 'that makes perfect sense' look then turned to Nikita.  “Why don't you hate me?” 

“There are two and a half reasons why I should. One is that I made the decision a long time ago that I'd rather feel sorrow than anger and disappointment than regret. And this is back on Atridia. Every time I made a fist ready to punch something I would transform that anger into kind of a sad, quiet feeling. It got to the point people thought I was incapable of experiencing or even understanding the very normal emotions of anger or hatred. In an entire species of empaths, the inability to feel emotions made me seem 'damaged'. Really I just didn't see the point of holding a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone. I carried that conscious choice here. It's not an oath, it's a way of life and it is NOT easy. I've spent my life being not just a person of peace but of restraint, self awareness and impeccable composure and forbearance. I don't see that changing. Ironic because 'change' is the other part of this.”

“What do you mean?” Mon El asked me simply.

“My people have a religious teaching that when put to its essence says that a righteous man who turns to rebellion and sin should not count on his former righteous deeds to save him from judgment. But likewise a sinner who turns from his rebellious ways and does what is right should have no fear; for by no means would his former sinful deeds be counted against him.” I turned and looked at Henshaw. “Unlike most people here, I know what you used to be like. But I also know who you are now, today. And that is who I'm dealing with so that is who matters. It sounds kind of new age and twisted but I don't sense anything in you that even resembles what I sensed from you before. And in case you don't remember, I didn't hate you back then either. Strangely enough that's actually the 'half' reason.”

“Okay...I'm probably going to regret this but what's the full reason?”

"...Hank if Jeremiah thinks you're worth DYING for I'm pretty sure you're worth forgiving!”

“Okay, I need to hear both of your histories right now.” Mon'el interjected.

“Basically Jeremiah Danvers was an agent of this organization at the same time I was a prisoner of it. Hank did everything he could to try to get me to make sense to him. But he had more than a few assumptions that got in the way. Like that my people were the dominant race on my planet. That because I looked as human as I do I must be hiding who I really am. Jeremiah risked a court-martial to break me free from this place. He told me that he had to stay but that I should go and live a life that I thought was truly worth living. Obviously coming back here and serving under you is not what he was thinking of when he said that. But I truly believe it fits his criteria: it's a life I chose for myself and I'm fighting for a cause I believe is worth fighting for. I mean...I would consider you my friend...Hank.”

Hank Henshaw blushed and then smiled. “Thank you...for your trust in me.”

Mennonite Perspective Explained

Less argumentative, more thoughtful. Less debate class more 'cool thing I just learned'.  I don't  jump around or assume given knowledge of either the show or myself, as much.

Also I actually sound a little bit like my brother Phil in my careful analysis of the subject. But he would have advocated not giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. And presented a far more narrow framework. He would have been as detailed, but given the opposite argument.  I am trying to be more respectful and less attached and emotional than he was.

There's not a lot in the different shows I watch that the social justice standard/approach of my Mennonite upbringing would change or dictate my interpretation of the show, characters and content. And I am more keyed into emotions and empathy than most people so along with those closest to me, I chalked my unique perspective and interpretation of TV shows and movies up to that, just being emotionally and sympathetically different than most people. And It wasn't my contemporary Christian, like missionary or street ministry influence of my other church that led me to the 'see things from the others point of view'. That was something I knew innately. And I have just realized this perspective is also my Mennonite influence. But while the 'social and restorative justice' part of Mennoiteism gets talked about A-lot. there is another, less well; known aspect of Mennonite philosophy: seeing things from the other persons point of view.

Being a Mennonite is sometimes a burden of knowledge not shared. Most people here won't know who I'm talking about as far as the show/characters themselves; bear with me.

There are debates among fans of the show Superman and Lois whether the character of Bizzaro was misunderstood or he was a flat out monster. Also most fans think General Anderson was a flat out dick who deserved what he got and a small number of fans believe he doesn't deserve the hate, that despite being a jerk you could see where he was coming from. When I was listening to all this my first thought was that it's scary when a religious pacifist has to explain the attitude, standards and perspective of a military officer to the general audience. Lt. General Mitchell Anderson from Superman and Lois is not a regular military asshole. He is not in it to be a jerk. He has a military mind and a strict set of standards and when he fails in those standards he is as hard on himself as he is on anyone else. After this super-powered alien that was a messed up version of Superman, -Bizzaro- killed his team he went 'off protocol' to capture him. He was ordered by his superior to find this 'pale son of a b-tch by any means necessary or you will be stripped of your duties' and that monster had killed soldiers under his command. Soldiers whose lives he was responsible for. Military minds see things in black and white and he did the best he could with what he knew. He did what he did on orders and out of a sense of duty, not in-spite of it. He was a jerk but he was a law abiding jerk compared to most others like him out there in the super-hero world. And I was raised Mennonite...a religious pacifist and I understood a military general. Then again, I was raised to approach things from as unbiased and with as unfiltered a perspective as possible. That's part of what being a Mennonite is. So my take away from this entire plot arc was 2 things. One: this guy gets maligned by the audience as being a dick and a militaristic bastard who FINALLY realized how far up his ass his head was. But he didn't know Superman was anything but Superman and he, like most characters on the show actually thought Bizzaro was a clone, a freak of nature. He had nothing telling him otherwise. And he killed Bizzaro in combat in the field. Like literally the two were fighting and he won. So on the list of things Anderson did wrong, what he did to Bizzaro should be be very low. That was actually justified.

And 2: It's even worse when you're not told how you should feel about a character. Bizzaro and Lt. General Mitchell Anderson are not clear protagonists nor established adversaries. Both of them are people our heroes meet up with and have to deal with that ultimately prove to be less naturally adversarial or arrogantly dangerous than the audience or our heroes initially believe. And in my experience we all as the audience tend to see things as they are presented to us. As we are supposed to see them. And we take the intended interpretation of a character as the correct one. Or we see any given character solely through the eyes of the protagonist or in relationship to them. Which is why Bizzaro, who Superman fights until he realizes what the man is trying to do and Lt. General Anderson who Superman holds at arms length and eventually snaps, like goes violent and almost paranoid because he is sick of this aliens secrets and what he sees as duplicity are the ones getting massively analyzed/debated and generally shredded or defended. Because Superman's own opinion of them changes...and because they are on a very short list of characters for whom we are not spoon-fed "good guy v. bad guys opinion.

Superman went from working with him to track Bizzaro down, to sheltering Bizzaro from him without any explanation. A supposed ally keeping even more secrets would not have gone over well to any military officer. Especially not one who was already sick of Superman keeping things from him. He didn't know enough to make smart decisions. And the main reason I'm not in either camp as far as why Bizzaro or Anderson was a bigger jerk is because I was raised to try to see things from the other persons point of view. Not badmouth people or characters based on first impressions or ones' own personal beliefs. Hence burden of unshared knowledge.

Personal Note: Phil was the biggest proponent I knew that the way a thing was presented was the right interpretation. Even more so than my mom. It is the one time the one thing where someone other than my mom was so concerned when I didn't have the right interpretation. Looking at things from another perspective, from a non-mainstream perspective comes naturally to me. But it was actually discouraged. My mom would at least ask what we were supposed to get out of it. And once having what people were trying to say in hand she'd give an opinion on that message. Phil was not only vehement but singular and dismissive for me to suggest alternate interpretations or at least good points people we didn't automatically agree with said or did. Then, he constantly shredded ME for always seeing things just because of the protagonist, of ONLY seeing things and characters through thier perspective and not examining all sides or the characters motivations independently. Which this entire entry stands as an argument against that accusation as much as it does the exposition it is unto itself.